07-01-2010, 12:19 PM
I’ve listened to an mp3 recording of the July article in the Watchtower, so this is from memory and a few notes. No doubt, the transcript will become available soon.
The WS states that in the 1st century, responsible brothers among the anointed decided how to interpret difficult and deep matters related to the entire group, such as the requirements for Gentiles. This was done through the power of holy spirit. They state that in our time, the same method is in use by God.
This is the introduction to a theme that will take most of the anointed brothers and all of the sisters out of the work of discerning and publishing truth. I think this has been the case for a very long time anyway, but this article will lead to a conclusion based on scripture rather than just habit.
The majority of the anointed now have 3 prime objectives:
The ministry
Disciple-making
The encouragement of the congregations
The scriptural justification for the ‘new light’ on where the anointed fit, or don’t fit into Jehovah’s true tent is not given in the usual manner, where it is central to the discussion. This time, it appears to be an optional extra, perhaps for those who need explanation rather than just accepting the statements outright. It runs from approximately 11 mins 15 secs in the audio file to 13 mins 55 secs.
The central core of the argument seems to be that the tabernacles and the later spiritual temple were only a shadow pointing to God’s true tent.
They state that because:
(Jesus became) a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man (Hebrews 8:2).
this verse should be contrasted with:
(the anointed) are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph 2:20-22).
The reason for a different interpretation of tent and temple lies with their understanding that the true tent came into existence in 29CE when Jesus was baptised:
Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here. He also went into a much better tent that wasn't made by humans and that doesn't belong to this world (Heb. 9:11).
By 1971, they say, the responsible brothers of the anointed reckoned these ‘living stones’ and the spiritual tent could not be the same thing. If the true tent was made up of these living stones, it could not come into existence until these stones died and were raised during Christ's presence.
With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever (1Th 4:16-17).
On the basis of this reasoning on these scriptures, they draw the conclusion that:
The anointed serve in the courtyard and the holy of holies of the spiritual temple, not the tent established in heaven in 29CE.
Remember, this is not from a transcript, but I hope I have got the gist of it right.
The WS states that in the 1st century, responsible brothers among the anointed decided how to interpret difficult and deep matters related to the entire group, such as the requirements for Gentiles. This was done through the power of holy spirit. They state that in our time, the same method is in use by God.
This is the introduction to a theme that will take most of the anointed brothers and all of the sisters out of the work of discerning and publishing truth. I think this has been the case for a very long time anyway, but this article will lead to a conclusion based on scripture rather than just habit.
The majority of the anointed now have 3 prime objectives:
The ministry
Disciple-making
The encouragement of the congregations
The scriptural justification for the ‘new light’ on where the anointed fit, or don’t fit into Jehovah’s true tent is not given in the usual manner, where it is central to the discussion. This time, it appears to be an optional extra, perhaps for those who need explanation rather than just accepting the statements outright. It runs from approximately 11 mins 15 secs in the audio file to 13 mins 55 secs.
The central core of the argument seems to be that the tabernacles and the later spiritual temple were only a shadow pointing to God’s true tent.
They state that because:
(Jesus became) a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man (Hebrews 8:2).
this verse should be contrasted with:
(the anointed) are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph 2:20-22).
The reason for a different interpretation of tent and temple lies with their understanding that the true tent came into existence in 29CE when Jesus was baptised:
Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here. He also went into a much better tent that wasn't made by humans and that doesn't belong to this world (Heb. 9:11).
By 1971, they say, the responsible brothers of the anointed reckoned these ‘living stones’ and the spiritual tent could not be the same thing. If the true tent was made up of these living stones, it could not come into existence until these stones died and were raised during Christ's presence.
With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever (1Th 4:16-17).
On the basis of this reasoning on these scriptures, they draw the conclusion that:
The anointed serve in the courtyard and the holy of holies of the spiritual temple, not the tent established in heaven in 29CE.
Remember, this is not from a transcript, but I hope I have got the gist of it right.