Friday, September 7, 2012

Christ's invisible return in 1914... Why is this an important teaching to Jehovah's Witnesses?

"Jehovah’s Witnesses have long recognized that this prophecy found its fulfillment with spirit-anointed Christians after the end of "the appointed times of the nations" ,the Gentile Times, in 1914." (Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand! page 164, 1988, "Then Is Finished the Mystery of God," pages 261-4, 1969.)





"The prophecies of 3 1/2 times mentioned at Daniel 7:25, 12:7 and Revelation 11:3 were recognized as parellel prophecies. The Watchtower focused on prophecies in Daniel, a book that twice mentions a period comparable to that mentioned later in Revelation—3 1/2 years, or 42 months (Revelation 11:2) The Watchtower of November 1, 1993, did offer a minor adjustment as to the dating of the modern fulfillment of Revelation 11:3... from December 1914 to June 1918."

 
"As to the ending, the magazine showed how the harassment of God’s anointed ones (Daniel 7:25) climaxed in June 1918 when J. F. Rutherford and other directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society were "sentenced on false charges to a long term in prison." That event certainly was "a finishing of the dashing of the power of the holy people," as noted at Daniel 12:7." (Watchtower 8/1/1994 p. 31)


"On arriving to inspect his slaves in 1918, therefore, whom did the Master, Jesus Christ, find giving to his body of attendants their measure of food supplies at the proper time? Well, by then, who had given sincere truth-seekers the correct understanding of the ransom sacrifice, the divine name, the invisibility of Christ’s presence, and the significance of 1914? ...
In 1918, when Jesus Christ inspected those claiming to be his slaves, he found an international group of Christians publishing Bible truths for use both inside the congregation and outside in the preaching work...The faithful slave and its Governing Body were in place, ready for a widened assignment. How glad we should be that this was so, for loyal Christians are richly benefiting from the devoted work of the faithful slave and its Governing Body!"
(Watchtower 3/15/1990 p. 14)

"For example, the Governing Body represents 'the faithful and discreet slave' and has special responsibility to oversee the teaching of the worldwide congregation. (Matthew 24:45)"-(Watchtower September 15th 1995 p.30)
 
"We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval." (Watchtower Jul 15,2011 p.24 Simplified English Edition)

Without this invisible return and invisible inspection, they have no basis for claiming to speak for God.

Up next: What does the Bible have to say about these statements?

"So it was in 1914 that Jesus returned invisibly, without public fanfare and with only his faithful servants being aware of his return." –Watchtower 1991 5/15 p.9

“Jesus Christ, came to inspect the spiritual temple in the spring of 1918.” -Watchtower 1993 5/1 p.15

See the page devoted to the 1914 teaching in their current Bible study book: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-teach/1914-a-significant-year-in-bible-prophecy/      
 
 
 

2 comments:

  1. Jehovahs Witnesses have taught as creed for over 90 years that Jesus had his 'invisible' second coming October 1914.
    I was born a 3rd generation Jehovah's Witness and we lived breathed and went door to door ad nauseam,declaring the imminent Armageddon and the only way to survive was to hurriedly convert to Jehovah's Witnesses.
    Apocalyptic hysteria feeds right into the false prophets which are the Watchtower cult leaders.
    Watchtower society plundered my assets including my financial assets the Watchtower is fabulously wealthy and they should pay back the monies that they fleeced from so many followers like me under false pretenses.
    -Danny Haszard
    FMI dannyhaszard(dot)com

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  2. Isn't it interesting that they didn't teach it until the mid 1940's when their third president took over?

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