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Title: Can You Believe the Bible?
Source: [None]
URL Source: [None]
Published: Mar 1, 2009
Author: Various -- Bible
Post Date: 2009-03-01 19:12:37 by richard9151
Keywords: None
Views: 317
Comments: 24

Can You Believe the Bible?

BELIEF in the Bible remains widespread, even in this modern world. For instance, in a recent Gallup survey of Americans, 80 percent expressed belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Whether the percentage is as high in your area or not, you can understand that such believers expect to be taught the Bible in church. But often they are not. Take, for example, the doctrine of punishment of the soul after death.

Is either purgatory or a fiery hell taught anywhere in the Bible? Today, many scholars in Christendom would answer no. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “In the final analysis, the Catholic doctrine on purgatory is based on tradition, not Sacred Scripture.” Regarding hell, A Dictionary of Christian Theology comments: “In the N[ew] T[estament] we do not find hell fire to be a part of the primitive preaching.”

In fact, the doctrine commission of the Church of England recently made headlines when it recommended repudiating the teaching of hellfire altogether. Dr. Tom Wright, dean of Litchfield Cathedral, states that past imagery of hell “made God into a monster and left searing psychological scars on many.” The commission’s report describes hell as “total non-being.” Similarly, the New Catholic Encyclopedia notes regarding the Catholic view: “Theology today approaches the problem of hell from the angle of separation from God.”

Actually, what the Bible teaches about the soul conflicts with the teachings of purgatory and hellfire. The Bible often speaks of the death of souls. “The soul that is sinning—it itself will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4; compare the King James and Catholic Douay versions.) According to the Bible, the dead are unconscious, unable to feel pain. “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) The hope that the Bible holds out for the dead is that of a future resurrection. When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Jesus compared death to sleep. Lazarus’ sister Martha expressed the hope taught in the Bible when she declared: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus confirmed that hope for mankind.—John 5:28, 29; 11:11-14, 24, 44.

Historians point out that the teaching that man possesses a separate, immortal soul did not originate with the Bible but with Greek philosophy. The New Catholic Encyclopedia observes that the ancient Hebrews did not think of man as being composed of a material body and an immaterial soul. It states about the Hebrews’ belief: “When the breath of life entered the first man whom God formed out of the ground, he became a ‘living being’ (G[enesis] 2.7). Death was not regarded as a separation of two distinct elements in man, as in Greek philosophy; the breath of life departs and man is left a ‘dead being’ (L[eviticus] 21.11; N[umbers] 6.6; 19.13). In each case the word ‘being’ would be the Hebrew [ne82;phesh], often translated ‘soul’ but, in fact, virtually equated with the person.”

That same encyclopedia notes that Catholic scholars recently “have maintained that the N[ew] T[estament] does not teach the immortality of the soul in the Hellenistic [Greek] sense.” It concludes: “The ultimate solution to the problem is to be found not so much in philosophical speculation as in the supernatural gift of the Resurrection.”

The Bible or Tradition?

How, though, did non-Biblical ideas make their way into church teaching? Many churches profess that the Bible is their highest authority. For instance, not long ago Pope John Paul II spoke of the need for Scripture to be “accepted by the faithful in the full depths of its truth and as the supreme rule of our faith.” It is generally accepted, however, that the teachings of Christendom today are not identical with those of the first-century Christians. Most churches regard the changes as part of the gradual development of church doctrine. Moreover, the Catholic Church takes the position that church tradition has the same authority as the Scriptures. The New Catholic Encyclopedia says that the church “holds no truth on the basis of Scripture alone, independently of tradition, nor on the basis of tradition alone, independently of Scripture.”

Historically, churches have replaced Scriptural teachings with those based only on tradition. In fact, many churches now hold that the Bible’s teachings are wrong. For example, the New Catholic Encyclopedia states that it is “obvious that many Biblical statements are simply not true when judged according to modern knowledge of science and history.” Speaking of the Biblical teaching that the dead are unconscious, it adds: “Even in religious matters, the O[ld] T[estament] testifies to an imperfect knowledge of . . . life after death.” The encyclopedia cites Psalm 6:5 (verse 6 in some Bibles) as an example of this: “In death there is no mention of you; in Sheol [or, Hades] who will laud you?” Some Protestant seminaries and colleges no longer teach that the Bible is inerrant. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, believes that it possesses the magisterium, or teaching authority, by which it interprets what is taught in the Bible. You might wonder, though, ‘What if such interpretations seem to be at odds with the Scriptures?’

The Importance of the Scriptures

Jesus repeatedly cited the Scriptures as authoritative, often prefacing his points by saying: “It is written.” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Luke 19:46) Indeed, when Jesus spoke about man’s marital situation, he drew, not upon Greek philosophical conjecture, but upon the Genesis account of creation. (Genesis 1:27; 2:24; Matthew 19:3-9) Clearly, Jesus considered the Scriptures to be inspired by God and factual. In prayer to God, he said: “Your word is truth.”—John 17:17.

The Bible records Jesus’ censure of the religious leaders of his day: “Adroitly you set aside the commandment of God in order to retain your tradition. . . . Thus you make the word of God invalid by your tradition.” (Mark 7:6-13) Similarly, the apostle Paul resisted the pressure to assimilate either Greek philosophy or erroneous traditions into his teaching. “Look out,” he cautioned. “Perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men.” (Colossians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 1:22, 23; 2:1-13) There were some traditions, or teachings, that Paul urged Christians to maintain, but these were based on the Scriptures and were totally in harmony with them. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15) “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial,” Paul wrote, “that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

Paul foresaw a drift away from the Scriptures. He warned Timothy: “There will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, . . . and they will turn their ears away from the truth.” He urged Timothy: “You, though, keep your senses in all things.” (2 Timothy 4:3-5) But how? One way is to be “noble-minded.” A Greek lexicon defines this Bible word as “a willingness to learn and evaluate something fairly.” Luke used this expression to describe Paul’s listeners in first-century Beroea. Paul’s teachings were new to them, and they did not want to be misled. Commending them, Luke wrote: “The [Beroeans] were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” Being noble-minded did not make the Beroeans skeptical, disinclined to believe in anything. Rather, the result of their honest inquiry was that “many of them became believers.”—Acts 17:11, 12.

Benefits of Living by the Bible

The early Christians were noted both for their adherence to the Bible and for their self-sacrificing love. Today, however, many people have “a form of godly devotion but [are] proving false to its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5) Any form of Christianity today that is not faithful to the original cannot have genuine power for good in people’s lives. Could this help to explain why, in the greater part of Christendom, we see increasing violence, immorality, family breakdown, and materialism? In some “Christian” lands, vicious ethnic wars are carried on even between members of the same religion.

Has the noble-minded spirit of the Beroeans died out? Is there any group of people today who believe in and live by the Bible?

The Encyclopedia Canadiana observes: “The work of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the revival and re-establishment of the primitive Christianity practised by Jesus and his disciples during the first and second centuries of our era.”

Referring to the Witnesses, the New Catholic Encyclopedia notes: “They regard the Bible as their only source of belief and rule of conduct.”

No doubt this is a major reason why Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world are known for their spiritual prosperity, peace, and happiness. We therefore encourage our readers to learn more about the Bible’s spiritually healthful teachings. Greater knowledge can lead to even greater trust in the Bible and stronger faith in God. The eternal benefits of such faith are well worth the effort.

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#1. To: richard9151 (#0)

Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world are known for their spiritual prosperity, peace, and happiness

[Can you explain the below?]

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FACTS ABOUT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

Who Will Be Saved?

The Watchtower Society teaches that only they have God's backing and only Jehovah's Witnesses will survive Armageddon.

"Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil." Watchtower 1989 Sep. 1 p.19

"Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it." Watchtower 1983 Feb. 15 p.12

"Is it presumptuous of Jehovah's Witnesses to point out that they alone have God's backing? Actually, no more so than when the Israelites in Egypt claimed to have God's backing in spite of the Egyptians' belief, or when the first- century Christians claimed to have God's backing to the exclusion of Jewish religionists." Watchtower 2001 June 1 p.16 The Watchtower 1993 October 1 p.19 went as far as to state that there are billions in line for destruction. "There are billions of people who do not know Jehovah. Many of them in ignorance practice things that God's Word shows to be wicked. If they persist in this course, they will be among those who perish during the great tribulation." The billions slaughtered at Armageddon loose any hope of a resurrection, theirs is said to be an everlasting destruction. “Yes, the destruction of the gross sinners in those cities was eternal, as will be the destruction of the wicked at the end of the present system of things.” Watchtower 1990 April 15 p.20 Rarely does the Watchtower make such audacious statements; rather the destruction of non-witnesses is conveyed (with unwavering regularity) by means of a number of more subtle concepts. The quotes that follow identify the preposterous claim that following the Bible is not enough for salvation - neither are belief in Jesus Ransom and a moral life. All Christians (members of Christendom) are in line for destruction. Only submission to Jehovah's Watchtower Organization results in life. (Note that some individual Witnesses internally do not believe salvation is the exclusive domain of Jehovah's Witnesses. Others salve their conscience and sense of justice by saying that many will flock to God's Organization just before the end. The following quotes will show that the Watchtower does not support such ideas but plainly teaches only its followers will be saved.)

Association with Jehovah's Organization Association with Jehovah's organization - the Watchtower Society - is presented as essential for salvation. "But if we were to draw away from Jehovah’s organization, there would be no place else to go for salvation and true joy." Watchtower 1993 Sept. 15 p.22

"Only Christian witnesses of Jehovah who successfully pass this test will survive and come forth like fire-refined gold for God's use in his precious new order". Watchtower 1985 Mar. 1 p.14

"And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation, the time no doubt will come when the message takes on a harder tone, like a “great war cry.” " Watchtower 1981 Nov. 15 p.21

"But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his “faithful and discreet slave,” made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do." Watchtower 1981 Nov. 15 p.27

"This great crowd is part of the only truly united multinational organization on earth today. … They do not cry out that they owe salvation to the holy spirit, for they are not servants of a trinitarian god. In some 200 geographical territories around the earth, they are at one in calling upon the name of Jehovah as they speak the one pure language of truth. (Zephaniah 3:9) Properly, they publicly acknowledge that their salvation comes from Jehovah, the God of salvation, through Jesus Christ, His Chief Agent of salvation.-Psalm 3:8; Hebrews 2:10. Modern technology has helped to make the loud voice of the united great crowd sound even louder. No other religious group on earth has need of publishing Bible study aids in more than 200 languages, since no other group is interested in reaching all peoples of earth with one united message." Revelation pp.122-123

"Directing Bible Students to Jehovah’s Organization ***They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation." Kingdom Ministry 1990 Nov. p.1

"Direct Interest Progressively on Bible Studies: The primary purpose of a Bible study is to teach the truth of God’s Word. It should also build in the student an appreciation for Jehovah’s organization and make him aware of the vital need to become part of it. ... The weekly Bible study should include instruction that will help students appreciate the organization and take advantage of provisions for their salvation. Take a few minutes each week to relate or describe something about the organization and how it functions. You can find helpful talking points in the November 1, 1984, Watchtower. The brochures Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Twentieth Century and Jehovah’s Witnesses—Unitedly Doing God’s Will Worldwide discuss major facets of the organization and how they may benefit us. Arranging for Bible students to view the video Jehovah’s Witnesses—The Organization Behind the Name will let them see for themselves what it is accomplishing." Kingdom Ministry April 1993 p.3 To be considered part of that Organization requires reporting as an active publisher for the Watchtower Society.

"As this spiritual warfare advanced, those serving with Jehovah's organization were refreshed by continuing flashes of Bible understanding, and their numbers grew until, in 1938, as many as 50,769 reported Kingdom service during an international testimony period." Watchtower 1984 Jan. 1 p.11

"Those who will form the nucleus of the "new earth", a new earthly society of rightly disposed people, are being gathered during these last days. They are already nearly seven million strong, in at least 235 lands and in some 100,000 congregations. These millions have been learning the righteous and just ways of Jehovah, and as a result, worldwide they enjoy a unity that is cemented by Christian love. Their unity is the most pronounced and enduring in the history of the world, a unity exceeding anything experienced by Satan's subjects." Watchtower 2007 Aug. 15 p.26

"Moreover, the attendance at the Memorial of Jesus Christ’s death last year indicates that some ten million people who are not Witnesses of Jehovah were sufficiently interested in the good news to attend this important commemoration." Kingdom Ministry 2008 February p.6 Association with 144,000 A similar claim is that salvation comes from association with the "little flock", also said to represent "the remnant of the 144,000", "the Anointed" and the "faithful and discreet slave". A person must be a Jehovah's Witness "memorial partakers" to be considered as belonging to the preceeding groups, now numbering less than 9,000.

"In fact, with God's day of judgment so near today, all the world should 'keep silent before the Sovereign Lord Jehovah' and hear what he says through the "little flock" of Jesus' anointed followers and their companions, his "other sheep." (Luke 12:32; John 10:16) Annihilation awaits all who will not listen and who thereby set themselves against rule by God's Kingdom." Watchtower 2001 Feb. 15 p. 14

"There would be "a great crowd" out of all nations who would not experience death but would have the prospect of living forever on earth. Are you among them?... The great crowd support the small number of those with heavenly hopes, who take the lead in the preaching work. …Those of the great crowd are pictured as being marked for survival. (Ezekiel 9:4-6) "The mark" is the evidence that they are dedicated to Jehovah, baptized as disciples of Jesus, and involved in cultivating a Christlike personality." Worship the Only True God (2002) p.124

"So the visible congregation of God’s people has something to do with the provision of salvation today. Indeed, it has an important place in that provision. Every congregation forms a small part of God’s people. We cannot remain outside the organization of God’s people, separated from it, if we want to have Jehovah’s protection. Jehovah’s spirit and his angels all tend to a bringing together in unity of thought, aim and action. So there is a vital connection between Jehovah’s protection in the antitypical city of refuge and His visible congregation of spiritual Israelites, supervised by the “faithful and discreet slave.”" Watchtower 1967 Aug. 15 p.499

Those in Babylon will be Destroyed

Anyone that is part of any another religion, referred to as Babylon the Great, will not survive but "share in her plagues". The narrow door excludes Christendom as well as the other major religious tenants.

"That is not all there is to God's judgment against Babylon the Great. Her final destruction is soon to come. (Revelation 18:21) With good reason, the Bible urges people everywhere: "Get out of her [Babylon the Great] . . . if you do not want to share with her in her sins." (Revelation 18:4, 5) How do we get out of Babylon the Great? This involves more than just severing any ties with false religion. Babylonish influence is present in many popular celebrations and customs, in the world's permissive attitude toward sex, in the promoting of entertainment involving spiritism, and much more. To keep on the watch, it is vital that both in our actions and in the desires of our heart, we give evidence that we are truly separate from Babylon the Great in every way." Watchtower 2000 October 1 p.24

"Still, Jehovah will not destroy at random. Some humans will be saved. "You went forth for the salvation of your people, to save your anointed one," says Habakkuk 3:13. Yes, Jehovah will save his faithful anointed servants. The destruction of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, will then be complete. Today, however, the nations are trying to wipe out pure worship. Soon, Jehovah's servants will be attacked by the forces of Gog of Magog." Watchtower 2000 Feb. 1 p.22

"Let us recognize that Christendom is doomed, along with all the rest of Babylon the Great. She has refused to repent of her religiously immoral or adulterous course of action, her friendship with this world. (Jas. 4:4) She is like the rest of the ungodly world, even after Jehovah's Christian witnesses have plainly declared God's impending judgment to her." Watchtower 1972 Dec. 15 p.753

"… without question the execution of divine judgment upon apostate Christendom and the rest of Satan's world is imminent." Watchtower 1984 Oct. 1 p.11

"The narrow door to salvation stands open to all. But the "many" do not like to struggle to enter. What are some factors about going through the narrow door that require vigorous exertion? A person must first gain accurate knowledge of Bible truth, and get to know Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. (John 17:3) This means casting aside the traditions and practices of worldly religions, including those of Christendom. It requires doing God's will, as Jesus did it while here on earth. (1 Peter 2:21) As a dedicated, baptized Christian, one must also avoid the materialism, the immorality, and the uncleanness of the world." Watchtower 1986 Jan. 15 p.12 Goats will be destroyed

"The Devil is not on Jesus' side, and so the goatlike people who do nothing helpful to the reigning King Jesus Christ are against him and are on the Devil's side. There is no neutral side in the time of Christ's presence or parousia….They are cursed, just as Satan the Devil and his demon angels are. Hence, they deserve an everlasting future like that of the Devil and his angels." God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years has Approached p.286 Noah's Ark Represents Organization

Noah's salvation in the ark represents baptism as part of Jehovah's organization. "Time is running out. Lives, including yours, are at stake. It is urgent that you consider seriously the matter of dedication to Jehovah and symbolizing it by water baptism. The apostle Peter emphasized this by saying: "That . . . is also now saving you, namely, baptism." He further explained that baptism is "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh" (a person would already have done that before being qualified for baptism) "but the request made to God for a good conscience."-1 Peter 3:21." Watchtower 1992 Oct. 1 p. 23

"Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God's new system. There is only one. There was just one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization- God's visible organization - that will survive the fast- approaching "great tribulation." It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal . . . . You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life …." You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth p.255

"This "one baptism" applies to all who become true Christians. At baptism they become Christian Witnesses of Jehovah, God's ordained ministers.-Ephesians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 6:3, 4 Such baptism has great saving value in the eyes of God. For instance, after mentioning Noah's constructing of the ark, in which he and his family were preserved through the Flood, the apostle Peter wrote: "That which corresponds to this is also now saving you, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."" (1 Peter 3:21) Worship the only true God pp.115-116

"To ensure their salvation, Noah and his family needed to exercise faith. This meant following instructions and the leadings of God’s holy spirit. During the great tribulation, it will be just as imperative that we follow the leadings of the holy spirit and obey Jehovah’s instructions through his organization." Watchtower 1991 Sep. 15 p.17

Word Jehovah Required

Using the word Jehovah is essential for salvation. This may appear logical when reading New World Translation scriptural citations, but on becoming aware that the word Jehovah never appeared in the New Testament and has been falsely added into the New World Translation this reasoning can be seen to be false.

"Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe; …. (Joel 2:32) Jehovah's Witnesses are truly grateful to know Jehovah's name, and they have complete trust that he will save them when they call on him." Watchtower 1998 May 1 p.19

Armageddon

"Of this historical preview of Armageddon, the Bible says: "For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be." (Matthew 24:37-39) So the circumstances relating to the end of our world order at Armageddon will be similar to those associated with the ancient Deluge. They will be: (1) The planet Earth and its animal life will survive; (2) the significance of our times is missed by most people through preoccupation with the normal processes of life; (3) the majority of mankind take no note of the divine warning of Armageddon; (4) hence the majority of mankind will be destroyed at Armageddon; and (5) only a small minority of mankind will find favour with God and survive the "war of the great day of God the Almighty."" From Kurukshetra to Armageddon - and Your Survival pp.17-19

"Why should not blood run deep and far with over two billion [the world population in 1955] dead?.... With the members of this generation that will not pass away before Armageddon breaks out numbering now two billion five hundred million and with only the remnant and a larger group of "other sheep" inside the Greater Noah's "ark" surviving, the death toll of the "war of the great day of God the Almighty" will be appallingly all-surpassing, too many for the Armageddon survivors to bury. Come on, birds and beasts! Have your fill then from the human corpses in retribution for the wanton slaughter of animal and birdlife of which the human race has been guilty!" sr 1955 pp. 340-342

The Universal War of Armageddon Breaks Out

"As for humans upon earth, on the side of Jehovah will be all those fully dedicated to him and who are faithfully following Jesus Christ; compared with earth's billions these are indeed few.... On Satan's side will be all the rest of mankind, more than 99.9 percent, even as we read: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." That includes all the governments of the world together with their supporters, the commercial, religious and social institutions.... Armageddon will be the worst thing ever to hit this earth in the history of man." Watchtower 1958 Oct. 15 pp.614-615

"Yes, today, with Armageddon staring us in the face, we must keep in mind the sobering thought that millions, even billions, of lives may shortly come to a swift and decisive end, putting their onetime owners beyond the reach of any expression of love on our part." Watchtower 1965 Apr. 1 p. 212

"What this means to us today is that those now living in this time of judgment and who fail for one reason or another to take a stand for Jehovah, and are therefore slain by him at the battle of Armageddon, will not be retained in his memory for a resurrection. That this group will include the majority of humans now living on earth is shown by Jeremiah 25:33: "The slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung..." Watchtower 1951 July 15 p.446

Children

It is considered that children share in the sins of their parents, so babies will die at Armageddon if their parents are considered unworthy of salvation. "What will happen to young children at Armageddon? The Bible does not directly answer that question, and we are not the judges. However, the Bible does show that God views the young children of true Christians as "holy." (1 Cor. 7:14) It also reveals that in times past when God destroyed the wicked he likewise destroyed their little ones." Reasoning from the Scriptures pp.47-48

"Children are affected by the course of their parents, and parents are warned that their iniquity is visited on their offspring unto the third and fourth generation. (Ex. 20:5, 6) Parents are commanded to instruct their children in God's way, and if in these last days parents refuse to heed the divine instruction and warning they bring destruction upon themselves and their small children at Armageddon. (Deut. 6:6, 7; Eph. 6:4) According to justice God can leave such children dead, for, as Ezekiel showed, all die in their iniquity." Watchtower 1950 Nov 15 p.463

Questions From Readers

"By all the evidences this system of things is hastening to its final confrontation with the God of justice at Armageddon. Parents and children who fail to gain the "mark on their foreheads," that is, an adequate appreciation of God's moral standard, are sure to suffer. Parents will be held accountable for their children, and children will suffer for the failure of their parents." Watchtower 1968 Feb 1 pp.83-84

Watchtower development

There are 12 classical world religions and over 34,000 Christian sects. Most of these say that salvation requires following their particular God. The extremist sects say that belonging to their particular sect is a requirement for salvation. If you are a Witness, imagine for a second that the Watchtower Society is not the true religion. Do you think it fair that God is going to destroy you for being part of the wrong religion? As the Watchtower discourages active examination of other beliefs, would it be fair that you will shortly die for not finding the correct one?

Would a loving God be planning to devote billions of people to a violent and everlasting death? A God that is willing to slaughter 6 billion people is certainly not the God Russell described when starting the Bible Students. Russell left the Presbyterians because he could not believe in the injustice of a God willing to destroy the majority of humankind.

"We reasoned that, if Christ's coming was to end probation and bring irrevocable ruin upon ninety nine of a hundred of mankind, then it could scarcely be considered desirable, neither could we pray with a proper spirit, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come quickly."" SUPPLEMENT TO ZION'S WATCH TOWER AND HERALD OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE June 1879

Similarly, Russell could neither accept the salvation of only Adventists.

"Russell wrote: "We felt greatly grieved at the error of Second Adventists, who were expecting Christ in the flesh, and teaching that the world and all in it except Second Adventists would be burned up."" Proclaimers p.45

Under Russell, the Watchtower used to teach that irrespective of religion, most people would survive Armageddon. His understanding on 'future probation' was that the masses of humanity would survive Armageddon and be educated on earth by Christ in the 1000-year reign, before receiving judgment. The resurrection was for all who have died, Adam included. Yet the religion he founded now claims even more than "ninety nine of a hundred will be destroyed." Globally there is only one Witness for every 1,000 people on earth. Therefore, on current statistics the Watchtower teaching is not that 99 out of 100 will be ruined, but rather Jehovah will eternally destroy 99.9 out of 100.

It was during the leadership of Rutherford that the teachings of 'irrevocable ruin' and 'judgement periods' were introduced, concepts Russell tried to avoid. In the Watchtower 1923 pp.310-311, it was shown that clergy would not be saved. In 1930, pp.275-281 Rutherford introduced that people who disagreed with him, apostates, would be in line for everlasting destruction. The Watchtower 1939 p.170 claimed those from prior judgement periods, such as Sodom and Gomorrah would not be in line for a resurrection; neither would Adam and Eve, Solomon or the Scribes and Pharisees.

Later leaders have not attempted to soften the hardline stance of Rutherford. In 1986, any Witness that disagrees aloud that God will destroy millions, (or more accurately billions) was classed an opposer.

"Some opposers…[are] entertaining ideas that God is so merciful that he surely will not cause the death of so many millions of people during the "great tribulation." Watchtower 1986 Mar. 15 p.18

The Watchtower feels necessary to clarify that many would not flock to the organization with the start of the Great Tribulation.

"Any person who wants to survive into God's righteous new order urgently needs to come into a right relationship with Jehovah and His earthly organization now. … Why is there such an urgency about coming to Jehovah's true worship now? Could not a sincere person wait until he actually sees Jehovah's executional judgments beginning, and then quickly come over to His side? While that might sound appealing to some, would there then be enough time to build the right relationship with Jehovah? The evidence from the Scriptures answers, No." Watchtower 1981 Nov. 15 pp.16-17

"The Watchtower of August 15, 1996, said: "In the final part of the tribulation, 'flesh' that has fled to Jehovah's side will be saved." Is that suggesting that after the first phase of the great tribulation, many new ones will come over to God's side? That was not the point being made. … As to whether any new ones may be able to learn the truth and come over to God's side after the great tribulation begins, note Jesus' words recorded at Matthew 24:29- 31. After the outbreak of the tribulation, the sign of the Son of man will appear. Jesus said that all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves and lament. He did not say anything about people waking up to the situation, repenting, taking God's side, and becoming true disciples. Similarly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, the Son of man appears and judicially separates people on the basis of what they had done or not done in the past. Jesus said nothing about people who long displayed goatlike attributes suddenly turning around and becoming like sheep. He comes to judge on the basis of what people had already proved to be.-Matthew 25:31-46." Watchtower 1997 Feb. 15 p.29

Notice in the following two articles the way a Witness is to deal with the question "Do Jehovah's witnesses believe that only they will be saved?" Stating that only Jehovah's Witnesses will be saved is to be avoided. It is recommended to say NO; even though the explanation given shows the answer is yes. After reading the whole paragraph, it is clear what is meant.

"Do they believe that they are the only ones who will be saved? No. Millions that have lived in centuries past and who were not Jehovah's Witnesses will come back in a resurrection and have an opportunity for life. Many now living may yet take a stand for truth and righteousness before the "great tribulation," and they will gain salvation." Jehovah's Witnesses, Who are they? What do they believe? (2002) p.29

"Do Jehovah's witnesses believe that only they will be saved? … Jehovah's witnesses believe that many will be saved who are not now Jehovah's witnesses. But with regard to the coming "great tribulation," and being saved through that conflict, the Bible shows that people must now turn to God and take their stand on his side if they wish protection from Him. Jesus said: "Just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. . . . they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be." (Matt. 24:21, 37-39) Noah and his family, however, were saved through the Flood, because they served Jehovah God. All the others were destroyed. Jesus said that is what will happen at the coming "great tribulation," and this Jehovah's witnesses believe." Watchtower 1970 Apr. 15 p.247

Is this doctrine fair?

Is the Witness that grows up in America listening to immoral 'pop' music more righteous than the Baptist missionary in Indonesia? Should the Nepalese monk, isolated from the world and Bible be destroyed for living the life of abstinence that he truly believed and was indoctrinated to understand was the way to achieve oneness with God?

When a religion teaches absolute truth, it makes sense anyone not believing this truth is worshipping falsehood. Anyone not worshipping Jehovah is worshipping Satan, and so deserves destruction. If truth is easy to understand and God attracts his sheep, there is no excuse not to follow it. The flaw in this reasoning is that no Organization teaches absolute truth. Jehovah's Witnesses certainly do not teach it. In its short 130 year history the Watchtower Society has changed its teachings so substantially that they have no right to claim a unique ability to understand truth. It is illogical to state God gave Russell the many wrong teachings that the Watchtower later had to reject.

In Bible times, God indicated whom he was using through powerful signs. He spoke directly to Abraham and provided powerful miracles through Moses. First century Christians witnessed God personally speaking in approval of his son and watched Jesus heal the sick and raise the dead. The apostles and other Christians continued to display such powerful works. Jehovah's Witnesses have never produced a powerful sign of any kind to assist identify their Organization as approved today.

The problem with saying salvation is dependant on belonging to a single, small organization is reality proves that the Watchtower is not accessible to a large portion of the world. Much of the world does not even have access to the Bible. The following map shows that over half the world is not Christian, and by and large the chance of being a Jehovah's Witnesses is dependant on living in a country that was conquered or converted by Christianity over the last 2,000 years.

Courtesy of www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.html
Being a Witness is predominantly contingent on where one is born and billions of people will never hear of the name Jehovah or Jesus. Living within the following countries - Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Mali, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Thailand and Turkey are around 3 billion people, nearly half the global population. Yet the 2006 Watchtower Service Report showed that combined these have less than 40,000 Witnesses, not even 1 for every 70,000 people. These countries represent many religious (Muslim, Atheist, Buddhist and Hindu) and ethnic (African, Indian, Asian and European) backgrounds, showing that no particular group is genetically disposed to be "goat-like". In Pakistan and Bangladesh virtually all will be destroyed, the ratio of Witnesses to 'worldly people' is less than 1:1,000,000. In 2006, there was not a single Witness in Afghanistan. Is it fair for people who have never even heard of Jehovah to be destroyed at Armageddon?

Even in Christian countries, it is illogical for God to destroy people for understanding the Bible in a manner that differs to that described by the Watchtower. A person reading the Bible without the aid of a Watchtower will never arrive at current Watchtower truth.

"Where did we learn Bible truth in the first place? Would we know the way of the truth if it had not been for guidance from the organization? Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization?" No, we cannot!" Watchtower 1983 Jan. 15 p.27

At what point does it sound insane for a religion to say that only their followers deserve salvation? Does it sound crazy (or conceited) that the 11 followers of Mrs. Marian Keech's flying UFO cult believed that aliens would destroy all but themselves? How about the Watchtower indicating that God will save 6 million people and destroy 6.5 million? Would it even be logical to believe that a religion with 1 billion members is the only acceptable one, if it means God would be required to destroy 5 billion people? To believe God would only find people of a single religion acceptable, regardless of size, does not seem fair.

Only a small percentage of people convert to other religions and there is no single destination for converters. Their choice is the one they stumble upon at just the right moment in time, a matter of time and unforseen circumstance. An ARIS survey shows that 84% of American adults retain the one religion for life. Of the 16% that leave, the largest group leave all religion. "Some groups such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses appear to attract a large number of converts (in-switchers), but also nearly as large a number of apostates (out- switchers)." The 1,200,000,000 hours of preaching by Jehovah's Witnesses in 2004 resulted in only 200,000 baptisms, of which half were likely teenagers raised within that religion. Changing a person from the religion of their upbringing is no easy task.

On September 11th 2001, people watched in horror as the twin towers in New York collapsed, killing several thousand people over a disagreement of religious ideologies. Yet this is inconsequential when compared to the destruction Jehovah is expected to mete upon humankind, billions of which have never seen a Bible. If the senseless death of a few thousand people offends a persons sense of justice, how much more so should the global slaughter described by the Watchtower Society and eagerly awaited by Jehovah's Witnesses?

Paradoxically, Armageddon will result in the eternal destruction of billions of evildoers that do not worship Jehovah, yet lead to the resurrection of billons of evildoers that did not worship Jehovah. The majority of both groups have never even heard of Jehovah, so what exactly is the difference between the two, what makes one group less deserving of life than the other? There is no overwhelming difference, other than an organization's attempt to grow its own membership.

With illogical conceit, members of many religions believe they alone belong to the only true faith. Do these members believe that, endowed with luck they stumbled upon - or were born into - the Truth? Do they possess a more intelligent or perceptive mind? Is their heart condition so superior to all others that God and his angels directed them to the only true religion? The root of such reasoning lies with the pride of religious leaders that prey on the gullibility of naïve followers; followers who are content to accept that there are many routes to salvation if so told, but just as willing to believe that they alone deserve salvation.

The following clip comically shows how illogical and unfair it is to think any single particular religion is solely worthy of salvation.

The Final Exam-Mormons are the answer Uploaded by samueltheutahnite

The following YouTube clip contains a 10 minute recording of a 2007 talk by Bethel Speaker Ciro Aulicino that graphically describes the massacre that Witnesses look forward to.

Source ..with videos

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition


"Corporation: An entity created for the legal protection of its human parasites, whose sole purpose is profit and self-perpetuation." ~~ IndieTx

You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom.~~William Wallace

ALAS, BABYLON

IndieTX  posted on  2009-03-01   19:55:09 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: IndieTX (#1) (Edited)

[Can you explain the below?]

The Watchtower Society teaches that only they have God's backing and only Jehovah's Witnesses will survive Armageddon.

Given what I know of what most people believe, which is entirely contrary to what the Bible teaches, I think it speaks for itself. After all, there is a reason why, in the book of Revelation, we are told of piles of bodies that will be left without burial.

Revelation 19:11 And I saw the heaven opened, and, look! a white horse. And the one seated upon it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. 12 His eyes are a fiery flame, and upon his head are many diadems. He has a name written that no one knows but he himself, 13 and he is arrayed with an outer garment sprinkled with blood, and the name he is called is The Word of God. 14 Also, the armies that were in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen. 15 And out of his mouth there protrudes a sharp long sword, that he may strike the nations with it, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. He treads too the winepress of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 And upon his outer garment, even upon his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

17 I saw also an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice and said to all the birds that fly in midheaven: “Come here, be gathered together to the great evening meal of God, 18 that YOU may eat the fleshy parts of kings and the fleshy parts of military commanders and the fleshy parts of strong men and the fleshy parts of horses and of those seated upon them, and the fleshy parts of all, of freemen as well as of slaves and of small ones and great.”

19 And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army. 20 And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulphur. 21 But the rest were killed off with the long sword of the one seated on the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth. And all the birds were filled from the fleshy parts of them.

As to much of the rest, why is there need to explain it when we have an example in the Bible that tells us exactly what will happen?

Please read the following carefully, and pay strict attention to the words of Jesus Christ near the end..... oh, and reflect on what is going on in this world today. The wars, the porn, the killing and violence, the drugs, breakup of marriages, child abuse and etc. Think about it carefully.

HAVE you ever heard anyone talk about the end of the world?— Today many do talk about it. Some people think the world will end in a war in which men use nuclear bombs. Do you think God will let people destroy our beautiful earth and our lovely heavens and its shining stars?—

As we have learned, the Bible tells about the end of the world. “The world is passing away,” the Bible says. (1 John 2:17) Do you think the end of the world will mean the end of the earth?— No, the Bible says that God made the earth “to be inhabited,” yes, for people to live on it and to enjoy it. (Isaiah 45:18) Psalm 37:29 says: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” For this reason the Bible also says that the earth will last forever.—Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:4.

So if the end of the world does not mean the end of the earth, what does it mean?— We can find out if we look carefully at what happened in the days of Noah. The Bible explains: “The world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged [or, flooded] with water.”—2 Peter 3:6.

Did anybody live through the end of the world during that Deluge, or great Flood, in Noah’s day?— The Bible says that God “kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people.”—2 Peter 2:5.

So, then, what was the world that ended? Was it the earth, or was it the bad people?— The Bible says that it was the “world of ungodly people.” And notice, Noah is called “a preacher.” What do you think he was preaching about?— Noah was warning people about the end of “the world of that time.”

When Jesus spoke about the great Flood, he told his disciples about what the people had been doing just before the end came. This is what he said to them: “In those days before the flood, [people were] eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away.” Then Jesus said that people would be acting just like that before this world ends.—Matthew 24:37-39.

Now, who survived the Great Flood? Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives. That is it. No children. Am I to assume that there were no children alive in the world at that time? On the contrary. I would suspect that there were millions of them, and, they perished with their parents. Everyone..... should duly consider that and their chosen way of life.

Oh, and by-the-way;

The Encyclopedia Canadiana observes: “The work of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the revival and re-establishment of the primitive Christianity practised by Jesus and his disciples during the first and second centuries of our era.”

Referring to the Witnesses, the New Catholic Encyclopedia notes: “They regard the Bible as their only source of belief and rule of conduct.”

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;.

richard9151  posted on  2009-03-01   20:24:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: richard9151 (#0)

You can believe the Bible. But you can't believe Jehovas Witnesses. They don't believe the Bible.

Old Friend  posted on  2009-03-01   20:36:38 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: Old Friend (#3)

<..>

The following YouTube clip contains a 10 minute recording of a 2007 talk by Bethel Speaker Ciro Aulicino that graphically describes the massacre that Witnesses look forward to.

What a "god" they believe in.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition


"Corporation: An entity created for the legal protection of its human parasites, whose sole purpose is profit and self-perpetuation." ~~ IndieTx

You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom.~~William Wallace

ALAS, BABYLON

IndieTX  posted on  2009-03-01   20:42:21 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: richard9151 (#0)

Yes you can believe in the bible.

Thats not the important question.

"Satan / Cheney in "08" Just Foreign Policy Iraqi Death Estimator

tom007  posted on  2009-03-01   23:57:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: IndieTX (#4)

I only got about 1/3 of the way through that, and just got so disgusted I turned it off. I never cease to be amazed at how many bible thumpers just seem to ache for the day when "everyone else" is horribly punished by their "almighty God".

Science flies you to the moon.
Religion flies you into buildings.

Elliott Jackalope  posted on  2009-03-02   0:19:26 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: Elliott Jackalope (#6)

I only got about 1/3 of the way through that, and just got so disgusted I turned it off. I never cease to be amazed at how many bible thumpers just seem to ache for the day when "everyone else" is horribly punished by their "almighty God".

Yeah I normally don't respond either to these threads any longer, but felt it was good exposure of the hypocrisy.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition


"Corporation: An entity created for the legal protection of its human parasites, whose sole purpose is profit and self-perpetuation." ~~ IndieTx

You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom.~~William Wallace

ALAS, BABYLON

IndieTX  posted on  2009-03-02   1:46:32 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#8. To: richard9151 (#0)

Is Christ the Savior?

"What began in Russia will end in America."- 1930, Elder Ignatius of Harbin, Manchuria.

scooter  posted on  2009-03-02   2:52:52 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: IndieTX (#4)

Richard's particular religion has made him useless to the struggle that's about to land in our laps. Other religions have done the same for many, many others. Cultists need not apply for the revolution.

Jethro Tull  posted on  2009-03-02   6:56:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: Jethro Tull (#9)

Richard's particular religion has made him useless to the struggle that's about to land in our laps. Other religions have done the same for many, many others. Cultists need not apply for the revolution.

Richard is wrong on religion as far as I am concerned. But he is a passionate person. He is dead on on many other issues that our country faces. I like Richard even though I think he is full of it on one subject.

Old Friend  posted on  2009-03-02   8:05:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: Old Friend (#10)

But he is a passionate person.

Oh he's passionate alright. He once told me illegal aliens were coming to America to reclaim their ancestral lands. That's passion I don't need. As far as his religious convictions, I don't take him seriously. He might turn up as a Southern Baptist next month. IMVHO, when someone reaches the point of proselytizing, it's time to flee the scene of the crime.

Jethro Tull  posted on  2009-03-02   8:28:27 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: IndieTX (#4) (Edited)

Holy cow!!!!!!!!

One thing about cults, they love death. They somehow think it's funny or amusing, in the same way that churchianity thinks eternal torture in real fire in hell is "justice" and ... OK OK OK I will NOT start this...

Antimatter? So it will be antimatter that will destroy those bodies? Perhaps someone should explain to them what happens when antimatter particles collide with matter. Theoretically speaking, I mean.

Change the mouth structure of snakes?

Where do they get this stuff?

.


Surreal World Blog

Click for Privacy and Preparedness files

PSUSA  posted on  2009-03-02   8:28:42 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: Jethro Tull, Richardbunchofnumbers (#11)

He once told me illegal aliens were coming to America to reclaim their ancestral lands.

Xplain yerself Richard.

Old Friend  posted on  2009-03-02   9:35:37 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#14. To: tom007 (#5)

Yes you can believe in the bible.

Thats not the important question.

Perhaps not Tom, to you and I; but to a lot of people, it is the ONLY question.

I really did not understand that until I started going door to door and talking with people and found out how much they had been lied to and their faith in the Bible destroyed. Then I started looking further and found out that most of the attacks against the Bible actually started with the so-called churches. Amazing.

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;.

richard9151  posted on  2009-03-02   9:47:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#15. To: tom007 (#5)

Thats not the important question.

Tom you are not an important person. You don't matter.

Old Friend  posted on  2009-03-02   9:49:19 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#16. To: IndieTX, tom007, Old Friend, all (#4)

graphically describes the massacre that Witnesses look forward to.

I am curious, Indie.... As I recall you really do not like or accept the Bible, so, why are you hammering the Witnesses about what the Bible says? Are you trying to be sneaky and not admit to Old Friend and others, such as Tom, that your real objection is to Jehovah God and His Bible?

Since I have read the Scriptures quoted in the video, and since it follows quite closely the material that I posted to you in this thread, did you think that somehow I would be unwilling to address this video?

There is a two fold reason for the Witnessing that we, as Jehovah's Witnesses, do. The first part is to bring the Good News of the Kingdom of God to people, that they may learn of the tremendous blessings in store for those who accept Jehovah God.

HOWEVER, the more important part of the work is the judicial notification of people as to the judgement that awaits them if they fail to heed the call. That, and santification of the Holy Name of Jehovah throughout the world. As an example of that, for the first time in the history of the world, to all intents and purposes, every living man, woman and child on earth knows the name of Jehovah God. FIRST TIME!

Now, want a shock?

“This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”—Matt. 24:14.

That is being done today, tomorrow and every day this year and next year and the year after. And last year. And the year before last as well.

So in what we do, it really does not matter if people listen or not. That is the free will decision to be made by each and every individual everywhere. Does not matter one whit. It does matter that they be given the information, and thank you, cause that is what you was just doing.

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;.

richard9151  posted on  2009-03-02   10:07:05 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: Old Friend (#13)

Xplain yerself Richard.

There was a story some time ago, like, about a year and a half ago, about indiginous Indians in Mexico that were being forced off of their ancestral lands by government actions through NAFTA, and I posted it -- the story was relavant because it explained that many of those being forced off of their lands had no where else to turn and were therefore ending up in America. NOTE THIS; their ancestral lands were and are in Mexico.

Immediately, ol Jethro assumed that, for some reason, they were headed to California to claim their 'ancestral lands.' But ol Jethro has a lot of problems keeping things straight, so I just ignore him now.

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;.

richard9151  posted on  2009-03-02   10:12:36 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#18. To: Old Friend (#10)

He is dead on on many other issues that our country faces. I like Richard even though I think he is full of it on one subject.

Thank you, Old Friend. I like you as well.

Just remember; it would be quite unusual for me to be dead on other subjects, and be completely off base on this one.

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;.

richard9151  posted on  2009-03-02   10:15:24 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#19. To: scooter (#8)

Is Christ the Savior?

Of course he is. Is there any doubt about that?

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;.

richard9151  posted on  2009-03-02   11:23:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#20. To: Old Friend (#15)

Tom you are not an important person. You don't matter.

I think you may be largely correct in that.

However that has nothing to do with the discussion.

"Satan / Cheney in "08" Just Foreign Policy Iraqi Death Estimator

tom007  posted on  2009-03-02   22:05:57 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: Old Friend, tom007 (#15)

Tom you are not an important person. You don't matter.

That what I'd say too if I thought I was Jesus. Your swashbuckling vision of Jesus anyway...

The ultimate effect of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools. - Herbert Spencer

Dakmar  posted on  2009-03-02   22:16:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#22. To: richard9151 (#19)

(me) Is Christ the Savior?
Of course he is. Is there any doubt about that?

Isaiah- 43:10-12 (New World Translation) 10 “YOU are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. 11 I—I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior.” 12 “I myself have told forth and have saved and have caused [it] to be heard, when there was among YOU no strange [god]. So YOU are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I am God.

I'm confused.... You asserted Christ is Savior. The Holy Prophet Isaiah records Jehovah saying He alone is Savior and there is no other Savior besides Him. You've asserted Christ is the first-born creation of Jehovah, so by your reasoning, it would seem Isaiah cannot be talking about Christ here. But yet you assert Christ as Savior when this apparently contradicts what Jehovah says. Can you help me with this?

"What began in Russia will end in America."- 1930, Elder Ignatius of Harbin, Manchuria.

scooter  posted on  2009-03-02   23:21:11 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#23. To: scooter (#22)

I'm confused.... You asserted Christ is Savior. The Holy Prophet Isaiah records Jehovah saying He alone is Savior and there is no other Savior besides Him.

The name Jesus, in the original Hebrew, means that Jehovah is Salvation.

You are correct in what you type, and I should have been more careful in how I answered the question, but that does not change what I posted to you, that the only way to Jehovah (salvation) is through His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.

You've asserted Christ is the first-born creation of Jehovah

Not my assertion; he is named in the Bible as the 'only begotten son of God. You should also note that Adam is listed, in the Book of Luke, Chapter 3 as a son of God, BUT, not as the only begotten son of God. So obviously there are other sons of God, but only one 'only begotten son of God.' Also, at the time of his creation, Jesus did not carry the name Jesus (see the angel that visited Mary the mother of Jesus and told her what to name her child), nor, did he carry the title of the Christ (annointed one).

I hope this claifies matters, and sorry for the confusion; the fault was entirely mine.

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;.

richard9151  posted on  2009-03-03   14:21:22 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#24. To: IndieTX (#1)

http://oldfashionedrevivalhour.com/


C.H.

ChareltonHest  posted on  2009-03-03   15:31:42 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


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