????? Established Kingdom - ?????
This verbiage has always been of interest to me, Established Kingdom, however we should remind our Watchtower friends that it can not be found in the Bible, any Bible that I am aware of. It is the basis however for the new message preached by Jehovahs favored few. In the May 2002, Watchtower pg. 22 par. 12 the Society cleverly adds the word establishedwith reference to Mathew 24:14. Mathew in reality reads that the Good News of the Kingdom would be preached not the Good News of the would be preached. Is there a difference? Most certainly; the Good News which Christ referred to is outlined for us in Mathew chapters five through seven. The Good News of the EstablishedKingdom which is preached by Jehovahs Witnesses is entirely different, so much so that not one of the books that are currently used or have been used to bring people into the organization focus on the simplicity of Christs message as outlined in the Sermon on the Mount. When you studied with Jehovahs Witnesses or you yourself conducted a study did they or you ever once reiterate to your study the Happinesss recorded at Mathew 5:3-11, probably not? Christ preached a message that was applicable to any time. Theirs is a new message based on and around October of 1914. The new message does not focus on simplicity, it is shrouded in mystery. It does not concentrate on the more important things such as Love, Forgiveness, Mercy, Justice or having a Pure Heart and being Peaceable. The new message embodies mans futility to attain what does not belong to him. Jesus clearly told his closest associates the Apostles, yes those who were chosen to specifically bear witness to his deeds, death and resurrection that it did not belong to them to know when the end would come. Why? Jesus knew if we knew or even had a good idea then our motives for service would be impacted by knowing. We would become overly anxious or overly lax about things which normally would not concern us. What exactly do Christs Brothers mean when they state that the kingdom was establishedin 1914? Basically that Jesus did not receive authority to rule as King over the from Jehovah until the Gentile times were completed. This is counted from October of 607 BCE through to October of 1914 a total of seven times or 2520 years. Is this accurate? No it is not, for Christ told his eleven disciples after his resurrection at Mathew 28:18 All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. It was at that point also that he gave them a command to make other disciples of people from all the nations. No human was ever given authority to give such a command which ultimately would lead to forgiveness of sins and entry by men into the Kingdom of the Heavens. Prior to, we were stuck here on Earth under Satans control, hence the statement at John 3:13 No man has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. The only thing that was new here was the adding of authority on Earth for Christ already exercised authority in Heaven by request of his father Jehovah. Mathew 26:53 tells us that Jesus by simple request could petition Jehovah for more than twelve legions of angles. Up to the point in time that Jesus stated All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth itis clear that Satan had control as the God of this world, ultimately blocking our entrance into the Kingdom of the Heavens through death. After Christ conquered the final enemy death through resurrection he could now retain all control. Christ indeed stated prior to his death and resurrection and prior to having authority here on the Earth at John 18:36 My kingdom is not part of this world if my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is my kingdom is not from this source, thus helping us to appreciate that he indeed already exercised authority in what he called my kingdom. Per the new message preached by Jehovahs Witnesses salvation is based on preaching and accepting an empty message, five weekly meetings, watchtower and awake magazines, organization, faithful and discreet slave, 1914, district conventions, circuit assemblies, year books, videos, brochures, field service reports and so on. Do you see the error here; they are all about the Organization and not about the true Good News which respectively allows each of us as individual human beings to here the message and determine for ourselves if we will live by it or not. It is not the right or responsibility of any Organization to determine for you what is right or wrong. In conclusion the established kingdom which the Watchtower references does not exist! Mathew and the other books refer appropriately to the Kingdom of the Heavens which has always been in existence and has always been established and has always had Jehovah and Jesus Christ as his first born through whom all other things came into existence exercising authority over it. What Christ did specifically for the children of men here on earth was not set in motion in 1914 it was at his baptism, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. That was the appointed time.