When the arrangement of the 'Nethinim' (Given Ones) was introduced in 1992, they stated that the GB helpers would be taken "mainly from among the great crowd". "Mainly" means that there are some helpers who claim to be of the "annointed". Taking a look at the new GB members, they all were GB helpers. Because of the "great crowd" hype they made about the Nethinim I understood this was mainly a provision installed to get "un-annointed" near the GB to substitute them at last. Also in view with the latest change on 1935 I am not too sure anymore. Is there anybody with some inside information who knows how many "annointed Nethinim" are there? Of course they could just make anyone newly annointed a member of the group. Maybe there are also some "Nethinim" who decide that they are "annointed" from now on.
How Many of the GB Helpers are of the "Annointed"?
by GermanXJW 16 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Crumpet
I have never heard of Nethinim - where is that in the bible? And were they related to Nephilim?
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GermanXJW
At your service:
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it-2 pp. 495-496 Nethinim***NETHINIM
(Neth´i·nim) [Given Ones].
Non-Israelite temple slaves or ministers. (1Ch 9:2; Ezr 8:17) Representatives of 35 Nethinim families were among those returning from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel in 537 B.C.E. (Ezr 2:1, 2, 43-54, 58; Ne 7:46-56, 60; the sons of Akkub, Hagab, and Asnah, listed by Ezra, are not mentioned by Nehemiah. They may have been combined under other family names.) Also, in 468 B.C.E., some of the Nethinim accompanied Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem. (Ezr 7:1-7) Thereafter certain Nethinim shared in repairing Jerusalem’s wall. (Ne 3:26) They also joined with the Israelites in a covenant to keep themselves free from marriage alliances with foreigners.—Ne 10:28-30.
Likely many of the Nethinim were descendants of the Gibeonites whom Joshua had constituted "gatherers of wood and drawers of water for the assembly and for Jehovah’s altar." (Jos 9:23, 27) Apparently other Nethinim sprang from captives taken by King David and his princes. (Ezr 8:20; compare Ps 68:18.) The Nethinim belonging to the family of Meunim may have been descendants of captives taken by Judean King Uzziah. (2Ch 26:7; Ezr 2:50; Ne 7:52) Still another group, "the sons of Nephusim" (Nephushesim), may have been descendants of Ishmael through Naphish.—Ge 25:13-15; Ezr 2:50; Ne 7:52.
In postexilic times, the Nethinim resided in Ophel, apparently near the temple area, as well as in other cities. (Ezr 2:70; Ne 3:26, 31; 7:73; 11:3, 21) On account of their temple work, Persian King Artaxerxes exempted them from paying tax, tribute, and toll.—Ezr 7:24.
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w92 4/15 p.31 Announcement***Announcement
Assistance
for Governing Body CommitteesThe members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, at present 12 in number, continue to serve faithfully in their assignments. They are always thankful to the loyal members of the increasing "great crowd" for their zealous support. (Revelation 7:9, 15) In view of the tremendous increase worldwide, it seems appropriate at this time to provide the Governing Body with some additional assistance. Therefore it has been decided to invite several helpers, mainly from among the great crowd, to share in the meetings of each of the Governing Body Committees, that is, the Personnel, Publishing, Service, Teaching, and Writing Committees. Thus, the number attending the meetings of each of these committees will be increased to seven or eight. Under the direction of the Governing Body committee members, these assistants will take part in discussions and will carry out various assignments given them by the committee. This new arrangement goes into effect May 1, 1992.
For many years now, the number of the remnant of anointed Witnesses has been decreasing, while the number of the great crowd has increased beyond our grandest expectations. (Isaiah 60:22) How we thank Jehovah for this marvelous expansion! When the new name, Jehovah’s Witnesses, was gratefully accepted in 1931, the peak number of Kingdom publishers was 39,372, most of whom professed to be anointed brothers of Christ. (Isaiah 43:10-12; Hebrews 2:11) Sixty years later, in 1991, the worldwide peak of publishers was 4,278,820, of whom only 8,850 professed to be of the anointed remnant. As anticipated in the light of the Scriptures, the "great crowd" now outnumber the remnant of the "little flock" by more than 480 to 1. (Luke 12:32; Revelation 7:4-9) In caring for the expanding Kingdom interests, the remnant surely need and appreciate the cooperation and support of the great crowd.
As explained in this issue of TheWatchtower, there is a group serving with spiritual Israel today that is comparable to the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon who returned from Babylonian exile with the Jewish remnant; those non-Israelites even outnumbered the returning Levites. (Ezra 2:40-58; 8:15-20) "Given ones" from among today’s great crowd are mature Christian men who have had considerable experience as a result of caring for oversight in branches, in the traveling work, and among the 66,000 congregations now established throughout the earth.
Recently, Kingdom Ministry Schools were held worldwide for the instruction of overseers and their assisting ministerial servants. In the United States alone, 59,420 overseers attended. These "older men" were thus equipped to fulfill their responsibilities more effectively.—1 Peter 5:1-3; compare Ephesians 4:8, 11.
At the Brooklyn headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, some "given ones" have served for a great many years. These include mature overseers from the great crowd who have gained a wealth of ability and experience. Thus, the Governing Body has selected a few of such overseers to assist in the meetings of the Governing Body’s committees. These are not necessarily the men with the longest record of service. Rather, they are mature, experienced men with qualifications that fit them for giving assistance in particular fields. Their being assigned to work with a committee does not give them a special status. As Jesus said concerning his disciples, "all you are brothers." (Matthew 23:8) However, much will be entrusted to these men, and consequently "much will be demanded" of them.—Luke 12:48.
We rejoice in the forward march of Jehovah’s organization today. Over the past ten years, there has been almost a 100 percent increase in the number of those ministering in the field, in line with the prophecy concerning the Greater David, Jesus Christ: "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." (Isaiah 9:7, KingJamesVersion) In the same way that the Nethinim worked alongside the priests in repairing the walls of Jerusalem, so today the prophecy concerning Jehovah’s organization is being fulfilled: "And foreigners will actually build your walls." (Isaiah 60:10; Nehemiah 3:22, 26) The modern-day Nethinim are to be commended for the zeal that they show in building up true worship, assisting "the priests of Jehovah" in whatever work or service may be assigned in Jehovah’s worldwide organization.—Isaiah 61:5, 6.
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sir82
Don't know the answer to your question, but I've always wondered about this...
Does the current GB observe high-ranking Bethel members, perhaps on the Service, Writing, or Teaching committee, and see who seems to be most likely to be a "team player", one who would very likely "fit in" with the direction the GB is going?
And then, do they perhaps pull this person aside late some evening, when no one else is around, and drop very broad hints, asking "have you ever thought that maybe you might be anointed? If you were anointed, maybe someday you could be on the GB yourself".
Doing so would allow for the building up of a pool of "young anointeds" hanging around Bethel, ready to step into the GB as the older ones die off.
Or, on the other hand, maybe the "young anointeds" on the GB began partaking of the emblems long before arriving at Bethel, or at least before moving up through the ranks.
I believe some forum members know some of the most recent additions to the GB personally - does anyone know when they began partaking? Before or after arriving at Bethel? If after arriving at Bethel, fairly recently, or for a long time?
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GermanXJW
After the New Light on 1935 they could approach potential new GB member more freely with that question.
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Pahpa
Once the "Nethinim" claim to be of the "anointed" they would no longer be considered Nethinim according to Watchtower logic. So the term "anointed Nethinim" would be a contradiction. But, as I recall, the name "Nethinim" was once used by the Watchtower Society to describe all of the members of the "great crowd" not just those who become "helpers" at the headquarters.
The Watchtower has played the game of "types and anti-types" over the years. And it seems that it can pick and choose its interpretation according to any circumstance. In this case, it was a convenient explanation for the failure of its own expectations of having a "remnant" of the anointed doing most of the supervision at Bethel.
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GermanXJW
Someone on the German board ("Gerd") who used to know Gerrit Lösch remembers that originally this GB member of today did not consider himself one of the annointed.
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GermanXJW
Pahpa, you are one of the view who would notice the "annointed nethinim"-thing. ;-) So, the question is more precisely as the thread title: "How Many of the GB Helpers are of the "Annointed"?
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greendawn
Only someone of the inner circle would know such a thing, does anyone know anyone at all who is a "Nethinim" or are they kept secret? The question is why don't they get in some of their "anointed" to help them since there are so many? It's because they are not of their innermost circle and can't be trusted.
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Pahpa
GermanXJW
I assume the only way one could really tell would be at the Memorial celebration when the "partakers" become obvious to all. But I'm sure that the Governing Body has its "helpers" who claim to be anointed waiting in the wings to replace its members as they die off.
Greendawn
Good point! The Watchtower Society never seems to call in those "anointed" ones who are in the congregations. They are largely ignored even though they are suppose to be part of the of the "faithful and discreet slave" class. And now we have more members claiming to be of that class. The Society, instead of rejoicing over this increase, periodically gives a serious warning to those partaking to be sure they are not "partaking unworthily."