“As usual, I'm terribly confused by all of this. Have I managed to get any of it right?”
You must really mean, has the GB gotten anything right? For those who leave the organization, it requires a new wineskin to hold new wine. Matt 9:17
Who "inherit" the earth? We know it's the “meek” and the “righteous” inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:22,29) Is not Jesus Christ righteous? (1 Cor 1:30) Are not those men and women chosen to be his “bride”, and actually follow him and obey him (not obeying men and their false doctrine)…would they not be found “righteous” as well? (Rom 5:19) As a new creation, they are both human and spirit, having access to the “heavens” and the earth. (Gen 28:10-17; 22:17-18; John 1:51; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Cor 15:40-49; Rev 21:1-2; Rev 5:9,10)
A “two-tiered” system is elemental and harsh. God has a family in mind. He is the Father of all who turn to Him and His Word. Jesus is also called a father. (Isa 9:6). Those anointed who “remain” in him, (John 15:4; 1 John 2:28) (or they return to him in repentance once awakened from captivity to lies – Matt 24:24-25; Col 2:8; Rev 13:10, 7,15, 4, 3:18; John 16:2; Mark 10:28-30; 8:35; Luke 22:32; 1 Pet 4:12-13; Heb 13:13)…
…are referred to as not only as his “brothers”/”brethren” (brother in Greek is two connected words meaning ‘from the same womb’), but also his bride under the new covenant of life, whether they are men or women. (2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25) This new covenant, the promise of eternal life, is the “mother of us all”, New Jerusalem. (Gal 4:26)
Jesus is the second Adam (1 Cor 15:45); his “bride” of brothers, sisters chosen under the new covenant represent this covenant/“mother”. (Gal 4:22-28; 3:28-29) The early priesthood was given the job of caring for the needs of Israel, ministering, judging and teaching them the word of God. (1 Chron 6:49; Mal 2:7; Matt 28:19-20; 2 Cor 5:20-21; Rom 15:15-16; 1 Cor 6:1-6) That too, was a “family”, not an organization as the Wt calls it. God called all Israel His children. There was no mention of “staying close to Jehovah’s organization” in those days. It was, stay close and listen to God and His word. Anything else was considered idolatry. And guess who else was there whom they were to listen to? Jesus, as the “Logos” – (Exod 23:20-23; Matt 17:5; John 1:1-4)
The anointed priesthood can only serve as priests/kings if they are able to walk among all of God’s children in the Kingdom. Wt. once said that the anointed will minister as priests in heaven, but how that will be done “remains to be seen”. Well, it was already made known in the scriptures. This is why Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels (meaning “messengers”/priests - Mal 2:7) of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51; Gen 28:10-17; 22:17-18.
Since “144,000” is symbolic, then whatever that number comes to when fulfilled, is up to God. The “great crowd” (“great” in power, not number, Matt 5:19) is another segment of that number, who wake up, are “killed” for their testimony of Christ, are sealed, and serve God in His temple "day and night”. (Rev 11:1-3,7-12; Rev 12:11; 7:13-15) They wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, because they were liars and idolaters…coming from the organization/Beast directed by of false prophets. (Matt 24:24-25; 7:15-20; Rev 13:11,12) Once sealed and once the Kingdom arrives, they are priests/kings and join the “144,000” from the 12 tribes of “Israel”.
But look where this last bunch come from: Rev 5:9,10 - And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to
our God;
And we shall reign ON THE EARTH.”
They are “living stones” and the last remnant that are added to God’s spiritual temple. (1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:20-22; Zech 4:7-8)
There are two groups of anointed – the first group never “worshiped the Beast” of Revelation 13. They were “blameless”. (Rev 14:4-5; 20:4) The smaller second group, the “remaining ones of the woman’s seed”, (Rev 12:1-4,7,17) were taken captive by the “empty philosophy” of false christs, false prophets, just as it was foretold to happen in the last days. (Matt 24:24-25; Col 2:8; 1 Tim 4:1)
Where do we see most of them still? Who boasts that the anointed are in their organization, and that it belongs to “Jehovah”. Yep, in the Wt.,the “Beast”, that spiritually “kills” all who defy it, who discard its “mark” as a “Jehovah’s Witness” who are owned by an organization. (Rev 13:4,15-17) This “great crowd” that overcomes deceit are spoken as victorious over the Beast. (Rev 15:2) Do we really think that the “great crowd” is victorious over the United Nations? And if these ones are victorious, then there was a war they were fighting. (Rev 13:5-7; 16:13-16 – “kings of the earth” belong to Jesus Christ, Rev 1:5; 5:10 They are not kings/rulers of the political world)
You have to fight and win to be victorious - the truth of Christ against the lies of the false prophets that took them captive into their net, called “truth”. (Rev 13:1-2,4,11-14; Hab 1:14-17; Matt 13:47-48) Are JWs fighting for the truth of God, or do they refer everyone to the website, or leave in a rush when confronted with their teachings? It also has nothing to do with JWs standing in a field and waiting for Jesus and his “brothers” to come swooping down with weapons to kill the armies of the nations. The Wt. is a “stronghold” of lies. That’s what we fight against. (2 Cor 10:4-6) This war has everything to do with what comes out of the mouth, and standing up for Jesus Christ and the word of God. (Luke 6:43-45)
The FDS? Christ makes that call when he returns. (Matt 25:14-30)
If any of these scriptures seem out of place, please let me know! Thanks.
