I'm sure this is from the early 1980's. I can tell because the first names of the participants was pencilled in the columns and one of the brothers hasn't lived in the area for 20 years. I don't think that today they would put so much emphasis on "The Watchtower" I think they would emphasize "The Organization."
If people are interested, I can eventually type the entire drama. There are 24 characters including Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Scenes 1 through 4 deal with the rising rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. In Scene 5 it moves forward to a modern day application... and look out!
Script for the Drama, “Beware of Rebellious Talk”
Scene 5
**{Rear of Kingdom Hall, Brother Loyal approaches Brother Faithful who is standing left stage of Chair 2, his back toward right stage.}**
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, 35; Jude 11}**
