The Anointed

As of late, I have been reading, meditating, and praying over the book of Revelation. Before I came into the Truth I was obsessed with this twenty-two chapter book of the Bible. After I came into the Truth my obsession waned. Then, when I really learned the Truth, my interest has suddenly peaked again.

You see, I was confused by the Society explanation given in the book "Revelation - It's Grand Climax At Hand!" The "fulfillment's" didn't seem right. How could the trumpet blasts be Witness conventions? For example:

"And the first one blew his trumpet. And there occurred a hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees was burned up, and all the green vegetation was burned up."-Revelation 8:7

Society Explanation: "The plague scenario reveals that Christendom’s third of the earth is scorched by the searing heat of Jehovah’s disapproval. Her prominent ones—standing like trees in the midst of her—are burned up by the proclaiming of Jehovah’s adverse judgment. All her hundreds of millions of church members, if they continue to support Christendom’s religion, become like scorched blades of grass, spiritually wilted in God’s eyes. How is this judgment message delivered? Generally, not by the world’s news media, which are part of the world and often reproachful of God’s 'slave.' It was proclaimed in a notable way at the second historic gathering of God’s people at Cedar Point, Ohio, September 10, 1922. These unanimously and enthusiastically adopted a resolution entitled 'A Challenge to World Leaders.'"-Revelation - It's Grand Climax at Hand!, chpt. 21, pg. 133-34, para. 17, 18

The explanation that I am about to give about three significant events in Revelation will most likely not be agreed with by some.* That is okay. I am not saying that what I am about to write will be one hundred per cent correct - but I feel that it is. I have felt Jehovah's holy spirit guiding me of late and I cannot deny - or keep to myself - what I am learning.

What Will Happen to the Anointed in the Future?

We know without a doubt that the Anointed are going to join Jesus Christ in heaven. (Rev. 14:1-3) However, are they going to stay there? What is the point of their going to heaven? Yes, we know that they will rule as kings and serve as priests. "And I saw thrones, and there were those who sat down on them, and power of judging was given them...And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years...but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years."-Rev. 20:4, 6

How long, though, will they rule with Christ, who we know is in heaven, as pictured by Mount Zion? "They...will rule as kings with him for the thousand years!"

Interestingly, when speaking of the reigning of the Anointed, the Bible gives two different time periods as to the length of their reign. One is "for the thousand years" and the other? "They will rule as kings forever and ever." (Rev. 22:5) Why the seeming contradiction? And did you notice: In Revelation 20:4, 6 the Scriptures say that they will rule with Christ for the thousand years. Revelation 22:5 does not say that they will rule with Christ. Why? Because Christ will not reign forever and ever.

"After that the end will come when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having put down all enemies of every kind. For Christ will be King until he has defeated all his enemies, including the last enemy--death. This too must be defeated and ended. For the rule and authority over all things has been given to Christ by his Father; except, of course, Christ does not rule over the Father himself, who gave him the power to rule. When Christ has finally won the battle against all his enemies, then he, the Son of God, will put himself also under his Father's orders, so that God who has given him the victory over everything else will be utterly supreme."-1 Corinthians 15:24-28, The Living Bible

So, how come Christ is said to rule for only a thousand years but the Anointed are going to rule forever? Well, simply put, their rule will be on the earth and not in heaven.

However, some may say, doesn't Revelation 5:10 say "you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth?" No, it doesn't.

If you quote this Scripture from the New World Translation you are reading it from a biased source. The Proclaimers book admits as much. "Nathan H. Knorr...first proposed that the Society produce a fresh translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. Actual work on the translation got under way on December 2, 1947. The complete text was carefully reviewed by the entire translation committee, all of them spirit-anointed Christians." (Proclaimers, ch. 27, pg. 607, para. 17) These men, if they knew Greek (which I think they did) absolutely knew that the Greek term rendered "over" in the NWT, which is e‧pi', actually means "on." That is why most translations of the New Testament say at Revelation 5:10: "They will reign on the earth." (NIV; NASB, NLT, KJV, ESV, CEV, NKJV, NCV, ASV, YLT, HCSB, NIrV, TNIV read similarly)

If you look in the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures you will see that the original Greek word is translated as "upon". If you look at the Emphatic Diaglott, you will see that the original Greek word is translated as "on." The Watchtower admits their mistake for all to see!

Make no mistake, the Anointed are going to heaven to rule for only a thousand years! They are coming back!

But, why? To answer that, we must first look at one other thing.

The New Jerusalem

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul said, "For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, for I personally promised you in marriage to one husband that I might present you as a chaste virgin to the Christ." (2 Cor. 11:2) The Anointed are the bride of Christ. That also makes them the New Jerusalem.

"I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband...and there came one of the seven angels...and he spoke with me and said: 'Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.' So he carried me away in the power of the spirit to a great and lofty mountain, and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God and having the glory of God." (Rev. 21:2, 9-11) So, the New Jerusalem and the Anointed are spoken of as the Bride of Christ. And since Christ only has one Bride, these two must be the same!

Now, notice two things concerning the New Jerusalem, or the Anointed. First, they are coming down out of heaven from God and, second, they have the glory of God. What does this mean?

In the Revelation book the Society explains this (the City coming down out of heaven) by saying, "The 'bride comes down out of heaven,' not literally, but in the sense of directing attention to the earth." (ch. 42, pg. 301, para. 3) Yes, they teach that these are the blessings that come to the people of the earth from the Anointed in heaven. But they are wrong. This is literal.

In Revelation 21:2, right after John says that the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven, he says, "Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." (Rev. 21:3, 4) Yes, now that the Anointed are on earth, the "tent of God is with mankind!" As the original Greek puts it, "and they are reigning upon the earth" (KIT) or "and they shall reign on the earth."-ED

The statement "and having the glory of God" is revealing also. While this could be literal, like in the case of Moses after seeing Jehovah's glory, it could also be symbolic. Remember, Jesus Christ was "the image of the invisible God", the "reflection of his glory and the exact representation of His very being" because he had been in heaven with Jehovah and knew him intimately. (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) That is one of the reasons Jesus Christ was such a kind, gentle man, and why he will be a kind, gentle King.

Now, the Anointed have had the opportunity to get to know Jehovah God intimately for a thousand years. By this time they know all about Jehovah and will be able to reflect his qualities and personality, if not perfectly, then pretty closely - just like Jesus Christ.

So, after getting to know Jehovah for one thousand years they will return to the earth, this time as true representatives of Him. They will be good, perfect rulers. We could never ask for anything more nor expect Jehovah to give us anything less. What a wonderful plan our God has! Praise Jehovah!

With Sincere Christian Love and Affection,
Brother Ebed Abodah

(If you have any thoughts, questions, comments, or complaints about this article I would like to hear them. "ebed.abodah@yahoo.com")

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