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Saturday, January 16 I saw . . . a great crowd . . . standing before the throne and before the Lamb. —Rev. 7:9. In 1935, Jehovah’s Witnesses came to realize that the great crowd do not literally have to be in heaven to stand “before the throne and before the Lamb.” Rather, their position is figurative. Even though they would live on earth, the great crowd could stand “before [...]
Saturday, January 9 Obey God as ruler rather than men. —Acts 5:29. How can you continue to worship Jehovah while under ban? The branch office will give the local elders instructions and practical suggestions. If the branch office cannot contact the elders, then the elders will help you and all in the congregation to continue your worship of Jehovah. They will give direction in harmony with the [...]
Jehovah’s Witnesses are all about the future. Surviving the violent end of this wicked world and living forever in paradise on earth is a compelling vision —a valid hope, solidly based upon the Sacred Scriptures. Indeed, let your Kingdom come! When Jesus walked the earth he was keenly interested in the future. He was aware of what was written in the Hebrew prophets and Psalms. He [...]
Slightly edited repost from 2012 Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities on earth. The first mention of it in the Holy Bible is in the book of Genesis, in connection with Melchizedek – a type of Christ, a priest, who was also the king of Salem. The 76th Psalm, which states: “God is known in Judah; in Israel his name is great. And his [...]
ehovah’s counsel against Tyre in the 23rd chapter of Isaiah is immediately followed by the execution of his judgments against his own people and the very city where Jehovah had placed his holy name. The prophecy of Ezekiel follows the very same pattern, in that, Jehovah’s appointed watchman first decrees the downfall of Tyre and Egypt and then he is commanded to speak God’s judgments against the shepherds of Israel. And in that setting the prophet also situates the coming of “David” – a prophetic reference to the Christ.
As has been already been detailed in Jehovah Himself Has Become King, Tyre and Egypt foreshadow the London-centered global empire and the United States of America, respectively. What, though, does the doomed city of Jerusalem foreshadow in the grand fulfillment? And to be certain, the prophecy in the 24th chapter of Isaiah speaks to a much grander event than merely the fall of Jerusalem 2,500 centuries ago. That is apparent from the obvious cryptic, pre-Revelation reference to the judgment of the demonic kings and their earthly counterparts, and their being locked in a prison for 1,000 years and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s purpose to rule in the midst of 144,000 kings upon heavenly Mount Zion.
One of the great cities of the ancient world was Tyre. It is believed to have been in existence as far back as the time when Moses brought the Israelites out of Egypt in the great exodus, approximately 3,500 years ago. Several Hebrew prophets wrote about Tyre – including Isaiah, Joel, Zechariah and Ezekiel most extensively. This article will primarily focus on Isaiah.
Situated on the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in what is now Lebanon, Tyre became the most prominent of a confederation of Phoenician cities, not the least of which was Sidon. But unlike the great plundering powers, Tyre did not set out to conquer other peoples militarily. It became dominant through commerce and by serving as an international port and terminal for overland trades routes. And because its seacoast craftsmen mastered the science of shipbuilding and navigation, Tyre was able to establish trading posts and colonies throughout the Mediterranean. It is believed the Phoenicians may have circumnavigated the continent of Africa and even crossed the Atlantic in their galleys. Because of her renowned seafaring prowess and business acumen over the centuries the city-kingdom of Tyre became fabulously wealthy. It could be said that the Tyrians were the first globalists.
This article was originally published in 2011 and has been slightly edited and updated. As the Watchtower’s commentary on Isaiah notes, although Jerusalem was situated on a hill it was also surrounded by higher hills, making the city itself a valley in comparison. And because Jerusalem is the focus of prophecy, much of which was originally conveyed to the prophets by means of inspired visions, [...]
The 18th chapter of Isaiah opens with these words: “Ha for the land of the whirring insects with wings, which is in the region of the rivers of Ethiopia! It is the one sending forth envoys by means of the sea, and by means of vessels of papyrus upon the surface of the waters, saying: ‘Go, you swift messengers, to a nation drawn out and scoured, to a people fear-inspiring everywhere, a nation of tensile strength and of treading down, whose land the rivers have washed away.’”
What is the land of the whirring insects with wings and what is the message of the envoys God commands them to send forth? And who are the fear-inspiring people and the nation of tensile strength to whom the messengers are sent?
Over the years that I have studied prophecy I have revisited the 18th chapter of Isaiah many times to ponder it’s possible meaning. It remains maddeningly inscrutable. What seems clear, though, is that, the prophecy is intended to apply to the ultimate success of God’s purpose at the conclusion of the present system of things.
And what is God’s purpose?
As all of Jehovah’s Witnesses know, God’s grand, over-arching purpose is to bring forth a new creation composed of 144,001 humans that will ultimately be reborn into immortal, incorruptible spirits. Jesus is, of course, “the firstborn among many brothers,” as Paul described the Christ.
. This article was originally published July 11, 2011. The sudden overthrow of Babylon stunned the ancient world. The event is one of the centerpieces of Bible prophecy, having been foretold by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel - the reason being, Babylon had been an unwitting instrument in the hand of Jehovah to smash all the nations surrounding, including the kingdom of Judah and [...]
I saw Jehovah sitting on a lofty and elevated throne, and the skirts of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were standing above him; each had six wings. Each covered his face with two and covered his feet with two, and each of them would fly about with two. And one called to the other: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of armies. The whole earth is filled [...]
