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The everlasting saga of The faithful and discreet slave class.
by MacHislopp 34 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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MacHislopp
Hello everyone,
Just a few lines to answer directly some of our friends on this board:
** james woods:
‘ they do not know who the "faithful and discreet slave class" is
Well , please just read … this:
*** w64 5/15 p. 305 Maintaining Unity in Difficult Times ***
" Jehovah’s witnesses in all the world receive their teaching based upon the Bible. The Bible explanations are given out by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, representing the "faithful and discreet slave" as mentioned in Matthew 24:45. This centralized and uniform teaching has very much contributed toward the unity among Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the earth."
**Black Sheep :
Thanks for the correction. Here below the quote you’ve mentioned.
“THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE”BECOMES“ABUNDANT”
14 “The true knowledge” has become abundant through the many who are proclaiming the good news. It has also become abundant through the printed word. In July 1879, the Bible Students published the first issue of this magazine, which bore the title Zion ’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. That issue, printed by a commercial firm, had a printing of 6,000 copies in English only. Twenty-seven-year-old Charles Taze Russell was chosen to be the editor, with five other mature Bible Students serving as regular contributors.
PART 1 T HE W ATCHTOWER— A UGUST 15, 2012 page 15 par.14
(from the Large print Issue) In the regular format, the quote is on page 7 par. 14 .
**Listener : …the WTBTS has printed that is now garbage.
Yes , quite a few thousand of pages.
**Wannabefree , ArbolesdeArabia, Vanderhoven7 :
Thanks for your appreciative remarks.
***designs: maybe not, possibly the opposite as the “older” publications i.e. 1970’s ,1980’s ,1990’s , even the 2000’s can be used
as written evidence of the Society ever changing and shifting opinion,teachings, ..ideas.
**St George of England : True, but I wonder why the Society did not mention his name in their own written Report, like this brother /sister did, in a very accurate report, which included also a few pictures.
When the new GB member Mark Sanderson gave a most heartfelt concluding prayer, the auditorium was a buzz with appreciation for one of the most memorable AGM’s ever.
Konceptual99: Thanks for your appreciation and the interesting comments. We are “eagerly” waiting for afollow up on this matter.
Greetings to all,
Bats in the belfry : just to answer you :
*** w64 6/15 365 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!
Furthermore as it was claimed by the Society ….years ago:
*** g848/22p.28FromOurReaders***
We surelywerenottryingtotakecheapshotsatthepopeortheCatholicChurch,norwerewecriticizingCatholics.TheCatholicChurchoccupiesaverysignificantpositionintheworldandclaimstobethewayofsalvationforhundredsofmillionsofpeople.Anyorganizationthatassumesthatpositionshouldbe willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism.Allwhocriticizehavetheobligationtobetruthfulinpresentingthefactsandfairandobjectiveinassessingsuch.Inbothrespectswetrytoliveuptothatobligation.—ED.
and we must not forget:
*** w57 6/15 370Overseers of Jehovah's People ***
Such is true not by their determination of it, but because God himself has so directed. "God has set the members in the body, each one of them, just as he pleased," is the way it is pictured in 1 Corinthians 12:18 (NW). It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the "slave" as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision.
Greetings to all for now,
J.C. MacHislopp
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sir82
Because the slavebegan serving spiritual food back in the first century,and according to Jesus,the slave would still be doing so when the Master arrived in 1914.
Well, thank God the Governing Body is around to correct Jesus' errors!
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watson
Would love to have this work put into an outline that I can print out and "pass along".
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Doubting Bro
I've been thinking about this and really am seriously considering the option that they did this to move some of their end time theology around. Somehow keep 1914 as a significant date, perhaps still the start of the last days but push all that 2 witnesses who are killed, trumpet blasts and other things that they've said has already been fulfilled to a more modern date to coincide with the appointment of the GB in the early 70s. They could say the Franz defection was the evil slave.
I'd have to sit down with all the things they've said has already been fulfilled in the early part of the last century and map it over to the later part of the last century but since their first interpretation is made up, doing it again should be that hard.
I can't think of any other reason for them making this change. After all, the other "annointed" have already been marginalized and aren't important. They're so small in number and most have a huge lack of standing in the organization that they're hardly a threat to the power structure. So, its not like they're pulling a coup since they have all the power and control anyway.
If I get insipred, I'll pull some information and see if I could put something together. Of course, its a complete waste of time....
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Listener
Your point 3 about the evil slave *** w043/1p.13‘TheFaithfulSlave’PassestheTest!*** -
A poster (Wodzz) on another forum makes a very good point about this. With their new light they have now announced the delay of the Master. Originally they said the FDS had been appointed the FDS over all his belongings on his return. They have now delayed his returned by announcing this has not yet occurred.
Matt 24:48 "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming'"
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MacHislopp
Hello again to everyone,
This few lines to rectify an error. The second quote beginning: “The evidence points to the following…”
is not from the year 2004 but from the yeart 2012 ,when the statement was made at the Annual Meeting . I do apologize.
2***Was the slave active in 1914?,
Year 2004
***w043/1pp.11-12A“Slave”WhoIsBothFaithfulandDiscreet***
The“Slave”19CenturiesLater
16 What about today? When Jesus’ presence began in 1914, did he find a group of anointed Christians who were faithfully dispensing food at the proper time?He certainly did.This group could be clearly identified because of the fine fruitage that it was producing. (Matthew 7:20) History since then has proved this identification to be correct.
17 At the time of Jesus’ arrival, some 5,000 domestics were busy spreading Bible truth. The workers were few, but the slave used a number of ingenious methods to spread the good news. (Matthew 9:38) For example, arrangements were made for sermons on Bible topics to be published in up to 2,000 newspapers. In this way, the truth of God’s Word reached tens of thousands of readers at once. In addition, an eight-hour program combining color slides and motion pictures was prepared. Thanks to this innovative presentation, the Bible’s message, from the beginning of Creation to the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Christ, was conveyed to audiences totaling over nine million on three continents. Printed literature was another avenue that was used. In 1914, for example, some 50,000 copies of this journal were published.
18 Yes, when the Master arrived, he found his faithful slave conscientiously feeding the domestics as well as preaching the good news. Greater responsibilities now awaited that slave. Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.” (Matthew 24:47) Jesus did this in 1919, after the slave had passed through a period of testing. Why, though, did “the faithful and discreet slave” receive greater responsibilities? Because the Master had received an increase in his belongings. Jesus was given the kingship in 1914.
Year 2012
The evidence points to the following conclusion: “The faithful and discreet slave” was appointed over Jesus’ domestics in 1919. That slave is the small, composite group of anointed brothers serving at world headquarters during Christ’s presence who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food . When this group work together as the Governing Body , they act as “the faithful and discreet slave.”
Greetings to all, J.C.MacHislopp
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bats in the belfry
. . . from what I have read so far, CTR was the first Governing Body of modern times.
How did this governing body make its appearance in recent times? Evidently under the direction of Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ. According to the facts available, the governing body became associated with the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. C. T. Russell was patently of that governing body back there in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
1971 The Watchtower, 12/15, p. 760
Russell did not have to work together a s a group to be "the Governing Body", neither did Rutherford.
I guess, Knorr and Franz, when working together, were a grouped Governing Body of two.
. . . just like Noah and his family was an "organization" of eight.
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MacHislopp
Hello everyone,
Just to add some more problems to the “faithful & discreet slave class “ saga. The Society recently claimed that:
Watchtower July 15 th 2011 page 12 paragraph 8 (Simplified English Version)
"The organization has never disappointed us and always gives us an abundance of pure waters of truth from God's Word."
So in the same theme let’s see some more:
1950
*** w50 10/1 p. 347 The Way of Success ***
The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society is not the great mother organization of Jehovah’s witnesses who have received the Kingdom truth through it and who cooperate with it world-wide, using it as their legal and business servant and advisory governing body ....
However, what we see exemplified in God’s woman, his heavenly universal organization, we should look to see in his visible organization. Why? Because his higher, greater universal organization uses it as her earthly instrument. That is why we do see those motherly traits, those traits and acts of a virtuous woman, in the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and in the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, because these profess to represent and serve God’s woman. We thank God for providing and using them. "
1954
*** w5410/15p.639QuestionsFromReaders***
In fact, this ability to discard the erroneous as the light increases marks the difference between Jehovah’s true worshipers and the false religions of Christendom . When it can be clearly shown from the Bible that an idea once held does not have sufficient Scriptural support and that a different viewpoint has the weight of Bible testimony behind it, then the new viewpoint is adopted and the former understanding is set aside. To be too proud to do this is to have a pride that would presage a fall. (Prov. 16:18) Increased understanding of the Bible itself and growing proof from the Bible itself are the basis for altering the viewpoint. This organization is always probing and studying to find solid foundations in the Scriptures for its beliefs and as the light increases the foundations of our beliefs become stronger and stronger. We have ears to hear a clarified truth, not ears that refuse to hear. We have eyes to see the increased light, not eyes that refuse to see. We are anxious for new light and for new “food at the proper time.”
1960
*** w60 7/15 p. 437 par. 24 The Awake “Faithful and Discreet Slave” ***
24 Properly, then, to this 1900-year-old “faithful and discreet slave” with its thousands of cleansed “domestics” Jesus next says: “Truly I say to you [plural, collectively], He will appoint him over all his belongings.” (Matt. 24:47) Those belongings are the interests of Christ’s kingdom on earth. With practical wisdom Jesus entrusts these Kingdom interests to his veteran, proved “slave” class.
1964
*** w64 5/15 p. 305 Maintaining Unity in Difficult Times ***
" Jehovah’s witnesses in all the world receive their teaching based upon the Bible. The Bible explanations are given out by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, representing the "faithful and discreet slave" as mentioned in Matthew 24:45. This centralized and uniform teaching has very much contributed toward the unity among Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the earth."
1975
*** w751/15p.46HowAreChristiansSpirituallyFed?***
WHEN THE“SLAVE”CLASSBEGAN
When did this faithful “slave” come into existence? At Pentecost, 33 C.E. The first 120 persons upon whom holy spirit was poured out immediately set to work feeding the others invited to God’s spiritual feast, namely, the Jews, 3,000 of whom accepted the spiritual “food” offered and got baptized. After this the 3,000 continued to take in spiritual food until they were well strengthened. Many then went back to their homes in other lands, establishing congregations and continuing to associate together and to keep in harmony with the true teaching of the apostles.—Acts 2:1-4, 37-42.
1981
*** w813/1p.24DoYouAppreciatethe“FaithfulandDiscreetSlave”?***
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that this parable pertains to the one true congregation of Jesus Christ’s anointed followers. Beginning with Pentecost, 33 C.E., and continuing through the 19 centuries since then, this slavelike congregation has been feeding its members spiritually, doing so faithfully and discreetly. Especially has the identity of this “slave” become clear at the time of Christ’s return or presence. The “slave” is identifiable by its watchfulness and by the fact that it is faithfully and discreetly providing spiritual food as needed by all in the Christian congregation. Indeed, this “slave,” or spirit-anointed congregation, is the one approved channel representing God’s kingdom on earth in the “time of the end.” (Dan. 12:4) Witnesses of Jehovah understand that the “slave” is comprised of all anointed Christians as a group on earth at any given time during the 19 centuries since Pentecost. Accordingly, the “domestics” are these followers of Christ as individuals.
1988
*** it-1p.273Beating***
Jesus foretold that at the time of his presence he would appoint “the faithful and discreet slave . . . over all his belongings.” God’s Son also spoke of an evil slave that would not be alert and anxiously watching for his master’s arrival. Such an “evil slave” would say: “My master is delaying.” Not only would he eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards but he would go further by beating his fellow slaves and opposing their work of providing the spiritual food at the proper time for God’s faithful slaves.
*** it-1p.806FaithfulandDiscreetSlave***
Thus the entire anointed Christian congregation was to serve in a united stewardship, dispensing such truths. At the same time the individual members making up such composite body, or the “domestics” making up the “house” of God (Mt 24:45; Heb 3:6; Eph 2:19), would also be recipients of the “food” dispensed. (Heb 5:11-14; compare 1Co 12:12, 19-27.) Expanded responsibility would result from faithfulness maintained until the master’s promised ‘arrival.’—Mt 24:46, 47; Lu 12:43, 44.
*** it-2p.1035Steward***
Jesus describes his body of faithful anointed ones on earth as “the faithful and discreet slave,” but as a slave they also serve as a steward for him, having had committed to them in these last days “all his belongings”—including the preaching of “this good news of the kingdom” throughout the earth, teaching those who wish to hear, and serving as God’s instrument to gather into association with the congregation the international “great crowd” that would survive the great tribulation.
1989
*** pechap.23p.195God’sVisibleOrganization***
THEOCRATIC DIRECTIONTODAY
13 God’s visible organization today also receives theocratic guidance and direction. At the headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York, there is a governing body of older Christian men from various parts of the earth who give the needed oversight to the worldwide activities of God’s people. This governing body is made up of members of “the faithful and discreet slave.” It serves as a spokesman for that faithful “slave.”
2000
The Watchtower August 1 st , 2000, p. 6, par. 3
As Head of his congregation, not only did Jesus keep a watchful eye on his anointed footstep followers on earth but, since the outpouring of the holy spirit at Pentecost 33 C.E.,he has also used them as a channel of truth, as a "faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45-47; Acts 2:1-36)
By the look of it , the Society will need more …corrections/clarifications/adjustement of understanding etc. etc.
Greetings for now ,
J.C. MacHislopp
P.S The Society’s 2011 CD Rom contains 1675 ref toi the term “faithful and discreet slave” Only one in the Bible Matt. 24:45