I wish so much I could give them the benefit of the doubt but the interpretations are stretching it so much that the only words that go out of my mouth are :

"Come ooooon... !!!! Away you go !!!!!! Pull the other one... !!!!"

I wish they would blow my mind on spiritual grounds. I'm just appalled and grieved, once more...

 

Hi All:

You can't put new wine in an old wineskin.

frank

 

O.K., here’s to the GB prophets and interpreters.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!â€￾
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.â€￾

(Ec. 1:2 NIV)

“Most important, you must know that no prophecy of scripture represents the prophet’s own understanding of things, because no prophecy ever came by human will. Instead, men and women led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.â€￾ (2 Pe. 1:20-21 CEB)

So, . . . They can . . . Dream On, until their dreams come true.

[video=youtube;hHRNSeuvzlM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHRNSeuvzlM[/video]

 

In order to understand what Micah 5:5 is about, please compare :

"And this one must become peace. As for the As·syr′i·an, when he comes into our land and when he treads upon our dwelling towers, we shall also have to raise up against him seven shepherds, yes, eight dukes of mankind. And they will actually shepherd the land of As·syr′i·a with the sword, and the land of Nim′rod in its entrances. And he will certainly bring about deliverance from the As·syr′i·an, when he comes into our land and when he treads upon our territory." - Mic. 5:5-6

"“Look! Upon the mountains the feet of one bringing good news, one publishing peace. O Judah, celebrate your festivals. Pay your vows; because no more will any good-for-nothing person pass again through you. In his entirety he will certainly be cut off.â€￾" - Na. 1:15

"Wake up, wake up, put on your strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For no more will there come again into you the uncircumcised and unclean one. " - Is. 52:1

Those prophecies are all related to one another and have obviously nothing to do with the attack of Gog of Magog, or not directly, in a pinch.

And now, the commentaries...

Interestingly, it all has a strong connection with the word "belial".

The chapter about Micah in Robert's book is awesome. Here is the page on his new website ! And here is the article he wrote about the WT study in question.

 

Nahum 1:15

Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Verse 15. Judah hears the glad tidings, that its oppressor is utterly destroyed. A warlike army marches against Nineveh, which that city cannot resist, because the Lord will put an end to the oppression of His people. Ch. Nah 1:15. "Behold, upon the mountains the feet of the messengers of joy, proclaiming salvation! Keep thy feasts, O Judah; pay thy vows: for the worthless one will no more go through thee; he is utterly cut off." The destruction of the Assyrian, announced in Nah 1:14, is so certain, that Nahum commences the description of its realization with an appeal to Judah, to keep joyful feasts, as the miscreant is utterly cut off. The form in which he utters this appeal is to point to messengers upon the mountains, who are bringing the tidings of peace to the kingdom of Judah. The first clause is applied in Isa 52:7 to the description of the Messianic salvation. The messengers of joy appear upon the mountains, because their voice can be heard far and wide from thence.

The mountains are those of the kingdom of Judah, and the allusion to the feet of the messengers paints as it were for the eye the manner in which they hasten on the mountains with the joyful news. m[SUP]a[/SUP]baseer is collective, every one who brings the glad tidings. Shâloom, peace and salvation: here both in one. The summons, to keep feasts, etc., proceeds from the prophet himself, and is, as Ursinus says, "partim gratulatoria, partim exhortatoria." The former, because the feasts could not be properly kept during the oppression by the enemy, or at any rate could not be visited by those who lived at a distance from the temple; the latter, because the chaggiim, i.e., the great yearly feasts, were feasts of thanksgiving for the blessings of salvation, which Israel owed to the Lord, so that the summons to celebrate these feasts involved the admonition to thank the Lord for His mercy in destroying the hostile power of the world. This is expressed still more clearly in the summons to pay their vows. b[SUP]a[/SUP]liya'al, abstract for concrete = bl' 'iysh, as in 2 Sam 23:6 and Job 34:18. nik[SUP]a[/SUP]raat is not a participle, but a perfect in pause.

(from Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)
​

Nahum 1:15

1:15. Judah's history under Assyrian power. From around 734 B.C. until the fall of Nineveh in 612, Judah was a vassal state within the Assyrian empire. King Ahaz paid tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III and stayed out of the plots to gain independence that led to the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel and the devastation of many of the other neighboring states. Hezekiah did attempt to assert some measure of independence (cleansing the temple, closing the local high places), but that led to an invasion of Judah by Sennacherib (see comments on 2 Kings 18), the destruction of many towns like Lachish, the deportation of some of the population and a siege of Jerusalem that impoverished the nation. The long reign of Manasseh (see comments on 2 Chron 33) was marked by a complete submission to Assyrian control. In addition to a wide range of stipulations designed to promote and demonstrate political loyalty, Esarhaddon's vassal treaties required respect for the god Ashur as king of the gods and as their own god. Manasseh's cooperation allowed for a period of peace and rebuilding, but represented a political and theological compromise that marked him, in the eyes of the biblical writers, as the worst of kings. It is only the political chaos following the death of Assyria's last great king, Ashurbanipal (see comment on Nah 1:1), that allows Judah to temporarily assert its freedom under King Josiah.

(from IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, Copyright © 2000 by John H. Walton,
Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas. Published by InterVarsity Press. All rights reserved.)
​

Nahum 1:15

[Behold upon the mountains, the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace] From mountain-top to mountain-top by beacon-fires they spread the glad tidings. Suddenly the deliverance comes, sudden its announcement. "Behold!" Judah, before hindered by armies from going up to Jerusalem, its cities taken (2 Kings 18:13), may now again "keep the feasts" there, and "pay the vows," which "in trouble she promised;" "for the wicked one," the ungodly Sennacherib, "is utterly cut off, he shall no more pass through thee;" "the army and king and empire of the Assyrians have perished." But the words of prophecy cannot be bound down to this. These large promises, which, as to this world, were forfeited in the next reign, when Manasseh was taken captive to Babylon, and still more in the seventy years' captivity, and more yet in that until now, look for a fulfillment, as they stand.

They sound so absolute. "I will afflict thee no more," "the wicked shall no more pass through thee," "he is utterly (literally, the whole of him) cut off." Nahum joins on this signal complete deliverance from a temporal enemy, to the final deliverance of the people of God. The invasion of Sennacherib was an avowed conflict with God Himself. It was a defiance of God. He would make God's people, his; he would "cut it off that it be no more a people, and that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance" (Ps 83:4). There was a more "evil counselor" behind, whose agent was Sennacherib. He, as he is the author of all murders and strife, so has he a special hatred for the Church, whether before or since Christ's Coming. Before, that he right cut off that Line from whom "the Seed of the woman" should be born, which should destroy his empire and crush himself, and that he might devour the Child who was to be born (Rev 12:4).

(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright
© 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.)
​

 

Mc Clintock and Strong
​

ISBE Revised Edition


​

BELIAL

(worthlessness): recklessness, lawlessness. Not strictly a proper name, but used so by personification. Beli = "without" and ya'al "usefulness," i.e. good for nothing. "A man of Belial" is a worthless, lawless fellow (Deut 13:13; Judg 19:22; 1 Sam 2:12). Later Raqa' ("vain fellows" (2 Sam 6:20, hareeqiym), and "Fool" were used instead: Matt 5:22. Nabal (= fool) is called "man of Belial" (1 Sam 25:25.) In the New Testament "Beliar" is the form in some oldest manuscripts (2 Cor 6:15.) As Satan is opposed to God, Antichrist to Christ, so Belial standing here in contrast to Christ must denote all anti-Christian pollutions personified.

(from Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database
Copyright © 1998, 2003, 2006. All rights reserved.)
​

 

Isaiah 52:1-2

Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

The same call, which was addressed in Isa 51:9 to the arm of Jehovah that was then represented as sleeping, is here addressed to Jerusalem, which is represented as a sleeping woman. Vv. 1, 2. "Awake, awake; clothe thyself in thy might, O Zion; clothe thyself in thy state dresses, O Jerusalem, thou holy city: for henceforth there will no more enter into thee one uncircumcised and unclean! Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the chains of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion!" Jerusalem is lying upon the ground stupefied with the wrath of God, and exhausted with grief; but this shameful prostration and degradation will now come to an end. She is to rise up and put on her might, which has long been broken down, and apparently has altogether disappeared, but which can and must be constantly renewed, because it rests upon the foundation of an inviolable promise.

She is to wake up and recover her ancient power, and put on her state robes, i.e., her priestly and royal ornaments, which belong to her as a "royal city," i.e., as the city of Jehovah had His anointed one. For henceforth she will be what she was always intended to be, and that without any further desecration. Heathen, uncircumcised, and those who were unclean in heart and flesh (Ezek 44:9), had entered her by force, and desecrated her: heathen, who had no right to enter the congregation of Jehovah as they were (Lam 1:10). But she should no longer be defiled, not to say conquered, by such invaders as these (Joel 4:17 ; Nah 2:1 b; compare v. 7 with Nah 2:1 a). On the construction non perget intrabit = intrare, see Ges. §142, 3, c. In v. 2 the idea of the city falls into the background, and that of the nation takes its place. yrwshlm sh[SUP]a[/SUP]biy does not mean "captive people of Jerusalem," however, as Hitzig supposes, for this would require sh[SUP]a[/SUP]biyaah in accordance with the personification, as in v. 2 b.

The rendering supported by the LXX is the true one, "Sit down, O Jerusalem;" and this is also the way in which it is accentuated. The exhortation is the counterpart of Isa 47:1. Jerusalem is sitting upon the ground as a prisoner, having no seat to sit upon; but this is only that she may be the more highly exalted;-whereas the daughter of Babylon is seated as a queen upon a throne, but only to be the more deeply degraded. The former is now to shake herself free from the dust, and to rise up and sit down (viz., upon a throne, Targum). The captive daughter of Zion (shebhiyyâh, aichma'lootos, Ex 12:29, an adjective written first for the sake of emphasis, as in Isa 10:30; 53:11) is to undo for herself (sibi laxare according to p. 62, note, like hithnacheel, Isa 14:2, sibi possidendo capere) the chains of her neck (the chethib htptchw, they loosen themselves, is opposed to the beautiful parallelism); for she who was mourning in her humiliation is to be restored to honour once more, and she who was so shamefully laden with fetters to liberty.

(from Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition,
Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)
​

Isaiah 52:1-6

52:1-6. Jerusalem was to awake not only because her exile was almost ended (v. 1) but also because she would be freshly adorned with new clothes, that is, she would be rebuilt. Jerusalem's pagan conquerors-the uncircumcised and defiled would never again invade and pollute the holy city (cf. 48:2). This no doubt refers to the time when the Messiah will establish God's kingdom on earth, for only then will pagans never again trample the city. To shake off... dust means to stop mourning (dust on one's head was a sign of mourning, Job 2:12). Jerusalem will be freed from her chains, never again to be enslaved. She had been sold because of her sins (cf. Isa 50:1) but now she would be redeemed (ga'al, "to purchase out of slavery"). However, God did not have to buy them. He will graciously bring them back to Him and they will pay nothing.

Then God briefly reviewed the history of the nation in slavery. They had been slaves in Egypt and more recently Assyria had conquered the Northern Kingdom and also exacted tribute from Judah (52:4). Now another power, Babylon, would take away Judah and mock them (v. 5) and blaspheme God. Through all this the Lord's power to bring them back each time should show the people that He is the only unique God. Eventually when they return in belief they will know Him.

(from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries;
Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.)
​

 

Hi Single Cell:

I enjoyed Watchman's post and think it shows adequately why the Watchtower has little or no relevance when it comes to understanding prophecy. If you (not specifically you, but YOU in general) listen to utterances like this when the time comes, I believe you will be doomed. You must listen for the voice of the True Shepherd, which will come from outside of the Watchtower at the appropriate time. That voice will come from those who "were" truly members of the Bride of Christ within the Watchtower but who have by then realized that they needed to "get out of her my people" (not the imposters who currently call themselves "Christ", as they are really part of the Man of Lawlessness) and may not have even realized it themselves at the time (that they were really a part of the Bride of Christ, as the imposters have misled even the anointed. You will not recognize them at first, or by their outward appearance but you will know them by their mannerisms just as the disciples of the risen Christ did , not by his appearance, but by his teachings and his mannerisms.

It will be truly shocking when the time comes. Do not listen to the misleading utterances of the "Faithful Slave" and the "Elders", as this article points out are devoid of any real understanding. Listen for the voice of the True Shepherd and him alone. If we already knew who were the true "Sons of God" on earth today, the members of the Bride of Christ, what reason would there be for "the revealing of the Sons of God"? It will be like when the bride lifts off her bridal veil after the week in the bridal chamber and everyone realized who the Bride really is.

frank

 

Don't worry or think about it. We have the truth, and we are the chosen. Just do as we say, drink the Cool Aid!!

 

oh no more confuseing bible stuff! oh thank king Jesus that all I need is him and Jehovah and his holy spirit. while these great spiritual giants out their are busy with Shepard's and dukes I'm going in through the door Jesus Christ.we don't need to decipher bible scriptures or own the Jehovah's witness library of theological extrapalatory doctrinal floxipacinapilafacation! (theirs a word for you!) we just need honest communication between us and Jehovah through the doorway Jesus..trying to pick apart gods word is exactly like trying to Veiw and modify windows 8! have fun but if you succeed make sure you make 80 billion dollars doing it. oh thank you Jehovah for another day you fed me clothed me and kept me safe and warm. what more could I ask? the great god of all creation took time for me and who am I that the god of all should pay attention upon?