Jesus warning in Matt 24:5 reminiscent of WTS

by M.J. 5 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • M.J.
    M.J.

    Matthew 24:5, NWT says:

    for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

    The Watchtower Society, representative of the "faithful slave class", not only has claimed approval as God's channel, but well after this claimed appointment has freely claimed to be THE CHRIST.

    The Watchtower, August 1, 1944, p. 237:
    From the very beginning of his ministry Christ Jesus had a visible organization, and his apostles, acting collectively under his direction, formed the visible part of it. There Was unity of action by the faithful apostles. With the passing away of these the unity did not again exist in the church until the Lord came to the spiritual temple of Jehovah in 1918. Upon his coming to the temple he found a faithful "servant" class, and these faithful ones are made the keepers or custodians of the Kingdom interests. (Matt. 24:45-47) Such are brought into the temple condition of unity of action with him and are made a part of the ’elect servant’, because they form a part of The Christ and abide in Christ. Throughout the prophecy of Ezekiel Jehovah addresses him as "Son of man", manifestly because Ezekiel pictures that class which is counted in with and made a part of The Christ, the Head of which was called "the Son of man". The man with the writer’s inkhorn by his side clearly represents, therefore, the anointed "faithful and wise servant" class on earth, which class is a part of God’s organization.

    The Watchtower, May 15, 1941 p. 155:
    "The Christ" is composed of Jesus the Head and the church, which is "his body" and being composed finally of 144,000 members. (See Revelation 7:4-8 and 14: 1-3.) It is not unusual for the Scriptures to refer to The Christ collectively, or as one.

    ibid, p. 156:
    With the exception of Jehovah God, no one outside of The Christ will ever be incorruptible. It is to The Christ alone that the promise is given that over such the second death will have no power. (See Revelation 2: 11; 20: 6.) None outside of Christ will ever receive immortality. These are they that are admonished while on earth to seek immortality. (Rom. 2: 7) The members of The Christ while on earth are, by God’s will and his precious promises, begotten to an "inheritance incorruptible .... reserved in heaven", which is life divine in the spirit.

    ibid, p. 158:
    The Lord Jehovah has been during the past nineteen centuries developing and is now completing the "new creation", which is The Christ. (2 Cor. 5 : 17 ; Gal. 6 : 15) This new creation stands out separate and distinct from Satan’s organization.

    The Watchtower, Oct 1, 1941, p. 292:
    The world of righteousness consists of the invisible, which is The Christ, and the visible, which, is the representatives of The Christ on earth.

    The Watchtower, Nov 15, 1941, p. 340:
    Sarah pictured God’s "woman", Zion, which is the mother of Christ and the 144,000 members of "his body", therefore The Christ, and which includes the faithful remnant yet on the earth.

    The warning is repeated in Luke 21:8, along with another tell-tale characteristic to look out for:

    He said: “Look out that YOU are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time has approached.’ Do not go after them. (NWT)

    Of course, the Watchtower Society accommodates this additional characteristic all too well:

    The Watchtower, April 1, 1944, p. 99:
    It is founded on the fulfilled Word of God and upon the known facts since 1914, which facts are fulfilling his Word and prove that the time is at hand.

  • BizzyBee
    BizzyBee

    Very interesting MJ. I wonder where the FDS was when Christ was givng up his life for us?

  • Leolaia
    Leolaia

    The phrase "the Christ" is still used today, its just the more literal "the anointed".

  • M.J.
    M.J.

    Very true, Leolaia.

    Now that I look at that verse even more closely,

    for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. (NWT)

    Could it be that the intent of the passage is not necessarily a warning against those who will be literal, personal imposters of Jesus Christ, but against those falsely appropriating his name to claim the status of "the anointed"? hmmm.

  • James Free
    James Free

    In another way the GB claim to be christ: They claim to be a part of the promised seed, a composite seed of 144001 (Not to be found in the Bible)

  • greendawn
    greendawn

    They certainly claim to be the Christ in the sense that they are His representatives here on this earth, among mankind.

    But from their fruitage we can recognise that they are impostors, time has revealed their character as being seriously flawed to the point that they don't differ at all from those they describe as Babylon the Great. They lust for power, rule in a very anti christian dictatorial manner, despise charity and have no real love between themselves.

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