Over the past few weeks, I have been inclined to read from the book and prophecies of Ezekiel.
Read it yourself, look at the parallels of that time to that of today. If you have read my Blogs discussing the things that took place among Jehovah's witnesses in recent years.
You may note the, seemingly obvious, to me anyway, connection with the behaviour and actions of the “Faithful and Discreet Slave Class” of today.
I was also considering the account of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments, “Written by God’s finger” in the mountain. On that occasion Moses had been “taking a long time about coming down from the mountain”, Ex 32:1. It goes on to describe Aaron “Taking a ‘graving tool’ and proceeded to make it into a MOLTEN statue of a calf”.
Question: How long do you suppose it took for the people to think Moses had been gone a long time? 1 day? 1 week? 10 days? Let’s say 5 days.
How long do you think it would take to build a furnace? How long to build a crucible, if they were not carrying one? Or at the very least a crude one from bricks pure enough to sustain the temperatures to melt the gold into the form of a calf? Then how long do you think it took to engrave it so that “This calf came out”? And all before Moses and Joshua had returned! Because "Moses was taking a long time". They just refused to wait. And even Aaron went along with them. "Get up and MAKE a god who will go ahead of us", Aaron said, "Tear off the gold earings" then he took the engraving tool and made the "Disgusting thing", "And they began to say; 'This is your god O Israel'". Gen 32;1-18.
I’m sure in the eyes of the people, “God was blessing the work!”. So pleased with the results they had "A festival". This false god was now their confidence the salvation, Seriously?
So much so, that they were heard from a long way off, singing.
In the same way, those producing the new, New World Translation, were confident of God’s blessing due to the fact that the work went so well. “The machines would normally break down due to the heat”, they said. They too had their festival, Parading their efforts and praising the "Works of their hands", continually celebrating themselves and patting themselves on the back. If I had the stone tablets, I would smash them too, before their faces
Who do you think spurred them on in the wilderness, when the Calf Idol was made for worship, saying: “This is your god, oh Israel, who led you up out of the land of Egypt”.
A piece of metal, "Trash", had become a replacement for the living God who just days earlier had carried them like a father carries his child.
Jehovah proved he was "fighting for Israel" when he delivered them through the Red Sea and from Pharaoh's hand.
These idolaters whom the Living God just delivered by an act af salvation from Egypt, had their hearts, not fixed on reality, that is to say, Jehovah’s saving power. But, these clearly showed, what was longed for by their eyes and deeply entrenched in their hearts.
These modern-day Idolaters have kept saying, “We ourselves have brought you all you need to gain life, we ourselves have built this “'New World headquarters' that we ourselves have built with our own hands” that will lead the great crowd “to fountains of waters of life”. Blind fools.
We ourselves have even created for you to admire with your eyes, so as to entice your hearts, this "Bible theme park" in the headquarters, of pure worship, (?) on earth, so you can come and bow before us, before this display.
And we produced for you, to adore, this new Bible, “Calf is what came out”.
We are the ones that now seat ourselves in the thrones before you peoples so you must obey all we command, and therefore; admire our Garments and desire our humility. These are in effect the actions these "False Prophets" in this "Time of the End."
What does any of this have to do with Ezekiel? If it is possible for you to do so, read the book in its entirety yourself. What is your conclusion?
To be honest though, "I can no longer read much of the prophets without the words stabbing me in the heart!". Formerly it was simply educational. Now, it is personal.
In a way; "I suppose i must not have put my heart into the readings as was intended".
I think "I was reading as a student, not as a participant". Or, Maybe it's just like a person who has experienced the horrors of war, unless it has been your experience, you can't quite get it.
I'm not sure, my brain is struggling to remember such things.
I can now relate to how ones like Jeremiah, Ezra, King Josiah, Nehamian, Ezekiel and even Moses must have felt. Though longing to serve God with "Spirit and truth" John 4;24, and simply finding it to be impossible.
It is now impossible to meet with such ones in association. It is impossible to sing songs of joy and praise in the same way, while the name of Jehovah is being dragged through the mud.
Worship, pure worship, seems such a long way off. Totally out of reach.
So, now as I am living through similar experiences as these and many other men and women of old. Who, likewise, were living while experiencing this torcher.
The words of the prophets are no longer just education, they are a stab to the heart and a constant reminder of my personal loss and the hurt brought upon God's name and reputation.
Jehovah warned his CHOSEN peoples time and again by means of faithful prophets and Angelic messengers, and finally his own "Firstborn", “Obey God as ruler, rather than men”.
But as of this day, so close to the conclusion of this system of things, we yet again find ourselves in the same situation as did all those who paid the price for listening to Dog's.
Oholibah & Oholia, Ezekiel 23; 1-49.
The Governing body, that is, those in charge of the spiritual food on earth for J.W.s, “to distribute to his (Christ’s) domestics” have gone after foreign lovers, Just like Oholibah. Ez 23; 1-21.
Her sister, Oholia, who seems to represent the “Domestics” the peoples in a covenant relationship with God, had themselves, for many years, teetered on the edge of unfaithfulness and adultery being “the workers of lawlessness" warned of by Paul and others. 2 Thes 2;3-12, Mt 24;12.
These, also, had a relationship dependant on God’s mercy, long suffering and the provision of the ransom and the atoning effect of Christ blood. By putting trust in the fact that their sister, Oholibah, (The Faithful Slave Class) was keeping the access to Jehovah, through Christ Jesus and in harmony with Holy Spirit, open to them, by means of “food at the proper time”, are now likewise estranged and cut off from the living God. Just like Judah and Israel, just like Jerusalem and Samaria.
The whole congregation have in affect, also "celebrated a festival to Jehovah". They handed over "Their golden earrings". They sung out loud and followed the leaders and their Idolatrous Calf.
Whereas, J.W.s. have for the longest time considered themselves on the "Narrow road to life" the reality of that statement, as of this day is very unsure. Mt 7: 13,13.
Which is curiously followed by Jesus' warning in verse 15 - 27 of the "Wolves (false prophets) in sheep's clothing" and their resulting judgements, for Good and for Bad.
Road to destruction
Look at these verses in Ezekiel, what do you read?
What struck me was;
Parts of Chapter 21. "As for you, o deadly wounded, wicked chieftain of Israel, whose day has come in the time of the error of THE END. Remove the Turban and lift off the Crown". 25,26. “As for this also, it will certainly become no (one’s) until he comes who has the legal right, and I must give it to him.” V 27.
This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said concerning the sons of Ammon and concerning the reproach of them – You will not be remembered, for I myself, Jehovah, have spoken. 28,32.
Concerning the centre of pure worship, he says, Ch 22:3, “O city that is shedding blood in her midst till her time comes, that has made dungy idols within herself in order to become unclean”, “Father and mother they have treated with contempt in you, Defrauded the alien resident, Fatherless boy and widow they have maltreated in you”.
V 7. “My Holy place you have despised and my sabbaths you have profaned. Outright slanderers have proved to be in you”. V 8. Me you have forgotten, V 12. “Will your heart keep enduring or your hands furnish strength in the days when I am taking action towards you? V 14. “I will scatter you and destroy your uncleanness”. V 15 “Much scummy dross of silver, they have become”. (not even of gold). V 18. "You people will be liquified".
V 22. “There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst of her, like the roaring Lion, tearing prey.
A soul they actually devour. Treasure and precious things they keep taking. Her widows they have multiplied in the midst of her. Her priests themselves have done violence to my law, and they keep profaning my Holy places". V 25, 26 and read on for the rest of Chapter 22.
All of this exactly describes the activities and rebellion of those in “the city”, The New World Headquarters.
All in fulfilment of multiple prophecies, including 2 Tim 3: 1- 13.
The pronouncement of judgement in Ezekiel 23, Jerusalem, the seat of God’s throne and priesthood.
Chapter 23: 35, “For the reason that you have forgotten me and you proceeded to cast me behind your back, V 37 The peoples, “With dungy idols they have committed adultery, Profaned my sanctuary”. And all that section to the end of verse 47, clearly describes the sin and results of it. In particular on the part of Those in the lead.
However, v 48, 49 indicate HOPE a cleansing and a blessing for those who learn from the lessons. “And I shall certainly cause loose conduct to cease out of the land, and all the women (those formerly unfaithful, possibly) will have to let themselves be corrected, so that they will not do according to your loose conduct. And THEY must bring your loose conduct upon you, and the sins of your dungy idols you will bear; and you people will have to know that I am the sovereign Lord Jehovah”.
This seems to indicate that The sheep, The Domestics, The women will in fact strip the current Slave class of their robes and throw them outside. Learn from the error brought upon the congregation by unfaithful idolatry and correct course. With focus realigned, once again on the Rightful sovereign of the universe, Jehovah. Acts 5: 29, we must obey God, not men.
In the same way that the sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, came from Egypt, from being, not a nation. The Nation of Jehovah’s witnesses were led out of bondage and slavery, from serving false god’s and religion, from every tribe nation and tongue by The Christ to Jehovah's Glory and for the sake of his name. To make it known through all the inhabited Earth. A special possession they became, a beacon to the nations. Being 2 that became 1, that is, those with the heavenly hope upon resurrection and those with the Earthly hope, which came to be, and appeared in later times. One with a Heavenly hope and one with a future established on Earth of service.
Jesus explained at John 10: 16, “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; (not with the same purpose as those like the early apostles and Christians who would serve as Kings and Priests in the heavenly kingdom of God) those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” (Cross references; Ps 45: 14, Mt 25: 33, Re 7: 9, Lu 12: 32, John n10: 1, Ge 49: 10, Eze 34: 23, Eze 37: 24, 1 Pet 5: 4.)
Together, these served the Shepherd, Christ Jesus, during the 20th century in doing the teaching and preaching of God’s Kingdom and making disciples. Until those with the heavenly hope received their commission and were resurrected to life in heaven if faithful till death.
However, it was these imitators, wolves in sheep’s clothing, that emerged in the last days of this system of things that led off as captives, the “other sheep”.
Once these were not a nation but were called out of slavery, as was Israel, but now unfaithful and prostituting herself exactly the same way.
If you look at the cross references in the New World Translation of God’s word you will find much is also applicable to the early Christian congregation and beyond in our day. All being fulfilled, all 100% accurate, all foreseen and foretold.
"Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets" was found guilty. What about "The Centre for 'pure' worship' today".
May all things take place according to God’s written word and in line with his will, for “not what I want, but what you want” Jesus himself said. Why?
He knew the day will come when Jehovah will be all things to all people and we will belong to him. Along the way there, be aware that these things that have befallen God’s people, have happened before, they likely will happen again.
To what extent is up to us. Do you obey God as Ruler or Men?
Man in expectation :)
The mash-up! "You must love Jehovah your God, with your whole Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength and keep His Commandments. If you do, you will be wise enough to bypass any trial with ease, and have an indefinitely lasting name with The Living One. Those who fail to take these things to heart, will suffer shame and fall short in a large way, all that is his, will be destroyed and cease to exist.
You who love Him, however, will flourish with joy, under the tent cloths of Jehovah, always." Ecc 12:13, Mark 12:30 and Ps 37:18-20.
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