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Food for Thinking Jehovah's Witnesses
“‘But you are seeking great things for yourself. Stop seeking such things. For I am about to bring a calamity on all flesh,’ declares Jehovah, ‘and wherever you may go, I will grant you your life as a spoil.’”
Disclaimer: this site does not claim to hold the truth. The reader should be able to exercise good judgment, carefully examining the Scriptures as to whether these things are so. (Acts 17:11)
Robert King (e-watchman)
Who are the 24 elders in Revelation? (The opinion of Robert King)
Who are the twenty four Elders in the book of Revelation? According to the Watchtower the 24 elders represent the 144,000 as a group. Do you agree with their interpretation?

Yes, I agree with their interpretation. The first mention of the 24 elders is in the fourth chapter of Revelation. It reveals that 24 elders sit upon thrones and wear golden crowns upon their heads – obviously symbolizing that they are kings. Also, their thrones are situated around Jehovah’s throne, indicating that their kingship is closely tied with God’s kingship. The angels are never spoken of as ruling kings, nor is there any reference in all the Bible to angels sitting upon thrones. But the apostle Paul told his fellow anointed brothers in the Corinthian congregation that if they went on enduring they would rule together as kings, and not just over the earth; Paul revealed that those who are called to heaven in union with Christ will judge angels — meaning, they will have authority over them. All things considered, the 24 elders sitting upon thrones next to God can only be those who are ruling as kings in company with Christ. Furthermore, King David divided the Aaronic priests into 24 divisions. (1 Chronicles 24) The 24 elders apparently signify that they are also serving as priests. That is in harmony with what is stated in the 20th chapter of Revelation regarding those who experience the first resurrection, where it states: “They will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.” In the Israelite system the priests were foremost before God. They took the lead in the worship of Jehovah God, which is exactly what the 24 elders are depicted doing. There are several instances where the 24 elders bow before God and the Lamb. Here is one instance: “The twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated upon the throne and worship the One that lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.’” One of the primary objections raised by some against the 24 elders representing the 144,000 is that the elders appear in the vision of Revelation before Jesus is handed the scroll to commence the revelation, which would also include the first resurrection. So, how can the 24 elders be in heaven before the resurrection? Well, for one thing Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians that anointed Christians are seated in heavenly places even while they are in the flesh, before they rule as kings in the new system. At Ephesian 2:6-7 Paul wrote: “Moreover, he raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus, so that in the coming systems of things he might demonstrate the surpassing riches of his undeserved kindness in his graciousness toward us in union with Christ Jesus.” This harmonizes with the opening vision of Revelation that reveals seven golden lamp stands in heaven —symbolizing the seven congregations on earth. Furthermore, Paul opened his letter to the Ephesian by stating: “He chose us to be in union with him before the founding of the world, that we should be holy and unblemished before him in love. For he foreordained us to be adopted as his own sons through Jesus Christ, according to his good pleasure and will…” Paul is not here stating that the individuals who would be called and eventually chosen to rule with Christ were “foreordained.” What was foreordained is the adoption of a set number of sons. So, since God willed for 144,000 to be in union with Christ from the founding of the world, and God considered those in union with Christ to be seated in heavenly places, with access to God, and God’s purpose for a Kingdom is certain of success, it is as though the 24 thrones are already in place.
You might be interested by this alternative explanation about the 24 elders on this page: Are the “24 elders” and the “144’000” the same group of people?
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Featured Posts
Let us examine our beliefs:

the existence of God

If a Christian, and especially a Jehovah's Witness, is asked to provide proof of the existence of God, it is very likely that he will quote verse four of the third chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, "every house is constructed by someone, but the one who constructed all things is God".

The reasoning may be right, nothing came from nothing but everything on earth is due to the will of a designer, it is still good to note that Paul was not trying to argue about the existence of a Creator. He spoke to his Hebrew Christian companions who certainly did not question the fact that the universe was ruled by a powerful being who is behind everything. Moreover, in antiquity the problem was certainly not the non-belief in God but rather the opposite: people tended to believe in a multitude of gods. Furthermore, Paul, on one occasion, noticed that an altar dedicated to an unknown god had been made, certainly for fear of forgetting to revere a deity.

(Continue)
Acalia & Marta
Parables for Our Days (Part 1)
Carl-Bloch-Sermon-on-the-Mount
What do the parables of Jesus have to say to us? Are they related to our days? First, we must identify and understand which of them have a prophetic application. For example, the parable of the prodigal son contains an excellent teaching for us, but is not prophetic, it announces no event! How then to distinguish the types of parabolas? As usual, it is very simple: we will stick to what Jesus Christ Himself said, without adding or taking away. We will limit the interpretations to the only elements that can be derived directly from narratives or other particular and relevant texts. For the rest, we will gladly content ourselves with the Lord's reply: "It does not belong to you to know the times or seasons that the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction" – Acts 1:7
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