"The Word of Jehovah Never Fails"

In this week's Watchtower Study, the Society tries to put on the glass slipper. The results are offensive as they are comedic.

Paragraph 3 Joshua was approaching 110 years of age, having lived during one of the most exciting periods in the history of God's people. He had been an eyewitness to mighty acts of God, and he had seen the fulfillment of many of Jehovah's promises. Thus, it was with the absolute conviction of firsthand experience that he said: "You well know with all your hearts and with all your souls that not one word out of all the good words that Jehovah your God has spoken to you has failed. They have all come true for you. Not one word of them has failed." -Joshua 23:14.

Paragraph 4 What words of Jehovah had come true in Joshua's lifetime? We will consider three assurances that Jehovah gave the Israelites. First, God would deliver them from bondage. Second, he would protect them. Third, he would sustain them. Jehovah has given similar assurances to his modern-day people, and we have seen them come true during our lifetime. Before we discuss what Jehovah has done in modern times, though, let us consider his activity in Joshua's day.

Paragraph 5 When the Israelites cried out to God because of their slavery in Egypt, Jehovah took notice. (Exodus 2:23-25) At the burning bush, Jehovah said to Moses: "I am proceeding to go down to deliver [my people] out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a land good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey." (Exodus 3:8) How exciting it must have been to see Jehovah bring this about! When Pharaoh refused to let Israel leave Egypt, Moses informed him that God would turn the waters of the Nile into blood. Jehovah's word did not fail. The water in the Nile River was turned into blood. The fish died, and the river water was undrinkable. (Exodus 7:14-21) Pharaoh remained obstinate, and Jehovah brought nine more plagues, describing each one in advance. (Exodus, chapters 8-12) After the tenth plague struck dead the firstborn of Egypt, Pharaoh ordered the Israelites to leave -and leave they did!-Exodus 12:29-32.

My dear JW friend, notice when God makes a promise, he keeps it.

Awake! (pre-Oct 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."

Did God lie? Why did the Society attribute this claim as having been promised by the Creator Himself?

Deutoronomy 18:20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death." 21 You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Amen, Lord.

Paragraph 11 What of our time? On Friday morning, October 2, 1914, Charles Taze Russell, who took the lead at that time among the Bible Students, strode into the dining room at Bethel in Brooklyn, New York. "Good morning, all," he said cheerily. Then, before taking his seat, he joyfully announced: "The Gentile times have ended; their kings have had their day." Once again, the time had come for Jehovah, the Sovereign of the universe, to act in behalf of his people. And act he did!

Charles Taze Russell's grave and pyramid in Rosemont United Cemetary, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Charles Taze Russell "The Time Is At Hand, pg 101 "The battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev.16:14) which will end in 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present day rulership, is already commenced."

Russell believed Armageddon would end in 1914.

Paragraph 12 Just five years later; Jehovah delivered his people from "Babylon the Great," the mighty world empire of false religion. (Revelation 18:2) Few of us are old enough to have witnessed that exciting deliverance. Yet, we plainly see the results. Jehovah reestablished pure worship and united those who yearned to worship him. This had been foretold through the prophet Isaiah: "It must occur in the final part of the days that the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it all the nations must stream."-Isaiah 2:2.

Let's take a look at least of some examples of "reestablished pure worship".

Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 89-90 "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old."

The Watchtower March 1, 1922 "The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874."

"Indisputable"--priceless.

Paragraph 13 Isaiah's words did not fail to come true. In 1919 the anointed remnant began a bold worldwide witnessing campaign that raised the worship of the true God on high. In the 1930's, it became evident that the "other sheep" were being gathered in. (John 10: 16) First came thousands, then hundreds of thousands, and now millions are taking a stand for pure worship! In a vision given to the apostle John, they are described as "a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues." (Revelation 7:9) What have you seen during your lifetime? How many Witnesses of Jehovah were there on earth when you first learned the truth? Today, those who serve Jehovah number more than 6,700,000. By delivering his people from Babylon the Great, Jehovah opened the way for the thrilling increase that we now see on a global scale.

What they offer is an argumentum ad populum. Does this mean Islam's rise is also a sign of Divine Favor?

Paragraph 15 As we have seen, the Israelites of Joshua's day needed Jehovah's protection. Are Jehovah's people in modern times any different? Hardly! Jesus warned his followers: "People will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name." (Matthew 24:9) Over the years, Jehovah's Witnesses in many lands have endured bitter opposition and cruel persecution. Yet, Jehovah has proved to be with his people. (Romans 8:31) His Word assures us that nothing -'no weapon formed against us'-will stop our Kingdom-preaching and teaching work. -Isaiah 54:17.

On account of who's name? JESUS. At one meeting the question was asked, "Why do we encounter persecution". After I was called on I replied, "Because we proclaim Jesus". That wasn't the response they were looking for.

Paragraph 16 Despite the world's hatred, Jehovah's people have prospered. Jehovah's Witnesses are flourishing in 236 lands-compelling evidence, indeed, that Jehovah is with us to protect us from those who wish to crush or silence us. Can you recall the names of mighty political or religious leaders who during your lifetime bitterly oppressed God's people? What has happened to them? Where are they now? Most have been brought to nothing, just like Pharaoh in the days of Moses and Joshua. And what of God's modern day servants who died faithful? They are protected in Jehovah's memory. There is no safer place for them to be. Clearly, in the matter of protection, Jehovah's words have proved true.

Have they forgotten the Jewish people and the millions that were exterminated?

Paragraph 17 Jehovah sustained his people in the wilderness, and he sustains them today. We are spiritually fed by "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45) We receive knowledge of spiritual truths that were kept secret for centuries. The angel told Daniel: "Make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant."-Daniel 12:4.

What has the "faithful and discreet slave" been feeding?

The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah 1971; 2nd Edition p. 216 "Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom."

Back to the study.

Paragraph 18 We are now living in the time of the end, and true knowledge is indeed abundant. Worldwide, holy spirit has led lovers of truth to an accurate knowledge of the true God and his purposes. Bibles abound in the earth today, and so do publications that help people understand the precious truths that the Bible contains. Consider, for example, the table of contents in the study publication What Does the Bible Really Teach?* (Footnote * Published by Jehovah's Witnesses.) Among its chapters are: "What Is the Truth About God?," "Where Are the Dead?," "What Is God's Kingdom?," and "Why Does God Allow Suffering?" Humans have pondered such questions for thousands of years. Now the answers are readily available. Even after centuries of ignorance and Christendom's apostate teaching, God's Word prevails, sustaining all who yearn to serve Jehovah.

Is the Bible not enough? So for centuries God's Word and Church was corrupted?

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Do they really have much trust in God's Word?

Paragraph 19 Surely from what we have seen with our own eyes, we can say: "Not one word out of all the good words that Jehovah your God has spoken to you has failed. They have all come true for you. Not one word of them has failed." (Joshua 23:14) Jehovah delivers, protects, and sustains his servants. Can you point to any promise of his that failed to be fulfilled at his appointed time? It is impossible to do so. We wisely trust in the reliable Word of God.

JEHOVAH GOD is reliable, not this Organization.

The Watchtower July 1, 1973 "Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book."

If the glass slipper fits, it would be of this description.

Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.