Text For Friday, 11 May 2007

[barry]

I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion.—Deut. 5:9.

In the tenth century B.C.E., the nation of Israel needed to make a very serious decision. Whom would they serve? King Ahab, under the influence of his pagan wife, Jezebel, promoted Baal worship in the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. A remnant of some 7,000 Israelites refused to take part in this idolatrous, immoral, violent form of worship. (1 Ki. 19:18) They loyally stuck to their covenant relationship with Jehovah God, and for this they were persecuted. (1 Ki. 18:4, 13) Because of these trying conditions, the majority of the Israelites practiced interfaith, trying to please both Jehovah and Baal. Jehovah promised to bless the Israelites if they loved him and obeyed his commandments. However, he warned them that if they failed to give him “exclusive devotion,” they would be annihilated.—Deut. 28:15, 63. w 12/15/05 2, 3a

[eyes&ears]

I believe deep in my heart that sooner than later, all lovers of Jehovah will have to take a stand just like those 7,000 Israelites. A stand that goes waaaaaaaaaay beyond what we are doing at this time to hold on tight to our relationship with Jehovah.

We can see right now the persecution many are suffering who take a stand for pure worship, and it is as the text says TRYING CONDITIONS/it is really ugly isn't it. So I believe this is just a preview of what is to come. (imo)

HOLD ON TIGHT TO JEHOVAH OKEY DOKEY BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING LUKEWARM AND NOT GIVING JEHOVAH EXCLUSIVE DEVOTION. NOW THAT WOULD BE REAAAAAALLLLLLLL UGLY!!!

Love to you all

ONWARD AND UPWARD ;) :D

[barry]

Hi E&E,

I had the same thought as you when I read the text.
What was also interesting that those 7000 did not leave the nation of Israël because of all the problems they saw. They trusted Jehovah to solve their problems, which He did.

[Shibboleth]

this is a side note, but does anyone see a connection between the 7,000 worshipers here and the 7,000 the book of revelation speaks of?


a thought on the scripture.

It's real humbling to know that there is a God out there. The Creator deserves so much more then what we can give Him in our current state. Jehovah should be in our thoughts daily. Things come into perspective when we put God first in our lives. It seems like we have so much more meaning when the Creator is involved.

[barry]

I'm a bit confused about this.
I first thought that there was no connection, because the 7000 in old Israël were loyal to God, whilst the 7000 in Revelation are killed by the earthquake. So I supposed they did not have Jehovah's approval.

In the Revelation climax book, it is mentioned that those 7000 represent those who listened to the 2 witnesses and left the city.

I don't really understand this part.

[Shibboleth]

Barry,

Well I have some views on who the 7,000 are in the Revelation. My view is that these ones are the remaining 144,000 left on earth. After the 2 witnesses are called to "Get up here" by the archangel's voice these 7,000 were killed by an earthquake. I think that these are the ones that get called right before Jesus conducts the war of Armegeddon. It is my firm belief thet all the 144k will be present with Jesus right before the war of armegeddon. So the 7,000 may represent these ones. It would be a miraculous sight to behold these ones going to heaven similar to how Jesus left the earth. My thinking is taht Jehovah ahs a timetable. He is still weeding out some of the annointed that are unfaithful. What if the 7,000 denotes a timetable of sorts. We don't know for certain who is exactly still part of the remnant here on earth. We specullate from memorial numbers of partakers. But even that could be unaccurate. What if we are close to the number of 7,000 remnant on earth? It's just fun to speculate and I am not saying this is right, but you have to take everything into account. Always thinking is my motto.

this is just my take on things. Which is part of the reason I have some problems with the interpertation of Revelation. Some of the interpertations seem spot on, but others seem farfetched. So I just try to keep thinking and as we get closer to the end Revelation will become even more cleare to us.

I didn't want to hijack this thread with my thoughts. Maybe we can start a new thread so we don't clutter this one. If you still want to use this thread as a talking point on the prophecy go right ahead.

[Jeshurun]

I think you're right on, Shib. I'd love to expand more but work is calling.

Agape
LOU

[Elihu]

the 7k for me is a number that directly relates to the remnant who as we know are depicted as the two witnesess.

the two witnesess are spoken of in the terms of Moses and Elijah
notably in the days of Ahab when elijah was hiding from him elijah believed that he was the only one left.

" to this he said" i have been absolutley jealous for the God of armies for the sons of israel have left your covenant, your alters have been torn down and your prophets they have killed with the sword so that i only are left and they begin looking for my soul to take away""

Jehovah's reply

" and i have left seven thousand remain in Israel all the knees that have not bent down to baal and every mouth that has not kissed him" 1 kings 19:18

appears to me that not all the sons of the kingdom will go into captivity., but will be protected to do the final witnessing.


elihu