Blondie,
I'm sure, Jim, that with your years in the WTS you must have had something in mind when you said that the anointed jws on earth have authority over the angels while the anointed are still on earth. All my WT references say differently,not a one says that the anointed while on earth have authority over the angels. My references number into the hundreds that support that concept. Of course, if you have one from the WTS pubs that says differently..........it is not on my CD or my old pubs that I can find. You seemed fairly certain and I know we would all be interested in the WT support for that.
You are both evading and changing the issue.
1.) I never said the anointed have authority ... I said that they are above, that is, out rank. An Admiral in the Navy out ranks a Private in the Army, but does not have authority over him/her. The Anointed, by their very nature are already considered (classed as) spirit creatures by virtue of their being the adopted children of God, co-heirs with Christ, part of the heavenly Bride of Christ while still here on earth. No Angel has ever had, or will ever have such a high station. (Keep in mind I do not accept this nonsense anymore)
2.) You state that "All" of your WT references say differently ... that "not a one" says that the Anointed on earth have "authority" [vs above in the context I stated] over the Angels. You state that your references in the "hundreds" support that (your) concept. Thus, by your own statement, you should be able to pick up any WT reference in your possession and prove your statement. Such a claim, though, is a bit of a stretch, is it not?
3.) You said, "I'm sure, Jim, that with your years in the WTS you must have had something in mind ... " What I have in mind is what I stated in my original point and question [quoted below] and in point number 1 above, which is consistent with WT teaching, and consistent with my question to you. You have not quoted one thing that contradicts my point or answers my question. I no longer retain my JW books in my possession, as they are in storage in another state ... and frankly, right now, I cannot cite a reference due to that disadvantage. Clearly, though, you have the advantage of having "hundreds" of WT references in your possession, and yet you cite nothing that refutes the position I presented. Show me that I am incorrect ... if I am, then so be it.
4.) In my 25-years professing to be a JW anointed, I studied the topic closely, as it deeply affected me. There is nothing I can recall in WT literature that shows the JW Anointed are below, subject to, or as you now put it, under the "authority" of the Angels. The free children of the Father are, by their nature, a whole new class right now, while they are on earth. They are declared righteous and have their new nature imputed to them. How could they possibly be lower than or under the authority of the angels?
Bottom line: You made an assertion, and I called you on it with the following statement / question: "Historic JW dogma holds that the Anointed are above the angels, most especially once they reach heaven and rule as kings with Christ. Has something changed recently in JW beliefs that would have lowered the JW Anointed?" which you have yet to really answer.
