Rom.6:16, Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Prov.12:28, In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.
Rom.6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Deut.13:4, "You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
Deut.6:5, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 8 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
John 14:1, Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me [Jesus].
John 12:49, For I [Jesus] have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
John 15:10, If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Prov.2:1, My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the way of darkness; 14 Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths; 16 To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words, 17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. 18 For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead.
John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 15:16, You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Eph.5:23, For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 26, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
1 Cor.6:19, Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Eph.4:4, There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
Eph.4:5, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all
1 Cor.3:16, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Pet.2:5, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Mal.2:7, “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
1 Tim.4:1, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
2 Pet.2:1, But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
1 John 4:1, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Matt.24:24, For false christs [christ means anointed] and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Jude 1:19, It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
1 John 2:20, But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you;
Exod.20:4, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
Hab.2:18, What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols?
Isa.44:9, Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
John 8:44, You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
1 John 2:21 but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
Isaiah 44:10, Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing?
Deut.11:16, "Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,
Psalm 96:5, For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.
Job 33:4, The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 6:63, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
John 20:21, So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 23 "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Matt.12:37, For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Luke 15:10, Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Psalm 119:160, The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
Most who visit this blog site are, or were at one time, Jehovah’s Witnesses [JW’s]. In reflection on becoming a JW, was it not out of sincere desire to learn the truth about God, how to please Him and gain everlasting life? You desired to worship God the way He wants to be worshipped. You believed Watchtower teachings that said “Jehovah’s way of doing things” is to use the “faithful and discreet slave” (aka 11 governing body, anointed men) to lead the “earthly part” of his organization (aka, WT); the governing body gives direction to the “elders,” who they say are shepherds, implementing the gb’s direction to their congregations [w22 February Study Edition, p.4, para.8; w25 April Study Edition, p.19, para.16]. This belief you held in your heart as true, and led to baptism into the JW religion. Subsequently, you made a public oath, a religious allegiance, dedicating yourself to cooperating with the directives given by “Jehovah’s organization” [w26, February, p.10, para.8]. When obeying the directives of Watchtower, who are, or were you obeying…the Father and Jesus? Or the father of the lie (John 8:44)? Are they God’s “Spirit-directed organization” as they assert? [w23, June Study Edition, p.12, para.13]
According to scripture, it is true that anointed ARE divinely appointed spiritual priests are to perform spiritual duties as a service to God, gifted to them by God, which is patterned after the duties of priests performed in the first physical tabernacle (1 Sam.16:13; Exod.29:9; 40:15; Num.3:10; 18:7; Heb.8:1-5,10; 1 John 2:20-21,27; 1 Cor.3:16; 1 Pet.2:5,9; Mal.2:7; Rom.12:1; Heb.13:15).
However, one, no man can assume upon himself this honor unless divinely anointed by Holy Spirit, and so a spiritual priest who is it perform spiritual duties (Heb.5:4; Num.18:7; Ezek.44:6-9).
Two, show me where Jesus and in his apostles teachings directed disciples to build a physical religious structure to represent God (Acts 7:49-51; Isa.66:1; Acts 12:24; 1 Cor.3:16)?
Anointed are spiritual priests who ARE to be sought by people for true instruction, the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ who desires all men to be saved (1 Pet.2:5; Mal.2:7; John 17:3; John 20:21-22; Rom.10:13-15).
However, spiritual priests ARE NOT to use carnal/fleshly thinking when instructing others, but what the Holy Spirit teaches them, and by the power of the Spirit are revealed the mysteries of God found in Jesus’ words of Spirit…no lie is of the Spirit (1 John 2:20-21,27; John 6:63; 1 Cor.2:12,7,13-14,10,5; Matt.15:7-9; Col.2:22-23).
Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).
Jesus is the Word (John 1:1,14; Heb.4:12).
His words are Spirit and are life (John 6:63).
He committed no sin; sin is lawlessness, transgressing God’s divine laws/commandments (1 Pet.2:21-22; 1 John 3:4).
No deceit was in his mouth as he spoke only what he received from the Father by means of Spirit (1 Pet.2:21-22; John 12:49-50; 6:63).
Anointed belong to Jesus, and as he, must be blameless, holy, following his example as master and head (Col.3:9-10; Eph.4:25; 1 Thess.5:23-24; 1 Pet.2:21-22; 1 Pet.1:16; Psalm 34:13; John 10:27; 1 Cor.3:23). They must submit to Jesus, as he is the husband/head of his body members/spiritual priesthood/“wife/bride,” as they can do nothing without him (John 15:5,8; Eph.5:23,22,26-27,32; Eph.2:10; 4:11-12; 1 Cor.12:27,12; 1 Cor.3:16). You will recognize whose master anointed obey/serve/slave for, by the commandments they instruct, a symbolic identifying mark on their hand/works and forehead/mind (Deut.11:18; 6:6,8,7; Eph.5:14; John 8:12; Acts 26:16; 1:8; 26:18; Luke 11:35-36; Psalm 119:105; Prov.2:1-3,11-18; Eccl.9:5-6; Rev.14:9-10; Matt.7:15-20; Luke 6:43,45). Faithful Spirit-anointed have been sent by Jesus, they work for him and have been given the power understand Jesus’ judgments contained in his words and to forgive sins, or not (John 20:21-22; 6:63; Col.3:16; Matt.12:36; 1 John 4:5; Matt.12:37; Luke 6:45; Col.3:12; 1 Cor.6:2; Luke 10:16; John 12:48; 1 John 4:6; Zech.7:9; John 20:23).
In the last days, some among God’s own people, His spiritual priesthood will deny the power of God, the ability to teach them by His Spirit, and yet will claim their teachings not of His Spirit is truth, fooling/deceiving people by their appearance of godliness, though they are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Tim.3:13; Acts 20:29; Matt.24:24; 2 Tim.3:7,5; Matt.24:25). These are the false christs/anointed and false prophets who Jesus warned WILL arise…yes, anointed who falsely present their teachings as truth (Matt.24:24; John 8:44; 2 Cor.11:13-15; 1 Tim.4:1). They have chosen another master (Matt.7:15; John 8:44; Rev.16:13).
Do not be fooled, a person who is anointed is not a “once saved, always saved” election; God’s people have a choice to be faithful, holy and accepted by Him, or rebellious and rejected (Deut.28:1; Deut.30:19-20; 1 Sam.15:23; Dan.2:20-21; Matt.7:21-23; John 15:5-6). Just as God’s chosen nation, Israel, when rebelling against God’s commands were called a prostitute/harlot/adulteress, that is what that word in scripture is describing, an act of spiritual, not physical unfaithfulness, spiritual immorality by His Own People…so spiritual Israel/anointed, His People, can be unfaithful to their bridegroom/Jesus and commit spiritual fornication, playing the harlot with another master (Jer.2:2,7-8; Psalm 37:35; Jer.3:6; Deut.29:26; Jer.3:13; Psalm 73:27; 78:58; Ezek.33:11; Acts 3:19; Matt.25:1-2; Ezek.16:1-2,32; 2 Thess.1:9-10; 2 Thess.1:11-12; 1 Thess.4:3-8). <— Did you read those scriptures? God’s people who are unfaithful have always been referred to as a harlot in scripture. Who do you think in Revelation the harlot’s identity is? Christendom? Stop with that nonsense. That is not found in scripture.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1; Matt.7:15-20; 1 Thess.5:20-21).
Can anointed who produce bad fruit/lies and who lead many astray by their lies given citizenship in the holy city, New Jerusalem? No. New Jerusalem is holy, a spiritual “city” of truth, a mother covenant of life (Zech.8:3; Rev.21:2-4). Citizens of New Jerusalem who represent the covenant of life, have upheld the covenant, are faithful Spirit-anointed who teach truth that gives life, a spiritual city in which no liar has entry (Zech.8:3; Rev.21:2-4,27). Representatives of the mother covenant of life, New Jerusalem, are as a mother, her truthful teachings giving eternal life to “children,” all who ingest her truthful teachings (John 15:1-5; Eph.5:23,22,25-27,32; 1 Pet.2:21-22; John 6:63; Rev.21:2-4; 22:1-2). Rom.6:16; Prov.12:28; 4:14,19; Psalm 107:10-11; Acts 5:29; 1 Cor.7:23; Rom.8:5; John 3:6; Gal.4:26,24; 5:1; Rom.8:7-8; 1 John 2:27; Rom.8:1,6; Isa.26:3; Phil.2:13; 1 Pet.4:10; Phil.2:3; 1 Pet.4:11; Rev.21:2; Rev.5:10; 21:3-4; 22:1-2; Matt.7:18; 1 Pet.3:10; Rev.21:27; Rev.16:5; John 12:48; Luke 10:16). The holy city is not constructed/built on human ideas of what God’s arrangement is, but God, who is the architect (Heb.13:14; 11:10; Titus 1:2).
How can anointed whose teachings are bad fruit/rotten/lies, be representatives of New Jerusalem, a city of truth whose good fruit/teachings give life to those who ingest their teachings (Rev.21:2-4,27; Zech.8:3)? What fruit you ingest in your heart is either from a bad tree producing bad fruit/lies, or a good tree producing good fruit/truth, and that which you love and ingest is who you are…alive or dead (2 Gen.2:16-17; Rom.6:23; Gen.3:1-4; Matt.7:15-20; 2 Cor.11:3-4; Rom.6:16-17; Jer.15:16).
Why do you think the apostles brought our attention to the nation of Israel and their acts of disobedience? For behavioral lessons on how to treat others decently in the way you want to be treated? You need to be taught how to show human kindness? No amount of sitting in a KH listening to men no different than you and unqualified mental health professionals will help you with human issues. Please. Warnings and prophecies are contained in scripture, which are filled with spiritual symbolism regarding spiritual events and conditions prophesied to come regarding God’s people (Jer.9:2-3; Prov.18:21; Jer.9:4-5; Matt.7:15; Matt.24:25,24; Jer.9:6; 1 Cor.3:16; 2 Cor.11:3; Matt.24:23,21; Joel 1:15; Luke 21:24; Rev.13:10; Matt.24:29; Joel 3:14-15; Deut.28:62; Joel 3:16; Dan.12:1; Matt.24:30-31; Heb.1:7; Mal.2:7; 1 John 2:21,20,27; John 15:6; 1 Pet.2:9,5,10; Eph.2:4-5; 5:14; Dan.12:2-3; Eph.2:6; 2 Thess.2:1-4; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:24; Dan.12:10; Prov.13:20). The “bride/spiritual priesthood” must heed these prophetic warnings to remain clean, united to her bridegroom/Jesus…for THE Kingdom of God comes through her faithfulness to her head in speaking truth (1 Cor.10:1-11; Heb.4:11; Eph.5:5:25,27,31-32; 2 Cor.11:1-4; 1 Cor.6:16-17).
Have you, or are you still held captive to unreliable teachings that flip-flop and expire over time, needing to be replaced with a completely different teaching (Matt.7:15-20; Matt.24:24)? Do you still hope to be thrown a “nugget” of truth by WT leaders? That hope is in vain. They are not being given understanding of truth by Holy Spirit evidenced by their teachings (John 15:1-5; Matt.24:24; Matt.7:15-20; Luke 6:45). The WT anointed leaders are blind (Matt.15:14). The leaders themselves have admitted it in so many words…”We are not inspired,” “We Just Don’t Know.” The leaders of WT 100% fit the bill as false prophet by their failed prophecies alone…it only took one but why do so many JWs stay after numerous failed prophecies, let alone all their “truth” that changes (Deut.18:20-22; Titus 1:2; John 14:6; 6:63)? They have a laundry list of lies is as a piece of cloth, ragged and frayed from endless “whitewashing/untempered mortar,” in scripture, teachings are symbolic of walls (Ezek.22:28; 13:10,12). You must come to grip with and face what is hidden right in plain sight, but exposed by the light (Eph.5:12-14; John 3:19-21; 12:46).
So many JWs are recognizing this. My JW friend recently confessed of his own recognition and coming to terms with regarding the promises made regarding the “end”…that it is…just…not…coming. But he is still held captive in his mind…not obeying scripture. Those who stay in WT and are fearful of them, figuratively bow before them in obedience, are not worshipping God. They are worshipping an idol. A false representation of what is claimed to be God’s Spirit-directed organization.
Should we not obey God? You can. Test all teachings put forth by anointed who are taking a stand against their false teachings…read the scriptures referenced, do not despise prophecies (1 Thess.5:20-21; Acts 17:11). You will discern the difference between the clean, and unclean teachings of the leaders of WT, the false prophet (1 John 4:1; 1 Tim.4:1; 1 Pet.2:5; Mal.2:7; Ezek.44:23). When you do, and you are a JW (or fringe), don’t worry about the WT’s Gentile army of elders, they are not in control of you. They have not been given divine authority to judge you when you reject WT’s teachings…but they will, and will spiritually condemn you if you don’t obey WT and acknowledge it as God’s organization, and the “governing body” as the faithful a discreet slave. But their judgment in condemnation of you is not God’s judgment of you (1 Cor.2:15). You alone answer to God (Rom.14:12). You alone make the choice who you obey (Luke 4:8). You are in control of you, and your own decisions on whom you will obey (1 Cor.2:11-12). Take control of your thoughts and be obedient to Christ and don’t worry what mere men say (Luke 4:8; 2 Cor.10:5; Acts 5:29).
Think. Ask yourself:
Who among the anointed do you know, proclaim they lead God’s “Spirit-directed organization,” but produce bad fruit/teachings that rot, and as an excuse for their exhalation of an unclean spirit/lies, tell their followers they are not “inspired” (inhaling God’s breath, His Spirit) and can “err in doctrine,” [w17, February Study Edition, p.26, para.12]?
Who among the anointed you know have placed not-anointed to be shepherds, granting them duties of a spiritual priest, to instruct even anointed, and to have power to judge and spiritually condemn anointed and those not-anointed? If unsure, refer above to the first paragraph containing references from WT you can look up and read for yourself.
Do I hold in my heart, or still hold in my heart, teachings of unfaithful anointed with a long history of failed prophecies? If the proof manifest by their bad fruit isn’t enough for you, the direction by God tells you that only one failed prophecy by a “prophet” not sent by him means not to fear that person (Deut.18:20-22).
Will you obey God? Or will you obey men?
If anything is unclear, please ask for clarification. It’s okay you may be unlearned. No one is born spiritually mature but naive (Rom.16:18). Even newly anointed were deceived by WT false teachings, a different doctrine (2 Cor.11:2-3; Matt.24:24).
Sincere truth-seekers, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt.7:7-8).
Revelation is telling us that there will be a "two-horned" false prophet who uses it's power to act on behalf of a Wild Beast, causing all in it's domain to be restricted, in what they can think and do. The only thinking and doing permitted, is determined and authorized by the Wild Beast. Can you see this?
In reality, being marked by the lying doctrines of the Wild Beast, is in direct opposition to being marked by the true commands of God (Deut.6:6,8; 11:18; Luke 4:8). Only God has the right to direct ones thinking (forehead) and actions/power (right hand), which is the mark of God's slaves (Rev.7:3; 14:1).
Satan knows what unlearned people are naturally looking for when they seek religious authenticity. The unlearned are influenced by logical assertions, a tokenism and perfunctory use of scripture, the physical appearance of followers and their glow of conviction and respectability, the physical appearance of their places of meeting, the material and financial assets of the organization, the number of followers, their reach in proselytizing, false affirmation of divine approval through material gain, and every other power, prominence, and authority that is granted by this world's true ruler (1John 5:19; Luke 4:5,6; 2Cor.11:3,4,14,15,13; Mark 10:42,43,44).
People who fall prey to those material signs fail to recognize that the appraisal and value of these aforementioned assets, have nothing to do with holy spirit or divine truth (1Cor.1:27,28,29; Matt.22:6; Heb.13:13; Mark 13:13). Those stumbled by the signs which Satan controls, are caught and taken captive to an Idol... by Satan's counterfeit Zion (Rev.13:10; Col.2:8; Luke 21:24; Dan.11:33).
—Part II forthcoming —
