Comments You Will Not Hear at the February 27, 2005 WT Study (January 15, 2005 issue) 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 blueFOREGLEAMS OF GOD?S KINGDOM BECOME A REALITY
" You are doing well in paying attention to [the prophetic word] as to a lamp shining in a dark place."--2 Peter 1:19 (NWT)
All of this makes us even more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place. You must keep on paying attention until daylight comes and the morning star rises in your hearts.?2 Peter 1:19 (CEV)
www.biblegateway.com /cgi-bin/bibleOpening Comments
How to do your own WT Review.
Buzzwords/phrases
Examples
True Christians or God?s (Jehovah?s) people (servants) = only JWs
Perhaps, likely, may, might, apparently, etc. = the Bible does not say and the WTS is speculating
http://www.caicusa.org/jws/control/newspeak.htm
http://www.jwfiles.com/jw-words.htm
Snippets and/or partially quote scriptures or cited not quoted
Used as proof with little or no development; note context; note that they string together scriptures without logical connecting development.
Outside quoted sources
Complete?ellipses used? What is in that ellipses, what did they leave out? Do they name author, background as credible source, publication named with date printed and page number?
Is the scripture focus from the OT or the NT?
Note that while an NT scripture may be used, OT examples are developed? Is this article for Christians or Israelites?
Is Jesus mentioned?
How often and what role does he play in the article? After all, this is supposed to be for Christians.
Prophecy/Doctrine
Do you know the past history of this teaching among JWs? This is important if you were a fairly new member.
1874 was taught as the year of Jesus? presence until 1943 (not 1914). Is this presented honestly in the article?
Did you know that the date was once 606 BCE not 607 BCE?
Did you know that 1878 was once taught as the last year people were called to heaven as the anointed?
Did you know that until 1970 the WTS taught that the great tribulation started in 1914 took a hiatus in 1918 to start up again at a future time?
What about flip-flop doctrines such as who the superior authorities are, whether a woman must scream if being raped, whether people who died at Sodom and Gomorrah would be resurrected, could a JW accept an organ transplant?.
What happened to the generation alive in 1914 that would see Armageddon come?
When did the WTS change their teaching that a creative day was 7,000 years long to "many thousand years," a teaching that 1975 was founded on?
START OF ARTICLEParagraphs 1-3
Crisis after crisis?that is a major theme of today?s world?mankind?s problems seem to be raging out of control.Even the world?s religions have not been able to help.
What has the WTS done to help?
Millions (only JWs) look to the future with confidence?because they pay attention to God?s prophetic word.If so, when has the WTS had so many false starts, 1874 (then 1914), 1914 (then 1915), 1925, 1975?
(Daniel 12:4,10)Spiritual insight is reserved only for those who sincerely "rove about" in, or diligently study, God?s Word, submit to his standards, and strive to do his will.?Matthew 13:11-15; 1 John 5:20.As early as the 1870?s before "the last days" commenced, Jehovah God began to shed more light on "the sacred secrets of the kingdom of the heavens." (2 Timothy 3:1-5, Matthew 13:11)
At that time a group of Bible students (note small ?s?) discerned?contrary to popular opinion?that Christ?s return was to be invisible. After being enthroned, Jesus would return in the sense of focusing his royal attention on the earth.
Is that what they really taught? Or rather that 1914 was the end of it all? How does that compare with today?s teachings by the WTS? Was God?s lighting deficient?
http://quotes.watchtower.ca/1914.htm
When a Foregleam Becomes a RealityParagraphs 4-8
The transfiguration vision?strengthened the faith of Peter, James, and John at a time when many had left off following Jesus because he had not fulfilled their unscriptural expectations.Like the expectation that the end (not the beginning) was coming in 1914?
Likewise, in this time of the end, Jehovah has strengthened the faith of his modern-day servants (only JWs) by shedding increased light on the fulfilment of that awesome vision and many related prophecies.Presence in 1874
End in 1914
GT started in 1914 and ended in 1918 to start at a future date
End in 1925
Christ Completes His ConquestParagraphs 9-12
Picture on page 17 shows a black Witness man from the olden days (would never have seen such in a 50?s or 60?s WT)
Like literal birth pangs, these "pangs of distress" will no doubt continue to intensify until Christ ?completes his conquest? by destroying every vestige of Satan?s visible organization.?Matthew 24:8
"No doubt" is a qualifying phrase used when the WTS wants to leave an out in case things don?t intensify as they predict.
Every vestige of Satan?s visible organization = everyone who is not a dedicated, baptized JW, 6 billion plus.The preaching work not only has continued but has attained a scale unprecedented in the history of the world. (Revelation 17:5,6)If one were to compare the preaching done by the Mormons or the Seventh Day Adventists, is it more or less than the WTS? I have had 2 Mormon duos call on me in the last 4 years and not a single JW.
Sadly, though, most people, including millions of professed Christians, fail to discern the invisible realities beyond the momentous events occurring on the earth.With one word, "professed," the WTS casts aside the faith of any Christians who are not JWs. Are JWs the only ones who think we are living in the time of the end?
Veil of spiritual darkness over professed Christians?causing them to abandon the precious Kingdom hope.Anyone who watches religious programming has to have heard of Jack Van Impe.
Have you heard of other preachers with similar themes?
The Kingdom Hope AbandonedParagraphs 13-15
Jesus foretold that apostates, like weeds sown among the wheat, would infiltrate the Christian congregation and lead many astray. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; Acts 20-29-31; Jude 4)In time, these so-called Christians adopted pagan festivals, practices (like wedding rings?) and teachings, even labeling then "Christian." For example, Christmas?
So that is the worst teaching they could come up with?
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 C.E.) stated that the church itself is the Kingdom of God. Such unscriptural thinking gave churches of Christendom theological grounds to embrace political power.Doesn?t the WTS/FDS/GB consider itself representatives of God?s Kingdom on earth?
w01 1/15 p. 21 Keep in Step With Jehovah?s OrganizationKingdom interests on the earth have been entrusted to "the faithful and discreet slave," which is represented by the Governing Body of Jehovah?s Witnesses. (Matthew 24:45-47)w90 7/1 p. 22 The Coming Finale of "the Book of the Wars of Jehovah"This heavenly Jerusalem is none other than God?s Messianic Kingdom, represented on earth today by a small band of anointed Christians who cherish the hope of being fellow rulers with Jesus Christ in that Kingdom.Today, though, the churches are reaping what they have sown. (Galatians 6:7) Many seem to be losing their power as well as their parishioners.SEEM is the operative word here. Many religions are booming. Who is not? The WTS.
What about other religions though?
Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Baptists, and other non-denominational groups are booming.
The same trend can be observed in other parts of the world. What does this betoken for false religion? Will it just die from lack of support?Is that the trend of the WTS (see URL above)?
Be Prepared for God?s Great DayParagraphs 16-19
The simmering hostility toward religion in many parts of the world is an indication that the days of false religion are numbered.Soon Jehovah will move the world?s political elements (in the UN) to unite in efforts to expose and devastate the spiritual harlot Babylon the Great. (Revelation 17:15-17; 18:21).
Although, the WTS leaves it out in this article, it has for years said that the UN would be behind this attack.
w99 5/1 p. 17 "Let the Reader Use Discernment" ***This beast is supported by world rulers. Details supplied in the prophecy help us to identify this symbolic beast as a peace organization that came into existence in 1919 as the League of Nations (a "disgusting thing") and that is now the United Nations. Revelation 17:16, 17 shows that God will yet put it into the hearts of certain human rulers who are prominent in this "beast" to desolate the world empire of false religion. That attack marks the outbreak of the great tribulation.Yet, the WTS was associated with the UN as a non-governmental organization for 10 years and would still be if some non-JW had not stumbled over it.
http://www.beardfreak.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk//un.htm
http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm
Should true Christians fear that event and the other aspects of the "great tribulation" that will follow? (Matthew 24:21) Not at all! They will actually have reasons to rejoice when God against the wicked.Wicked = anyone not a dedicated, baptized JW.
Spiritually alert Christians?students of God?s Word?who know God and who obey his Son (the WTS) can face this system?s end with confidence.After the destruction of Babylon the Great, in his role as Gog of Magog, Satan will launch an all-out attack against Jehovah?s peaceful Witnesses (why not "Christian" witnesses?)Jehovah?s loyal worshipers = only JWs
Matthew 24:43,44 "at an hour that you do not think it to be"
1914, 1915, 1925, 1975
Keep Your SensesParagraphs 20-22
"The faithful and discreet slave" regularly exhorts God?s people (only JWs) to stay spiritually vigilant and to keep their senses. (Matthew 24:45,46; 1 Thessalonians 5:6)By merely citing the scripture at Matthew 24:45,46, the WTS thinks that is sufficient proof to apply the role of the slave to themselves.
Do you appreciate these timely reminders?Translation: If you did, you would be at the meetings.
Do you use them in setting priorities in life?Translation: If you did, you would be at the meetings and pioneering.
Some now associated with Jehovah?s people (only JWs?where is Christ in this picture?) have allowed their spiritual vision to grow dim.Translation: Meeting attendance is dropping dramatically at the KH.
Could it be that they lack patience or endurance, as did some of Jesus? early disciples?How long had they waited, a couple of years. How long have JWs waited, 126 years?
Have anxieties of life, materialism, or persecution affected them?Yes, unlike the people writing this article who don?t have to worry where they will sleep and what they eat and what they will wear, these people have to work on the outside to provide the basics?
Materialism is one of those undefinable terms; does it mean owning your own home (modest); does it mean buying a newer car that doesn?t need much repair as opposed to a piece of junk that is needing $100 or $200 every month to keep it going; what is it; working 2 jobs and barely making the payments for food and shelter and health care?
Persecution from those in the congregation who think you are never good enough spiritually, don?t measure up, are bad association, never socialize with you so that being DF?d looks like an improvement.
Perhaps some have found certain information published by "the faithful and discreet slave" hard to grasp.What would that be?
Finding out in 1980 that it again a conscience matter to have an organ transplant, one year too late for your 14 year old son who turned down one because that is what he thought God wanted.
Finding out in 1995 that the generation of 1914 that would live to see the end is now anyone living since 1914 so the end could be another 100 years in the future.
Finding out choosing alternative service instead of military service is acceptable but not before you spent 8 years in prison and missed the birth of your daughter and the funerals of both your parents.
Finding out that you can accept blood fractions made out of expired stored blood but cannot store your own blood for transfusion.
If any of this has happened to you, we urge you to study God?s Word with renewed zeal.
This assumes that any of the above has a Bible basis to start with.
Concluding CommentsYes, despite trying to say that Christendom is suffering from losing members, the WTS is seeing many no longer attending and thus no longer donating as well.
Yes, the end is VERY SOON NOW.
I don?t think they?re listening.
Love, Blondie