Beth Sarim, Rutherford and ancient worthies

by diamondiiz 9 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  diamondiiz

  Why did they include the idea that Rutherford would only accept the mansion if it was deeded to the ancient worthies? The article clearly states the house was for Rutherford so why add a crazy notion that its going to be turned over to the Bible worthies upon their imminent return? It scream CULT when they included this crazy notion of ancients beeing on the deed.

  If WTS followers didn't mind Rutherford having a mansion when the country was entering an economic downturn why would they want to report the idea of the building being deeded to King David? In 1931, wts followers already knew 1925 failed so why pursue a failed prophesy and bring a spotlight to this crazy idea? Did Rutherford want persecution for his followers as it's obvious that anyone on the outside hearing that the deed was for ancients about to be resurrected would view Rutherford and his followers as a cult and totally nuts at that.
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  Ding

  One possibility is that they actually believed it.

  The failure of one predicted date just convinced them that the NEXT date calculation must be right for sure.

  Another possibility is that they knew that holding title in trust for the ancient worthies impressed the faithful without actually causing any problem with transferring title when they wanted to sell the property.
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  Leolaia

  *** g42 5/27 p. 5, 14 San Diego Officials Line Up Against New Earth's Princes ***

  Beth-Sarim, therefore, in 1929, was built as a tangible proof of faith in these prophecies. The Scriptures indicate that there will be a present-day modern meeting between the last of the Christian witnesses of Jehovah with these reusrrected princes who were the pre-Christian witnesses of Jehovah. Judge Rutherford, for the Society, accepted the house from one who loved the Lord and who waited the early return of the princes, to be held in trust for them. The house was not built with the Society's funds, but by the giver of the property. The deed from this man to Judge Rutherford for the Society was widely publicized by the public press and scoffed at and ridiculed by them.

  It is recalled in passing that for many years Noah was scoffed at while he laboriously constructed the ark at the commandment of the Most High. The conditions then pictured the present era of scoffers. The last jeer then was cut off by the icy waters of the Flood, picturing the impending battle of Armageddon, which will sweep away all laughter and life itself from those who have mocked God's purposes.... An exactly parallel condition exists today. Armageddon will sweep away all those who laugh now at the Lord's purposes and particularly at the provisions contained in these deeds. These events will not occur in the distant future, as some claim, but very shortly. Jesus said, 'When the totalitarians are destroying the earth, and conditions like that in Noah's day exist, it is evidence that the full setting up of THE THEOCRACY is at hand. This event will take place during the lifetime of the generation which now witnesses this fulfillment of prophecy.' (Luke 21:31, 32)
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  Ding

  "The deed from this man to Judge Rutherford for the Society was widely publicized by the public press and scoffed at and ridiculed by them."

  Sounds like a was a publicity stunt to stoke the flames of the persecution complex Rutherford was so good at building.

  "These events will not occur in the distant future, as some claim, but very shortly."

  Evidently not soon enough. After Rutherford died, the WTS sold the princes' house and it's now owned by "worldlies."
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  GLTirebiter

  In 1931, wts followers already knew 1925 failed so why pursue a failed prophesy and bring a spotlight to this crazy idea?

  Huxley described this. They have been conditioned to accept facts without processing them, a facet of Cognitive Dissonance. Thus they were not conscious that the prophecy had failed:

  At breakfast the next morning, "Tommy," some one says, "do you know which is the longest river in Africa?" A shaking of the head. "But don't you remember something that begins: The Nile is the ..."

  "The - Nile - is - the - longest - river - in - Africa - and - the - second - in - length - of - all - the - rivers - of - the - globe ..." The words come rushing out. "Although - falling - short - of ..."

  "Well now, which is the longest river in Africa?"

  The eyes are blank. "I don't know."

  "But the Nile, Tommy."

  "The - Nile - is - the - longest - river - in - Africa - and - second ..."

  "Then which river is the longest, Tommy?"

  Tommy burst into tears. "I don't know," he howls.
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  PublishingCult

  
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  blondie

  At the same time Rutherford taught that the "ancient worthies" would be resurrected as already perfect men and would rule in Jerusalem over the earthly part of the kingdom. Would they shuttle back and forth between Beth Sarim and Jerusalem?

  "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? 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 favour, 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." Millions Now Living Will Never Die p.88

  The Watchtower, February 15, 1925, page 57, "We know the work of restitution must come to the Jews first, and through them to the rest of the world. As the Scriptures state that Jerusalem is to be the capital of the world and that the ancient worthies are to be princes in all the earth, we are warranted in expecting that the kingdom work will begin at Jerusalem."
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  diamondiiz

  The g42 article makes it sound as WTS through Rutherford was given a gift to hold in trust for the ancient worthies while the Messenger1931 indicates that the house was build for Rutherford alone but he only was willing to accept it, if it was deeded to the ancient worthies. Similar ideas but slightly different angle on it if you think about it. Is it possible the reason that Rutherford wanted the house deeded to ancient worthies in trust with wts was so he wouldn't pay any tax on the gift? (I'm not sure what the laws stipulated concerning gifts of that nature at the time) Another question comes to mind, if he had this under his name, would his wife have anything to say about it since it appears that at the time they were already living separate lives and in case she filed for divorce she would be entitled to portion of it.

  According to Oct 1 1984 article Rutherford supposedly said he made an ass of himself concerning 1925, thus I would assume that by 1929 or '31 he wasn't really believing the ancients were coming back anytime soon. That's why I assume that having the mansion deeded to ancient faithfuls had nothing to do with what Rutherford believed at the time but had an alternative motive. Sure, much of this is based on assumption but this whole Beth Sarim story is very strange and a perfect testament to a false prophecy.
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  Curtains

  diamondiiz - I think you have a point. Rutherford had money, power, motive and knowledge of the law to carry this through in the way you say.
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  Pahpa

  Isn't it a shame that Rutherford didn't follow Jesus' counsel to the

  rich young ruler: "Go, sell all you have, give to the poor and come be

  my follower." Unlike the apostles who followed Jesus, Rutherford

  accepted gifts that would put him in the lap of luxury during a time

  when most of his followers were overburdened with the woes of

  the Depression. The apologists may try to justify it. But it falls very

  short of the teachings and actions of Christ and his followers.