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CONCERNING THE "GREAT TRIBULATION" OF
THE
"GREAT
CROWD"
IN
REVELATION 7:9-14.
After the apostle John saw in vision "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", one of the older persons informed us that:
"These are the ones that come out of the
great
tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb." (From Rev 7:9-14).
In contradiction of this, unsealed apostate
'elders' of JW congregations
worldwide have erroneously taught that in the near future (their
'time
of the end')
all
mankind will experience the "great tribulation" on earth. They further claim that a great crowd of Christians (particularly JWs) will be saved
in fulfilment of Revelation 7:9-14 having been
'sanctified'
through the "great tribulation" described in the above scripture.
IN CORRECTION OF THIS ERROR.
In accordance with Revelation 8:7 and
16:2, the "great tribulation" suffered by the "great crowd"
of all true Christians began in 1945 when
the first "trumpet" was blown to herald the outpouring of the
first of seven "bowls" of the wrath of God upon mankind. (See Page
7/11/85A
of the "Little Scroll").
During this period the sanctuary of God has been closed,
both to angels and mankind, until
all seven "bowls" are poured
out. (Rev 15:7,8 NEB).
Those proven faithful to God during this
"great tribulation" will have "washed their robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb" sanctified through The
Christ. (Rev 7:14).
THE MEANING OF "TRIBULATION TEN DAYS".
The Christ Michael addressed the
following words to faithful anointed sons of God:
"The devil will keep on throwing
some of you into prison that you may be
fully put to the test, and that you may have
tribulation ten days."
(Rev 2:10). This "tribulation ten days" is
not
the "great tribulation" of Revelation 7:14. The "tribulation
ten days" suffered by anointed sons of God began on December 1st 1971
when the apostate sect of JWs issued an unclean spirit directive that any
unsealed man could be recommended and considered for the office of
'elder'.
(Rev 2:9,10). This tribulation ended ten years later on November 30th
1981 when as of that date the "Little Scroll"
was sent complete in denunciation of this apostasy in the spiritual "land" of
God. (2 Thess 2:1 12). Anointed ones who suffered
"tribulation ten days"
and remained faithful were spiritually sanctified and acquired righteous
"garments" as it is written: "for the fine linen stands for the
righteous acts of the holy ones." This is their adjudged standing before
God. (Rev 19:7,8).
As there are no resurrections back to life on
earth, the destiny of the "great crowd" today is that through the
shepherding of the "Lamb" of God and his anointed brothers they
too will attain everlasting life in the spirit heavens and render sacred service
to God day and night in His temple. (Rev 7:15).
There is, however, an "ordeal" or
"hour of test" that is to fall upon the whole world to test its
inhabitants, and the outpouring of the last "bowl" of the anger of
God "upon the air". (Rev 3:10 NWT & NEB)
(Rev 16:17 21). This "bowl",
to be poured out upon the "sons of disobedience", has nothing to
do with the "washing" of one's "robes" toward the
final state of a righteous standing before God. (Eph 2:2).
11/10/00.
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