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856.
WHAT THE WRITINGS OF NUMBERS 16 AND
THE LETTER
OF JUDE HAVE IN COMMON
WITH SPIRITUAL "ISRAEL".
NUMBERS Ch.16.
It was Korah a son of Le'vi and others with him
that congregated against Moses and Aaron their priest and said: "That is
enough of you, because the whole assembly are all of them holy and
Jehovah is in their midst. Why, then, should you lift yourselves up above the
congregation of Jehovah?" (Num 16:3).
THE IMPORTANT FACTS:
(1)
Korah and other like-minded ones proved that
they had had enough of God, for though just a man in other respects, Jehovah did
appoint Aaron as their high priest. (See Num 16:11).
(2)
By refusing God's authority, as declared to them
through His high priest Aaron, they were merely seeking their own desires,
proving they were not holy. (Num 16:21-35). If they had been holy,
why were they still in the wilderness for correction?
(3)
Korah and his kind
were lifting themselves above the congregation of Jehovah so as to SECURE THE
PRIESTHOOD for themselves, but accusing Moses and Aaron of this grave offence.
(Num 16:10).
EVIDENCE OF THESE OFFENCES TODAY.
Congregations of spiritual "Israel" received
instruction that all baptized men 20 years old and upward were to be considered
for an appointment to the position of 'elder' or ministerial servant. (See 1975
Yearbook of JWs P.248). However, the Scriptures clearly state that the
priesthood is a "chosen race" of God according to an anointing by Holy Spirit.
(1 Peter 5:1-4. 1 John 2:27). And such spiritual "Jews" as described in Romans
2:28,29 should have followers as described in Zechariah 8:23 that would know
"God is with you people". But many who should be followers have presumptuously
progressed further in their sin against God by claiming to be priests (spiritual
"Jews") themselves (Rev 3:9); thereby claiming their whole assembly are
holy.
JUDE.
The reason for Jude's letter to "called"
ones (anointed sons of God) was that "certain men" had slipped in, turning the
undeserved kindness of God into an excuse for loose conduct. Korah was used as
an example of this form of loose conduct of "certain men". (V.4). But to what
end? What has been their objective today? It is just the same: TO SECURE
THE PRIESTHOOD for themselves, and such ones will perish similarly in the
rebellious talk of Korah!
(V.11). "These are murmurers, complainers at fate". What fate? At not
having received a "land flowing with milk and honey" and "an inheritance of
field and vineyard." (Num 16:14). Things were not "according to the desires of
them going their way". (V.16. Greek T). So today there is the same
rebellion against God. By their actions they are saying: "That is enough
of you" to underpriests of God on earth, "proceeding according to their own
desires, and their mouths speak swelling things, while they are admiring
personalities for the sake of their own benefit." (V.16); all so that
they can stand in a holy place. (Matt 24:15).
CONCLUSION.
Therefore, by their twisting of such
scriptures as 1 Timothy chapter 3 to suggest that literally any man without an
anointing from God by Holy Spirit can become an 'elder' or "overseer", they are
appointed by the Scriptures to the judgement of Jude V.4 and
15. If Jehovah was in the midst of the whole assembly, why did God only
use Moses and Aaron? By the same token today, what would be the purpose of God
anointing a few by Holy Spirit if all the assembly worldwide were
holy? Further, unsealed 'elders' among JWs today have not laid claim to a Spirit
anointing from God.
7/10/78.
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