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No Hope, no change I recently attended a Memorial service of the Jehovah’s Witnesses with some friends. We were greeted by friendly faces that seated us. We turned to song No. 87. Then came the opening prayer. After the singing and introduction by prayer we sat through the speakers presentation of what the Memorial means, we were told that this would be an replication of that same Passover but it was not. Clearly they do not understand what Pesach is nor how it was conducted. He spoke of how His sacrificed is to be remembered They spoke of other peoples view- how they believed Jesus died for me, but said its meaning is so much more than just his death. It gives him the right to rule over us. Then that Jesus was the only perfect man after Adam. They gather once a year as a reminder of his “Loving provision of the ransom” The speaker asked, “Why did Jesus God’s only begotten son have to die?” Adam he said he had an imperfection, had that leaning of sin and disobeyed God. So all offspring from Adam would have that same defect. Adam had no defect, the bible says Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree …”1 Tim 2:14 “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” In other words Adam willfully disobeyed, he did not have any flaw in him prior to have a propensity toward sin. He spoke of the cup as the new covenant “by virtue of my blood poured out” That God needed to provide a ransom for exchange to connect us back to eternal life. This took place on Mar. 30th yet he said “ one thousand nine hundred and seventy seven years ago tonight”.(But this night was not the 24th of Nisan- so he was inaccurate), they were doing what we are doing today.They did not do what you did today- they ALL partook of the bread and cup except one- Judas. That Jehovah has provided a reminder an undeserved gift that God has provided, Jesus was willing to die The Bible teaches that we need to do something Jn.3:16. Exercise faith in the Son - action on our part. Jm.2:24 tells us we need to do something, it denotes action He then gave some stories that illustrated the example. In other words, Jesus died for us so we can work for our own salvation. The concept of grace, which is the new covenant is eliminated. He then told the congregation that 144,000 were picked, marked to serve in heaven. They began being picked in Jesus’ time. Last year 18 million attended the service; which is 120 percent more than members. He also stated there were 10,857 that partook of the emblems. This night would not be the case, I saw NO one take of the emblems. It was a very sad display of people that are insisting to not be in the new covenant or going to heaven, and you know what- they are right. They are not in the new covenant so they should not partake of the emblems. The speaker then went to Rev.14:7 those who master the song (Rev.5:9), those who sang the song, stating they are not only from Israel but from everywhere.” Then he went to Rom.8:16 these are given insurance for a heavenly hope. Rev.14:4 they are the firstfruits; Jn.10:16 we are the other sheep Citing Isa.65:21 The anointed partake of the emblems; the rest of us observe, appreciate them. Because to the Jehovah’s Witness it is great sacrifice to go to heaven and not be in the earthly paradise, even though we are told paradise is now found in heaven. He stated that Jehovah could have sent any angel but Jehovah always gives his best- his son ( meaning the argh angel Michael) then spoke of a elder that told him a story about the 6-9 hour where “Jehovah turned off the lights so that he would not see his son suffer (as if darkness on earth KEEPS THE GOD who made all things blind). He does not comprehend the spiritual judgment that took place in our place. Quoted Jn.17, that we have to continue to take in knowledge. 1 Cor. 11:25 was read then the elements were passed throughout the congregation and he invited everyone to observe the Lords meal with us, meaning to gaze at it, NOT partake of it unless you are one of the 144,000 that has Jesus as your mediator. From witnessing their service of the Passover questions arise, questions that if a Jehovah Witness thought them through they would see the folly of their ways, that what they have accepted is not what the Bible teaches. “Jesus mediatorship operates solely toward those in the new covenant” (Insight on the Scriptures p.362) For the 144,000 the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant is administered through the new covenant As participants in this covenant, they come under undeserved kindness" and "under toward Christ." (Romans 6:15; 1 Corinthians 9:21) Hence, the 144,000 members of the Israel of God have properly partaken of the emblems during the Memorial of Jesus' death, and only with them did Jesus make his covenant for a Kingdom.” (THE WATCHTOWER- Feb. 1, 1998 p.24) Heb 10:16-21 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God.” Without the mediator your SINS are NOT FORGIVEN. You are rejecting his ransom. You cannot commune with God without having Jesus blood applied FOR YOU. Their service did not replicate what happened that last Passover. Everyone partook of the Passover meal, the bread and the cup, everyone that is except Judas. How does the memorial show respect when they do not participate in it? The fact that the Jehovah's Witnesses do not take communion gives proof that they are not part of the body of Christ – the church which is his only body here on earth furthermore their refusal to take the bread and the cup ahows that they do not have a covenant relationship with God through Christ, of whom the elements represent. T he Bible does not restrict communion to only the 144,000; this is made up by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. The Lord's Supper is meant for the body of believers in the true and living God who have been redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord's Supper is not for those who are outside the camp of Christ. Since the great majority of the Jehovah's Witnesses do not take communion, this is a testimony against“Since sharing in the bread and wine passed during the Memorial involves all of this, it would obviously be inappropriate for those having an earthly hope to partake. Those with an earthly hope discern that they themselves are not anointed members of the body of Christ, nor are they in the new covenant that Jehovah made with those who will rule with Jesus Christ. Since "the cup" represents the new covenant, only those in the new covenant partake of the emblems. Those looking forward to everlasting life in human perfection on earth under the Kingdom are neither baptized into Jesus' death nor called to rule with him in heaven. Were they to partake of the emblems, it would signify something that is not true with respect to them. Thus, they do not partake, though they do attend the Memorial as respectful observers." (Watchtower 2006 Feb 15 p. 24) John 6:53-57 "Accordingly Jesus said to them: "Most truly I say to YOU,
Unless YOU eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, YOU have no life
in yourselves. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting
life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; for my flesh is true food, and
my blood is true drink. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in
union with me, and I in union with him. Just as the living Father sent me forth
and I live because of the Father, he also that feeds on me, even that one will
live because of me." (NWT) This is a very sad display of false teaching affecting millions of members. Not only do they not know who Christ is, but they are taught that he is not their mediator to God which convinces them not to want to go to heaven but be on a pradise earth. Even though the Bible teaches those in heaven will be brought back to earth, with Christ when he comes back to rule. Yet, they are right—they shouldn’t take the communion because they are correct – they are not in the new covenant. But it is far more serious than any Jehovah witness knows. It means their sins are not forgiven. Why was this not a replication of that same Passover? Jesus said in Matt 26:27-28 “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” The cup represents the blood shed for sins. All except the one who betrayed Jesus drank from it that last Passover and we saw no one drink from the cup this night either. The blood is the new covenant, without it you cannot receive any of the benefits of it. 1 Cor 11:27-29: “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” The cup is not for only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses, and… they are not mediators, ONLY Jesus is the mediator of ALL men.1 Tim 2:5-6: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” That is how he mediated by giving himself as the ransom. So if he is not your mediator he is not your ransom. There is only one appointed as the mediator, that is our high priest. Notice it says he was a ransom for all, not just for 144,000. And neither can the 144,000 be a substitute mediator because God says there is only one. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are being lied to by the Watchtower organization that controls them by their distorted teaching of the Scripture. “Since the days of the apostles, God has been selecting faithful Christians in order to complete the number 144,000.” (What Does the Bible Really Teach?, 2005, p. 78-79) How is it possible for the numbers to increase when it began at the time of the apostles? It was after all the apostles died that John wrote about the 144,000 to be sealed in a future tense. So no other apostle knew about this, not even Paul. So how would they be part of the 144,000 John spoke of? The Watchtower Society teaches that the decreasing number of “The Remnant” is proof that we living in the Last Days:“Six Convincing Lines of Evidence” that we are in the Last Days. … Sixth, the number of genuine anointed disciples of Christ is dwindling, though some will evidently still be on earth when the great tribulation begins. Most of the remnant are quite elderly, and over the years the number of those who are truly anointed has been getting smaller.” (Watchtower 2000 Jan. 15 p.13) "Their being identified in 1935 as the great crowd of other sheep was an indication that the choosing of the 144,000 was then about complete" (Revelation, Its Grand Climax Now at Hand p.125) "We understand that this heavenly calling continued down through the centuries, though during the so-called Dark Ages, there may have been times when the number of anointed ones were very few. With the reestablishment of true Christianity near the end of the last century, more were called and chosen. But it seems that in the mid-1930's, the full number of the 144,000 was basically completed. Thus there began to appear a group of loyal Christians with the earthly hope. Jesus termed such "other sheep," who unite in worship with the anointed as one approved flock." (Watchtower 1996 Aug. 15 p.31) “ … the number of anointed ones on the earth has decreased over the decades… ” (Watchtower Feb. 15 2009 par.14 pp.27-28) then why do we see the number of “Memorial Partakers” increasing?”: There were 8,661 in 2000; 8,760 in 2002; 8,570 in 2004, 8,524 in 2005. In 2008 there was almost a 10% increase in the number of Partakers over 2007! 9,986 “Memorial Partakers” in 2008. 2009 there were 10,857. The number has gone up every year since 2005. Seems that a number of Jehovah’s Witnesses have changed their mind and want to go to heaven . With the number of partakers of the emblems increasing, Their doctrine on this subject has to be altered. What is apparent is that more Jehovah’s Witnesses are desiring to go to heaven; or they do not understand their own teaching. Look at what the Bible actually teaches and see if this is what the Watchtower teaches: Rev. 7:9 “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands” That’s the 144,000 in heaven- NO, it is not read carefully, after the 144,000 are sealed, this is the great multitude before the throne and the lamb and they are in white robes. This next section tells us why… Rev. 7:13-14 “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Notice it is the great crowd is cleansed by the blood not JUST the 144,000. No one can enter the kingdom either in heaven or on earth unless they are cleansed by the blood of Jesus What we can be sure of is that the organization is keeping them from the forgiveness Jesus gives to all who come to Him. They might think the new covenant applies to them (through the 144,000) but it does not when you do not have Jesus as your mediator who brings you intro the new covenant. |
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