Jehova Witness/the Kingdom of God

[dj_dave]

Jesus says in Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Notice how Jesus doesn’t say, “Baptize them in the NAME(S) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Why doesn’t Jesus use a plural? Instead, he uses a singular?

Name in Matthew represents their Authority also, it would mean in recognition of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit
Notice…**not plural **:

(Genesis 5:2) 2*Male and female he created them. After that he blessed them and called their name Man in the day of their being created.

(Genesis 48:16) 16*The angel who has been recovering me from all calamity, bless the boys. And let my name be called upon them and the **name **of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, And let them increase to a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

 

[dj_dave]

Dave, you are assuming that Jesus cannot make more than one point with any statement/parable he makes. Yes, Luke 16:14 helps tie into the parable Jesus is about to tell regarding the rich man who would not help the beggar, Lazarus. The reason we are discussing these verses is because of what happens to humans after

they have died on the earth, and I was wondering if you have an opinion on that part of each of the verses?

In Luke 16, the rich man is not sleeping, he is alive/alert/awake being tormented in Hades. This appears to be describing a scenario before the return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. Scripture talks about an “Eternal/Everlasting Punishment” for those that are not saved; both the Luke and Revelation verses we are discussing line up with a “Punishment” of some sort happening to people after they have died. Neither of the verses discuss a person being destroyed out of existence as a result of them not being saved. It mentions people that are truly alive after they have died on earth.

The Bible clearly shows that death ends all conscious existence. Ps 13:3; 146:4. Ecclesiastes 9:5; Gen 3:19
Notice what is said about the rich man. Why was he tormented in Hades? What had he done? Jesus did not say that the rich man led a degraded life, did he? All that Jesus said was that the man was rich, dressed well and feasted lavishly.

Do we read anywhere that Lazarus built up a record of fine works with God, leading to his coming into the “bosom position of Abraham,” that is, a position of divine favor? Jesus did not say that. He merely described Lazarus as a sickly beggar.

Begging is of itself no mark of God’s favor. Actually, the Bible contains the prayer like phrase: “Give me neither poverty nor riches.” (Proverbs 30:8) King David wrote: “I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, nor his offspring looking for bread.”—Psalm 37:25.

Really, If we take Jesus’ words literally, we would have to draw still other conclusions that would make the illustration strange. For example: That those enjoying celestial happiness are in position to see and speak to those suffering torment in Hades. That the water on to one’s fingertip is not evaporated by the fire of Hades. And, that a mere drop of water would bring relief to the sufferer.
Taken literally, do these things sound logical to you?
Examine the context. Who was Jesus talking to? At Luke 16:14 we are told: “Now the Pharisees, who were money lovers…This illustration was obviously directed to the Pharisees. As a class they were like the rich man. They loved money, as well as prominence and flattering titles and looked down on others Matthew 23:5-7;John 7:47-49.

The beggar Lazarus represents those humble persons who the Pharisees loathed but who repented and became followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus showed that these despised sinners, upon repenting, would gain a position of divine favor, whereas the Pharisees and other prominent religious leaders as a class would lose out. He said: “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the harlots are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God.”—Matthew 21:31
What, then, you ask is signified by the death of the “rich man” and of “Lazarus”?

Here is the way I see it. Almost every illustration Jesus gave was regarding the Jewish nation and their accepting Jesus as the messiah.
The two debtors (Lu 7:41-43)
The sower (Mt 13:3-8; Mr 4:3-8; Lu 8:5-8).
Weeds among the wheat (Mt 13:24-30)
The leaven (Mt 13:33)
The unmerciful slave (Mt 18:23-35). the application is stated in verse 35.
There are more, but, I’m sure you get the point

Illustrations moved the humble ones to change or ask for more explanation; the proud refused to do that. Jesus said: “Let him that has ears listen,” and though the majority of the crowds hearing Jesus went their way, the disciples would come and ask for explanation.—Mt 13:9, 36. 2Sa 12:1-14
This was the case when Nathan found a hearing ear in reproving King David for his sin in connection with Bath-sheba and Uriah. (2Sa 12:1-14)

Now, Back to this great story…as you know in the Bible, death can also represent a great change in the condition of individuals. For example: People pursuing a course of life contrary to God’s will are spoken of as being ‘dead in trespasses and sins.’ But when they come into an approved standing before God as disciples of Jesus Christ they are referred to as coming “alive.” (Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13) At the same time such living persons become “dead” to sin. Romans 6:11.

So… what sense do they die? As I stated above, the key to answering this question lies in what Jesus said just before introducing the illustration: “Everyone that divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he that marries a woman divorced from a husband commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18)

To answer your question about verse 18 being stated before going into the Parable of the Beggar and the Rich man…Christ’s Church is his body on the earth, it is his bride. To me,

 

[dj_dave]

Your are correct–kind of…By reason of the Mosaic law the nation of Israel was in a covenant relationship with God and then could be spoken of as being a wife to him. At Jeremiah 3:14, for example, God refers to the nation as an unfaithful wife: “‘Return, O you renegade sons,’ is the utterance of Jehovah. ‘For I myself have become the husbandly owner of you people.’” Then, with the coming of Jesus, an opportunity was extended to the Jews to become part of his “bride.”

running out of space…to be continued

Peace

continued…

In order to become part of Christ’s “bride,” the Jews had to be released from the Law that made them, figuratively speaking, a wife to God. Without such release, they could not come into a wifely relationship with Christ, as that would be an adulterous relationship. The words of Romans 7:1-6 confirm this:

4-6 … So, my brothers, you also were made dead to the Law through the body of the Christ, that you might become another’s, the one’s who was raised up from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. . . . Now we have been discharged from the Law, because we have died to that by which we were being held fast, that we might be slaves in a new sense by the spirit, and not in the old sense by the written code.”

While the death of Jesus Christ was the basis for releasing the Jews from the Law, even before his death repentant ones could come into a favored position with God as disciples of his Son. The message and work of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ opened the door for the Jews to seize the opportunity to gain divine favor and put themselves in line for a heavenly inheritance as members of Christ’s bride.

Hence, the work and message of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ began to lead toward a complete change in the condition of the symbolic “rich man” and “Lazarus.”

Both classes died to their former condition. The repentant “Lazarus” class came into a position of divine favor, whereas the “rich man” class came under divine disfavor because of persisting in unrepentance. In reading about this there was a time the “Lazarus” class had looked to the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Judaism for spiritual “crumbs.”

But Jesus’ imparting the truth to them filled their spiritual needs. Contrasting the spiritual feeding provided by Jesus with that of the religious leaders, the Bible reports: “The crowds were astounded at his way of teaching; for he was teaching them as a person having authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:28, 29) Truly a complete reversal had taken place. The religious leaders of Judaism were shown up as having nothing to offer to the “Lazarus” class.

On the day of Pentecost of the year 33 C.E. the change in conditions was accomplished. At that time the new covenant replaced the old Law covenant. Those who had repented and accepted Jesus were then fully released from the old Law covenant. They died to it. On that day of Pentecost there was also instantly recognizable evidence that the disciples of Jesus Christ had been exalted far above the Pharisees and other prominent religious leaders. Not the religious leaders of Judaism, but these disciples received God’s spirit, enabling them to speak about “the magnificent things of God” in the native languages of people from widely scattered places. (Acts 2:5-11) this was a awe-inspiring manifestation of their having God’s blessing and approval! The “Lazarus” class had now come into the favored situation by becoming the spiritual seed of the Greater Abraham, Jehovah. This was pictured as the “bosom position.”—Compare John 1:18.

As for the unrepentant Pharisees and other prominent religious leaders, they were dead to their former position of seeming favor. They were in “Hades.” Remaining unrepentant, they were separated from the faithful disciples of Jesus as if by a “great chasm.” This was a “chasm” of God’s unchangeable, righteous judgment. Notice: “Your judicial decision is a vast watery deep.”—Psalm 36:6.

Please let me quote a quick excerpt from one of our books. I have seen many quotes from the Catechism in some of my other posts, –so I hope you don’t mind me quoting one of ours first please re-read the whole illustration so as to be familiar with the following mini quotes from it…

*** ts chap. 12 pp. 107-109 A Rich Man in Hades ***
The “rich man” class was also tormented. How? By the fiery judgment messages of God being proclaimed by Jesus’ disciples.

That the religious leaders were tormented by the message proclaimed by Jesus’ disciples there can be no question. They tried desperately to stop the proclamation. When the apostles of Jesus Christ made their defense before the Jewish supreme court composed of prominent religious men, the judges “felt deeply cut and were wanting to do away with them.” (Acts 5:33) Later, the disciple Stephen’s defense had a like tormenting effect upon the members of that court. “They felt cut to their hearts and began to gnash their teeth at him.”—Acts 7:54.

These religious leaders wanted the disciples of Jesus to come and ‘cool their tongue.’ They wanted the “Lazarus” class to leave the “bosom position” of God’s favor and present his message in such a way as not to cause them discomfort. Similarly, they wanted the “Lazarus” class to water down God’s message so as not to put their “five brothers,” their religious allies, in a “place of torment.” Yes, they did not want any of their associates to be tormented by judgment messages.

Running out of room again…one last part–then your questions and thoughts…

Peace

 

[PRmerger]

The Bible clearly shows that death ends all conscious existence. Ps 13:3; 146:4. Ecclesiastes 9:5; Gen 3:19

 

[dj_dave]

[SIGN]These religious leaders wanted the disciples of Jesus to come and ‘cool their tongue.’ They wanted the “Lazarus” class to leave the “bosom position” of God’s favor and present his message in such a way as not to cause them discomfort. Similarly, they wanted the “Lazarus” class to water down God’s message so as not to put their “five brothers,” their religious allies, in a “place of torment.” Yes, they did not want any of their associates to be tormented by judgment messages.

Running out of room again…one last part–then your questions and thoughts…

Peace[/SIGN]

…continued and conclusion:

…But, as indicated by Jesus’ illustration, neither the “rich man” class nor his religious allies would be freed from the tormenting effects of the message proclaimed by the “Lazarus” class. The apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ refused to water down the message. They refused to stop teaching on the basis of Jesus’ name. Their reply to the Jewish supreme court was: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.”—Acts 5:29.

If the religious allies of the “rich man” wanted to escape that torment, they could do so. They had “Moses and the Prophets,” that is, they had the inspired Holy Scriptures written by Moses and other ancient prophets. Not once did those inspired Scriptures point to any literal place of torment after death, **but they did contain all that was necessary to identify Jesus as the promised Messiah or Christ. **(Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19; 1 Peter 1:10, 11) Hence, if the “rich man” class and his “five brothers” had paid attention to “Moses and the Prophets,” they would have accepted Jesus as the Messiah. That would have brought them in line for divine favor and shielded them from the tormenting effects of God’s judgment message.

(Interestingly, The “rich man” and his five brothers total six. This is a number representing a falling short of seven (Perfection) hence, imperfection and sin. (1 Sam. 17:4, 7; 2 Sam. 21:20; Rev. 13:18) So they are the visible seed of the great Serpent, as Jesus called them. (Gen. 3:15; Matt. 23:33; 3:7)

I do not intend to force anyone to believe this explaination-- accept it or reject it as you see fit…you asked “I was wondering if you have an opinion on that part of each of the verses?” well, now you have it. You might enjoy some of my past posts with a Mormon on some of these subjects. 144,000; why sufferering?; Hell; ect

BTW, who of you readers can explain the “Great Supper” illustration of Luke 14;16-24?

Gotta run, Peace

 

[atheistgirl]

[SIGN]Running out of room again…one last part–then your questions and thoughts…

Peace

Your answer comes back word for word from other postings across the net. That’s interesting. It sounds like you’re giving a personal response, but it seems like it’s actually a rehersed answer common among Jehovahs witnesses, copied from a common source, word for word.

You could at least credit the work you are plagiarizing

Sarah x

 

[PRmerger]

BTW, who of you readers can explain the “Great Supper” illustration of Luke 14;16-24?

Gotta run, Peace

It is an explanation of the cost of discipleship. Jesus Christ is the center of all Christian life and our bond with him takes precedence over all other bands, familial or social (from our Catechism).

 

[dj_dave]

dj dave;9316232:

What about Jesus speaking to conscious dead people at the Transfiguration?

You will notice that Jesus called it a “Vision” Matthew 17:9

In the transfiguration, evidently Moses and Elijah represented the Law and the Prophets, both of which pointed toward and were fulfilled in Christ. Whereas in the past God had spoken through prophets, he now indicated that he would do so through his Son.—Ga 3:24; Heb 1:1-3.

We can’t ignore early scriptures like Eccl. 9:5; Ps. 146:4 ect.

 

[dj_dave]

It is an explanation of the cost of discipleship. Jesus Christ is the center of all Christian life and our bond with him takes precedence over all other bands, familial or social (from our Catechism).

Okay, would like like to hear another explaination?

 

[dj_dave]

Your answer comes back word for word from other postings across the net. That’s interesting. It sounds like you’re giving a personal response, but it seems like it’s actually a rehersed answer common among Jehovahs witnesses, copied from a common source, word for word.

You could at least credit the work you are plagiarizing

Sarah x

I am giving my answer from many different JW publications in my own words mostly. Some of the paragraphs I wrote contained actual expressions for the descriptive words I could not have thought of myself. I am sorry that offends you.

I did give notice about the quote from one of our books. Really, it is the message not the source that is important. Do you have a comment on the actual message?

PS…what is an Atheist doing on this fourm?

 

[PRmerger]

You will notice that Jesus called it a “Vision” Matthew 17:9

What does this mean to you, Jesus calling the incident a vision?

Are you trying to argue since it was a vision that it somehow means that Moses and Elijah, whom the apostles knew to be dead, were unconscious, even though Jesus had been conversing with them?

IOW: I don’t understand how vision = Moses and Elijah were unconscious when conversing with Christ.

**How do the unconscious converse?
**

We can’t ignore early scriptures like Eccl. 9:5; Ps. 146:4 ect.

Indeed. I don’t believe anyone has proposed that we ignore them.

In fact, as you know, since it was the Catholic Church that discerned for you that Eccl 9:5 and Psalm 146:4 belong in the Bible and are God’s Word, it’s clear that Catholics don’t ignore them.

If she had wanted to, the Church could have ignored them by excluding them from the Bible, right?

 

[PRmerger]

Okay, would like like to hear another explaination?

Do you claim to be infallible?

If not, why would I care to hear another explanation from a fallible source? And, by definition, if you’re fallible, you’re going to be wrong at some point. Right?

Or are you claiming that you’re fallible but all of your explanations* can’t *be wrong?

 

[PRmerger]

PS…what is an Atheist doing on this fourm?

All members, dave, are welcome to post in any forum here on the CAFs, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof.

 

[CoRedeemer]

Name in Matthew represents their Authority also, it would mean in recognition of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit
Notice…**not plural **:

(Genesis 5:2) 2*Male and female he created them. After that he blessed them and called their name Man in the day of their being created.

(Genesis 48:16) 16*The angel who has been recovering me from all calamity, bless the boys. And let my name be called upon them and the **name **of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, And let them increase to a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

“I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” Matt 22:32

Even King Saul spoke with the Prophet Samuel. Notice how Scripture does not use the devil’s name but Samuels. This is because the author has testified that he, too, believes that King Saul spoke with Saul and is alive, not dead.

“For God is God of the living, and not of the dead, for to him everyone is alive.” Luke 20: 38

Hebrews 11:4 confirms this to be true, since it says this, "By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Hey! I’ve got it in Greek too, "Πίστει πλείονα θυσίαν Ἅβελ παρὰ Κάϊν προσήνεγκεν τῷ θεῷ δι’ ἧς ἐμαρτυρήθη εἶναι δίκαιος, μαρτυροῦντος ἐπὶ τοῖς δώροις αὐτοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ δι’ αὐτῆς ἀποθανὼν ἔτι λαλεῖ.

Also Revelation 6:9-11 “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the spirits of those who proclaimed the word of God and were slain for its sake. They began to cry aloud, “Holy and righteous Lord, how long will it be before you render justice and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?” Then each one of them was given a white garment, and they were told to wait a little while, until the number of their brothers and sisters and fellow servants who would be killed as they had been would be completed.”

And what about the white garment which was given to those who were slain? And how long were they told to wait for? Until the number of their brothers and sisters and fellow servants who would be killed as they had been would be completed.

So you still don’t believe in the after life. How about Paul’s desire to die as a martyr so that he can be with Christ in the after life. Philippians 1:23-24 "So I feel torn between the two. I desire greatly to leave this life and to be with Christ, which will be better by far, but it is necessary for you that I remain in this life.

Jesus is a big idiot if Luke 16:19-31 had no fundamental and truthful concept of the after life. Why go all the fuss bringing about a story of the after life if it isn’t true. Yet, it is! Even Jesus believes in the after life and that is why he spoke of it. If it wasn’t true, then he wouldn’t speak of it, but he does.

 

[CoRedeemer]

You know, you can make scripture say anything you like if you don’t agree with the author.

For instance, scripture can be so easily manipulated that somebody could say to you, that Jesus was an extraterrestrial from the planet Moses, or from the planet Abraham!

And this is happening in 1 Samuel 28, where the author has fittingly and appropriately decided to use the name Samuel instead of the devil’s name. But if somebody doesn’t agree with the author and so he can make it say whatever he likes. He can say that King Saul was talking with the Angel Gabriel and not with the Devil. Who says it wasn’t the angel Gabriel? Well, the author says it wasn’t the Angel Gabriel or the devil.

Here’s another example; if the author has written the scriptural interpretation and has considered it to be accurate, and if you really just don’t agree with what the author has written, and so you can make it say whatever you like. For instance, (see Acts 1:9-11) and if you don’t agree with the author that Jesus was taken up by angels and disappeared into the clouds, thus you can say this, “And aliens came with their space ship and beamed him up and, for the first time Jesus met Captain Kirk from the Star Trek Enterprise.” LOL

Nevertheless, what the author has said and written we must believe. We can’t say, “Oh, it seems like the devil is talking through this guy, even if the author has written Samuel’s name so many times.” What says that it wasn’t the angel Gabriel who spoke with King Saul? Well, the author says it. The author has judged and decided, “No, King Saul was taking with Samuel!”

You either agree with what the author has said or you make it say whatever you like. You can make it say, “Marijuana in King Saul’s system had produced hallucinations.” You can make it say, “The Archangel Michael had appeared to him.” What says that it wasn’t Saint Michael or the Angel Gabriel or Marijuana? Well, the author has written and given us all the facts. So I believe in the author and how he has written it! What matters is the author! THE AUTHOR! and what he is describing! That’s more important! I believe that the author has authentically verified the truth, that King Saul was conversing with Samuel. The book of Sirach 46:13-20 confirms that King Saul was talking with Samuel.

 

[dj_dave]

You either agree with what the author has said or you make it say whatever you like. You can make it say, “Marijuana in King Saul’s system had produced hallucinations.” You can make it say, “The Archangel Michael had appeared to him.” What says that it wasn’t Saint Michael or the Angel Gabriel or Marijuana? Well, the author has written and given us all the facts. So I believe in the author and how he has written it! What matters is the author! THE AUTHOR! and what he is describing! That’s more important! I believe that the author has authentically verified the truth, that King Saul was conversing with Samuel. The book of Sirach 46:13-20 confirms that King Saul was talking with Samuel.

*** pe chap. 10 pp. 90-92 pars. 4-6 Wicked Spirits Are Powerful ***
4 There is an example in the Bible of a wicked spirit who pretended to be a dead prophet of God, Samuel. This was in the 40th year of King Saul’s reign. A powerful army of Philistines had come up against Saul’s Israelite army, and he was very much afraid. Saul knew God’s law: “Do not turn yourselves to the spirit mediums, and do not consult professional foretellers of events, so as to become unclean by them.” (Leviticus 19:31) In time, however, Saul turned away from Jehovah. Therefore Samuel, who at the time was alive, refused any longer to see Saul. (1Samuel 15:35) And now, in this time of trouble, King Saul was desperate because Jehovah would not listen to his calls for help.
5 Saul was so eager to learn about what was going to happen that he went to a spirit medium in En-dor. She was able to bring forth the form of a person that she could see. By her description of the form, Saul identified him as “Samuel.” At this the spirit person, pretending to be Samuel, spoke: “Why have you disturbed me by having me brought up?” Saul answered: “I am in very sore straits, as the Philistines are fighting against me.” The spirit person replied: “Why, then, do you inquire of me, when Jehovah himself has departed from you and proves to be your adversary?” The wicked spirit person, who was pretending to be the dead Samuel, then went on to tell Saul that he would be killed in the battle with the Philistines.—1Samuel 28:3-19.
6 Obviously, it was not really Samuel that the spirit medium had contacted. Samuel was dead, and at death a person “goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.” (Psalm 146:4) A little thinking on the matter further shows that the voice was not really that of dead Samuel. Samuel was God’s prophet. So he had opposed spirit mediums. And, as we have seen, while he was alive he had refused to speak any more with disobedient Saul. So, then, if Samuel were still alive, would he allow a spirit medium to arrange for him to meet Saul? Think too: Jehovah had refused to give Saul any information. Could a spirit medium force Jehovah to give Saul a message through dead Samuel? And if the living could actually talk with dead loved ones, surely a God of love would not say that they had become “unclean” because of turning to a spirit medium.

GOOD NIGHT…PEACE

 

[CoRedeemer]

Name in Matthew represents their Authority also, it would mean in recognition of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit
Notice…**not plural **:

(Genesis 5:2) 2*Male and female he created them. After that he blessed them and called their name Man in the day of their being created.

(Genesis 48:16) 16*The angel who has been recovering me from all calamity, bless the boys. And let my name be called upon them and the **name **of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, And let them increase to a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Scripture says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,” Philippians 2:9 Does this included Jehovah’s name (God)? Philippians 2:10 says, “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

Wow! So Jesus is receiving all the recognition and praise and honor as if God. Notice how Philippians 2:9-11, does not say, “so that at the name of God every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” because Jesus is receiving praise and worship as if he were God. In other words, he is God.

Jews considered Jesus a blasphemer, for there’s no other name which we are saved but by the Name of God. This is how the Jews understood it. Nevertheless, this is what got Jesus killed, for he was preaching about how salvation comes only through him. He says, "“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

And why did they pick up stones? And why were they infuriated to kill (I am he) when he said, “I am he!” ?

When Jesus says, “Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!” We see three names for salvation. But the Jews were angry since there is only one Name by which we are saved. Jeremiah’s name did not save us? Jacob’s name did not save us? Isaiah’s name did not save? Ezekiel’s name did not save us? But God’s name had saved us? But how can Jesus’ name save us if we are saved only but by God’s name? If we are saved by Jesus’ name then we are saved by a God. This means that Jesus Christ is God.

 

[PRmerger]

It is an explanation of the cost of discipleship. Jesus Christ is the center of all Christian life and our bond with him takes precedence over all other bands, familial or social (from our Catechism).

haha! I meant bonds. not bands.

 

[Zosimus41]

Careful about ever letting a JW into your home. They use various psychological tactics to gain advantage over you. They specifically prey upon Catholics. They are relentless in their approaches. If you know the tactics that some aggressive salesmen use, you can almost predict how a JW will behave. Through their incessant approaches, they week to “wear you down.” If they know that you are suffering a recent loss, they will be merciless, preying upon what they perceive as weakness or vulnerability.

When they attack (and they are attacking your faith), I hammer on the lack of foundation for their faith: None of their founders had any authority whatsoever to interpret scripture, and the JW corporation is founded on a grossly distorted private interpretation of scripture.

Grab a copy of The Essential Catholic Survival Guide which has a lot of very useful information on deconstructing the JW house of cards.

You make a good point. When my friends dad died the jws were there to console her mother. Long story short she became a Jehovas Witness soon afterwards.

 

[CoRedeemer]

The Greek A to Z is literally Alpha and Omega. And that is why Revelation 1:8 says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, he who is, who was and who is to come: the Master of the Universe."

Consider that the Alpha and the Omega can also mean “The First and the Last letters of the Greek alphabet. In other words, it is a way of showing God’s nature, for only God is **the First and the Last or the Alpha and Omega. (See also Revelation 20:6-7 for a better horizon) And that is why Revelation 1:17-18 says, "Seeing him, I fell at his feet like one dead but he touched me with his right hand and said, "Do not be afraid. It is I, the First and the Last. I am the living one; I was dead **and now I am alive for ever and ever; and mine are the keys of death and the netherworld.”

We see God - **The First and the Last **or **the Alpha and the Omega **- giving a confession that he was dead! In other words, God is confessing that he was dead but is alive now. Who could this be but Jesus Christ!

“Loot at my hands and feet, and see that it is I myself! Touch me, and see for yourselves, **for a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have!” **Luke 24:35 The Archangel Michael does not have flesh and bones as the Lord Jesus does. And that is why Jesus had truly resurrected from the dead, not Michael the Archangel, “**for a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have!” **