In paragraph 2 of this study, the GBoJW evidences once again that they are sticking to the absurd 1914 doctrine – “When the last days of the present system began...”
I noted that as 2014 approached, the GBoJW became somewhat reticent about making reference to Revelation 12:12 – the “short period of time” scripture. So this study is the first one in a long time in which both the 1914 doctrine and Revelation 12:12 are mentioned in the same study. The latter is mentioned in paragraph 4, but not in direct reference to 1914. From 1914 to 2014 could hardly be regarded as a “short period of time” never mind 1914 to 2016! The GBoJW are brave in putting both these (1914 and Rev 12:12) in the same study article. Some might say foolhardy rather than brave. I could not give a rebuttal to such a perspective!
The GBoJW then boasts at the end of paragraph 2 that “the number of God’s people on earth is now greater than the entire population of many nations”! Yet in the 2016 Yearbook, the % increase box is left empty for the following nations’ annual report....
American Samoa; Armenia; Australia; Bahamas; Britain; Canada; Cook Islands; Cuba; Czech Republic; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Greece, Greenland, Grenada; Guadeloupe; Hungary; Iceland; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; Kosovo; Lebanon; Martinique; Moldova; Netherlands; New Zealand; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Romania; St. Eustatius; St. Kitts; Serbia; Sweden; Tinian; Trinidad & Tobago; Yap.
(Bold and underlined showing the more developed nations). I think that explains their slant at the end of paragraph 2 – just desperate for an opportunity to boast rather than honestly acknowledge decline! They are truly fixated on increasing numbers, despite Jesus having said that “... few are the ones...” Matt. 7:13
Paragraph 3 seeks to extol JW’s as loving people – principally because they don’t go off and kill each other or their neighbors in war. They “did not participate in that global slaughter” the paragraph states in reference to WWII. However, omitted is participation in another type of slaughter – concerning the ultimatum to abstain from life saving blood transfusion upon pain of psychological excoriation! There are no statistics that I’m aware of evidencing direct mortality as a result of the blood transfusion doctrine, but the numbers are surely significant. Such does belie the organisation's claim to have “love” as its “dominant quality”. Such a claim is shallow when one considers the ageism in the organisation – dismissal of CO’s upon their 70th birthday, dismissal of many bethelites, the anti-education policy and consequent maintenance of poverty / financial struggles, shunning and more! Not loving that I can discern. Not my experience either! Ask anyone who’s been a victim of the BoE if you don’t believe me!
Paragraph 5 cites Matt. 22:35-39 under the heading of a “Test of Loyalty”. This scripture is a nice one. The first part is a vertical relationship with God and to me represents spirituality. It does not require any intermediary such as BoE’s or the GBoJW/FDS! So their reference to this scripture to try and convince one to be loyal to the JW organisation is specious and vacuous. The second part of the scripture is a horizontal relationship with one’s neighbor and to me that is religion. The GBoJW would have us believe that their defined ministry is the application of this scripture. However, that trying to place WT literature, show WT videos to people is showing love to one’s neighbor is questionable to put it mildly.
The end of paragraph 13 strongly reinforces the JW idea of salvation being through affiliation to the JW organisation. There is no reference to the Bible’s teaching that salvation is a result of faith in Christ - “known the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through the faith in connection with Christ Jesus” - 2 Tim 3:15 and “For the undeserved kindness of God which brings salvation to all sorts of men...” – Titus 2:11. There are many other scriptures pertaining to salvation and none of them even remotely suggest affiliation to an organisation is a requirement!
Throughout the article, there is again an unrelenting emphasis on being forgiving and/or waiting on Jehovah to correct a matter. There is an absence of counsel for the perpetrators of malign acts to apologize and make restitution to their victims. This is hardly surprising bearing in mind the excessive use of denial maintained by the WTBTS in dealing with the issue of child molestation. In many respects, their handling of this situation is truly egregious and exacerbates the suffering of the victims. So for this organisation to preach the gospel of forgiveness when it is the perpetrator of many wrongs without the slightest semblance of remorse is a wanton outrage!
In reading this article, I am again brought to an understanding of why they removed the magazine’s statement of purpose from the January 2013 issue onwards wherein they used to say that it “Adheres to the Bible as it’s authority” and that it “Encourages faith in Christ...” Nope! It adheres to another entity as it’s authority and encourages faith in the GBoJW (aka FDS) and has thus become Korah like in that the Greater Moses is very much an afterthought!