I was perusing the 1997 edition of the Watchtower CD when I stumbled across this gem.
WARNING: The following paragraph may induce vomiting, so I suggest reading on an empty stomach.
The name of the article is "A secret christians dare not keep"
Paragraph 7 states:
7
In contrast with humans, who have a limited life span, Jehovah never feels pressured by time to reveal his secrets prematurely. This fact should prevent us from becoming impatient when certain Bible questions cannot presently be explained to our satisfaction. Modesty on the part of the faithful and discreet slave class, commissioned to provide the Christian household with food at the proper time, prevents it from presumptuously running ahead and wildly speculating about things that are still unclear. The slave class strives to avoid being dogmatic. It is not too proud to admit that as of now it cannot answer every question, keeping Proverbs 4:18 clearly in mind. But how thrilling to know that Jehovah, in his own due time and in his own way, will continue to reveal his secrets as to his purposes! Never should we become impatient with Jehovahs arrangement, indiscreetly trying to rush ahead of the Revealer of secrets. How reassuring it is to know that the channel Jehovah is using today does not do so! It is both faithful and discreet.Matthew 24:45; 1 Corinthians 4:6.hahahahahahahahaha! Modesty prevents it from speculating about things that are unclear huh? They are not dogmatic either, nor proud. And God forbid you even think about running ahead of "Jehovah's Arrangement(c)"
It's so scary to think that I used to read stuff like this and it never dawned on me how ridiculous it was. Didn't even phase me. (shudder)
betweenworlds
omg I had to put in the whole thing. It just gets worse as it goes on. If Ciro didn't write this piece of $^ I would be very shocked. It sounds very similar to the crap he spouted in his tirade after 9/11
A
Secret Christians Dare Not Keep!"I have spoken to the world publicly. . . . I spoke nothing in secret."JOHN 18:20.
THE Greek word myste'rion is translated in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures 25 times as "sacred secret" and 3 times as "mystery." A secret called sacred must be important indeed! Anyone privileged to gain knowledge of such a secret should feel highly honored, since he has been counted worthy to share a secret with the Supreme God of the universe.
2
Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words confirms that in most cases "sacred secret" is a more appropriate rendering than "mystery." It says of myste'rion: "In the [Christian Greek Scriptures] it denotes, not the mysterious (as with the Eng[lish] word), but that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by Divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His Spirit. In the ordinary sense a mystery implies knowledge withheld; its Scriptural significance is truth revealed. Hence the terms especially associated with the subject are made known, manifested, revealed, preached, understand, dispensation."3
This explanation highlights a major difference between the mysterious religious groups that flourished in the first century and the newly formed Christian congregation. Whereas those initiated into secret cults were often bound by a vow of silence to guard religious teachings, Christians were never put under such a restriction. It is true that the apostle Paul spoke of "Gods wisdom in a sacred secret," calling it "hidden wisdom," that is, hidden from "the rulers of this system of things." It is not hidden from Christians to whom it had been revealed through Gods spirit so that they might make it public.1 Corinthians 2:7-12; compare Proverbs 1:20.The
"Sacred Secret" Identified4
Jehovahs "sacred secret" centers on Jesus Christ. Paul wrote: "[Jehovah] made known to us the sacred secret of his will. It is according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself for an administration at the full limit of the appointed times, namely, to gather all things together again in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth. Yes, in him." (Ephesians 1:9, 10) Paul was even more specific about the nature of the "sacred secret" when he pointed to the need for "an accurate knowledge of the sacred secret of God, namely, Christ."Colossians 2:2.5
More, however, is involved, for the "sacred secret" is a secret with many facets. It is not simply the identification of Jesus as being the promised Seed or Messiah; it includes the role he is assigned to play in Gods purpose. It involves a heavenly government, Gods Messianic Kingdom, as Jesus clearly explained when he told his disciples: "To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, but to those people it is not granted."Matthew 13:11.6
A long period of time was to expire between the first mention of Gods purpose to provide a basis for the Messianic Kingdom and the bringing of "the sacred secret . . . to a finish." (Revelation 10:7; Genesis 3:15) Its being brought to a finish would occur with the Kingdoms establishment, as a comparison of Revelation 10:7 and 11:15 proves. In fact, some 4,000 years elapsed from the giving of the first Kingdom promise in Eden to the appearance of the King-Designate in 29 C.E. Another 1,885 years elapsed before the Kingdom was established in the heavens in 1914. Thus the "sacred secret" was progressively revealed over a period of almost 6,000 years. (See page 16.) Paul was indeed correct in speaking about "the revelation of the sacred secret which has been kept in silence for long-lasting times but has now been made manifest and has been made known."Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 3:4-11.7
In contrast with humans, who have a limited life span, Jehovah never feels pressured by time to reveal his secrets prematurely. This fact should prevent us from becoming impatient when certain Bible questions cannot presently be explained to our satisfaction. Modesty on the part of the faithful and discreet slave class, commissioned to provide the Christian household with food at the proper time, prevents it from presumptuously running ahead and wildly speculating about things that are still unclear. The slave class strives to avoid being dogmatic. It is not too proud to admit that as of now it cannot answer every question, keeping Proverbs 4:18 clearly in mind. But how thrilling to know that Jehovah, in his own due time and in his own way, will continue to reveal his secrets as to his purposes! Never should we become impatient with Jehovahs arrangement, indiscreetly trying to rush ahead of the Revealer of secrets. How reassuring it is to know that the channel Jehovah is using today does not do so! It is both faithful and discreet.Matthew 24:45; 1 Corinthians 4:6.The
Secret That Has Been Revealed Must Be Told!8
Jehovah has not revealed his "sacred secret" to Christians for them to keep it hidden. It is to be made known, in harmony with the principle Jesus set down for all his followersnot just for a few clergymen: "You are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid when situated upon a mountain. People light a lamp and set it, not under the measuring basket, but upon the lampstand, and it shines upon all those in the house. Likewise let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens."Matthew 5:14-16; 28:19, 20.9
Jesus had no revolutionary intention of forming an underground organization of followers to pursue secret purposes. In the book Early Christianity and Society, Robert M. Grant wrote regarding the defense made of the early Christians by second-century apologist Justin Martyr: "If Christians were revolutionists they would remain in hiding in order to reach their goal." But how could Christians "remain in hiding" and at the same time be like "a city . . . situated upon a mountain"? They dared not hide their light under a measuring basket! The government, therefore, had nothing to fear from their activity. This writer went on to describe them as "the emperors best allies in the cause of peace and good order."10
Jesus did not want his disciples to keep secret their identity as members of a so-called religious sect. (Acts 24:14; 28:22) Failing to let our light shine today would be displeasing both to Christ and to his Father, the Revealer of secrets, and it would not leave us happy.11
Jehovah "does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 18:23; 33:11; Acts 17:30) The basis for forgiveness of the sins of repentant humans is faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for allnot for just a fewso that "everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) It is vital that people be helped to take the necessary steps that will qualify them to be judged as sheep, not goats, during the coming judgment.Matthew 25:31-46.12
True Christianity is not to be hidden; it is to be made known in every appropriate way possible. Jesus himself set the proper example. When questioned by the chief priest about his disciples and his teaching, he said: "I have spoken to the world publicly. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret." (John 18:19, 20) In view of this precedent, what God-fearing person would presume to keep secret what God has declared must be made public? Who would dare hide "the key of knowledge" that leads to eternal life? Doing so, would make him like the religious hypocrites of the first century.Luke 11:52; John 17:3.13
May no one ever be able to say that we as Jehovahs Witnesses have kept Gods Kingdom message secret! Whether the message is accepted or rejected, people must know that it has been preached. (Compare Ezekiel 2:5; 33:33.) Let us therefore take advantage of each and every opportunity to speak the message of truth to all, wherever we happen to meet them.Putting
Hooks in Satans Jaws14
In many places Jehovahs Witnesses are becoming more and more the center of media attention. Similar to what happened to the early Christians, they are often misrepresented and placed in the same category as questionable religious cults and secret organizations. (Acts 28:22) Might our openness in preaching make us more subject to attack? It certainly would be unwise, and not in keeping with Jesus counsel, to thrust ourselves into the midst of controversy unnecessarily. (Proverbs 26:17; Matthew 10:16) However, the beneficial work of Kingdom preaching and helping people to improve their lives is not to be hidden. It glorifies Jehovah, lifting him on high, directing attention to him and to his established Kingdom. The recent gratifying response to Bible truth in Eastern Europe and parts of Africa has partially been because of the increased openness with which the truth can now be preached there.15
It is true that the openness with which Jehovahs Witnesses preach, the spiritual paradise they enjoy, and their prosperityboth in human resources and material assetsdo not go unnoticed. While attracting honesthearted ones, these factors may repel opposers. (2 Corinthians 2:14-17) In fact, this may eventually serve to lure Satans forces into attacking Gods people.16
Should this be a cause for concern? Not according to Jehovahs prophecy found in Ezekiel chapter 38. It foretells that Gog of Magog, descriptive of Satan the Devil since his debasement to the vicinity of the earth after the Kingdoms establishment in 1914, will lead an attack on Gods people. (Revelation 12:7-9) Jehovah tells Gog: "You must say: I shall go up against the land of open rural country. I shall come in upon those having no disturbance, dwelling in security, all of them dwelling without wall, and they do not have even bar and doors. It will be to get a big spoil and to do much plundering, in order to turn your hand back upon devastated places reinhabited and upon a people gathered together out of the nations, one that is accumulating wealth and property, those who are dwelling in the center of the earth." (Ezekiel 38:11, 12) Verse 4 shows that Gods people need not fear this attack, however, because it is of Jehovahs doing. But why would God allowyes, even provokean all-out attack on his people? In verse 23 we read Jehovahs answer: "I shall certainly magnify myself and sanctify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah."17
Thus, rather than living in dread of Gogs attack, Jehovahs people look forward with anticipation to this further fulfillment of Bible prophecy. How thrilling to know that by prospering and blessing his visible organization, Jehovah inserts hooks into Satans jaws and draws him and his military force on to their defeat!Ezekiel 38:4.Now
More Than Ever!18
In modern times Jehovahs Witnesses have been very open in expressing their Bible-based views, even though this has not been popular. For decades they have warned of the dangers of smoking and drug abuse, the shortsightedness of permissive child training, the bad effects of entertainment saturated with illicit sex and violence, and the risks of blood transfusions. They have also pointed out the inconsistencies of the evolution theory. More and more people are now saying, "Jehovahs Witnesses are not wrong after all." Had we not been so open in making our views public, they could not react this way. And do not overlook the fact that by making such a statement, they are taking a step in the direction of saying, "Satan, you are a liar; Jehovah is right after all." What a powerful motivation for us to continue following Jesus example, publicly speaking the word of truth!Proverbs 27:11.19
Jehovahs people have long understood their obligation in this regard. At a noteworthy convention in 1922, J. F. Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, thrilled his audience by saying: "Be sober, be vigilant, be active, be brave. Be faithful and true witnesses for the Lord. Go forward in the fight until every vestige of Babylon lies desolate. Herald the message far and wide. The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all days. Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom."20
As important as these words were in 1922, how much more so 75 years later, when the revealing of Christ as Judge and Avenger is much closer! The message of Jehovahs established Kingdom and of the spiritual paradise enjoyed by Gods people is a "sacred secret" simply too grand to keep. As Jesus himself so clearly stated, his followers must, with the help of the holy spirit, be witnesses "to the most distant part of the earth" concerning his key place in Jehovahs eternal purpose. (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:8-12) In fact, as servants of Jehovah, the God who reveals secrets, we dare not keep this secret to ourselves