JEHOVAH'S VINEYARD
Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 6:06AM Permalink 
Part 5 of an ongoing series on IsaiahThe overlaying theme of Isaiah; indeed, of virtually all the prophets, is the unfaithfulness, subsequent destruction of the faithless and punishment for the erring; then, the restoration and ultimate salvation of a chastened remnant.
When it comes to salvation, people generally think in terms of their own salvation. But from God’s standpoint, his purpose has always been tied to a nation - a covenanted group, a congregation of people – an organization, if you please.
Thus, the salvation God accomplished in times past was in behalf of an erring nation of people – Israel. (For simplicity Israel and Judah are here considered as one nation even though in Isaiah’s day they were two separate kingdoms.) And the reason God extended salvation to the Israelites was not primary for their benefit, but God did it for his own name’s sake.
Since Eden God’s stated purpose has been to produce the serpent-stomping seed of the woman – the Messiah. Eventually it was revealed that the seed would come through the offspring of the children of Abraham – specifically, the tribe of Judah and the House of David were chosen. But by the time of the writing of Isaiah the kingdom of Judah and its capitol, Jerusalem – the blessed city where Jehovah had placed his name – had become morally and spiritually corrupt. They were in no condition to receive their promised messianic king.
In the fifth chapter of Isaiah the prophet published an illustration, likening Judah and Jerusalem to a vineyard of God’s planting and through Isaiah Jehovah addressed his people, saying to them: “And now, O you inhabitants of Jerusalem and you men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard. What is there yet to do for my vineyard that I have not already done in it? Why is it that I hoped for it to produce grapes, but it gradually produced wild grapes? And now, please, may I make known to you men what I am doing to my vineyard: There will be a removing of its hedge, and it must be destined for burning down. There must be a breaking down of its stone wall, and it must be destined for a place of trampling. And I shall set it as a thing destroyed.”
It would seem as if the destruction of God’s symbolic vineyard would thwart his intention to introduce the Messiah to the world through his nation. No so. Jehovah would spare a cleansed remnant and by means of them his purpose would ultimately be accomplished. That aspect of God’s purpose is clearly revealed in the in the preceding chapter of Isaiah, which states:
“In that day what Jehovah makes sprout will come to be for decoration and for glory, and the fruitage of the land will be something to be proud of and something beautiful for those of Israel who have escaped. And it must occur that the ones remaining in Zion and the ones left over in Jerusalem will be said to be holy to him, everyone written down for life in Jerusalem. When Jehovah will have washed away the excrement of the daughters of Zion and he will rinse away even the bloodshed of Jerusalem from within her by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning down, Jehovah will also certainly create over every established place of Mount Zion and over her convention place a cloud by day and a smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; because over all the glory there will be a shelter. And there will come to be a booth for a shade by day from the dry heat, and for a refuge and for a hiding place from the rainstorm and from the precipitation.”
As already stated, the destruction of God’s organizational vineyard does not thwart his purpose – far from it. The burning down of the city actually accomplishes Jehovah’s purpose; as it resulted in a purge of the faithless and the cleansing of a remnant of who escape. The prophecy of Isaiah uses imagery that harkens back to the exodus of Israel from Egypt, when God led the nation by means of a billowing cloud during the day and an immense torch-like flame at night. This indicates that God resumes his role as leader of a chastened nation. But as already established in preceding articles of this series, since the prophecy of Isaiah was earmarked for an ultimate realization during the final part of the days, what might the symbolic vineyard symbolize now?
The Watchtower’s commentary on Isaiah states:
Therefore, Isaiah’s condemnation of Judah applies today to Christendom. A study of her history—her wars, her crusades, her Inquisitions—reveals just how sour her fruit has been! Nevertheless, the true vineyard of anointed Christians and their “great crowd” companions must heed Isaiah’s words. If they are to please the vineyard’s owner, they must, individually and as a group, produce fruits that please him.
Although not stated explicitly, according to the Watchtower’s inchoate commentary Jehovah apparently has two vineyards: One that produces fine fruit and another that produces sour grapes, which pictures Christendom. But that is not what is conveyed in the prophecy at all. There is only one vineyard that God declares to be his own. What is more, the Watchtower claims that those who survived the modern day burning down of the one vineyard were the relative handful of International Bible Students associated with the Watchtower during the First World War. Obviously, though, there is nothing in such recent history of God’s people that compares with the burning down of Jerusalem.
But as regards the Watchtower Society’s commentary quoted above, God does not solely indict his nation for bloodshed, as the Watchtower implies by their citing Christendom’s bloody history. God also condemns his people for their unrighteous attitudes and practices, as will be considered. Even at that, though, the leadership of the Watchtower Society well knows that bloodguilt may be incurred by means other than the outright spilling of blood in warfare. For example, in order to motivate Jehovah’s Witnesses to preach the Watchtower teaches that any negligent minister may incur bloodguilt. And what about stumbling others? Surely that would incur bloodguilt too. And in that respect the Watchtower Society has incurred bloodguilt in a way that is not possible for Christendom. How many millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and those on the periphery of the organization have been stumbled by the countless stumbling blocks too numerous to recount here, which the Society has left strewn in the path of life since its inception?
Jehovah has good reason to rinse away even the bloodshed of the modern day Jerusalem with the spirit of judgment and of burning down!
Consider now God’s denunciation as expressed in the fifth chapter of Isaiah. “For the vineyard of Jehovah of armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plantation of which he was fond. And he kept hoping for judgment, but, look! the breaking of law; for righteousness, but, look! an outcry.”
Back in the 1st chapter of Isaiah Jehovah warmly invites his people to let him set them straight. In the verse preceding that invite God gave this exhortation: “Learn to do good; search for justice; set right the oppressor; render judgment for the fatherless boy; plead the cause of the widow.”
Since, as stated here repeatedly, and even as Jehovah’s Witnesses well know, the prophecy of Isaiah is really directed to the Christian Israel of God, as is evident by the opening verses of the second chapter: “And it must occur in the final part of the days.” So, it is in that final phase of Jehovah’s purpose to produce a people for his name that he sets matters straight with his erring nation – or congregation, if you prefer. And to place a finer point, God’s requirement for his worshippers to plead the cause of orphans and widows is just as binding upon Christians and especially elders today as it was when the Law was promulgated thru Moses.
If, then, according to the context of Isaiah, it will become necessary for God to set matters straight in the final part of the days, so as to make their scarlet and crimson colored sins as white as snow and wool, it must be that his people have missed the mark when it comes to their obligation of setting right the oppressor and rendering judgment for the fatherless boy and pleading the cause of the widow. These are the judgments that God kept hoping would exist within his organizational vineyard; but instead, upon his inspection he finds the breaking of law and an outright outcry!
Now consider: The Watchtower Society claims that God set matters straight with them back in 1918 and the Society’s “prophets” have cleverly redirected all other negative aspects of Jehovah’s judgments against “Israel” to Christendom. They have led Jehovah’s Witnesses to believe that God rinsed away the excrement of their babylonish ways a long time ago. But in the years since then, particularly in recent decades, it has become apparent that no such cleansing has taken place. How so?
What about the thousands of pedophiles among Jehovah’s Witnesses and their thousands of victims?
Could Jehovah possibly pardon the leadership of an organization that has calculatingly shielded pedophiles from exposure under the guise of protecting Jehovah’s name from being reproached; thereby leaving children vulnerable to the cunning of known child predators?
So what if Jehovah’s Witnesses have rejected pagan doctrines like eternal torment, the immortal soul and the trinity? That does not exempt one from practicing the weightier things of the law, such as the aforementioned obligations to set right the oppressor and render judgment for the fatherless boy and widow, does it?
It does not matter if leading men among Jehovah’s Witnesses have declared the organization to be righteous in the sight of God. It is Jehovah’s judgment that counts. And Jehovah is inclined to listen to the outcry of the lowly, the meek, the brokenhearted, the disaffected and oppressed – rather than to the corporation’s spokesmen and prominent men who wield authority over them.
Whereas, Jehovah’s law requires the leaders of his people to plead the cause of the afflicted, the Watchtower’s legal team has done the opposite – they have placed themselves as formidable legal opponents of children who have been raped and abused by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Instead of pleading their cause the Watchtower has been their adversary at law. After years of filing trivial motions to derail justice, only when faced with the potential of massive damages in court and negative publicity has the Watchtower been forced to settle with plaintiffs. (Watchtower Documents)
Not only that, but to their shame, in actual court briefs the Watchtower’s lawyers have claimed that Christian elders bear no fiduciary responsibility to protect children in their respective congregations from the crimes of a fellow congregant. (Related articles on Watchman Blog) Obviously, Jehovah has another perspective on that.
For these and other reasons, God is now determined to set fire to his vineyard.
To be continued...
Reader Comments (23)
Throughout the history of Christianity, there has always been a “little flock” striving to meet with God’s approval. Understandably, Christ, in his function as God’s High Priest, is consistently working with his congregation in order to refine it and to finally present it to God unblemished.
This is an ongoing process which will intensify during the great tribulation. But first Christ must select and seal 144,000 individuals as first fruits of the end time harvest, through whom he will gather the “numberless great crowd.” Jesus will complete this ingathering process by the seventh trumpet and sixth seal.
We should not think that the supposedly anointed little flock is to be found strictly within the membership of Jehovah’s Witnesses today. This reasoning comes from the erroneous belief that the religion practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses is the true religion and all the others fall into the category of Babylon the Great, the so-called empire of false religion.
Babylon the Great currently exists in a fragmented form as it has always been since God confused the language of mankind and scattered them throughout the surface of the earth. In it we find good people and bad people, just as there were good and bad people within the nation of Israel, which was in a covenant relationship with God. So there is always a scattering of God’s people. Then he refines and gathers them. –Rev 18:4
So today, the nations stand before God just like all the ancient nations and kingdoms stood before him as he pronounced and executed judgments upon all of them. As we approach the great tribulation, the situation is going to be the same, but this time it will be global in scope.
Thus we can understand why immediately prior to the commencement of the tribulation or the unleashing of “the four winds of the earth,” Jesus will seal the 144,000. There will serve as end time servants and prophets. This behavior is consistent with God. He always selects individuals, whom he uses as his “mouthpiece” to announce his judgments.
That is why John was given a “little scroll” and was told to eat it. It was sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach because it consists of God’s judgments to come upon the whole world. This will be the experience of the 144,000 as they will be preaching in sackcloth during the tribulation. –Rev 10:9-11; 11:3
It is after the sealing that God will allow for the consolidation of the composite wild beast, thus the rise and formation of Babylon the Great which will make possible the future captivity and later the grand liberation God will bring about on behalf of his people, all those who listen to His voice. –Rev 13, 18-19:1-3
Hello ASCO,
I enjoy your comments very much. May I ask whether you could expand and give more details for the quotation that I extracted from your above comment?
"We should not think that the supposedly anointed little flock is to be found strictly within the membership of Jehovah’s Witnesses today. This reasoning comes from the erroneous belief that the religion practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses is the true religion and all the others fall into the category of Babylon the Great, the so-called empire of false religion. "
I greatly appreciate your time and effort.
Here’s what the Watchtower says about Babylon the Great from the Appendix of the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? Published in 2005:
“The religious identity of Babylon the Great is further confirmed by the statement that she misleads all the nations by means of her “spiritistic practice.” Since all forms of spiritism are demon-inspired, it is not surprising that the Bible calls Babylon the Great “a dwelling place of demons.” This empire is also described as being actively opposed to true religion, persecuting “prophets” and “holy ones.” In fact, Babylon the Great has such deep hatred for true religion that she violently persecutes and even murders “the witnesses of Jesus.” Hence, this woman named Babylon the Great clearly represents the world empire of false religion, which includes all religions that stand in opposition to Jehovah God.”
The fact of the matter is all nations and religions, including the religion practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses, “stand in opposition to Jehovah God. So God’s future dealings with the nations and religious organizations during the tribulation will demonstrate the superiority and the legitimacy of his kingdom over all the kingdoms of this world, which are in fact corrupted by “spiritistic practice” in various forms. Religion has always been a divisive force because of the Devil’s corrupting influence upon the minds of men. That is why God will sidestep all religion. He will seal 144,000 individuals through whom Christ will speak during the tribulation.
The nation of Israel was represented by the lampstand in the temple located across the table of showbread. That lampstand was removed because of Israel’s apostasy. It was given to the Christians as represented by the seven lampstands in Revelation. Christianity has gone the same way as their ancient counterpart, Judaism. That is why John finally saw “the two witnesses symbolized by the two olives trees and the two lampstands that are standing before the Lord of the whole earth.” –Rev 11: 3-4
Notice that there will be only two lampstands standing before God during the tribulation. Since God will seal the 144,000 prior to the commencement of the tribulation, they will serve as the “mouthpiece” of the symbolic two witnesses, inasmuch all the prophets prior to them served as God’s mouthpiece. And like the prophets of old they will be killed after they finished their witnessing. Afterward, God’s vengeance or retribution will come upon the sons of disobedience.
Una Reflexión junto al Mar
Prestemos atención a las profecías de Cristo
Los discípulos de Cristo le preguntan en el monte de los olivos las palabras de (Mateo 24:3): 24:3 Y estando él sentado en el monte de los Olivos, los discípulos se le acercaron aparte,
diciendo: Dinos, ¿cuándo serán estas cosas, y qué señal habrá de tu venida, y del fin del siglo?
Una lectura cuidadosa nos muestra las características que los discípulos querían saber de la venida postrera de Jesucristo “el fin consumado”, el fin de fines o el fin completo. Entonces pasó a decirles las palabras de los versículos 6 y 7: 24:6 Y oiréis de guerras y rumores de guerras; mirad que no os turbéis, porque es necesario que todo esto acontezca; pero aún no es el fin.
24:7 Porque se levantará nación contra nación, y reino contra reino; y habrá pestes, y hambres, y terremotos en diferentes lugares. Producto a algo como nunca antes se va a oír de guerras y rumores, ¿provocando qué? Las palabras del versículo # 7, “una guerra definitiva que parece abarcar hasta la llegada del Armagedón.
Ahora por favor, analicemos las palabras desde el versículo 15 hasta el versículo 22 del capítulo 24 de Mateo.
(Mateo 24: 15-22): 24:15 Por tanto, cuando veáis en el lugar santo la abominación desoladora de que habló el profeta Daniel (el que lee, entienda),
24:16 entonces los que estén en Judea, huyan a los montes.
24:17 El que esté en la azotea, no descienda para tomar algo de su casa;
24:18 y el que esté en el campo, no vuelva atrás para tomar su capa.
24:19 Mas ¡ay de las que estén encintas, y de las que críen en aquellos días!
24:20 Orad, pues, que vuestra huida no sea en invierno ni en día de reposo;
24:21 porque habrá entonces gran tribulación, cual no la ha habido desde el principio del mundo hasta ahora, ni la habrá.
24:22 Y si aquellos días no fuesen acortados, nadie sería salvo; mas por causa de los escogidos, aquellos días serán acortados.
Antes de continuar expreso que para algunas personas que quieren defraudar la Biblia como no inspirado de Dios, los ateos de la nueva era luciferiana, exponen que dicha tribulación no aplica al presente, sino solamente fue el saqueo que sufrió el antiguo templo de Jerusalén por parte de los Romanos. Pero en contraste, Juan ve en visión a una gran multitud que sale de la Gran Tribulación que le debe la salvación al que está sentado en el trono y al cordero. Ya por último, estos ateos han llegado hasta la blasfemia más alta al decir que estos libros de Juan fueron escritos por la gran frustración.
Una vez que después Cristo menciona las guerras, en el versículo # 15 Cristo hace punto de separación, que es cuando llega a ponerse en pie en el lugar santo la abominación desoladora. En aquel tiempo fue los soldados romanos con símbolos paganos. Los versículos 17,18 y 19, 20 expone el las consecuencias que traerá la posición de la abominación desoladora: “todos los judíos tienen que huir a las montañas”. Con otras palabras como: El que esté en la azotea, no descienda para tomar algo de su casa;
y el que esté en el campo, no vuelva atrás para tomar su capa.
Mas ¡ay de las que estén encintas, y de las que críen en aquellos días!, Cristo expresa urgencia, seriedad ante tal evento, no es cualquier cosa, es cosas de vida o muerte.
El versículos 21 y 22 dan más urgencia todavía, pero indicando un cumplimiento doble en el futuro: “21 porque habrá entonces gran tribulación, cual no la ha habido desde el principio del mundo hasta ahora, ni la habrá. 22 Y si aquellos días no fuesen acortados, nadie sería salvo; mas por causa de los escogidos, aquellos días serán acortados” Es tan difícil la situación, que esos días tiene que ser acortados, no pueden durar mucho tiempo. Jesucristo no ha venido, aunque la destrucción de Jerusalén fue una Gran Tribulación, fue en un círculo cerrado de zona, no fue de la magnitud que Cristo expuso como un evento que nunca ha ocurrido a nivel mundial, podemos decir con plena seguridad teniendo el apoyo de Revelación 7 que habrá una “Gran Tribulación” marcando el fin de este sistema de esta era de iniquidad tomando Cristo Jesús pleno control mundial. Habrá una colocación de la abominación desoladora otra vez en el lugar santo. La abominación desoladora pudiera ser la ONU otra entidad que proscribirá la obra de los cristianos, eliminando las religiones poniendo así un sistema en oposición a Jehová Dios en la tierra, pero antes que logre su objetivo, Cristo llevando el decreto del Dios Jehová, la eliminará junto con este mundo corrupto. Está profetizado, que esta entidad maligna es el octavo rey final que dominará por 42 meses, más bien llamado por los sitios de conspira nía: “Nuevo Orden Mundial” ya los vemos venir solo basta el empuje para crear la justificación.
Preguntémonos: ¿Estoy yo alerta antes los sucesos de este mundo cambiante que llevarán a la intervención definitiva de Cristo? ¡ya es hora! El tiempo se acaba.
My reflection is in English here. Also, you can visit my blogs in: latorreysuvijia.blogspot.com. Thank you
A Reflection on the Sea
Heed the prophecy of Christ
The disciples asked Christ on the Mount of Olives' words (Matthew 24:3): 24:3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately,
saying, Tell us, when shall these things, and what the sign of thy coming, and the end of the century?
A careful reading shows the characteristics that the disciples wanted to know about the coming season of Jesus Christ "to consummate" to end or end completely. Then went on to say the words of verses 6 and 7: 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye not be troubled, because you need all these things, but still not the end.
24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Product to something like never before will hear of wars and rumors, causing you? The words of verse # 7, "a final war that seems to cover until the arrival of Armageddon.
Now please, consider the words from verse 15 to verse 22 of chapter 24 of Matthew.
(Matthew 24: 15-22): 24:15 Therefore, when you see in the holy place the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),
24:16 then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.
24:17 He who is on the housetop not come down to take some home;
24:18 and that is in the field return back to take his coat.
24:19 But woe to those who are pregnant, and that give suck in those days!
24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in winter or on Sabbath
24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall be.
24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Before proceeding to some people express that they want to abuse the Bible as inspired by God no, atheists, New Age Luciferian, argue that this affliction does not apply to this, but only was the looting suffered by the ancient temple of Jerusalem by of the Romans. But in contrast, John sees in vision a large crowd coming out of the Great Tribulation who owes his salvation to him who sits on the throne and the lamb. And finally, these atheists have reached the highest blasphemy to say that these books of John were written by the great frustration.
Once Christ after the wars mentioned in verse # 15 Christ does break point, which is when it comes to stand in the holy place the abomination of desolation. At that time was the Roman soldiers with pagan symbols. Verses 17,18 and 19, 20 describes the consequences that will bring the position of the abomination of desolation, "all Jews have to flee to the mountains." In other words: who is on the housetop not come down to take something from home;
and that is in the field return back to take his coat.
But woe to those who are pregnant, and that give suck in those days, Christ expressed urgency, seriousness to such an event, not anything, is life or death stuff.
The verses 21 and 22 give more urgency yet, but indicating a dual fulfillment in the future: "21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened "the situation is so difficult, that those days have to be shortened, can not last long. Jesus did not come, although the destruction of Jerusalem was an Apocalypse, was in a closed area, it was of the magnitude that Christ presented as an event that has never happened in the world, we can safely say having the support 7 Disclosure to be a "Great Tribulation" marking the end of this system in this era of lawlessness taking full control of Jesus Christ worldwide. There will be a placement once the abomination of desolation in the holy place. The abomination of desolation, the UN could be another entity that outlaw the work of the Christian religion thereby eliminating a system in opposition to Jehovah God on earth, but before you reach your goal, Christ bearing the decree of God the Lord, will remove along with this corrupt world. It is predicted that this evil entity is the eighth king will dominate final for 42 months, more aptly named for the sites of conspiring NIA "New World Order" and come see you just need the push to create the justification.
Ask yourself: Am I alert before the events of this changing world that will lead to definitive intervention of Christ? It's time! The time is just.
Watchman,
you say that "the prophecy of Isaiah is really directed to the Christian Israel of God," because it deals with events that are to occur in the 'final part of the days' of God's people.
Your view is both right and wrong, and, therefore, significantly flawed. Let me try to explain and reinterpret for you the grounds upon which your misapprehension is founded - which fatally compromises your otherwise impressive insight into things biblical.
In interpreting the end time oracles of the Hebrew prophets, we also have to consider the eschatological material of Jesus and His disciples, as recorded in the NT.
Jesus, for example, warned His followers - of both then and now - to flee from God's covenant people - prophetically referred to as Jerusalem - at catching sight of the risk of their being taken over by that disgusting, idolatrous, religio-political global beast, eventually to cause complete desolation to the equally idolatrous people of God - a sight capable of cognition and correct interpretation vouchsafed only to those thus enlightened by Holy Spirit, as clearly implied in His words in Mathew 24.
Since, therefore, we have herewith a clear and divine precedent for the existential difference and unbridgeable chasm [Lu 16:26] existing between the TWO components of God's people - or, rather, the real body of Christ, operating 'outside the camp,' and the born-in-the-flesh, wanna-be people of God, composed of the WT-anointed, their followers and all the rest of that, which they contemptuously refer to as 'Christendom' -
we ought to suitably acknowledge and appropriate the Divine paradigm and it's implications for us today, lest we be overreached by Satan's attempts at obfuscation and deception - twisting the Scriptures to mean that the body of Christ is somehow identical with the apostate people of God, of whom but a mere remnant are prophesied to survive.
No, there is a clear distinction between the body of Christ - composed of the chosen ones who cannot possibly be deceived, and hence are WITHOUT blemish, according to Jesus' own words in Mat 24:24, Re 14:5 etc. - and the 'Jerusalem' people of God who will be completely wiped out, if but for a few remaining ones, who will be joined to the great crowd of tribulation survivors that have rejected the mark of the beast.
The fleeing from 'Jerusalem' need not be restricted to those born of the Spirit - although nobody claiming the anointing could possibly hope to survive God's wrath, while stubbornly remaining in 'good standing' with it's deceptive and lying organization of apostate evildoers.
Ironically, the WT, just like yourself, is also PARTIALLY right in their saying that "Isaiah's condemnation of Judah [Jerusalem] applies today to Christendom."
That is a true statement - if only the WT-anointed could see that they are the most reprehensible part of Christendom.
Equally, if only you could comprehend that the WT-anointed and their followers are but a part of Christendom - and entirely separate and distinct from the true body of Christ, which is OUTSIDE the 'camp' and 'city' of ALL Christian groups and organizations - you would actually accomplish a lot of good on behalf of the truth.
You are by no means unique among those who have spoken out against the lies of their respective religious organizations and Churches, and who now exist outside the camp of organized and established Christianity, just like yourself.
It is precisely among those thus standing up for truth, against all threats of excommunication and spiritual death, that the genuine body of Christ is to be found, directed, not by human arrangements and means, but by the Spirit of Christ as Head of the body, just as done at the pouring out of the anointing in the first century.
The Devil has infiltrated all religion, including the one practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Therefore Jehovah’s Witnesses should not point to their religion as the “narrow road” to life. Instead, we should point to Jesus who said "I am the way, the truth and the life. . ." This would be a more sensible or level-headed approach of presenting the kingdom’s message in our public preaching activity. In any event, this activity will be outlawed during the tribulation. But God will empower 144,000 people with his spirit to carry it out during the concluding harvest, which will have a multiplier effect producing the numberless great crowd. --Isaiah 60;22; Rev 7:9
It is unloving for the Watchtower to say that all religions except their religion make up Babylon the Great. This is because Babylon the Great is a future world power that will rise during the great tribulation for a short time (forty-two months), the seven-headed beast that looks like a leopard that John saw coming out of the sea. It will be both a religious and political empire, just as its ancient counterpart on the Euphrates River, with all its magic-practicing priests, wise men, conjurers and astrologers. --Rev 13:1-2: Da 3:27
John said that the seven heads are blasphemous. So they are religious in nature. However, the ten horns on the heads of this composite beast represent civil authorities. Jehovah’s Witnesses have a long-standing policy of remaining neutral in the world’s political affairs, which may have been compromised by the Watchtower’s involvement with the UN as an NGO during the decades of the 90s. Therefore, Jehovah's Witnesses should be on the alert of the real threat of being misled by the very institution that they depend on for spiritual sustenance.
At present, none of the heads or horns of the wild beast represent currently existing nations or empires. But that is going to change during the tribulation. John says in Rev 17:12-14:
“And the ten horns that you saw mean ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings one hour with the wild beast. These have one thought, and so they give their power and authority to the wild beast. These will battle with the Lamb, but, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them. Also, those called and chosen and faithful with him [will do so].”
The ten horns on the wild beast in Revelation and the ten toes on the metallic man in Daniel are the same entity. When we put this information together as seen from two different perspectives, “the image” of the composite wild beast will be a final manifestation of a tyrannical global world power, incorporating all the characteristics of ancient Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the many kings existing up to the point until a stone representing the Messianic Kingdom is cut out of a mountain, pulverizing the image to oblivion. –Da 2: 44-45
First to go will be the religious component of the wild beast as represented by the seven blasphemous heads, and then the kings of the earth as represented by the ten horns. –Rev 17
TO CLAUDE ::
Do you believe that the 10 horns, 10 kings who give their power to the W.B. for the 'hour of judgement'
are the 10 unions, (club of Rome) taking power & authority with secret societies, powerful elite, Rocker-fellers(giants)
Rothschilds, illuminati & Republican freemasons etc etc ??
From my observation, the next election will bring for a Republican President, Nov 2011 who will do what the
Bush family orders him to do (simplistic) & bring on W.W.111,that is "bring forth" (my bad, ha ha) a Repub.Pres.
but first, theres the financial crash..
In your opinion, should we be cashing in our dollars for silver bullions, or coins ??am speaking from Ozland
and the fluoride dumbed down general society who disregard the warnings in the media (too deep)
not withstanding our country has been brought to its knees by the NWO's destruction of our farmland, & export
trade not to mention our food sources....Pale horse is riding strong... Thanks for your time
To Claude:
Forgot to ask :: Babylon the Gt gets destroyed when the W.B. turns on 'her' so how can you say first,
the religious component of the W.Beast gets destroyed ===first from when ..?? after the 1260 days when
Bab.the Gt has been sitting on it ,,,,etc thanks
The harlot or the religious component of Babylon the Great is destroyed at the sixth trumpet. Likely, at a point in time when "the image of the beast" is set up, 1290 days into the tribulation. Tying this event with Daniel 12:11, we read :
"And from the time that the constant [feature] has been removed and there has been a placing of the disgusting thing that is causing desolation, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days."
The following verse reads:
“Happy is the one who is keeping in expectation and who arrives at the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days!"
"Keeping in expectation of what"? Christ's Second Coming as he breaks the sixth seal and subsequently destroys the wicked at Armageddon.
"And what about stumbling others? Surely that would incur bloodguilt too. And in that respect the Watchtower Society has incurred bloodguilt in a way that is not possible for Christendom. How many millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and those on the periphery of the organization have been stumbled by the countless stumbling blocks too numerous to recount here, which the Society has left strewn in the path of life since its inception?"
Amen to that brother! The Watchtower's pompous and self-righteous attitude sickens me after all they've done to mislead and stumble so many.
“Should we be cashing in our dollars for silver bullions, or coins?”
In God's economy honesty is the best policy. When we are honest we show that we are wise.
“For wisdom is for a protection [the same as] money is for a protection; but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom itself preserves alive its owners.’ -- Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
By keeping this thought in mind we will not worry too much about money, gold or silver. After all these things are going to be worthless. They will not be able to deliver anyone in the day of Jehovah’s fury. Concerning those putting their trust in money, Ezekiel 7:19 says:
“‘Into the streets they will throw their very silver, and an abhorrent thing their own gold will become. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah’s fury.
“Pale horse is riding strong”
The name of the rider of the pale horse is Death. This horse is going to leave a trail of death into the billions as it sallies forth from God’s throne at the start of the tribulation; suffice it to say this specification has not been met yet. Therefore, Jesus has not opened the fourth seal yet.
Revelation 6:7-8 reads:
“And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say: “Come!” And I saw, and, look! a pale horse; and the one seated upon it had the name Death. And Ha'des was closely following him. And authority was given them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with a long sword and with food shortage and with deadly plague and by the wild beasts of the earth.”
Latest official current world population estimate, for mid-year 2010, is estimated at 6.9 billion. If Jesus had opened the fourth seal in that year, 1.7 billion people would have been killed, by the combined effect of war, famine, pestilence and wild beasts (people rioting and acting wild).
This massive amount of destruction will come upon the world when Jesus moves away from the altar of incense in the heavenly sanctuary, due to rebellion or “transgression” having reached a saturated level. (Da 8:23) It is at this point in time after the sealing of the 144,000, that John saw “another angel” hurled the “incense vessel’ to the earth and the “four angels” that were given power to ham the earth released the four winds or the storm of Jehovah representing his judgments upon our degenerate world. (Rev 8 and 9) By the sixth trumpet earth’s population will be further reduced by one third. –Rev 9:13-15
The good news is that God’s judgment will separate the sheep from the goats during the tribulation. And after this storm cloud has settled, a thousand years of peace will follow. –Rev 20:1-3
Thanks Watchman, Thanks for the article, and for all of the hard work that you do, and Thanks to all of the others too.
Some humble advice,
It is obvious to us that many of you spend far too much time criticizing THE WATCHTOWER. Many of you are lost sheep yourselves! concentrate and focus on the Kingdom of Jehovah. Leave the old stumbling way behind you. Do not continue to call them into your thoughts.
Move on and behold a new day arrives.
Pale Horseman,
We saw you riding by on that whit horse. Next time, politely wave! Your brothers will be joining you shortly.
JC
“Una Reflexión junto al Mar”.
Versículos condenadores.
No cabe duda que los Salmos es un libro de profecías poéticas, es decir, profecías en poesía. Los salmos expresan la condenación, el juicio, la denunciación contra aquellos que maltratan al pueblo de Jehová Dios, contra aquellos que blasfeman contra su Santo Nombre. Salmo capitulo # 1 a partir del versículo 4 es un ejemplo esclarecedor. ¿Qué tal si le echamos una mirada?
Los versículos 1 al 3 de este Salmo exponen los caminos que una persona justa anda, como resultado es feliz. Pero tajantemente a partir del versículo # 4 el tono cambia hacia una condenación para aquellos que no aceptan los decretos del Dios Jehová. Por favor, abramos nuestras Biblias en (Salmo 1:4-6), dice así:
1:4 No así los malos,
Que son como el tamo que arrebata el viento.
1:5 Por tanto, no se levantarán los malos en el juicio,
Ni los pecadores en la congregación de los justos.
1:6 Porque Jehová conoce el camino de los justos;
Mas la senda de los malos perecerá.
“No así los malos”, frase iniciativa del versículo para mostrar que los inicuos son lo contrario al obrar del justo mostrado en los versículos 1 al 3. Cuando continuamos la lectura, vemos que se mencionan la posición del inicuo, uno es el regular, es decir, el que no quiere conocer a Dios y el otro es el que está dentro de la congregación. En este caso podemos decir abiertamente que dentro de la congregación de Dios hay personas al servicio del mal, personas con doble vida, personas que hacen tropezar. Sin embargo, hay uno que supera a todos: “el hombre del pecado” mencionado por el apóstol Pablo en (2 Tesalonicenses 2:3): 2:3 Nadie os engañe en ninguna manera; porque no vendrá sin que antes venga la apostasía, y se manifieste el hombre de pecado, el hijo de perdición,
Este personaje que todavía es un misterio se disfraza de la devoción piadosa para sentarse en el templo de Dios, cuando se manifiesta, traiciona el pacto santo, como resultado, la obra se proscribe. Veremos. En totalidad, el salmo expresa que ambas posiciones está el obrar del inicuo en conjunto. Por eso, se les presenta como el tamo: “cascara de la paja” que es llevada por el viento, así son y llegarán a ser porque tanto los inicuos del mundo como los que están dentro de la congregación jamás se levantará en el juicio final de Cristo cuando lleva a cabo el decreto de Jehová Dios.
Para los impíos del mundo que jamás llegaron a conocer a Dios, se dice que hay tiempo de crujir dientes, tiempo de horror y lamento. Abra su Biblia en (mateo 24:30), dice así: 24:30 Entonces aparecerá la señal del Hijo del Hombre en el cielo; y entonces lamentarán todas las tribus de la tierra, y verán al Hijo del Hombre viniendo sobre las nubes del cielo, con poder y gran gloria.
Para los inicuos dentro de la congregación cristiana (Mateo 13:40-42)
13:40 De manera que como se arranca la cizaña, y se quema en el fuego, así será en el fin de este siglo.
13:41 Enviará el Hijo del Hombre a sus ángeles, y recogerán de su reino a todos los que sirven de tropiezo, y a los que hacen iniquidad,
13:42 y los echarán en el horno de fuego; allí será el lloro y el crujir de dientes.
SI, ambas posiciones del inicuo serán exterminadas. Pero el camino del justo será conocido por Jehová para siempre entrando en un nuevo mundo de Paz de 1000 años donde el Cordero con los 144000 ungidos desde el Monte Sión celestial dirigirán su atención a la tierra para llevarnos a fuentes de agua de vida. El conocimiento de Jehová será abundante. ¡gloria al Dios de los cielos por los siglos de los siglos amén!
"A Reflection on the Sea."
Verses capacitors.
There is no doubt that the Psalms is a book of poetic prophecy, ie poetry prophecies. The psalms express the condemnation trial, the denunciation against those who abuse the people of Jehovah God, against those who blaspheme His Holy Name. Psalm Chapter # 1 from verse 4 is a telling example. What if we take a look?
Verses 1 to 3 of this psalm presents the ways that a person just walking, as a result is happy. But sharply from verse # 4, the tone changes to a condemnation for those who do not accept the decrees of God Jehovah. Please open our Bibles (Psalm 1:4-6), reads:
1:4 Not so the wicked;
They are like chaff which the wind.
1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the trial,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous;
But the path of the wicked will perish.
"Not so bad," a phrase of verse initiative to show that the wicked are doing the opposite of the just shown in verses 1 to 3. When we continue reading, we mentioned the position of the wicked, one is regular, ie they do not want to know God and the other is that which is within the congregation. In this case we can say openly that within the congregation of God there are people in the service of evil, people with double lives, people who do stumble. However, there is one that surpasses them all: man of sin "mentioned by the apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:3), 2:3 Let no man deceive in any way, for will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and they show the man of sin, the son of perdition;
This character is still a mystery disguised as pious devotion to sit in the temple of God, when he says, betrays the holy covenant, as a result, the work is proscribed. We'll see. In all, the psalm says that the two positions is the work of the wicked together. Therefore, they are presented as the chaff, "shell from the chaff" that is carried by the wind, and are and will become because both the wicked of the world as those within the congregation never arise in the final trial of Christ when carrying out the decree of Jehovah God.
For the wicked world ever came to know God, says there is time gnashing teeth, time of horror and regret. Open your Bible (Matthew 24:30), reads: 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth and see the Son of man coming in the clouds heaven with power and great glory.
For the wicked within the Christian congregation (Matthew 13:40-42)
13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so will be at the end of this century.
13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels and gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
13:42 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Yes, both sides of the wicked will be exterminated. But the path of the righteous will be known forever by the Lord entering a new world of Peace of 1000 years where the 144000 Lamb on Mount Zion anointed from heaven turn their attention to earth to lead to water of life. The knowledge of the Lord will be abundant. Glory to God in heaven forever and ever amen!
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Claude: Stone
Because you may have one foot in each "CAMP" and inherentlyh defensive of the WT Org. you have reverted
to giving us sermons & judgments sounding very much like the G.B. writings.
Given that you have great gifts of spiritual insight , the body of CHRIST have different gifts just as the body has
different parts.....but there is NO COMPROMIsing the scripture from the LOUD VOICE from HEAVEN after Bab the Gt falls, but that is a time that would not allow many to escape::: do you agree ?? it ia YHWH & His beloved SON who
command the erring REMNANT to "flee the city" B4 its destruction.
Your comments re: the Pale Horse, do we know how many peoples have been destroyed by war, famine & food
shortages, earthquakes etc already, in the past 2 yrs ??
PROXY::
Good to have you back here dear fellow worker, this opportunity to express our dedication & faith in both the
true God YHWH & His beloved Son,, on these forums of spiritual enlightenment & research...
Most comments have "food at the proper time" as we sift thru them & feed on the "truths" therein.
Hoping you're surviving well so far on the fruitages of the spirit, & whatever sustenance the LORD provides
cheers,
Elena,
Although there is a connection between Claude and Stone, a spiritual one at that, I would prefer to be addressed as Stone. Don't ask me to explain it anymore than there were certain things Paul could not explain. I remain forever humble.
Thanks and may God be a blessing to you!
STONE cries out ::
We too are blessed to have your input, my friend & many thanks for request for God's blessing, we
can ALL do with much of that, merci beaucoup
You didn't ask HOW it was revealed to me ?? that is part of my gift, seeing with visionary eyes "into the heart
of matter" even tho am just a simpleton in the eyes of 'this world'... just laugh and know what GOD has given me..
its just like Bible prophecy :;;we have to delve deep, & keep prospecting, like an archaologist,,,,digging until
the reward of the revelation.....
If anyone has ever had a "near death experience" its like going to mid-heaven" & then again to those who
were"called" to be part of the Heavenly arrangement, sometimes wonder if they were angels before, &
like in Jeremiah chpt 1, describes how God "knows" certain ones, especially prophets "before they were born"
eg David,,,,& why did Elijah float up to Heaven ...so many questions unanswered...WHO will tell me ..??
You have said that GOD YHWH will, repeat WILL choose & seal the 144,000 B4 the Gt. Tribulation,,,,see
it is my belief that the Gt. Trib began in 2008 ( 10-10-2008) and there is 2parts of 3 1/2 yrs...which will
culminate around 2015...that takes care of 2012 even tho there will b great calamity & earth shaking events
Pole shift ? forget about "planet X" etc....there will b enough madness to contend with..
Digress, please forgive
The Remnant have already been chosen, & have been tested to their limit for decades hence as having
been "called & given the TOKEN, of Holy Spirit (Helper) that is the first (1) SEAL.....that is why the 2witnesses
in sackcloth will not be harmed during their "witness work" Rev.11 : 5,6 already finally sealed B4 Gt Trib finale..
So then, we are at least up to the stage of the 3rd Horse of the Apocalypse....the BLACK horse... and its obvious that any "lingering Remnant" professing their 'heavenly calling' would be in
very serious spiritual "valley of the shadow of death" ::: not taking action, prefering the comfort of their scheduled routines....
Looks very likely that from other observations the 4th Horseman (Pale) the 4th angel blowing the 4th Trumpet would herald in the Gt Tribulation - all those not having the final sealing would
be very confused through the next stage ie the 5th angel, 5th trumpet ...Rev 9...angel of the abyss , locusts "tormenting" for 5 months those NOT having the seal of their foreheads etc.
Maybe "Stone" could elaborate on his "6th trumpet heralding in the IMAGE of the Beast, causing everyone who refuse the "mark of the beast" to be killed or else suffer th e consequences...
at the end of the Gt trib... good one !!
New events taking place in Europe, debate over the currency, the Euro, and a dictatorship (faschist style) emerging with Bankers governing the countries, that
have been 'bailed out' ..
It sure looks a lot like the New World Order to me, with the European Union, always the precedent, becoming a dictatorship with France & Germany taking the lead, in changing their currency back from the Euro.
Because Rev 7:1-4 reveals when the Gt Tribulation begins, and it has been revealed that the sealed "sons of God's Kingdom" will be the 7angels given the 7 trumpets, all is taking place in GOD's TIMETABLE...hallilujah