Vomit alert!
If you can possibly digest one of the worst study articles the Society has ever written, you will see just how devious and manipulative they are with past and present truth.
The two studys articles are from March 1st, 2004 Watchtower.
I'll briefly (if that's possible!) summarize both articles. These articles are due to be studied for the weeks of April 11 and April 18.
It seems to me this is no coincidence that the subject matter to be discussed happens to fall right around the Memorial season, April 4th.
A "Slave" Who Is Both Faifthful and Discreet
"Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics?" - Matthew 24:45
This review will be brief as stated, only the damning paragraphs will be shown.
paragraph 2
Since 1914, most aspects of Jesus' prophecy have been fulfilled. The "pangs of distress" are upon mankind in full measure. Still, true Christians need not be afraid. Jesus promised that he would sustain them with nourishing spiritual food. Since Jesus is now in heaven, how has he arranged for us here on earth to receive our spiritual food supply?
It really amazes me how spiritual food always has to be prefixed by the word nourishing. Really, would Jesus, if he is supplying us with all thsi spiritual food, give us anything less than nourishing?
paragraph 3
Jesus himself pointed to the answer to that question. In the course of his great prophecy, he asked: "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave over whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?" Then he said: "Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I tell you, He will appoint him over all his belongings." Yes, there would be a "slave" who had been assigned to provide spiritual food, a "slave" who would be both faithful and discreet. Was that slave a particular individual, a succession of individuals, or something else? Since the faithful slave supplies desperately needed spiritual food, it is in our interests to find the answer.
An interesting question - who really is the faithful and discreet slave? Notice that Jesus used an illustration - he used many illustrations. If the Society take this illustration literally and apply it to themselves, then you have to take every illustration literally - in other words, people who have faith the size of a mustard seed should be moving mountains and all kinds of stuff.
It is obvious that the Governing Body do not in any way match up to what is required for the "faithful slave" to be both faithful and discreet. Just think of their lying doctrines, the child abuse scandals, changing doctrine on rape of women, the UN scandal, and wrongful disfellowshipping.
Who said that this spriitual food would be desperately needed? Revelation was the last book of the Bible to be written - nothing else had been penned by man, inspired by God since 98AD. If we have the complete Bible, that is the only spiritual food we need.
Subheading: An Individual or a Class?
paragraph 4
"The faithful and discreet slave" cannot be one person. Why not? Because the slave began serving spiritual food back in the first century, and according to Jesus, the slave would still be doing so when the Master arrived in 1914. That would represent some 1,900 years of faithful service for one individual. Not even Methuselah lived that long!
the painful thing about this paragraph that really sticks out, is that Jesus basically said his slave would be disensing spiritual food in 1914. How can they prove this date? Where in the Bible does it say that Jesus mentioned 1914?
paragrah 6
The only reasonable conclusion, then, is that Jesus was referring to a group of Christians as "the faithful and discreet slave." Can there be such a thing as a composite slave? Yes, seven hundred years before Christ, Jehovah referred to the entire nation of Israel as "my witnesses" and "my servant whom I have chosen." (Isiah 43:10) Every member of the nation of Israel from 1513 BCE, when the Mosaic law was given, down to Pentecost 33CE was part of this servant class....Each Israelite was to be a witness of Jehovah.
Excuse me if I'm wrong, but where does it say in the Bible that each Israelite was a Jehovah's Witness? The Society see fit to twist the scripture at Isaiah 43:10 to make it seem as if they are the witnesses that Jehovah spoke about, including the nation of Israel. But is that really the case?
Let's have a look...
Isaiah 43:10
"You are my witnesses," is the utterance of Jehovah, "even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no other God formed, and after me there continued to be none."
If you read the scripturein context, you will see that the people referred to are witnesses of what Jehovah has done, not witnesses to other people of what Jehovah did.
This is the same scripture that da Judge used to rename the International Bible Students to Jehovah's Witnesses, to differentiate his group from other breakaway groups around that famous 1918/1919 period.
Skip to the last sentence of paragraph 14, where it talks about anointed ones...
Zealous anointed sisters today manifest the same humble attitude, whether the appointed elders are of the anointed or not.
How many anointed sistes do you know who are not zealous and humble? I really can't see the point of this statement.
New subheading: The "Slave" 19 Centuries Later
paragraph 16
What about today? When Jesus' presence began in 1914, did he find a group of anointed Christians who were faithfully dispensing food at the proper time? He certainly did. This group could be clearly identified because of the fine fruitage that it was producing. History since then has proved this identification to be correct.
Now there's a statement! What exactly did Jesus find when he came in 1914, albeit invisibly?
International Bible Students - celebrating Christmas and Birthdays
using masonic symbols in their publications
lying about the 1918/1919 time period of inspection
wrongfully getting rid of directors at Bethel who did not agree with Judge Rutherford
using the pyramids to calculate 1914
would you say this was fine fruitage?
And who can clearly identify these faithful anointed ones?
And once again, the society has failed to inform us just who "really is the faithful and discreet slave" from the years 98AD to 1878AD.
History has proved this? OK, all you high school graduates - when did you learn in American History that Jesus came in 1914 and selected Bro Rutherford and co. to be the faithful slave?
paragraph 17 basically describes their zealous activity, publishing lectures in newspapers, using motion picture etc.
paragraph 18
Yes, when the Master arrived, he found his faithful slave conscientiously feeding the domestics as well as preaching the good news. Greater responsibilities now awaited that slave. Jesus said: "Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings." Jesus did this in 1919, after the slave had passed through a period of testing. Why, though, did "the faithful and discreet slave" receive greater responsibilities? Because the Master had received an increase in his belongings. Jesus was given the kingship in 1914.
It all makes so much sense! Jesus chose them in 1914, tested them in 1919 and appointed them over all his belongings.
Of course, we are not told about this period of testing in this study article.
paragraphs 19-20 talk about the expansion work, missionaries, branch offices etc.
paragrpah 21
All of this shows that the slave has been both "faithful and discreet." Just after he spoke of "faithful and discreet slave," Jesus gave two parables that highlighted those qualities: the parable of the discreet and foolish virgins and the parable of the talents. We are intrigued! What meaning do these parables have for us today? We will take up this question in the following article.
I am intrigued by all this crap they write?
It is obvious that their authority is being challenged by those on the Internet. They feel the need to reinforce the dubs beliefs that they are God's channel as selected by Jesus. Clearly, they are being undermined by the relentless spread of information on the Internet.
Stay tuned for the 2nd installment...