The 2012 calendar encourages all to examine "For Family Discussion" aspects of the Covenants. Do that - but base your study on the Bible only, and then you will form a true understanding of the covenants, especially the New covenant. On the JANUARY/FEBRUARY page, this question is asked, "Would Abraham's seed prove to be just one individual, or would it be a composite seed?". Prepare yourself for a shocking revelation - the Apostle Paul categorically, and unequivocally stated under inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It says, not: "And to seeds," as in the case of many such, but as in the case of one: "And to your seed," who is Christ". (Galatians 3:16) However, the Apostle and the Holy Spirit must have got it wrong, because the "given" understanding is that it was a "composite" seed, composing of 144,000. That's 144,000 more than Paul was directed to teach us would bring about all the blessings on the earth. What does 'The Bible Really Teach'? Not ONE of the 144,000 has caused forgiveness of sins; not ONE has redeemed any human; not ONE has ever reconciled a human to Jehovah; not ONE will bring about ANY of God's promises - why not? Because, "For no matter how many the promises of God are, they have become Yes by means of him." (2 Cor. 1:20) By him, and him alone!!! The heavenly priesthood will be used to administer the benefits of Christ's ransom, not provide them. It is arrogant in the extreme to claim credit that belongs solely to the Christ! Now examine the 'Elephant in the Room; it is taught (and believed by most) that the 'Israel of God' (Gal. 6:16) applies only to the anointed, the 144,000 who will form the heavenly priesthood. This teaching is based on the erroneous and unscriptural claim that only natural Israelites were party to the Law Covenant, and that "the vast mixed crowd" who came out of Egypt along with them, were not. Where in the Bible is there a single verse which states that those two "groups" were separated when the covenant was offered by Moses for acceptance? There is not one, and the Scriptures state that all the people answered with one voice. (Exodus 24:3) "FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN"; in the MARCH/APRIL pages of the calendar, it says that the Law Covenant "helped to preserve the promised line of the seed". Why didn't Rahab & Ruth corrupt that "natural" Israelite, Messianic family tree? They were a Canaanitess and a Moabitess, not "natural" Israelites. The answer - they became Israelites due to their faith, just as all those who joined the Exodus became Israelites in God's eyes. The priesthood in Moses time was taken from the full nation of Israel; likewise, the heavenly priesthood is taken out of the full nation of the "Israel of God" and will judge the remainder of that 'nation' remaining on the earth. (Rev. 7:4; Luke 22:30)
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AT BROOKLYN
by The Searcher 18 Replies latest watchtower bible
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designs
Ask your local Rabbi what 'new covenant' means.
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tornapart
They use the argument of the two classes in Israel, natural and proselytes so they have something to back their claims on of two classes now... the anointed with their mediator and then everyone else with no mediator...
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Vanderhoven7
Yes, the New Covenant in His blood applies to all believers (spiritual Israelites).
The 144,000 are in fact the Great Multitude that no man could number except by a symbol; a number which represents perfect symetry and completeness. The Apostle John "hears" the perfect number, then turns and "sees" the actual group. This hearing and then seeing sequence is a literary device that the Apostle uses often in Revelation to display imagery.
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Ding
For the vast majority of JWs, it doesn't matter what the Bible says.
What matters is what the GB says it says.
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baltar447
This would mean something if you believed in the bible I guess?
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tornapart
Baltar.. it is in the bible research section, so I guess yeah.. LOL There are still some of us left..
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Londo111
The Society's view goes back to the Mystery Doctrine. Russell taught that THE CHRIST was not only Jesus, who is the head of the body, but the body as well, the 144000. Therefore, they believed that when Jesus arrived, the Christ had only started to arrive in the flesh, and afterward, the body started to follow for 19 centuries. They believed that all the 144000 would be part of the sacrifice of the Christ, symbolizing the sacrifice of the bull(Jesus) and the goat(the 144000). Therefore they viewed the composite Christ was the mediator between God and the rest of humanity.
Rutherford got rid of various aspects of the Mystery Doctrine, but its aftereffects are still felt today in the Society's dogma.
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RayPublisher
@Londo111 - Fascinating thought.
The book The Four Presidents of the WT Society speaks of this "Mystery Doctrine" and how it was Freddy's magnum opus but he never "finished it" because it was too hard of a nut to crack.
Reportedly, a brother asked what the Mystery doctrine was and he said how did you hear about that? When pressed he wouldn't answer and then finally said well if you are not of the annointed then I can't discuss it with you.
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Londo111
Yes, I just finished reading that book. That was the big insight that I gained from it and suddenly the Society's stance made sense (within their twisted framework).