It's really quite simple; I was called by God for a chance to be one of the 144k, anointed yes, but am I one of these yet? No, any of us can fall before then. Do I have a special work Jehovah directly assigned me for over the other 144k? No, I have no such commission at this time. I do believe some brothers in the time of the end will have more responsibility, and I don't see it as a gift or better then others, just more work. Now, I'm good at something, I'm good with prophecy and the deeper things and numbers, so I continue my work in that. If in the time of the end this work becomes useful to Christ Jesus and Jehovah, so be it, and if not I will put it aside and follow them still in the new light of truth. But you see, at the end of the day, I am still a good for nothing slave only doing what I should have been doing all along. (Luk 17:10)
Thank you for you answer. The 144,000 will rule with, and under the direction of Jesus. God knows it takes a human to understand humans. Jesus understands us. If he used angels they would not. Their judgment would be to harsh, black, and white. I am not of the 144,000. Matter of fact, I have asked father, "Please don't even think of me in that direction. You have created me as a human. I love being human, so please Father, if you do give me a future life, please leave me as human." Well Josh, I think you will make a good judge alongside Jesus...once he teaches you how to reason scriptures. As for me, I'll be drinking wine, eating pasta, fruit, drinking clear water, and walking bare foot in green meadows. Jesus will bring the heavenly Jerusalem to earth, so I'm sure I'll see you. I'll bring you some of my home made Italian rice balls, and some wine. PS, the scripture you asked me to read. I reasoned on this many years ago: Math 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen," Says, if you go to the party, because you think you have been invited, and find your name is not on the guest list. they will kick you out the same door you came in.
Mathew 26:63- "But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." .....But Jesus remained silent. Josh, can a slave be greater than his master? Nothing you say will be respected or accepted by this individual.
Perhaps... And one day this no doubt will be faced by some of us. To stand before peers and demanded to know who we are, but until then we are candlelight's in a raging storm...
You see, I never wished to go to heaven, in fact I fought it. I had to make a choice, whether I wanted to do my will, or Jehovah's. It's no secret, feel free to read about it here.
Josh, I understand why you are staying with the WT. You have said you are of the 144,000. Do you understand, If they put you out what they can not take away from you? Humans can not remove a servant of Jehovah from serving him. Humans can not change the relationship between a person and Jehovah. Humans can not un-make a person who has been chosen as one of the 144,000 by God. In truth all they can do is not speak to you, or look at you. How many friends and family will you lose? Look up, you have more friends and family than can be counted on earth.
You are right brother! They can do nothing to me. We serve Jehovah through Christ alone. You see, we are in total agreement with that 100%. I think that is why Jehovah has brought you here. I see fight in you, the fight of faith! You take Jehovah's worship serious, and I think that's what scripture says, let alone what's in your heart. I see it, just know who your peers are, and also who your enemies are... We here, are in this fight with you!!!! The WTS has no hold over us here. Just as in the days of the apostles, the temple is full of robbers and thieves, but there are many of Gods people still attending brother... My heart goes out to their future, when one day their world will collapse, and they will not have the foreknowledge that we have of the societies destruction! They will be lost... It is a personal choice to continue to visit the halls. Half of us here on this forum do, the other half do not. We even know of some who visit occasionally (not part of the forum), it is a personal choice, no one in this time we live can make that choice for us. You and I are soldiers, shoulder to shoulder in this battle, and it is possible in the future to be a part of Christs new kingdom message to the world, but if it be 1000 years from now, so be it, let us take this stand now, and show the world that we here, serve Jehovah, not in our own understanding but in our utmost capability in the way he wishes!
Amen Brother. I have a saying I live by: "With Jehovah I can do anything. Without him I can do nothing, not even breath."
Josh, I read how you found you were of the 144,000. As a JW the teaching was always about what a great life we would have in Gods new system. Those teachings led me to see a world where the empty spots in my own life would be filled. Not a good teaching at all. I imagined the perfect family I never had. After reading what you posted, I realized that was wrong thinking. Father’s new system is not about filling the holes in our life, but a life that serves Jehovah’s purpose. You didn’t want to be of the 144,000, you wanted a life as a human. Being human is a great life, even the angel’s envy humans. I have no idea what Jehovah has planned for me, I’m sure it’s not what I had planned for myself. Reading your post was like hitting a brick wall at mach 5. We have to bend to how Jehovah wants to use us. During the history of my family tree, my people must have brushed up against that of Jonah. I want to be human, I really do. I love being human. Now I have visions of looking down on earth seeing humans living the life I love. That makes me sad. My heart wants to be nothing but human. I’m not of the 144,000, I know that, but my point is this…I have been thinking of what a great life the new system will be, and seeing the holes filled. I have been thinking wrong. I am not here to get holes in my life filled…I am here for one reason, to serve Father as he wants me to serve him. I’ll just have to learn to live with my holes.
So very true... There has been plenty of times in my life I would have chosen a different path if I had done what I wanted instead of considering Jehovah's view, and this is nothing singular to me, we all go through this, but I never expected to come down to the wire in such a way that even while doing what I should have been I was still presented with my will or Jehovah's. After a life of failures, and constant sin, a constant search for Jehovah, and the torment of this world, the only thing we really have is living for Jehovah because this is what he wills. What we lack, or what we will gain in the future really is all irrelevant in the hear and now in my opinion. It just works well for me to serve Jehovah because he deserves it...
The End is Here book/essay Brother, It appears to me the whole starting point of your timetable has to do with the premise that WT is the temple/holy place. Does the word of Christ clearly teach the temple is no one church, but the body of Christ; the spirit-anointed all over the earth, no matter when , or where they are? 1 Pet. 2:4-9 Tell me if I'm in error on this understanding you have.
Hi John: Just an idea. The Nation of "Israel" had geographic boundaries highlighted by the land areas of the 12 tribes and yet Jerusalem was always considered it's center, based on the temple there. In the 20th Century the Watchtower was the holding vessel for the gathering of the Bride of Christ. Although there are parts of that Bride scattered throughout the earth, just like the physical nation of Israel, there must be a center or central location. That Central location is the Watchtower, headquartered for now in New York City and if they move before the end of this system of things that center will be in up country New York. Even though they have lost their constant feature and their baptism, they are still the center and holding facility for the Bride of Christ, even though many of the Bride have left. Just as many of the Bride had left Jerusalem in the months leading up to Jerusalem's capture and fall in 70 CE. By then the "Church" or ecclesia started by Christ was already Apostate, just as the Watchtower is now. Frank
Hi frank, What you said reminded me of something I had explained a while ago (in the thread about the Jewish festivals, if my memory serves me well). Israel is a spiritual destination, so to speak. It's not a country. It's the approved condition in God's eyes. Israel was freed from Egypt, the land of death and slavery (Sin), went across the Red Sea (baptism), the firstborn being God's only and having to be bought back. The stay in the desert are also spiritual conditions and states, just like the 12 spies (Jesus and his disciples in the first century) having a glimpse of what the Promised Land is, and this all the way down till Israel crosses the Jordan (resurrection as new Creation) and enter in Israel, the Promised Land, God's approved condition. All of these details are real events of the past but also symbolic stages of the Christians life, for the anointed ones in particular, on individual grounds and as a nation. Strictly speaking, the real Israel of God doesn't exist yet; but is in labor, in the making. I don't have the time to write more about it but I think I summed it all up enough for now.
Actually its very simple. Israel in a spiritual sense are all those "born again" sons of God, throughout history who Jehovah has adopted as his Sons from among mankind. Jerusalem is the "Bride of Christ". Many more are "born again" than will be a part of the Bride. They make up the "Israel of God", as a central part of that Israel, the Bride of Christ is it's "temple". There are many more who are "born again" from God and the Holy Spirit than are part of the Bride of Christ. This is one of many things the Watchtower has denied. Ray Franz knew of this even when he was still a part of the Watchtower. 54 “Shout joyfully, you barren woman who has not given birth!+ Become cheerful and cry out for joy,+ you who never had birth pains,+ For the sons* of the desolate one are more numerous Than the sons of the woman with a husband,â€*+ says Jehovah. Isaiah 54:1 Frank
Of course, it's very simple ! I really don't understand why things seem so complicated... It can't be made any simpler than that : "You must say to Pharʹaoh, ‘This is what Jehovah says: “Israel is my son, my firstborn. I say to you, Send my son away so that he may serve me. But if you refuse to send him away, I am going to kill your son, your firstborn.â€â€™â€" - Ex. 4:22-23 Israel makes up the firstborn sons of God, that is the anointed ones, those who will be kings and priests for 1 000 years if they remain faithful to death. They must die, not necessarily be killed, but they must die (or changed for some of them) in order to be resurrected in a heavenly body. Israel is the firstborn, which means that other people will be born again.... later ! Well, that's like 2+2=4. Israel will be reborn soon during the first resurrection, the rest of mankind during the second resurrection, that is 1 000 years later. I'm not making anything up; if there is a first resurrection, there is obviously going to be a second resurrection, destined to what/who we usually call the Great Crowd. The Israel of God is the bride since Israel is the firstborn. Israel will reach the Promised Land and will bring/help mankind get there too with them. Here again, it's 2+2=4. The first born-again ones are Israel, Christ's bride, his own flesh and the GC will be born again (new creation) at the end of the 1 000 years. Please read : "No more will you be called an abandoned woman, And your land will no longer be called desolate. But you will be called My Delight Is in Her, And your land will be called the Married One. For Jehovah will take delight in you, And your land will be as one married." - Is. 62:4 The barren woman in the verses you quoted and in mine is obviously Christ's bride, who thanks to her marriage with Christ, being in union with him, will give birth to lots of spiritual children, when the GC is born again too. The GC will be in union with Christ after the Millenium. All of this means that what I'm saying is in accordance with Jesus' statements to Nicodemus. Seriously, even though this reasoning is very simple, I don't think that the GB was ever able to explain things this way and so deep, whereas there is nothing really complicated.
John S, thank you for your response, I would be glad to explain. My timetable begins at Dan 12:11; “And from the time that the constant feature has been removed and the disgusting thing that causes desolation has been put in place, there will be 1,290 days." Now, I believe these were two separate events separated by 1290 days. So therefore the constant feature was removed, and then 1290 days later the disgusting thing is placed in the temple. Now I believe the events in 66CE-70CE were the precursor and first fulfillment of this prophecy, and gives us a way of interpreting its future fulfillment. In 66CE the constant feature that was removed was the sacrifices at the temple for the Roman Emperor and the Roman people by Eliezar ben Hanania; Eliezar ben Hanania"(Hebrew: אלעזר בן חנניה; Ancient Greek: Ἐλεάζαρος υἱὸς Ἀνανία) was a Jewish leader during the Great Revolt of Judea. Eliazar was the son of the High Priest Hanania ben Nedebai and hence a political figure of the 1st century Judaea Province. Eliazar was the governor of the temple [1] at the outbreak of the rebellion in 66 CE and following the initial outbreak of the violence in Jerusalem convinced the priests of the Jewish Temple to stop service of sacrifice for the Emperor and Roman people. The action, though largely symbolic, was one of the main milestones to bring a full-scale rebellion in Judea." Now it was 1290 days after this event that Rome entered the temple to destroy it. In our day the sacrifices to the Roman people is the Watchtower magazine that delivers the message of Jehovah's kingdom to the world. It is my contention that one day the Watchtower magazine and the society will be brought down, but that this is not the event in that of coming against the temple, it is merely the constant feature being removed. The disgusting thing comes against the temple 1290 days later. Now according to Dan ch 9 there is a call to rebuild Jerusalem in the time of the end, and this event will occur after the WTS is long gone, therefore the temple that is spoken of in the end that the disgusting thing will come against will be the true temple of God, and you and Utuna are correct, it is made up of the remaining of Christs bride. No doubt some of these will be collected together in a certain location because we learn from Joel that this later temple will be very rich, and no doubt would include property. Therefore this would give visual evidence on TV deep in the time of the end of the 8th king coming against Gods true people. Now since the WTS would no longer be around, when the call to rebuild Jerusalem comes, it will collect together all of mankind that wish to serve Jehovah, not just a certain religious sect. {2300 Starts} Watchtower News Reports: Rosh Hashanah | {965 Days Pass} | {1260, 1290, 1335 Starts} Watchtower Goes Down: | {777 Days Pass} | {1742nd Day} Call to Rebuild Jerusalem: | {108 Days Pass} | {1850th Day} Anglo-America Collapses: Sukkot | {375 Days Pass} | {1260 Ends} Jesus Enthroned: Yom Kippur | {30 Days Pass} | {1290 Ends} Disgusting Thing Placed: | {45 Days Pass} | {2300[SUP]th[/SUP], 1335[SUP]th [/SUP]Day} New World: Hanukkah
Who is the temple of God? "You people are God's temple, " 1 Cor. 3:16 "Break down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.....But he was talking about the temple of his body." John 2:19,21 " and what agreement does God's temple have with idols? For we are the temple of a living God." 2 Cor. 6:16 "What! Do you not know that the body of you people is the temple of the holy spirit within you, which you have from God?" 1 Cor. 6:19 "We are a temple of the living God." 2 Cor. 6:16 "Jesus said to her, "Believe me woman, The hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you people worship the Father..... "God is a spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth." John 4:21,24 "Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:5 Rather than being the 'kingdom God on earth'....Bethel has committed high treason against the Son of God and the Father, by teaching they are the temple, and the source of all truth; the actual mediator of truth between Father Jah and men...and thrust Jesus completely out of the picture...AND the holy spirit, whom Jesus states he would send us to be our instructor. They are proven thus ...fighters against God's truth. and God's son's teachings. Instead of being in the favored seat of honor, as they claim to be....they are to be placed 'outside' due to doing exactly what Jesus warns all men about: "adding to or taking away from the words of this scroll." Rev. 22:19 Many JW's are still too close to the forest to see the trees. The anointed are spread out in thousands of places, and religions. Only Father and Son even knowing who they are. But a revealing of the sons of God is coming, at the end , when Satan returns, and initiates the tribulation, and the mark of the beast. Then 'my two witnesses will prophesy"...and we will see who is who...and many will imitate their faith(the Great Crowd?)...all will not take the mark, but will become followers of Christ at the end. Brothers, the only temple foretold for this time is the anointed. Even after the 1000 years, and the temple comes down out of heaven....it, too, is the anointed living stones, not earthly Jerusalem...and Christ is the foundation cornerstone. Jehovah God's spirit resides in the temple because all the stones have him living inside of them, along with Christ's spirit. (Rom. 8) We thus cannot say with scriptural backing, any religion today, JW, or otherwise, is the 'temple of God' that receives prophetic treatment; only anointed Christians are.