Congregation Bible Study (30 mins): rr “Clarification of Beliefs”, questions 1-4.
Clarification of beliefs
Over the years, The Watchtower has clarified various aspects of Ezekiel's prophecies that were previously understood differently. Now this book Jehovah's Pure Worship: Restored at Last! includes even more clarifications. Let's review the answers to the following questions.
What do the four faces of living beings represent?
Biblical texts: Ezek. 1:4-6, 10; 10:2
Pure Worship: Chapter 4, Paragraphs 5-14
Explanation above: Each of the four faces of the living creatures or cherubim represents one of Jehovah's four fundamental virtues.
Clarification: Although each of the four faces of the living beings represents one of the four fundamental virtues of Jehovah, the four faces seen together encompass all the qualities of God. Furthermore, the four faces teach us much about the extraordinary greatness of Jehovah's power and glory.
Reasons for the change: The Word of God often uses the number four to convey the idea of something that is comprehensive or complete. So when the four faces appear together, they form more than just four qualities: they are the basis of Jehovah's wonderful personality. In addition, each face belongs to a creature that represents majesty, strength and power. Even so, those four mighty creations of God—represented in the faces of each cherub—are below Jehovah's throne. This description emphasizes that Jehovah is the Supreme Ruler, the one above everything.
Who does the man with the secretary's inkwell represent?
Biblical texts: Ezek. 9:2
The Watchtower: June 2016, “Questions From Readers”
Pure Worship: Chapter 16, Paragraph 18
Explanation above: The man with the secretary's inkwell represents the remaining anointed ones on Earth. Through preaching and disciple-making, the anointed are putting a symbolic mark on the foreheads of those who become part of the “great crowd” (Rev. 7:9).
Clarification: The man with the secretary's inkwell represents Jesus Christ. He will mark those who form the great crowd when, in the “great tribulation”, he determines that they are sheep (Matt. 24:21).
Reasons for the change: Jehovah has given his Son the task of judging (John 5:22, 23). According to Matthew 25:31-33, Jesus will definitely decide who are "sheep" and who are "goats."
Are the prostitutes Oholah and Oholibah prophetic models of Christianity? Do these two sisters represent the Catholic and Protestant religions, the two main divisions of Christianity?
Biblical texts: Ezek. 23:1-4
Pure Worship: Chapter 15 and Box 15A
Previous explanation: Oholá (Samaria, the capital of Israel) is the older sister and represents the Catholic religion; Oholiba (Jerusalem, the capital of Judah) is the younger sister and represents the Protestant religion.
Clarification: These two prostitutes are not prophetic models of any division of Christianity. Rather, its existence helps us understand how Jehovah feels when people who were once his faithful servants fall into spiritual prostitution. He feels something similar towards all false religions.
Reasons for the change: There is no biblical basis for claiming that Oholah and Oholibah are prophetic models of Christianity. Israel and Judah had been as faithful wives of Jehovah; however, Christianity never had that kind of relationship with him. Furthermore, in chapters 16 and 23 of Ezekiel, the unfaithful servants of God are compared to prostitutes and are offered the opportunity to change and the hope of being forgiven. But Christendom, which is part of Babylon the Great, has never been given that hope.
Is ancient apostate Jerusalem a prophetic model of Christianity?
Pure Worship: Chapter 16 and Box 16A
Explanation above: The faithless city of Jerusalem is a prophetic model of Christianity. Therefore, the destruction of that city was a prophetic representation of the destruction of Christendom.
Clarification: The bad things that happened in unfaithful Jerusalem, such as idolatry and corruption, remind us of what Christianity is doing now. But we no longer consider Jerusalem to be a prophetic model of Christianity.
Reasons for change: There does not seem to be a clear biblical basis for claiming that Jerusalem represents Christianity. Unlike ancient Jerusalem, Christendom has never given pure worship to God. Also, Jerusalem had Yahweh's forgiveness for a time, but that is something Christendom will never have.
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