Hello everyone,
Stealth : thanks for your appreciation.
Now, as I have promised, here it is
Part TWO :
But before, allow me, please, some reminders:
*** w642/15p.101DoesSincerelyBelievingChangeWrongintoRight?***
The truth will not allow for all the different shades of religious doctrine in the world. …
There cannot be two sets of truth when each conflicts with the other. One or the other is true, but not both. It is like a person being alive or dead. He is one or the other, but he cannot be both. When a belief is not correct but is wrong,then it cannot be right at the same time. The most sincere belief and practice of that belief will not change it from being wrong into being right. Nor will it become acceptable to God as truth, since he does not take pleasure in falsehood.
w 1964 June 15 th page 365 Jehovah the God of Progressive Revelation
The holy spirit of Jehovah is working mightily today! How thankful we should be for the provision God has made of this slave class, the modern spiritual remnant, as they faithfully dispense the revealed truths of Jehovah!
*** w01 8/1 p. 4 Why Do You Believe What You Believe? ***
When it comes to religion, mistaken beliefs have historically caused great harm.
*** w07 5/15 p. 22 par. 6 Why All Suffering Is Soon to End ***
7 These were faithful men who had a great deal of respect for God. Were they rebuked for raising such troubling questions? On the contrary, Jehovah saw fit to have their sincere questions recorded in his Word. Today, a person who struggles with the prevalence of evil may actually be hungering spiritually—longing for answers that only the Bible can provide. Remember, Jesus spoke well of those who are spiritually hungry, or who are “conscious of their spiritual need.” (Matthew 5:3) What a privilege it is to help such ones find the happiness that Jesus promised!
***Statement to be proved:
***3
Despite founding the Watch Tower Society, Charles Taze Russell was not part of the Slave Class because he was not alive and serving at Headquarters when Jesus Christ made his selection in 1919.-
Let’s examine a few Society’s declaration concerning the years before Jesus Christ’ inspection
R 334
VOL. III. PITTSBURGH, PA., APRIL, 1882. NO. 10.
page 1
ZION 'S
WATCH TOWER
and
Herald of Christ's Presence
ROCK OF AGES
Other foundation can
no man lay
A RANSOM FOR ALL
[R344 : page 7] QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Ques. Please let me know by what name you people call yourselves? What denomination?
Ans. We are strictly unsectarian, and consequently recognize no sectarian name, believing with Paul, (read 1 Cor. 3:1-4 ) that where one saith I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, or I am a Baptist, or I a Methodist, etc., it is an evidence of carnality, and consequently in opposition to the Spirit of Christ. Did Paul or Apollos die for us?
We have no creed (fence) to bind us together or to keep others out of our company. The Bible is our only standard, and its teachings our only creed, and recognizing the progressive character of the unfolding of Scriptural truths, we are ready and prepared to add to or modify our creed (faith--belief) as we get increase of light from our Standard.
" God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached "
published in 1973 the WTBS Inc. :
*** kachap.17pp.350-351pars.39-40The“Slave”WhoLivedtoSeethe“Sign”***
40 The serving of food, the right sort of food, at the proper time was the issue. It had to be according to this that a decision must be rendered by the returned master. Well, then, what about that body of Christians internationally hated and persecuted? (Matthew 24:9) Down to 1919 C.E. they had endeavored to give “food at the proper time” to the “household of faith” or the “domestics” of the heavenly Master. They did this despite interference by persecutors and the warring nations. Not only was the regularity in serving the spiritual food a problem, but the quality of the food itself was to be considered. In this respect the body of hated, persecuted Christians, who always sought to be faithful slaves of Jesus Christ, met the test. During the years of the world conflict they had not joined Christendom or pagandom in preaching the war propaganda submitted by the political governments. They persisted in preaching the Bible message for the time and in advocating a Christian adherence to Bible principles for everybody.
So, what where the spiritual conditions, of theBibles Students, what kind of spiritual food was given ?Do the proven ' facts ' confirm all the above mentioned claim or ...to the contrary offer an entirely different picture - for the period going from 1914 to 1919 ...and even many, many, many years after!
One of great source of information is bthe book :
"Jehovah's Witnesss in the Divine purpose " published by the WTBS Inc. in the year 1959 on page 91
it is written, concerning the 'Bible Students' :
1°°°Believed that there were certain saving qualities in their self-merit;
2°°°Were guilty of creature worship;
3°°°They had a democratic form of 'election 'for
congregational oversight (elders and deacons);
4°°°Had an incorrect view of the " higher powers "
mentioned in Romans 13:1;
5°°°Celebrated " pagan " holydays such as Christmas ,
" Proclaimers' book, published in 1993:
*** jv 198-9 14 "They Are No Part of the World"
When the World Had Its Holidays
But for a time, certain holidays were not given the careful scrutiny that they needed. One of these was Christmas. This holiday was celebrated yearly even by members of the Watch Tower Societys headquarters staff at the Bethel Home in Brooklyn, New York. For many years they had been aware that December 25 was not the correct date, but they reasoned that the date had long been popularly associated with the birth of the Savior and that doing good for others was proper on any day. However, after further investigation of the subject, the members of the Societys headquarters staff, as well as the staffs at the Societys branch offices in England and in Switzerland, decided to stop sharing in Christmas festivities, so no Christmas celebration was held there after 1926.
6°°°Celebrated birthdays :
*** jv 200 14 "They Are No Part of the World" ***
In their Daily Manna book, Bible Students kept a list of birthdays. But after they quit celebrating Christmas and when they realized that birthday celebrations were giving undue honor to creatures (one reason that early Christians never celebrated birthdays), the Bible Students quit this practice too."
7°°°Taught , for decades that the Great Pyramid was a strong and corroborative witness to Gods plan ,
"Proclaimers...." published by the WTBS Inc., in 1993 -
*** jv 200 14 "They Are No Part of the World" *** (publ. 1993)
For some 35 years, Pastor Russell thought that the Great Pyramid of Gizeh was Gods stone witness, corroborating Biblical time periods. (Isa. 19:19) But Jehovahs Witnesses have abandoned the idea that an Egyptian pyramid has anything to do with true worship.
(See Watchtower issues of November 15 and December 1, 1928)
8°°°Incidentally, the same book " Proclaimers " , wrote ,
only 421 pages after , that brother C.T. Russell loyally adhered to God’s Word :
*** jv 621 28 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
It certainly could not be expected that God would use C. T. Russell if he did not loyally adhere to Gods Word. (Jer. 23:28; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17)
And :
"As Jehovahs Witnesses today review the work that he did, the things he taught, his reason for teaching them, and the outcome, they have no doubt that Charles Taze Russell was, indeed, used by God in a special way and at a significant time."
But of course not happy with the statement in 1993, after another 7 years the WTBS Inc. gave an entirely different picture , about the matter - in :
The Watchtower ' , January 1st 2000, pages 9-10 §§ 16-17 -
"Some Bible Studentsbecame engrossed with measuring different features of the pyramid to determine such matters as the day they would be going to heaven ! This so-called Bible in Stone was held in esteem for some decades , until the Watchtower issues of November 15th and December 1st, 1928, made clear that Jehovah needed no stone monument built by pagan pharaohs and containing demonic signs of astrology to confirm the witness given in the Bible. "
But let's continue, with the 'Bible Students' :
9°°°Taught false dates as if truly coming from God : 1874, 1878, 1881 , see the book “ Proclaimers”
*** jv 632 28 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
Based on the premise that events of the first century might find parallels in related events later, they also concluded that if Jesus baptism and anointing in the autumn of 29 C.E. paralleled the beginning of an invisible presence in 1874, then his riding into Jerusalem as King in the spring of 33 C.E. would point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he would assume his poweras heavenly King. They also thought they would be given their heavenly reward at that time. When that did not occur, they concluded that since Jesus anointed followers were to share with him in the Kingdom, the resurrection to spirit life of those already sleeping in death began then. It was also reasoned that the end of Gods special favor to natural Israel down to 36 C.E. might point to 1881 as the time when the special opportunity to become part of spiritual Israel would close.
.
°°°10 From the year 1918, the Society started teaching and giving great expectations concerning the year 1925.
The starting point was on February 24th, 1918, with the discourse :
"The World Has Ended -- Millions Now Living Will Never Die" which was first delivered in Los Angeles, CA. ,by brother
J.F. Rutherford .
This was followed by another one , in March 31, in Boston ,MA.-"
("Jehovah's Witnesss in the Divine purpose " pages 76, 77, 93, 98, 104, 140 )
Many things were written in the 128- pages book "Millions Now Living Will Never Die " like the expectations
abouth the year 1925 .
'The Yearbook ' 1980 , page 62 :
The book Millions had been widely used in the French field since 1921 and on the basis of its contents, much was expectedof 1925. But when 1925 came and went without the anticipated happening coming to pass, those on the outside who had read the book made fun of the brothers. Worse still, the faith of some of the brothers themselves was shaken.
Some expected to go to heaven that year."
"Jehovah's Witnesss in the Divine purpose " page 140 :
"..the campaign Millions Now Living Will Never Die
from 1918 to 1921was a step in the direction of reaching this
class destined one day to populate the earth. "
: " The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence "
December 15 th , 1919 n 24 Vol. XL, page 373:
"The public seems eager to know something about the times in which we are living and the meaning of all these wonderful phenomena. It is a great comfort to the hearts of many people to hear the message , " Millions Now Living Will Never Die," which the Lord's people can confidently " announce , knowing that many of the generation now upon the earth shall not pass away bu live on until the Lord's Kingdom
is fully established . They have in mind the words of the Master that ' were not the days of tribulation shortened there would be no flesh saved , but that for the elect's sake much flesh will be saved'; and that thus these millions will be brought through the time of trouble and
have the opportunity of accepting the blessing of life under the terms of the New Covenant."
Furthermore,
The Bible Students were
11°°° Expecting the return of " ancient worthies" and preparing a place for them!
" The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence " December 15 th ,
1919 n 24 Vol. XL, page 374 :
"The Bethel Home is a spot dear to all the saints on earth. The name Bethel means the house of God. It was founded by that wise and faithful messengerof Laodicea, our dear Brother Russell, as the home from which the message
of truth was to be sent forth. In the autumn of 1918 it was dismantled and stood vacant for some time. Many a heart turned longingly toward Bethel, praying
that if it might be the Lord's will it would be restored , so that his people in this land
might have one place to which they could look as a temporary resting place in the earth.
The decoration throughout have been changed, symbolizing the incoming age. While most of the furniture is plain, yet comfortable, the drawing-room and the parlors have been neatly and comfortably urnished. Some might find occasion to criticize the expenditure of money in furnishing these, but it has been thought not improbable that the Lord would be pleased to preserve this place and in due time some of the ancient worthieswould find here an abiding spot."
12°°Publishing worldwide , since the year 1918 , a particular teaching , about the year 1925 :
,
*** jv 632 28 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
In the lecture Millions Now Living Will Never Die, delivered by J. F. Rutherford on March 21, 1920, at the Hippodrome in New York City, attention was directed to the year 1925. On what basis was it thought to be significant? In a booklet published in that same year, 1920, it was pointed out that if 70 fullJubilees were calculated ....
...after the last typical Jubilee before th eBabylonian exile and then counting to the beginning of the Jubilee year at the end of the 50th cycle), this could point to the year 1925.
On the basis of what was said there, many hoped that perhaps the remaining ones of the little flock would receive their heavenly reward by 1925.
This year also was associated with expectations for resurrection of faithful pre-Christian servants of God with a view to their serving on earth as princely representatives of the heavenly Kingdom.
If that really occurred, it would mean that mankind had entered an era in which death would cease to be master, and millions then living could have the hope of never dying off the earth.What a happy prospect! Though mistaken, they eagerly shared it with others. "
The 'Bible Students'
13 °°Used Masonic symbols like cross and crown :
*** jv 200 14 "They Are No Part of the World" ***
"For years, Bible Students wore a cross and crown as a
badge of identification, and this symbol was on the front
cover of the Watch Towerfrom 1891 to 1931.
But in 1928 it was emphasized that not a decorative symbol but ones activity as a witness showed he was a Christian. "
'The Watchtower ' January 1 st , 2000 page 9 § 15:
For example , in the 1920s many Bible Students wore a pin
featuring a cross-and-crown emblem, and they celebrated
Christmas and other pagan holidays.
The Bible Students 14 °°Used of "The Ancient Egyptian Winged Sun Disk Symbol" on the book "Finished mistery " published from the year 1917;
(see below the front cover of the book)
(I do apologize if the picture of the front cover, will not appear)
The Bible Students
15°°Taught and believed that brother C.T. Russell was he "faithful and discreet slave" :
"Jehovah's Witnesss in the Divine purpose " page 95
"Some insisted on living on the past, in the time of Pastor Russell, when the brothers in generalhad viewed him as the sole channel of Scriptural enlightenment. It was the published and accepted thought down till 1927that he was that servant
of Matthew 24 :45. (footnote : w. 1927, pp.55,56)
and
*** jvchap.10p.143GrowinginAccurateKnowledgeoftheTruth*** (1993)
Over a decade later, however, Brother Russell’s wife publicly expressed the idea that Russell himself was the faithful and wise servant .(*) The view that she voiced concerning the identity of the ‘faithful servant’ came to be generally held by the Bible Students for some 30 years. Brother Russell did not reject their view, but he personally avoided making such an application of the text, emphasizing his opposition to the idea of a clergy class commissioned to teach God’s Word in contrast to a lay class that was not thus commissioned. The understanding expressed by Brother Russell in 1881 that the faithful and wise servant was in reality a collective servant, made up of all the members of the spirit-anointed body of Christ on earth, was reaffirmed in TheWatchTower of February 15, 1927.—Compare Isaiah 43:10.
(*) Sadly, it was only a short time after this that she parted from him because of her own desire for personal prominence.
and also :
*** jv 626 28 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
Clearing up the Identity of the Faithful and Wise Servant
Many who were sifted out at that time clung to the view that a single individual, Charles Taze Russell, was the faithful and wise servant foretold by Jesusat Matthew 24:45-47 (KJ), which servant would distribute spiritual food to the household of faith. Particularly following his death, The Watch Tower itself set forth this view for a number of years. In view of the prominent role that Brother Russell had played, it appeared to the Bible Students of that time that this was the case.
He did not personally promote the idea, but he did acknowledge the apparent reasonableness of the arguments of those who favored it. He also emphasized, however, that whoever the Lord might use in such a role must be humble as well as zealous to bring glory to the Master, and that if the one chosen by the Lord failed, he would be replaced by another.
In 1881, Brother Russell himself had expressed the view that that servant was made up of the entire body of faithful spirit-anointed Christians. He saw it as being a collective servant, a class of persons who were united in doing Gods will. (Compare Isaiah 43:10.) This understanding was reaffirmed by the Bible Students in 1927.
Jehovahs Witnesses today recognize the Watchtower magazine and kindred publications to be the ones used by the faithful and discreet slave to dispense spiritual food. They do not claim that this slave class is infallible, but they do view it as the one channel that the Lord is using during the last days of this system of things.
Thr Bible Students
16°°°Taught and believed that C.T.Russell ,who died in 1916, was granted he privilege.to exercise some strong influence - even after his death - n the Harvest work.:
" The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence " November 1 st , 1917 page 325 :
"Hence our dear Pastor, now in glory, is without doubt, manifesting a keen interest in the Harvest work, and is permitted by the Lord to exercise some strong influence thereupon. (Revelation 14:17) It is not unreasonable to conclude that he has been privileged to do, in connection with the Harvest work, things which he could not do while with us. Although we recognize that the Lord is the great Master and Director of the Harvest, yet we recognize that He would privilege the saints beyond the veil to have a part in the work on this side; and thus all the saints, both in Heaven and upon earth, are now given the honor of concluding the work on this side, preparatory to the full establishment of the Kingdom of Glory."
Btw this kind of teaching was confirmed, without specific names, and applied to the all the resurrected anointed, in the year 1988, see the book :
"Revelation It's Grand Climax At Hand! " page 125
(published in 1988 by the WTBS Inc. and revised in the year 2006 …still not changed as par October 2012)
"And in response one of the elders said to me: 'These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?' So right away I said to him: 'My lord, you are the one that knows.'" (Revelation 7:13, 14a) Yes, that elder could locate the answer and give it to John. This suggests that resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in the communicating of divine truths today."
In conclusion , how is it possible in view of the conditions of the Bible Students, the type of non-biblical teaching promoted world wide together with the many inaccuracy and false doctrines , that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ selected THEM as
“an aporoved, loyal, faithful and discreet slave” ?
All the facts, givn above, prove that such understanding, teaching, doctrine, explanation, view point, is not in harmony with Bible teaching.
That’s all for the moment.
Greetings ,
J.C. MacHislopp
P.S The 3 rd part will follow shortly.