Covering Chapter 6 Paragraphs 1-7 of God’s Kingdom Rules
Every so often a claim is made in a publication that is so ridiculous, so obviously false, that one has to bite one’s own tongue at the meeting to stop from standing up and shouting, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”
Such is the claim made in paragraph 2 of this week’s Bible study.
After he became King in 1914, Jesus was ready to fulfill a prophecy he had made some 1,900 years earlier. Shortly before he died, Jesus foretold: “This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth.”
Jesus waited 1,900 years to fulfill Matthew 24:14? What about this fulfillment?
Indeed, you who were once alienated and enemies because your minds were on the works that were wicked, 22 he has now reconciled by means of that one’s fleshly body through his death, in order to present you holy and unblemished and open to no accusation before him— 23 provided, of course, that you continue in the faith, established on the foundation and steadfast, not being shifted away from the hope of that good news that you heard and that was preached in all creation under heaven. Of this good news I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:21-23)
What do they imagine Christians have been doing for the past 19 centuries? How did 2.2 billion Christians come into existence on the earth today? Are we to assume that these are totally unaware of the Good News of the Kingdom? The publications would have us believe that only Witnesses understand the Good News, while all other Christian religions fail to capture the truth that it constitutes a real government. The publications have long implied that Christendom views the kingdom as a mere condition of the heart.[ii]
Do a simple internet search for yourself—it will only take a few minutes—and you will see that this statement is totally false. Most Christian religions understand the Kingdom of God to be a real government which will rule over the earth. They may vary as to their understanding of it, but given that we preach a false understanding of the Other Sheep, we can hardly point fingers at the rest.
Additionally, we seem to be suffering from delusions of grandeur when stating that Jesus is only using the eight million Witnesses on earth today to fulfill Matthew 24:14. If Jesus' work is restricted to the work of JW.org, then it would seem we have a long wait ahead of us before we can say that the Good News has been preached in all the inhabited earth. Are Jehovah's Witnesses preaching to the 1.6 billion Muslims on earth today? Are the 1.3 billion Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Zoroastrians, and others in India learning about the Good News from the 40,000 Witnesses in the country? Does the 1 to 185,000 publisher-to-population ratio in Pakistan indicate the Good News is being preached by Jehovah's Witnesses there?
Some years ago I went to see and hear Handel’s Messiah. When I read the program I was surprised to see that all the song lyrics are taken directly from the Bible. Handel had the entire kingdom theme worked out chronologically in verse and song. It is a remarkable experience, especially when the Hallelujah chorus rings out and the whole audience stands. This tradition dates back to the time when King George II stood at hearing this chorus. If the King stands, everyone stands. The tradition persists and it is widely viewed as an act of recognition that even the King stands to honor the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.[i] It is hardly the act of someone who views the Kingdom of God as an abstract idea, a condition of the heart.
Since Witnesses are preaching their version of the Good News in places where it has already been preached for centuries by other Christian denominations, there are simply no grounds for believing that only by means of the Organization is Jesus able to fulfill the prophecy of Matthew 24:14.
It is nearly impossible not to be facetious in the face of such a false and patently self-serving teaching.
Why would the Organization make such an outrageous claim? The reason comes in the next sentence.
The fulfillment of those words would be part of the sign of his presence in Kingdom power. – par. 2
If the good news has been preached since Jesus’ day, it can hardly serve as a sign of a presence we are taught began in 1914. The belief in the 1914 invisible start of Christ's Kingdom rule requires us to find signs. Like the Pharisees and Jewish leaders of old, Witness leadership is always looking for a sign. (Mt 12:39; 1Co 1:22) To Witnesses, their preaching work constitutes such a sign. Only Jehovah's Witnesses are preaching the good news in all the inhabited earth, and that when that preaching finishes, there will be a message of judgment, and then the end will come. In other words, the coming of God's Kingdom depends, in no small measure, on the preaching work of Jehovah's Witnesses.
However, none of the elements Jesus describes from Matthew 24:4 through to verse 28 are signs of his presence. Only verses 29 thru 31 represent those. In fact, with the exception of those verses dealing with the destruction of Jerusalem, all the so-called signs are really anti-signs. That is, Jesus is warning us not to be misled by false signs.
Paragraph 5 applies Psalm 110:1-3 to our day from 1914 forward; but really, the people who were offering themselves willingly in the service of King Jesus came forward in his day, and have been coming forward ever since. The historical evidence for this is abundant. To claim that this willingness only manifested itself since 1914 is to ignore mountains of proof available to anyone with a laptop and the willingness to use it.
Paragraph 7 makes the false claim that Jesus did an inspection and cleansing of the Bible Students from 1914 to 1919. It then makes the equally false claim that he appointed his faithful and discreet slave in 1919. If you disagree, then please use the comment section following this article to present the Scriptural and empirical proof to back up such claims. The publication we are studying certainly hasn’t bothered to do so.
___________________________________________________________
[i] Why people stand at the Hallelujah Chorus.
[ii] Antichrists have become particularly active during “the last days,” the time in which we now live. (2 Timothy 3:1) A key objective of these modern-day deceivers is to mislead people in regard to Jesus’ role as King of God’s Kingdom, a heavenly government that will soon rule over the entire earth.—Daniel 7:13, 14; Revelation 11:15.
For example, some religious leaders preach that God’s Kingdom is a condition in the heart of men, a view that finds no basis in the Scriptures.
(w06 12/1 p. 6 Antichrists Reject God’s Kingdom)
Consider also the distortion of the meaning of the word “kingdom.” The book The Kingdom of God in 20th-Century Interpretation states: “Origen [a third-century theologian] marks the change in Christian usage of ‘kingdom’ to the interior meaning of the rule of God in the heart.” On what did Origen base his teaching? Not on the Scriptures, but on “the framework of a philosophy and world view quite different from the thought world of Jesus and the earliest church.” In his work De Civitate Dei (The City of God), Augustine of Hippo (354-430 C.E.) stated that the church itself is the Kingdom of God. Such unscriptural thinking gave the churches of Christendom theological grounds to embrace political power.
(w05 1/15 pp. 18-19 par. 14 Foregleams of God’s Kingdom Become a Reality)
Rather than being an abstract condition of the heart, God’s Kingdom is a real government that has accomplished wonderful deeds since its inauguration in heaven in 1914.
(w04 8/1 p. 5 God’s Kingdom Government—A Reality Today)
Archived Comments
We have moved to the Disqus commenting system. To post a new comment, go to the bottom of this page.
Comment by Mike West on 2016-12-26 19:30:50
Meleti, I highly doubt you will find anyone able to present scriptural proof of the WT's 1919 claim. Sadly, the WT leadership- when presented with evidence contrary to their dogma- simply reacts the same way the Pharisees did toward Jesus. Heresy, apostasy, etc. ad nauseum, and no reasoning from the scriptures, just angry rhetoric. Thank you for yet another timely review that truly helps so many of our honest-hearted (to use a WT term) Christian brothers and sisters.
Comment by Colette on 2016-12-27 03:43:31
As for the claim that JW's are the only one's doing the preaching work: It would be extremely unjust of our Heavenly Father to judge mankind to eternal destruction based on the way that the JW's do the preaching work. In all the congregations I was in in our country, the preaching was done not to help people, but to count time.
So the publishers would drag their feet from house to house, going out at times when most are not at home, and stop at any tree to chat. And then console themselves with the fact that their being out is a witness in itself. But in general the publishers didn't want to do business territory, which is highly productive. And the new way of streetwork with trolleys is even more of a cop-out.
How presumptuous to think that their preaching work is the only channel by which mankind can gain life, and then to not even take it seriously!
Comment by Amitafal on 2016-12-27 09:59:08
Well done again Meleti- I always try to Prestudy first and then read your review. I came to similar conclusions in Para 2 about 1914. As for Matthew 24 I am starting to understand those verses as back in Jesus' day and the destruction of Jerusalem. As you said vs 29-31 applies to his presence. Vs 21-22 reassure that there won't be such a disastrous Tribulation as the Organisation likes to portray. "Fear-monguering" , my husband would say. As for Para 7 if there was an inspection from 1914-1919 then why did the Bible Students /JWs still celebrate Christmas and use the Cross as part of their worship until 1927/28.
I too would bite my lip instead of standing up and shouting with you - "REALLY"??!!
Comment by lazarus on 2016-12-27 15:21:58
Yes Meleti, paragraph 2, eye opening claims. They have no filter in what they write. I was hoping the yearbook for 2017 was available as promised it would be in October to check the figures. Normally there's about 30-40 countries under ban. With approximately 30 to 40k of witnesses to a population of about 2 billion Muslim and communistic governments and people. So at least a quarter of the world receive little from the witnesses in these countries. You touched on that as well, it's something to think about.
I did read online the President of Syria did spend Xmas with a ancient Orthodox Church in his Country. Not a KH.
A Elder of 4 decades experience, confided in me, that he can't prove the 1919 appt. of the GB as the F&D slave.
As the Jw.org teach that the assets, dispensing of spiritual instruction and the responsibility to preach the Good News in 1919 has been granted to them, then who changed the direction of the message? First from the 1870's, I'm guessing it was to gather ones to be Sons and daughters of the Kingdom and the End of the world in 1914. Didn't happen. But that message did change to gathering a great crowd ( who would live on Earth, they were initially called the Jehonadabs) after 1935, and in 1935 the door to be a son was shut, so no more proclaiming that message. Now this kingdom would come in the generation of ones that witnessed the events of 1914. The Years the 'end of the world' would come , according to the calculations was 1975, possibly any time in the 1990's.
Although they plead denial this was written, however it was implied many times in the Kingdom Message. Didn't happen either, were still here.
Then in a dramatic change in the GB announced in the year 2006/7 the door was re-opened to heavenly life. If anyone claimed to be anointed from 1935-2006 , I'm sure they were viewed with suspicion.
And those from 2006 , if you claim this status of being a anointed one, be prepared to be labelled as mentally unstable. And I'm sure the watchtower has stated a anointed one, should not express his hope to anyone. Is that right. Sad really. A gag order from your brothers dear fellow anointed ones.
Where's the love from this GB to their fellow anointed ones.
The kingdom message still remains the same despite this admission, that from 1935, that is, you can live forever on a paradise earth. Yes, that's the message the brothers preach , as one of the main aspects of the kingdom, not you can live forever as a son of god but as a friend of God.
The earthly Charriot is running its own race even more so since 1919.
The Good News is our Lord is still working, gathering ones even within the Jw.org.
Hope I didn't go to off topic.
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2016-12-28 08:33:19
So many points, Meliti It was impossible to comment at the meeting without getting into trouble. And I had not read your review at that time.
Comment by Christian on 2016-12-28 18:22:11
It would seem too obvious a thing to say, but I'll say it anyway, that all of our problems as a religion come as a result of our insistence that we alone are God's people to-day and have been since 1919. As a result of that thinking, then the heirarchy are really free (so they think) to more or less do what they like - without question. Like many on this site it has taken me quite some years to come to understand the true nature of the situation.
I'm in my 70s now and have had a life-time of activity around the World. I stopped associating about 15 years ago as I was unable to reconcile the unloving practice of wholesale disfellowshippping and attendant shunning of weak members who had erred and also could never acccept the belief of the Kingdom slipping in by a back alley and up a fire-escape in the dead of night, like a sneak-thief in 1914.
However, after some years of endeavoring to stay close to Jah during the period I was weaned back some years ago, by well meaning friends, to re-engage. Well I associate, to a degree (I am now terminally ill so am bed bound much of the time) but I have found a number of spiritually minded friends who visit and freely discuss God's Word. The Elders seem to be invisible mostly.
So my conclusion on all this is this: There are many Christian people on Earth to-day. After all there are about 44,000 Christian religions extant. It is good for us to have Christian association, but for me, I felt that knocking on the many religious doors available would only lead me to more of the same. God has no need of religion or any organization apart from his Kingdom Government. Christ and the holy Angels are engaging, as we speak, in the separating work. But that is a non-denominational activity based soley on our true heart condition. How much we know is irrelevent, how 'right' we are is not the point. What is at issue is - How much we Love. I am closer to my dear Father now, than I have ever been in my entire life and encourage all to reach out, forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to things ahead, pressing forward to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus. Phil.3:13,14.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2017-01-04 10:12:08
I would agree with you wholeheartedly, Christian. Love is what is needed and what God is looking for. The only qualifier I would add to what you've written is that this love must also embrace a love for truth. This is different from the JW view that one must have the truth to be saved. Salvation doesn't come from having the truth, but from loving it. Since, even by JW theology, no one has the whole truth, their view requires us to accept salvation on some sort of measurement scale. If I have 59% of the truth, am I lost? If I cross some invisible line and have, say, 60% of the truth, I'm saved. There are truths clearly stated in the Bible that are incontestable, but there are many things we cannot know. Many things we are not yet permitted to know. But love of truth is about having the proper attitude. Those who do not have this love will manifest themselves in times of testing.
“. . .those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved.” (2Th 2:10)
It is remarkable how often I find that my JW brothers and sisters, who take such pride in proclaiming to the world that the "have the truth" and are "in the truth", will reject the truth when it is presented to them. In fact, most will not even allow themselves to view the evidence, but will shut their ears and their hearts to it.
Reply by THE DRIFTER on 2016-12-28 20:01:16
Hello Christian, ...enjoyed your post!
Lots of similar feelings especially about us being the "only" ones.
I've turned it around, ...every chance I get I announce to the car group, at get-to-gethers, how sad it is that this/these people/person will be destroyed.
Rescue workers, ER Doctors, groups that feed the homeless, hospice workers, etc, ...etc, ... etc, ... you get the point.
When my friends pushback on that statement I send them my research containing several Watchtower Library references on the subject, "Who will be destroyed"
Select all, ... copy, ...paste to message/email.
The info helps them to understand what they believe and what they are publicly saying. Mentioning the fireballs always raises an eyebrow or two as well.
Would be funny if it weren't so sad...
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-12-28 23:11:39
Well said, Christian!
Reply by Colette on 2016-12-29 02:03:30
Hello Christian, Good point about the problem thinking that the JW's are the only true religion. It also leads people to think that their conduct doesn't really matter, as long as they remain part of the 'truth', as this will bring salvation by default.
The parable of the wheat and weeds at Matthew 13 shows that there would be wheat like christians amongst the weed, and they will only be separated by the angels right at the conclusion of the system (not in 1919 as the WT arrogantly asserts). This supports the fact that there are true Christians in every organization even as we see in congregations of JW's today too, although they are outnumbered by weeds.
I read a book by Richard Wurmbrand, entitled God's underground. He was a Lutheran minister in Romania. He endured inhuman conditions for many years in communist jails because he would not compromise his faith. When he was released, he prayed that God would let him go back to jail so that he could carry on his ministry there. And he did get sent back and rejected an opportunity for freedom. When he was eventually released to the West, he started a whole movement to support underground churches in China and Russia. Yes he believed in the trinity. But would God have rejected his worship?
What about the 40 Christians who were beheaded by Isis for not renouncing their faith in Jesus? Does our loving Father reject their worship just because they have a few things wrong too, but they are willing to sacrifice their lives for their faith? I think not! It is extremely presumptuous and unscriptural to judge and condemn all these ones to eternal destruction because they are not part of the JW religion when Jesus warned us to not judge the house servant of another.
Reply by amoreomeara on 2016-12-29 05:07:05
Hi Christian,
I totally agree! I think it is 'yeast of the Pharisees' that can make people from all religions feel that they alone have 'accurate truth'.
It does remind me of Jesus' counsel at Matt 7:4 "How can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the straw from your eye,’ when look! a rafter is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the straw from your brother’s eye."
Thanks for another great article Meleti! :-)
Reply by Andrew on 2016-12-29 13:02:14
Christian:
"How much we know is irrelevent, how ‘right’ we are is not the point. What is at issue is – How much we Love."
What a beautiful sentiment. Thank you.
Andrew
Comment by 2017, October 9 – October 15, Our Christian Life and Ministry | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2017-10-09 21:57:35
[…] likely they were referring to the signs contained in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. This subject has been discussed many times on this site. Suffice to say that Matthew 24:23 warns us, “Then if anyone says to you, […]