i was told to start a new thread if i wanted this answered. so is it true that johovah’s witnesses use water instead of wine in the “memorial” of the last supper
and who exactly are the persons recieving or celebrating this memorial?
JW’s pass red wine (not water) and unleavened bread once per year. This occurance is on Nisan 14th of the Jewish calender, the same day the Passover occurred. The Passover was an annual event… and the Memorial is similarly observed annually, not daily, weekly, or monthly.
All JW’s and other interested parties “celebrate” this day as a memorial or rememberence of what Christ did in our behalf, providing a ransom sacrifice… providing forgiveness of sins, and salvation for mankind.
Those who partake of the emblems are those in the New Covenent… Remember, not everyone was in the “Old Covenant”, but others benefitted from it without being “in” it. Likewise, not everyone is “in” the “New Covenant”… but others benefit from it.
Although most religions believe all their members should partake and that everyone’s headed for heaven, JW’s understand the Bible to teach that the vast majority of humans will ultimately live on a pardise earth.
Only a smaller group of 144,000 have been bought from the earth to live in heaven as kings and priests along with Jesus forming the Kingdom govenment preached by Jesus.
Currently, 15-16 million people observe the annual Memorial with us each year. About 7 million are JW’s, and the others are interested associates.
Currently about 8,000 believe themselves to be anointed and part of the heavenly government. This number is dwindling each year.
Thus, only a small number (about 8,000 worldwide) partake in the emblems because they believe they are “in” the New Covenant.
The rest of us believe we will be part of the earthly group discussed at Matt 5:5 and Psa 37:9-11 and do not partake.
Although not “in” the New Covenant, we believe we are recipients of the value and blessings of that Covenant.
I hope this has answered your question.
Steve