WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE “ANOINTED ONES”

DEDICATION

FOREWORD

“There have been, still are, many, many fine people among Jehovah’s Witnesses in spite of Watchtower’s horrible misleadership, its embarrassing mis-prophecies, dangerous policies that shelter pedophiles and mislead some to bleed to death, etc.  So please don’t imagine this is “against” JWs per se.  After all, I was a JW and thought at the time that I was also a pretty decent Christian; and even now I still have adult children and many friends who are still JWs, great people, as said, despite the Watchtower Society.  Thanks for letting me clear this up.”

Mason Emerson, who prefers to by “Joe,” is a general Christian lay minister.  About 2004-2005 he founded Christian Witnesses Fellowship for persons of diverse beliefs including respectful skeptics who are united via love and Christian freedom to differ.  The fellowship offers not only fellowship and news but also helps in diverse ways those who are survivors of abusive religion to attain greater future happiness.

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

Watchtower’s “Anointed Ones” (Remnant Of "The Body Of Christ")

Christian “Anointed Ones”

DNA “Anointed Ones”

Evil “Anointed Ones”

Examples Of Anointed JWs:

Ralph T.G. Earlyman; Raymond V. Franz; James W.

Wilbegrath; Rick And Inez Fearon; Gabriela Vogel

Examples Of Anointed Ones Mentioned In The Bible:

            Jesus Christ; Christ’s Nature; Christ’s Genealogy; Birth By Mary

While She Was A Virgin; Joseph And Mary; Mary Magdalene;

Matthew

Items From Underground Anointed JWs:

Sample Letter #1 (Early 2010),

Sample Letter #2 (Last Half Of 2009)

Heavenly Hope Versus Earthly Hope

How The Anointed “Know” They Are Anointed

God’s Concern And Love For His Anointed Ones

            Assorted Scriptures; Saul Contrasted With David;

The Anointed Look Forward To Doing More Than Strum Harps

            Harps; Song Of Moses And The Lamb; Mount Zion;

What The Anointed On Earth Are Doing Right Now

Kingdom Details And The Anointed

Locations of the Anointed on Earth

How Many Anointed Are There

Do The Anointed Have A Church?

The Anointed And ETs?

Health

Miscellaneous

Christian Kindness

Their Baptisms: Introduction; Baptism By Holy Spirit; Water

Baptism; Water Baptism During Great Persecution;

Importance Of Visible Water Baptism; Baptism Of John;

Baptism For The Dead; Gifts At Baptism; Born Again;

Baptism By Immersion Or Sprinkling; Baptism Of Desire;

Mikvot Baptism; The Most Important Factor; Acts 19

Insights; Wording At The Time Of Baptism

Conclusions

WATCHTOWER’S “ANOINTED”
(Remnant of "The Body Of Christ")

Scientist-Theologian Isaac Newton

Frederick Franz (Watchtower)

Charles Taze Russell

CHRISTIAN “ANOINTED ONES”

David Zeisberger was a persistent, loving man among those of the Moravian branch of Christianity.  He moved during the 1700s from what is now the Czech Republic to help Native Americans such as the Mohawk and Delaware to become Christians.  He lived until age 87, died 1807, and his fleshly remains are buried in Goshen, Ohio.

 

In the Roman Catholic branch St. Theresa, who was a Catholic nun, is well-known for helping the poor and dying in India.  Many would also agree that the modern pope John Paul II did many things that appear saintly.  However, again, only God Almighty is the only final and correct Judge on the lives of all humans. 

 

If in a broad sense every sincere Christian may be anointed, some may seem at least to other humans to be even more so, although, again, what matters most is not how one seems to other humans but how God knows s/he actually was and is.  In any case, the scriptures indicate that the truly anointed are known by their fruitage, the bearing of an abundance of traits such as love, joy, peace and patience. (Galatians 5:22) 

 

Notice, too, that in John 6:53-54, Christ says, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 'He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (NASB).  So, not speaking of cannibalism, but spiritually speaking, then, all Christians who want eternal life need to partake of the emblems of communion or what Watchtower calls the emblems of the Memorial.

 

We know that Jesus’ ransom sacrifice has covered our sins and purchased us. (Acts 20:28)   Moreover his blood serves as the blood of the covenant for his followers (1 Cor. 11:25), and so the partaking of the emblems (communion) is supposed to be for “all” Christians, not just a remnant class or group of 144,000 elitists among Jehovah's Witnesses headed by the Governing Body members of the Watchtower Society over them.  Watchtower has the right to say partaking is only for JWs these days, but then it also has the right to say the moon is made of green cheese.

WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR THE PATRIARCHS?

EXAMPLES OF ANOINTED JW’S

RAYMOND VICTOR FRANZ

 

MARY MAGDALENE

 

Link to see a painting depicting Mary Magdalene praying: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Maria_Magdalene_praying.jpg

 

The early Christian writers call Mary Magdalene “The Apostle To The Apostles.”  The word apostle is from Greek words meaning Sent Forth, so they wrote that she was a Christian sent forth to help others who were sent forth by God. 

 

Scriptures say that Mary Magdalene, also called Mary of Magdala, was cleansed of seven demons. (Luke 8:2, Mark 16:9)  She was devoted to Christ, within his inner circle.  She and eleven other women went along to support him and the apostles during his ministry in Galilee, using their own “means” to do so.

She saw Jesus Christ crucified (Mark 15:40, Matthew 27:56, John 19:25), also saw him buried (Mark 15:47, Matthew 27:61) and she was the very first of the anointed Christians to see his tomb had become empty. (John 20:1)  She was with other women who saw Jesus Christ first appear after resurrection. (Matthew 28:9)  Knowing her persistent faithfulness during Christ’s ministry and during all these other events, the Protestant branches of Christianity greatly respect her role. 

There had been a claim in Roman Catholicism that she was a prostitute but this now appears untrue.  However, even if she had been a prostitute, it needs noted that earlier in Jewish history Rahab had had been a prostitute, too, and yet the Bible speaks highly of her.  Some theorize Rahab may have been an ancestress of Christ or prophets such as Ezekial.  Bathsheba is also listed though she had been an adulteress.  What anointed Christians were in past as to living styles considered socially negative need not reflect badly upon what they became or are.  

In any event, today the Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church all consider Mary Magdalene a saint, that is a holy or anointed one.   Indeed the very conservative Eastern Orthodox Church maintains that Mary Magdalene had been a virtuous woman all her life, even before her conversion.  Tradition is that she led such a pure a life that Satan had thought she might become mother to the Christ and so Satan sent the afore-mentioned seven demons to trouble her.  Palestinian tradition has said that she was from a town near Galilee, even as Christ and other disciples were.

According to Eastern Orthodox traditions Mary Magdalene later went to Ephesus with Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ (also anointed of course) and died there.   The Roman Catholic Gregory of Tours also wrote in the sixth century that she had retired to Ephesus, and he never says she went to Gaul, the forerunner of France.  She is not mentioned in the Books of Acts.

It is true that over the centuries, people in France have celebrated her a lot.  Others have suggested this began after some of her relics (fleshly remains) were removed from the Middle East to France and possibly wound up in at least two locations there which increasingly competed for public attention, pomp and circumstance.    

As alluded to before, many fiction writers and conspiracy theorists have wondered if in reality Mary Magdalene may have been a fleshly wife of Jesus Christ.  One reason for the suggestion is that it would be unusual for a Rabbi to not be married.  However, at the time of Christ what has long since become accepted normal practice may not then have been the case.  

MATTHEW

 

Link to see Saint Matthew and the Angel by Guido Reni

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Evangelist-St.-Matthew-And-The-Angel.jpg

 

 

The father of the anointed Christian named Matthew was Alpheus.  Matthew, also sometimes called Levi (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27), became a well-off tax collector for Herod Antipas.  He operated out of Capernaum.  This was the hometown also of Peter, Andrew, James and John; additionally considered the adulthood home for Jesus Christ who had been born at Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth. 

 

The location of Matthew’s home at Capernaum or nearby is not known, although tradition has long identified Peter’s now much excavated home there.  Although Jesus Christ saw that Matthew was a truly spiritual man, others in the town had only seen him as a contemptible tax-collector, someone who gained wealth at the expense of the many poor. Both the Christian Bible and the early Jewish Talmud confirm that Matthew became an early anointed Christian close to Christ. 

By tradition Matthew preached the Good News in Hebrew for fifteen years in the Jewish community of Judea then went on to tell it to Ethiopians, Macedonians, Persians, and Parthians.  Although some have said he died a natural death in Ethiopia or Macedonia, the Roman Catholic Church says Matthew died the death of a martyr.

Matthew readily followed and honored Christ.  Luke 5 notes of Matthew, using his other name Levi: 

 

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

 

 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

 

 31 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

First, the account indicates Matthews’ wealth.  Second, it tells that Christ was not reaching out to only help the best of people but also Pharisees, tax collectors and sinners.  It also notes that sick people need a doctor, something that some modern groups have tragically not noted and gone by, kids and adults sometimes being misled to die without medical treatment or inappropriate treatment, even dying after misinformed that they must use only spiritual healing or healing by prayer.

As noted, Matthew was wealthy.  Implicit with the fact that he was capable with mathematics, a natural part of being a tax collecter, he was also well-educated.  He wrote the gospel of Matthew originally in Hebrew, and it is said it was later translated into Koine Greek.  It is noted that he gave more details than the writers of the other three gospels.   He may have been able to do so by using a then existing type of Latin shorthand.  Its speediness allowed him to record what Christ said both accurately and in timely fashion.

 

ITEMS FROM UNDERGROUND “ANOINTED” JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

 

In the 1980s, David A. Reed, then a JW elder, was the source of many underground newsletters in a series called Comments From The Friends.  Pro-Watchtower elders eventually disfellowshipped him and his wife Penny.  He went on to became a Baptist minister who has since then authored many books exposing Watchtower.  Also, he has a website called CFTF.com which formerly presented more news but now presents mostly items on doctrines.

 

Living in Massachusetts, David A. Reed used to type up and run off copies of a newsletter then drive to surrounding states to drop them into mailboxes.    He also put some into small envelopes, enclosed all those in larger envelopes, then mailed the large envelopes addressed to “Post Master” in various places across the U.S.  Post Masters got the large envelopes which were addressed to them. 

 

They opened them and inside was a letter asking that they postmark and mail the enclosed envelopes so that they would come to people with the local postmark on them.  The Post Masters did so, not thinking too much about it especially if their post office was in a town named something like Truth-Or-Consequences or North Pole.  Initially Watchtower was scared a schism group was developing as competition.

 

Of course now with the internet things have changed.  Those anointed ones who want to communicate underground more often use emailing.  A common question is how do you know when you get an underground emailed letter purporting to be from anointed Jehovah’s Witnesses, that the emailed letter actually is from anointed JWs?  There are a number of answers.

 

One way is that somehow you know the person(s) even though at most only a penname(s) are given with the actual letter item, and you know that they always partook of the emblems. 

 

Another way is that in the anointed JWs community there tends to be the use of certain “code words,” expressions, voice intonations, etc used.  Sometimes those or other “markings” are included in the letters.  If you hang out with anointed JWs enough for enough years, it gets easier to know.

 

Candor and concern for the welfare of others are also common elements that crop up in such letters.  Whereas Watchtower publications tend to be just for causing the Watchtower organization to survive, writings from anointed JWs are more people-oriented.

 

However, it should not be thought that all the anointed think exactly the same about all things.   That is shown in the coming samples.   Some are critical of Watchtower doings, but others express an interest in trying to help it.  Anyway, they are interesting:

 

Sample 1: (Early 2010)

 

Dear Brothers,

 

In private conversations some of the brothers and sisters in the congregation are saying they believe Christ is the “mediator” between all men and Jehovah God.  They do not believe Christ is the covenant mediator for only 144,000 or Governing Body.  When I reply that the Society says Christ is the covenant mediator for the 144,000 and that the Great Crowd get benefits only through the 144,000, they go quiet toward me, do not appear convinced, go on telling their apostate views about this and other things to other people.  I know this for a fact. The Watchtower of April 1, 1979 had a “Questions from Readers” that taught the correct view, but they deliberately prefer to ignore it.

 

I now know that I am not alone in my concerns for I was told the Society in late 2009 got rid of four apostates in the Mill Hills, London branch over this same false teaching.  Perhaps some will yet repent and can be snatched from the fire. 

I had better also tell you some have said they believe the Society’s view on blood transfusions will change after more of the Governing Body die and some also admit they have said Governing Body members will have to back away from the New Light about higher education.  One brother said he definitely doesn’t even think what he and his wife do in their own bedroom is any elder’s business, and he claims the other friends believe the same way. 

 

People are letting their kids get away with more things like how they talk, dress and wear their hair or finger-nails.  I have heard comments such as “they mean well in Brooklyn but they didn’t think those things all the way through” and “we’re all imperfect and so it’s not unusual to be a little confused or have to back up some before getting back on track.”  The people saying these things are not just young but are of different ages and seem to think their own words are reasonable and right. 

One of my best friends ever was a Bethelite serving in a Spanish branch, so the bad attitude is already getting around, not just in the United Kingdom and Ohio, but also in Latin American lands.  So you will understand more clearly, I’ll cite some scriptures I have been told to look up, and also some of the reasonings. 

(1.) It is claimed by a lot that 1 Timothy 2:5 means Christ is the mediator for “all” men instead of the 144,000.  (2.) Some of the same friends have claimed they believe blood transfusions will have to be declared okay in “emergencies.” On several occasions discussion was made of 1 Samuel 14:31-35 and Matthew 12:7.  (3.) It is also said higher education is okay because of the educations had by Moses, Joseph and Luke.  (4.) Marriage is declared sacred and private.  Paul and Peter didn’t tell anyone to go into other people’s bedrooms or marriage mates’ sex activities.  I once overheard a sister complain she thinks some of the elders wiretap the bedrooms.

My own hands are now free of any guilt in this since I have fully informed you.  People are believing and sharing these apostate lies and bad attitudes.  We are often reminded the organization must be kept clean on the local level as well as in Bethel branches. 

For anyone who asks why I do not sign this letter with anything but a pen name, I believe some who are questioned or disfellowshipped will find ways to get even.  I am not a coward, but I am also not a foolish person.  I only want to do what pleases Jehovah and helps His holy organization.   I'm sure I'm not the only one who ever felt they had to give a message this way. 

Yours In The Truth,

Angelica

Angelica

 

 

Sample 2: (Last half of 2009)

 

TO ALL OUR MUCH BELOVED JEHOVAH’S WITNESS ELDERS

You work extra hard and deserve to know in advance that the ongoing restructuring will include giving you rather than headquarters lawsuit liability in matters such as pedophilia.

Some are acting to quickly have rank-and-file report child molestation in more timely fashion to the police, and where opposed by others about this it has always been possible to inform authorities by anonymous letter and mark the letter so that if called to court proof exists that the authorities were in fact alerted.

Our young people are fading out even as many of you, our best over-worked Elders, are also.  The organization is imploding (slowly choking) rather than suddenly exploding into new groups.   We have continued growing in the United States among Spanish-speakers but otherwise are in decline, and this has quietly been the case for a long time.

By estimation half or more of those attending, across the age groups, no longer put full belief in headquarters teachings.  Social networking such as with Facebook and MySpace has cut the effectiveness of disfellowshipping. 

With the economy wobbling and the world still tossing and turning including in the U.S., these are certainly critical times hard to deal with, but we must do so.  We write to you sincerely

In Good Standing as Your Concerned

Anointed Brothers And Sisters

P.S. Please see that copies of this are circulated to other Elders

 

Who wrote the letters?  The wind comes from no one knows exactly where except God, and it also goes unseen except by God.  God alone knows for sure.

 

 

HEAVENLY HOPE VERSUS EARTHLY PARADISE HOPE

 

 

A woman who had been in the Watchtower Society over Jehovah's Witnesses was upset, virtually in tears, crying, "They stole my hope of living forever on paradise Earth!  It was such a beautiful hope, and now it's gone!!"

But wait..... Could there be something better than "paradise earth" to replace her lost dream!?  What about the hope of resurrection to dwell in the paradise of the heavens!  How might that be even better than living forever on a paradise Earth?  This is not to say that some might or might not be resurrected upon our planet, the Earth.  Our one hope as Christians is resurrection, the specific location or locations are up to God.  All throughout both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible there were resurrections with 90% or so being where?  Right here on planet Earth.

On the other hand, however, Christians are, since the coming of Christ urged to constantly keep in mind the heavenly hope.  So the hope of resurrection to heaven is definitely the hope of Christians, and in fact those who doubt it are invited to read and reflect upon what is said of the heavenly hope at John 14:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2; Galatians 1:8, Philippians 3:20, and James 1:17. 

 

God Almighty the Father will make the final decisions as to who merits what and where.  He is the final and perfect Judge as to the place or places where He may or may not decide to resurrect people.

So, no, the Sister who “lost her dream of living forever in paradise on earth” doesn’t have to sorrow or feel depressed about it.  After all, did you ever go walking through cherry trees with their pinkish-white blossoms shimmering in the sunshine?  Did you ever walk through a mass of snowflakes coming down all soft-lit and dreamy?  Well, then picture that your fleshly confines are gone.  You are now free to travel the starry heavens as a spirit creature, zipping across billions of miles of space in less than a twinkle of the eye.

In fact your spirit eyes see far better than your human eyes ever did.  They behold colors that no human eyes ever could.   They can see infra-red, ultra-violet, the regular human range of the color spectrum, and far more colors, shades and hues.

Instead of snowflakes or cherry blossoms your spirit body zips through star clusters, galaxies, nebulae etc.  Perhaps you will your spirit body to slow down and dip down upon other planets at times.  Lo and behold.  Remember that Christ said "My Father has many mansions.”

 

Watchtower’s teaching "many now living will never die but live forever in paradise on earth" utterly differs from Paul telling us that all sin and therefore all will die.  Read 1 Corinthians 15:22.  

 

Not only Paul, but Christ and others time and again said the gospel or Good News is that Christ gave his life as a ransom for humans so that we have the Resurrection Hope, not living forever on earth.  Christ and the kingdom of the heavens is the hope for Christians, not earth.

 

In Genesis, Adam and Eve were told (absolutely falsely) that they would never die but could live forever in paradise.  Read Genesis 3 which says not God but a serpent made this same kind of false prediction or claim. 

Also, although Ecclesiastes 1:4 says Earth will never end, Christ and the Bible say heaven and Earth will pass away although a new heaven and Earth will come. (Read Matthew 24:35; Luke 21:33, Revelation 21:1)  

 

So precisely as Ecclesiastes says, our planet Earth has come and it will go away even as the different generations of humans do, but yet the Earth will be recreated and in this sense it definitely does remain forever.

Paul said there was one true faith and hope. (Ephesians 4:5)  The faith which he spoke of was and still is Christianity in general, although it has like a huge tree had good, average and bad branches. 

 

Although some branches and individual Christians have been like weeds or an unproductive fig tree, happily most have produced some to many good fruits, that is love, joy, peace etc.  In fact Revelation 19:1 says there will be a "great crowd" in heaven. 

HOW THE ANOINTED “KNOW” THEY

ARE ANOINTED

 

First, it is good to read Romans 8:8-17.  It may seem lengthy, but it is necessary:

 

Romans 8:8 “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.   9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

 

12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Note: the NIV is used here and elsewhere in this section)

 

Now, having read the preceding, let us note that the anointed cry out “Abba” meaning Papa, Dad or daddy in Aramaic, or “Father.”  This harmonizes with Christ saying to pray to our “Father” in the model Lord’s Prayer which is also known as the Our Father Prayer.

 

Paul says in verse 8:8 those controlled by sinful nature cannot please God.  Due to inheritance we are all imperfect, that is we sin, and thus we cannot please God in our own right no matter how many “works” we might do or how many expressions of remorse we might make; but thankfully due to the ransom sacrifice of Christ, we are forgiven all the same and so we are able to have and keep a close relationship to God. 

 

Moreover, anointed persons, that is all sincere Christians, are not controlled in the sense of being unduly dominated by imperfections (sins).  Rather they are controlled by God’s Spirit which they keep operative in their lives.  Like anyone else, including as with Paul and other apostles, the anointed do fall down even daily due to some blemish or another, but yet they continue to pick themselves up and move ahead.  They can be successful because they know God’s love for them even as they love Him.

 

The anointed look forward to not only being with Christ and God in heaven, but also to being free of their limiting abodes of fleshly bodies while upon earth.  In heaven they can experience the joys of not only being with other loved ones there but can, being creatures become spirit beings, use their greater powers to help for a healing of the nations on earth.

 

The anointed are sealed.  To be “sealed” means that they were clearly marked.  The Bible says the sealing is done on their foreheads.  This means the sealing is always  visible for other onlookers.  It can be discerned from the sealing that they belong to Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

 

There is no literal physical sealing as if with a kind of branding iron done on the foreheads of anointed persons, although being sealed often does impart a physical appearance.  The sealing is not disfiguring, but being from our heavenly Father, it is a joyful gift.

What kind of sealant can you imagine would be the more joyful of all for an anointed person?

 

It is the seal of God’s approval gained for being faithful in our love for Him shown by doing His will on earth, loyal despite sometimes fiercest persecution or even death.  In short the anointed have God’s love, deep affection as from a Father to His sons and daughters.  The lights from anointed ones are full of love sparkling happily in a world of darkness.  The anointed know full well that God loves them even as they love their Father in heaven.   Readers may also find interesting the following verses:  

 

John 6:27 Christ says: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

 

Paul at 2 Corinthains 1:21 notes “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

 

Ephesians 1:11 says “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.”

 

Ephesians 4:30 charges us “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Revelation 7:3 orders "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

Revelation 9:3,4 says “they were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads; 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

 

An anointed person literally feels God's spirit move within him or her, (Romans 8:16) impart a gift such as the greatest of all gifts, not the ability to speak another language or emotionalize (speak tongues) but a warm, honey-sweet, joyful feeling, a gift of love such as manifested by greater empathy for others, discernment or perception of those speaking truthfully or not, etc.   

 

However, it is not until death, and all that was to be written of the person's doings in the Book of Life are completed, that it is a  fact that has been witnessed including by the faithful onlooking angels that he or she was indeed faithful from start to finish.

If you ask a person if he or she is anointed, he or she can answer yes, but he or she cannot say if he or she will stay so.  Only God knows the future.  And there is another reason why some of the anointed do not partake of the emblems at the once a year observances of the Memorial (Last Supper) attended by Jehovah's Witnesses. 

The conscience of many JWs says it would not be humble for themselves to be partaking openly.  They know that some JWs think those who partake are phony, mentally off or arrogant, that is the opposite of humble brothers and sisters of Christ.  Therefore some JWs who  partake do so only when out of the kingdom hall, while within it doing so only internally.  Conscience moves them to do fully as the Father wants but without stumbling others.

 

GOD’S CONCERN AND LOVE FOR HIS ANOINTED ONES

 

ASSORTED SCRIPTURES: Many scriptures show God’s love for the anointed including His protection of them:

 

Psalm 28:8 “The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”

 

Psalm 105:13-15 “they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 14 He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: 15 "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."

 

1 Samuel 24:10 10 with David speaking to Saul: “This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.'”

 

1 Samuel 26:8-11  8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice."  9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."

 

1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed.

2 Samuel 1:13-19 David said to the young man who brought him the report, "Where are you from?"
      "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite," he answered.

 14 David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"

 

 15 Then David called one of his men and said, "Go, strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died. 16 For David had said to him, "Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.'"

 

Christians are not engaged in physical warfare as with literal swords or guns, but rather fight a spiritual warfare. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)  Paul speaks at length warning about dangerous antichrists, hence anti-Christians or those who are false anointed ones following Satan in being against God’s anointed Son and his anointed followers.  Paul warns us of the dangers; he says the false Christs and false prophets try to deceive if possible “the very elect,” that is, the truly anointed ones who love Christ. (Matthew 24:24)

 

Note too this warning and encouragement for Christians at 1 John 2:

 

18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

 

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

 

24 See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.   26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

 

28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.   29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.”

 

Since the Anointed are not perfect, it is possible for them to be tricked for a while but at some point their vision always clears up.

At that point they act decisively for Christ.  There is no total deception.  For example some cults may trick some anointed persons into joining them for the cults may seem pro-Christ, for example, by their constant (though wrong) use of the Bible. 

 

However, the anointed in such situations always wind up finally seeing what they are in, that is a false group not really for doing what is right and loving as God wants, but a cult that may pretend it’s “not a dangerous cult” although it is.  Then they work all the better to protect the Little Ones, comfort the afflicted, lovingly shine the bright spotlight of the real truth upon the evil-doers.  They may be in a cult a while but know that at some point they need to leave, to “get out of her.”  (Revelation 18:4)  

 

 

David and Saul (1885) by Julius Kronberg.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Julius_Kronberg_David_och_Saul_1885.jpg

 

 

SAUL CONTRASTED WITH DAVID: In the Bible, we find that Israel’s anointed King Saul was jealous of David and sometimes tried to kill him.  However, David was opposed to killing Saul even when he easily had the opportunity.  For example 1 Samuel 23 tells that David once found Saul asleep in one of the caves in the dessert of En Gedi but instead of running his sword through him just cut off a piece of Saul’s garment.  David felt badly that he had even cut the garment of one of God’s anointed. 

 

1 Samuel 26 tells that another time David heard Saul had come after him into the dessert of Ziph with 3,000 men.   At night while Saul’s army was camping beside the road on the hill of Hakilah, David and Abishai with Abishai slipped up to Saul who was sound asleep and Abishai wanted to kill him.  However David ordered him not to. 

 

Why did David who was anointed by the spirit of God not kill the anointed evil King Saul?  David respected God who had chosen Saul, and felt that to disrespect Saul would have been to disrespect God.  Also David’s best friend was Saul’s son Jonathan, and to kill your best friend’s father, even though he is a bad person, is not what a friend would do.  Until he died, Saul also served to help keep the people of Israel from being overwhelmed by their many enemies. 

 

A very, very important fact to note about David as it also figures into the personalities of all decent anointed Christians throughout history and to this very second is that David’s own nature was to seek reconciliation with enemies rather than to kill them, although at times reconciliation did not work and it became necessary out of overall defensive needs for the safety of people to slay them. 

 

David’s shedding of blood even out of necessity was still the taking of life and not totally without consequences.  Years later God told David to prepare for the eventual building of the great Temple in Jerusalem.  David expressed eagerness to build it during his own reign, but God said that, no, since David had been a man of war the temple would instead be built during the reign of his son Solomon, a man of peace.

 

There is still another valuable lesson from the Bible’s accounts of the two anointed ones, that is David and Saul.  Saul knew David was in the right but yet felt compelled to try to kill him.  Modern anti-Christs are no different.  “Compulsions” of those who are really wicked go beyond the level of reasoning, thus all the more hard for normal people to understand. 

 

Click to see the painting "Death of King Saul," 1848 by Elie Marcuse.

Saul was not slain by David but by an Amalakite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elie_Marcuse_saul.jpg

 

 

For some people the fact is that to them, being bad is good, and being good is bad.  This belief and feeling may be inherited or something that comes to be ingrained from systematic efforts at training for it as with a cult doing subtle anti-Christ brain-washing.  Evil is a perversion, a gruesome twisting of not only the flesh but the heart, mind and soul.  When a truly evil person makes statements of repentance those are either false or only a temporary fancy or expediency they find useful.

 

Sinning against, grieving God’s Holy Spirit, is not just doing something wrong.  It is doing something horribly wrong without any genuine repentance.  Hebrews 6 says:

 

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

Hebrews 10 says:

 

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

 

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 2 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

 

Long ago King Manasseh repented and although his sins were red from the blood of the many innocent people whom he had slain, still he did repent with true sincerity after which God turned the red as white as snow or wool.  (Isaiah 1:18)   

 

For those who were anointed as Christians but who have become unrepentant evildoers, false Christians, when those think of falling into the hands of God, who is also the Final Judge, it is not a thought that they relish, yet they stay unrepentant!  However, the vast majority of us are sorry and so repentant of anything we have done that is really bad. 

 

How grateful we can be that, due to Christ’s ransom sacrifice, God is forgiving since our repentance is truly sincere.  He is our Father in heaven whose main characteristic is love.  While some would hasten to say true, but it is part of a four-fold grouping, that is love, wisdom, justice and power.  They are seeing God’s love as more like just 5% to 25% of His nature when the truth as seen in Christ’s life shows it to be more like 75 to 99.9%!

THE ANOINTED LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE THAN STRUM HARPS

 

Link to see harps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Harp.png

 

HARPS:  Harps are very soothing as seen when David played the harp for King Saul when the latter sometimes fell into darker moods.  Scriptures also speak of harp playing in heaven.  However, those who hope to be worthy enough to go from earth to heaven look forward to doing even more than literally play harps or sing.  They look forward to going to heaven, yes, but also to being soothing and healing for those still upon the earth.  For example consider these scriptures:

 

Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse.

 

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."

 

 7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

 

 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" 

 

The life of Jesus Christ also reminds us to show active caring for people in the here and now.  For example, he says "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." Luke 14:13

 

 

SONG OF MOSES AND THE LAMB: Revelation 14 says speaks of not only harps being played but also a song being sung that only the anointed could learn.  It also says they kept themselves pure from “defilement” with women, which refers to staying spiritual virgins, that is pure from following any person or thing other than the one to whom they are wed, Christ the Lamb:

 

1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

 

Revelation 15 says more about the Song Of Moses:

 

1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God's wrath is completed. 2And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
   

"Great and marvelous are your deeds,
      Lord God Almighty.
   Just and true are your ways,
      King of the ages.
 4Who will not fear you, O Lord,
      and bring glory to your name?
   For you alone are holy.
   All nations will come
      and worship before you,
   for your righteous acts have been revealed."

 

Is it possible to have an even more clear understanding of what the Song Of Moses is and what it means?  Yes, for look at Exodus 15 which tells about “The Song Of Moses And Miriam:”

 

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

       "I will sing to the LORD,
       for he is highly exalted.
       The horse and its rider
       he has hurled into the sea.

 2 The LORD is my strength and my song;
       he has become my salvation.
       He is my God, and I will praise him,
       my father's God, and I will exalt him.

 3 The LORD is a warrior;
       the LORD is his name.

 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army
       he has hurled into the sea.
       The best of Pharaoh's officers
       are drowned in the Red Sea.

 

It is clear that the singing which the anointed do in heaven is a song of victory, praising God Almighty.  God defeated pharaoh, and God will likewise defeat Satan.  Having followed only the Lamb of God, the anointed in heaven are worthy of singing the song there. 

MOUNT ZION: In the Bible the word Zion commonly refers to a mountain near Jerusalem where David conquered a Jebusite fortress of the same name.  It was later applied to the area around where the fortress had been, still later applied to Solomon’s Temple inside of Jerusalem, and all the land where God’s people dwelled and would dwell.  In the Christian part of the Bible, the Daughter of Zion is the bride of Christ, and Paul speaks of Zion as the body or church of Christ. 

Thus we see that Mount Zion can mean a literal place or places.  However, it can also be used metaphorically to stand for other places or situations of high importance including God’s kingdom of the heavens.   Following are just a few of the scriptures speaking of Mount Zion that anointed Christians find of interest:

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

 

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

 

WHAT THE ANOINTED ARE DOING RIGHT NOW ON EARTH

 

Anointed Ones, that is true, sincere Christians are active this very second while in bodies of flesh here upon earth.  They are helping their fellow brothers and sisters of Christ, showing love for total strangers, doing what they can to be at peace with even to those hate them.

 

Who hate the Anointed most?  In the case of King David, the person who was often trying to catch and kill him was King Saul, who had also been anointed.  In the case of Jesus Christ, the person who betrayed him was Judas, who had been one of the original apostles, an anointed one.

 

It is said that Satan began as an angel.  The Father was not a dictator who forced Satan to stay loving toward Him.  Satan chose of his own free will to fall away.  He went from being a loyal angel to being an evil opposer.

 

Those who hate and try to kill the anointed the most are thus seen to be those Christian brothers and sisters who cease being truly Christ-like.  They persecute and if possible would deceive the anointed.  In this they work the will not of the Father but of Satan.

 

The wicked anointed ones much resemble the humans Saul and Judas.  They gain entry into various branches of Christianity, generally while still decent people, although not always.  At some point though they turn bad and deadly. 

 

Today we find a similar situation in not just the Watchtower Society but in any number of groups, especially those that are large, old and dominated by male officials.  For example the Roman Catholic Church has done many good works but it also has priests who appear as angels of light but have repeatedly molested children. 

 

That doesn’t make all Catholics other than whatever each one is as to his or her own individual conduct, though.  Despite the misdoings of some their Church organization’s officials, there are many Catholics who are truly outstanding in their love.  Yes, some anointed Christians have been in the Catholic Church too, still are.  But sadly though, as said, some, not all, of its officials have done sins or crimes that grieve Holy Spirit.

 

Besides persecution from the misleaders of some church groups, persecution against the anointed brothers and sisters of Christ also come from other quasi-religious and secretive orders.  Take for example tiny groups such as or remindful of Luciferians.  They would find no particular trouble getting into a larger group, one or more eventually making his way to the top of the ladder and bringing his fellows into office.  From then on an infiltrated organization’s leadership would persecute any whom it believes to be of the anointed, doing so increasingly until there are schisms and the like.

 

Anointed persons definitely do believe in the Bible and those passages of it which identify Satan as an actual spirit being who spoke to Christ in the desert, and who also spoke before God Almighty asking that he be allowed to harm faithful Job.  They therefore also believe that groups dedicated to Satan and or Lucifer operate among human religious organizations, sometimes attaining to the top of such hierarchies. 

 

However, when there is no large religious organization, no top-down group of clergy or elders, then there is nothing that can be infiltrated.  This is one of the reasons why the preference of the Anointed is for more of a fellowship meeting in homes than a hierarchy.  Some other perceived advantages of fellowship are money that would go for a building instead can help the needy, relatively small groups meeting in homes tend to be warmer, more friendly, more family-like. 

 

The anointed know too that they or anyone can always go straight to Christ, which also means no human organization is absolutely needed.  In ancient Israel the anointed apostles were Jews but when Judaism proved itself anti-Christ, they knew their Christian faith would survive.  They met in small groups in homes.  No one human was in a position to order them what to do or betray them all.  The only overall Leader was Jesus Christ who had become safe enthroned in heaven.

 

It is easy for foes to infiltrate an organization, destroy special buildings.  It is not so easy to infiltrate what is simply people meeting in everyday houses or out-of-doors.

 

The anointed have a Christian duty to speak up at times, even as Christ also spoke, and they do, sometimes very strongly.  They always have throughout history.  As said of their role model Jesus Christ of Nazareth, so it goes for them, also:  "You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your partners."  (Hebrews 1:9)

 

Anointed ones, that is sincere Christians are not some species that lived then died out.  They are fully alive and active, speaking out everywhere today too against the various wrongs swirling about in our modern world.  Such wrongs include issues that emanate from branches of Christianity and other faiths.  Their desire is, as Paul wrote, to try to be peaceful with all men, but they must do what they must do which is to save lives, protect people spiritually, and the like.  Their battling is not something done for personal self-gain or vengeance.  As with David in his sparring with Saul, they are acting out of self-defense and, highly-pleasing to God, to defend the innocent.

 

Watchtower’s view is that their “Anointed” adherents are upholding the Watchtower organization which they believe to be the organization representing God on earth.  The view of most Christians is that those who are truly Christians, that is Christian Anointed, need to be upholding only God Almighty and the Son, Jesus Christ, not just some particular sect, division or branch of the one Christian faith.  Watchtower says the anointed have to stress preaching at doors busily warning of Armageddon any second now.  Most Christians would say the Anointed are doing what Christ did, and he didn’t bang door after door saying the world would end on a certain date.  Instead he was most of all busy showing loving-kindness, which is where the emphasis needs to be.

 

As said, Watchtower’s main view of being “Anointed” is that their Anointed defend the Watchtower organization as if their mother come down from heaven, preach constantly to “place” Watchtower literature in the hands of people who will donate money to them, emphasize the End of the world as it’s now known with the incoming of a paradise earth.  They thus do little more than have JWs talk and distribute literature, meaning their spiritual fruits, such as Love and Joy, (Galatians 5:22) are of relatively poor quantity and quality.

 

But some other groups do similarly.  Some for example point out that we are saved by faith not works, and they say that therefore their groups and individual adherents should not be engaged in any Christian “works” no matter how positive those seem.  Their reasoning is not only shallow but false.  In fact James explains at James 2:14:

 

”What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 

The anointed are persons born with a predisposition to do acts of love, and they act upon it.  Their tendency is not “war” but peace.  They prefer to give out and spread joy rather than just grab joy for themselves.  They seek to let their lights shine not to their own glory but to the glory of our Father who is in heaven.

 

 

KINGDOM DETAILS AND THE ANOINTED

 

Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the spiritual King of all anointed Christians.  Matthew 28 says of Jesus’ last meeting on earth with the apostles and starting with verse 18:

 

“Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 

So Christ clearly says that he already had not just partial but “all” authority in heaven and on earth.  Spiritually, the earth had now come upon his authority, Satan’s lock on controlling, manipulating and influence people and entire nations as on then at an end.

 

However, most modern Christians look around and say something like, “Well, I don’t see any kingdom, say, with a big palace or castle of Christ anywhere.  So, that must still be in the future, maybe any second, but certainly not here now.”

 

In fact some groups make a point to excite people into becoming their adherents by teaching that scriptures like Daniel 2 indicate that the kingdom complete with all manner of trappings is to presently crush all other human kingdoms and so be installed upon earth during our lifetimes, that we are the generation to see the end of Satan’s old world of darkness.

 

Now, when we look at Daniel 2 we find there that Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar the following about a dream the King had had which was filled with symbolism:

 

31 "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. “

 

At this point Daniel interprets the dream for the King.  He tells about those matters pertaining to the time of the King, namely saying:

 

 36 "This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

 

Then Daniel speaks of future powers of the world of the Bible which centers on Christ’s land of birth.  At this point, readers will note some parentheses marks ( ) enclose what others, as said, have  claimed these things mean:

 

 39 "After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours.

 

Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.

 

40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay.

 

42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

 

 44 In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”

 

So to draw all of this together to see it easier, Daniel spoke of the following five kingdoms included with what they may have been or be:

 

1. Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom

2. another kingdom after Nebuchadnezzar’s that would

be “inferior” (the Medo-Persian Empire)

3. a kingdom of bronze that would “rule over the whole

earth (the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great)

4. a kingdom comparable to iron (the Roman Empire) but

also with toes of iron mixed with clay (descendant nations

of the Roman Empire such as the U.S. and the U.K.)

5.  God’s own kingdom that rules forever

(God’s  Kingdom on earth)

 

Thus, as said, people get really excited to hear that the Kingdom of God has not come yet although (so they proclaim) be here anywhere from one second ahead in time on up to some other future time for it.

 

However, as laid out right at the outset, at Matthew 28:18-20 Christ said the Father had given him control way back around 33 A.D.  God the Father gave him spiritual power over the earth at that time, and truly anointed Christians can be and are excited to know that starting back then Satan was no longer able to fully manipulate matters upon the earth, and his efforts to do so are hindered by the kingdom of God as it exerts its power via extending down from heaven into the midst of all true Christians on the earth.

 

In all the past 2,000 years it has not been readily visible via a huge castle with a throne in which Christ sits on a throne.  That’s true.  However, just as the wind is invisible but seen by what it does, God’s kingdom has also been seen by activities all along.  True Christians have done innumerable acts of kindness, some, like their chief model, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God, having given up their very lives to help and save others.  How many Christian orphanages, hospitals and relief charities have during been in 2,000 years?

 

Since the earliest Christians were visible, as were also their charitable acts of loving-kindness, so it is that God’s Kingdom was and still is visible.  It many ways it has been far more wondrous, spiritually-speaking, than any single tangle castle might have been.

 

Now, is the Kingdom in complete power on earth?  No, not yet.  Is Christ’s rule over the earth complete?  No, it isn’t.  He went to heaven with full authority, but 100% full control over the earth is still being worked at one soul at a time.  

 

Christ pointed out that Satan had no hold on him but that it was out of love that he himself did exactly as the Father had told him to.  John says similarly of all true anointed Christians: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19)  

 

Satan is not just a “bad feeling” but an actual creature made of spirit rather than flesh or what modern people might compare to energy rather than matter.  It was not just a “bad feeling” that or who tried to tempt Christ (Luke 4:1-13), who asked God Almighty to let him torture Job (Job 1:8-22 etc), or whom Paul called the “prince of this world” who will be driven out. (John 12:31)   We also know that Satan is an actual being, the false god of the world of darkness, that is of evil, because it is not just a feeling that or who is able to blind and mislead the non-believers around the earth.  (2 Corinthians 4:4)

 

Still, Satan lacks control over true Christians.  Every hour new Christians are born and many will prove faithful and true.  Thus Satan’s control is diminished, the world of darkness withdraws farther from those in the world who truly prefer the light of God and His Son.  As anointed Christians who care about the Kingdom of God, we appreciate the significance of Christ telling us at Matthew 28:

 

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 

How exciting to know that for 2,000 years many have done just that, even in the face sometimes of intense persecution or tribulation.  Further, how inspiring to know that we are also called out of the world of darkness into the world of light, invited to go do the same making of disciples of all nations!  Our delight is not that the kingdom will come but that it came small like a seed, has grown into a mighty tree and it continues to grow with God’s blessing, continuous watering and pruning.

 

 

LOCATIONS OF THE ANOINTED ON EARTH

 

Revelation 20:8 speaks of Satan the “nations in the four corners of the earth.”   Similarly Revelation 7:1 says “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.”

 

The Anointed stand in opposition to Satan and they also come from, and thus are located at, the four corners of the earth.  This is an expression meaning all over the earth, the four major continental masses being 1. North and South America 2. Africa-Europe-Asia 3. Australia, and 4. Antarctica.

 

Does any one nation have a surplus of the anointed?  For example, might modern Israel, Italy or the United States have the most anointed?   The correct answer is that no human knows for sure, but it is known for a fact that scripture says that God is not partial:

 

34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

 

However, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that their Governing Body, which in 2009 consisted of nine elders, is the one and only body or group on earth that represents and speaks for all the 144,000; and when we look at who make them up, we find that they are and always have been mostly people born and raised in the United States.

 

The following chart shows who those men were in 2009 and it also gives some additional information about them.

 

 

 

The only non-Caucasian is Samuel F. Herd.  He is African American.  In the past a good number of Watchtower’s anointed Governing Body members have been of German-American background, e.g., Franz, Henschel, Klein, Poetzinger, Riemer, Schroeder.  A good number have also been of British ancestry, and of course British and Germans had common ancestors in the Angles, Saxons and Jutes who invaded England.

 

Most of Watchtower’s Governing Body members have traveled around the earth giving talks at various conventions.  Since they head up the Watchtower corporation, it provides them with free tickets and, for that matter, room and board, medical and dental benefits, and high quality cars used for being chauffeured around in by drivers from among the corporations staff workers who are called the Bethelite.

 

The truly anointed, although born and raised in various lands, care deeply about those who are suffering, and therefore throughout history those later declared saint, holy ones, anointed, incredibly helpful Christians and the like have deliberately situated themselves where people were suffering so as to provide help.  They have either left the various lands of their births permanently to help others or else they have kept a home base from which they have worked to reach out to and help as many people as possible.

 

For example, the apostle or saint Paul traveled about the Mediterranean preaching and providing relief to the needy.  The apostle or saint named Thomas may have traveled as far east as India and some have speculated perhaps even into China.  The other apostles did similarly. 

 

 

Link to see a childhood photo of Karol Jozef Vojtila

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Karol_Wojtyla_at_12.jpg

 

 

The Moravian missionary David Zeisberger went from Europe to North America, helping many including Mohawk and Delaware in their own languages.  Minister Harold Bell Wright went from Ohio to California, his books going to locations all over the earth.  

 

Karol Jozef Vojtila (John Paul II) of Poland traveled to many nations and spoke numerous languages.  Agnesë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) moved from what is now Macedonia in Europe to India. 

 

Rick and Inez Fearon have traveled from Massachusetts to Florida and ministered via telephone conferences to people in the U.K., Scandinavia, Israel, etc.  Raymond Franz did missionary work, sometimes dangerous, in the Caribbean.

 

As mentioned much earlier, there is also a theory that the anointed consist of persons who are hereditary descendants of Christ.   Those of that view say for example that Christ and Mary Magdalene bore a child who was taken into safe hiding in France.  It has been said the bloodline of Christ was most seen in the land of the Merovingians.   Those were a Frankish people unusually involved in religious matters.  The holdings of the Merovingians included most of what are now France, Germany, the BeNeLux nations, the northern half of Italy, and a most northern section of Spain.  

 

See for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian

 

However, as a reminder, this “anointed by DNA or heredity theory” is most prominently mentioned in Dan Brown’s fiction, although that is not to say that some secretive orders may not have long gone by similar if not identical suppositions.  A theory has also been that the mysterious Knights Templars served for protecting the secret that Jesus Christ had had literal descendants as well as protected as least some of those descendants including among the Merovingians.

 

Today the anointed are all over the earth.  All kinds of speculations have been offered about them.  Some hold that all the anointed have pure Jewish ancestry although they are Christians.  Others hold that the anointed are from all nations, tongues and tribes but have at least a very small amount of Jewish ancestry; or that they are thus diverse but have at least some faint but definite lineage going to Christ himself.  Others hold there is no Jewish ancestry of any sort, or that if there is, it is only coincidental.   Might one be able to list some commonalities about the anointed such as those that have been declared unusually outstanding Christians have traveled a lot?

 

Actually, said, although for example many have traveled, there are those who for various reasons really have not.  There are, for example, outstanding mothers who shine their lights brightly and are clearly known as saintly or saints by their sons and daughters, also loved greatly by domestic and wild creatures and the needy people in their neighborhoods, but who for the sake of their families or because of health, etc have never been farther than a thousand miles from their homes. 

 

No, the truth is that genes, wrongly assumed commonalities, etc, do not tell anyone who the anointed are, certainly not now so far along in history.   As Christ originally indicated, the anointed are known by their acts of loving kindness, not via genes, locations, traveling, a strong interest in alternative medicines, etc etc etc. 

 

One guess almost certainly to be true is that some who read this likely are of the anointed for the anointed naturally maintain a keen interest in all things of a spiritual interest; but, of course, then, so do some other people.

 

 

HOW MANY ANOINTED

ARE THERE?

 

Although the Bible clearly gives the figure of 144,000 anointed persons, that number is not taken as literal but symbolic by most Christians.  The main reason that this view predominates is that the book of Revelation is itself symbolic and full of symbolic images and other numbers that are symbolic as when seven stands for perfection but six stands for imperfection or three indicates emphasis.

 

The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has held to a literal view, and if a JW were to teach that the figure may be or is symbolic, then she or he risks being disfellowshipped with loss of all normal ties to any JW family members, friends or business associates. 

 

Overall, the possible answers to this question are summarized as follows:

 

A. the number is symbolic and may therefore be more than 144,000

B. the number is symbolic and may therefore be less than 144,000

C. the number is a literal 144,000

 

Anointed persons are humble.  They try hard to have accurate knowledge on Bible matters, although knowing the greatest gift is not knowledge but rather it is Love.  Humans and all else can fail us at times, but Love is God’s main trait and Love never fails!

 

Thus, while different anointed (sincere Christian) men and women have different views on this as with other matters, they are totally open to the fact that in heaven they may find out they were wrong about some things while upon earth.  Unity is by Love (not forced robotic sameness) and Christian freedom to differ.  Some will sincerely disagree with some of what they read here too; but very few of the older, truly anointed would disagree in other than a kindly tone of voice.

 

Returning to the more specific question of how many anointed there are, we can note, for example, that Isaiah 6:13 says “And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land." So, still another theory is that the 144,000 symbolizes one-tenth of the whole actual number for those going to heaven.”  This would mean that the number is actually 1,440,000. 

 

Some would take this even farther, especially if inclined toward or with the Messianic Christians branch, to mean that the one-tenth remnant might be equal to those who lived and died as literal Jews, the other nine-tenths being Christians.

So, our Father in heaven alone knows for sure.  Perhaps all these different views or speculations are incorrect.  That’s being honest and won’t please those readers who want to “know” things for certain while here alive in the flesh rather than before hopefully being informed when with Christ. 

Regardless of however “many” go to heaven with Christ, though, we do know their lives are like lights that cannot be hidden even if beneath a basket set atop a mountain.  Their anointing is not literal oil but the oil of loving-kindness reflective of Christ, the Father and Holy Spirit.  They are known by their fruits such as love, joy and peace. (Galatians 5:22)

 

 

DO THE ANOINTED HAVE A CHURCH?

 

Upon earth the anointed have walked and do walk through the doors of many different branches of the one Christian faith that Paul said existed in his time (Ephesians 4:5) and which still exists, that is Christianity in general.  However, they are called out of all of those and human society in general.

 

How so?  They are in fact the property of no human, no group or human organization but rather belong above all else to God Almighty alone.  Although they may be in association with this or that group and contribute to groups, their overall loyal is only to God Almighty.  Being with different groups often allows them to be helpful to those in the groups who have special needs including needs that are spiritual, emotional or physical.

 

So, yes, there are anointed among those with the Baptist Churches and Associations, those who are in Catholicism, those who are or have been with JWs, etc, although they may not stay with those groups all their lives, though some do maintain a life-long association. 

 

As noted but worth repeating, Christ said the wheat and the tares are intermingled, that there are both true and false Christians.  Final judgment belongs not to any biased human but to God who sees the whole person including the person’s very soul.

 

So, on earth there is the Christian faith with good, average and bad branches.  In heaven is the kingdom of God.  The heavenly kingdom’s power extends down from heaven directly into the hearts and minds of all true believers.  It may not be readily perceptible to some, but in fact it is a power to be reckoned with.  Some human kings and emperors who did discern the influence of Christ in the lives of their people have been jealous.

Many human church groups have written statements of required beliefs.  Some of those beliefs do not go along with just what the Bible says.  They may mean well, but in doing so they are not going along with 2 Timothy 3:16 saying that the Bible as it is is sufficient, the only perfect teacher.

For example the Roman Catholic Church’s 1975 edition of the Roman Catholic Catechism says, “Did God intend that the Bible alone should be the guide to salvation? No, because certain things in the Bible can be misunderstood, and because the Bible does not have everything God taught. (p. 51)

It also says “Does Jesus require us to follow the Pope in matters of religion? Yes, because obedience and loyalty to the Pope are among the chief requirements of Our Lord's plan for unity in His church.” (p. 56)

 

Not all Roman Catholics agree with or go by these kind of statements any more than they all agree with Popes who demand that they not use condoms.  They may have been raised as Roman Catholics but don’t agree with all the rules and beliefs.

 

The Watchtower also has numerous rules or laws that make being a JW so unjoyful that most JW youths have been quitting it.  For example, JWs are:

forbidden to buy Girl Scout cookies; forbidden to celebrate any holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc.); forbidden to birthdays; forbidden to run for or hold a political office; forbidden to exercise the rights given them under law or constitution such as the right to vote; forbidden to serve on a jury;  forbidden to speak to former members who are shunned (disfellowshipped); forbidden to buy Christian products such as books, music, pictures etc; forbidden to read Christian literature; forbidden to have friends who are not JWs; forbidden to marry a non-JWs;  forbidden to have a tattoo; forbidden to use pet foods made with blood or blood products; forbidden to donate blood or their organs;  forbidden to join any clubs or sports teams; forbidden to participate in a school play;
forbidden to play chess;  forbidden to own wind-chimes; forbidden even as married couples to have some sexual intimacies, etc.

In some organizations the anointed can affect change, cause reforms.  However, sometimes this is not possible.  Organizations sometimes slowly implode (choke) and eventually some explode, shattering like glass into several to many fragments or sects.  When an explosion is imminent the anointed will do what they can to help other sincere Christians pick up their lives, become stronger from the experience, and move ahead even closer to Christ who really is “The Truth.”

 

Some persons look down upon the fact that some to many of the anointed simply read the Bible at home rather than affiliate with some huge organization.  In fact those who are general Christians belong to the most powerful and numerous Christian faith on earth: general Christianity.  They also belong to the most powerful and only wholly perfect organization in the universe, the kingdom of God in heaven.  Even upon earth the number of Christians who stay at home away from large church groups, that is “the un-churched” may now be as numerous as or greater than those who attend at one and only one certain church, associate with only those of a certain written creed. 

 

THE ANOINTED AND ET’S

 

A thought which comes to mind is if there are Extra-terrestrial intelligent beings, that is aliens, and if so how would they fit in regarding God and anointed Christians.  The subject makes for some interesting speculations.

 

Two things to note are that angels themselves fit the description for intelligent ETs.  Their origin is from beyond the earth and they are described as not only intelligent but far more powerful than any humans.

 

The desire of anointed Christians is not to defeat angels but to become much more like them by receiving new bodies made of spirit instead of matter for entering heaven.  Although speaking of such non-material beings, the Bible does not say one way or another about any other ET beings that are made of matter and who dwell on other planets. 

 

Christ said his Father has many mansions and scientists vouch for the awesome vast nature and beauty of the universe replete with not only stars but planets and moons.  Even if it becomes evident to all humans that there actually are material ETs, this would not negate anything in the Bible.  Christians would still know that God exists and in light of wide-spread affirmation of ETs, then His power would simply be magnified, knowing that He is not limited to just one world. 

 

Link to an item created by NASA.  At John 14:2 Christ says, differing some by translations, that his Father has many mansions, rooms or dwelling places.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Planet_Discovery_Neighbourhood_in_Milky_Way_Galaxy.jpeg

 

Also, Christianity’s core principles that Christ said boil down to showing true love for God and our fellow man would still be sound and likely might be found identical to those of some of the ETs, too.  If there are many ET civilizations, some would be good, many average, and some very bad.  Humans and anointed Christians would find that in addition to missionary work on earth, it would be good for various reasons to study the ET civilizations and interact at some mutually-comfortable level with at least some of them. 

 

Going by what humans have seen upon earth, the most common form of ET religious belief would probably be of an animistic type.  However, all in all one could also reasonably expect to see worship not only of an alien sun or stars, but also worship the worst of beasts or gods and goddesses.  The most advanced ET civilizations might make use of what are mostly philosophical or moral systems, for example some remindful of Confucianism.   Some ETs would likely be of a far more religious or philosophical bend than humans, some similar to ourselves, still others of little such disposition.

 

When anointed human Christians go to heaven as spirit beings, might they find that God has other non-angel beings there who had previously also been creatures made of matter and who dwelled on other worlds or even this earth in ages long past?  Looking at Revelation chapter 4 is enough to make one wonder, although it is true, too, that Revelation is at least largely symbolic.  Revelation 4 says the following about what the Bible calls four living creatures, not angels:

6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.  In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.  8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever.

In continuing this discussion which is thought-provoking speculation, although there is every reason to assume that anointed humans would deal largely with the concerns of humans still in the flesh upon earth, if there are ETs in the flesh in outer space, might God also have “anointed ETs”  who would serve similarly for such other species before His very throne?

 

CHRISTIAN KINDNESS

 

What are the kind of upright positive things which an anointed person, that is any sincere Christian, be seen doing or want to be seen doing by God Almighty, Christ and others?   Some clearly think that it is love for “deeper things” and that that is a love for studying the Bible academically, for example, examining what scriptures say about the End or what the symbols in Revelation stand for.

 

However, God’s will is not that we become like scholars so much!  No, we are to truly love Him and show neighborly love for one another.  Therefore this book has this section on ideas for Christian projects.  They are not detailed, but are indicative stepping stones toward the doing of many fine works for showing Christ-like love to the glory of God:

 

neighborhood graffiti removal and trash pick-up; a community garden; tracts/leaflets educating about how to get rid of or at least decrease dangerous vices and addictions, help reduce crimes in general; helping those too elderly or infirm to easily clean up their yards, wash their windows, etc;

 

cards/leaflets/tracts comforting the recently bereaved; making and delivering soup to the home of those who just saw the death of a family member; brown bags with sandwiches and a scriptures tract/leaflet to help feed a homeless person; soup kitchen; food pantry; collection and re-distribution of clothing for the poor and needy; collecting money for charities; starting a Christian fellowship;

 

focus on helping needy older widows, alien residents (migrants); informal friendship club or tutoring to help newcomers from other language groups, holding a Christian party for the disabled and impaired, etc; donating not just money but time and energy to help the needy; formal or informal neighborhood watch; visiting and helping or comforting shut-ins, the sick and dying;

 

ministering by picking up and phoning to talk with a list of senior citizens at least once a month; going as a weekend Christian helper to the poor on a Native American reservation; spending a week each summer helping needy people in another part of the U.S. or in some other nation

 

James 2:14: ”What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 

May we all show ourselves to truly be as sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters to Christ!

 

HEALTH

 

Good health is a natural concern for everyone.  Numbers 5:24-26 says "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

 

Elsewhere in this publication, it is noted that often in one way or another, the anointed travel about to do the will of the Father in helping others who are in need.  They may travel via the internet, via the telephone, on foot, by chariot, car, bus, ship, boat, airplane or jet.  When they finally get there they of course preach the Good News of God’s kingdom by word, but they also do so by deeds of loving-kindness.  Christ often healed and resurrected, for example:

Matthew 4:23-24; 8:5-8, 17; 9:22, 35; 11:5; 15:28, 30; 21:14; Luke 4:40, 6:18; Acts 5:16; 3 John 1:2.

 

Modern Christians seek to spiritually revive the spiritually dead.  They seek to spiritually provide relief.  Of course most are not medical doctors, and yet they can share useful information and act in legally permitted ways to help suffering fellow humans.  One way is by donating to charities dealing with health issues.

 

Others, for example, may be seen going into the Andean mountains of western South America, say, in Ecuador or Peru.  With them they may take over-the-counter bottles of pain-killer to give relief from injured or deteriorating teeth.  They may have packets of vitamins to give those seen to be in great need, share information about natural health foods locally available, etc.

 

The anointed in the time of the apostles, David and others also maintained an interest in sharing health tips.  For example, Proverbs 16:24 appears to allude to the health benefits of honeycomb, saying “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”  Proverbs 17:22 notes that “A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

 

Very few specific remedies are mentioned in the Bible. Mention is made of many herbs such as myrrh, anise, rue, cummin.  Hezekiah had a fig poultice:

 

Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. (2 Kings 20:7)

 

Herbs can be thought of as either medicinal or dietary.  They include anise, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, dill, garlic, mint, mustard, rue. 

 

The ancient Israelites were not total vegetarians.  In fact they sometimes ate fish, partridge, pigeons, quails, doves, calves, goats, lambs, oxen, sheep and venison.  Dairy products were butter, cheese, curds and milk.

 

Fruits include apples, almonds, dates figs, grapes, raisins, melons, olives, pistachio nuts.  Vegetables include beans, cucumbers, leeks, lentils and onions.  Grains include barley, bread, corn, flour, millet, spelt, wheat, unleavened bread.   They also ate eggs, locusts, vinegar, and olive oil.  Drinks included wine and grape juice.

 

James 5:14-15 says “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

 

Olive oil was and still is the most common plant oil in the Middle East.  Many say it indeed is excellent for example in helping with rough skin, arthritis and other pains.

 

When you pray over a person, he or she appreciates your loving concern, and for some people an expression of group concern is a real morale booster.  However, prayer is not a substitute for getting decent, standard health care.  Luke was a physician, and Christ said the ailing need a doctor.

Gluttony is wrong.  Fasting was never required of Christians. Matthew 9:14 notes "Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not?"

On the other hand, nothing forbids use of fasting.  Christ says at Matthew 6:16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face.”

Acts 14:23 speaks of older people being appointed to serve others along with prayer and “fasting.  1 Corinthians 7:5 speaks of fasting and praying.   Daniel 10:3 speaks of partial fasting or avoidance of overly rich items, and even from a Biblical perspective then it may not be wise to overly drink wine, eat bread or meat.

Modern anointed Christians, as did Christ, like to share knowledge about diet and health with others.  Hosea 4:6 states "My People are destroyed from lack of knowledge."   Conversely, the old saying “Knowledge is power” is also true.  So knowledge is needed for life and happiness in life including in the areas of physical, emotional and spiritual health.

 

THE BAPTISMS

 

INTRODUCTION: Most all Christians and non-Christians know about baptism, but they do not know about baptisms in the plural.  So, this is a discussion of  baptisms in the plural sense since the Bible speaks of different kinds of baptism, for example Hebrews 6 Paul says:

 

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

 

To begin, now, we know that those of us who want to become Christians tell God in prayer that although imperfect we want to do His will.  This has been called a “dedication.”

 

God then baptizes us by His Holy Spirit, which is Baptism by Spirit. 

 

We become baptized as Christians via use of water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which is important symbolic Water Baptism. 

 

Some say the water baptism is only to be done by total immersion in water; others say it is to be only by sprinkling or, say, not by sprinkling but a pouring of water onto the head etc, etc.

 

Still others say it can be either way, in any of the various ways.  A few such as Quakers and the Salvation Army believe it is not necessary at all.

 

Early in the history of Christianity before general Christianity developed into Eastern Orthodox and later Roman Catholicism, those who were slain for being Christians but who had died before being baptized via water were declared baptized not via water but by blood.

 

Some groups speak of still other baptisms.  Roman Catholics and to some extent the Eastern Orthodox Church teach there is a baptism of desire.  It is said to be in effect for those persons who wanted to be baptized but died before it could have been physically done.

 

Mormons practice what they claim is the Baptism of the Dead.  Jehovah’s Witnesses in the late 1900s changed from baptizing “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” to baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and “God’s spirit-directed organization.”

 

BAPTISM BY HOLY SPIRIT: As to which is greater, baptism by water or baptism by Holy Spirit, John the baptizer said of Christ "I baptize you with water, but he who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."  (Mark 1:8)   Christ and his apostles used water too, but even more importantly, as explained by John, was the baptism by Holy Spirit.  Baptism by water is symbolic of what baptism by Holy Spirit has already done, but it is important and to be done if at all possible.

 

WATER BAPTISM: There should be at least two witnesses to water baptism.  One witness can be the first person being baptized and the second witness can be the person doing the water baptism.  But let us note that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are described in the Bible as “secret” believers in Jesus Christ.  (Jn 3:12; Mt 27:57, Jn 19:38)  So this raises the question of who baptized such secret anointed Christians? 

 

Link to see a baptism around 1900 in North Carolina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:River_baptism_in_New_Bern.jpg

 

 

WATER BAPTISM DURING GREAT PERSECUTION:

If at all possible they would have baptized one another.  Another possibility is that when a secret Christian did not know who another secret believer was, he or she may have baptized himself or herself as witnessed to by God for the second witness, in addition to which God’s on-looking, faithful angels were also witnesses.

This is an important consideration in view of the fact that for over 2,000 years now Christians have experienced fierce persecution in first on nation and then another.  For example today there is grave danger for those Christians who seek to convert others to Christianity in many Arabic lands such as the Sudan in Africa.  It is comforting to know that some persons even in such lands have privately, even secretly repented of their sins, dedicated themselves to Christ, and been able to have water baptism with safety to themselves and others. 

IMPORTANCE OF VISIBLE WATER BAPTISM:  This does not mean, though, that Christians at times and places of normalcy should be getting baptized witnessed only by themselves and God or the angels.  To the contrary, the “normal” process is that a person is baptized with other humans present, for example loving Christian friends and family. 

 

Each one of us knows what his or her own situation is.  Another factor to bear strongly in mind is that water baptism is not only important symbolically, but when seen by other Christians it is also a powerful source of comfort and a motivator as Christians are also told to make new followers of Christ.  (Mt 28:19)

BAPTISM OF JOHN: Another interesting point about baptisms is that the Bible says some early anointed Christians at first had received only  the Baptism of John.  (Ac 18:25, 19:3)  However, those who received baptism from John the Baptizer, such as Apollo and twelve men of Ephesus, also went on to receive the Baptism of Christ, that is a Christian Baptism involving Holy Spirit and the accompanying gifts. 

 

John’s baptism had been one of repentance.   Baptism into Christ and the Body of Christ, the one faith of overall Christianity, surpassed this, bringing forgiveness, clean conscience, new birth, resurrection hope, and gifts. (Ac 19:4, 5)

BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD: Baptism For The Dead is based on 1Corinthians15:29. There Paul states: “Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?”

 

The Bible does not clearly define what “baptized for the dead” meant or means.  Therefore there are various, even many guesses as to what the expression means. 

 

One guess among many to most Christians is that it refers to the fact that when people receive baptism by water their old bad conscience dies there. (Read Romans 6:4) In other words, it simply means that one’s spotted or sinful past is symbolically washed away.  After such cleansing, newly baptized Christians are lifted up to their new lives as Christians and so made eligible for the Christian hope of resurrection. 

However, some in the early general Christian church before the splitting for example into Eastern Orthodox (Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc) versus Roman Catholicism, evidently did practice some manner of baptism on behalf of dead persons who had not been baptized by water.   We can say this because in the 4^th century the Roman Catholic Church felt it had to officially ban the practice.  Today no Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic or major Protestant branch does any such kind of baptism, whether it be called Baptism For The Dead, Vicarious Baptism or Proxy Baptism. 

 

However, the Latter Days Saints is a sizeable religious organization that restarted such baptism in 1840, and it continues to this day.  Among the LDS it goes by the name of “Temple Baptism” since it is only performed in certain temples.   Some of the other numerous Mormon splinter groups also do Baptisms For The Dead, although the name etc for the practice may differ some.

The New Apostolic Church and Old Apostolic Church also practice Baptism For The Dead, as well as Communion and Sealing to the Departed.  It is done quite differently from how the LDS does it.  A proxy or substitute is baptized in place of an unknown number of the dead.  The two groups teach that the deceased persons do not pass into the body of the substituting person, which, however, is what has been taught by a third group called the Reformed Old Apostolic Church.

So, as said, the field of speculation is clearly open on the term “baptizing for the dead.”   Another idea about it is that it might mean that in early Christianity if for example a married couple decided to become baptized and the man was baptized by water but his wife died before she could be baptized, then he went ahead and asked that his baptism also stand good for his wife. 

The man may have announced to all human onlookers that he was about to be baptized as a witness to them that he loved and trusted in Jesus Christ, but that also, given that his wife had wanted such baptism but died already, he wanted them to understand that it was also to serve as a witness to her having also wanted to be publicly known as a Christian.  

 

Baptizing For The Dead may also have been something done for example if a couple suffered the death of a child at birth, and they wished in this way to have it witnessed that at least insofar as they were concerned the child had died as a Christian or merited resurrection for training to become a Christian later.  Really, though, these ideas are simply speculations, possibilities.

Today it can only be said for certain that our heavenly Father alone knows its original significance.  In any case we can also be confident that for those who died who would have become Christians, had there been an opportunity for it save that it was thwarted due to early or premature death; nevertheless, God’s main characteristic is Love, and this being true, then, He as the One who is all-powerful and loving can and will “make all things right.”

 

That’s the plan; and what our loving Father plans shall come to pass!

 

GIFTS AT BAPTISM: Each newly baptized Christian also receives gifts from the Holy Spirit. 

 

Besides hope of the resurrection, and the super happy feeling of having a cleansed conscience and closer relationship with God, the greatest gift is love, (1Cor 3:1-3) not a self love of oneself but a love for doing the will of God which is the showing active love for God and suffering humanity. (Mt 22:36-40)   

 

Another gift can be the ability to speak other languages that other humans use and understand or else the ability to speak in a non-human tongue understood by angels although not by most if any humans. (Acts 19:1-6) 

BORN AGAIN: Each anointed Christian thus experiences symbolic death followed by being born again spiritually.  In fact Christ says that beside water baptism we must be born again or we cannot inherit the kingdom of the heavens. (Jn 3:3) 

 

To quote from John 3:5: “Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”

 

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION OR SPRINKLING: At this point we can discuss if water baptism is done only by total immersion in water, by sprinkling, by either method, or perhaps even by both methods, or in some much known  way.  Those believing immersion is necessary note that John 3:23 points out that John baptized people near Salim because much or “plenty of water” was located there.  Acts 8:38, 39 says Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch or official went down into water for baptism after which the eunuch was lifted up out of it. 

Those believing that sprinkling is okay or required note that both Phillip and the Ethiopian went into the water; the scripture says they both came out of the water, but it is not clear if this means one or both came up out of water after immersion or it simply means they both came up out of the river water.  Similarly John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, (Mark 1:9) but still it is not clear if Jesus was totally immersed.

Those saying to sprinkle only note that the Ethiopian asked Phillip to baptize him because he had been reading what Isaiah the prophet said. (Act 8:32, 33)  Isaiah 52:15 says of Christ “13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. 14 Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; 15 So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider.

Ezekiel 36 says: 24 "For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.  25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.  28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.  29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses.”

Hebrews 10:22 says “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Numbers 19:20 notes “But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.”

 

Also some point out that in Greek the word for “to baptize” (βαπτίζω) usually refers to immersion, not sprinkling in both the Septuagint and the New Testament.   The related word βαπτω appears in the New Testament and means "dip" or "dye,"  for example referring to putting a piece of bread partly into wine.

Beyond Old Testament scriptures speaking of sprinkling, a major verse referring clearly to sprinkling, again, is Hebrew 10:22.  Those for total immersion say the verse is focused on sprinkling for the cleansing of evil conscience, not the fullness of Christian baptism which entails that, yes, but also much more.  However, those for sprinkling counter that the preceding verse, Hebrew 10:21 makes clear that the sprinkling must refer to full Christian baptism for it lets “us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” 

 

Luke 11:38 is used by some as an example where the meaning is to perform ablution, that is a washing of the hands not just for cleansing but for ritual.  In the passage a Pharisee was amazed to see Christ did not wash his hands before eating.  Scribes and Pharisees also complained to Jesus that the disciples did not wash their hands as tradition called for before eating bread. (Mt 15:1,2)

In frustration some might even conclude that it is best to both go under water and also be sprinkled.  In fact a satisfactory resolution already goes before the water baptism, namely as said the fact is that regardless, the baptism by Holy Spirit is what is most essential.  A person might for example receive baptism by Holy Spirit then die in a car wreck before he can get to either a river or even a glass of water. 

 

In some lands all bodies of water may be polluted with disease.  A person may be in an iron-lung and unable to be immersed in water due to health reasons.  Some may feel that going under water is more comprehensive and therefore more remindful of death of the old personality or bad conscience, so that it is better.   

 

Thus far we have spoken of baptism by water as being either via total immersion or else by sprinkling.  There are other ways to apply water, though.   Various “ablutions” can included, but are not limited to, pouring, not just sprinkling, a quantity of water from a dipper, the palm of one hand, several palms full of hand upon the head in imitation of anointing; the washing of hands, etc.   While the Biblical Greek (Koine) word “baptizo” is generally rendered to mean immersion in water, it can also refer to other forms of “ablution.”

 

BAPTISM OF DESIRE: Christ at John 3:16 said of himself "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

 

Two are two major beliefs about this scripture.  One is that people who desire or desired to be Christians are also known and approved of by God.  Further by grace He grants them salvations too.  The other view which was more dominant in the past is that only those who received a visible water baptism are saved.  Only they will be resurrected.

 

Looking closer at the first view, if a person believed in Christ but could not openly convert to Christianity, still, God has the option of nevertheless resurrecting that person.  For example, it would mean that if in a Muslim-dominant nation a person desired to be a Christian but could not openly be one, then by virtue of such sincere desire, he or she might all the same be “baptized” invisibly by God Himself, dealt with kindly and resurrected.   Again, this is called Baptism Of Desire.

 

If correct Baptism By Desire would mean that throughout history there have been many Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, etc who will be resurrected.  Carrying the idea forward, possibly those who were baptized would go to be spirit creatures like angels in heaven; but those who were not baptized but had sincere desire to like Christ or  lived by the main principle of Christ and God Almighty, that is Love shown others, might be resurrected, too; if not into heaven then upon earth where taught better and given a second chance. 

 

This is only speculative, but very interesting.  For example, in the Bible the character Job was not Jewish, and he lived long before Christ was born.  Yet Job is clearly described as a man of God.  The Jewish Talmud (in Tractate Baba Batra 15a-16b) also accepts that Job existed and was beloved of God.   Islam also accepts and highly regards him, called him one of its Prophets.  Palestinian Arab tradition says that Job experienced and succeeded at his trials of faith while dwelling at Al-Jura, which had yearly four-day-long celebrations by people from a number of different faiths who gathered then bathed there at a natural spring.

 

Links to see Mahatma K. Gandhi as youth, in South Africa, with wife Kasturbhai, as teacher of non-violence:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Young_Gandhi.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gandhi_South-Africa.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gandhi_and_Kasturbhai_1902.jpg  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MKGandhi.jpg

 

 

In modern times there have been some non-Christian persons noted for caring to an unusual extent about the happiness of others even as risk to themselves.  Perhaps the greatest during the 1900s was Gandhi who led the people of India to freedom from the United Kingdom.   His use of non-violence must have helped to save many lives, and it doubtlessly helped inspire others including the American minister Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Returning to the broader theme of the Baptism Of Desire, this has been called Universal Salvation among the Protestant branches of Christianity, although in the Roman Catholic branch it is called Anonymous Christianity.   Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner was a principle teacher of Anonymous Christianity, and in fact it is said that it was the one main idea that shaped the Second Vatican Council of 1962-65.  Rahner wrote that Non-Christians could have "in basic orientation and fundamental decision, accepted the salvific grace of God, through Christ, although [they] may never have heard of the Christian revelation."  John Paul II also held this view.

On the other hand another Jesuit priest, Leonard Feeney taught the stricter view of Roman Catholicism which had dominated in past centuries, namely “Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus.”  This is a Latin expression meaning that "Outside The Church (Roman Catholicism) there is no salvation."  This more traditional view has meant that in the past most Catholics went by the view that all non-Catholics were  doomed. 

Returning to the Protestant branch, many Protestant churches have taught the same basic idea.  For example, the Watchtower Society over Jehovah’s Witnesses teaches that the world will end any moment now and those now alive who have not become JWs will all be destroyed and sleep forever without hope of being resurrected.  

However the Bible says all of us die but the Good News (gospel) is that because of Christ we have hope of the resurrection.  Also the Bible says all are resurrected and rewarded or else resurrected but judged deserving of punishment.  By Watchtower’s teaching the worst criminals would simply get to sleep forever.

In any case, as noted, Christ himself clearly said of himself at John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

 

At Genesis 26, God told Abraham the following which would appear to be in line with the universal view about John 3:16:

 

4 “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws."

 

Each reader must ask him- or herself if the more Christ-like view is the universal view affecting all good-hearted persons or the view that salvation is only for those literally baptized as Christians.

 

MIKVOT BAPTISM: If you go to the Temple Mount, the remains of the great temple in Jerusalem, you will still find before its entrance "mikvot" which are ritual baths for personal purification and conversions.  Before and during the time of Jesus Christ, Jews and for that matter the earliest Jewish Christians, walked down steps into those mikvot, became fully immersed, and then walked up out of the mikvot. 

 

This was a way for the Jewish Christians such as Jesus, Matthew, Mary Magdalene etc to cleanse him- or herself from defilements, and to this day highly Orthodox conservative Jews still use immersions.  The practice which derived from scriptures in Leviticus chapters 13 through 17 and Number 19, was done without another person having to dunk then raise the person, although another person or persons could watch and advise the bathing person as to if all his or her body had gone into and under the water.

Link to see a modern Mikva, the word also sometimes spelled as Mikve, Mikvah, Mikveh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Temple_Beth-El_(Birmingham)_mikveh.jpg

The Bible records that at Pentecost the first 3,000 Christians underwent baptism at Jerusalem.  They could quickly and simply bathe in the small mikva pools before entering the Temple, doing so without drawing undue attention from the Jewish priests.  However, within they were doing so now in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and in recognition that the Messiah was Jesus Christ of Nazareth who had already come.  For some one thousand years the branch of early Christianity headed by the Roman Catholic Church, also used immersion.

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR: Regardless of history etc, etc,  if water is used, then the essential point is that water baptism has been performed.  The particular method, immersion or sprinkling, is not the crucial factor, but rather the essential, crucial fact is that new Christians undergo baptism by God’s Holy Spirit, doing so in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

 

They thus become members of the one Christian faith and the anointed Body Of Christ, rather than of just one branch of it, some division, sect or organization.  If your baptism was done in any questionable way, say, to an organization, for example, then it is recommended that you receive a proper Christian baptism.  

 

For example, those baptized as Jehovah's Witnesses after 1985 have had baptisms conducted in the name of Jehovah, His Christ and "the spirit-directed organization."  This is discussed with specific reference as proof elsewhere in this publication.

 

ACTS 19 INSIGHTS: Acts 19:1-6 is a short section of the scriptures, but it is highly informative.  It says:

 

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 20 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"

They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."  3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"

"John's baptism," they replied.

 

5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied

 

So, Paul accepted that they were disciples of Christ although they had not been baptized into Christ.  They were also lacking in full knowledge, and we know that because they had not even known that Holy Spirit existed.

 

Paul accepted that the disciples had already received water baptism.  They had gotten this earlier from John.  However water baptism was not enough.  They needed to also be “baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.”

 

So we see that Paul placed his hands upon them.  Holy Spirit came upon them and this was marked by their speaking in tongues although the scripture does not say if this was real human languages, the language of angels or emotionalizing.

 

They “prophesied,” too, and this word is also not further defined.  In a general broad sense it can mean that they spoke up for what God wanted done and likely also told the consequences for doing or not doing God’s will in the future.

WORDING AT TIME OF BAPTISM: By scripture, baptisms are to be done in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  That wording is not only etched into the Bible but is what has been traditionally practiced by all Christians for some 2,000 years.

However, although different branches of Christianity commonly use this same Biblical and traditional wording, their understanding of them vary.  We shall not go deeply into the matter but it is important to give some general overviews.

 

For example for those who are adherents with the Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity, which is second in numbers only to Roman Catholicism, the meaning is largely understood to be:

 

The words Father, Son and Holy Spirit mean three totally different persons who share the same essence.  It is possible to illustrate what this means more clearly now that we are in modern times and can see some comparable, useful analogies.

 

For example, it may help to think of that “essence”or God’s spirit as similar to energy that has always existed however far you might look eternally back through time, energy which exists this split second, and energy which will eternally exist going into the future. 

 

So, although hard for a human to understand, that essence was never created but comparable to energy, space or time, it has always existed, hence is uncreated.  Not only is the essence uncreated and eternal, but it is also like energy, space, and time, in that it is immaterial. 

 

Just as energy can become matter, God’s essence or, Spirit, can do the same and indeed did do so at the creation of the universe which is time, space, energy and also from the time of its formation: matter.  As Genesis says “in the beginning (and science also affirms that there was a beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

 

In this way, there is a modern analogy to, an illustration for what the Eastern Orthodox Christians believe.  In short, they believe the three (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) are different; have essence that is uncreated, immaterial and eternal.  The Father is eternal.  From the Father came the Son who from birth onward is eternal.  From the Son came the Holy Spirit who continues onward eternally. 

 

The Father began the “Godhead,” meaning He alone is the beginning of the three who although different are still yet One in having divine essence, which is explained in the preceding paragraphs.  These three and only they have the essence of God.  To have this essence means, to make the meaning more clear for some readers, that they and they alone have absolute holiness.  To have absolute holiness means to be divine.  To be divine means to have the quality of divinity or to be divine or divinity.

 

This is also the basic understanding of the words Father, Son and Holy Spirit that are held by most all of the different branches of Christianity.  There are three different persons, they are equally holy although the Father is relatively greatest.

 

Some notable modern exceptions are the Oneness doctrine which in times past was called Modalism.  For adherents with the modern United Pentecostal Church and for some other persons in different branches or churches, the view is that God morphs or changes within a split second into the Son and then instantly into the Holy Spirit, this morphing or changing going on constantly.

 

Of course, there are still many other views about the nature of God, such as the less usual beliefs of Mormons and Unitarians.  In any case those who say that they go by the Bible have to admit that it does say there are Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

A major exception now appears to clearly be the Governing Body men of the Watchtower Society organization over Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Previous to the June 1, 1985 issue of the Watchtower (page 30) magazine, the baptismal questions for people about to be baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses had also been the Bible’s words that the persons were to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  This switch shows that Holy Spirit is defined by the Watchtower organization which they head; thus in essence Holy Spirit is the organization itself as most represented at the head by -- themselves!

 

Yes, with the publication of that June 1, 1985 magazine issue, Watchtower Society’s hierarchy of officials made it clear that they had begun teaching that only their organization rather than the Holy Spirit comes next to God and Christ.  This fact is proved by the following two quick questions which baptismal candidates were (and going into 2010 still are) required to answer with a firm a Yes or No, before marching off to be immersed in a baptismal pool -- namely these questions:

 

(1) On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

(2) Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?

 

So, here we see an entire organization getting “New Light” to change the words of baptism that are presented in the Bible.  This is notable because the Bible has scriptures warning that anyone who changes its words will be bringing a curse upon himself; morever, even if an Angel of Light were to present some other kind of Good News or new light, then that too is false.

 

CONCLUSIONS

 

So now, having read the foregoing, you know a lot more about the anointed.  You also know that Christ has invited you too to follow his footsteps more closely, to do the things that he did.  The offer or invitation is there and it stays for you and others.  Let others know that they do are invited to partake in fellowship! 

 

So now, having read the foregoing, you know a lot more about the anointed.  You also know that Christ has invited you too to follow his footsteps more closely, to do the things that he did.  The offer or invitation is there and it stays. 

 

Yes, all the scriptures about “the anointed” fully apply for you too, if you will only make that be the case by accepting what they say then faithfully living them onto death.  All Christians not guilty of a grievous sin against Holy Spirit and who want to, can partake of the Last Supper emblems, even though in a group such as the Watchtower Society organization over JWs it comes at a very high price.  Many are called out of human society to become followers and doers of Christ, although few are chosen to go so far if necessary as to lovingly die for others which is what Christ did.

 

To the bulk of people the truly anointed appear friendly and kind, not high and mighty, but on an attainable level.  Nowhere in scriptures does it say that being around Christ ever made anyone feel inferior but rather to the contrary. 

 

Their worst enemies regard the anointed ones are stubborn, and obnoxious.  They stand in the way of what the enemies see as the better options, a human headed organization(s), a new world order which they think will be more efficient and thus better.  The foes of the anointed, that is anti-Christs, may also act out of compulsion to simply do what is bad. 

 

Regardless, the foes of the anointed and the Most faithful and discreet slave ever of God, Jesus Christ, try to do whatever they feel they should even though doing so would harm the lives of many.  In doing so they prove themselves brothers not of Christ but of Satan.

 

Of course, though, to God the truly anointed are His persistent, steadfast and loyal sons and daughters.  Whatever your status or affiliation(s), may you yourselves, readers, continue to draw closer to Christ who has noted that there is no law against the doing of acts of loving kindness; and the poor are with us always.  Therefore you are invited to not only read the Bible and tell others of its Good News, but to also show hands-on Christianity. 

 

Toward that end, that is in order to encourage fine works of loving-kindness, readers may find it helpful for example to read some of the following Christian suggestions or ideas, examples, scriptures etc.:

 

 

"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD." Jeremiah 22:16

 

This reminds of a lady whom I saw on TV.  She was in West Virginia, had become a lawyer and was using some of her time to help the needy and poor there.

 

1 John 3:18, 19 “Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.    Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God's side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.”

 

As John says actions that help people, not just words, are needed to show we are on God’s side.

 

“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
       he too will cry out and not be answered.”

Proverbs 21:13

 

God not only exists but He is the rewarder of those who help the poor.  He is also the Final and correct Judge of those who ignore the cries of help from the poor.

 

“He upholds the cause of the oppressed
       and gives food to the hungry.
       The LORD sets prisoners free.”

Psalm 146:7

 

Didn’t Christ literally give fish and bread to the crowds?  Those who model after Christ need to show similar consideration.

 

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
       for the rights of all who are destitute.

 9 Speak up and judge fairly;
       defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Proverbs 31:8

 

Besides attorneys, there are “advocates.”  Just look around thoughtfully and you see whose cause(s) you can advocate for.

 

1 John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

 

“Learn to do right!
 Seek justice,
 Encourage the oppressed.
“Defend the cause of the fatherless,
Plead the case of the widow.”

(Isaiah 1:17)

 

“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”

Deuteronomy 15:11

 

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

 

Tim. 6:17  "Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment."

 

"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings." Acts 24:17

 

"All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Galatians 2:10

 

As said, the one true faith that Paul said existed when he was alive was general Christianity.  It still exists but it has since developed many branches some of which are good, others average, and some bad.  In every branch there are also good, average and bad Christians.    The most devoted have an extra dose of the oil of exultation, and they are the anointed brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

 

As Christ says people know his true followers by their fruits (love, joy, etc); he never said you know them by which doors they enter of which church organization on a Sunday.

 

Now, as the one Christian faith has developed branches, those branches have developed differing views about baptism or baptisms, even as they have about many other topics.  Some incorrectly lament this saying this means “the body of Christ is divided here upon earth.”

 

The Bible says the only true unity is by Love.  The most essential or foundation beliefs for Christianity as stated at as given at the outset, are what Paul states at Hebrew 6, namely:

 

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

 

Baptisms are part of the essential basic beliefs for being a Christian.  However, there is no rule or law that says Christians must not or cannot hold differing views upon this basic or other non-salvation matters. 

 

To some Christians any given rose has more of a dark red color, but to some others it has more of a light red color, others say the color is an intermediate color, still others will say the rose has varying colors depending upon which part of it the eye focuses or upon what the time of the day is.

 

Still, a rose is a rose, regardless of how we call or describe it.  And in any case, the only final, lasting, perfect Judge on our differing views about Christianity is: God Almighty Himself.

 

Speaking of flowers, it is true also that God did not make all flowers of the same one color, shape or fragrance.  He deliberately made them different.  This is good.  It brings greater enjoyment for humans to have a variety of different flowers to enjoy.  It also helps flower to survive better than if they were all the same, since due to variety a single blight cannot kill off but one of them while the others continue.  Thus variety is from God and so is godly.

 

To be different or to hold differing views is not evil.  Instead to be forced to all hold the exact same views would be evil, wrong, dictatorial.  Humans are not robots but have free will.  Yes, Christians are to be “fitly united,” but the only one true bond of unity, as said, is LOVE.  Colossians 3:14 says:

 

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

 

Variety is the spice of life.  The fact that the Holy Bible speaks of not just one baptism but of baptisms is also significant and positive.

 

***

Hopefully, as we end here, the reader now has much greater insight into this highly interesting subject: The Anointed Ones.  May your days ahead be filled with much joy here upon earth and, prayerfully too, in heaven.

 

Phillippians 3:12-21: “¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 ¹⁵All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

 ¹⁷Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. ¹⁸For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. ²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.