Posted by Rational [trw] on October 28, 1999 at 10:08:09 {BrTq3yWfsYYgCUWv3.1cm0FN8UzOHE}:
In Reply to: **********"Serious Mistake" posted by One more thing on October 28, 1999 at 09:19:00:
Friend,
Well, at least we are getting to the root of the problem (I think). Look again at what the 1984 book said:
Jesus gave this parable as part of the sign of "the conclusion of the system of things." (Matthew 24:3)The Society did not say that the parable was simply to occur during some indefinite period within "the conclusion of the system of things"--they specifically said it was given as "part of the sign" of that conclusion. For its fulfillment to be part of "the sign" it could not come at the very end of the "conclusion of the system of things" (i.e., at or after Armageddon), since by then the "sign" would have fulfilled its purpose--to be a prelude and precursor to the end!
Do you understand my point now? The "sign" and the "conclusion of the system of things" are not precisely the same thing. The Society associated the separating of sheep and goats with the sign, not merely the conclusion of the system of things. This is what Nimrod and Gedanken were talking about, though perhaps not in those exact words.
Rational