Sealing the Israel of God - The Israel of God Today

Interestingly, 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 te elect [chosen anointed ones] is that several times stated in Revelation (7:4; 14:1); namely 144,000 'redeemed from amongst men,'" In Light, Book One, published in 1930 by the Bible Students, it was likewise stated:  "The 144,000 members of the body of Christ are thus in the assembly shown as selected, 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 the Studies in the Scriptures), published  in 1889, applied Jeremiah 31:29-34  to the natural Jews and commented:  "The world is witness to the fact that  Israel's punishment under the dominion of the Gentiles has been continuous  since  [607] B.C. , 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'-252o years."  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 hom efor 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 this was so.  Thus, in 1925 they published a 128-page book, Comfort for the Jews. In 1929  they released  an atttractive 360-page volume, Life, designed to appeal to the Jews and dealing ing also with the Bible book fo 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  the 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 continued to avoid using the divine name.  (Mattthew 15:1-3, 7-9) In discussing Jeremiah 31:31-34, the book Jehovah, published by Jehovah's Witnesses 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, which is a member of the United Nations and a part of the world that Jesus spoke of at  JOHN 14:19, 30; and 18:36. 

In 1931 God's slaves on earth has received, with great joy, the name Jehovah's Witnesses.  They could subscribe wholeheartedly to the words of Psalm 97:11: "Light itselfhas flashed up for the righteous one, and rejoicing even for the ones upright in heart."  They could clearly discern that spiritual Israel alone had beeen brought into the new covenant.  (Hebrews 9:15; 12:22, 24)  Unresponsive natural Israel had not part therein, nor did  mankind in general.    This understanding cleared the way for a  brilliant flash of divine light, outstanding in teh 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, otheres besides the Israel of God would benefit by the angel's holding back the four winds  of destruction. Who might these be?  Could you be one of them? Let us see.  

Next time: Sealing the Israel of God - A Multitudinious Great Crowd

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