Post by ResLight on May 1, 2015 20:17:21 GMT -5
One asks if we believe that Jesus returned in 1874 and "inspected the temple".
(This is the fourth part of the updated study: "The Parousia, the Seventh Trumpet and the Harvest")
While we probably not put it that way, we do believe that Jesus began the harvest work related to the separating of the tares from the wheat; this is indeed an inspection of all who profess to be Christian, and since those who are being called to follow Jesus are spoken of as the temple of God, one could say that this is a inspection of the temple. Many claim that the harvest is carried out along physical lines, but we believe the harvest is along spiritual lines, and that is carried out, not by the servants of Jesus in the flesh, but by the angels.
The questioner further asks: "Did jesus make a decision during that time period and make a chosing of a particular group?"
The questioner is evidently asking if we have a belief similar the Jehovah's Witnesses, who claim that Jesus, in 1918, inspected the temple, and approved of Rutherford's religion, to which our answer is no. We need to remember that the choosing of the faith seed of Abraham has been going on ever since the first century. In 1874, we believe that a special period began which is called the "harvest". However, we also believe that the choosing of the wheat class at the end of the age is done by means of the angels, and therefore, we conclude that the wheat class cannot be represented by any physical group, such as the Bible Students. The revealing of the wheat, however, cannot be until after Satan is abyssed.
The questioner further asks: "Did jesus really return and examine babylon the great, and then appoint a certain group? Was that the great tribulation? "
By "group", I assume this refers to physical outward group, such the Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Bible Students movement. We have no reason to believe that Jesus has appointed a certain sectarian group, nor a certain individual, etc., to be "the true religion", or "the true church." Babylon the Great represents sectarianism, denominationalism, organizations (and associated false doctrines created by humans) that separate the sheep. To come out of Babylon the Great would signify rejection of denominational sectarianism and, and to the extent possible, the doctrines of men associated with such demoninationalism. The destruction of Babylon the Great signifies the destruction of all kinds of sectarianism and denominationalism. God is not going to allow such sectarian divisions to continue in His kingdom.
On the other hand, the tares are now being revealed as false Christians, often denying the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, accepting the idea that man got here by evolution, etc. Many of these tares openly deny Christ, and openly declare themselves as deists, agnostics, atheists, etc., while others retain the name of Christ, but in some way deny the power of blood of Jesus. Indeed, one can often hear of some claiming to be a Christian atheist, Christian agnostic, Christian deist, Christian Wiccan, Christian Buddhist, Christian Spiritualist, etc. We do believe, however, most of the Christians who profess Christ today will be found to be of the tare class. Nor does joining in association with the Bible Students movement make one of the wheat class. This does not mean that those who are found to be tares will be eternally destroyed, as the JWs teach; it simply means that their outward standing as a servant of Christ will eventually be burned up in the furnace of the time of trouble. No one amongst mankind, however, has been given any authority to point to this or that professed Christian and say "You are a tare," although many are claiming they have authority to do so. Likewise, we have no authority to claim that one is of the wheat class because they belong to the Bible Students movement. Nor can we believe we have any authority to designate who among the "wheat" class will be found to arrived at the goal, the mark, of the prize of our high calling, so we should say to this person: "You are one of 144,000", and to another, "You are not one of the 144,000." We believe that all three major classes of Revelation 7 will be revealed after Satan is abyssed.
Thus, we do not believe that Jesus came in 1874 to inspect and approve any outward "group" as being approved as the JWs teach in doctrine concerning 1918. The inspection is of individuals, not of an outward "group." Nor do we teach, as to the JWs, that one has belong to and/or recognize the Bible Students, Charles Taze Russell, or any other outward group, etc., in order to be saved, as as to live into the new age.
As Charles Taze Russell pointed out many times, the true church is not about an outward organization, but it pertains to individuals.
See also:
The Great Multitude
binfo.rlbible.com/?p=56
The 144,000 and the Twelve Tribes
binfo.rlbible.com/?p=60
Charles Taze Russell and sectarianism
ctr.rlbible.com/?cat=72
The study may be found online at:
rl-bibleinfo.com/?p=362
(This is the fourth part of the updated study: "The Parousia, the Seventh Trumpet and the Harvest")
While we probably not put it that way, we do believe that Jesus began the harvest work related to the separating of the tares from the wheat; this is indeed an inspection of all who profess to be Christian, and since those who are being called to follow Jesus are spoken of as the temple of God, one could say that this is a inspection of the temple. Many claim that the harvest is carried out along physical lines, but we believe the harvest is along spiritual lines, and that is carried out, not by the servants of Jesus in the flesh, but by the angels.
The questioner further asks: "Did jesus make a decision during that time period and make a chosing of a particular group?"
The questioner is evidently asking if we have a belief similar the Jehovah's Witnesses, who claim that Jesus, in 1918, inspected the temple, and approved of Rutherford's religion, to which our answer is no. We need to remember that the choosing of the faith seed of Abraham has been going on ever since the first century. In 1874, we believe that a special period began which is called the "harvest". However, we also believe that the choosing of the wheat class at the end of the age is done by means of the angels, and therefore, we conclude that the wheat class cannot be represented by any physical group, such as the Bible Students. The revealing of the wheat, however, cannot be until after Satan is abyssed.
The questioner further asks: "Did jesus really return and examine babylon the great, and then appoint a certain group? Was that the great tribulation? "
By "group", I assume this refers to physical outward group, such the Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Bible Students movement. We have no reason to believe that Jesus has appointed a certain sectarian group, nor a certain individual, etc., to be "the true religion", or "the true church." Babylon the Great represents sectarianism, denominationalism, organizations (and associated false doctrines created by humans) that separate the sheep. To come out of Babylon the Great would signify rejection of denominational sectarianism and, and to the extent possible, the doctrines of men associated with such demoninationalism. The destruction of Babylon the Great signifies the destruction of all kinds of sectarianism and denominationalism. God is not going to allow such sectarian divisions to continue in His kingdom.
On the other hand, the tares are now being revealed as false Christians, often denying the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, accepting the idea that man got here by evolution, etc. Many of these tares openly deny Christ, and openly declare themselves as deists, agnostics, atheists, etc., while others retain the name of Christ, but in some way deny the power of blood of Jesus. Indeed, one can often hear of some claiming to be a Christian atheist, Christian agnostic, Christian deist, Christian Wiccan, Christian Buddhist, Christian Spiritualist, etc. We do believe, however, most of the Christians who profess Christ today will be found to be of the tare class. Nor does joining in association with the Bible Students movement make one of the wheat class. This does not mean that those who are found to be tares will be eternally destroyed, as the JWs teach; it simply means that their outward standing as a servant of Christ will eventually be burned up in the furnace of the time of trouble. No one amongst mankind, however, has been given any authority to point to this or that professed Christian and say "You are a tare," although many are claiming they have authority to do so. Likewise, we have no authority to claim that one is of the wheat class because they belong to the Bible Students movement. Nor can we believe we have any authority to designate who among the "wheat" class will be found to arrived at the goal, the mark, of the prize of our high calling, so we should say to this person: "You are one of 144,000", and to another, "You are not one of the 144,000." We believe that all three major classes of Revelation 7 will be revealed after Satan is abyssed.
Thus, we do not believe that Jesus came in 1874 to inspect and approve any outward "group" as being approved as the JWs teach in doctrine concerning 1918. The inspection is of individuals, not of an outward "group." Nor do we teach, as to the JWs, that one has belong to and/or recognize the Bible Students, Charles Taze Russell, or any other outward group, etc., in order to be saved, as as to live into the new age.
As Charles Taze Russell pointed out many times, the true church is not about an outward organization, but it pertains to individuals.
See also:
The Great Multitude
binfo.rlbible.com/?p=56
The 144,000 and the Twelve Tribes
binfo.rlbible.com/?p=60
Charles Taze Russell and sectarianism
ctr.rlbible.com/?cat=72
The study may be found online at:
rl-bibleinfo.com/?p=362
