Comments You Will Not Hear at the 4-11-04 (week of 4/5-11/2004) WT Study (March 1, 2004 WT) Review comments will be in black and parentheses ()
WT quotes
will be in red and quotes ""Quotes from other sources
will be in blueAll underlining, bolding, highlighting is added.
A "SLAVE" WHO IS BOTH FAITHFUL AND DISCREET
"Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics?"?Matthew 24:45
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season??Matthew 24:45 (KJV)
www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bibleOpening Comments
Consider the following quotes re the FDS as well as excerpts from the essay* at the URL below. The whole essay is very interesting for the sake of space I have excerpted what pertains to the points in the following paragraph.
http://www.towerwatch.com/articles_and_stories/articles/slave.htm
Where or who was the "faithful and discreet slave" between 100 A.D. and 1879 A.D.? Were there enough to form the slave? What about the Lollards, the Waldenses, the Paulicans? Who were the domestics they fed? What were they fed? Who was the slave on earth when Charles Taze Russell appeared on the scene in the 1870?s? What has the WTS said?
w60
7/15 p. 435 The Awake "Faithful and Discreet Slave"Down through the years the slavelike congregation has been feeding its true members faithfully and discreetly. From Pentecost, A.D. 33, up to this very present hour this has been lovingly and carefully performed.
Jesus confidently answers that question in the above-referred-to illustration of the sower by saying: "Just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the consummation of the system of things. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matt. 13:40, 43) So it was indicated that many of the "wheat" class of righteous ones, anointed ones, would survive here on earth up to and during the "time of the end."
w81 3/1 p. 24 Do You Appreciate the "Faithful and Discreet Slave"? Jehovah?s Witnesses believe that this parable pertains to the one true congregation of Jesus Christ?s anointed followers.Beginning with Pentecost, 33 C.E., and continuing through the 19 centuries since then, this slavelike congregation has been feeding its members spiritually, doing so faithfully and discreetly.
Witnesses of Jehovah understand that the "slave" is comprised of all anointed Christians as a group on earth at any given time during the 19 centuries since Pentecost.
The Watchtower has also said the following:
"Thirty years later found a small group of men, not associated with the Adventists or affiliated with any of the religious sects of Christendom, studying the Holy Scriptures at Pittsburgh (Allegheny), Pennsylvania, U.S.A. ...They studied independently so as to avoid looking at the Bible through sectarian spectacles."
God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached pgs 185,186"The true doctrines of the Bible had been so twisted throughout the period of apostasy that no clear vision of Christ's second presence would be possible until these doctrines themselves had been cleared up....It was not yet God's due time to bring about his restoration of true worship."
Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose pg. 14Here it becomes evident that the WTS has taught two contradictory teachings about "the faithful and discreet slave."
On the one hand they claim that it has always functioned from 33 CE continually dispensing progressive spiritual food down through the centuries,
and on the other hand
they claim that rather than a perpetual feeding of healthful teachings, it wasn't until 1914 that true worship was restored
. This, however, flies in the face of the above-quoted Watchtowers.In the past the Watchtower has downplayed or eliminated certain groups as possible members of the FDS between 100 and 1879 AD.
w63
3/1 p. 145 The General Priesthood TodayAlready such pre-Reformation movements as the Waldenses in Central Europe and the Lollards of Britain had tried to live up to the general priesthood. After the "reformation" a movement in Germany known as "Pietism" and our generation?s Oxford movement have to some extent tried to do the same, but all these efforts were evidently without the support of God?s holy spirit, because they all came to nothing
w65
3/15 pp. 191-192 Questions from Readers (excerpts)Have
there been witnesses of Jehovah on earth in every period of human history? What about the Dark Ages?That Jehovah has also had witnesses on earth from Christ?s time until our day seems to be indicated by Jesus? parable of the wheat and weeds
as recorded at Matthew chapter thirteen. Therein Jesus stated that both the wheat and the weeds would continue growing together until the harvest, when a separation would take place. This parable may be taken to imply that during all this time, from the first sowing until the harvest, there would be some genuine Christians, "wheat," even though at times their number might be exceedingly small.Thus throughout the centuries there have been professed Christians who rejected the error of the trinity, usually called
"Arians." There were those who closely followed primitive Christianity and who were known as quartodecimans because of celebrating Christ?s memorial on Nisan 14, holding out against the paganizing trend of Rome. Then there were the Paulicans from the seventh century onward, whose teachings have been termed "genuine apostolic Bible-Christianity." They stood solely by the "New Testament," practiced adult baptism, , believed that God in his love had sent an angel to earth who at his baptism became God?s Son. They rejected unscriptural tradition, had no clergy-laity distinction, refused to revere the cross.Then there were the
Waldenses from the twelfth century forward, who had much in ommon with the previous Paulicians in rejecting all false tradition such as purgatory, the mass, and so forth, and adhering closely to the Bible, although they did not limit themselves to the so-called "New Testament." The only two ceremonies they recognized were baptism and the Lord?s evening meal. They strictly followed Bible principles regarding morality and refused to celebrate popular religious holidays such as Palm Sunday, Easter, All Saints? Day, and so forth. Typical is the statement of one of them, who was martyred, that ?the Cross should not be prayed to but loathed as the instrument of the Just One?s death.?Many were the Arians, Paulicians and Waldenses, not to mention others, who because of their Bible-based religion suffered martyrdom.
Not that this in itself or together with their beliefs, as noted in the foregoing, indicated that all of them had God?s approval. Why not? Because time and again not a few of these took up the sword to defend themselves against Roman Catholic crusades in violation of Matthew 26:52 .w75
10/1 p. 583 Almost 6,000 Years of Witnessing for JehovahBut after the close of the first century, as foretold, the "weed" class of false Christians, sown by Satan, began to persecute the "wheat" class, the true Christians. About the fourth century, some who rejected the pagan Trinity doctrine were labeled "Arians." Others who held faithfully to celebrating the Memorial of Christ?s death on Nisan 14 were termed "Quartodecimans (or, Fourteenthers)." In the seventh century some who held to "genuine apostolic Bible-Christianity" were called "Paulicians." But this name-calling, along with persecutions, did not deter faithful anointed Christians from keeping their integrity!?Luke chapters 1 and 2; Matt. 13:24-30.
Amidst Christendom?s vast domain of imitation Christians, the true anointed Christians continued to remain loyal in the face of sadistic tortures and martyrdom at the hands of the Catholic priesthood
. From the twelfth century C.E., the "Waldenses" in France rejected Catholic traditions in favor of adhering closely to the Bible. Many of these became martyrs. One of them said: ?The Cross should not be prayed to but loathed as the instrument of the Just One?s death.? w81 8/1 p. 15 The Waldenses?Heretics or Truth-Seekers? But the early Waldenses, although accused of being "heretics," were in fact sincere truth-seekers and pioneers in Bible translation, Bible teaching and simple Christian living. To be sure, they did not break free from all the false doctrines of Babylonish false religion. But they apparently lived up to the knowledge they had of God?s Word. Many, it would appear, were willing to die rather than renounce their faith. Of course, only "Jehovah knows those who belong to him." We can, therefore, safely leave any reward of future life in his hands.?2 Tim. 2:19. Revelation Climax book (1988) chap. 6 p. 31 Unlocking a Sacred Secret In his parable of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus foretold the time of darkness that would exist while Christendom reigned supreme. Nevertheless, through all the centuries of apostasy, there would exist individual wheatlike Christians, genuine anointed ones. (Matthew 13:24-29, 36-43) Revelation Climax book (1988) chap. 11 p. 57 Is Your Name in the Book of Life? Likewise, when professed Christians were absorbed into Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, during the long centuries of the great apostasy, there must always have been a few individuals who tried, against great odds, to do Jehovah?s will. These were righteous like wheat hidden amid a profusion of sectarian weeds.?Revelation 17:3-6; Matthew 13:24-29. w94 12/1 p. 11 The Rightful Place of Jehovah?s Worship in Our Lives Satan successfully sowed imitation Christians in among the genuine, making it difficult to distinguish these "weeds" from wheatlike Christians. Nevertheless, over the passing centuries, some individuals put the worship of God first, even at the risk of their lives. But not until the closing decades of "the appointed times of the nations" did God regather his servants to elevate true worship.?Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; Luke 21:24. w95 10/1 p. 27 Guard Your Sense of Urgency Then, through the centuries of the Dark Ages, the few wheatlike Christians kept the Kingdom hope alive, as Christ Jesus had foretold. (Matthew 13:28-30) But who proved to be the ones described here and who were they in 1870?s?w60 7/15 p. 435 The Awake "Faithful and Discreet Slave"Down through the years the slavelike congregation has been feeding its true members faithfully and discreetly. From Pentecost, A.D. 33, up to this very present hour this has been lovingly and carefully performed.Jesus confidently answers that question in the above-referred-to illustration of the sower by saying: "Just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the consummation of the system of things. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matt. 13:40, 43) So it was indicated that many of the "wheat" class of righteous ones, anointed ones, would survive here on earth up to and during the "time of the end."
START OF ARTICLE
On Tuesday afternoon, Nisan 11, 33 CE, Jesus? disciples raised a question that has profound meaning for us today. They asked him: "What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things." In reply, Jesus uttered a remarkable prophecy. He spoke of a tumultuous period of wars, famines, earthquakes, and diseases. And that would only be "a beginning of pangs of distress." There would be worse to come. What a frightening prospect!?Matthew 24:3,7,8,15-22; Luke 21:10,11.First, why the Tuesday afternoon; Tuesday is named after a pagan god and was not in use in Jesus? time just as the year 33 CE is a time indicator of recent invention.
2 Since 1914, most aspects of Jesus? prophecy have been fulfilled. The "pangs of distress" are upon mankind in full measure.Really, what about earthquakes?
http://www.geocities.com/osarsif/earth.htmNo proof is presented here even in references to other WTS publications which is quite presumptuous of the WTS.
Still, true Christians (buzzword meaning only JWs) 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 (only JWs) spiritual food supply?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 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 say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings." (Matthew 24:45-47) 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?
Notice they don?t specifically ask if there was a group of individuals or a succession of a group of individuals assigned to provide spiritual food.
Since the faithful slave supplies desperately needed spiritual food, it is in our interests to find the answer.An Individual or a Class?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 (Jesus? presence in 1874 was a doctrine taught by the WTS until 1943) . That would represent some 1,900 years of faithful service for one individual. Not even Methuselah lived that long!?Genesis 5:27The WTS did teach that there could be a succession of individuals acting as the slave because Charles Taze Russell was viewed as such by the majority of his followers during and after his lifetime and he did little to deny it.
The Watchtower Reprints, April 15th 1904, Page 3356: "However much we might endeavor to apply this figure to the Lord's people collectively, the fact would still remain that the various items stated would not fit to a company of individuals. For instance, in the 42nd verse, in the common version it is rendered, that faithful steward; as though a particular one were meant and the term not used indefinitely for a number but since the servant mentioned is to dispense food to the other members of the body, his fellow-servants, the term seems to be limited to some particular individual." Foreword of 1911 Convention ReportThe society acknowledges that Pastor Russell was "that Servant:""[The Lord] has placed Pastor Russell in charge of the work this side of the veil. We are glad, therefore, to recognize him as "that servant..." The Watchtower Reprints November 11th 1915, Page 5804: "Beloved Brother, it has been our thought this year to send you some slight token of the great love we have for you, as God's appointed servant and channel for dispensing the 'meat in due season' to the household of faith."The Watch Tower (12/1/1916) P. 5998 - Written After Russell's Death "Pastor Russell held closely to the Scriptures. He believed that Christ had been present since 1874. He also admitted in private to being that "Faithful and Wise Servant."
The Watchtower April 1st 1920 Issue, Pages 100 and 101:
"Do we believe that the Lord chose as an earthly representative to serve the household of faith one wise and faithful servant whom he made ruler over the household, and that the person so chosen was Charles Taze Russell?.... We assume that every one in present truth, realizing that his knowledge of present truth came from the Lord through the ministration of his servant, will answer the foregoing questions in the affirmative.... (No one in present truth for a moment doubts that Brother Russell filled the office of the 'faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season'.)""The Society, in regular session, by an overwhelming majority vote, expressed its will in substance thus; Brother Russell filled the office of 'that servant'"5 Well, might the term "faithful and discreet slave" apply in a general sense to each individual Christian? It is true that all Christians must be faithful and discreet; however, Jesus clearly had something more in mind when he spoke of "the faithful and discreet slave." How do we know that? Because he said that the "master on arriving" would appoint the slave "over all his belongings." How could each individual Christian be placed over everything?over "all" of the Lord?s belongings? Impossible!Yet they had felt that Charles Taze Russell, one individual, could be placed over everything.w95 5/15 p. 16 Flashes of Light?Great and Small (Part 1)If all the anointed as a group, no matter where on earth they live, are members of the slave class, who are the "domestics"? They are the same anointed ones but considered from a different viewpoint?as individuals. Yes, as individuals they would be of the "slave" or they would be "domestics," depending on whether they were dispensing spiritual food or partaking of it. Yet still they could not define who were the slave between 100 and 1879 AD.w95 5/15 p. 16 Flashes of Light?Great and Small (Part 1) In this regard, the book God?s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached stated: "As to just how the ?faithful and discreet slave? class existed and served down through the centuries after the death of the apostles of the Master Jesus Christ, we do not have a distinct historical picture. Apparently one generation of the ?slave? class fed the next succeeding generation thereof.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." (Isaiah 43:10) Every member of the nation of Israel from 1513 BCE, when the Mosaic Law was given, down to Pentecost 33 CE was part of this servant class. Most Israelites did not have a direct share in administering the nation?s affairs or in coordinating its spiritual feeding program. Jehovah used the kings, judges, prophets, priests, and Levites to carry out those tasks. Still, as a nation, Israel was to represent Jehovah?s sovereignty and tell his praises among the nations. Each Israelite was to be a witness of Jehovah.?Deuteronomy 26:19; Isaiah 43:21; Malachi 2:7; Romans 3:1,2.So they say, it could be a group, yet they undercut the participation of the group the saying "most Israelites did not have a direct share in administering the nation?s affairs." That way you will understand how only 12 to 18 men in NYC effectively function as the "slave."
Considering that the Israelites were not to associate with Gentiles, who were they to witness to, how were they to "tell his praises among the nations"?
A "Servant" is Dismissed 7 Since Israel was God?s "servant" centuries ago, was it also the slave that Jesus spoke about? No, for ancient Israel sadly turned out to be neither faithful nor discreet. Paul sums up the situation when he quotes Jehovah?s words to the nations, "The name of God is being blasphemed on account of you people among the nations." (Romans 2:24) Indeed, Israel climaxed a long history of rebellion by rejecting Jesus, at which point Jehovah rejected them.?Matthew 21:42,43.Of course, he rejected them as a group, otherwise JWs would never talk to a Jew. There was a time that the WTS felt the Jews would be restored; a book "Comfort the Jews" was even written outlining that.
Proclaimers Book chap. 10 p. 141 Growing in Accurate Knowledge of the Truth The Bible Students were well aware of the many prophecies of restoration that were delivered to ancient Israel by God?s prophets. (Jer. 30:18; 31:8-10; Amos 9:14, 15; Rom. 11:25, 26) Down till 1932, they understood these to apply specifically to the natural Jews. Thus, they believed that God would show Israel favor again, gradually restoring the Jews to Palestine, opening their eyes to the truth regarding Jesus as Ransomer and Messianic King, and using them as an agency for extending blessings to all nations. With this understanding, Brother Russell spoke to large Jewish audiences in New York as well as in Europe on the subject "Zionism in Prophecy," and Brother Rutherford, in 1925, wrote the book Comfort for the Jews.8 This unfaithfulness on the part of the "servant," Israel, did not mean that faithful worshipers would be forever cut off from a spiritual food supply. At Pentecost 33 CE, 50 days after Jesus? resurrection, holy spirit was poured out upon about 120 of his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem. At that moment, a new nation was born. Appropriately, its birth was publicized when its members boldly began telling the inhabitants of Jerusalem about "the magnificent things of God." (Acts 2:11) Thus, that new nation, a spiritual nation, became the "servant" that would declare Jehovah?s glory to the nations and supply food at the proper time. (1 Peter 2:9) Fittingly, it came to be called "the Israel of God."?Galatians 6:16.9 Every member of "the Israel of God" is a dedicated, baptized Christian (only JWs) anointed with holy spirit and having a heavenly hope. Hence, the expression "faithful and discreet slave" refers to all members of that anointed spiritual nation as a group on earth at any particular time from 33 CE until now, just as every Israelite living at any time from 1513 BCE until Pentecost 33 CE was part of the pre-Christian servant class.But the are unable to pinpoint any individual or group of individuals as the slave from 100 AD to 1879 AD.
Who, though, are the "domestics," who receive spiritual nourishment from the slave? In the first century CE, every Christian cherished the heavenly hope. Consequently, the domestics were also anointed Christians, viewed, not as a group, but as individuals. All, including those who held responsible positions in the congregation (not women), needed spiritual food from the slave.?1 Corinthians 12:12, 19-27; Hebrews 5:11-13; 2 Peter 3:15,16."To Each One His Work"10 While "the Israel of God" is the faithful and discreet slave class with an assignment of work, each member also has personal responsibilities. Jesus? words recorded at Mark 13:34 make this plain. He said: "It is like a man traveling abroad that left his house and give the authority to his slaves, to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to keep on the watch." So each member of the slave class has received an assignment?to increase Christ?s earthly belongings. He carries out this task according to his own ability and opportunities.?Matthew 25: 14,15.While the WTS says it is "according to his own ability and opportunities," they will point out what they feel your abilities and opportunities are.
11 Further, the apostle Peter told anointed Christians in his day: "In proportion as each one has received a gift, use it in ministering to one another as fine stewards of God?s undeserved kindness expressed in various ways." (1 Peter 4:10) Hence, those anointed ones have the responsibility to minister to one another using the gifts God gave them (the WTS put this sentence in just in case you did understand the scripture!). Peter?s words indicate that not all Christians would have the same abilities, responsibilities, or privileges. However, each member of the slave class could contribute in some way to the growth of the spiritual nation. How?Was this the gift of the holy spirit, speaking in tongues, healing, prophesying? Either way, the WTS is setting up the thinking that while all the anointed alive on earth constitute the FDS that only a select few actually have the authority to determine "truth."
13 When new disciples were found, they were to be carefully taught to observe all the things that Christ had commanded his disciples. In time, responsive ones became qualified to teach others.I wondered how long Cornelius studied before he was baptized. That?s right he received the holy spirit before he was baptized and after only a short speech by Peter.
Nourishing spiritual food was made available to prospective members of the slave class in many nations. All anointed Christians, male and female, shared in carrying out the commission of making disciples. (Acts 2:17,18) This work was to continue from the time the slave first began its work until the end of this system of things.What would that nourishing food have been? Nothing like the WT or other publications existed? Would people have used just the scriptures? What a challenge that would be for JWs today.
And who would have done that work between 100 to 1879 AD?(Pictures page 10: Once again the WTS takes liberties with history. There are 2 men at a table facing a group people, young and old. The audience have scrolls in their laps, scrolls on the table and in a basket next to the table. Each row of seats is elevated like bleachers. Is this a home? Would each one have had access to any scrolls. People are raising their hands to comment???? Are the children in the audience of the anointed? If they had been baptized at 6 as we see in the WTS today?
Second picture: Two men talking to another man at the door. What proof is there that Christians went door to door? Could women have done so culturally? How many become JWs through the door to door work? A CO asked people to raise their hand and it was less than ¼. The rest learned through relatives, neighbors, friends, workmates, informally. Newly baptized anointed ones became part of the slave, and regardless of who initially taught them, they went on to receive instruction from members of the congregation who met the Scriptural qualifications to serve as older men. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9) These appointed men were thus privileged (buzzword intended to make them seem "humble" but actual elevated them over the others) to contribute in a special (buzzword that elevates them) way. Faithful anointed Christian women did not resent that only Christian men were assigned to teach in the congregation. (1 Corinthians 14:34,35)Actually only SOME Christian men were assigned to teach, those "who met the Scriptural qualifications." I remember an older sister who felt that sisters giving talks in the school should wear a headcovering since they were teaching from the platform. I bet the elders are still trying to explain that to her if she isn?t dead already.
Rather, they were happy to benefit from the hard work of male members of the congregation (only the ones with "scriptural qualifications"?) and were grateful for the privileges open to women (why can women clean toilets but not carry microphones?), including that of bringing glad tidings to others. Zealous anointed sisters today manifest the same humble attitude, whether the appointed elders are of the anointed or not.I bet the elders are benefiting more from the "real" hard work the female members are doing. BTW, what was the commission from Jesus, to given talks and make personality judgments of the sheep or was it "bringing glad tidings to others." Comparing women to men in the KH today, who is really "bringing glad tidings to others"?
The zealous anointed sisters of today that I knew did not "manifest the same humble attitude" and routinely reminded the elders that this sister was anointed.
15 The fundamental spiritual food given in the first century proceeded directly from the pens of the apostles and other disciples who were taking the lead. The letters they wrote?especially those found among the 27 inspired books that made up the Christian Greek Scriptures (New Testament)?were circulated among the congregations and without doubt provided the basis for teaching by the local elders. In this way, representatives of the slave faithfully distributed rich spiritual food to sincere Christians. The first-century slave class proved faithful to its commission.They aren?t comparing the WT publications to the 27 inspired books of the New Testament are they?
And now a quick leap from the first century to 1914. What happened to the slave between 100 to 1914 AD?
The "Slave" 19 Centuries Later 16 What about today? When Jesus? presence began in 1914 (officially 1874 until 1943), 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. (Matthew 7:20) History since then has proved this identification to be correct.What were the FDS teaching incorrectly between 1914-1918 and afterCelebrating birthdays/holidays
Creature worship
Elective elders
Character development
Incorrect view of higher powers in Romans 13:1 (corrected in 1929 and then corrected again in 1962)
Using the cross
Believing Russell was the faithful slave
The teaching of the time of the end began in 1799
Christ returned invisibly in 1874.
The world would be destroyed in 1914
The Pyramids were God's Witness - a Bible in Stone
18 Yes, when the Master arrived, he found his faithful slave conscientiously feeding the domestics as well as preaching the good news.
What were they feeding them? Inaccuracies (see above).
Greater responsibilities now awaited that slave. Jesus said: "Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings." (Matthew 24:47)Jesus did this in 1919, after the slave had passed through a period of testing.What "false" teachings did the WTS continue to teach long after 1919? Was the WTS truly clean in God?s eyes by their standards?Armageddon a social revolution (corrected in 1926)Celebration of Christmas (corrected in 1928)
Great Pyramid of Gizeh was God?s stone witness (corrected 1928)
Use of the cross (corrected in 1936)
1874 presence of Jesus (corrected in 1943)
Superior authorities Jesus and God (1929)(corrected in 1962)Why, though, did "the faithful and discreet slave" receive greater responsibilities? Because the Master had received an increase to his belongings. Jesus was given the kingship in 1914.
Are we to assume there was no increase in the numbers of Christians in other religions?
19 What are the belongings over which the newly crowned Master appointed his faithful slave? All the spiritual things that belong to Him here on earth. For example, two decades after Christ?s enthronement in 1914, "a great crowd" of "other sheep" was identified. (Revelation 7:9; John 10:16)Could the other sheep be the Gentiles?
These were, not anointed members of "the Israel of God," but sincere men and women with an earthly hope, who loved Jehovah (not Jesus?) and who wanted to serve him just as the anointed did. In effect, they said to "the faithful and discreet slave": "We will go with you people, for we have heard that God is with you people." (Zechariah 8:23)Yes the WTS teaches that God is only with them, not with anyone else. They the only earthly channel to God.
w94 10/1 The Bible?A Book Meant to Be Understood Even as Bible prophecy pointed forward to the Messiah, it also directs us to the close-knit body of anointed Christian Witnesses that now serve as the faithful and discreet slave. It helps us to understand the Word of God. All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah?s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave.?John 6:68.These newly baptized Christians partook of the same rich spiritual food (see doctrines above) as the anointed domestics, and the two classes have shared this spiritual table ever since. What a blessing this has been for members of the "great crowd"!20 The members of the "great crowd" gladly jointed the anointed slave class as preachers of the good news. As they preached, the Master?s earthly belongings increased, adding to the responsibilities of "the faithful and discreet slave." With the number of truth seekers swelling, expanded printing facilities became necessary to keep up with the demand for Bible literature (Bibles or WTs?). Branch offices of Jehovah?s Witnesses were established in one land after another. Missionaries were sent out "to the most distant part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) From approximately five thousand anointed ones in 1914, the ranks of God?s praisers have increased to more than six million today, the majority of whom are of the "great crowd." Yes, indeed, the King?s belongings have increased manyfold since his coronation in 1914!
Yes, the WTS believes numbers means God is blessing them; but who is the fastest growing Christian religion? Mormons, does that mean they are the one true religion then, not the WTS?
w01 1/15 p. 12 Overseers and Ministerial Servants Theocratically Appointed "The little one himself will become a thousand, and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, shall speed it up in its own time."?Isaiah 60:22.Is there evidence that this prophecy is undergoing fulfillment today? Yes, indeed! During the 1870?s, one congregation of Jehovah?s people was formed in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. From such a small beginning, tens of thousands of congregations have sprung up and are flourishing worldwide. Millions of Kingdom proclaimers?a mighty nation?are now associating with more than 91,000 congregations in 235 lands around the earth. Unquestionably, this confirms that Jehovah is speeding up the ingathering of true worshipers before the outbreak of the "great tribulation," now so near at hand.?Matthew 24:21; Revelation 7:9-14.21 All of this shows that the slave has been both "faithful and discreet " (but teaching unclean spiritual truths from 1919 to 1962 and longer by their own definition.) Just after he spoke of "the 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. (Matthew 25:1-30) We are intrigued! What meaning do those parables have for us today? We will take up this question in the following article.Concluding CommentsIn "humility" the WTS has entitled next week?s article, ?The Faithful Slave? Passes The Test!
According to the WTS, Jesus came to inspect the slave in 1919, but what were they teaching? How were they any different that the Christian religions they said Jesus rejected?
Who was the slave between 100 and 1879 AD? The following is an excerpt from the URL below. I would recommend doing a Google search for the "faithful and discreet slave" and add either Watchtower or Jehovah?s for other interesting reads.
http://www.towerwatch.com/articles_and_stories/articles/slave.htm
Lets say for arguments sake that there really was a faithful and discrete slave class functioning down through the centuries. The following questions would emerge:
- After the post- apostolic period we find that Christians were in a very wide spread area of the earth. Who formed this one and only "Slave Class?" Who comprised this collective group that allegedly served as God's sole channel of communication to supply the same spiritual food for the genuine Christians of the second, third, and fourth centuries?
- What about historically? Since history is by no means silent on religious development down through the centuries, why is it nothing can be found that acceptably fits the Watchtower Society's description of a single on-going entity functioning down through the centuries as the one and only feeding source for all true Christians in all places?
- Why not point to the "slave class" in the 18th and 19th centuries when information is more abundant and where history can be found in minutiae?
- If the Bible cannot be understood without the "slave class," and if just private study of the Bible is deemed ineffectual and contrary to God's historical way of providing understanding, why didn?t C.T. Russell contact the 1900 year old" Faithful Slave" to understand his Bible?
- Didn?t Russell act untheocratically by striking out on his own in 1879 "independent" of the then existing "faithful slave organization"?
- If one generation's spiritual light was followed by even greater spiritual light in the succeeding generation, then it only stands to reason that after 1900 years of ever illuminating light, this light would be dazzling with a blinding brilliance! Why is it then that we find C.T.Russell in 1879 heralding a false presence of Christ, a false resurrection date, teaching that blacks will become white in the millennium, (Watchtower 4/1/1914 Watchtower4/15/1900) looking forward to going to the star Alcyone, believing Michael the archangel to be the pope of Rome, (The Finished Mystery) measuring the floors of the pyramid of Gizeh and making scores of prophetic statements that would one and all prove to be utterly false?
- Why is it that there is archeological evidence to support the people mentioned in the Bible (which adds to the Bible's credibility and authenticity) and yet such evidence is missing in regard to the" Faithful Slave"?
- Furthermore, if throughout two-thousand years one is categorically unable to identify a composite body of believers who fits the Watchtower's description of the faithful slave, how is it possible to claim it ever existed - let alone define its teaching content as "progressive"? Based on what data can one make such a qualification if one is unable to identify "the slave" in the first place?