UPDATED
Why does the Master, "delay"?
Luke 12:35 “Stay dressed for action, and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third , and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Jesus here is telling us that the Master is likely to arrive later than his slaves expect him.
He warns them in many scriptures, that this delay will cause drowsiness, and that it is imperative that they do not "fall asleep". He exhorts them, not only to "keep on the watch", but to "keep their lamp burning" and stay ready to "open the door" as soon as the Master "knocks".
At Matt.24:45-51, Jesus contrasts two types of his own steward slaves. Each are assigned the job of feeding the Master's household, "the proper food at the proper time". This refers to providing the light of truth, when the Master gives it. Yet as we have seen...the Master gives it to those slaves who are awake when he returns Luke 12:37). A drunken steward would not be alert enough to discern his Master's arrival, nor would he be diligently working until the last watch. Logically, he would no longer be feeding the "household" the proper food.
There is an important detail given us about this wicked slave.
We are told that he expected his Master too soon. The delay causes him to "beat his fellows", and to cohort with "confirmed drunkards".
Where did this wicked steward get the expectation that his Master was due earlier? From where did the other slaves also get the idea that the Master was delaying? Who informed everyone about when the Master was due?
We were clearly told, that the feeding of information to all, was sourced in the Steward.
If all believed that the Master was due sooner, it was due to the direction coming from the Steward.
Only the steward determines what information all are "fed".
Apparently, the Steward was wrong. His provisions are not the proper food at the proper time. As the night drags on and this error becomes evident, the Steward needs to take measures toward reparation. If the steward is not shrewd, he resorts to suppressing the contributions of his fellows toward their master (John 8:40), and forming association with those drunk with power and riches (Rev.18:3).
Why does the Master, "delay"?
Luke 12:35 “Stay dressed for action, and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third , and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Jesus here is telling us that the Master is likely to arrive later than his slaves expect him.
He warns them in many scriptures, that this delay will cause drowsiness, and that it is imperative that they do not "fall asleep". He exhorts them, not only to "keep on the watch", but to "keep their lamp burning" and stay ready to "open the door" as soon as the Master "knocks".
At Matt.24:45-51, Jesus contrasts two types of his own steward slaves. Each are assigned the job of feeding the Master's household, "the proper food at the proper time". This refers to providing the light of truth, when the Master gives it. Yet as we have seen...the Master gives it to those slaves who are awake when he returns Luke 12:37). A drunken steward would not be alert enough to discern his Master's arrival, nor would he be diligently working until the last watch. Logically, he would no longer be feeding the "household" the proper food.
There is an important detail given us about this wicked slave.
We are told that he expected his Master too soon. The delay causes him to "beat his fellows", and to cohort with "confirmed drunkards".
Where did this wicked steward get the expectation that his Master was due earlier? From where did the other slaves also get the idea that the Master was delaying? Who informed everyone about when the Master was due?
We were clearly told, that the feeding of information to all, was sourced in the Steward.
If all believed that the Master was due sooner, it was due to the direction coming from the Steward.
Only the steward determines what information all are "fed".
Apparently, the Steward was wrong. His provisions are not the proper food at the proper time. As the night drags on and this error becomes evident, the Steward needs to take measures toward reparation. If the steward is not shrewd, he resorts to suppressing the contributions of his fellows toward their master (John 8:40), and forming association with those drunk with power and riches (Rev.18:3).
see: https://pearl-wastefulsteward.blogspot.com
It seems at Matt.24:45-51, that there are two options open to those appointed as Steward (Luke 12:42). Is there any way for us to know which kind of steward WE many be feeding from?
Is there some way to know, which kind of Steward would be in power, when Christ did return?
Is there some way to know if our expectations about the arrival of the Master, are based on accurate "proper food at the proper time"? Or, have we been mislead into expecting him too soon, because of a wicked steward? (Dan.7:25; 2Thess. 2:1,2,3)
Yes, there is a way to tell. Two places in the Bible confirms that those over God's people would mislead all the other anointed slaves, into a premature expectation of the Master's arrival. This would confirm, that the Steward over the household at Christ's return, was indeed, "wicked".
2Thess. 2:1-4 reads:
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."
Clearly, this Man of Lawlessness becomes ruler over the other slaves previous to their being sealed (Rev.11:2; Dan.12:7,11; 8:13,10-11; Rev.13:7,18; 2Thess. 2:4; Matt.24:15; Dan.9:17-18). "He" deceives others, as though his authority to teach is equal to the apostles ("as though from us") (Rev.2:2).
And what does he teach? ...That the Master's arrival has come. This declaration is described by Paul, as premature.
But there is another scripture which leaves no doubt, that the prominent end-time Steward over God's household/Temple of God; is not the "faithful and discreet slave" at all...but inescapably, the "wicked slave".
In speaking of the anointed "virgins" alive at the time when the Master does arrive
Matt.25:5 reads:
"As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept."
This is confirmation, that when the arrival of the Master draws close.....all anointed ones expected him sooner.
Why would that be? Well, only the steward was in charge of what others would expect. He was in charge of the information they were given....the "proper food at the proper time"? OR, "the wrong food, at the wrong time"?.
Since Christ declares that all the virgins are asleep when he arrives....and the Bridegroom is stated to "delay"; this is confirmation that the Steward who is over the household, is the wicked one who misleads all to expect the Master, too soon.
Next we read:
"But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps."
This parable tells us, that once awoken...all these virgins must choose what will fuel the light in their lamps.
Will the fuel come from "those who sell"? (Matt.25:9,10; Rev.13:17)
Or, will it be from what they have in reserve, due to foresight...so that they rely on no man for their light (Matt.25:4; 2Pet. 3:2; John 14:26).
Although all anointed fall asleep due to the misinformation they accepted from the wicked steward (Rev.3:3); those wise ones will enter the marriage feast with the Bridegroom (Matt.25:10). Jesus says, they were "ready"....Yes, "ready to open when he knocks" (Luke 12:36). These are listening for the voice of the Bridegroom (John 3:29; 10:27; Rev.3:20), filling their lamps with light from him...in loyalty to their past receiving of Holy Spirit (1John 2:27,28). In courage, they let no one take it from them, that they should not run low (Matt.25:8,9; Rev.3:11; 1Pet. 3:5,6; Gal.4:26).
In fact, the Master does not delay at all (Heb.10:37; Hab.2:3). He comes exactly when he promised to (Matt.24:3 -- "The Signs of Christ's Presence" 1Thess. 5:1,2,4). But we now know, that God's slaves will initially expect him too soon. Why? Because the wicked steward gave the wrong information. Why? Because to declare the Lord as already come, allows the Steward to confiscate the reward reserved for the approved slaves (Matt.25:21)....which faithful slaves will not really be revealed, until the Master really does arrive (Matt.25:19; 1Cor. 11:26; Rom.8:19; Mal.3:18).
A premature and counterfeit manifestation of the "Kingdom", also allows Satan to mislead and intimidate "the remaining ones of the woman's seed" into captivity, slavery, and idolatry (Rev.12:17; 2Thess. 2:9; Matt.24:24,25; Rev.13:10,7,8), thereby extending his dominion. Satan is aware that his downfall comes, by means of the zealous preaching of truth (Rev.12:10,11). To survive, he must find a way to keep "Jerusalem's" Watchmen, silent (Isa.62:6; Rev.8:1; 13:17; 6:6).
("What do 'Buying' and 'Selling' mean?")
How can we confirm that the steward is a "wicked" slave, and not a "faithful and discreet" one?
Besides the wicked slave's realization that the Master did not show up when he desired and expected,
("overlapping generations"? pearl-generation.blogspot.com )
Jesus tells us that we can also recognize that wicked slave,
if he resorts to "beating" his fellows when they realize his error, perhaps even trying to re-adjust "him" (John 8:40,47; Matt.23:32; Rev.11:8; Isa.30:10; 6:10; Zech.7:11; Psalm 58:4,5).
An additional trait, is that a wicked steward will consort with "drunkards". These are defined as those who rule Jehovah's flock with a lack of tenderness (Isa.28:1,2,3,4,7,8,14,22; Jer.23:1,2,9,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,39,40; Eze.34:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10).
Do we see such an alliance with "confirmed drunkards" under the present "steward" (Matt.24:49)? (Isa.28:3; 5:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,11,13,18,19,20,21,22,23,26,30; Rev.9:1,2,3,10; 13:15,7; 19:20; 11:7).
Do we see them using the muscle of others to "beat" their fellow slaves?
I do. I hope you also can. ("The Harlot and Her Beast")
If the "beating" by a steward takes place, how does God's Word help us to recognize it?
How can some anointed, beat other anointed, according to scripture? By violating Mark 10:42,43; 1John 3:11,12,15; Isa.66:5; Matt.23:34) (Col.3:12; Matt.22:12,13; 8:12; 1John 2:9,11)
The wicked slave/steward over God's household, uses his power to treat his fellow slaves unlovingly. This includes being "cast out" and "killed".
Do we have any indication from prophecy, that this will occur?
Will there be casting out / killing of God's faithful, in the time of the end?
(John 16:2; Rev.13:15,7; 17:6; 11:3,7; 6:9,11)
These previous scriptures are derived from Christ's message to the "seven congregations"..."to show his slaves what must soon take place". Revelation is not a hypothetical warning, but "must take place".
The acts against the Holy Ones within Revelation's depictions, are the result of a "false prophet" (Rev.19:20; 13:11,15) and a "Wild Beast" that false prophet is allies with (Dan.8:24; 11:31).
If the "false prophet" is indeed a wicked steward who is beating his fellows....
How does the steward accomplish this? Revelation clearly depicts, that it is the muscle of the Wild Beast, (which the false prophet / harlot, has authority and power over), that is the means by which the beatings from the false prophet would be carried out. The Bible uses the symbol "wild beast" to describe "sons of pride", just as the Bible's "drunkards" are described. (Dan.4:30,32,33,37; Job 41:34; 28:8; Isa.5:29,30; 1Cor. 15:32) (Isa.5:21,22,29,30).
(I am not done with this section.)
The outcome?
"The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt.24:50,51; Dan.7:25,26,27,21,22
How will God "cut" such a false prophet "in pieces"?
But means of God's true prophets (Hosea 6:5 NIV ), whose tongue has become the sharp sword of God's Word (Isa.49:2; Heb.4:12).
(Jer.23:29; Rev.11:5)
LINK TO DIRECTORY OF ARTICLES
LINK TO MAIN PAGE
www.jw.org/
wol.jw.org/
It seems at Matt.24:45-51, that there are two options open to those appointed as Steward (Luke 12:42). Is there any way for us to know which kind of steward WE many be feeding from?
Is there some way to know, which kind of Steward would be in power, when Christ did return?
Is there some way to know if our expectations about the arrival of the Master, are based on accurate "proper food at the proper time"? Or, have we been mislead into expecting him too soon, because of a wicked steward? (Dan.7:25; 2Thess. 2:1,2,3)
Yes, there is a way to tell. Two places in the Bible confirms that those over God's people would mislead all the other anointed slaves, into a premature expectation of the Master's arrival. This would confirm, that the Steward over the household at Christ's return, was indeed, "wicked".
2Thess. 2:1-4 reads:
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."
Clearly, this Man of Lawlessness becomes ruler over the other slaves previous to their being sealed (Rev.11:2; Dan.12:7,11; 8:13,10-11; Rev.13:7,18; 2Thess. 2:4; Matt.24:15; Dan.9:17-18). "He" deceives others, as though his authority to teach is equal to the apostles ("as though from us") (Rev.2:2).
And what does he teach? ...That the Master's arrival has come. This declaration is described by Paul, as premature.
But there is another scripture which leaves no doubt, that the prominent end-time Steward over God's household/Temple of God; is not the "faithful and discreet slave" at all...but inescapably, the "wicked slave".
In speaking of the anointed "virgins" alive at the time when the Master does arrive
Matt.25:5 reads:
"As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept."
This is confirmation, that when the arrival of the Master draws close.....all anointed ones expected him sooner.
Why would that be? Well, only the steward was in charge of what others would expect. He was in charge of the information they were given....the "proper food at the proper time"? OR, "the wrong food, at the wrong time"?.
Since Christ declares that all the virgins are asleep when he arrives....and the Bridegroom is stated to "delay"; this is confirmation that the Steward who is over the household, is the wicked one who misleads all to expect the Master, too soon.
Next we read:
"But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps."
This parable tells us, that once awoken...all these virgins must choose what will fuel the light in their lamps.
Will the fuel come from "those who sell"? (Matt.25:9,10; Rev.13:17)
Or, will it be from what they have in reserve, due to foresight...so that they rely on no man for their light (Matt.25:4; 2Pet. 3:2; John 14:26).
Although all anointed fall asleep due to the misinformation they accepted from the wicked steward (Rev.3:3); those wise ones will enter the marriage feast with the Bridegroom (Matt.25:10). Jesus says, they were "ready"....Yes, "ready to open when he knocks" (Luke 12:36). These are listening for the voice of the Bridegroom (John 3:29; 10:27; Rev.3:20), filling their lamps with light from him...in loyalty to their past receiving of Holy Spirit (1John 2:27,28). In courage, they let no one take it from them, that they should not run low (Matt.25:8,9; Rev.3:11; 1Pet. 3:5,6; Gal.4:26).
In fact, the Master does not delay at all (Heb.10:37; Hab.2:3). He comes exactly when he promised to (Matt.24:3 -- "The Signs of Christ's Presence" 1Thess. 5:1,2,4). But we now know, that God's slaves will initially expect him too soon. Why? Because the wicked steward gave the wrong information. Why? Because to declare the Lord as already come, allows the Steward to confiscate the reward reserved for the approved slaves (Matt.25:21)....which faithful slaves will not really be revealed, until the Master really does arrive (Matt.25:19; 1Cor. 11:26; Rom.8:19; Mal.3:18).
A premature and counterfeit manifestation of the "Kingdom", also allows Satan to mislead and intimidate "the remaining ones of the woman's seed" into captivity, slavery, and idolatry (Rev.12:17; 2Thess. 2:9; Matt.24:24,25; Rev.13:10,7,8), thereby extending his dominion. Satan is aware that his downfall comes, by means of the zealous preaching of truth (Rev.12:10,11). To survive, he must find a way to keep "Jerusalem's" Watchmen, silent (Isa.62:6; Rev.8:1; 13:17; 6:6).
("What do 'Buying' and 'Selling' mean?")
How can we confirm that the steward is a "wicked" slave, and not a "faithful and discreet" one?
Besides the wicked slave's realization that the Master did not show up when he desired and expected,
("overlapping generations"? pearl-generation.blogspot.com )
Jesus tells us that we can also recognize that wicked slave,
if he resorts to "beating" his fellows when they realize his error, perhaps even trying to re-adjust "him" (John 8:40,47; Matt.23:32; Rev.11:8; Isa.30:10; 6:10; Zech.7:11; Psalm 58:4,5).
An additional trait, is that a wicked steward will consort with "drunkards". These are defined as those who rule Jehovah's flock with a lack of tenderness (Isa.28:1,2,3,4,7,8,14,22; Jer.23:1,2,9,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,39,40; Eze.34:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10).
Do we see such an alliance with "confirmed drunkards" under the present "steward" (Matt.24:49)? (Isa.28:3; 5:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,11,13,18,19,20,21,22,23,26,30; Rev.9:1,2,3,10; 13:15,7; 19:20; 11:7).
Do we see them using the muscle of others to "beat" their fellow slaves?
I do. I hope you also can. ("The Harlot and Her Beast")
If the "beating" by a steward takes place, how does God's Word help us to recognize it?
How can some anointed, beat other anointed, according to scripture? By violating Mark 10:42,43; 1John 3:11,12,15; Isa.66:5; Matt.23:34) (Col.3:12; Matt.22:12,13; 8:12; 1John 2:9,11)
The wicked slave/steward over God's household, uses his power to treat his fellow slaves unlovingly. This includes being "cast out" and "killed".
Do we have any indication from prophecy, that this will occur?
Will there be casting out / killing of God's faithful, in the time of the end?
(John 16:2; Rev.13:15,7; 17:6; 11:3,7; 6:9,11)
These previous scriptures are derived from Christ's message to the "seven congregations"..."to show his slaves what must soon take place". Revelation is not a hypothetical warning, but "must take place".
The acts against the Holy Ones within Revelation's depictions, are the result of a "false prophet" (Rev.19:20; 13:11,15) and a "Wild Beast" that false prophet is allies with (Dan.8:24; 11:31).
If the "false prophet" is indeed a wicked steward who is beating his fellows....
How does the steward accomplish this? Revelation clearly depicts, that it is the muscle of the Wild Beast, (which the false prophet / harlot, has authority and power over), that is the means by which the beatings from the false prophet would be carried out. The Bible uses the symbol "wild beast" to describe "sons of pride", just as the Bible's "drunkards" are described. (Dan.4:30,32,33,37; Job 41:34; 28:8; Isa.5:29,30; 1Cor. 15:32) (Isa.5:21,22,29,30).
(I am not done with this section.)
The outcome?
"The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt.24:50,51; Dan.7:25,26,27,21,22
How will God "cut" such a false prophet "in pieces"?
But means of God's true prophets (Hosea 6:5 NIV ), whose tongue has become the sharp sword of God's Word (Isa.49:2; Heb.4:12).
(Jer.23:29; Rev.11:5)
LINK TO DIRECTORY OF ARTICLES
LINK TO MAIN PAGE
www.jw.org/
wol.jw.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please share below, your thoughts about this post.