Indeed, given our present understanding of things today, someone could reasonably ask the following:

Quote:

       Do you think Jehovah's Witnesses are trapped in this idea of being in a heavenly covenant         taught by the Watchtower Society, even though almost all of them believe they will live         upon the earth, and don't want to die at all?

       Any thoughts?

Actually, what Jehovah's witnesses teach about covenants is a contradiction. What we mean here, is they mistakenly confuse the idea that "gentiles" who benefit from the Abrahamic Covenant, can be used as teachers of God's Word to lead and teach other people of the "nations." When in fact, that's really an impossibility in itself. God foretold, the nations would "bless themselves" by obedience to Abraham's "Seed". This is seen by their "streaming" to the Mountain of Jehovah in the "last days." The "nations" are taught Jehovah's Law and "learn war no more." The "nations" are seen feeding from God's Provision, the Trees of Righteousness, that regularly feed them spiritual "food" which are sustained by "living, healing waters" from God's Temple. -- Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-4; Ezekiel 47:12

Remember bible prophecy said in the "last days,"

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.' " -- Zechariah 8:23 NIV

Does that sound like these men of the "nations", beneficiaries of the Abrahamic Covenant themselves, are TAKING THE LEAD in the teaching of God's Word, in the "last days"? That's when they admittedly have to GRAB HOLD OF THE HEM OF HIS ROBE, this ONE PERSON ... this ONE "JEW," this one man, in the "last days," as the New International Version says?

I don't think so.

By the way, you will notice in numerous translations of the bible (besides the one produced by the Watchtower Society), this particular bible text actually reads "ONE JEW," or "A JEW" as in one man, who leads the "nations" in the "last days." This is completely opposite of how the Watchtower Society translates this verse by saying:

"...We will go with YOU [people], because we have heard God is with YOU [people]." -- Zechariah 8:23 NWT

(So by adding the word "people" to the word "YOU" in this verse, the translators of the New World Translation change the original meaning of the verse away from meaning the people "out of all languages of the nations" being led by ONE MAN, ONE JEW so to speak, and make it out to be a JEWISH NATION, instead. Now, the verse says, "I will go with YOU PEOPLE," when the verse actually did not say this. Why not investigate this point, at your earliest convenience.)

Nevertheless, in the congregations of Jehovah's witnesses today, what do we see? Isn't it true the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses all claim to be using "gentiles" ... "gentiles" themselves to preach the "good news" message to the world of gentiles, and not using PRIMARILY spiritual "Israel" themselves to proclaim the sacred message? Didn't Jesus say, the "good news" would be preached "TO" the nations, and not be preached "BY" the nations? Isn't that the correct way to view this matter? -- Please review Matthew 24:14 & Mark 13:10.

Think about it.

So in reality it winds up, what Jehovah's Witnesses
call "Other Sheep," who are primarily preaching the
"good news", are supposedly NOT ... NOT a part of
the covenant, which entitles them to rule with Jesus
in heaven. This means in essence, these ones make
up about 99.9% of the organization that carries out the preaching of the "good news" worldwide. It is they, the "Other Sheep," who are doing the bulk of the sacred work, on a worldwide scale in reality. -- Genesis 22:18; John 10:16

Jehovah’s Witnesses Hopes

99.9% Earthly

0.1% Heavenly

But this is actually, unscriptural. You see, the bible teaches only "Israel" should be handling the Sacred Message. Israel should be teaching the "good news," and only them. Now, if the Jehovah's witnesses really believe that "Israel" today, is limited to only 144,000 members, then they should be the ones that are discharged with the responsibility to preach the "good news" and not the so-called "gentile" people or nations of this earth, who are supposed to be benefiting from the actual preaching done by Spiritual "Israel," of our time.

So its really a contradiction within itself, what the Jehovah's witnesses teach and believe, about their preaching the "good news" and how it is accomplished in our day. Their views, are unscriptural, and not bible-based as they claim.

Someone could further say on this topic:


Quote:

        So, do you think Jehovah's Witnesses are misled, away from Jesus' covenant?

        In other words, are you saying Jehovah's Witnesses are not really "Christian" because of               Watchtower teachings?

        Also, should all Jehovah's Witnesses be taught they are going to heaven? Would this                      straighten the problem out, in your opinion?


One thing we must remember, the Christian covenant is one where all, that's ALL members are following in the actual footsteps of Jesus, and thus accept a martyr's death like his. They, in imitation of Jesus, all look forward to receiving heavenly life with Jesus, as their ultimate reward. This no doubt, was the sole, singular hope of first century Christians.

Jehovah's Witnesses are taught by the Watchtower Society the word "Christian" can apply to all who wish to follow the example of Christ, and live by the teachings of Christ. So, they divide the congregation up into two (2) parts, when they adopt the terms "Anointed" Christians, and Non-Anointed "Christians." When actually, to use the designations this way, is redundant. That's because the word "Christian" means "anointed" one. So when you say someone is an "anointed" Christian, you are repeating yourself with the same word. Because "anointed" and "Christian" means the same thing.

The Israelites led by Moses was considered ONE (1) Congregation before God. And all Israelites who were apart of that nation, was considered in ONE COVENANT, that's all of them. Among the nation, they had a "priestly" tribe that was especially dedicated to God. But still, the whole nation was viewed as a "priestly" nation or kingdom. All were members of the Mosaic Law Covenant. And they all had the SAME HOPE ... THE SAME HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, TO LIVE ON EARTH as a "priestly" nation, everlastingly. -- Exodus 19:5, 6; Romans 5:13, 14

Next, when Jesus came, he brought another covenant from God. Again, everyone in this particular covenant, still had the exact same hope ... the same hope for the future. Now at this time, everyone looked forward to dying a martyr's death like Jesus, and being raised to life to live with Jesus in heaven, eternally. Paul said first century Christians had 'one hope, one faith, one baptism.' -- Ephesians 4:4, 5

Now, we come down our day and time. The Watchtower Society says, there are actually two (2) hopes being held within the modern day congregation of Christians. And only a few (9,000 or so) can say they are true covenant-members of the Christian covenant, who can look forward to heavenly life. But the vast majority of "Christians" present in the Jehovah's Witnesses congregation, must look forward to earthly life as "gentiles" who benefit from the presence of the "anointed" among them, they say. According to the Watchtower Society, these ones DO NOT have an actual covenant-relationship with God. But still, they are to be considered "Christians" who don't have a covenant-relationship with God, at all. That's what they teach.

But we ask, can a person be considered a "Christian" if he or she does not have a covenant-relationship with God? Is such a thing scriptural? What do you think?

Remember, this is exactly what the Watchtower Society teaches on this matter. Think about it.

(For a detailed discussion on the 144,000 and Revelation 14:1-5 please see the article entitled: Singing A "New Song" Before Jehovah -- What Does It Mean?)

Of course, someone at this point, could say, in
defense of Jehovah's Witnesses:

Quote:

... maybe Jehovah's Witnesses understand matters correctly, in saying Jesus Christ since his death and resurrection to heavenly life, will administer all blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant to all nations, from that vantage point ... from heaven itself.

And our response to that would be: IMPOSSIBLE!

But why do we say this is IMPOSSIBLE?

It is because bible prophecy specifically says exactly how all blessings would be administered to the nations of our time, those who benefit from the Abrahamic Covenant and "bless themselves," as promised. (Genesis 22:18 )

Bible prophecy says it will be done by "A MAN." That's right, by "a man." And what prophecy is that? It is Zechariah 8:23 of course, the one cited above in the previous article. It states:

"This is what Jehovah of armies has said, It will be in those days that ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold, yes, they will actually take hold of the skirt of A MAN who is a Jew, saying: We will go with YOU [people], for we have heard [that] God is with YOU [people]." (New World Translation)

Of course, the New World Translation, has added some words, to alter the true meaning of what's being stated, as shown above.

However, we can compare some other translations of this exact same verse, Zechariah 8:23, to get a better understanding of what the prophecy is actually stating. For example, here are a few examples:

 1) This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of ONE JEW by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.' "  (New International Version)

2) Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of A JEW, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'" (New American Standard Bible)

3) Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from nations of every language shall take hold of A JEW, grasping his garment and saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." (New Revised Standard Version)

4) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall
come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all
languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the
skirt of HIM THAT IS A JEW, saying, We will go with
you: for we have heard that God is with you. (King
James Version)

5) Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: In those days take hold do ten men of all languages of the nations, Yea, they have taken hold on the skirt of A MAN, a Jew, saying: We go with you, for we heard God [is] with you! (Young's Literal Translation)

6) The LORD of Hosts says this: "In those days, 10 men from nations of every language will grab the robe of A JEWISH MAN tightly, urging: Let us go with you,
for we have heard that God is with you." (Holman
Christian Standard Bible)

7) Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men
from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of A JEW, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" (English Standard Version)

8) When this happens, ten people from nations with different languages will grab A JEW by his clothes and say, "Let us go with you. We've heard that God is on your side." I, the LORD All-Powerful, have spoken! (Contemporary English Version)

9) This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of ONE JEW by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.' " (Today's New International Version)

10) He continued, "At that time many men from all nations and languages will take hold of ONE JEW. They will grab hold of the hem of his robe. And they will say, 'We want to go to Jerusalem with you. We've heard that God is with you.' " (New International Reader's Version)

All of these translations and their particular rendering of this verse show us, these blessings will be administered by "A MAN," "A JEW" as the prophecy shows. "A MAN" who lives upon earth.

And doesn't this tie-in exactly with the Genesis 3:15 challenge, made by Jehovah God himself, when He stated to Satan:

"And I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and HER SEED..."

Yes, this would be Eve's "Seed," a direct descendant of Eve, her "seed." Jehovah's Great Challenge was that He could use a DIRECT DESCENDANT of Eve, to spearhead his "Kingdom" on earth, where this one would do exactly what Adam should have done, become the PATRIARCHAL HEAD, of the human family.

Think: Isn't it true, Adam would have become
the spiritual leader of all who live on earth today,
 if ... if he had not sinned?

Think about it.

So then all we are saying, this descendant of
"Eve," the "seed" of Eve, would become, by
God's permission, the REPLACEMENT for Adam.
That's what he would become. Remember, God's
promise about this coming one was,

"Also, I myself shall PLACE HIM AS FIRSTBORN,
the most high of the kings of the earth."
(Psalms 89:27)

Did you notice above, Jehovah God takes the action
of "placing" this one as the "firstborn" among earth's
inhabitants? Yes, this designated one would become
"firstborn," God's "firstborn," and replace Adam as
God's "firstborn" among mankind. He would take the
position that Adam would have gained, by natural
birthright.

Is it any wonder then Jesus would give what he had inherited by his steadfast obedience to the Mosaic Law, to the "Spirit of Truth," who was to come into this world, and with God's Almighty help, guide mankind into "ALL TRUTH" ... is it any wonder?

Indeed, John 16:13-15 says for our benefit,

"However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things coming. That one will glorify me, because HE WILL RECEIVE FROM WHAT IS MINE and will declare it to you. All the things that the Father has are mine. That is why I said HE RECEIVES FROM WHAT IS MINE and declares it to you."

Written By:

Donald C. Burney

 

© 1994 - 2024   Donald C. Burney

Revelation 5:5

Ezekiel 17:22-24

“Living Waters” - John 7:37, 38