The sealing of the 144,000 is at hand...

[BroRando]

The sealing of the 144,000 is at hand...

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the undeserved kindness meant for you made a diligent inquiry and a careful search.  They kept on investigating what particular time or what season the spirit within them was indicating concerning Christ as it testified beforehand about the sufferings meant for Christ and about the glory that would follow.  It was revealed to them that they were ministering, not to themselves, but to you, regarding what has now been announced to you by those who declared the good news to you with holy spirit sent from heaven. Into these very things, angels are desiring to peer." (1 Peter 1:10-12)

The 144,000 are the living stones that Jesus was speaking about when he stated, “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) The term "this temple" was not the Temple of Stone that existed then. Jesus already inspected that Temple and upon his inspection of it, he found it as a cave of robbers. Did you never read this scripture: ‘The stone that the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone.' (Mark 12:10)

"But he was talking about the temple of his body." (John 2:21) Notice the scripture doesn't state his fleshly body for his fleshly body was to be sacrificed once and for all time, but rather 'the temple of his body.' “Just as the body is one but has many members, and all the members of that body, although many, are one body, so too is the Christ.” (1 Cor 12:12)

Allow scripture to interpret scripture. If Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of God's temple, then there must be other stones. The other living stones are in fact the 144,000. (Rev 7:4) "Just as the Christ is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body." (Ephesians 5:23b)

These living stones are Christ's Body.

• "Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you individually is a member." (1 Cor 12:27)
• "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that the spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
• WTS Quote: Paul calls the congregation “God’s temple.” At Eph 2:21, 22, the congregation is called “a holy temple” that God inhabits “by spirit.” This means that God uses his holy spirit, or invisible active force, to motivate those in the congregation, to sustain them, and to help them cultivate its fruitage. (Ga 5:22, 23) The apostle Peter uses a similar comparison, calling the disciples “living stones.” (1Pe 2:5)

The Apostle Peter also referred to the temple by stating, "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen, precious to God, you yourselves as living stones are being built up into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, in order to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5)

The 144,000 are Christ's body in which mankind can approach the One True God, Jehovah through Jesus Christ. They are also known has Christ's Brothers in how the world of mankind will be Judged in the Last Days that are now coming to their end. Notice the following scriptures:

• Jesus said to her: “Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.’” (John 20:17) Jesus own statement exposes the lie that he and the evildoer went to heaven the same day they were to die. Notice he stated to Mary Magdalene, "Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father" after his resurrection.
• "For just as we have in one body many members, but the members do not all have the same function, so we, although many, are one body in union with Christ, but individually we are members belonging to one another." (Romans 12:4)
• Then he will answer them, saying: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of these least ones, you did not do it to me.’ (Matthew 25:45) Jesus will condemn those who mistreat the least ones of his brothers.

But how long would the sealing of the 144,000 take? This sealing process is a timed event. It did not take place in a literal 72 hour period. "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000" (Rev 7:4) And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrise, having a seal of the living God; and he called with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying: “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.” (Rev 7:2-3)

Did you notice what is to happen before the four angels are allowed to harm the earth? It was after a certain event. Once the 144,000 are sealed, then it paves the way for Jesus to bring judgement upon those who mistreated his chosen ones of the 144,000. The scriptures are pointed. "If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple." (1 Corinthians 3:17)

So let's review Jesus' Prophecy that has been unfolding since Pentecost 33 CE. “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) This temple is Christ's Brothers of the 144,000 which are in turn Christ's Body. Jesus stated "in three days I will raise it up."

Jesus could of stated this in several ways.

• in three days
• on the third day
• after two days

Again, allow scripture to interpret scripture. "He will revive us after two days. On the third day he will raise us up, And we will live before him." (Hosea 6:2)

Look and see with eyes of faith. Apply the scriptures. "However, do not let this escape your notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8)

• The Body of Christ began to be collected on Pentecost 33 CE.
• Pentecost happened on 33 CE + 2000 yrs = 2033 CE the third day begins 2034. Not all anointed will be heavenly at this point but you can apply other scriptures during the Last Days of this Age as they come to their End:

"Look! I tell you a sacred secret: We will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we will be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

You won't find 2034 in the Bible, but you won't find 33 CE either. Yet, 33 CE was a 'timed event' that comes from the Messiah being cut off in the middle of that 70th week and Pentecost followed 50 days later. They looked with their eyes but they could not see.

We also get 1914 from another 'timed event' that occurred. But when you add the Last Days of Noah, what do you get for the Last Days of this Age? 1914 + 120 yrs = 2034

Knowing these things doesn't give you divine protection or extraordinary insight but it may make you more accountable to Jehovah. "For the vision is yet for its appointed time, And it is rushing toward its end, and it will not lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it! For it will without fail come true. It will not be late!" (Habakkuk 2:3)

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

On 12/14/2021 at 6:31 AM, BroRando said:

We also get 1914 from another 'timed event' that occurred. But when you add the Last Days of Noah, what do you get for the Last Days of this Age? 1914 + 120 yrs = 2034

Oh dear, the same old record. Maybe it will be 2034, maybe it won't.

But what about the cutting the time short for the sake of the Elect / Chosen ones ? 

Do you know how much will be cut short ?  I don't think you do. 

[BroRando]

51 minutes ago, Patiently waiting for Truth said:

Oh dear, the same old record. Maybe it will be 2034, maybe it won't.

But what about the cutting the time short for the sake of the Elect / Chosen ones ? 

Do you know how much will be cut short ?  I don't think you do. 

On 12/14/2021 at 1:31 AM, BroRando said:

• The Body of Christ began to be collected on Pentecost 33 CE.
• Pentecost happened on 33 CE + 2000 yrs = 2033 CE the third day begins 2034. Not all anointed will be heavenly at this point but you can apply other scriptures during the Last Days of this Age as they come to their End:

In the first part of 1914, the Bible Students known as International Bible Students Association discussed the “time of trouble” on the printed page called The Bible Students Monthly.

Early in 1914, an issue of The Bible Students Monthly was issued with the large bold heading “END OF WORLD IN 1914?

 

Some have quoted the large headline of this tract as proof that Russell was expecting the “end of the world” in 1914. However, such neglect the subheading under the larger headline, which states: “NOT THE VIEW OF PASTOR RUSSELL NOR OF I.B.S.A.”

International Bible Students Association: "Nevertheless, when viewed from God’s standpoint, we are still “shortly after” 1914. Although Russell himself did not think the time of trouble would be this long, he did allow that it could be. It is possible that the time allotted for this period is 120 years (1914+120=2034), but that these days will be “cut short” some time before they are allowed to reach their end. We do not put this forth as a “prophecy”, nor would we feel anything was wrong if 2034 came and went and nothing had happened as far the full binding of Satan and the destruction of his empire is concerned. All things are in God’s hands."

Better times lay ahead of us, but not for everyone. “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.” (Rev 7:3)

Notice that harm to the earth, sea, or trees are being withheld until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads. This is in reference to sealing of the 144,000 which are representatives of God’s temple, the Body of Christ, New Jerusalem, Christ’s Brothers, and even the Bride of Christ. All are one in the same. 

Once the total number of the 144,000 are sealed, then a colossal of other prophecies begin to become fulfilled. “I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, and I will not allow my holy name to be profaned any longer; and the nations will have to know that I am Jehovah, the Holy One in Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7) 

Time left is reduced and turning back will no longer be a recourse once the 144,000 are sealed.

 

[Patiently waiting for Truth]

4 hours ago, BroRando said:

once the 144,000 are sealed.

This is a point to think about.  How can the living Chosen Ones be sealed ? 

That would mean that they were guaranteed a 'place' as part of The Bride of Christ, even though they had not proven themselves right up to their death. Because in fact they will not see death, but will change from human to spirit. 

So does that mean that all of the Anointed will be in Heaven a while before the Judgement of the earthly ones ? 

When I was a JW i never concerned myself with all this. I just knew that God through Christ would sort it all out. But now I'm digging deeper it seems so much more complicated.