Comments You Will Not Hear at the February 20, 2005 WT Study (January 15, 2005) Review comments will be in black and parentheses ()
WT quotes from today?s WT
will be in red and quotes ""Quotes from other sources
will be in blueCHRIST?THE FOCUS OF PROPHECY
"The bearing of witness to Jesus is what inspires prophesying." Revelation 19:10 (NWT)
I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn't let me. "Don't do that," he said. "I'm a servant just like you, and like your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."?Revelation 19:10 (Message Bible)
www.biblegateway.com /cgi-bin/bibleOpening Comments
Did you notice again that the theme scripture talks about Christians being "witnesses of Jesus" not JWs?
The theme scripture is a snippet of this:
At that I fell down before his feet to worship him. But he tells me: "Be careful! Do not do that! All I am is a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who have the work of witnessing to Jesus. Worship God; for the bearing witness to Jesus is what inspires prophesying.
" REVELATION 19:10 (NWT)This scripture was used in conjunction with telling the truth:
w03
8/1 pp. 15-16 Imitating the God of Truth/Jehovah?s Servants Are Truthful Like Jehovah, his faithful Witnesses are truthful.Jesus Christ, the preeminent Witness of Jehovah, affirmed the truth by the things he taught and by the way he lived and died. He upheld the truth of Jehovah?s word and promises. Consequently, Jesus was the very embodiment of the truth, as he himself stated.?John 14:6; Revelation 3:14; 19:10.Jesus was "full of undeserved kindness and truth" and "there was no deception in his mouth." (John 1:14; Isaiah 53:9) True Christians follow the pattern that Jesus set in being truthful with others. Paul counseled fellow believers: "Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members belonging to one another." (Ephesians 4:25) Earlier, the prophet Zechariah wrote: "Speak truthfully with one another." (Zechariah 8:16) Christians are truthful because they want to please God. Jehovah is truthful and knows the harm that results from falsehood. Therefore, he rightfully expects his servants to tell the truth.To many, lying may seem a convenient tool to obtain certain advantages. People lie to escape punishment, to profit in some way, or to gain the praise of others. Yet, a practice of lying is a vice. What is more, a liar cannot gain God?s approval. (Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15) When we are known to be truthful, others believe what we say; they trust us. However, if we are caught telling even a single lie, others may doubt the truthfulness of anything we say in the future. An African proverb states: "One falsehood spoils a thousand truths." Another proverb says: "A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth." Is there "a single lie" in this article? START OF ARTICLE
Paragraphs 1,2
The year is 29 C.E. Israel is abuzz with talk about the promised Messiah. The ministry of John the Baptizer (why not Baptist, see addendum at end of article) has heightened the sense of expectation. (Luke 3:15)Those who have studied the Scriptures and who observe Jesus? works have a solid basis for putting their faith in him.
However, God?s covenant people in general show a lack of faith. Relatively few acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. (John 6:60-69)
Translation: However, God?s covenant people in general Babylon the Great/Christendom show a lack of faith. Relatively few acknowledge that Jesus the WTS is the Christ, the Son of God the "faithful and discreet slave" the only earthly channel to Christ.
I know this, if Jesus had lived today and attended the meetings at the KH and wanted to be baptized, he would have had to shave that beard. In fact the WTS "shaved" his beard in their pictures of Jesus until 1968.**see addendum
Jesus Himself Gives the EvidenceParagraphs 3-8
Jesus?presents three powerful lines of reasoning that would convince any honesthearted Jew of Jesus? true identity. Translation:"And I have see it, and I have borne witness that this one is the Son of God."
And who has borne witness that the WTS/FDS is from God?
Why Jesus (or God)?in 1919
Isaiah?s Prophecy 2 chap. 27 p. 397 Jehovah Blesses Pure Worship ***These words in Isaiah harmonize with two other prophetic utterances, the one recorded at Ezekiel 43:4, 6-9 and the other at Malachi 3:1-5. Both Ezekiel and Malachi foretell a time when Jehovah God comes to his temple. Malachi?s prophecy shows that Jehovah comes to inspect his house of pure worship and to act as a Refiner, rejecting those who misrepresent him. Ezekiel?s vision depicts Jehovah as entering the temple and demanding that all traces of immorality and idolatry be removed. In the modern-day fulfillment of these prophecies, there was an important spiritual development in 1918 in connection with Jehovah?s worship. Jehovah and Jesus evidently made an inspection of all of those claiming to represent pure worship. That inspection led to the final casting off of corrupt Christendom. For Christ?s anointed followers, the inspection meant a brief period of refinement followed by a swift spiritual restoration in 1919.?1 Peter 4:17.Next (2), Jesus?points to his own fine works as evidence of God?s backing.Even Jesus? enemies could not deny this evidence, which included numerous miracles. (John 5:36)
Finally (3), Jesus draws attention to an unassailable witness. "The Scriptures?are the very ones that bear witness about me," he says?
They (the Jews of Jesus? day) were "accepting glory from one another." No wonder they were at odds with Jesus. Fortified by a Prophetic Vision
Paragraphs 9-13
Passover of the year 32 C.E. has come and gone. Many who believed have ceased following him,Perhaps (buzzword meaning that what follows is WTS speculation)Because of persecution, materialism, or the anxieties of life. Others may be confused or disappointed because Jesus rejected the people?s efforts to make him king. When challenged by the Jewish religious leaders, he refused to provide a self-glorifying sign from heaven. (Matthew 12:38,29)This refusal may have puzzled some. Furthermore, Jesus has begun to reveal to his disciples something they find very difficult to grasp?"he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the older men and chief priests and scribes, and be killed."?Matthew 16:21-23.Can you see how the WTS is setting this up for a future application today on the WTS?
Jesus says, "there are some of those standing here that will not taste death at until first they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:28)Obviously (buzzword meaning that the WTS will not provide any proof), Jesus is not saying that certain ones of his disciples will live until the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom in 1914.
When did Jesus become king over his disciples though? 33 C.E. or 1914 C.E.?
w95 7/1 p. 11 Christian Witnesses With Heavenly Citizenship ***The new nation is the anointed Christian congregation, born at Pentecost 33 C.E. Its first members were Jewish disciples of Jesus who accepted him as their heavenly King. (Acts 2:5, 32-36)w76 3/15 p. 188 Reconciliation Through God?s Mercy Before Har?Magedon ***In 33 C.E. Jehovah glorified the Messiah Jesus as King in heaven. A remnant of believing Israelites followed him as their heavenly Messianic King. (Col. 1:13)Jesus has in mind giving three of his intimate disciples a spectacular foregleam of his glory in Kingdom power?the transfiguration.Yet the transfiguration is not to be the last of the visions granted to Jesus? followers.Do you think the WTS will try to show that they have received visions?
Further Enlightenment for God?s Loyal OnesParagraphs 14-16
There he (Jesus) tells Peter: "if it is my will for [John](brackets mean that the word does not appear in the Bible and has been added) to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you?" (John 21:1, 20-22,24) Do these words indicate that the apostle John would outlive the other apostles? Apparently (buzzword) so?However, there is more to Jesus? statement."until I come"John remains until Jesus comes in that John is given a prophetic vision of Jesus coming in Kingdom power.
Today we are well along in "the Lord?s day."Soon,Christ will destroy Satan?s entire wicked system of things?
And everyone who is not a dedicated, baptized JW
We must?take full advantage of all of Jehovah?s provisions (only through the WTS). Preserved Through Darkness and Tribulation
Paragraphs 17-21
Despite waves of persecution, Jehovah blesses?with spiritual enlightenment and many new disciples.In 70 C.E?faithful Christians, escape?
Our situation is similar. The upcoming great tribulation will spell the end of Satan?s entire wicked system.
In 1914 that foregleam (of his heavenly glory as Messianic King) became a reality.
Jehovah?s servants have been granted progressive insight into that reality?Proverbs 4:18.
Even before 1914, a small band of anointed Christians began to grasp important truths about the Lord?s return.
They discerned that it would be invisible (in 1874 though).
Jesus? departure was observed only by his loyal followers?only his faithful, anointed disciples would discern his royal presence.w74 8/15 p. 507 No Spiritual "Energy Crisis" for Discreet Ones ***Christ?s presence was thought to have begun in October 1874, at the start of the great antitypical Jubilee.?Hence, when C. T. Russell began publishing a new religious magazine in July 1879, it was called "Zion?s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ?s Presence." It was heralding Christ?s presence as having begun in 1874. This invisible presence was expected to continue until the Gentile Times ended in 1914,
when the Gentile nations would be destroyed and the remnant of the "chaste virgin" class would be glorified with their Bridegroom in heaven by death and resurrection to live in the spirit. (1 Cor. 15:42-44) Thus would the "discreet virgin" class enter through the door into the wedding.
So the WTS/FDS was not waiting for the beginning of Christ?s presence in 1914 because it had already begin in 1874.
It wasn?t until 1943 that the WTS realized they had not discerned "his royal presence" properly. Does that mean then they were not "his faithful anointed disciples"?
w74 8/15 p. 507 No Spiritual "Energy Crisis" for Discreet Ones ***In 1943 the Watch Tower Society?s book "The Truth Shall Make You Free" did away with the nonexistent extra 100 years in the period of the Judges and placed the end of 6,000 years of man?s existence in the 1970?s. It also fixed the beginning of Christ?s presence, not in 1874, but in 1914 C.E.Concluding CommentsWell, this is the introductory article to further "foregleams" from God that the WTS says they have received. What foregleams do you know that have been extinguished by "brighter light"?
Love, Blondie
Addendum 1?John the Baptizer or John the Baptist
There is a marked drop in the use of "John the Baptist" in the WT publications from 1976 on. You might wonder why this question merited a discussion in Questions From Readers. Because too many JWs were battling that one was preferred over the other. In one congregation the school overseer would correct you if you said "John the Baptist" explaining that it gave people the idea that John was part of false religion or had founded the Baptist religion.
w93 8/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers Should John who baptized Jesus be referred to as "John the Baptist" or as "John the Baptizer"?Both designations are correct and Biblically supported.John was "to get ready for Jehovah a prepared people," which he did by "preaching baptism in symbol of repentance for forgiveness of sins." (Luke 1:17; 3:3) The apostle Matthew wrote: "John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying: ?Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.? . . . Then Jerusalem and all Judea . . . made their way out to him, and people were baptized by him in the Jordan River, openly confessing their sins."?Matthew 3:1-6.
Notice that Matthew identifies John as "the Baptist." Matthew, who was evidently tailoring his account to Jews, must have felt that the Jews would know who "the Baptist" was. He used "the Baptist" as a sort of surname. Jesus and his disciples used "John the Baptist," as did the servants of Herod.?Matthew 11:11, 12; 14:2; 16:14.
The disciple Mark reports a similar use of "the Baptist." (Mark 6:25; 8:28) But when introducing John, Mark called him "John the baptizer." (Mark 1:4) The Greek involved at Mark 1:4 differs slightly from that of the other verses. Mark 1:4 might also be rendered "the baptizing one." Mark was highlighting what John was doing; he was the one doing baptizing, the baptizer.It does not appear, however, that we must distinguish between these ways of referring to John. At Mark 6:24, 25, we read about Salome: "She went out and said to her mother: ?What should I ask for?? She said: ?The head of John the baptizer.? Immediately she went in with haste to the king and made her request, saying: ?I want you to give me right away on a platter the head of John the Baptist.?" The two designations were used interchangeably.Some people might understand "the Baptist" according to the second definition in a dictionary: "A member or adherent of an evangelical Protestant denomination marked by congregational polity and baptism by immersion of believers only." John certainly was not that.Hence, both "John the Baptist" and "John the Baptizer" are correct and proper.[Footnotes]
The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote of "John, surnamed the Baptist."
Addendum 2?Did Jesus Christ wear a beard when he was on earth?Why did the WTS from 1879 to 1968, depict a clean shaven Jesus? When did beards go out of fashion at the KH? Charles Taze Russell and many early Bible Students had beards? Why did it take so long for the light to shine? See the 1968 and 1954 versions below.w68 5/1 pp. 286-288 Questions from Readers ? When Jesus Christ was a man on earth, did he wear a beard??K.A., U.S.A.Biblical evidence is the most reliable testimony to be found on this question, and a recent careful review of what it says indicates that Jesus did indeed have a beard.
Jesus, born a Jew, "came to be under law" and he fulfilled the Law. (Gal. 4:4; Matt. 5:17) This was in order that he might pave the way for the abolishing of the Law and for release of the Jews from the curse of the Law, the condemnation of death that it brought against them. (Eph. 2:15; Gal. 3:13) Like all other Jews, Jesus was under obligation to keep the whole law. One of the commandments of the Law was: "You must not cut your side locks short around, and you must not destroy the extremity of your beard." (Lev. 19:27) God doubtless gave Israel this law because among some pagans it was the practice to cut the beard in a certain fashion in worship of their gods. (Jer. 9:26; 25:23) Nevertheless, that law did not mean that a beard was not to be well kept, for in the Near East a well-groomed beard was considered a symbol of dignity and respectability.?2 Sam. 19:24.
During extreme grief, shame or humiliation, one might pluck hairs from his beard or leave the beard or the mustache untended. (Ezra 9:3) In several prophetic statements, the shaving off of the beard was used figuratively to illustrate great mourning because of calamity. (Isa. 7:20; 15:2; Jer. 48:37; Ezek. 5:1) Significantly, a prophecy concerning Jesus? suffering states: "My back I gave to the strikers, and my cheeks to those plucking off the hair." (Isa. 50:6) Hanun the king of Ammon grossly insulted the ambassadors kindly sent by David by cutting off half of their beards. Because of their great humiliation, David told these men to dwell in Jericho until their beards grew abundantly. This act of Hanun was, of course, aimed at David as an insult, and provoked war.?2 Sam. 10:1-8; 1 Chron. 19:1-7.
Also, it was generally customary for men to wear beards, even before the law covenant was made. While the Hebrews did not make monuments with figures of themselves, many monuments and inscriptions have been found in Egypt and Mesopotamia and other Near-Eastern lands in which Assyrians, Babylonians and Canaanites are pictured with beards, and some representations dated as far back as the third millennium B.C.E. show beards of varying styles. Among the above-named peoples eunuchs were the only ones depicted as beardless. Often boys were made eunuchs so that later they could be used to care for the king?s harem. (Matt. 19:12) This making eunuchs of men was not a practice in Israel, however, because the Law excluded eunuchs from the congregation of Israel. (Deut. 23:1) At the time Jesus was on earth, the Roman custom was beardlessness. Therefore, if Jesus had been beardless he might have been challenged as either a eunuch or a Roman.
Men of ancient Semitic groups, as we have seen in our consideration of ancient monuments, wore beards, even prior to the time of the Mosaic law. Since a beard grows naturally on most men, it is reasonable to conclude that their forefathers also wore beards. Consequently, it seems evident that Noah, Enoch, Seth and Seth?s father Adam were likewise bearded men.
It is appropriate, however, to give consideration to arguments advanced to the effect that Jesus was beardless. This idea has been largely based on theories built up by certain archaeologists with regard to the so-called "Chalice of Antioch." This is a large silver beaker or cup within a silver framework shell of vines and figures of men. On one side of the cup is a boy, with five men facing him, and on the other side a young but more mature man, beardless, with five others facing him. All appear to be seated. The cup, supposedly found by some natives in Antioch of Syria, was acclaimed as being of the second half of the first century C.E., and therefore the earliest pictorial representation of Christ.
However, an analysis of the facts now makes it evident that the figures on the cup have been identified according to the imagination of the individuals interpreting them. The boy is considered to be Jesus at the age of twelve and the other central figure is said to be Jesus, possibly after his resurrection, or, again, it may be John the Baptist. The other ten figures have been interpreted variously to be ten of the apostles; or the apostles and evangelists; or, on one side the four evangelists with James the son of Zebedee, and on the other side Peter, Saul, James, Jude and Andrew.
There are serious objections made by many archaeologists to these identifications. Really it has been guesswork, and it is impossible to say what is represented by the figures. Some even doubt the authenticity of the cup, believing that it may be a forgery. Most, however, acknowledge it as an authentic discovery but give it a much later date, from the fourth to the sixth century. So it is very doubtful that the cup is an early representation of Christ, if, indeed, it was intended to portray Christ at all.?See The Biblical Archaeologist, December 1941 and February 1942.
Bearing directly on the question is the fact that the early Christian writers, Justin Martyr, Origen, Clement of Alexandria and others, clearly indicate that no satisfactory record of the physical likeness of Jesus and the apostles existed in their time. Augustine, writing about 400 C.E. (De Trinitate, VIII, 4), said that each man had his own idea of Christ?s appearance, and the concepts were infinite.
Evidence from the Roman catacombs has been adduced to bear on the subject. In catacombs thought by some to date from the second century C.E., but by others as no earlier than the third century, pictures have been found. The unusually extensive catacomb called the Catacomb of Priscilla contains wall pictures, one of which is thought to portray the resurrection of Lazarus. It is almost obliterated and is very difficult to make out, but in the center there is a figure that has been taken to be Christ, depicted as a young beardless man. But in the catacombs apocryphal and false religious ideas are also plentifully represented. For example, in the Catacomb of Priscilla, and of about the same date, is a scene of the apocryphal Story of Susanna. A ceiling painting dated a little later contains a Madonna with child, with a star above her head. In the Crypts of Lucina a ceiling painting dated as the middle of the second century includes a little winged person, known as Erotes or Amoretti, which, on pagan tombs, represented departed souls. Therefore, it has become evident to us that the catacomb representations of Jesus are seriously questionable as to authenticity.
It is true that, beginning with the fourth century, the majority of pictures show Christ and his apostles with beards, having emaciated, sad, weak and effeminate "monastic" countenances, usually with a pagan nimbus or halo. These are surely no true representations of the man Jesus Christ, of whom Pontius Pilate said: "Look! The man!" or of him who overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple, and drove their cattle out, neither of the apostles, who vigorously preached God?s Word until it spread over all the Roman Empire. (John 19:1, 5; 2:14-17) No, these were strong, active and happy men, servants of the happy God Jehovah. (1 Tim. 1:11; 6:14, 15; Acts 20:35) The dreary religious pictures are products of the apostasy, which by the fourth century was in full bloom, pagan Emperor Constantine making a fusion of apostate Christianity with pagan religion the State religion.
Nevertheless, as already shown, it is apparent that Jesus did wear a beard, and so artistic representations of him in future Watch Tower publications will harmonize with the Scriptural evidence to that effect.Doubtless the early Christians followed the custom of the time and locality in which they lived, with regard to the wearing of a beard. The Roman custom was beardlessness. Romans converted to Christianity would very likely continue in the Roman custom, while converts from the Jewish community would continue in the Jewish custom of wearing a beard.
Today Christian ministers, like the early Christians, are concerned with neatness and cleanness, but they strive to dress inconspicuously, so that their appearance does not in any way detract from the dignity or the effectiveness of the message they bear. (2 Cor. 6:3, 4) In recent years in many lands a beard or long hair on a man attracts immediate notice and may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society. God?s ministers want to avoid making any impression that would take attention away from their ministry or hinder anyone from listening to the truth. They know that people are watching true Christians very critically and that to a great extent they judge the entire congregation and the good news by the minister?s appearance as a representative of the congregation.
In paradise restored on earth it would not be out of order if men returned to wearing beards, in perfect fashion, like Adam in Eden .
*** w54 8/15 p. 511 Questions from Readers ***The traditional picture of Jesus shows him with long hair and beard, but the Watch Tower publications illustrate him as beardless and with short hair. Which is correct??M. H., United States. The later Watch Tower publications show Jesus as beardless and with short hair because he is shown that way in representations of him that are older than the traditional effeminate-looking picture. In an ancient beaker or cup found at Antioch, Syria, which purports to represent Jesus and his disciples at the Memorial supper, Jesus is engraved thereon as a beardless young man while some of his disciples are pictured with beards. For a photograph of this see Harper?s Bible Dictionary, page 22, in the midst of the article "Antioch, the Chalice of." (M. S. and J. L. Miller, 1952) The scholarly book by Jack Finegan, Light from the Ancient Past, tells of second-century Christian paintings found in the Catacomb of Priscilla, in the room Cappella Greca, and states:
"The painting of the Resurrection of Lazarus is now almost effaced but it is still possible to recognize that on one side is depicted a small building containing a mummy and on the other, the sister of Lazarus standing with arms upraised. In the middle Christ is shown, facing toward the tomb and with the right hand uplifted in a gesture of speech. He is represented in the Roman type, and is dressed in tunic and pallium, the left hand holding the garment. He is youthful and beardless, with short hair and large eyes. . . . The picture is of great interest since it is the oldest representation of Jesus that is preserved anywhere."?Page 371.
Further on this book tells of the painting of the Healing of the Paralytic (Mark 2:1-12) found in the house church in the excavated ancient settlement of Dura in the Syrian desert, and states: "The almost destroyed painting of Christ in the Catacomb of Priscilla at Rome probably belongs, as we have seen, to the middle of the second century. The painting at Dura is dated even more definitely in the first part of the third century. In both pictures Christ is shown as a young and beardless man with short hair and wearing the ordinary costume of the day. These and similar portrayals are the earliest type of Christ as far as is now known in early Christian art. Later in the third century Christ appears still as youthful but with long, curly hair, and from the fourth century on the more familiar bearded type appears."?Pages 408, 409.
As recently as October 7, 1949, the new east window of Stepney Parish Church, the mother church of East London, England, was unveiled by the Earl of Athlone. The photograph of this church window, as published in "The Illustrated London News," October 1, 1949, shows a cross with a young man nailed to it, beardless and with short hair, to represent "Christ crucified, but triumphant."
Since the Bible does not describe Jesus? facial appearance or indicate he had a beard of length, we follow the oldest archaeological evidence rather than the later traditional view that makes Jesus appear effeminate and sallow and sanctimonious. Some use Isaiah 50:6 as proof that Jesus had a beard: "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." This may have been literally fulfilled in a typical way upon Isaiah, foreshadowing the shameful insults and reproaches to be heaped upon the servant class, the primary one of whom is Christ Jesus. Each one of the servant class suffers reproaches, but not necessarily all of the ones here specified. The record shows Jesus was whipped, slapped and spat on, but no mention is made of beard-plucking. If it had happened why would it not have been named along with the other abuses and insults? (Matt. 27:26; Mark 14:65, NW) In fact, the Septuagint rendering of Isaiah 50:6 does not mention the cheeks? being plucked of hair, but as being slapped instead: "I gave my back to scourges, and my cheeks to blows; and I turned not away my face from the shame of spitting." The record in the Gospels states all this did literally happen to Jesus.