***rechap.2 The Grand Theme of the Bible *** Week 3 starting January 22nd 2007
How Enmity Developed
15 Satan’s human seed began to be manifested very early in mankind’s history. For example, there was Cain, the first human born, "who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother" Abel. (1 John 3:12) Later, Enoch spoke of Jehovah’s coming "with his holy myriads, to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him." (Jude 14, 15) Moreover, rebellious angels joined Satan and became part of his seed. These "forsook their own proper dwelling place" in the heavens in order to materialize fleshly bodies and marry the daughters of men. They produced a superhuman hybrid offspring of bullies. That world became filled with violence and badness, so that God destroyed it in the Deluge, faithful Noah and his family being the only human flesh to survive. The disobedient angels—now demons under Satan’s control—were forced to abandon their doomed human wives and hybrid children. They dematerialized, returning to the spirit realm where they await God’s fast-approaching execution of judgment on Satan and his seed.—Jude 6; Genesis 6:4-12; 7:21-23; 2 Peter 2:4, 5.
QUESTION 15. (a) Describe the development of Satan’s human and angelic seed. (b) What happened to Satan’s seed during the Deluge of Noah’s day?
16 Shortly after the great Deluge, a tyrant named Nimrod appeared on earth. The Bible describes him as "a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah"—truly part of the Serpent’s seed. Like Satan, he showed a spirit of rebellion and built the city of Babel, or Babylon, in defiance of Jehovah’s purpose to have mankind spread out to fill the earth. Babylon’s centerpiece was to have been a great tower "with its top in the heavens." God thwarted the would-be builders of that tower. He confused their language and "scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth" but allowed Babylon itself to remain.—Genesis 9:1; 10:8-12; 11:1-9.
QUESTION 16. (a) What tyrant appeared on the scene after the Deluge, and how did he show he was part of Satan’s seed? (b) How did God thwart the would-be builders of Babylon’s tower?
Political Powers Appear
17 In Babylon there appeared features of human society that developed in defiance of Jehovah’s sovereignty. One of these was political. As mankind multiplied, other ambitious humans followed Nimrod’s example in seizing power. Man began to dominate man to his injury. (Ecclesiastes 8:9) During the days of Abraham, for instance, Sodom, Gomorrah, and nearby cities fell under the control of kings from Shinar and other far-distant lands. (Genesis 14:1-4) Eventually, military and organizational geniuses carved out huge empires for their own enrichment and glory. The Bible refers to some of these, including Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.
QUESTION 17. As mankind multiplied, what corrupt feature of human society came to the fore, and as a result, what huge empires arose?
18 Jehovah tolerated the existence of those political powers, and his people rendered relative obedience to them when they lived in lands under their control. (Romans 13:1, 2) Sometimes, political authorities even served for the furtherance of God’s purposes or as a protection for his people. (Ezra 1:1-4; 7:12-26; Acts 25:11, 12; Revelation 12:15, 16) Nevertheless, many political rulers have viciously opposed true worship, showing themselves to be part of the seed of the Serpent.—1 John 5:19.
QUESTION 18. (a) What attitude do God’s people take toward the political rulers? (b) How have political authorities sometimes served God’s interests? (c) How have many rulers shown themselves to be part of the Serpent’s seed?
19 For the most part, man-rule has failed miserably to bring happiness to us humans or to solve our problems. Jehovah has permitted mankind to experiment with every form of government, but he does not approve of corruption or the way governments have misruled the people. (Proverbs 22:22, 23) Revelation portrays oppressive world powers as making up a proud and monstrous wild beast.—Revelation 13:1, 2.
QUESTION 19. How are world powers portrayed in the book of Revelation?
Selfish Commercial Traffickers
20 Closely allied to political leaders, there came into view dishonest traffickers in material goods. Records unearthed in the ruins of ancient Babylon show that business transactions exploiting the unfortunate circumstances of fellow humans were very much in vogue back there. The world’s merchants have continued to work for selfish profit down to this present day, when in many lands a few have become very rich while the majority of the population languishes in poverty. In this 20th-century industrial age, the merchants and manufacturers have made great gain by supplying the political powers with stockpiles of devilish military weapons of destruction, including the nuclear arsenals that now threaten mankind with annihilation. Such greedy business magnates and others of their kind must be included with the "military commanders" and "strong men" as belonging to Satan’s wicked seed. They are all part of the earthly organization that God and Christ judge as deserving of execution.—Revelation 19:18.
21 To corrupt politics and greedy commercialism there must be added a third element of human society that merits God’s adverse judgment. What is that? You may be surprised by what Revelation says about this well-known global structure.
QUESTION 20, 21. What second group must be included with the "military commanders" and "strong men" as belonging to Satan’s wicked seed, and why?
[Box/Pictureonpage13]
Ancient cuneiform records of business transactions
The book AncientNearEasternTexts, edited by James B. Pritchard, lists almost 300 laws compiled by Hammurabi in Babylonian times. These show that it was necessary to proscribe the blatant dishonesty that apparently pervaded the commercial world in those days. To take one example: "If a seignior has purchased or he received for safe-keeping either silver or gold or a male slave or a female slave or an ox or a sheep or an ass or any sort of thing from the hand of a seignior’s son or a seignior’s slave without witnesses and contracts, since that seignior is a thief, he shall be put to death."
Babylon the Great
22 The building of the original Babylon was more than a political enterprise. Since that city was established in defiance of Jehovah’s sovereignty, religion was involved. Indeed, ancient Babylon became a fountain of religious idolatry. Its priests taught God-dishonoring doctrines, such as the survival of a human soul after death and that the hereafter is a place of eternal horror and torment presided over by demons. They fostered the worship of creatures and of a multitude of gods and goddesses. They fabricated myths to explain the origin of the earth and man upon it and performed degrading rituals and sacrifices, supposedly to ensure fertility in childbearing and crop raising, and victory in war.
22. What kind of religion developed in ancient Babylon?
23 As the various language groups from Babylon spread out over the earth, they took Babylonish religion with them. Thus, rites and beliefs similar to those of ancient Babylon flourished among the original inhabitants of Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Far East, and the South Seas; and many of these beliefs persist to this day. Appropriately, then, Revelation refers to the world-embracing empire of false religion as a city named Babylon the Great. (Revelation, chapters 17, 18) Wherever it has been sown, false religion has sprouted oppressive priesthoods, superstition, ignorance, and immorality. It has been a powerful tool in Satan’s hand. Babylon the Great has always fought fiercely against the true worship of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.
QUESTION 23. (a) In spreading out from Babylon, what did the people take with them, and with what result? (b) By what name does Revelation refer to a world-embracing empire of false religion? (c) Against what has false religion always fought?
24 As a most reprehensible part of the seed of the Serpent, the scribes and the Pharisees in first-century Judaism took the lead in persecuting and finally murdering the primary representative of the seed of the woman. Thus, the Serpent was able to "bruise him [the "seed"] in the heel." (Genesis 3:15; John 8:39-44; Acts 3:12, 15) Why is this described as only a heel wound? It is because this wounding touched him only briefly here on earth. It was not permanent because Jehovah resurrected Jesus on the third day and exalted him to spirit life.—Acts 2:32, 33; 1 Peter 3:18.
QUESTION 24. (a) How was the Serpent able to bruise the Seed of the woman "in the heel"? (b) Why is the bruising of the woman’s seed described as only a heel wound?
25 The glorified Jesus Christ now serves at God’s right hand, judging Jehovah’s enemies. He has already taken action against Satan and his angels, hurling them down and confining their activity to this earth—which accounts for the multiplying of woes in this 20th century. (Revelation 12:9, 12) But there will be the foretold removal of Satan’s earthly seed when God executes judgment on Babylon the Great and all other segments of Satan’s organization on earth. Finally, the Seed of God’s woman, Jesus Christ, will bruise Satan, that wily old Serpent, "in the head," and that will mean his complete annihilation and his total removal from the affairs of mankind.—Romans 16:20.
QUESTION 25. (a) How has the glorified Jesus already taken action against Satan and his angels? (b) When will there be a removal of Satan’s earthly seed? (c) What will it mean when the Seed of God’s woman bruises Satan, the Serpent, "in the head"?
26 How will all of this come about? That is what is unveiled for us in the Bible book of Revelation. It is revealed to us in a series of visions, highlighted by striking signs and symbols. Eagerly, let us examine this powerful prophecy. Happy, indeed, are we if we hear and observe the words of Revelation! By so doing, we will share in bringing honor to the name of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah and inherit his eternal blessings. Please read on and wisely apply what you learn. It can mean your salvation at this time of climax in mankind’s history.
QUESTION 26. Why is it most important that we examine the prophecy in Revelation?
[StudyQuestions]
15. (a) Describe the development of Satan’s human and angelic seed. (b) What happened to Satan’s seed during the Deluge of Noah’s day?
16. (a) What tyrant appeared on the scene after the Deluge, and how did he show he was part of Satan’s seed? (b) How did God thwart the would-be builders of Babylon’s tower?
17. As mankind multiplied, what corrupt feature of human society came to the fore, and as a result, what huge empires arose?
18. (a) What attitude do God’s people take toward the political rulers? (b) How have political authorities sometimes served God’s interests? (c) How have many rulers shown themselves to be part of the Serpent’s seed?
19. How are world powers portrayed in the book of Revelation?
20, 21. What second group must be included with the "military commanders" and "strong men" as belonging to Satan’s wicked seed, and why?
22. What kind of religion developed in ancient Babylon?
23. (a) In spreading out from Babylon, what did the people take with them, and with what result? (b) By what name does Revelation refer to a world-embracing empire of false religion? (c) Against what has false religion always fought?
24. (a) How was the Serpent able to bruise the Seed of the woman "in the heel"? (b) Why is the bruising of the woman’s seed described as only a heel wound?
25. (a) How has the glorified Jesus already taken action against Satan and his angels? (b) When will there be a removal of Satan’s earthly seed? (c) What will it mean when the Seed of God’s woman bruises Satan, the Serpent, "in the head"?
26. Why is it most important that we examine the prophecy in Revelation?
Revelation Book Study Week 3
by stillajwexelder 20 Replies latest watchtower bible
-
stillajwexelder
-
stillajwexelder
bttt
-
2050
Thanks a lot for that. That was a good explanation. I am looking forward to when Satan gets a fatal bruse on his head.
-
fokyc
WALOB
-
Nosferatu
15. (a) Describe the development of Satan’s human and angelic seed.
http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~bi107vc/images/cell/sperm+egg.JPG(b) What happened to Satan’s seed during the Deluge of Noah’s day?
He masturbated and ejaculated so much, that he flooded the entire earth.16. (a) What tyrant appeared on the scene after the Deluge, and how did he show he was part of Satan’s seed?
That would be Fred. He just wasn't a nice guy.(b) How did God thwart the would-be builders of Babylon’s tower?
He invented religion. The Mormons argued with the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Catholics argued with the Anglicans. Thus, they couldn't decide whether hang Jesus on a cross, Jesus on a stake, or no Jesus at all.17. As mankind multiplied, what corrupt feature of human society came to the fore, and as a result, what huge empires arose?
Computers were needed to speed things up, therefore Microsoft was created.18. (a) What attitude do God’s people take toward the political rulers?
Whatever attitude they want.(b) How have political authorities sometimes served God’s interests?
Since when has been God interested in anything humans do?(c) How have many rulers shown themselves to be part of the Serpent’s seed?
Lots19. How are world powers portrayed in the book of Revelation?
They are portrayed as a bad acid trip.20, 21. What second group must be included with the "military commanders" and "strong men" as belonging to Satan’s wicked seed, and why?
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band22. What kind of religion developed in ancient Babylon?
The annoying kind23. (a) In spreading out from Babylon, what did the people take with them, and with what result?
People took their cows, horses, and their children. They started the Agricultural movement.(b) By what name does Revelation refer to a world-embracing empire of false religion?
Stoned Hippy Nutballs(c) Against what has false religion always fought?
The Jehovah's Witnesses. Duh...24. (a) How was the Serpent able to bruise the Seed of the woman "in the heel"? (b) He kicked her in the stomach while she was pregnant with a 20 week old fetus. He got the fetus in the heel.
Why is the bruising of the woman’s seed described as only a heel wound?
Because that's what it is, stupid!25. (a) How has the glorified Jesus already taken action against Satan and his angels?
He's been sitting on his ass since 1914.(b) When will there be a removal of Satan’s earthly seed?
Never.(c) What will it mean when the Seed of God’s woman bruises Satan, the Serpent, "in the head"?
He will use a club just like in the caveman days.26. Why is it most important that we examine the prophecy in Revelation?
Because if we don't, then we recieve flak from the Elders -
stillajwexelder
Excellent Nosferatu, excellent
-
stillajwexelder
20 Closely allied to political leaders, there came into view dishonest traffickers in material goods. Records unearthed in the ruins of ancient Babylon show that business transactions exploiting the unfortunate circumstances of fellow humans were very much in vogue back there. The world’s merchants have continued to work for selfish profit down to this present day, when in many lands a few have become very rich while the majority of the population languishes in poverty. In this
20th-centuryindustrial age, the merchants and manufacturers have made great gain by supplying the political powers with stockpiles of devilish military weapons of destruction, including thenuclear arsenals that now threaten mankind with annihilationweapons of mass destruction that are now a great cause for concern. Such greedy business magnates and others of their kind must be included with the "military commanders" and "strong men" as belonging to Satan’s wicked seed. They are all part of the earthly organization that God and Christ judge as deserving of execution.—Revelation 19:18.Nice to know they use the overused term "Weapons of Mass Destruction. This caused a smile in our bookstudy tonight.
-
Fleshybirdfodder
Wherever it has been sown, false religion has sprouted oppressive priesthoods, superstition, ignorance, and immorality
Sounds vaguely familiar. Oh yes... I recall... I grew up in said religion.
FBF
-
blondie
***rechap.2 The Grand Theme of the Bible *** Week 3 starting January 22nd 2007
How Enmity Developed
15 Satan’s human seed began to be manifested very early in mankind’s history. For example, there was Cain, the first human born, "who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother" Abel. (1 John 3:12) Later, Enoch spoke of Jehovah’s coming "with his holy myriads, to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him." (Jude 14, 15) Moreover, rebellious angels joined Satan and became part of his seed. These "forsook their own proper dwelling place" in the heavens in order to materialize fleshly bodies and marry the daughters of men. They produced a superhuman hybrid offspring of bullies. That world became filled with violence and badness, so that God destroyed it in the Deluge, faithful Noah and his family being the only human flesh to survive. The disobedient angels—now demons under Satan’s control—were forced to abandon their doomed human wives and hybrid children. They dematerialized, returning to the spirit realm where they await God’s fast-approaching execution of judgment on Satan and his seed.—Jude 6; Genesis 6:4-12; 7:21-23; 2 Peter 2:4, 5.I wonder how many JWs know that for years the WTS taught that the Nephilim were the wicked angels, not their offspring.
Why did the "wicked" angels bother to marry human women?
2370 BCE (WTS date of the flood) 2370 + 2007 = 4377 years--FAST APPROACHING?????
QUESTION 15. (a) Describe the development of Satan’s human and angelic seed. (b) What happened to Satan’s seed during the Deluge of Noah’s day?
16 Shortly after the great Deluge, atyrant named Nimrod appeared on earth. The Bible describes him as "a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah"—truly part of the Serpent’s seed. Like Satan, he showed a spirit of rebellion and built the city of Babel, or Babylon, in defiance of Jehovah’s purpose to have mankind spread out to fill the earth. Babylon’s centerpiece was to have been a great tower "with its top in the heavens." God thwarted the would-be builders of that tower. He confused their language and "scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth" but allowed Babylon itself to remain.—Genesis 9:1; 10:8-12; 11:1-9.Nimrod was the great-grandson of Noah and Noah was still on the earth. Why didn't Noah go have a talk with him?
QUESTION 16. (a) What tyrant appeared on the scene after the Deluge, and how did he show he was part of Satan’s seed? (b) How did God thwart the would-be builders of Babylon’s tower?
Political Powers Appear
17 In Babylon there appeared features of human society that developed in defiance of Jehovah’s sovereignty. One of these was political. As mankind multiplied, other ambitious humans followed Nimrod’s example in seizing power. Man began to dominate man to his injury. (Ecclesiastes 8:9) During the days of Abraham, for instance, Sodom, Gomorrah, and nearby cities fell under the control of kings from Shinar and other far-distant lands. (Genesis 14:1-4) Eventually, military and organizational geniuses carved out huge empires for their own enrichment and glory. The Bible refers to some of these, including Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.Other humans seized power--like Rutherford in 1917?
QUESTION 17. As mankind multiplied, what corrupt feature of human society came to the fore, and as a result, what huge empires arose?
18 Jehovah tolerated the existence of those political powers, and his people rendered relative obedience to them when they lived in lands under their control. (Romans 13:1, 2) Sometimes, political authorities even served for the furtherance of God’s purposes or as a protection for his people. (Ezra 1:1-4; 7:12-26; Acts 25:11, 12; Revelation 12:15, 16) Nevertheless, many political rulers have viciously opposed true worship, showing themselves to be part of the seed of the Serpent.—1 John 5:19.I wonder how many JWs know that from 1929 to 1962, the WTS taught that God and Jesus were the "superior authorities" not secular governments.
I wonder how many governments know that the WTS teaches that the are the Devil's seed? Should JWs preach that from door to door?
QUESTION 18. (a) What attitude do God’s people take toward the political rulers? (b) How have political authorities sometimes served God’s interests? (c) How have many rulers shown themselves to be part of the Serpent’s seed?
19 For the most part, man-rule has failed miserably to bring happiness to us humans or to solve our problems. Jehovah has permitted mankind to experiment with every form of government, but he does not approve of corruption or the way governments have misruled the people. (Proverbs 22:22, 23) Revelation portrays oppressive world powers as making up a proud and monstrous wild beast.—Revelation 13:1, 2."For the most part" = except God's earthly nation, Israel, when the "obeyed" God.
Governments = monstrous beastQUESTION 19. How are world powers portrayed in the book of Revelation?
Selfish Commercial Traffickers
20 Closely allied to political leaders, there came into view dishonest traffickers in material goods. Records unearthed in the ruins of ancient Babylon show that business transactions exploiting the unfortunate circumstances of fellow humans were very much in vogue back there. The world’s merchants have continued to work for selfish profit down to this present day, when in many lands a few have become very rich while the majority of the population languishes in poverty. In this 20th-century industrial age, the merchants and manufacturers have made great gain by supplying the political powers with stockpiles of devilish military weapons of destruction, including the nuclear arsenals that now threaten mankind with annihilation. Such greedy business magnates and others of their kind must be included with the "military commanders" and "strong men" as belonging to Satan’s wicked seed. They are all part of the earthly organization that God and Christ judge as deserving of execution.—Revelation 19:18.The WTS, especially under Rutherford, had a trinity they emphasized: religious leaders, political leaders, commercial leaders.
All part of "Satan's wicked seed" and deserving of destruction: Now wouldn't that be a message to preach from d2d.
And what has the WTS done to help those that languish in poverty, offer them a tract?
21 To corrupt politics and greedy commercialism there must be added a third element of human society that merits God’s adverse judgment. What is that? You may be surprised by what Revelation says about this well-known global structure.
QUESTION 20, 21. What second group must be included with the "military commanders" and "strong men" as belonging to Satan’s wicked seed, and why?
[Box/Pictureonpage13]
Ancient cuneiform records of business transactions
The book AncientNearEasternTexts, edited by James B. Pritchard, lists almost 300 laws compiled by Hammurabi in Babylonian times. These show that it was necessary to proscribe the blatant dishonesty that apparently pervaded the commercial world in those days. To take one example: "If a seignior has purchased or he received for safe-keeping either silver or gold or a male slave or a female slave or an ox or a sheep or an ass or any sort of thing from the hand of a seignior’s son or a seignior’s slave without witnesses and contracts, since that seignior is a thief, he shall be put to death."
Babylon the Great
22 The building of the original Babylon was more than a political enterprise. Since that city was established in defiance of Jehovah’s sovereignty, religion was involved. Indeed, ancient Babylon became a fountain of religious idolatry. Its priests taught God-dishonoring doctrines, such as the survival of a human soul after death and that the hereafter is a place of eternal horror and torment presided over by demons. They fostered the worship of creatures and of a multitude of gods and goddesses. They fabricated myths to explain the origin of the earth and man upon it and performed degrading rituals and sacrifices, supposedly to ensure fertility in childbearing and crop raising, and victory in war.Is saying that everyone but JWs will die forever at Armageddon including babies and children much different than hellfire? Also saying that that a personal witness for each individual is not necessary?
22. What kind of religion developed in ancient Babylon?
23 As the various language groups from Babylon spread out over the earth, they took Babylonish religion with them. Thus, rites and beliefs similar to those of ancient Babylon flourished among the original inhabitants of Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Far East, and the South Seas; and many of these beliefs persist to this day. Appropriately, then, Revelation refers to the world-embracing empire of false religion as a city named Babylon the Great. (Revelation, chapters 17, 18) Wherever it has been sown, false religion has sprouted oppressive priesthoods, superstition, ignorance, and immorality. It has been a powerful tool in Satan’s hand. Babylon the Great has always fought fiercely against the true worship of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.For a long time, the WTS taught that BTG was the Roman papacy.
QUESTION 23. (a) In spreading out from Babylon, what did the people take with them, and with what result? (b) By what name does Revelation refer to a world-embracing empire of false religion? (c) Against what has false religion always fought?
24 As a most reprehensible part of the seed of the Serpent, the scribes andthe Pharisees in first-century Judaism took the lead in persecuting and finally murdering the primary representative of the seed of the woman. Thus, the Serpent was able to "bruise him [the "seed"] in the heel." (Genesis 3:15; John 8:39-44; Acts 3:12, 15) Why is this described as only a heel wound? It is because this wounding touched him only briefly here on earth. It was not permanent because Jehovah resurrected Jesus on the third day and exalted him to spirit life.—Acts 2:32, 33; 1 Peter 3:18.The Pharisees taught that their "rules" were more important than the scriptures...just like the WTS today does. If Jesus came to earth today, would the WTS DF him?
QUESTION 24. (a) How was the Serpent able to bruise the Seed of the woman "in the heel"? (b) Why is the bruising of the woman’s seed described as only a heel wound?
25 The glorified Jesus Christ now serves at God’s right hand, judging Jehovah’s enemies. He has already taken action against Satan and his angels, hurling them down and confining their activity to this earth—which accounts for the multiplying of woes in this 20th century. (Revelation 12:9, 12) But there will be the foretold removal of Satan’s earthly seed when God executes judgment on Babylon the Great and all other segments of Satan’s organization on earth. Finally, the Seed of God’s woman, Jesus Christ, will bruise Satan, that wily old Serpent, "in the head," and that will mean his complete annihilation and his total removal from the affairs of mankind.—Romans 16:20.20th century?
Do JWs and the people they preach to know that JWs are eagerly praying for the death of 6.5 billion people?
QUESTION 25. (a) How has the glorified Jesus already taken action against Satan and his angels? (b) When will there be a removal of Satan’s earthly seed? (c) What will it mean when the Seed of God’s woman bruises Satan, the Serpent, "in the head"?
26 How will all of this come about? That is what is unveiled for us in the Bible book of Revelation. It is revealed to us in a series of visions, highlighted by striking signs and symbols. Eagerly, let us examine this powerful prophecy. Happy, indeed, are we if we hear and observe the words of Revelation! By so doing, we will share in bringing honor to the name of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah and inherit his eternal blessings. Please read on and wisely apply what you learn. It can mean your salvation at this time of climax in mankind’s history.Happy, happy, joy, joy!
eternal blessings--your salvation--what about the salvation of the 6.5 billion slated for eternal destruction including babies?
QUESTION 26. Why is it most important that we examine the prophecy in Revelation?
-
stillajwexelder
SPOT ON - BLONDIE!
