by metatron 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
The special talk, that usually follows the Memorial spoke of "three lines of evidence" pointing to the last days beginning in 1914.
Not one of these included the "Gentile Times" chronology being mentioned. (Talk on Babylon the Great's Hour of judgement)
They're phasing it out, I guess
metatron
Can you tell me what the three lines of evidence were if they did not include the 'gentile times' evidence.
I would guess that the "signs of the last days" eg; WW1 would be one of their picks.
Gumby
Metatron,
A very senior member of the GB was questioned in my presence regarding the 607-1914 controversy two years ago. His reaction was interesting. He did not deny the fact that these dates were inconclusive but claimed this chronology was relatively 'unimportant' anyway as Jesus only gave a 'visible sign' of his presence and the coming 'conclusion of the system of things'.
I suspect that 1914 is being phased out in preference to a visible doomsday theology that is relient not on chronology but bad news! I can also tell you that at least two members of the GB were completely and utterly convinced that 9/11 was about to usher in Armaggedon and that the rest are convinced that the world is very close to it. The Governing Body are on heightened alert and feel that recent events prove their theology more than debates around the 607-1914 issue.
Best regards - HS
Good connections there, HS.
I would agree that there may well be a phase-out underway, since 1914 Chronology paints them into a now uncomfortable corner. Only time will tell, of course.
Hi HS,
The Governing Body are on heightened alert and feel that recent events prove their theology more than debates around the 607-1914 issue.
Is this an orange alert? I guess on 9/11 it went to red. Seriously, if they go purely by events as a "proof" they'll be just like the TV evangelists who see every world event as having significance. Gulf War II had a number of television preachers reading texts to show how everything on CNN was predicted in the Bible. A future WTS book will probably do the same.
Saying good-bye to 607-1914 still doesn't get around the problem of a Messiah who returned 89 years ago. After an absence of less than 1900 years the return time seems a bit long now without any divine action. They could move the whole return of Jesus to a new or even future date but that opens up another can of worms with the FDS authority,
Thirdson
(1) Didn't Jesus say that there would be wars and reports of wars, and yet THE END IS NOT YET?
(2) Didn't Paul say (1 Thessalonians) that there would be a time of "peace and security" before the end?
So how is it, I wonder, that the Governing Body feels the increase in war and resulting decrease in world security are harbingers of an "end time" soon?
What with the pushing back and forth between the terrorist factions and the American bloc, not to mention the Palestinans versus the Israelis, the Pakistanis versus India, we are still in a time of "wars and war reports" and not in a time where they can say "peace and security" in any sense.
SO how does it make sense, when comparing to the Bible's own words, that we are close to this world's end?
A very senior member of the GB was questioned in my presence regarding the 607-1914 controversy two years ago. His reaction was interesting. He did not deny the fact that these dates were inconclusive but claimed this chronology was relatively 'unimportant' anyway as Jesus only gave a 'visible sign' of his presence and the coming 'conclusion of the system of things'
Hillary,
I don't think that we've ever spoken before but it is a pleasure to make your aquaintance. I am a bit confused about the above quote where it says 'visible sign'. Perhaps you'd be kind enough to straighten me out on that one. I always remember being taught about an invisible sign of Jesus' presence. I am sitting here, sleepy and should go to bed. I suppose that I would be asleep by now if I hadn't come across this and sat here for half an hour ponderingI have had a few mindless ideas flee through my head but nothing that makes sense....Thanks so much in advance. dj
Gopher,
After being away from the wt teachings for seven years, I have come to the understanding that we as believers will never be able to pin point a time for the return of Christ. We are simply always to be ready. The readiness keeps us on our guard and aids us in the race. Once I learned that salvation was not earned by my good deeds but a gift given to me.......and that any good works that I am given the opportunity to do have already been prepared for me so that I may walk in them....I was freed from worrying about wars and current events. Wars will happen, yes......Jesus told us that. The end is not yet, correct! It doesn't necessarily mean to me that there will be no wars on the earth when He does return. When I read Daniel, it does seem that a war is taking place during the end times. I also try to remember that the Apostle John wrote that he was in the last days. I concluded from that, that it is quite possible that we have been living in the last days since Jesus died. It became a non-issue for me once I learned that Jesus returning is something to look forward to. I actually used to fear it and hope that he would stall. I didn't think that I ws ready for Him. I was full of fear, which love casted out. The watchtower focuses much to much on trying to forecast. I suppose that if they continue to proclaim that the end is near, eventually they will be right! How ironic.
"I suspect that 1914 is being phased out in preference to a visible doomsday theology that is relient not on chronology but bad news!"
The original "Miller Adventists" only took a few years to learn the lesson and declare their 1844 etc. mistakes "the Great Disappointment". That black eye was enough for them.
WTS has taken 120 years to slowly come AWAKE to the same thing!!!! (pun encountered and committed)
They are SLOW LEARNERS, it seems.
Mustang
A GB member
claimed this chronology was relatively 'unimportant' anyway as Jesus only gave a 'visible sign' of his presence and the coming 'conclusion of the system of things'.
Yep,
That means yet another generation is about to get sucked into Watchtower lies and the show will just continue to roll along - unless we stop it!
Dansk
