by blondie 22 Replies latest jw friends
This weeks’ WT study (par 2 and par 13) reminded me of the question: How do you trap a liar? Answer: Catch them in inconsistencies. Liars often trip themselves up because they can't keep their stories straight.
Par 2 reads: 'The other sheep should never forget that their salvation depends on their active support of Christ's anointed "brother" still on earth.'
Par 13 reads: '...their hope is not founded on their works, but on Jehovah's undeserved kindness.'
The following statement in par 8 made no sense at all and had no scriptural support. 1Jh 3:2 had nothing to do with what was being said in the paragraph. Seemed to me that it was just ‘filler’ material:
‘If thereis much “joy in heaven over one sinnerthat repents,” imagine the joy in theheavenly courts when one of Christ’sspirit-begotten brothers finishes a lifecourse of integrity. (Luke 15:7) Jehovahand the faithful spirit creatures will rejoicealong with the anointed one thenreceiving his reward “with great joy.”—Read 1 John 3:2.’
Rather, what I can’t help but think of is the pain and hurt felt in heaven over the thousands of lives that have been lost to the JW unscriptural blood doctrine; the lives lost to the harsh and unloving JW disfellowshipping/shunning policy; the innocent affected by the cloaked JW pedophilia issues to name just a few.
And to think that all this wrongdoing is being done under the watch of Christ’s ‘spirit begotten brothers’ here on earth! Ya, Joy for Joy!!!
Blondie:
Did not the WT have a QTR about the second sealing of the anointed? No one mentioned that at the meeting - they only spoke about the first sealing and remaining faithful. I thought that they get a second seal when they prove "true" and die "without sinning"?
Yes, they call that the "final" sealing but are ambiguous about when that occurs, truthlover. They also dance around whether all the anointed will be dead and resurrected to heaven in time for the marriage of the bride which the WTS says occurs after the destruction of Babylon the Great and the beginning of the GT. Since there are more and more partaking at the memorial and are young people, they would have to die early...
*** w07 1/1 pp. 30-31 Questions From Readers ***
What is the sealing referred to at Revelation 7:3?
Revelation 7:1-3 states: “I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the earth or upon the sea or upon any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having a seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying: ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.’”
When “the four winds” are released, the result will be “the great tribulation,” the destruction of false religion and the rest of this wicked world. (Revelation 7:14) “The slaves of our God” are Christ’s anointed brothers on earth. (1 Peter 2:9, 16) Hence, this prophecy indicates that the sealing of Christ’s brothers will have been completed when the great tribulation breaks out. However, other Bible verses indicate that there is an earlier sealing of anointed ones. Therefore, at times, we speak of an initial sealing and a final one. What is the difference between those two?
Let us consider the meaning of the word “sealed.” In ancient times, a seal was an instrument used to make an impression on a document. The word can also refer to the impression itself. In those days, it was common to attach a seal to a document or other items to indicate authenticity or ownership.—1 Kings 21:8; Job 14:17.
Paul compared holy spirit to a seal when he stated: “He who guarantees that you and we belong to Christ and he who has anointed us is God. He has also put his seal upon us and has given us the token of what is to come, that is, the spirit, in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22) Hence, Jehovah anoints these Christians with his holy spirit to indicate that they are his possession.
However, there are two phases in the sealing of anointed ones. The initial sealing differs from the final sealing (1) in purpose and (2) in time. The sealing in an initial sense serves to select a new member who is added to the number of anointed Christians. The sealing in a final sense serves to confirm that this chosen and sealed individual has fully demonstrated his loyalty. Only then, at the final sealing, will the seal be permanently placed ‘in the forehead’ of the anointed one, identifying him conclusively as a tried and faithful ‘slave of our God.’ The sealing mentioned in Revelation chapter 7 refers to this final phase of the sealing.—Revelation 7:3.
Concerning the timing of the initial sealing, the apostle Paul wrote to anointed Christians: “You also hoped in him after you heard the word of truth, the good news about your salvation. By means of him also, after you believed, you were sealed with the promised holy spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13, 14) In many cases, the Bible record shows that first-century Christians were indeed sealed shortly after they heard the good news and became believers in Christ. (Acts 8:15-17; 10:44) Such sealing demonstrated God’s approval of them. However, it did not show God’s final approval. Why not? Paul stated that anointed Christians are “sealed for a day of releasing.” (Ephesians 4:30) This indicates that the passing of time, usually many years, is involved after that initial sealing. Anointed ones need to remain faithful from the day they are sealed with holy spirit until the ‘day they are released’ from their fleshly bodies—that is, until their death. (Romans 8:23; Philippians 1:23; 2 Peter 1:10) Therefore, only at the very end of Paul’s life could he say: “I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith. From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8) Moreover, Jesus said to a congregation of anointed Christians: “Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.”—Revelation 2:10; 17:14.
The word “crown” gives further evidence that time passes between the initial sealing and the final one. Why? In ancient times, it was the custom to give a crown to the runner who won a race. To receive the crown, he had to do more than merely enter the race. He had to run all the way to the finish. Similarly, only if anointed Christians persevere all the way to the end of their course—from the initial sealing to the final one—will they be crowned with immortal life in heaven.—Matthew 10:22; James 1:12.
When will the remnant of anointed Christians who have initially been sealed receive their final sealing? Any still alive on earth will be sealed “in their foreheads” before the outbreak of the great tribulation. When the four winds of tribulation are unleashed, all of spiritual Israel will have been sealed in finality, even though a few will still be alive in the flesh and must yet finish their earthly course.
just sounds like the same old regurgitated stuff . Ok so jesus did say on judgement day he would seperate the righteous and the unrighteous and condemn all that did not help his brothers or, "anointed", this did not involve giving them a free apartment in brooklyn . secondly I do not believe that women are included since the apostle Paul did put them in their place in the arrangement and stated they would be, "saved", through faith , child bearing and sanctification provided they have soundness of mind . There is no mention of co rulership in heaven . The 2 folds of sheep are jew and gentile , since there was no more enmity between the 2 they become unified and equal in worship . The difference between the GC and the LF is that the LF enter the martyr pact and receive special powers such as ability to prophesy or see the presence of God through visions instead of blind faith . The LF give up all worldly persuits and comforts , if they have more than they need for one day they are considered greedy and seeking pleasure of the flesh . Jesus did tell them to sell all their belongings and give gifts or mercy to the poor . The WTBTS does a nice little soft shoe act around that , the LF are murdered in the end for their beliefs where as the GC never know death at all . TY
Thank you, Blondie!!
slidinfast - there's only one way out of the pact and that's death , so a LF member that sins so grossly against the spirit that eventually he is marked for death regardless before others are chosen . The apostles compared it to an alotment of christs blood that each one uses for forgiveness but once it's all gone it's the end of the road .
"...The far more numerous "great crowd" of "other sheep" share the hope of living forever on a paradise earth as subjects of the Messianic Kingdom. (Rev. 7:9, 10; John 10:16) The other sheep should never forget that their salvation depends on their active support of Christ's anointed "brothers" still on earth. ...." paragraph 2
Well, ain't that a kick in the teeth...
Perhaps that special lil' group of elitists on the Gov.Bod should remember that their frakking empire is built upon the backs of the "other sheep".
Oh, wait...
They already know that...
That's why the Gov.Bod treats the "other sheep" like meat slated for slaughter...
Keeps them in their place.
ιrondork:
The GB is always presenting itself and the FDS in general in elvated terms. More holy. Higher ranking. Possessing a more glorious hope. Paragraph 8 indicates that the FDS even elicit more happiness in the heavens just for doing the right thing.
If there is much “joy in heaven over one sinner
that repents,” imagine the joy in the
heavenly courts when one of Christ’s
spirit-begotten brothers finishes a life
course of integrity.
Yet another spiritual m*********n of the JWGB. Why should there be more joy old morons? What is more important, to save a soul from eternal destruction or to receive a priviledge? Your pride has led you to commit the unforgivable sin: to add to the Bible. And I (not the Bible) guarantee you that there will be no more joy when you get destroyed than when a sinner repents-actually nobody will care a damn s***.
-
5, 6. Why must anointed Christians do their
utmost to make their heavenly calling sure?
A: they will prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful
Bravo! You wasted 2 paragraphs for a 1 line answer. Are you really drunk when making the questions?
NOLAW
