JW.ORG's Online Bible Study Lesson 2.3 "Why did God Create Humans?"

I decided to take the WT up on their offer at JW.ORG and go through their short lessons to “Learn what the Bible teaches.” WT speak is in RED, my comments are in BLACK, anything else is in BLUE. I logged in to JW.ORG, and under "Online Bible Study Lessons" I clicked on "Get Started" or it may say "Pick a Lesson Now," OR for Bible Study Lesson 2.3 simply click here.

Before you begin reading, I strongly suggest you have, at the ready, the WT’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures. You can download a free PDF copy here.

Lesson 2.3 "Why did God Create Humans?" Throughout this Lesson the WT continually pushed their doctrine that people will live forever on this present earth. As you progress through this Lesson you will see phrases like: "Jehovah lovingly prepared the earth to be a beautiful and permanent home for the human family." "God wants us to live forever on earth." "People would live forever in happiness on a paradise earth." "God created the earth to be a permanent home for humans."

I'll take a close look at this WT doctrine in a typical WT encounter.

JW: “The Bible assures us: There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to God’s promise and in these righteousness is to dwell." (2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17) Sometimes when the Bible speaks of “the earth,” it means the people who live on the earth (Genesis 11:1). So the righteous ‘new earth’ is a society of people who receive God’s approval.”

A JW will point particularly to 2 Peter 3:6, “the world at that time (long ago found in verse 5) was destroyed, being flooded with water.” 

JW, “was the earth destroyed.” 

HOME OWNER, “No.” 

JW: “What was destroyed?” 

HOME OWNER: “Sinful people.”

JW, “See, only sinful people are t0 be destroyed, not the earth itself. ”

DID YOU CATCH THE WT TACTIC? If you did not, that is because the JW was successful in “hiding-a-lie.” The "hide-a-lie" tactic simply involves reading only that portion of scripture that supports their lie and avoiding other verses that expose their lie. The lie is, that the “earth will not be destroyed--only the sinful people that inhabit the earth.” To expose this BIG LIE one needs only to continue reading verses 7-12. Below are verses 7 and 10-12. I invite you to read all of 2 Peter to get the full context. Remember the New Testament books were written without chapter and verse divisions. See my blog on the importance of CONTEXT here.

7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

How can you expose the WT's BIG LIE concerning 2 Peter 3:6? By reading the VERY NEXT WORD from verse 7, “BUT.” Ask the JW, “What is a synonym for but?” If you look this up in a thesaurus you will find: “however” and my favorite “on the other hand.”

Peter is saying “On the other hand" or in contrast to what happened ‘long ago’ today’s heavens and earth are being reserved (set aside) for fire (what fire is spelled out in verse 10) but for now the heavens and earth are being “kept (retained just as they are) for the day of judging and destroying ungodly men.” After the judging and destroying, then the heavens and earth will be dealt with as stated in verse 10.

Verse 10 clearly shows that the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by intense heat. Note that Peter says twice (verse 10 and 12) the heavens and earth are to be destroyed by intense heat. And we are looking for a “new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” Peter is very clear about the destruction. He tells us there will be a “roar”—a sound that we could hear and intense heat. And what will be destroyed—the very elements (atoms) or building blocks of the heavens and earth. The promise mentioned in verse 13 is recorded in Isaiah 65:17, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.”

The next Lesson 3.1 is here.

The WT Jesus vs Jesus Of The Bible!

To understand the Watchtower teachings about Jesus you have to keep in mind that the Jesus of the WT existed in three different forms: (1) Pre-human, (2) Human, and (3) Post Crucifixion or more simply put: Angel—Human—Angel. 

PRE-HUMAN FORM ACCORDING TO THE WT*

To answer this question I turned to my copy of a Witness book, “Aid to Bible Understanding” (a 1,700 page book much like a Bible dictionary/encyclopedia—the updated version is called  “Insight on the Scriptures”) and looked up “Michael.” Why would I look up Michael in looking for information about Jesus? Because the WT teaches that Jesus was Jehovah’s first and greatest creation and was, in fact, Michael the Archangel. The Aid book further states, “Scriptural evidence indicated that the name Michael applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return.”  (Aid to Bible Understanding, pg. 1152)

WHAT THE WT NEGLECTS TO TELL JW’S ABOUT MICHAEL and JESUS*

The Bible nowhere identifies Jesus as Michael (or any other angel). HEBREWS 1:5-8 DRAWS A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN JESUS AND THE ANGELS, “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? Or again, ‘I will be His Father, and He will be my Son’? And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, ‘Let ALL God’s angels worship Him.’ In speaking of the angels He says, ‘He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.’ But about the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’”

The hierarchy of heavenly beings is made clear in the Hebrew passage—angels worship Jesus who, as God, is alone worthy of worship. No angel is ever worshiped in Scripture; therefore, Jesus (worthy of worship) cannot be Michael or any other angel (not worthy of worship). The angels are called sons of God (Genesis 6:2-4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7), but Jesus is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:8; Matthew 4:3-6.) 

Michael the archangel is perhaps the highest of all the angels. Michael is the only angel in the Bible who is designated “the archangel” (Jude verse 9). MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, THOUGH, IS ONLY AN ANGEL. He is not God. The clear distinction in the power and authority of Michael and Jesus can be seen in comparing Matthew 4:10 where Jesus rebukes Satan, and Jude verse 9, where Michael the archangel “dared not bring a judgment of blasphemy against Satan and calls on the Lord to rebuke him.” Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1,14). Michael the archangel is a powerful angel, but still only an angel.

HUMAN FORM ACCORDING TO THE WT

 

WT also teaches that this archangel was transformed into a human at Bethlehem and was named Jesus but he was not yet the Christ. The Society's book, Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2 p. 440, “According to the angel's announcement at His birth in Bethlehem, HE WAS TO BECOME A SAVIOR, who is Christ the Lord. He became Christ, or Anointed One, after the prophet John baptized him in the Jordan River.”

WHAT THE WT NEGLECTS TO TELL JW’S ABOUT THE CLEAR TEACHING OF LUKE 2:11 

Luke 2:11 in the WT’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, “because was born to you today Savior who is Christ Lord in city of David,”

Luke 2:11 in the WT’s New World Translation, “because there was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in David’s city.”

Luke 2:11 clearly states that the angel announced “for to you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD.” This scripture testifies that at his birth Jesus already was  the Christ, NOT  that  he was to become  the  Christ.

POST HUMAN FORM ACCORDING TO THE WT

In The Kingdom is at Hand the WT explains, “At death he laid aside the human organism in which he ministered as a new creature for three and a half years; and in his resurrection he was no more human. He was raised as a spirit creature.” (p. 258). 

Since Jesus was raised a spirit creature, his second return (JW’s prefer second presence) would be as a spirit being, invisible to human eyes and this second presence was predicted to occur in the autumn of 1872, The Divine Plan of the Ages, 1927 ed., p.4.

 

The Society later changed this date (in 1894) and now says this invisible second presence occurred in the year 1914, WT 7-15-1894, pgs 226/227.==>

WT TEACHES THAT JESUS WAS THE MASTER OF DISGUISES

A little-known doctrine of the JW’s states that after Jesus’ resurrection, he assumed human form temporarily. (NOW FOR THE CRAZY PART) “The fleshly bodies that he materialized were not identical from one appearance to the next. Thus, even Jesus’ close friends recognized him only by what he said or did”—not by his physical appearance. ​(JW.ORG, “After Jesus Resurrection was His Body Flesh or Spirit?”)

For example, “when Jesus appeared to the apostle Thomas, he took on a body with wound marks. He did this to bolster Thomas’ faith, since Thomas doubted that Jesus had been raised.” (Ibid)

JESUS OF THE BIBLE

 FULLY GOD

NOT A CREATED BEING AS THE WT TEACHES

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and THE WORD WAS GOD.” (John 1:1 KJV)

“Answered Thomas and he said to Him, The Lord of me and THE GOD OF ME.” (John 20:28, KIT)

“But unto the Son he saith, THY THRONE, O GOD, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8, KJV)

While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. (Titus 2:13, NIV)

RESURRECTION OF THE SAME BODY

NOT A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION AS THE WT TEACHES

“Therefore, My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18, NKJV)

“But they were terrified and frightened and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (Luke 24:37-39, NKJV)

“Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” (John 20:27, NKJV).

CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

NOT CREATED AS THE WT TEACHES

“ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3, KJV).

“FOR BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” (Col. 1:16, KJV)

SECOND COMING IS VISIBLE

NOT INVISIBLE AS THE WT TEACHES

“who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? THIS SAME JESUS, WHO WAS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, WILL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YOU SAW HIM GO INTO HEAVEN.(Acts 1:11, NKJV)

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7, NKJV).

___________________

*Thanks to gotquestions.org for this information. 

IS JESUS GOD?

My wife and I advertise on CL to share our Testimonies. An example: “I was a Jehovah’s Witness but now am a Christian! Request my Testimony.” Someone from *****, ** emailed back: “Always wanted to ask a Christian this: “Jesus never said the words, ’I am God!’” Where in the Bible is proof that he is God?” This video will explore the simple, yet profound and destiny determining question: IS JESUS GOD?

 

Jesus asked a similar question of is disciples in Matthew 16:13-17 (AMP): “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or [just] one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon, son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Here is OUR ANSWER!

 

Some who deny that Jesus is God make the claim that Jesus never said, “I am God.” It is correct that the Bible never records Jesus saying the precise words, “I am God.” This does not mean, however, that Jesus never claimed to be God.

 

Is Jesus God?

Jesus claimed to be God!

 

Take for example the words of Jesus in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” We need only to look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement to know He was claiming to be God. They tried to stone Him for this very reason: “You, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming—deity.

 

When Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one,” He was saying that He and the Father are of one nature and essence. John 8:58 is another example. Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth … before Abraham was born, I am!” This is a reference back to Exodus 3:14 when God revealed Himself as the “I AM.” The Jews who heard this statement responded by taking up stones to kill Him for blasphemy, as the Mosaic Law commanded in Leviticus 24:16.

Is Jesus God?

His Followers Declared Him 

to be God!

John reiterates the concept of Jesus’ deity: “The Word [Jesus] was God” and “the Word became flesh” (John 1:1, 14). These verses clearly indicate that Jesus is God in the flesh. Acts 20:28 tells us, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.” Who bought the church with His own blood? Jesus Christ. And this same verse declares that God purchased His church with His own blood. Therefore, Jesus is God.

 

Thomas the disciple declared concerning Jesus, “The Lord of me and the God of me” (KIT John 20:28). Jesus does not correct him. Titus 2:13 encourages us to wait for the coming of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (see also 2 Peter 1:1). In Hebrews 1:8, the Father declares of Jesus, “But about the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” The Father refers to Jesus as God, indicating that Jesus is indeed God.

 

In Revelation, an angel instructed the apostle John to only worship God (Revelation 19:10). Several times in Scripture Jesus receives worship (Matthew 2:11, 14:33, 28:9; 17 Luke 24:52; John 9:38). He never rebukes people for worshiping Him. If Jesus were not God, He would have told people to not worship Him, just as the angel in Revelation did.

 

Is Jesus God? 

The reason Jesus must be God!

The provision of salvation only works if Jesus is God.

 

The most important reason that Jesus must be God is that, if He is not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world (“And he is a propitiatory (atoning, appeasing, peacemaking) sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s.” NWT, 1 John 2:2).

 

A created being, which Jesus would be if He were not God, could not pay the infinite penalty required for sin against an infinite God. Only God could pay such an infinite penalty. Only God could take on the sins of the world, die, and be resurrected, proving His victory over sin and death. (“The one who did not know sin, he made to be sin for us, so that by means of him we might become God’s righteousness.” NWT, 2 Cor. 5:21)

Why Would God Become a Man??

The incarnation is difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand and you may be left wondering why God would humble Himself to become a man in the first place?

In the 4th century, a Christian named St. Athanasius set out to answer this question in his book, On the Incarnation. He said that there was a problem that only the incarnation could solve and called it the divine dilemma:

God created a perfect world and the crown of His creation was humanity, whom He created for fellowship with Himself. Humans had direct relationship with God and there was no sickness or disease. (Genesis 1 & 2.)

The first humans, Adam and Eve, were tricked by the devil and disobeyed God. From then on, mankind has continued to follow that pattern. Disobedience is called sin and sin creates a barrier between fallen humanity and a perfect God. Death and suffering entered the world as a result (Genesis 3).

In order to reconcile the debt of sin, a sacrifice or payment had to be made. Because mankind was imperfect and fallen, it was impossible for any man to make this payment. 

How could this payment be made then? How could man be reconciled to God? The only one holy enough to make the payment was God Himself. God couldn’t die as a sacrifice though, so He came as a man so that He could die on behalf of all mankind. The gospel (good news) that Jesus came to preach is that God had become a man and would sacrifice Himself in order to save us. As it says in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God becoming man was the only solution for humanity’s sin and separation from God. The incarnation stands as the ultimate example of how far God would go to restore His relationship with us. 

Answering Seven Objections to Jesus Being God

 

Cults and false religions often raise objections against both the deity of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity. In what follows, key objections will be briefly summarized and answered.

 

#1. Jesus Is the Son of God not God the Son.

Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that because Jesus is the Son of God, He must be a lesser God than God the Father. Among the ancients, however, an important meaning of Son of is “one who has the same nature as.” Jesus, as the Son of God, has the very nature of God (John 5:18, 10:30, 19:7). He is thus not a lesser God.

 

#2. The Father Is “Greater” Than Jesus.

Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that because Jesus said the Father is “greater” than Him (John 14:28), this must mean Jesus is a lesser God. Biblically, however, Jesus is equal with the Father in His divine nature (John 10:30). He was positionally lower than the Father from the standpoint of His becoming a servant by taking on human likeness (Phil.2:6-11). Positionally, then, the Father was “greater” than Jesus.

 

#3. Jesus Is the Firstborn.

Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that because Jesus is the “firstborn of creation” (Col. 1:15), he is a created being and hence cannot be truly God. Biblically, however, Christ was not created but is the Creator (Col. 1:16; John 1:3). The term firstborn, defined biblically, means Christ is “first in rank” and “preeminent” over the creation He brought into being.

 

#4. Jesus Is Not All-Knowing.

Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that because Jesus said no one knows the day or hour of His return except the Father (Mark 13:32), Jesus must not be all-knowing, and hence He must not be truly God. In response, Jesus in the Gospels sometimes spoke from the perspective of His divinity and at other times from the perspective of His humanity. In Mark 13:32, Jesus was speaking from the limited perspective of His humanity Phil. 2:5-11. Had he been speaking from His divinity, He would not have said He did not know the day or hour. Other verses show that Christ, as God, knows all things (Matt. 17:27; Luke 5:4-6; John 2:25, 16:30, 21:17.

#5. Jesus Prayed to the Father.

Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that because Jesus prayed to the Father, He could not truly be God. Biblically, however, it was in His humanity that Christ prayed to the Father. Since Christ came as a man—and since one of the proper duties of man is to worship, pray to, and adore God—it was perfectly proper for Jesus to address the Father in prayer. Positionally speaking as a man, as a Jew, and as our High Priest—“in all things He had to be made like His brethren” (Heb.2:17)—Jesus could pray to the Father. But this in no way detracts from His intrinsic deity.

 

#6. The Trinity Is Illogical.

Jehovah’s Witnesses claim the Trinity is illogical (“three in one”). In response, the Trinity may be beyond reason, but it is not against reason. The Trinity does not entail three gods in one God, or three persons in one person. Such claims would be nonsensical. There is nothing contradictory, however, in affirming three persons in one God (or three whos in one what)

.

#7. The Trinity Is Pagan.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have claimed the doctrine of the Trinity is rooted in ancient paganism in Babylon and Assyria. In response, the Babylonians and Assyrians believed in triads of gods who headed up a pantheon of many other gods. These triads constituted three separate gods (polytheism), which is utterly different from the doctrine of the Trinity that maintains that there is only one God (monotheism) with three persons within the one godhead.

 

CONCLUSION: JESUS IS GOD

 

Jesus declared Himself to be God. His followers believed Him to be God. The provision of salvation only works if Jesus is God. Jesus is God incarnate, the eternal Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8, 22:13) and God our Savior (2 Peter 1:1).

 

The Pharisees were angered because Jesus claimed to be God. If you claim Jesus is not God what makes you different from the Pharisees? Jehovah’s Witnesses, separated from Jesus by 2,023 years and 5,600 miles declare that the Pharisees, face-to-face with Jesus, got it wrong. DID THEY?

 

John 10:33  “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”  (NIV)

 

John 5:18 “For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God..“ (NIV)

 

1 John 5:20 “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.“ (NIV)

 

Thanks to GotQuestions.com for the information in this video.

 

WT Test to Determine Translation Accuracy that The WT Ignores!

JW.ORG's Online Bible Study Lesson 2.2 "Who are the Angels?"

I decided to take the WT up on their offer at JW.ORG and go through their short lessons to “Learn what the Bible teaches.” WT speak is in RED, my comments are in BLACK, anything else is in BLUE. I logged in to JW.ORG, and under "Online Bible Study Lessons" I clicked on "Get Started" or it may say "Pick a Lesson Now," OR for Bible Study Lesson 2.2 simply click here.

Before you begin reading, I strongly suggest you have, at the ready, the WT’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures. You can download a free PDF copy here.

In Lesson 2.2 the WT is giving a quick overview of Angels and I have no major problem with this Lesson. I would like to make two points concerning Lesson 2.2. (1) The WT states that Angels have communicated with them concerning doctrine, and what is published in their books and magazines. Go here and here for more information on this subject. (2) As you may have noticed, not everything the WT publishes is wrong. However, on major doctrine, doctrine  that must be correct for the believer to be on the narrow path to heaven the WT is WRONG. Their doctrine, if believed on several major points, will forever damn the believer to hell. See my blog, "Why the WT is not Christian" here.

A great technique to get someone to buy a lie is to place the lie after or in the middle of a bunch of truths. As a person reads statement after statement which are true, they are less likely to think a certain statement is false especially if the statement concerns something which they have not formed an opinion on. For example, years ago I was reading the WT book, The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life. I was sailing through the pages, true statement after true statement when this statement occurred, “Jesus, God’s first and greatest creation.” The book then went on to more true statements. A Biblically ignorant person may have accepted the BIG LIE about Jesus because it was inserted in-between many true statements. Thus, one needs to be ever vigilant to the WT slipping in the BIG LIE with a number of truths.

All WT beliefs and practices are not anti-Bible or anti-Christian. However, the BIG LIE above about Jesus being created is lie enough that you are believing in a false Christ and on the wide road to destruction. If everything the WT believes and practices is in contradiction to the Bible, how many would be ensnared by its lies? Even the devil masquerades as an angel of light.

The next Lesson 2.3 is here.

JW.ORG's Online Bible Study Lesson 2.1 "Who is Jesus? Want More on the Subject?"

At this point I have just finished Lesson 2.1 Who is Jesus? The slide states:

You’ve finished the lesson!

Want more on this subject? If so, check out the links below. I decided to take the WT up on their offer and check out "Is Jesus Almighty God" and "After Jesus' Resurrection was his body flesh or spirit?" I will give a short, Biblical view of each followed by a link, that will go into the subject in more depth.

Is Jesus Almighty God. 

The WT’s trump card when discussing this topic is “Jesus is Mighty - Jehovah is Almighty.” A careful reading of Revelation will prove that Jesus is Almighty God. 

Revelation states that The Alpha and the Omega is “coming quickly” but it is the Lord Jesus who is “coming quickly.” 

The Alpha and the Omega is also described as The Beginning and The End who is coming quickly. Again, it is the Lord Jesus who is coming quickly.

The Alpha and The Omega is also described as "the First and the Last.” The First and the Last was dead and now lives forever. Does this describe Jehovah or is it the Lord Jesus who was dead but now lives forever?

Lastly, Jesus is called a Mighty God in Isaiah 9:6, “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; And the princely rule will  come to be upon His shoulder; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Note that Jehovah is also called Mighty God at Isaiah 10:21 and Jeremiah 32:18. And remember  Isaiah 42:8, “I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.”

I have blogged about this in more depth here and here.

After Jesus' Resurrection was his body flesh or spirit

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in history, providing irrefutable evidence that Jesus is who He claimed to be – the Son of God. The resurrection was not only the supreme validation of His deity; it also validated the Scriptures, which foretold His coming and resurrection. Moreover, it authenticated Christ’s claims that He would be raised on the third day (John 2:19-21; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). If Christ’s body was not resurrected, we have no hope that ours will be (1 Cor. 15:13,16).

Resurrection means “a rising from the dead”; something comes back to life. Understand that all souls are immortal and at death immediately go to be the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Thus, a “spiritual” resurrection would make no sense, as the spirit doesn’t die and therefore cannot be resurrected. Additionally, they were aware that the Scriptures, as well as Christ Himself, stated that His body would rise again on the third day. Scripture also made it clear that Christ’s body would see no decay (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27), a charge that would make no sense if His body was not resurrected. Lastly, Christ emphatically told His disciples it was His body that was resurrected: “A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have”(Luke 24:39). Thanks to GotQuestions.org here.

The next Lesson 2.2 is here.

Between the Lines (A Story). Daniel 5

I decided to take a slight vacation from writing about the JW's and write a story based on the Bible. Many stories in the Bible are written in just a few words with the details left to our imagination. I have taken one such story and filled in the details which may or may not have taken place. Why "Between the Lines"? Because what I add to Holy Scripture can only be found in the "white space" of your Bible--"Between the Lines."

My name is Zuriel and my story begins and ends with one night when I had just turned ten. Even though it was my birthday it would be a day of hard toil and in the end--MY SALVATION.
 
My grandparents had been taken prisoners by Nebuchadnezzar in the Babylonian Captivity and I was born in the great city Babylon some 60 years later. I was orphaned at eight and immediately I was put to work in the King’s service. By this time Nebuchadnezzar, was no longer king but his son Belshazzar was ruler.
 
On this night of nights I was to be sure that the waterpots did not run low. They were used to fill washbasins for the arriving guests. Some 1,000 nobles were expected to take part in this feast in the Great Hall while another 1,000 were expected in the Queen’s Hall. The Queen’s Hall was to entertain high military officers along with the elite palace and city guards. With 2,000 guests, their requirement for water would keep me busy for most of the night. It struck me as bizarre that this feast was taking place when the Medo-Persian army was laying siege to Babylon. But the king had supreme confidence in the city’s defenses and to show that confidence to all the nobles this feast was being held.
 
Keeping the waterpots full was something I was called upon to do many times. I was very efficient at the job and could accomplish the task all the while daydreaming about my homeland and its great city, Jerusalem. I had at my disposal a small donkey I called Shazz, but not within earshot of a Babylonian. I would load Shazz with four large waterpots and then make the short walk from the palace to the River Euphrates. There was a walkway next to the river and at one spot steps leading down to the water. After a few trips with buckets, the waterpots were full and I would return to the palace.
 
One this night, the feasting had just begun when I needed to make my first water run. I loaded Shazz, walked quickly to the Euphrates, then to the walkway and down the steps. But there was something amiss. Normally at this time of the year the river was high and it only took four steps to reach the water. But tonight it took eight steps and only during the dry season would it take eight steps. Whatever it takes, it takes and palace officials were not ones to accept excuses for not accomplishing a task. Once the waterpots were full, I hurried back to the palace. The extra steps had greatly increased the time it took to fill the pots not to mention the extra energy required of me to haul the water up to Shazz.
 
No sooner had I delivered the full pots when I was called upon to make another trip to the Euphrates. I was not looking forward to the eight down and eight up but upon arriving at the river something made me shake my head in disbelief. It was no longer eight steps down but sixteen. I had never seen the river this low, even during the worst dry season. But it is what it is and I filled the pots.
 
When I neared the Great Hall, I was amazed at how quiet it was inside. With 1,000 guests it should have been so raucous you would need to shout to be heard by the person next to you. I only heard the palace this quiet when the king was sleeping or going on a royal rampage. My interest was piqued so I peeked inside. What I saw I will not soon forget. There was a hand, just a hand and the fingers were writing on the plaster of the wall and this is what was written: MENĒ, MENĒ, TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.
 
No one in the hall knew the meaning of the handwriting. However, the queen entered and stated that Daniel, one of my countrymen, could interpret this writing. Daniel was summoned by the king. I wanted to see how this would play out but I heard the call, “Zuriel, more water.”
 
I grabbed Shazz and headed to the Euphrates. Maybe, if I really hurried, I could be back before Daniel made his entrance.
 
As I started on my way, I thought about Daniel and the influence he had had on my life. I had heard the story of how King Nebuchadnezzar appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans and diviners. This was because God had given Daniel extraordinary knowledge and insight, the ability to interpret dreams, explain enigmas and solve difficult problems. But I knew him because He had introduced me to the God of Israel. When I was eight years old and just beginning my service to the king, I had seen Daniel at various times during the day kneeling, praying and giving thanks to his God. At an opportune time I asked Daniel about this and over several months he had told me the story of his people and mine, from Adam to the present time.
 
Once to the river I was astonished. The river was mysteriously dry. What could have caused the mighty Euphrates to suddenly stop flowing? I jumped on Shazz and headed to the spot near the Lugalgirra Gate where the river enters the city. I am not sure what I would see but I needed to look.
 
Once to the Gate I was startled at what was before me. There, using the river bed as a highway, was the Medo-Persian army. They couldn’t breach the walls but they had dammed the river and would soon be marching under those same walls and into the city.
 
The guards were in the Queen’s Palace celebrating. I was alone on top of the wall but could I sound the alarm? The alarm was a large bell, taller than me and just as wide. From the ceiling two ropes hung down holding a large log which had several handles. Two men would grasp the handles, swing the log away then toward the bell. The sound it made could be heard across the entire city. But it took two men to swing the log and I was but a 10 year old boy.
 
What could I do? Then I remembered Shazz. I could tie a log handle to Shazz, have him back up then run at the bell. That should sound the alarm and just maybe save the city. With the log tied to Shazz and backed up I took him by the reins then ran forward shouting, “Shazz onward.” But when he got near the bell he abruptly stopped. I thought my arm would separate at the shoulder. Again I backed him up and again urged him forward and again he stopped just short of the bell. In a panic, I grabbed a nearby stick. I didn’t want to whip Shazz but the city was in danger and only Shazz could sound the alarm loud enough to alert the guards in the Queen’s Hall.
 
As I raised the stick, Shazz looked at me, shook his head as if to say don’t do it—and then he inexplicably spoke. “Remember the writing on the wall.” What! A donkey can’t talk, what was wrong with me. The seriousness of the situation must have affected me in some irrational way. I raised the stick again and again Shazz shook his head and again he said, “Remember the writing on the wall.” Now totally exasperated, I shouted out, “I remember the writing on the wall but I don’t know its interpretation. Only Daniel knows that and what does that have to do with this.”
 
“Wrong,” replied Shazz. “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob not only knows the interpretation, He caused the words to be written.” “But,” I said, “why can’t you help me save the city?”
 
Shazz responded, “Because of the writing on the wall. This is what it means. God has numbered Belshazzer’s kingdom and put an end to it. Belshazzer has been weighed on the scales and found deficient. His kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” I waggled my head in disbelief. Shazz continued, “the army you see marching under the city’s walls is God’s judgment against Belshazzer and you cannot stop that which was decreed from the beginning. Climb on, I am to take you safely out of the city.”
 
I instantly leapt on Shazz and he went straight to Processional Way, past the Temple of Ninmach, past the Temple of Istar and out the Marduk gate. As we left Babylon behind, I could hear the sounds of a city being conquered. My thoughts turned to Daniel. Would he survive? And if he did, would he be of service to the next king?
 

The First Between the Lines Story--From John 8 here.