"First, let's briefly unravel and define the "disgusting thing".
In history...
Deut.29:17,18; 1Kings11:4,5,6; Eze.8:10; Jer.44:4
(In the original language, these verses contain "disgusting thing",
although not in all versions of translation...sometimes rendered,
"other gods", "detestable images", "abominations".)
Ezekiel chapter 8 merits a closer scriptural look, so that we can get a fuller meaning...
Eze.8:5 shows that there is an "image of jealousy" North of the altar gate...blocking entrance to the altar of sacrifice (perfect symbolism). Eze.8:6,9 describes...not a tangible image, but rather, activities being done in God's Temple. So the Image and the activities are two separate abominations.
Now for verse 11...
"And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel,..Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up."
What is the problem here?
The answer is within the account at Numbers, chapter 16.
Do you remember what was going on there? It is worth reading the whole chapter to get the point of what Ezekiel was being shown.
To highlight the point, please read...
Num.16:3,4,5,6,7,10,11,18,20,21,35,40.
Can you see that those who perform the tasks which God designates for priests only, must not be performed by "the elders of Israel"? Even the king of Israel had to obey this law, which was punishable by death (1Sam.13:9,10,11,13,14; 2Chron.23:6,7; Num.18:7).
The abomination Ezekiel describes, is the elders of Israel performing priestly duties within the Temple (offering incense)...the same offense as the rebellion against Aaron, who was chosen by God as priest. To have counterfeit priests in God's Temple is a gross offense against Him. It is an abomination for unsanctified Gentiles to offer incense for the forgiveness of the people's sins (Num.16:47).
How is this occurring today?
The NWT of Gal.6:1 reads:
"Brethren, if a man commits a sin, you who have spiritual qualifications should try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness".
"have spiritual qualifications"...
How does the WT apply this phrase? Is it not to the non-anointed/non-priest Elders?
This is due to 1Tim.3:1-13. Should these two scriptures really be linked as referring to the same group?
Let's take a closer look at these modern day "incense" burners and this scriptural interpretation.
If you look at what Gal.6:1 actually reads (it helps to check the original Greek),
it says in essence... "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who walk/live by spirit/ who are spirit ones... should restore him gently."
This "walking/living by/being spirit", is not one of the "qualifications" for elders.
It is not in the list of qualifications for elders, at 1Tim.. chapter 3.
That is because Gal.6:1 is not referring to elders.
It is referring to those who "walk/live by/are, spirit". THESE are the ones given authority to do the "readjusting".
The Bible defines who it is, that "walks/lives by spirit"...
Gal.5:25,24 reads:
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."
Compare this to Gal. 3:29:
"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
See Romans 8:14,16,17...
"because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Clearly, it is the chosen priests who are to "re-adjust" sinners in a spirit of gentleness. This is their job as symbolic incense burners within God's Temple of anointed (1Cor.3:16).
So we see that the symbolic prophecies in Ezekiel regarding the "elders of Israel" burning incense within the temple, is certainly considered by God as an abomination, as well as the rebellion of the governing priests who dare to place them there (Eze.44:6,7,8,9; 2Chron.13:9).
This offense is alive and well today, as the GB of the WT has arranged for non-anointed elders to usurp God's chosen priests, perform their exclusive duties, and throw out any of them that protest this abominable disrespect toward God and His Holy Temple. (Heb.12:22,23,24,25,21,28,29)"
In history...
Deut.29:17,18; 1Kings11:4,5,6; Eze.8:10; Jer.44:4
(In the original language, these verses contain "disgusting thing",
although not in all versions of translation...sometimes rendered,
"other gods", "detestable images", "abominations".)
Ezekiel chapter 8 merits a closer scriptural look, so that we can get a fuller meaning...
Eze.8:5 shows that there is an "image of jealousy" North of the altar gate...blocking entrance to the altar of sacrifice (perfect symbolism). Eze.8:6,9 describes...not a tangible image, but rather, activities being done in God's Temple. So the Image and the activities are two separate abominations.
Now for verse 11...
"And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel,..Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up."
What is the problem here?
The answer is within the account at Numbers, chapter 16.
Do you remember what was going on there? It is worth reading the whole chapter to get the point of what Ezekiel was being shown.
To highlight the point, please read...
Num.16:3,4,5,6,7,10,11,18,20,21,35,40.
Can you see that those who perform the tasks which God designates for priests only, must not be performed by "the elders of Israel"? Even the king of Israel had to obey this law, which was punishable by death (1Sam.13:9,10,11,13,14; 2Chron.23:6,7; Num.18:7).
The abomination Ezekiel describes, is the elders of Israel performing priestly duties within the Temple (offering incense)...the same offense as the rebellion against Aaron, who was chosen by God as priest. To have counterfeit priests in God's Temple is a gross offense against Him. It is an abomination for unsanctified Gentiles to offer incense for the forgiveness of the people's sins (Num.16:47).
How is this occurring today?
The NWT of Gal.6:1 reads:
"Brethren, if a man commits a sin, you who have spiritual qualifications should try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness".
"have spiritual qualifications"...
How does the WT apply this phrase? Is it not to the non-anointed/non-priest Elders?
This is due to 1Tim.3:1-13. Should these two scriptures really be linked as referring to the same group?
Let's take a closer look at these modern day "incense" burners and this scriptural interpretation.
If you look at what Gal.6:1 actually reads (it helps to check the original Greek),
it says in essence... "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who walk/live by spirit/ who are spirit ones... should restore him gently."
This "walking/living by/being spirit", is not one of the "qualifications" for elders.
It is not in the list of qualifications for elders, at 1Tim.. chapter 3.
That is because Gal.6:1 is not referring to elders.
It is referring to those who "walk/live by/are, spirit". THESE are the ones given authority to do the "readjusting".
The Bible defines who it is, that "walks/lives by spirit"...
Gal.5:25,24 reads:
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."
Compare this to Gal. 3:29:
"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
See Romans 8:14,16,17...
"because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Clearly, it is the chosen priests who are to "re-adjust" sinners in a spirit of gentleness. This is their job as symbolic incense burners within God's Temple of anointed (1Cor.3:16).
So we see that the symbolic prophecies in Ezekiel regarding the "elders of Israel" burning incense within the temple, is certainly considered by God as an abomination, as well as the rebellion of the governing priests who dare to place them there (Eze.44:6,7,8,9; 2Chron.13:9).
This offense is alive and well today, as the GB of the WT has arranged for non-anointed elders to usurp God's chosen priests, perform their exclusive duties, and throw out any of them that protest this abominable disrespect toward God and His Holy Temple. (Heb.12:22,23,24,25,21,28,29)"
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