# Inspection Of The Bride??

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Posted by DaJahVeu [DaJahVeu] on October 27, 1999 at 11:12:48 {dPkPwxsNJE/CPYT8orz2oEhE92Gn1k}:

w90 3/15 13-14 'The Faithful Slave' and Its Governing Body'
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? Who had exposed the falsehood of the Trinity, immortality of the human soul, and hellfire? And who had warned of the dangers of evolution and spiritism? The facts show that it was the group of anointed Christians associated with the publishers of the magazine Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, now called The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.

Let's examine this claim to see if the Watchtower's interpretations of Bible parables in particular match the historical facts. Also see - The True Origins of the Teachings of the Watchtower Society in 1919, which examines if they indeed were the unique source of the above-mentioned doctrines.

When was Jesus invisible return recognised to have occurred in 1914?

First, let's establish just when it was the original International Bible Students recognised that Jesus return and subsequent presence had occurred. The publication God’s Kingdom has Approached, page 209 explains:

"In the year 1943 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society published the book "The Truth Shall Make You Free." In its chapter 11, entitled "The Count of Time," it did away with the insertion of 100 years into the period of the Judges and went according to the oldest and most authentic reading of Acts 13:20, and accepted the spelled-out numbers of the Hebrew Scriptures. This moved forward the end of six thousand years of man’s existence into the decade of the 1970’s.

Note what effect this had on the up to then current teaching that Jesus invisible return occurred in 1874.

"Naturally this did away with the year 1874 C.E. as the date of return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of his invisible presence or parousia. The millennium that was to be marked by the detaining of Satan the Devil enchained in the abyss and by the reign of the 144,000 joint heirs with Christ in heavenly glory was therefore yet in the future. What, then, about the parousia (presence) of Christ? Page 324 of the above book positively says: "The King’s presence or parousia began in 1914." Also, in the Watchtower issue of July 15, 1949 (page 215, paragraph 22), the statement is made: " . . . Messiah, the Son of man, came into Kingdom power A.D. 1914 and . . . this constitutes his second coming and the beginning of his second parousía or presence."

So, it was not until 1943 that the year 1914 was clearly trumpeted as the time of

Christ’s invisible return. Keep this fact in mind as we examine the explanation as to how the following parable given by Jesus was fulfilled.

The Wise and the Foolish Virgins

"Right in the middle of the night there arose a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Be on YOUR way out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and put their lamps in order." - Matthew 25:6-7

With the above facts in mind, how does the Watchtower Society explain this verse?

"After Christ arrived in his heavenly Kingdom, the discreet virgin class of true anointed Christians awoke to their privilege of shedding light in this bedarkened world in praise of the returned Bridegroom." - The Watchtower, April 15th, 1990 - p9.

In what way did they awaken? In an earlier question from readers we read, in answer to the question "…who made the cry: "Here is the bridegroom! Be on your way to meet him"?

"Jesus did not say. In a Hebrew wedding, such as Jesus was using to make an illustration, the bridegroom probably would have been accompanied by male attendants or friends. (John 3:29) These could alert any people awaiting the bridegroom’s party. However, there was no need for Jesus to mention such attendants. Nor would there be an application in a figurative way. The point is that there was a cry that alerted the virgins, moving them to activity." - The Watchtower, September 1st, 1981 - p31.

Indeed, no real explanation can possibly be given as to how it is that a cry went out of "Here is the bridegroom!" because the bride class openly admits they did not recognise Jesus invisible return of 1914 until many years later.

Therefore, can we honestly say this parable was truly fulfilled in the events following the release from prison of Rutherford and other of the societies key members in 1919? Is it not cause for concern that many Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to believe, by statements that have carefully covered over this discrepancy, that Jesus invisible return was recognised in 1914?

If you have any doubt regarding this point, try asking others when it was that Jehovah’s Witnesses recognised that Jesus return would be in 1914. No doubt you will find their answers in harmony with the spirit of statements in the April 1st, 1996 Watchtower, page 16, paragraph 3 which reads:

"True to expectations, 1914 proved to be a turning point in man’s affairs on earth. Historic events took place in heaven too. It was then that the King of eternity placed his associate King, Jesus Christ, upon a heavenly throne…"

True to expectations? Hardly! Jesus parousia was never expected prior to 1914, for it was already understood to be underway. Furthermore, it was not clearly recognised that the original date, 1874, was false until well after 1914 had passed.

It's almost as if the Watchtower virgins awaiting the wedding missed the marriage feast completely - if indeed it did occur in 1914. Clearly, the historical facts do not fit the explanation one would expect of Jesus original parable.
I find it very apalling that the WT's claims to have been inspected by Jesus in 1919, and they didn't even know who he was... Go figure... And they scratch their heads because they're laughed at???

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