Worship pub. changes, FDS doctrine affected? (page 2)

Hello Eduardo and all the others,

how about this other chapter, that the WBTS Inc., has left entirely out in the new release of the revised 2002 edition of the "Worship the Only True God " book??

*** uw 110-6 14 'I Make a Covenant With You for a Kingdom' *** Chapter14

I MakeaCovenantWithYouforaKingdom

IT WAS on the night before Jesus was put to death that he told his faithful apostles: In the house of my Father there are many abodes. I am going my way to prepare a place for you, that where I am you also may be. He further said to them: I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom. (John 14:2, 3; Luke 22:29) What a marvelous prospect he set before them!

2 However, Jesus did not mean that only those apostles would rule with him in his heavenly Kingdom. Later it was made known that 144,000 redeemed from the earth would have that grand privilege. (Rev. 5:9, 10; 14:1, 4) Are some today reaching out to lay hold of it?

Gathering theKingdomHeirs

3 After John the Baptizer was imprisoned by Herod Antipas, Jesus undertook an intense campaign of public preaching in which he focused attention on the kingdom of the heavens. (Matt. 4:12, 17) He made people aware that there would be opportunity for them to enter that Kingdom, and his disciples earnestly reached out for that prize.Matt. 5:3, 10, 20; 7:21; 11:12.

4 At Pentecost of 33 C.E. the first of them were anointed with holy spirit. (Acts 2:1-4; 2 Cor. 1:21, 22) Gods provision for salvation leading to immortal heavenly life was made known. Peter used the keys of the kingdom of the heavens to open up this knowledgefirst to the Jews, next to the Samaritans, and then to people of the Gentile nations. (Matt. 16:19) Special attention was being given to making up the government that would rule mankind for 1,000 years, and nearly all the inspired letters in the Christian Greek Scriptures are primarily directed to this group of Kingdom heirsthe holy ones, partakers of the heavenly calling.

5 Their being called to heavenly life was not because they were somehow better than all the servants of God who had died before Pentecost of 33 C.E. (Matt. 11:11) Rather, Jehovah now had begun to select those who would be associate rulers with Jesus Christ. For some 19 centuries after this there was only one calling, the heavenly one. It was an undeserved kindness that God bestowed on a limited number in furtherance of his own wise and loving purposes.Eph. 2:8-10.

6 In time the prescribed but limited number of 144,000 would be filled. The final sealing of these spiritual Israelites as approved would be near. (Rev. 7:1-8) Then Jehovah, by means of his spirit and the understanding of his Word that he made possible for his visible organization, would direct matters so as to fulfill another part of his purpose, as described in Revelation 7:9-17. A great crowd out of all nations would be gathered, with the thrilling prospect of surviving the great tribulation and living forever in perfection amid an earthly Paradise. When we consider what has actually occurred, it seems evident that the heavenly calling in general was completed by about the year 1935 C.E., when the earthly hope of the great crowd was clearly discerned. Since then there have been brought into association with the comparatively few thousand remaining ones of the heavenly class millions of worshipers of Jehovah who are earnestly hoping to live forever right here on earth.

7 Does this mean that none are now being called by God for heavenly life? Until the final sealing is done, it is possible that some few who have that hope may prove unfaithful, and others will have to be chosen to take their place. But it seems reasonable that this would be a rare occurrence.

Spiritual SonsHowDoTheyKnow?

8 Gods spirit gives positive assurance of adoption as spiritual sons to baptized Christians who have received the heavenly calling. The apostle Paul showed this when he wrote to the holy ones in Rome, describing what was at that time the situation of all true Christians. He said: All who are led by Gods spirit, these are Gods sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: Abba, Father! The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are Gods children. If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together.Rom. 1:7; 8:14-17.

9 Two uses of the word spirit are here brought to our attention: the spirit itself and our spirit. The first is Gods invisible active force. It inspires in his spiritual children a conviction of having been adopted as Gods free children. That spirit also bears witness through Gods inspired Word, the Bible, which is like a personal letter to his spiritual children. (1 Pet. 1:10-12) When those who have been begotten by holy spirit read what the Scriptures say to those who are spiritual sons of God, they properly respond: That applies to me. Thus Gods own active force in various ways bears witness with their spirit, the motivating force of their own mind and heart, that they are Gods children. In accord with what Gods spirit thus indicates, their minds and hearts become set on the prospect of being joint heirs with Christ, and they accept the responsibilities of Gods spiritual children.Phil. 3:13, 14.

10 Is that true of you? If so, you have a wonderful privilege. However, it would be a mistake for any to conclude that because a person has keen appreciation for deeper spiritual things or is zealous in the field ministry or has intense love for his brothers he must therefore be a spirit-anointed Christian. Those very things characterize many of the other sheep. Their hearts, too, are moved by what they read in the Scriptures regarding Christs joint heirs, but they do not presume to claim for themselves something that God has not reserved for them. (Compare Numbers 16:1-40.) They recognize Gods original purpose for the earth and work appreciatively toward sharing in that.

Partaking Worthily

11 Each year, on Nisan 14, after sundown, the anointed followers of Jesus Christ in all parts of the earth commemorate his death, in harmony with the instructions that he gave to his apostles. (Luke 22:19, 20) The other sheep also attend, not as partakers of the bread and the wine, but as respectful observers.

12 This is no empty religious ritual but is filled with powerful meaning. To first-century Christians in Corinth, Greece, some of whom failed to show proper appreciation for the occasion, the apostle Paul wrote serious counsel, saying: Whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord. What made them unworthy partakers? They were not properly preparing themselves in heart and mind. There were divisions in the congregation. Also some overindulged in food and drink before the meeting. They treated the Lords Evening Meal with indifference. They were not in condition to discern the serious significance of the bread and the wine.1 Cor. 11:17-34.

13 What is that significance? It does not lie in any supposed miraculous transformation of the bread and the wine. Christ is not in any sense sacrificed again at each Memorial. The Scriptures state that Christ was offered onceforalltime to bear the sins of many. (Heb. 9:28; 10:10; Rom. 6:9) The loaf of unleavened bread and the red wine are merely emblems to represent the literal body Jesus sacrificed and the literal blood he shed. But how precious these realities are! Jesus sinless human body was given so that the world of mankind could have the opportunity to live forever. (John 6:51) And his shed blood serves a twofold purposecleansing from sin those humans who exercise faith in it, also making operative the new covenant between God and the congregation of spiritual Israel, which is composed of spirit-anointed Christians. (1 John 1:7; 1 Cor. 11:25; Gal. 6:14-16) It is these precious provisions that make it possible for the members of the little flock to be declared righteous by God, actually having human perfection credited to them. (Luke 12:32) This is done so that they can be begotten by holy spirit as Gods sons, with a view to their sharing with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom. As they partake of the Memorial emblems each year, thus bearing witness to their heavenly hope, their appreciation of being in the new covenant mediated by Christ is renewed and deepened.Heb. 8:6-12.

We WillGoWithYouPeople

14 The other sheep discern how Jehovah has been dealing with his anointed ones, and they have joined with them, saying: We will go with you people, for we have heard that God is with you people. (Zech. 8:20-23) Not only do they meet together but they share together in making known the good news of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth. However, the other sheep are not taken into the new covenant with spiritual Israel nor are they included in the covenant . . . for a kingdom made by Jesus with those chosen to share heavenly life with him, and hence, properly, they do not partake of the Memorial emblems. (Luke 22:20, 29) But as the new covenant achieves its purpose, gathering the final members of the little flock to the heavenly Kingdom, the other sheep realize that this indicates that the blessings they will receive on earth by means of that Kingdom are drawing near. They count it a privilege, during the last days, to serve unitedly with the loyal remnant of Kingdom heirs.

[Footnotes]

See the opening verses of Romans 1:1; , 1 Co 1:1; and 2 Corinthians 1:1 , Ephesians 1:1 , Philippians 1:1 , Colossians 1:1 , Titus 1:1; , 1 Pe 1:1; and 2 Peter 1:1 ; also Galatians 3:26-29, ; 1 Thessalonians 2:12, ; 2 Thessalonians 2:14, ; 2 Timothy 4:8, Hebrews 3:1, James 1:18, ; 1 John 3:1, 2 and Jude 1.

Review Discussion

Why does so much of the Christian Greek Scriptures direct attention to the heavenly hope?

How do those who have been begotten as Gods sons know that? What is the meaning of the Memorial emblems of which they partake?

How do the other sheep demonstrate that they truly are united with the little flock?

[Study Questions]

1. On the night before Jesus death what prospect did he set before his apostles?

2. How many will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom?

3. In his public ministry, to what opportunity did Jesus draw attention?

4. (a) When were the first of Jesus disciples anointed with holy spirit? (b) What shows that attention was being directed from then on to the gathering of the Kingdom heirs?

5. Was their being called to heavenly life because they were better servants of God than those who had lived before?

6. (a) Why must the time come when the heavenly calling would close? (b) Who would direct matters so that the prophecy regarding the great crowd would also be fulfilled, and what has actually happened?

7. Is it possible that some even today might receive the heavenly calling, and why do you so answer?

8. What explanation does Paul give showing how those begotten by holy spirit are aware of that fact?

9. How does the spirit itself bear witness with the spirit of those who truly are sons of God?

10. (a) What factors do not by themselves identify one as an anointed Christian? (b) What view do the other sheep take regarding their place in Gods purpose?

11. Who attend the annual commemoration of Jesus death, and why?

12. How were some early Christians in Corinth failing to show proper appreciation for the Lords Evening Meal?

13. What is the significance of the bread and the wine served at the Memorial?

14. (a) Why do the other sheep not partake of the Memorial emblems, but what do they eagerly anticipate? (b) How do they view their association with the remnant of Kingdom heirs?

What can be so problematic today , to let the WBTS Inc. , decide to leave out such

material?? Is it distrurbing? Is it revealing? Does it contracdicts the latest informations

about the anointed remnant? Or would it exist a real problem with this part of paragraph 6 ???

a) When we consider what has actually occurred, it seems evident that the heavenly calling in general was completed by about the year 1935 C.E., when the earthly hope of the great crowd was clearly discerned.

Please, remember that these words were written in 1983.

b) *** w92 6/15 23 Fishing for Men in Global Waters ***

5 Most of the anointed Kingdom heirs were fished from the nations prior to 1935, so their full number has basically been completed. Therefore, especially since 1935, Jehovahs Witnesses have been seeking those humble persons who might be described as meek ones who will possess the earth. (Psalm 37:11, 29)

These words were written in 1992.

c) *** w96 8/15 30 Questions From Readers ***

The reports for some years show that the number partaking of the Memorial emblems increased slightly. Does this suggest that many new ones are being anointed with holy spirit?

There is good reason to believe that the number of 144,000 anointed Christians was complete decades ago.

and also this:

We understand that this heavenly calling continued down through the centuries, though during the so-called Dark Ages, there may have been times when the number of anointed ones were very few. With the reestablishment of true Christianity near the end of the last century, more were called and chosen. But it seems that in the mid-1930s, the full number of the 144,000 was basically completed.

These words were written in 1996.

d) ** w98 2/15 20 Glorious Freedom Soon for the Children of God *

9 After 1935 some Christians who had been partaking of the bread and wine at the Lords Evening Meal ceased to partake. Why? Because they realized that their hope was earthly, not heavenly. Said one woman who was baptized in 1930: Though [partaking] was considered the right thing to do, especially for zealous full-time ministers, I never was convinced that I had a heavenly hope. Then, in 1935, it was made clear to us that there was being gathered a great crowd with the hope of living forever on earth. Many of us rejoiced to understand that we were part of that great crowd, and we ceased partaking of the emblems. Even Christian publications changed in nature. While those of former years had been designed primarily for Jesus spirit-begotten followers, from 1935 onward TheWatchtower and other literature of the faithful slave provided spiritual food suited to the needs of both the anointed and their associates having the earthly hope.Matthew 24:45-47

10 Suppose an anointed one became unfaithful. Would there be a replacement? Paul indicated as much in his discussion of the symbolic olive tree. (Romans 11:11-32) If a spirit-begotten one needs to be replaced, likely God would give the heavenly calling to someone whose faith had been exemplary in rendering sacred service to him for many years. Compare Luke 22:28, 29; 1 Peter 1:6, 7.

These words were written in 1998.

e) *** w99 2/1 17 Our Treasure in Earthen Vessels ***

16 In the 1930s the number of those called and chosen and faithful, the 144,000, appeared to be filled. (Revelation 17:14; see box on page 19.) We do not know how many of the anointed were gathered in the first century and from among the weeds during the dark centuries of Christendoms great apostasy.

*** w99 2/1 19 Our Treasure in Earthen Vessels ***

[Boxonpage19]

No MoreAdditions!

At a Gilead graduation in 1970, Frederick Franz, then vice-president of the Watch Tower Society, told the students of the possibility that they, who were all of the other sheep with earthly hopes, might baptize someone who might claim to be of the anointed remnant. Could this happen? Well, he explained that John the Baptist was of the other sheep, and he baptized Jesus and some of the apostles. Then he went on to ask whether there still was a call for gathering in more of the remnant. No, no more additions! he said. That call ended way back there in 1931-35! There are no more additions. Who, then, are the few newly associated ones who are partaking of the Memorial emblems? If they are of the remnant, they are replacements! They are, not additions to the ranks of the anointed, but replacements for those who may have fallen away.

Please notice that although these words were written in 1999,

they referred to a : ... Gilead graduation in 1970.... So about

29 years before!

Notice also another very interesting remark

by the late Frederick Franz, concerning the few newly associated ones who are partaking of the Memorial emblems.

They are : ...not additions to the ranks of the anointed, but replacements for those who may have fallen away.

Now lets see ! According to yearly figures published in the

Yearbooks, since 1970 there have been:

158 anointed added in the year 1970;

173 1973;

200 1974;

37 1981;

20 1985;

49 1989;

135 1990;

10 1993;

28 1995;

112 1996;

38 1997;

59 2001;

This makes a grand total of 1,019 as replacements for

those who may have fallen away in just 31 years!!!

Who is ...playing? What is the name of the game???

f) As a final remark, one of the most recent quotes on this subject comes from : The Watchtower January 15, 2000 page 16

paragraph 11 , which states: It seems that by the year 1935,

the general ingathering of the anointed was complete.()

()The footnote states: See The Watchtower , February 15

1998, pages 17-22

Well I hope that all of this , could be of help to someone.

Greatings, James Charles MacHislopp

Edited by - Simon on 27 July 2002 19:17:52

Worship pub. changes, FDS doctrine affected?

minimus

ItsJustlittleoldme

MacHislopp

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