“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!” – Canto VI, XVII, popularized by the Scottish poem, Marmion.
It is an accepted truism that lies beget more lies as the liar must find ways to support the initial falsehood. While this is the case for the willful liar, what about the well-intentioned Bible researcher who unwittingly arrives at a false conclusion? While not necessarily making such a one a liar, he is still perpetrating falsehood, albeit unknowingly. Sure of his belief, he starts to see every relevant scriptural passage through the warped lens of what he sees as “present truth”.[i]
Let us take for instance, the teaching that Jesus was enthroned in the heavens in 1914, making that the year the Kingdom of God was established.[ii] Any Scripture that speaks of Jesus as King must be woven into the web that includes the 1914 establishment of his Kingdom. This brings us to this week’s CLAM, under the meeting part, “Treasures from God’s Word” – “A King Will Reign for Righteousness”. Here, Isaiah 32:1-4 is discussed:
“Look! A king will reign for righteousness, And princes will rule for justice. (Isa 32:1)
Since the belief is that the king began to reign in 1914, the princes must also be reigning since then. This immediately creates a discrepancy with other passages in the Bible. The Word of God makes it clear that anointed Christians will rule with Christ as kings and priests. (2Ti 2:12; Re 5:10; Re 20:4) When a king reigns under another king, he is also called a prince. Jesus, ruling under Jehovah God, is called both king and prince. For instance, he is called the “Prince of Peace” by Isaiah. (Isa. 9:6) So these anointed kings must be the princes who “will rule for justice itself.” Is there another conclusion that is consistent with the rest of Scripture? Unfortunately, this conclusion does not jibe with the teaching that Jesus began ruling over 100 years ago, since it would force us to find a way to fit the following verses into the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“And each one will be like a hiding place from the wind, A place of concealment from the rainstorm, Like streams of water in a waterless land, Like the shadow of a massive crag in a parched land. 3 Then the eyes of those seeing will no longer be pasted shut, And the ears of those hearing will pay attention. 4 The heart of those who are impetuous will ponder over knowledge, And the stammering tongue will speak fluently and clearly.” (Isa 32:2-4)
Therefore, we must assume that the Jesus’ co-rulers are being completely ignored in this prophecy. Instead, Isaiah is being inspired to write about congregation elders. This is the teaching we are told to accept by those claiming to be the faithful slave.
Right now in this time of worldwide distress, there is a need for “princes,” yes, elders who will “pay attention to . . . all the flock,” caring for Jehovah’s sheep and administering justice in harmony with Jehovah’s righteous principles. (Acts 20:28) Such “princes” must meet the qualifications set out in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9. (ip-1 chap. 25 p. 332 par. 6 The King and His Princes)
Additionally, since JW theology teaches that the anointed will leave earth and go to heaven and govern remotely from there, an additional role opens up for these elder-princes.
“Princes” who are of the other sheep are being trained as a developing “chieftain” class so that after the great tribulation, qualified ones from among them will be ready for appointment to serve in an administrative capacity in the “new earth.”
(ip-1 chap. 25 pp. 332-334 par. 8 The King and His Princes)
Since verse 1 says that the princes rule for justice, we must conclude that elders are to rule. If one rules, one is a governor, a leader, a ruler. This means that congregation elders are rulers or leaders. Yet Jesus tells us that we are to be called neither “Teacher” nor “Leader”. How can we weave that particular Bible truth into our web?
Of course, if we discard the teaching that 1914 is the start of Christ’s rule, then we can understand that the period Isaiah is pointing to must be the 1,000 reign of Christ when the princes that rule with him will actually rule as kings do. Additionally, for verses 2 thru 4 to apply, we would have to accept that these princes will have face-to-face contact with those they rule, just as the resurrected Jesus had physical contact with his disciples. Since the resurrection of millions of unrighteous will be a time of turmoil as these ones—many of whom will likely be resistant to the new arrangement—are integrated into a new society, there is ample reason to believe the words of the prophet will prove very true.
The Congregation Bible Study
We have been led to believe from this book and numerous references down through the years in the magazines that the 1919 convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, was the turning point at which the great campaign to preach to all the inhabited earth began. The release of the Golden Age was to be a major part of the preaching campaign to proclaim the Good News of the Christ to the entire inhabited earth. One might therefore assume that the central message of the Golden Age would be “The King and His Kingdom”. After all, that is what Rutherford was calling for all his followers to “Advertise! Advertise! Advertise!”
Here is a capture of the index from the first issue of the Golden Age. Looking at subsequent issues, one can see little change in content.
At a time when the phrase, “An honest day’s work for an honest dollar”, could be applied literally, a cost of 10 cents an issue was no giveaway. Had you lived then, and as true Christian preacher of the Good News, would you have felt you were making good use of your time in Christ’s service by trying to sell subscriptions to this magazine, given its contents?
Did sincere Christians really resist the idea that they should share in the ministry, as paragraph 16 alleges, or was their objection to sharing in Rutherford’s version of the ministry the real objection? Consider that this magazine’s title was based on the belief that the Golden Age was about to begin in 1925, that humanity was even then in the midst of the great tribulation which would culminate in Armageddon. Would you want to share in that ministry?
The publications paint a rosy picture of zealous preachers doing the Lord’s work, but the historical reality paints an entirely different landscape.
_______________________________________________________
[i] One might assume that at some point, it would become evident to the sincere Bible student when his belief is proven false. At such a point in time, continuing to teach it would qualify as “liking and carrying on a lie”. (Re 22:15) Nevertheless, God is the final judge.
[ii] For an analysis of this teaching, see Was 1914 the Start of Christ’s Presence?
Off topic, I was in service today with an elder.. I still go in service but I only preach about what I can defend( that isn’t much these days) we got into discussion and for some reason felt the need to divulge information about a scandal that occurred in the bethel Nigeria branch. It involved siphoning of funds from the orgs purse and diverting it to personal pursuits.. he claimed that over 65 percent of the bethel family had to be given the boot. We also had been expecting a broadcast from a Gb member last year but then a… Read more »
Great comments brothers. Thank you.
Last Sunday, I was conducting a bible study with my student. And you know what? We reached the Chapter when we had to take up 1914 as the start of the last days where Our Lord began ruling as King. I was in a bind. I told him to just read privately the Appendix where the bible chronology is presented. I did not care to even explain something that I myself, in my conscience, could not teach to this student without squirming. Now the next Chapter would be even more difficult because it would show the evidences we are in… Read more »
If you truly believe that the 1914 doctrine is false, then you have an obligation to your Bible student to share your findings with him. You could present both views, and let the student make up his own mind. But only presenting one view, the JW one, would amount to an endorsement of it. “The maxim is Qui tacet consentiret: the maxim of the law is “Silence gives consent””. – Sir Thomas More There are times that we can remain hidden, and times when we have to take a stand. Imagine if you were not to tell the Bible student… Read more »
Thanks Meleti for your suggestions. I will consider them, reflect again, and pray that the Spirit guides me when the time comes. 🙂
Mailman, in the end, the spirit will not make you do something. Acting is always a personal decision. How would you know if the spirit has not already “spoken” to you through the comments on this site for example? How would anyone in general see when the spirit has “spoken”? Saying that you need to wait until the spirit guides you, is a never ending wait in my view because when one is told to do something he does not like to do (or hear), that person will not follow that direction, even though that advice could have come from… Read more »
Thanks for your straight-forward comments bro. Menrov. Eventually, I will be able to present alternative explanations in a tactful manner. Meantime, it would be best to focus on parts of the book with scriptural basis where I am more comfortable to discuss with the guy. 🙂
I love the way you put this Menrov. I would say that the Spirit speaks when your inner thoughts and will lines up with God’s revealed will for you. Or -If our inner thoughts , motivations and intentions (the heart) matches up with the character of God as revealed through the Word -Jesus Christ. Another Example i think is when we speak God breathed words to each other . If we are sincere then we will obey nudges to speak God’s words to console a friend or serve others . When we learn the written word of God and we… Read more »
Hi Mailman, when I started to wake up to these matters, I did just what Meleti suggested. With my R.V’s I started to slowly introduce an alternative explanation as well as the JW view on matters . It was awkward, but my relationship with them in particular with one has become stronger because of it. The husband likes reading the magazines. But it’s amazing how it’s opened up into a more honest discussion. Even his Catholic wife, who’s not religious who now has more questions and loves hearing different explanations. The issue I have is finding them home 🙂 something’s… Read more »
Thanks Lazarus. I think offering alternative explanation sounds good. I am hoping a more honest discussion will ensue. After all, this is a bible study and the bible study aid should just be secondary. 🙂
@mailman. First of all, thank you for your honesty.
Perhaps it would be good to ask from yourself, what is your real aim of teaching your student. Is it to bring him/her to God, or to “God’s organization”, or still something else. If you can clearly answer that then what to tell to your student, which study materials to use or not to use and all that will follow naturally.
The first question would really need a deep reflection on my part. I really have to be discreet since the parents of this student are JWs in the province. 🙂
Matthew 13:44 Paragraph 20 God’s Kingdom Rules. The only comment on this scripture applied it to our making whatever sacrifices are needed to keep kingdom interests first in our life. Does this sound right to you ? Note “the field” in verse 44. The Greek uses the definite pronoun, “the”. now compare verse 38. The meaning should now hit you like a bolt of lightning. If it does not, then go back to the 1991 Greatest Man book. Chapter 43 has a clear explanation showing plainly the man is Jesus. Why is this publication not referred to on the On… Read more »
‘Right now in this time of worldwide distress’.. I have to be honest and find sentences like that (are regularly) in our publications super irritating. It paints a unnecessarily negative picture of a world that is gloomy and scary place to be in, so no wonder thats how I felt growing up in my teens! Maybe thats the reason why I get sudden anxiety and depressive moments from time to time. The world is a safer and healthier place to live now than ever before based on my research. For example I would never exchange my life with anyone living… Read more »
Howdy Candace. You sound fairly young..ie..in your 20’s and I’m sorry you are experiencing that kind of treatment. I’m a bit of a Social Science buff and I read a paper that said when blokes enter their 40’s they develop a “mentor” mentality. You realize the mistakes you made in your 20’s and 30’s and how quickly youth disappears and you start wanting to protect younger travellers from the pitfalls you encountered. That’s how I felt when I read your post. In the 1980’s I left school at 15 because the time was almost up. The Super Power rivalry between… Read more »
Good Advice Enoch. I can relate to your Gen X scene. I started to Study the Bible in Sydney in the 1980’s , I left my full time Job, joined the cleaning club, lol and started pioneering.
Well, if you were living in Sydney you were naturally looking for something better!! 🙂 🙂 You need Trams mate….lots of Trams! 🙂 Us Gen X’ers really got whipped up in the generation thing. I slept with an 1984 Awake under my pillow which had a clock on the front showing Three minutes to Midnight. If a brother decided to complete High School the congregation looked at him sideways. The one brother that did is now a CO!!! His father had the rare ability to encourage him to get a qualification. We were running around on 7 bucks per hour… Read more »
I was born and bred in Sydney. It was an interesting time for many of us. The Fear of the end created a sense of Urgency for sure. Sure, it would nice to talk, I’ll ask Meleti for your email. Talk soon.
Thanks a lot Enoch, your comments mean a lot to me. Its come just at the right time because like you say, its easy to be discouraged and lose faith in ‘all 3 columns’ which I was literally very tempted to do. If you know that you have given your very best and have been working like mad to make ends meet but then get told off for not being good enough, that is so discouraging. Its interesting reading about what you said of the ‘mentor mentality’. I would love to make as little bad choices in life as possible… Read more »
Howdy Candace. My apologies for the delay. I was on a quick 1000 mile Jaunt interstate so couldn’t respond to your post. My apologies. I meant “the Body of Elders” ..not the GB. Sorry if I confused you with my wording. 🙂 You are right about looking back. One illustration some of the brothers use is that of driving a car. Most of our focus is forward but we do need to make glances into our rear vision mirrors as we navigate. ( Some women I know can even do a full make over in the rear view mirror whilst… Read more »
Either higher education is bad or it is not. regardless where one follows such education. But such a decision is personal. And is it the education or the environment in which that education is followed? The WBTS wants / needs to control most of one’s life. If there were some JW’s who behaved badly (in the eyes of the WBTS) while following higher education, is that a reason to completely avoid higher education? And should every one now avoid JW’s because of the behavior of a few? Now let’s look at the scriptures. Are there example of good people in… Read more »
>>I hope the princes we get in the new world will be more kindly than that! They will be, because they will have been tested thoroughly as to fitness, as Jesus was. “. . .as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such hostile speech from sinners against their own interests, so that you may not get tired and give… Read more »
Meleti, Just on the Book Study, this might be of interest to some.i saw this point elsewhere brought out. Well, if you were reading para 17, with no access to these articles, you might well walk away with the impression that such was the zeal and attitude towards the preaching in the 1920’s. The quote in book study. March 15, 1926 Watchtower, “The faithful will be volunteers . . . to tell this message to the people.” Not the full quote. The full sentence reads. “The faithful will be volunteers in the day of God’s wrath to tell this message… Read more »
Last week, Meleti, you provided a powerful argument with the appointment of Timothy that there was no theocratic line of apostolic authority over the activities of Paul and Timothy in their missionary work. An even more dramatic example of the missing governing body is seen in the start of those missionary travels. Acts 13:1–3 (NWT Ref) states 13 Now in Antioch there were prophets and teachers in the local congregation, Barʹna·bas as well as Symʹe·on who was called Niʹger, and Lucius of Cy·reʹne, and Manʹa·en who was educated with Herod the district ruler, and Saul. 2 As they were publicly ministering… Read more »
Well said, Rufus, well said!
Thanks Meleti for the review, I agree, that the Princess would be those in the new covenant. As you mentioned Isaiah 32 verse 1 talks about princes bringing Justice. If one looks at the current record of Chikd Abusr Cases in Australia and globally, some of these crimes were committed by Eldrs. Also Elders for decades haven’t even reported These crimes to the police when brought to their attention. Fail to see how then vrs 2-4 can rightly be applied! It was a Interesting clam meeting tonight, especially if your a Prince. I read Isaiah 32 and had to take… Read more »
I think the answer to your question lies with the application given this verse by the Governing Body. They apply it to the elder arrangement, so anyone who doesn’t support the arrangement can be labelled an apostate and dealt with.
Yes exactly. There’s only a few references to this scripture in the WT Library, I think it’s a ref in 1984/85 and the Isaiah book commentary. So, it’s conveniently added into the Hebrew Text, were the Christ and Princess make a show. Thanks Meleti for your response.
If we accept the Watchtower’s interpretation that these verses apply to the elder arrangement, then we have woefully failed to fulfill them. We stand condemned by our own application of Scripture. “And each one will be like a hiding place from the wind, A place of concealment from the rainstorm, Like streams of water in a waterless land, Like the shadow of a massive crag in a parched land.” (Isa 32:2) Thousands of little ones have run to the elders to report abuses – and I’m not just limiting this to sexual abuse – and have found no concealment from… Read more »
The evidence has piled up and I’m sure has reached the Heavens.
Thank you Meleti. That princes thing is deep. So deep I am missing your point and I’ve been a witness since 1990. I get they are applying Isaiah to themselves, we do that a lot. It’s the 1914 thing and this being about the 1,000 year reign. Is there a way you can distill your thoughts down to a nutshell
The question is, what was Isaiah inspired to prophesy about? From verse one of chapter 32 it’s obvious he’s talking about the messianic kingdom. Under the old covenant, the Jews would have become the kingdom of priests. However, due to their unfaithfulness a new covenant was formed which extended the promise to Gentiles. So reading Isaiah’s prophecy with the benefit of Christian hindsight, we would naturally conclude that the princes he refers to in verse one would be the kings and priests that accompany Jesus in the kingdom of the heavens. If Isaiah were really inspired to talk about imperfect… Read more »