The Israel Of God Today

Interestingly, the first president of the Watch Tower Society, Charles T. Russell, recognized the 144,000 to be a literal number of individuals making up a spiritual Israel. In the New Creation, Volume VI of his Studies in the Scriptures, published in 1904, he wrote: " We have every reason to believe that the definite, fixed number of the elect [chosen anointed ones] is that several times stated in Revelation ( 7:4; 14:1); namely, 144,000 members 'redeemed from amongst men.' " In Light Book One, published in 1930 by the Watch Tower Society's president, J.F. Rutherford, it was likewise stated: "The 144,000 members of the holy body of Christ are thus in the assembly shown as selected and anointed, or sealed." Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently held to the view that literally 144,000 anointed Christians make up spiritual Israel.

Nevertheless, does not natural Israel today merit some special favor? In the period just prior to the Lord's day, when sincere Bible students were rediscovering many of the basic truths of God's Word, it was thought that with the ending of the Gentile Times the Jews would again enjoy a privileged standing before God. Thus, C.T. Russell's book The Time Is At Hand (Volume II of studies in the Scriptures ). published in 1889, applied Jeremiah 31:29-34 to the natural Jews, and commented: "The worls is witness to the fact that Israel's punishment under the dominion of the Gentiles has been continuous since B.C. [607], that it still continues, and that there is no reason to expect their national re-organization sooner than A.D. 1914, the limit of their 'seven times'-2520years." It seemed that the Jews would then experience a national restoration, and this prospect apparently brightened in 1917, when the Balfour Declaration pledged British support for making Palestine a national home for the Jews.

Following the first world war, Palestine became a mandated territory under Great Britain, and the way opened for many Jews to return to that land. In 1948 the political State of Israel was brought forth. Did this not indicate that the Jews were in line for divine blessings? For many years, Jehovah's Witnesses believed that this was so. Thus, in 1925 they published a 128- page book, Comfort for the Jews. In 1929 they released an attractive 360-page volume. Life, designed to appeal to the Jews and dealing also with the Bible book of Job. Great efforts were made, especially in New York City, to reach the Jews with this Messianic message. Happily, a few individuals responded, but the Jews by and large, like their forefathers of the first century, rejected the evidence of Messiah's presence.

It was obvious that Jewry, as a people and as a nation, was not the Israel described in Revelation 7:4-8 or other Bible prophecies related to the Lord's day. Following tradition, the Jews continues to avoid using the divine name. (Matthew 15:1-3, 7-9) In discussing Jeremiah 31:31-34, the book Jehovah published by the Watch Tower Society in 1934, stated conclusively: "The new covenant has nothing to do with the natural descendants of Israel and with mankind in general, but. . . is limited to spiritual Israel." The Bible's restoration prophecies relate neither to the natural Jews nor to political Israel, which is a member of the United Nations and a part of the world that Jesus spoke of at John 14:9, 30 and 18:36.

In 1931 God's slaves on earth had received, the great joy, the name of Jehovah's Witnesses. they could subscribe wholeheartedly to the words of Psalm 97:11: "Light itself has flashed up for the righteous one, and rejoicing even for the ones upright in heart." They could clearly discern that spiritual Israel alone had been brought into the new covenant. (Hebrews 9:15; 12:22,24) Unresponsive natural Israel had no part therein, nor did mankind in general. This understanding cleared the way for a brilliant flash of divine light, outstanding in the annals of theocratic history. This would reveal how abundantly Jehovah extends his mercy, loving-kindness, and truth to all humans who draw close to him. (Exodus 34:6; James 4:8) Yes, others besides the Israel of God would benefit by the angels' holding back the four winds of destruction. Who might these be? Could you be one of them? Let us now see.

Next time: A Multitudinous Great Crowd