Is Jesus mediator only for the “anointed class” of JW’s?

[MissKate13]

If true, then WHO mediates for the rest of the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

[onewithhim]

If true, then WHO mediates for the rest of the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

When Jesus was on Earth, he spoke primarily to the anointed class---those people who are chosen to be in heaven with Jehovah and Jesus. He impressed upon them the fact that they were heading for a home in the heavens which God was preparing for them. By extension I Timothy2:5 applies also to the "other sheep," which join the anointed ones in following Christ. (John 10:16) That is my understanding.

Most of the New Testament is directed toward the anointed ones, for Jesus was intent on rounding up the members of the heavenly class which would rule over billions of people here on Earth. Once the 144,000 have been chosen (and most of them have been chosen but not yet sealed), Jehovah and Jesus look for the "other sheep" who know that they will live on Earth in paradise conditions. Now, there are over 8 million Christians that look forward to living on Earth. There are more to be found, and that is what Jesus is concentrating on today, as well as giving a witness about God's Kingdom which is mankind's only hope for everlasting life and for true peace on Earth.

[Revelations won]

Dear Onewithhim,

While it is true that Christ's gospel was first directed to the tribe of judah, it is also true that the gospel was then opened up to all gentiles throughout the world.

We should also take very careful note that "Matthew 15:24 "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

We observe here the Christ himself was sent only to the other tribes of the hose of Israel. I ask you to show the account of where Christ visited the other tribes of the house of Israel asserted in Matthew 15:24.

Kind regards,
RW

[Eloi]

A mediator is the link between two parties who make a pact. Since the new covenant (Heb. 12:24) is made with those who are going to perform the function of priests in heaven, Jesus is a mediator between them and Jehovah, of whom they will become spiritual children (Eph. 1:13,14). However, the benefits of that covenant extend to those on earth who will be beneficiaries of that priesthood:

Rev. 5:9 And they sing a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought people for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”
... 7:9 After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. 10 And they keep shouting with a loud voice, saying: “Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

You can have an idea of this when considering that Jehovah made an exclusive covenant with Levi so that they would be His priests; Although their priestly work benefited the rest of the nation of Israel, no one else could be a priest apart from them because that covenant was exclusive with them and not with the entire nation (Exo. 40:12-16; Mal. 2:4).

So the anointed ones _ 2 Cor. 5:5_ i.e. the congregation of spiritual Israel, are not the only beneficiaries of the new covenant, but they will be its FIRST beneficiaries, because "These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb" (Rev. 14:4).

[Miles]

If true, then WHO mediates for the rest of the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

When Jesus was on Earth, he spoke primarily to the anointed class---those people who are chosen to be in heaven with Jehovah and Jesus. He impressed upon them the fact that they were heading for a home in the heavens which God was preparing for them. By extension I Timothy2:5 applies also to the "other sheep," which join the anointed ones in following Christ. (John 10:16) That is my understanding.

Most of the New Testament is directed toward the anointed ones, for Jesus was intent on rounding up the members of the heavenly class which would rule over billions of people here on Earth. Once the 144,000 have been chosen (and most of them have been chosen but not yet sealed), Jehovah and Jesus look for the "other sheep" who know that they will live on Earth in paradise conditions. Now, there are over 8 million Christians that look forward to living on Earth. There are more to be found, and that is what Jesus is concentrating on today, as well as giving a witness about God's Kingdom which is mankind's only hope for everlasting life and for true peace on Earth.

But as I've pointed out before, all the seats have been taken. Unless, that is, a person's ancestry goes back to one of the 12 ancient tribes of the "sons of Israel." And that's IF ancestry even counts.

Those comprising the 144,000....Conquered and dissipated in the year

12,000 from the tribe of Judah ..............586 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,.......,,...723 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Gad..................721 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Asher................721 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali............734 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh.L,,,,,,.723 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Simeon.............722 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Levi..................Integrated into ancient Jewish and Samaritan communities.
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar............721 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun............721 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph..............721 BC
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin..........721 BC
source in part: Revelation 7:5-8

Q. Do you think all the members of the Governing Body of the Jehovah's Witnesses

.................

have an ancestry that goes back to one of the twelve tribes?
What are the odds? 1 in 26,485,000,000,000?


.

[Eloi]

The names of the tribes mentioned in Rev. 7:4-8 do not coincide with the names of the 12 tribes of carnal Israel _ for example Joseph (Rev.7:8b) is not a name of any Israel's tribe _ so it is understood that they are symbolic names and it is not known what they could mean, if perhaps it expresses some peculiar characteristic of those called to be kings and priests next to Christ. For specific reasons we understand that the number 144000 is literal.

[Miles]

The names of the tribes mentioned in Rev. 7:4-8 do not coincide with the names of the 12 tribes of carnal Israel _ for example Joseph (Rev.7:8b) is not a name of any Israel's tribe _ so it is understood that they are symbolic names and it is not known what they could mean, if perhaps it expresses some peculiar characteristic of those called to be kings and priests next to Christ. For specific reasons we understand that the number 144000 is literal.

I don't have the faintest idea of what you mean by "carnal Israel," but of the 63 Bibles I checked 63 list "Joseph" as being the name of one of the tribes in Revelation 7:8, and 100% is good enough for me.


.

[Eloi]

Quote a biblical text or passage in the pre-Christian era where the 12 tribes of Israel are mentioned to see if Joseph is one of those twelve tribes.

No one minds what you say ... we are talking Bible here.

[Diogenes]

If true, then WHO mediates for the rest of the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

When Jesus was on Earth, he spoke primarily to the anointed class---those people who are chosen to be in heaven with Jehovah and Jesus. He impressed upon them the fact that they were heading for a home in the heavens which God was preparing for them. By extension I Timothy2:5 applies also to the "other sheep," which join the anointed ones in following Christ. (John 10:16) That is my understanding.

Most of the New Testament is directed toward the anointed ones, for Jesus was intent on rounding up the members of the heavenly class which would rule over billions of people here on Earth. Once the 144,000 have been chosen (and most of them have been chosen but not yet sealed), Jehovah and Jesus look for the "other sheep" who know that they will live on Earth in paradise conditions. Now, there are over 8 million Christians that look forward to living on Earth. There are more to be found, and that is what Jesus is concentrating on today, as well as giving a witness about God's Kingdom which is mankind's only hope for everlasting life and for true peace on Earth.

I've always been amazed at the intricate, complicated, and contradictory salvation scenarios Christians come up with. This quote above is a perfect example. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 gives ZERO support for these arcane distinctions about the 144,000 or the 'anointed ones' vs the 'other sheep.' For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all....

What is there about "Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all" that is hard to understand? There will always be 'Christian' religious sects that try to make their sect special by focusing on one or more of the oddball verses in the Bible. Paul, however, tried to do the opposite. He tried to simplify and strip his new religion of the multitude of laws, regulations, and practices of Judaism. One example is his admonition to not worry about what to eat or drink or what days to observe.

I suppose it is natural among humans to seek to stratify, to make some within the fold special, anointed, or whatever. But the message is simple:
"Jesus came as a ransom or all, according to Paul. And Jesus himself made no such distinctions, seeking to reach out to the poorest of the poor while casting a suspicious eye on the rich and the religious leaders of his day.

But human nature triumphs over the words of Jesus, no matter that he specifically urged his disciples NOT to seek special status, NOT to strive to be first.

The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

_ Matthew 23:11-15

Starting with his disciples (John called himself 'the disciple Jesus loved; Peter blustered and frequently drew attention to himself) His followers all too often seek to be first. This undermines the message of Christ, which was very simple:
Seek first the Kingdom of God and love your neighbor as yourself.
All the rest is mere surplusage; more of an impediment to belief than a help.

None of this of course stops people like Charles Haze Russell or Joseph Smith or any of a hundred other dividers, both Catholic and Protestant, from earnestly seeking ways to distinguish their faith and themselves from others, the mere "sheep."

The more Christians sew division and make special pleadings among themselves, the more they set themselves as "stumbling blocks."

[Eloi]

For anyone who knows the priestly service that was carried out in Israel, it is easy to understand what it means that there is a small group of those chosen by God who will perform special functions together with Jesus. Everyone who exercises faith in Jesus and obeys God can benefit from that divine arrangement.

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.