Yes brothers, (and sisters) The CAPTIVITY in 1918 was, unquestionably, one of the most world significant events of the 20 th century. Unquestionably far more significant for the long term fate of the human race than say, the Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler. But this deeply significant period of human history did not end with the Jailing of Brother Rutherford. No no. The events of 1918 turned into their flipside, their opposite, in the following year, 1919, with the RELEASE of the remnant from “Babylonish Enslavement” . The apparent total destruction and subjugation of modern day “Israel” turned into a staggering well nigh impossible victory! Surely a miracle wrought by Gods mighty hand!
Here are some choice passages of scripture, and their modern fulfillments as explained by the Watchtower “oracle” brother Freddie Franz. They are presented so that the household of faith may be duly edified and fortified as they are reminded of these Bible “truths”. Here is a delightful passage of scripture :
QUOTE: "The mountains and the hills themselves will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry, and the very trees of the field will all clap their hands. Instead of the thicket of thorns the juniper tree will come up. Instead of the stinging nettle the myrtle tree will come up. And it must become for Jehovah something famous, a sign to time indefinite that will not be cut off." ISAIAH 55 v 12.
Hmmm. Oddly enough brothers I cant see any interpretation of this scripture by brother Fred, still, I know enough to be able to say that this passage is not to be interpreted literally. Why do I say this? Well brothers, Ask yourselves, is it possible for trees to clap their hands?
Of course not brothers. Because they don’t have any hands! See? It becomes easier to establish fact from falsehood when you’ve carefully observed brother Franz interpretational technique for a while, as I have.
Now brother Franz does not offer one of his amazingly astute insights on the matter of trees laughing and clapping, however, with regard to the modern fulfillment of the scriptures at Isaiah 35 verses 5 - 7 we are more fortunate:
"At that time, the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped. At that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness”.
In the book MANS SALVATION OUT OF WORLD DISTRESS AT HAND, the modern day fulfillment of this passage of scripture is explained in beautiful and evocative language:
QUOTE “Likewise, in the year 1919 C.E., Jehovah brought forth his anointed remnant whose eyes had been blinded by imprisonment in Babylon the Great in order for them to see the light of his favor in their restored spiritual estate.”
Im not sure how the Remnant could be RESTORED in 1919 when Jehovahs Ezekielic “Chariot” didn’t roll to a stop in front of, and SELECT them, as His earthly representatives till 1919 … but lets not get bogged down in detail…. rather, let us see that the symbolically “blinded” remnant were unable to “see” spiritually because of having been in a dank and “dark” figurative “cell like” condition during 1918. Its all perfectly obvious when you think about it isn’t it brothers? Likewise with regard to being “deaf”:
QUOTE: “As regards their ears of spiritual understanding, these had been deafened to the Bible prophecies about a restoration for them and about a worldwide witness work for them after their release from Babylon the Great. They had not heard explained to them the correct meaning of those prophecies.”
Most regrettable. Still, it is always darkest immediately before the dawn:
QUOTE: “To this day the ears of Jehovah's Christian worshipers remain unstopped to the messages that come from the unfolding prophecies. They keep their ears unstopped to the divine commands”
Do you see it brothers? In case some are struggling to “hear” the word:
Their EARS were UNSTOPPED no longer DEAFENED like in former times when THEY HAD NOT HEARD… surely this understanding can only be a trumpet blast of biblical truth revealed by Jehovah Himself.
The understanding of the modern day “lame” one is even more edifying:
QUOTE: “A spiritual miracle has also taken place with regard to the "lame one." The remnant of spiritual Israel had been lamed by Babylon the Great and through her use of the political, judicial and military authorities of the land… As it had been foretold: "At that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does." UPHILL kinds of WORK in Jehovah's Kingdom service were VIGOROUSLY undertaken. There was a LEAPING, a BOUNDING, into the work to be done in the PREACHING of "this good news of the kingdom . . . in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations."
And brothers, though Brother Franz doesn’t say it, can any one doubt that the tongues of the dumb ones were unleashed in a CACOPHONY of joyfull raised VOICES singing,
PRAISING and advertising, worldwide since 1919, the Kingdom of God?.
Not only was the situation with regard to the remnant reversed in 1919, but the fortunes of Christendom were reversed also. Those formerly smug and self satisfied religious racketeers, those who had licked their lips in anticipation of the total destruction of the Remnant now found THEMSELVES in a cursed, ashamed, disheartened state! As Ezekiel 7 v 14 – 18 predicted:
QUOTE: “As for all the hands, they keep dropping down; and as for all knees, they keep dripping with water. And they have girded on sackcloth, and shuddering has covered them; and on all faces there is shame and on all their heads there is baldness
How was this evocative prophecy fulfilled?? Brother Franz eloquently explains the understanding of there being ‘shame on their faces’ :
QUOTE: “In the modern outworking of Ezekiel's prophecy, Christendom with its hundreds of religious sects underwent a great humiliation in 1919 C.E. How so? Because the humiliating things that she had predicted and hoped for against the persecuted remnant of spiritual Israelites failed to be realized.”
Yes dear brothers, Christendom was HUMILIATED because her PROPHECIES and EXPECTATIONS were proven to be ERRONEOUS! And all the world could see she was a liar. What proved her a Liar? A false prophet? Why, the outworking of events. Brothers, truly, TIME is the enemy of all false prophets. Shame Christendom, you false prophet organization, shame indeed. Not at all like the Organization spoken of on page 53 of THE NATIONS SHALL KNOW THAT I AM JEHOVAH :
QUOTE: “At the visionary "likeness of the glory of Jehovah" the priestly Ezekiel was irresistibly moved to fall upon his face, prostrate. He desired to know why this celestial chariot had drawn up before him and stopped. He found out as a voice came to him from the One enthroned upon the chariot…. Ezekiel is definitely told that he is henceforth to serve as a prophet. He is commissioned to speak in the divine name, Ezekiel was not raising himself up as a prophet and PRESUMING to speak in the divine name. He was REALLY A PROPHET sent by the Most High God !”
(capitals mine) And in a modern sense:
QUOTE: “ Likewise, at the discernment of Jehovah's heavenly organization by the anointed remnant of Jehovah's Christian witnesses of this century, they were filled with awe… they keenly listened in the year 1919, after their revival, to hear what Jehovah had to say to them through his chariotlike organization”
No prizes for guessing what the ”Voice of God” told them. (Lol)