| November 5, 2000 |
Vol. III, No. 27
|
THE “KINGDOM” OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES IS NEARLY 1900 YEARS TOO LATE!
So-called “Jehovah’s Witnesses” teach that the kingdom of God was set up in 1914. For proof of this read the following statements from their publications:
“Likewise, the kingdom of God was born and set in action in A.D. 1914...” (The Truth Shall Make You Free, page 299). “In A.D. 1914... Christ Jesus, whose right it is to be God’s King in the true and everlasting Theocracy of heaven came and God gave the throne of the Theocratic Government to him” (page 300). “Bear in mind that the fall of A.D. 1914, when Christ Jesus received the Kingdom...” (page 301).
“The undefeatable purpose of Jehovah God to establish a righteous kingdom in these last days was fulfilled A.D. 1914.” (Let God Be True, page 143). “His kingdom... was born in 1914.” (page 202). “The remnants of spiritual Israelites, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, have proclaimed world-wide the establishment of God’s kingdom in 1914.” (page 218).
Let us examine God’s Word and see if it teaches that the kingdom of God was born and set up (or established) in 1914 like the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” teach.
While on earth both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ preached “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23). They said, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). That was in the first century nearly 1900 years ago! Note the fact that “the kingdom” was “at hand!” It was near! In Mark 9:1 Jesus said: “...There be some of them which stand here, which shall not taste of death, TILL they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” NOTE: That was in the first century nearly 1900 years ago! OBSERVATION: If “the kingdom of God” did not come (was not set up or established) until 1914, there were people still living on earth (had not tasted death) in 1914 who were at least nearly 1900 years old and some may have been older than that. NOTE: That would make Methuselah (who lived 969 years -- Gen. 5:27) look like a schoolboy! Surely no “Witness” would make such a claim!
We learn from Rev. 1:9 that John was “a brother, and companion in tribulation, and IN THE KINGDOM...” NOTE: The kingdom was in existence when John wrote Rev. 1:9 because JOHN WAS IN IT!
The inspired Hebrew writer (12:28-29) said, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; For our God is a consuming fire.” NOTE: The Hebrew writer and other saints HAD RECEIVED an immovable kingdom. Therefore the kingdom was in existence at that time.
The saints in Thessalonica had been called “unto his [God’s] kingdom and glory.” (1 Thess. 2:12).
In his letter to the saints at Colosse Paul said: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son...” (1:13). NOTE: The kingdom was in existence! That was in the first century nearly 1900 years ago! In view of the Scriptural evidence that the kingdom of God was established (set up) in the first century, and “the kingdom of Jehovah’s Witnesses” was not set up (established) UNTIL 1914, we must conclude that “the kingdom of Jehovah’s Witnesses” is nearly 1900 years too late to be the kingdom of God. Their “kingdom” is a “kingdom” of men. It came into existence by human desire. It was designed by human reasoning and human wisdom. It was set up (established) by men. It is governed and controlled by men. Its creed is the product of men, their likes, dislikes, preferences, doctrines and their wisdom.
God did not purpose, design nor establish the “kingdom of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” It is destined to be rooted up! (Matt. 15:13). If you are in it, get out before it’s too late!
--Carrol R. Sutton via The Instructor
In Matt. 18:6, Jesus indicated that it would be better for His follower to die young -- even to die a painful and frightening death -- than to live long enough to lead a brother or sister in Christ to sin. He said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
This is one of several passages of Scripture that indicates that there is a fate worse than death. We live in a world where a great number of individuals do not believe there is anything after death. Even many church-going religious people have been led by materialistic and modernistic preachers to think that death is the final, total end.
If physical death were the worst fate that could befall a person, Jesus could never have said what He said in Luke 12:5, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” See also Matt. 10:28.
After this life is over, we must all appear before Jesus in a final judgment. Those who have not served God faithfully will be cast into a burning hell, 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-9.
Jesus warned repeatedly, “And if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire” (Matt. 18:8-9); Mark 9:42-48.
Modernistic preachers scoff at the idea of an everlasting hell, and encourage their disciples to reject such a concept. They use human reasoning about the love and mercy of God to offset what God Himself has revealed in warning us to flee from the wrath to come. God’s love and mercy has provided the sacrifice necessary to take away our sins, and ensure our escape from the everlasting fire of hell. But if we choose not to believe and obey Him, the threatened doom will come. Jesus had more to say about hell than any other preacher in all the Scriptures. He was too wise to be mistaken. He was too honest to mislead us. And He loved us far too much to not warn us repeatedly that hell awaits the end of every life that rejects God’s will and His mercy.
–CRJ