Post by ResLight on May 7, 2013 20:48:14 GMT -5
From time to time, someone asserts that the JWs do believe in the ransom for all. Of course, they do state their belief in the ransom, and I have read several intepretations of how it is supposed to be a ransom for all. Usually they follow the same manner of reasoning as is prevalent in many denominational churches, that is, that the ransom is for all, but not all accept it. Generally speaking, they do not refer to the ransom as a second chance for the human race, and certainly not for Adam. They put forth self-contradictory teachings, evidently without realizing it, by such claims, on one hand, that one has to accept the ransom in order to receive its benefits, and yet they also teach that many millions will be raised who never accepted the ransom. By this, I mean that they speak of scriptures such as Matthew 7:13 as though it says that most of the people will be eternally destroyed. The scripture as Jesus stated it, however, says nothing about those being on the borad road as being eternally destroyed or that they are not covered by the ransom sacrifice of Jesus.
Nevertheless, the JWs reject the very basis of the "second chance" provided by the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, for they claim that Adam died a death for which there could be no ransom, which, in effect, ends up denying the ransom for all who are dying in Adam, since all who are dying in Adam die the condemnation that was upon Adam. What they do, in effect, is claim that there are two condemnations, one that was upon Adam, and another condemnation upon all who are dying the Adamic death, which, if true, would mean that the basis of the ransom sacrifice as given in the Bible is invalid, and thus we have no redemtion in Jesus' sacrifice.
See:
ransomforall.blogspot.com/
They do, however, in a way, believe in a "second chance" for all others, but, usually restrict this in application. According to their way of reasoning, if an spiritually-blind person of the world is destroyed in the battle of Armageddon, they have claimed that he has had his second chance through the the witness of the JW organization, and, that because he is blinded by Satan, he failed to use that chance, not only for himself, but also for his children. Thus, according to their teaching, not just the spiritually-blinded adults are eternally destroyed in Armageddon, but also their children are eternally destroyed with them, without their ever having been enlightened by the truth.
Likewise, from my understanding, according to what I read in their publications many years ago, they teach almost the opposite of what Jesus taught in John 12:47,48, claiming that those of the time era were under a special judgment, which is true, but according to their reasoning concerning that judgment, those Jews who rejected Jesus are eternally destroyed, having lost their opportunity because they had Jesus and the apostles (and others) to witness to them at that time. Thus, while blinded by Satan, according to them, they did not become unblinded, thus they are eternally destroyed.
They used to make similar assumptions concerning the people destroyed in Sodom and Gomorrah and the Jews destroyed in the fall of Jerusalem in the days of Nebuchadnezzar; as far as I know, they still make these assumptions.
Back in the 1950s and early 60s, I was told by one of them that everyone who had ever lived who had received a witness and who died without accepting Jehovah are condemned to the the second death, including their children, and thus will NOT be raised in the judgment day. One of their "special pioneers" who came to my home stated that all that was needed to provide a witness to them was the name "Jehovah," and that if they died without accepting Jehovah, then they they will not be raised in the resurrection.
If this was actually the teaching of the JWs at that time, they later adjusted this so that they did not have so many in past centuries entering into the second death, but they never came back to the ransom for all as Russell used to believe and as the Bible Students today still believe.
The point is that their "second chance" (although most JWs probably would never think of using that term) does not mean that they believe that all are ransomed, that all will be enlightened, or that all who are dying in Adam will be made alive.
See the study:
Mankind's Course to the Day of Judgment
Some quotes from the booklet, When Pastor Russell Died:
On page 7 we read: “The departures from pure truth were slight at first. Many did not discern them; and many of those who did, consoled themselves with the thought that this trend would not continue…The claim was made that the brethren were progressing in the light, a light which was to shine more and more unto the perfect day…When that terrible pall of darkness settled down over Christianity following the death of the Apostles, one of its densest aspects was the humanly conceived limit which was placed upon the grace of God, a limit which said that salvation is restricted to those who believe before they gasp their last breath of this fitful and condemned life.”
Page 8 continues: “…This concept of the Gospel replaced love with fear as an incentive to believe and obey, and for this there is no scriptural authorization. There is not a hint anywhere in the Bible that the opportunity to obtain salvation through Christ is limited to this present life…But what happened? Well to start with, for example, through the “channel” there came a new interpretation of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. And the new interpretation was wrong. There is no question about that. But more important than the erroneous interpretation itself was the fact that it was a step into darkness, because it began to take away that glorious hope of blessing for all the families of the earth. It hinted strongly that most of the denominational churches were going into the “second death” ”
Page 10 continues: “…With this “advancement” accomplished, the teachings of The Watchtower relative to hope beyond the grave were in principle no different from those of all Christendom except in one respect, that is, the use of the “second death,” instead of eternal torture, as a whip to keep the workers in line…”Believe us now, or be lost,” It is into this gross darkness that many who once rejoiced in the truth gradually were led. The theme song of restitution for the condemned race no longer stirred their hearts.”
Page 11 continues: “…Not long after, they taught that those who did not depart from Brother Russell’s teachings but insisted upon adhering to them were of the “evil servant” class and certain of going into the second death if they did not repent….Even the fundamental doctrine of the ransom was tampered with. For a time after brother Russell’s death it was still taught that Jesus died for all, including Adam, that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” In 1939 it was “discovered” that Adam was not redeemed by Christ, hence will not be raised from the dead. And there was some cleverly false reasoning in connection with this change. It was said that the reason Adam was not redeemed by Christ was that he was a wilful sinner. Those who accepted this “new light” seemed to overlook the fact that if he had not been a wilful sinner he would not have needed to be redeemed.”
This booklet may be seen online at:
www.pastor-russell.com/legacy/wprd.pdf
herald-magazine.com/bookstore-2/when-pastor-russell-died/
To order a copy:
chicagobible.org/product/when-pastor-russell-died/
I will add that Rutherford actually began to deny the ransom for all in 1923, when he put forth new teachings regarding the second death and the parable of the sheep and goats.
Nevertheless, the JWs reject the very basis of the "second chance" provided by the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, for they claim that Adam died a death for which there could be no ransom, which, in effect, ends up denying the ransom for all who are dying in Adam, since all who are dying in Adam die the condemnation that was upon Adam. What they do, in effect, is claim that there are two condemnations, one that was upon Adam, and another condemnation upon all who are dying the Adamic death, which, if true, would mean that the basis of the ransom sacrifice as given in the Bible is invalid, and thus we have no redemtion in Jesus' sacrifice.
See:
ransomforall.blogspot.com/
They do, however, in a way, believe in a "second chance" for all others, but, usually restrict this in application. According to their way of reasoning, if an spiritually-blind person of the world is destroyed in the battle of Armageddon, they have claimed that he has had his second chance through the the witness of the JW organization, and, that because he is blinded by Satan, he failed to use that chance, not only for himself, but also for his children. Thus, according to their teaching, not just the spiritually-blinded adults are eternally destroyed in Armageddon, but also their children are eternally destroyed with them, without their ever having been enlightened by the truth.
Likewise, from my understanding, according to what I read in their publications many years ago, they teach almost the opposite of what Jesus taught in John 12:47,48, claiming that those of the time era were under a special judgment, which is true, but according to their reasoning concerning that judgment, those Jews who rejected Jesus are eternally destroyed, having lost their opportunity because they had Jesus and the apostles (and others) to witness to them at that time. Thus, while blinded by Satan, according to them, they did not become unblinded, thus they are eternally destroyed.
They used to make similar assumptions concerning the people destroyed in Sodom and Gomorrah and the Jews destroyed in the fall of Jerusalem in the days of Nebuchadnezzar; as far as I know, they still make these assumptions.
Back in the 1950s and early 60s, I was told by one of them that everyone who had ever lived who had received a witness and who died without accepting Jehovah are condemned to the the second death, including their children, and thus will NOT be raised in the judgment day. One of their "special pioneers" who came to my home stated that all that was needed to provide a witness to them was the name "Jehovah," and that if they died without accepting Jehovah, then they they will not be raised in the resurrection.
If this was actually the teaching of the JWs at that time, they later adjusted this so that they did not have so many in past centuries entering into the second death, but they never came back to the ransom for all as Russell used to believe and as the Bible Students today still believe.
The point is that their "second chance" (although most JWs probably would never think of using that term) does not mean that they believe that all are ransomed, that all will be enlightened, or that all who are dying in Adam will be made alive.
See the study:
Mankind's Course to the Day of Judgment
Some quotes from the booklet, When Pastor Russell Died:
On page 7 we read: “The departures from pure truth were slight at first. Many did not discern them; and many of those who did, consoled themselves with the thought that this trend would not continue…The claim was made that the brethren were progressing in the light, a light which was to shine more and more unto the perfect day…When that terrible pall of darkness settled down over Christianity following the death of the Apostles, one of its densest aspects was the humanly conceived limit which was placed upon the grace of God, a limit which said that salvation is restricted to those who believe before they gasp their last breath of this fitful and condemned life.”
Page 8 continues: “…This concept of the Gospel replaced love with fear as an incentive to believe and obey, and for this there is no scriptural authorization. There is not a hint anywhere in the Bible that the opportunity to obtain salvation through Christ is limited to this present life…But what happened? Well to start with, for example, through the “channel” there came a new interpretation of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. And the new interpretation was wrong. There is no question about that. But more important than the erroneous interpretation itself was the fact that it was a step into darkness, because it began to take away that glorious hope of blessing for all the families of the earth. It hinted strongly that most of the denominational churches were going into the “second death” ”
Page 10 continues: “…With this “advancement” accomplished, the teachings of The Watchtower relative to hope beyond the grave were in principle no different from those of all Christendom except in one respect, that is, the use of the “second death,” instead of eternal torture, as a whip to keep the workers in line…”Believe us now, or be lost,” It is into this gross darkness that many who once rejoiced in the truth gradually were led. The theme song of restitution for the condemned race no longer stirred their hearts.”
Page 11 continues: “…Not long after, they taught that those who did not depart from Brother Russell’s teachings but insisted upon adhering to them were of the “evil servant” class and certain of going into the second death if they did not repent….Even the fundamental doctrine of the ransom was tampered with. For a time after brother Russell’s death it was still taught that Jesus died for all, including Adam, that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” In 1939 it was “discovered” that Adam was not redeemed by Christ, hence will not be raised from the dead. And there was some cleverly false reasoning in connection with this change. It was said that the reason Adam was not redeemed by Christ was that he was a wilful sinner. Those who accepted this “new light” seemed to overlook the fact that if he had not been a wilful sinner he would not have needed to be redeemed.”
This booklet may be seen online at:
www.pastor-russell.com/legacy/wprd.pdf
herald-magazine.com/bookstore-2/when-pastor-russell-died/
To order a copy:
chicagobible.org/product/when-pastor-russell-died/
I will add that Rutherford actually began to deny the ransom for all in 1923, when he put forth new teachings regarding the second death and the parable of the sheep and goats.
