As all of us who have a past in the Watchtower Society and know their history, “running ahead of Jehovah” is just about the worst thing you can do. I know this first hand because in December 1988 I was DF’d because I put it to the committee in no uncertain terms that the Watchtower “chronology” the year 1914 and the 1914 generation was pure fantasy. In 1995 it became clear that even the idiots in Brooklyn/Patterson shared my views. To this day I have never received any apologies.
Anyway, what makes the whole mess and the use of the phrase “running ahead of” so hilarious is that no one has ever been doing so much “running ahead of” as the Watchtower Society itself, even according to it’s own standard and definition of the phrase. Let us have a look at this subject in the Watchtower literature. The Jews living under Roman occupation was naturally longing to be free from it. Apparently this was very dangerous:
*** w78 5/15 20 Christ Impaled, "The Power of God" ***
The Jewish rulers were wanting the Messiah to come in kingly power, break the oppressive yoke of Rome from off their necks, and exalt them with political power. They were running ahead of Jehovah.
The Jews wanted Messiah to come and lead them against the Romans, but wanting that so much was “running ahead of Jehovah”. He was not ready to do that when the Jews really needed it, “Jehovah” usually never is, is he? Anyway, take a look at these statements:
*** w95 11/1 17 A Time to Keep Awake *** Eager to see the end of this evil system, Jehovah’s people have at times speculated about the time when the “great tribulation” would break out, even tying this to calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. However, we “bring a heart of wisdom in,” not by speculating about how many years or days make up a generation, but by thinking about how we “count our days” in bringing joyful praise to Jehovah. (Psalm 90:12) Rather than provide a rule for measuring time, the term “generation” as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics.“Alertness or Sluggishness?
It is easy for the established churches of Christendom and other people to criticize Jehovah’s Witnesses because their publications have, at times, stated that certain things could take place on certain dates. But is not such line of action in harmony with Christ’s injunction to “keep on the watch”? (Mark 13:37)… True, some expectations that appeared to be backed up by Bible chronology did not materialize at the anticipated time. But is it not far preferable to make some mistakes because of overeagerness to see God’s purposes accomplished than to be spiritually asleep as to the fulfilment of Bible prophecy?” The Watchtower December 1. 1984, page 18.
Let’s look closer at this particular part of the above quote:
“True, some expectations that appeared to be backed up by Bible chronology did not materialize at the anticipated time.”
It the Watchtower Society had been anywhere near being honest they should have said the following:
“True, ALL the expectations that appeared to be backed up by our own fantasy chronology, which we passed along as Bible chronology and truth, and presented as established and indisputable facts did not materialize at the anticipated time.”
It remains very dishonest to use terms like ”some expectations” to create the impression that they have only occasionally missed when they in fact never ever have been right. And of course we don’t see anything about “running ahead of Jehovah” here either. But let us take a look at the next quote:
“Jehovah’s Witnesses, in their eagerness for Jesus’ second coming, have suggested dates that turned out to be incorrect. Because of this, some have called them false prophets. Never in these instances, however, did they presume to originate predictions ‘in the name of Jehovah.’ Never did they say, ‘These are the words of Jehovah.” Awake! March 22. 1993, page 4.
In all of the above statements from Brooklyn, they had been “speculating”. They had been trying to “calculate” the length of the “generation” etc. In short, they were just as “eager” as the Jews under Roman occupation for things to happen now, and fast! If fact they admitted being “overeager”, but do we see the expression “running ahead of Jehovah” used here? No, of course not. As always with the Watchtower Society many things are only wrong when others do it. When the Watchtower Society does exactly the same, it is never wrong.
As usual the Watchtower magazine almost never follow it’s own advice in such matters:
*** w97 6/1 13-14 A Secret Christians Dare Not Keep! ***
7 In contrast with humans, who have a limited life span, Jehovah never feels pressured by time to reveal his secrets prematurely. This fact should prevent us from becoming impatient when certain Bible questions cannot presently be explained to our satisfaction. Modesty on the part of the faithful and discreet slave class, commissioned to provide the Christian household with food at the proper time, prevents it from presumptuously running ahead and wildly speculating about things that are still unclear.
In light of the above documentation it is no doubt that the Watchtower Society has admitted to “wildly speculating about things that are still unclear” and that they as such have been “presumptuously running ahead”. The whole history of the Watchtower is a long example of being “impatient” in the extreme. And thus they have a very long history of constantly “running ahead of Jehovah”! When reading the quote immediately above and the next one, one realize that the “advice” given by the Watchtower must be for everyone else but the leaders in Brooklyn:
*** w97 6/1 14 A Secret Christians Dare Not Keep! ***
But how thrilling to know that Jehovah, in his own due time and in his own way, will continue to reveal his secrets as to his purposes! Never should we become impatient with Jehovah’s arrangement, indiscreetly trying to rush ahead of the Revealer of secrets. How reassuring it is to know that the channel Jehovah is using today does not do so! It is both faithful and discreet.
The two last lines in the above quote is really hilarious, talk about the truth in the saying that “self praise stinks”. One can hardly find anyone who has been more indiscreet and unfaithful as “the channel of Jehovah”. One has to feel sorry for “Jehovah” if this bunch of hopeless misfits was all he could find. More of the same can be enjoyed in the next quote too:
*** w72 11/1 644 Be Big Enough to Admit a Mistake ***
In striking contrast to the position taken by the popes is that taken by the Christian witnesses of Jehovah. They readily admit to having made mistakes as to doctrine and worship. … Does this admission of making mistakes stamp them as false prophets? Not at all, for false prophets do not admit to making mistakes.
Of course the Watchtower leaders has demonstrated time and time again they are very far from being a “striking contrast” to any other religious leaders at all, they are in fact dealing in lies and illusions as so many of their religious competitors.
*** w95 7/1 7-8 Why Search for Truth? ***
Seeing our beliefs exposed as untrue can be disillusioning, especially if we were taught by trusted religious leaders. Some might liken the experience to finding out that trusted parents were, in fact, secret criminals. But is not finding out religious truth better than living under a delusion? Is it not better to know the facts than to be manipulated by lies?
All of us who see the Watchtower Society for what it is have experienced the disillusioning of finding out what tangled web of lies and deceit the Watchtower Society is based upon. It is of course not a very pretty sight to see how they continue in the same way, refusing to stop their heartless manipulation of millions of people and cause them untold damage and harm.
But of course, when you are in the business of selling fantasy and dreams, as religion basically is, it almost doesn’t matter what insane drivel you present, after all it all has to be believed, and the more insane and incredible the better, it seems.
Norm.