THE STRONG CITY OF SALVATION

A continuation of the Isaiah series (chapter 26)

“Is it really so that God has said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?”

With that seemingly innocuous question the father of the lie – the original manslayer – slyly implied that mankind’s Creator was untrustworthy. Ever since then the slanderer has heaped up a mountain of lies to cause mankind to distrust God.

However, on the very day the Devil tricked Eve into tempting her husbandly head into disobeying God, Jehovah announced his far-reaching purpose to provide a forthcoming seed of the woman who would be bruised in the heel and ultimately crush the skull of the serpent.

In furtherance of that purpose God organized the nation of Israel, which ultimately produced the promised messianic seed. The tribe of Judah was specifically selected for that privilege.

With the appearance of Jesus, “the lion of the tribe of Judah,” the first aspect of the edenic prophecy was fulfilled when Satan maneuvered to have Jesus executed. Jesus’ trust in God was tested to the limit when he submitted himself to the torturous death the original serpent inflicted upon him. But his trust was not misplaced. As promised, God resurrected Jesus from the grave. Hence, the wound the serpent had inflicted upon Jesus proved to be temporary – as if a mere bruise upon his heel.

But it is also God’s will that the seed of the woman be composed of many others besides Christ – ultimately, 144,000 others, to be exact. These are to share with Christ – ruling the world with him in a heavenly, city-like kingdom. But these must also be tested as to whether or not they will trust Jehovah the same as their Lord.

In the first century Christians were put to the test in numerous ways. Perhaps the biggest test of faith for the Jewish Christians was that they would eventually be required to part ways with the Jewish religious system, even physically leaving the holy city of Jerusalem in obedience to Jesus’ command.

Paul’s letter to the Hebrews explained that the Jewish system of worship had accomplished its purpose in producing the Messiah and had consequently become obsolete and was due to be phased out of existence. In reference to the city of Jerusalem, which was not only the center of worship for all Jews, but it was also the unofficial headquarters for the apostles too, Paul reminded his spiritual brothers: “We do not have here a city that continues.”

In that same letter to the Hebrews Paul explained that Abraham was awaiting the city with a real foundation, the builder and maker of which is God. It is, then, in reference to that heavenly city that Isaiah wrote: “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ‘We have a strong city. He sets salvation itself for walls and rampart. Open the gates, you men, that the righteous nation that is keeping faithful conduct may enter. The inclination that is well supported you will safeguard in continuous peace, because it is in you that one is made to trust. Trust in Jehovah, you people, for all times, for in Jah Jehovah is the Rock of times indefinite.'”

Just as Paul wrote concerning Christians not having a city here on earth that continues, should we not expect the same is true today? That would certainly be reasonable. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to believe that the Watchtower Society itself is the earthly embodiment of the “strong city” that provides salvation for the righteous.

Granted, their commentary is scant and vague, no doubt intentionally so, but the intended suggestion ought to be evident. Here is the Society’s brief commentary on the verse above, as expressed in the first Isaiah volume on page 276:

“While these words no doubt had a fulfillment in ancient times, they also have a clear fulfillment today. Jehovah’s “righteous nation,” spiritual Israel, is endowed with a strong, citylike organization. What a cause for rejoicing, for song!”

On the one hand the inspired apostle clearly states that Christians do not have any permanent, earthly, citylike organization. The Watchtower Society, on the other hand, claims that it is a “strong, citylike organization.”

As if anticipating the Watchtower’s fraudulent claim of being the strong city of salvation, Isaiah goes on, as if speaking for anointing Christians living now: “O Jehovah our God, other masters besides you have acted as owners of us. By you only shall we make mention of your name.”

In the first century the Jewish rulers acted as owners of God’s anointed sons. For example, the Sanhedrin ordered the apostles to stop preaching about Christ. A few centuries later the Roman emperor, Constantine, inserted himself as the decider of Christian doctrine. For centuries afterwards any who dared to teach the truth were subject to execution by the clergy. But even as Russell and the original Bible Students ostensibly broke free from the Empire’s control over Christendom, the Watchtower Society itself now acts like the owner of God’s people – increasingly so. For example, every person baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses now must declare in their sacred baptismal vows that they belong to “Jehovah’s spirit-directed organization.”

As an article of faith, upon pain of ostracism and disfellowshipping, every one of Jehovah’s Witnesses must accept the Watchtower’s 1914 hoax and the related fraud that Christ judged the house of God in 1918 and that the faithful slave has already been rewarded with his second appointment over all the master’s belongings.

How does Jehovah intend to deal with this situation? Isaiah continues: “O Jehovah, during distress they have turned their attention to you; they have poured out a whisper of prayer when they had your disciplining.”

As highlighted throughout the book of Isaiah and all the prophets, including Christ, the coming tribulation will destroy that Watchtower Society. Certainly, the future advent of Christ will discredit it beyond repair. The collapse of the claimed strong city of salvation will result in severe disciplining for all of Jehovah’s Witnesses whose faith survives the destruction of the earthly organization. Never again will they attribute salvation to anyone or anything but Jah, Jehovah.

To further demonstrate the great deception the Watchtower has perpetrated against Jehovah and against Jehovah’s Witnesses, as commentary on the verse above Bethel states:

“In the modern fulfillment, a remnant of chastened spiritual Israel was set free from Babylon the Great and restored to Jehovah’s service in 1919. Revitalized, anointed Christians threw themselves into their preaching work.”

Interestingly, like a magician skilled in the art of slight-of-hand, in their supposed verse-by-verse commentary on Isaiah, the Watchtower omits quoting or explaining the following verses of the 26^th chapter of Isaiah: “Just as a pregnant woman draws near to giving birth, has labor pains, cries out in her birth pangs, so we have become because of you, O Jehovah. We have become pregnant, we have had labor pains; as it were, we have given birth to wind. No real salvation do we accomplish as regards the land, and no inhabitants for the productive land proceed to fall in birth.”

Again, speaking for those who belong to Jehovah during the time of distress (great tribulation), Isaiah confesses that although they had expected to give birth to salvation in themselves, they prove to be powerless – completely helpless.

Surely, in their ardent belief that the Watchtower Society is the strong city of salvation, Jehovah’s Witnesses will eventually be faced with the discomforting reality that “Jehovah’s spirit-directed organization” has served its purpose and has become obsolete and will ultimately be discarded by God. Only those who whole-heartedly trust God will inherit the salvation only he can provide.

To be sure, the city of salvation is no earthly institution. It is the heavenly Jerusalem – the very kingdom of God.

The Parousia and the Day of Jehovah

QUESTION: Is there a difference between the "day of Jehovah" and "the Lord's day"? 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 states: “However, brothers, respecting the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we request of you not to be quickly shaken from your reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here.”

It seems they are the same here. What do you think about that?

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ANSWER: Yes, they are basically the same. There are numerous expressions that all refer to the same period. The Lord’s day, the presence of the Lord, the day of the Lord, the day of Jehovah, Jehovah’s day, and similar expressions.

To illustrate further, the phrase “Jehovah himself has become king” is a common expression used in the Psalms and elsewhere. But how does Jehovah himself become king? His kingship will be fully expressed through the kingdom of Christ. So, when Jesus begins ruling in his kingdom, and particularly when he completely conquers his enemies, then Jehovah may be said to have become king.

For a certainty, the day of Jehovah is an extended period of time – just not a century-long, multigenerational era as Jehovah’s Witnesses presently imagine. But to be sure, it begins with Christ’s heavenly coronation. That is when the kingdom comes to power. And the Lord’s day begins with a quite a bang! Immediately war erupts in Jehovah’s heaven between Christ (Michael the archangel) and Satan. The Devil and his demon angels are destined to lose and be cast down to the earth, at which point they will commence a violent campaign against Christ’s brothers on earth. The day of Jehovah culminates with the destruction of organized religion, the war of Armageddon and the imprisonment of Satan and the demons.

Now consider Joel 2:30-31, which states: “And I will give portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun itself will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah.”

On the day that Christianity was instituted – occasioned by the pouring out of the anointing spirit ten days after Christ had ascended back to heaven – the apostle Peter was inspired to quote the second chapter of Joel and apply it to the phenomenal events that had transpired. And, of course, the context of the verse he quoted had to do with the outpouring of God’s spirit upon his sons and daughters and menservants and maidservants.

The tongues of fire that hovered over the heads of the just-anointed 120 disciples gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem was certainly a portent of fire. Some 50 days prior to that Pentecost outpouring Jesus poured out his life blood on the day of the full moon and as he hung dying upon the stake the mid-day sky turned into darkness – perhaps as during an eclipse. And when Jesus exhaled his last breath a great earthquake rocked Jerusalem and the massive curtain in the temple sanctuary was supernaturally ripped apart.

Those could all be considered portents on the earth, blood and fire and darkness. But that particular prophecy of Joel indicates that those phenomena are a precursor to the fear-inspiring day of Jehovah – occurring before the coming of the great day. In the first century the destruction of Jerusalem was the day of Jehovah.

Although Jesus did not quote directly from Joel he apparently alluded to the prophecy at Matthew 24: 29, when he said: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

Jesus went on to say: “And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.”

Although it remains to be seen exactly how the prophecies will unfold in the future, the day of Jehovah will culminate when the sign of Christ appears in heaven with power and great glory – filling the peoples of the world with a sickening dread of the impending judgment upon them.

However, while Joel foretold that the darkening of the sun and moon occur before the great day of Jehovah, Amos indicates that the bleak period of darkness is part of the day of Jehovah. This is especially relevant for Jehovah’s Witnesses today.

Consider the verse cited by the questioner above. Paul linked the parousia and the day of Jehovah in warning the brothers not to be quickly shaken from their reason or to be unduly excited over official sounding, inspired expressions heralding that the parousia had begun and that the day of Jehovah is here.

Undeniably, the Watchtower Society has been doing that very thing for over a century. In fact, it is the only source in the world that proclaims the very message Paul exhorted anointed Christians to be on guard against!

Teaching with apostolic-like authority, the Watchtower Society has convinced millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses that the judgment of the house of God took place back during the First World War and that Jesus has already judged between the faithful and unfaithful slaves. The organization is believed to be a virtual spiritual paradise filled with Jehovah’s clean people. Over and over and over again, the Watchtower proclaims that virtually all prophecy has already been fulfilled.

For the past half-century Jehovah’s Witnesses have been expecting the United Nations to suddenly destroy organized religion throughout the world as the next event to fulfill prophecy before Armageddon. They expect to be passive bystanders to the execution of God’s judgment upon the wicked. Who can deny that Jehovah’s Witnesses are eagerly awaiting this event?

Now consider Amos 5:18-21: “Woe to those who are craving the day of Jehovah! What, then, will the day of Jehovah mean to you people? It will be darkness, and no light, just as when a man flees because of the lion, and the bear actually meets him; and as when he went into the house and supported his hand against the wall, and the serpent bit him. Will not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light; and will it not have gloom, and not brightness? I have hated, I have rejected your festivals, and I shall not enjoy the smell of your solemn assemblies.”

Because Jehovah’s Witnesses imagine that they are enlightened on these matters and are fully convinced that the parousia began in 1914, the actual parousia and day of Jehovah will prove to be a day of confusion and darkness. The days for the Society to glorify itself at conventions and assemblies will end!

Zephaniah prophesied similarly, foretelling: “The great day of Jehovah is near. It is near, and there is a hurrying of it very much. The sound of the day of Jehovah is bitter. There a mighty man is letting out a cry. That day is a day of fury, a day of distress and of anguish, a day of storm and of desolation, a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick gloom, a day of horn and of alarm signal, against the fortified cities and against the high corner towers. And I will cause distress to mankind, and they will certainly walk like blind men; because it is against Jehovah that they have sinned. And their blood will actually be poured out like dust, and their bowels like the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah’s fury; but by the fire of his zeal the whole earth will be devoured, because he will make an extermination, indeed a terrible one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.”

The world presently stands at the brink of an unimaginable catastrophe. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not have the slightest inkling that the parousia and the day of Jehovah are about to begin, with all that that entails, and that the authentic sign of his presence will soon become manifest in nuclear war, famine, pestilence and great earthquakes that far exceed the horrors of the calamitous 20^th century.

Other questions from readers appear on the Mail Bag page

JEHOVAH

The name of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and consequently the God of Israel, was represented in written form by the four Hebrew consonants YHWH. Probably the first appearance in writing of the so-called Tetragrammaton took place when God carved out the two stone tablets upon which he wrote the Ten Commandments for the Israelites. There, chiseled in stone by the very finger of God, the name of God appeared eight times.

Over the course of 15 centuries as the Bible was compiled by various writers, ultimately the name of God appeared in the vellum and papyrus scrolls in nearly 7,000 places – more than any other proper name. Originally the name of God was freely spoken by the Jews and used in everyday language. Hebrews often named their offspring names that incorporated some form of the divine name. For example, the common name, John, is a shortened form of the Hebrew name, Jehohanan, which means “Jehovah has been gracious.”

Places were also named names that honored God’s name. For example, when God prevented Abraham from offering Isaac upon a makeshift altar and instead provided a ram as a substitute, a grateful Abraham named the mountain Jehovah-Jireh, which means “Jehovah will provide.” Incidentally, Jewish tradition has it that the place Abraham named Jehovah-Jireh was the site where Solomon’s temple was built almost 1,000 years later, and which became known as the place where Jehovah caused his name to reside.

Tragically, their leaders led the Jews into idolatry and apostasy and the name of God was consequently defiled. To clear his holy name of reproach God foretold that he would cause Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple to be utterly destroyed and the Jews would be killed off and the survivors led off in chains to far-way Babylon. History verifies that God made good on his word.

Apparently, some time after the repentant Jews were repatriated to their homeland a superstition developed that forbid the Jews from speaking God’s name aloud for fear they would dishonor it. Consequently, because the name fell into disuse the exact vowels that were inserted when the name was read aloud has been lost. Nevertheless, when Jesus Christ triumphantly rode into Jerusalem on a donkey colt the 118^th Psalm (verse 26) was fulfilled when the crowds lining the road with their outer garments and waving palm branches hailed Jesus as the One coming in the name of Jehovah. A few days later Jesus stated in prayer that he had made God’s name known and that he would continue to do so.

In view of the fact that Jesus was executed the next day his campaign to make the name of God known must of necessity continue from the heavens, where Christ now resides as the immortal king of God’s kingdom. Indeed, after Christ ascended to heaven, from where he has ever since directed the work of dedicated Christians, the apostle Peter explained how the Hebrew prophecy recorded at Amos 9:12 was fulfilled by means of non-Jewish followers of Christ from all the nations having the name of Jehovah called upon them. Quoting from Amos at Acts 15:18 Peter went on to say that Jehovah was “known from of old.” Although Jesus existed from the beginning of the creation by God he was not known from of old among men. But Jehovah was known from antiquity.

Still, even though Peter applied the prophecy to the 1^st century the record states that it was by divine providence that the followers of Christ would be known foremost as Christians. But just as Peter had also applied a portion of the prophecy of Joel to the Pentecost phenomenon some years earlier, the truth is, both Joel and Amos are most applicable to the final judgment at the second coming of Christ.

In the ensuing centuries since Christianity was instituted the truth has been completely subverted. Just as the kings and priests misled the Jews, so too, the Christian leaders followed the same path of apostasy, paganism and idolatry. And just as the Jews refused to pronounce God’s name, those who hijacked Christianity went even further – first removing God’s name  from copies of the Greek, and centuries later when Bibles were mass produced they, for the most part, expunged God’s name from the Bible entirely. (The name Jehovah appeared in the original King James Version in four places, however, in the latest revision has removed the name completely.)

(Most common English translations that retain “Jehovah” are the Darby translation and the New American Standard, as well as New World Translation.)

But since the vowels originally associated with YHWH cannot be definitively ascertained, why do the few English translations and Jehovah’s Witnesses use the spelling of “Jehovah”?

Supposedly, about a thousand years ago, almost half millennia before the first Bible would appear in English, and before modern English was even developed, a priest coined the word by combining the vowels from the Hebrew word for God with the Tetragrammaton. That may or may not be true, in any case however, the name Jehovah most certainly is known from of old even in English. What is most certainly true, though, is that even if the precise vowels used in connection with YHWH were known God’s name would not be pronounced and spelled in English the same way it would be in Hebrew. The fact is, all proper Hebrew names are spelled and pronounced differently depending upon the language. However, the spelling and pronunciation of Jehovah is in keeping with the way dozens of other Hebrew names have been translated into English. (See YouTube video – YHWH Chalk Talk) Perhaps it was by divine providence that the name Jehovah has become the most widely used and recognized rendering of God’s personal name.

According to the word of God everyone who calls upon his name will be saved and Paul assured Christians that God does not forget those who have loved his name. That means that God recognizes those who use some form of his name. Not only that, but all the nations will eventually be made to know his name is Jehovah.

So, while people may quibble and quarrel over spelling and pronunciation, and others unwittingly continue to promote the silly notion that God’s name should not be pronounced by their insistence on using the unpronounceable YHWH, the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses has made the personal name of God known in an acceptable and pronouncable form throughout the earth in hundreds of languages (Presently, the Watchtower Society produces literature in 429 languages), making it possible for persons of faith to call upon the name of God.

Be that as it may, because Jehovah’s Witnesses are exclusively associated with the name Jehovah, the Bearer of that name will hold Jehovah’s Witnesses accountable – particularly the leadership. Just as the Jews defiled God’s name and brought reproach upon it, the Watchtower Society has also brought considerable reproach upon the very name they have promoted.

In brief, in God’s judgment Jehovah’s Witnesses practice a form of idolatry due to the excessive praise lavished upon the organization as the all-seeing prophet of Jehovah. And indeed, the leaders promote it. And the Society’s 1914 invisible parousia is merely an artfully contrived false story perpetuated in the name of Jehovah. For these and many other reasons already presented on this website, Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves will be made to know that he is Jehovah – the One showing exclusive devotion to his own name.

At some point during the tribulation the faithful who survive the coming purge and collapse of the Watchtower Society will pray the prayer of the exiled prophet, Daniel, who prayed these words: “Incline your ear, O my God, and hear. Do open your eyes and see our desolated conditions and the city that has been called by your name; for not according to our righteous acts are we letting our entreaties fall before you, but according to your many mercies. O Jehovah, do hear. O Jehovah, do forgive. O Jehovah, do pay attention and act. Do not delay, for your own sake, O my God, for your own name has been called upon your city and upon your people.” – Daniel 9:18-19

The Watchtower Society Hedge Fund

UPDATED...

It seems the Watchtower Society is becoming more and more cozy with the big money players of this system. As was published on this blog some months back regarding representatives of the Watchtower attending a big hedge fund networking pow-wow last September (2010), they are once again listed as attendees for the September 13-14, 2011, conference in London at the British Museum.

It ought to be noted that it costs the equivalent of nearly $5,000. That means that Bethel writes a check out of the fund devoted to the worldwide work of preaching the kingdom, a fund which Bethel boasts receives lunch money from children and donations from needy widows. The board of directors of Watch Tower Inc approve of spending funds donated to Jehovah for the privilege of sending representatives to the hedge fund conference to network and sip cocktails with the mighty ones of this world.

Here is the 2011 attendees list. Note that Bethel is still hobnobbing with the UN, as one of the listed attendees is the UN Principles for Responsible Investing.

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e-Watchman Versus the Watchtower

Previously published articleAs regular readers of e-watchman are aware, not only is it my unwavering conviction that Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society have heretofore played a vital role in the outworking of Jehovah’s grand purpose, but I also stand convinced that the present system of things is poised to implode in the immediate future – commensurate with the authentic arrival of Jesus Christ and the actual ouster of Satan and his demons from Jehovah’s heavens. Even though no mortal knows the precise day and hour when the Son of man will make his thief-like presence manifest, thereby plunging the world into a brief period of unimaginable chaos, the conditions are undeniably overripe for a calamity of apocalyptic proportions to suddenly overtake the present wicked system of things.

While Jehovah’s Witnesses are also in a general state of expectation of the beginning of the globe-rocking great tribulation, the Devil is in the details – as the saying aptly goes.

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The End of a Delusion is at Hand

 de·lu·sion (d-lzhn) n 1: (psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary 2: a mistaken or unfounded opinion or idea 3: the act of deluding; deception by creating illusory ideas

If you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses you no doubt believe that Jesus Christ arrived in the glory of his kingdom in 1914. You also believe that Jesus judged all religions in 1918 and bestowed his blessing upon the Watchtower Society; irrevocably appointing them “over all of his belongings.” Among other things, Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe that the organization is now a spiritual paradise – as foretold in prophecy.

There is no question that Jehovah’s Witnesses are thoroughly convinced that what they have been taught is the truth – in large measure because of the very authority the Watchtower has gained for itself through its teaching that Christ has already appointed them “over all his belongings.” But is it possible that the Watchtower has deluded Jehovah’s Witnesses on these issues – similar to the way in which the typical churchgoer has been deluded on various vital doctrinal matters?

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A Watchman Is What I Have Made You

Previously published article from 2004 as the first in a series on Ezekiel

A lone man stands gazing into the sky as the heavens grow ominously dark and the wind begins to blow tempestuously. A great storm is sweeping down from out of the north. But this is no ordinary atmospheric thunderstorm. As if concealing some other worldly visitor, all around the foreboding, billowing, cloud mass there is emitted a strange and entrancing iridescent glow. No, this is no natural weather phenomenon at all, and the observer of this awesome spectacle is no ordinary man. He is the Hebrew prophet, Ezekiel, and the very hand of Jehovah has come down upon his prophet. Yes, Ezekiel is in the grip of a divinely inspired phantasma!  

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It has now been nearly a century since Charles Taze Russell made the bold proclamation: “The Gentile times have ended. Their kings have had their day.”

For nearly four decades before that fateful year Russell’s Watchtower had been pointing forward to 1914 as a year marked in prophecy that would see the beginning of anarchy and the collapse of civilization.

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The Coming Storm

There is a war wracking the world today. It is not a conflict between individual nations or even blocks of nations. It is not so black and white as that. It is not confined to national borders, as wars of the past typically have been. It might best be described as a war between the rulers and the people. But that does not really tell the whole story either, because in the USA the government is “by the people” – ostensibly. More specifically, the conflict is really between two systems of rule – the empire and the republic, or neo-colonialism and the nation-states.

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What Will the New Year Bring?

Typically the last week of December is a time for not only reflecting upon events of the closing year, but also for contemplating the possibilities and personal aspirations for the coming year. Aside from the revelry of the occasion, there are the traditional New Year’s resolutions and sober or even frivolous predictions of what is to come.

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