The WTS taught that Babylon would sit as a queen, a beautiful vase on a pedestal, that would instantly be pushed off without advance knowledge.
Jesus said that the end would come at a time you thought not.
*** w66 11/15 pp. 696-697 The Doom of False Religion ***But remember that Jehovah told the religious leaders of Jerusalem that they would fall like a desirablevessel, a valued vase. (Jer. 25:34; 19:11) And he decreed that Babylon, the beauty of the Chaldeans, would go into desolation. (Isa. 13:19) Neither should the antiquity of a religion nor its seeming security and firm position with the elements of this world be looked upon as something in which to put your trust and confidence. This fact also was pictured by Babylon of old. God’s decree brought her down in one night, finally to go into complete decay and desolation. So he has decreed regarding Babylon the Great.
(Matthew 24:44) . . .On this account YOU too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.
(Luke 12:40) . . .YOU also, keep ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think likely the Son of man is coming.”
The WTS always covers its a** by having 2 contradictory teachings.
While they teach BTG has fallen and the waters are drying up (don't hear that too much lately), they also teach that BTG will go down quickly as a going concern, as a queen, like a vase that is suddenly knocked off a pedestal. Notice that this reasoning was given in 1974 when BTG was not disintegrating at the speed some JWs thought since 1975 was just around the corner.
*** w74 1/15 p.54?
But what does Jeremiah 25:34, 35 say about this? Concerning what will happen to Christendom?s leaders just as concerning what was to befall the Jewish leaders shortly after Jerusalem?s fall in 607 B.C.E., it says: "Howl, you shepherds, and cry out! And wallow about, you majestic ones of the flock, because your days for slaughtering and for your scatterings have been fulfilled, and you must fall like a desirable vessel!"
So it is not a slow fading away by loss of members that brings the end of Christendom?s false religions and their clergy. Instead, just as a beautiful vase, a "desirable vessel," suddenly falls from its pedestal, to the dismay of its onlookers, so the clergy and their false religion have a sudden, surprising crash to destruction.
Also, as to the swiftness of the fall of Babylon the Great, what does Revelation chapter 18, verse 10, say? "They [the mourners, including many commercial men] stand at a distance because of their fear of her torment and say, ?Too bad, too bad, you great city, Babylon you strong city, because inonehour your judgment has arrived!?" And then, in verse 21, it continues: "And a strong angel lifted up a stone like a great millstone and hurled it into the sea, saying: ?Thus with a swiftpitch will Babylon the great city be hurled down, and she will never be found again.?" Appreciation of this fact can protect us against any inclination to ?put off? the day of Jehovah simply because Babylonish religion still exercises considerable influence in some areas.
(Luke 12:40) . . .YOU also, keep ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think likely the Son of man is coming.”
The WTS always covers its a** by having 2 contradictory teachings.
While they teach BTG has fallen and the waters are drying up (don't hear that too much lately), they also teach that BTG will go down quickly as a going concern, as a queen, like a vase that is suddenly knocked off a pedestal. Notice that this reasoning was given in 1974 when BTG was not disintegrating at the speed some JWs thought since 1975 was just around the corner.
