How can they say "He came to power in 1914"?

[RoadtoEmmaus]

While reading one of Shiner's pontifications I read the following scripture from Ephesians:

Ephesians 1

15 That is why I also, since I have heard of the faith YOU have in the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones, 16 do not cease giving thanks for YOU. I continue mentioning YOU in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give YOU a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the accurate knowledge of him; 18 the eyes of YOUR heart having been enlightened, that YOU may know what is the hope to which he called YOU, what the glorious riches are which he holds as an inheritance for the holy ones, 19 and what the surpassing greatness of his power is toward us believers. It is according to the operation of the mightiness of his strength, 20 with which he has operated in the case of the Christ when he raised him up from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this system of things, but also in that to come. 22 He also subjected all things under his feet, and made him head over all things to the congregation, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills up all things in all. [NWT]

So curious was I, that I had to see the citation from the NWT. Before I ask my bride, I would like to know how this will be defended....

WTBTS states:

Just as Jesus predicted, his “presence” as heavenly King has been marked by dramatic world developments—war, famine, earthquakes, pestilences. (Matthew 24:3-8; Luke 21:11) Such developments bear powerful testimony to the fact that 1914 indeed marked the birth of God’s heavenly Kingdom and the beginning of “the last days” of this present wicked system of things.—2 Timothy 3:1-5. (1914 A Significant Year in Bible Prophecy - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site)

How is it that the WTBTS can state that Christ came into Kingdom Power in 1914, when this first century scripture claimed that it had already been done?

[gkchesterton]

Feb 5, 2010 11:08:23 GMT -5 RoadtoEmmaus said:

How is it that the WTBTS can state that Christ came into Kingdom Power in 1914, when this first century scripture claimed that it had already been done?

Oh dear, let's see if I remember this correctly because I don't think I have my Watchtower library CD anymore (written from the perspective of the society):
1.) It is true that Jesus received kingly glory upon his death and entered into his role as High Priest.
2.) As such he was King and over all things but did not exercise this authority on the request of his father.
3.) In 1914 he began exercising authority by casting Satan out of the "heavenly places".
4.) There was therefore a two step process involved.

I now view this as tangled and corrupt, but it made sense then.

[RoadtoEmmaus]

1.) It is true that Jesus received kingly glory upon his death and entered into his role as High Priest.
2.) As such he was King and over all things but did not exercise this authority on the request of his father.
3.) In 1914 he began exercising authority by casting Satan out of the "heavenly places".
4.) There was therefore a two step process involved.

Specifically, with regards to #2...How does this get past the question of:

This is supported in scripture, where?

[gkchesterton]

Feb 5, 2010 16:29:19 GMT -5 RoadtoEmmaus said:

1.) It is true that Jesus received kingly glory upon his death and entered into his role as High Priest.
2.) As such he was King and over all things but did not exercise this authority on the request of his father.
3.) In 1914 he began exercising authority by casting Satan out of the "heavenly places".
4.) There was therefore a two step process involved.

Specifically, with regards to #2...How does this get past the question of:

This is supported in scripture, where?

Remember I'm not defending this. There is a scriptural chain that is used to establish a time line. I would have had to look it up as a Witness. I'm completely helpless now. If you need it for your wife I can try to take a pass at it next weekend. Right now I'm studying for a professional certification since I'm out of a job (layoffs). Maybe OnPatmos, Jeff, or Tom can fill in while I study (please?). If nothing happens I'll see what I can pull off then.

Of course the short answer is:
None.

[onpatmos]

Another scripture that might be seen as being related to this is:

Colossians 1:13 He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love (NWT)

Here it appears that the "kingdom" is a present reality, since Christians had been "transferred" into it. They've explained this by saying that Christ did have a "spiritual" kingdom over his followers from 33 C.E. onward.

Whether they would say that this applies also to the texts you bring up from Ephesians, I'm not sure; but if they were to attempt to answer it I think it's a good guess that they would say that, somehow, Christ had provisional, or limited, etc. kingdom power at that time, similar to their explanation of Colossians 1:13.

How does this get past the question of

After something has been, supposedly, established - such as their 1914 parousia doctrine - other things have to be ignored or explained away.They do this in many things.

[RoadtoEmmaus]

After something has been, supposedly, established - such as their 1914 parousia doctrine - other things have to be ignored or explained away.They do this in many things.

Onpatmos,

This has been extremely helpful! Thank You!

GK,

I hope everyone joins me in supporting you in prayer while you are looking for work!

Pax!

[onpatmos]

Blue - Thanks. Just be aware that "provisional" and "limited" are my terms, used in an attempt to describe the WT interpretation. The explanation I'm talking about can be found in the Insight volumes by looking up Colossians 1:13 in the index.

[gkchesterton]

bumping since Christ's kingship and the odd Witness claim came up in another thread...I know this is a hopeless quest but I've been singing "The Man of Lamancha" tunes recently...God save us all.