Three years ago, almost to the day, I made a post called "Women, the 144'000 and the Governing Body." It was a bit wordy but it kind of fits this discussion.
[edited]
Throughout the history of the nation of Israel as recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, all of it's Kings and Priests, as appointed by Jehovah God, were male. While on earth, Jesus obediently followed the rules of Jehovah's organisation as it then existed. He said "Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill" [Matt 5:17]
Thus, in accordance with Jewish custom and Law, Jesus apostles were all men. Not that Jesus was prejudiced, his dealings with many women prove just the opposite (consider John 4:3-43, Luke 7:11-18, and particularly Luke 7:36-50 and Matthew 11:28-30). Still, it is a fact that all 12 apostles were men. So what?
Well the Society teach that for a thousand years (soon to start), this male headship arrangement will be put aside and that resurrected women will serve as KINGS & PRIESTS!
What is the scriptural precedent for this? How can the Society presume that the 144000 will be partly made up with women? (Presumably some 72000.) This position has lead to statements such as the following;
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*** w91 7/15 6 A New World Is At Hand! ***
Jesus' associate heavenly rulers constitute the New Jerusalem and in association with him form a capital organization that will govern righteous human society.
*** w88 6/15 6 World Rulership Changing ***
Associate Rulers
But there is more. Daniel was inspired to say that the Kingdom would be given not just to "someone like a son of man" but also "to the people who are the holy ones of the Supreme One."-Daniel 7:27.
Who are these? Revelation says of the Lamb, Christ Jesus: "You bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth." It further says that they will become "priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years." Their number is given as 144,000.-Revelation 5:9, 10; 14:1; 20:6.*** it-2 165 Kingdom of God ***
Thus, it became evident that the promised "seed" would involve a governmental body with not only a kingly head, the "son of man," but also associate rulers, "the holy ones of the Supreme One."[emphasis mine]
----------------------------------------------------------------------Of course the Society have gotten themselves into this predicament because of applying a literal rather than symbolic interpretation of the 144000. Concerning the gender of this 'little flock', see what Revelation 14:4 itself actually says;
"They are the men who have kept themselves pure......." Good News Bible
"These are men who did not defile themselves.........." New English Bible
To complete the verse, even the NWT reads;
"These are the ones that did not defile themselves with women".It is a fact that women generally live longer than men. The time will soon come when by far the greater part of the 'remnant' on earth will be female. What will this mean for the role of the Governing Body? Can brothers of the Great Crowd who are now being groomed to take on the duties of the current Governing Body following their departure do so while their are still hundreds if not a few thousand anointed sisters still alive?
Well this turned out to be a much longer post than intended. Sorry.
Let me know what you think though.
Nic'