The Faithful Slave - An Obvious Question I Haven't Heard Asked

by berrygerry 11 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  berrygerry

  Since the Big 7 have appropriated this "blessed" title for themselves, and disavowed the existence of this slave prior to 1919, an obvious question comes up.

  Was it not the apostate Maria Russell that proffered that CTR was "the slave," and was the coiner of the term "the faithful slave"?

  If the slave did not come into existence until 1919, then how was it possible that prior to 1919 that anyone knew that it existed, or would have been able to foretell that it would come into existence?

  Was Maria a prophetic apostate?
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  smiddy

  Wasn`t the scripture about "The Faithful & Discreet Slave" just a parable ? , not to be taken literally ?

  smiddy
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  berrygerry

  Wasn`t the scripture about "The Faithful & Discreet Slave" just a parable ? , not to be taken literally ?

  More or less, my question.

  Not a Adventist historian.

  Was there other mention of the slave being someone during that time period, or was it indeed a creation of Maria?
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  Terry

  LIGHT and the intervals of NEW LIGHT about the Faithful and Discreet Slave

  1. In 1881, an article in Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence by the magazine's editor Pastor Russell identified the "faithful and wise servant" as "that 'little flock' of consecrated servants who are faithfully carrying out their consecration vows—the body of Christ ... the whole body individually and collectively, giving the meat in due season to the household of faith—the great company of believers."
  2. Fourteen years later: In 1895, Russell's wife Maria claimed that Russell himself was the figure referred to in the parable at Matthew 24:45-47, though Russell initially declined to accept the personal application of the title, suggesting that it should apply to the Watch Tower rather than its editor.
  3. Two years later: In 1897 Russell agreed that Christ would have made a "choice of one channel for dispensing the meat in due season [emphasis in the original]" and while he did not refer to that "one channel" as an individual, Russell did apply to it the personal pronoun "he" (for example: "if unfaithful he will be deposed entirely"), and noted "whoever the Lord will so use, as a truth-distributing agent, will be very humble and unassuming" and "he would not think of claiming authorship or ownership of the truth."
  4. Thirteen years later: In 1909, in an unsigned article, the Watch Tower mentioned that the "application to us of Matthew 24:45" had come "some fourteen years ago", or about 1895. The article went on to say "the Society's literature was the channel through which the Lord sent them practically all that they know about the Bible and the Divine purposes."

  Seven years later: The prevailing view among Bible Students that Russell was "the faithful and wise servant" of Jesus' parable, was reiterated in the Watch Tower a few weeks after Russell's death in 1916:

  Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of "that faithful and wise servant," and that his great work was giving to the Household of Faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation.

  1. One year later: In 1917, the publisher's preface to the book, The Finished Mystery, issued as a posthumous publication of Russell's writings, identified him as the "faithful and wise servant" appointed by Christ; as late as 1923, the Watch Tower repeated the same belief about his role, declaring: "We believe that all who are now rejoicing in present truth will concede that Brother Russell faithfully filled the office of special servant of the Lord; and that he was made ruler over all the Lord's goods ... Brother Russell occupied the office of that 'faithful and wise servant'."
  2. Ten years later: In 1927, Watch Tower Society president Judge Rutherford reverted to Russell's original viewpoint, announcing that the "servant" was not an individual, but was made up of the entire body of faithful spirit-anointed Christians.
  3. Twenty-three years later: A 1950 issue of The Watchtower appeared to assign to the "mother organization"—in reference to the Watch Tower Society—the task of feeding Christians "meat in due season"; in 1951 the magazine defined the "faithful and discreet slave" as a class of people whose teachings were imparted through a theocratic organization.
  4. Half a century later: From 2000 the Governing Body was increasingly described as the representative and "spokesman" for God's "faithful and discreet slave class".
  5. Twelve years later: 128th annual meeting of the Watch Tower Society in New Jersey on 6 October 2012 made further changes to the doctrine about the identity of the "slave". The society's report on the meeting said that "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 works together as the Governing Body, they act as 'the faithful and discreet slave.'" The report said the slave "logically" must have appeared after Christ's presence began in 1914.
  6. The doctrinal change also redefined the "domestics" of the parable—previously identified as individual "anointed" Witnesses—as all Jehovah's Witnesses.
• 

  new hope and happiness

  berrygerry:- i can answer your question.

  Maria was NOT a prophetic apostate. ( maybe pathetic but not prophetic) anyway prior to " [1919) Maria did see the door open, and it was much easier for her to do so. But whilst (1919) was no where in sight, it was a danger passing.

  In 1916 the door was opened in Maria' heart and she became distressed, but after a brief splash down in the shower to call her cheeks, Maria hirried back to the lounge and all the events resounding around 1919 fell in to place...of course it is not for you to question these matters.

  The truth i have found is usually found in the dirty linen cupboard, which is not a detectable place in any home. ( Oh i stand corrected the dirty lien of the W.T is in every word they wrote)
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  alanv

  Anything wrong with what was written or what was said by the bibkle students before 1919 has now been trashed. The society now say that God was not using them or guiding them before 1919. At a stroke they can now say that Russell was just a keen bible student. They have had to distance themselves from him because he got most things wrong.
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  millie210

  Actually I find Russell to be enigmatic and genuis and quirky.

  Rutherford however appears to have a cob up the nether reigons...

  Too bad HE is not the one they are so anxious to distance themselves fun.

  If youre not going to have the truth anyhow....you can at least be colorful and interesting!
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  pronomono

  Marked....Excellent timeline, Terry. Many thanks.
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  sowhatnow

  here is something i read recently that made my brain light up... this is just part of a longer article....

  The Watchtower claims the Slave has been given all authority.

  "The facts of modern history show that in the year 1919 [Jesus] revived these much afflicted disciples and gathered them together in a united body. Then he appointed them as his “slave” class “over all his belongings,” that is, over all his royal interests at the earth." Watchtower 1971 Dec 15 p.750

  This is not what was intended by the Scriptures. The Bible states that the appointment over all the belongings is made after the master arrives.

  Matthew 24:46,47 "Happy is that slave if his master on arriving (erchomai) finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings."

  The master has not yet arrived, as the memorial is to cease on his arrival, and so the Slave has not been appointed over all the belongings.

  1 Corinthians 11:26 "For as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives (erchomai)."

  The leaders have prematurely seized control for themselves, and consolidated that control. The 2012 version of the doctrine leaves Christians uncared for between 33 CE and 1919 CE, and elevates the exclusivity and importance of Governing Body. This is in contrast to the parable, which indicates that at this time the elders are to be shepherds of the congregation.

  end.................

  so, yes they still do memorial, so that means according to a lot of people he hasnt come yet. no appointment.
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  Billy the Ex-Bethelite

  "If the slave did not come into existence until 1919, then how was it possible that prior to 1919 that anyone knew that it existed, or would have been able to foretell that it would come into existence?"

  These were "running ahead" of Hojovah's celestial chariot. Kind of like the millions of Christians that expected armageddon in earlier centuries. How foolish of them to recognize that such Bible prophecies couldn't be fulfilled until after CT Russell used pyramid inches to analyze the Great Pyramid of Giza and establish 1914 as the year of armageddon... later postponed.

  "Was Maria a prophetic apostate?"

  Unless you have a quote where she talks about gays designing tight pants, she wasn't a prophet.