Comments You Will Not Hear at the 10-02-11 WT Study (AUGUST 15, 2011, pages 8-11)(WAITED)
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g = Awake
jv = Proclaimers book
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THEY WAITED FOR THE MESSIAH
“The people were waiting, and all were reasoning
in their hearts concerning John, whether he were not the Messiah.”
—LUKE 3:15, THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT.
OPENING COMMENTS
So why has the Watchtower Society (WTS) chosen to quote from a translation other than the New World Translation (NWT) after it has just counseled Witness public speakers to avoid using other translations? Does this mean the Emphatic Diaglott is an exception?
(Luke 3:15 NWT) Now as the people were in expectation and all were reasoning in their hearts about John: “May he perhaps be the Christ?”
(ED: waiting NWT: in expectation ED: Messiah NWT: Christ)
So is the difference enough to warrant the WTS violating their own rule?
What does the WTS is the purpose of this and the next article? “prophecies…examining some of them will enable you to identify the promised Messiah…strengthen your faith in Jehovah’s prophetic word” or your “faith” in the WTS explanation of prophecy?
1. Certain shepherds heard what angelic announcement?
NIGHT has fallen. Shepherds are out-of-doors,
keeping watch over their flocks.
How startled they are when Jehovah’s angel
stands nearby and God’s glory gleams
around them! Listen! The angel makes this
dramatic proclamation: “Have no fear, for,
look! I am declaring to you good news of a
great joy that all the people will have, because
there was born to you today a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord,” the one who would
prove to be the Messiah. The shepherds can
find this infant lying in manger in a nearby
town. Suddenly, “multitude of the heavenly
army” begin praising Jehovah, saying:
“Glory in the heights above to God, and
upon earth peace among men of goodwill.”
—Luke 2:8-14.
COMMENTS
Notice that although the Jews had the Torah, God had an angel appear in person to humans on earth. Though since the death of the Apostle John, the WTS teaches the angels no longer appear.
Before that angels appeared many times, convincing humans that they and their message were from God. What today proves that the messages from Jehovah’s witnesses is from God? No angels and no gifts of the holy spirit.
Did you know the original explanation of “men of goodwill”? Another term for “other sheep” or “great crowd.” Were men of goodwill JWs?
*** w62 6/1 p.349***
Jesus said that there was more happiness in giving, and this is especially true of giving the truth about God’s kingdom to men of goodwill from house to house and in their homes by means of Bible studies.—Acts 20:35.
*** w62 10/1 p.607***
To accomplish their purpose, these who are likened to dewdrops must go forth, searching for men of goodwill and, upon finding them, offer them the refreshing waters of life,
*** w6212/1 p.735***
During December courageous ministers in English-speaking lands will manifest their faith and hope in Jehovah by bringing the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures to men of goodwill.
2. What does “Messiah” mean, and how can he be identified?
2 Of course, the Jewish shepherds know
that “Messiah,” or “Christ,” refers to God’s
“Anointed One.” (Ex. 29:5-7) But how can
they learn more and convince
others that the baby mentioned
by the angel will be Jehovah’s
appointed Messiah? By examining
prophecies found in the Hebrew
Scriptures and comparing
these with the activities and life
course of this child.
COMMENTS
Did knowing the words mean they understood? Were they expecting a baby or someone to free them from the Romans? Did angels appear to Russell and his fellows to identify Christ’s presence in 1874 or was it 1914 or 1878?
*** Thousand Year book chap. 11 pp.187-188 par.7***
…the “chaste virgin” class began going forth to meet the heavenly Bridegroom in the year 1874, as they believed him to have arrived in that year and to be from then on invisibly present. They felt that they were already living in the invisible presence of the Bridegroom. Due to this fact, when Charles T. Russell began publishing his own religious magazine in July of 1879, he published it under the title “Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.” He had already become familiar with Wilson’s The Emphatic Diaglott, which translated the Greek word pa·rou·si′a as “presence,” not “coming,” in Matthew 24:3 and elsewhere. The new magazine was heralding Christ’s invisible presence as having begun in 1874 . This presence was to continue until the end of the Gentile Times in 1914, when the Gentile nations would be destroyed and the remnant of the “chaste virgin” class would be glorified with their bridegroom in heaven by death and resurrection to life in the spirit.
Does the WTS admit to their error in prophecy regarding finding the Messiah the second time?
*** w93 1/15 p.5***
When a foreign head of State visits a country, the dates of his presence there are generally announced. This has been true of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Watchtower has consistently presented evidence to honesthearted students of Bible prophecy that Jesus’ presence in heavenly Kingdom power began in 1914 . Events since that year testify to Jesus’ invisible presence. (Matthew 24:3-14)
***Proclaimers book chap.28 p.631***
The series of books known as Millennial Dawn (and later called Studies in the Scriptures ), which were penned by C. T. Russell, drew attention to the implications of this according to what the Bible Students understood from the Scriptures…a greater Jubilee for all the earth had begun in the autumn of 1874 , that evidently the Lord had returned in that year and was invisibly present , and that “the times of restitution of all things” had arrived.—Acts 3:19-21, KJ…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.
Why Were People in Expectation?
3, 4. How do we understand Daniel 9:24, 25?
3 When John the Baptizer came on the scene years later,
his words and deeds led some to wonder if the Messiah had arrived.
(Read Luke 3:15.) It is possible that some correctly understood
a Messianic prophecy involving “seventy weeks.” If
so, they could have determined when the
Messiah would appear. Impart, the prophecy
stated: “From the going forth of the word to
restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah
the Leader, there will be seven weeks,
also sixty-two weeks.” (Dan. 9:24, 25) Various
scholars agree that these are weeks of
years. For instance, the Revised Standard Version
says: “Seventy weeks of years are decreed.”
COMMENTS
Why John the Baptizer and not John the Baptist?
So 30 years later, the message had not gone forth from the shepherds.
“It is possible that some correctly understood….seventy weeks” = does the bible say that?
Various scholars = who?
What did members of the WTS/Bible Students expect in 1914? The destruction of the Gentile nations and the resurrection of the anointed to heaven.
*** Thousand Year book chap. 11 pp.187-188 par.7***
This presence was to continue until the end of the Gentile Times in 1914,when the Gentile nations would be destroyed and the remnant of the “chaste virgin” class would be glorified with their bridegroom in heaven by death and resurrection to life in the spirit.
Once again the WTS finds it necessary to quote from a translation other than the NWT. Why then didn’t the WTS use another translation when quoting “mentally diseased”?
4 Today, Jehovah’s servants are aware that
the 69 weeks, or 483 years, of Daniel 9:25 began
in 455 B.C.E. when Persian King Artaxerxes
authorized Nehemiah to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem . (Neh. 2:1-8) Those weeks
ended 483 years later, in 29 C.E., when Jesus
of Nazareth was baptized and anointed with
holy spirit, thus becoming the Messiah.
—Matt. 3:13-17.*
*For a detailed discussion of the “seventy weeks,” see
chapter 11 of the book Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy!
COMMENTS
Jehovah’s servants = only jws (since 1931, before Bible Students)
The WTS is explaining this prophecy because some jws find it easier to understand than the 2,520 year one from 607 BCE to 1914 CE.
Does archaeology support this?
5. What prophecies will we now consider?
5 Let us now consider a few of many
other prophecies regarding the Messiah
that found fulfillment in Jesus’ birth, early
life, and ministry. This will undoubtedly
strengthen our faith in God’s prophetic
word. It will also provide clear evidence
that Jesus was indeed the long-awaited
Messiah.
COMMENTS
The WTS wants to explain fulfillment of prophecies that many jws can get their mind around, then to say their explanation of 1914 is equally accurate.
UNDOUBTEDLY STRENGTHEN OUR FAIL IN God’s prophetic words or WTS statements?
Clear evidence = as clear today?
His Early Life Foretold
6. Explain how Genesis 49:10 was fulfilled.
6 The Messiah was to be born of Israel’s
tribe of Judah. In his deathbed blessing of
his sons, the patriarch Jacob foretold: “The
scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither
the commander’s staff from between
his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him
the obedience of the peoples will belong.”
(Gen. 49:10) Many Jewish scholars of the
past associated those words with the Messiah.
Starting with the rule of Judean King David,
the scepter (royal sovereignty) and the
commander’s staff (power to command) resided
with the tribe of Judah. “Shiloh” signifies
“He Whose It Is; He to Whom It Belongs.”
The regal line of Judah would end in
“Shiloh” as the permanent kingly Heir, for
God told Zedekiah, the last Judean king,
that rulership would be given to one having
the legal right to it. (Ezek. 21:26, 27) After
Zedekiah, Jesus was the only descendant
of David to whom kingship was promised.
Before Jesus’ birth, the angel Gabriel
told Mary: “Jehovah God will give him the
throne of David his father, and he will rule
as king over the house of Jacob forever, and
there will be no end of his kingdom.”
(Luke 1:32, 33) Shiloh must be Jesus Christ,
who was a descendant of Judah and David.
—Matt. 1:1-3, 6; Luke 3:23, 31-34.
COMMENTS
Tribe of Judah = then why was the first king of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin?
Many Jewish scholars = WHO?
(Judah who had sex with what he thought was a temple prostitute and David who was a murderer and an adulterer)
7. Where was the Messiah born, and why is this significant?
7 The Messiah’s birth would take place in
Bethlehem . “You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
the one too little to get to be among the
thousands of Judah,” wrote the prophet Micah,
“from you there will come out to me
the one who is to become ruler in Israel,
whose origin is from early times, from the
days of time indefinite.” (Mic. 5:2) The Messiah
was to be born in the Judean town of
Bethlehem , evidently once named Ephrathah.
Although Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his
adoptive father, Joseph, lived in Nazareth, a
Roman registration decree had taken them
to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in
2 B.C.E. (Matt. 2:1, 5, 6) What a remarkable
fulfillment of prophecy!
COMMENTS
How many today realize that Bethlehem was the birthplace of David, the adulterer and murderer?
EVIDENTLY
Was Jesus born in 2 BCE; can individual jws prove it without reaching for a WT publication?
8, 9. What was foretold about the Messiah’s birth
and the events that followed it?
8 The Messiah would be born of a virgin.
(Read Isaiah 7:14.) The Hebrew word
bethu·lah_ means “virgin,” but another
term (_al·mah_) appears at Isaiah 7:14.
There it was prophesied that “the maiden
[ha·_al·mah_]”would give birth to a son. The
word _al·mah_ is applied to the maiden Rebekah
before her marriage. (Gen. 24:16, 43)
Under inspiration, Matthew used the Greek
word for “virgin” (par·the_nos) when showing
that Isaiah 7:14 was fulfilled in connection
with the birth of Jesus. The Gospel writers Matthew
and Luke state that Mary was a
virgin who became pregnant through the
operation of God’s spirit.—Matt. 1:18-25;
Luke 1:26-35.
COMMENTS
For years the WTS has not used the specific Hebrew or Greek words they refer to. Why now?
How did Mary become pregnant….artificial insemination, she basically became pregnant outside the laws of God being unmarried.
9 Young children would be killed after the
Messiah’s birth. Something similar happened
centuries earlier when Egypt’s Pharaoh
decreed that Hebrew male babies be
cast into the Nile River. (Ex. 1:22) But especially
noteworthy is Jeremiah 31:15, 16,
where Rachel is depicted as weeping over
her sons who were taken to “the land of
the enemy.” Her lamentation was heard in
distant Ramah, in the territory of Benjamin,
north of Jerusalem. Matthew shows
that Jeremiah’s words were fulfilled when
King Herod ordered the slaughter of young
male children in Bethlehem and its surrounding
territory. (Read Matthew 2:16-18.) Imagine
the grief in that area!
COMMENTS
At least these children have the hope of being resurrected; not so the innocent children of non-jws who die at Armageddon.
Imagine the grief at Armageddon.
http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk/1958_paradise_lost_208_large.jpg
http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk/armageddon_art.html
10. Explain how Hosea 11:1 was fulfilled in Jesus.
10 Like the Israelites, the Messiah would be
called out of Egypt. (Hos. 11:1) Before Herod’s
death-dealing decree, an angel directed
that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus go to Egypt.
There they remained “until the decease of
Herod, for that to be fulfilled which was
spoken by Jehovah through his prophet
[Hosea], saying: ‘Out of Egypt I called my
son.’ ” (Matt. 2:13-15) Of course, Jesus himself
could not have orchestrated any of the
foretold events associated with his birth and
early life.
COMMENTS
Once again an angel is used directly to protect God’s people…how can jws today know that angels are helping? Remember the WTS teaches that they cannot expect individual protection.
The Messiah Goes Into Action!
11. How was the way prepared before Jehovah’s Anointed One?
11 The way was to be prepared before God’s
Anointed One. Malachi foretold that “Elijah
the prophet” would do this work, preparing
the hearts of the people for the coming of
the Messiah. (Read Malachi 4:5, 6.) Jesus
himself identified this “Elijah” as John the
Baptizer. (Matt. 11:12-14) And Mark pointed
out that the ministry of John fulfilled the
prophetic words of Isaiah. (Isa. 40:3; Mark 1:
1-4) Jesus did not arrange for John to do an
Elijah like work as His forerunner. The activity
of this foretold “Elijah” was done in harmony
with God’s will as a means of identifying
the Messiah.
COMMENTS
Who identified themselves as Elijah in Russell’s and Rutherford’s time doing the “Elijahlike work”? Were they identified by people outside or inside the WTS?
Does the WTS mean that they have not arranged prophecies to be fulfilled on them?
***w97 9/15 p.15 par.23***
We have good reason for faithfulness and optimism. Remember that John the Baptizer did an Elijahlike work before the “day of Jehovah” struck in 70 C.E. With Elijah’s spirit and power, anointed Christians have done a similar God-given work throughout the earth. This clearly proves that the great “day of Jehovah” is near.
12. What commission helps to identify the Messiah?
12 A God-given commission helps to identify
the Messiah. In the synagogue at Nazareth,
the town where he had been reared, Jesus
read from the scroll of Isaiah and applied to
himself the words: “Jehovah’s spirit is upon
me, because he anointed me to declare good
news to the poor, he sent me forth to preach
a release to the captives and a recovery of
sight to the blind, to send the crushed ones
away with a release, to preach Jehovah’s acceptable
year.” Because he truly was the
Messiah, Jesus could rightly say: “Today this
scripture that you just heard is fulfilled.”
—Luke 4:16-21.
COMMENTS
Jesus had proved many ways through healing, resurrection, feeding large groups of people (no fast food)….has the WTS done the same?
13. How was Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee foretold?
13 The Messiah’s public ministry in Galilee
was foretold. Concerning “the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali . . . Galilee of
the nations,” Isaiah wrote: “The people that
were walking in the darkness have seen a
great light. As for those dwelling in the land
of deep shadow, light itself has shone upon
them.” (Isa. 9:1, 2) Jesus began his public
ministry in Galilee, residing at Capernaum,
where many residents of Zebulun and
Naphtali enjoyed the benefits of the spiritual
light he brought them. (Matt. 4:12-16) In
Galilee , Jesus gave his thought-provoking
Sermon on the Mount, chose his apostles,
performed his first miracle, and likely appeared
to some 500 disciples after his resurrection.
(Matt. 5:1–7:27; 28:16-20; Mark 3:
13, 14; John 2:8-11; 1 Cor. 15:6) He thus fulfilled
Isaiah’s prophecy by preaching in “the
land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.”
Of course, Jesus went on to preach the Kingdom message
elsewhere in Israel.
COMMENTS
LIKELY appeared to some 500 disciples (probably only men)
So what purpose did this “prophecy” have?
The Messiah’s Other Activities Foretold
14. In what way was Psalm 78:2 fulfilled by Jesus?
14 The Messiah would speak in parables, or
illustrations. The psalmist Asaph sang: “In a
proverbial saying I will open my mouth.”
(Ps. 78:2) How do we know that this prophetically
applied to Jesus? Matthew tells us
so. After relating illustrations in which Jesus
likened the Kingdom to a developing mustard
grain and to leaven, Matthew states:
“Without an illustration [Jesus] would not
speak to them; that there might be fulfilled
what was spoken through the prophet who
said: ‘I will open my mouth with illustrations,
I will publish things hidden since the
founding.’” (Matt. 13:31-35) Proverbial sayings,
or parables, were among Jesus’ effective means
of teaching.
COMMENTS
So now Jesus is an adult and could arrange to fulfill that scripture.
What do you think of the illustrations the WTS uses; why not just use the excellent ones in the Bible?
15. Point out how Isaiah 53:4 found fulfillment.
15 Our infirmities were to be borne by the
Messiah. Isaiah foretold: “Truly our sicknesses
were what he himself carried; and as for
our pains, he bore them.” (Isa. 53:4) Matthew
pointed out that after curing Peter’s
mother-in-law, Jesus healed others so that
“there might be fulfilled what was spoken
through Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘He him-
self took our sicknesses and carried our diseases.’”
(Matt. 8:14-17) And this is but one of
many recorded instances when Jesus cured
the ailing.
COMMENTS
So how people has the WTS cured? How many help people financially with treatment for their ailments? So what excuse does the WTS give for not helping the sick? What good is it to preach to the starving but not meet their material needs?
James 2 15 If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, 16 yet a certain one of YOU says to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it?
16. How did the apostle John show that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53:1?
16 Despite all the good done by the Messiah,
many people would not believe in him. (Read
Isaiah 53:1.) Showing that this prophecy
was fulfilled, the apostle John wrote:
“Although [Jesus] had performed so many
signs before them, they were not putting
faith in him, so that the word of Isaiah the
prophet was fulfilled which he said: ‘Jehovah,
who has put faith in the thing heard by
us? And as for the arm of Jehovah, to whom
has it been revealed?’” (John 12:37, 38) Also,
few put faith in the good news about Jesus,
the Messiah, during the ministry of the
apostle Paul.—Rom. 10:16, 17.
COMMENTS
So here’s the reason, doing good things doesn’t mean people will believe….
What signs has the WTS performed? If people don’t believe them it is because of all the “adjustments” they have made to their teachings and false signs of the end coming in 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, (1984), (1994) to end it all in 1995.
17. John made what application of Psalm 69:4?
17 The Messiah would be hated without
cause. (Ps. 69:4) The apostle John quotes Jesus
as saying: “If I had not done among [the
people] the works that no one else did, they
would have no sin; but now they have both
seen and hated me as well ashy Father. But
it is that the word written in their Law
may be fulfilled, ‘They hated me without
cause.’” (John 15:24, 25) Often the “Law”
means the whole body of Scripture. (John
10:34; 12:34) The Gospel accounts prove
that Jesus was hated, especially by the Jewish
religious leaders. Moreover, Christ said:
“The world has no reason to hate you, but it
hates me, because I bear witness concerning
it that its works are wicked.”—John 7:7.
COMMENTS
Why was Jesus hated without cause? Is the WTS hated without cause but rather because of all their lies and deceptions making them like the Pharisees and Saduccees rather than like Jesus.
18. What further examination should strengthen
our conviction that Jesus is the Messiah?
18 Jesus’ first-century followers were certain
that Jesus was the Messiah, for he did
indeed fulfill the Messianic prophecies
found in the Hebrew Scriptures. (Matt. 16:
16) As we have seen, some of these underwent
fulfillment during the early life and
ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Additional
Messianic prophecies will be examined in
the next article. Our prayerful reflection
on them will surely strengthen our conviction
that Jesus Christ truly is the Messiah
who was appointed by our heavenly Father,
Jehovah.
COMMENTS
Jesus’ followers (what happened to Jehovah’s people)
Certain he was the Messiah = certain that the WTS is God’s organization, the FDS/GB = Jesus
How Would You Answer?
What prophecies were fulfilled in
connection with Jesus’ birth?
How was the way prepared before
the Messiah?
What prophetic words of Isaiah
chapter 53 found fulfillment in Jesus?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Next week, THEY FOUND THE MESSIAH! (John 1:41)
Do jws find the messiah or do they find a man-made organization that has lied and made many errors in their explanation of prophecy that has led to painful events in their members’ lives?
Love, Blondie