If you are,
Your heart condition is pleasing to Yhwh. Those who have a heart that speaks truth, are the sort that Yhvh will bestow the future blessings upon (Ps.15:1,2; 34:18; 51:17; Isa.57:15; 61:1; 66:2; Luke14:11).
Yet when a heart that loves truth and justice, sees corruption, such a heart is in pain and distress. There are many prophetic scriptures that describe the sort of persons that will survive faithful to the end; but I wanted to point your consideration to Eze.9:4.
The "society" interprets this to mean that those who are "sighing and groaning" over all the things going on in the world, are the ones who will have Yhwh's favor and protection. But if you turn there, you will see what the Bible actually says...
"And Yhwh went on to say to him: 'pass through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and you must put a mark on the foreheads of the men that are sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done in the midst of it.'"
We see here that according to God, the ones who obtain His protection, are those who are in distress over the developments within "Jerusalem" and "the city".
[This "city, Jerusalem" is the identity of those in Covenant with God; the anointed (Matt.5:35). The original Jerusalem and city of God, fell due to unfaithfulness and the murder of God's son (Matt.23:37-38; 24:2; Rev.18:24,20,8; Luke19:41-44). Today, there is a "New Jerusalem".
That City of God (Jerusalem), is not the world belonging to Satan (1John5:19) as the WT teaches. Those sighing and groaning over corruption, are not grieving over the world, but over the corruption found in God's city, Jerusalem. According to the WT's own doctrine... their organization is the physical earthly expression/embassy/outpost, of heavenly Zion, New Jerusalem, and the Bride of Christ. According to their own teaching then, would Eze.9:4 be referring to the corruption taking place in the WT?
Before the "Holy City" "New Jerusalem" is finished gathering into it, all those faithfully sealed (Rev.21:2,10,27), the earthly/unfaithful segment of it's members, will pass away (2Pet.3:7,10,13). That spiritual city still contains the "foolish" and "evil" slaves. The "wheat" and "weeds" grow alongside each other, until the final harvest.].
Those marked as being in distress, would be in distress over the events taking place in God's City. In the time of Jesus, the reason to sigh and groan, was the unfaithful leaders who abused those in their care. It is the same today. Much distress now being felst, is also being caused by those Chosen and their allies, who are proving unfaithful (2Pet.2:8; Rev.9:5-6,10). This would also include being in distress over those who were "in the midst of the city" as false anointed (Matt.24:5,24 "Christs" means "anointed ones" in Greek). This distress would also be caused by the things that these ones would be found doing (Eze.8:7,6,9,12; Rev.2:20; 13:15,8,7).
The deeds of the false ones (Rev.19:20), would include the misleading and beating of God's sheep (1Tim.4:1; Rev.16:13-16; 13:11; 1Kings 22:21-23; 2Thess.2:9-11; Matt.24:24-25; Rev.13:11,15,8,7,10; Luke21:24; Rev.11:2), the persecution of genuine, faithful servants of Jesus; as well as efforts to silence their true teachings (Dan.8:11-13; Rev.8:1; 11:2; Luke 21:24). The unfaithful leaders silenced Jesus, by condemning and killing him, through an execution by the Gentiles. It is the same today, as spiritual non-Jews (Rom.2:28-29), called elders, condemn and expel for the harlot above them, all those who do not compromise the gospel of Jesus (John16:2; Rev.13:14-16; 11:3,7; 6:9-11; 12:11; Mark 8:35).
http://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-is-jew-what-is-gentile-answers-to.html
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http://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2016/01/symbolic-death-by-means-of-world.html
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http://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2012/02/there-are-those-who-wonder-if-my_7388.html
As distressing and unjust as these things are, there are a couple of things we should remember...
First, it is Yhwh and Christ himself, that these ones personally assault (Matt.25:45; Luke 10:16; 1Thess.4:8). In faith, we trust that He will come with the fire of His judgement (2Pet.3:7; Rev.11:5; Matt.10:20). In godly fear, we wait on Him (2Pet.3:12).
Second, Yhwh is allowing this "operation of error" to take place. He tells us why...
2 Thess.2:10-12 reads,
"and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved. 11 So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness."
We see here that it is Yhwh's will that before the end, all are submitted to a great test, as to their love of truth (the Great Tribulation). That test is a result of Satan's release from the abyss, due to the fall of a great light from heaven, a wicked steward who poisons the waters of truth (Rev.8:10-11; 9:1; 13:11; 16:13-16; 1Tim.4:1). He will not allow those who truly love truth to be forever deceived, blinded and mislead. How do we know?
(Dan.11:35,33; Rev.13:10,7; Luke 21:24).
At Matt.13:11, Jesus said:
"To you it has been granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, but to those people it is not granted."
Granted by whom?
When Peter perceived the truth about Christ's identity, Jesus disclosed by what means Peter could understand truth.
He told Peter:
"Happy you are...because flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but my Father who is in the heavens did"(Matt.16:17).
Jesus said; "No one can come to me unless the Father draws him" (). Jesus sheep, recognize the difference between the voice of truth and of lies (John10:4-5; 18:37; 14:6).
What do we learn from all this?
While we are commanded by God to "provide fine things in the sight of all men"; As to whether or not they accept these fine fruits of truth; is between their hearts, and our Father in heaven (Romans 12:17; John 15:8; Matt.7:17-20) (Who are the fine trees?).
But what of the damage being done by those who teach untruths? You have already seen that Yhwh, in His wisdom, is allowing it for a purpose.
As it says at 2 Tim.3:13:
"But wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being mislead."
It is clear from this scripture, that Yhwh is allowing this.
Why?
As we read, it will separate those who truly deserve the arrival of his blessings, from those who "rejoice in unrighteousness" (2Thess.2:12).
This is confirmed in Jesus' own account of the judgement:
"And all the Nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates sheep from the goats." (Matt 25:32)
What is the basis for the distinction?
He says that they are judged based on how they treated the least of his genuine brothers (Matt.25:45).
His genuine brothers would be teaching the truth (1Tim.4:16).
John13:20; Rev.22:16; John16:7-8
Regarding this, he said:
“He that receives YOU receives me also, and he that receives me receives him also that sent me forth. 41 He that receives a prophet because he is a prophet will get a prophet’s reward, and he that receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will get a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I tell YOU truly, he will by no means lose his reward.”(Matthew 10:40-42)
Clearly, we must implement Jesus own standard to determine who the true disciples of Christ are (Matt.7:20) (https://pearl-finetrees.blogspot.com/). Then after we ascertain who the true prophets are, we need to respond to them as we would the Christ; by receiving what the spirit provides through them. This would mean conforming our thinking to the truths being revealed (Dan.12:4,9,10,3; Rev.20:12; 22:6) (https://pearl-newscrolls.blogspot.com/).
As we have seen, this truth will only be perceived and accepted by, those who humble themselves and are blessed by God accordingly.
We recognize the injustices of the WT. Those whith eyes and ears face a choice. God is dignifying all, by letting them exercise their own free will, to manifest the true disposition of their heart.
We do well to share what we are learning, by offering the truth to all (Eph.4:25; Eze.2:7; Rev.22:17; 19:9; Matt.22:2,9,10). But we must also allow this decisive work to be accomplished (Joel 3:14; Mal.3:18; Matt.3:12). It is up to each individual to subject themselves to truth; by discerning the true messengers and by feeding themselves from Christ's chosen channel (Luke 12:42; Matt.7:20).
To conclude, I would like you to consider as 2Tim.3:13 continues in verse 14:
"You, however, continue in the things that you learned and were persuaded to believe, knowing from what persons you learned them".
And so, despite the distress you may feel as a result of what you observe "being done in the midst of the city", continue to be faithful, yourself. Just as Jesus should not have been blamed for the corruption of the scribes and Pharisees; don't blame God for what corrupt men have done to you (Job.1:22). Cling to the truth, and leave the judgment of those who don't, to the Judge of all (2Cor.5:10; Rev.22:12; Rom.12:9,21; Gen.18:25; Deut.10:20-21).
Take heart by considering the following words....
"I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is destined to judge the living and the dead, and by his manifestation and his kingdom, preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season, reprove, reprimand, exhort, with all long-suffering and [art of] teaching. For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. 5 You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do [the] work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry." (2Timothy4:1-4)
Take note of these words:
in troublesome season....
You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do [the] work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.
We must not let the work of the wicked keep us from the work of the faithful....
"Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good." Rom.12:21
We can do our part to conquer the evil of WT untruths, with the good of preaching the truth (Rom.10:14,15).
There are infinite benefits from truth (John4:14). It is the living water that imparts everlasting life (John17:3). We must share this truth in order to gain life ourselves, as well as to help impart it to those who may hear (1Tim.4:16; 1Cor.3:9).
"So let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out." Gal.6:9
Ps.126:5-6
If you are one of the precious few sheep who have been blessed by the Father with ears and eyes for truth (Luke 8:10; Matt.16:17), You can be a fine vessel who may be used for this honorable purpose, of being used by Yhwh God to bless yet others(2Cor.4:7) Do not give up. If you endure, you will reap the good you have sown(Gal.6:7,9).
Our devotion to truth and the hours we spent trying to share it, was exploited by the WT. It has caused us all great loss. If that tribulation caused by Satan, causes us to relinquish that previous love of truth and desire to support it, Satan won.
If despite that abuse, we continue to share Bible truth with all those who may also be inclined to hear(1Tim.4:16; Rev.22:17), we will not lose our reward (Col.3:24; Eph.6:8).
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