Comments You Will Not Hear at the 10-9-05 WT Study (September 1, 2005 issue)
Review comments will be in redWT material from today's WT will be in black
Quotes from other sources will be in quotes boxes
www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible
http://quotes.watchtower.ca/
www.silentlambs.org
www.ajwrb.org
WALK WITH GOD IN THESE TURBULENT TIMES
"Enoch kept walking with the true God. Then he was no more, for God took
him.'-GENESIS 5:24.
Opening Comments
Again the WTS discusses how to live a Christian life by using OT examples and scriptures, ones that leave out any mention of Jesus Christ and his central role in a Christian's life. Evidently, not the central role in a JW's life.
Walk with God-- where's Jesus
Walk with God = Walk with the WTS/FDS/GB only as a JW
*** 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.
*** w98 9/1 p. 10 Keep Safe as Part of God's Organization ***
Now all in God's visible organization say with Micah: "We, for our part, shall walk in the name of Jehovah our God to time indefinite, even forever." (Micah 4:5) The modern-day organization is gathered around "the Israel of God," which is called in the Bible "a people for his name." (Galatians 6:16; Acts 15:14; Isaiah 43:6, 7; 1 Peter 2:17) Hence, to be part of Jehovah's organization means to be part of a people who seek, and receive, protection in God's name.
*** w85 6/1 pp. 19-20 Walk With Confidence in Jehovah's Leadership ***
We must not lose sight of the fact that God is directing his organization, although walking with confidence in Jehovah's leadership may not be easy at times
*** w85 9/1 p. 6 You Can Walk With God ***
God's Word, spirit, and organization can help us to continue faithfully 'walking with God'
*** w63 2/15 p. 107 Walking with God ***
To help us walk with him God has also provided a visible earthly organization, "the faithful and discreet slave," or "remnant," whom Jesus Christ has placed in charge of all his goods, even as he foretold. This "slave" provides leadership and spiritual food by means of appointed servants, meetings of various kinds and printed publications. The servants in the congregation as well as all serving as overseers provide help by means of counsel and exemplary action: "Remember those who are taking the lead among you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out imitate their faith."-Matt. 24:45-47; Heb. 13:7.
Walking with God also requires us to be organization-minded in our reading habits. God's visible channel provides us with ever so much reading matter, all of which should be a MUST for Christians. Some imagine they do not have time to read through each issue of The Watchtower, yet the president and vice-president of the Watch Tower Society do. Are you busier or do you have more important work than they do? Or is it a matter of selectivity? Are we wasting time reading other things or watching television when we could be buying out the opportune time reading The Watchtower?
Enoch = JW but not a Christian
By using these 2 scriptures
(Hebrews 11:5) 5 By faith E´noch was transferred so as not to see death, and he was nowhere to be found because God had transferred him; for before his transference he had the witness that he had pleased God well.
(Hebrews 12:1) 12 So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,. . .
The WTS the makes this leap. Thus emphasizing that really matters is being a JW not a Christian.
*** w87 1/15 p. 11 So Great a Cloud of Witnesses! ***
Jehovah's early witness Enoch courageously foretold divine execution of judgment upon the ungodly.
*** w77 3/1 p. 135 A Man with the Courage to Speak Up ***
Though imperfect like Enoch, they can be faithful witnesses of Jehovah, even as he was.-Heb. 12:1.
*** w60 10/1 p. 590 The Holy Bible-the Book by Jehovah's Witnesses ***
After Abel, chapter eleven of Hebrews goes through the list of witnesses of Jehovah, naming the prophets Enoch and Noah; the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Abraham's wife Sarah; Jacob's son Joseph; the prophet Moses; Rahab the harlot, who survived the destruction of walled Jericho; judges Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah; King David and the prophet Samuel.
START OF ARTICLE
TURBULENT times! Those words well describe the years of unrest and violence
that mankind has lived through since the birth of the Messianic Kingdom in
1914. During all that time, humans have been in "the last days." Such
calamities as famines, diseases, earthquakes, and wars have plagued them on
an unprecedented scale. (2 Timothy 3:1; Revelation 6:1-8) Those who worship
Jehovah have not been exempt. To a greater or lesser degree, we all have to
cope with the hardships and uncertainties of the times. Economic pressures,
political unrest, crime, and sickness are among the things that make life
very difficult.
Birth of the Messianic Kingdom in 1914
Did the WTS always teach that the kingdom began in 1914? "point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he (Jesus) would assume his power as heavenly King."
Proclaimers Book chap. 28 p. 632 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
Based on the premise that events of the first century might find parallels in related events later, they also concluded that if Jesus' baptism and anointing in the autumn of 29 C.E. paralleled the beginning of an invisible presence in 1874, then his riding into Jerusalem as King in the spring of 33 C.E. would point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he would assume his power as heavenly King.
Footnote
That 1878 was a year of significance seemed to be fortified by reference to Jeremiah 16:18 ('Jacob's double,' KJ) along with calculations indicating that 1,845 years had apparently elapsed from Jacob's death down till 33 C.E., when natural Israel was cast off, and that the double, or duplicate, of this would extend from 33 C.E. down to 1878.
Earthquakes...unprecedented scale
The WTS has backed off this concept and admits:
*** g02 3/22 p. 9 Earthquakes, Bible Prophecy, and You ***
Many say no. They assert that the number of earthquakes has not substantially increased in recent decades. In fact, the U.S. National Earthquake Information Center reports that earthquakes of 7.0 magnitude and greater remained "fairly constant" throughout the 20th century.
Note, though, that the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy does not require an increase in the number or power of earthquakes. All Jesus said was that there would be great earthquakes in one place after another. Furthermore, he stated that these events would mark the "beginning of pangs of distress." (Matthew 24:8) Distress is measured, not by the number of earthquakes or how they rate on the Richter scale, but by the effect that they have upon people.
But in the past they dogmatically said:
Reasoning p. 236 par. 2 Last Days ***
Has there actually been a significant number of major earthquakes since 1914? With data obtained from the National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, supplemented by a number of standard reference works, a tabulation was made in 1984 that included only earthquakes that measured 7.5 or more on the Richter scale, or that resulted in destruction of five million dollars (U.S.) or more in property, or that caused 100 or more deaths. It was calculated that there had been 856 of such earthquakes during the 2,000 years before 1914. The same tabulation showed that in just 69 years following 1914 there were 605 of such quakes. That means that, in comparison with the previous 2,000 years, the average per year has been 20 times as great since 1914.
*** w69 2/1 p. 69 The Meaning of Present World Distress ***
Also, after 1914 a series of earthquakes rocked the earth, causing great damage. In 1915, in Italy, nearly 30,000 were killed. In 1920, in China, 180,000 died. In 1923, 143,000 died in Japan. And major earthquakes have continued to take place with unusual frequency since then. As Jesus foretold, they are another mark of the "last days."
You might be interested in this article by a former JW.
Those who worship Jehovah--only JWs
2 In addition, many of Jehovah's servants have endured wave after wave of
intense persecution as Satan has kept waging war against those "who observe
the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus."
(Revelation 12:17) And while we have not all suffered direct persecution,
all true Christians have to struggle against Satan the Devil and the spirit
that he engenders among mankind. (Ephesians 2:2; 6:12) It takes constant
vigilance not to be influenced by that spirit, since we encounter it at
work, at school, and in any other place where we have to rub shoulders with
those who have no interest in pure worship.
Jehovah's servants--only JWs
While we have not all suffered direct persecution--you mean Satan isn't personally after every individual JW?
True Christians--only JWs
Any other place (other than work/school) we (JWs) have to rub shoulders with those who have no interest in pure worship (all non-JWs)
Walk With God, Not With the Nations
3 Back in the first century, Christians likewise fought hard against the
spirit of this world, and that made them very different from those outside
the Christian congregation. Paul described the difference when he wrote:
"This, therefore, I say and bear witness to in the Lord, that you no longer
go on walking just as the nations also walk in the unprofitableness of their
minds, while they are in darkness mentally, and alienated from the life that
belongs to God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the
insensibility of their hearts. Having come to be past all moral sense, they
gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort with
greediness."-Ephesians 4:17-19.
Back in the first century, Christians--WTS teaches these people were JWs too but actually the WTS teaches that only natural Israelites were JWs (Isaiah 43:10-12) and thus only spiritual Israelites could be JWs, not the great crowd/other sheep.
Those outside the Christian congregation--the WTS teaches that only the anointed are the Christian congregation
Insight Book Volume 1 p. 349 Body ***
Symbolic Usage. Jesus Christ is spoken of as the Head of "the congregation, which is his body." (Eph 1:22, 23; Col 1:18) This Christian body of people has no divisions racially, nationally, or otherwise, Jews and people of all nations being represented in it. (Ga 3:28; Eph 2:16; 4:4) All are baptized by holy spirit into Christ and into his death. They are, therefore, all baptized into one body. (1Co 12:13) Thus all the body follows the head, dying his kind of death and receiving his kind of resurrection.-Ro 6:3-5; see BAPTISM (Baptism Into Christ Jesus, Into His Death).
Nations...alienated from the life that belongs to God...past all moral sense--all non-JWs
4 How eloquently those words describe the deep spiritual and moral darkness
of this world-both in Paul's day and in ours! As in the first century,
Christians today do not 'go on walking as the nations do.' Rather, they
enjoy the wonderful privilege of walking with God. True, some people may
question whether it is reasonable to say that lowly, imperfect humans walk
with Jehovah. However, the Bible shows that they can. Moreover, Jehovah
expects them to do so. In the eighth century before our Common Era, the
prophet Micah wrote the following inspired words: "What is Jehovah asking
back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest
in walking with your God?"-Micah 6:8.
Deep spiritual and moral darkness of this world--the WTS demonizes all non-JWs
Christians today--only JWs
Walk with Jehovah--walk with the WTS
MIcah 6:8--another OT scripture to illustrate how to be a Christian--aren't there any NT scriptures?
How and Why Walk With God?
5 How can we walk with the all-powerful, invisible God? Clearly, not in the
way that we walk with fellow humans. In the Bible the expression "to walk"
can mean "to follow a certain course of action."* (* See Volume 1, page 220,
paragraph 6, of Insight on the Scriptures, published by Jehovah's
Witnesses.) With this in mind, we understand that one who walks with God
follows a life course outlined by God and pleasing to him. Pursuing such a
course makes us different from most of the people around us. Yet, it is the
only proper choice for a Christian. Why? There are many reasons.
Certain course of action--as defined by the WTS
Pleasing to him--as defined by the WTS
Only proper choice for a Christian--as defined by the WTS for JWs
Published by Jehovah's Witnesses--the WTS started saying this in 2001 instead
of
*** w00 12/15 p. 14 Help Others Walk Worthily of Jehovah ***
See Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 1, pages 490-1, and "All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial," pages 226-8, published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
Why?
6 First, Jehovah is our Creator, the Source of our life, and the Provider of
all that we need to sustain life. (Revelation 4:11) As a result, only he has
the right to tell us how to walk. In addition, walking with God is the most
beneficial course possible. For those who walk with him, Jehovah has made
provision for the forgiveness of sin, and he offers the sure hope of
everlasting life. Our all-loving heavenly Father also provides wise counsel
that helps those who walk with him to make a success of life now, despite
their being imperfect and living in a world that is lying in Satan's power.
(John 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:15, 16; 1 John 1:8; 2:25; 5:19) A further reason for
walking with God is that our willingness to do so contributes to the peace
and unity of the congregation.-Colossians 3: 15,16.
Only he as the right to tell us how to walk--but the WTS will has the right to define it
*** 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.
*** w96 5/15 p. 20 Read God's Word and Serve Him in Truth ***
If we are to "go on walking in the truth," we must read the Bible and avail ourselves of the spiritual help that God provides through the 'faithful slave.'
CARROT: Sure hope of everlasting life
Walking with God...contributes to the peach and unity of the congregation--Walking with the WTS
*** w00 8/15 p. 28 Are You a "Full-Grown" Christian? ***
Recognizing that Christ is the appointed Head of the Christian congregation, mature Christians are loyal to those appointed "to shepherd the congregation of God." (Acts 20:28) How inappropriate it would be to challenge or undermine the authority of appointed elders! You should also feel a sense of loyalty to "the faithful and discreet slave" and the agencies that are used to disseminate spiritual "food at the proper time." (Matthew 24:45) Be quick to read and apply the information found in The Watchtower and its companion publications.
7 Finally, and most important, when we walk with God, we show where we stand
on the great issue that was raised back in the garden of Eden-the issue of
sovereignty. (Genesis 3:1-6) We demonstrate by our life course that we stand
squarely on Jehovah's side, and we fearlessly proclaim that he alone is the
rightful Sovereign. (Psalm 83: 18) We thus act in harmony with our prayer
that God's name be sanctified and his will be done. (Matthew 6:9, 10) How
wise are those who choose to walk with God! They can be sure that they are
going in the right direction, since Jehovah is "wise alone." He never makes
a mistake.-Romans 16:27.
The issue of sovereignty...God's name be sanctified--did you know that the WTS for years taught that God's name was to be vindicated?
*** w75 9/1 p. 525 Christian Love Based on Jehovah's Love ***
Jehovah God lovingly sent his Son from heaven to vindicate God's name and His confidence in those who do love Him. His Son Jesus proved that his Father's confidence in him was not misplaced.
*** w95 5/15 p. 25 Flashes of Light-Great and Small (Part 2) ***
Similarly, for a long time, Witnesses spoke of the vindication of Jehovah's name. But had Satan called Jehovah's name into question? For that matter, had any of Satan's agents done so, as if Jehovah did not have a right to that name? No, not at all. It was not the name of Jehovah that was challenged and that needed to be vindicated. That is why the Watch Tower Society's recent publications do not speak of Jehovah's name as being vindicated. They speak of Jehovah's sovereignty as being vindicated and of his name as being sanctified. This is in keeping with what Jesus told us to pray: "Let your name be sanctified." (Matthew 6:9) Time and again, Jehovah said that he was going to sanctify his name, which the Israelites had not challenged but had profaned.-Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 22; 36:23.
Jehovah is "wise alone." He never makes a mistake--I guess the WTS wasn't in tune with God on this one for about 116 years.
8 How, though, is it possible to live as Christians should when times are so
turbulent and most people have no interest in serving Jehovah? We see the
answer when we consider faithful men of old who kept their integrity during
very difficult times. Two of these were Enoch and Noah. Both of them lived
in times quite similar to our own. Wickedness was rampant. In Noah's day the
earth was filled with violence and immorality. Yet, Enoch and Noah resisted
the spirit of the world of their time and walked with Jehovah. How were they
able to do so? To answer that question, we will in this article discuss the
example of Enoch. In the following article, we will consider Noah.
Christians--only JWs
Most people have not interest in serving Jehovah--all non-JWs, many too busy being Christians
Two of these were Enoch and Noah--I guess it is too hard to find men (or women) "who kept their integrity during very difficult times" in the NT.
Earth was filled with violence and immorality--according to the WTS we are "living in a world that is lying in Satan's power." When was the earth not "filled with violence and immorality"?
Enoch Walked With God in Turbulent Times
9 Enoch was the first person described in the Scriptures as walking with
God. The Bible record says: "After his fathering Methuselah Enoch went on
walking with the true God." (Genesis 5:22) Then, after reporting the length
of Enoch's life-which, while long compared with our life span, was short for
those days-the record says: "Enoch kept walking with the true God. Then he
was no more, for God took him." (Genesis 5:24) Evidently, Jehovah
transferred Enoch from the land of the living to the sleep of death before
opposers could lay hold of him. (Hebrews 11:5,13) Apart from those brief
verses, there are few references to Enoch in the Bible. Nevertheless, from
the information that we have and from other indications, we have good reason
to say that Enoch's times were turbulent.
Enoch was the first person described--but does that mean he was the only person?
Evidently, Jehovah transferred Enoch from the land of the living to the sleep of death---evidently, that old buzzword meaning "the Bible does not say."
How does the WTS dance around this account?
*** it-1 p. 729 Enoch ***
Likely persecution was brought against him because of his prophesying. However, God did not permit the opposers to kill Enoch. Instead, Jehovah "took him," that is, cut short his life at the age of 365, an age far below that of most of his contemporaries. Enoch was "transferred so as not to see death," which may mean that God put him in a prophetic trance and then terminated Enoch's life while he was in the trance so that he did not experience the pangs of death. (Ge 5:24; Heb 11:5, 13) However, he was not taken to heaven, in view of Jesus' clear statement at John 3:13
LIKELY...WHICH MAY MEAN...CLEAR STATEMENT
*** w01 9/15 p. 31 Enoch Walked With God in an Ungodly World ***
Then "he was nowhere to be found," apparently because Jehovah disposed of his body, even as he disposed of Moses' body.-Deuteronomy 34:5, 6.
APPARENTLY
Enoch lived 365 years-not nearly as long as most of his contemporaries. But the important thing for lovers of Jehovah is that they serve him faithfully to the end of their days. We know that Enoch did that because "before his transference he had the witness that he had pleased God well." The Scriptures do not disclose how Jehovah communicated this to Enoch. Nevertheless, before Enoch died, he was given assurance of God's approval, and we can be certain that Jehovah will remember him in the resurrection.
THE SCRIPTURES DO NOT DISCLOSE HOW
*** w99 12/15 p. 22 Let Us Be the Sort That Have Faith ***
Paul explains: "Before his transference [Enoch] had the witness that he had pleased God well." (Hebrews 11:5) What did this mean? Before he went into the sleep of death, Enoch may have had a vision of some kind, perhaps of the earthly Paradise in which he will awaken one day soon. In any case, Jehovah let Enoch know that He was well pleased by his faithful course. Enoch had made Jehovah's heart rejoice.
MAY HAVE HAD A VISION OF SOME KIND
PERHAPS OF THE EARTHLY PARADISE
w97 1/15 p. 31 Enoch-Fearless Against All Odds ***
How was Enoch given a "witness that he had pleased God well"? What evidence did he have? Likely, God put Enoch into a trance, even as the apostle Paul was "caught away," or transferred, evidently receiving a vision of the future spiritual paradise of the Christian congregation. (2 Corinthians 12:3, 4) The witness, or evidence, that Enoch had been pleasing to God could have entailed a visionary glimpse of the future earthly Paradise in which all those living will support God's sovereignty. Perhaps it was while Enoch was thus experiencing a rapturous vision that God took him in painless death to sleep until the day of his resurrection. It appears that, as in the case of Moses, Jehovah disposed of Enoch's body, for "he was nowhere to be found."-Hebrews 11:5; Deuteronomy 34:5, 6; Jude 9.
LIKELY, GOD PUT ENOCH IN A TRANCE
EVIDENTLY RECEIVING A VISION OF THE FUTURE SPIRITUAL PARADISE
COULD HAVE ENTAILED A VISIONARY GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE EARTLY PARADISE
PERHAPS IT WAS WHILE...GOD TOOK HIM
IT APPEARS
Apart from those brief verses, there are few references to Enoch in the Bible. Neverthless, from the information that we have and other indications---other indications other than in the Bible--what would those be?
Blurb on page 15: By faith, "Enoch kept walking with the true God"
10 Consider, for example, how quickly corruption spread in the human race
after Adam sinned. The Bible tells us that Adam's firstborn son, Cain,
became the first human murderer when he killed his brother Abel. (Genesis
4:8-10) After Abel's violent death, another son was born to Adam and Eve,
and they named him Seth. Of him, we read: "To Seth also there was born a son
and he proceeded to call his name Enosh. At that time a start was made of
calling on the name of Jehovah." (Genesis 4:25, 26) Sadly, that "calling on
the name of Jehovah" was in an apostate way.* Many years after the birth of
Enosh, a descendant of Cain named Lamech composed a song for his two wives
proclaiming that he had killed a young man who wounded him. He also warned:
"If seven times Cain is to be avenged, then Lamech seventy times and
seven."-Genesis 4:10, 19, 23, 24.
"Calling on the name of Jehovah" was in an apostate way--how does the WTS make this "guess"?
(* Before the days of Enosh, Jehovah spoke with Adam. Abel made an acceptable offering to Jehovah. God even communicated with Cain before jealous anger drove Cain to commit
murder. Hence, this beginning of "calling on the name of Jehovah" must have
been in a new way, not in pure worship.)
Insight Volume 1 p. 136 Approach to God ***
The start that was later made of "calling on the name of Jehovah" in Enosh's time does not appear to have been sincere (Ge 4:26), inasmuch as the next man of faith mentioned after Abel is not Enosh but Enoch, whose 'walking with God' shows his approach was approved. (Ge 5:24; Heb 11:5) Enoch's prophecy, recorded at Jude 14, 15, however, indicates that rampant disrespect for God existed in his day.
DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SINCERE
Insight Volume 1 pp. 729-730 Enosh ***
This was evidently not a calling on Jehovah in faith and pure worship as Abel had done more than 105 years before Enosh's birth. Some Hebrew scholars contend that the text should read "began profanely," or "then profanation began." With reference to Enosh's day the Jerusalem Targum says: "That was the generation in whose days they began to err, and to make themselves idols, and surnamed their idols by the name of the Word of the Lord." Men may have applied Jehovah's name to themselves or to other men through whom they pretended to approach God in worship; or else they applied his name to idol objects.
This was EVIDENTLY not a calling on Jehovah in faith
Men MAY HAVE applied Jehovah's name to themselves
Insight Volume 1 p. 1169 Idol, Idolatry ***
Apparently, what was started in the days of Enosh was a false form of worship in which Jehovah's name was misused or improperly applied. Either men applied Jehovah's name to themselves or to other men (through whom they pretended to approach God in worship), or else they applied the divine name to idol objects (as a visible, tangible aid in their attempt to worship the invisible God).
APPARENTLY
God's Eternal Purpose (1974) chap. 6 p. 67 Human Life Outside Paradise Until the Deluge ***
However, the ancient Palestinian Targum takes an unfavorable view of the matter. The famous Rashi (Rabbi Shelomoh Yitschaki, of 1040-1105 C.E.) renders Genesis 4:26: "Then was the profane called by the Name of the Lord." That is to say, men and inanimate objects had attributed to them the qualities of Jehovah and were called accordingly. This would mean that idolatry in the name of Jehovah began then.
Palestinian Targum (Targum of Palestine)...Rashi--Finally the sources are found in an older publication. The WTS is so deceitful in their current publications make the reader have to hunt for their sources.
11 Such brief facts as the foregoing indicate that the corruption introduced
by Satan in the garden of Eden quickly led to the spread of wickedness among
Adam's descendants. In such a world, Enoch was a prophet of Jehovah whose
powerful inspired words resonate even today. Jude reports that Enoch
prophesied: "Look! Jehovah came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment
against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly
deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking
things that ungodly sinners spoke against him." (Jude 14, 15) Those words
will find their final fulfillment at Armageddon. (Revelation 16:14, 16)
Still, we can be sure that even in Enoch's day, there were many "ungodly
sinners" who heard Enoch's prophecy with annoyance. How loving that Jehovah
took the prophet out of their reach!
Brief facts--yet as above the WTS can read into more than the Bible ever recorded.
Enoch was a prophet--reported by Jude thousands of years later--the only place it is recorded--where was Jude getting his information from?
What Strengthened Enoch to Walk With God?
12 Back in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve listened to Satan, and Adam
rebelled against Jehovah. (Genesis 3:1-6) Their son Abel followed a
different course, and Jehovah looked with favor upon him. (Genesis 4: 3, 4)
Unhappily, the majority of Adam's offspring were not like Abel. However,
Enoch, born hundreds of years later, was. What was the difference between
Enoch and so many other descendants of Adam? The apostle Paul answered that
question when he wrote: "By faith Enoch was transferred so as not to see
death, and he was nowhere to be found because God had transferred him; for
before his transference he had the witness that he had pleased God well."
(Hebrews 11:5) Enoch was part of a great "cloud of [pre-Christian]
witnesses," who were sterling examples of faith. (Hebrews 12:1) It was faith
that enabled Enoch to endure in right conduct throughout a lifetime of over
300 years-more than three lifetimes for most of us today!
Unhappily, the majority of Adam's offspring were not like Abel--yet all those who died before the flood will be resurrected--hmm? Are we to conclude that ALL people except for Abel and Enoch were wicked?
13 Paul described the faith of Enoch and other witnesses when he wrote:
"Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident
demonstration of realities though not beheld." (Hebrews 11:1) Yes, faith is
the confident expectation, based on assurances, that the things we hope for
will come true. It involves an expectation so strong that it affects the
focus of our life. That kind of faith enabled Enoch to walk with God even
though the world around him did not.
Confident expectation, based on assurances, that the things we hope for will come true.
w80 3/15 p. 17 Choosing the Best Way of Life ***
In modern times such eagerness, commendable in itself, has led to attempts at setting dates for the desired liberation from the suffering and troubles that are the lot of persons throughout the earth. With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man's existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a buildup of the expectation already initiated.
Expectation so strong...focus of our life
"Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end." (Kingdom ministry magazine May 1974 (http://www.jwfiles.com/scans/KM5-1974p3.htm))
14 True faith is based on accurate knowledge. What knowledge did Enoch have?
(Romans 10:14, 17; 1 Timothy 2:4) Undoubtedly, he knew about the events in
Eden. Probably, he also heard about what life had been like in the garden in
Eden-which was perhaps still in existence, although barred to humans.
(Genesis 3:23, 24) And he knew of God's purpose that Adam's offspring would
fill the earth and make the whole planet like that original Paradise.
(Genesis 1:28) In addition, Enoch surely cherished Jehovah's promise to
produce a Seed that would crush Satan's head and undo the ill effects of
Satan's deception. (Genesis 3:15) Indeed, Enoch's own inspired prophecy,
preserved in the book of Jude, has to do with the destruction of Satan's
seed. Since Enoch had faith, we know that he worshipped Jehovah as the one
who "becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." (Hebrews 11:6)
Hence, while Enoch did not possess all the knowledge that we do, he had
enough to form the foundation of a firm faith. With such a faith, he kept
his integrity during turbulent times.
True faith is based accurate knowledge. What knowledge did Enoch have?
UNDOUBTEDLY, he knew about events in Eden.
PROBABLY, he also heard about what life had been like
Enoch SURELY
What proof is there that Enoch knew these things?
Where did Jude get "Enoch's own inspired prophecy?"
w01 9/15 p. 30 Enoch Walked With God in an Ungodly World ***
Does the Bible Quote From the Book of Enoch?
The Book of Enoch is an apocryphal and pseudepigraphic text. It is falsely ascribed to Enoch. Produced probably sometime during the second and first centuries B.C.E., it is a collection of extravagant and unhistorical Jewish myths, evidently the product of exegetical elaborations on the brief Genesis reference to Enoch. This alone is sufficient for lovers of God's inspired Word to dismiss it.
In the Bible, only the book of Jude contains Enoch's prophetic words: "Look! Jehovah came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him." (Jude 14, 15) Many scholars contend that Enoch's prophecy against his ungodly contemporaries is quoted directly from the Book of Enoch. Is it possible that Jude used an unreliable apocryphal book as his source?
How Jude knew of Enoch's prophecy is not revealed in the Scriptures. He may simply have quoted a common source, a reliable tradition handed down from remote antiquity. Paul evidently did something similar when he named Jannes and Jambres as the otherwise anonymous magicians of Pharaoh's court who opposed Moses. If the writer of the Book of Enoch had access to an ancient source of this kind, why should we deny it to Jude?-Exodus 7:11, 22; 2 Timothy 3:8.
How Jude received the information about Enoch's message to the ungodly is a minor matter. Its reliability is attested to by the fact that Jude wrote under divine inspiration. (2 Timothy 3:16) God's holy spirit guarded him from stating anything that was not true.
HE MAY HAVE SIMPLY HAVE QUOTED A COMMON SOURCE, A RELIABLE TRADITION HANDED DOWN FRM REMOTE ANTIQUITY. What?????????
HOW JUDE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION ABOUT ENOCH'S MESSAGE TO THE UNGODLY IS A MINOR MATTER....GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT GUARDED HIM FROM STATING ANYTHING THAT WAS NOT TRUE.
Now if that isn't circular reasoning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While, Enoch did not possess all the knowledge that we do, he had enough--Message to JWs: There is no excuse for you not to listen to the WTS in all things.
Imitate Enoch's Example
15 Since, like Enoch, we want to please Jehovah during the turbulent times
that exist today, we do well to follow Enoch's example. We need to gain and
retain accurate knowledge of Jehovah and his purpose. But we need more. We
need to allow that accurate knowledge to direct our course. (Psalm 119: 101;
2 Peter 1:19) We need to be guided by God's thinking, always striving to
please him with our every thought and action.
We need to gain and retain accurate knowledge of Jehovah and his purpose--Where's Jesus?
(John 17:3) 3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.
(2 Peter 1:8) 8 For if these things exist in YOU and overflow, they will prevent YOU from being either inactive or unfruitful regarding the accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 3:8) 8 Why, for that matter, I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.. . .
(2 Peter 2:20) 20 Certainly if, after having escaped from the defilements of the world by an accurate knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, . . .Guided by God's thinking--WTS thinking
Every thought and action
(2 Corinthians 10:4-5) . . .. 5 For we are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God; and we are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ. . .
16 We have no record of who else in Enoch's time was serving Jehovah, but
clearly he was either alone or part of a small minority. We too are a
minority in the world, but that does not dismay us. Jehovah will support us
no matter who may be against us. (Romans 8: 31) Enoch courageously warned
about the coming destruction of ungodly men. We too are courageous as we
preach "this good news of the kingdom" despite mockery, opposition, and
persecution. (Matthew 24:14) Enoch did not live as long as many of his
contemporaries. Still, his hope was not in that world. He had his eye fixed
on something far grander. (Hebrews 11:10, 35) We too have our eye fixed on
the fulfillment of Jehovah's purpose. Hence, we do not use this world to the
full. (1 Corinthians 7:31) Instead, we use our strength and resources
primarily in Jehovah's service.
Blurb on page 17: We firmly believe that Jehovah's promises will come true
We have no record of who else in Enoch's time was serving Jehovah, but
CLEARLY, he was either alone or part of a small minority--but the Bible doesn't say...maybe they have the source that Jude was using (right!).
Enoch--minority--courageously warned...ungodly men...did not live as lone as many of his contemporaries (now what do they mean by that?)
Eye fixed on something grander...do not use this world to the full...primarily in Jehovah's service (where's Jesus?)--JWs today must do the same and be assured that if they don't live as long as they expected, that is living through the great tribulation, neither did Enoch, ha!
17 Enoch had faith that the Seed promised by God would appear in Jehovah's
due time. It has now been almost 2,000 years since that Seed Jesus
Christ-appeared, provided the ransom, and opened the way for us, as well as
for such faithful ancient witnesses as Enoch, to inherit everlasting life.
That Seed, now enthroned as King of God's Kingdom, cast Satan out of heaven
down to this earth, and we see the resulting tribulation all around us.
(Revelation 12:12) Yes, there is far more knowledge available to us than was
available to Enoch. May we, then, have firm faith as he did. May our
confidence in the fulfillment of God's promises influence everything we do.
May we, like Enoch, walk with God, although we live in turbulent times.
In Jehovah's due time--evidently, 1914, 1915, 1925, 1975 were not God's time, only the WTS.
CARROT--to inherit everlasting life
Far more knowledge available to us that was available to Enoch--but only through the WTS, don't be thinking that God will reveal it to you as an individual as he did Enoch.
Concluding Comments
Blurb on page 17: We firmly believe that Jehovah's promises will come true
Did you see the young man with the butch haircut reading the Bible (no tie)? Do you think he was alive when 1914, 1915, 1925, 1975 were put forth as likely dates for the end to come? He might have been alive about 10 years ago when the 1914 Generation was given a burial but do you think he understood the implications for the adult JWs?
Does it matter that those promises of the WTS did not come true?
Next week, Walking in the Name of Jehovah, another OT exercise. How often does the Bible mention being baptized in the name of God versus the name of Christ?
(John 20:31) 31 But these have been written down that YOU may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that, because of believing, YOU may have life by means of his name.
(Acts 2:38) 38 Peter [said] to them: "Repent, and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins, and YOU will receive the free gift of the holy spirit. . .
(Acts 3:6) 6 However, Peter said: "Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I do have is what I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Naz·a·rene´, walk!"
(Acts 8:12) 12 But when they believed Philip, who was declaring the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they proceeded to be baptized, both men and women.
(Acts 10:48) 48 With that he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they requested him to remain for some days.
(Acts 15:26) 26 men that have delivered up their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Acts 16:18) 18 This she kept doing for many days. Finally Paul got tired of it and turned and said to the spirit: "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.
(1 Corinthians 1:1-2) . . .Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through God's will, and Sos´the·nes our brother 2 to the congregation of God that is in Corinth, to YOU who have been sanctified in union with Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones, together with all who everywhere are calling upon the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
(1 Corinthians 1:10) 10 Now I exhort YOU, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that YOU should all speak in agreement, . . .
(1 Corinthians 6:11) . . .But YOU have been washed clean, but YOU have been sanctified, but YOU have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God.
and so on.
Love, Blondie; get out to see the trees, have a mug of apple cider and a slice of good Wisconsin cheddar.
How Would You Answer?
- What does it mean to walk with God?
- Why is walking with God the best course?
- What enabled Enoch to walk with God despite turbulent times?
- How can we imitate Enoch?
Questions
1. What are some features of our times that make them calamitous?
2. What challenges have Jehovah's servants faced?
3, 4. In what way are Christians different from the world?
5. How can an imperfect human walk with God?
6, 7. Why is walking with God the very best course?
8. How were the times of Enoch and Noah similar to our time?
9. What information do we have about Enoch?
10, 11. (a) How did corruption spread after the rebellion of Adam and Eve?
(b) What prophetic message did Enoch preach, and what response did he surely
meet up with?
12. What made Enoch different from his contemporaries?
13. What kind of faith did Enoch have?
14. Upon what accurate knowledge might Enoch's faith have been based?
15, 16. How can we follow Enoch's course?
17. What knowledge do we have that Enoch did not have, so what should we do?