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There seems to be a contradiction with the Society's teaching that the separation of the sheep and goats is in the future and that people are presently being marked in their foreheads for survival as depicted by the man with the secretary's inkhorn in the book of Ezekiel. Do you agree? |
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Yes. Reasonably, there is only one decisive judgment that permanently separates the faithful from the faithless. According to Revelation, there is also a symbolic marking associated with those who idolize a revived wild beast that is slaughtered. As discussed in one of the essays, since the mark of the beast is irreversible and results in everlasting destruction for those who receive the mark, it is evident that the marking has not taken place yet—otherwise it would not be possible for those with the mark to repent. So, the marking of Jehovah's servants for survival and those who are marked by the beast for destruction, are really two sides of the same coin. And, as the Watchtower recognizes now, the separating of the sheep and the goats takes place during the tribulation. That being the case, it is reasonable that the symbolic marking occurs as an immediate prelude to the actual judgment of God. But, while it is apparent that the marking and separating takes place during the time of great tribulation, the sort of persons that we are now and the quality of our faith will have a direct bearing upon how we respond to events yet to unfold that will ultimately determine whether we are judged favorably or not. |
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Dear Brother: In the Watchtower May 15 pg 16 it discusses Rev 2:18-29. Regarding "that woman Jezebel", the Watchtower strongly indicates that it is a female influence. If that is the case, then what about Babylon the Great? She is described as a woman, therefore must picture all female worshippers of false religion? |
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| I am not quite sure what you are asking. Obviously, the symbolic Jezebel represents an unclean Babylonish influence in the congregations. |
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Recently, I met with two Jehovah's witnesses in my home and we discussed the 'great crowd.' In each verse that we read the great crowd or great multitude was in heaven. I asked the two young women why they believe the great crowd is on earth when we clearly read it's in heaven. They were confused and contradicted themselves, going back and forth between the great crowd and the 144,000. We finally had to end the meeting because nothing made sense. Because Rev. is discussing events on earth and in heaven, why is it so hard to see the obvious, that the great crowd is in heaven at the throne just as it says in the Bible? |
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| The Bible does not say that the great crowd is in heaven. The 7th chapter of Revelation describes the great crowd as standing before the throne of God and rendering him service in his temple. You merely assumed that the vision is depicting the great crowd in heaven. However, the 19th chapter of Revelation does mention a great crowd in heaven. However, that apparently is a great crowd of angels and not the great crowd that the 7th chapter refers to that survive the tribulation. Those seeming discrepancies are discussed in other mailbag questions and answer which can be retrieved from the archives by doing a simple search of the term "great crowd." |
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In Isaiah 14 verse 1, where in says Israel does it mean the country. If so do you think it could be a prophecy about President Bush's road map to peace? |
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The modern-day Zionist movement has nothing to do with Bible prophecy. Israel ceased being God's nation shortly after Christ founded the spiritual Israel of God. The Hebrew prophecies that speak about "Israel" being restored have to do with God restoring the true Christian congregation during Christ's parousia. Besides, you are assuming that men will actually be successful in making lasting peace in the Middle East. Interestingly, many evangelicals that are under the delusion that the establishment of the state of Israel is fulfilling Bible prophecy are actually adamantly opposed to President Bush's peace proposal. That's because the so-called "Road Map to Peace" calls for Israel to give back some of their occupied territories. The evangelicals are opposed to that on the grounds that it is against God's will for Israel to cede over any of their "Promised Land." Ironically, the present situation may have something to do with the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, but not in the way that most people imagine. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:3, whenever they are saying "peace and security" results in sudden destruction for them. More than likely, the Road Map to Peace will lead to full-scale war. |
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So, now you are the watchman are you? Only looking for the weak ones who have left Jehovah's organization? You have allowed yourself to be misled. I find it disgusting that you would mimic the official site and claim yourself to be the one on the watch. Problem with Pride? |
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Actually, the information in the essay content of this web site is intended as an open letter for the Watchtower itself. However, the question-and-answer mailbag has been made available as a secondary feature in order for Witnesses, ex-Witnesses and non-Witnesses to get answers to questions and clarification regarding some of the issues that have caused some to stumble. The Watchtower seems to give the impression that it is infallible and above correction from any human. Yet, by its numerous contradictions and hypocrisy, the Watchtower is guilty of stumbling hundreds of thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses and interested persons. Sadly, to this date the Watchtower has not accepted any responsibility for its actions and teachings that have alienated so many from Jehovah. While counseling individuals to be humble and quick to apologize for our shortcomings, the Watchtower simply doesn't practice what it preaches in that respect. The prevailing attitude is that if anyone can't swallow the Watchtower's dogmatic interpretations, then, that's just too bad for them. Your comment seems to likewise express contempt for those whom you label as weak. Yet, Jesus said that the real shepherd will leave the 99 in search of the one lost sheep. Paul similarly shared the mind of Christ when he said: "Who is stumbled and I am not incensed?" Do you have the mind of Christ on this matter? The book of Malachi is addressed to the Jewish priests, but, in reality, Jehovah is talking to his anointed priests. How do we know that? Well, Malachi 2:5-7 is describing the high priest—Jesus. Yet, Jesus was not a Levitical priest. He was a priest "according to the manner of Melchezidek." So, it stands to reason that God's rebuke is, in reality, directed at those in the new covenant and not the "covenant of Levi." With that in mind, consider Malachi 2:8, which reads: "But you men—you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have ruined the covenant of Levi," Jehovah of armies has said. The fact of the matter is that the Watchtower has ruined the truth. It has stumbled many of Jehovah's Witnesses and otherwise interested persons. The Watchtower is the only connection that millions of people have with Jehovah. But, gradually it has become an idol that has substituted faith in Jehovah. That's why any one of Jehovah's Witnesses who tries to set the truth straight is condemned because it apparently tarnishes the glory of the Watchtower idol in the eyes of those mesmerized by it. Pride is definitely at the root of the problem. Instead of humbly admitting their error, the Watchtower is willing to add lie upon lie and consign all the stumbled ones to the ash pits of Gehenna. No wonder Jehovah says: "I am detesting the pride of Jacob." (Amos 6:8) |
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Tonight's WT-study (May 15th, 2003) spoke about the 7 congregations. In Revelation 1:10 John says the following: "By inspiration I came to be in the Lord's day." Revelation 2:1-3:22 continues to speak about Jesus' counsel to the 7 congregations. This counsel was given by Jesus because of the problems that arose within those congregations. We know of course that this counsel in reality is directed to the anointed congregation of Christ; who are alive during the "Lord's day." But, the thing is, all the problems Jesus described seems to be occurring right at this moment too. Therefore, isn't it possible we are in the "Lord's day" as John described? In other words: Is it possible to witness all these problems Jesus spoke about, without actually being in the "Lord's day"? |
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We should not suppose that the problems of the seven congregations develop during the Lord's day. After all, the Corinthian congregation in Paul's day had many of the very same problems that also afflicted the seven congregations of Asia Minor that Jesus addressed in Revelation. According to Revelation 1:10-11, John was instructed to write the revelations that he was about to see on a scroll and send it to the seven congregations. That means that Jesus directed the entire book of Revelation to the symbolic seven congregations and not just the bit of counsel that is directly addressed to them. That being the case, it seems that the letters to the seven congregations are merely introductory to the judgments to follow that are to occur in the Lord's day. After all, what is the Lord's day? Isn't it the period of time after Christ comes? Yet all of Christ's counsel directed to the seven congregations is referring to the future coming of Jesus. For example, Revelation 2:16 says: "Therefore repent. If you do not, I am coming quickly, and I will war with them with the long sword of my mouth." Revelation 3:3b says: "Certainly unless you wake up, I shall come as a thief, and you will not know at all at what hour I shall come upon you." In the 12th chapter of Luke Jesus similarly warns his faithful slaves to stay on the watch in order that his sudden thief-like arrival does not rob them of their hope. Jesus' coming as a thief is what initiates the Lord's day. According to Revelation 2:22-23, Jesus' coming and arrival will result in apostate members of the congregation being thrown into great tribulation so that the congregations all come to know that Christ is "he who searches the kidneys and hearts" of the individual members of the congregations. Has that occurred yet? No, definitely not. Corrupting influences are very much present within Christ's congregation, even to the highest levels of the organization. Along those same lines, Revelation 2:10 says: "Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer." While Christians have always suffered various forms of persecution, Jesus is pointing forward to a tribulation that will result in the deaths of his faithful anointed followers. That's why that verse concludes with Jesus' exhortation: "Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life." So, while the spirit always speaks to the person who has ears to hear, we should not suppose that the spirit has said all that is ever going to be said or that will be said during the Lord's day. |
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Why do you shorten people's questions with ellipses (...)? It cannot be because they are too long because a number of the questions have been quite long with no ellipses. Is it because they are asking you something you do not want to answer or that may disprove all your writings?... You sir, are a charlatan and a fraud. What say you? Instead of hiding in cyberspace, post this question without ellipses and answer it! |
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| Some "questions" are actually best described as essay-length rants and commentaries. The weekly Mailbag feature of e-watchman is not a public forum or message board. It is intended to allow interested readers to ask questions that pertain to the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses. As the editor of the Mailbag, besides making necessary grammatical corrections on many of the questions, it is occasionally deemed to be in the reader's best interests to edit superfluous wordage in order to make the questions more concise and coherent. If you feel that your question has been unfairly edited in order to skew the answer, you are welcome to re-submit your question in a more succinct form. |
