20 When
Jehovah refines our understanding of truth, our heart condition is
tested. Will faith and humility move us to accept the changes?
Christians living in the middle of the first century faced such a test.
For example, imagine that you were a Jewish Christian living at that
time. You deeply respect the Mosaic Law and take pride in your national
heritage. Now you receive inspired letters from the apostle Paul stating
that the Law is no longer binding and that Jehovah has rejected natural
Israel in favor of gathering a spiritual Israel made up of both Jews
and Gentiles. (Rom. 10:12; 11:17-24; Gal. 6:15, 16; Col. 2:13, 14) How would you have responded?
21 Humble Christians accepted Paul’s inspired explanation and were blessed by Jehovah. (Acts 13:48) Others resented the refinements and wanted to cling to their own understanding. (Gal. 5:7-12) If they would not change their viewpoint, those individuals would lose the opportunity to be corulers with Christ.—2 Pet. 2:1.
22 In
recent decades, Jehovah has refined our understanding of the Kingdom.
For example, he has helped us to see more clearly when those who will be
subjects of the Kingdom are to be separated from unresponsive ones as
sheep are separated from goats. He has also taught us when the full
number of the 144,000 will be filled, what the Kingdom illustrations
given by Jesus mean, and when the last of the anointed will be raised to
heavenly life.*
How do you respond to such clarifications? Is your faith strengthened?
Do you see them as evidence that Jehovah continues to educate his humble
people? The following material in this book will reinforce your
conviction that Jehovah is progressively revealing his purpose to those
who fear him.
So really prophesy can only interpreted by what has happened? Sort of defeats the purpose of prophesy it seems to me. In fact the whole study seems utterly ridiculous.
Anyway, The reason I ask if you have been to the meeting is I am curious if this study was rushed in your hall?
In ours we had to view the video about building halls in addition to the local needs talk. It was 16 minutes after 8 by the time the study started! The brother did a great job of getting it done in 15 minutes.
I asked a ministerial servant friend what was up with that and he said at the last minute the society told the brothers to show the video.
I got to thinking, was that a way to gloss over this study and give it short shrift because it was so blatant?
So, did anyone else got a non rushed version of this study it was it rushed in your hall too?