Congregation Book Study:
Chapter 5, par. 9-17
Theocratic Ministry School
Bible Reading: Exodus 7-10
I’m curious how the magic practicing priests were able to duplicate the first three plagues. Has anyone done any research on that they’d like to share?
No. 1 Exodus 9:20-35
No. 2 In What Manner Will Jesus Return, and How Will Every Eye See Him?—rs p. 342 par. 3-p. 342 par. 4-p. 343 par. 5
Yet another example how a doctrinal bias can color scriptural interpretation. Since we believe he “returned” in 1914, we claim Rev. 1:7 is figurative and that his return is invisible. Whether his return will be literally visible or not, is something we will have to wait to learn. We cannot discount it simply because we cannot see a way that it could be physically accomplished, notwithstanding the shallow reasoning put forth in the Reasoning book. (I can see one scientific way it could be accomplished and I’m just a good-for-nothing slave. What Christ will do will surely blow our mind.)
The trouble with a 1914 fulfillment are the words, “every eye will see him”. We say this was fulfilled because ‘they discerned from the events on the earth that he was invisibly present’. Right. I’m sure the New York Times printed special editions. “Christ returns! All the nations in panic!” The fact is, even the Bible Students didn’t discerned this so-called presence. They thought it had already happened, 40 years earlier. They didn’t start to claim 1914 as the start of his invisible presence until the late 1920s. And what about “the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief”. That is an inconvenient part of the puzzle, isn’t it? How does the Reasoning book deal with that? The way we always do when there is a part of Scripture the directly contradicts our teaching. We just ignore it, hoping that everyone else will not notice the lapse.
Jesus is to come with the clouds. Not hidden in them, but with them. Where are the clouds? High overhead were all can see. If there is a hot air balloon sailing with the clouds, do you see it? Of course. Jesus Christ’s imagery is self-explanatory. When he comes, all the nations will see him—whether it be literally or in the sense of perceiving his presence, the result will be the same. There will be no doubt to anyone on earth that he has returned, and the effect will be devastating on for all those who opposed him.
No. 3 Abishai—Be Loyal and Ready to Help Your Brothers—it-1 p. 26
One just has to admire the kind of loyalty for God’s anointed one that Abishai demonstrates. David represents Jesus in Scripture, so if we were to apply this, then we would wish that all of us would show the type of zealous, unwavering loyalty for our King as Abishai showed for his. Since the talk theme speaks of being ready to help our brothers, we could extend the application of “loyalty to God’s anointed” to our brothers, since all our brothers and sisters are anointed by holy spirit. Of course, that wouldn’t imply the loyalty due a King, since that level of loyalty implies obedience and Jehovah stopped anointing human kings a long time ago. Even then, obedience was still subjective, since the higher loyalty was to God. However, with Jesus, there is no need for giving him relative obedience, since unlike men, he truly is God’s channel for communicating with humans.
Therefore, we should strive to imitate Abishai’s zeal and energy in serving our king today. Of course, his self-restraint and wisdom were not always what they should have been, so we can also learn from his mistakes as well.
Service Meeting
10 min: Offer the Magazines During April
I confess that I haven’t prepared for meetings for decades. Since I was a boy, I would pass the time at them dreaming of other things. Now that I’m preparing these reviews every week, I’ve come to realize just how much emphasis we put on placing literature and how very little on actually preaching God’s word. I fear that we have come to be so identified with the magazines, that the message from God’s word has been lost. If we went to the door only with the Bible and only used literature as teaching aids when there was the opportunity for a Bible study, might we not accomplish more?
10 min: Do Not Forget Hospitality
10 min: How Did We Do?
Yet again, another part on overcoming objections, though now we use the euphemism “conversation stoppers”. This is, of course, misleading because it assumes we are engaged in a conversation at the time, which is often not the case. The problem with this is that is highlights the salesmanship nature of our door-to-door ministry. Someone will come to the Christ and God because they are called, not because we are effective salesmen.
10:15 They [the locusts] covered the surface of the entire land, and the land grew dark with them; they devoured all the vegetation of the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left; nothing green was left on the trees or on the vegetation of the field in all the land of Egypt.
Bro charles lokulenge emma…..You say you have a question about page 26 from the Volume 1 Insight Into the Scriptures. There are six different entries on that page, which one are you asking about? Can you provide more detail as to what help you need?
When reviewing the magazines during the TMS I really enjoyed the article about Thomas Emlyn at the back of the April 2014 WT. I think many people here might liken their situation to his in that he was aware of teachings that conflicted with the Bible. At the end of the article it says this, which undoubtedly is meaningful to all that contribute here: ————————————————————— WHAT CAN WE LEARN? Many today back off from taking a stand for what the Scriptures teach. But Emlyn was willing to stand up for Bible truth. He raised the question, “If a man may… Read more »
Hi everyone I was wondering the same about the practising people in Egypt. When I got to the part about the boils, I then wondered about them again (being that the boils stopped them from performing such acts of repetition), and I got wondering if their acts had been permitted by Jehovah. I base this on His rightful thoughts, feelings and regard for those practising in magic. I get the feeling that there is an underlining lesson which Jehovah is teaching throughout the various occurrences that will happen to Pharoah. In permitting certain acts, just as we get the option… Read more »
Hi again – I just simply celebrated when the boils came. Now just a thought has occurred to me – that Jehovah was very rightly stopping something before it got out of hand with the practisers of magic. I thought it quite cool that they got the boils and that put an end to that one.
JaeDub, Not all of us have the same opportunity for education. Some don’t have quite the typing skills they wish they had. Not everyone is a good speller. Not everyone expresses themselves well. My point is that the words we see on here don’t show what a person’s heart looks like. Or how intelligent a person is. Or how kind and loving they might be. They are merely words on a screen. We each have gifts and talents that have nothing to do with education, typing skills, spelling skills or any other arbitrary measure of a person’s worth. We are… Read more »
JaeDub-
If your comment is actually a question, you will find the answer here.
If it is just a commentary, you need to work on several issues, not the least of which are accuracy and humility.
If you want to make a positive contribution, learn to write well. It is part of our preaching commission.
JaeDub,
I’m not sure who this comment is directed at, but it is important for us to keep our tone pleasant and upbuilding. There are times for stronger language, it is true, so we’re not laying down a rule. Just a cautionary note so that all feel free to express themselves.
HAPPY are those conscious of there spiritual food, who is the faithful and discreet slave appointed to serve FOOD at the proper time
Daytona-
I might have taken you to task for such sarcasm and bitterness – but I can’t.
Having conducted the “Bible Study” material this week on the marvels of creation and Jehovah’s great power and wisdom, I too am embarrassed at this 3rd grade science lesson, so lacking in the level of appreciation that deeper knowledge (like high school level science) might give us.
Even the Job chapters were a mere gloss over. I called on the congregation third-graders to explain it. They did just fine.
–Sad elder
Sad elder, Jehovah’s Witnesses are a good people, God loving people. Today they suffer more than times past because the mistakes made by former leaders have come to roost. The present situation in the congregation is similar to Jesus’ day where he could see the sheep mistreated by leaders he called whitewashed graves and hypocrites. What is interesting is that at one point he said with reference to the religious leaders; do as they say but not as they do. In the Synagogues God’s word was being taught and this was good but the overbearing weights put upon the people… Read more »
“I confess that I haven’t prepared for meetings for decades. Since I was a boy, I would pass the time at them dreaming of other things.” Meleti…..I am shocked! Just SHOCKED!!! Since you are confessing, I’ll admit that I hardly ever prepared either. I very seldom heard anyone put an answer to the Watchtower questions in their own words. Maybe reword it a bit. We were spoon fed, an open book test. Since we had a much smaller group at the weekly book study, I always felt compelled to answer, when the poor brother would ask a question…and NOBODY raised… Read more »
It’s hard to study in advance for the meetings. There’s just so many times you can tolerate straw and, not being ruminants, bringing it up a second time after the first sitting at home is well…unpalatable. 🙂 The Governing Body seems to think none of us passed the third grade perhaps that’s because they’ve been kept back themselves for so long. They are spiritual third graders teaching almost 8 million people the wonders of spiritual retardation. The Kingdom Hall has become a fast food restaurant. The food served is quick and easy but if that’s all we eat our spiritual… Read more »
Gdorning, brother’s n sister in organzation of of jehovah,may u assist me with the idea found in the insight -1 page 26.
Meleti,
“When he comes, all the nations will see him—whether it be literally or in the sense of perceiving his presence, the result will be the same. There will be no doubt to anyone on earth that he has returned, and the effect will be devastating on for all those who opposed him.”
Do you believe you will see Christ when he returns?
Daytona
Isn’t that implied by the excerpt you quoted?
I should have put it more directly. I was actually asking do you believe you will see Jesus when he returns with your own eyes? I do.
My personal belief is that the fulfillment of “every eye will see him” is literal in the sense that there will be visible manifestations of his presence, things which are undeniable to the world at large.
The magic practicing priests could not fight against the plagues, they could only duplicate a few of them.
It appears that Jehovah allowed this. It is a good lesson for all of us: just because a false prophet gives a sign we should not believe him.
Satan is quite powerful. God allowed his ministers to do their thing, so to speak, because it suited God’s purposes.
Daytona.
Good Comment
The underlying truth is that even first century Christians were vulnerable to Satan’s intrusive efforts, and that despite being the only inspired source we have as a reference point today. Unfortunately, because we (JW’s) built our religion with such solid, impervious walls, it has become an even greater invitation for the devil’s penetrating influence.
It’s why I say again and again, our religion can only be as strong and true as we have personally built, which was the whole point of Jesus parable of Matthew 7:24-27.
“I’m curious how the magic practicing priests were able to duplicate the first three plagues. Has anyone done any research on that they’d like to share?”
Meleti, I believe this belongs under the Bible Reading section.
Quite right. I just corrected it. Thank you.
Assuming that Satan is not able to pass on the life force, with the application of energy available to him, he may have been able to alter the composition of the rods so as to make them pliable like the body of a snake and invisibly move them in a manner resembling a snake. (A human can apply energy to a stick, via a whittling knife, and produce an object resembling a snake. I take it an angel can apply energy in a much more sophisticated manner.)
Needless to say, the account leaves out a lot of detail.
Demons have materialized in human body form ( Genesis 6:2)and inhabited the bodies of others.( demon possession Matt 8:31 ) Acts 8:9 “A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” Reve 13:14 “And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great… Read more »
Matthew 23:29 “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'” Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. The society is saying that this prophecy will not come true in effect. How can the… Read more »
“And what about “the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief”. That is an inconvenient part of the puzzle, isn’t it? How does the Reasoning book deal with that? The way we always do when there is a part of Scripture the directly contradicts our teaching. We just ignore it, hoping that everyone else will not notice the lapse.” “During the great tribulation, after all organized false religion has been destroyed, former adherents will run for cover but will find no secure place to hide. (Luke 23:30; Rev. 6:15-17) Then, realizing that there is no escape from destruction,… Read more »
I have trouble understanding why we still continue to teach the Organization’s previous interpretations during our midweek meetings.
Well according to Paragraph 7 of last week’s WT, we do still continue to teach our previous interpretations! It’s the rest of the world that isn’t ‘getting it!’:
“With so much evidence that God’s Kingdom is already established in heaven, why do the majority of people not accept what this means? Why are they not able to connect the dots, so to speak, between the state of the world and specific Bible prophecies that God’s people have long been publicizing? Could it be that most people are focusing attention on just what they can see with their eyes?”
The Society’s reasoning is centuries late. They are saying that people should have started repenting after the Kingdom was established. That much is correct. But they are saying it was established in 1914. Paul, on the other hand, saw the need for all of mankind to repent starting from the time Jesus was resurrected. 1914 is just another date that has passed while we await the “day on which [God] purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness.” (Acts 17:30, 31) . . .True, God has overlooked the times of such ignorance; but now he is declaring to all people everywhere that… Read more »