Jehovah's Witnesses' Governing Body claims to be God's only "official mouthpiece" on Earth today. Can they back that up with scripture?
I have looked and all I can seem to find is their claim is true "because they said so." Sorry, but I need something much more substantial than that.
Anonymous2016-12-29T05:04:38Z
THEY SAY THE EARTH IS MAN'S HOME AND WILL NOT BE DESTROYED. SCIENCE AND MANY OTHER RELIGION DISAGREE. THEY BELIEVE THE BIBLE. =====================
THE KINGDOM MANY PRAY FOR
God’s Kingdom is a real government established by Jehovah God. “"The kingdom of God"” is also called “"the kingdom of heaven"” in the Bible, since it rules from heaven. (Mark 1:14, 15; Matthew 4:17, King James Version) It shares many attributes of human governments, yet it is superior to them in every way.
Rulers. God has appointed Jesus Christ as King of the Kingdom and has given him more authority than any human ruler could ever have. (Matthew 28:18) Jesus uses this power only for good, since he has already proved to be a reliable and compassionate Leader. (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:40, 41; 6:31-34; Luke 7:11-17) Under God’s direction, Jesus has selected persons from all nations who will “"rule as kings over the earth"” with him in heaven.—Revelation 5:9, 10.
Duration. Unlike human governments, which come and go, God’s Kingdom “"will never be brought to ruin."”—Daniel 2:44.
Subjects. Anyone who does what God requires can be a subject of God’s Kingdom, without regard for ancestry or birthplace.—Acts 10:34, 35.
They can't because their sect was started two mason Jews to spread Judaism under the disguise of Christianity. Jehovah Witnesses aren't Christians despite their claims.
45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so! 47 Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings. (Matthew 24:45-47)
When you answer that question you will have acknowledge that slave as providing spiritual food at the proper time. That this slave has been appoint over all of Jesus' belongings.
Just as there was one ark for salvation through the flood. One nation with one law, one tabernacle and temple, there is only one true Christian faith.
I have found that one faithful slave. Now it is up to you to find it.
In 2010 the society said that "deep truths" were discerned by "responsible representatives" of the "faithful and discreet slave class" at the religion's headquarters, and then considered by the entire Governing Body before making doctrinal decisions. ‘The Spirit Searches into the Deep Things of God’: "When the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps responsible representatives of 'the faithful and discreet slave' at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood. The Governing Body as a whole considers adjusted explanations. What they learn, they publish for the benefit of all." (Watchtower, July 15, 2010, page 23)
At the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Watch Tower Society, the "faithful and discreet slave" was redefined as referring to the Governing Body only and the terms are now synonymous. You need to understand that the GB claims it is the FDS and it is the GB who are responsible for everything that is published - "spiritual food." Now check out these quotes from the 15 July 2013 Watchtower article “Who Really is the Faithful and Discrete Slave?”
"3 How, then, are we to understand Jesus’ illustration about the faithful slave? In the past, our publications have said the following: At Pentecost 33 C.E., Jesus appointed the faithful slave over his domestics. The slave represents all anointed Christians on earth as a group at any one time since then. The domestics refer to the same anointed ones as individuals. In 1919, Jesus appointed the faithful slave “over all his belongings”—all his earthly Kingdom interests. However, further careful study and prayerful meditation indicate that our understanding of Jesus’ words about the faithful and discreet slave needs to be clarified. (Prov. 4:18) Let us examine the illustration and how it involves us, whether we have the heavenly or the earthly hope.
4 The context of the illustration of the faithful and discreet slave shows that it began to be fulfilled, not at Pentecost 33 C.E., but in this time of the end. Let us see how the Scriptures lead us to this conclusion...
In recent decades, that slave has been closely identified with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Note, however, that the word “slave” in Jesus’ illustration is singular, indicating that this is a composite slave. The decisions of the Governing Body are thus made collectively."
In the 15 July 2013 Watchtower article “Feeding many through the hands of a few,” paragraph 8 says: “The apostles and older men in Jerusalem” served as a governing body. As the Head of the congregation, Christ used this small group of qualified men to settle doctrinal issues and to oversee and direct the preaching and teaching of the Kingdom good news.—Acts 15:6-29; 21:17-19; Col. 1:18."
And paragraph 18 says: "In his prophecy about the time of the end, Jesus foretold that he would appoint a channel to give out spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matt. 24:45-47)"
Although they got it wrong about this "slave" dispensing spiritual food since 33 C.E., they now claim the "slave" was appointed in 1919 and now, in the 21st century, that "slave" is the Governing Body. Those are the only quotes that give scriptures that I can find. However, there is nothing in any of those scriptures that prove the Governing Body is Jehovah's only "official mouthpiece" on Earth today. It is their claim, but given all the errors and changes they've made since 1919, it begs the question why would Jehovah allow them to misrepresent "truth" and have to keep changing their views?
Edit: Another quote: "When did Jesus appoint the faithful slave over his domestics?... That question was answered after he and his Father came and inspected the temple from 1914 to the early part of 1919.* (See endnote.) (Malachi 3:1) They were pleased with a small group of loyal Bible Students who showed that they truly loved Jehovah and his Word. Of course, they needed some cleansing. But they humbly accepted correction during a period of testing and refining. (Malachi 3:2-4) Those faithful Bible Students were true Christians, the wheat in Jesus’ illustration. In 1919, Jesus selected qualified anointed brothers from among them to be the faithful and discreet slave and appointed them over his domestics."
* See the article “Look! I Am With You All the Days,” in this issue, pages 10-12, paragraphs 5-8. http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102014241#h=125:0-128:85 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/402013533?q=the+faithful&p=par