In your latest essay on the new covenant and the new creation you state that Jesus is only the mediator for 144,000 but how do you harmonize that with what the Bible says at 2 Timothy 5:6? – “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all.”

Jesus’ sacrifice was a “corresponding ransom for all.” However, Jesus is not the mediator of all mankind. That’s because Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant and the new covenant is conducted exclusively between Jehovah and the “house of Israel.” As pointed out in the essay, the “Israel of God” is made up of what Paul called the “new creation.” The new creation is in reference to those who have been born again, which is to say they are anointed.

In discussing the things having to do with God’s covenants, Paul said he had much to say but that it was hard to explain for the reason that the Hebrew Christians had become dull witted, spiritually. Unfortunately, in recent years many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have become spiritually dull too and have become unable to comprehend the deeper things of God’s word relating to Christ’s mediation of the new covenant. As a result some have fallen prey to the twisted teachings of persons like Ray Franz, and others.

Just a question about this subject, specifically about Christ’s words at Luke 21:20-22: "Furthermore when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies… then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains..." When the 1st century fulfillment took place people could literally see these events happening and literally flee out of Jerusalem to safety. Where will those in today’s congregation flee to? Will this be captivity to Babylon on a voluntary basis for the other sheep? Will the anointed escape?

This is an important question. Unfortunately, the question cannot even be properly framed within the Watchtower Society’s current understanding of the scripture in question. The reason being, according to the Watchtower’s interpretation the destruction of Jerusalem in the first century foreshadows the future fiery destruction of Babylon the Great – Christendom in particular. But if that were true, why would Jesus counsel his followers to take timely action to flee when Jerusalem was surrounded by enemies? Jehovah’s Witnesses are not part of Christendom, are they? And besides, Jehovah’s Witnesses have supposedly already heeded the command to “Get out of her my people.”

The only sensible interpretation, indeed, the only scripturally supported interpretation, is that Jesus intended “Jerusalem” to symbolize Jehovah’s earthly organization. This view has been discussed in a number of articles on e-watchman, the most recent being the essay entitled: What is the Holy Place and the Great Tribulation?

So, from the standpoint of “Jerusalem” symbolizing Jehovah’s earthly organization how are we to understand Jesus’ instructions to flee to safety when the holy place faces desolation? The Hebrew Scriptures shed some light on that question. Take the 91st Psalm as an example. It opens by saying: "Anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Most High will procure himself lodging under the very shadow of the Almighty One. I will say to Jehovah: 'You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God, in whom I will trust.'"

The Psalm goes on to enumerate various calamities that befall the world, including pestilence and adversities from war. These, of course, are the very things that Christ said would occur as an immediate prelude to the desolation of the holy place during the great tribulation.

The Watchtower has commented on the 91st Psalm a few times and applied it in some sort of bizarre symbolic way. One example that comes to mind, the thousands who “fall at your very side” due to the stalking pestilence are supposedly the masses who succumb to the spiritual plague of evolution.

The Society’s interpretation, though, is nonsensical in view of the fact that the various calamities that are described in the 91st Psalm are said to be “retribution upon the wicked.” Is the theory of evolution God’s punishment upon the world? Of course not.

But the point is, the place to which Christians will flee when the modern holy place is destroyed will be “the secret place of the Most High.” Such a place is a spiritual sanctuary and not a literal place. Likely, entry into Jehovah’s secret refuge at that time will involve recognizing and supporting the then-revealed sons of God. (See the essay The Revelation of Christ and the Two Witnesses.