Posts by George

15

Daniel 4:1-37, "Seven times"

by Son of John in

daniel 4:1-37, "seven times".

what was the tree like, before it was cut down?

the situation is described in daniel 4:11, 12:.

Daniel 4

This chapter describes Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the big tree, which grew great and reached unto heaven and was visible to the end of all the earth. The tree was cut down and banded until seven times passed over it. Verse 22 explains that the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar, who was ruling over the earth. Verses 24 through 26 describe the interpretation of the dream by saying that Nebuchadnezzar would be cut down until seven times had passed over him and then his kingdom would be returned to him. The rest of the chapter describes the fulfillment of the prophecy when it came upon Nebuchadnezzar. This information provides us with a model or typical prophecy.

The Model

In the model Nebuchadnezzar was the definite direct object in the account. That definite object took the simple action of being cut down from the subject, God. Thus, God cut down Nebuchadnezzar for a period of seven times. Note that the model describes a specific subject, a definite direct object, and simple action. This prophecy also has a larger fulfillment.

The Larger Fulfillment

It is not uncommon for the scriptures to use earthly kings in describing the activities of Satan the devil: the 28th chapter of Ezekiel provides a very good example. Here in Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar represents Satan in the larger application. And since there is no one greater than God, he remains God in the greater application of this account. Thus the larger or antitypical fulfillment describes how God cut down Satan's rule over the earth until seven times passed over him. The larger fulfillment of this prophecy and the larger period of seven times (2520 years) both fit the events described in the previous studies. So in the fulfillment of the larger model we find that Satan had rule over the earth until God interposed in 2492 BCE. Satan's rule was cut down for 2520 years until 29 CE when his kingdom was returned to him. This is the meaning of the antitypical fulfillment of Daniel chapter 4. The seven times applies to the time period from 2492 BCE to 29 CE.

No Model in Scripture Points to 1914

There is nothing in the Bible that provides a model for applying a period of seven times to the years 607 BCE to 1914 CE. The Witnesses, nevertheless, have made up a model of their own, but it does not match the model in Daniel 4. They say that God cut down his own rule in 607 BCE and started it again in 1914 CE. In their model God (subject) cut down his own rule (reflexive action). The model the Witnesses use does not have a definite direct object. The state of the action is different in their model. They use reflexive action in their model. In the model in Daniel 4 God (subject) cut down (simple action) Nebuchadnezzar (definite object) for seven times. The model in Daniel 4 has a definite direct object. In Daniel 4 the object takes the action from the subject. The model in Daniel 4 uses simple action. Applying a period of seven times to 607 - 1914 does not match the model in Daniel 4. The Witnesses have made up their own unscriptural model, which they base on Luke 21:24 because that scripture uses the word times or seasons. They are using a different period of seven times and claiming that that period applies to the antitypical model in Daniel 4. But their model does not match the model in Daniel 4. The times or seasons mentioned in Luke 21:24 applies to the years from 67 CE to 70 CE when Jerusalem was tread upon by the nations and destroyed. They stretch that brief period of 3 and 1/2 years into a model that extends form 607 BCE until 1914 CE!

T he Stretch

In Luke 21, Matthew 24, and Mark 13 Jesus was describing the events that were coming upon Jerusalem within one generation. This was the coming of the Son of man for the destruction of Jerusalem. The Witnesses extend this account into the 20th century by claiming that it fits into their model. They use this same stretching technique when they identify the kings of the North and South in Daniel 11. The stretch is also applied to Daniel 7 and 12. The stretch is again applied to the prophecies in Revelation. They claim that Revelation was written after the destruction of Jerusalem in 96 CE, but the facts show that it was written before the destruction in 64 CE. Many of the prophecies in Revelation apply to the destruction of Jerusalem and that of the city of Rome. By claiming that the Revelation was written after the fall of Jerusalem they wrongly apply the fulfillment of many prophecies to the early 20th century.

With all this stretching the Witnesses have changed the meaning of the fulfillment of many Bible prophesies to suite their own purposes. When the time frame of Bible prophecy is shifted in this manner the result is such that the true objects of the prophecies in question are ignored and false objects are selected in their place. In their manipulation of prophecy the Witnesses often leave the state of the action the same, but they change the identities of the objects so that they take on different identities. All this is the result of applying a period of 2520 years to the wrong time frame. Consequently, their errors have produced many extraneous results, which have resulted in many unscriptural doctrines and raised serious theological problems for their members.

The End Result of the Stretch

The end result of the stretch is that the Witnesses claim there is a remnant of the 144,000 on earth today. Those of the leadership of the society claim to be of this special remaining "priestly" class. By claiming this "special status" they have secured for themselves a rather large following. There is, however, no scriptural reason to assume that there is any remnant of the 144,000 alive in the flesh today, and neither has there been anyone from that class alive on earth for at least the last 19 centuries! The remaining studies will demonstrate the truthfulness of the foregoing statements.

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3

Appointed Times of the Nations

by George in

appointed times of the nations.

was its last king cut off?

) - the subject and the object are the same!

George

APPOINTED TIMES OF THE NATIONS

. . . Is this doctrine taught in the scriptures?

"The Nations" and "Jerusalem." The significance of Jesus' statement is necessarily bound up in his reference to the 'trampling on Jerusalem,' which he stated would continue until the fulfillment of "the appointed times of the nations." The term "nations" or "Gentiles" translates the Greek word e'thne, which means "nations" and was used by the Bible writers to refer specifically to the non-Jewish nations. On this basis some have considered the prophecy to apply to the period of time during which the geographic site of the ancient city of Jerusalem would be under Gentile domination and control.

. . . Is not this the correct understanding of Jesus' words?

While the literal city of Jerusalem is obviously referred to in Jesus' description of the destruction that was to come and did come upon that city in the year 70 C.E. when the Romans demolished Jerusalem, the statement concerning "the appointed times of the nations" carries the prophecy far beyond that point, as many commentators have noted.

. . . And just why does the Watchtower believe that Christ's prophecy would be carried "far beyond" the first century?

Thus, the well-known Commentary by F. C. Cook says of Luke 21:24: "It serves to separate the strictly eschatological portion [that is, the portion relating to the last days] of the great prophecy, from the part belonging properly to the destruction of Jerusalem."

. . . They rely on commentary published by "some" of Christendom's commentators. But they don't admit that more than just a few of Christendom's commentators are divided over this issue. In fact it is now accepted in a lot of Christendom's churches that F. C. Cook was in error.

So, it becomes essential to determine what significance the inspired Scriptures attach to "Jerusalem" in order to ascertain whether "the appointed times of the nations" relate only to the literal city of Jerusalem or to something additional and greater.

. . . And why would the Watchtower want to change the meaning of the word "Jerusalem" in Jesus' prophecy? Is it not because they want to add their own prophecy to what was given by Christ?

Jerusalem was the capital of the nation of Israel, whose kings of the line of David were said to "sit upon Jehovah's throne." (1Ch 29:23)

. . . The kings of Israel did sit "upon Jehovah's throne," but does that mean that they deserved to be there? Did they represent him perfectly?

As such, it represented the seat of the divinely constituted government or typical kingdom of God operating through the house of David. With its Mount Zion, it was "the town of the grand King." (Ps 48:1, 2) Hence, Jerusalem came to stand for the kingdom of the dynasty of King David, much as Washington, London, Paris, and Moscow represent the ruling powers of present-day nations and are so referred to in news communiques.

. . . Did the earthy city of Jerusalem ever become a "typical kingdom of God"? Didn't they fail to meet his requirements? Didn't they break his laws and do worse then the nations round about them?

After Jerusalem was trampled on by the Babylonians, its king being taken into exile and the land laid desolate, no member of the Davidic dynasty again ruled from earthly Jerusalem.

. . . It is true that no earthy king of the Davidic dynasty ruled in Jerusalem after Babylon took the people into exile.

But the Scriptures show that Jesus, the Messiah, who was born in the line of David, would rule from heavenly Mount Zion, from heavenly Jerusalem.-Ps 2:6, 7; Heb 5:5; Re 14:1, 3.

. . . It is also true that Christ would rule from what would be called "Heavenly Jerusalem." So are we to assume that the earthy Jerusalem was equal to the Heavenly Jerusalem?

Beginning of 'trampling.' The 'trampling' on that kingdom of the dynasty of Davidic rulers did not begin with the Roman devastation of the city of Jerusalem in 70 C.E.

. . . Did the "trampling" on the earthly city of Jerusalem continue after it was destroyed by the Babylonians? No! Was its last king cut off? Yes! Did the rule of the dynasty of the Davidic rulers over earthly Jerusalem end with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians? Yes!

It began centuries earlier with the Babylonian overthrow of that dynasty in 607 B.C.E. when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and took captive the dethroned king Zedekiah and the land was left desolate. (2Ki 25:1-26; see CHRONOLOGY.) This accorded with the prophetic words directed to Zedekiah at Ezekiel 21:25-27, namely: "Remove the turban, and lift off the crown. This will not be the same. . . . A ruin, a ruin, a ruin I shall make it. As for this also, it will certainly become no one's until he comes who has the legal right, and I must give it to him."

. . . The trampling on earthy Jerusalem "ended" when the Babylonians took Jerusalem. The WTBTS says here that "the dynasty of its kings" began to be "trampled" when the city fell to Nebuchadnezzer. The object of the "trampling" in Jesus' prophecy in Luke was the earthy city of Jerusalem. The Watchtower has made up a new object, to which they apply an action of "trampling" in an alleged larger fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy! I'll call this "THE SWITCH" (like in the old shell game).

The one who has "the legal right" to the Davidic crown lost by Zedekiah is demonstrated in the Christian Greek Scriptures to be Christ Jesus,

. . . The problem here is that Zedekiah never earned the crown in the first place. He had no legal claim to wear it, so it was removed from him. We must note that Zedekiah ruled over earthly Jerusalem and not a heavenly one.

of whom the angel, announcing his future birth, said: "Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom."-Lu 1:32, 33.

. . . This prophecy of Christ's rule applies to the heavenly Jerusalem and not to the earthly city that was destroyed in the first century. Christ never ruled over the earthy city as the people rejected him from being king. So far there are three objects to consider: 1) the dynasty of the Davidic Kings. 2) the earthly city of Jerusalem, and 3) the heavenly Jerusalem.

With Jerusalem's fall in 607 B.C.E. the Gentile powers exercised domination over the entire earth.

. . . We will not enter into chronological considerations here; nevertheless, an important question arises - In what way did Jerusalem differ from the gentile powers? Who was more righteous? Who represented God in such a way as to be called a "typical kingdom of God"? It must also be noted here that Christ, in his prophecy, spoke of the trampling on Jerusalem that was yet a future event. And the trampling on that Jerusalem ended with its destruction, it did not begin with it. The action in the WTBTS's so-called larger fulfillment begins with a destruction. It must be noted that at first they had one object (the earthly city in the sixth century) and then they switched to another (the dynasty of the Davidic kings), to which they applied the action of the trampling. When they pulled the switch the end point of one action (the trampling on earthly Jerusalem) was then compared to the start point of another (the trampling on the dynasty of the Davidic kings)! So now there are three objects and two different types of action! How can their so-called larger fulfillment really be called a larger fulfillment if it does not parallel the original model?

The Davidic dynasty and rule suffered interruption, and so Jerusalem, or what it stood for, would continue to be "trampled on" as long as God's kingdom, as functioning through David's house, was kept in a low, inoperative condition under the Gentile powers.

. . . Here they say that Jerusalem and the Davidic dynasty are equal objects! Yet they have two different types of action!

Observing this connection with rulership Unger's Bible Dictionary (1965, p. 398) comments: "Consequently Gentiles move on as 'the nations' to the end of their stewardship as earth rulers. The termination of this period will be the end of the 'times of the Gentiles.' (Luke 21:24; Dan. 2:36-44)."-Compare Eze 17:12-21; also the description of Medo-Persia's fall at Da 8:7, 20.

. . . Again they quote some of Christendom's commentators to add more confusion. But it must be pointed out that the nations will rule over the earth until Armageddon, which is well past their date of 1914.

Relation to Daniel's Prophecies. At least twice in this prophecy concerning the time of the end, Jesus referred to the contents of the book of the prophet Daniel. (Compare Mt 24:15, 21 with Da 11:31; 12:1.) In the book of Daniel we find a picture drawn of the domination of the earth by the Gentile powers during their "appointed times." The second chapter of Daniel contains the prophetic vision (received by King Nebuchadnezzar) of the great image that Daniel by inspiration showed to represent the march of Gentile world powers, ending with their destruction by the Kingdom set up by "the God of heaven," which Kingdom then rules earth wide. (Da 2:31-45)

. . . It is true that God's kingdom will begin to rule over the whole earth after Armageddon; but not before. The nations will rule over the whole earth until then.

It is of note that the image begins with the Babylonian Empire, the first world power to 'trample Jerusalem' by overthrowing the Davidic dynasty and leaving "Jehovah's throne" in Jerusalem vacant. This also confirms the start of "the appointed times of the nations" in the year of Jerusalem's destruction, 607 B.C.E.

. . . Here they state the throne in earthly Jerusalem was left vacant. And it was rightfully left vacant because no earthy king could prove that he was righteous so as to be able to claim to represent God. It must also be noted that earthy Jerusalem was destroyed in the first century and the throne with it! And so was the earthly crown!

Dream vision of tree in Daniel chapter 4. Again in the book of Daniel we find a close parallel to Jesus' use of the word "times" with regard to "the nations," or Gentile powers.

. . . Here they try to convince people that the word "times" in Daniel has something to do with the word "times" in Luke. But does it?

And again it is Nebuchadnezzar, the dethroner of David's descendant Zedekiah, who was given another vision interpreted by Daniel as relating to divinely appointed kingship. The symbolic vision was of an immense tree; an angel from heaven commanded that it be chopped down. Its stump was then banded with iron and copper and had to stay that way among the grass of the field until "seven times" passed over it. "Let its heart be changed from that of mankind, and let the heart of a beast be given to it, and let seven times pass over it . . . to the intent that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind."-Da 4:10-17; see ÞDaÜ4:16, ftn.

. . . There is a major problem for the WTBTS here. The model or prophecy in Daniel has a direct object, and that object is Nebuchadnezzer himself. He was cut down for seven times or seven years, and then his kingdom was returned to him. He is the one and only object at the start of the action and at the finish.

Related to "appointed times of the nations." The vision definitely had a fulfillment in Nebuchadnezzar himself. (See Da 4:31-35.) Therefore, some view it as having direct prophetic application only to him and see in this vision merely the presentation of the eternal verity of 'God's supremacy over all other powers-human or supposedly divine.' They acknowledge the application of that truth or principle beyond Nebuchadnezzar's own case but do not see it as relating to any specific time period or divine schedule. Yet, an examination of the entire book of Daniel reveals that the element of time is everywhere prominent in the visions and prophecies it presents; and the world powers and events described in each such vision are shown, not as isolated or as occurring at random with the time element left ambiguous, but, rather, as fitting into a historical setting or time sequence. (Compare Da 2:36-45; 7:3-12, 17-26; 8:3-14, 20-25; 9:2, 24-27; 11:2-45; 12:7-13.) Additionally, the book repeatedly points toward the conclusion that forms the theme of its prophecies: the establishment of a universal and eternal Kingdom of God exercised through the rulership of the "son of man." (Da 2:35, 44, 45; 4:17, 25, 32; 7:9-14, 18, 22, 27; 12:1) The book is also distinctive in the Hebrew Scriptures for its references to "the time of the end."-Da 8:19; 11:35, 40; 12:4, 9.

. . . They have brought in more information but none of it changes any of the problems that have been highlighted so far in this commentary on their prime doctrine.

In view of the above, it does not seem logical to evaluate the vision of the symbolic "tree" and its reference to "seven times" as having no other application than to the seven years of madness and subsequent recovery and return to power experienced by one Babylonian ruler, particularly so in the light of Jesus' own prophetic reference to "the appointed times of the nations."

. . . They have yet to show a connection between Jesus' use of the word "times" in Luke and the word "times" found in Daniel. And they still have a non-parallel model because the action in Luke ends with the destruction of the city and the action in their model beings with a destruction!
And they still have two objects which they have switched from - 1) the earthy city of Jerusalem, and 2) the dynasty of the Davidic kings. Jesus only had one object in his model prophecy.

The time at which the vision was given: at the critical point in history when God, the Universal Sovereign, had allowed the very kingdom that he had established among his covenant people to be overthrown;

. . . It must be pointed out that earthy Jerusalem was never "established" to last forever on earth.

the person to whom the vision was revealed:

. . . The vision in Daniel was given to Nebuchadnezzer.

the very ruler who served as the divine instrument in such overthrow and who thereby became the recipient of world domination by divine permission, that is, without interference by any representative kingdom of Jehovah God;

. . . Nebuchadnezzer was overthrown for seven times or seven years.

and the whole theme of the vision, namely: "that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind" (Da 4:17)-all of this gives strong reason for believing that the lengthy vision and its interpretation were included in the book of Daniel because of their revealing the duration of "the appointed times of the nations" and the time for the establishment of God's Kingdom by his Christ.

. . . The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has failed to support this claim! It has shown nothing whatsoever to connect the vision in Daniel 4 to the prophecy in Luke. They have so far played a shell game! Moving right along . . .

The tree symbolism and God's sovereignty. The symbolisms used in this prophetic vision are by no means unique. Trees are elsewhere used to represent ruling powers, including that of God's typical kingdom at Jerusalem.

. . . Trees are used to represent one object; never two or more. The action that applies to the tree, applies to its ruler. The action that applies to a kingdom always applies to that same kingdom; never to another. In these models of prophecy each object takes action from a single subject.

(Compare Jg 9:6-15; Eze 17:1-24; 31:2-18.) A stump's being caused to sprout and the symbol of "a twig" or "sprout" are found a number of times as representing the renewal of rulership in a certain stock or line, particularly in the Messianic prophecies. (Isa 10:33-11:10; 53:2-7; Jer 23:5; Eze 17:22-24; Zec 6:12, 13; compare Job 14:7-9.) Jesus spoke of himself as both "the root and the offspring of David."-Re 5:5; 22:16.

. . . The stump of a tree is what is left when the tree is cut down. When the stump starts to grow again the same tree starts to grow again in the same place. Thus, when a ruler or a kingdom is cut off it remains cut off until that same ruler or kingdom is restored.

The fact is evident that the key point of the vision is Jehovah God's exercise of irresistible sovereignty in "the kingdom of mankind," and this provides the guide to the full meaning of the vision.

. . . Now the WTBTS is saying that there is another object to consider - The kingdom of mankind! Does this differ from the other objects that they have thus far used in their attempt to support their 1914 doctrine? Yes. Have they supported it yet? No!

The tree is shown to have an application to Nebuchadnezzar, who at that point in history was the head of the dominant World Power, Babylon.

. . . The tree represents Nebuchadnezzer.

Yet, prior to Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Jerusalem, the typical kingdom of God ruling out of that city was the agency by which Jehovah expressed his rightful sovereignty toward the earth.

. . . With this statement they claim that God was ruling over the entire earth through Jerusalem! So now Jerusalem has become a subject (from which action proceeds)! How can Jerusalem be both a subject and an object at the same time? Remember, Tom (subject) hit (action) Jerry (object) - the subject and the object cannot be the same in the case of simple action!

It thus constituted a divine block or impediment for Nebuchadnezzar in attaining his goal of world domination.

. . . They fail to define what the pronoun "it" is referring to! True the pronoun refers to Jerusalem, but is it to the object (Jerusalem) or is it to the subject (Jerusalem)? Now we have two different cases to pick from!

By allowing that typical kingdom at Jerusalem to be overthrown,

. . . Again, what kingdom? which case? The one that functioned as an object (being cut down)? or the one that functioned as a subject (ruling over the earth)?

Jehovah permitted his own visible expression of sovereignty through the Davidic dynasty of kings to be cut down.

. . . So now they are saying that Nebucadnezzer (as a subject!) cut down God's kingdom on earth (an object!) This does not match the model in Daniel four! Nebuchadnezzer was an object in that model! He was cut down for seven times. True he, as a subject, cut down Jerusalem, as an object, but not in that model! They have now made another non-parallel model of prophecy that does not match anything in scripture! Remember how they switched objects in the model they made in Luke? Recall how they had two different types of action - one beginning with the destruction of one object (in the sixth century) and another ending with the destruction of another (in the first century)? What have they proven? Nothing so far!

The expression and exercise of world domination in "the kingdom of mankind," unhindered by any representative kingdom of God, now passed into the hands of the Gentile nations. (La 1:5; 2:2, 16, 17) In the light of these facts "the tree" is seen to represent, beyond and above its application to Nebuchadnezzar, world sovereignty or domination by God's arrangement.

. . . Again they claim that God's kingdom (a subject) had "expressed" world rule (action) over the world (an object)! And that God's rule (from Jerusalem) was not impaired by his rule from some undefined source - another subject! They have made up another model that does not match the model in Daniel four. They have changed the state of the action from simple action - God (subject) cut down (simple action) Nebucadnezzer (object) - to reflexive action - God (subject) cut down (reflexive action) God (object? No! - same as subject!) - the subject and the object are the same! This does not match the model prophecy at all! The WTBTS has its own model prophecy that does not parallel any prophecy in scripture.

Renewal of world domination. God, however, here makes clear that he has not forever delivered up such world domination to the Gentile powers. The vision shows that God's self-restraint (represented by the bands of iron and of copper around the stump of the tree) would continue until "seven times pass over it." (Da 4:16, 23, 25)

. . . Here they admit that God restrains himself! Did Nebuchadnezzer restrain himself? Again the type of action (simple) in the model in Daniel four, and type of action (reflexive) in the WTBTS model do not match!

Then, since "the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind," God would give world domination "to the one whom he wants to." (Da 4:17) The prophetic book of Daniel itself shows that one to be the "son of man" to whom are given "rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him."

. . . Now the introduction of another subject - namely the one who would rule the world. This person is Jesus Christ and he will rule the world after Armageddon.

(Da 7:13, 14) Jesus' own prophecy, in which the reference to "the appointed times of the nations" occurs, points definitely toward Christ Jesus' exercise of such world domination as God's chosen King, the heir of the Davidic dynasty.

. . . Now they are saying that the "times," in the prophecy in Luke, is the same as the "times" in the prophecy in Daniel four! Yet this has never been proven. Recall how they switched objects (from the city to the dynasty of the kings) and changed the start point of the action (from ending with the destruction of Jerusalem in the first century to action that starts with the destruction of the city in the seventh century? Recall how they changed the state of the action in Daniel four? They have made up a prophecy that is not found in the Bible.

(Mt 24:30, 31; 25:31-34; Lu 21:27-31, 36) Thus, the symbolic stump, representing God's retention of the sovereign right to exercise world domination in "the kingdom of mankind," was due to sprout again in his Son's Kingdom.-Ps 89:27, 35-37.

. . . What a lot of soothsaying this is! They are saying that God ruled over the earth through Jerusalem until Jerusalem fell in the seventh century. And next they will introduce yet another subject - heavenly Jerusalem! So then they will have two different subjects! There is no model in scripture that corresponds to this at all! . . . moving right alone. . .

Seven Symbolic Times. In Nebuchadnezzar's personal experience of the vision's fulfillment the "seven times" were evidently seven years, during which he became mad, with symptoms like those of lycanthropy, abandoning his throne to eat grass like a beast in the field. (Da 4:31-36)

. . . And so it was. Now we will see the WTBTS's model prophecy that is not in the Bible!

Notably, the Biblical description of the exercise of world domination by the Gentile powers is presented through the figure of beasts in opposition to the holy people of God and their "Prince of princes." (Compare Da 7:2-8, 12, 17-26; 8:3-12, 20-25; Re 11:7; 13:1-11; 17:7-14.) Concerning the word "times" (from Aramaic `id·dan'), as used in Daniel's prophecy, lexicographers show it here to mean "years." (See Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, by L. Koehler and W. Baumgartner, Leiden, 1958, p. 1106; A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, by Brown, Driver, and Briggs, 1980, p. 1105; Lexicon Linguae Aramaicae Veteris Testamenti, edited by E. Vogt, Rome, 1971, p. 124.) The duration of a year as so used is indicated to be 360 days, inasmuch as three and a half times are shown to equal "a thousand two hundred and sixty days" at Revelation 12:6, 14. (Compare also Re 11:2, 3.) "Seven times," according to this count, would equal 2,520 days. That a specific number of days may be used in the Bible record to represent prophetically an equivalent number of years can be seen by reading the accounts at Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6. Only by applying the formula there expressed of "a day for a year" to the "seven times" of this prophecy can the vision of Daniel chapter 4 have significant fulfillment beyond the day of now extinct Nebuchadnezzar, as the evidence thus far presented gives reason to expect.

. . . They have shown how a day can be counted for a year, and they have come up with 2520 years; but nothing in scripture says to apply the 2520 years the way that they apply it. Thus, the following cannot be supported from scripture.

They therefore represent 2,520 years. It is a historical fact worth noting that, on the basis of the points and evidence above presented, the March 1880 edition of the Watch Tower magazine identified the year 1914 as the time for the close of "the appointed times of the nations" (and the end of the lease of power granted the Gentile rulers). This was some 34 years before the arrival of that year and the momentous events it initiated. In the August 30, 1914, edition of The World, a leading New York newspaper at that time, a feature article in the paper's Sunday magazine section commented on this as follows: "The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy. For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the 'International Bible Students' . . . have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914." The events that took place from and after the year 1914 C.E. are well-known history to all, beginning with the great war that erupted, the first world war in mankind's history and the first to be fought over the issue, not of the domination of Europe alone, nor of Africa, nor of Asia, but of the domination of the world.-Lu 21:7-33; Re 11:15-18.

. . . The Witness said that 1914 would be the end of the world; but it wasn't, and they have been changing their doctrines ever since. If you want to understand Daniel 4 see

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blood

by George in

"and jehovah god made for adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them.

" - genesis 3:21.. yahweh himself made the first sacrifice by providing adam and eve with animal skins; this must have involved the shedding of blood.

perhaps his covering them with animal skins demonstrated that their existence was considered temporary like that of animals.

George

"And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them." - Genesis 3:21.

Yahweh himself made the first sacrifice by providing Adam and Eve with animal skins; this must have involved the shedding of blood. Perhaps his covering them with animal skins demonstrated that their existence was considered temporary like that of animals. Although Adam and Eve are not redeemable, the sacrifice could also have shown that their unborn could be covered temporarily by the blood of beasts until their resurrection based on the blood of Christ. Thus, Yahweh made the first sacrifice, and animal blood could only provide temporary atonement. It is also noted that the animal creation will, in a sense, be compensated at Armageddon when they eat the flesh of humans.

"And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;" - Genesis 4:10, 11.

The was the first sacrifice of human blood and Yahweh refused to accept it. In fact it had defiled the ground itself and brought a curse upon Cain. It is noted that Yahweh did not put Cain to death; rather he put a mark on him and let him die a natural death. At the flood Yahweh removed the curse from the ground, which resulted from the sin of Adam, by means of the first great sacrifice. This was the implementation of capital punishment on a massive scale. It set a precedent that when the error of man comes to completion Yahweh will act to satisfy his standard of justice.

"Every moving thing that liveth shall be food for you; As the green herb have I given you all. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; At the hand of every beast will I require it. And at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man's brother, will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man." - Genesis 9:3-6.

Universal law, also incorporated into the law covenant, requires life for life. The prohibition against eating blood is clearly stated here long before the implementation of the law covenant. This is a very serious matter in the eyes of God.

"And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore also, behold, his blood is required." - Genesis 42:22.

The principle of life for life, with the required payment of blood in the case of murder, was well understood by the patriarchs.

"For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is all one with the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off." - Leviticus 7:14.

The law covenant incorporated the earlier prohibition.

"Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, ye have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone unto me this day." - 1 Samuel 14:33.

Eating blood continued to be recognized as a serious sin under the law.

"And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men." - 2 Samuel 23:17.

This point is most striking: David equated the product of those who had risked their lives as the equivalent of blood and refused to accept it.

"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well." - Acts 15:28, 29.

The issue raised after the introduction of the new covenant concerned what singular laws remained in effect from the body of the obsolete law covenant. It is noted that Holy Spirit, and not the Apostles themselves, revealed what necessary things remained as binding. Those who violate the prohibitions set forth by the Apostles, sin not against the Apostles, nor against the consciences of the Apostles, but rather against God. All of the things deemed necessary were items prohibited before the introduction of the law covenant and, therefore, fall under the category of universal law, which is binding forever.

In consideration of these things, a view has been presented that a blood transfusion is the equivalent of eating blood. Another point has also been presented, "that if the Scriptures do not specifically condemn an action than one ought not to readily conclude that it sanctions it either." In such a case as this individual conscience must operate, and only those precedents and principles, which are set forth in scripture, can provide an individual with what is needed so as to decide what do about this issue. Nevertheless, several other major problems come into consideration when minor children and the consciences of others are involved.

http://members.aol.com/gparrishjr/home.html

1

first century events

by George in

even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of god is nigh.

verily i say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.

- luke 21:31, 32.. verily i say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom.

George

Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. - Luke 21:31, 32.

Verily I say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. - Matthew 16:28.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. - 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 18.

In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. - John 14:2, 3.

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. - 1 Corinthians 49 - 52.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; - Revelation 1:1.

I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown. He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: - Revelation 3:11,12.

Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel: - Revelation 7:3, 4.

And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; - Revelation 8:7, 8.

But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. - Matthew 24:29 - 31.

And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. - Revelation 14:1.

All first century events.

13

The Faithful and Discreet Slave

by George in

"who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?

46 it will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

47 i tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

George

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - New International Version, published by Zondervan Publishing House.

Please note that only one slave is spoken of here in this translation. Some translations give the impression that two different slaves are discussed here in this text. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, published by The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, is one of those translations that mentions two different slaves. It is interesting to note that The Emphatic Diaglott, which was also published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, only mentions one slave. What is going on here? Admittedly the text is difficult to translate from the Greek. It is one of those scriptures where a measure of ambiguity exists in the meaning and different translators translate it differently.

Christ asked this question just two days before he was handed over for execution. (Matthew 26:1, 2) It is my opinion that it was he, himself, who was the faithful and wise servant. Please reason on the following: Christ was the one placed in charge of the household of God to impart wisdom and truth to his people. He was the one who gave his flesh and blood, which was the food for the life of the world. (John 3:16, 17) He had offered himself of his own free will. (John 10:11, 18) God had placed all things in his hands. (John 13:3; 17:10; Ephesians 1:19-22) And for these reasons, Christ's Lord and Father, Jehovah, was well pleased with him. The illustration demonstrates that the servant, Jesus Christ, was faithful in carrying out the will of his Lord, Jehovah; and upon God's coming to bear witness to these things, he was well pleased when he found Jesus doing so. This was foretold long ago in Malachi 3:1-5, which says that after Christ had carried out the will of God, Jehovah would come near for judgement. And when the religious leaders rejected Christ as the promised Messiah, God put himself in judgement with them for their wickedness.

In his question Christ also asked, "But suppose that servant is wicked . . ." which clearly indicates that the servant had free will. Christ could have chosen to beat his fellows servants, like the Scribes and Pharisees (who were the confirmed drunkards in the illustration); but, instead, he choose to obey his father's command to lay down his life, and also to receive it back again. (John 6:38; 10:18; 15:13) Adam had exercised his free will when he brought sin and death to his children. And Christ also exercised his free will when he brought righteousness and life to those who believe that he died for their sins. - Romans 5:12-21.

9

Pharaoh Shoshenk I

by George in

history records that pharaoh hedjkheperre shoshenk i embarked on a campaign into palestine sometime during his twenty-one year reign as pharaoh of egypt.

his relief, at karnak, lists the names of the cities and towns captured during his campaign.

his first strike was gaza of philistia, which included a secondary campaign into the negev, south of judah.

George

The Sheshonk I/Shishak theory has been proven false. This was the not the point of the article; rather, it was to show that Sheshonk I came against Israel in the days of Jeroboam II, a contemporary with Uzziah, and not in the days of Rehoboam.

George

2

Smiling Depression

by George in

she was such a nice sister.

i was particularly impressed by the way she read from the psalms.

her strong emotional attachment to god was obvious by the inflection in her voice when she read.

George

She was such a nice sister. I was particularly impressed by the way she read from the Psalms. Her strong emotional attachment to God was obvious by the inflection in her voice when she read. She always brought her son with her to the meetings. He must have been about 5 or 6 at the time. She had enrolled him in the ministry school and often helped him prepare his talks. I frequently wondered where the boy’s father was. One day my curiosity overcame me and I asked one of the Elders about the situation with her husband. I was told that he was baptized but that he very rarely attended meetings. I thought to myself that he certainly had the right to decide if he wanted to come to meetings or not; but I still found it somewhat discomforting that the family was not together at the meetings. I also knew for a certainty that the sister was deeply distressed about it; I could see it on her face many times. It was that look - that smiling depression - that gave her true feelings away.

I knew the Witnesses often spoke of the Kingdom Hall as an "ark of salvation." But that never made much sense to me until I got to see how this sister was affected by that reasoning. It was as if I could read her thoughts by the expressions on her face. Certainly she was thinking, as most witnesses do, that if her husband did not return to the Hall soon and be active in the work that he would die at Armageddon, which was always just around the corner. As time went on I could see that she was getting worse and worse with each passing meeting. The mind-set of the Witnesses was gradually taking its toll on her.

At each meeting the Witnesses are reassured that they are doing "the right thing" by coming to meetings and being active in field service. The Witnesses are taught from their youth up that these works are the foremost responsibility in the life of each Witness, and that it is by doing these things that one gains approval from God. This mind-set has no effect on married couples so long as both partners attend the meetings and participate in the witnessing work together. However, it is an entirely different situation for "divided households," which is the term used to describe those in situations like the sister here under consideration.

While the reinforcement that a "united couple" gets from meeting attendance and field service serves to strengthen their commitment to the work, it has just the opposite effect on a member from a divided family. This became more and more apparent to me as I watched this sister go to pieces. Her mind was being tormented by her belief that her works were assuring her salvation at Armageddon, while at the time those very works were condemning her husband to a certain death. She often got encouragement from many Witnesses to keep up her efforts and not to let her husband pull her away from "the truth". The truth of course being the assured salvation that results from frequent visits to "the ark."

I, for my part, had a great deal of trouble reconciling such reasoning, because I knew it didn’t conform to what I understood from scripture. I always believed that salvation was a free gift and works had nothing to do with it. I learned this when I was a Baptist, and for some reason I never let it go even after I became a Witness.

One day I heard that the sister had moved out and was separated from her husband. I new this was a violation of a scriptural principle but I reasoned that she couldn’t stand the strain anymore and had just given him up for dead. I was really saddened about this matter as I thought that the sister should have stayed home with her husband instead of coming to meetings. My understanding of scripture was that a wife’s duty was to her husband first and not to following some form of a law code like that set forth by the Witness Organization. I was often "rebuked" by elders for my reasoning on this but I paid them no mind because none of them could show it to me from scripture. Why couldn’t the sister just stay with her family at home and tell people about Jesus at work during the day, or on the bus on the way home, or anywhere for that matter?

After the sister moved out on her own she had to take another job in order to support herself. As a result of this she missed many meetings. Latter, I saw her at an assembly and she looked worse than I had ever seen her before. But that look - the smiling depression - it was still on her face. The elders would pay her a visit once in a while, maybe every 3 months or so; but she was clearly "marked" by now. The Witnesses will quickly mark or label anyone who violates a scriptural principle regardless of whether they themselves are the cause of it or not. I learned this when I started taking courses in Biblical Hebrew at a local college. After I was able to translate I pointed out errors in the New World Translation. That got me marked rather quickly. I then learned that most Witnesses think that the translation of their Bible was inspired by God himself even though the society does not make this claim.

Some time later I heard the announcement that the sister was dissfellowshipped. I thought to myself how terrible this was. While I was taking Hebrew I learned about a whole pattern of verbs in the Hebrew, 1 of 7, that addresses causative action. I then came to know that it was the mind-set of the Witnesses that had slowly caused this whole thing to occur. The sister was disfellowshipped for adultery. She had taken up living with another man while she was still legally married to her first husband. It often takes in excess of 1 year in my state in order for a divorce to be finalized. I reasoned that she was so desperate that she just needed someone. And I was certain that someone, "a worldling," was now taking better care of her than the organization could ever do. I thought to myself, "She reaped what she sowed when she forsook her husband for the meetings." And, again, "She reaped what she sowed when she was dissfellowshipped for breaking a rule." Yet I was never deterred in my reasoning that God will be merciful on her.

Simple fact is a man was created with the need for a women, and a women was created with a need for a man. Yet the mind-set of Watchtower doctrine does not allow for a relationship to thrive between a man and a women without the Watchtower being involved. I recall that it was just some 20 years ago or so that the Governing Body was even involved in what goes on in the marriage bed! I, for my part, would never marry a woman who is a Jehovah’s Witness; as the scripture says, "Marry only in the Lord." Yet when the Watchtower quotes this verse they mean, "Marry only in the Watchtower."

George J. Parrish Jr.

8

Revelation

by George in

"we will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced .

by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision.

for that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of domitians's reign.

George

It is the same old story over and over again. I have a few experiences somewhere which I have posted before on other sites about various things I witnessed while I was in good standing. I'll see if I can find them and post them here. Thank you for your kind words.

George

9

Pharaoh Shoshenk I

by George in

history records that pharaoh hedjkheperre shoshenk i embarked on a campaign into palestine sometime during his twenty-one year reign as pharaoh of egypt.

his relief, at karnak, lists the names of the cities and towns captured during his campaign.

his first strike was gaza of philistia, which included a secondary campaign into the negev, south of judah.

George

I spent a lot of time working on that article and you have to go and make fun of it!

8

Revelation

by George in

"we will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced .

by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision.

for that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of domitians's reign.

George

I know they read my work on Daniel, which is why they put me out. It was after that that I put up the article about 1914. The work on Daniel was just a result of personal research. You know how the Society always tries to get people to do personal study. But I think they want everyone to study Watchtower works and no others.