by Bonnie_Clyde 20 Replies latest watchtower bible
In this week's WT study article, the WTS points out that Korah, Abiram, Dathan and 250 other rebellious ones went to Sheol and will be resurrected.
How does the WTS then get away with comparing them to people today they brand as apostates who will be destroyed forever?
Blondie
Blondie-
Maybe next year's drama will have apostates brought back into the camp and forgiven if they .... They'll have New Light at the DC and from a January series of 4 WT articles on the Prodigal Son. Then we'll be like Korah - in Sheol.
The script that I have is quite old. I'm sure it goes back to the early 80's. In the modern day application part Brother Loyal and Brother Faithful and are very disturbed that Brother Doubter made some negative comments about the Watchtower. How could he?
*** w81 12/1 "Kingdom Loyalty"—What Does It Mean to You? ***
Convention
Drama: BEWARE OF REBELLIOUS TALKThe sons of Israel had agreed: "All that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do." (Ex. 19:1-5, 8) However, murmuring and complaining against Moses broke out in the camp. It was led by Korah, Dathan and Abiram. They influenced others and soon many were in open opposition to Jehovah.
How would you have reacted to that rebellious talk? Would your faith in Jehovah’s servant Moses have remained firm like that of Caleb and Joshua?
A man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath was brought before Moses. Jehovah had him put to death, for it was a violation of God’s law—not ‘just a little thing.’—Num. 15:32-36.
"All the assembly talked of pelting" Joshua and Caleb with stones because, of the 12 men sent to spy out Canaan, they alone showed faith that Jehovah would give the Israelites the land.—Num. 13:25–14:10.
Jehovah commanded Aaron, also Korah with 250 others, to offer incense. Fire came down and consumed the rebels. Next, Jehovah caused the earth to swallow up Dathan and Abiram and their households as well as Korah’s household. (Num. 16:32, 35) Thus He settled the issue of theocratic appointment.
Rebellion may start as a little thing—criticizing the elders’ decision or some provision of the "faithful and discreet slave." But it can lead to open opposition. Jude warns: "Too bad for them, because they . . . have perished in the rebellious talk of Korah." Far better it is to take Jude’s further advice: "But you, beloved ones, . . . keep yourselves in God’s love."—Jude 11, 20, 21.
Anybody here have that drama on cassette tape? That would be so sweet to listen to.
GBL
Never thought of that; I might have gotten one.
Blondie (technologically challenged)
The modern day characters are Brother Loyal, Brother Faithful and Brother Doubter.
Ah yes, the sublime writing style of Brooklyn. Always looking for that lowest common denominator.
Did they really refer to the characters as "brother faithful" and "brother loyal"? God, that is so funny.
GBL
I was there 1979 district convention korah drama debut at the bayfront center st. petersburg florida.Remember like it was yesterday.
Notably at 22 years old born JW 1957 this was the first time i heard the new bogieman apostate code word.
The old evil slave slur was retired (must have all died off)
Oh,the convention made a big deal of 1979 being the 100 year anniversary of the printed watchtower.
I was still crippled with ulcerative colitis (since 1970) and was now 4 years post 1975 and was assured that we were just,"waiting on how long it took adam to name the animals,before he was mated with eve as they would have commenced baby making immediately and would have had a child born in perfection like Jesus,soooo, adam and eve had to have sinned as soon as Eve was made from Adam's rib".
Got my rotted out ulcerative colitis bowel removed and got a colostomy bag in 1998
MAN it sure has taken Adam a long time to name the Animals....
I typed it into a microsoft word document. Am going to try to cut and paste. If it works, I may try it as a separate post. If anyone is interested, I could eventually type the entire script. It covers 21 pages.
Script for the Drama, “Beware of Rebellious Talk”
I believe this may have been from the 1980’s.
Twenty-four characters including Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Korah, Dathan and Abiram
Scenes 1 through 4 deal with the rising rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Now it moves forward to a modern day application.
Scene 5
**{Rear of Kingdom Hall, Brother Loyal approaches Brother Faithful who is standing left stage of Chair 2, his back toward right state.}**
Brother Loyal: **{Stopping behind Chair 1}** Brother Faithful, **{Turning around) “Oh, hello, Brother Loyal.”}** I was quite disturbed by Brother Doubter’s comments tonight. I’ve been baptized almost a year now but I never heard anyone contradict The Watchtower like that . . . not a brother anyway..
Brother Faithful: Did you think what he said sounded good? . . . believable?
Brother Loyal: Well, . . . I didn’t understand him, exactly . . . but some things sounded reasonable.
Brother Faithful: But is that altogether the determining factor?
Brother Loyal: What do you mean?
Brother Faithful: Whom do you think Jehovah is using as his channel?
Brother Loyal: Well, the Watchtower.
Brother Faithful: The faithful and discreet slave through the Bible and The Watchtower, of course.
Brother Loyal: Brother Doubter says all we need is the Bible and we can get our own understanding.
Brother Faithful: Brother Doubter has been in the truth many years, hasn’t he?
Brother Loyal: Yes, he’s been in the truth a long time.
Brother Faithful: Where did he get the knowledge of truth he has now?
Brother Loyal: Well, from the Watchtower and other Society publications, I suppose.
Brother Faithful: The same as you and I. Why, do you suppose, after all these years, he doesn’t need The Watchtower anymore?
Brother Loyal: I don’t know. It doesn’t seem reasonable, does it?
Brother Faithful: Do you think Jehovah has forsaken the faithful and discreet slave today?
Brother Loyal: No, he’s using his organization.
Brother Faithful: Then, don’t you believe that, if what Brother Doubter or someone like him says is right, in due time Jehovah will reveal it through his proper channel?
Brother Loyal: Yes, I’m sure of it, . . . through his channel.
Brother Faithful: But suppose these contradictory views are not right? What then?
Brother Loyal: Well, then they’d be in opposition to Jehovah’s channel.
Brother Faithful: Exactly. That’s why criticism and contradictory talk are so dangerous. They can embolden one to go on and on . . . as the apostle says . . . into “more ungodliness.”
Brother Loyal: Criticism is easy today.
Brother Faithful: Especially so. There is a growing spirit of independence in the world today . . . and it’s spreading everywhere. **{Taking out his Bible from his briefcase on the floor, and opening it}** Our young people especially are being infected by it. But even some of our elders want to take things into their own hands . . . to do things the way it seems right to them . . . lacking the spirit of patience, not waiting on Jehovah. And any of such ones, old or young, who go to such extremes pose a serious threat to the congregation. **{Handing him the Bible}** Would you read Jude 8-11, please?
Brother Loyal: Sure, Jude 8-11. It says: **{Reading}** “In like manner, notwithstanding, these men, too, indulging in dreams, are defiling the flesh and disregarding lordship and speaking abusively of glorious ones. But when Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: ‘May Jehovah rebuke you.’ Yet these men are speaking abusively of all the things they really do no know; but all the things that they do understand naturally like the unreasoning animals, in these things they go on corrupting themselves.” **{Handing back the Bible}** Huh, that’s strong all right, isn’t it? Do you think Brother Doubter is like this?
Brother Faithful: **{Opening to another text}** We certainly hope not. We’re trying very hard to help him. But as Jude points out . . . either spreading or listening to rebellious talk leads to our being corrupted.
Brother Loyal: I can see that all right.
Brother Faithful: Now, one more scripture, 2 Peter chapter 2, **{Pointing}** Begin here in verse 10 and read through verse 13, please.
Brother Loyal: OK. **{Reading}** “Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble at glorious ones but speak abusively, whereas angels, although they are greater in strength and power, do not bring against them an accusation in abusive terms, not doing so out of respect for Jehovah. But these men, like unreasoning animals born naturally to be caught and destroyed, will, in the things of which they are ignorant and speak abusively, even suffer destruction in their own course of destruction, wronging themselves as a reward for wrongdoing.” **{Handing back the Bible}** You know, Brother Faithful, I can see how criticism leads to being corrupted and can go on quickly into rebellious talk.
Brother Faithful: And what did Jude say of such men?
Brother Loyal: “Too bad for them!” They have “perished in the rebellious talk of Korah!”
Brother Faithful: It’s fatal! Such men deny by their actions that Jehovah has concern for his visible organization. Tell me, do you sincerely believe that Jehovah is still in the midst of his people today?
Brother Loyal: I certainly do!
Brother Faithful: Good! **{Putting his hand on Brother Loyal’s shoulder}** Then, beware of rebellious talk!
**{They exit right stage.}**
**{Musical interlude}**
Scene 6 goes on with the confrontation between Moses and Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and families. It ends with the sound of an earthquake.
. . . . {When the screams begin, those around Moses draw back in fear whil Amzi struggles as though trying to get back to the other side but cannot. The crowd of Dathan and Abiram shake a little as though the earth is trembling under them. On the prolonged scream, they all stagger back a step or two and fall simultaneously as though falling into a pit. They lie quietly until the Narrator finishes. Moses and those around him stand in horror, some turning to hide their faces, others prostrating themselves on the ground, holding their positions as the Narrator speaks.}**
Narrator: “So down they went, and all who belonged to them, alive into Sheol, and the earth went covering them over, so that they perished from the midst of the congregation. And a fire came out from Jehovah and proceeded to consume [Korah and] the two hundred and fifty men offering the incense.” [These] perished in the rebellious talk of Korah!” “Too bad for them!” **{Num. 16:33,
