16. Who today are represented by (a) Jerusalem's citizens (b) "The Assyrian" (c) the seven shepherds and eight dukes?
16 The prophecy about seven shepherds and eight dukes has its major fulfillment in our day. The citizens of ancient Jerusalem were attacked by the Assyrians. In the near future, Jehovah's apparently vulnerable people will come under attack from the modern-day "Assyrian," whose intent will be to wipe them out. The Scriptures refer to that attack as well as the attack of 'Gog of Magog,' the attack of "the king of the north," and the attack of "the kings of the earth." (Ezek. 38:2, 10-13; Dan. 11:40, 44, 45; Rev. 17:14; 19:19) Do these represent separate attacks? Not necessarily. The Bible could be referring to the same attack under different names. What 'secret weapon' does Micah's prophecy indicate Jehovah would raise up against that implacable foe-"the Assyrian"? A very unlikely one-"seven shepherds, yes, eight dukes"! (Mic. 5:5) The shepherds and dukes (or, "princes," NEB) in this implausible army are the congregation elders. (1 Pet. 5:2) Today, Jehovah certainly has provided an abundance of spiritual men to shepherd his precious sheep, to strengthen his people for the future attack of the modern-day "Assyrian." Micah's prophecy states that they will "shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword." (Mic. 5:6) Yes, among "the weapons of their warfare," you will find "the sword of the spirit," God's Word.? -2Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:17.
17. What four conclusions can the elders draw from the account we have considered?
17 Elders who are reading this article can draw some useful conclusions from the account we have just considered: (1) The most practical step that we can take to prepare for the coming attack of "the Assyrian"is that of strengthening our faith in God and helping our brothers to do the same. (2) When "the Assyrian" attacks, the elders must be absolutely convinced that Jehovah will deliver us. (3) At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah's organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint.
All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. (4) Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith.
As can be seen from the article above, the Watchtower Society equates the Governing Body with God and Christ and claims enormous power.
The attribution of godlike, absolute rights to a mere person or group of people is a hallmark of dictatorial rule.
In the past, Japan regarded the Emperor as a god, and independence from the Emperor's authority meant execution. Similar concentrations of state power have occurred in Germany, the Soviet Union, North Korea, China, Cambodia, and other countries.
The concentration of religious power is not unique to the Watchtower Society, but is common in any religious organization, starting from the Catholic Church.
God and Christ do not give absolute authority to their earthly spokespeople.
If a prophet acts prematurely or exceeds his role, he will be punished. It is the same as disobedience to God.
The Watchtower's fallacy: "The spirit of independence is evil"
A fallacy is an argument that makes something false seem true.If you replace independence with self-reliance or autonomy, you can see how extreme the Watchtower teachings are.
Should we continue to depend on others physically and spiritually?
Is such a person an adult?
Isn't that a characteristic of young children?
What is the motive behind demonizing the spirit of independence?
Isn't that for control?
Is there any justification for rejecting differing opinions on points other than those established by the Bible?
The truth is the truth, no matter who tells it.
The point is, we follow the truth, not the one who conveys it.
So, are all the teachings of the Watchtower Society true?
- Was 1914 the year Christ was enthroned in heaven and His invisible presence began?
- Will Armageddon come within a generation of 1914?
- Did Jesus choose the Watchtower Society to be the faithful and discreet slave in 1919?
- Many people around the world became JWs because of the teaching that 1975 could mark the end of 6,000 years of human history and the beginning of Christ's 1,000-year reign. Since then, for 50 years, until 2025, we have being told every year that the end is just around the corner, can you still claim the Watchtower's interpretation comes from God?
- Are the "other sheep" of John 10:16 a prophecy about an earthly class that would appear 2,000 years after it was spoken?
- Was the heavenly calling completed in 1935?
- Does God really direct the JW Governing Body?
I believe that there are many JWs who inwardly have different opinions and interpretations of the Bible than the Watchtower Society regarding these doctrinal teachings.
Even the Watchtower Society has changed its interpretation many times.
What does that tell us?
It reveals us "the Watchtower Society is also searching for the truth, and also it neither has received any revelation of the truth nor knows all the truth".
There is no basis for treating the Watchtower society as sacred or absolute.
However, the Watchtower Society equates Bible truth with the "Watchtower Society" and forces people to follow its organization.
That is the characteristic of the man of lawlessness.
2Th 2:3-4
3 Let no one seduce YOU in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He is set in opposition and lifts himself up over everyone who is called "god" or an object of reverence, so that he sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god.
One way they strengthen their authority as God's spokespersons is by claiming that an independent spirit belittling their god-given authority is the root of all evil.
Independence from truth and independence from human speculation are fundamentally different.
It is not possible to be independent of truth. It is impossible to continue living without truth.
However, independence from human speculation is liberation from falsehood and the first step to knowing the truth.
Therefore, each person should not give up the freedom to think for themselves about the ins and outs, ups and downs, lefts and rights, and essence of things.
Does it matter from whom you learned the truth?
Can we argue that we should follow the Watchtower because we learned the truth through its preaching activities?You can't.
The truth is what matters, not the channel through which the truth is conveyed.
Neither the study conductor nor the elders, nor the Watchtower Society are important.
What matters is the truth in the Bible itself and God who made that understanding possible.
Our faith is in God and His truth, not in people or organizations.
1Co 3:6-7
6 I planted, A‧pol′los watered, but God kept making [it] grow; 7 so that neither is he that plants anything nor is he that waters, but God who makes [it] grow.
Financial independence
Does the Bible encourage relying or depending on others for material things?The Bible does not encourage you to live off your parents.
We should become financially independent and be able to help others materially also.
It is biblically unthinkable for a Christian to do the ministry receiving a living allowance from an organization.
Special pioneers, traveling overseers, and branch office workers depend entirely on the Watchtower Printing Company for their livelihood.
Therefore, they have no choice but to maintain that position and do not want to lose that privilege.
So this privileged class clings to their vested privileges, becomes Pharisees who do the bidding of the Watchtower Printing Company, and takes part in biased judgments in the name of the Society's decision-first-ism.
So, special pioneers, traveling overseers, and Bethel workers of the Watchtower Society (printing company) all do not qualify as Christian ministers. These people are unbiblical hired workers whose livelihood depends on the Watchtower Society (an international printing company).
The obligation of tithes to support the priests and Levites under the Law covenant ended with the beginning of Christianity.
Those who bring an abandoned system back into Christianity are straying from true Christianity.
Christianity is not a state like system, but a brotherhood of individuals, nothing to do with such system to produce representatives receiving benefit from the hierarchical system.
We should learn from the example of the Apostle Paul, who was a powerful promoter of Christianity.
1Th 2:9
9 Certainly YOU bear in mind, brothers, our labor and toil. It was with working night and day, so as not to put an expensive burden upon any one of YOU, that we preached the good news of God to YOU.
Ac 20:34-35
34 YOU yourselves know that these hands have attended to the needs of me and of those with me. 35 I have exhibited to YOU in all things that by thus laboring YOU must assist those who are weak, and must bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said, 'There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.'"
1Th 4:11-12
11 and to make it YOUR aim to live quietly and to mind YOUR own business and work with YOUR hands, just as we ordered YOU; 12 so that YOU may be walking decently as regards people outside and not be needing anything.
2Th 3:11-12
11 For we hear certain ones are walking disorderly among YOU, not working at all but meddling with what does not concern them. 12 To such persons we give the order and exhortation in [the] Lord Jesus Christ that by working with quietness they should eat food they themselves earn.
Eph 4:28
28 Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work, that he may have something to distribute to someone in need.
Nowhere in the Bible do we find instructions for collecting donations for running an organization, or sending out hired missionaries.
The missionary work described in the Bible was undertaken voluntarily and at the individual's own expenses.
Also, donations in the Bible were primarily used for the poor and the relief of disaster victims, not for running an organization or sending out missionaries.
Spiritual Independence
Does the Bible encourage spiritual dependence on others?Christians are not expected to remain childlike, dependent forever on the teachings and guidance of others, but to grow into adults who are guided by a correct understanding of God's Word.
Therefore, the Watchtower Society, which continues to emphasize making others dependent on its organization, cannot be said to be following the Bible.
The teaching that "true understanding of the Bible can only be obtained through the Watchtower Society" is sophistry and deception.
Eph 4:11-16
11 And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, 12 with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones, for ministerial work, for the building up of the body of the Christ,
13 until we all attain to the oneness in the faith and in the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ;
14 in order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error. 15 But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.
16 From him all the body, by being harmoniously joined together and being made to cooperate through every joint that gives what is needed, according to the functioning of each respective member in due measure, makes for the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
（By means of the gifts of men, Christians are expected to become independent adults. It is not intended that we are dependent on elders or organizations forever.）
2Co 1:24
24 Not that we are the masters over YOUR faith, but we are fellow workers for YOUR joy, for it is by [YOUR] faith that YOU are standing.
Heb 5:13-14
13 For everyone that partakes of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.
（An elder who blindly follows the Watchtower is ignorant of the word of righteousness; he is a babe.）
Ga 6:5
5 For each one will carry his own load.
Ro 14:4, 12, 22
4 Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for the Lord can make him stand.
12 So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God.
22 The faith that you have, have it in accord with yourself in the sight of God. Happy is the man that does not put himself on judgment by what he approves.
Lu 12:57
57 Why do YOU not judge also for yourselves what is righteous?
1Th 5:21-22
21 Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine. 22 Abstain from every form of wickedness.
1Joh 4:1
1 Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
Ac 17:11
11 Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes‧sa‧lo‧ni′ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.
To all JWs who believe that they will be fine if they follow the teachings of the Watchtower,
Do you think that at the time of judgment, the excuse, "I was simply following the teachings of the Watchtower, the only organization of the true God," will be acceptable?
Eve said, "The serpent! The serpent deceived me."
Adam said, "The woman; the woman whom you gave her said so, so I ate."
You would say, "Your organization told us so."
Blessed are those who follow their own Bible-trained conscience, rather than any religious organization or people.
Ac 5:29
29 In answer Peter and the [other] apostles said: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men.
（We must obey God's Word rather than any religious organization.）
1Sa 15:22
22 In turn Samuel said: "Does YHW have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of YHW? Look! To obey is better than a sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of rams;
（We should obey YHW’s voice, not the Watchtower Society’s strange demands.）
Da 3:18
18 But if not, let it become known to you, O king, that your gods are not the ones we are serving, and the image of gold that you have set up we will not worship."
（We Do Not Worship the Idol called the Watchtower Society.）
Joh 14:15
15 "If YOU love me, YOU will observe my commandments;
（If you love Christ, keep and obey His commandments, not the requirements of the Watchtower.）
Ac 4:19
19 But in reply Peter and John said to them: "Whether it is righteous in the sight of God to listen to YOU rather than to God, judge for yourselves.
（You must decide for yourself whether it is righteous in God's sight blindly following the Watchtower Society.）
extra
Regarding the call to "overlook the imperfections of elders"
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.
Jas 3:1
1 Not many of YOU should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
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