Comments You Will Not Hear at the 08-05-12 WT Study (JUNE 15, 2012, pages 7-13)(REVEALER)
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JEHOVAH IS “A REVEALER OF
SECRETS”
“Truly the God of you
men is a God of gods
and a Lord of kings
and a Revealer of
secrets.”—DAN. 2:47.
OPENING COMMENTS
Note how often the WTS makes assertions about historical references and interpretations without any corrobating info. Even checking the chart with pictures on the URL above is no proof.
99.999% of jws will not be able to explain any of this to another jw, let alone someone studying with jws. Yet they will bet their life and the lives of their loved ones on “revealed” prophecies that have changed many times over since 1876 and the first explanation of a prophecy by the WTS.
Did Jesus’ presence begin in 1874 or 1914; did he become king in 1878 or 1914? So from 1876 to 1943, Russell (until 1916 his death) and the WTS followers believed that Christ’s presence began in 1874.
Notice how the WTS puts their explanation in the passive voice or blames others not Russell. Why did God allow Russell to be misled by man-made bible chronology?
*** w74 8/15 pp.506-507***
In 1877, Russell joined Nelson H. Barbour in publishing the book ThreeWorlds,andtheHarvestofThisWorld.It indicated that the end of the Gentile Times in 1914 would be preceded by a forty-year period to open with a three-and-a-half-year harvest beginning in 1874 C.E. According to Bible chronology thereafter adopted, it was understood that 6,000 years of man’s existence on earth ended in 1872, whereas six millenniums of human sin concluded and the seventh millennium began in 1874. Christ’s presence was thought to have begun in October 1874, at the start of the great antitypical Jubilee.—Lev. chap. 25; Rev. 20:4.
From that understanding, it was thought that the “chaste virgin” class began going forth to meet the Bridegroom in 1874. (2 Cor. 11:2) Hence, when C. T. Russell began publishing a new religious magazine in July 1879, it was called “Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.”It was heralding Christ’s presence as having begun in 1874. This invisible presence was expected to continue until the Gentile Times ended in 1914, when the Gentile nations would be destroyed and the remnant of the “chaste virgin” class would be glorified with their Bridegroom in heaven by death and resurrection to live in the spirit. (1 Cor. 15:42-44) Thus would the “discreet virgin” class enter through the door into the wedding.
*** Thousands Years book chap. 11 p.206***
THE CORRECTINGOFAMISUNDERSTANDING
It is true that the editor and publisher of Zion’sWatchTowerandHeraldofChrist’sPresencecalculated that the “presence” or parousia of the heavenly Bridegroom began in the year 1874 C.E. Also, that the date of the first man’s creation by Jehovah God was in the year 4128 B.C.E., which meant that six thousand years of man’s existence on the earth ended in the year 1872 C.E., as calculated by Russell and his associates. This reckoning began to be announced on the front page of Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence beginning with the issue of July 1, 1906, and this practice continued down through the issue of September 15, 1928. For instance, on the first of such mentioned issues appeared the date of issue: “July 1, A.D. 1906—A.M., 6034”; whereas the dating of the last mentioned issue was: “Anno Mundi 6056—September 15, 1928.” The AnnoMundi or “Year of the World” date was calculated to be the year 4128 before our Common Era.
*** ka chap.11 pp.209-210 par.55***
In the year 1943 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society published the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” In its chapter 11, entitled “The Count of Time,” it did away with the insertion of 100 years into the period of the Judges and went according to the oldest and most authentic reading of Acts 13:20, and accepted the spelled-out numbers of the Hebrew Scriptures. This moved forward the end of six thousand years of man’s existence into the decade of the 1970’s. Naturally this did away with the year 1874 C.E. as the date of return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of his invisible presence or parousia. The millennium that was to be marked by the detaining of Satan the Devil enchained in the abyss and by the reign of the 144,000 joint heirs with Christ in heavenly glory was therefore yet in the future. What, then, about the parousia (presence) of Christ? Page 324 of the above book positively says: “The King’s presence or parousia began in 1914.” Also, in the Watchtower issue of July 15, 1949 (page 215, paragraph 22), the statement is made: “ . . . Messiah, the Son of man, came into Kingdom power A.D. 1914 and . . . this constitutes his second coming and the beginning of his second parousía or presence.”
*** ka chap.12 p.228 par.37***
Only with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and his parousia or presence would the culmination come in the fulfillment of the parable of the “talents.” In the latter half of the past nineteenth century it was thought that the Lord had returned in the year 1874 C.E. and that with that year his invisible presence in spirit had begun.
*** Salvation book chap.16 p.287 par.12***
According to an inaccurate chronology that had been worked out from the King James Authorized Version Bible , Russell calculated that Christ’s “presence” had begun in the year 1874 C.E., unseen to human eyes and seen only by the eye of faith. This was why, when he began publishing a new religious magazine in defense of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Russell entitled it “Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.”
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What details about the future
has Jehovah revealed to us ?
What do the first six heads of
the wild beast represent?
What relationship do we find
between the wild beast and
the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar?
WHICH governments will be dominating
the earth when God’s Kingdom brings
an end to human rulership?
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. What has Jehovah revealed to us, and why has he
done so?
We know the answer—it has been disclosed to us by the “Revealer
of secrets,” Jehovah God. He enables us to
discern the identity of those governments through
the writings of the prophet Daniel and the apostle
John.
COMMENTS
“we” know the answer—enables “us” to discern so do they have a turd (mouse) in their pocket?
According to the WTS any revealing is done through a special subset of the anointed and only men and only as a group, but no one can say HOW the holy spirit reveals it, 1) reading the Bible, 2) praying for holy spirit 3) special anointing as future rulers/priests with Christ.
All things that any anointed jw is said to be in receipt of.
2 Jehovah revealed to those men a series of visions
involving a succession of beasts. He also told
Daniel the meaning of a visionary dream depicting
an immense metal image. Jehovah had those
accounts recorded and preserved in the Bible for
our benefit. (Rom. 15:4) He did so to strengthen our
hope that soon his Kingdom will crush all human
governments.—Dan. 2:44.
COMMENTS
Told Daniel through “visions”—any visions being handed out to Russell, Rutherford, Knorr, Franz, or any anointed jws?
Was Daniel able to prove to the Jews of his time that his prophecies were true? The “obvious” ones:
(Deuteronomy 18:20-22) 20 “‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.’
*** it-1p. 1213Interpretation***
The meaning of some prophecies was obvious , hence requiring no interpretation, as when the prophet was used to foretell that the Judeans would ‘go into captivity to the king of Babylon for seventy years’ or that Babylon would become ‘a desolate waste.’ The time of the fulfillment, of course, was not always known, though in some cases this, too, was explicitly stated.
3. In order to understand prophecy accurately, what do we
first need to comprehend, and why?
3 Taken together, the accounts of Daniel and John
not only identify eight kings, or human rulerships,
but also show the sequence in which those powers
would appear. However, we can accurately understand
those prophecies only if we comprehend
the meaning of the very first prophecy recorded in
the Bible. Why so? Because the outworking of that
prophecy is the uniting theme of the Bible. It is, in
a way, the cord on which all other prophecies hang.
COMMENTS
Was the intent to leave people hanging from Daniel’s time to the end of the first century? Did Christians then understand the coupling of these 2 books?
WE can accurately understand but only being SPOON FED by the WTS/FDS/GB
If WE comprehend…the cord…what happened to Genesis 3:15?
How does the WTS get past their misunderstandings? Does it explain flipflops that start with an “understanding” change to another and come back to the original: Superior authorities, scream when raped, resurrection for those in Sodom and Gomorrah, organ transplants.
*** jv chap.31 pp.708-709***
Jehovah’s dealings with his chosen servants in Bible times confirm that clear understanding of his will and purposes often comes gradually. Thus, Abraham did not fully understand how Jehovah’s purpose in connection with the “seed” would work out. (Gen. 12:1-3, 7; 15:2-4; compare Hebrews 11:8.) Daniel did not grasp the final outcome of the prophecies he recorded. (Dan. 12:8, 9) Jesus, when on earth, admitted that he did not know the day and hour that the present system of things would end. (Matt. 24:36) The apostles did not at first understand that Jesus’ Kingdom would be heavenly, that it was not to be established in the first century, and that even Gentiles may inherit it.—Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6, 7; 10:9-16, 34, 35; 2 Tim. 4:18; Rev. 5:9, 10.
It should not surprise us that in modern times too, Jehovah has often led his people as a progressive organization, gradually enlightening them as to Bible truths. It is not the truths themselves that change. Truth remains truth. Jehovah’s will and purpose, as outlined in the Bible, remain fixed. (Isa. 46:10) But their understanding of these truths gets progressively clearer “at the proper time,” Jehovah’s due time. (Matt. 24:45; compare Daniel 12:4, 9.) At times, because of human error or misguided zeal, their viewpoint may need to be adjusted.
For example, at various times in the modern-day history of Jehovah’s Witnesses, their zeal and enthusiasm for the vindication of Jehovah’s sovereignty have led to premature expectations as to when the end of Satan’s wicked system of things would come. (Ezek. 38:21-23) But Jehovah has not revealed in advance the exact time. (Acts 1:7) Hence, Jehovah’s people have had to adjust their views in this matter.
THE SERPENT’S SEED AND THE WILD BEAST
4. Who make up the seed of the woman, and what will that
seed do?
4 Soon after the rebellion in Eden, Jehovah made
a promise that a “woman” would produce
a “seed.”* (Read Genesis 3:15.)
That seed would eventually bruise the
serpent, Satan, in the head. Jehovah later
revealed that the seed would come
through Abraham, belong to the nation
of Israel, be a Judean, and be a descendant
of King David. (Gen. 22:15-18; 49:10; Ps. 89:3, 4;
Luke 1:30-33) The principal part of that seed proved to be
Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:16) The secondary
part of the seed is made up of the spirit-anointed members
of the Christian congregation. (Gal. 3:26-29) Jesus and these
anointed ones unite to form God’s Kingdom,
the instrument with which God
will crush Satan.—Luke 12:32; Rom.
16:20.
*This woman represents Jehovah’s wifelike organization
that is made up of spirit creatures in heaven. —Isa. 54:1;
Gal. 4:26; Rev. 12:1, 2.
COMMENTS
Was the serpent identified as Satan or Devil in Genesis? No.
Why did God select a Benjaminite to be the first king of Israel if the seed was to come through Judah? Did he expect Saul to fail or his descendants? How long did it take for David’s descendants to prove failures, his son Solomon who died an apostate, or his grandson Rheoboam who had ten tribes ripped away from his rule? Hmm?
How many jws know that originally the WTS call Jesus the head of the Christ, and the anointed the body of Christ…combined to be called The Christ?
5, 6. (a) How many great powers do Daniel
and John identify? (b)What do the heads of the
wild beast of Revelation stand for?
5 That first prophecy given in Eden
also stated that Satan would produce a
“seed.” His seed would express enmity,
or hatred, for the seed of the woman.
Who make up the seed of the serpent?
All those who imitate Satan’s
hatred of God and oppose God’s people.
Throughout history, Satan has organized
his seed into various political movements,
or kingdoms. (Luke 4:5, 6) However,
only relatively few human
kingdoms have exerted a major influence
on God’s people, whether the
nation of Israel or the congregation of
anointed Christians. Why is this fact
significant? Because it explains why the
visions of Daniel and John describe a total
of only eight such great powers.
COMMENTS
Remember Satan is not correlated to the serpent in Genesis nor known to Adam and Eve as such.
Who are the seed of the serpent…honestly, the WTS should say all non-jws. The WTS says they are in Satan’s control knowingly or unknowingly and ignorance is that a safe position.
It is easy to identify the nation of Israel historically, but has the WTS identified that their members only are the congregation of God?
6 At the close of the first century C.E.,
the resurrected Jesus gave the apostle
John a series of stunning visions. (Rev.
1:1) In one of them, John saw the Devil,
represented as a dragon, standing on
the shore of a vast sea. (Read Revelation
13:1, 2.) John also saw a strange beast
rise from that sea and receive great authority
from the Devil. An angel later
indicates to John that the seven heads
of a scarlet beast, which is an image of
the beast of Revelation 13:1, represent
“seven kings,” or governments. (Rev. 13:
14, 15; 17:3, 9, 10) At the time of John’s
writing, five of those had fallen, one was
currently in power, and one had “not yet
arrived.” What is the identity of those
kingdoms, or world powers? Let us
consider each of the heads of the beast described
in Revelation. We will also see
how the writings of Daniel added detailed
insights into many of these kingdoms,
sometimes centuries before they
came into existence.
COMMENTS
So has the WTS/FDS/GB received any visions today? How many of you seen the WTS define “prophesy” as proclaim God’s message? Notice no scripture supporting the first statement in this quote.
*** w71 1/1 p.32***
Since today we have the complete inspired Scriptures , God is not giving any more inspired visions or dreams. However, Jehovah’s people today are seeing the fulfillment of many of the inspired visions and dreams that God’s servants had in ancient times, and they are even having a share in their being fulfilled. They are having a share in the fulfillment of the prophecy, “your sons and your daughters will certainly prophesy.” (Joel 2:28) Not that these prophesy in the sense of foretelling events under inspiration, but rather in that they are making public proclamation of the inspired dreams and visions long ago recorded.
If Daniel was adding “detailed insights” how was it that when these nations came to be that people living at those times did not see the fulfillment as it was being fulfilled?
EGYPT AND ASSYRIA—THE FIRST TWO HEADS
7. What does the first head represent, and
why?
7 The first head of the beast represents
Egypt . Why? Because Egypt was
the first major power to express enmity
toward God’s people. The descendants
of Abraham—through whom
the promised seed of the woman would
come—grew numerous in Egypt. Then,
Egypt oppressed Israel. Satan attempted
to wipe out God’s people before the
seed could arrive. How? By motivating
Pharaoh to execute all male Israelite
children. Jehovah thwarted that attempt
and liberated his people from enslavement
to Egypt. (Ex. 1:15-20; 14:13) Later
he established the Israelites in the
Promised Land.
COMMENTS
First head –Egypt?
How is it that there is no mention of this history with Israel in Egypt’s extensive history, or the history of nations nearby that were in existence?
Today does Jewish heritage come through the man or the woman? Traditionally, today through the mother.
http://www.jewfaq.org/whoisjew.htm
The Torah does not specifically state anywhere that matrilineal descent should be used; however, there are several passages in the Torah where it is understood that the child of a Jewish woman and a non-Jewish man is a Jew, and several other passages where it is understood that the child of a non-Jewish woman and a Jewish man is not a Jew.
In Deuteronomy 7:1-5, in expressing the prohibition against intermarriage , G-d says "he [i.e., the non-Jewish male spouse] will cause your child to turn away from Me and they will worship the gods of others." No such concern is expressed about the child of a non-Jewish female spouse. From this, we infer that the child of a non-Jewish male spouse is Jewish (and can therefore be turned away from Judaism), but the child of a non-Jewish female spouse is not Jewish (and therefore turning away is not an issue).
Leviticus 24:10 speaks of the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man as being "among the community of Israel" (i.e., a Jew).
Remember though that this Promised Land came with the goal of genocide, the execution of all men, women, and children in Canaan…so Pharaoh tried the same solution with the Israelites, though evidently women did not count yet.
8. What is the identity of the second head, and
what did it attempt to do?
8 The second head of the beast represents
Assyria . This mighty kingdom
also attempted to wipe out God’s people.
True, Jehovah used Assyria as his
instrument to punish the ten-tribe kingdom
for their idolatry and rebellion.
However, Assyria then attacked Jerusalem.
Satan may have had the
goal of obliterating the royal line that
would eventually lead to Jesus. That
assault was not part of Jehovah’s purpose,
and he miraculously delivered
his faithful people by destroying the
invaders.—2 Ki. 19:32-35; Isa. 10:5, 6,
12-15.
COMMENTS
SECOND HEAD—ASSYRIA
Another wipeout goal…It turned out that way for the ten-tribe kingdom as a while.
Satan MAY HAVE had the goal….NO SCRIPTURE?
God saved the 2-tribe kingdom to save the kingship and the future Messiah, not the individuals. Once the Messiah came, then God had no motive so save Israel, did he?
BABYLON—THE THIRD HEAD
9, 10. (a) What did Jehovah allow the Babylonians
to do? (b) In order for prophecy to be fulfilled,
what would have to happen?
9 The third head of the beast that
John saw represents the kingdom of
which Babylon was capital. Jehovah allowed
the Babylonians to overthrow Jerusalem
and to take his people into
captivity. Before permitting this humiliation,
though, Jehovah warned the
rebellious Israelites that such a tragedy
would strike them. (2 Ki. 20:16-
18) He foretold that the line of human
kings who were said to sit on “Jehovah’s
throne” in Jerusalem would be removed.
(1 Chron. 29:23) However, Jehovah
also promised that a descendant
of King David, one who had “the legal
right,” would come and reclaim that authority.—
Ezek. 21:25-27.
COMMENTS
Did you know that in Russell’s time, they interpreted Babylon the Great as the Papacy, the Roman Catholic Church?
No more kings in Israel even when the returned to Israel after captivity. When though did the Israelites return?
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/607-587.php
10 Another prophecy indicated that
the Jews would still be worshipping at
the temple in Jerusalem when the promised
Messiah, or Anointed One, arrived.
(Dan. 9:24-27) An earlier prophecy,
written before Israel was taken
captive to Babylon, stated that this person
would be born in Bethlehem. (Mic.
5:2) If those prophecies were to be fulfilled,
the Jews would have to be liberated
from captivity, return to their
homeland, and rebuild the temple. But
it was not Babylon’s policy to release
captives. How would that challenge be
overcome? Jehovah revealed the answer
to his prophets.—Amos 3:7.
COMMENTS
It was not Babylon’s policy to release captives—does that equal “never”?
But was it Babylon that released the captives or the nation that conquered Babylon? Based on the timeframe of the existence of nations, was it not reasonable that their rule would come to an end?
11. The Babylonian Empire is pictured in what
different ways? (See footnote.)
11 The prophet Daniel was among
the captives taken to Babylon. (Dan.
1:1-6) Jehovah used him to reveal
the succession of kingdoms that would
follow that world power. Jehovah
disclosed these secrets, using a number
of different symbols. For instance,
he caused Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar
to have a dream of an immense
image that was made of various metals.
(Read Daniel 2:1, 19, 31-38.) Through
Daniel, Jehovah revealed that the gold
head of the image symbolized the Babylonian
Empire.* The world power after
Babylon is pictured by the breasts and
arms of silver. What would that power
be, and how would it treat God’s people?
*Babylon is pictured both by the head of the image
in the book of Daniel and by the third head of the
wild beast described in Revelation. See the chart on
pages 12-13. See URL at beginning of Comments.
COMMENTS
Except for the bible, is there any proof that Nebuchadnezzar had this dream, that he was not in control of the kingship for seven years?
This image does not include Egypt and Assyria. Did the Jews understand that the next metal pictured the nation that came after was Medo-Persia although they were living then? Did Daniel share this info with others and would this be a retro understanding?
MEDO-PERSIA—THE FOURTH HEAD
12, 13. (a) What did Jehovah reveal about the
defeat of Babylon? (b) Why is Medo-Persia fittingly
depicted as the fourth head of the wild
beast?
12 More than a century before Daniel’s
time, Jehovah revealed through the
prophet Isaiah details about the world
power that would conquer Babylon. Jehovah
disclosed not only the manner
in which the city of Babylon would be
defeated but also the name of the conqueror.
That leader was Cyrus the Persian.
(Isa. 44:28–45:2) Daniel received
two other visions regarding the Medo-
Persian World Power. In one, the kingdom
was depicted as being like a bear
that was raised up on one side. It was
told to “eat much flesh.” (Dan. 7:5) In
a separate vision, Daniel saw this dual
world power symbolized by a two horned
ram.—Dan. 8:3, 20.
COMMENTS
So what do others feel about the Isaiah prophecy?
Was it written post event?
How many know the initial fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 per the WTS?
*** it-1 p.62 Ahaz***
Ahaz’ ‘quivering heart’ should have been strengthened by the prophet Isaiah’s message from God assuring him that Jehovah would not allow the Syro-Israelite combine to destroy Judah and place a man not of the Davidic line upon the throne. But, when invited to request a sign from God, idolatrous Ahaz replied: “I shall not ask, neither shall I put Jehovah to the test.” (Isa 7:2-12) Nevertheless, it was foretold that, as a sign, a maiden would give birth to a son, Immanuel (With Us Is God), and that before the boy grew up the Syro-Israelite combine would have ceased to pose a threat to Judah.—Isa 7:13-17; 8:5-8.
13 Jehovah used the Medo-Persian
Empire to fulfill prophecy by overthrowing
Babylon and restoring the Israelites
to their homeland. (2 Chron. 36:
22, 23) However, this same power later
came close to eradicating God’s people.
The Bible book of Esther records a plot
hatched by the prime minister of Persia,
a man named Haman. He arranged for
the extermination of all the Jews who
lived in the vast Persian Empire and set
a specific date on which the genocide
was to happen. It was only due to Jehovah’s
intervention that His people were
once again protected from the animosity
of Satan’s seed. (Esther 1:1-3; 3:8, 9;
8:3, 9-14) Medo-Persia, therefore, is fittingly
depicted as the fourth head of the
beast of Revelation.
COMMENTS
Genocide again…
How many know that the book of Esther never mentions “Jehovah”?
So was Haman going to kill only the males as Pharaoh intended to?
Do marrying a non-jew is okay for some—Esther married a Persian. I wonder if her children were considered Jews?
GREECE—THE FIFTH HEAD
14, 15. What details does Jehovah reveal
about the ancient Greek Empire?
14 The fifth head of the wild beast of
Revelation represents Greece. As Daniel
had revealed earlier when he interpreted
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, this
same power is symbolized by the copper
belly and thighs of the image. Daniel
also received two visions that provide
remarkable details both about the
nature of this empire and about its most
prominent ruler.
COMMENTS
But did the Jews understand that Greece was the fifth head, the copper belly? They were living in that time of fulfillment…….
Details that were not understood until the appearance of the WTS in 1879?
15 In one vision, Daniel saw Greece
depicted as a leopard with four wings,
indicating that this empire would conquer
swiftly. (Dan. 7:6) In another vision,
Daniel described how a goat with
a prominent single horn quickly kills
a two-horned ram, Medo-Persia. Jehovah
told Daniel that the goat symbolized
Greece and the large horn depicted one
of its kings. Daniel further recorded that
the large horn would be broken and four
smaller horns would grow in its place.
Even though this prophecy was written
hundreds of years before Greece became
dominant, every detail came true. Alexander
the Great, the most prominent
king of ancient Greece, led the charge
against Medo-Persia. This horn was soon
broken, though, the great king dying
at the height of his power and at only
32 years of age. Then, his kingdom was
eventually divided among four of his
generals.—Read Daniel 8:20-22.
COMMENTS
Do others share the WTS interpretation?
16. What did Antiochus IV do?
16 After conquering Persia, Greece
ruled over the land of God’s people. By
this time, the Jews were resettled in the
Promised Land and had rebuilt the temple
in Jerusalem. They were still God’s
chosen people, and the rebuilt temple
was still the center for true worship.
However, in the second century B.C.E.,
Greece , the fifth head of the wild beast,
attacked God’s people. Antiochus IV,
one of the heirs to Alexander’s divided
empire, placed a pagan altar on the
grounds of the temple in Jerusalem and
made practicing the Jewish religion a
crime punishable by death. What an act
of hatred by part of Satan’s seed! Soon,
though, Greece was supplanted as the
world power. What would be the sixth
head of the wild beast?
COMMENTS
Once again an attempt to destroy the JWs? Did it succeed, why not? Not a word from the WTS.
ROME—THE SIXTH HEAD,
“FEARSOME AND TERRIBLE”
17. The sixth head played what key role in fulfilling
Genesis 3:15?
17 Rome was the dominant power
when John received the vision of the
wild beast. (Rev. 17:10) This sixth head
played a key role in the fulfillment of
the prophecy recorded at Genesis 3:15.
Satan used Roman officials to deliver a
blow that temporarily crippled the seed,
bruising it “in the heel.” How so? They
tried Jesus on the false charge of sedition
and had him executed. (Matt. 27:26) But
that wound soon healed because Jehovah
resurrected Jesus.
COMMENTS
So where in the bible has Genesis 3:15 serpent been identified as Satan?
All statements again without proof outside the bible.
18. (a) What new nation did Jehovah choose,
and why? (b) How did the serpent’s seed continue
to express animosity toward the seed of
the woman?
18 The religious leaders of Israel conspired
with Rome against Jesus, and the
majority of the nation also rejected him.
Thus, Jehovah abandoned natural Israel
as his people. (Matt. 23:38; Acts 2:22, 23)
He now chose a new nation, “the Israel
of God.” (Gal. 3:26-29; 6:16) That nation
was the congregation of anointed Christians made
up of both Jews and Gentiles.
(Eph. 2:11-18) After Jesus’ death and resurrection,
the seed of the serpent continued
to express animosity toward the
seed of the woman. On more than one
occasion, Rome attempted to wipe out
the Christian congregation, the secondary
part of the seed.*
*Although Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 C.E.,
that act of aggression was not part of the fulfillment
of Genesis 3:15. By that time, fleshly Israel was no
longer God’s chosen nation.
COMMENTS
How many jws realize that the “Israel of God” concept occurs that once? Is it supported by other scriptures. Are all Christians spiritual Israelites or only anointed ones? Then if only anointed Christians are spiritual Israelites, then the application of Isaiah 43:10-12 applied initially to natural Israelites and today only to spiritual Israelites, not the other sheep. Thus only 11,000 or so members of the WTS are truly Jehovah’s Witnesses. The other sheep then are only “companions.”
*** w11 1/15 p.4 par.8***
Still, as a people, “the chosen ones” and their loyal companions will physically survive the end of apostate Christendom by taking refuge in Jehovah and his mountainlike organization.
*** w10 1/15 p.31 par.12***
By meditating on God’s dealings with Israel, members of “the Israel of God” and their “other sheep” companions develop greater appreciation for Jehovah and his way of governing. (John 10:16)
19. (a) How does Daniel describe the sixth
world power? (b) What will another article consider?
19 In the dream that Daniel interpreted
for Nebuchadnezzar, Rome is depicted
by the legs of iron. (Dan. 2:33) Daniel
also saw a vision that well describes
not only the Roman Empire but also the
next world power that would grow out
of Rome. (Read Daniel 7:7, 8.) For centuries,
Rome appeared to her enemies to
be “fearsome and terrible and unusually
strong.” However, the prophecy foretold
that “ten horns” would grow from
this empire and one in particular would
gain prominence. What are these ten
horns, and what is the identity of the
small horn? In what way does the small
horn correspond to the description of
the giant image seen by Nebuchadnezzar?
The article on page 14 will consider
the answers.
COMMENTS
Any proof here or merely assertions? Have others come up with other interpretations?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_2
Historicist interpretation
The following view has traditionally been more prevalent among Christian scholars, who identify the four kingdoms with unified Medo-Persia:
1. Head of gold - Babylon
2. Breast and arms of silver- Medo-Persia
3. Belly and thighs of brass- Hellenistic Greece
4. Legs of iron - Rome
5. Feet partly of iron and partly of molded clay - The divided Roman Empire
Supporters of this view since classical antiquity through the middle ages are: Flavius Josephus , Hippolytus , Augustine , Thomas Aquinas , and Martin Luther . Jewish expositors have also held this view, such as: Japet Ibn Ali , Saadia , Rashi , Abraham Ibn Ezra . [43] Modern scholars who hold this view are: E. J. Young , Seventh-day AdventistGerhard Pfandl , [44][45] and John F. Walvoord . [40] Evangelicals , such as Henrietta C. Mears , and Billy Graham also share this view. [46]
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
NEXT WEEK, JEHOVAH REVEALS WHAT “MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE.”
More assertions without proof, historical or otherwise, or showing that the WTS was not the only one who came up with these conclusions. CTR’s comments.
But foreseeing that Israel would fail in the day of her visitation, God pictured the extension of Gentile supremacy in the feet of the image, which from iron gradually merged into a combination of iron and clay, dividing into ten toes. The commingling of the iron and clay represented that blending of Church and State known as the Holy Roman Empire. This commingling of civil and religious authority amongst the nations in the exercise of Gentile rule still continues; and to-day we have the division of the nations known as Christendom, Protestant and Catholic, as represented by the toes of the image. The image has stood nearly as long as was Divinely intended—seven symbolic times or years—2520 literal years, expiring in October, 1914. What will happen then? Let the same prophecy continue to tell its story to a consummation. It tells that the glorious image of autocracy and worldly empire, which God has permitted to be in the hands of the Gentiles, will fall a mass of ruins at the end of the Gentile times—in 1915 A.D. It tells that the God of Heaven, who gave over the dominion of earth for "Seven Times" to the Gentile governments of this image, purposes that at the close of those "Seven Times" he will wipe them out of existence. During the period of their domination, under Divine guidance, a Stone has been cut out of the mountain, without human hands, without human authority or power. That stone is the Church of which Jesus is the Head and the Apostle and all the saints of this age of every denomination are members. The cutting of it out will soon be completed. That Stone represents Messiah on the larger plane, Jesus the Head and the Church His body; for we are all members in particular of the Body of Christ, which is the Church. Not until the Church shall have been completed, not until the last member shall have been changed from earthly to heavenly conditions; not until the glorified Christ shall have taken unto himself His great power to reign; and not until the end of Gentile times, will this heavenly power be hurled against the image. It will not strike the image in its head or breast or loins or legs; for these have passed long ago. It will smite the image
OV83 on its feet—its present development—"Christendom" so-called. That impact is prominently noted throughout the Scriptures as "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation." The Scriptures give vivid pictures of the Gentile Governments in the world, then "the gold, the silver, the brass, the iron and the clay, became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away and no place was found for them.—# Da 2:35. Such is the graphic description given us of the end of Gentile Governments, in which to-day many of us take such pride, and which have their good intentions and good qualities. But these also, be it remembered, were recognized and authorized by God to occupy the seat of Government and to hold in check human affairs—"until he comes whose right the Kingdom is," and to whom it will be given—The Christ—the Head and the Elect Church his members; the Kingdom for which we pray, "Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven"—the Millennial Kingdom, which is to bless all the families of the earth through the channel or medium of Israel—God’s chosen people.
Overland Monthly / OV079 - God's Chosen People (IV. Chastened "Seven Times")
OV79 IV—Chastened "Seven Times." A Period of 2520 YearsBY C. T. RUSSELL Pastor Brooklyn Tabernacle