Monday, August 17 2026 Are you heeding the warnings? (Part One)

[PJ54]

​

Monday, August 17 2026​

One will be taken along and the other abandoned.—Matt. 24:40.

We live in a climactic time! Soon, Jesus will judge every living person. Jesus described the time leading up to this judgment by giving his disciples a prophetic “sign” of his invisible presence and of “the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matt. 24:3) This prophecy is recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25 and in the parallel accounts of Mark chapter 13 and Luke chapter 21. Jesus provided helpful warnings by means of three parables. These are the parables of the sheep and the goats, the discreet and the foolish virgins, and the talents. Each parable helps us to understand how a person’s behavior will affect the way he will be judged. w24.09 20 ¶1-2
Examining the Scriptures Daily—2026​

Are you heeding the warnings? (Part One)

This is the first article considering the September 2024 Watchtower study article, "Are You Heeding the Warnings?"1) WE LIVE in a climactic time! Soon, Jesus will judge every living person. Jesus described the time leading up

e-watchman.com

This is the first article considering the September 2024 Watchtower study article, “Are You Heeding the Warnings?“

1) WE LIVE in a climactic time! Soon, Jesus will judge every living person. Jesus described the time leading up to this judgment by giving his disciples a prophetic “sign” of his invisible presence and of “the conclusion of the system of things.”

We certainly do live in climactic times, but not for the reasons you may imagine. Without a hint of exaggeration or hyperbole, the spiritual dangers ahead are far more critical and potentially faith-shattering than the Watchtower has led you to believe.

Regular readers of this website know that 1914 is not an authentic date established by Bible chronology. No one among Jehovah’s Witnesses can defend this core Watchtower teaching in an honest and open debate. I challenge all of Jehovah’s Witnesses to face the facts!

To state it as simply as possible, when Jesus foretold that the nations would trample upon Jerusalem until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled, he was not inferring that the trampling had already begun—as Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to believe. The apostles were not interested in the past when Babylon destroyed Jehovah’s city; they wanted to know when the existing city and temple were going to be thrown down because a few days earlier, Jesus shocked them when he foretold that not a stone would be left upon a stone and not be thrown down.

Moreover, the Watchtower’s 1914 doctrine tenuously hangs on the presumption that there cannot be another world war that will more precisely fulfill the words of Christ. Given the tumultuous state of the world, what reasonable person can confidently assert that there will not be a catastrophic war in the near future?

To be sure, the desolation and trampling of a spiritual Jerusalem for an appointed time during the conclusion is the central feature of Jesus’ extensive prophecy, but the falsity of 1914 skews everything. With that in mind, let us examine the article under review more closely.

4) Bible prophecy shows that as Jehovah’s appointed Judge, Jesus will be righteous in his judgment.He observes the conduct, attitude, and speech of people —including how they treat his anointed brothers. Jesus will know who gave support to his anointed brothers and their work. a One of the primary ways that sheeplike ones support Christ’s brothers is by assisting them in the preaching work.

If it were as simple as going out in service, why didn’t Jesus just say so? Instead, he said that the sheep rendered aid to his brothers when they were hungry, sick, naked, thirsty, homeless, and in prison. I doubt if any anointed persons today are hungry, homeless, naked, or imprisoned. Perhaps sick, yes, but that is a common human condition. Surely, none of the anointed brothers or sisters at any of the Bethels worldwide are in the pitiful state Jesus described in his parable. Besides, as demonstrated by this very Watchtower study article, since Jehovah’s Witnesses have been taught that the sheep will be identified because they assisted the brothers of Jesus in the preaching work, how is it that the sheep in the parable were unaware that they had been ministering to Jesus himself?

Because of error upon error over many decades, clearing the mountain of accumulated rubbish is necessary to understand the parable of the sheep and the goats. Perhaps the most egregious error related to 1914 is the Watchtower’s explanation of Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds. What Jehovah’s Witnesses are required to believe borders on the absurd. Although it is beyond the scope of this article to dismantle their interpretation (It has been done elsewhere), know that Jesus said the angels would be dispatched to collect out from his Kingdom all persons doing lawlessness and all things that cause stumbling. If you are a reasoning person, ask yourself: Is it reasonable to conclude that the hundreds of millions of weed-like parishioners of Christendom were ever in Christ’s Kingdom or congregation? Moreover, since the International Bible Students were already a separate and distinct sect, why would it have been necessary for Christ to dispatch his angels to remove the common churchgoer from among the Bible Students?

Secondly, since according to the Watchtower’s interpretation, the angels have already removed lawless persons and all things that cause stumbling from Christ’s congregation, can any of Jehovah’s Witnesses honestly say that there are no lawless persons or stumbling blocks within the organization now? Every honest person surely knows the answer.

One more thing: If all of the weed-like false Christians were uprooted and bundled up over 100 years ago and have since then all naturally died off, how will they be pitched into the fiery furnace? Hopefully, thinking Christians can see that the Watchtower’s explanation of the wheat and the weeds is part of an elaborate, artfully contrived false story.

The reason the Watchtower is compelled to concoct such a fanciful tale of how the weeds were collected out of Christ’s Kingdom back in 1918, is because Christ plainly said the harvest is a conclusion of a system of things. And the Governing Body is committed to defending 1914 as the beginning of a century-long, ongoing conclusion of the system.

Since the Watchtower’s interpretation of the wheat and the weeds and the related parable of the dragnet are demonstrably false, it is high time to consider the only reasonable explanation for their persistent error. And what is that? The conclusion of the system did not begin in 1914.

Since more and more people (other than indoctrinated Jehovah’s Witnesses) are becoming increasingly concerned about the possibility of world war —even nuclear war, and all of the havoc that would surely accompany such a colossal catastrophe, namely financial collapse, food shortages, and disease pandemics, why is the leadership of the Watchtower blithely confident that no such disaster will occur? Are you sure you are heeding the warnings?

Paul warned the Corinthian Christians of the presence of ministers of Satan within their midst who had slyly disguised themselves as ministers of righteousness. What relevance does this have for Christians now? It reveals that Jehovah allows Satan to implant lawless imposters within Christ’s congregation—just as Jesus illustrated in his parable of the wheat and the weeds. As Paul noted, it is no extraordinary feat for the Devil to accomplish such a thing: “And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light. It is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness. But their end will be according to their works.” – 2 Cor 11:14,15

Just to be sure, the disguised ministers of Satan did not pose as lowly Kingdom publishers—to borrow a phrase from theocratic lingo. No, the fact that Paul called them “false apostles” indicates they were the most prominent men. However, the Corinthians were unaware that those presiding over the congregation were imposters. Paul only exposed them by the power of God’s holy spirit.

Given this real-life instance (not a parable) of how the Devil can successfully plant false anointed men among the true seed, why is it regarded as impossible that the wheat and the weeds presently exist among Jehovah’s Witnesses, even within the governing leadership?

I ask you to use your imagination. What do you suppose would be the reaction among the nearly nine million Jehovah’s Witnesses if suddenly nation rose against nation and kingdom against kingdom and all the rest? Furthermore, what if this calamity was preceded by an initiative by world leaders to prevent global war, and it momentarily appeared as if they had succeeded and began announcing that disaster had been averted and that there was “peace and security”?

Would Jehovah’s Witnesses be dancing in the street, or would they be waylaid when the sudden destruction that comes upon the sayers of peace and security is manifest in the form of the crash of the greatest nation on earth and the entire system under its domination? Jesus said many will be stumbled. So, factor that into your answer.

Needless to say, in the event of the genuine beginning of the conclusion of the system of things, the Watchtower will lose all credibility. How could they possibly retain the trust of Jehovah’s Witnesses after having misled them on something as important as the second coming of Jesus Christ? Keep this disastrous theocratic scenario in mind because it is the only way to comprehend the setting in which Jesus’ many parables will be realized.

To demonstrate, again, I ask you to use your imagination. What will become of the Kingdom preaching work when the system in which we live ceases to function? And let’s be clear-headed: Ought not the conclusion of the systems be characterized by the cessation of the presently functioning systems —including the Christian system?

By the way, if you wish to see a clear picture of what the end of Christianity will look like, God has provided one in the prophecy of Joel, a prophecy that the seers of Bethel have declared irrelevant in the modern world.

Needless to say, such a dramatic turn of events will fracture the Christian unity that Jehovah’s Witnesses enjoy. It is against the backdrop of the crash of the present, relatively benign political system and the imposition of a global communistic, tyrannical regime, coupled with the visible presence and manifestation of Jesus to the chosen ones —thereby making them the sealed and confirmed brothers of the Son of God —that Christ’s brothers will find themselves homeless, naked, hungry, sick and in prison.

End of part one
November 17th, 2024

 

[PJ54]

“Here is the bridegroom! Go out to meet him.” (Part two)

This is part two of the consideration of the Watchtower article: Are you heeding the warning? Then the Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of

e-watchman.com

Two men will be in the field, one will be taken and the other abandoned

This is the final installment of the three-part series examining the Watchtower article entitled: Are You Heeding the Warnings? The illustration of the slaves and the money entrusted to them is pretty straightforward. Jesus entrusted his affairs to his slaves,

e-watchman.com

 

[a believer]

Jesus provided helpful warnings by means of three parables. These are the parables of the sheep and the goats, the discreet and the foolish virgins, and the talents. Each parable helps us to understand how a person’s behavior will affect the way he will be judged.

Wait! What?!?!

So one will be judged by their behavior and not by their organizational affiliation and obedience to said organization???!!

—Timothy,
a believer.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

Wait! What?!?!

So one will be judged by their behavior and not by their organizational affiliation and obedience to said organization???!!

—Timothy,
a believer.

This simply can not be true! It’s apostate lies. We know how Jehovah teaches us.

 

[a believer]

This simply can not be true! It’s apostate lies. We know how Jehovah teaches us.

{For anyone interested, and only offering this as my own plugged nickel...}

Back in 2001, I was participating on a forum (I can't remember if it was my Pathways-Online site or someone else's) and someone asked me, "What say ye, does God need an organization? Does He work through an entity or does He work through people? Must we align ourselves with a particular organization to gain His approval?"

To which I responded:

Off hand, I’d have to say that God doesn’t “need” anything. But that’s probably not the response you were looking for when you asked.

What you’re probably asking is if God needs an organization to carry out His Will. Again, the answer would be a resounding “no.” After all, through logos He created the entire universe. There was no “organization” that He operated through. There were no committees to make decisions, no overseers to carry out the decision. So, in the sense of an organizational entity, again, Jehovah God doesn’t need one. Why would He, when His name means “Causes to Become…”?

Down through Biblical history He has never worked “through” an organization. That’s why He could get His Will done. Certainly He made certain covenantal Promises through family lines, such as Abraham, or even as far back as Adam. These families grew into groups or tribes. Thus, it came to be understood that certain Promises apply to the Jewish people, since they were descendants of Abraham. But there is no evidence of God needing to have an organization in place in order to fulfill those Promises. How many times did He say He would cast off His “chosen people” for their indiscretions? Their position in His Plan was a privileged one, not a deserved one. Certainly we have the prophetic Promise that all the nations would be blessed because of Abraham. Casting off the Hebrews/Jewish wouldn’t avert that fulfillment an iota! Abraham’s blessing wasn’t due to a membership card in a family line or a tribe or a nationality or creed or organization. It was because of his FAITHFULNESS as an individual in his worship of Jehovah God!

There are numerous occasions when Jehovah would say that the sins of the fathers would be visited upon their children, so FAITHLESSNESS had its effects, too. Sowing, we reap, good or ill.

Even in cases of prophecy and condemnation, Jehovah never worked through an organization as far as I’ve been able to determine. When Israel strayed, Jehovah raised up a prophet that came from OUTSIDE the supposed “organization” of those days, and used that “outsider” to warn Israel of their standing. Israel was intolerant of the prophets Jehovah raised up, and killed them rather than listening to the message—and judgment was meted out every time. Jesus later accused the Jewish group as a “killer of prophets.” And he knew how true it was, because he was a target, too. Since he wasn’t a member of the elite religious class in Jerusalem, within God’s supposed “chosen organization,” and doing as they directed, they sought to do away with him. He was “rocking the boat,” stirring up dissension in the organization and its adherents, and challenging their authority among the people as well as their teachings and practices. The scriptures describe Jesus’ teaching methods as authoritative, so he spoke with conviction, surely. He called it as he saw it, in other words.

But how dare he try to operate outside God’s established organization of that day! Today, those people are quickly dispatched as apostates against Jehovah’s “organization,” seeking glory for themselves, and unwilling to submit to theocratic order. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

After Christ left the earthly scene, the apostles took the lead. But is there Biblical evidence that an organization was created to carry out God’s Will for Mankind?

Again, we have to go back to the start of things, to Jehovah God’s original mandate. From the beginning, His Will was for us to go FORTH and fill the earth with humans who would carry out His loving Will and watch over the earth and its flora and fauna. There was never any mention of an “organization” in the sense that the word is used today. Reasonably, humans were to gather for any number of reasons. But not for any forming of an organization.

Look at the Tower of Babel, for instance. Here, we have a group of people who organize to carry out a singular purpose. Jehovah even states that if they were to do this, there would be nothing which they would not be able to accomplish. This was in regard to their own will and purpose in opposition to Jehovah’s. He scattered them to put things back to how he wanted them to be. Why not simply wipe them out? If what they were doing was so blatantly evil, then He had every right to, right? But instead, He confuses their language and they scatter thereafter.

Later, it starts to happen again, with a different nuance than before. Israel, having grown as a congregation, starts calling out for a human figurehead, for a human leader. After all, everyone around them had a king. Why couldn’t they? Jehovah wasn’t enough for them. Samuel, distressed over the situation, was told by Jehovah that Israel was rejecting Jehovah, but to allow it. And while there followed numerous kings or “leaders” of God’s chosen people, there was just as numerous rises and falls in the faithfulness of Israel, always because of the leader/king over them. So, they were followers of men, for the most part. Jehovah tolerated it, but also allowed them to reap what they sowed.

By Jesus’ day, things have become so convoluted because of man’s reasoning on matters, that it becomes clear that something better is needed. Jesus starts preaching about God’s Kingdom and how important it is to disown one’s self, and displays what the Kingdom of God will do that any organization built by Man can never even approach.

As Jesus teaches his disciples, he points out the failings of the current organization, constantly reminding them not to be like that and showing them what they should do instead of it.

Unfortunately, true to form, after Jesus’ departure, things start to take shape once again. Not through any fault on the part of the apostles—because their letters to the various congregations make clear that they are against this imposing of authority within the Way. But they also know that after they have left the scene, too, that those that follow them will have free reign over the body of Christ. They can only hope that what they say and warn will be listened by the faithful in Christ.

Sure enough, authoritarianism has manifested itself down through the ages as numerous people try to stand between mankind and God as spokesman, mediator or leader...

In the end, it will all be done away with, and Jehovah’s original Purpose will be carried out. There will be no “organizations” or any such confusion. Jehovah God will be all things to all people. We’ll meet together for worship, for work, for lots of different things, but there will be no headship over us like there is now in so many religious organizations that claim to have God’s backing and yet dominate their constituents and expect compliance and conformity. ALL things, not just ONE thing. It couldn’t be simpler, or clearer.

These are all my personal observations, which doesn’t make me correct in the least. I’m not claiming to understand it all. But while I can find directives for us to meet together and to be willing to make defense for our faith and hope, I can’t discern any similar directive to submit to centralized authority. The only headship over man at this time is Christ. No governing body, not pope, no religious leader…

So the question begging to be asked is can Christians serve Jehovah God WITHOUT all of that?

[July 2001]

 

[a believer]

To complement the above, there was the 1997 Watchtower article titled, "Serving Loyally With Jehovah’s Organization" and it made the following observations (albeit without the self-awareness needed to see the irony!):

Disloyalty also comes in subtler forms. It may even masquerade as loyalty! For example, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day probably thought of themselves as eminently loyal. But they failed to see the difference between being loyal and being an unbending adherent to man-made rules, for they were rigid and harshly judgmental. (Compare Ecclesiastes 7:16.) In this they were actually disloyal—to the people they should have been serving, to the spirit of the Law they claimed to teach, and to Jehovah himself. Jesus, on the contrary, was loyal to the spirit of the Law, which was based on love. Thus he built up and encouraged people, just as the Messianic prophecies had foretold.—Isaiah 42:3; 50:4; 61:1, 2.

Another subtle form of disloyalty is misplaced loyalty. True loyalty in the Biblical sense does not allow for our putting any allegiance ahead of our loyalty to Jehovah God. Many Jews in the first century stuck doggedly to the Mosaic Law and the Jewish system of things. Yet Jehovah’s time had come to shift his blessing from that rebellious nation to the nation of spiritual Israel. Only a relatively few were loyal to Jehovah and adapted to this momentous change. Even among true Christians, some Judaizers insisted on going back to those “weak and beggarly elementary things” of the Mosaic Law, which had been fulfilled in Christ.—Galatians 4:9; 5:6-12; Philippians 3:2, 3.

Again, only offering this on a for-what-it's-worth basis.

—Timothy,
a believer.

 

[SusanB]

Once my brain was “tied-up” in the 1914 mirage, it took some time to really unwrap that delusion and what helps me now is to recognize how important an event it will be for the “anointed” ones to be revealed by their sealing, which will be performed by Jesus. He wouldn’t be accompanied by “fire” if his coming was invisible. So, as far as the anointed go, there will be ones who falsely claim to be anointed and there will be those truly anointed, some of which will prove to be faithless and some will be faithful. And, of the faithless, they will symbolically beat their fellow slaves, while eating and getting drunk. And what do the scriptures say is the motive for beating their fellow slaves? Because in their heart they say their master is delaying.

Jeremiah 14:14​

Jehovah then said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or commanded them or spoken to them. A lying vision and a worthless divination and the deceit of their own heart is what they are prophesying to you.

Jeremiah 23:16​

This is what Jehovah of armies says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are deluding you. The vision they speak is from their own heart, Not from the mouth of Jehovah.

Ezekiel 12:22-25​

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in Israel that says, ‘The days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’? Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “I will cause this saying to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “The days are near, and every vision will take place.” For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I, Jehovah, will speak. Whatever word I speak will be done without any more delay. In your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and carry it out,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.’”

Ezekiel 13:9​

My hand is against the prophets whose visions are false and who foretell a lie. They will not be among the people with whom I confide; nor will they be written in the registry of the house of Israel; nor will they return to the land of Israel; and you will have to know that I am the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.

Zechariah 10:2​

For the teraphim statues have spoken deception; And the diviners have visioned a lie. They speak about worthless dreams, And in vain they try to comfort. That is why they will wander like sheep. They will suffer, for there is no shepherd.

From the “Easy English Bible translation”, Luke 12:45-46: “But another servant might say to himself, “My master is very late. He will not come yet.” Then he begins to hit the other servants, both the men and the women. He eats too much, and he drinks too much. He even becomes drunk. Then the master of that servant will come home and he will surprise the servant. He did not think that his master would come home on that day or at that time. Then the master will punish that servant a lot. He will put the servant with those people that do not obey him.”

NWT, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8: “This is proof of the righteous judgment of God, leading to your being counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you are indeed suffering. This takes into account that it is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you. But you who suffer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.”​

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

@a believer, Would it be possible, given your articles above, that the faithful slave refers to those preaching rather than a select number of people ‘taking’ (not being given’) the lead? Are not those doing what they are asked of, preaching, getting their oil together, getting ready in themselves for the day of judgement?

The apostles who knew Christ were a band of brothers and had been anointed, but so had hundreds of others and from the scriptures it shows that they gave advice and interpreted meaning, but that was to establish the preaching work and for centuries since, it has been carried through to this day.

The arrangement for congregations of believers is made clear too, but there is no reflection of a “head office”. Is it not the one doing what his master, Christ, told him to do - the man or woman preaching the word, ‘healing’ others with the word, feeding them, clothing them?

The gb talk of reflecting the ‘arrangement’ of the apostles as their mirror, but this is hardly the case in reality, or in historical record. The gb of today have no comparison historically with the apostles, from personal instruction, right through to working for their sustenance and supporting themselves. Quite the opposite. They are remote, secluded, unapproachable, beyond instruction and do not understand the scriptures and are supported by the congregations from whom they steal their places of worship dedicated to Jehovah. Discrete, they are not. Faithful they are not. Slaves they are certainly not. They make it up as they go along. So who is really the faithful and discreet slave. Surely those that are true to their calling. I still have in my mind, the film of those faithful slaves at the assembly waving to their applauding crowds and soaking up the adulation.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

T

Once my brain was “tied-up” in the 1914 mirage, it took some time to really unwrap that delusion and what helps me now is to recognize how important an event it will be for the “anointed” ones to be revealed by their sealing, which will be performed by Jesus. He wouldn’t be accompanied by “fire” if his coming was invisible. So, as far as the anointed go, there will be ones who falsely claim to be anointed and there will be those truly anointed, some of which will prove to be faithless and some will be faithful. And, of the faithless, they will symbolically beat their fellow slaves, while eating and getting drunk. And what do the scriptures say is the motive for beating their fellow slaves? Because in their heart they say their master is delaying.

Jeremiah 14:14​

Jehovah then said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or commanded them or spoken to them. A lying vision and a worthless divination and the deceit of their own heart is what they are prophesying to you.

Jeremiah 23:16​

This is what Jehovah of armies says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are deluding you. The vision they speak is from their own heart, Not from the mouth of Jehovah.

Ezekiel 12:22-25​

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in Israel that says, ‘The days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’? Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “I will cause this saying to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “The days are near, and every vision will take place.” For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I, Jehovah, will speak. Whatever word I speak will be done without any more delay. In your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and carry it out,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.’”

Ezekiel 13:9​

My hand is against the prophets whose visions are false and who foretell a lie. They will not be among the people with whom I confide; nor will they be written in the registry of the house of Israel; nor will they return to the land of Israel; and you will have to know that I am the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.

Zechariah 10:2​

For the teraphim statues have spoken deception; And the diviners have visioned a lie. They speak about worthless dreams, And in vain they try to comfort. That is why they will wander like sheep. They will suffer, for there is no shepherd.

From the “Easy English Bible translation”, Luke 12:45-46: “But another servant might say to himself, “My master is very late. He will not come yet.” Then he begins to hit the other servants, both the men and the women. He eats too much, and he drinks too much. He even becomes drunk. Then the master of that servant will come home and he will surprise the servant. He did not think that his master would come home on that day or at that time. Then the master will punish that servant a lot. He will put the servant with those people that do not obey him.”

NWT, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8: “This is proof of the righteous judgment of God, leading to your being counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you are indeed suffering. This takes into account that it is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you. But you who suffer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.”​

The revealing of the anointed ones is something to look forward to for certain. To do away with all this showy pretence at “headquarters” will be a gift. I would like to see it. How welcome it will be just hear real truth spoken and to do away with this stuff and nonsense they churn out every day.

 

[SusanB]

{For anyone interested, and only offering this as my own plugged nickel...}

Back in 2001, I was participating on a forum (I can't remember if it was my Pathways-Online site or someone else's) and someone asked me, "What say ye, does God need an organization? Does He work through an entity or does He work through people? Must we align ourselves with a particular organization to gain His approval?"

To which I responded:

Off hand, I’d have to say that God doesn’t “need” anything. But that’s probably not the response you were looking for when you asked.

What you’re probably asking is if God needs an organization to carry out His Will. Again, the answer would be a resounding “no.” After all, through logos He created the entire universe. There was no “organization” that He operated through. There were no committees to make decisions, no overseers to carry out the decision. So, in the sense of an organizational entity, again, Jehovah God doesn’t need one. Why would He, when His name means “Causes to Become…”?

Down through Biblical history He has never worked “through” an organization. That’s why He could get His Will done. Certainly He made certain covenantal Promises through family lines, such as Abraham, or even as far back as Adam. These families grew into groups or tribes. Thus, it came to be understood that certain Promises apply to the Jewish people, since they were descendants of Abraham. But there is no evidence of God needing to have an organization in place in order to fulfill those Promises. How many times did He say He would cast off His “chosen people” for their indiscretions? Their position in His Plan was a privileged one, not a deserved one. Certainly we have the prophetic Promise that all the nations would be blessed because of Abraham. Casting off the Hebrews/Jewish wouldn’t avert that fulfillment an iota! Abraham’s blessing wasn’t due to a membership card in a family line or a tribe or a nationality or creed or organization. It was because of his FAITHFULNESS as an individual in his worship of Jehovah God!

There are numerous occasions when Jehovah would say that the sins of the fathers would be visited upon their children, so FAITHLESSNESS had its effects, too. Sowing, we reap, good or ill.

Even in cases of prophecy and condemnation, Jehovah never worked through an organization as far as I’ve been able to determine. When Israel strayed, Jehovah raised up a prophet that came from OUTSIDE the supposed “organization” of those days, and used that “outsider” to warn Israel of their standing. Israel was intolerant of the prophets Jehovah raised up, and killed them rather than listening to the message—and judgment was meted out every time. Jesus later accused the Jewish group as a “killer of prophets.” And he knew how true it was, because he was a target, too. Since he wasn’t a member of the elite religious class in Jerusalem, within God’s supposed “chosen organization,” and doing as they directed, they sought to do away with him. He was “rocking the boat,” stirring up dissension in the organization and its adherents, and challenging their authority among the people as well as their teachings and practices. The scriptures describe Jesus’ teaching methods as authoritative, so he spoke with conviction, surely. He called it as he saw it, in other words.

But how dare he try to operate outside God’s established organization of that day! Today, those people are quickly dispatched as apostates against Jehovah’s “organization,” seeking glory for themselves, and unwilling to submit to theocratic order. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

After Christ left the earthly scene, the apostles took the lead. But is there Biblical evidence that an organization was created to carry out God’s Will for Mankind?

Again, we have to go back to the start of things, to Jehovah God’s original mandate. From the beginning, His Will was for us to go FORTH and fill the earth with humans who would carry out His loving Will and watch over the earth and its flora and fauna. There was never any mention of an “organization” in the sense that the word is used today. Reasonably, humans were to gather for any number of reasons. But not for any forming of an organization.

Look at the Tower of Babel, for instance. Here, we have a group of people who organize to carry out a singular purpose. Jehovah even states that if they were to do this, there would be nothing which they would not be able to accomplish. This was in regard to their own will and purpose in opposition to Jehovah’s. He scattered them to put things back to how he wanted them to be. Why not simply wipe them out? If what they were doing was so blatantly evil, then He had every right to, right? But instead, He confuses their language and they scatter thereafter.

Later, it starts to happen again, with a different nuance than before. Israel, having grown as a congregation, starts calling out for a human figurehead, for a human leader. After all, everyone around them had a king. Why couldn’t they? Jehovah wasn’t enough for them. Samuel, distressed over the situation, was told by Jehovah that Israel was rejecting Jehovah, but to allow it. And while there followed numerous kings or “leaders” of God’s chosen people, there was just as numerous rises and falls in the faithfulness of Israel, always because of the leader/king over them. So, they were followers of men, for the most part. Jehovah tolerated it, but also allowed them to reap what they sowed.

By Jesus’ day, things have become so convoluted because of man’s reasoning on matters, that it becomes clear that something better is needed. Jesus starts preaching about God’s Kingdom and how important it is to disown one’s self, and displays what the Kingdom of God will do that any organization built by Man can never even approach.

As Jesus teaches his disciples, he points out the failings of the current organization, constantly reminding them not to be like that and showing them what they should do instead of it.

Unfortunately, true to form, after Jesus’ departure, things start to take shape once again. Not through any fault on the part of the apostles—because their letters to the various congregations make clear that they are against this imposing of authority within the Way. But they also know that after they have left the scene, too, that those that follow them will have free reign over the body of Christ. They can only hope that what they say and warn will be listened by the faithful in Christ.

Sure enough, authoritarianism has manifested itself down through the ages as numerous people try to stand between mankind and God as spokesman, mediator or leader...

In the end, it will all be done away with, and Jehovah’s original Purpose will be carried out. There will be no “organizations” or any such confusion. Jehovah God will be all things to all people. We’ll meet together for worship, for work, for lots of different things, but there will be no headship over us like there is now in so many religious organizations that claim to have God’s backing and yet dominate their constituents and expect compliance and conformity. ALL things, not just ONE thing. It couldn’t be simpler, or clearer.

These are all my personal observations, which doesn’t make me correct in the least. I’m not claiming to understand it all. But while I can find directives for us to meet together and to be willing to make defense for our faith and hope, I can’t discern any similar directive to submit to centralized authority. The only headship over man at this time is Christ. No governing body, not pope, no religious leader…

So the question begging to be asked is can Christians serve Jehovah God WITHOUT all of that?

[July 2001]

One thing that comes to my mind is that in the scriptures, Jesus’ followers are described as “sheep” because they follow their shepherd. They know their shepherd. They were created to be led by Jehovah and those Jehovah gives authority to, but not to be led by other humans apart from Jehovah. Today, the word “sheep” implies no reasoning or thought, but in the scriptures, the one thing the sheep can do is tell the difference between a stranger and their shepherd. I agree that Jehovah does not need an organization to accomplish his will but we cannot translate that into that he isn’t organized or doesn’t inspire his worshippers to have a sense of organization. And, yet we must continue to follow his laws, even if some shepherds become wayward. We should have enough training to tell when someone is leading us astray. After all, isn’t that what happened with Eve and Satan? Before he deceived Eve, Satan (before he became an opposer) probably gave good direction to someone because he was an angel with a high rank. But at the point he became deceptive, then Eve should have trusted Jehovah’s clear directions.

But today, Jehovah has clearly told us that he has appointed those truly anointed to feed his sheep. We cannot tell for sure who is truly anointed, who will be faithful after testing or who is not faithful or not true, but we can get an indication from whether or not they are true to the scriptures. I have always been taught that the scriptures are the touchstone and I am confident about that. I am of the firm belief that you “go with what you know” and if you aren’t sure about whether something is true or false, continue to study the scriptures and pray for understanding. It would be a sin if we give authority over us to someone who is not obedient to the scriptures. And even with this statement the family headship arrangement is an exception but not to the point that our family head requires us to be disobedient to Jehovah. We have to use our abilities to reason and should be motivated by being obedient to Jehovah’s guidance and Jesus’ example.

Jehovah does not condemn us for being mistaken but we do have to accept correction when it is clear.

From “The Message” bible translation, John 15:21-25: “They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it’s all the same. If I hadn’t done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn’t be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, ‘They hated me for no good reason.’”

Hebrews 10:26​

For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left

Romans 14:23​

But if he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats, because he does not eat based on faith. Indeed, everything that is not based on faith is sin.

Commentary from the “Enduring Word” website regarding Romans 14:23:

“Whatever is not from faith is sin: Paul concludes with another principle by which we can judge “gray areas” – if we can’t do it in faith, then it is sin.

i. This is a wonderful check on our tendency to justify ourselves in the things we permit. If we are troubled by something, it likely isn’t of faith and likely is sin for us.”

Just my viewpoint.

 

[a believer]

@a believer, Would it be possible, given your articles above, that the faithful slave refers to those preaching rather than a select number of people ‘taking’ (not being given’) the lead? Are not those doing what they are asked of, preaching, getting their oil together, getting ready in themselves for the day of judgement?

That's the question each believer should ask, in my experience.

And, thankfully, we have ready access to the Written Word, so as to make sure of all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21), to keep proving what we ourselves are (2 Corinthians 13:5), and to continue to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Cf. Philippians 2:12)

To go with this, we have access to others of like faith (Hebrews 12:1), in whom we can draw upon experience, insight, and wisdom... not to once again become a follower of men or a man (Psalm 118:8; Psalm 146:3; 1 Corinthians 4:6), but to continuously test whether we are walking by compliant obedience to the dictates of men, or by the example left both by Jesus as well as the apostles.

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. —1 Corinthians 7:23 Berean Standard Men

—Timothy,
a believer.

 

[Jerry&Phyllis]

To do away with all this showy pretence at “headquarters” will be a gift.

Just imagine, at the Parousia, the "faithful from among the governing body", assuming there are such ones, will be on a "level playing field" with all the other anointed ones who are gathered to receive their sealing as "Sons of God".
No more "pretense", Barnaby, as all the sealed ones will be brothers of Christ in the fullest sense.
(No half-brothers or step-brothers allowed.)

 

[a watcher]

The revealing of the anointed ones is something to look forward to for certain. To do away with all this showy pretence at “headquarters” will be a gift. I would like to see it. How welcome it will be just hear real truth spoken and to do away with this stuff and nonsense they churn out every day.

For the creation is waiting with eager expectation for the revealing of the sons of God. (Rom. 8:19)

 

[Ana]

{For anyone interested, and only offering this as my own plugged nickel...}

Back in 2001, I was participating on a forum (I can't remember if it was my Pathways-Online site or someone else's) and someone asked me, "What say ye, does God need an organization? Does He work through an entity or does He work through people? Must we align ourselves with a particular organization to gain His approval?"

To which I responded:

Off hand, I’d have to say that God doesn’t “need” anything. But that’s probably not the response you were looking for when you asked.

What you’re probably asking is if God needs an organization to carry out His Will. Again, the answer would be a resounding “no.” After all, through logos He created the entire universe. There was no “organization” that He operated through. There were no committees to make decisions, no overseers to carry out the decision. So, in the sense of an organizational entity, again, Jehovah God doesn’t need one. Why would He, when His name means “Causes to Become…”?

Down through Biblical history He has never worked “through” an organization. That’s why He could get His Will done. Certainly He made certain covenantal Promises through family lines, such as Abraham, or even as far back as Adam. These families grew into groups or tribes. Thus, it came to be understood that certain Promises apply to the Jewish people, since they were descendants of Abraham. But there is no evidence of God needing to have an organization in place in order to fulfill those Promises. How many times did He say He would cast off His “chosen people” for their indiscretions? Their position in His Plan was a privileged one, not a deserved one. Certainly we have the prophetic Promise that all the nations would be blessed because of Abraham. Casting off the Hebrews/Jewish wouldn’t avert that fulfillment an iota! Abraham’s blessing wasn’t due to a membership card in a family line or a tribe or a nationality or creed or organization. It was because of his FAITHFULNESS as an individual in his worship of Jehovah God!

There are numerous occasions when Jehovah would say that the sins of the fathers would be visited upon their children, so FAITHLESSNESS had its effects, too. Sowing, we reap, good or ill.

Even in cases of prophecy and condemnation, Jehovah never worked through an organization as far as I’ve been able to determine. When Israel strayed, Jehovah raised up a prophet that came from OUTSIDE the supposed “organization” of those days, and used that “outsider” to warn Israel of their standing. Israel was intolerant of the prophets Jehovah raised up, and killed them rather than listening to the message—and judgment was meted out every time. Jesus later accused the Jewish group as a “killer of prophets.” And he knew how true it was, because he was a target, too. Since he wasn’t a member of the elite religious class in Jerusalem, within God’s supposed “chosen organization,” and doing as they directed, they sought to do away with him. He was “rocking the boat,” stirring up dissension in the organization and its adherents, and challenging their authority among the people as well as their teachings and practices. The scriptures describe Jesus’ teaching methods as authoritative, so he spoke with conviction, surely. He called it as he saw it, in other words.

But how dare he try to operate outside God’s established organization of that day! Today, those people are quickly dispatched as apostates against Jehovah’s “organization,” seeking glory for themselves, and unwilling to submit to theocratic order. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

After Christ left the earthly scene, the apostles took the lead. But is there Biblical evidence that an organization was created to carry out God’s Will for Mankind?

Again, we have to go back to the start of things, to Jehovah God’s original mandate. From the beginning, His Will was for us to go FORTH and fill the earth with humans who would carry out His loving Will and watch over the earth and its flora and fauna. There was never any mention of an “organization” in the sense that the word is used today. Reasonably, humans were to gather for any number of reasons. But not for any forming of an organization.

Look at the Tower of Babel, for instance. Here, we have a group of people who organize to carry out a singular purpose. Jehovah even states that if they were to do this, there would be nothing which they would not be able to accomplish. This was in regard to their own will and purpose in opposition to Jehovah’s. He scattered them to put things back to how he wanted them to be. Why not simply wipe them out? If what they were doing was so blatantly evil, then He had every right to, right? But instead, He confuses their language and they scatter thereafter.

Más tarde, la situación se repitió, con un matiz diferente al anterior. Israel, habiendo crecido como congregación, comenzó a clamar por una figura humana, por un líder humano. Al fin y al cabo, todos a su alrededor tenían un rey. ¿Por qué ellos no? Jehová no les bastaba. Samuel, angustiado por la situación, recibió la respuesta de Jehová de que Israel lo estaba rechazando, pero que debía aceptarlo. Y si bien sucedieron numerosos reyes o «líderes» del pueblo escogido de Dios, también hubo numerosos altibajos en la fidelidad de Israel, siempre a causa del líder o rey que los gobernaba. Así pues, en su mayoría, eran seguidores de hombres. Jehová lo toleró, pero también les permitió cosechar lo que sembraban.

En tiempos de Jesús, las cosas se habían vuelto tan complicadas debido al razonamiento humano, que se hizo evidente la necesidad de algo mejor. Jesús comenzó a predicar sobre el Reino de Dios y la importancia de renunciar al propio yo, y mostró lo que el Reino de Dios hará, algo que ninguna organización creada por el hombre podría siquiera imitar.

Mientras Jesús enseña a sus discípulos, señala las fallas de la organización actual, recordándoles constantemente que no deben ser así y mostrándoles lo que deben hacer en su lugar.

Lamentablemente, como suele suceder, tras la partida de Jesús, las cosas vuelven a tomar forma. No por culpa de los apóstoles, pues sus cartas a las distintas congregaciones dejan claro que se oponen a la imposición de autoridad dentro del Camino. Pero también saben que, tras su partida, quienes los sigan tendrán rienda suelta sobre el cuerpo de Cristo. Solo pueden esperar que sus palabras y advertencias sean escuchadas por los fieles en Cristo.

Efectivamente, el autoritarismo se ha manifestado a lo largo de los siglos, a medida que numerosas personas intentan interponerse entre la humanidad y Dios como portavoces, mediadores o líderes...

Al final, todo desaparecerá y se cumplirá el propósito original de Jehová. No habrá “organizaciones” ni confusión alguna. Jehová Dios será todo para todos. Nos reuniremos para adorar, para trabajar, para muchas otras cosas, pero no habrá una autoridad que nos domine, como ocurre ahora en tantas organizaciones religiosas que afirman contar con el respaldo de Dios y, sin embargo, dominan a sus miembros y exigen obediencia y conformidad. Todo, no solo una cosa. No podría ser más sencillo ni más claro.

Estas son solo mis observaciones personales, lo cual no me da la razón en absoluto. No pretendo comprenderlo todo. Pero si bien encuentro directrices para que nos reunamos y estemos dispuestos a defender nuestra fe y esperanza, no encuentro ninguna directriz similar para someternos a una autoridad centralizada. La única autoridad sobre el hombre en este momento es Cristo. Ningún organismo gobernante, ni el papa, ni ningún líder religioso…

Entonces, la pregunta que cabe plantearse es: ¿pueden los cristianos servir a Jehová Dios SIN todo eso?

[Julio de 2001]

Tener duda alguna de que Dios necesite a los humanos suena a algo demoníaco, como un desafío al poder de Jehová y su soberanía. Algunos dirán si, pero Jehová siempre ha usado a su pueblo para dar a conocer su propósito. Pero en realidad en todo momento sólo se trató de uno solo, de su amado hijo, y ni siquiera tubo de usarlo, el se prestó para hacerlo.

 

[Jonah]

Whether you want to be part of an organization or not, the Bible is clear about congregations, going into the last days. So ask yourself, what congregation do you belong to now? Is it a website or something else?

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

One thing that comes to my mind is that in the scriptures, Jesus’ followers are described as “sheep” because they follow their shepherd. They know their shepherd. They were created to be led by Jehovah and those Jehovah gives authority to, but not to be led by other humans apart from Jehovah. Today, the word “sheep” implies no reasoning or thought, but in the scriptures, the one thing the sheep can do is tell the difference between a stranger and their shepherd. I agree that Jehovah does not need an organization to accomplish his will but we cannot translate that into that he isn’t organized or doesn’t inspire his worshippers to have a sense of organization. And, yet we must continue to follow his laws, even if some shepherds become wayward. We should have enough training to tell when someone is leading us astray. After all, isn’t that what happened with Eve and Satan? Before he deceived Eve, Satan (before he became an opposer) probably gave good direction to someone because he was an angel with a high rank. But at the point he became deceptive, then Eve should have trusted Jehovah’s clear directions.

But today, Jehovah has clearly told us that he has appointed those truly anointed to feed his sheep. We cannot tell for sure who is truly anointed, who will be faithful after testing or who is not faithful or not true, but we can get an indication from whether or not they are true to the scriptures. I have always been taught that the scriptures are the touchstone and I am confident about that. I am of the firm belief that you “go with what you know” and if you aren’t sure about whether something is true or false, continue to study the scriptures and pray for understanding. It would be a sin if we give authority over us to someone who is not obedient to the scriptures. And even with this statement the family headship arrangement is an exception but not to the point that our family head requires us to be disobedient to Jehovah. We have to use our abilities to reason and should be motivated by being obedient to Jehovah’s guidance and Jesus’ example.

Jehovah does not condemn us for being mistaken but we do have to accept correction when it is clear.

From “The Message” bible translation, John 15:21-25: “They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it’s all the same. If I hadn’t done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn’t be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, ‘They hated me for no good reason.’”

Hebrews 10:26​

For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left

Romans 14:23​

But if he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats, because he does not eat based on faith. Indeed, everything that is not based on faith is sin.

Commentary from the “Enduring Word” website regarding Romans 14:23:

“Whatever is not from faith is sin: Paul concludes with another principle by which we can judge “gray areas” – if we can’t do it in faith, then it is sin.

i. This is a wonderful check on our tendency to justify ourselves in the things we permit. If we are troubled by something, it likely isn’t of faith and likely is sin for us.”

Just my viewpoint.

Thanks for the clarity.

 

[a believer]

I agree that Jehovah does not need an organization to accomplish his will but we cannot translate that into that he isn’t organized or doesn’t inspire his worshippers to have a sense of organization.

Exactly!

There is a notable difference between Jehovah's organizing... and Man's attempts at building organizations ("Come, let us build a tower...") that has led to disastrous results throughout time.*

And, ultimately, the Bible points to when there will no longer be a need for shepherds or their like. Even Jesus himself is described as stepping out of the way.

Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet... And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all. —1 Corinthians 15:24-25, 28 Berean Standard Bible

This indicates to me that any mediatorial role, or rulership of Jesus and those who rule with him, was not and is not an everlasting need or arrangement, said reign being limited to the "millennial" period— which certainly makes sense when I consider that this was the original arrangement, in the garden, with Adam: an immediate and intimate, personal relationship between the Creator and Man.

—Timothy,
a believer.

____________
* As sincere and earnest as the Bible Students were, it didn't take long for their organizing to study the Bible to become an organization which took on a life of its own... initially through Rutherford, who centralized control and authority and later through Franz, who was instrumental in breathing life into what has become the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, an organization that now has centralized power and authority over the lives, hearts, and minds of the brothers and sisters— all while claiming to be Jehovah's earthly organization in echo of "Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4; Cf. Isaiah 14:13) in direct conflict with Jehovah's original mandate (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1) as well as Jesus' own commission (Matthew 28:19-20)... neither which gives any indication that Man was to subdue others and bring them under a centralized, man-made organization. The original mandate was clear: have in subjection those creatures placed in his dominion, and to rule his self. (1 Corinthians 9:27; James 3:2, et al.)

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

Tener duda alguna de que Dios necesite a los humanos suena a algo demoníaco, como un desafío al poder de Jehová y su soberanía. Algunos dirán si, pero Jehová siempre ha usado a su pueblo para dar a conocer su propósito. Pero en realidad en todo momento sólo se trató de uno solo, de su amado hijo, y ni siquiera tubo de usarlo, el se prestó para hacerlo.

Does Jehovah need humans? Does a creator need to create? Does an artisan need to produce what is in his soul to create for his own satisfaction because he can?

In scientific terms, using the laws Jehovah has created us by, Jehovah’s laws, we would need to look at the scriptures to describe what the word “need” actually means. Jehovah has always existed. It is clear then that He created the laws that enable mankind to exist. Unless time was created first, in accepted scientific understanding at least, no other law would be able to exist. It would collapse as soon as it came into existence, like turning out a light. Time enables physical and spiritual forms to experience life. Thus the extraordinary gift of eternal life in one’s self, outside of those laws.

Jehovah has always existed outside of time. How this is possible can only be conjecture, but from our own standpoint, using these fundamental laws that we can understand - comprehend, we can suppose that unless life is shared, the gift of it, the enjoyment of it can not be experienced in its fullness.

When we read in the Bible that the desire to create is born of the attribute of Love, then we need to analyse what love is. Fundamentally, love is a law or ultimate appreciation in every aspect of life. A standard that must not be abused - not because it is ‘holy’ - that is a title - but necessary for perfection and which fundamentally, is our understanding of the word “holy” - sacrosanct. Something that permits life to be shared. If one is “life” then that one can not allow that standard to be interpreted otherwise. It comprises the entity of Jehovah.

In our understanding, life was shared because without sharing life, of what value is its existence without others to acknowledge such? Does this rule apply to one whom actually comprises “love”? The primary motivation of “love” is to share, is it not? If we understand anything at all about love, it is that unless it is shared, it is, in a sense of one’s very being, incomplete. We morn a sense of something that is not there. That something is our ability, surely, to express it. And are we not “made” in God’s image?

If we explore love a little further, we sense a lacking in ourselves, in our abilities if we are isolated. That apparent lack is an inability to share of our intimate self. “Here is am! Send me!” We exist almost for the need of acknowledgement that we do, in fact, exist. And if we examine the source of love within ourself, then we recognise also that if we can not share it, we feel, though not necessarily are, incomplete. What then, was Jehovah’s motivation to create man in the first place?

The very existence of love, demands that it is shared if it is to be of value and the signal example of this sharing is that Jehovah gave the life, the existence of his own personal creation, in exchange for our rescue and the continuance of His creative purpose. What was the motivation for that purpose? So much so, that it included all those whom had experienced life, may regain it so that they could appreciate that one, singular fact of its value in being shared and of those that had experienced life, but died because of Adam.

Given the evidence then, love can not be experienced in its fullness unless it is shared. Secondly, for love to be truly experienced and free to experience, it must be perfect to that standard of its creator. It is the substance of His being. If it is correct to say that love can not be experienced unless it is reflected, then yes, it does need to be shared. Does that detract in any way from its creator, or is it the fulfilment of His own existence? We should ask ourselves, how could it not be if that is the personification of perfection? Clearly it is Jehovah’s choice that it should be, given the lengths He has expressed it to, to achieve it.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

Whether you want to be part of an organization or not, the Bible is clear about congregations, going into the last days. So ask yourself, what congregation do you belong to now? Is it a website or something else?

Something else. It has product. Effects change.

 

[Ana]

¿Acaso Jehová necesita a los humanos? ¿Acaso un creador necesita crear? ¿Acaso un artesano necesita producir lo que hay en su alma para crear para su propia satisfacción simplemente porque puede?

En términos científicos, si aplicamos las leyes con las que Jehová nos creó, las leyes de Jehová, necesitaríamos consultar las Escrituras para describir el significado de la palabra «necesidad». Jehová siempre ha existido. Por lo tanto, es evidente que Él creó las leyes que permiten la existencia de la humanidad. A menos que el tiempo se hubiera creado primero, al menos según la comprensión científica aceptada, ninguna otra ley podría existir. Se derrumbaría tan pronto como quirúrgica, como apagar una luz. El tiempo permite que las formas físicas y espirituales experimenten la vida. De ahí el extraordinario don de la vida eterna en uno mismo, al margen de esas leyes.

Jehová siempre ha existido fuera del tiempo. Cómo es esto posible solo puede ser una conjetura, pero desde nuestra perspectiva, utilizando estas leyes fundamentales que podemos comprender, podemos suponer que, a menos que la vida se comparta, el don de la vida y su disfrute no pueden experimentarse en su plenitud.

Cuando leemos en la Biblia que el deseo de crear nace del atributo del Amor, entonces debemos analizar qué es el amor. Fundamentalmente, el amor es una ley o una apreciación suprema en cada aspecto de la vida. Un estándar que no debe ser profanado, no porque sea «santo» —que es un título— sino porque es necesario para la perfección y que, en esencia, es nuestra comprensión de la palabra «santo»: sacrosanto. Algo que permite compartir la vida. Si uno es «vida», entonces no puede permitir que ese estándar se interprete de otra manera. Comprende la esencia de Jehova.

En nuestra opinión, la vida se comparte porque, sin compartirla, ¿qué valor tiene su existencia sin que otros la reconozcan? ¿Se aplica esta regla a quien realmente encarna el amor? La motivación principal del amor es compartir, ¿no es así? Si entendemos algo sobre el amor, es que, a menos que se comparta, está, en cierto sentido, incompleto. Sentimos la ausencia de algo. Ese algo es, sin duda, nuestra capacidad de expresarlo. ¿Y acaso no fuimos creados a imagen y semejanza de Dios?

Si profundizamos un poco más en el amor, percibimos una carencia en nosotros mismos, en nuestras capacidades, si nos sentimos aislados. Esa aparente carencia es la incapacidad de compartir nuestra intimidad. «¡Aquí estoy! ¡Envíame!». Existimos casi por la necesidad de que se reconozca nuestra existencia. Y si examinamos la fuente del amor en nuestro interior, reconocemos también que, si no podemos compartirlo, nos sentimos incompletos, aunque no necesariamente lo seamos. ¿Cuál fue, entonces, la motivación de Jehová para crear al hombre?

La existencia misma del amor exige que se comparta para que tenga valor, y el ejemplo más claro de este compartir es que Jehová dio la vida, la existencia de su propia creación, un cambio de nuestra salvación y la continuidad de su propósito creador. ¿Cuál fue la motivación de ese propósito? Tanto es así, que incluía a todos aquellos que habían experimentado la vida, para que pudieran recuperarla y apreciar ese hecho único y valioso de ser compartido, y también a aquellos que habían experimentado la vida, pero murieron a causa de Adán.

Ante esta evidencia, el amor no puede experimentarse en su plenitud a menos que se comparta. En segundo lugar, para que el amor se experimente verdaderamente y con libertad, debe ser perfecto según el estándar de su creador. Es la esencia de su ser. Si es cierto que el amor no puede experimentarse a menos que se reflexione, entonces sí, es necesario compartirlo. ¿Acaso esto le resta mérito a su creador, o es la plenitud de su propia existencia? Deberíamos preguntarnos: ¿cómo no iba a ser así si es la personificación de la perfección? Claramente, Jehová así lo ha decidido, dada la profundidad con la que lo ha hablado, para lograrlo.

Si bien es cierto que estamos hechos a la imagen y semejanza de Dios, los humanos decidimos desvincular nuestra vida de nuestro creador al pecar. Para que nuestro creador disfrute de nosotros debemos de usar bien el libre albedrio. Eso no puede suceder ya que la muerte está en nuestra forma, de momento. Solo una nueva creación hará posible eso. Para conseguirlo la bondad inmerecida ha tenido que derramarse sobre la humanidad.
Aunque bien es cierto que Jehova es creador sus leyes divinas lo abarcan todo. Debido a que estamos en el tiempo de su descanso ahora no se está manifestando esa creación de la que hablas, BARNABY. ¿Puede Jehová disfrutar de su creación en este momento? En mi humilde opinión pienso que no. ¿Ha dado la oportunidad para que el futuro pueda conseguir su propósito? Si, pero solo por medio de su Jesús, su máxima expresión de creación.
Por lo tanto el hombre necesita de la máxima creación de Dios Todopoderoso para poder volver a ser considerado. Sin Jesús nada será posible para nosotros, Jehová no podía morir por nosotros, ese lugar solo lo pudo ocupar Jesús.
La calidad del amor que derrocha Jehová no viene con una necesidad implícita.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

Si bien es cierto que estamos hechos a la imagen y semejanza de Dios, los humanos decidimos desvincular nuestra vida de nuestro creador al pecar. Para que nuestro creador disfrute de nosotros debemos de usar bien el libre albedrio. Eso no puede suceder ya que la muerte está en nuestra forma, de momento. Solo una nueva creación hará posible eso. Para conseguirlo la bondad inmerecida ha tenido que derramarse sobre la humanidad.
Aunque bien es cierto que Jehova es creador sus leyes divinas lo abarcan todo. Debido a que estamos en el tiempo de su descanso ahora no se está manifestando esa creación de la que hablas, BARNABY. ¿Puede Jehová disfrutar de su creación en este momento? En mi humilde opinión pienso que no. ¿Ha dado la oportunidad para que el futuro pueda conseguir su propósito? Si, pero solo por medio de su Jesús, su máxima expresión de creación.
Por lo tanto el hombre necesita de la máxima creación de Dios Todopoderoso para poder volver a ser considerado. Sin Jesús nada será posible para nosotros, Jehová no podía morir por nosotros, ese lugar solo lo pudo ocupar Jesús.
La calidad del amor que derrocha Jehová no viene con una necesidad implícita.

Of course Ana. I will not disagree with your thoughts. I was not looking at it from the point of sin though, but through the reasoning of creation that we were made for. You asked does Jehovah need man? My answer to that is simply that if love is in its conceptual completeness, it demands to be shared. I think that is what the scriptures are based upon if one dissects what love is into its components part. The fact that we sinned, required repair. That does not negate the requirements of love in its pure form. If it did, then Jehovah would not have provided the way out for us. That He did, then that is redemption. Also part of love.

 

[Ana]

Por supuesto, Ana. No discrepo de tus ideas. Sin embargo, no lo veía desde la perspectiva del pecado, sino desde el razonamiento de la creación para la que fuimos creados. Preguntaste si Jehová necesita al hombre. Mi respuesta es simplemente que, si el amor se encuentra en su plenitud conceptual, exige ser compartido. Creo que en eso se basan las Escrituras si se analiza el amor en sus componentes. El hecho de que pecáramos requería reparación. Eso no anula los requisitos del amor en su forma pura. Si así fuera, Jehová no nos habría provisto la salida. El hecho de que lo hiciera, entonces, es redención. También es parte del amor.

Yo si discrepo de vos y eso me encanta! Así uno penetra en el razonamiento. Y aunque estamos de acuerdo en el amor como forma de expresión elemental en este intercambio celestial-terrestre eso no implica una necesidad por parte del creador. En mi razonamiento más bien este modo en que lo ve este texto: Hechos 17:24- El Dios que hizo el mundo y todas las cosas [que hay] en él, siendo, como es Este, Señor del cielo y de la tierra, no mora en templos hechos de manos, 25 ni es atendido por manos humanas como si necesitara algo, porque él mismo da a toda [persona] vida y aliento y todas las cosas. 26 E hizo de un solo [hombre] toda nación de hombres, para que moren sobre la entera superficie de la tierra, y decretó los tiempos señalados y los límites fijos de la morada de [los hombres], 27 para que busquen a Dios, por si buscaban a tientas y verdaderamente lo hallaban, aunque, de hecho, no está muy lejos de cada uno de nosotros.
Si vamos a la misma esencia de su nombre: Éxodo 3:14- Ante esto, Dios dijo a Moisés: “YO RESULTARÉ SER LO QUE RESULTARÉ SER”, sería base suficiente para poder decir que el no necesita a nadie para nada.
Es la forma que encuentro para expresar mi amor hacia el.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

Yo si discrepo de vos y eso me encanta! Así uno penetra en el razonamiento. Y aunque estamos de acuerdo en el amor como forma de expresión elemental en este intercambio celestial-terrestre eso no implica una necesidad por parte del creador. En mi razonamiento más bien este modo en que lo ve este texto: Hechos 17:24- El Dios que hizo el mundo y todas las cosas [que hay] en él, siendo, como es Este, Señor del cielo y de la tierra, no mora en templos hechos de manos, 25 ni es atendido por manos humanas como si necesitara algo, porque él mismo da a toda [persona] vida y aliento y todas las cosas. 26 E hizo de un solo [hombre] toda nación de hombres, para que moren sobre la entera superficie de la tierra, y decretó los tiempos señalados y los límites fijos de la morada de [los hombres], 27 para que busquen a Dios, por si buscaban a tientas y verdaderamente lo hallaban, aunque, de hecho, no está muy lejos de cada uno de nosotros.
Si vamos a la misma esencia de su nombre: Éxodo 3:14- Ante esto, Dios dijo a Moisés: “YO RESULTARÉ SER LO QUE RESULTARÉ SER”, sería base suficiente para poder decir que el no necesita a nadie para nada.
Es la forma que encuentro para expresar mi amor hacia el.

It is intrinsically true that our creator Jehovah does not require any other form of life to justify His existence. And so I will graciously submit to your greater understanding!!

Can we agree the scripture that says: “without love, one has nothing at all?” and that as the creator of all things, Jehovah has shared that very essence of His existence with us so that we can experience it too as separate entities? Does this not indicate a need? There is nothing “less than” in having a need to share. It is a natural part of our existence in Jehovah’s image.

Why did Jehovah feel the need to do that? It is not for the argument of need, so much as the compulsion of love to share? If one is the very construct of love, without which expression and understanding of such, one “has nothing”, is this not then a “need” to share it, to have its full manifestation of expression experienced by others when one has the ability to do so? The expression of love is the causal root for existence. Is that not the basis of the Bible teaching? Jehovah gave His only son for that very purpose.

This is the very construct of love - to BE loved. If love can not be reciprocated, is the meaning, the very essence of true love, complete? If there is no one to reflect love, can it be termed as complete? If it is not complete, is it “perfect”. What did Adam say on seeing Eve? “This is at last, bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh.” - completion. Completion then, to be complete, to fulfil purpose, it must be shared. Is this not ‘understanding’, rather than a criticism? Is it wrong somehow to have a need to share the very essence of one’s own existence. Is it heresy to suggest that to be the case? Is there really no benefit in sharing love, especially when has “nothing” if they do not? . That is the question.

 

[Ana]

Es intrínsecamente cierto que nuestro creador Jehová no necesita ninguna otra forma de vida para justificar su existencia. ¡Por lo tanto, me someto con gratitud a tu mayor entendimiento!

¿Podemos estar de acuerdo con la Escritura que dice: “Sin amor, uno no tiene nada en absoluto”? ¿Y con que Jehová, como creador de todas las cosas, haya compartido con nosotros la esencia misma de su existencia para que también nosotros, como seres independientes, podamos experimentarla? ¿Acaso esto no indica una necesidad? No hay nada de inferior en tener la necesidad de compartir. Es una parte natural de nuestra existencia a imagen de Jehová.

¿Por qué Jehová sintió la necesidad de hacer eso? No se trata tanto de una necesidad, sino más bien del impulso del amor a compartir. Si uno es la esencia misma del amor, sin cuya expresión y comprensión no se tiene nada, ¿acaso no es esto una necesidad de compartirlo, de que otros experimenten su plena manifestación cuando se tiene la capacidad de hacerlo? La expresión del amor es la raíz causal de la existencia. ¿No es esa la base de la enseñanza bíblica? Jehová entregó a su único Hijo precisamente con ese propósito.

Esta es la esencia misma del amor: SER amado. Si el amor no puede ser correspondido, ¿es completo el significado, la esencia misma del amor verdadero? Si no hay nadie que refleje el amor, ¿puede considerarse completo? Si no es completo, ¿es "perfecto"? ¿Qué dijo Adán al ver a Eva? "Esta sí que es hueso de mis huesos, carne de mi carne". — la plenitud. Para ser completo, para cumplir su propósito, debe ser compartido. ¿No es esto "comprensión", más que una crítica? ¿Es de alguna manera incorrecto tener la necesidad de compartir la esencia misma de la propia existencia? ¿Es herejía sugerir que así sea? ¿Acaso no hay ningún beneficio en compartir el amor, especialmente cuando no se tiene "nada" si no se comparte? Esa es la cuestión.

Jehová tenía una organización celestial antes de crearnos, podía derrochar su amor y compartirlo con miradas de seres espirituales, una creación de la que sabemos muy poco como para otorgaron la absoluta forma de intercambio amoroso celestial.
También desconozco si Jehová nos creó porque sintió la necesidad de hacerlo, en cambio si se que se arrepintió de crearnos como se menciona Génesis 6:6-7-Y Jehová sintió a pesar de haber hecho a hombres en la tierra, y se sintió herido en el corazón. 7 De modo que Jehová dijo: “Voy a borrar de sobre la superficie del suelo a hombres que he creado, desde hombre hasta animal doméstico, hasta animal moviente y hasta criatura voladora de los cielos, porque de veras me pesa haberlos hecho”.
Quizas algún día nos corresponde saber los deseos y las motivaciones que tuvo nuestro Creador sobre muchas cuestiones que tenemos aquí abajo. De momento, con su bondad inmerecida, por lo tanto si es inmerecida no hay más que derroche por su parte en ved de necesidad e intercambio bidireccional, me doy por más que satisfecha.
Anotacion: no te sometas a mi entendimiento, medirlo es un error, no hay nada que comparar, solo compartimos.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

Jehová tenía una organización celestial antes de crearnos, podía derrochar su amor y compartirlo con miradas de seres espirituales, una creación de la que sabemos muy poco como para otorgaron la absoluta forma de intercambio amoroso celestial.
También desconozco si Jehová nos creó porque sintió la necesidad de hacerlo, en cambio si se que se arrepintió de crearnos como se menciona Génesis 6:6-7-Y Jehová sintió a pesar de haber hecho a hombres en la tierra, y se sintió herido en el corazón. 7 De modo que Jehová dijo: “Voy a borrar de sobre la superficie del suelo a hombres que he creado, desde hombre hasta animal doméstico, hasta animal moviente y hasta criatura voladora de los cielos, porque de veras me pesa haberlos hecho”.
Quizas algún día nos corresponde saber los deseos y las motivaciones que tuvo nuestro Creador sobre muchas cuestiones que tenemos aquí abajo. De momento, con su bondad inmerecida, por lo tanto si es inmerecida no hay más que derroche por su parte en ved de necesidad e intercambio bidireccional, me doy por más que satisfecha.
Anotacion: no te sometas a mi entendimiento, medirlo es un error, no hay nada que comparar, solo compartimos.

I’m not submitting to your opinion Ana, just respecting it as your point of view. I have learnt from it and appreciate your conceptual analysis. You indeed have a point that Jehovah regretted making man, yet He also went on to give His only son so that we could live. It’s a lesson in understanding that varying points have a validity to give those searching something to chew on. Thanks for your input. Much appreciated.