Bridge of Reason

  We have all seen the implausible graphic art on  the covers of Watchtower magazines. Paradise on Earth has been a staple promise of the Society for generations. Mixed generations, species, and races living lives perhaps best described as satisfied. I don’t know what you imagine the afterlife to be like. When I look at these pictures I always think the one who would make paradise a paradise is noticeably absent. Indeed, it is clear the paradise Jehovah’s Witnesses have to look forward to (if they survive Armageddon and pass muster at the judgement) has an absent Saviour and is ruled for eternity by a governing body of 144,000. In The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life chapter 12 we read: ‘ From his heavenly throne Jesus Christ will administer earth’s affairs in a way that will bring lasting benefits... Associated with Jesus in his heavenly kingdom will be 144,000 kings and priests taken from among mankind and made perfect by God...But will this heavenly government have any...

In my last post we looked at cults’ claims to exclusive authority to speak for God. So, what is God supposed to have said to them? There’s a plan, a purpose, something the church has totally lost until someone came along at just the right time to restore, clarify, and bring it to the world. When you see someone offering a system instead of a Saviour you should turn and run. Here are two examples. We learn from Jehovah’s Witnesses that there is a big flock and a little flock. The little flock governs from heaven the big flock live eternally on paradise earth. Of course, the men who brought this message belong to the little flock. They have the important places in God’s purposes, while the rest should be glad the little flock is there. The little flock ‘govern’ because when Jesus says ‘kingdom,’ he means ‘government.’ Of course, Isaiah wrote, ‘the government will be upon his [the S aviour’s] shoulder’ (Isaiah 9:6), but Jesus preached one kingdom. We learn from Mormons that God’s pur...