[Please bear with this post, it has a good ending ;) Thanks for your patience.]
“IF EVER THAT EVIL SLAVE . . .”
Jesus has placed the weightiest of responsibilities on the faithful and discreet slave—namely, overseeing the domestics and giving out spiritual food at the proper time. Jesus knew that those with greater responsibility have greater accountability. (Luke 12:48) Hence, he concluded his illustration about the faithful and discreet slave with a powerful warning.
Jesus warned about an evil slave who concludes in his heart that the master is delaying and who starts to beat his fellow slaves.
When the master arrives, said Jesus, he will punish that evil slave “with the greatest severity.”
Jesus did not say that he would appoint an evil slave. His words here are actually a warning directed to the faithful and discreet slave.
Notice that Jesus introduces the warning with the words “if ever.”
...The anointed brothers who together serve as the faithful slave recognize that they are accountable to the Master for the way they care for his domestics.
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10 Who, then, is the faithful and discreet slave?
In keeping with Jesus’ pattern of feeding many through the hands of a few, that slave is made up of a small group of anointed brothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food during Christ’s presence.
Throughout the last days, the anointed brothers who make up the faithful slave have served together at headquarters. In recent decades, that slave has been closely identified with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Note, however, that the word “slave” in Jesus’ illustration is singular, indicating that this is a composite slave.
The decisions of the Governing Body are thus made collectively.
www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20130715/who-is-faithful-discreet-slave/
@brandnew..
"Pops is actually saying , 'maybe another apostate has slipped into the gb'. "
Maybe remind your Dad of this article. If Jesus is soon to judge the Governing Body [faithful slave], and Jesus said that they would be 'punished with the greatest severity' if they did not remain faithful...
What may Jehovah feel if JW's like him have been following and obeying a group of 'apostates', an evil slave?
According to their own teaching in this Watchtower, Jesus said it was possible that they could become an evil slave. Why else would he provide such a warning, if it could not possibly happen?
Besides, all decisions on doctrine and teaching are made by the whole group. The whole Governing Body..
So he cannot blame this overlapping teaching, or any other issues he may have, on just one of them. They are all responsible.
They are all equally complicit in this 'overlapping generation' nonsense being taught as indisputable Bible truth to millions of people.
Note, however, that the word “slave” in Jesus’ illustration is singular, indicating that this is a composite slave.The decisions of the Governing Body are thus made collectively.
Furthermore, the overlapping generations teaching is the only remaining way to salvage their false prophecy:
Why AWAKE! Is Published ...Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.
Therefore any Jehovahs Witness who doesn't believe this utterly ridiculous overlapping generation teaching.. has in fact, whether they realise it yet or not, admitted that the 'faithful slave' published a false prophecy.
(The above quote was printed in the Awake! from 1988- November 1995)
Deuteronomy 18:20-22
20 If any prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name that I did not command him to speak..that prophet must die.
21 However, you may say in your heart: “How will we know that Jehovah has not spoken the word?”
22 When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word is not fulfilled or does not come true, then Jehovah did not speak that word. The prophet spoke it presumptuously. You should not fear him.’