Hi aguest
Greetings, dear Debator... and, again, peace to you!
I get a headache from your proof texting.
My sincere apologies. I know I can be verbose but that is my style (as least, as it has been shown/taught to me by my Lord). I am sure you can handle it, though, as while I know I exceed some Bible writers, I don't even come close to others. And since you can handle them...
1/ This scripture is about prayer not preaching work which both Jesus and his apostles did publically.
The part of the verse that I referred here (related to your response) is about standing in the broadways... to be seen by men... which only my Lord did when he invited them to come to him.
2/To disprove your reasoning this scripture I only have to show one instance of public prayer among a group of Christians. But are a few instead. here the apostles praying for help as a groups.
Okay...
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
They were "beseeching"... for their lives. They were terrified... and hiding. Which ANYONE would do under the circumstances. They, a small group, were in a PRIVATE place... and persisting in prayer because the "shepherd had been struck, the sheep scattered," and they didn't know what to do. They were not, however, generally and generically "praying" to God... at an open, public place/meeting... as WTBTS elders do, publicly, in front of the congregation. Their purpose was SPECIFIC and related to each and every one of them, directly and individually.
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
Here, they were, again, specific group... small... and IN PRIVATE... to learn how to fill Judas' place. They were not "praying" to God in an open, public place/meeting.
When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.
My feelings about Paul's numerous deviations aside, you again have a situation where the gathering is PRIVATE... and very small. NOT public. There was only Paul... and the "older men" of the Ephesian congregation... and Paul was going to depart from them... indefinitely. Again, fear, uncertainly, concern. A "beseeching" on the part of the ENTIRE group, for a SPECIFIC purpose. And in private. Yada... yada... yada...
Jesus was talking about the Jews specifically and how they had made prayer a showy display of themselves.
Yes, I get that. But if you apply THAT to the Jews only, then shouldn't you do the same for everything else he said? And if that's true, how is it that those YOU follow apply it to, say, OTHER religions? I mean, I'm just saying
3/ John 6 Is about Jesus talking about his ACTUAL death and sacrifice and not the lords evening meal. You are misapplying this scripture woefully and considering your knowledge I am surprised at this one being on your list.
Woe... seriously?? What, then, pray tell me, please... did HE mean by "ANYONE may eat of it?" Eat of what? And what, pray tell, did he mean when he said, "UNLESS you eat of it... drink..."? And where did he mention any OTHER means to live forever... indeed, to be resurrected? I am all ears (erm, eyes...)...
6/ people have to decide for themselves on the 144,000, bride, firstfruits. You explanation means you have to ignore all references to the 3 I just mentioned in the bible.
What people? Decide what, specifically?
7/ Witnesses believe in the two covenants from the bible abrahamic (earthly) and the New covenant (heavenly) both can attain hope of life.
Hmmmm... and what did PAUL have to say about that, since he's the... ummm... "go to guy"? Let me share that with you, please:
" Therefore, as we have such a hope, we are using great freeness of speech,andnot doing as when Moses would put a veil upon his face, that the sons of Israel might not gaze intently at the end of that which was to be done away with. Buttheir mental powers were dulled. For to this present day the same veil remains unlifted at the reading of the old covenant, because it is done away with by means of Christ. In fact, down till today whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their hearts." 2 Corinthians 3:12-15
This latter statement is where, I fear, YOU are, dear Debator... because YOU "follow" those... who follow Moses... although HIS Law... was FULFILLED. It was nailed to the torture pole... and as a result replaced... with a surpassingly GREATER Law. Paul goes on:
But when there is a turning to CHRIST(and please, PLEASE... use your NWT Ref. Bible and refer to the footnote and appendices because this verse is NOT accurate as set out in the NWT text)... the veil is taken away.Now CHRIST (see above)... is the Spirit; and where the spirit of CHRIST is, there is freedom.And all of us, while wewith unveiled facesreflect like mirrors the glory ofCHRIST, are transformed into the same imagefrom glory to glory,exactly as done by CHRIST [the] Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
8/ Michael is a whole subject in itself but I agree with them. I could post a whole list of the scriptures but I think most on here know the Michael debate.
Of course you do. Please, do post your scriptures and show ME.
9/ Many scholars throughout the last 1700 years have wondered over whether Judas was present during the meal trying to harmonise the 4 accounts.
Why are you making this an issue with witnesses?
Apparently, they aren't among those who wonder (not that they group themselves with "scholars"... at least, not when such scholars don't agree with them; when they do, then it's another story entirely - such scholars are then considered "experts"...). In my case... the knew... because when a sister asked me about it and I told her LUKE said, which is corroborated by John... I was teaching "apostate" understandings. Now, admittedly, the "brothers" who "judged" said of this... and a great many others things, "Well, yes, the Bible DOES say that... but the Watchtower doesn't teach that." But isn't the Bible the "authority"? I asked. Well, apparently, not, as another one of those "brothers" followed up with, "You're 'running ahead of the things written!" "Written where" I asked.
His response was classic: "Written... in the Watchtower!"
You can see my dilemma. Or perhaps you can't...
My motivations are my own on here but your questions when broken down aren't that complex.
Using WTBTS reasoning, perhaps not. I don't believe, IMHO, that you've accurately answered a single one. But that is to be expected because, as you readily admit... that you (and they) still adhere to Moses... and the Old Covenant... your hearts are "veiled." Nothing I've shared would make any sense to you anyway. But... I had to try, because my Lord told me to. And I listen to HIM... a no other. And please, don't go that "you're talking to demons" route - as that would be blasphemy against the Holy Spirit which I confess I am hearing. Not that you folks care - you have absolutely NOT problem telling folks that demons can talk and communicate... even through dead wood and other inanimate objects like plastic... but cannot seem to bring yourselves to believe... and thus ALSO state... that so can the Most Holy One of Israel, JAH of Armies... and His Son and Christ, the Holy One of Israel and Holy Spirit, my Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH.
Demons can walk and talk and hear and see... but the MOST High God... cannot and does not. I ask you: in that case, who REALLY has "all authority" over heaven... and earth?
I bid you peace... and ears to hear, dear one, when the Spirit and the Bride say to you... if they have not already and you ignored the call:
"Come! Take's life's water... the holy spirit of God... FREE!"
I am your servant... as I am servant to ALL those of the Household of God, Israel, and those who go with... and a slave of Christ,
SA
