Isaiah 11:6-9

by return visitor 14 Replies latest jw friends

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  return visitor

  Have you noticed that the WTS in their publications literally interpret this schripture, Isaiah 11:6-9

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  And the wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. 7 And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. 8 And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. 9 They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.

  but wouldn't that require the maned young lion to evolve. I mean, in order to not eat meat wouldn't it need to have more stomachs like a cow to digest the grassed it would then have to eat. And if preditors did not eat prey wouldn't prey over populate the Earth. And what about when God created them and pronounced the animal creation good?
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  SirNose586

  Return visitor, you're not allowed to complain about playing with your assigned panda cub for all eternity. Questioning the Slave TM is worse than questioning the Bible so you are in big trouble my friend!

  Also, you are running ahead of J-hoover's borganization, and until we get New Light TM on how the animals would accomplish this, I'm afraid you're going to have to be df'ed in absentia. You have seven days to appeal.
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  AnonyMouse

  but wouldn't that require the maned young lion to evolve. I mean, in order to not eat meat wouldn't it need to have more stomachs like a cow to digest the grassed it would then have to eat. And if preditors did not eat prey wouldn't prey over populate the Earth.
  <br><br><br>Yes and yes.
  <br><br>But they want a happy picture for the new system. Because if Lions continued to eat meat, humans would be on thier diet. So by throwing out all common sense, they've made things better with thier 'flawless logic and teachings' once again.
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  OnTheWayOut

  I hate to agree, but SirNose calls it correctly. You really cannot use your independent thinking and point out problems with a literal interpretation of this scripture. New scrolls will be opened, we will see how God will fulfill this scripture.

  To be safe, you might have to be df'ed unless you shut up, and get in line, supporting everything the GB Bible says.
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  return visitor

  To be safe, you might have to be df'ed unless you shut up, and get in line, supporting everything the GB Bible says.

  Then I guess I better shut up about what I think of the blood fractions fiasco in the latest KM
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  SirNose586

  Then I guess I better shut up about what I think of the blood fractions fiasco in the latest KM

  That's the right Heart Condition TM to have! Keep this up and you can become A Study TM !
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  jwfacts

  I don't know how JWs internalize this. Part of the justification is that prior to the flood animals were vegetarian. It is quite obvious from the fossil record that some dinosaurs were eatting meat, yet the WTS understanding is that animals did not become meat eaters until after the flood, a mere 4000 years ago. There doctrine is inaccurate historically and unrealistic for the future.

  I do remember that proof it could happen was that during WWII lions at the British zoo were fed straw and were healthier and happier than ever. I don't have the WT library CD on me but I am sure someone can find the quote.
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  Arthur

  I do remember that proof it could happen was that during WWII lions at the British zoo were fed straw and were healthier and happier than ever. I don't have the WT library CD on me but I am sure someone can find the quote.

  Yeah, I vagely remember this. This is some of the funniest sophistry I have ever heard. This totally ignores the hunting instincts and behaviors that have been intrinsic to predatory animals for hundreds of thousands of years. The fossil record also reveals that animals such as the saber-toothed tigers (who supposedly were wiped out in the flood) were carnivores. Modern sharks (who have undergone very little change over millions of years) are equipped with several facets which make it the perfect predator; and which obviously were not designed for eating plankton or sea weed.
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  Narkissos

  Just one detail: afaik the WT currently does not interpret this passage literally, at least not primarily (although they often manage to sneak the future "paradise earth" into their explanation).

  See for instance the Isaiah book ad locum:

  12 Picture an Israelite who has just learned of Cyrus’ decree that the Jews return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Will he leave the security of Babylon to make the long trip home? During Israel’s 70-year absence, the deserted fields have become overgrown with weeds. Wolves, leopards, lions, and bears now freely prowl those fields. Cobras too make their home there. The returning Jews will have to depend on domestic animals for survival—flocks and herds will provide milk, wool, and meat, and oxen will pull the plow. Will these fall victim to predators? Will small children be bitten by snakes? What about the danger of being ambushed on the journey?

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  Isaiah now paints a heartwarming picture of the conditions that God will bring about in the land. He says: "Thewolfwillactuallyresideforawhilewiththemalelamb, andwiththekidtheleoparditselfwillliedown, andthecalfandthemanedyounglionandthewell-fedanimalalltogether; andamerelittleboywillbeleaderoverthem. Andthecowandthebearthemselveswillfeed; togethertheiryoungoneswillliedown. Andeventhelionwilleatstrawjustlikethebull. Andthesuckingchildwillcertainlyplayupontheholeofthecobra; anduponthelightapertureofapoisonoussnakewillaweanedchildactuallyputhisownhand. Theywillnotdoanyharmorcauseanyruininallmyholymountain; becausetheearthwillcertainlybefilledwiththeknowledgeofJehovah asthewatersarecoveringtheverysea." (Isaiah11:6-9) Do these words not touch the heart? Notice that the peace described here results from the knowledge of Jehovah. Hence, more is involved than mere safety from wild animals. The knowledge of Jehovah will not change animals, but it will affect people. Neither on the way home nor in their restored land will the Israelites need to fear wild beasts or beastlike men.—Ezra 8:21, 22; Isaiah 35:8-10; 65:25.

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  This prophecy, however, has a larger fulfillment. In 1914, Jesus, the Messiah, was enthroned on heavenly Mount Zion. In 1919 the remaining ones of "the Israel of God" experienced release from Babylonish captivity and shared in the restoration of true worship. (Galatians 6:16) As a result, the way was opened for a modern-day fulfillment of Isaiah’s Paradise prophecy. "Accurate knowledge," the knowledge of Jehovah, has changed personalities. (Colossians 3:9, 10) Formerly violent people have become peaceable. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:17-24) These developments have now affected millions because Isaiah’s prophecy has come to include a rapidly increasing number of Christians with an earthly hope. (Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 60:22) These have learned to look to the time when the whole earth will be restored as a secure, peaceful paradise, according to God’s original purpose.—Matthew 6:9, 10; 2 Peter 3:13.

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  In that restored Paradise, will Isaiah’s prophecy have a further, perhaps more literal, fulfillment? It seems reasonable to think so. The prophecy gives to all who will live under the Messiah’s rule the same assurance that it gave to the returning Israelites; they and their children will not feel threatened by harm from any source—human or animal. Under the Messiah’s Kingdom rule, all earth’s inhabitants will enjoy peaceful conditions like those that Adam and Eve enjoyed in Eden. Of course, the Scriptures do not reveal every detail of what life was like in Eden—or of what it will be like in Paradise. We can be confident, though, that under the wise and loving rule of the King Jesus Christ, everything will be just as it should be.

  Sorry for the formatting...
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  Pubsinger

  Return Visitor.

  Did you used to be called Back Call