Congregation Book Study, Week of November 22-28, 2021, Chapter 16, Paragraphs 9-13, Box 16A and Answers.

Congregation Book Study, November 22-28, 2021, Chapter 16, Paragraphs 9-13, Box 16A and Answers.

Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 16 paras. 9-13 and Box 16A.

How was the vision fulfilled in Ezekiel's time?

9, 10. Who were some of those who survived the destruction of Jerusalem? 

Solo las personas buenas lograron sobrevivir, algunas de las personas que lograron sobrevivir fueron: las personas fieles a Jehová, los recabitas, Ébed-Mélec el etíope, el profeta Jeremías y su secretario Baruc.

¿Y qué podemos deducir acerca de ellos?

En la visión de Ezequiel vemos que dice que las personas que sobrevivieron habían estado suspirando y lamentándose “por todas las cosas detestables” que estaban pasando en Jerusalén. Como podemos deducir, por eso fue que sobrevivieron porque estuvieron en contra de la maldad y a favor de la adoración pura.

11. ¿A quiénes representaban los seis hombres armados y el hombre con el tintero de secretario?

The man with the secretary's inkwell and the six armed men were a representation of spirit beings of divine origin. They represent the heavenly forces that took part in the destruction of Jerusalem and will also take part in the destruction of Satan's evil system at Armageddon.

What does Ezekiel's vision mean to us?

12, 13. (a) Why did Jehovah pour out his fury on Jerusalem?

There were four reasons for Jehovah to put all his fury on Jerusalem: 1) The mistake they made was very great. 2) the country was full of bloodshed. 3) Jerusalem was full of corruption. 4) that the only thing people did was cast blame, they said that Jehovah did not see what they were doing and it was happening.

And why can we expect Jehovah to react in a similar way today?

Because as Jerusalem we too can make the same mistakes, there is no doubt that what caused his just indignation in Ezekiel's time will provoke a similar reaction in our time. 

b) Is Jerusalem a prophetic model of Christendom? Why do you think like this? (See the box “Is Jerusalem a Prophetic Model of Christendom?”).

There is no biblical basis for claiming that Jerusalem is a prophetic model. The apostate Jerusalem was a prophetic model of Christendom. the bad things that happened in that unfaithful city, such as idolatry and corruption, remind us of what Christendom is doing now. Jerusalem was a center of pure worship, but over time its inhabitants became apostate.

ILLUSTRATION

Six men walking towards Jerusalem. Each one carries a weapon to smash.

The six men with the weapons to crush will soon begin their mission. (See paragraphs 12 and 13.)

FACT BOX 16A: Is Jerusalem a Prophetic Model of Christendom?

An Israelite High Priest and a Pope of the Catholic Church.

Our publications used to say that apostate Jerusalem was a prophetic model of Christendom. It is true that the bad things that happened in that unfaithful city, such as idolatry and corruption, remind us of what Christendom is doing now. But for a few years now, our publications - including this book - no longer present prophetic models, unless the Bible clearly indicates them. Is there anything in the Bible that shows that Jerusalem is a prophetic model for Christendom? No.

Consider the following: Jerusalem was a center of pure worship, but over time its inhabitants became apostate. Instead, Christendom has never given pure worship to God. Since its inception - in the fourth century of our era - Christendom has always taught false doctrines.

Furthermore, after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, the city regained Jehovah's approval and returned to being the center of pure worship. But Christendom has never had God's approval and, after being destroyed during the great tribulation, it will never exist again.

In view of all this, what conclusion can we reach? When we look at the biblical prophecies that were fulfilled in unfaithful Jerusalem, we might think, "This or that reminds me a lot of what Christendom does today." But there does not appear to be a biblical basis for claiming that Jerusalem is a prophetic model of Christendom.