Chapter 23- Zephaniah

With the beards update this quote from Chapter 23 is very timely and wasn’t this scripture in Zephaniah the one that used to be worded, “probably you may be concealed”? I remember that scripture often caused discomfort in the brothers and sisters, which may be why they changed the wording. The footnote on that part of the scripture is “it may be that” you will be concealed. Not a guarantee if one feels no shame.

”At Zephaniah 2:1-3, Jehovah lays out before his wayward nation the requirements for individuals to attain to salvation during the denunciation: “Gather together, yes, gather yourselves, O nation that feels no shame. Before the decree takes effect, before the day passes by like chaff, before the burning anger of Jehovah comes upon you, before the day of Jehovah’s anger comes upon you, seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, who observe his righteous decrees. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you will be concealed on the day of Jehovah’s anger.”

The Watchtower identifies Christendom as the shameless nation. But, if that is the case, in what sense then does God expect them to gather together in order to seek Jehovah? According to the verse above, God’s exhortation to the meek inhabitants of the “nation that feels no shame,” is directed to those “who observe his righteous decrees.” That means that God recognizes that not all the inhabitants of the nation are equally guilty.

Another conspicuous inconsistency in the Watchtower’s interpretation of the prophecy is apparent by considering Zephaniah 3:5, which reads: “Jehovah is righteous in her midst; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he makes known his judgments, as unfailing as the daylight. But the unrighteous one knows no shame.”

In what sense might Jehovah reside in the midst of Christendom, so as to faithfully— “morning by morning”— keep making known his judgments? Adroitly, the Watchtower offers no comment on the verse. But, clearly, the only organization that God resides in order to make his counsel known is Christ’s congregation. Therefore, the “nation that feels no shame” must be the organization that has been built around the Christian Israel of God.

From Jehovah’s standpoint his own organization has become a rebellious and oppressive city—just as was ancient Jerusalem when it was home to Jehovah’s temple of worship. Likewise, the “unrighteous one,” who “knows no shame,” must be ensconced within the leadership of the organization.”
 
SusanB said:
Zephaniah 3:5
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I don't know if it is important in the whole of Zephaniah, but the text 3:5 was in the past tense, according to the RBi8 translation 'Jehovah was righteous in her midst; he used to do no wrong. Morning after morning he continued to issue his own judicial decision. In daylight she appeared not to be missing. But the unrighteous had no shame' and now stands in the present tense: Zephaniah 3:5, which reads: “Jehovah is righteous in her midst; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he makes known his judgments, as unfailing as the daylight. But the unrighteous one knows no shame.'
in my view there is a clear difference, Jehovah was or Jehovah is
 
evw said:
I don't know if it is important in the whole of Zephaniah, but the text 3:5 was in the past tense, according to the RBi8 translation 'Jehovah was righteous in her midst; he used to do no wrong. Morning after morning he continued to issue his own judicial decision. In daylight she appeared not to be missing. But the unrighteous had no shame' and now stands in the present tense: Zephaniah 3:5, which reads: “Jehovah is righteous in her midst; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he makes known his judgments, as unfailing as the daylight. But the unrighteous one knows no shame.'
in my view there is a clear difference, Jehovah was or Jehovah is
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Hey, wow you're right. That's weird. Have to do some research on that.
Good catch. 👍
 
SusanB said:
With the beards update this quote from Chapter 23 is very timely and wasn’t this scripture in Zephaniah the one that used to be worded, “probably you may be concealed”? I remember that scripture often caused discomfort in the brothers and sisters, which may be why they changed the wording. The footnote on that part of the scripture is “it may be that” you will be concealed. Not a guarantee if one feels no shame.

”At Zephaniah 2:1-3, Jehovah lays out before his wayward nation the requirements for individuals to attain to salvation during the denunciation: “Gather together, yes, gather yourselves, O nation that feels no shame. Before the decree takes effect, before the day passes by like chaff, before the burning anger of Jehovah comes upon you, before the day of Jehovah’s anger comes upon you, seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, who observe his righteous decrees. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you will be concealed on the day of Jehovah’s anger.”

The Watchtower identifies Christendom as the shameless nation. But, if that is the case, in what sense then does God expect them to gather together in order to seek Jehovah? According to the verse above, God’s exhortation to the meek inhabitants of the “nation that feels no shame,” is directed to those “who observe his righteous decrees.” That means that God recognizes that not all the inhabitants of the nation are equally guilty.

Another conspicuous inconsistency in the Watchtower’s interpretation of the prophecy is apparent by considering Zephaniah 3:5, which reads: “Jehovah is righteous in her midst; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he makes known his judgments, as unfailing as the daylight. But the unrighteous one knows no shame.”

In what sense might Jehovah reside in the midst of Christendom, so as to faithfully— “morning by morning”— keep making known his judgments? Adroitly, the Watchtower offers no comment on the verse. But, clearly, the only organization that God resides in order to make his counsel known is Christ’s congregation. Therefore, the “nation that feels no shame” must be the organization that has been built around the Christian Israel of God.

From Jehovah’s standpoint his own organization has become a rebellious and oppressive city—just as was ancient Jerusalem when it was home to Jehovah’s temple of worship. Likewise, the “unrighteous one,” who “knows no shame,” must be ensconced within the leadership of the organization.”
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Another glaring oversight by the “enlightened prophets” of Warwick.
 
Ms_ladyblue said:
I’m pretty sure they received money to promote the vaccines. Not too long after the vaccines were rolled out there was an article on a website stating that all religious institutions were receiving $100 dollars per congregant that took the jab. These men are definitely “insolent, treacherous men…defiling what is holy…” Corrupt men leading the flock.
“Then he also told them an illustration: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Both will fall into a pit, will they not?” ( Luke 6:39 )

I pray that the friends will wake up from their ‘blindness‘ before it’s too late.
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Hundred bucks a congregant!
That’s upward of a billion dollars for the whole org,
You can bet when they heard that:

 
Chapter 23 ends with a clear explanation that the cleansing of Jehovah’s people is still future as the change to a pure language is still to come. We must show love to our brothers and sisters and that demands that we warn them as best we can.

”Zephaniah 3:11-13 reads: “On that day you will not be put to shame because of all your deeds with which you rebelled against me, for then I will remove the haughty boasters from among you; and you will never again be haughty in my holy mountain. I will allow a humble and lowly people to remain in your midst, and they will take refuge in the name of Jehovah. Those remaining of Israel will practice no unrighteousness; they will not speak a lie, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”

“Haughty boasters” is an apt description of the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is they who have haughtily proclaimed themselves to be the speakers of pure truth. It is they who cleverly twist the truth to support their lies and who, with “a deceitful tongue,” have been able to persuade millions of trusting meek persons that they alone speak for God.

And like haughty Pharisees, they deal most ruthlessly with anyone who does not give them glory—especially the victims of child abuse.

But their day is coming—Jehovah’s day will rout them from off their thrones. Jehovah will purge the self-exultant and complacent ones from the midst of his people, from his “holy mountain.”

That this judgment will be executed upon the Watchtower Society is evident by the fact that the meek who survive the fiery denunciation “will take refuge in the name of Jehovah.” In other words, the survivors will be Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The truth is Jehovah has not become king yet. His kingship will finally become a reality when he has removed the lawless element from his organization and cleansed his people of all defilements. Then, and only then, will Jehovah “change the language of the peoples to a pure language.”

At that point, the judgment is concluded and Jehovah rules as king over his people, as is apparent from the closing words of the prophecy of Zephaniah: “Shout joyfully, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Be joyful and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! Jehovah has removed the judgments against you. He has turned away your enemy. The King of Israel, Jehovah, is in your midst. You will fear calamity no more.”

Surely Jehovah does not intend to remove his judgments from upon Babylon the Great or turn away the enemies of false religion! And just as surely, Jehovah is not going to rule as king in the midst of Christendom!

God will remove his judgments from upon his people—but only after they have been humbled. Jehovah “will become silent in his love”—meaning that God will have no further harsh words of denunciation.

The calamity that God will allow to afflict his people will achieve its intended purpose. It will incinerate the faithless and haughty from the midst of God’s congregation and create a people who truly fear God and who trust in him. God will then become “joyful over you with happy cries.”
 
SusanB said:
Chapter 23 ends with a clear explanation that the cleansing of Jehovah’s people is still future as the change to a pure language is still to come. We must show love to our brothers and sisters and that demands that we warn them as best we can.

”Zephaniah 3:11-13 reads: “On that day you will not be put to shame because of all your deeds with which you rebelled against me, for then I will remove the haughty boasters from among you; and you will never again be haughty in my holy mountain. I will allow a humble and lowly people to remain in your midst, and they will take refuge in the name of Jehovah. Those remaining of Israel will practice no unrighteousness; they will not speak a lie, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”

“Haughty boasters” is an apt description of the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is they who have haughtily proclaimed themselves to be the speakers of pure truth. It is they who cleverly twist the truth to support their lies and who, with “a deceitful tongue,” have been able to persuade millions of trusting meek persons that they alone speak for God.

And like haughty Pharisees, they deal most ruthlessly with anyone who does not give them glory—especially the victims of child abuse.

But their day is coming—Jehovah’s day will rout them from off their thrones. Jehovah will purge the self-exultant and complacent ones from the midst of his people, from his “holy mountain.”

That this judgment will be executed upon the Watchtower Society is evident by the fact that the meek who survive the fiery denunciation “will take refuge in the name of Jehovah.” In other words, the survivors will be Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The truth is Jehovah has not become king yet. His kingship will finally become a reality when he has removed the lawless element from his organization and cleansed his people of all defilements. Then, and only then, will Jehovah “change the language of the peoples to a pure language.”

At that point, the judgment is concluded and Jehovah rules as king over his people, as is apparent from the closing words of the prophecy of Zephaniah: “Shout joyfully, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Be joyful and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! Jehovah has removed the judgments against you. He has turned away your enemy. The King of Israel, Jehovah, is in your midst. You will fear calamity no more.”

Surely Jehovah does not intend to remove his judgments from upon Babylon the Great or turn away the enemies of false religion! And just as surely, Jehovah is not going to rule as king in the midst of Christendom!

God will remove his judgments from upon his people—but only after they have been humbled. Jehovah “will become silent in his love”—meaning that God will have no further harsh words of denunciation.

The calamity that God will allow to afflict his people will achieve its intended purpose. It will incinerate the faithless and haughty from the midst of God’s congregation and create a people who truly fear God and who trust in him. God will then become “joyful over you with happy cries.”
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Great, thank you again Susan. I'm already looking forward to the next chapter 🤩
 
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