When is the FDS appointed
Can anyone tell me the date when the WT teaching of FDS's appointment over master's belongings became an official doctrine of the society? Was it a new 'truth' revealed in a WT circa 1914/19, or was the doctrine developed piecemeal in hindsight because subsequent events seemed to indicate it?
Since Matt 24:42-47 and Luke 12:37-44 is the fundamental blank on which the Society rests its authority of appointment, a clear and accurate understanding of these verses would seem to be indispensable, yet nowhere have I seen a definitive scriptural discussion of the matter. All the society seems to say, is that it has been appointed because it was preaching the good news of the Kingdom and because it recognised 1914 (based on the dubious date of 607 BCE) as the start of the King's Parousia.
A contextual reading of these verses, however, reveals not only that these are not criteria for the appointment, but also that the societies explanation of these verses is invalid. It must also be asked, this being so, that in claiming appointment, have they not have run ahead of Jehovah much like King Saul did when he offered up a sacrifice in Samuel's stead.
Reading from the NW Student's Bible we find emphasis placed on 1) not being misled into believing that Jesus is to be found in any one place, 2) on being watchful and ready to receive the master at his arrival (check footnote) and 3) that he comes at an unknown, unexpected time. It also tells us that the evil slave says in his heart (not publicly) ?my master is delaying,? which indicates that he had a different time frame in mind and instead of acknowledging his error and adjusting his understanding he becomes increasingly autocratic.
The verses dealing with the judgement of the slave imply that the one who is finally appointed has not behaved in this manner, but has remained watchful and made the necessary adjustments in his viewpoint by drawing on reserve oil, as pictured by the wise virgins.
It is also is clear that the appointment does not occur until after the master's arrival (having come aorist of erxomai ftnt NW Student's Bible) not at the beginning of his presence (parousia), and that he is then appointed to give food during kairo, which is a period of short duration, not a long-term ongoing feeding program.
A careful comparison and analysis of the pertinent verses at Matthew Mark and Luke (with reference to the original Greek wording and tense usage), indicates that Jesus, when he begged the question 'Who really is the faithful and discreet slave...?' was looking at it from futuristic viewpoint--as if projecting himself into that time, because he did not know who, if any (Lu 18:8), would be found prepared and ready at that time.
Also it should be noted that it is the angels themselves who gather the chosen ones together (from the four winds), not any human agency (compare Matt 13:30, 41 where angels are told first to bind the weeds into bundles for burning then gather the wheat into God's storehouse).
Cocus Illicis