Comments You Will Not Hear at the 1-25-04 WT Study Review comments will be in black and parentheses () WT quotes will be in red and quotes "" Quotes from other sources will be in blue OUR WATCHFULNESS TAKES ON GREATER URGENCY "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."?MATTHEW 24:42
Watch therefore [give strict attention, be cautious and active], for you do not know in what kind of a day [whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming.?Matthew 24:42 (Amplified Bible).
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Opening Comments
There are plenty of buzzwords in today?s article. I?m tried to underline some but I?m sure I missed many. Although the theme scripture has in the phrase "you do not know on what day your Lord is coming," you will not see it posted on the walls of the KHs and assembly halls. Why, I wonder? Because in the past the WTS has presumed to know the day, 1914, 1925, 1975. Does this article have a hint of a future date, 2034? Only time will tell if they develop this further. In 1966 when the date 1975 was first prominently featured in a chapter in a WT book, did many know how it would escalate? The information about the mid-70?s being the end of 6,000 years of human history had appeared before but with out the same reaction.
Another homework point for any "serious" JWs that may read this. Why not use the time period between 33 and 70 AD, a judgment period that was a fulfillment of Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 rather than Noah?s day? Clue: survivors.
START OF ARTICLE
"Above all other things, the twentieth century was shaped by war," says author Bill Emmott. While admitting that all periods of human history have felt the weight of wars and violence, he adds: "The twentieth century did not differ in kind, it differed in degree. It was the first century to feature a truly world-spanning conflict?And, as if to emphasize the point, it featured not just one such worldwide conflict, but two."
(A more complete excerpt from Emmott?s book can be found here.)
http://www.palmdigitalmedia.com/product/book/excerpt/12169Bill Emmott has been the Editor in Chief of The Economist since 1993, and has worked for the magazine in Brussels, London, and Tokyo. He is the author of several works on Japan and the global economy. He lives in London and Wiltshire, England, with his wife.
First, doesn?t the WTS teach that there was an "initial" fulfillment of this part of the sign?
w97
12/15 pp. 15-16 Surviving ?Jehovah?s DayThus, Jesus? great prophecy concerning "the conclusion of the system of things" had its first fulfillment, culminating in Jehovah?s day for meting out justice on the rebellious Jewish nation in 66-70 C.E. (Matthew 24:3-22)
How do they explain the "worldwide" aspect of war in Matthew 24:7 in the first century?
Wars that involve ?nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom? were foretold by Jesus Christ. However, they are just one aspect of ?the sign of Christ?s presence and of the conclusion of the system of things.? In this great prophecy, Jesus also mentioned famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. (Matthew 23:3,7,8; Luke 21:6,7,10,11)(S) In many respects, such calamities have increased in scope and severity.
Is that true of earthquakes? The WTS has had to backtrack on that.
http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/eq.htmThe badness of man is abundant (proof), as seen in his attitude toward God and fellowman. Moral breakdown and increase in crime and violence are evident (proof?). Men have become lovers of money, rather than lovers of God, obsessed with pleasure. All this testifies that we are living in "critical times."--@ Timothy 3:1-5 (S)
Where is the proof?
How do you view the worsening trend in human affairs? Many (did the WTS do a phone survey or how do they document this?) are indifferent, even callous, to distressing events of the day. The world?s influential and intellectual men (no women evidently) do not discern the meaning of "the signs of the times"; neither have religious leaders given proper (proper according to the WTS) guidance in this matter. (Matthew 16:1-3)(C ) But Jesus admonished his followers: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42)
This is part of the year?s text for 2004. It is noteworthy that the phrase "because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" is left out of the scripture to be posted on the walls of all KHs this year. Hmmmm?
Jesus here encourages us not only to be watchful but to "keep on the watch." To keep on the watch, we must remain alert and vigilant.
This requires more than simply acknowledging that we are living in the last days, more than recognizing that times are hard
. We must have firm conviction that "the end of all things has drawn close." (1 Peter 4:7)Was Peter talking about the end 2,000 years in the future or was he addressing Christians that were to see the "end" of the Jewish religious system?
Only then will our watchfulness take on a sense of urgency (buzz phrase). Hence, the question that we must reflect on is: What will help us to strengthen our conviction that the end is near??
Consider the conditions prevailing during the time preceding a one-of-a-kind event in human history?the great Deluge of Noah?s day. People were so bad that Jehovah "felt hurt at his heart." He declared: "I am going to wipe men whom I have created off the surface of the ground." (Genesis 6:6,7) And he did just that. Drawing a parallel between then and now, Jesus said: "Just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be."?Matthew 24:37
It is reasonable to assume that Jehovah feels about the present world as he felt about the pre-Flood world.
"It is reasonable to assume"? The WTS assumes a lot about God feels since they feel they are the only channel to God not Jesus.
Since he brought an end to the ungodly world of Noah?s day, he will certainly destroy the wicked world of today. Having a clear understanding of the parallel between that time and our day should fortify our conviction that the end of the present world is near. What, then, are the similarities? There are at least five. The first is that a warning of coming destruction is given in no uncertain terms.
Doesn?t this parallel the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD?
Warned of "Things Not Yet Beheld"
In Noah?s day, Jehovah declared: "my spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years." (Genesis 6:3)
The issuance of this divine decree in 2490 BCE marked the beginning of the end for that ungodly world. Just think what that meant for those then living!
Only 120 years
more and Jehovah would bring "the deluge of waters upon the earth to bring to ruin all flesh in which the force of life is active from under the heavens."?Genesis 6:17 2490 ? 120 years = 2370 BC (Date of flood per WTS)1914 + 90 years = 2004 AD (today)
1914 + 120 years = 2034 AD
Side note: As a child I could never understand why God just didn?t kill the bad people. The Bible certainly has later accounts showing how he could kill individual people without harming others in the same room, Sapphira and Ananias, for example. Why did he have to kill everything living? Noah received the warning of the upcoming catastrophe decades in advance, and he wisely used the time to prepare for survival. According to the Bible, people lived long lives before the flood, Noah?s grandfather Methusaleh, 969 years. Humans today live approximately 80 years.
120/969 = .12
90/80 = 1.2
Humans today have been waiting a lot longer than Noah did. "After being given divine warning of things not yet beheld," says the apostle Paul, "[Noah] showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household." (Hebrews 11:7) What about us? Some 90 years have passed since the last days of this system of things began in 1914. We are certainly in "the time of the end." (Daniel 12:4) (PROOF?) How should we respond to warnings we have been given? "He that does the will of God remains forever," states the Bible (1 John 2:17) Now is therefore the time to do Jehovah?s will (as explained in the WTS publications) with a keen sense of urgency . In modern times, sincere students of the Bible have learned from the inspired Scriptures that this system is doomed to destruction (PROOF?). Do we believe this? Notice what Jesus Christ clearly stated: "There will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world?s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." (Matthew 24:21)
Jesus also said that he would come as God?s appointed Judge and would separate people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. Those found unworthy would "depart into everlasting cutting off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life." (6 billion to die, only 6 million JWs will live)?Matthew 25:31-33,46. Do you remember that there was new light on "when" Jesus would do this separating? Not until after the great tribulation started. w95 10/15 p. 22 How Will You Stand Before the Judgment Seat?If we analyze Jesus? activity in the parable, we observe him finally judging all the nations. The parable does not show that such judging would continue over an extended period of many years, as if every person dying during these past decades were judged worthy of everlasting death or everlasting life. It seems that the majority who have died in recent decades have gone to mankind?s common grave. (Revelation 6:8; 20:13) The parable, though, depicts the time when Jesus judges the people of "all the nations" who are then alive and facing the execution of his judicial sentence.
In other words, the parable points to the future when the Son of man will come in his glory. He will sit down to judge people then living. His judgment will be based on what they have manifested themselves to be. At that time "the distinction between a righteous one and a wicked one" will have been clearly established. (Malachi 3:18) The actual pronouncing and executing of judgment will be carried out in a limited time. Jesus will render just decisions based on what has become evident about individuals.?See also 2 Corinthians 5:10.Jehovah has kept these warnings in front of his people by means of timely reminders through the spiritual food provided by "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45-47) Notice how the WTS publications are highlighted because certain the FDS has not been solely responsible for providing the Bible the real source of "food" from God. Moreover, every nation, tribe, tongue and people are called upon to "fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived." (Revelation 14:6,7) An integral part of the Kingdom message preached earth wide by Jehovah?s Witnesses (not in Muslim countries, China or North Korea) is the warning that God?s Kingdom will soon remove human rulership. (Daniel 2:44) This warning is not to be taken lightly. Almighty God always keeps his word. (Isaiah 55:10,11) God may keep his word, but has the WTS? See comments re 1914, 1925, 1975 at http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com/default.htmHe did in Noah?s day, and he will in our day.?2 Peter 3:3-7.Sexual Depravity Becomes RampantOur time corresponds to Noah?s day in another respect. Jehovah had commanded the first man and woman to "fill the earth" with their kind, using their God-given sexual powers honorably within the marriage arrangement. (Genesis 1:28) In Noah?s day, disobedient angels contaminated humanity with unnatural sex. They came down to earth, materialized bodies, and cohabited with beautiful women, producing offspring that were half human, half demon?the Nephilim. (Genesis 6:2,4) The sin of these lustful angels is likened to the perversions of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Jude 6,7) Consequently, sexual depravity was widespread in those days.What about the moral climate of today? Yes, what about the child abuse cases covered up in the WTS? What about the physically abused wives told to stay with their husbands to "win them over without a word." What about women told to stay with their unrepentant, adulterous husbands for "the sake of the children."
www.silentlambs.orgIn these final days, the lives many (how many, the majority, PROOF?) revolve around sex. Paul graphically describes such ones as "having come to be past all moral sense": many have given themselves over "to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort with greediness." (Ephesians 4:19) Do the prurient questions asked by elders during judicial hearings to sisters regarding the details of the sexual activity and what they were wearing qualify as? Uncleanness? Pornography, premarital sex, sexual abuse of children (in the WTS), and homosexuality are commonplace. (Have they done a survey? I want to see the stats on this.) Some are already "receiving in themselves the full recompense" in the form of sexually transmitted diseases, breakdown of family life, and other social ills.?Romans 1:26,27. Yes, hundreds of African JWs are HIV positive or have AIDS, men, women and children. Are they "receiving in themselves the full recompense"? Why doesn?t the WTS ever print those stats? In Noah?s day, Jehovah sent the great Deluge and brought an end to that sex-crazed world. We must never lose sight of the fact that these days are truly just as the days of Noah were. The upcoming "great tribulation" will clear the earth of ?fornicators, adulterers, men kept for unnatural purposes, and men who lie with men.? (Matthew 24:21; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Revelation 21:8) Note there is nothing said about pedophiles, perhaps they will survive into the "paradise." Revelation 21:8 says that liars will die forever, how then will the WTS survive? How urgent it is that we cultivate hatred for what (not who) is bad and stay clear of circumstances that could lead to immorality.?Psalm 97:10; 1 Corinthians 6:18. Earth Becomes "Filled With Violence" Pointing to yet another characteristic of Noah?s day, the Bible states: "The earth came to be ruined in the sight of the true God and the earth became filled with violence." (Genesis 6:11) Violence was not actually new. Adam?s son Cain murdered his righteous brother. (Genesis 4:8) (Not that God warned Adam.) Reflecting the violent spirit of his day, Lamech composed a poem boasting about how he had killed a young man, allegedly in self-defense. (Genesis 4:23,24) What was new in Noah?s day was the degree of violence. As disobedient angelic sons of God married women on earth and produced progeny?the Nephilim?violence increased to a level previously unknown. These violent giants were "the Fellers"?"those who cause others to fall down." (Genesis 6:4, footnote) As a result, the earth was "full of violence." (Genesis 6:13) Imagine (the WTS uses their imagination all the time adding to the scriptural account) the problems Noah must have faced bringing up his family in such an environment! Yet, Noah proved to be ?righteous before Jehovah among that generation.??Genesis 7:1.
Violence has been with mankind throughout the ages. But as was true in the days of Noah, our time has also witnessed it on an unprecedented scale. We regularly hear about domestic violence (happens in WTS but they cover it up), acts of terrorism, campaigns of genocide (something all JWs look forward to at Armageddon when everyone but JWs will be killed), and mass killings by gunmen with little apparent motive (I know of 2 cases where JW men tried to kill their wives, recently). Add to all of this the bloodshed caused by wars. The earth has again become filled with violence. Why? What has contributed to the increase? The answer reveals another similarity to Noah?s day.
When God?s Messianic Kingdom was established in 1914 (PROOF), the enthroned King, Jesus Christ, took epoch-making action. Satan the Devil and his demons were ousted from heaven to the vicinity of the earth. (Revelation 12:9-12) Before the Flood, disobedient angels forsook their heavenly position voluntarily; in modern times, however, they were forcibly evicted. Furthermore, they now lack the ability to materialize human bodies on earth in order to enjoy illicit fleshly pleasures. So in frustration, anger, and fear of impending judgment, they influence men and organizations to perform inhuman acts of crime and violence of even greater magnitude than those of Noah?s day. Thus then Satan is behind the pedophile cases in the WTS and is making them cover them up? The WTS is controlled by Satan. Jehovah obliterated the pre-Flood world after disobedient angels and their offspring had filled it with badness. Make no mistake about it, he will not do any less in our day! (Psalm 37:10) Will he obliterate over 6 billion people because they are not JWs? However, those staying watchful today know that their deliverance is near. The Message Is Preached The fourth point of similarity between the present day and the pre-Flood world is seen in the work that Noah was commissioned to do. Noah constructed a huge ark. He was also a "preacher." (2 Peter 2:5) What message did he preach? Noah?s preaching evidently (buzzword meaning ?the Bible doesn?t say but we will ?imagine?) included a call for repentance and a warning of coming destruction. Jesus said that the people of Noah?s day "took no note until the flood came and swept them all away."?Matthew 24:38,39) What does it mean to take "no note." Does taking note mean becoming a dedicated, baptized JW? What about the children of non-JWs? What about the people that are never contacted by JWs in China and North Korea and Muslim countries? Similarly, as Jehovah?s Witnesses diligently fulfill their commission to preach, the message of God?s Kingdom is being declared worldwide. In almost every part of the globe (not China, North Korea, Muslim countries), people can hear and read the Kingdom message in their own language (thanks to the Protestant Bible Societies which have translated the Bible into thousands of languages). The Watchtower magazine, announcing Jehovah?s Kingdom, (not the Bible which evidently isn?t adequate tot he job) has a circulation of over 25,000,000 (15 million to be found in laundromats and JW back closets) and is printed in more than 140 languages. Indeed the good news of God?s Kingdom is being preached "in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations."When that work is completed to God?s satisfaction (WTS satisfaction), the end is certain to come.?Matthew 24:14Given the spiritual and moral bankruptcy of the days preceding the Flood, it is not hard to imagine how Noah?s family became the laughingstock of incredulous neighbors and object of abuse and ridicule. Of course, if they had predicted the end was coming in 2430, 2400, 2390, like the WTS did 1914, 1925, 1975, it would have been their own fault. The end did come though. Similarly, "ridiculers with their ridicule" abound in the last days. "Yet Jehovah?s day will come as a thief." States the Bible. (2 Peter 3:3,4,10) Come it will at the appointed time. It will not be late. (Habakkuk 2:3) How wise we are to keep on the watch.Watchtower 1966 October 15 p. 631 Rejoicing over "God's Sons of Liberty" Spiritual Feast'Does it mean that Armageddon is going to be finished, with Satan bound, by 1975? It could! It could! All things are possible with God. Does it mean that Babylon the Great is going to go down by 1975? It could. Does it mean that the attack of Gog of Magog is going to be made on Jehovah's witnesses to wipe them out, then Gog himself will be put out of action? It could. But we are not saying. All things are possible with God. But we are not saying. And don't any of you be specific in saying anything that is going to happen between now and 1975. But the big point of it all is this, dear friends: Time is short. Time is running out, no question about that.Only a Few SurviveThe parallel between Noah?s day and our day does not end with the badness of the people and their destruction. As there were Flood survivors, so there will be those who survive the end of the present system of things. The Flood survivors were meek ones who did not live as the people in general did. They heeded the divine warning and kept separate from the wicked world of that time. "Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah," states the Bible. "[Noah] proved himself faultless among his contemporaries." (Genesis 6:8,9) Out of all mankind, one family, "a few people, that is, eight souls, were carried safely through the water." (1 Peter 3:20) And to them, Jehovah God gave a mandate saying: "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth."?Genesis 9:1.
God?s Word assures us that "a great crowd" will "come out of the great tribulation." (Revelation 7:9,14) (PROOF, not even a reference to another WTS publication that does) How many will there be in the great crowd" Jesus himself said: "Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it." (Matthew 7:13,14) Compared to the billions living on earth now, the survivors of the upcoming great tribulation will be few.But they may well have a privilege similar to that given to the Flood survivors. The survivors may for a time be able to have offspring as a part of the new earth society.?Isaiah 65:23. Those who want to have children better do it now! "Keep on the Watch"
Although the Flood seems remote from our day, it clearly provides a warning that we must not ignore. (Romans 15:4) The similarities between Noah?s day and our day should make us increasingly aware of the significance of what is happening and alert us to the thieflike coming of Jesus to execute judgment upon the wicked.
Remember the WTS thought they could predict when the "thief" was coming in 1914, 1925 and 1975 .
The term "spiritual paradise" was not used until 1958 by Nathan Knorr is a talk at the international convention.
w58 10/1 p. 590 Divine Will International Assembly of Jehovah?s WitnessesThursday afternoon the conventioners waited with intense interest to hear Brother Knorr speak on "Maintaining Our Spiritual Paradise." Knorr told the vast audience of 145,488 persons that when the holy spirit was poured out on Christ?s disciples at Pentecost, making them spiritual sons of God, "a spiritual paradise had then been established." To be preserved through the great tribulation, we must remain in that paradise. Surrounding the domain of the spiritual paradise is Satan?s world, ready to assimilate any who have become spiritually drowsy. It is imperative that we "keep on the watch" and prove ourselves ready for Jehovah?s day.?Matthew 24:42,44.Concluding CommentsI have always joked around 2034 being the next big date for the end to come. I always used Genesis 6:3. Is my "joke" becoming a reality? Not yet. Could the WTS use this in the future? Maybe. 1966 to 1975 was 9 years. So should we wait and see if the WTS starts pushing 2034 in 2025? If I?m here then, I?ll be in my 70?s. Hopefully, not still writing these reviews.
I really think that the arklike paradise is leaking vast amounts of JWs. Either through the conventional means, Dfing and Daing, or slowing down and becoming ?inactive." That also means that contributions are drying up.
The WTS always applied to other religions, but I think application can be made to them.
w89 5/1 p. 5