Posted by Cygnus [Cygnus] on November 03, 1999 at 03:15:53 {eZOTANvCI6Rsyhp1gUYkL4bdfUTIaI}:
First, let me say I like Greg. I think he's a cool guy.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I thought he misquoted a Watchtower article dealing with 1975. I referred to a post from Tom (Zach) last year which brought out the misquotation. Greg told me that the 2nd edition of his book was different. Now, Greg has accused AF of misquoting and abusing the WT. I'd like now to see if Greg has done just that in the following page of his book.
Here is what the Watchtower said, in full context:
*** w68 8/15 500-1 Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975? ***
One thing is absolutely certain, Bible chronology reinforced with fulfilled Bible prophecy shows that six thousand years of man's existence will soon be up, yes, within this generation! (Matt. 24:34) This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent. This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that "concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matt. 24:36) To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end. (bold and underlining mine)
What is the Watchtower writer advising, to use Greg's word? Caution? Hesitancy? Is the Watchtower writer advising that JWs not toy with Jesus' words because the End is fast-approaching (i.e., "We know it is soon, so don't use Jesus' words to pretend that we don't or can't know"), or is Stafford right in saying that the Watchtower writer here was presenting an attitude that JWs shouldn't have great expectations regarding the nearness of the end of the 6000 years?
Before Greg accuses anyone of misquoting the WT, perhaps he should repair this particular paragraph in his third edition.