Hi Abe
I agree with you ( :thumbup: ) that the "anointed" are kings of the earth at some point, but the two major points of difference are...
(a) who the "anointed" are. Do you still believe the WT's definition, i.e. that there are about 10,000 "anointed" left on earth out of a literal 144,000? I think there's lots of question marks over that interpretation.
Interpretum,
I believe that a very large number of the "kings of the earth" have been gathered to the Watchtower Society through expressions inspired by demons.
Here is an expression inspired by demons:
Millions now living will never die!
Inspired by:
You positively will not die!
The number of anointed who will weep and gnash their teeth is alluded to by this scripture:
Revelation 11:13
and in that hour came a great earthquake, and the tenth of the city did fall, and killed in the earthquake were names of men -- seven thousands, and the rest became affrighted, and they gave glory to the God of the heaven.
If 7000 names are going to be killed then 10,000 total is a close number.
Yep, I believe those 7000 are "kings of the earth".
But how can you kill a name?
Psalm 69:28
May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
Revelation 20:15
If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Matthew 24:50
the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, 51 and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be.
In my opinion however, there is indeed a small remnant outside of the Watchtower Society who are faithful to Jesus Christ.
I expect that some of them might participate in this forum.
In Christ
abe
(b) WHEN the "anointed" are kings of the earth. You already quoted Paul who effectively saying some were already presumptuously ruling as kings. Isn't that the point of 1 Corinthians 4:8?
So while the "anointed" ARE to rule as kings, the question is WHEN.
"I saw the souls of those executed with the ax for the witness they bore to Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had worshiped neither the wild beast nor its image and who had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years." (Rev 20:4)
I understand the parallels you're trying to make, i.e. that the "kings of the earth" in Rev 16 are the false anointed (is that right?).
I do get your point... but scriptures other than Revelation reveal that the "stone" needs to literally CRUSH the kingdoms of the world before the holy ones rule. This is not going to happen with some squabble between so-called true and false anointed.
Interpretum,
So while the "anointed" ARE to rule as kings, the question is WHEN.
After the 7th (last) Trumpet.
Revelation 11:15
And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.â€
I understand the parallels you're trying to make, i.e. that the "kings of the earth" in Rev 16 are the false anointed (is that right?).
No, thats wrong.
The "kings of the earth" warned in Revelation Chapter 16 are really and truly anointed.
They are not pretending.
Some will be shamed and some won't.
I do get your point... but scriptures other than Revelation reveal that the "stone" needs to literally CRUSH the kingdoms of the world before the holy ones rule. This is not going to happen with some squabble between so-called true and false anointed.
I agree!
The kingdoms of the world will not be crushed by Jesus Christs own kingdom until it is purged of all the lawless ones, the evil slave, the "kings of the earth" who have been deceived by demon inspired expressions.
Matthew 13:41
The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, 42 and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where [their] weeping and the gnashing of [their] teeth will be. 43 At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him that has ears listen.
So immediately after the 7th trumpet is blown the pagan kings of nations are not going to be happy!
Revelation 11:17
“We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king. 18 But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came,
In Christ
abe
I've been gone for q very long time I live in a remote area. However I wish to say I agree with P, son. We have been taught to preread meaning into some words like 'gather together'. How are the Kings gathered? Is it phyically or is it in purpose and effect? Like the ten kings they have one purpose to destroy her.
I see the whole globilized world of man more organized and connected and communitcating together than ever in history as an example of being 'gathered together', and as we have been gathered together we have built a world society that is in opposition to Gods loving will and is also literally destroying the planet. We are already marching to the war...the storm cloud are forming and the warth of God is coming not at all in a way anyone has ever thought.....the earth is going to reject us, our environment is failing, this is the wrath of God, it is something he designed into creation from the beginning.
Digging