H25.08.94.htm

"THE LORD PROVES MEN IN THE
FURNACE OF HUMILIATION."
(From Ecclesiasticus 2:4,5 NEB).

When one is being humiliated by God, it is beneficial. It is intended to remove such superfluous dispositions as overweening pride, self-importance, impatience, etc. When being proven in this way, the humiliation may well burn within one's deepest feelings.

Although human spirits may start out with superfluous badness, Jehovah sanctifies those who fear Him. (James 1:21). Much that is superfluous has been handed down to us from our forefathers. Particularly since Babylonian times, when idolatry was rife, mankind has maintained the practice of worshipping false gods whether it be through the worship of lifeless things that cannot move or reason such as sacred poles, pillars, obelisks, church architecture, idols, effigies, stone circles, mythical gods, officiated by those of outlandish dress, or by the deliberate worship of humans (dungy idols) explicitly. (See Lev 18:30).

Since ancient times particular individuals have been deified and worshipped through the customs and folklore assigned to their image. Today it is done more directly, as people "follow their own fancy and gather a crowd of teachers to tickle their ears" rather than listen to the Spirit corrective disciplines from Jehovah. They believe in the good for nothing notions of mere men. (2 Tim 4:3-5 NEB). Consequently, the mother of sectarian "harlots" has become full grown in wickedness! (Rev 17:5. 18:4,5). Her sectarian leaders are "drunk" with the intoxicating glory they receive from each other through gifts of demonic authority. (Rev 17:1,2 NEB).

To enslave the spirits of new converts by their specious utterances, glory-seekers are constantly on the lookout for new ideas. And because they are without Holy Spirit from God, they fabricate falsehoods. For example, Joseph Rutherford, a founder member of the 'governing body' of the sect falsely calling themselves Jehovah's Witnesses (a name he coined) declared to a large assembly that all those present were anointed by God! With this utterance, he fulfilled the Apostle Paul's words to the Thessalonians: "He is the Enemy. He rises in his pride against every god, so called, every object of men's worship, and even takes his seat in the temple of God claiming to be a god himself." (2 Thess 2:4 NEB). Wouldn't each member of his audience have already known whether or not God had anointed them? And given that Almighty God anoints men that only He chooses by Holy Spirit, with what was Rutherford 'anointing' all those people? For the answer, see Matthew 12:43-45.

Joseph Rutherford committed an unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit of God. (Matt 12:31,32 NEB). And yet his followers today, the composite "man of lawlessness" who usurped the authority of anointed sons of God, still give glory to this lawless man in their publications! (2 Thess 2:3). "So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess 2:11,12).

Why was it that Jehovah did not prove Rutherford in the "furnace of humiliation" before he committed an unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit of God? The reason is that this man did not fear God, so would not be "patient under humiliation". (Ecclesiasticus 2:4 NEB). Because Rutherford rose in his pride and made statements so as to take his seat in the temple of God, claiming to be a god himself, Jehovah disregarded this particular lawless man. Unsealed men claiming to be spiritual "Jews" by acting as 'elders' in JW congregations are thereby also sinning against the Holy Spirit of God. (Rev 3:9).

25/8/94.