When the GB brought a formal end to all the type/antitypes in so many ways it could be said that they brought the religion to an end. The other sheep/anointed teaching that leads to a two class religion was originally based on two antitypes--the Jehu/Jehonadab relationship and something about the cities of refuge. In that 2014 annual meeting talk David Splane even specifically stated that the cities of refuge has no antitype. This is no mistake. It was not done unwittingly. They had to know that this was one of the ramifications of ending the antitypes.
Another is the Malachi 3 antitype that is the basis for saying that JWs are the one true religion. The GB had to have known that the demise of antitypes was ending the Malachi 3 basis for saying they're the one true religion.
The fulfillment of Rev. 12's birth of the kingdom in 1914 is also based on an antitype, namely the restoration of Nebuchadnezzar's sanity after 7 years. The GB had to have known they were ending this as well.
It's not like they went on to say "we've ended the antitypes, but we believe that these 3 doctrines are based on solid antitypes." No, they've said nothing at all, which means they know the ramifications of what they've done. They have to believe that there is no theological basis for a two class religion. They have to know that all those prophecies related to the WWI era are effectively in the dustbin. Now what about the 43 'helpers'? Did none of them whatsoever take notice of all this? Is everyone so stupid that this just went over the heads of everyone. How do they keep something like this a secret for so long? I get it that the rank and file are so dumbed down now that they don't think deeply about anything doctrinal, but it's hard to believe that the people at the top are so dumbed down as well.
Some of you probably know who Wally is with the youtube channel 'jwthoughts'. A couple months ago he produced a video which explored the possible reasons for why they ended the antitypes. He theorized that it might have something to do with power and control, that leaving them in place was somehow causing control problems for them. It's an interesting theory, but I for one am not 100% convinced that it's the true explanation. After all, even though all these antitypes are truly dumb they're still essentially innocuous doing no real harm.
Right now I would say it's the biggest mystery in the world of JWs both in and out. If ever that expression applied--it would be nice to have been a fly on the wall. Any insights anyone?
One last point that's probably gone over the heads of everyone. Right now, 10 years and counting, 8.8 million people are in a religion where its ruling council has removed the doctrinal basis for its salvation hope, and I know from personal experience that if you go on to call attention to it you will be under the threat of disfellowshipping for apostasy. In other words, it's now a religion where its ruling council can remove the doctrinal basis for the two class religion and then just imperiously say that it still exists. It is absolute madness that Jehovah's Witnesses are engulfed in, and they don't even know it. Is there a Christian denomination anywhere where its members don't have a salvation hope? Yes, and it's Jehovah's Witnesses, but again, they don't even know it.
Something that I think is an indicator of the GB's full awareness of what they're doing is that I believe that they've actually adopted in their meetings a doctrine of willful ignorance that was already bad among the rank and file, but now they're aggressively pushing said doctrine. When Splane even said they didn't know if Solomon would be resurrected I knew they had crossed a line of willful stupidity. Psychologists will tell you that the underlying reason for willful ignorance is to avoid taking responsibility. From the standpoint of the religion they have done horrible things to the doctrine of the religion with the demise of antitypes, so it would seem reasonable to say that the new doctrine of willful ignorance has been adopted to avoid being responsible for the things they have done. But again, the antitypes are essentially innocuous. Why do it at all?
Rick Fearon with his Boston Six Screens on Saturday night frequently says that the GB's admonition to obey them even if said obedience seems illogical from a human viewpoint is sinister. He believes that something sinister is behind it, and I have come to agree with him that it's sinister. Could it be that it's a form of advance damage control just in case the rank and file start figuring out the ramifications of the demise of the antitypes? A form of brainwashing of the rank and file so that if there were to be an expose' that they would just go "ho hum, what else is new"?
More and more the ex witness community is saying that the GB is part of the man of lawlessness, part of the deity or god of 2 Thessalonians 2. Really, could there be a more wicked and evil and heinous act of lawlessness than to remove the doctrinal basis for the salvation hope of 8.8 million people and then take advantage of their doctrinal ignorance to get away with doing it, and all without any clear reason for doing it?
Maybe someone will come along with some brilliant insight. God knows, I haven't figured it out.