Search the Community

Do JWs consider the “anointed” governing leaders as priests? That identity is not spoken of much, whereas their self-appointed label of “faithful and discreet slave” is widely advertised. Of course, it would be an anointed priest who would fulfill that role, appointed only by Jesus and recognized as such, when he returns. (Matt 24:45-47; 25:21) The organization’s “daily text” for yesterday, November 10, mentions 1 Sam 13:8-12, where King Saul disregarded the prophet Samuel’s direction to wait for Samuel to return and offer a burnt sacrifice to God. Israel was “hard pressed” in conflict with the Philistines. (1 Sam 13:6,7) Samuel had previously told Saul to go ahead of him to Gilgal, and in 7 days’ time, he would arrive to offer up a burnt sacrifice to God. Saul was not a priest; and as the daily text states, he “was not authorized” to offer the burnt sacrifice. The text points out that Saul lost God’s favor by going ahead of Samuel’s direction and performing the sacrifice himself. Saul lost his kingship because of it. (1 Sam 13:8-14) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Sam+13%3A6-7%2C8-14&version=NIV The text continues by saying, “We are wise if we learn from this warning example and avoid acting presumptuously.” True to its form, the organization will offer Bible examples that have solid meaning and even encourage their “warning example”; yet arrogantly disobey their own warnings. (Jer 6:19; Ps 78:10; Titus 1:16; Heb 2:2) Today’s priesthood in the anointed – 1 Pet 2:5,9 GNT - “Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.” “But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.” These scriptures do not allude to a future time of activity for this priesthood only, as if their “acceptable sacrifices” have been put on hold until God’s Kingdom arrives; but God expects them to be offering sacrifices of praise while they live…now, on this earth. They are to be an active priesthood under their High Priest and King, Jesus Christ, following the example of his priests in the first century. (Rom 12:1-2; 15:14-16; Heb 10:19-22; Titus 2:14; Rev 5:9,10) They have been assigned to preserve the word of God in Jesus, to praise the only true God and His Son; and to teach and serve the people. (Exod 29:44; Isa 43:21; Mal 2:7; Heb 13:15;1 Cor 4:1,2; 1 Tim 4:16; Eph 4:29; 2 Tim 3:16-17) JWs need to ask why their anointed priests in charge - their “faithful and discreet slave” - have not been faithful in upholding this sacred priesthood, and its obligations to God. (Exod 40:15; Mal 2:7; 1 John 2:27) They have instead, allowed their choice in the “uncircumcised” elder body, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable…to God? No; their sacrifices are approved by the unfaithful “slave”, as “acceptable” to “Jehovah’s organization”. (1 Kings 12:31,32;13:33,34; Dan 11:38; 2 Cor 6:14-18; Rom 1:25; Rev 2:20; 13:1,2,4,11,12,16) These men who share in the production of spiritual food with the unanointed elder body, have disregarded the warning example in 1 Samuel 13. Their minds and hearts are set on earthly things. The organization takes full precedence, over the needs of God’s spiritual Temple. (1 John 2:15-16; Phil 3:17-19) They have devised a beneficial arrangement that satisfies their lust for power and dominance, but with a price. They will never benefit from the spiritual gifts initially bestowed within the hearts of their “brothers in Christ” upon their anointing. (Eph 4:4-13) They have directed their elders to command God’s priests to remain “scattered” and silent. (Ezek 34:5,6; Lam 4:1,16; Matt 24:48-51; Luke 19:43-44) The result? Any chance of Truth that a unified anointed body under Jesus would provide, has been thrown to the ground, creating a climate of spiritual famine. (1 John 2:27; John 15:5; 2 John 1:9; Gal 1:6-9; Isa 29:7-8; Amos 8:10-12; Joel 1:9-10,13; Rev 6:5-6; 13:16-17; Dan 8:11-13) Should God’s priests allow anyone to take their place in the “spiritual temple”, corrupting the vows assigned specifically to them? (Num 3:10; 18:7) The anointed are also transgressing God’s dwelling in Spirit by allowing “Gentiles” to “stand where they don’t belong”, and “take their seat” in judgment against them. (Matt 24:15,16; Mark 13:14; 2 Thess 2:3,4; John 16:2; Rev 11:1-3,7; Rev 13:15) 1 Pet 2:5 tells us that God’s Temple is comprised of anointed priests. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 is addressing these priests, and its message is for all anointed in the organization today - “Surely you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you! 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys God's temple. For God's temple is holy, and you yourselves are his temple.” How can we apply this to the authentic priesthood in the organization? How can God’s Temple be destroyed today? Whenever a foreigner entered God’s physical temple in ancient times, this was considered an “abomination”, a “disgusting thing” to God. (Ezek 8:6; Mal 2:11) He chose His priests, and He outlined their duties to be followed. (Exod 19:6; Rev 1:6) Ezek 44:6-9 - “Tell those rebellious people of Israel that I, the Sovereign Lord, will no longer tolerate the disgusting things that they have been doing. 7 They have profaned my Temple by letting uncircumcised foreigners, people who do not obey me, enter the Temple when the fat and the blood of the sacrifices are being offered to me. So my people have broken my covenant by all the disgusting things they have done. 8 They have not taken charge of the sacred rituals in my Temple, but instead have put foreigners in charge. 9 “I, the Sovereign Lord, declare that no uncircumcised foreigner, no one who disobeys me, will enter my Temple, not even a foreigner who lives among the people of Israel.” The anointed “Israel” today congregates with “Gentiles” not anointed. Presumptuously, the governing leaders have allowed God’s Temple to be overrun with foreigners – the “man of lawlessness”. (2 Thess 2:3,4) They have allowed the spiritual sacrifices that should be offered by the priests, to come to a halt, to cease, to be nonexistent. (Ps 79:1; 74:3; Isa 63:18; Dan 11:31) The responsibility of God’s anointed priesthood and the Temple dwelling of God, has been trampled and eradicated. (Jer 51:51; Luke 21:20,24) “Representing the royal priesthood are appointed elders, who serve in positions of responsibility in congregations of Jehovah’s people around the earth.” (Wt 02/8/1, pg 13-14) Has God ever allowed His decrees to be transgressed without severe consequences? (2 Chron 26:16-21; Jude 1:10-11) Wt. leaders have bent and twisted His commands; and manipulated God’s people under covenant to be deceived into idolatry. (Hos 6:7-9; Matt 24:24,25; 2 Pet 2:1-3; 1 Tim 4:1; Rev 16:13-16) The organizational idol required its own priesthood, and it created it with the help of rebel priests. (Dan 8:24; Matt 24:48-51) God’s priests have been shoved aside by an army too large, too powerful to come against. (Lam 5:8; Joel 1:6-8; Dan 11:31; Rev 13:7; 9:10) “Rather than challenge their authority, we truth appreciate our hardworking elders!” Wt 02/8/1, pg 13,14) This, is how the spiritual Temple of God in the organization has been “destroyed”. What blasphemy to bully a spiritual nation with threats that the Almighty God recognizes as “war” against His people. (Dan 11:31-33, 36-37; 2 Thess 2:3-4, 9-10; Rev 13:7,10; Joe 3:9-14; Rev 12:7; 19:20; 2 Thess 2:8 ) Ezekiel 44:10,13 - The Lord said to me, “I am punishing those Levites who, together with the rest of the people of Israel, deserted me and worshiped idols. They are not to serve me as priests or to go near anything that is holy to me or to enter the Most Holy Place. This is the punishment for the disgusting things they have done.” Where is the “Most Holy Place” today? “The whole point of what we are saying is that we have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven. 2 He serves as high priest in the Most Holy Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord, not by human hands.” Hebrew 8:1,2 These adulterous governing leaders who have broken their covenant with the Father and the Son, have convinced millions of JWs that they will be serving as “priests/kings” with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God. According to Ezekiel 44:13, this will not be the case. No one transgresses God’s Temple and gets away with it. (Zech 2:1-10) They have created a “lawless” priesthood – an “abomination standing in the holy place”, that is destined to trample them down as well. (Jer 7:30; 19:4; Ezek 16:15; Hos 9:1; Jer 4:30; Rev 17:1,5,12-13,15-18) When the anointed realize/recognize/discern, that the Man of Lawlessness (the abomination), "does not belong" standing over them- (the Holy Place) (Mark 13:14) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark13%3A14&version=CSB they will "discern" that it is "the season" to get out, and "flee to the mountains" (Matt 24:15-16; Ezek 36:8; Isa 56:7; 25:6; 2:2; Matt 22:2; Rev 19:9) Christ's Return - When? It is time for all JWs – anointed, elders and JWs in general - to “get out” from under the power of the “disgusting thing”/“man of lawlessness” of the Wt. idol. Rev 18:4-8 The Disgusting Thing Standing in the Holy Place "Jezebel"