SusanB
Well-known member
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.”
”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.”