Hey there everyone ...:D Hope ya'll are doing fine ...:love::thumbsup:
Had a question ... yeah another one ...:giverose::confused:;)
I was wondering what or who you thought might be the 'man in linen' in Ezekiel chapter 9 ...
We are taught that it is the ANNOINTED (by means of our preaching work finding people who are sighing and groaning in Christendom and other religions) and by extension now US of the earthly hope who are helping ...
However, I'm not so sure about that ...? :love:
With this 'man' are 6 others who have the power of destruction ...
So COULD this 'man' be Christ Jesus perhaps or another angel ...?
For I do not think any 'men' have the 'power' or 'authority' to destroy anyone at Armaggedon ...?
The same word for 'man' or 'men' is used for both the 'man in linen' and those who will come after him and 'destroy' those who are NOT marked i the forehead ...
Hmmmm
Any thoughts on this one ... I'm in the middle of a mind mulling and wanted some of your thoughts in the process ....
Luv as always ... your sis BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
Hi sis BruisedReed,
I have always thought about that, and I always thought that it would be an angel. The thing I have always wondered about is whether it is a symbolic mark on the forehead, or a faint real one that one could barely see except the person who has it?
What do you think?
New Heart
Does the WT think they are the man in linen too? They are also the Locusts? What else do they claim to be ?
New Heart
Hello there sis newheart ...:hibye::heartbeat:
Yes indeed they do ... with even us added into it ... (although we don't have the 'name')
Here are some quotes ...
w72 1/15 p. 49 Completing the Work of the King’s Secretary
Following the events of the aforementioned year 1931 this composite “man,†namely, the anointed remnant of the Christian witnesses of Jehovah, have been busy at the marking of the foreheads of the worthy ones.
kj chap. 9 pp. 180-181 Marking Foreheads of Those to Be Spared
43 The anointed remnant of Jehovah’s servants today are determined to be just as faithful as was the linen-clad man in the vision. With that end in view they continue, despite opposition and persecution, to go from house to house, presenting the good news of God’s kingdom, to get in touch with all persons who are “sighing and groaning over all the detestable things†that are being done within and without Christendom and that are detestable to Jehovah the one living and true God. Jesus Christ prophesied: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.†(Matthew 24:14) When that “end†does come and the marking work is completed, the anointed remnant desire to be able to bring back word to their Commissioner, Jehovah, and to say: “I have done just as you have commanded me.â€
44 The “other sheep†who are cooperating with them in the work of marking foreheads are no less desirous of proving faithful at the side of the anointed remnant, the present-day man “clothed with linen, with a secretary’s inkhorn at his hips.†For these “other sheep†to be spared by Jehovah’s executional “six men†in the approaching “great tribulation†they must keep this symbolic “mark†in their foreheads, that the “six men†may never come near them to use their smashing weapons upon their heads. They can retain this lifesaving “mark†on their foreheads by loyally and obediently sharing in the marking work with the anointed remnant who are clothed with the symbolic linen of God’s righteousness. This will ensure that the “great crowd†of these marked “other sheep†will “come out of the great tribulation†and enter into Jehovah’s further service in His new system of things under the Lamb Jesus Christ.—Revelation 7:17.
w88 9/15 p. 14 par. 18 Listen—Jehovah’s Watchman Speaks!
18 The antitypical ‘man in linen’ is the class of anointed Christians. They go from house to house to put a symbolic mark on those who become part of the “great crowd†of Christ’s “other sheep.†The “mark†is the evidence that such sheep are dedicated, baptized individuals with a Christlike personality. They ‘sigh and groan over detestable things’ done in Christendom, and they have come out of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. (Revelation 18:4, 5) Their “mark†will make it plain to God’s executional forces that they should be spared during the “great tribulation.†They can retain that “mark†by sharing with the anointed ones in marking yet others. So, if you have been ‘marked,’ share zealously in the ‘marking’ work.—Ezekiel 9:8-11.
w89 1/15 p. 20 How Baptism Can Save Us
20 By our works, we can show that “we belong to Jehovah.†Why, salvation depends on working faithfully as his dedicated slaves! (Romans 6:20-23; 14:7, 8) In ancient times, slaves were often marked on the forehead. By the preaching work today, the antitypical ‘man clothed in linen’—the remnant of Jesus’ anointed followers—is ‘marking’ those who will survive the end of this system. In this work the anointed are assisted by their associates, the “other sheep.†(Ezekiel 9:1-7; John 10:16) And what is the “mark� It is the evidence that we are dedicated to Jehovah and are Jesus’ baptized disciples who have a Christlike personality.
My question has to be though ...
HOW CAN WE REALLY KNOW WHO IS SINCERELY SIGHING AND GROANING?
For example ... people react to sorrow and grieving differenty ... some are 'vocal' about it ... while others suffer in 'silence' ... and some put on a 'fake' show of grieving ... while others who are sincerely grieving 'harden' themselves to 'deal' with it ...
hmmmm
Quite a dilemma it seems to me to be this 'man clothed in linen' ... for to REALLY KNOW what is happening INSIDE of a person would we not have to know what their HEART is ... and would that also not entail us 'JUDGING' a person is FIT for the MARK ...
What does God's word tell us about judging our fellowman ... are there not 'false' among 'true' and those ones are to be judged by WHOM ... us? or someone else whose JOB it is do so ...?
Interestingly I found in rereading through some of the verse in Ezekiel was that the 'man clothed in linen' had dealings with CHERUBS ... hmmm
Does anyone know if MEN (human) in times past had dealings with CHERUBS or was it not always ANGELS ...?
When I was reading in the previous chapter 8 I noted something interesting ...
This for example in Ez 8:6-13 ...
6 And he went on to say to me: “Son of man, are you seeing what great detestable things they are doing, the things that the house of Israel are doing here [for me] to become far off from my sanctuary? And yet you will see again great detestable things.â€
7 Accordingly he brought me to the entrance of the courtyard, and I began to see, and, look! a certain hole in the wall. 8 He now said to me: “Son of man, bore, please, through the wall.†And I gradually bored through the wall, and, look! there was a certain entrance. 9 And he further said to me: “Go in and see the bad detestable things that they are doing here.†10 So I went in and began to see, and, look! there was every representation of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the dungy idols of the house of Israel, the carving being upon the wall all round about. 11 And seventy men of the elderly ones of the house of Israel, with Ja·az·a·ni′ah the son of Sha′phan standing in among them, were standing before them, each one with his censer in his hand, and the perfume of the cloud of the incense was ascending. 12 And he proceeded to say to me: “Have you seen, O son of man, what the elderly ones of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each one in the inner rooms of his showpiece? For they are saying, ‘Jehovah is not seeing us. Jehovah has left the land.’â€
13 And he continued on to say to me: “You will yet see again great detestable things that they are doing.â€
Now when I stopped to think about these verses I couldn't help but ask ...
Is CHRISTENDOM serving images and idols in SECRET ...? Do religions outside of Christendom hide that they worship various idols ... and even Satanists are open about their 'churches' for it is not against the 'law' to worship whomever and whatever we want ...
Sooooo
This led me to wondering WHO would seek to do in 'darkness' ... or 'hide' the fact that they are indeed serving or worshipping something OTHER than our God Jehovah ...?
The Scripture says that it was the 'seventy men' ... the 'older men' OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ... and WHO claim to be SPIRITUAL ISRAELITES today ...?
Now I am not making an 'accusation' here ... I am just pondering on WHO is being spoken of here ... and if indeed it IS going on in the house that we thought was 'pure' ... 'separated' from the 'false religions' out there ... then the very ones who claim this 'title' ... cannot indeed have it ... and so it MUST apply to SOMEONE ELSE musn't it ...?
See how strangly I 'reason' on things ... :funnyface:
Anyway ... these are just some added thoughts ... I am hoping for correction or other insights ...
Oh yeah ... they 'newest' claim ... at least I 'think' it is 'new' ... is that they are the ...
HOLY TEMPLE CLASS
PRIESTS (although I thought they wouldn't receive this designation until they got to heaven)
Thanks for you input so far dear new heart ... may Jehovah continue to refine all of our hearts so as to make them shiny and new ...:heartbeat::grouphug:
Lots of love to you and yours and to everyone ... BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
Hey BR ,
Don't we all wish for correction.
I don't think your reasoning is strange at all. is it right? who knows.
could be.
But I like the way you think
"Quite a dilemma it seems to me to be this 'man clothed in linen' ... for to REALLY KNOW what is happening INSIDE of a person would we not have to know what their HEART is ... and would that also not entail us 'JUDGING' a person is FIT for the MARK ..."
now that's what I'm talking bout..:heartbeat:
Hi BR,
Quoting what you wrote....
(Following the events of the aforementioned year 1931 this composite “man,†namely, the anointed remnant of the Christian witnesses of Jehovah, have been busy at the marking of the foreheads of the worthy ones.)
My Question is then.. they also must have to claim to be the ones who will put the final seal on our foreheads too, since they can and already claim authority to determine who is worthy by reading mens hearts marking the foreheads of worthy ones in the past?
Sis
New Heart