As we approach that most hallowed day of JWs, the Memorial, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss:
How absolutely critical the "Anointed Remnant" is to the credibility of JW doctrine.
- Even within the ranks there is a passive humour about the increase of 5 Memorial partakers between 2003-4.
- In 1994 the number was 8617. 10 years later the number was 8570, a mere drop of 47 (about 1/2 of 1%).
- Meanwhile the upcoming Memorial talk will devote more time to "do not partake!" than any other subject.
What is happening?
First, is it essential to realize that there must be anointed partakers for there to be a Memorial.
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w52 2/15 p. 113 What About Those Not Partaking? ***7
The Memorial will not be in vogue on earth throughout the Millennium and forever, for the apostle Paul wrote to the congregation of Christians who are sanctified in union with Christ Jesus this Memorial instruction: "As often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives." (1 Cor. 1:1, 2; 11:26, NW) So, when the Lord Jesus takes the remnant from earth to Kingdom glory in heaven, then the Memorial celebration on earth will cease. The "other sheep" will not partake of it then any more than they do now.Can you imagine what would happen if the 8570 currently "registered" as partakers finally died off? No memorial, no "faithful and discreet slave," just a bunch of orphaned "other" sheep.
More realistically, what if the number were to drop to about 1000 or so - even 500. How many R&F would see this as sure proof of Armageddon impending? Would that cause an adrenaline zeal not seen since 1975?
Indeed could JWs survive without someone claiming to be anointed?
Now shift perspective a bit: What happens when all the anointed at headquaters die. This is a real and imminent concern. How many of those old coots do you think there are? 100? Surely no more than 500. That leaves about 8000 "anointed" out among the R&F! How will this be reconciled? Will some be shipped in to Patterson as figureheads? I think not.
So we can finetune the above statement: Could JWs survive without someone claiming to be anointed at Bethel?
So while the JW doctrine is geared to diminish the number of anointed, the numbers obstinantly hover at statistically impossible numbers. Every year that there is an increase, even a status quo, JWs are forced into the only excuse available: that "newly anointed" are replacing those pre-1935ers who failed their heavenly calling. Thus they sacrifice their own heritage under the knife of convenient excuse.
To say that unworthy partakers are inflating the current number of anointed is to admit that apostates infiltrate the very heart of the organization! This explanation is unacceptable.
So the WTS proceeds, confused as to it choices. Should it pull the plug on "marginal" partakers, refusing to include them in the count? Such a drastic drop would fire the R&F into a flash frenzy, but may leave the organization dead in the water afterwards.
Or should it play a passive role, sanctimoniously recording every baptized cracker-biter? JW doctine lies comatose while each passing year confirms the rediculous anomoly known as the "Anointed Remnant."