Questions for ''Jehovah's Witnesses'' By John Christian
(amateur translate from Greek).
This booklet is written in an inverse way that Watchtower magazines issue-that is, while the first perspective makes preaching the doctrine of fallacies
and then asks for the answer.
Here first is the question, and then the correct answer is given.
Thus negating the fallacies of american company ''Watchtower''-which appeared 1846 (!) Years after the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Apostles, the Fathers, Saints, and real witnesses of Christ.
How many dozens of times we've seen in science fiction movies, a hero with the freeze method cryogenic, and when he wakes up after decades, or thousands of years all around are different, he has no idea what the intervening years so that we
sleeps.Exactly,in that way, the company perspective comes to teach us a new Gospel, eighteen centuries after the early Christian years!
The point is the deluded sheep-the prodigal sons to understand the lies and deception and to think very seriously about what they will do with their souls and eternity.
1) Question: For the "Watchtower", "that the soul lives after death is a lie told by the Devil" ("You can live ...", pp. 88, 89). Consequently, the existence of saints and their effect on our lives is presented as another lie of the devil.
Question: if the soul dies,how could the rich have a conversation in Hades,how does he asks for some dew from the finger of Lazarus-and tell to God to send notice to his brothers?
(Speech, hearing, feeling, etc.).does the Bible says lies? (Luke 16:19-31) The soul and eternity
According to the Witnesses, man does not have a soul. He is a soul. "Adam was a soul .… The lower animals also are souls …. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the doctrines of eternal torment and immortality of the human soul" (What Do Jehovah's
Witnesses Believe?, 3-4). Thus in a few sentences do they deny several basic Christian doctrines which are clearly taught in Scripture and by all the Fathers of the Church. As for hell, although few things are so clearly taught in Scripture as the existence of an eternal hell, where the wicked will be punished, the Witnesses reject it. "Once the Devil has invented immortal souls, he had to invent a place somewhere outside heaven or earth for wicked immortal souls to go to. What else could he do but fall back on eternal conscious torment as the explanation?" (Cole, 163).
The Witnesses do not believe God will punish sinners. "The Bible does not teach that man possesses an 'immortal soul' that can endure endless roasting in torment" (Cole, 72). The world already belongs to the Devil. " God never punishes either in this life nor in the next," declared Russell.
There is no hell. Russell says that all are to be raised again and given a second chance. So everything depends on how we behave then, not on how we behave now. The more wicked a man has been in this life, the more likely he is to make good in the next. Even if he doesn't make good and continues to defy God with contempt, he will simply be put out of existence and experience no future evil consequences whatever.
Sacraments and prayer
Witnesses teach nothing about the Eucharist and other sacraments. They are almost completely ignored, as are so many other vital Christian truths. The purpose of baptism is obscure. Further, you will search Witnesses' literature in vain for any coherent teaching on prayer and Christian perfection. The great saints of God are apparently as much children of the devil as the rest of us. They have no significance whatever for the Witnesses.
Testimony of Scripture for soul and Hades
Characteristics, however, is the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, are the second and third chapters of the Book of Wisdom of Solomon. Typically we read verses 1-4, the third chapter of the book
"1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. 2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was
thought to be an affliction, 3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. 4 For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality''.
(Wisdom of Solomon 3 / c: 1-4).
But the same hope and faith prevailed in the time of Christ. So Christ also checked the Sadducees, who themselves do not believe the immortality of the soul and the
resurrection.
''For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both''.
And there arose a great cry, and the scribes who were on the Pharisees‘ side arose and strove, saying, ―We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.‖ (Acts 23:8).
And even the Lord checked them saying:
"But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
‗I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob‘? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matthew 22/: 31.32).
In other words, to prove that Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob were not dead, because that would be set by invoking God of the dead, but instead the patriarchs were alive. Alive also was Moses, even though he had physically died, when he appeared together with the prophet Elijah on Mount Tabor, at the transformation of Christ and spoke. There was'nt a fad of the students, nor optical illusions or magic tricks, because God does not use such instruments. And the disciples did not surprised at all, but instead Peter proposed to build the scene to stay there.
So,it was clear and correct the perception of Jews on the immortal soul (not by nature, but by the Grace of God), and of course the same concept teached by Christ, and later by his students.
Thus, in the letter to the Hebrews we read: "But ye have come unto Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect" (Hebrews 12/:
22-23).
In this passage, the sacred author names the incomparable superiority of the New Testament from the Old, and the values whoever enjoys as a shareholder. So says those who come to the Church, that come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem is the city of the living God and in celebration of myriads of angels, and Church firstborn, whose names are written in heaven, and spirits laws of men made perfect'. These are the souls of the righteous who have died while physically but present perfect to virtue near God. "spirits of just men made perfect".
So these souls, with main representative the father of the faith, the patriarch of the Jews Abraham welcomed the soul of righteous Lazarus of the parable.
The sacred Ecclesiastes
Our brothers Jehovah's Witnesses claim the verse Ecclesiastes 3, 18-21, to document their teaching that man is not a soul, which remains alive after the death of the body. But,the sacred Ecclesiastes although he writes with the wisdom given to him by God, is not mentioned anywhere that says "full of the Holy Spirit," or, even more, that God speaks with his mouth as he speaks with the mouth of the prophets . He writes and speaks as a man so why is sad and disappointed, "I said in my heart about the state of the sons of men" (stich. 18). For this reason you should interpret literally what it says about the dead. This becomes evident from the following:
a) The refrain of "vanity of vanities, all is vanity" can not be interpreted literally, then why should we consider "futility" also to worship God and to do His will.
b) Ecclesiastes speaks as if there will never be a resurrection of the dead. Didn't he know that there will be resurrection? However, if he knew, if he had taken into account in his text, would not compare humans with animals. Humans are animals - unless the animals will resurrected!
Let us keep in mind that he had not yet become the incarnation of Christ and the death had not been defeated yet. The desperation Ecclesiastes speaks about death, because he is still in the Old Testament.
c) In the next verse 22, writes the following surprising: "Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for
who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?
That ratio can not be accepted by a Christian - being rejoices in his works refers to the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12, 13-21). For the Christian, this is the largest "futility", while it is best to rejoice about his relationship with God and prepare for His kingdom. d) Even the famous coda of the book, where he talks about faith and worship of God, contains no theological meaning nor negate the tremendous pessimism. Not even mention the kingdom of God, or even the love of Him as a reason to do His will.
There are however many parts in Bible (especially the New Testament), showing clearly that Jesus and the writers of divinely inspired books consider the afterlife of souls so obvious, but the thought that ''our grandmother and all traditional Christians'' of all generations (often nowadays, arrogant, despise them as 'primitive' and / or 'illiterate'). Let's look at some of these points.
Abraham, Moses and the God of the living
1. At the Lord's transfiguration on Mount Tabor (Matthew 17, 1-13, Mark. 9, 2-13, Luke 9, 28-36 appeared next to the prophets Moses and Elijah. The prophet Elijah, as we know, not dead, but "was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire" according to the narrative of the Old Testament in the book of Kings D, 2, 11 (ie within the uncreated Light, when the saint Ancient Orthodox Church and continuity). Tabor came therefore to some place where alive. Moses next apparently came from the place of souls. Denying the life of souls after death, claiming that there was no real presence of the two men in the transformation, just because Jesus describes as "vision" experience of the three disciples (Matthew 17, 9). But it was not a mirage without real content, because the two men "discussed" with Jesus for the forthcoming passion (Lk. 9, 31) - and even appeared while students initially were not watching, but "were heavy with sleep" (stich. 32). So He was indeed present.
Besides, however, the word "vision" in the Bible is not only a symbolic vision, but also a realistic vision and recorded (eg Acts of Apostles 9, 10., 10, 3. 18, 9).
This fact alone, is enough to prove, at least to someone who considers valid in the Bible, that souls live after death of the body.
2. In the gospel of John, 8, 56, the Lord says to his listeners: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and He saw it and was glad."
''Day of the Lord" is a phrase that used in the Old Testament by God Himself meaning the coming of Christ or His Second Coming (eg Amos 5, 18 and 20, Joel 2, 1 and 11, Joel 3 , 14, Isa. 2, 12, Iez. 30, 3 etc.).
In the second meaning,the term is used in the New Testament (eg B Pet. 3, 10), and is "day of the Lord Jesus," "days of the Son of man" or "day of Christ" (p . example, Luke 17, 24, John 8, 56, I Cor 1, 8 and 5, 5, 1 Cor B, 14 B Thess. 1, 2, Philip. 1, 10). Here of course obviously meant the birth of Christ, which, as he says, "saw" and Abraham rejoiced. What did he saw, if he was already dead more than two millennia? He saw his soul.
Here we should mention the appearance of two saints of the Old Testament, departed years, the dream of Judas Maccabees in the Old Testament book of II Maccabees, chapter 15, 11-17: High Priest of GVIA (185-174 BC) and the prophet Jeremiah, who came to pray for the people of God and even Jeremiah gave a golden sword
(symbolically, the blessing of God) in Judas Maccabee to defeat the oppressors of the people and destroyers of worship of God.
This appearance for the Orthodox means a lot, but,for Protestants apparently means nothing, because the B Maccabees. included in 10 books removed from the Old
Testament, when rejected the text of O (= Septuagint), ie the Greek Old Testament (the one that uses the New Testament and the Christians generally to Luther) and adopted the Masoretic, ie the Hebrew text of Old Testament. These books were written in Greek from the start, so it was not included in the Hebrew Bible, and therefore not included in the Protestant Bible that are used by the Jehovah's Witnesses (as Protestants) and all other branches of Protestantism.
The prophet Jeremiah. The parchment writes words of God, by the teaching of the prophet Jeremiah: ―Am I a God at hand,‖ saith the Lord, ―and not a God afar off? (the prophetic book of Jeremiah, chapter 23:23).
3. In Matt. 22, 31-32, the Lord says, '' But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,‗I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob‘? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living''.
These words are only meaningful if the three referred saints were alive at the same time that the Lord spoke. Because if you were dead, even temporarily (until the resurrection), even if a person has been dead for even a moment, then He is not only God of the living,but AND God of the dead! On condition of course we accept that God is everything.
4. Based on the above, we understand correctly and John 11:26: ''and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this''? (every human who believes in me will never die),
and John 5:24, where the Lord says:
Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and believeth in Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.
Where "eternal life", no lag on death, only the instantaneous event. That is, from the time of death already "moved" from death to life-in these words does not remain "empty space" between death and eternal life.
The invitation to the dead
5. At the same John:5,28-29 we read: ''Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth — they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation''.
From these words we conclude the following:
a) while people are still dead ("the graves" = inside the graves) will hear the call of the Son of God and will get resurrected - so the souls are alive, because they can hear the
call
b) all will be resurrected, the hand of eternal life, not for "hell", which will lead to vicious, they have committed. The last we need below. That all will be resurrected, and not only saved (as they think the J.W's), seen from elsewhere, stating clearly that "all nations" will be gathered in front of Jesus at His Second Coming and will speak and saved and the "condemned" (Mt 25, 31-46).
(I put "hell" and "convicted" in quotes because, as we know, this is not a punishment from God, but from the eternal state in which they brought the unrepentant sinners themselves-which I hope will not be included also us). So when he says just before, at John 5:25,''and they that hear shall live'' means all people (as indeed has said that "the dead" will hear His voice, so everyone, not only "some dead" or even "many dead"), and not just some people.
An objection to this could be said that the Lord speaks with anthropomorphic symbolism when he says that "we will hear His voice" (as the Holy Prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37, which, with God's command, "ordering" the dry bones to become flesh and spirit and preserve). Besides souls are clearly not inside the tombs.
So grave is the symbol of status of the deceased. There are the remains of the body and hence there will come the resurrected people.
For the symbolism of the call, however, we should note that the Lord raised up the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow at Nain and St. Lazarus in exactly this way: he called them, he says that will call the dead (cf. Mk. 5, 41, Luke 7, 14, John 11, 43). And I do not think it is fair to say that just because he "had a bit to do it," or, more to impress viewers with a "theatrical" move. The simplistic interpretation is obvious that Jesus did not fit.
Even the apostle Paul in the First Thessalonians. 4, 16, writes that the Lord will
descend from heaven "in keleysmati" (= with a shout), "the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God" and will follow the resurrection of the dead. And the prophetic experience of Ezekiel the "order" to the dead was not a figure of speech, but
foreshadowing the Act will make the Lord as clearly mentioned in verses Iez. 37, 11-14 (it should be noted that the Lord speaks to Ezekiel says it will do what Jesus says He will do, so the Lord Ezekiel know as Orthodox, not the Father, but the Son).
By the way, why the dead bodies of Ezekiel, once restored, needed also and "spirit" to live, if "there is no particular spiritual part of man," as they think the J.W's?
Because the soul is always alive, so that is why the Lord said to the daughter of Jairus that "she is not dead, but sleeping" and the Saint Lazarus that "slept" (Mark 5, 39, John 11, 11 ): man, when asleep, unconscious of alert or become aware of its existence, but his mind is present, awake, is "in him" and has full consciousness. If the deceased is completely lost until the resurrection, there is no point to characterize the "deceased". The "prize" of Apostle Paul
6. In the letter to the Philippians, 1, 23, St. Paul says that he wishes strongly "For I am in a strait between the two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better;" (to dissolve [= die] and be close to Christ). This amazing testimony proves beyond any doubt that the holy apostle, immediately after death, followed by the coexistence with Christ. If he believed that he would remain dead until the Second Coming, He could be so intensely craves for is to die after his death with Christ, as he was while living with Him.
For the case of Paul-on this point- J.W's teach that Paul "knew that would be included in the 144,000 saints of Revelation, that the" angelic bodies "are already in heaven with Christ," in contrast to other people who will "sleep" until the resurrection. They claim even the verse the apostle Philip. 3, 14 'by purpose chase for the prize of the top call of God in Jesus Christ "(I run to the top prize of call of God in Christ Jesus) as an argument for that, supposedly, knew what the post place of death (the "upper call" to 144,000 saints). Conversely, however, seems to be trying here to receive this award, so much craves (not because they are insincere, but because the "prize" is the eternal coexistence of the beloved Jesus). Similarly, a little above the Philippians. 3, 7-11, it is clear that Paul did not feel at all sure of the location close to the Lord. Having listed his efforts to be consistent Christian concludes: (and maybe end up in the resurrection of the dead).
Since all the dead will be resurrected-as mentioned above-the apostle here clearly means salvation, ie participation in the heavenly glory of Christ, which we commonly call "paradise." However, the fact is that there appears to be some "information" on the post mortem conclusion is.
7. A letter to the holy apostle Peter, 3, 19-20, states that the Lord, during the three-day death, "He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who had once apeithisei when waiting for the forbearance of God, the days of Noah'' ... etc.).
The J'W's interpret this verse as referring to the "sons of God" who crave the daughters of men and joined them (Genesis 6, 1-4), who, according to them, were angels who "realized" mated with women and men born giants. 6, 4.
But this interpretation suffers in two ways:
a) What sense had to go to the Lord and preached to fallen angels? Does they going to repent and to be saved? Nowhere seems that - unlike the fallen angels are
unrepentant. Instead, declare the dead people who were in "Hades" had huge meaning: thus giving them the opportunity to save, that is to be judged along with the AD
people and unite with them in the kingdom of God. This is the chance of the ancient dead, not some "temporary" resurrection, between death and the Last Judgment, to "learn the commandments of God" and "testing" faith and morality, as they think the J'W's. In all the Bible references to the resurrection and Last Judgment (Matthew 25, 31-46, John 5, 28, Daniel 7, 9-10, B Thess., 1, 6-11, B Peter chapter 3, etc.) appears to mediate some space therebetween.
Besides, "it is once per mankind to die, but after this critical" (reserved for men to die once and after this, judgment, Heb. 9, 27). There is a death, and therefore one
resurrection, and references in Chapter 20 of Revelation in the "first resurrection" and "the second death" must be understood spiritually, otherwise inconsistent with the foregoing.
b) A little further down, I Peter 4, 6, states that the Lord "and evingelisthi corpses" (gave the message of the gospel to the dead)! Here J'W's writes that refers to "spiritually dead", ie people distant from God. But then what are the "living" since before Christ all people were spiritually dead. Besides, if you read here about "spiritual death" because they do not accept and that the "first resurrection" of Revelation is "spiritual resurrection," ie the integration of the human "body of Christ", the Church? Let us mention that the descent of Christ into Hades announced in the Old Testament where the prophet and king David, in Psalm 23 (in the Protestant Bible-and-J'W's following the Hebrew numbering, has the number 24), verse. 7-10, writes:
Lift up your heads, O ye gates! And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates! Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah
The 'eternal gates', as it is eternal, it can not be any earthly city gates. These are the "gates of hell" mentioned several times in the Old Testament (Isaiah 38, 10. Wisdom of Solomon 16, 13. Maccabees C 5, 51), but Christ in Matt. 16, 18. As we know, Jesus refers to the Bible as a king (eg Matthew 25, 31-34, stating that the Second Coming will sit "on the throne of Glory", while the apostle Paul describes the "Lord of Glory" stating that he had indeed already that capacity beforehand crucified "for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory".(I Corinthians 2, 8).
The "King of Glory" So entering the eternal gates, is Christ and enters the Underworld as a conqueror and liberator. Note that this Psalm is Psalm "one of the Sabbaths", ie the first day of the week, the day on which the resurrected Lord (Matthew 28, 1) and the Christians from the earliest years call Sunday (Revelation 1, 10).
A Thess. 4, 16-17: Two resurrections?
Here I must mention one reference that can be used to argue that there will be "two resurrections' is 1 Thess. 4, 16b-17: "16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord''.
This verse can mean: a) first will resurrected the "dead in Christ", ie Christians, and then everyone else, b) first be resurrected dead (all) "in Christ", ie the resurrection of the dead will be "in Christ", by the grace of strength and "callings" of Christ, and then those who are left alive will be caught up together with them in the air resurrected etc. Whatever that means, however, even if a valid version, it follows that there will be two
resurrections (immediately after the rest will be raised). Besides, if it were argued that those who did not know the message of Christ in their lives, they will know after his resurrection and then will be judged, should rise first "other" and the latter "in Christ."
The "cloud of witnesses"
8. In Hebrews, 11, 32-40, St. Paul lists the suffering of the saints until then (especially the Old Testament) for their faith and concludes that, nevertheless, "not what they were promised, as God foresaw something better for us, so do not reach perfection without us''.
Here,a J W's could say that the implied lack of man in space between death and the resurrection. However, immediately to the following (11, 1) the apostle says: "So we, us both having around cloud of witnesses'' ... etc.
I wonder in what sense the witnesses are "cloud" that "our surrounds"? Although one could, arbitrarily, consider the simple expression of the apostle literary device, but the picture in the text is clear: the souls of witnesses 'fly around' like a cloud (fog, because this cloud surrounds the people, not the clouds of heaven): dense (because of the crowd), "intangible" and transparent, like the Cloud.
The thief on the cross and "Abraham's bosom"
The Saints' Day (= all the saints). In the lower part of the picture depicts the
"Abraham's bosom" (right), Jacob showing his children in the Lord (perhaps symbolic reference in Isaiah 8, 18) and the average thief who was saved by the crucifixion (from here).
9. Direct evidence for the life of souls is obvious to the ancient Orthodox Church and the word of the Lord to the thief on the cross "truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23, 43). The view of J W's that the Lord said, "I tell you truth today(,) you will be with me in paradise", is logically untenable; every respect "today" would be superfluous, let alone a man nailed to the cross, not afford to say
10. We left past the famous parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16, 19-31). There the souls of two people meet in Hades, while the rich state of perpetual thirst of Lazarus is not in a state of pleasure. The second fact rests "within" (in lap) of Abraham, and Abraham conversing with the rich.
These descriptions, according to J W's do not mean nothing at all about the state of man after death. It's literary device of Jesus, to pass the philanthropic message. Of course, we can not agree. The Lord here gives an incentive for listeners: if they behave with kindness,they will be found in "Abraham's bosom", and if they live with cruelty and spend their wealth only for themselves, they will find themselves "in this place of suffering ", as says the wealthy (vs. 28) agonize-ing the fate of the five
brothers! If the place of suffering and the Bossom of Abraham did not exist, then forgive me-God-the Lord gave fake motivation to His listeners, ie He cheated! How someone struggling to avoid the fate of the rich and enjoy the luck of Lazarus, if all this was nothing but empty rhetoric? If the Lord was talking about a future
kingdom,He could well place the scene in the future, while now refers to present time,that the five brothers of the rich were still living on earth.
Besides, if the Lord was using empty rhetoric or literary discoveries in parables, we must accept that it could be reported even in ... Jupiter.
But what is the "Abraham's bosom?" This certainly is a symbolic picture. It symbolizes something but not nil, but the affection and security man feels in heaven - and
perhaps to communicate with the spirits of the saints who surround him with fatherly holy love. I would venture to say that the "Abraham's bosom" is the foretaste of salvation, salvation would be indescribable in its fullness at the Second Coming and the resurrection of all the dead.
Reference to the spiritual symbolism of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
becomes saints and teachers of the ancient and the Orthodox Church. See the teaching of Saint Macrina the immortality of the soul, as shown in a shocking dialogue-just before she died-with her brother St. Gregory of Nyssa, in which he recorded under the title "The Makrineia - the soul and the resurrection", par 45-52.
ALSO, HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE AFTER-DEATH EXPERIENCES?
Outstanding is a similar case of a blind woman 70 years old who lost her light at the age of 18. After her '' return'' she described to the doctor the tools he used. Tools that did not exist 52 years ago when she still see - proof that she was telling the truth! Even if - for the disbelievers - the external do not prove that there is continuity after death, it is certain that definitively prove the existence of the soul.
Saint Stephen's at his stoning time saw the heavens open and Christ seated at God's right.
The Apostle Paul was snatched up to the third heaven and heard ineffable verbs-(I know a man in Christ who lived and who fourteen years ago-whether lay in his body during the one hour did not know was whether out of the body I do not know , God knows)-grabbing and had been taken to the third heaven.
And I know that this man-whether in the body outside the body, I do not know, God knows-
ravished until heaven and listened to words that the human language can not be articulate and which is not man Delegate probably say to them and their revelations. '' No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no calculus put'' for what God has prepared for those who love him.
What can we see here?
1) WHERE IS THE PARADISE ON EARTH-THAT THE ''WATCHTOWER'' CLAIMS?
2) If it is correct the falsehood -that the soul dies,why the Apostle Paul did not know that HE WAS NOT DEAD and saw that?
CONCLUSION
The body that is made of soil, decays, and return back to earth until the Second Coming that will be resurrected and become indestructible.
But the soul is immortal and lives forever. For the salvation of it,it is worth all the sacrifices,even the lost of the body.
2) Question: What do you know about the New Age-New World Order? Is faith in God an obstruction for Globalization?
creating obstructions?(E.g. Heresies). Beware of Watchtower Magazine
Titus 1:10,11, ―For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers... Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.‖
Sadly, as sincere as most of them may be, the Jehovah's Witnesses are a false religion, teaching lies and false doctrines against the Scriptures. The Jehovah's Witnesses preach a FALSE gospel, mandating water baptism, and requiring people to stop sinning in order to be saved. The group also requires membership into the Kingdom Hall for a person to get to heaven. These are false doctrines.
The Jehovah's Witnesses deny several fundamental doctrine of the Word of God, including the deity of Jesus, the Godhead, the bodily resurrection of Christ and salvation without works by faith alone in Jesus Christ. They also teach the false
doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration, i.e., that water baptism is mandatory for salvation. The Jehovah's Witnesses are a false cult, known for their public outreach. If only
Baptists and other genuine Christian groups would work as hard to reach society with the Gospel. It is a shame that a false cult is more energetic and persistent in
propagating their heresies, than truly born-again Christians are about soul winning with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
WATCHTOWER magazines are highly appealing to people because of the superb artistic quality and vivid colors, which are pleasing to the eyes. Unfortunately, the magazine is filled with unbiblical teachings which lead men, women and children into false religion and away from the truth of God's Word. Jehovah's Witnesses are very subtle in their writings, sounding very much like true Christians; but they are not! They don't make it as obvious that they teach Jesus was only Michael the archangel incarnate. This is what Jehovah's Witnesses believe! There is not one single Scripture in all the Bible that says, nor even implies, that Michael became Jesus. It is utter blasphemy!!!
WATCHTOWER magazine is of the Devil. Please throw them away if you have any in your home. When Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door, I receive their literature just so I can throw it away after they leave, but first I write the word ―heresy‖ across the front cover, just in case the garbage man doesn't recognize the magazine as garbage.
ALSO:
What do you know about Helena Blavatsky-founder of the movement of the'' New Age'' that began in 1875 - JUST FOUR YEARS BEFORE Russell started the'' Bible Students'' and sent on his mission by ... God?
Also,what is the ''Good News'' that the ''Watchtower'' speaks for?
Does Satan wants to hear words as: Gospel, Cross, incense, confession, Divine Communion?
How much '' New'' are the ''Good News'' if the Organization means the Gospel-which is 2000 years old?
Why does ''WATCHTOWER'' speaks for New world of God'',for ''System of things'' and for ''New World order of Jehowah''(!!!),and many other new-age designations?
In what point (the original,the Ancient) Scripture speaks for ''system'' or ''system of things''? (ANCIENT TEXT TO ANSWER PLEASE).
This question is,because,the New World Order awaits the Antichrist-as a Messiah. The reign of the Antichrist will be the culmination of the New World Order...
3) Question: Is that the Organization of God? How can we conclude this?
The other Churches is ... ''Of Satan''? Finally what the ''Watchtower'' is?
a Company? a Religion? an Organization?
Jehovah does not need an organization, nor has he used an organization for most of human history. For 2,500 years, from creation until the Israelites, there is no mention of any organization. God dealt directly with individuals. From the death of the Apostles until the formation of the Watchtower Society in the 1800's, what group represented God's organisation?
The most important concept behind being a Jehovah's Witness is that you need to follow the Watchtower organization for salvation. This article shows that there is no legitimate basis for such a concept.
The word "Organization" is not in the Bible, yet appears 16,789 times on the 2006 Watchtower Library CD.
Early Christians were organised into congregations, as are Christian religions today. For the spread of Christianity it may be necessary to create organisations. For example,
in modern times religious groups often need to establish legal entities or organisations in order to purchase halls to meet in and for the publication of literature.
The Watchtower Society goes a step further by saying that being part of their particular Organization is an essential requirement of salvation. The leaders of the Watchtower Society, the Governing Body, are said to be appointed by Christ and the only means by which he directs his true followers today.
"Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book." Watchtower 1973 Jul 1 p.402
"However, the Governing Body are appointed through the holy spirit under the direction of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ." Watchtower 1990 Mar 15 p.18
"These overseers faithfully seek to apply instructions received from Jehovah God and Jesus Christ by means of the faithful and discreet slave and its Governing Body." Watchtower 1990 Mar 15 p.20
"Christ thus leads the congregation by means of the spirit-anointed "faithful and discreet slave" and its Governing Body." Examining the Scriptures Daily 2007 p.34 This is the most significant concept behind being a Jehovah's Witness. Believing in God is not what makes a Witness unique, as a large portion of people believe in God.
Trusting in the Bible is not the key factor to being a Witness, as billions of people believe they follow the Bible. It is belonging to the "Organization" that distinguishes a Witness and makes them feel solely worthy of salvation.
The word organization never appears in the Bible, yet organization appears 16,789 times on the 2006 Watchtower Library CD. This is because belonging to an
organization is not a Scriptural requirement, but rather a common concept amongst high control groups as a technique of building a member's high degree of conviction and uniformity.
This raises the following questions;
Has Jehovah always operated through an organization? Requirement of Salvation
The Watchtower claims that belonging to an organization is essential for salvation. "To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it." Watchtower 1983 Feb 15 p.12
Yet the word "organization" never appears in the Bible, nor is it ever stated in either the Old or New Testaments that membership of an organization is a requirement of
salvation. The Scriptures repeatedly state that it is faith in Jesus and the Father that results in everlasting life.
"... obtain the salvation that is in union with Christ Jesus along with everlasting glory." 2 Timothy 2:10
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life ... He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life." John 3:16, 36
"And yet YOU do not want to come to me that YOU may have life." John 5:40
"I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved, and he will go in and out and find pasturage." John 10:9
"This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." John 17:3
"Hence let no one be boasting in men; for all things belong to YOU, whether Paul or Apol'los or Ce'phas or the world or life or death or things now here or things to come, all things belong to YOU; in turn YOU belong to Christ; Christ, in turn, belongs to God." 1 Corinthians 3:21
To appreciate the level of adulation Watchtower followers are expected to have for the organisation, it is revealing that the Watchtower April 2013 study article titled "Make Sure of the More Important Things" uses the term "organization" 24 times, but Jesus only 18 times. The following article then contains an image outlining the composition
of the organisation that does not even include Jesus, but rather the Governing Body directly below Jehovah on his throne.
The Watchtower 1975 Sep 1 p.531 asks "Where could we turn if we would leave God's organization today? There is nowhere else! (John 6:66-69)". This quote refers to John 6:66-69 for support that there is nowhere other than the Organization. However, John makes a very different point:
"Simon Peter answered him: "Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life."" John 6:68
One cannot help but wonder how Jesus feels having the Watchtower Society applying this Scripture to themselves, rather than to him.
Does God require an Organization?
As the word "organization" does not appear in the Bible, the Watchtower uses 1
Corinthians 14:33 - "God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace" - to indicate that an Organization is necessary. However, the existence of an organization does not
guarantee order, nor is an organization a prerequisite for orderliness. This does not mean that organization is not necessary. People need to be organised for efficient operation of congregations and preaching. Rather, it is unquestioning allegiance to the leaders of an Organization that is not supported Scripturally.
In an attempt to enforce the authority of the Watchtower Society, articles claim God has always operated though a single organization.
"The Bible shows that Jehovah has always guided his servants in an organized way The nation of Israel was called "Jehovah's congregation." (Numbers 20:4; 1 Chronicles 28:8) If you were a true worshiper of Jehovah back then, you had to be part of that
congregation of worshipers, not separate from it. Did Jehovah ever use more than one organization during any period of time? In Noah's day only Noah and those with him inside the ark had God's protection and survived the floodwaters. (1 Peter 3:20) Also, in the first century there were not two or more Christian organizations. God dealt with just the one. There was just the "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5) Likewise in our day Jesus Christ foretold that there would be only one source of
Bible history proves that this is not the case. For the majority of history God has not used any organization. He predominantly has operated through individuals, and has regularly dealt with more than one group at a time.
Originally God dealt directly with Adam and Eve. He continued to deal directly with Abel, and also directly with the unrighteous man Cain. (Gen 4:15) For the next 2000 years there is no mention of any organization or intervention by God, except for when God deal with two individuals; Enoch and Noah.
After the flood, Jehovah continued to deal with individuals rather than with an organization. He concurrently dealt separately with individuals such as Lot and Abraham.
Israel
There is only one period of time during which it can be claimed that God dealt with an organization. This was not until 2,500 years after the creation of mankind, with the formation of the Nation of Israel under Moses. Yet even whilst he dealt through this group, he continued to deal with individuals and other groups.
During the time of the nation of Israel, Jehovah dealt with individuals not associated with the Israelites. For example, it was during this time that Jehovah was involved directly with Job, a man "blameless and upright, and fearing God and turning aside from bad the greatest of all the Orientals. (Job 1:1-3)
After many decades, Jehovah instituted a King in Israel. This was not will, but because of their insistence on requiring a visible king. This desire for a human leader was considered a rejection of Jehovah, who stated:
"… it is I whom they have rejected from being king over them." 1 Samuel 8:7.
During the history of Israel, God did not deal only with the King. In fact Saul, the very first king, attempted to kill David and so David fled to live in the apostate land of Philistia with Achish the king of Gath, all the time protected by Jehovah. Jehovah also operated through Levites, the Priests and a variety of Bible writers of diverse stations. He regularly rose up independent prophets to chastise his erring kingly representative. Generally these individual prophets were sent by Jehovah to condemn the Israelites. What cannot be overlooked is that from the first leader and for most of its history,
Israel were apostate rejecters of Jehovah.
At the death of only the third king Jehovah foretold "Here I am ripping the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I shall certainly give you ten tribes. And the one tribe is what will continue his for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel." (1 Kings 11:31-32) After Solomon's death God proceeded to split the Israelites into two separate nations, each with their own priestly class. Until the destruction of Israel, Jehovah dealt with the Northern kingdom separately from the Southern kingdom.
For a short time after the fall of Jerusalem, God continued to deal directly with individuals, such as Daniel. After the release from Babylon, God was with Ezra and Nehemiah and was involved with the rebuilding of the temple. Then a period of 500 years ensued with no record of any intervention from God until the time of Jesus, no evidence that God actively dealt through this visible organization.
Christian Times
When Jesus arrived, the priesthood was still God's representative. The Jews were considered to be God's Nation until the the temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. However Jesus and his disciples stood up against that organisation and publicly condemned the Priests, in effect setting up a second rival organization to the one still representing God.
While this second group was following Jesus, the Bible shows that there were individuals unattached to Jesus followers whose worship was also considered acceptable.
"John said to him: "Teacher, we saw a certain man expelling demons by the use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he was not accompanying us." But Jesus said: "Do not try to prevent him, for there is no one that will do a powerful work on the basis of my name that will quickly be able to revile me; for he that is not against us is for us. For whoever gives YOU a cup of water to drink on the ground that YOU belong to Christ, I truly tell YOU, he will by no means lose his reward. But whoever stumbles one of these little ones that believe, it would be finer for him if a millstone such as is turned by an ass were put around his neck and he were actually pitched into the sea." Mark 9:38-42
Here Jesus shows that a person could belong to him without following the group of apostles. Belonging to an organization was not as important as it was to "belong to Christ".
After Jesus death, his disciples actively went against the nation of Israel and the high priest, even whilst they were still considered God's earthly representative. Acts 5:27-29 describes such an occasion;
"And the high priest questioned them and said: "We positively ordered YOU not to keep teaching upon the basis of this name, and yet, look! YOU have filled Jerusalem with YOUR teaching, and YOU are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us." In answer Peter and the [other] apostles said: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men."
During all this time, early Christianity was loosely structured, unlike the Watchtower organisation today. There was no formal incorporation and no multibillion dollar property empire of kingdom halls and Bethel buildings.
How Directed?
"But in reply he said: "I tell YOU, If these remained silent, the stones would cry out."" - Luke 19:40
Presuming that God needs an earthly organization shows lack of faith in his ability to operate through individuals. Early Christians were not directed by an organization but by the words of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
"I have many things yet to say to YOU, but YOU are not able to bear them at present. However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming." John 16:12-13
Jesus promised that he would direct his followers no matter how few were gathered together.
"Where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst!" Matthew 18:20
It was under the guidance of Holy Spirit that followers of Jesus accomplished their work.
" with the power of signs and portents, with the power of holy spirit; so that from Jerusalem and in a circuit as far as Illyricum I have thoroughly preached the good news about the Christ." Romans 15:19
Acts 2:1-4 describes the Holy Spirit speaking truth through 120 disciples and Acts 4:31 says;
"… they were one and all filled with the holy spirit and were speaking the word of God with boldness."
Christian congregations met in houses with like minded people worshipping Christ. Paul explained this was for "upbuilding" each other (1 Corinthians 14:5). Holy Spirit appointed mature older men to overseer (Acts 20) whilst the older women were teachers of good (Titus 2:3, 4).
There was freedom within congregations to discuss different points of view without fear of retribution, as shown by open discussion on circumcision. Consensus was reached at Acts 15 that circumcision was not required, but that it was necessary to abstain "from things sacrificed to idols (v29)". Yet even this statement was not binding regulation, since Paul later explained at 1 Corinthians 8 that food sacrificed to idols need only be avoided if eating it would cause a brother to stumble.
The formation of congregations indicates order, but does not imply an elite group of specially directed leaders in a position to demand unquestioning obedience.
Conclusion
The Watchtower Society is described as Jehovah's "wife" and "earthly instrument". "However, what we see exemplified in God's woman, his heavenly universal organization, we should look to see in his visible organization. Why? Because his
higher, greater universal organization uses it as her earthly instrument. That is why we do see those motherly traits, those traits and acts of a virtuous woman, in the
Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and in the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, because these profess to represent and serve God's woman. We thank God for
providing and using them. So we stand up respectfully and bless his faithful
organization, his queenly "woman" in heaven which makes all these loving provisions for us as children of God." Watchtower 1950 October 1 p.348 "
Referring to the Watchtower Society as Jehovah's earthly organization creates an air of divine authority. Personification as a motherly woman creates fear of displeasing "her". In reality, the Watchtower Society is a standard company with a Charter incorporated in America. It is a worldly corporation run by progression of men. Like any company, its foremost concern is ultimately growth and financial viability, achieved through book sales and donations.
In The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian & the Risk of Commitment (InteVarsity Press, 1986, 1992) pp.29-30 Professor Daniel Taylor warns:
"The primary goal of all institutions and subcultures is self-preservation. Preserving the faith is central to God's plan for human history; preserving particular religious institutions is not. Do not expect those who run the institutions to be sensitive to the difference. God needs no particular person, church, denomination, creed or
organization to accomplish his purpose."
The concept of Jehovah having one single organization that he directs by means of a Governing Body is used to support the concept that being a Jehovah's Witness is essential for salvation. Though the Bible consistently says it is faith in Jesus that is important, the Watchtower shifts attention to the Organization with statements such as "we must uphold the truth of that organization." (Watchtower 1961 May 1 p.276) The Governing Body uses this principle to set itself as a spiritual authority above the Bible, such as when stating:
"Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind." Watchtower 1967 Oct 1 p.587
Though an organization is never mentioned by Jesus, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that all other Christian religions will be destroyed by God, because they do not follow Watchtower defined truth. Jesus said "He that believes has everlasting life"(John 6:47) and "I know my sheep and my sheep know me"(John 10:14). When a Jehovah's Witness reads passages like these they are trained to understand "whoever believes what the
Watchtower says about Jesus may have everlasting life", and "the sheep know me, only by means of the Watchtower Society". This is not unique; it is common that "the cult and its beliefs become the only true path to salvation." (Combating Cult Mind Control, Hassan, p.202).
It is apparent that for most of the history of the Bible, Jehovah did not have a visible organization. Even during the short period that he used the Nation of Israel, he regularly dealt with individuals in preference to the leaders of that nation. This was also the case during early Christian times. Furthermore, belonging to these groups was no guarantee of being acceptable to God, as from the start both the Jews and early Christians were plagued with corruption and apostasy.
Faithful and Discreet Slave
The parable of the faithful and discreet slave is used by the Watchtower Governing Body to justify that they have been appointed by God to lead his people, since 1919. "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings." Matthew 24:45-47
This simple parable defines a Jehovah's Witness. The question from Jesus is fundamental to the existence and structure of the religion and is its foundation Scripture. From it extends the concept that in 1919 God chose the leaders of the Watchtower Society as his sole source of truth and henceforth justify why Jehovah's Witnesses need to submit unquestioningly to the Watchtower Governing Body. "―The faithful and discreet slave‖ was appointed over Jesus‘ domestics in 1919. That slave is the small, composite group of anointed brothers serving at world headquarters during Christ‘s presence who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing
spiritual food. When this group work together as the Governing Body, they act as ―the faithful and discreet slave.‖" jw.org 10th Nov 2012
"We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah‘s approval." Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.24 Simplified English Edition
ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave." Watchtower 2001 Aug 1 p.14
"Since Jehovah God and Jesus Christ completely trust the faithful and discreet slave, should we not do the same?" Watchtower 2009 Feb 15 p.27
"To act consistently with our baptism for life and into the Greater Noah we must submit to and cooperate with that slave and its legal instrument, the Watch Tower Society." Watchtower 1959 Oct 1 p.583
For many decades, the Slave included all "anointed" Witnesses, but during the 2012 Annual Meeting, the Governing Body assumed this role upon themselves alone. For several years prior to 2012, the Governing Body had been making statements to increase its own authority.
"The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ." Watchtower 2010 Sep 15 p.23
These grandiose claims have important implications. Truth changes in line with changes of Watchtower interpretation. Conviction that God reveals the Bible through the Watchtower Governing Body affects what a Jehovah's Witness believes regarding doctrine, morals, history and the future, and their actions relating to morals and family. With such all-encompassing power, it does well to prove if God is using these Watchtower leaders.
Proof
What proof exists to indicate the Governing Body represents the Slave? In Bible times, Jehovah made it simple to recognise those he had chosen to lead his people, through the use of miracles and gifts of the spirit. Watchtower leaders demonstrate none of these indicators.
Identifying those used by Jehovah Bible Times
Watchtower Governing Body
Miracles Jehovah used miraculous works to identify those chosen to lead others. For example:
Moses - Staff into a snake
Apostles - Gifts of the spirit, such as faith healing
None
Prophecy When Jehovah used a person to make future predictions, the prophecies were always correct. For example, Daniel's prophecy for the fall of Babylon and the line of world powers 100% of Watchtower predictions have been false, such as that the end of the world would be in 1914, then 1925, then 1975. Furthermore, the generation teaching promoted prior to 1995 is about to be proven false, as the last survivors born prior to 1914 die out.
Consistency Bible is harmonious, with Bible writers presenting a message without contradiction.
Watchtower doctrine has been in constant flux. This cannot be explained as new light, as there have been numerous flip flops and contradictions, such as the generation teaching, organ transplants, and superior authorities.
As the Watchtower is without clear and visible proof of God's backing, it resorts to unsubstantiated claims of guidance, devoid of any legitimate basis.
"OVERWHELMING CREDENTIALS
The "faithful and discreet slave" has abundant credentials. Following is a partial list of Scriptural and prophetic designations applying to or being represented in the remnant of Jesus Christ's anointed followers since the notable year 1919:" Watchtower 1981 Mar 1 p.27
The 1981 article follows with a list of 80 "prophetic designations" that the reader is expected to believe foreshadow the modern day slave, including Bible accounts as diverse as "Noah's wife", "Angels sent to Lot" and the "Gleaning left behind". Can these accounts seriously be considered proof that the Watchtower leaders represent the Slave since 1919?
Another line of reasoning is that mature Christians will realise that the Watchtower organisation is guided by Jehovah, due to superiority of doctrine, displays of love and growth in membership.
"Those mature in Christian growth have, through the Scriptures and the evident manifestation of Jehovah's favor on his faithful and discreet slave, come to appreciate that Jehovah deals with his people as an organization and that his spirit operates in conjunction with that organization. (Matthew 24:45-47)" Watchtower 1958 May 1
p.285
"The abundance of spiritual food and the amazing details of Jehovah's purposes that have been revealed to Jehovah's anointed witnesses are clear evidence that they are the ones mentioned by Jesus when he foretold a "faithful and discreet slave" class"
Watchtower 1964 Jun 15 p.365
Is self proclamation of being the Slave proof that this is so? Every religion believes they have Scriptural backing for their beliefs and point to membership numbers as evidence of God's favour.
Who is the Slave?
The common understanding of the parable of the Slave (or Steward in some Bible translations) is that they are congregational ministers.
"Some state that the "slave" refers to Christian ministers, or their office of oversight, with responsibility to care for the spiritual needs of the congregation. The 'master's' arrival is said to be either the second coming of Christ or the death of the individual minister. Thus it is held that the parable should motivate Christian ministers to care well for what is entrusted to them." Watchtower 1981 Mar 1 p.24
In Commentary on Matthew 24, Matthew Henry writes:
"Concerning the good servant; he shows here what he is-a ruler of the household; what, being so, he should be-faithful and wise; and what, if he be so, he shall be eternally-blessed. Here are good instructions and encouragements to the ministers of Christ. First, We have here his place and office. ... The church of Christ is his household Secondly, His right discharge of this office. The good servant, if thus preferred, will be a good steward; for, 1. He is faithful; stewards must be so, 1 Co. 4:2. He that is
trusted, must be trusty; and the greater the trust is, the more is expected from them. It is a great good thing that is committed to ministers (2 Tim. 1:14); and they must be faithful, as Moses was, Heb. 3:2. Christ counts those ministers, and those only, that are faithful, 1 Tim. 1:12. A faithful minister of Jesus Christ is one that sincerely designs his master's honour, not his own; delivers the whole counsel of God, not his own fancies and conceits; follows Christ's institutions and adheres to them; regards the meanest, reproves the greatest, and doth not respect persons." blueletterbible.org (9 July 2006) In line with this, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 says;
secrets of God. Besides, in this case, what is looked for in stewards is for a man to be found faithful."
This is not the Watchtower understanding. Watchtower Development
Being a vague parable, the Watchtower has been able to use a range of preconceived notions to arrive at a variety of interpretations for the Slave, highlighted by numerous changes to their Doctrine.
Originally, Russell said the Slave was an illustration of the entire body of Christ, the little flock of 144,000 heavenly rulers.
""Who then is that faithful and wise servant whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household," to give them meat in due season? Is it not that "little flock" of consecrated servants who are faithfully carrying out their consecration vows - the body of Christ - and is not the whole body individually and collectively, giving the meat in due season to the household of faith - the great company of believers?" Zion's Watch Tower 1881 Oct/Nov p.5
Later, the slave was used to refer to a single person, Pastor Russell. (This interpretation was originally suggested by Russell's wife in a letter dated 1895. See Zion's Watch Tower 1906 Jul 15 pp.215-216 for a reprint of the letter.) Russell was thought to have been appointed as the Slave to direct the domestics (Jesus true followers) immediately prior to the Second Coming.
"In our examination of this text we seem to have treated the term "that servant" as though the Spirit had erred in saying "that servant" when it meant servants (plural), and we applied it to all true servants of God. … The objection urged is that the Lord's
words clearly mention and distinguish between his "household" (his faithful people in general), the "fellow-servants" (plural) , and "that servant" specially indicated as the Lord's agent in dispensing present truth as food to his "fellow-servants" and the "household." Zion's Watch Tower 1896 Mar 1 pp.47,48
"However much we might endeavor to apply this figure to the Lord's people
collectively, the fact would still remain that the various items stated would not fit to a company of individuals. For instance, in the 42nd verse, in the common version it is
rendered, that faithful steward; the revised version, the faithful steward; as though a particular one were meant and the term not used indefinitely for a number. Turning to the Greek text we find that the emphasis is there also and in double form--the faithful, the wise steward. ...at the time of the parable's fulfillment the Lord would appoint a servant in the household to bring these matters to the attention of all the servants, and that certain responsibilities would rest upon such a one respecting the dispatch of his duties… " Zion's Watch Tower 1904 Apr 15 p.125
"Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of "that faithful and wise servant," and that his great work was giving to the Household of Faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly
claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation." Watch Tower 1916 Dec 1 p.356
Russell continued to be considered the Faithful Slave after his death in 1916.
"THE WATCH TOWER unhesitatingly proclaims Brother Russell as "that faithful and wise servant." He delivered the message faithfully, finished his course and has now entered into his reward. Through him the Lord gave to the church the message that is so essential to each one who in this harvest time would win the glorious prize." Watch Tower 1917 Mar 1 p.67
"We believe that all who are now rejoicing in present truth will concede that Brother Russell faithfully filled the office of special servant of tile Lord; and that he was made ruler over all the Lord‘s goods." Watch Tower 1923 Mar 1 p.68
With Russell's death, a new interpretation became necessary. In the 1917 leaflet The Parable of the Penny, Rutherford was described as the Steward, replacing Russell. "Saith unto His steward. — Brother J. F. Rutherford, President and Manager of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society after the Pastor‘s death, and elected to that office in harmony with the Pastor‘s will." p.2
In 1926, Rutherford reinterpreted the Faithful Slave from a single person to a group of people. Thus the interpretation had come full circle, but this time the servant included Jesus as well as the 144,000.
"Seeing then that The Servant of Jehovah is The Christ, and that The Christ is
composed of Jesus and the faithful members of his body, we find it proper to apply the term "Servant" to Jesus Christ alone or to Jesus Christ and the members of his body collectively as one; and sometimes it is applied only to the members of the body of
Christ yet on earth." Watchtower 1927 Feb 15 p.53
Over time, Jesus was removed from the role of faithful servant, so once more it was just the little flock. Refinements to this interpretation resulted in a convoluted
doctrine, with this single Slave described as a class of people that feed the same class of people! For many decades it was taught that the slave and the domestics were both the same group of people. The 144,000 anointed ones were the slave as a whole, yet individually the same 144,000 were the domestics that as a group they rule over. The faithful and discreet slave became the 144,000 collectively. The domestics became the 144,000 individually. The 144,000 fed the 144,000. The rest of Jehovah's Witnesses and worldly people were not directly mentioned in this parable. This was explained in the following article.
"If all the anointed as a group, no matter where on earth they live, are members of the slave class, who are the "domestics"? They are the same anointed ones but considered from a different viewpoint-as individuals. Yes, as individuals they would be of the "slave" or they would be "domestics," depending on whether they were dispensing spiritual food or partaking of it. To illustrate: As recorded at 2 Peter 3:15, 16, the apostle Peter makes reference to Paul's letters. When reading them, Peter would be as one of the domestics feeding on the spiritual food provided by Paul as a representative of the slave class." Watchtower 1995 May 15 p.16
Not only was this bizarre concept unnecessarily confusing, in reality the Watchtower Society does not operate this way. The majority of the 144,000 do not feed the sheep, in that they are not involved in establishing Watchtower doctrines, rules or procedures of the organization. The Governing Body alone has say in what is fed to the sheep. Few of the Anointed Witnesses I have known have written any Watchtower articles or developed any doctrine or procedure. In recent times, most articles are written by members of the Other Sheep and simply authorised by the Governing Body. "4. Those used as writers must be dedicated, baptized brothers or sisters in good standing with their local congregations and who have writing ability. They should be exemplary, modest, not inclined to talk loosely to others about their writing activity. ... 5. PREPARING MATERIAL: The subjects on which articles may be written are quite varied. Some articles will deal with spiritual matters, and these should be written by brothers." Branch Organization Manual p.24-1 Para. 4
Since its formation, the Governing Body has varied in size between seven and and eighteen anointed men. When the Watchtower says to follow the "faithful and discreet slave" the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses understood this to mean following the rules
of the Governing Body, as only these members direct the Organization.
From around 2009, the Watchtower openly admitted the Governing Body leaders represented the Slave, and began downplaying the importance of the rest of the Anointed. For instance, review the following quotes from the Watchtower 2009 June 15:
"However, Christians who have truly received this anointing do not demand special attention. They do not believe that their being of the anointed gives them special
insights beyond what even some experienced members of the "great crowd" may have." p.23
"Today, the Governing Body represents the faithful and discreet slave class." Image p.23
"Similarly, today a limited number of anointed men have the responsibility of representing the slave class. They make up the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses." p.24
This same sentiment was expressed in 2010.
"Would all anointed Christians ―shine‖? In a sense, yes, for all Christians would participate in preaching, in disciple making, and in building one another up at meetings. Anointed ones would set the example. (Zech. 8:23) In addition to this, however, deep things were to be revealed during the time of the end. The very
prophecy Daniel recorded was ―sealed up‖ until that time. (Dan. 12:9) How and through whom would the spirit search into these deep things?
When the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps
responsible representatives of ―the faithful and discreet slave‖ at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood. (Matt. 24:45; 1 Cor. 2:13) The Governing Body as a whole considers adjusted explanations. (Acts 15:6) What they learn, they publish for the benefit of all." Watchtower 2010 Jul 15 pp.22,23
Whilst it was stated that the Governing Body direct the rest of the Anointed, it was not explained where this left the rest of the Anointed, or how they were used as part of the Slave.
"As Head of the Christian congregation, Christ has used this ―faithful and discreet slave‖ to administer His Kingdom interests on earth. He has provided direction for the anointed ―domestics‖ and their ―other sheep‖ companions by means of a Governing Body." Examining the Scriptures Jul 15
