The Society caught in another lie.
Anyone read the March 1, 2004 "Watchtower", it had this to say on page 14:
"The ten virgins remind us of anointed Christians before 1914. They had calculated that the bridegroom, Jesus Christ was about to make an appearance."
Correct me if I'm wrong, and I doubt that I am, but, this little sentence gives the impression that the Society was looking for the second presence BEFORE 1914 IN 1914.
However, the Bible Students believed that Jesus was already present, since 1874. Before 1914 they did not believe he was about to make an appearance in 1914. This is another example to include with the multitudes of misleading statements in regards to what been said was expected in 1914 by the current WT Society.
The article goes on to say, "'The faithful and discreet slave' cannot be one person. Why not? Because the slave began serving spiritual food back in the first century, and according to Jesus, the slave would still be doing so when the Master arrived in 1914. That would represent some 1,900 years of faithful service . . ."
I have two things to say about this paragraph.
One: It does not explain who this "faithful slave" was from the Apostle's time all the way to the days of Charles Taze Russell.
Two: This certainly can not mean that Christians were to remain faithful to the doctrine this "slave" taught, but rather to remain faithful to the "organization" no matter what changes in doctrine happened. Besides, we know that the society was NOT faithful to the doctrine of the Ransom and 99% of the other doctrines that were taught in 1914!
The article states on page 11, "When Jesus' presence began in 1914, did he find a group of anointed Christians who were faithfully dispensing food at the proper time?" Looking back on the events of time we can see the "historical context" in how the majority of that "food" was discarded including the doctrine of the Ransom after 1919.
The article suggests that "two decades after Christ's enthronement in 1914, 'a great crowd' of 'other sheep' was identified." Because historically we know that Charles Taze Russell taught that the world of mankind would be resurrected on the earth, the "identification" here was in reality a change of doctrine on the term, "great crowd," rather than an identification of a resurrection on earth. The statement is also a bit misleading.
In regards to the "evil slave," the article makes the claim that this "slave" resorted to "'beating' their former brothers verbally and consorting with 'confirmed drunkards,' religious groups of Christendom." (pg 13). Yet the article does not go on to explain what it means by the accusation, nor provides any evidence whatsoever to back up its claims.
The actual "historical context" of this is the other way around. It was Rutherford who beat the former brothers, as well as pursuing a lifestyle of literal drunkeness (as well as being a spiritual drunkard). A careful comparison of the Watchtower magazines of the 1920's and 1930's with The Herald of Christ's Kingdom magazines of the same time period prove conclusively that it was Rutherford's society that was beating the brethren, rather than the other way around. Every issue of "The Herald of Christ's Kingdom" is online at the Herald web site for any to do their own research and documentation on this matter.
The article makes the claim that "before 1914 they had not enthusiastically shared their hope with others." A quick review of the multitudes of witnessing activities (as well as door to door work) in the WatchTowers from 1879-1916 prove that they HAD been enthusiastically sharing the good news with everyone that they came into contact with. What does the Scripture say about the "evil slave?"
Matthew 24
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Yes indeed, Rutherford HAD delayed the Lord's coming (from 1874 to 1914). Rutherford HAD began to smite his fellow servants (evident from the "historical context"). Rutheford did "eat and drink with the drunken," both spiritually and literarlly.
What did the "evil slave" say?
Matthew 25:25
"I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth . . ."
Yes, Rutherford DID hide the talent "in the earth" by turning the focus away from the heavenly calling to the earth.