Reasoning with Jehovah's Witnesses |
13. The Faithful and Discreet Slave |
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13. The Faithful and Discreet SlaveJehovah's Witnesses believe that: a. The "faithful and discreet slave" of Matt 24:45 represents the "anointed remnant" of Jehovah's Witnesses which has been responsible for overseeing the kingdom-preaching work in modern times.15 b. The "faithful and discreet slave class" was identified and rewarded shortly after Christ's invisible return in the year 1914.16 c. The "faithful and discreet slave" class has proven to be both faithful and discreet.17 d. Proper interpretation of the Bible cannot be obtained without help from the "faithful and discreet slave" class of Jehovah's Witnesses.18
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Q1. Is there only one faithful slave mentioned in Jesus' parables? Matt 25:20-23-"Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents." His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things"..."Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents." His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things"
Q2. According to Jesus, when is the faithful and discreet slave to be identified and rewarded? Matt 24:44-47-"For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think [He will]. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions." See THE RETURN OF CHRIST See WATCHTOWER CHRONOLOGY-THE YEAR 1914
Q3. Has the "faithful and discreet slave class" of Jehovah's Witnesses proven to be faithful and discreet? Here are some of the predictions made by the "faithful and discreet slave class" of Jehovah's Witnesses over the years: The year 1799 definitely marks the beginning of the time of the end [Creation, pp. 294,298]. The 1000 years of Christ's reign began in 1873 [The Time is at Hand, foreword p. 2]. The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D. [Prophecy, p. 65] The second coming of the Lord began in 1874 [Creation, pp. 289,298, Prophecy, p. 76]. The beginning of the battle of the great day is dated from October 1874 [WT 1/15/1892, p. 1355]. The Kingdom of God will begin its exercise of power in 1878 [The Time is at Hand p. 101]. The formal inauguration of Christ's Kingly office dates from April 1878 [The Day of Vengeance, p. 621]. Christ has been invisibly present since October 1884 [The Day of Vengeance, p. 621]. The Battle of the Great Day of God the Almighty had begun by 1886 [WT 1/1886, vol. VII, pp. 816,817]. The battle of the great day of God Almighty is already commenced [The Time is at Hand (1908), p. 101]. The stress of the great time of trouble will be on us somewhere between 1910 and 1912 [The New Creation, p. 579]. World War I is leading into the Battle of Armageddon [WT 4/1/15, p. 102]. By the end of 1914 the blindness of natural Israel will begin to be turned away [The Time is at Hand, p. 77]. The last member of the church will be glorified sometime before the end of 1914 [The Time is at Hand, p. 77]. Christendom will be completely destroyed by October 1914 [WT 1/15/1892, p. 1355]. The year 1914 will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men [The Time is at Hand, pp. 76,77]. The date for the close of the battle of the great day is definitely marked in Scripture as October 1914 [WT 1/15/1892, p. 1355]. Armageddon is likely to begin in the spring of 1915 [WT 9/1/14]. The Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty had begun by 1916 [WT 9/1/16, pp. 265,266]. In the year 1918 God will destroy the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions. Any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of "Christianity" [The Finished Mystery, p. 485]. The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the scriptures than is 1914, and before 1925 the great crisis will be reached and probably passed [WT 9/1/22]. In 1925 the earthly phase of the Kingdom will be recognized [Millions Now Living will Never Die, p. 89]. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old will be resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity in the fall of 1925 [Millions Now Living will Never Die, pp. 88-90]. We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews [The Way to Paradise, p. 224]. ...the remaining months before Armageddon [WT 9/15/41, p. 288]. Those faithful men of old may be expected back from the dead any day now [The New World (1942), p. 104 Six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975. It may be the purpose of God for Christ's reign to run parallel with the 7th millennium of man's existence [Life Everlasting in the Freedom of the Sons of God, pp. 29,30, WT 8/15/68, pp. 497-501].
Q4. Should we trust in an organization of men for the correct interpretation of God's word? Matt 16:16-17-And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." Matt 18:20-"where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst" John 14:26-"the Helper, the Holy Spirit, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" John 15:26-"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me" John 16:13-"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth..." Gal 1:15-18-when He...was pleased to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to be acquainted with Cephas... 1 John 2:26-27-I write this to you about those who would deceive you; but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him. 1 John 5:20-And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ..
Q5. Are human agencies ever used by God to instruct His people? Acts 8:30-31-"Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
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Summary: a. There is more than one faithful slave mentioned in Jesus' parables. b. The "faithful and sensible slave" will be identified and rewarded when Christ returns. Christ has not yet returned. c. The "faithful and discreet slave class" of Jehovah's Witnesses has proven to be neither faithful nor discreet. d. Christians are taught primarily by God's word, the Bible, and by the Holy Spirit. Often human agencies are also employed.
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Scriptures commonly used by Jehovah's Witnesses: Acts 8:30,31-"Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. See Q5, also Q3
Endnotes: 15. Watchtower, 1/15/69, p. 51 16. Then is Finished the Mystery of God, p. 112 17. The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, pp. 120-121 18. Watchtower, 10/1/67, p. 590 |
