The September 13th, 2015 Watchtower

This Sunday, the 13^th of September, 2015, millions of Jehovahs Witnesses around the world will attend their local hall to study the July 15 Watchtower article “Your Deliverance is Getting Near” pg 14-19.  Read aloud in the question and answer format, brothers and sisters will share together the teachings of the faithful and discreet slave as they do each week throughout the world.  Only this time, it will be different.  This study article will have a glaring contradiction, for it directly challenges the current understand of 1914 as the year Jesus Christ was enthroned as King.   

The unfortunate thing about this is that most of those millions won’t even notice the contradiction.  It will be as though it isn’t even there, when it’s actually right in front of their literal eyes

To begin, it is recommended that you read the article yourself first.  It’s actually somewhat of a deeper article compared to what has been coming down from the FDS.  Here is the link Your Deliverance is Getting Near. 

Although the article is more in depth as to what is to occur in the last days regarding Gog and the tribulation and such, the focus of this essay will deal with what is stated in paragraphs 14 and 15.  In these two paragraphs the society has, whether unknown to them or not, contradicted the core foundation of what every Jehovahs Witness holds to be true.  

Below are the two paragraphs mentioned.  Reading through them, you won’t notice the contradiction because the contradictory scriptures are left out.  So lets begin.  The scriptures in bold below will be discussed afterward as they are the key to identifying the contradiction. 

“14 What will happen after Gog of Magog starts the attack on God’s people? Both Matthew and Mark record the same event: “[The Son of man] will send out the angels and will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from earth’s extremity to heaven’s extremity.” (Mark 13:27; Matt. 24:31) This gathering work does not refer to the initial ingathering of anointed ones; nor does it refer to the final sealing of the remaining anointed ones. (Matt. 13:37, 38) That sealing happens before the outbreak of the great tribulation. (Rev. 7:1-4) So, what is this gathering work that Jesus mentions? It is the time when the remaining ones of the 144,000 will receive their heavenly reward. (1 Thess. 4:15-17; Rev. 14:1) This event will take place at some point after the beginning of the attack by Gog of Magog. (Ezek. 38:11) Then these words of Jesus will be fulfilled: “At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.”—Matt. 13:43.*

“15 Does this mean that there will be a “rapture” of the anointed ones? Many in Christendom believe, according to this teaching, that Christians will be bodily caught up from the earth. Then, they expect that Jesus will visibly return to rule the earth. However, the Bible clearly shows that “the sign of the Son of man” will appear in heaven and that Jesus will come “on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 24:30) Both of these expressions imply invisibility. Additionally, “flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s Kingdom.” So those who will be taken to heaven will first need to be “changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet.”* (Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-53.) Therefore, while we do not use the term “rapture” here because of its wrong connotation, the remaining faithful anointed will be gathered together in an instant of time.”

Here are the three scriptures in bold for reference:  

(Mt 24:31) . . .And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.

(1Co 15:51-53) “. . .Look! I tell YOU a sacred secret: We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality.”

(1Th 4:16) . . .because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. . . 

So what do these three scriptures have in common?  Just as the article brings out, these three scriptures relate to us the gathering of the chosen ones ushered on by a great trumpet sound.  1 Cor 15:52 gives a bit more detail stating that the momentous event takes place “during the last trumpet”.
 

Ok, so lets move forward and identify the "last trumpet".  The following scriptures all relate to the event of the “last trumpet” being blown, the seventh trumpet.  

(Re 11:15-17) . . .And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.  And the twenty-four elders who were seated before God upon their thrones fell upon their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king.. . .”…”

 (Re 10:7) . . .but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to blow his trumpet, the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophets is indeed brought to a finish.”  

 (Re 19:6-8) “. . .And I heard what was as a voice of a great crowd and as a sound of many waters and as a sound of heavy thunders. They said: “Praise Jah, YOU people, because Jehovah our God, the Almighty, has begun to rule as king. 7 Let us rejoice and be overjoyed, and let us give him the glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has arrived and his wife has prepared herself. 8 Yes, it has been granted to her to be arrayed in bright, clean, fine linen, for the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the holy ones.””

So what do these six sets of scriptures have in common? These scriptures(Mt 24:31, 1 Cor 15:52, 1 Th 4:16, Re 11:15-17, Re 10:7, Re 19:6-8) are all talking about the same event, which is the blowing of the last or seventh trumpet in Revelation, and also the establishment of Gods kingdom.  

The last trumpet being blown marks the final culmination of the first prophecy mentioned at Gen 3:15; the prophecy that was the answer to Satans, and ultimately Adam and Eve’s fall into sin.  It is the completion to the solution that Jehovah God created to remedy the situation brought about by Satan’s first sin.  That solution would eventually become known as the Sacred Secret.

Every witness should be familiar with these scriptures above from Revelation, since the enthronement of Jesus Christ in 1914 is the foundational teaching that Jehovahs Witnesses are built upon.  Here are a few references showing this to be true...

*** re chap. 26 p. 171 pars. 1-2 God’s Sacred Secret—Its Glorious Climax! ***

“He writes: “And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: ‘The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.’” (Revelation 11:15) Those angelic hosts have reason to speak loudly, even in thunderous tones! For this historic announcement is of universal importance. It is of vital concern to all living creation.

2 The sacred secret comes to its happy climax! Gloriously, magnificently, it is brought to a triumphant finish in 1914 when the Lord Jehovah enthrones his Christ as associate King.”

*** w89 4/1 p. 19 The Hour of God’s Judgment Has Arrived *** The Kingdom Is Established

“14 Then it happens! Revelation 11:15 says: “And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: ‘The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord [Jehovah] and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.’” Yes, it is announced that God’s Kingdom by Christ was established in heaven in the year 1914.”

*** w90 1/15 p. 20 par. 15 Learning the Sacred Secret of Godly Devotion ***

“But there is yet more to God’s sacred secret. Since 1914 we have been living in “the Lord’s day.” (Revelation 1:10) As Revelation 10:7 states, it is the time for ‘the sacred secret of God according to the good news to be brought to a finish.’ Heavenly voices have now proclaimed: “The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord [Jehovah] and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15) Jehovah has installed the Messianic King, Jesus Christ, on his glorious throne to be co-ruler with Him!

 

Here is the explanation of the contradiction referred to.  

The Sept 13th Watchtower used the scriptures Mt 24:31, 1 Cor 15:52, and 1 Th 4:16 each referring to the future events of the last trumpet blowing, and also the gathering of the chosen ones. The scriptures at Rev 11:15 and Rev 10:7  are also referring to the same events, yet they are taught as having taken place back in 1914.   

To be clear, the seventh trumpet spoken of in Rev 11:15 and Rev 10:7 is the same as the“last trumpet” spoken of at 1 Cor 15:52, and therefore those scriptures in Revelation could not have taken place back in 1914 as is currently taught. This article completely invalidates the current understanding of when the birth of the kingdom took place by establishing the trumpets being blown to be a future event.  

Remember that the Sacred Secret was the solution to the sin that Satan, and then Adam & Eve committed.  This solution was initiated at Gen 3:15, and for several millennia has been playing out leading up to the death of Jesus Christ.  However, the Sacred Secret was not finished with Jesus Death, but would continue on up until the seventh or last trumpet was blown, which is the final gathering.  It is at this point in time then that the Sacred Secret will finally be brought to a finish.  Rev 10:7 states “. . .but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to blow his trumpet, the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophets is indeed brought to a finish.””

The Sept 13th Watchtower article states in paragraph 14 that the final trumpet “is the time when the remaining ones of the 144,000 will receive their heavenly reward."  This begs the question of how then is the Sacred Secret brought to a finish in 1914, if the remaining chosen ones hadn’t yet received their heavenly reward, yet alone proved their worthiness to do so? 

It isn't until all 144,000 receive their heavenly reward that the prophecy is completed.  Which brings us to this, why would there have been a need for anymore anointed to be chosen if the Sacred Secret had already come to a finish in 1914 in the first place?

Is it any wonder that the current understanding of the trumpets being blown is so confusing?  By placing so much emphasis on 1914, true understanding of bible truths is turned into a guessing game.  Consider this example from a Question from Reader article:

     *** w90 4/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***

    Q: When did the seven angelic trumpet blasts of Revelation begin to sound?

    “…The final three trumpet blasts involve “woes.” (Revelation 8:13) They are different from the first four trumpet blasts in that they relate to specific events. The fifth trumpet blast is related to the release in 1919 of God’s people from “the abyss.” The sixth has to do with the “cavalry” and the massive international preaching campaign that began in 1922. The seventh is linked to the birth of God’s Kingdom in 1914.”

The answer to the question actually has the trumpets being blown in reverse according to this.  The 5^th is blown in 1919, the 6^th in 1922, and the 7^th(last trumpet) is blown in 1914.  So again we are forced to ask, if the last trumpet blew in 1914 how is it that 1Cor 15:52 is yet to blow in the future, when they are the same trumpet blast? 

  (1Co 15:52) “. . . in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

As we can see, the society has the same trumpet blast on two different occasion.  Because of this contradiction, they also have Jehovah becoming king on two separate occasions.  This is unfortunately what happens when private interpretation is forced onto the truth in the scriptures.

Here again are two scriptures from Revelation that deal with the exact same event, Jehovah becoming king.  However according to the current teaching Rev 11:17 happens in 1914, whereas Rev 19:6 occurs after the destruction of Babylon the Great. 

(Re 11:15-17) “. . .And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who were seated before God upon their thrones fell upon their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king.” [1914]

(Re 19:6-8) “. . .And I heard what was as a voice of a great crowd and as a sound of many waters and as a sound of heavy thunders. They said: “Praise Jah, YOU people, because Jehovah our God, the Almighty, has begun to rule as king. 7 Let us rejoice and be overjoyed, and let us give him the glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has arrived and his wife has prepared herself. 8 Yes, it has been granted to her to be arrayed in bright, clean, fine linen, for the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the holy ones.””[ After destruction of Babylon the Great]

Here is the current understanding regarding Rev 19:6

*** w93 5/1 pp. 25-26 par. 17 Deliverance at the Revelation of Jesus Christ ***

“The fourth Hallelujah introduces another theme: “Praise Jah, you people, because Jehovah our God, the Almighty, has begun to rule as king.” But was not a similar refrain taken up at Revelation 11:17? There we read: “We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, . . . because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king.” Yes. However, the context of Revelation 11:17 refers to Jehovah’s bringing forth the Messianic Kingdom in 1914.......Revelation 19:6 is in the context of the destruction of Babylon the Great.”

Essentially, according to this Jehovah becomes king once, and then over a hundred years later has to become king again but in a different context.  However prophetic interpretation cannot be forced into the preconceived mold of 1914, it just doesn't fit.  Looking to the scriptures we find this.

(Da 7:13-14) “13 “I kept on beholding in the visions of the night, and, see there! with the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man happened to be coming; and to the Ancient of Days he gained access, and they brought him up close even before that One. 14 And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.”

According to this scripture his rulership is indefinitely lasting, and will NEVER pass away.  So ask yourself, does it make sense that Jehovah, through Jesus Christ, should have to be made king twice?  Of course not.   Is it showing an honest attempt at understanding what the scriptures are teaching, or is it a misguided attempt at teaching the scriptures from their own private understanding?

When we compare the two scriptures directly from Revelation it becomes apparent they are talking about the same event in time, not two different ones separated by over one hundred years.

(Re 11:15-17) “. . .And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who were seated before God upon their thrones fell upon their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king. But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.””

(Re 19:6,19:17-19) “. . .And I heard what was as a voice of a great crowd and as a sound of many waters and as a sound of heavy thunders. They said: “Praise Jah, YOU people, because Jehovah our God, the Almighty, has begun to rule as king. . .I saw also an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice and said to all the birds that fly in midheaven: “Come here, be gathered together to the great evening meal of God, 18 that YOU may eat the fleshy parts of kings and the fleshy parts of military commanders and the fleshy parts of strong men and the fleshy parts of horses and of those seated upon them, and the fleshy parts of all, of freemen as well as of slaves and of small ones and great.” 19 And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army.”

Once the last trumpet is blown, the remaining chosen ones will be gathered together in heaven, Jesus Christ will be given the kingdom, and then shortly thereafter Armageddon will occur.  With Jesus Christs enthronement, it can be said that Jehovah has begun ruling as king.  This happens once, not twice as is currently taught.

Because the WTBTS is so entrenched in the 1914 understanding, truth is being thrown to the ground and replaced with a counterfeit reality of when the kingdom is born.  Those studying the Watchtower this Sunday will no doubt gloss over the details without using any of their own powers of reason to see that there is a major contradiction right in front of them.  If only two more scriptures had been added to the article(Rev 11:15 and Rev 10:7) perhaps a new understanding of what is being taught from the bible may have taken more root...And just like that the truth will be lost between this study and the next... 

Even though this delusion(2 Thes 2:11) is strongly rooted right now, soon Jesus Christ will act to remove any falsehood from the truth that the scriptures teach, and in doing so true worship will be restored.  

(2Th 2:8) “. . .Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence. . .”