[See blog with graphics at: http://www.singnewsong.com/covenant.html]
Indeed, given our present understanding of things today, someone could reasonably ask the following:
Actually, what Jehovah's witnesses teach about covenants is a contradiction. What we mean here, is they mistakenly confuse the idea that "gentiles" who benefit from the Abrahamic Covenant, can be used as teachers of God's Word to lead and teach other people of the "nations." When in fact, that's really an impossibility in itself. God foretold, the nations would "bless themselves" by obedience to Abraham's "Seed". This is seen by their "streaming" to the Mountain of Jehovah in the "last days." The "nations" are taught Jehovah's Law and "learn war no more." The "nations" are seen feeding from God's Provision, the Trees of Righteousness, that regularly feed them spiritual "food" which are sustained by "living, healing waters" from God's Temple. (Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-4; Ezekiel 47:12)Do you think Jehovah's Witnesses are trapped in this idea of being in a heavenly covenant taught by the Watchtower Society, even though almost all of them believe they will live upon the earth, and don't want to die at all?
Any thoughts?
Remember bible prophecy said in the "last days,"
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.' " (Zechariah 8:23 NIV)
Does that sound like these men of the "nations", beneficiaries of the Abrahamic Covenant themselves, are TAKING THE LEAD in the teaching of God's Word, in the "last days"? That's when they admittedly have to GRAB HOLD OF THE HEM OF HIS ROBE, this ONE PERSON ... this ONE "JEW," this one man, in the "last days," as the New International Version says?
I don't think so.
By the way, you will notice in all translations of the bible (besides the one produced by the Watchtower Society), this particular bible text actually reads "ONE JEW," or "A JEW" as in one man, who leads the "nations" in the "last days." This is completely opposite of how the Watchtower Society translates this verse by saying:
"...We will go with YOU [people], because we have heard God is with YOU [people]." (Zechariah 8:23 NWT)
(So by adding the word "people" to the word "YOU" in this verse, the translators of the New World Translation change the original meaning of the verse away from meaning the people "out of all languages of the nations" being led by ONE MAN, ONE JEW so to speak, and make it out to be a JEWISH NATION, instead. Now, the verse says, "I will go with YOU PEOPLE," when the verse actually did not say this. Why not investigate this point, at your earliest convenience.)
Nevertheless, in the congregations of Jehovah's witnesses today, what do we see? Isn't it true the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses all claim to be using "gentiles" ... "gentiles" themselves to preach the "good news" message to the world of gentiles, and not using PRIMARILY spiritual "Israel" themselves to proclaim the sacred message? Didn't Jesus say, the "good news" would be preached "TO" the nations, and not be preached "BY" the nations? Isn't that the correct way to view this matter? (Please review Matthew 24:14 & Mark 13:10)
Think about it.
So in reality it winds up, what Jehovah's Witnesses call "Other Sheep," who are primarily preaching the "good news", are supposedly NOT ... NOT a part of the covenant, which entitles them to rule with Jesus in heaven. This means in essence, these ones make up about 99.9% of the organization that carries out the preaching of the "good news" worldwide. It is they, the "Other Sheep," who are doing the bulk of the sacred work, on a worldwide scale in reality. (Genesis 22:18; John 10:16)
But this is actually, unscriptural. You see, the bible teaches only "Israel" should be handling the Sacred Message. Israel should be teaching the "good news," and only them. Now, if the Jehovah's witnesses really believe that "Israel" today, is limited to only 144,000 members, then they should be the ones that are discharged with the responsibility to preach the "good news" and not the so-called "gentile" people or nations of this earth, who are supposed to be benefiting from the actual preaching done by Spiritual "Israel," of our time.
So its really a contradiction within itself, what the Jehovah's witnesses teach and believe, about their preaching the "good news" and how it is accomplished in our day. Their views, are unscriptural, and not bible-based as they claim.
Someone could further say on this topic:
One thing we must remember, the christian covenant is one where all, that's ALL members are following in the actual footsteps of Jesus, and thus accept a martyr's death like his. They, in imitation of Jesus, all look forward to receiving heavenly life with Jesus, as their ultimate reward. This no doubt, was the sole, singular hope of first century christians.So, do you think Jehovah's Witnesses are misled, away from Jesus' covenant?
In other words, are you saying JWs are not really "christian" because of Watchtower teachings?
Also, should all Jehovah's Witnesses be taught they are going to heaven? Would this straighten the problem out, in your opinion?
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught by the Watchtower Society the word "christian" can apply to all who wish to follow the example of christ, and live by the teachings of christ. So, they divide the congregation up into two (2) parts, when they adopt the terms "Anointed" Christians, and Non-Anointed "Christians." When actually, to use the designations this way, is redundent. That's because the word "christian" means "anointed" one. So when you say someone is an "anointed" christian, you are repeating yourself with the same word. Because "anointed" and "christian" means the same thing.
The Israelites led by Moses was considered ONE (1) Congregation before God. And all Israelites who were apart of that nation, was considered in ONE COVENANT, that's all of them. Among the nation, they had a "priestly" tribe, that was especially dedicated to God. But still, the whole nation was viewed as a "priestly" nation or kingdom. All were members of the Mosaic Law Covenant. And they all had the same hope ...the same hope for the future, to live on earth as a "priestly" nation, everlastingly. (Exodus 19:5, 6)
Next, when Jesus came, he brought another covenant from God. Again, everyone in this particular covenant, still had the exact same hope ... the same hope for the future. Now at this time, everyone looked forward to dying a martyr's death like Jesus, and being raised to life to live with Jesus in heaven, eternally. Paul said first century christians had 'one hope, one faith, one baptism.' (Ephesians 4:4, 5)
Now, we come down our day and time. The Watchtower Society says, there are actually two (2) hopes being held within the modern day congregation of christians. And only a few (144,000) can say they are covenant-members of the christian covenant, and look forward to heavenly life. But the vast majority of "christians" present in the JW congregation, must look forward to earthly life as "gentiles" who benefit from the presence of the "anointed" among them, they say. According to the Watchtower Society, these ones don't have an actual covenant-relationship with God. But still, they are to be considered "christians" who don't have a covenant relationship with God, at all.
I ask, can such a thing be possible? Is such a thing scriptural?
What do you think? Any ideas?
yorww