878A.htm

878A.

WHO ARE THE "LOCUSTS" THAT DESOLATED THE LAND? AND WHY DID THEY DESOLATE IT? (Joel Ch.1 & 2. Revelation Ch.9).

Question: When Jehovah said, "For there is a nation that has come up into My land, mighty and without number" (Joel 1:6) (a "locust"-like people), eating "grain offering and drink offering… from the house of Jehovah" (1:9), would He be referring to people professing to be christians in such sects as the Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant religions, or military officers, or the League of Nations, as stated in the JW book: 'Then is Finished the Mystery of God'? (Ch.17). Certainly not! Jehovah Himself tells the "ministers of the altar" to "spend the night in sackcloth", "for from the house of your God grain offering and drink offering have been withheld." (1:13). They are also told to: "Sanctify a time of fasting. Call together a solemn assembly. Gather together the older men, all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of Jehovah your God, and cry to Jehovah for aid." (1:14). Did the sect of JWs carry out these things? No. Instead they wrote books denouncing rulers of this "darkness". But God says: "Howl, you ministers of the altar". (1:13). So they have replaced what God has withheld ("grain offering and drink offering") with false predictions. With these facts in mind, read the book of Joel again and you should realise that God is speaking of a desolate condition in His spiritual "land" in the "time of the end", because He has sent a "locust"-like people, who have "eaten" or "despoiled" their "ground". (1:10). Admittedly, we have been assisted considerably by being able to distinguish and "eat" up so many of their unfulfilled predictions.

SO WHAT SPIRITUAL 'WORK' ARE THESE "LOCUSTS" EATING?
Let us first identify them from the Lord's advanced description and glean their kind of work and power source: They cause farmers (in the land) shame; vinedressers (in the land) to howl (Joel 1:11); grain to be despoiled, new wine (spiritual teachings) are dried up (1:10) by them. In fact, "the harvest of the field (from previous 'sowings') has perished" (1:11). The locusts are likened to a consuming fire ahead of them (overtaking new 'sowings') and behind them create a desolate wilderness, and nothing (no one) escaping. (2:3). These locusts rush into the city, go up a wall, on houses, through windows, like a thief. But perceive what is said in Joel 2:11: "And Jehovah Himself will certainly give forth His voice before His military force, for His camp is very numerous (He instructs us). For he who is carrying out His Word is mighty; for the day of Jehovah is great and very fear-inspiring, and who can hold up under it"? Now you know! It is The Christ's servants, of his camp, who all together are the "locusts"! And in God's spiritual "land"! After He Himself gives forth His voice!

But, "Who is there knowing whether He will turn back and actually feel regret and let remain after it a blessing, a grain offering and a drink offering for Jehovah your God?" (2:14). Jehovah next says through Joel: "Call together a solemn assembly... Sanctify a congregation." (2:15,16). Did the sect of JWs do this? No. Instead they exalted themselves by publishing their excuses and revealing the spiritual uncleanness and hypocrisy of the rest of Christendom instead of that in their own land! As for the League, now called the United Nations, they are expanding and are certainly not desolated. So the United Nations and the membership of Christendom are still much the same as at their beginning. So, whose "land" has been despoiled, and why?

THE FULFILMENT OF THE "LOCUSTS"
IN THE BOOK OF JOEL AND REVELATION CH.9.
Not only did these "locusts" despoil the spiritual "land" of God on earth, but we were told also by Him to torment those men within it who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Rev 9:4,5). Why? Because of the perverted and desolating aspect of these men, for "certain men have slipped in" (Jude V.4), men claiming to be of the spiritual congregation of The Christ (sealed with Holy Spirit by the Face of Christ, and receiving a token of heavenly life), but who had not experienced any such calling from God. Instead, they are apostates that have made spiritistic demonic predictions, "lofty thing(s) raised up against the (true) knowledge of God" (2 Cor 10:5); publicly declaring teachings of a seemingly beneficial appearance (for them) in God's "land", among His people. They are certainly not called and sealed ones of God. They are men calling themselves "Jews" but who are the "liars" of Revelation 3:9, whose power was in resorting to divination (Ezek 21:21-23), for God did not empower them with visionary inspiration. (For their numerous offences against God see the Subject Index of the "Little Scroll"). We have been told to "harm no vegetation of the earth nor any green thing nor any tree, but only those men (with their divinations) who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads"; those not having His authority. (Rev 9:4. 7:4).

(Cont. on Page 878B).

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