Posted by Friend [Friend] on November 01, 1999 at 15:46:18 {2gTL9dbN6kI0x47NCfOUOgnjR4Br/g}:
In Reply to: *********Discussion summaries posted by Rational on November 01, 1999 at 14:54:58:
Rational
You agree, then, that this is a correct statement:The writer felt it would be a serious mistake to apply the parable ... to any time later than the present 'time in which we are living' and which was "fast running out".
I agree with the following statement:
The writer felt it would be a serious mistake to apply the parable to any time later (or beyond) than when they then expected it to be completely fulfilled.
Do you agree with that statement?
At the time of writing the Survival book had the sheep/goat/judgment parable finding ultimate fulfillment at Armageddon. Since that time the Society has not applied the parable to any later period, which is the point.
As an aside you have repeatedly equivocated Jesus sign for "the conclusion of the system" with the actual conclusion for which a sign was given. One is [supposedly] an indicator of a period the other is the period itself. The paragraph in question relates the "serious mistake" to a period beyond which an application would be erroneous.
That period does, as you say, represent a time in which Jesus’ brothers are still in the flesh and experiencing hardship. That period is also referred to as one that we are living in and that is fast running out. In each case, though, the period remains constant as "the conclusion of the system". "The conclusion of the system" is a period of time including many events, including the great tribulation. The great tribulation is not even considered the ultimate event of "the conclusion of the system." That distinction falls to the final event of Armageddon, also considered part of "the conclusion of the system", the final part. Regarding Armageddon, in 1984 and today the Society teaches that it is during that final event that the sheep/goat/judgment will find its ultimate fulfillment. As for going beyond some period of applicability, the Society’s teachings today do not put off the fulfillment of the sheep/goat/judgment any later than it did in 1984. In both cases judgment was meted out at Armageddon.
I mention that all this is an aside because you commented that Armageddon is beyond that for which we need a sign so then it must be beyond "the conclusion of the system" for which Jesus gave a sign. In that reasoning you have equivocated the event of "the conclusion of the system" with the sign of that same period. In fact one is the period itself and the other is nothing but an indicator for that period. Certainly a period of time includes both its beginning and ending. Part of our life is the event(s) falling at its very end. So it is with "the conclusion of the system." In that case Armageddon is part of the period deemed "the conclusion of the system."
Irrespective of Armageddon, do you consider the great tribulation as part of "the conclusion of the system"? As of the great tribulation time would still be running out until the final event of Armageddon.
Friend