by wizzstick 7 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Been doing some research on this.
Back in CTR's day the feet of clay and iron symbolized (I think) the Ten Kingdoms: http://www.bible.ca/pre-miller-1843-ellen-white.gif
By 1958 they believed what they do now, that it's the Anglo American dual world power: http://www.a2z.org/wtarchive/docs/1958_Your_Will_Be_Done_On_Earth.pdf (PDF page 126).
But does anyone know what year the WBTS started believing that the feet of clay and iron symbolized the Anglo American dual world power?
My earliest recollection was the book "Your Will Be Done on Earth" based on the book of Daniel. It contained the illustration of the idol and the identity of each world power it represented.
I believe this book also covered the Kings of the North and South. (US and the Soviet union) and what would transpire between them.
No answer yet on your question.
But to start at the beginning... According to The Divine Plan of Ages (Studies in The Scriptures, part I (1886), pages 253-4):
[...] Rome, fourth, the strong kingdom, the iron legs and clay-mixed feet... The iron empire, Rome, was by far the strongest, and endured longer than its predecessors. In fact, the Roman Empire still continues, as represented in the nations of Europe. This division is represented in the ten toes of the image. The clay element blended with the iron in the feet represents the mixture of church and state. This mixture is in the Scriptures termed “Babylon”—confusion. As we shall presently see, stone is the symbol of the true Kingdom of God, and Babylon substituted an imitation of stone -clay— which it has united with the fragmentary remains of the [iron] Roman Empire.
Some quotes from The kingdom is at hand (1944, pages 179-88), which presented an alternative view:
Religious clergymen have attempted an interpretation of this dream, making it refer to the rise and fall of the four successive world powers, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the Roman empire.
The image of the dream represents Satan's organization as a whole, invisible and visible, and including "the god of this world" himself... Satan the Devil is the golden head of the image... Brass (or copper), and silver, and gold, are superior metals, and hence are well used in symbolizing the unseen spiritual parts of Satan's totalitarian organization...
The feet and toes of the image of the king's dream were seen to be of iron mixed with clay, picturing divided power and organization... When the great crisis of Satan's world is reached in the near future, the political iron will sharply divide off from the religious clay. The ten toes of the image picture the complete number or all of the religious-political governments of men at the time of such climax.
w49 5/15 page 153 and Make sure of all things (1953, pages 101, 104, 235) also refer to the statue as Satan's organization.
wizzstick,
I wrote at some length about chapter 2 of Daniel, in case you are interested:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/191170/1/Introduction-to-Daniel-For-Fun-and-Prophet
Farkel
Thanks Glander, 1009 and Farkel.
It was for later use with JW's, that the WT never correctly interprets prophecy. The Kingdom Is At Hand quote does it perfectly. It's all very well to say that you're Gods true channel of communication but when you get stuff wrong constantly and your prophetic understanding is based on how history pans out then it means diddly squat.
Cheers for that.
Feet with iron and clay is Europe divided into 10 kingdoms or regions.
I use to jot down in my bible who they represent until I realized WTBTS wrote themselves into Daniels prophecy! LOL Can you imagine Daniel seeing future JWs preaching? LOL
In the 60s it was in Bablyon The Great Has Fallen. Also Rutherford fear that the organization was going to collapse because he was in jail! I was thinking that one of Rutherfords books but he was not that smart.
