Who are "God's People"?

*SEE COMMENTS at the end of post.

A QUESTION:

"I want to ask you something with regards to the Bible students if I may.
Do not the Bible students come within the same or similar category as Jehovah's witnesses as Jw's beliefs were originally based of what Russell taught which as you know the Bible students still implement / endorse & practice these teachings to this day. When Rutherford took over the movement he changed much of the structure of what the witnesses originally believed in. 
So, would not the Bible students be classed as God's people, as well, along with Jehovah's witnesses?"

MY REPLY:

As a whole... neither "Bible Students" nor "Jehovah's Witnesses", are God's people.
How can I say such a thing?
Well, who is the only one who rightfully determines and designates the people of God? Is it not God Himself?

Remember who God Himself calls his people?

Hebrews 8:10 reads;

"But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
These are those whom Jesus characterized, as those who worship according to spirit and truth [God's Laws in heart (by spirit) (Rom.5:5; 2:29; Col.2:11) and mind (by truth) (Rom.12:2; John 17:17)] (John 4:23-24).

Do you remember how this is symbolized, when a people have God's laws written on their hearts and minds?

Remember Deut.6:6,8?
"These laws that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads."

God told those who were His genuine people...

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." (Deut.11:18)

Revelation is symbolic, because it reveals the spirit realm in physical symbolism, so that we who are physical, can perceive spiritual realities... IF we are granted that perception, by God's spirit
(Matt.13:10,11; 11:25,26,27; 19:11; Luke 8:10; Mark 4:11;  1Cor. 2:10,14,12-13; John 6:65; Col.2:2; John 14:21; Isa.29:11; Rev.5:1-2,9; John 15:15; Rev.1:1; 22:16,6; 11:3; John 8:17).

The scroll of Revelation clearly reveals two masters and their slaves..., 
who it is that have the laws of God, written in their minds and hearts;
and who it is that has the laws of the Beast written in their minds and hearts;

because these are depicted with this same symbol, 
on their forehead. (Rev.7:3)

That symbol would manifest, that God's servants have God's Laws written on their hearts, and that they were God's people, serving as His slaves.

Who are the people referred to, at Heb.8:10? (Deut.11:18)

"Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads."

"They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." (Rev.22:4)

As you may conclude, God's marked people are His chosen servants/priests. This is confirmed at 1Pet. 2:9,10...

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Can you see that God's people are those in covenant with him, who have had His laws written within their heart and mind, by God Himself?
Can you see that this is symbolized by bearing God's slave-owner's mark, on the hand (deeds) and forehead (mind)? These become obedient slaves of God's Truths, as expressed in His Word, the Bible (John 17:17).

Can you see that the work these slaves render, is to serve as priests, and to declare God's praises/ Truth? (1Pet. 2:9 above)

This is why God calls these, His "witnesses"...

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,

    “and my servant whom I have chosen (1Pet. 2:9),

so that you may know and believe me

    and understand that I am he. (Heb.8:10)

Before me no god was formed,

    nor will there be one after me.

these people I formed for myself (Eph.2:10; 1:4; Heb.11:10; Isa.66:1;  1Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Eph.2:20-22; Titus 2:14;  2Tim. 2:21)

    that they may proclaim my praise."

(Isa.43:10,21)

(1Pet. 2:5,9)

Notice that God himself forms this people (Isa.43:21).

What people are those?

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (John 15:8), which God prepared in advance for us to do. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s holy people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph.3:4-5;  1Cor. 3:10; Rev.1:20), with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Eph.2:10,19-22)

Can you see that the people which God himself forms, combine to form His spiritual Temple?

Again, 1Peter2 confirms that this is God's priesthood...

"you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual temple to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices (of praise), acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1Pet. 2:5)

Wrongly assumed to be God's people, both "Bible Students" and "Jehovah's Witnesses" are Satan's counterfeit temples/"mountains" (Rev.16:20; Zech.4:7; Rev.8:8), which temples, are made by men 
(Isa.66:1; Acts 17:24).
God's spirit does not dwell within such man-made religious organizations. 
(Acts 17:24; John 4:20-24). ("Organized Religion")

God's genuine Temple is spiritual... made by God Himself 
(Isa.43:21; Eph.2:10; Heb.11:10;  1Cor. 3:16; John 14:23,2,3; Eph.2:6), 
...in the "heavens" [(Rev.2:26,27) -Rev.12:5; Eph.2:6; Heb.12:22,23; 9:11; Phil.3:20; Rom.8:9].

Satan has devised these counterfeits
       (2Cor. 11:3-4,13-15; Rev.13:11,15; 16:13; Matt.24:4,5,24,25) 
       (pearl-666.blogspot.com), 
       (Rev.2:2; 3:9  "What is a 'Jew' / 'Gentile'?")
so that the genuine may be caught in those snares, and be overcome by a new master "father", and different covenant "mother" (1Pet. 5:8; Luke 22:31;  2Pet. 3:17; Rev.8:10).

Satan and his "bride/mother-covenant/abyss-womb" of deception and death, are physically represented and manifested, through his fallen stewards/wicked slaves/harlots (Rev.17:5) 
   (Prov.23:27; 22:14; 7:21,23,25-27; 5:3-5;     
    1Cor. 6:15; Rev.17:2) ("Who are Kings of Earth?"), 
and their counterfeit "temples"/"beasts".
("Is the Wicked Steward, Real?") 
(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/search?q=harlot+and+her+beast)

Those fallen unfaithful, former priests of God ("'Wheat' or 'Weeds'?") (Isa.1:21; 63:18;  2Pet. 3:17; Rev.8:10,11), are those whom Satan puts in charge of his prison/abyss (Rev.9:1) 
  [and it's Gentile spawn 
    (Rev.9:1-3,10; 17:8; 11:2; Isa.51:23; Ps.66:11,12;
        Ps.69:14,2,15; 88:6,17; Eze.26:19; Job 33:22 ) ("'Jew' / 'Gentle'")]..
These are the "seven heads"/kings, of Satan's organizational beast (Rev.17:9,10; 13:1,4), 
after these unfaithful, fail Satan's testing by accepting dominion, position, and power, in this world...

(Luke 4:5-7;  1John 2:15; Rev.9:1 -Rev.8:10). 
(https://pearl-leviathan.blogspot.com/)
...and use it to "beat" their fellow slaves (1John 3:12; 4:20; Luke 12:42,45; Rev.17:6) 
(Rev.13:11,15; 11:7; John 16:2).
These "seven mountains"/"heads"/"kings" (Rev.17:9), are the supporting foundation, upon which the mother-covenant of death (Rev.17:5; Isa.28:15), is able to "sit" (Zech.5:7-8,10-11; Rev.17:3,5).
(pearl-thewoman.blogspot.com)

This is the opposite of the "foundation" ["seven stars-angels" (prophets) and "12 Stones"(apostles)], 
upon which "Jerusalem" above (Gal.4:26), sits (Rev.3:12; 1:20; 22:6) (Rev.21:14) (Eph.2:20). 

The answer to your question, is the central reason why Revelation tells us, that such beasts are "covered with blasphemous names" (Rev.13:1; 17:3).

Do you understand that it is blasphemy, when the wicked steward wrongly claims to be God's faithful slave (Rev.2:2; Matt.7:15; Rev.13:11), or when those not spiritual Jews (Rom.2:28-29; Eze.44:7-9) falsely claim to be God's Temple 
(Rev.2:9; 3:9;  2Chron. 13:9; 23:6; Mark 13:14;  2Thess. 2:4; Dan.8:11; Rev.13:7; 11:2; Jer.7:4)...when in truth, they are an abomination of Satanic deception! 
("Disgusting Thing")
Such Gentile "elders", blaspheme against the genuine saints and priests of heaven (Heb.12:22,23; Eph.2:6; Phil.3:20; Rev.13:6)... "killing" all who refuse to worship and serve their collective "image", as God's "spirit-directed" organization (Rev.13:15).

That "abomination" is successful in destroying the life prospects of God's genuine people (Rev.13:7,8; Matt.24:4-5,24-25,22). That's why Jesus called it, "the abomination causing desolation", "as spoken about by Daniel the prophet" (Matt.24:15; Dan.11:31; 8:13) 
(Jer.12:10-12; Matt.10:34; Rev.2:16; 19:15,19; 16:13-16; 13:10; Isa.63:18; Jer.6:3; Luke 19:43,44; 21:20,24,22; Rev.11:2). 
This is, the "operation of error" / "deluding influence", of 2Thess. 2:11 
(2Thess. 2:4; Dan.8:11,12; Rev.13:1,4;  2Thess. 2:9-12).

So, the scriptures compel us to conclude that as a whole...
neither "Bible Students" nor "Jehovah's Witnesses" are God's genuine people, according to God and His Word.

Instead, the anointed priests now captive within those two counterfeit organizations, are God's people. 

They have been taken captive, by deceptive reasoning 
(Col.2:8; Rev.13:10;  2Cor. 11:2,3,4,13-15,20; Rev.2:20;  2Thess. 2:1,2;  1Tim. 4:1; Rev.13:11,15,8; 16:13-16; 17:14;  2Cor. 10:3-5; Eph.5:11) and trampled out of their rightful position 
(1Cor. 6:2; 4:1; 3:16-17; Rev.5:9,10; Ecc.10:7). 

As a consequence to their subjection to this abomination (2Cor. 11:3,20; Rev.2:20; Matt.5:13), they have left their "mother" covenant of life and peace with God 
(and having His laws of truth in their hearts and minds) (Gal.4:24,26;  2Cor. 3:6; Heb.8:10),

to come under a different "mother" covenant... 
...the "covenant of death" (Isa.28:15; Rev.17:5) 
(Dan.11:30-31; Isa.24:5;  1Tim. 4:1; Rev.16:13-16).
They then have demonic propaganda written on their hearts and minds ("Mark of Beast")
(Rev.13:16,17; Matt.25:9,10;  2Cor. 11:2;  1Tim. 4:1;  2Tim. 4:3). ("'Buying' and 'Selling'")
The name of that "mother" covenant of Death, is "Babylon the Great" (Rev.17:5).
Both "cities"/covenants, have inhabitants (Rev.17:1,5,15,18)
(Ps.46:4; Rev.22:1,2,14; 21:2,10; 11:2; Isa.52:1; 62:12; Dan.9:24) 
(Heb.11:10; 12:22-23; Rev.3:12; Phil.3:20) ("The Holy City")

This change of "mother" covenants has occurred, because these ones have accepted the laws and doctrines of demons, in their hearts and minds 
(Hosea 2:2-4; Rev.2:23,21-22; 18:8; Amos 8:11) (1Tim. 4:1;  2Chron. 18:20-22; Rev.16:13-16; 13:14-15,8,7; Deut.13:1-3). 

This is why the symbolic mark on their forehead, is that of the harlot's "Beast" (2Pet. 2:12; Jude 1:10; Rev.13:17,16) rather than of God (Rev.14:1; Deut.6:6,8).

This is why God's messenger cries out;

"‘Come out of her, my people,’ (1Pet. 2:9,10)
    so that you will not share in her sins,

    so that you will not receive any of her plagues'" (Rev.18:4)

Those people of God who have been deceived by Satan in his "short period of time"...
          (after his release from the abyss - Rev.20:7,8; 17:14; 16:13-16),

...must get out from under the covenant of death (Isa.28:15), get out of their relationship with "her" Harlot daughters (1Cor. 6:15; Rev.2:22; 17:2; 18:9), her army of "locust - scorpions" (Rev.9:7,10,8; Joel 1:6,4; Eze.2:6; Luke 10:19), and their deadly, demonic, wormwood lies (Rev.8:10,11) which lead to death (Rev.9:10;  1Cor. 15:55-56).
(tails-stingers-scorpions)

All must return to living waters of truth, through Christ's "virgin" Bride
(Matt.25:10; 22:8-10; Rev.19:9; 21:6; 22:17; John 7:38).

All these truths are basic to understanding the times in which we live, how they are effecting the genuine people of God,

and why Jesus called it, a "Great Tribulation" 
[Amos 9:9; Luke 22:31; Isa.30:28 (Rev.12:15; 14:20)]
 [Eze.5:12; Zech.13:9; Jer.46:28; Mal.3:1-3; Rev.7:14; 2:22,20; Neh.9:37,27; Matt.24:21 -(Joel 2:2; Rev.9:2-3,7,9-11); Matt.24:22; Dan.12:1,3]. 
(the-greatest-tribulation/what&why)

Does this mean that only the 144000 can belong to those who worship God in spirit and truth? No. A temple is constructed, so that those who are not the temple, can come there to learn and worship God (Isa.56:7; Mal.2:7; John 21:17; Isa.32:2). Priests serve the people, by providing the truth that God has put inside them, to yet others (Mal.2:7;  1Cor. 4:1;  2Cor. 5:20; John 13:20; Matt.10:40-41,20; Luke 10:16) 
(Rev.21:6; 22:1,2,17; John 7:38; Isa.43:19; 41:18; Rev.12:14,6; 11:3)
(Rev.22:2; Eze.36:8; Matt.24:16; 7:20).
("Who are the 'Fine Trees'?")

Just as the ancient physical nation of Israel had in their company, proselytes who also desired to worship God in spirit and truth, these priests can have in their company, those who will also gain life, by their association with God's Temple (Zech.8:23; Rom.2:28,29; Isa.14:1; Matt.10:41-42; 25:40,46). (Non-anointed benefits)
Such ones are symbolized, by the "colt" (Matt.21:2), who is with it's "mother" (Gal.4:26;  1Thess. 2:7;  1Pet. 2:2) 

(pregnant-woman-and-nursing-mothers). 
(Your king comes to you on donkey and colt") (Rev.2:14;  2Pet. 2:15-16; Jude 1:11)
Even such as these lowly "donkeys", can carry the manifestation of Christ's arrival (Matt.22:8-10; Rev.22:17).

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More information on this subject: 
(who-become-gods-people).

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