Posted by Friend [Friend] on October 28, 1999 at 20:16:53 {BrTq3yWfsYhxaL3hj3H2OgnjR4Br/g}:
In Reply to: *************** posted by Rational on October 28, 1999 at 17:30:31:
Rational
Alas, finally we are getting somewhere!
No, I'm quite sure the Society has never "taught that Jesus parable could not apply until beyond 'the conclusion of the system'." That would have been "a serious mistake", per the 1984 quote. But that is not the only way a "serious mistake" could have been made, within the constraints of that quote (which seems to be your contention).
Good, "No" is the correct answer.
Yes, you have my contention understood. The only "serious mistake" described in that 1984 citation is that of teaching that Jesus parable could not apply until beyond "the conclusion of the system".
Now, let’s take a look at your alternate explanation of what could be "later on". You say:
As is clearly visible, the supposed implausibility of the parable's being fulfilled "during the Millennial Reign" (i.e., after "the conclusion of the system of things") is stated as one possible application of the parable's being fulfilled "later on." By definition this means it was not the only possible application. The most (only?) other rational application of a fulfillment "later on" would be in connection with the judgment at Armageddon ... which is precisely the understanding that the Society DID adopt in 1995! Hence the 1995 understanding is in fact included within the context of what was described in 1984 as "a serious mistake."
I agree that "later on" is not restricted only to during the Millennial Reign, application beyond that period would be equally a "serious mistake".
You offer the alternate concept that judgment at Armageddon is also "later on" in relation to "the conclusion of the system of things". Your alternate concept is easily dismissed in that the Society teaches that Armageddon is part of "the conclusion of the system of things", in fact it teaches that Armageddon is the culmination of "the conclusion of the system of things", the very pinnacle of it. Please consider this citation already offered in support of that from the very same publication, the Survival book.
I suppose you will ignore this, just as you have the questions I have repeatedly asked in my previous posts regarding the parable being included "as part of the sign" and as being fulfilled while Christ's brothers were still "experiencing the hardships that he mentions".
I haven’t ignored anything. My recitation above demonstrates that I have already been dealing with your ideas but you have yet to realize it.
Friend