Babylon the Great

by Godlyman in

do jw's still believe that babylon the great is the empire of false religion?

inquiring minds want to know .

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

@ Fisherman

Neither was Jerusalem a kingdom.

If Jerusalem did not represent the kingdom of God, why did Jesus say, "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Matthew 21:43

You can check the following out on https://www.christianforums.com/

Revelation 17:18 "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.

What is the ONLY city with the scriptural authority to "reign over the Kings of the Earth?"

JERUSALEM

Earthly Jerusalem, by Divine right and calling, was the preeminent city among all nations. The Hebrew/Biblical understanding of Jerusalem is that she is the "Chief of the nations" (Jeremiah 31:7; Ez 5:5), the Queen city of the earth (Lam 1:1/Rev 18:7). She, by Divine right and covenant, was appointed as the head of all nations (Deut 26:19; Deut 15:6; Deut 28:1,10-13), and the gentile kings recognized God's dwelling was at Jerusalem with the Hebrews (1 Ki 10:24; Luke 11:31; Ezra 1:2; Dan 2:47, 3:28-29, 4:1-3, 4:17, 4:34-37; Ezra 1; Ezra 4-7; Ezra 7:15,23).

The Governor of all nations (Ps. 22:28) lived in Jerusalem in his House (Ez 7:15,23), and all the kingdom, power and might over earth was His (1 Chron 29:11-12). Indeed, all kings receive their power to rule from that Divine King (Rom 13:1-2,6; John 19:11; 1 Pet 2:13-14,17; Ez 1:2; Dan 1:1-2; Dan 2:20-21; Dan 2:37-38; Dan 2:47, Dan 3:28-29; Dan 4:1-3,17,34-37.).

Without question, Jerusalem was the ONLY City with the Divine Right to "Reign over the Kings of the Earth"

The "Woman" of Revelation, who is the "Great City" that "reigns over the Kings of the Earth" can only be Jerusalem.

121

Babylon the Great

by Godlyman in

do jw's still believe that babylon the great is the empire of false religion?

inquiring minds want to know .

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

@ Fisherman

Colossians 3:5 KJV — Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

What are you talking about? Jerusalem had a long history of idolatry and prophet killing. idolatry, including covetousness and prophet killing including persecution of the church was always a factor, especially among the religious elite right up till the destruction of the city in 70 AD.

Luke 16:13-14 13¶No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14¶And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation's Babylon.

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

@Beth Sarim

If that's the case then it appears that Watchtower is limiting God's ability to save and sanctify individuals based on extra-biblical criteria.

@ Scholar

Your thoughts. Does one have to believe in 1914, 1918, and 1919 to be a Christian?

121

Babylon the Great

by Godlyman in

do jw's still believe that babylon the great is the empire of false religion?

inquiring minds want to know .

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

From

AN EXEGETICAL BASIS FOR A PRETERIST-IDEALIST UNDERSTANDING OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

“Scripture interpret Scripture” and can be aptly demonstrated with four simple syllogisms:

Major premise#1: Three times this Babylon is called “O great city” (Rev 18:9, 16, 19) Minor premise #1: “The great city” is “where also their Lord was crucified” (Rev 11:8) Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon

Major premise #2: Babylon was guilty of “the blood of the prophets” (Rev 17:6; 18:24) Minor premise #2: According to Jesus and Paul, only Jerusalem killed the prophets (Matt 23:34–35; Luke 13:33; 1 Thess 2:15–16) Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon Major

premise #3: John’s people are commanded, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” (Rev 18:4) Minor premise #3: The only city Jesus ever commanded his followers to flee from is Jerusalem—when they saw two specific signs (Matt 24:15– 16; Luke 21:20–21). Eusebius recorded that this departure happened and no Christians were trapped and destroyed in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in ad 707 Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon

Major premise #4: This Babylon would be destroyed (Rev 18:2, 8, 10, 11, 17, 19–23) Minor premise #4: The only city Jesus said would be destroyed was Jerusalem—it would be “left to you desolate” (Matt 23:38) with “not one stone . . . left on another” (Matt 24:2) Conclusion: Jerusalem is Revelation’s Babylon

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

@Scholar,

The said scholar has nicely termed the three most significant prophetic dates in the Bible: 1914, 1918, and 1919 as an eschatological triennium.

Can a person be a Christian if he or she doesn't believe that the events purported by Watchtower to have taken place on these three dates actually happened?

In other words does one have to believe in 1914, 1918, and 1919 to be a Christian?

121

Babylon the Great

by Godlyman in

do jw's still believe that babylon the great is the empire of false religion?

inquiring minds want to know .

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

Shortly, within our twentieth century, the "battle in the day of Jehovah" will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom." The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah p. 216

"Some of that "generation" could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that "the end" is much closer than that!" Watchtower 1984 Mar 1 pp.18-19

"He was laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century". Watchtower 1989 Jan 1 p.12.

38

Struggling to find a purpose

by My Name is of No Consequence in

i spent most of my life in the org.

we were taught that our purpose in life was to serve jehovah.

that never really made sense to me, but it was still a purpose to keep going.

Vanderhoven7

I agree that there is no self evident meaning or purpose in life. However, Jesus said, "I have come that you may have life and that you might have it more abundantly. That sounds to me like a relationship overflowing with meaning and purpose.

I see you did find meaning and purpose in your marriage. As a believer, I see sacrificial love in marriage as a picture of ultimate meaning and purpose.

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

I could accept your first paragraph with the following correction

"The 'faithful and discreet slave' or steward described in Matthew 24:45-46 and Luke 12: 41-48 are both parables which describe not only Christians as individuals being faithful to the Master's commands in being diligent in carrying responsibilities of discipleship and to heed the exhortation to 'Keep on the Watch!' but also as a collective - the true Church of anointed Christians. The context of these parables is eschatological which pertains to events ~~beginning in 1914 CE with the birth of God's Kingdom and the Parousia.~~ that will transpire when Christ returns, i.e., at the parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1914, 1918, 1919 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1975 all mythologically manufactured bogus dates with no evident biblical significance..

349

Who really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Godlyman in

if anyone were to come up to you claiming that they are the faithful and discreet slave, how would you go about proving them to be false, based upon scripture?.

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

Every faithful anointed follower of Jesus Christ from the first to the twenty-first century.

121

Babylon the Great

by Godlyman in

do jw's still believe that babylon the great is the empire of false religion?

inquiring minds want to know .

estephan.

Vanderhoven7

Well said TD.

And for example, i see almosr all of Matthew 24 applying to Christ's generation, not the 1914 or the 1934 or the 21st century generation.

Vanderhoven7

Posts by Vanderhoven7

AN EXEGETICAL BASIS FOR A PRETERIST-IDEALIST UNDERSTANDING OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION