Posted by Greg Stafford [GregStafford] on November 03, 1999 at 07:22:47 {eZOTANvCI60hi4VK0MIQXxZ4XktaQ.}:
Cygnus wrote:
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.
RESPONSE:
Yes, it is different in the first area you highlighted, where it says, “in print.”
Cygnus wrote:
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.
RESPONSE:
Okay, we will see if that is the case.
Cygnus wrote (after copying page 494 of my 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)
RESPONSE:
Cygnus’ idea of “full context” must be unique to him, because a few lines a “full context” does not make. Now, notice that Cygnus ended his quote of the “full context” with “this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end.” Why did he end his presentation of the “full context” here? Because according to Cygnus the use of Matt. 24:36 by this WT is apparently one that means to suggest that they DO KNOW the day and the hour! Which is why Cygnus goes on to say:
Cygnus:
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"),
RESPONSE:
I would like to suggest that Cygnus expand his concept of “full context” to include THE VERY NEXT SENTENCE after his quotation, which is the last sentence in the paragraph: “Make no mistake, IT IS SUFFICIENT that THE FATHER HIMSELF KNOWS both the “day and the hour.” This shows that they are not using Matt. 24:36 the way Cygnus thinks, and what Matthew 24:36 said was “sufficient,” meaning, no one should try to go beyond what is said, and predict such things, as some in the congregation were doing. In spite of their confidence about the chronology they advanced, they did not “toy” with Jesus’ words in Matt. 24:36, for they still applied it in such a way so as to preserve the teaching that only the Father knows the day and the hour. And THAT is why I quoted this WT, the way I did. There is no misquote here at all, though Cygnus has now put himself in the very position he placed me, and must, I think, answer the question: Why did you omit the last sentence of the paragraph you quoted, in view of its obvious relevance to this issue?
I am very troubled about what I hear happened from the podium and from the platform in the years leading p to 1975. But I see nothing inappropriate in WT literature, when discussing this point. They presented their views confidently and with urgency, given the closeness of the fulfillment of their chronology.
Greg