by A Paduan 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I'm writing this thread as I was dwelling on something someone said about their mother and "peace and security".
And I thought to myself, aren't the jws the ones who say, "there is peace and security" - i.e. their religious security, from their effort to 'nail Him down'.
And they say it - but deep down don't even know - yet have told their soul "peace and security", and still remain in the dark.
Fool! This night your soul is required of you - not this day, but this night.
paduan
I may be misunderstanding what you mean...I'm very rusty on JW stuff.I thought the U.N say there is peace and security???
As the jws would have you believe - but as the bible is about spirit, it appears that it is themselves that say "peace and security", and not necessarily believe it either - but say it nonetheless - in the dark.
The JWs and others ae waiting for some outstaning declaration from the wprld that it has accomplished peace and security on their own. and see this as the final trigger for God's aner. Te U>N is expected to play a role in creating this peace. It was said in print that this declaraion of P&S may be already being announced, as it embodies the last two decades tward gobalization. This allows a vague fullfillment that essentially makes it valueless as a sign. As efforts tward peace have been perenial since the dawn of civilization.
In the past (back 60-70 years or so) it was explained that P&S would be delared by Christendom when it had squelched the voices of the JWs. This was changed when much of the time table order of "prophecy" was ammended.
This illustrates how a passage can be pulled like taffy to any shape that "harmonizes" with a preconceived doctrine.
The verses simply expressed a generic surprise on the part of nonbeleivers when the Christian Apocolypse befalls them. Many expected the end to have come long before the author(ostensibly Paul) wrote this text. Some were puzzeled by the peace unbelievers seemed to have. It was neessary to create a renewed sense of imminence to offset the appearance of delay. So worded another way, " Ya sure everything is normal life is in fact good, but don't be deceived this is exactly what clear sighted Christians in the know should expect life would be like just before the sudden destruction of nonbelievers." The phrase is translated various ways in Bibles for example: 1 Thess 5:2 You know the Lord's day will come just like a thief in the night. 3 When people say, "Alls well and safe!" then sudden destruction will come on them suddenly like pains on a woman who is going to have a baby, and they will not escape. 4 But you, my fellow Christians are not in the dark that you should let that day take you by surprise like a thief.
No prophecy is expresed or implied. Paul was simply attempting to keep the flock in the corral by down playing the prosperity around them. Not much has changed in 2000 years, Fundementalist theologians have used similar logic today. Whenever things seem to be moving tward greater peace and human rights it is seen only as a test of your faith that Jesus is comming to destroy the wicked so as to bring real peace. To have pulled this one phrase out of context and given it a life of it's own as a vital sign of the last days is typical of Bible literalism.
JWs and others ae waiting for some outstaning declaration from the wprld that it has accomplished peace and security on their own
The JW interpretation of this always bugged me, too.
After all, wasn't the whole challenge in the Garden of Eden all about the devil claiming man didn't need god? That we would do fine on our own? And the reason god lets all the misery and suffering on the earth - to prove we need him?
This prophecy (as the JWs would have it) essentially boils down to, god will let humans suffer indefinately to prove they need him, until they reach a point where they DON'T, then suddenly 'flip the board over, scattering the pieces', as it were, and stomping off claiming victory.
It just doesn't make sense.
Perhaps to partly address this, and to extend the prophecy 'indefinately' (as it obviously needs to be, as it will never happen), the WT has started explaining that this will be a 'false' peace and security - the nations will declare it, but it won't actually be true peace.
Of course, this allows them to continue the prophecy forever. After all, there will ALWAYS be some groups saying 'true peace' is at hand when other groups claim it is not- it's human nature.
Why do people think it's about the end of the world?
[1] But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. Forget your end of the world paranoia.
[2] For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Not seen - even after he's been - until you realise that he's been - when it's light
[3] When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. When people say that it's their religious efforts that keep them safe, they'll not be able to save themselves
Edited by - a paduan on 3 February 2003 23:48:0
