Congregation Bible Study (30 mins): rr “Clarification of Beliefs”, questions 5-8.
How was the vision of the plain of dry bones fulfilled?
Biblical texts: Ezek. 37:1-14
The Watchtower: March 2016 “Questions From Readers”
Pure Worship: Chapter 10, Paragraphs 9-14
Explanation above: In 1918, anointed Christians, who were being persecuted, were taken captive to Babylon the Great. They remained almost inactive, in a situation comparable to death. That brief period of captivity ended in 1919, when Jehovah revived them in their role as Kingdom proclaimers.
Clarification: The spiritual captivity was a situation comparable to death that lasted for centuries and began long before 1918. In fact, it began in the second century of our era and ended in 1919. This captivity practically coincides with the long period of wheat growth and the weed from Jesus' parable.
Reasons for the change: The captivity of ancient Israel lasted a long time: from the year 740 to 537 before our era. Ezekiel's prophecy says that the bones were not only "dry," but "very dry," indicating that those bones were of long-dead people. And when the Bible says that bones come back to life, it is referring to a gradual process that takes time.
What does the union of the two sticks mean?
Biblical texts: Ezek. 37:15-17
The Watchtower: July 2016, “Questions From Readers”
Pure Worship: Chapter 12, Paragraphs 13 and 14, and Box 12A
Explanation above: During World War I, the remaining faithful anointed ones on Earth went through a brief period of division, only to come together again in 1919.
Clarification: This prophecy highlights that it is Jehovah who will make his servants one. After 1919, as time passed, more and more Christians hoping to live on earth joined the anointed remnant. The two groups worship Jehovah together as one people.
Reasons for the change: The prophecy does not speak of a stick that first splits and then rejoins. So it does not indicate that a group was divided and then came back together. Rather, he points out that two groups would join.
Who is Gog of Magog?
Biblical texts: Ezek. 38:2, 10-13
The Watchtower: May 15, 2015, “Questions From Readers”
Pure Worship: Chapter 17, Paragraphs 3-10
Explanation above: Gog de Magog is a prophetic name of Satan after he was cast down from heaven.
Clarification: Gog of Magog represents a coalition or group of nations that will attack Jehovah's servants during the great tribulation.
Reasons for the change: The prophecy about Gog says that he will be given as food to the birds of prey and that he will be given a burial here on Earth. This indicates that Gog is not a spirit. In addition, Gog's attack coincides with what the books of Daniel and Revelation say about the attack that the nations will launch against the people of God (Dan. 11:40, 44, 45; Rev. 17:14; 19:19) .
Is the temple that Ezekiel toured the same as the great spiritual temple that the apostle Paul spoke of?
Biblical texts: Ezek. 40:1-5
Pure Worship: Chapters 13 and 14
Explanation above: The temple in Ezekiel's vision is the same as the spiritual temple that the apostle Paul would later speak of.
Clarification: What Ezekiel saw was not the spiritual temple, which came into existence in the year 29 of our era, but a representation of the pure worship restored after the exile, a perfect model to worship Jehovah according to the Mosaic Law. Paul's inspired explanation of the spiritual temple focuses on the work Jesus did in his role as Great High Priest from AD 29 to 33. Ezekiel's vision, which does not mention the high priest, focuses on the spiritual restoration that began in 1919. Therefore, we are not looking for a symbolic meaning for each of the features and measurements of the temple that Ezekiel saw. Rather, We should focus primarily on the lessons Ezekiel's vision teaches us about Jehovah's standards for pure worship.
Reasons for the change: There are important differences between the temple that Ezekiel saw and the spiritual temple. For example, many animal sacrifices are offered in Ezekiel's temple; but in the spiritual temple a single sacrifice is offered “once for all time” (Heb. 9:11, 12). By the time of Ezekiel—many centuries before Christ came—the time had not yet come for God to reveal profound truths about the spiritual temple.
ILLUSTRATION:
Ezekiel's vision of the temple.
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