Continuing his extensive answer to the apostle’s questions regarding the sign of his presence, Jesus concluded with a series of four illustrations. The first story is about two slaves who were appointed to care for the master’s household in his absence. One slave ultimately proves himself to be unfaithful. As a result, he is punished with the greatest severity and assigned to the destiny of the hypocrites.
The second story similarly illustrates the different outcomes for 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five were wise and five were foolish. As a result, only the wise virgins found their way to the meeting place on time. The foolish virgins who turned back were locked out. The lesson of the parable? “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Next Jesus tells the story of three slaves who were entrusted with their master’s money and expected to do business with it in his absence. Two were diligent and one was sluggish. Upon the master’s return, the two were rewarded and the good-for-nothing slave was thrown into the outer darkness where he weeps and gnashes his teeth, the same as the unfaithful slave in the first illustration.
The three stories all have the same theme. Those who have been entrusted with certain spiritual riches are expected to be faithful and expectant of the Lord’s return when they will be called to account.
The stories also prove that Christ has a congregation. In the first illustration, it is symbolized by the household over which certain slaves are appointed to provide food at the proper time. The story of the talents similarly proves that those entrusted with their master’s riches belong to an organization of light based upon the fact that the good-for-nothing slave is cast out into the outer darkness.
Finally, the fourth illustration involves the sheep and the goats and their treatment of Jesus’ brothers. The reason Jesus spoke this lastly is because his unexpected coming is for the purpose of cleansing the organization of corrupt elements and those who are unfaithful.
In a separate but related illustration, Jesus spoke of the wheat and the weeds and the harvest, which is a conclusion of the system, the same as the illustrations of the appointed slaves and the ten virgins. Regarding the harvest Jesus explained that the angels will remove out from his Kingdom all stumbling blocks and lawless persons. Those who are removed from his Kingdom will weep and gnash their teeth, the same as the wicked slave who beats his fellow slaves. In contrast, those who are gathered into the storehouse are accepted into the Kingdom where they will shine as brightly as the sun.
The reason the sheep and the goats are judged on the basis of their treatment of Christ’s brothers is because after the wicked slaves and foolish virgins are put out in the darkness the chosen then become fully adopted as sons of God and hence brothers of Christ. Jesus will literally be standing beside his brothers.
The Watchtower organization has served God’s purpose. It has sponsored a global preaching work, which, of course, Jesus said would take place before the end. The Watchtower has also been a rallying point and seedbed for the renewal of the anointing which was curtailed as the apostolic era came to a close. Satan has also oversewn the Lord’s field with his own corrupt seed. There is no way humans can discern who is of Satan and who is true. The disguise is that good.
Also, besides hosting persons who have the heavenly calling the Watchtower has drawn millions of others who have the expectation of surviving the end of the world and remaining on earth as the first generation who will never die.
There are many things that cause stumbling which the angels are assigned to remove in the future, but foremost is the very foundation of the Watchtower organization—the delusion that Jesus began ruling the world in 1914 and that an invisible parousia has been ongoing. This is what Paul foretold as the “deceptive influence”—an operation of Satan. The delusion that presently grips Jehovah’s Witnesses is why Jesus sternly warned us to keep on the watch. The delusion is why Jesus’ coming will be at a time you do not think likely. The ongoing delusion is why all of the virgins fall asleep waiting for the bridegroom. The delusion will be violently shattered when nations and kingdoms are plunged into war and peace is taken from the earth.
Good figs and bad figs
A continuation of the Jeremiah series. The 23rd chapter of Jeremiah established the fact that the denunciations against the wayward shepherds is actually earmarked for the final part of the days. That means
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If the evil slave starts to beat his fellow slaves
“Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so!” — Matthew 24:45-46
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Jesus coming as a thief in the night
QUESTION: Robert, I was curious your input on this talk by Brother Lösch. In it he highlights that 'they who declare "peace & security" could be religious leaders joining political leaders' - confiscating their financial accounts which would then fulfill the destruction
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