Wednesday, December 30

Angels . . . did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place. —Jude 6.

A significant number of angels joined Satan’s rebellion. Prior to the Flood, Satan lured at least some of them into having immoral relations with the daughters of men. The Bible reveals this truth by symbolically portraying the dragon as dragging a third of the stars of heaven with him in his fall. (Gen. 6:1-4; Rev. 12:3, 4) When those angels abandoned God’s family, they put themselves under Satan’s control. These rebels, however, are not just a mob of troublemakers. Satan has set up an imitation of God’s Kingdom, with himself as king. In the invisible realm, Satan has organized the demons into governments, given them authority, and made them world rulers. (Eph. 6:12) By means of his spirit organization, Satan exerts authority over all human governments. w18.05 23 ¶5-6

“A significant number of angels joined Satan’s rebellion.” —TRUE.

“Prior to the Flood, Satan lured at least some of them into having immoral relations with the daughters of men.” —TRUE.

“The Bible reveals this truth by symbolically portraying the dragon as dragging a third of the stars of heaven with him in his fall.” —FALSE.

The book of Revelation is a revelation of the things to come. True, sometimes the angels are symbolized as stars of heaven; for example, in the 38th chapter of Job Jehovah asked Job where he was when God created the earth, “When the morning stars joyfully cried out together, and all the sons of God began shouting in applause?”

But if Satan lured the sons of God to come down to earth prior to the flood why would Revelation depict the dragon hurling a third of the stars to the earth at the same time war erupts in heaven and the dragon itself is hurled to the earth? Michael and his angels are the ones who throw Satan and his angels down. Something is not quite right with the Watchtower’s interpretation of the symbolism. 

The prophecy of Daniel and Revelation are complimentary. To illustrate, the seventh chapter of Daniel portrays a series of wild beasts, one like a lion, one like a bear, and one like a leopard. In the 13th chapter of Revelation, we are presented with a seven-headed monstrosity with the body of a leopard, the feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion. Daniel also portrays another beast, a fourth beast with copper claws and iron teeth, and that beast is said to make war against the holy ones and prevail against them for a time, times and half a time. The recuperated beast of Revelation is similarly given authority to act for 42 months and it will war against and conquer the holy ones.

That is really the theme of Daniel —the conflict that will ensue between the holy ones and Satan’s political rulers during the time of the end.

With the above in mind, the eighth chapter of Daniel similarly uses stars in a symbolic way. However, it is clear in context that that the stars do not represent demons. Here is what is stated: “Out of one of them came another horn, a small one, and it grew very great toward the south and toward the east and toward the Decoration. It grew so great that it reached all the way to the army of the heavens, and it caused some of the army and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down. It exalted itself even against the Prince of the army, and from him the constant feature was taken away, and the established place of his sanctuary was thrown down.”

First, the angel explained to Daniel that these things are destined to occur in the final part of the days.

Since Daniel reveals that the little horn causes the stars of heaven to fall to the earth the stars cannot represent demon spirits. No earthly kingdom could possibly affect anyone in heaven. 

What do the stars symbolize then? The stars represent the holy ones on earth who are under the command of the Prince of the army. Who is the Prince? It is Jesus Christ. Why are Christians on earth symbolized as stars in heaven? (See article: Who is the Prince of Princes?)

Paul explained to the Ephesians that Jehovah raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand. The apostle further explained: “Moreover, he raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus, so that in the coming systems of things he might demonstrate the surpassing riches of his undeserved kindness in his graciousness toward us in union with Christ Jesus.” — Ephesians 2:6-7

Although still on earth anointed Christians have a place in heaven reserved for them —provided they remain faithful unto death. Another apostle verified this very thing: “Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you, who are being safeguarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last period of time.” — 1 Peter 1:3-5

It is true, many are called but few are chosen. During the time of the end, though, something extraordinary is to occur. Jesus illustrated it by likening it to a harvest when the weeds and the wheat will be separated. Jesus elaborated, explaining to his inquisitive apostles that the weeds represent the sons of Satan and the wheat symbolize the chosen ones. During the time of the end Christ will dispatch his powerful angels who will uproot the plantings of the wicked one and destroy them. Then the wheat will be gathered into the storehouse —which is to say they will be taken to heaven. 

However, we should not suppose that their being gathered into the storehouse means that they are immediately taken to be with Christ in heaven. As already presented, anointed Christians have a place reserved for them provided they are faithful. But when the harvest is accomplished those who are proven to be wheat are declared to be faithful even though still residing in the flesh. That is what the final sealing achieves. Paul experienced the final sealing in himself.

Consider what Paul wrote to the Philippians, where he said: “Brothers, I do not yet consider myself as having taken hold of it; but one thing is certain: Forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead, I am pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus.” — Phil 3:13-14

Now, contrast that with what he wrote to Timothy: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my releasing is imminent. I have fought the fine fight, I have run the race to the finish, I have observed the faith. From this time on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day, yet not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his manifestation.” — 2 Timothy 4:6-8

We do not know how it was conveyed to him, but somehow Jehovah’s spirit revealed to Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome that he had been approved for entry into the Kingdom of God. He was sealed with God’s approval. He won the race. Gained his crown. And he gained the knowledge of his victory while he was still in the flesh.

The harvest will similarly result in the sealing of the remaining ones. Just like Paul, they will have confirmation that they have won the prize. In fact, that is why they are called the remnant or the remaining ones. Because, when the parousia or manifestation of Christ commences the first resurrection will also begin. Those who will be left on earth are called the remaining ones. All of the remaining holy ones will then be sealed. Then is when they will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of Jehovah.

No, it is not as the Watchtower claims. Their shining as brightly as the sun is not as spirit beings. It will be their condition when the phenomenon takes place Paul wrote about in the eighth chapter of Romans —the revealing of the sons of God.

When explaining the significance of the transfiguration of Christ, the apostle Peter exhorted Christians to stay focused on God’s prophetic word like a lamp in a dark place “until day dawns and a daystar rises in your hearts.”

The coming of Christ is like the dawn and the daystar rising in the hearts of those called ones will signify they have been sealed and accepted into the Kingdom. That means they will no longer look to the lamp of prophecy because it will be fulfilled in them. That is what it means that they will shine as brightly as the sun. This in itself reveals the Watchtower’s 1914 teaching to be an artfully contrived false story. Put another way, if the dawn of the Kingdom took place over a century ago why are we still trying to understand the prophetic word?

With this understanding now consider the true meaning of the dragon dragging a third of the stars. First, a third is used in a symbolic way. It does not mean an exact fraction. It symbolizes a significant number but only a fraction of the whole.

As already stated, when the parousia begins all of those dead in union with Christ will rise from their graves as immortal spirits. Satan cannot harm them. They will be far more powerful than the demons. However, the remaining ones will be quite vulnerable. And the demons will crush them. Even though they will have been given crowns they can still bleed. The initial onslaught will be discipline. However, in God’s mercy He will intervene and repurchase those in captivity. The repurchase is when the sealing takes place.

It has been my privilege to understand certain secrets God has concealed from others who came before me. The remaining ones will number 7,000. And Satan will know who each and every one of them is. By sealing all of the remaining ones Jehovah will bring Christianity to a conclusion. There will be no more anointing. The Kingdom will be complete. The Prince will have his army. This will confront Satan with an irresistible temptation. Imagine that —the Tempter being tempted! All he has to do is break one of the 7,000 and he will have bested God. Does it not say there will be 144,000 standing with Christ? 143,999 would be a huge embarrassment for everyone in heaven.

Keep in mind that Satan has had an easy time corrupting Christians so far. Surely, he can coerce them then and apply enough pressure to turn at least one of them against God. If he comes at them with his ferocious wild beast they will blink, surely. And so Jehovah casts his hooks into Satan and leads him to the final attack.

We know the ending.

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