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803. JONADABS. ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING TO BUILD HIS SPIRITUAL HOUSE, SOW HIS SPIRITUAL "SEED", PLANT HIS SPIRITUAL VINEYARD? OR WILL YOU RESIDE AS ALIENS AND KEEP OBEYING THE VOICE OF JEHONADAB THE SON OF RECHAB YOUR FOREFATHER IN EVERYTHING HE COMMANDED YOU? Jonadab, a man who stood by King Jehu while clearing Israel of all rivals to Jehovah, was the forefather of the Jonadab people. Jehovah spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to the Jonadab people saying: "There will not be cut off from Jon'a.dab the son of Re'chab a man to stand before me always." (Jer 35:19). But who belongs to the spiritual "Jonadab" class today, and what should they be doing to find favour with Jehovah God and our Lord Jesus? They said: "We shall drink no wine, because Jon'a.dab the son of Re'chab, our forefather, was the one that laid the command upon us, saying, 'You must drink no wine, neither you nor your sons, to time indefinite. And no house must you build, and no seed must you sow; and no vineyard must you plant, nor must it come to be yours. But in tents you should dwell all your days, in order that you may keep living many days upon the surface of the ground where you are residing as aliens.'" (Jer 35:6,7). Those of you who want to be obedient to the spiritual reality of these commands should learn what they mean. The
"true vine"
is The Christ, and the
"branches"
of this
"vine"
are his anointed brothers under the
"new covenant"
by virtue of his shed blood. They are the
"body"
of Christ and are heirs with him.
(John 15:1 This reveals why the "Jonadab" class cannot drink of this particular "wine", nor sow spiritual "seed", and as "aliens" (figuratively speaking) must reside "in tents"; for they cannot build in the heavenly Kingdom of the House of God or in the spiritual estate of spiritual "Israel". Jesus' anointed brothers are an integral part of the "vine", and as spiritual "Israel" they are future members of the heavenly Kingdom of God. As "branches" of the "vine", they must bear good spiritual fruitage and remain in union with The Christ, and so remain in union with the Father. (John 15:1,2). "Sheep"-like ones of the "Jonadab" class cannot "sow" spiritual "seed", for this "seed" is the Holy Spirit, the reproductive "seed" of God, which remains in the one born from God, leading them to cease practicing sin as they are progressively spiritually cleansed by the Spirit of Jehovah. (1 John 3:9. 1 Thess 4:7,8). As "alien" residents in the spiritual "land" of "Israel", members of the "Jonadab" class receive instruction from anointed members of the "household of God". (Eph 2:19-22. Rev 3:9,10). Those of the "Jonadab" class that remain obedient until the arrival of The Christ in his glory will be gathered to his right hand because of the loving way they treated those considered to be the "least" of Jesus' anointed brothers. (Matt 25:31-46). (Cont. on Page 804). 3/3/77. |
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