Russelwas 2000 yearstoo late the end camein the1st century. The Messiah has been ruling for 2000 years. The Kingdom is here already in the hearts of those who love Jesus. The revealing of Christ or coming of Christ takes place in everygeneration since.The written testimony provides the confirmation of him living in us The 1000 year rule is symbolic of a very long period of time. The bible used lots of hyperbole, symbolic metaphors to describe things
Jesus 1000 years and Satan's 1000 years in the abyss
by berrygerry 24 Replies latest watchtower bible
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Captain Obvious
Then why was the 100 (so far) year reign in between the two events not foretold? According to JW lore
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Fernando
These days I hold views in this space lightly.
What if Jesus actually started ruling 10 days after his ascension (Pentecost 33 AD)?
Does it make sense to be rigid about these matters when time becomes relative in 4D (just one level above our 3D world)?
What happens to time in the 5D to 11D space and beyond?
(Reference: Michio Kaku, his videos, and his writings, such as "Hyperspace")
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Apognophos
Captain Obvious: I don't know if the org. has directly stated that this current period was foretold in the Bible. But of course there are all kinds of scriptures which they apply to the modern-day Society, that have to do with preaching in all the inhabited earth, and bringing in desirable things from the nations, etc.
What they are saying is that all these occurrences are a result of the org. having God's blessing, and that blessing would have to start after Jesus started reigning from heaven and then came to inspect the org. on earth, so in that sense this current period is necessary for an organization to have the time and blessing to carry out God's will, otherwise when would the preaching be done before the end?
One awkward aspect about this teaching, though, is that Jesus apparently waited from 33 CE to 1914 CE to start reigning, and in the meantime there was therefore no organization on earth doing God's will. This is obviously a flaw with all millenarian religions, not just the JWs.
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Listener
Captain Obvious
Then why was the 100 (so far) year reign in between the two events not foretold? According to JW lore
They originally taught that they were living in Christ's millenial reign so when they changed this teaching this is one of the unanswered questions that arose. They used to call one of their magazines 'the Golden Age'. I think this Golden Age refers to the Millenial rule in which they were then living. When you tell a lie you forget that you have to keep telling more lies to cover all your basis.
Leolie wrote a post which explains a lot
To add to the confusion, the Society teaches that Jesus was enthroned as King in 1914. The Society still uses the phrase "Millennial Reign" to refer to Jesus' reign. So how he could have been enthroned as King and not start his Millennial Reign in 1914?
Of course, originally the belief was that Jesus became king in 1878 with the Millennium starting before or on 1874, so the Millennial Reign was supposed to be underway when Jesus became King, not after a very long delay afterward. Then in 1925 Rutherford updated the date of Jesus becoming King to 1914, with hints in the "Millions Now Living" campaign that the Millennium would begin shortly, e.g. in 1925. Then with the passage of time, the Millennium became indefinitely postponed with the date of Christ's enthronement stuck to 1914. The more time passes, the greater the disparity between the two becomes.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/122152/1/Are-we-in-Christs-1000-year-reign-yet
Once again it is just so difficult to make any sense out of teachings that don't add up.
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Apognophos
Honestly I don't think this is a big doctrinal problem. For instance, as a number of posters here have pointed out, this period could be likened to the 120 years before the Flood, during which Noah supposedly warned his generation of the coming judgment. So far, that pre-Flood system has gotten 20 years' more warning than ours has, if the warning started in 1914. Mind you, I'm leaving aside the point that Noah's supposed preaching work is not mentioned in Genesis; I'm simply answering this from the perspective of JW doctrine.
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Listener
Apognophos
Honestly I don't think this is a big doctrinal problem. For instance, as a number of posters here have pointed out, this period could be likened to the 120 years before the Flood, during which Noah supposedly warned his generation of the coming judgment. So far, that pre-Flood system has gotten 20 years' more warning than ours has, if the warning started in 1914. Mind you, I'm leaving aside the point that Noah's supposed preaching work is not mentioned in Genesis; I'm simply answering this from the perspective of JW doctrine.
You could use that argument with anything the WTBTS teaches. That is, 'I don't think this is a big doctinal problem'. Then you likened it to Noah's day. Fortunately, you qualify it with Noah just 'supposedly' warning his generation of the coming judgement. That was not the job that Noah was instructed to do. He was given the 120 years in order for him to fulfill God's requirements of building and stocking the Ark. In doing this he was declared a righteous man by doing God's will. The judgement had already been made and only Noah and his family were to survive. There was no coming of judgement. It was a time of preperation, not of a preaching work.
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Magnum
I think Splash & Apognophos have presented JW doctrine correctly. Here is my understanding of JW doctrine:
The Kingdom was instituted in heaven in 1914. At that time, Christ began ruling in the midst of his enemies. The millenial reign (1000 yrs) begins after Armageddon when all Christ's enemies will have been subdued (human govt destroyed, Satan abyssed, etc.) and the earth will be under complete control of the Kingdom.
Another way to think of it: Christ's rule since 1914 has been during the last days of this system (the old, evil system). During that time, the heavens are cleansed, but there are still problems on earth. Christ's millenial rule (1000 yrs) begins at the end of the last days period when the Kingdom takes complete control of the earth and the new system (new world) arrives.
CHRIST'S TOTAL RULE = rule during last days (in midst of enemies) + 1000yr (millenial) rule in new world (when all enemies will have been either destroyed or abyssed)
Captain Obvious: Then why was the 100 (so far) year reign in between the two events not foretold? According to JW lore
JWs have long acknowledged the difference between Christ's ruling in the last days and his ruling during the millenium. The time limit they placed on his rule during the last days has to do with the "generation" teaching.
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DATA-DOG
Let's review: It's a CULT.
DD
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berrygerry
Okay, I found a 78 WT which says that the 1000 year reign did not begin in 1914, but begins at Armageddon.
What was taught regarding this pre-1914 (or should I bother asking)?