Time to play "What Would a Dub Say?": Matthew 24:23-26, Luke 21:8

by Check_Your_Premises 10 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Check_Your_Premises

  I was never a dub. I was just curious what you all thought when you read those two verses in light of the claims that Christ returned in 1874, and then in 1914, as well as the predictions of 1914, 1925, and 1975? Yeah, yea, I know. The light will grow brighter. But that was for the righteous? These verses are talking about "false Christs", "false prophets", not the righteous. Matthew 24:23-26

  23 "Then if anyone says to YOU, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 Look! I have forewarned YOU. 26 Therefore, if people say to YOU, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it

  Luke 21:8

  8 He said: "Look out that YOU are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time has approached.’ Do not go after them.
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  Elsewhere

  Nothing to see here... move along, move along....
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  Sunspot

  As much as hate to admit it, and as foolish as it sounds...........we were conditioned to slide right over those verses. They always applied to "every other religion" but never to what we were taught at the KH!

  Everything negative, or warnings like those----were always for the other guy and that's just the way it was! During the "study" sessions when we were just "coming in", the study books were so designed to lead your thinking processes down a very certain path----towards the WTS being the be all and the end all. Any questions you asked were always answered (or so you'd think if you had NO bible knowledge) so that any fears you had would be put to rest.

  Very clever and very sinister.

  Annie
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  Check_Your_Premises

  So how do you think a hardcore dub would react, if I put those verses to them directly in the context of a study?

  What sort of response could I expect?
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  Check_Your_Premises

  The reason why I asked, is because I recently put those two verses to the folks with whom I am studying. I am curious how big of a pill it will be for them to swallow.
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  Sunspot

  I think that you have asked two reasonable questions. After all, you are just learning about these things ()

  I don't know how they will come back and answer them. I'd sure like to find out!

  Hope to hear from you soon on this.

  Annie
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  TheListener

  CYP, I can't do it right now, but if you put those verses into the wtcd rom you will see exactly what answers you're going to get back.

  They won't (don't even know how probably) do any research beyond parrotting what the WTCDROM has for them on the subject. Best thing to do is check it out yourself and know what answers you'll get. Then be ready with the next set of questions or comments. It's like chess, you need to be several moves ahead of them. It's easier than chess because you can read their playbook.
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  Check_Your_Premises

  That is an excellent idea! I don't know why I didn't think of that!

  CYP
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  peacefulpete

  What is worse is how the following verses must be spun to ignore the obvious intent of matt 24:23-26. There (vss27,28) the author illustrates the impossibility of concealing the return of Jesus through vivid imagery of lightning that streaks acrosss the sky and gathering vultures/eagles visible miles away circling over a rotting body. They spin the verses to suggest that the body is Jesus and they are "far sighted eagles" that have perceived the invisible! the lightning is spun to mean their preaching work has been seen by all.
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  Honesty

  You can bet the WT spin doctors can come up with a logical answer that will appease all but the honest dubs.