Actually, since Isaiah 43 applied only to the literal Israelites, and the WTS says only the 144,000 are spiritual Israelites, then only the 144,000 could be Jehovah's witnesses. With the emergence of the great crowd/other sheep doctrine in 1935, this created a problem in the organization. For some years, they did say only the anointed were Jehovah's witnesses. With the rapid increase of the non-anointed, it was necessary to adjust that doctrine, or do they?
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w50 1/15 p. 27 Who Will Share in the Final Witness? ***Only today the anointed witnesses and their good-will companions have no jackals to carry the firebrands of truth.
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w55 5/15 p. 314 Christian Channel of Communication ***Only the remnant of Jehovah?s anointed witnesses and their companions have such a distinguishing mark by being persecuted the world over.?Matt. 24:9.
But notice this circular reasoning around the fact that this should only apply to the anointed.
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w81 3/15 p. 18 Women?May They Be "Ministers"? ***For example, Isaiah 43:10-12 applied first to the natural Israelites whom Jehovah God delivered from Egypt and made his witnesses. Today, this scripture applies to the spiritual Israelites whom Jehovah has delivered from Satan?s organization, making them Jehovah?s Witnesses. Proof that this term cannot be limited to the anointed remnant of spiritual Israel can be seen from the fact that today there are more than two million worshipers of Jehovah who have an earthly hope and who truly are witnessing to their God, Jehovah.
but then
*** w67 12/1 p. 724 By Man?s Way or by God?s Way?Which? ***
Today Jehovah God has a spiritual Israel, a Christian Israel. (Gal. 6:16) Just as the natural, fleshly Israelites were Jehovah?s witnesses, so these Christian spiritual Israelites are His witnesses.
and
*** w66 2/15 p. 120 Identifying the Present-Day Beneficiaries ***
Beginning with the April 1, 1935, issue of The Watchtower the announcements thereof said: "Again The Watchtower reminds its readers that a convention of Jehovah?s witnesses and Jonadabs (what the non-anointed were called) will be held at Washington, D.C., beginning May 30 and ending June 3, 1935.
and if Isaiah 43:10-12 applies to the great crowd, are they then part of the steward?
*** w81 10/1 p. 22 "Who Really Is the Faithful Steward, the Discreet One?" ***
Reason, backed up by similar Scriptural examples, makes it clear that the "steward" (oikonómos) pictures a class, a collective body, corresponding to a juristic person, a legal person like a corporation that is recognized by the law of the land. For instance, Jehovah God called the entire nation of ancient Israel "my servant whom I have chosen." (Isa. 43:10) In like manner, the "steward" pictures the "little flock" of spiritual Israelites, the full body of dedicated, baptized disciples of the "master," Jesus Christ, who have been begotten by God?s spirit to the heavenly inheritance with their "master," the glorified Jesus. This composite "steward" was alive and available for being appointed by the departing Master, and a remnant of that "steward" class is on earth today and proving faithful to the Master Jesus Christ. Since each member is faithful and discreet, the whole class is also.
yet
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w65 6/1 p. 336 Increase Your Praise of Jehovah! ***More than thirty years ago they were given a name that was based on Jehovah?s Word, namely, Jehovah?s witnesses. (Isa. 43:10) These are, not Jews according to the flesh, but, rather, spiritual Judeans (meaning, ?praisers of Jehovah?), spiritual Israelites composed of many nationalities who have been brought out of captivity to Babylon the Great.?Rom. 2:28, 29; 9:6; Eph. 2:11-18; Heb. 8:7-13.
These people, Jehovah?s witnesses and their companions, are the only ones in the earth who are praising and blessing the most important, the most wonderful and the most holy name in all the universe, the name of Jehovah!
Natrual Israelites = Jehovah's witnesses (Isaiah 43:10-12)
Natural Israelites = Spiritual Israelites (Galatians 6:16)
Jehovah's witnesses = (only) spiritual Israelites (144,000)
Hmmm
Blondie
