Spotted this weird statement in the April 1 2007 WT, pg 24:
"As in early Christian times, a small group of spirit-anointed Overseers make up the Governing Body of Christ's followers on earth today. By means of his "right hand" of applied power, Christ, the Head of the congregation, directs these faithful men as they supervise the Kingdom work. (Revelation 1:16, 20)"
This whole statement is almost word for word the same as the last sentence of the following paragraph:
*** w87 8/1 18 Christ's Active Leadership Today ***
"11 All of this means more work for the collective “slave,” a larger field of activities, extending literally to “all the inhabited earth.” It also requires larger headquarters and branch facilities for supervising the work and for printing and distributing literature for preaching and personal study. As in the first century, this work is carried out under the active leadership of Jesus Christ, who is figuratively “in the midst of the lampstands,” or congregations. He directs them by means of anointed overseers, whom he holds symbolically “in his right hand.” (Revelation 1:13, 16) As in early Christian times, a group of these anointed overseers makes up the visible Governing Body of Christ’s congregation on earth. His “right hand” of applied power directs these faithful men as they supervise the Kingdom work."
There is absolutely nothing in Revelation 1: 13, 16 or 20 which gives the slightest hint of Jesus using a 'governing body' to direct all other 'anointed overseers'. In fact, Jesus' messages to the congregations in Revelation is notable for the absence of any indication of a centralised body that he was communicating through, a point that is damaging to the Society's bizarre interpretaton of Matt 24: 45-47. Revelation 1: 13, 16, 20 refer to seven stars and seven lampstands, meaning, seven angels over seven congregations, respectively. Jesus communicated directly with each congregation's 'angel'. If these angels really are congregation 'overseers' there is no hint of any intermediary governing body directing them.
Where do they get from these verses that Jesus is directing the Governing Body through his ""right hand" of applied power" and that the Governing Body in turn directs all other 'anointed oversers'? This is sheer artificial interpretation to justify the GB's lording it over the flock. They are going 'beyond what is written'. And where are these 'anointed overseers' in the congregations anyway? How many elders have you known who claimed to be of the anointed? I know a brother who claims to be of the anointed; he is quite normal, he is zealous in the preaching, and yet he is not even a Ministerial Servant! And what about women who are of the anointed class - how are they 'overseers'?
Just more interpretational fluff compliments of the Writing Department.
Christ controls GB by his "right hand of applied power " - bollox
by yaddayadda 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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yaddayadda
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dawg
Well written article, but what's new? They've been doing wacky stuff like this for years/
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smellsgood
"As in early Christian times, a small group of spirit-anointed Overseers make up the Governing Body of Christ's followers on earth today. By means of his "right hand" of applied power, Christ, the Head of the congregation, directs these faithful men as they supervise the Kingdom work. (Revelation 1:16, 20)"
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R.F.
Jesus must be left-handed. :)