Comments You Will Not Hear at the 02-17-2013 WT Study (DECEMBER 15, 2012, pages 19-23)(TEMPORARY RESIDENTS)
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MAINTAINING OUR POSITION
AS “TEMPORARY RESIDENTS”
“I exhort you as
aliens and temporary
residents to keep abstaining
from fleshly
desires.”—1 PET. 2:11.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
Why can the anointed be called
temporary residents?
In what sense are the “other
sheep” temporary residents?
What are you longing for as far
as the future is concerned?
OPENING COMMENTS
Are the other sheep temporary residents? This scripture was written to the anointed Christians.
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. Whom did Peter refer to with the expression “the ones
chosen,” and why did he call them “temporary residents”?
SOME 30 years after Jesus ascended to heaven,
the apostle Peter addressed a letter to “the
temporary residents scattered about in Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, to the
ones chosen.” (1 Pet. 1:1) Clearly, by the term “the
ones chosen,” Peter referred to those who, like him,
had been anointed by holy spirit and given “a new
birth to a living hope” to rule with Christ in the heavens.
(Read 1 Peter 1:3, 4.) But why did he thereafter
call these chosen ones “aliens and temporary residents”?
(1 Pet. 2:11) And what meaning does this
have for us today when only about 1 in 650 active
Witnesses throughout the world lays claim to being
an anointed chosen one?
COMMENTS
Clearly = ???
Did Christians in the first century understand from John 10:16 that there would be other chosen ones in the future and from the past that would live on earth?
With your jw background no matter how distant, where did 1 st century Christians expect to go after death and live forever? Earth?
1 in 650 “active” jws…claim to being, not genuine anointed (the end of the 1935 cutoff)
*** w07 5/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***
However, the number of genuine anointed ones who have become unfaithful is likely not large. On the other hand, as time has gone by, some Christians baptized after 1935 have had witness borne to them that they have the heavenly hope. (Romans 8:16, 17) Thus, it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends.
*** w00 1/15 p. 13 par. 18 “Keep on the Watch” ***
Sixth, the number of genuine anointed disciples of Christ is dwindling, though some will evidently still be on earth when the great tribulation begins. Most of the remnant are quite elderly, and over the years the number of those who are truly anointed has been getting smaller.
But what about the increase in those who claim to be anointed since 2006 with 8758 and in 2012 12,604.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/memorial-partakers.php
2 It was fitting to apply the term “temporary residents”
to anointed ones in the first century. As is
true of the remnant of this group alive today, their
existence on earth was not permanent. The apostle
Paul, himself a member of the anointed “little
flock,” explained: “As for us, our citizenship exists in
the heavens, from which place also we are eagerly
waiting for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Luke 12:
32; Phil. 3:20) Given that their “citizenship exists in
the heavens,” at death anointed ones will leave the
earthly scene for something far better, immortal life
in the heavens. (Read Philippians 1:21-23.) Thus, in
a very literal way, they could be termed mere “temporary
residents” of the earth under Satan’s control.
COMMENTS
I always got the impression that those not going to heaven had a second best hope to live forever on earth. They would never see God or Jesus or heaven or the angels. They would never fight side by side against Satan and the fallen angels. They would become perfect instantly upon death and not have to wait 1,000 years to be judged worthy to be part of God’s family as sons of God. That they would judge angels and all of us on earth. That they would be immortal and could not be killed.
Some thought they would even be able to visit earth.
Can God destroy those with immortality. I was taught no…but here is something in writing:
*** w55 11/15 p. 703 Questions From Readers ***
Reasoning in the same way, there will be no danger of any of the heavenly class who have gained immortality later choosing to sin, and thus awkwardly having in the universe immortal rebels. But here again, even if such a thing did happen, we need not think that Jehovah would be powerless. Jehovah could destroy even an immortal creature. Immortality means to have the power of life within oneself. In other words, such a creature is not dependent on any outside source or environment to replenish energy or for the continuance of the life processes. Human creatures must eat, and spirit creatures apparently draw upon an outside source for continued existence, but immortal ones would not have to do this. They cannot die from a lack in their environment, but have life complete in themselves. Nevertheless, the all-powerful Jehovah could terminate their existence if he decided to do so.
3. What question about the “other sheep” now arises?
3 But what about the “other sheep”? (John 10:16)
Do they not have a Scripturally well-founded hope of
becoming permanent residents of the earth? Indeed,
that will be their home forever! Still, in
a sense they too can at present be considered
temporary residents. In what
sense?
COMMENTS
IN A SENSE = that this because the bible was talking only about those hoping to go to heaven. Was Paul thinking about the “other sheep” when he wrote this?
“ALL CREATION KEEPS ON GROANING”
4. What are world leaders helpless to prevent?
4 As long as Satan’s wicked system
is allowed to exist, everyone, including
Christians, will continue to suffer
the consequences of Satan’s rebellion
against Jehovah. We read at Romans 8:
22: “We know that all creation keeps on
groaning together and being in pain together
until now.” World leaders, scientists,
and humanitarians, however sincere,
are helpless to prevent this.
COMMENTS
Satan’s wicked system = all non-jws
Christians = only jws, the rest are labeled so-called or professed Christians by the WTS; the WTS even goes so far as to say only jws are TRUE Christians.
Does the WTS label themselves as humanitarians?
*** w11 11/15 p. 23 Do You Find Joy in “the Privilege of Kindly Giving”? ***
CharitablePlanning to Benefit Kingdom Service Worldwide. The brochure was written to provide information on a variety of ways that gifts may be made either now or through a bequest at death. After reading the brochure and conferring with their own legal or tax advisers, many have been able to help support our religious and humanitarian activities worldwide and maximize their tax benefits while doing so.
5. Since 1914, what step have millions taken,
and why?
5 Since 1914, millions have therefore
chosen to become willing subjects of
God’s enthroned King, Christ Jesus.
They have no desire to be a part of Satan’s
world system. They refuse to be
supporters of Satan’s world. Instead,
they use their lives and assets in support
of God’s Kingdom, serving its interests.
—Rom. 14:7, 8.
COMMENTS
1914 or 1878 Jesus king? 1874 or 1914 presence.
*** jv chap. 28 p. 632 Testing and Sifting From Within ***
Based on the premise that events of the first century might find parallels in related events later, they also concluded that if Jesus’ baptism and anointing in the autumn of 29 C.E. paralleled the beginning of an invisible presence in 1874, then his riding into Jerusalem as King in the spring of 33 C.E. would point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he would assume his power as heavenly King.
*** 1,000 Years Approached boo ka chap. 11 pp. 209-210 par. 55 “Here Is the Bridegroom!” ***
In the year 1943 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society published the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” In its chapter 11, entitled “The Count of Time,” it did away with the insertion of 100 years into the period of the Judges and went according to the oldest and most authentic reading of Acts 13:20, and accepted the spelled-out numbers of the Hebrew Scriptures. This moved forward the end of six thousand years of man’s existence into the decade of the 1970’s. Naturally this did away with the year 1874 C.E. as the date of return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of his invisible presence or parousia.
6. In what sense can Jehovah’s Witnesses be
called aliens?
6 Yes, Jehovah’s Witnesses are law-abiding
citizens in over 200 countries,
yet regardless of where they live, they
are like aliens. They maintain a position
of strict neutrality as regards the political
and social issues of the day. Even
now, they consider themselves to be citizens
of a new world, one of God’s making.
They rejoice to see their days of temporary
residence in an imperfect world
system rapidly drawing to a close.
COMMENTS
How neutral can jws be if they are constantly preaching that all governments will be soon destroyed by God and are satanic in origin and they are Satan worshippers?
Or protect pedophiles in their midst?
Rapidly drawing to a close = the eternal destruction of over 7 billion non-jws, men, women, children, babies.
And they are worshipping Satan:
*** w90 12/1 p. 6 Which God Should You Worship? ***
Satan has enormous influence. The apostle John said that “the whole world” is lying in his power, and Paul called him “the god of this system of things.” (1 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4) Hence, worship of any god apart from Jehovah is really worship of Satan.
7. How will servants of God become permanent
residents, and of what?
7 Soon Christ will exercise his authority
to destroy Satan’s wicked system.
Christ’s perfect government will free
the earth of sin and sorrow. It will remove
all visible and invisible traces of
rebellion against Jehovah’s rightful sovereignty.
Loyal servants of God will be
in a position to become permanent
residents of the earthly Paradise. (Read
Revelation 21:1-5.) In a full sense, creation
will then have been “set free from
enslavement to corruption and have
the glorious freedom of the children of
God.”—Rom. 8:21.
COMMENTS
Soon = 1914, 1915, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, (1984), (1994), VERY SOON NOW
It will remove all visible and invisible traces = over 7 billion people on earth, non-jws = rebellion
Loyal servants of God = only jws
Permanent residents – not until passing the “final test” at the end of the 1,000 Reign.
*** w89 9/1 p. 19 par. 7 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium ***
Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the “flesh” that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history.
PICTURE: We are promotingGod’s new world
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF TRUE CHRISTIANS?
8, 9. Explain what Peter meant by “abstaining
from fleshly desires.”
8 Peter explains what is expected of
Christians when he goes on to say: “Beloved,
I exhort you as aliens and temporary
residents to keep abstaining from
fleshly desires, which are the very ones
that carry on a conflict against the soul.”
(1 Pet. 2:11) That advice was first directed
to anointed Christians, but it is equally
valid for Jesus’ other sheep.
COMMENTS
Peter explains – only to anointed Christians
Equally valid – why?
9 Some desires, when satisfied in the
manner decreed by the Creator, are not
wrong in themselves. Indeed, they add
pleasure to life. For example, there are
the normal desires to enjoy good food
and drink, to participate in refreshing
activities, and to find delight in wholesome
companionship. Even the desire
for sexual pleasure with one’s marriage
mate is fitting and has its place. (1 Cor. 7:
3-5) Peter, though, correctly limited the
“fleshly desires” of which he was speaking
to those that “carry on a conflict
against the soul.” Making it obvious just
what is meant, some Bible translations
speak of “fleshly lusts” (King James Version)
or “sinful desires” (New International
Version). Clearly, any human desire
that conflicts with Jehovah’s expressed
purpose and that could negatively affect
one’s good relationship with God must
be kept in check. Otherwise a Christian’s
hope of keeping his soul alive
could be seriously endangered.
COMMENTS
So when would sexual pleasure with one’s marriage mate not be in its place? Does that mean if you spend more time having sex than going door to door?
So if the WTS has to go to two other bible translations to make a point clear, why doesn’t the NWT?
Can jws use other translations in their comments at the meetings, from door to door?
Any human desire that conflicts with Jehovah’s expressed purpose—which ones are they talking about, who decides what those desires are? Why not some specific examples? Is this “clearly”?
10. What are some methods that Satan uses to
get Christians to become a part of his world?
10 Satan’s goal is to weaken the determination
of true Christians to viewthemselves as
“temporary residents”in the present system.
The glamour ofmaterialism, the
seduction of immorality,
the attractiveness of prominence, the
flattering appeal of “me first,” and the
magnetism of nationalism—these are all
traps of Satan and must be identified
as such. By our being determined to refrain
from these negative fleshly desires,
we show clearly that we do not want to
be a part of Satan’s wicked world. We
give evidence that we are living in it
only temporarily. What we really want
and are striving hard to achieve is permanent
residency in God’s new world of
righteousness.
COMMENTS
True Christians = only jws
Materialism, immorality, prominence, “me first,” nationalism
Can anyone really have an excuse of “circumstances”? Materialism and Me First? With examples like these? 95% of jws have easier circumstances to pioneer.
*** yb86 p. 18 1986 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ***
Among the auxiliary pioneers was a newly baptized sister who has four children and an unbelieving husband. She also has some physical problems. During the month, she started three new Bible studies with her neighbors, and she had another, unexpected blessing. Because she spoke about the truth almost every day with her husband, he became interested and started to attend meetings.
*** km 2/73 p. 3 “Clean from the Blood of All Men” ***
A sister from Hawaii relates how she is able to pioneer although having three children and an unbelieving, husband: “Each child has his or her own chores to care for after school. I make it a point to be home at least one hour before school is out. If I cannot reach home before the children return from school, I arrange for them to stay with their grandmother until I pick them up after field service.”
Me-first in the congregations:
*** km 6/72 p. 3 par. 5 Assembly Time Is Here! ***
We can also be considerate with regard to the saving of seats. When we place objects on blocks of seats, is this really “keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just your own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others”? (Phil. 2:4) You will no doubt agree that, to the contrary, it is actually selfish. Sometimes in the past seats have been saved and never occupied during an entire session. People were forced to stand or go to a place where they could not see or even hear well, thereby missing that whole portion of the program.
*** km 5/82 p. 4 1982 “Kingdom Truth” District Conventions ***
One family of four reported that they experienced difficulty locating seats due to the fact that countless seats were saved early each morning for individuals who had not yet arrived. On the final day of the convention this family rose at 5:30 a.m. and were at the convention site before the doors were opened. At 7:00 a.m. the friends were allowed to enter and immediately they dispersed in all directions in a frantic effort to locate choice seats. Within the first 15 minutes it was reported that literally hundreds of the best seats had been covered with magazines, Bibles, and programs by a few brothers and sisters who were representing their families and friends. In some cases entire rows were reserved.
*** km 5/01 p. 6 par. 7 Do Good and Be Praised! ***
When the convention doors open at 8:00 a.m., some brothers and sisters can be seen running, pushing, and shoving to obtain the “best” seats. Injuries have resulted because of this type of behavior.
Prominence in the WTS
http://ex-jw.com/watchtowers-pecking-order
Immorality – what about concealing pedophiles in the congregations?
FINE CONDUCT
11, 12. How are foreigners sometimes viewed,
and what can be said about Jehovah’s Witnesses?
11 Peter continues his explanation of
what is expected of Christian “temporary
residents,” saying in verse 12:
“Maintain your conduct fine among the
nations, that, in the thing in which they
are speaking against you as evildoers,
they may as a result of your fine works of
which they are eyewitnesses glorify God
in the day for his inspection.” Foreigners,
temporary residents in a land not
their own, are at times criticized. Simply
because they differ from their neighbors,
they may even be viewed as if they
were evildoers. Their speech, their actions,
their dress, perhaps even their appearance
may be somewhat different.
But when they do good works, that is
to say, when their conduct is fine, negative
comments about their being different
are proved groundless.
COMMENTS
Peter continues his explanation to ANOINTED Christians = so people in their own country are not criticized, not viewed as evildoers, because they look different?
Are the negative comments proved groundless or do people rather say they are the exception rather than the rule (exception fallacy)? That’s what a family member said about black people when they met one of fine conduct, but still condemned the rest.
12 Similarly, true Christians differ
from many of their neighbors in certain
respects, as in conversation or choice of
entertainment. Their dress and grooming
often identify them as being different
from most in the community. These
differences have sometimes led misinformed
individuals to accuse them of
being, as it were, evildoers. However,
other people may praise them for their
way of life.
COMMENTS
True Christians—only jws
Many—how many—I know many non-jws that dress in a way that many jws assume they must be jws and then are shocked to find out they are Baptist, or Methodist, or Catholic. Notice how the WTS does not detail what kind of dress and grooming sets people apart from their group. What kind of jw dress makes them seem evildoers to non-jws?
13, 14. How is wisdom “proved righteous by
its works”? Illustrate.
13 Yes, fine conduct can work to counteract
unjustified criticism. Even Jesus,
the only man ever to live in perfect
faithfulness to God, was falsely
accused. Some called him “a man gluttonous
and given to drinking wine, a
friend of tax collectors and sinners.”
The fact was, though, that his course of
wisdom in serving God disproved the
claims that he was a wrongdoer. “Wisdom
is proved righteous by its works,”
Jesus said. (Matt. 11:19) That is so today
too. As an example, some of their
neighbors view as strange the brothers
and sisters serving at the Bethel complex
in Selters, Germany. But the mayor
of the community spoke out in their
behalf, reasoning: “The Witnesses who
serve there have their own way of life,
but one that in no way disturbs the lives
of others in the community.”
COMMENTS
But then Jesus was not accused because of what his grooming and dress.
In fact he did associate with tax collectors and prostitutes. He said that only sick people needed a physician, not people like the religious leaders who viewed themselves as without sin.
So what did the neighbors view as strange? Did they think they were gluttons and drunkards, associating with criminals?
So where is that mayor’s quote on Google other than in this WT article?
14 A similar conclusion was recently
reached in connection with Jehovah’s
Witnesses living in Moscow, Russia.
They had been falsely accused of a number
of wrong acts. Then in June 2010,
the European Court of Human Rights
in Strasbourg, France, ruled: “The Court
finds that [Moscow’s] interference with
the applicants’ right to freedom of religion
and association was not justified.
The domestic courts did not adduce
‘relevant and sufficient’ reasons
to show that the applicant community”
was guilty, for instance, of breaking
up families, inciting suicide, or refusing
medical care. Thus, “the sanction pronounced
by the domestic courts was excessively
severe in view of the lack of
flexibility in the domestic law and disproportionate
to whatever legitimate
aim was pursued.”
COMMENTS
Breaking up families = disfellowshipping
Inciting suicide = telling jws not to have transfusions
Refusing medical care = refusing transfusions
The WTS will say that it is a “personal decision” not to have a blood transfusion and to shun family members.
PROPER SUBJECTION
15. True Christians worldwide follow what Bible
principle?
15 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow
—in fact, worldwide—fulfill a further requirement
for Christians as outlined by
Peter. He wrote: “For the Lord’s sake
subject yourselves to every human creation:
whether to a king as being superior
or to governors.” (1 Pet. 2:13,
14) Although being no part of the wicked
world, true Christians willingly subject
themselves to government authorities
“in their relative positions,” even
as Paul instructed them.—Read Romans
13:1, 5-7.
COMMENTS
How many jws know their history enough that the WTS taught that Romans 13 referred to secular governments until 1929 and as God and Jesus until 1962 and then back to secular governments?
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/superior-authorities.php
PICTURE: Bible truth has helped to unite this Russian family
16, 17. (a) What proves that we are not against
governments? (b) What have some political
leaders acknowledged?
16 When Jehovah’s Witnesses conduct
themselves as “temporary residents”
in the present system, they are
not doing so as part of some silent civil
protest; neither do they oppose or interfere
with others who make their own political
or social decisions. Unlike some
other religious groups, Jehovah’s Witnesses
refrain from meddling in politics.
They never try to dictate policy matters
to civil authorities. The idea that they
would attempt to disrupt public order or
undermine the government is completely
without foundation!
COMMENTS
If only anointed jws are spiritual Israelites and Isaiah 43:10-12 addresses only Israelites, why does the WTS include non-anointed jws as Jehovah’s Witnesses. For many years it was companions or associates.
UN
OSCE
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/politics.php
17 By obeying public officials in accord
with Peter’s counsel to “have honor
for the king,” Christians show the respect
and honor that accords with the
positions of those officials. (1 Pet. 2:17)
At times, officials have acknowledged
that they have no valid reason for being
concerned about Jehovah’s Witnesses.
For example, German politician Steffen
Reiche, former cabinet minister in
the state of Brandenburg and later member
of the German parliament, said:
“The conduct of Jehovah’s Witnesses in
the camps and prisons embodies virtues
that are as essential today as they
were in the past for the existence of a
democratic constitutional state: namely,
their steadfastness against the SS and
their compassion toward their fellow
prisoners. Given the increasing brutality
against foreigners and against political
or ideological dissenters, these virtues
are a must for every citizen of our
country.”
COMMENTS
Do individual jws show respect to the legal system; such as the pioneer sister who screamed into the face of a landlord asking her to leave resulting in the congregation not being allowed in there for several years, and definitely not that sister.
SHOWING LOVE
18. (a) Why is it natural for us to love the
whole association of brothers? (b) What have
some non-Witnesses noted?
18 The apostle Peter wrote: “Have love
for the whole association of brothers,
be in fear of God.” (1 Pet. 2:17) Jehovah’s
Witnesses have a healthy fear of
displeasing God, and this provides them
with added motivation to do his will.
They are happy to be serving Jehovah
as part of a worldwide association of
brothers and sisters who have the same
desire. Therefore, it is only natural for
them to “have love for the whole association
of brothers.” Such brotherly love,
which is so rare in today’s selfish society,
comes at times as a surprise to non-
Witnesses. For example, a tour guide
working with an American travel agency was
amazed at the affection and assistance
shown by the Witnesses to foreign
delegates at an international convention
in Germany in 2009. She said that in
all her years of serving as a guide, she
had never seen anything like it. Later,
one of the Witnesses remarked: “Everything
she said about us was expressed
in a tone of amazement and enthusiasm.”
Have you heard similar reactions
of people who observed the Witnesses
at a convention that you have attended?
COMMENTS
Fear or love is the best motivator?
Whole association = remember that Peter was the one that stopped associating with Gentile Christians until Paul corrected him in front of that congregation.
This tour guide doesn’t realize that jws have an outward “Christian” personality towards non-jws but can be very different towards other jws in their congregation. Cliques are strong. People are judged as bad association and avoided. Grudges of 20 or more years, people not talking to each other, not being in the same book study group or car group, not sitting in the same row or in eyesight of each other.
The older guy another sister and I called on would tell you how this sister screamed at him that he was going to die, die, die as I dragged her down the walkway to the car.
19. What should we be determined to do, and
why
19 In all the above ways—and more—Jehovah’s
Witnesses demonstrate that in
a real sense, they are “temporary residents”
in Satan’s present system. And
they are joyfully determined to remain
such. Their hope that they will shortly
become permanent residents of God’s
new world of righteousness is strong and
well-founded. Are you not looking forward
to that?
COMMENTS
How many jws did you know that are building new homes, buying new houses, cars, going on cruises, or expensive international jw convention trips, wear expensive clothes, miss the meetings during the week because of their jobs (and they are self-employed)?
Do they view themselves as temporary residents?
CARROT ON A STICK: permanent residents of God’s new world
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Next week, TEMPORARY RESIDENTS, UNITED IN TRUE WORSHIP.
I can tell there are too many jws out there living for today….no sacrificing enough…not spending enough time in the door to door, let alone following up on return visits and starting studies.
The end is near…proof…
Love, Blondie (pardon the bold, I am having computer problems)