by DATA-DOG 387 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
The comparsion to Jesus is obvious:
New International Version (NIV)
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
i think at the time of the awake may 1969 the belief was that the tribulation had started in 1914 and been cut short to allow for the preaching and would resume at some point. I think this was a belief from 1925.
Dismissing servant:
"w77 3/1 pp. 159-160 Questions From Readers
What did Jesus mean when he told his apostles that some of them would see him coming in his kingdom before they died?
But how were Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:25 fulfilled? Often the meaning of a verse is suggested by its context. In this case, all three Gospel accounts of Jesus’ promise about seeing him in his kingdom lead immediately into the record of the transfiguration.
About a week after saying what he did at Matthew 16:28, Jesus took "some of" the apostles (Peter, James and John) up on a lofty mountain, likely Mount Hermon. There he was transfigured to appear in a vision with Moses and Elijah. And God said: "This is my Son, the one that has been chosen. Listen to him."—Luke 9:28-35; Matt. 17:1-5; Mark 9:2-6.
The transfiguration was a vision of Jesus in Kingdom power and heavenly glory, as Peter later confirmed...
So,it appears that when Jesus said that before they died some of the apostles would see him in his kingdom, he was referring to the transfiguration scene that some of them witnessed shortly afterward."
What did Heavensgate mean, though?
And why can't anyone explain the overlapping generations without reading it straight from the Watchtower? Anyway, good night.
Come on, Defender, thats the classical apologetics you will hear from christendom!
Should really Jesus have said that some of the listernes will not taste death until an event that took place one week, or maybe 8 days later??
Don't forget that Jesus spoke about judgement in verse 27.......and also said "coming in his kingdom". That transfiguration thing it is in the same level of credibility as the overlapping...you know what.
OK, I'll give you another examle:
Mattew 10 :23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
But think about it. Is there one single verse in th gospels where Jesus stated that hundreds or thousands of eyars shuold pass before his return? Is there an example in the bible that the first chistians did not expect Jesus to return in their time?
[non-watchtower]
NIV Study Bible Notes(1995 Edition)
Matthew 10:23: "Jesus' saying here is probably best understood as referring to his coming in judgment on the Jews when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in A.D. 70." (Matt 10:23)
..I'll think about what you said though. At least you guys reply in a straightforward way. Need to sleep, and I must stop posting. Night.
The Truth is a special blend of WT ideas that JWs love- I think their religion sucks, but JWs crave it. Frankly, it doesn't matter how the WT leadership relabels their dogmas, they will still stink.
He allows us to make mistakes because He gave us a free will and can never violate that. But, God also gives us the tools in His Word to overcome everything the enemy throws at us. We will all make mistakes until we die... The important thing is, we can guard against mistakes by living in God's Word, and, we don't make planned mistakes, (Planned Willful Sin). Unplanned sins are one thing, but willful planned sins or disobedience puts us at greater risk and can lead us into further disobedience that can damage our relationship with God. So keep short accounts with God, ask for forgiveness immediately after falling into a sin, and don't plan to sin
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Just like the assertions made of 1975 with the confusion of many appeared to overlap. While the Watchtower acknowledges it erred with translation of ACTS, it corrected the portions that needed correction but later. Unfortunately like everything else, false prophecy reared its ugly head.
The point of it all is while there were some that were thinking of past chronology, the 1969 by no means was attributed to the misunderstanding of 1975. IT had to do with how strong your faith was back then to continue the fine works verses spending time away from your personal relationship with GOD. The words end of times has been passed down over centuries to give personal growth to your faith, substance. Bare in mind that God’s people failed him time and time again. This or any other generation has not been immune to it. Just as today, the faithful constantly get tested. How visualant are you in all things pertaining to GOD. Just as back then to now, those who understand will not be frighten or be lead astray to make changes in their lives unless that day comes, then be assured that GOD will be with those who have complete true and honest faith in him.
King James Version (KJV)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God
1 Thessalonians 5:2
The Day of the Lord
1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.…
Perhaps this will add you.
False Prophecy or Misguided Interpretation of Prophecy?There is a big difference between misguided and immature exegesis of prophecy or scripture and outright false prophecy. The later is an attempt to deceive by contradicting true prophecy and scripture.
One challenge offered to Jehovah’s Witnesses is to admit that they made mistakes. There is no cognitive dissonance about this. As one would expect from sincere Christians, this challenge is very easy to meet, as this one example shows:
The October 1, 1984 issue of The Watchtower on page 24, ‘Jehovah Has Dealt Rewardingly With Me,’ stated:
“Regarding his [Rutherford’s] misguided statements as to what we could expect in 1925, he once confessed to us at Bethel, “I made an ass of myself.””
Another such admission is found in our faith-strengthening history book Jehovah’s Witnesses: Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom:
“Later on, during the years from 1935 through 1944, a review of the overall framework of Bible chronology revealed that a poor translation of Acts 13:19, 20 in the King James Version, along with certain other factors, had thrown off the chronology by over a century. This later led to the idea—sometimes stated as a possibility, sometimes more firmly—that since the seventh millennium of human history would begin in 1975, events associated with the beginning of Christ’s Millennial Reign might start to take place then.
Did the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses on these matters prove to be correct? They certainly did not err in believing that God would without fail do what he had promised. But some of their time calculations and the expectations that they associated with these gave rise to serious disappointments.” (pages 632-633)
Thus, it was a breakthrough in deciphering Bible chronology and uprooting an inherited and cherished error from the 19th century that led to the sensational (and sometimes immaturely expressed) expectations for 1975. But this did not prevent Jehovah’s Witnesses from continuing to study the Bible and improve our understanding of it.
Additionally it states:
“In the years following 1966, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses acted in harmony with the spirit of that counsel [the main point about not being specific about what might happen]. However, other statements were published on this subject, and some were likely more definite than advisable. This was acknowledged in The Watchtower of March 15, 1980 (page 17). But Jehovah’s Witnesses were also cautioned to concentrate mainly on doing Jehovah’s will and not to be swept up by dates and expectations of an early salvation.” (page 104)
That cited Watchtower stated:
“With the appearance of the [1966] book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man’s existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated.”
So blame was not cast on the Witness community, but on the ones taking the lead among them.
Ones who wrestle with this issue of how God could be using people who in times past made immature date setting would do well to consider the psalmist King David’s words recorded at Psalm 69:5-7:
“O God, you yourself have come to know my foolishness,
And from you my own guiltiness has not been hidden.
O may those hoping in you not be ashamed because of me,
O Sovereign Lord, Jehovah of armies.
O may those seeking you not be humiliated because of me,
O God of Israel.
For on your account I have borne reproach,
Humiliation has covered my face.”
In this Psalm he speaks prophetically in the person of Jesus Christ. As such, the verses above could apply only to Christ’s representatives, his congregation, on earth. Thus, this messianic prophecy includes the acknowledgment that Christ’s brothers would at times do foolish things, which is only to be expected, especially during the early years of coming out of Babylon the Great with Christendom’s false teachings of the Trinity and hellfire. (See page 368 of the 1965 Watchtower.)
The Test of a Prophet
God provided a means of identifying false prophets, and what to do with them. These instructions are found at Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:20-22. In the New World Translation these read:
“In case a prophet or a dreamer of a dream arises in your midst and does give you a sign or a portent, 2 and the sign or the portent does come true of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us walk after other gods, whom you have not known, and let us serve them,’ 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or to the dreamer of that dream, because Jehovah YOUR God is testing YOU to know whether YOU are loving Jehovah YOUR God with all YOUR heart and all YOUR soul. 4 After Jehovah YOUR God YOU should walk, and him YOU should fear, and his commandments YOU should keep, and to his voice YOU should listen, and him YOU should serve, and to him YOU should cling. 5 And that prophet or that dreamer of the dream should be put to death, because he has spoken of revolt against Jehovah YOUR God...”
Here the false prophet gives “signs or portents,” adding to God’s word, and advocates worship of false gods. Even if his “signs or portents” come true, he must be executed for his false teaching of advocating false gods.
“‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.’”
So the false prophet adds to God’s word by making new predictions that fail and/or advocates worship of false gods. He must be executed.
In both descriptions, there is nothing about misinterpreting scripture, but only adding to scripture, as well as adding a new, false, god to worship.
While Jehovah’s Witnesses never claimed to be inspired or add to the Bible, there have been instances of immature interpretation of existing prophecy. But only the hateful would confuse that with being a false prophet. Ironically, the Trinitarians who accuse Jehovah’s Witnesses of false prophecy are not only being hateful and therefore unchristian, but they are also advocating the worship of a new, false God, the Trinity. Therefore, per Deuteronomy, Trinitarianism must be executed. This is done by rejecting it: not being under its control, not fearing it.
Very interesting, thank you.. And a scriptural example of an overlapping generation? I'll read your reply tomorrow.
