Comments You Will Not Hear at the 12-26-04 WT Study (November 15, 2004 issue) Review comments will be in black and parentheses ()
WT quotes
will be in red and quotes ""Quotes from other sources
will be in blueJEHOVAH?S JUDGMENT WILL COME AGAINST THE WICKED
"Get ready to meet your God."?Amos 4:12 (snippet from NWT)
"Therefore that is what I shall do to you, O Israel. As a consequence of the fact that I shall do this very thing to you , get ready to meet your God, O Israel . AMOS 4:12 (NWT)
"Therefore, I will bring upon you all these further disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God as he comes in judgment, you people of Israel!"?Amos 4:12 (New Living Translation)
www.biblegateway.com /cgi-bin/bibleOpening Comments
First, let?s look at the title.
"Jehovah?s" judgment on Israel then?but whose judgment today?
For the Father judges no one at all, but he has committed all the judging to the Son
, JOHN 5:21-22 (NWT)w95
10/15 p. 22 How Will You Stand Before the Judgment Seat? ***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.
w95
10/15 p. 26 What Future for the Sheep and the Goats? ***However, Jesus? judgment will not be based on desperate claims from former churchgoers, atheists, or others. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Instead, the judge will review the heart condition and past actions of people toward even "one of these least ones [of his brothers]."
w93
6/1 p. 14 Be Sound in Mind?The End Is Close ***Jesus warned: "The Son of man is destined to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will recompense each one according to his behavior." (Matthew 16:27) Jesus spoke of a future coming. On this occasion, however, he would be a Judge. At that time everything would rest on whether he would find a person faithfully following him or not. Jesus? judgment would be based on behavior, no matter how much that person might or might not have in worldly goods. This fact his disciples had to keep firmly in mind. (Matthew 16:25, 26) Hence, it is Jesus Christ himself who tells his followers to look for his glorious coming, with its judgment.
Then what was the judgment back then? Some were killed; they lost their kingdom and national sovereignty. Were the Israelites all killed? Didn?t some live but went into exile only to have some of their descendants come back to live in Israel?
Is that the judgment the WTS holds out for those to die at Armageddon? Will some of those wicked live or do they teach only the righteous (only JWs) survive?
Who are the wicked?
Anyone who is not a dedicated, baptized JW.
w96 1/15 p. 17 Jehovah?s Sheep Need Tender Care ***
As a result of his dedication and baptism, he becomes ?marked? for salvation.?Ezekiel 9:4-6.w89 1/15 p. 20 How Baptism Can Save Us 20 By our works, we can show that "we belong to Jehovah." Why, salvation depends on working faithfully as his dedicated slaves! (Romans 6:20-23; 14:7, 8) In ancient times, slaves were often marked on the forehead. By the preaching work today, the antitypical ?man clothed in linen??the remnant of Jesus? anointed followers?is ?marking? those who will survive the end of this system. In this work the anointed are assisted by their associates, the "other sheep." (Ezekiel 9:1-7; John 10:16) And what is the "mark"? It is the evidence that we are dedicated to Jehovah and are Jesus? baptized disciples who have a Christlike personality.
21 Especially now is it vital that we have the "mark" and retain it, for we are deep into "the time of the end." (Daniel 12:4) To be saved we must ?endure to the end? of our present life or of this system. (Matthew 24:13) Only if we thus remain faithful as witnesses of Jehovah will baptism save us.
And when in the past has the WTS said this judgment will come?
1914
The Watchtower Reprints, January 15, 1892, p.1355
http://quotes.watchtower.ca/1914.htm
The date of the close of that ?battle? is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874. 1925 A simple calculation of these jubilees brings us to this important fact: Seventy jubilees of fifty years each would be a total of 3500 years. That period of time beginning 1575 before A. D. 1 of necessity would end in the fall of the year 1925, at which time the type ends and the great antitype must begin. What, then, should we expect to take place? In the type there must be a full restoration; therefore the great antitype must mark the beginning of restoration of all things. The chief thing to be restored is the human race to life; and since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact that there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth. Messiah's kingdom once established, Jesus and his glorified church constituting the great Messiah, shall minister the blessings to the people they have so long desired and hoped for and prayed might come.J. F. Rutherford, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, pp. 89
http://donaldk0.tripod.com/millions/index.html
"Every thinking person can see that a great climax is at hand. The Scriptures clearly indicate that that climax is the fall of Satan's empire and the full establishment of the Messianic kingdom. This climax being reached by 1925,... millions now living on the earth will be living then and those who obey the righteous laws of the new arrangement will live forever. Therefore it can be confidently said at this time that MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE." The Golden Age, January 4, 1922, p. 217.1941"Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon." Watchtower, 9/15/41, p 2881975The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah - How (1971) p.216 ***
Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom.w70 5/1 p. 273 An Ingathering Affecting All MankindHow close we may exactly be to the end of the present divisive system of things cannot be predicted, as Jesus reported that even he did not know the day or the hour at the time of his earthly ministry. (Matt. 24:36) However, Bible chronology which indicates that Adam was created in the fall of the year 4026 B.C.E. would bring us down to the year 1975 C.E. as the date marking 6,000 years of human history with yet 1,000 years to come for Christ?s Kingdom rule. So whatever the date for the end of this system, it is clear that the time left is reduced, with only approximately six years left until the end of 6,000 years of human history. (1 Cor. 7:29) This corroborates the understanding of Jesus? words that the generation alive in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I would not pass away until the end comes.
(BTW, now you know where that phrase "prepare to meet thy maker" might have come.)
START OF ARTICLEParagraphs 1-3
Will Jehovah ever put an end to wickedness and suffering on this earth? At the beginning of the 21 st century, that question looms larger than ever. It seems that everywhere we turn, we see evidence of man?s inhumanity to man.Notice how the WTS always emphasizes the inhumanity and never the humane things done every day and every moment by non-JWs to JWs and non-JWs alike.
We can have complete confidence that Jehovah will end wickedness.Note they say wickedness not "wicked" because they don?t want to emphasize that over 6 billion people, including children, are slated for destruction per the WT doctrine.
A further consideration of the prophecy of Amos will emphasize three things about divine judgment. First, it is always deserved. Second, it is inescapable. And third, it is selective, for Jehovah executes judgment upon evildoers but extends mercy to repentant and rightly disposed (buzzword) individuals.?Romans 9:17-26. Divine Judgment Always Deserved(picture on page 15 shows burning military tank and burning city in the background; it is hard to know if this is supposed to be man?s inhumanity or God?s)
Paragraphs 4-7
Jehovah commissioned Amos to serve as a prophet?to proclaim divine judgment?began by declaring adverse divine judgment against six nearby nations (nearby 10-tribe kingdom of Israel)?Syria, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab. But did they really deserve to experience God?s adverse judgment? They definitely did. For one thing, they were hardset enemies of Jehovah?s people (translation?today only JWs)?selling God?s people into slavery (but I thought that the WTS teaches slavery was okay?)g01 9/8 p. 21 Did God Condone the Slave Trade? ***Slavery was part of the economic system of the Roman Empire, under which first-century Christians lived. Hence, some Christians were slaves, and others had slaves. (1 Corinthians 7:21, 22) Divine Judgment Is InescapableParagraphs 8-14
Without question, the six nations addressed in the prophecy of Amos deserved adverse divine judgment. Moreover, there was no way for them to escape it?Recorded history proves that each of them later suffered calamity. Why, at least four of them?Philistia, Moab, Ammon, and Edom?eventually ceased to exist!Was that God?s doing or the normal give and take of national groups? USSR, Austro-Hungarian Empire, the formation of Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The prophecy of Amos next focused attention on a seventh nation?his home territory of Judah?unfaithful Judah could not escape the coming woe?Judah received the foretold punishment when she was desolated by the Babylonians in 607 B.C.E. (or was it 587 B.C.E?)http://www.geocities.com/osarsif/gentile1.htm
Anyone who thought that he (Amos) had completed his prophesying, however was mistaken?He had been commissioned primarily to declare a scathing judgment message against the northern kingdom of Israel?deserved?The prophesying of Amos exposed the oppression that had become common.Judges who accepted silver as a bribe were sentencing the innocent. Creditors were selling the poor into slavery for the price of "a pair of sandals," perhaps for some minor debt.Corruption was so rampant that "meek people" could not hope to find any justice.Jehovah?s Law covenant with the Israelites demanded that compassion be shown to the vulnerable and needy.Are the needy and vulnerable cared for in your KH or the one you used to go to? Were you a needy, vulnerable one who was overlooked?
"Get Ready to Meet Your God"Paragraphs 15,16
Since immorality and other sins were rampant in Israel, it was with good reason that the prophet Amos warned the rebellious nation: "Get ready to meet your God." (Amos 4:12) Unfaithful Israel could not escape the approaching execution of divine judgment.In 740 B.C.E.?about 60 years after Amos recorded his prophecy?the kingdom of Israel fell to the conquering Assyrians.
How many years since 1914---90 years?
Divine Judgment is SelectiveParagraphs 17-19
Jehovah?s judgment is selective.According to Amos chapter 9, verse 8, Jehovah said: "I shall not completely annihilate the house of Jacob." As noted in verses 13 to 15, Jehovah promised that he would "gather back the captive ones" of his people. They would be shown mercy and would enjoy security and prosperity.
But think about it, does this mean that the few faithful ones in Israel did not individually die or were not taken captive? How does the WTS explain how God showed mercy to "repentant and rightly disposed (buzzword)" ones?
In fulfillment of the restoration prophecy record in Amos chapter 9, a repentant remnant of Israel and Judah returned from Babylonian captivity in 537 B.C.E. (see 607 site above).So the ones Amos preached to around 800 B.C.E. whose descendants went off in captivity in 740 B.C.E. and whose descendants returned 200 years later as those who were selected. How did those in 740 escape the judgment of the other Israelites?
Can JWs expect individual protection during the great tribulation?
Jehovah?s Adverse Judgment Will Come!Paragraphs 20-22
Our consideration of the divine judgment messages proclaimed by Amos should assure us that Jehovah will put an end to wickedness in our day. Why can we believe this?First, these examples of God?s past dealings with the wicked indicate how he will act in our day.Since God did not have everyone killed but many were taken captive, should we think that not every wicked one will die at Armageddon then?
Second, the execution of divine judgment upon the apostate kingdom of Israel makes it certain that God will bring destruction upon Christendom, the most reprehensible part of "Babylon the Great," the world empire of false religion.?Revelation 18:2.Since the WTS says that Christendom is false Christianity and has never been the true representative of God, how can they represent Israel? Wouldn?t it make more sense that the WTS represents Israel, and has made God?s word invalid with its many rules?
There is no question that Christendom deserves adverse divine judgment. Her deplorable religious and moral conditions speak for themselves.Concealing child sexual abuse
Setting false prophetical dates
(see introduction)
Flip-flopping doctrines that put lives at risk
Alternative service
Organ transplants
Blood doctrine
Malawi and Mexico?differing stances on political cards
Oh, that?s the WTS being described.
Divine judgment is always deserved, inescapable, and selective?divine judgment will also be selective in that Jesus will bring vengeance "upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news." (as taught by the one and only channel, the WTS/FDS/GB.)w94 10/1 p. 8 The Bible?A Book Meant to Be Understood *** Even as Bible prophecy pointed forward to the Messiah, it also directs us to the close-knit body of anointed Christian Witnesses that now serve as the faithful and discreet slave. It helps us to understand the Word of God. All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah?s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave.?John 6:68. Only JWs will survive.w89 9/1 p. 19 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium *** Only Jehovah?s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the "flesh" that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history. But only as a group:w03 8/15 p. 23 What Does Jehovah Expect of Us? *** As we walk with God, he delivers us from Satan?s world, guides us by means of his Word and his organization, and protects us as a group when we are under attack by opposers.w02 12/15 p. 15 "He Will Draw Close to You" ***How, though, does Jehovah guard his people? His promise of protection does not guarantee us a problem-free life in this system; nor does it mean that he is obligated to work miracles in our behalf. Nevertheless, Jehovah does provide physical protection for his people as a group. After all, he would never allow the Devil to efface true worshipers from the earth! Hope for the UprightParagraphs 23,24 (long study)
The prophecy of Amos contains a wonderful message of hope and comfort for rightly disposed (buzzword) individuals (a way of avoiding saying "only JWs").Jehovah will find the wicked wherever they hide and will locate individuals he considers deserving of his mercy.
About now I?m starting to wonder where Jesus is in this equation. JWs will be spending the day after Christmas taking about "Jehovah" without a mention of Jesus.
While we await the time for Jehovah?s judgment to come?we enjoy a way of worship that is free of the lies and distortions that have resulted from Christendom?s false teachings.http://quotes.watchtower.ca/index.htm
Jesus presence?1874 or 1914
1914?the end or the beginning (see introduction)
Superior authorities1879-1929--secular authorities
1929-1962--God and Jesus
1962-now secular authorities
Organ transplantsTil 1967 personal decision
1967-1980 DF?ing offense
1980-now personal decision
1914 Generation ends
When did the GT begin, 1914 or still in the future?
Seven years after 1919 when the WTS was supposedly pronounced the only clean religion:
Still celebrated birthdays and Christmas
Used the cross on the cover of the WT (until 1931)
God expects us to warm others about the coming judgment?help as many as possible to share in the spiritual prosperity we now enjoy.
(Next week?s issue will show how to find those people)
Concluding CommentsNot too much else to say, but I am sad that the WTS could not find a way to motivate people to be Christians by finding something in Jesus? life or the lives of the early Christians to encourage.
The WTS may chastise others for using hellfire to scare their members, but they use Armageddon exactly the same way.
Love Blondie