Saksi-Saksi Yehuwa
Andhika Gunawan, B.Sc., M.A.
¨ Ul 18:20 Tetapi seorang nabi, yang terlalu berani
untuk mengucapkan demi nama-Ku perkataan yang tidak Kuperintahkan untuk
dikatakan olehnya, atau yang berkata demi nama allah lain, nabi itu harus mati.
(21) Jika sekiranya kamu berkata dalam hatimu: Bagaimanakah kami mengetahui
perkataan yang tidak difirmankan TUHAN? – (22) apabila seorang nabi berkata demi nama TUHAN dan perkataannya itu tidak
terjadi dan tidak sampai, maka itulah
perkataan yang tidak difirmankan TUHAN; dengan terlalu berani nabi itu
telah mengatakannya, maka janganlah gentar kepadanya."
¨ Yeh 13:6 Penglihatan mereka menipu dan
tenungan mereka adalah bohong; mereka berkata: Demikianlah firman TUHAN,
padahal TUHAN tidak mengutus mereka,
dan mereka menanti firman itu digenapi-Nya. (7) Bukankah penglihatan tipuan
yang kamu lihat dan tenungan bohong yang kamu katakan, kalau kamu berkata:
Demikianlah firman TUHAN, padahal Aku
tidak berbicara? (8) Sebab itu, beginilah firman Tuhan ALLAH, oleh karena kamu mengatakan kata-kata dusta dan
melihat perkara-perkara bohong, maka Aku akan menjadi lawanmu, demikianlah
firman Tuhan ALLAH.
¨ 1972 "Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put all false prophets to shame either
by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by
having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the
false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling
shame by denying who they really are." (Paradise Restored To Mankind By
Theocracy, 1972, p. 353, 354)
¨ “The
Difference. True, there have been those in times past who predicted an “end to the
world.” Even announcing a specific date.
Some have gathered groups of people with them and fled to the hills or
withdrawn into their houses waiting for the end. Yet, nothing
happened. The “end” did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying.”(Awake
8 Oct 1968, p 23, artikel ‘A Time to ‘Lift Up Your Head in Confident Hope’)
¨ “Similarly, the “false prophet” is not a person, but is
a system or an organization. A
“prophet” claims to have inspired information for the direction of others. A
“false prophet” would mislead others, to turn them away from God and toward
false worship.” (Watchtower June 15, 1974, p 381)
¨ Dalam bukunya
‘Bertukar Pikiran mengenai Ayat-ayat Akitab’ (1987) hal 228 WBTS mengajarkan
kepada pengikutnya jika mereka ditanya :
‘Jika seseorang mengatakan –
‘Pendeta saya mengatakan bahwa Saksi-Saksi Yehuwa adalah nabi-nabi palsu’,
‘…saudara dapat mengatakan: ‘Saya yakin
anda akan setuju bahwa bukti spesifik seharusnya mendukung tuduhan yang serius
seperti itu. Apakah pendeta anda
menunjukkan contoh-contoh spesifik?’
‘Jika penghuni rumah menyebutkan beberapa “ramalan” tertentu yang pernah
dinyatakan namun tidak tergenap, gunakan bahan di halaman 225, dan dari bagian
bawah halaman 226 sampai bagian atas halaman 228’
|
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Kutipan dari publikasi WBTS |
|
Ada pembaca yang menanyakan tentang 1914
dan dijawab bahwa mereka tidak punya alasan untuk mengubah tahun itu karena
itu adalah tanggal Allah, bukan tanggal yang ditentukan mereka |
1894 " Now,
in view of recent labor troubles and threatened anarchy, our readers are writing to know if there may not be a mistake in the 1914
date. They say that they do not see how present conditions can hold out
so long under the strain. We see no
reason for changing the figures-nor could we change them if we would. They
are, we believe, God's dates, not ours." (Zion Watchtower Jul 15
1894 repr 1677) |
|
Pada tahun 1914, kerajaan Allah akan
mendapatkan full, universal control, dan gereja akan mengalami rapture dan
para anggotanya akan dimuliakan bersama Sang Kepala Gereja |
1889 "In
this chapter we present the Bible
evidence proving that the full end of the times of Gentiles, i.e., the
full end or their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that that date will be the farest limit of the
rule of imperfect men.. That at
that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray,
saying, 'The Kingdom come,' will have
obtained full, universal control, and that it will then be 'set up,' or
firmly established, in the earth.. Church
taken home in a rapture .. It will prove that some time before the end of A.D. 1914 the last
member of the divinely recognized Church of Christ, the 'royal priesthood,'
'the body of Christ,' will be glorified with the Head; because every
member is to reign with Christ, being a joint-heir with him of the Kingdom,
and it cannot be fully 'set up' without every member." (The Time is At
Hand / Studies in the Scripturse II, th.
1888-9,1891,1895,1898,1901-20,1923-77, p.76-7) |
|
Perang besar Allah akan berakhir di tahun
1914 dan menjatuhkan (complete overthrow) pemerintah dunia |
1889 "we present proofs that the setting up
of the kingdom of God is already begun .. and that the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16: 14) which
shall end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present
rulership .. The gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the
standpoint of God's word." (The Time is At Hand / Studies in the
Scripturse II, th. 1888-9,1891,1895,1898,1901-20,1923-77, p.101) [Dalam edisi
tahun 1915, tahun 1914 diganti dengan 1915 ] |
|
Pada tahun 1914, kekristenan akan musnah |
1891 "And, with the end of A.D. 1914, what God
calls Babylon, and what men call
Christendom, will have passed away, as is already shown from
prophecy." (Thy Kingdom Come / Studies in the Scripturse III, th.
1891,1895,1898,1901-20,1923-7, p.153) |
|
Setelah GAGAL TOTAL, mereka menyangkal tentang tahun 1914 |
1914 "We did not say positively that this would
be the year." (WT Nov 1 1914 repr 5565) |
|
Penyangkalan diri. Sekalipun waktunya tidak
datang dalam 10 tahun lagi, kita tetap bahagia karena Allah setia. |
1914 "Even if the time of our change should not come within ten years,
what more should we ask? Are we not a blessed, happy people? Is not our God faithful? If anyone
knows anything better, let him take it. If
any of you ever find anything better, we hope you will tell us." (WT Dec 15 1914 376) |
|
Masih juga tegar tengkuk |
1914 "It is
on the basis of such and so many correspondencies - in accordance with the soundest
laws known to science- that we affirm
that, Scripturally, scientifically, and historically, present-truth
chronology is correct beyond a doubt. Its reliability has been abundantly confirmed by the dates and
events of .. 1914 .. Present-truth chronology is a secure basis on which
the consecrated child of God may endeavor to search out things to come."
(WT Jun 15 1922 187) |
|
Mereka akhirnya mengakui kesalahan. Kata mereka: Janji Allah bisa dipercaya,
tetapi kami sebagai manusia condong pada kesalahan. |
1995 "Prior
to the latter part of the year 1914, many
Christians expected Christ to return at that time and to take them away to
heaven. Thus, in a discourse given on
September 30, 1914, A.H. Macmillan, a Bible Student, stated: 'This is
probably the last public address I shall ever deliver because we shall be
going home (to heaven) soon.' Clearly, Macmillan was mistaken, but that was not the only unfulfilled expectation he or
his fellow Bible Students had.. Consequently, A.H. Macmillan explained later:
'I learned that we should admit our
mistakes and continue searching God's Word for more enlightenment. No
matter what adjustments we would have to make from time to time in our views,
that would not change the gracious provision of the ransom and God's promise
of eternal life .. Indeed, God's
promises can be trusted! It is humans who are prone to error. Therefore,
true Christians will maintain a waiting attitude in obedience to Jesus'
command. They will keep awake and ready for Christ's inevitable coming as
God's Executioner. They will not allow false predictions to dull their senses
and cause them to ignore the true warning of the world's end." (AWAK Jun
22 1995 6-9) [why no mention of Russell's belief in exactly the same thing?] |
|
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Kutipan dari publikasi WBTS |
|
Abarham, Ishak, Yakub dan nabi-nabi yang disebutkan
dalam surat Ibrani 11, akan dibangkitkan secara jasmani dan kelihatan |
1920 "The chief
thing to be restored is the human race to life; and since other Scriptures
definitely fix the fact that there
will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of
old, and that these will have the first favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of
Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to
perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order
of things on earth.. They are to be resurrected as perfect men and constitute the princes or rulers in the
earth .. Therefore we may
confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in
Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection..." (booklet
Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 192088-90) |
|
Pada tahun 1925 sistem lama, orde lama,
dunia lama akan berakhir dan orde baru akan datang, bahkan jutaan orang yang sekarang
hidup tidak akan mati |
1920 "Based
upon the argument heretofore set forth, then, that the old order of things, the old world, is ending and is therefore
passing away, and that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the
faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is
reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still
on the earth in 1925. Then, based upon the promises set forth in the divine
Word, we must reach the positive and
indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die."
(booklet Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p.97) |
|
Sekitar April 1, 1925 org-orang kudus dari
PL akan dibangkitkan |
1920 ".. about April 1, 1925, at which time we may
expect the resurrection of the Ancient Worthies .." (booklet
Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920,
p.110) |
|
WBTS tidak ada keraguan sedikitpun tentang
1925 |
1922 "We have no doubt whatever in regard to
the chronology relating to the dates of .. 1925.. What further evidence
do we need? Using this same measuring line .. it is an easy matter to locate
1925, probably in the fall, for the beginning of the antitypical jubilee. There can be no more question about 1925
than there was about 1914." {WT May 15 1922 150} |
|
Periode tsb akan berakhir tahun 1925 dan
tahun itu ‘definitely fixed’ dalam Alkitab.
Akan terjadijatuhnya kerajaan Iblis dan berdirinya kerejaan Mesias
secara penuh |
1922 "The period must end in 1925. The type
ending, the antitype must begin; and therefore
1925 is definitely fixed in the scriptures. every thinking person can see
that a great climax is at hand. The
Scriptures clearly indicate that the climax is the fall of Satan's empire and
the full establishment of the Messianic kingdom. This climax being reached by 1925, and that marking the beginning
of the fulfillment of the long promised blessings of life to the people,
millions now living on earth will be living then and those who obey the
righteous laws of the new arrangement will live forever. Therefore it can be
confidently said at this time that millions now living will never die."
(The Golden Age, Jan 4 1922 p.217) |
|
Kita bisa lebih yakin (tentang kerajaan
Allah akan datang tahun 1925) dibandingkan Nuh yakin akan datangnya air bah |
1923 "Have we more reason, or as much, to
believe the kingdom will be established in 1925 than Noah had to believe that
there would be a flood? .. Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of
the typical jubilees." (WT Mar 1 1923 106) |
|
Anak-anak laki-laki dan perempuan yang sedang
membaca buku tsb akan melihat Abraham Ishak, Yakub, Yusuf, Daniel, dan
lain-lain datang dalam kebangkitan mereka |
1924 "After
1925 expect shortly Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.. No doubt many boys and girls who read
this book will live to see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, and those
other men of old come forth in the glory of their better resurrection, of
perfect in mind and body. It will not take long for Christ to appoint
them to their post of honor and authority as his earthly representatives. The
world and all the present conveniences will seen strange to them at first,
but they will soon become accustomed to the new methods. They may have some
amusing experiences at first; for they never saw telephones, radios,
automobiles, electric lights, aeroplanes, steam engines, and many other
things so familiar to us." (The Way To Paradise, 1924 p.224-6) |
|
Tahun 1925 ‘definitely and clearly’ marked |
1924 "The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly
marked in Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914" (WT 1924
p.211) |
|
Setelah GAGAL TOTAL, mereka berkata bahwa
banyak orang yang mempercayai imajinasi sendiri padahal Tuhan tidak
mengatakan bahwa dunia akan berakhir di tahun 1925 [memang Tuhan tidak mengatakannya tetapi
WTBS yang mengatakannya] |
1926 "Some anticipated that the work would end
in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations
beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were
inclined to throw away everything." (WT 1926 p.232) |
|
Diakui bahwa pada tahun 1925, Abraham, Daud,
dan lain-lain tidak dibangkitkan dan menjadi raja di dunia. WBTS menyalahkan mengapa sesuatu yang ‘kemungkinan’
kok dianggap ‘kepastian’? |
1975 "The
year 1925 came and went. Jesus' anointed followers were still on earth as a
class. The faithful men of old time - Abraham,
David and others - had not been resurrected to become princes in the earth.
(Ps. 45:16) So, as Anna MacDonald recalls: '1925 was a sad year for many
brothers. Some of them were stumbled; their hopes were dashed .. Instead of it's being considered a
'probability', they read into it that it was a 'certainty' and some
prepared for their loved ones with expectations of their resurrection."
(YEAR 1975 p.146) |
¨ Sekalipun
nubuat mereka terbukti salah, dimana pada tahun 1925 orang-orang kudus tsb
tidak datang, banyak diantara Saksi-Saksi Yehovah yang tetap yakin bahwa orang-orang kudus Perjanjian Lama akan
dibangkitkan.
Watchtower Society, pada tahun
1929/1930 membangun sebuah mansion bergaya Spanyol yang diberi nama Beth-Sarim
(House of Princes) yang rencananya akan digunakan sebagai tempat tinggal orang-orang
kudus tersebut.
"At San Diego,
California, there is a small piece of land, on which, in the year 1929, there was built a house, which is called and known as Beth-Sarim. The Hebrew words
Beth Sarim mean 'House of the Princes';
and the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that
there might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today who
fully believe God and Christ Jesus and in His kingdom, and who believe that the faithful men of old will
soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the
visible affairs of earth." (Salvation, 1939 ed., p. 311)
¨ Publik
mengetahui hal tsb dan mengejek mereka, tetapi Watchtower tetap ngotot dan
bahkan bersukacita bahwa Beth-Sarim telah menarik perhatian publik terhadap apa
yang akan Tuhan lakukan..
"The public press has ridiculed and scoffed at BETH-SARIM,
but those who love the Lord rejoice
that this has been used as a means to
publicly call attention to the faithful men whom God will bring forth."
(The Watchtower, March 15, 1937, p. 86)
¨ Dalam buku
terakhirnya, Rutherford menulis bahwa Beth Sarim telah diserahkan dalam sebuah
trust sambil menunggu kedatangan orang-orang kudus tsb.
"In this expectation
the house at San Diego, California, which house has been much publicized with
malicious intent by the religious enemy, was built, in 1930, and named
'Beth-Sarim', meaning "House of the Princes'. It is now held in trust for the occupancy of those princes on their return."
(The New World, 1942 ed., p. 104)
¨ Yang umumnya
tidak diketahui publik adalah bahwa didalam akte ‘trust’ tersebut (tertanggal
24 Desember 1929) dinyatakan bahwa Watchtower-lah yang akan memiliki hak atas
properti tsb selama-lamanya atas nama org-orang kudus tsb., dan bahwa
Rutherford berhak tinggal dan menggunakan Beth Sarim selama orang-orang kudus
itu belum datang.
"The condition herein is that the said Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
shall hold said title perpetually in trust for the use of any or all of the men
above named as representatives of God's kingdom on earth and that such men shall
have possession and use of said property hereinabove described as they may deem
for the best interest for the work in which they are engaged."
"…the said Joseph F. Rutherford in such lease or other
paper writing shall have the right and privilege of residing on said premises
until the same be taken possession of by David or some of the other men herein
named and this property and premises being dedicated to Jehovah and the use of
his kingdom it shall be used as such for ever" (deed dated 24 December 1929).
¨ Jadi President
Rutherford akhirnya tinggal di rumah mewah tsb sampai dia menginggal dunia di
tahun 1942, yakni selama sekitar 12 tahun.
Dia tinggal disana dengan mewahnya sekalipun Amerika saat itu sedang
mengalami the Great Depression (depresi ekonomi yang sangat hebat) dan saat
dimana banyak anggotanya yang hidup dalam kemiskinan. Pada tahun 1948 Beth Sarim dijual kepada pihak lain dan pada
tahun 1950 ajaran tentang datangnya orang-orang kudus ini secara diam-diam
ditinggalkan.
¨ Pada tahun
1974/1975, dalam sebuah buku tahunannya, Watchtower berusaha mengaburkan
sejarah mereka atau bahkan bisa disebut mengganti sejarah mereka sendir yang
memalukan dimana di dalamnya disebutkan bahwa Beth Sarim dibangun untuk
Rutherford, bukan untuk orang-orang kudus yang dikatakan Rutherford dan
dinyatakan dalam akte trust bangunan itu.
"In time, a direct contribution was made for the purpose of
constructing a house in San Diego for
Brother Rutherford's use. It was not built at the expense of the Watch
Tower Society. Concerning this property, the 1939 book Salvation stated: 'At
San Diego, California, there is a small piece of land, on which, in the year
1929, there was built a house, which is called and known as Beth-Sarim." (1975 Yearbook of
Jehovah's Witnesses, p.194)
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|
Musim gugur 1975 adalah akhir dari 6000
tahun sejarah manusia, dan akan dimulai1000 tahun istirahat dimana tidak ada
Iblis dan setan-setannya. Masa ini (setelah
musim gugur 1975) adalah masa yang sangat damai |
1967 "A
THOUSAND-YEAR REBUILDING PERIOD.
"According to the Bible timetable man's history on earth has been
nearly 6,000 years. Adam was created in 4026 B.C.E., which means that six thousand years of human history end
about the fall of 1975 C.E. We are in the great 7,000-year rest day of
God, starting at the time he rested after the creation of Adam and Eve. There
are, therefore, a thousand years left
to run. Without Satan and his demons to disturb mankind it will indeed be a
restful time. It will be like a sabbath. In a way it will be a sabbath
within a sabbath. The last thousand
years of God's great seven-thousand-year rest is a special sabbath over
which the Son of man will be Lord.Matt. 12:8
(1967 Watchtower 7/15 446-7 The Removal of Mankind's Chief Disturber) |
|
Suatu order baru yang mulia akan datang
setelah musim gugur 1975, sistem lama yang jahat akan lenyap selama-lamanya |
1967 "Interestingly
the autumn of the year 1975 marks the end
of 6,000 years of human experience. … The time is close at hand. On God's
"timetable" we are in the closing days of a wicked system of things that will soon be gone forever. A glorious new order is immediately
before us. This is, therefore, good reason for Christians everywhere to
rejoice. Yes, they rejoice because fulfillment of their prayers for the
kingdom of God is now at hand.Luke 21:28. (1967 Watchtower 5/1 p.262 Where
Are We According to God's Timetable?) |
|
Berdasarkan kronologi Alkitab yang bisa
diandalkan, sejarah manusia akan berakhir bulan September yang akan datang
(tidak diketahui tanggal persisnya), dan manusia mungkin akan musnah karena
kelaparan, keracunan dan lain-lain. |
1975
"Another speaker, F. W. Franz,
the Society's vice-president, forcefully impressed on the audience the
urgency of the Christian preaching work. He stressed that, according
to dependable Bible chronology, 6,000 years of human history will end this
coming September according to the lunar calendar. This coincides with a time when "the human species [is]
about to starve itself to death," as well as its being faced with
poisoning by pollution and destruction by nuclear weapons. Franz added: 'There's no basis for believing that
mankind, faced with what it now faces, can exist for the seventh thousand-year period" under the
present system of things.' .. Does
this mean that we know exactly
when God will destroy this old system and establish a new one? Franz showed
that we do not, for we do not know
how short was the time interval between Adam's creation and the creation of
Eve, at which point God's rest day of seven thousand years began (Heb.
4:3,4). But, he pointed out, 'we should not think that this year of 1975 is
of no significance to us,' for the Bible proves that Jehovah is 'the greatest
chronologist' and 'we have the anchor
date, 1914, marking the end of the Gentile Times.' So, he continued, 'we
are filled with anticipation for the near future, for our generation.' (WT
May 1 1975 p.285) |
|
Setelah GAGAL TOTAL, pada bulan Oktober
mereka memberikan penjelasan lagi bahwa penyebabnya adalah ketidaktahuan kita
tentang jarak waktu penciptaan Adam dan penciptaan Hawa [ Padahal dalam publikasi mereka yang lain
jelas Adam dan Hawa dikatakan diciptakan dalam tahun yang sama ] |
1975
"However, the Bible's time clock does indicate to us that 6,000 years of
human history end in this year 1975.. Does
this mean, then, that mankind has now reached 6,000 years into the 7,000 year
period that God blessed and made sacred as his rest day? .. No, It does not
mean that.. Well, the Bible record shows that God's creations on the
'day' just preceeding that 7,000-year 'rest day' did not end with Adam's
creation. It shows a time lapse
between the creation of Adam and that of his wife, Eve. During that time,
God had Adam name the animals. Whether
that period amounted to weeks or months or years, we do not know."
(WT Oct 1 1975 p.579) [ Note: Pada tahun 1968, WBTS memberikan penjelasan mengenai
kapan Hawa diciptakan ] According to reliable Bible chronology, Adam and Eve were created in 4026 B.C.E. (Awake Oct 8 1968 14-5) “From the most reliable
investigations of Bible chronology, harmonizing with many accepted dates
of secular history, we find that Adam
was created in the autumn of the year 4026 B.C.E. Sometime in that same year Eve could well have
been created, directly after which God's rest day commenced . (Awake Oct
8 1966 19-20) “Since it was also
Jehovah's purpose for man to multiply and fill the earth, it is logical that
he would create Eve soon after Adam, perhaps just a few weeks or months later
in the same year, 4026 B.C.E.” (WT May 1 1968 271-3) |
|
Lagi, setelah GAGAL, mereka menyatakan
bahwa mereka bukanlah nabi-nabi yang terilhami |
1976 "They do not claim infallibility or
perfection. Neither are they
inspired prophets." (WT May 15 1976 p.297) |
¨ WBTS tidak menganjurkan anggota-anggotanya untuk
mempunyai anak, mengingat Armagedon sudah dekat
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|
Adalah tidak sesuai alkitab jika sekarang
menikah dan punya anak, karena akan membebani saja pada saat Armagedon,
sebaiknya menunggu beberapa tahun lagi sampai Armagedon selesai |
1938 "Would it be Scripturally proper for them
to now marry and to begin to rear children? No, is the answer, which is
supported by the Scripture...It will be far better to be unhampered and
without burdens, that they may do the Lord's will now, as the Lord commands,
and also be without hindrance during Armageddon." (Face the
Facts, 1938, pp. 46-47) 1938 "Those Jonadabs who now
contemplate marriage, it would seem, would
do better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is
gone..." (Ibid., p. 50) |
|
Yesus tidak mengajurkan punya anak saat
dekat Armagedon, jadi saat ini (immediately before Armagedon) Alkitab tidak
menganjurkan punya anak |
1938 "...mark
the words of Jesus, which definitely seem to discourage the bearing of
children immediately before or during Armageddon: "And woe unto them
that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days - Matt.
24:19... It would therefore appear that there
is no reasonable or Scriptural injunction to bring children into the world
immediately before Armageddon, where we now are." (The Watchtower,
Nov. 1, 1938, p. 324) |
|
Jika mau menikah terserah, tetapi hal ini
ditentang oleh Alkitab |
1941 "Should men and women, both of whom
are Jonadabs or "other sheep" of the Lord, now marry before Armageddon and bring forth children? They may
chose to do so, but the admonition or
advice of the scriptures appears to be against it." (Children; 1941;
3,000,000 ed.; p. 312). |
|
Sebaiknya menunggu sampai setelah Armagedon
baru punya anak |
1941 "The
prophetic picture seems to set forth the correct rule, to wit: The three sons
of Noah and their wives were in the ark and were saved from the flood. They
did not have any children, however, until after the flood. They began to have
children two years after the flood. (Genesis 11:10,11) No children were taken
into the ark and none were born in the ark, and hence none were brought out
of the ark. Only eight persons went in and eight came out of the ark. (1
Peter 3:20; Genesis 8:18) That would appear to indicate that it would be proper that those who will
form the "great multitude" should wait until after Armageddon to
bring children into the world." (Children; 1941; 3,000,000 ed.; pp.
312-313). |
|
Ada sekelompok orang (anggota mereka
sendiri) yang memutuskan untuk tidak punya anak saat ini karena destruction
sudah dekat |
1974 "Today there is a great crowd of people who are
confident that a destruction
of even greater magnitude is now
imminent. The evidence is that Jesus' prophecy will shortly have a major
fulfilment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in
influencing many couples to decide not
to have children at this time. They
have chosen to remain childless so that they would be less encumbered to
carry out the instructions of Jesus Christ to preach the good news of God's
kingdom earth wide before the end of this system comes. - Matt.24:14."
(Awake!, Nov. 8, 1974, p. 11) |
¨ WBTS tidak menganjurkan anggota-anggotanya untuk
melanjutkan ke pendidikan tinggi
|
Klaim |
Kutipan dari publikasi WBTS |
|
Akhir masyarakat dunia sudah dekat, dan akan
segera diganti sistem baru. Anak-anak
harus dihindarkan dari pendidikan tinggi dunia (yg merusak moral) dianjurkan
sebaiknya belajar pertanian dan pekerjaan rumah, untuk persiapan hidup di
firdau. |
1967 "Parents who are Jehovah's witnesses
have another very sound reason for channelling their children's lives into
useful trades. They know from
fulfilled Bible prophecy that today's
industrial society is near its end. Soon it will be given its death
stroke by Almighty God himself. After that, in God's new order a
reconstruction work will be done to transform this entire earth into a
paradise. Trades of many types will be very useful then, as will skills in
agriculture and homemaking. So by
guiding their children away from the so-called 'higher' education of
today, these parents spare their
children exposure to an increasingly demoralizing atmosphere, and at the
same time prepare them for life in a
new system as well." (Awake!, June 8, 1967, p. 8). |
|
Keputusan untuk berkarir sekarang adalah
tidak bijaksana dan berbahaya. Mereka
yang menolak beasiswa dan pekerjaan demi mengutamakan kerohanian, dipuji
(secara tidak langsung) |
1969 "In
view of the short time left, a
decision to pursue a career in this system of things is not only unwise but
extremely dangerous...Many young brothers and sisters were offered scholarships or employment that promised fine pay. However, they turned them down and out spiritual
interests first." (Kingdom Ministry, June, 1969, p. 3). |
|
Jangan terpengaruh konselor sekolah yang menasihatkan
untuk masuk perguruan tinggi selepas SMU.
Jangan biarkan mereka 'mencuci otak’ anda dengan propaganda Iblis. |
1969 "Many
schools now have student counselors
who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue
a career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them. Do not let them "brainwash"
you with the Devil's propaganda to get ahead, to make something of
yourself in this world. The world has
very little time left! Any "future" this world offers is no
future!...Make pioneer service, the fulltime ministry, with the possibility
of Bethel or missionary service your goal. This is a life that offers an
everlasting future!" (The Watchtower, March 15, 1969, p. 171, emphasis
added). |
¨ WBTS memuji anggota-anggota yang menjual
propertinya
|
Klaim |
Kutipan dari publikasi WBTS |
|
Adanya jemaat yang mulai menjual rumah dan
properti malah dipuji sebagai ‘a fine way to spend the short time remaining’ |
1974 "How
Are You Using Your Life?" Yes since the summer of 1973 there have been
new peaks in pioneers every month. Now there are 20,394 regular and special
pioneers in the United States, an all-time peak. That is 5,190 more than
there were in February 1973! A 34-percent increase! Does that not warm our
hearts? Reports are heard of brothers
selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their
days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before
the wicked world's end.1 John 2:17. (May 1974 Kingdom Ministry 5/74 p.3) |
¨ Pertama kita
melihat periode 1952 sampai dengan 1984 dimana secara konsisten mereka mengajarkan
bahwa Armagedon akan terjadi dalam masa hidup Generasi 1914 (yaitu mereka yang hidup
pada tahun 1914, mengalami kedatangan Yesus yang invisible)
|
Klaim |
Kutipan dari publikasi WBTS |
|
Beberapa orang yang hidup di tahun 1914
akan tetap hidup ketika semua ini berakhir dengan Armagedon |
1952 "Some persons living A.D. 1914 when
the series of foretold events began will
also be living when the series ends with Armageddon." (The
Watchtower, September 1, 1952, p. 543) |
|
Beberapa orang dari generasi 1914 masih
hidup dan akan tetap hidup untuk melihat akhir dari sistem yang jahat
ini. Berarti hanya tinggal sedikit
waktu lagi! |
1968 "But there are people still living who were
alive in 1914 and saw what was happening then and who were old enough
that they still remember those events. This generation is getting up in years
now. A great number of them have already passed away in death. Yet Jesus very
pointedly said: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these
things occur.' Some of them will still
be alive to see the end of this wicked system. This means that only a short
time is left before the end comes!" (The Truth That Leads To Eternal
Life, 1968 ed., p. 95) 1969
"However, there are people still
living who were alive in 1914 and saw what was happening then and who
were old enough that they still remember those events. This generation is
getting up in years now. A great number of them have already passed away in
death. Yet Jesus very pointedly said: 'This generation will by no means pass
away until all these things occur.' Some
of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system. This means
that only a short time is left before the end comes!" (The
Watchtower, February 15, 1969, p. 101) |
|
Manusia tidak bisa menawarkan sesuatu yang stabil
dan pasti, Firman nubuat Allah tidak pernah gagal, waktu telah membuktikan
ketepatannya. Generasi 1914 tidak
akan hilang dari pandangan kita sebelum masa kesukaran besar datang. |
1971 "Men of this world offer you nothing stable, nothing sure. Their
promises and predictions of better things have failed time and again. Why
let yourself be carried along with them in a steadily downward course to
ultimate disaster due to rejecting God's will? God's prophetic Word has not failed. Time has confirmed its
truthfulness, its unerring accuracy. The
generation that saw the start of the time of distress that began in 1914 is
now dwindling in numbers. Before it passes off the scene the
prophesied 'great tribulation' will come. You can be among the joyful
survivors, experience deliverance from a world system that has proved
oppressive, unworkable and death dealing." (The Watchtower, February 1,
1971, p. 69) |
|
Yesus menjamin bahwa generasi 1914 tidak akan
habis (semuanya) sampai terjadinya masa kesukaran besar yang akan menghapus
sistem jahat si Setan |
1982 "And
the remaining ones of that generation of 1914 are still talking about it.
Some of them will be talking about it right down to the time when the 'great
tribulation' wipes Satan's wicked system of things off the face of our globe.
For Jesus Christ himself assures us:
'Truly I say to you that this generation [the generation that saw the
'beginning of pangs of distress' in 1914] will by no means pass away
[completely] until all these things occur. Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will by no means pass away.'--Matthew 24:3,8,34,35."
(The Watchtower, May 1, 1982, p. 15) |
|
Generasi yang dimaksud Yesus, yaitu
generasi 1914 akan tetap hidup melihat akhir dari sistem yang jahat ini |
1982 "After
drawing attention to the many things that have marked the period from 1914
onward, Jesus said: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all
these things [including the end of this system] occur.' (Matthew 24:34,14) Which generation did Jesus mean? He meant
the generation of people who were living in 1914. Those persons yet
remaining of that generation are now
very old. However, some of them
will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system. So of this we
can be certain: Shortly now there will be a sudden end to all wickedness and
wicked people at Armageddon. Some of
the generation living in 1914 will see the end of the system of things and
survive it." (You Can Live
Forever In Paradise On Earth, 1982 ed. p. 154) |
|
Mereka yang hidup di tahun 1914 sekarang
sudah berumur 80, 90 bahkan 100, tetapi masih ada jutaan banyaknya. Dan mereka tidak akan habis sampai
semuanya terjadi |
1984 "If Jesus
used 'generation' in that sense and we apply it to 1914, then the babies of
that generation are now 70 years old or older. And others alive in 1914 are in their 80's or 90's, a few even having
reached a hundred. There are still many millions of that generation alive.
Some of them 'will by no means pass
away until all things occur.' --Luke 21:32" (The Watchtower, May 15, 1984, p. 5) |
|
Yehovah yang adalah sumber kata-kata nubuat
melalui Yesus, adalah sumber dari nubuat yang tidak bisa gagal, dan Dia akan
menggenapi kata-kata AnakNya dalam waktu dekat |
1984 "From
a purely human viewpoint, it could appear that these developments could
hardly take place before the generation of 1914 disappears from the scene.
But fulfillment of all the foretold events affecting the generation of 1914
does not depend on comparatively slow human action. Jehovah's prophetic word through Christ Jesus is: 'This generation
[of 1914] will by no means pass away until all things occur.' (Luke 21:32)
And Jehovah, who is the source of inspired and unfailing prophecy, will bring
about the fulfillment of his Son's words in a relatively short time.--Isaiah
46:9,10; 55:10,11." (The Watchtower, May 15, 1984, pp. 6-7) |
|
Apakah generasi tua 1914 akan habis sebelum
Allah menyelamatkan dunia dari kehancuran?
Tidak, menurut nubuatan Alkitab |
1992
"Today, a small percentage of mankind can still recall the dramatic
events of 1914. Will that elderly
generation pass away before God saves the earth from ruin? Not according to
Bible prophecy. 'When you see all these things,' Jesus promised, 'know
that he is near at the doors. Truly I say to you that this generation will by
no means pass away until all these things occur.'--Matthew
24:33,34" (The Watchtower, May
1, 1992, p. 3) |
¨ Pada tahun 1995,
terjadi suatu keajaiban yang luar biasa (perhatikan tanggal terbit dari
publikasi di bawah ini)
|
Klaim |
Kutipan dari publikasi WBTS |
|
Tujuan majalah Awake (Sedarlah) tercatat
dengan jelas |
1995 "Most important,
this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation
that saw the events of 1914 passes away." (Awake!, October 22, 1995, p. 4) |
|
Istilah ‘generasi’ di definisikan secara
baru, menjadi orang-orang yang hidup di jaman tertentu dengan karakteristik
masing-masing |
1995 "Eager
to see the end of this evil system, Jehovah's people have at times speculated
about the time when the 'great tribulation' would break out, even tying this to
calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. However, we
'bring a heart of wisdom in,' not by speculating about how many years or days
make up a generation, but by thinking about how we 'count our days' in
bringing joyful praise to Jehovah. (Psalm 90:12) Rather than provide a rule for measuring time, the term 'generation'
as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain
historical period, with their identifying characteristics." (The
Watchtower, November 1, 1995, p. 17) |
|
Apakah Armagedon masih jauh, tidak sama
sekali. Kita mungkin tidak tahu
persisnya kapan, tetapi Yehovah tahu dan tidak akan berubah. [Lalu apakah channel komunikasi Yehovah
yang hanya mempublikasikan interpretasi Yehovah tidak tahu?] |
1995 "Therefore,
in the final fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy today, 'this generation' apparently refers to the peoples of earth who see
the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways...Does our more
precise viewpoint on 'this generation' mean that Armageddon is further away
than we had thought? Not at all! Though
we at no time have known the 'day and hour,' Jehovah God has always known it,
and he does not change." (The Watchtower, November 1, 1995, pp.
19-20) |
|
Akhirnya majalah Awake juga mengubah tujuannya |
1995 "Most
important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a
peaceful and secure new world that is
about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things."
(Awake!, November 8, 1995, p. 4) |
¨ Dalam buku
‘Bertukar Pikiran mengenai Ayat-ayat Akitab’ (1987) hal 227: dikatakan :
“Saksi-saksi Yehuwa tidak mengaku sebagai nabi-nabi terilhami. Mereka membuat kesalahan. Sama seperti rasul-rasul Yesus Kristus,
mereka kadang-kadang mempunyai pengharapan yang salah”.
¨ "They
do not claim infallibility or perfection. Neither are they inspired prophets."
(WT May 15 1976 p.297)
¨ Selain itu
pada tahun 1972, mereka juga menyatakan hal yang sama : "Does this admission of making mistakes stamp them [Watchtower] as false prophets?
Not at all, for false prophets do not admit
to making mistakes." (Watchtower, Nov. 1, 1972, p. 644)
¨ Pada tahun
1962 mereka mengatakan : “The men in
Jehovah’s organization who prepare spiritual instruction for the Lord’s
“sheep” diligently study the
Scriptures to learn what God has put there for the instruction and guidance of
his people. They make no claim of
inspiration—only that they are Bible students. Since their comments on the Scriptures are not inspired, they can at times make
mistakes Does this make them false
prophets? Not at all! A false prophet does not correct himself. He persists
in proclaiming a wrong view even when he knows that it is wrong. But these
students of God’s Word correct misunderstandings when they discover them. They
are interested in the truth, not in self-justification. Their mistakes do not
mean God’s spirit does not operate upon them; it does, just as it did upon
Peter despite his mistakes.” (Watchtower Dec 15, 1962, p.762)
¨ Webster’s
World Encyclopedia 2000 ,mendefinisikan ‘prophet’
sbb: ‘One who is inspired toreveal a
message from a divine being’.
¨ Dalam definisi
mereka sendiri ‘terilhami’ tersebut juga sudah termasuk dalam kriteria seorang
nabi: “A “prophet” claims to have
inspired information for the direction of others” (Watchtower June 15,
1974, p 381)
¨ "Thus God
gives his humble servants special
knowledge that others do not have. As the apostle Paul said: "This
wisdom not one of the rulers of this system of things came to know . . . For it
is to us God has revealed them through his spirit." (1 Cor. 2:8-10) Having advance knowledge from Jehovah,
his servants are equipped—indeed, commissioned, by God to herald throughout the
world the warning of this system's approaching end, along with the comforting
message of the new order. Matt. 24:14 " Since Jehovah provides his loyal servants with advance knowledge about
this system's end"does this include information that will enable them to
discern when the "great tribulation" actually has begun. (Watchtower
October 15,1980)
¨ Jadi, dilihat
dari definisi ini, maka kata-kata : ‘nabi yang tidak terilhami’ adalah suatu
ungkapan yang self-contradictory. Jika
disebut nabi, maka secara otomatis harus terilhami, yang tidak terilhami itu
adalah bukan nabi (atau nabi palsu).
Watchtower jelas mengaku nabi, bahkan mengaku satu-satuNya channel
komunikasi Allah kepada manusia, maka jika mereka mengaku ‘tidak terilhami’,
hal itu sama dengan mengakui bahwa dirinya adalah nabi palsu.
¨ Mereka
berargumentasi bahwa rasul-rasul juga memiliki pengharapan yang salah, tetapi
toh mereka bukan nabi palsu. Ada 2 ayat
yang sering dipakai untuk membuktikan ‘kesalahan’ rasul-rasul. Kis 1:6 dan Luk 19:11.
Dalam Kis 1:6 Saksi Yehovah mengklaim bahwa mereka seperti juga
murid Yesus pernah ‘salah duga’, dan setelah ditegur Yesus, toh murid-murid itu
tidak pernah mengajarkan pengharapan yang salah itu lagi (mereka mengoreksi
pandangan mereka sendiri).
1. Kis 1:6 Maka bertanyalah
mereka yang berkumpul di situ: "Tuhan, maukah Engkau pada masa ini
memulihkan kerajaan bagi Israel?" (7)
Jawab-Nya: "Engkau tidak
perlu mengetahui masa dan waktu, yang ditetapkan Bapa sendiri menurut kuasa-Nya.
2. Point yang sangat
penting yang membedakan kasus murid-murid Yesus dengan Saksi yehovah adalah
fakta bahwa murid-murid ini bertanya
pada Yesus, dan bukannya mendistribusikan publikasi yang berisi pengharapan
yang salah itu.
3. Selain itu,
mengapa Saksi Yehovah tidak mau menerapkan ayat 7 ke diri mereka, bukankah
Yesus sudah menjawab “Engkau tidak perlu
mengetahui…” lalu mengapa mereka terus saja mencari tahu dan menebak-nebak
secara salah?
Dalam Lukas 19:11 dikatakan
lagi-lagi murid-murid salah menyangka tentang hari kedatangan Tuhan.
4. Luk 19:11
Untuk mereka yang mendengarkan Dia di situ, Yesus melanjutkan perkataan-Nya
dengan suatu perumpamaan, sebab Ia sudah dekat Yerusalem dan mereka menyangka, bahwa Kerajaan Allah akan
segera kelihatan.
5. Dalam bagian
ini jelas, murid-murid pernah mengutarakan ‘sangkaan’ mereka tsb, karena itulah
Yesus melanjutkan perkataanNya…sebab… sudah dekat…dan mereka menyangka…’
6. Jadi pada
bagian ini sama sekali tidak pernah tersirat bahwa murid-murid itu telah
mempublikasikan sangkaan mereka yang salah itu kepada publik.
¨ Ini jelas
sebuah argumentasi yang sangat menghina intelektual pembacanya. Dalam Ul 18:20 dst sama sekali tidak ada
kriteria bahwa jika nabi yang nubuatanNya tidak terjadi itu mengakui
kesalahannya, maka ia bukan nabi palsu.
Tidak pernah tersirat sama sekali dalam ayat Ul 18:20 dst.
¨ Ini juga
penjelasan yang menghina intelektual.
Jika seorang nabi memang menyatakan sesuatu yang dari Tuhan, maka tidak
ada yang perlu dikoreksi!
¨ Tetapi jika
nubuatan seorang nabi perlu dikoreksi, jelas karena nubuatan itu salah, dan
Tuhan pasti bukanlah sumber nubuatan yang salah. Dan jika seorang nabi menubuatkan sesuatu yang bukan dari Tuhan,
maka dia jelas nabi palsu!
¨ Mereka berkata
bahwa tulisan mereka ada yang salah,
dan itu adalah komentar mereka sendiri sebagai nabi yang tak terilhami. Tetapi,
bukankah berkali-kali, publikasi mereka dikatakan sebagai pernyataan langsung Allah melalui Yesus kepada manusia. Bahkan dikatakan tidak ada pendapat manusia
dalam publikasi mereka. Yehovah sendiri
yang menyediakan alat cetak, dan lain-lain untuk menerbitkan firmanNya,
sedangkan organisasi tsb hanya sekedar
mendistribusikan firman / nubuatan Yehovah.
¨ Selain itu,
bukankah dikatakan bahwa Yehovah adalah
Main Editor dari publikasi mereka, mengapa suatu pribadi Editor yang mahatahu bisa meloloskan
sesuatu yang salah dalam penerbitanNya?
¨ Mengajarkan atau menubuatkan sesuatu yang salah bisa
disebut berkata dusta, dan dalam Amsal 13:5 dikatakan “Orang benar benci kepada dusta, tetapi orang fasik memalukan dan memburukkan diri.” Apakah Saksi Yehovah bisa dikatakan sebagai
‘orang benar’ jika sekalipun sudah memberitakan ‘dusta’, masih memalukan diri
sendiri dengan argumentasi-argumentasi yang tidak masuk akal?
¨ Saksi Yehovah
seringkali menggunakan ayat Yoh 16:12 jika diserang tentang perubahan-perubahan
ajaran mereka. Yoh 16:12 Masih banyak
hal yang harus Kukatakan kepadamu, tetapi sekarang kamu belum dapat
menanggungnya.
¨ Mereka
mengabaikan konteks ayat tsb. Yoh 16:13 Tetapi apabila Ia datang, yaitu Roh Kebenaran, Ia akan memimpin kamu ke dalam seluruh kebenaran; sebab Ia tidak akan
berkata-kata dari diri-Nya sendiri, tetapi segala sesuatu yang didengar-Nya
itulah yang akan dikatakan-Nya dan Ia
akan memberitakan kepadamu hal-hal yang akan datang. (14)
Ia akan memuliakan Aku, sebab Ia
akan memberitakan kepadamu apa yang diterimanya dari pada-Ku.
¨ Dari ayat
ke-13 dst jelas bahwa apa yang belum dikatakan Yesus akan diajarkan oleh Roh
Kudus (bukan sebuah organisasi yang mengklaim sebagai nabi), dan apa yang akan
diajarkan Roh Kudus juga bersumber dari Yesus sehingga tidak mungkin ada
pertentangan ataupun kesalahan yang perlu dikoreksi. Selain itu, jika Roh Kudus yang terima dari Yesus tidak bisa
salah, mengapa Watchtower yang juga terima langsung dari Yesus & Yehovah
ternyata salah berulang kali?
¨ Saksi Yehovah
seringkali menggunakan ayat Amsal 4:18 dalam menjelaskan perubahan doktrin
organisasi mereka ataupun perubahan nubuat-nubuat tentang Armageddon, dan
lain-lain. Ams 4:18 Tetapi jalan orang
benar itu seperti cahaya fajar, yang kian
bertambah terang sampai rembang tengah hari.
¨ Ayat ini
ditafsirkan oleh mereka sebagai dasar bahwa apa yang mereka ajarkan makin hari
akan makin bertambah terang, jadi apa
yang sekarang masih belum sempurna bisa diubah atau disempurnakan sesuai dengan
terang baru (new light) yang diberikan Allah. Tetapi, Charles Russell, pendiri mereka, menulis
"a new view of truth never
can contradict a former truth. "New
light" never extinguishes "older
light", But adds to it."
(Zions Watchtower p.3 Feb.1881)
¨ Apakah
penggunaan mereka akan Amsal 4:18 bisa dibenarkan?
Pertama kita perlu melihat
konteksnya : Ams 4:18 Tetapi jalan orang benar itu seperti cahaya fajar, yang
kian bertambah terang sampai rembang tengah hari. (19) Jalan orang fasik itu seperti kegelapan; mereka tidak tahu apa yang
menyebabkan mereka tersandung.
Dari konteks terlihat bahwa
ayat 18 dikontraskan dengan ayat 19, dimana orang benar jalan dalam terang
sedangkan orang fasik jalan di kegelapan sehingga tersandung.
Pertanyaan penting: melihat 2 contoh di atas, Saksi Yehovah
terlihat pernah tersandung atau tidak? Jika tersandung, mereka itu berjalan di jalan yang terang atau gelap? Jika mereka berada di jalan yang gelap, maka
mereka termasuk orang benar atau orang
fasik?
¨ Rom 13:1
berbunyi :“Tiap-tiap orang harus takluk kepada pemerintah yang di atasnya,
sebab tidak ada pemerintah, yang tidak berasal dari Allah; dan
pemerintah-pemerintah yang ada, ditetapkan oleh Allah.”
¨ Sampai dengan sebelum
1929, “superior authorities” adalah
‘human rulers’. (lihat Studies In
The Scriptures, Vol. 1, p. 266).
¨ Tetapi pada
tahun 1929 terjadi sesuatu yang ajaib: "In 1929 the clear light broke forth. That year the Watchtower published the
Scriptural exposition of Romans Chapter 13. It showed Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, rather than worldly rulers and
governors, are `The Higher Power' and that Christian souls must `obey God
rather than men...'" (The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 312).
¨ Lebih ajaib
lagi, pada tahun 1962 : "For some years, until 1962, Jehovah's Witnesses held that the superior authorities were
Jehovah God and Christ Jesus
However, in line with Proverbs
4:18 light increased, and this view was adjusted which may raise questions
in the minds of some. Are we now
correct in saying that these authorities
are the kings, presidents, prime ministers, mayors, magistrates, and others who
wield secular, political power in the world and that we owe them subjection
in a relative way?" (Watchtower 1 Nov 1990, p. 11).
¨ Bagaimana
ini? Bukankah ini kembali ke ‘old
light’ yang lebih suram? Selain itu,
kata-kata ‘until 1962’ seakan-akan menunjukkan bahwa sebelum itu pandangan yang
dianut adalah dimana Yehovah dan Kristus sebagai superior authorities, dengan mengabaikan
fakta sebelum 1929.
¨ "The men
of Sodom will be resurrected." (Watchtower 7/1879, p. 8).
¨ “The men of
Sodom will not be resurrected."
(WT, 6/1/1952, 338).
¨ "The men
of Sodom will be resurrected."
(WT, 8/1/1965, p. 479).
¨ "The men
of Sodom will not be
resurrected." (WT, 6/1/1988, p.,31).
¨ “The men of
Sodom. will be resurrected."
(You Can Live 'Forever on Paradise-On Earth early editions,p.179).
¨ "Men of
Sodom will not be resurrected."
(You Can Live 'Forever on Paradise-On Earth- later editions, p. 179).
¨ "The men
of Sodom will be resurrected."
(Insight On The Scriptures, Vol. p. 985, 1988).
¨ "The men
of Sodom will not, be
resurrected." (Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand, p. 273, 1988).
¨ Sebenarnya mereka
sendiri tidak menyenangi orang yang berubah-ubah ajaran, terutama jika mereka
kembali ke ajaran yang terdahulu (yg salah) yang sudah diganti.
"It is a serious matter to represent God and Christ in one way, then find that our understanding of the
major teachings and fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures was in error, and then after that, to go back to the very
doctrines that, by years of study, we had thoroughly determined to be in error. Christians cannot be
vacillating - 'wishy washy' - about
such fundamental teachings. What
confidence can one put in the sincerity or judgment of such persons?"
(WT May 15 1976 298)
¨ Pertanyaan
bagi Saksi Yehovah, mengapa Yehovah tidak bisa memberikan informasi yang langsung
betul ‘the first time’? Bukankah mereka
satu-satunya channel komunikasi-Nya? (
Terkadang mereka menggunakan Maz 97:11 untuk menunjukkan bahwa mereka menerima
‘flashes of light’ secara teratur dari Yehovah, benarkah ayat tsb bisa
diartikan demikian? Silahkan dilihat
sendiri ayat tersebut. )
¨ Mereka
menggunakan ilustrasi seperti orang yang sedang menyetir sebuah kapal,
terkadang setir diarahkan ke kanan lalu kekiri lalu ke kanan lagi, tetapi terus
maju.
"However, it may have
seemed to some as though that path has not always gone straight forward. At
times explanations given by Jehovah's
visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of
view. But this has not actually been the case. This might be compared to
what is known in navigational circles as a 'tacking.' By maneuvering the sails the sailors can cause a ship to go from right to
left, back and forth, but all the time making progress toward their
destination in spite of contrary winds." (The Watchtower, December 1,
1981, p. 27)
¨ Penjelasan ini
lagi-lagi menghina intelektual pembacanya.
Masakan Allah dalam memberikan penjelasannya perlu berubah-ubah seperti
itu? Jika kita melihat contoh tentang
Sodom dan Gomorah, apakah ada kemajuan?
Yang ada jelas hanya kekacauan ajaran.
¨ Jika seperti
yang sudah diklaim di atas bahwa tidak mempercayai organisasi Yehovah, berarti
tidak mengakui kepemimpinan ilahi, maka jika ada orang yang percaya bahwa orang
Sodom tidak akan dibangkitkan, maka pada tahun 1952, ia benar, tetapi jika pada
tahun 1965 ia tetap mempertahankan
pandangannya itu padahal organisasi Yehovah telah ‘berubah’ pikiran, maka ia
bisa dianggap sesat, lalu pada tahun 1988, apakah statusnya akan otomatis
kembali menjadi benar karena pandangan organisasi Yehovah berubah lagi, dan
kali ini sesuai dengan pandangan dia semula?
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