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I'm afraid I'm not at all convinced that the 1914 doctrine is specifically THE 'operation of error' that 2 Thess 2 talks about. 2 Thess 2 9: "But the lawless one’s presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents 10 and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved. 11 So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness." |
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| The context of the prophecy concerning the man of lawlessness had to do with Paul’s warning not to put faith in any sort of announcement to the effect that that the presence of Christ had already begun. Paul specifically warned Christians not to believe even an “inspired expression” or any sort of verbal or written message, as though it came from the apostles, if it proclaimed that the day of Jehovah was here. Paul was emphatic: The presence of Christ will not take place until the apostasy comes, first. Then, when the apostasy takes place Christ will expose the man of lawlessness within the spiritual temple of God as an immediate prelude to destroying him completely. The question ought to be raised though: How does this wicked man of lawlessness infiltrate Christ’s congregation to the extent of actually influencing and controlling it? Amazingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses have disregarded the apostle’s sage advice. We have absolutely believed the Watchtower’s “inspired expressions” concerning the 7 times and all of that rigmarole. Through countless “verbal messages” delivered at conventions, assemblies and meetings and through the “written messages” printed by the Watchtower, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been seduced into believing that the awe-inspiring day of Jehovah began in 1914. The Society even has convinced the multitudes under her influence that Jehovah became king in 1914. There is no question but that Jehovah’s Witnesses assume that the 1914 doctrine is unassailable—constituting it a powerful operation of error. But it is not just a bland doctrinal matter. The very authority of the Watchtower Society is inextricably tied to 1914. It is resolutely taught that Christ judged all religions in 1918 and gave his irrevocable approval to the Watchtower Society. Although they did not exist at the time, the modern institution of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses claims to have been appointed over all the master’s belongings in 1918-19. That gives them tremendous authority over the organization. In practice it is essentially no different than the Catholic doctrine of Papal infallibility—except perhaps that it is even more cleverly packaged because it is seemingly backed by the authority of the Scriptures. The teaching that Christ has already judged and appointed the faithful slave over all his belongings has created the conditions that make it virtually impossible for any publisher to successfully question the Governing Body without them experiencing swift reprisals from the elders; who, themselves are trained to defend the organization above all else. This teaching has allowed a man of lawlessness to operate under a cloak of righteousness. I know from first hand experience. About a year ago when I was arguing my case before a judicial tribunal the one thing that the elders kept bringing back up over and over again is that since Christ appointed the slave over all the master’s belongings already anyone who questioned any of the slave’s doings is questioning Christ himself. In effect, the Watchtower has been given a blank check to spend as it pleases and the elders sign off on that check over and over again. No questions are ever asked by the loyal rank and file. That mindset blinds otherwise morally upright and spiritual men into overlooking all sorts of evil, such as the Watchtower atrocious mishandling of child abuse and Bethel’s spiritually adulterous NGO affair. No doubt the Society’s lawlessness in these matters is due to the influence of the man of lawlessness, who himself derives his ecclesiastical authority from the artfully contrived 1914 doctrine. It must be pointed out that these things are not excusable as mere imperfections. The Society condemns Christendom for all sorts of similar sins yet excuses itself for practicing the very same things. That is not attributable to a false step or mere imperfection. It is gross hypocrisy and lawlessness – and it is tolerated only because of the authority the WT has acquired for itself due to the carefully-crafted myth that they are privy to Christ having secretly returned in 1914 in order to put them in charge of everything. Given the fact that the Society's 1914 doctrine is in direct opposition to Paul's warning not to believe such seemingly inspired expressions -- no matter their source -- it is reasonable to conclude that the apostasy itself is rooted in the false announcement heralding that the presence of Christ has begun. Please recall, too, that Jesus also specifially warned his followers that his presence would be preceded by those who falsely announced: "The due time has approached." Yet, in spite of all the foregoing the Watchtower considers the 1914 teaching to be one of the absolute essentials of faith. No one can even be baptized who does not accept the teaching and baptized JWs who reject it are marginalized and even disfellowsipped. Contrary to the NGO affair or the policies of child abuse, which many JW's are not even aware of, the fact that a gross falsehood such as 1914 is included as an article of faith constitues a powerful operation of error that goes forth to those who otherwise know the truth. Reasoning on the matter further: Jehovah’s Witnesses have been thoroughly convinced that Christ’s invisible presence began in 1914 – not only because of the chronological calculations – but even more convincingly, because of the perceived fulfillment of the biblical sign. While the Society’s Gentile times dogma was, of course, skillfully crafted by very clever men, the events that took place in 1914-1919 could not have been staged by mere men. The fact that the Watchtower’s prophetic expectations seem to have been confirmed by the profound and far-reaching events that erupted in 1914 underscores the influence of the Devil in performing powerful works and lying signs in order to convince the anointed that Christ has already come. The man of lawlessness is made to appear as a brilliant oracle of God; who foresaw 1914 and all the details of prophecy decades before they unfolded. The true test will come when Christ actually arrives and denounces the organization that has given lodgment to the man of lawlessness. That is when each one’s love of the truth will be put to the fires of test. Sadly, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses will undoubtedly cling to the then-discredited Watchtower and refuse to accept Christ. |
The e-Watchman Mailbag Collection
January 11, 2006
