Posts by Rudolf

42

Great Crowd is NOT under the New Covenant...Where does it say this?

by Christ Alone in

i was wondering if there was anywhere someone could point to in the bible for the watchtower belief that the great crowd is not included in the new covenant.

i know that this is their line of thinking when it comes to jesus being mediator.

they say that jesus is only mediator of the new covenant and since the gc is not under the new covenant, jesus is not specifically a mediator to them.

Rudolf

The Holy Spirit

First, we need to ask the question this way: Who is the Holy Spirit? The Bible tells us that this “Spirit” is actually a Person, an intelligent, loving, divine being with personality and thoughts and emotions. Far from simply being the small-s “spirit” of God in this world, or an ethereal influence left behind by the teachings of Jesus when he returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit is the third fully co-equal and eternal member of the Godhead.

Admittedly, we can’t comprehend how a “Spirit,” who is able to be actively present in Los Angeles, London, and Lesotho in a single moment, can actually have personhood. But in I Corinthians 12:11 Paul remarks about the Holy Spirit and the concept of spiritual gifts: HE gives them to each one, just as HE determines. So he makes choices and exercises judgment, and actively gives spiritual talents to men and women.

John 14:16 declares that the Holy Spirit will “be with you forever.” He is a great (and timely) teacher; in Luke 12 Jesus promises us that the Holy Spirit will instruct us, in a moment of crisis, just what we should say. He comes into a Christian’s life (I Peter 1:2) and makes him or her holy. Right after Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit’s descent at Pentecost gave the infant Christians the desire to witness and share their new faith; his presence energized the church for action and outreach. Three thousand new converts were emboldened in a single day.

Now some tough news: unfortunately, it is possible to lie to the Holy Spirit. Two selfish Christians, Ananias and Sapphira, did so in the days of the early Church (Acts 5). Speaking of emotions and personality, our acts of rebellion can bring him grief (Acts 4:30).

Especially in Protestant circles, we believe that the Holy Spirit is Jesus’ true representative here on earth. Acts 13 details how he led the new Christian church to select Barnabas and Paul for a special missionary work. And twenty centuries before the invention of Mapquest, he even guided their itinerary (Acts 16).

One of the most beautiful metaphors in the Bible is found in Romans 8:14, 15. Those who are led by the Spirit of God, Paul writes, are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. It is one of the Holy Spirit’s paramount roles to like that of a social worker: to solidify our adoption into God’s family! He continually reminds us of what a wonderful heavenly Father we have.

The old Christian pop song from the 1970s, “Put Your Hand in the Hand,” is a great reminder that the Holy Spirit takes our hand—and puts it in our Father’s hand. He reminds us that we are royalty, that we were chosen by God to enter into his family. When we have fears or doubts, the Spirit quietly affirms our choice to be children of a heavenly king. In fact, Ephesians twice tells us that the Holy Spirit’s encouragement seals or cements this glorious connection between our heart and God’s. Through his influence we enter into an unshakable friendship with our redeeming Father.

A final note: there are some who timidly suggest that after the death of Jesus, there was no miraculous resurrection, no Easter triumph over death . . . but that the “spirit” of Jesus survived. No real person, only the ideas and the principle of the Golden Rule and the parables. But no! All of the New Testament dynamically proclaims that a real and living Jesus, with a body and with personality and a desire to return, lives and is in our universe today. Just so, the Holy Spirit is no vaporous philosophy or influence, but a real and explosive personal being who guides today’s Church—and each of us—toward the day of triumph.

42

Great Crowd is NOT under the New Covenant...Where does it say this?

by Christ Alone in

i was wondering if there was anywhere someone could point to in the bible for the watchtower belief that the great crowd is not included in the new covenant.

i know that this is their line of thinking when it comes to jesus being mediator.

they say that jesus is only mediator of the new covenant and since the gc is not under the new covenant, jesus is not specifically a mediator to them.

Rudolf

Michael the Archangel in the Bible

This could be a smallish, trivial question—but it also has the potential to lead to dangerous and cultic thinking! Let’s begin with the verses which refer to this mysterious being who does much greater things than to simply “row a boat ashore.”

In Revelation Michael is a heavenly being of great power and authority. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon [Lucifer] and his angels, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. So Michael is the commander of all the vast heavenly hosts.

In the prophetic book of Daniel we find this heavenly being again, now referred to as “Michael, one of the chief princes,” and “Michael, your prince.” Then in the concluding chapter of Daniel, he begins: At that time, Michael, the great prince who protects your people will arise.

Probably the most enigmatic reference is in the small book of Jude, which comes right before Revelation. In verse 9, the brother of James writes: Even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
This leads to a pivotal question, then; what is an archangel? The Bible suggests that at one point both Lucifer and Gabriel were the leading angels in the heavenly order (Isaiah 14, Luke 1:19), but only Michael is ever referred to as an archangel. The only other use of that word is in I Thessalonians 4:16, the glorious resurrection passage: For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command [shout, KJV], with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

So here is a caveat. It is possible to surmise that this great Michael might actually be Jesus Christ himself . . . if we are clear to emphatically state that Jesus is NOT an angel! Our Savior is God from all eternity, not created, not less than the Father, and definitely not an angel. Is it possible for the archangel to be the leader of the angels, the great divine being they obey and under whose banner they fight—but not be an angel himself?

In the Old Testament, writers sometimes interchangeably used “the Lord” and “angel of the Lord.” The Gideon story (Judges 6) tells of the angel of the Lord visiting Gideon. But as they begin to converse, suddenly it is “the Lord.” Hosea 12 describes Jacob wrestling with an angel, while the original story in Genesis 32 tells us it was God himself. In Zechariah 3, the angel of the Lord promises to take away Joshua’s sin—but to blot out sin is something only a divine God can do. In Exodus 21 God promises to send “an angel” ahead of his people Israel, and this being has the power to forgive rebellion, a power reserved for deity alone.

If Michael is actually one of Jesus’ many Bible names, some wonder why in Jude this great archangel would not “dare” to bring a slanderous accusation against Satan. Obviously Jesus is not intimidated by Lucifer, who is a vanquished foe, and the Greek word for “dare,” tolmao, carries a meaning of “fear of retaliation.” One commentator observes, though: “He yet dared not to utter any reviling expression: not from fear of the devil; but because even in those circumstances, it was not have been consistent with the perfection of his character.”

Whatever conclusion a student comes to, we should be warned of embracing the error made by the Jehovah’s Witnesses group: that of making Christ/Michael a created being, less than God the Father. In their literature, they state: “[Christ] was a god, but not the almighty God who is Jehovah.” The full and complete and eternal deity of our Lord Jesus is a hallmark of secure Christianity, and a truth we should never sacrifice over a disputable point like this one.

42

Great Crowd is NOT under the New Covenant...Where does it say this?

by Christ Alone in

i was wondering if there was anywhere someone could point to in the bible for the watchtower belief that the great crowd is not included in the new covenant.

i know that this is their line of thinking when it comes to jesus being mediator.

they say that jesus is only mediator of the new covenant and since the gc is not under the new covenant, jesus is not specifically a mediator to them.

Rudolf

There is no other Mediator between God and men except our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible does not teach that Jesus is only Mediator of the New Covenant, this is a doctrine of the WT. In 1 Timothy 2:5 we read, I quote: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (KJV)

I have encountered many JWs, but when this subject was brought up they tried to change topic. I just hope it is not unkind to say that JWs are brainwashed. They are going through an intense weekly training where they are well prepared and taught how to aproach and talk to people at their doorstep. They have specific 'proof texts' which they use in order to show you their excellent knowledge of the Bible; however, when challenged and serious questions are asked, they jumpe from one 'proof text' to another and they get really uncomfortable. They are not interested in studying with anybody who knows the Bible.

I try to be as respectful and kind as I can with them; I believe they are honest people, but unfortunately they are indoctrinated with false teachings by the WT who is their 'Thought Police'.

25

Is Jehovah (GOD ) an intelligent being ? Or an incompetent

by smiddy in

according to the bible he communicated quite freely with humans, via dreams ,angels ,prophets ,etc.etc., in ancient times ,even up to, two thousand years ago , then he fell silent.then whatever, he was supposed to have said, has been manipulated , ( mis ) interpretrated ,twisted ,whatever, by imperfect human beings ,supposedly speaking in his name .during this last 2000 years.we now live in a time of unprecedented information technology , isn`t this the time to speak to the people of all the earth ?

using such technology ?

their has never been a time on earth when their have been so many people living at the one time and the means to communicate with all of them in a 24 hour period .

Rudolf

I can only pray for you!

25

Is Jehovah (GOD ) an intelligent being ? Or an incompetent

by smiddy in

according to the bible he communicated quite freely with humans, via dreams ,angels ,prophets ,etc.etc., in ancient times ,even up to, two thousand years ago , then he fell silent.then whatever, he was supposed to have said, has been manipulated , ( mis ) interpretrated ,twisted ,whatever, by imperfect human beings ,supposedly speaking in his name .during this last 2000 years.we now live in a time of unprecedented information technology , isn`t this the time to speak to the people of all the earth ?

using such technology ?

their has never been a time on earth when their have been so many people living at the one time and the means to communicate with all of them in a 24 hour period .

Rudolf

You are right, 'Jehovah' as defined and described by the WT is not the True God!

25

Is Jehovah (GOD ) an intelligent being ? Or an incompetent

by smiddy in

according to the bible he communicated quite freely with humans, via dreams ,angels ,prophets ,etc.etc., in ancient times ,even up to, two thousand years ago , then he fell silent.then whatever, he was supposed to have said, has been manipulated , ( mis ) interpretrated ,twisted ,whatever, by imperfect human beings ,supposedly speaking in his name .during this last 2000 years.we now live in a time of unprecedented information technology , isn`t this the time to speak to the people of all the earth ?

using such technology ?

their has never been a time on earth when their have been so many people living at the one time and the means to communicate with all of them in a 24 hour period .

Rudolf

I would like you to imagine you have committed a criminal act and you are sentenced to death. You are on detahrow and you are awaiting execution. Then somebody comes along and offers himself to die in your place. Not only he is willing to die for you but also he takes all your criminal record of you on himself. All this for you to be free and to start a new life. What would you say? Would you accept it? Or would you refuse it? Yet, here is [the] God in flesh, our Creator, who gave His life for you and I, and to all who accept His sacrifice. If I were God I would have probably destroyed this earth in an instant as soon as Adam and Eve have sined, yet, here is God, who created the all universe with everything in it, including us, came down from heaven to suffer heatred, rejection, mocking, pain, etc., and to die for us. What else could have He done?

I understand your bitterness toward God, and this is perhaps because you had a bad experience, but God is the King of the Universe and cannot be trampled upon by man. God is not compatible with sin, God is a Holy God and longsuffering!

That's how much He loves you that He even died for you - what an outrageous love! Won't you appreciate that?

15

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Damned?

by Cold Steel in

this is really aimed at evangelicals and people of other religions, especially those who left the jws and are now happily engaged in other christian faiths.

in short, based upon your present religious views, are jehovah's witnesses damned to an eternal hell for their beliefs?.

if you're an atheist or agnostic, this question ain't for you.

Rudolf

Firstly, there is no man or organization that can save us apart from Jesus who is our Saviour; secondly, we shouldn't be judgemental toward others, we should love everybody even our enemies and do whatever we can to led others to Christ. Mat. 7:1-5

15

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Damned?

by Cold Steel in

this is really aimed at evangelicals and people of other religions, especially those who left the jws and are now happily engaged in other christian faiths.

in short, based upon your present religious views, are jehovah's witnesses damned to an eternal hell for their beliefs?.

if you're an atheist or agnostic, this question ain't for you.

Rudolf

Firts of all, there is no 'eternal torment',' burning hell' or 'eternal punishing' in the Bible as many believe. I do not believe in a God who is torturing, tormenting, burning someone, who lived for 70+, 80+ or 90+ yeras on earth, in hell for ever and ever, but rather I believe in a God of love who does not delight in the death of anyone; however, the Bible tells us about an 'eternal punishment', which means God will destroy the wicked on the day of Judgement. Rev. 20:12-15 and 21:8. Alos, in Malachi 4:3 we read, I quote: "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts." (KJV)

In Rev. 12:17 and 14:12 we read, I quote: 12:17 - "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." and 14:12 - "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus." And in Deut. 30:15, 16 we read, I quote: "15. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16. In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgements, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless the in the land whither thou goest to possess it." (KJV)

Before God there are no religions but rather two ways: the way that leads to eternal life and the way that leads to eternal death (second death, Rev. 20:14). In John 14:6, 15 we read, I quote: "6. Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 15. If ye love me, keep my commandments."

The JWs are not 'damned', nobody is damned yet; while probation is still running, while the door is still open, we can choose to have eternal live. But, if we do not do the will of the Father, if we do not keep His commandments and have the faith of Jesus, we are going to be damned for ever.

25

Is Jehovah (GOD ) an intelligent being ? Or an incompetent

by smiddy in

according to the bible he communicated quite freely with humans, via dreams ,angels ,prophets ,etc.etc., in ancient times ,even up to, two thousand years ago , then he fell silent.then whatever, he was supposed to have said, has been manipulated , ( mis ) interpretrated ,twisted ,whatever, by imperfect human beings ,supposedly speaking in his name .during this last 2000 years.we now live in a time of unprecedented information technology , isn`t this the time to speak to the people of all the earth ?

using such technology ?

their has never been a time on earth when their have been so many people living at the one time and the means to communicate with all of them in a 24 hour period .

Rudolf

The answer is found in Isaiah 59:2:

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." (NIV)

A discussion of sin is very important to anyone who has a belief in God. If we accept the existence of a Creator, our next major concern is pleasing Him. Consider ... an Omniscient, Omnipotent Being is responsible for our existence. Our continued well-being is totally dependent upon His whim. Is it not in our best interest to determine what He desires of us, what is acceptable and unaccetable to Him?

Sin, put as simply as possible, is that which is unacceptable to God. It is what separates man from God, and from the possibility of ultimate happiness. Since the Bible is the Word of God, it is logical to go to it to find out about sin. This is an important initial point. If we want to know what sin is, and what things are sinful, we must go to God to find out...NOT MAM.

For example, many do not believe that dressing immodestly is sin. Others go so far to think there is nothink sinful about lying, getting drunk, gambling, or cursing. Abortion, Homosexuality, Racism, etc., you can always find someone who will deny such things are sinful. But it is important what man may think about such things. The question must be, "What does the Bible say about sin?" It is only asking this question that we can know what God considers sinful. And it is only in knowing what God considers sinful that we can ensure we are pleasing Him.

22

Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe in their own doctrine?

by God_Delusion in

hi guys,.

do you think the majority of jehovah's witnesses actually believe in their own doctrine?

do they honestly believe that the end is nigh?.

Rudolf

I do not think many JWs really believe in their own doctrine. I believe most JWs are more confused than any atheist would be by seeing his Mini Rover evolving in a big Rolls Royce over night in his garage. I had studies with many JWs through time, but honestly when you are asikng them questions which are outside their boundries, they keep chaging subject and, when you do not allow them to do that, they really get confused and uncomfortable. When I asked them why did the Watchtower change many of their fundamental believes so often through time, they do not have answers. Although they try to persuade you that they still have the truth and have the answers, when challenged they do not have a legg to stand on.