by nicolaou 30 Replies latest jw friends
Think I may partake this year
I'm going to partake next memorial. Can't wait to blow their little minds.
What does "Given Ones (Nethinim)" mean? This must be a new doctrine and I have been out of the org for years. Anybody want to explain it to me?
Robyn
Nethinim are "other sheep" who basically take posts at bethel that give them a lot of authority, basically I think they have been running the show for the past 10-12 years, while still having the governing body facade. A couple of years ago the GB quit all of the business side posts they held and those were taken up by "other sheep" as well, I think, you may have to do some research on that one. I think its a long term strategy to transfer power to the less senile and de-emphasize the whole "anointed" doctrine. But it seems to me, and history backs this up, unless they have a strong leader, ruling by comittee eventually breaks down in chaos.
This came out in the April 15, 1992 WT. I will post some references from then through 1997 (the limit of my CD at work)
*** w97 5/15 18-19 Theocratic Administration in the Christian Era ***
*** w96 7/1 12 "A House of Prayer for All the Nations" ***
*** w96 7/1 21 The Triumph of True Worship Draws Near ***
*** w95 5/15 23 Flashes of Light-Great and Small (Part 2) ***
*** w95 7/1 17 "The Israel of God" and the "Great Crowd" ***
*** w95 7/1 21 Dwellers Together in a Restored "Land" ***
7 In 537 B.C.E., when Israel returned from exile in Babylon, they set about organizing service on the temple site. However, the Levites who returned were not very numerous. Hence, the Nethinimcircumcised alien residents who previously were assistants of the Leviteswere given increased privileges in temple service. They were not, however, equals of the anointed Aaronic priests.Ezra 7:24; 8:15-20; Nehemiah 3:22-26.*** w93 1/1 6 New Creations Brought Forth! ***
*** w92 4/15 13 Jehovah's Provision, the "Given Ones" ***
8
When the call went out for lovers of Jehovah in Babylon to return to the Promised Land, thousands of non-Israelites responded. In the lists provided by Ezra and Nehemiah, we read of the "Nethinim" (meaning, "Given Ones") and "the sons of the servants of Solomon," whose combined number was 392. The accounts mention also more than 7,500 others: men slaves and slave girls, as well as non-Levite "male singers and female singers." (Ezra 2:43-58, 65; Nehemiah 7:46-60, 67) What moved so many non-Israelites to return?9
Ezra 1:5 speaks of "everyone whose spirit the true God had roused, to go up and rebuild the house of Jehovah." Yes, Jehovah moved all those who returned. He stimulated their spirit, that is, their impelling mental inclination. Even from the heavens, God could do this by using his holy spirit, his active force. Thus, all who rose "to go up and rebuild the house of Jehovah" were helped "by [Gods] spirit."Zechariah 4:1, 6; Haggai 1:14.*** w92 4/15 13-14 Jehovah's Provision, the "Given Ones" ***
10
Who are foreshadowed by such non-Israelite returnees? Many Christians might reply: The Nethinim correspond to the "other sheep" today. True, but not just the Nethinim; for all the non-Israelites who returned represent Christians today who are not of spiritual Israel.11
The book You May Survive Armageddon Into Gods New World observed: "The remnant of 42,360 Israelites were not the only ones that left Babylon with governor Zerubbabel . . . There were thousands of non-Israelites . . . Besides the Nethinim there were other non-Israelites, the slaves, the professional male and female singers and the descendants of the servants of King Solomon." The book explained: "The Nethinim, the slaves, the singers and the sons of the servants of Solomon, all non-Israelites, left the land of captivity and returned with the Israelite remnant . . . So is it right to think that today people of different nationalities who are not spiritual Israelites would associate themselves with the remnant of spiritual Israel and promote the worship of Jehovah God with them? Yes." Such ones have become modern-day, antitypical Nethinim, singers, and sons of the servants of Solomon.12
As in the ancient pattern, God provides his spirit also for these hoping to live forever on earth. True, they are not born again. Each of the 144,000 has the singular experience of being born again as a spiritual son of God and anointed with holy spirit. (John 3:3, 5; Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13, 14) Of course, that anointing is a unique manifestation of Gods spirit in behalf of the little flock. But Gods spirit is also needed to carry out his will. Hence, Jesus said: The Father in heaven gives holy spirit to those asking him. (Luke 11:13) Whether the one asking has the heavenly hope or is of the other sheep, Jehovahs spirit is abundantly available to carry out His will.13
Gods spirit moved both Israelites and non-Israelites to return to Jerusalem, and it strengthens and helps all of his loyal people today. Whether a Christians God-provided hope is life in heaven or life on earth, he must preach the good news, and holy spirit enables him to be faithful in that. Every one of uswhichever our hopeought to cultivate the fruits of the spirit, which all of us need in full measure.Galatians 5:22-26.*** w92 4/15 14-16 Jehovah's Provision, the "Given Ones" ***
14
Among the thousands of non-Israelites that the spirit moved to return were two small groups that Gods Word singled outthe Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon. Who were they? What did they do? And what might this mean today?15
The Nethinim were a group who had non-Israelite origins and who were privileged to minister with the Levites. Recall the Canaanites from Gibeon who became "gatherers of wood and drawers of water for the assembly and for Jehovahs altar." (Joshua 9:27) Probably some of their descendants were among the Nethinim returning from Babylon, as well as others who had been added as Nethinim during Davids reign and at other times. (Ezra 8:20) What did the Nethinim do? The Levites were given to help the priests, and thereafter the Nethinim were given to help the Levites. Even for circumcised foreigners, this was a privilege.16
When the group returned from Babylon, it contained few Levites, compared to the priests or Nethinim and "sons of the servants of Solomon." (Ezra 8:15-20) The Dictionary of the Bible, by Dr. James Hastings, observes: "After a time we find [the Nethinim] so completely established as a sacred official class, that privileges are accorded to them." The scholarly journal Vetus Testamentum notes: "A change occurred. After the Return from Exile, these [foreigners] were no longer regarded as slaves of the Temple, but as ministrants in it, enjoying a status similar to that of those other bodies, which officiated in the Temple."See the box "A Changed Status."17
Of course, the Nethinim did not become the equals of the priests and the Levites. The latter groups were Israelites, who were chosen by Jehovah himself and not to be supplanted by non-Israelites. Yet, the Biblical indications are that in the face of a reduced number of Levites, the Nethinim were given more to do in Gods service. They were assigned living quarters close to the temple. In Nehemiahs day they worked with priests in repairing walls near the temple. (Nehemiah 3:22-26) And the king of Persia decreed that the Nethinim be exempt from taxes, just as the Levites were exempt because of their temple service. (Ezra 7:24) This indicates how closely these "given ones" (Levites and Nethinim) were then linked in spiritual matters and how the Nethinims assignments increased in accord with the need, though they never were counted as being Levites. When Ezra later collected exiles to return, no Levites were initially among them. So he intensified efforts to collect some. That resulted in 38 Levites and 220 Nethinim returning to serve as "ministers for the house of our God."Ezra 8:15-20.18
A second group of non-Israelites singled out were the sons of the servants of Solomon. The Bible gives few details about them. Some were "the sons of Sophereth." Ezra adds a definite article to that name, making it Hassophe'reth, possibly meaning "the scribe." (Ezra 2:55; Nehemiah 7:57) They thus may have been a staff of scribes or copyists, possibly temple/administrative scribes. Though of foreign extraction, the sons of the servants of Solomon proved their devotion to Jehovah by leaving Babylon and returning to share in restoring His worship.*** w92 4/15 16-17 Jehovah's Provision, the "Given Ones" ***
20 All the non-Israelites who returned from exile in ancient Babylon parallel the other sheep who now serve with the remnant of spiritual Israel. What, though, of the fact that the Bible singles out the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon? In the pattern the Nethinim and the sons of the servants of Solomon were given privileges beyond those of other non-Israelite returnees. This could well foreshadow that God today has extended privileges and added duties to some mature and willing other sheep.21
The Nethinims added privileges were linked directly to spiritual activities. The sons of the servants of Solomon evidently received administrative responsibilities. Similarly today, Jehovah has blessed his people with "gifts in men" to care for their needs. (Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12) Included in this provision are many hundreds of mature, experienced brothers who share in shepherding the flocks, serving as circuit and district overseers and on Branch Committees at the Watch Tower Societys 98 branches. (Isaiah 61:5) At the world headquarters of the Society, under the direction of "the faithful steward" and its Governing Body, capable men receive training to help in preparing spiritual food supplies. (Luke 12:42) Other longtime dedicated volunteers have been trained to operate Bethel homes and factories and to oversee programs worldwide in constructing new branch facilities and halls for Christian worship. They have excelled in serving as close helpers of the anointed remnant, who constitute part of the royal priesthood.Compare 1 Corinthians 4:17; 14:40; 1 Peter 2:9.
Do any of you honestly think the number will ever get to 0? No way!
Found
No, but it should at least be decreasing, not increasing, found. Most of these people were supposed to have been selected before 1935. Asuming that someone was 18 and of the anointed in 1935, they would be 85 and counting.
Blondie
*** w99 2/1 17-18 Our Treasure in Earthen Vessels ***
"Look! a Great Crowd"
17 At a convention held from May 30 to June 3, 1935, in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., Brother Rutherford gave a landmark talk entitled "The Great Multitude." This group, "which no man was able to number," would appear as the sealing of the 144,000 of spiritual Israel drew to an end. These too would exercise faith in the ransoming power of "the blood of the Lamb," Jesus, and render sacred service in Jehovah's temple arrangement for worship. As a group, they would "come out of the great tribulation" alive, to inherit the earthly Paradise where "death will be no more." For several years prior to that convention, this group had been spoken of as the Jonadabs.-Revelation 7:9-17; 21:4; Jeremiah 35:10.
18 The year 1938 was crucial in clearly identifying the two classes. The March 15 and April 1, 1938, issues of The Watchtower presented the two-part study "His Flock" and made clear the relative places of the anointed remnant and their companions, the great crowd. Then the June 1 and June 15 issues carried study articles on "Organization," based on Isaiah 60:17. All congregations were called on to request the Governing Body to appoint local servants, thus bringing in an improved, God-ordained, theocratic arrangement. The congregations did just so.
19 The report in the 1939 Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses stated: "The anointed followers of Christ Jesus now on earth are few in number, and never will their number be greater. These are designated in the Scriptures as 'the remnant' of the offspring of Zion, God's organization. (Rev. 12:17) The Lord is now gathering to himself his 'other sheep,' who will form the 'great multitude'. (John 10:16) Those now being gathered are companions of the remnant, working together with the remnant. From this time forward those composing the 'other sheep' will increase in number until the 'great multitude' is gathered." The anointed remnant had been molded to care for the ingathering of the great crowd. These too must now be molded.
Found: Do any of you honestly think the number will ever get to 0? No way!
There will always be some nutters that claim to be of the anointed (refer to my earlier post)
(No offence Amaizing.)
The concept of the "Anointed" is complet bullshit, my god anyone can claim they are getting messages from god and they will be kings in heaven, what a crock. So many times growing up as a Jehovah's Witness I would hear my folks say "oh so and so must be of the anointed because they have endured so much" blah blah blah, most people go through hell here on this earth that seems to be mankinds lot in life is to be half dead most of the time. I think you all know what I am refering to about the so called good people who are so deserving and the rest of mankind have not had enough trouble I used to hear them say "oh we need to go hear a discourse from the anointed brother from Bethel, hey what about a nice down to earth family man who loves his wife and family does not god hold that of any value. All I can say about this is if god was to tell me some how that I am a chosen one he would have to do more than what he is doing with these jack ass's they have such a vage idea that they are gods chosen ones they can't even tell you how they know, now that builds a lot of confidence in them, while they drink their wine and stiff bread that they eat it in front of many eyes, such bullshit, oh oh, here I go making fun of glorious ones. Pepper
The "Daily Mirror" ran a 3 page spread on Remembrance Day with pictures, showing the known surviving Serviceman who fought in WW1.
There are only 32.
The youngest is 100. The oldest 107.
That leaves 21 yrs before all those sealed in 1935 will be dead. Bearing in mind that there were many more WWI veterans than "annointed"
Pubsinger:
I think you forget the "replacers" here, they don't have to be 87, so even now any adult even young or very young could be a replacer for an apostate anointed and live fifty more years.If the door was shut in 1935 (a point confirmed in a 1999 WT), then by being generous to the WT and saying that the lowest age of anointed ones was 20 in 1935 ( it must have actually been much higher than that on average, as 20yrs old would mean that they were born 1yr after 1914!!!) then the lowest age today is 87.
The official statistics for partakers have show a steady shallow decline for 50yrs, with the occasional, convienient, sharp blip upwards(!).
The official death rate statistics for an age group of average age 87 shows a sudden steep down turn to almost vertical. for every 5yrs added (bearing in mind that these are the youngest partakers from 1935)the survivors are almost nil.
