A sister saw that the "Watchtower society" was an imposter and decided to sever ties.
When the elders learned of this, they discussed it with the sister during a shepherding call and tried to persuade her using scripture.
The Elders defended and emphasized the authority of the "Watchtower society" with the following scriptures
- "faithful and discreet slaves" in Mt 24:45-46
- "the disciples distributing to the crowds the bread that Jesus had broken" in Mt 14:16-20
- "the increasing light" in Pr 4:18
I am writing about the errors of the elders in their application of Scripture.
Who is the "faithful and discreet slave" of Matthew 24:45-46?
Mt 24:45-4645 "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. 47 Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings.
The elders' reasoning from Scripture are as follows.
Jesus puts a "faithful and discreet slave" in charge of all his belongings.
The slaves were the remnants of the "Watchtower society" who were appointed by Jesus in 1919.
Therefore, the "Watchtower society" is the vessel of the Lord's choice.
First, let us consider the intent of Jesus' question when he asked, "Who is a faithful and discreet slave?"
Is the question intended to indicate that one needs to identify a "faithful and discreet slave appointed by Jesus" to be saved?
Or is it to emphasize to the disciples that they are to be faithful and discreet to the end?
Let's look at the context before and after.
Mt 24:43-51
43 "But know one thing, that if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 On this account YOU too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming. 45 "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. 47 Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings. 48 "But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, 'My master is delaying,' 49 and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, 51 and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be.
Judging from the context, it is clear that the question is intended to encourage us to be faithful and discreet and ready until the end, that is, until Jesus returns.
The context here and many other scriptures do not emphasize identifying a true Christian congregation for salvation.
Because there is no need to do so.
The Christian congregation of the sons of the Kingdom is a congregation registered in heaven and does not exist on earth.
And it is said that wheat and weeds are indistinguishable.
When Jesus returns, the wheat is to be rewarded and the weeds are to be burned.
When Christ returns for judgment, it will be clear who the "faithful and discreet" genuine Christians are.
So Jesus' question, "Who is the faithful and discreet slave?" cannot be answered by us saying like, "It is I, or It is the Watchtower."
The answer is revealed by the reward each will receive when Christ returns.
When Christ returns, those who have been faithful, discreet, and ready will inherit the kingdom and take charge of all His belongings.
On the other hand, imposters who have been engaged in religious activities saying, "Lord, Lord," cannot receive the Kingdom.
Mt 7:21-23
21 "Not everyone saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?' 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.
Religious claims and appearances can deceive people, but they cannot deceive Christ.
Each Christian should be faithful and discreet and do God's will.
Mt 7:24-27
24 "Therefore everyone that hears these sayings of mine and does them will be likened to a discreet man, who built his house upon the rock-mass. 25 And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded upon the rock-mass. 26 Furthermore, everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and struck against that house and it caved in, and its collapse was great."
Lu 16:10
10 The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much.
Re 2:10
10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep on throwing some of YOU into prison that YOU may be fully put to the test, and that YOU may have tribulation ten days. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Each Christian is subordinate to Christ and is the steward of spiritual food.
Therefore, we are expected to do God's will faithfully and discreetly.
A "faithful and discreet slave" is neither a religious organization, nor a governing body.
1Co 4:1-2
Let a man so appraise us as being subordinates of Christ and stewards of sacred secrets of God. 2 Besides, in this case, what is looked for in stewards is for a man to be found faithful.
When Christ returns, each of the "faithfull and discreet stewards" will be king with Him and in charge of all His belongings.
1Pe 5:2-4
2 Shepherd the flock of God in YOUR care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; 3 neither as lording it over those who are God's inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief shepherd has been made manifest, YOU will receive the unfadable crown of glory.
Re 2:25-27
25 Just the same, hold fast what YOU have until I come. 26 And to him that conquers and observes my deeds down to the end I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he shall shepherd the people with an iron rod so that they will be broken to pieces like clay vessels, the same as I have received from my Father,
Re 22:12
12 "'Look! I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to render to each one as his work is.
Lu 19:15-19
15 "Eventually when he got back after having secured the kingly power, he commanded to be called to him these slaves to whom he had given the silver money, in order to ascertain what they had gained by business activity. 16 Then the first one presented himself, saying, 'Lord, your mi′na gained ten mi′nas.' 17 So he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because in a very small matter you have proved yourself faithful, hold authority over ten cities.' 18 Now the second came, saying, 'Your mi′na, Lord, made five mi′nas.' 19 He said to this one also, 'You, too, be in charge of five cities.'
Mt 25:19-23
19 "After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 So the one that had received five talents came forward and brought five additional talents, saying, 'Master, you committed five talents to me; see, I gained five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' 22 Next the one that had received the two talents came forward and said, 'Master, you committed to me two talents; see, I gained two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'
The baptized, each faithful and discreet Christian is ready to join Christ's kingdom and take charge of all Christ's belongings when the master, Christ, returns with his heavenly army.
The Watchtower Society's application of this scripture is charismatic self-recommendation.
They aske people, "Who is this 'faithful and discreet slave'? And then they answer, "It is us."
The deceived Jehovah's Witnesses aske people, "Who is this 'faithful and wise slave'? And then they answer, "It is our organization.
The basis for this claim is based on its own interpretation of prophecy that is "Appointed by Jesus in 1919. Therefore, the authority of the "Watchtower society" stands on their interpretation of prophecy.
Moreover, the original interpretation of the prophecy collapsed and had to be changed, making its fulfillment impossible.
The Watchtower Society's original Interpretation of Prophecy
1914Christ returns, believers are called to heaven, and Armageddon occurs on earth.
The outbreak of World War I in August of that very year raised expectations very high.
However, when Christ did not return in October, as previously announced, and no one was taken up to heaven, Russell was forced to reinterpret the prophecy.
Then he said. Christ, though invisible, has taken His throne in heaven, has returned, and His presence has begun. Armageddon will come in this generation."
The authority of the "Watchtower Society" is built on a dogmatic interpretation of prophecy concerning 1914.
Looking back at its prophetic interpretation, which is bankrupt, the bogus authority of the "Watchtower society" will collapse.
Many JWs believed that "Armageddon will come within a generation (80-100 years) from 1914."
This year, 2022, marks 108 years since 1914.
The Watchtower, as always, has versioned up its interpretation of the prophecy, but this time it is a more lousy interpretation. Rather than "increasing the light," it is a "stopgap measure" that makes the fulfillment of the prophecy more ambiguous.
The "Watchtower society" also self-recommends itself, claiming that "in the spring of 1919, three and a half years after the fall of 1914, when Jesus cleansed the temple, they were chosen from among the Christians of the world and appointed as 'faithful and discreet slaves'."
Nowadays, these self-assertions and self-recommendations are even comical.
It is no different from the story of Mormon church's Joseph Smith, who met an angel on the banks of the Susquehanna River in 1832 and received an appointment, or the story of the Unification Church's Moon Sun-myung receiving an appointment from the risen Jesus in 1935, or any other story of religious group receiving a revelation from heaven.
When God acts, it will be accompanied by signs that will be clearly visible to people around, such as at the baptism of Jesus or at the inauguration of a Christian congregation.
All religious organizations in existence today, including the Watchtower, are not accompanied by such proof from God. So, the credentials of religious organizations are nothing more than self-recommendations and self-assertions.
In the first century AD, Christian congregations were established with a powerful testimony from God, and the Word of God, the Bible was provided for the generations that followed, so that each person can know the truth by the Bible itself and live by it, not by religious organizations, and wait for the time when Christ returns for judgment.
All will know the truth when Christ returns.
1Co 4:5
5 Hence do not judge anything before the due time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring the secret things of darkness to light and make the counsels of the hearts manifest, and then each one will have his praise come to him from God.
Until the Lord returns, we will not be able to discern between true and fake Christians.
Since Christ has not yet returned with each one's reward, all His possessions have not yet been entrusted to anyone.
Each Christian should be faithful, discreet, and ready when Christ returns.
Jesus' question, "Who is a faithful and discreet slave?" is a question that encourages each Christian to be so.
It is not to identify "faithful and discreet slave" and follow their guidance, as the "Watchtower" teaches us .
Who are the "disciples who distributed bread to the crowds"
Next, let's consider the story of Jesus distributing bread to the crowds.Mt 14:16-20
16 However, Jesus said to them: "They do not have to leave: YOU give them something to eat." 17 They said to him: "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes." 18 He said: "BRING them here to me." 19 Next he commanded the crowds to recline on the grass and took the five loaves and two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, he said a blessing and, after breaking the loaves, he distributed them to the disciples, the disciples in turn to the crowds. 20 So all ate and were satisfied, and they took up the surplus of fragments, twelve baskets full.
It says that Jesus broke bread and distributed it to his disciples, who in turn distributed it to the crowds.
Who does "the disciples" represent?
Is it a religious organization?
Are they religious leaders of religious organizations?
Or are they individual Christians?
Did Jesus give the task of preaching and teaching only to a few Christians?
No, it is not.
The task of proclaiming and teaching is entrusted to all disciples of Christ.
Mt 28:18-20
18 And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: "All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in my name, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things."
Therefore, we cannot apply the "disciples" distributing to the crowds the bread they received from Jesus to any particular religious group or its leaders.
The application of the "Watchtower Society" elevates the organization and its governing body above other Christians as a religious teacher or leader, which is not in harmony with Christ's teaching that "you are all brothers."
Mt 23:8-10
8 But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. 9 Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. 10 Neither be called 'leaders,' for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ.
Jesus' disciples are not only the religious leaders of certain religious organizations like the Watchtower society.
Christians are a brotherhood united in faith in Christ without full-time teachers or full-time leaders.
Religious organizations and religious leaders who purport to represent Christ are, in the first place, phonies that are not in harmony with the Christian faith and are Satan's pyramid system to control believers.
On the "increasing light " in Pr 4:18
Pr 4:1818 But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.
Has the Watchtower's reinterpretation of the prophecy made it more clearly understandable, like "increasing light"?
Or is it an excuse to correct a discrepancy with reality?
Many failed interpretations tell us that it is mere human reasoning.
And the responsibility for misleading people with false interpretations is serious.
Lu 12:48
48 But the one that did not understand and so did things deserving of strokes will be beaten with few. Indeed, everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him; and the one whom people put in charge of much, they will demand more than usual of him.
Conclusion
Who is the "faithful and discreet slave?"Who are the "disciples who distributed the bread?"
Is it a religious organization or the governing body of a religious group?
Or is it what is expected of all Christ's disciples?
2Co 10:18
18 For not the one who recommends himself is approved, but the man whom the Lord recommends.
Mt 23:8-10
8 But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. 9 Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. 10 Neither be called 'leaders,' for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ.
1Co 4:1-2
1 Let a man so appraise us as being subordinates of Christ and stewards of sacred secrets of God. 2 Besides, in this case, what is looked for in stewards is for a man to be found faithful.
Does "increased light" mean a change in interpretation that does not fit reality?
Or is it to be able to see the whole picture more clearly and know what to do?
The "Watchtower Society" taught that the world would end at Armageddon in 1914, and since that did not happen, they changed the interpretation that the end times began in 1914 and the world would end at Armageddon within a generation from then.
One hundred years have passed since then, and now that one long-awaited generation is about to pass, Armageddon is not coming, so they have changed their interpretation of one generation.
Is this "increasing light"?
Or is it a change in interpretation that does not fit reality?
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