Zion

[Witness]

In the northern hemisphere, we are an the end of the harvest season, before the winter cold sets in.  The markets have moved from emphasis on greens, to the bright colors of local pumpkins, winter squash and the multiple varieties of apples.  In our own little garden, two small boys planted two small hills of pumpkins in the late spring.  Each boy was given three pumpkin seeds that they carefully planted in their designated hill, patting the soil with care and hope, for a productive harvest. Once sprouted, only two vines were allowed to grow on each hill. 

 As summer went by, the vines from both hills entangled together, and glossy large leaves hid any possibility of identifying the ownership of the pumpkins that grew.  Not until the leaves dried and fell off the vine, did they realize that their earlier perception of which hill grew which pumpkin, had been wrong. We followed the source of the vines and were surprised that the hill which seemed to produce the majority of the small harvest of pumpkins had only produced one. 

“Two” symbolizes truth in the scriptures. John 8:17  Two ‘hills’ or ‘mountains’ are present during this time of the end, each purporting to speak truth; each pronouncing that Christ’s final harvest is upon us, and each declaring an ingathering of righteous hearted ones.   One is a counterfeit of the other.  The “mountainlike organization” known as the Watchtower, teaches it has ‘harvested’ people unto Christ…should we guess, since its inception? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A17&version=CSB

Wt. 2001/7/15, pp 10-15 -  In an article entitled “Anointed to Preach,” Zion’s Watch Tower of July/August 1881 said: “The preaching of the good news . . . is going on ‘to the meek’—those willing and able to hear, in order to develop from among them the body of Christ, the joint heirs.” God’s HARVEST WORKERS often met people as these were leaving church services and gave them tracts containing Scriptural messages designed to evoke a favorable response in deserving ones. After a reappraisal of the effectiveness of this method of witnessing, the Watch Tower of May 15, 1903, urged harvest workers to distribute the tracts “from house to house, on Sunday forenoons.

The “good news” of 1881 expressed Armageddon’s arrival in 1914; thus, it had to be placed somewhere in the Watchtower’s annals that the harvest of the end of the age, had changed.

From “God’s Kingdom Rules”, chapter 9:

“The same order of events is seen in Jesus’ parable about the harvest of the wheat, where he states: “The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things.” Thus, the HARVEST SEASON and the conclusion of this system of things BEGAN at the same time—in 1914.” 

Rather confusing, isn’t it? Were the harvest workers in 1881 bringing the true message from God?  Do you struggle to believe BOTH recent publications printed since the year 2,000?

As said, there are two opposing “mountains” during the time of the end – the true “Zion” and the counterfeit.  Watchtower will boast,

“THE WONDERS ABOUT JEHOVAH’S ORGANIZATION, OR “ZION” AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL PARADISE MUST BE JOYFULLY PASSED ON “TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.” Wt. 15/7/15 pp. 7-11

God’s definition of Zion is far different than the Watchtower promotes. Daughter Zion is not an organization, nor does it refer to every “Jehovah’s Witness”.  It refers to “chosen” people who, if faithful will serve God and Christ eternally as “priests and kings” in God’s Kingdom, and are the spiritual descendants of Jacob and the dwelling of God’s Temple.  The end harvest is directed toward the anointed under the New Covenant promise, followed by their brethren that reside with them.  Both are found on the counterfeit “mountain”, the Watchtower Organization.  Zech 4:6,7; Isa 43:10; 1 Pet 2:5,9,10; Gal 4:26; 1 Cor 15:23

I noticed as the garden’s growing season progressed, I was continually plucking off diseased and rotten fruit, hoping to promote a healthier harvest of pumpkins.  Spiritually, we are “harvested” by the deep set intentions of our heart, known only to God and Jesus. If we choose to live in the “diseased” and spiritually “famished” environment of the Watchtower, we are rejected as unworthy for eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Matt 13:18-23; Heb 4:12 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zech+4%3A6%2C7%3B+Isa+43%3A10%3B+1+Pet+2%3A5%2C9%2C10%3B+Gal+4%3A26%3B+1+Cor+15%3A23%3B+Matt+13%3A18-23%3B+Heb+4%3A12++&version=CSB

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.”  Amos 8:11

 “Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit.  And He said, “Amos, what do you see?”

So I said, “A basket of summer fruit.”

Then the Lord said to me:

“The end has come upon My people Israel;
I will not pass by them anymore.
 And the songs of the temple
Shall be wailing in that day,”
Says the Lord God—
“Many dead bodies everywhere,
They shall be thrown out in silence.”  Amos 8:1-3

The Temple today are the anointed in Christ, who are ZION and spiritual “Israel”.  Amos wrote these words concerning the idol worship established by Jeroboam in Samaria (meaning “watch tower”/”watch mountain”) during his prosperous reign.  No doubt the nation was convinced they still worshiped God, through their calf idols. Jeroboam was successful in directing the people’s worship away from the true temple in Jerusalem, and the people didn’t question his authority. This is the same tactic used today in the organization.  1 Pet 2:5,9,10; 1 Cor 3:16,17;2 Cor 6:16; Rom 2:29; Acts 17:24 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet+2%3A5%2C9%2C10%3B+1+Cor+3%3A16%2C17%3B2+Cor+6%3A16%3B+Rom+2%3A29%3B+Acts+17%3A24++&version=CSB

Watchtower asks, “Are we going to remain loyal to Jehovah AND (along with) his organization?”  Wt 02/4/1

The true Mount “Zion” is not an idea manufactured within the minds and hearts of false prophets, such as the golden calves Jeroboam positioned at the far reaches of his empire. 1 Kings 12:28-31  It is within the hearts of those God has chosen as his “occupied home”; his “dwelling”.  1 John4:13; 2 Tim 1:14; 1 Cor 3:16; Rom.8:9  

We are all facing the culmination of the harvest. If our love for God is heartfelt and sincere, and we desire to serve him with our whole heart, mind and soul, we are to gather at the authentic, spiritual Mount Zion and God’s sanctuary.  Mark 12:33

Please, JWs, don’t be fooled by the apparent beauty and appeal of the Watchtower, which is manifested in Satan’s world.  His creative and alluring deception will be stripped bare, while the true Zion will fill the earth with God’s glory.  Rev 8:8,9;21:1-4

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+12%3A28-31%3B+1+John4%3A13%3B+2+Tim+1%3A14%3B+1+Cor+3%3A16%3B+Rom.8%3A9%3B+Mark+12%3A33%3B+Rev+8%3A8%2C9%3B21%3A1-4+++&version=CSB

The following is from Pearl Doxsey's article, "The Rise of Zion"  (4 woman in the wilderness)

2 IN THE LAST DAYS (2Tim.3:1,5,7-8; Matt.24:3; Rev.1:10)

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established

    as the highest of the mountains;

it will be exalted above the hills,

    and ALL NATIONS WILL STREAM TO IT.

3 Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD
(Isa.56:7; 2Pet.1:18; Zech.8:2-3; Joel3:17; Rev.14:1),

to the TEMPLE (1Pet.2:5; 1Cor.3:16; Eph.2:20-22,10) of the God of JACOB (Isa.10:20-21).

He will teach us his ways (Matt.28:20; Mal.2:7),

so that we may walk IN HIS PATHS.” 
(Isa.30:21; 40:3; 11:16; Mal.3:1; 4:5-6; Matt.17:11,3,2; Mal.4:1-3; Rev.1:16)

The law will go out FROM ZION (Ps.110:2; Rev.14:1,3; 1Cor.14:15; 4:1; Rev.5:9,10; Isa.48:20),

the word of the Lord FROM JERUSALEM (Rev.21:2,3; 3:12).

4 HE WILL JUDGE BETWEEN THE NATIONS AND WILL SETTLE DISPUTES FOR MANY PEOPLES.
(Luke12:51; 1Cor.11:18-19; 4:5; 13:10; Rev.1:1; John16:13,8; Ps.94:21; Rev.6:9,11; 13:15,7) 
(Rev.20:11-13; John12:48; Matt.12:36-37; 15:11; 1Cor.3:13-14; 2Cor.5:10; 1Cor.13:10; John16:13; Rev.22:6; Mal.3:1)

They will beat their swords into plowshares

    and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation (Rev.17:14; 16:13-16; Matt.24:7,21; Joel2:2,1; Rev.9:7,9,16; 2Cor.10:3-5; Dan.12:7; Rev.6:11;Rom.6:5),

nor will they train for war anymore.

5 Come, DESCENDANTS OF JACOB (Acts2:39; Deut.6:6-8; 1Cor.4:15),

LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD.  Isa 2:1-5