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Q1) Why does death seem certain?
1) In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." That comment, penned in 1789 by American statesman Benjamin Franklin, has struck some as clever. However, many dishonest people cheat on their taxes. Death seems far more certain. On our own, none of us can avoid it in the long run. It pursues us all. With an insatiable hunger, Sheol--the common grave of mankind--devours people dear to us. (Proverbs 27:20) But consider a comforting thought.
In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." That comment, penned in 1789 by American statesman Benjamin Franklin, has struck some as clever. However, many dishonest people cheat on their taxes.
The WTS would know since they don't pay taxes or feel they shouldn't based on laws for 'false religions.' Does that mean the WTS feels they are a religion? Until the early 1950's, the WTS taught that all religion was false and they were not a religion. This was a result of the "clarifying" information from the recently released first section of the NWT.
w51 3/15 p. 191 Questions From Readers In the past we regarded “religion” as anything that was against God’s will. Now many brothers are using the expressions “true religion” and “false religion” to make a distinction. Is this advisable?—D. D., California.
The brothers are correct in using the qualifying adjectives “true” and “false” respecting religion, so as not to be misunderstood, especially by those outside the organization. In the past we have had to do so much needless explanation and extricating of ourselves from embarrassing positions by not being specific on this. The footnotes of the New World Translation show the early use by Latin-speaking Christians of the term religio as the equivalent of the Greek term thres·kei'a. It simply means “form of worship”, of which there can be a true and a false kind. Study over the footnotes in the New World Translation on the texts at Acts 26:5, Colossians 2:18 and James 1:26, 27, and see how the footnote renderings allow for the use of the term “religion” or “religious”, though the texts themselves use the expressions “form of worship” or “formal worshiper”. Hence it is well to make clear our use of the term “religion” by qualifying it as “true” or “false”, if the context or setting does not do this sufficiently.
w51 8/15 p. 511 Questions From Readers Why has the Watchtower Society suddenly approved the use of the word “religion” relative to the worship of Jehovah’s witnesses?—P. L., New York.
We are not trying to make a new language, but we want to use the language we have to the honor of God’s name, and do so with as little confusion as possible in Kingdom preaching. In the English language the word “religion” means the service or adoration of God or a god, as expressed through certain forms of worship. So the religion may be either true or false, depending upon both the god being worshiped and the form or manner of expressing the worship. If we practice the true form of worship of the true God Jehovah, and if we are speaking the English language, then when discussing our worship we may properly use the English words that will so limit our meaning, namely, “true religion.”
The word “religion” is used in the English Bibles in several places. It is used in the King James Version at James 1:26, 27. There James distinguishes between the vain or false religion (1:26) and the pure or true religion (1:27), and does so by appropriately qualifying in each instance the same Greek word, thres·kei'a. The Greek threskeía is equivalent to the Latin religio, both simply meaning “form of worship”, of which there can be a true and a false kind. From the Latin religio comes the English word “religion”. Study over the footnotes in the New World Translation on the texts at Acts 26:5, Colossians 2:18 and James 1:26, 27, to see how they allow for the use of the words “religion” and “religious”. When the Bible uses the term “religion” it is either properly qualified or the context or setting indicates whether it is speaking of the true or the false. Note how the setting shows that at Isaiah 29:13 it is false religion and at 2 Timothy 3:5 it is true religion, reading both texts from the Moffatt translation.
This viewpoint on the use of the word “religion” was not suddenly adopted by the Society. Careful readers of the Society’s publications have noticed that during the past few years when religion was being discussed the publications were careful to limit any condemnation to false religion. Two years ago Awake! quoted Moffatt’s translation of 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13, and identified the religion mentioned in that text as being true by inserting this qualification in brackets, as follows: “Though they keep up a form of [true] religion, they will have nothing to do with it as a force.” (September 22, 1949, page 9) So this matter had been under careful study and consideration for a long time, and what was brought out on it at the Theocracy’s Increase Assembly at Yankee Stadium in New York last year was further enlargement and welcome clarification, and not some new idea brought forth suddenly. None should feel upset by the use of the term “religion”. Because we use it does not put us in the class of the tradition-bound false religions, no more than does the calling of ourselves Christians put us in with the false Christians of Christendom.
Sheol--the common grave of mankind--No scriptural support for this conclusion. Is it no wonder that the average jw does not know how to defend their beliefs when it is automatic that this is true because the WESAYSO Corporation said so.
Q2, 3) (a) Why is death less certain than many realize? (b) What will we consider in this article?
2) Jehovah's Word gives the sure hope of the resurrection, of being raised to life once again. This is no mere dream, and no force in the universe can prevent Jehovah from making this hope a reality. For some, though, death is less certain than many today realize. Why? Because an unnumbered "great crowd" will survive "the great tribulation," soon to come. (Revelation 7:9, 10, 14) They will live on afterward, with eternity in view. Thus, death is no certainty for them. Moreover, "death is to be brought to nothing." –1 Corinthians 15:26.
CARROT:For some, though, death is less certain than many today realize. Why? Because an unnumbered "great crowd" will survive "the great tribulation," soon to come. (Revelation 7:9, 10, 14) They will live on afterward, with eternity in view. Thus, death is no certainty for them.
Millions now living will never die! shouted the title of a WTS talk (actually "may" changed later to "will") in 1920 at a time that there was no "great crowd." A booklet followed and a tour by Rutherford giving this talk. Who were the millions he was talking about? Anointed Christians who the WTS teaches numbers only 144,000 literally and are found only the the WT organization? Millions meant non-members back then. Now the WTS teaches that only baptized jws will survive. Are you one? If not, you won't survive and will die eternally. (quotes on request, see previous reviews)
Does the WTS teach that the great crowd are unable to die after surviving the GT (great tribulation)? Or are only the 144,000 "blessed" with immortality? At the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ, Revelation says that some survivors will die, executed by Jesus. Hmmmm?
no force in the universe can prevent Jehovah from making this hope a reality--where's Jesus?
3) We need to feel as certain of the resurrection as did the apostle Paul, who said: "There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15) Let us consider three questions regarding the resurrection. First, what makes this hope so certain? Second, how can you personally take comfort in the resurrection hope? Third, how may this hope affect the way you live right now?
We need to feel as certain of the resurrection as did the apostle Paul, who said: "There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15)
Let us consider three questions:
First, what kind of resurrection was Paul expecting for himself?
Second, What kind of resurrection made Paul certain, a resurrection to earth like Lazarus, or Jesus' resurrection to heaven as an immortal being?
Third, are those who died in the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, 1st and 2nd destructions of Jerusalem, unrighteous?
The Resurrection--A Certainty
Q4) How is the resurrection central to Jehovah's purpose?
4) There are a number of factors that make the resurrection a certainty. Above all, it is central to Jehovah's purpose. Remember, Satan led mankind into sin, with its inevitable consequence, death. Thus, Jesus said of Satan: "That one was a manslayer when he began." (John 8:44) But Jehovah promised that his "woman," or wifelike organization in heaven, would produce a "seed" who would bruise that "original serpent" in the head, crushing Satan out of existence. (Genesis 3: 1-6, 15; Revelation 12:9, 10; 20:10) As Jehovah gradually revealed his purpose involving that Messianic Seed, it became apparent that the Seed would do more than destroy Satan. God's Word says: "For this purpose the Son of God was made manifest, namely, to break up the works of the Devil." (1 John 3:8) Death caused by the sin we inherited from Adam is chief among Satan's works that Jehovah purposes to see undone, or broken up, through Jesus Christ. In this regard, Jesus' ransom sacrifice and the resurrection are vitally important.-Acts 2:22-24; Romans 6:23.
it is central to Jehovah's purpose.
Jehovah's purpose--changed from "God's Divine Plan of the Ages"
his "woman," or wifelike organization in heaven--another "deep" doctrine of the WTS with no supporting information.
As Jehovah gradually revealed his purpose involving that Messianic Seed--1874 was originally taught by the WTS as being the beginning of the presence of Jesus, that he took kingly power in 1878. and taught it officially until 1943 when it was "clarified."
*** Proclaimers book chap. 28 pp. 631-632 Testing and Sifting From Within ***Something else that was seen as a possible time indicator involved the arrangement that God instituted in ancient Israel for a Jubilee, a year of release, every 50th year. This came after a series of seven 7-year periods, each of which ended with a sabbath year. During the Jubilee year, Hebrew slaves were freed and hereditary land possessions that had been sold were restored. (Lev. 25:8-10) Calculations based on this cycle of years led to the conclusion that perhaps a greater Jubilee for all the earth had begun in the autumn of 1874, that evidently the Lord had returned in that year and was invisibly present, and that “the times of restitution of all things” had arrived.—Acts 3:19-21, KJ.
Based on the premise that events of the first century might find parallels in related events later, they also concluded that if Jesus’ baptism and anointing in the autumn of 29 C.E. paralleled the beginning of an invisible presence in 1874, then his riding into Jerusalem as King in the spring of 33 C.E. would point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he would assume his power as heavenly King. They also thought they would be given their heavenly reward at that time. When that did not occur, they concluded that since Jesus’ anointed followers were to share with him in the Kingdom, the resurrection to spirit life of those already sleeping in death began then. It was also reasoned that the end of God’s special favor to natural Israel down to 36 C.E. might point to 1881 as the time when the special opportunity to become part of spiritual Israel would close.
Footnote Proclaimers book sect. 6 chap. 28 p. 632 Testing and Sifting From Within
Extending the parallels further, it was stated that the desolation of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. (37 years after Jesus was hailed as king by his disciples when he rode into Jerusalem) might point to 1915 (37 years after 1878) for a culmination of anarchistic upheaval that they thought God would permit as a means for bringing existing institutions of the world to their end. This date appeared in reprints of Studies in the Scriptures. (See Volume II, pages 99-101, 171, 221, 232, 246-7; compare reprint of 1914 with earlier printings, such as the 1902 printing of Millennial Dawn.) It seemed to them that this fitted well with what had been published regarding the year 1914 as marking the end of the Gentile Times.
Death caused by the sin we inherited from Adam is chief among Satan's works that Jehovah purposes to see undone, or broken up, through Jesus Christ. In this regard, Jesus' ransom sacrifice and the resurrection are vitally important.
But is Jesus viewed as a person with love for humans or as an impersonal tool in God's hand?
Q5) Why will the resurrection glorify Jehovah's name?
5) Jehovah is determined to glorify his sacred name. Satan has maligned God's name and has promoted lies. He lyingly said that Adam and Eve `positively would not die' if they partook of the fruit forbidden by God. (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:4) Ever since, Satan has fostered similar lies, such as the false teaching that a soul survives the death of the body. However, by means of the resurrection, Jehovah will expose all such lies for what they are. He will establish for all time that he alone is the Preserver and Restorer of life.
Jehovah is determined to glorify his sacred name.
Although Jesus said to sanctify God's name in the Model Prayer, does he use it once in the prayer? In fact, does Jesus address God other than by the appellation, Father?
He lyingly said that Adam and Eve `positively would not die' if they partook of the fruit forbidden by God. (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:4) Ever since, Satan has fostered similar lies, such as the false teaching that a soul survives the death of the body--another WTS teaching for which no scriptural support is given.
Q6, 7) How does Jehovah feel about resurrecting people, and how do we know of his feelings?
6) Jehovah yearns to carry out the resurrection. The Bible makes clear Jehovah's feelings in this regard. For instance, consider these inspired words of the faithful man Job: "If an able-bodied man dies can he live again? All the days of my compulsory service I shall wait, until my relief comes. You will call, and I myself shall answer you. For the work of your hands you will have a yearning." (Job 14:14, 15) What do those words mean?
Jehovah yearns to carry out the resurrection.
WHERE'S JESUS? How does Jesus feel about resurrecting people, and how do we know of his feelings?
How can Jesus be in the picture when OT examples are used for Christians?
7) Job knew that after he died, a time of waiting in the sleep of death lay ahead of him. He viewed that time as "compulsory service," an enforced period of waiting for release. To him, that release was a certainty. Job realized that his relief would come. Why? Because he knew of Jehovah's feelings. Jehovah would "have a yearning" to see his faithful servant again. Yes, God longs to bring back to life all righteous individuals. Jehovah will also give others an opportunity to live forever in Paradise on earth. (Luke 23:43; John 5:28, 29) Since it is God's will to carry out that purpose, who can stop him?
Job knew that after he died, a time of waiting in the sleep of death lay ahead of him. He viewed that time as "compulsory service," an enforced period of waiting for release.--is this the only explanation given by others on this scripture, Job 14:14,15?
Where's Jesus?--God longs...Jehovah will also give others an opportunity to live forever in Paradise on earth... it is God's will to carry out that purpose, who can stop him?
CARROT:Jehovah will also give others an opportunity to live forever in Paradise on earth. (Luke 23:43; John 5:28, 29)
Q8) How has Jehovah "furnished a guarantee" of our hope for the future?
8) Our hope for the future is guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus. When Paul gave a speech in Athens, he declared: "[God] has set a day in which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the dead." (Acts 17:31) Some in Paul's audience mocked when they heard of a resurrection. A few, however, became believers. Perhaps the thought that this hope is guaranteed caught their attention. When Jehovah resurrected Jesus, He performed the greatest of miracles. He brought his Son forth from death to life as a mighty spirit. (1 Peter 3:18) The resurrected Jesus was even greater than he had been during his prehuman existence. Immortal and second only to Jehovah in power, Jesus is now in a position to take on wonderful assignments from his Father. Jesus is the means by which Jehovah performs all other resurrections--to life in heaven or to life on earth. Jesus himself said: "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 5:25; 11:25) By resurrecting his Son, Jehovah guaranteed such hopes for all faithful ones.
Our hope for the future is guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus is the means by which Jehovah performs all other resurrections--to life in heaven or to life on earth. Jesus himself said: "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 5:25; 11:25)--once again Jesus is referred to as an impersonal tool used by God to resurrect.
By resurrecting his Son, Jehovah guaranteed such hopes for all faithful ones.--What about the unrighteous?
Q9) How does the Bible record establish the reality of the resurrection?
9) The resurrection has been demonstrated before eyewitnesses and recorded in God's Word. The Bible record contains detailed descriptions of eight resurrections of people brought back to life as humans on earth. These miracles were performed not in secret but openly, often in front of eyewitnesses. Jesus resurrected Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, in front of a crowd of mourners--no doubt including the man's family, friends, and neighbors. This evidence that Jesus was sent by God was so forceful that Jesus' religious enemies never denied that it had happened. Instead, they plotted to kill not only Jesus but also Lazarus! (John 11: 17, 44, 53; 12:9-11) Yes, we can have confidence that the resurrection is a certainty. God has given us a record of past resurrections in order to comfort us and to build up our faith.
The resurrection has been demonstrated before eyewitnesses and recorded in God's Word.
500 says the bible; how many testify in the scriptures by name to this eyewitness account?
Jesus resurrected Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, in front of a crowd of mourners--no doubt including the man's family, friends, and neighbors. This evidence that Jesus was sent by God was so forceful that Jesus' religious enemies never denied that it had happened. Instead, they plotted to kill not only Jesus but also Lazarus!
Similarly, the WTS plot to "kill" any who defy their doctrines and policies even knowing they are incorrect according to the bible labeling them as apostates and "killing" any who read or support them.
[Picture on page 28] Job knew that Jehovah yearns to resurrect the righteous
Finding Comfort in the Resurrection Hope
Q10) What will help us to draw comfort from the Bible's resurrection accounts?
10) Do you long for comfort in the face of death? One sure source of comfort can be found in the Bible's resurrection accounts. Reading such accounts, meditating on them, and visualizing the events can make the resurrection hope more real to you. (Romans 15:4) These are not just stories. They actually happened to real people like us, living at a real time and in a real place. Let us focus briefly on one example--the first resurrection in the Bible record.
Reading such accounts, meditating on them, and visualizing the events can make the resurrection hope more real to you.
Reading--in one complete account or piecemeal or verse here and verse there. Can you imagine watching your favorite TV show, 5 minutes on Monday, 5 minutes on Tuesday, etc.?
Meditating--oh, yes, WTS approves of meditation but their definition of it.
*** g00 9/8 p. 21 Meditation That Is Beneficial ***The psalmist David recognized the role that meditation plays in pleasing God. He stated: “The mouth of the righteous is the one that utters wisdom in an undertone.” (Psalm 37:30) Yes, meditation is an identifying mark of a faithful worshiper...Clearly, we have many reasons to engage in deep, concentrated thinking about important things. It is vital to reflect on our past experiences, ponder over current matters, and thoughtfully contemplate our future.
*** w83 7/15 pp. 29-30 Watch Out for This Deceiver! ***Particularly problematical is yoga-type meditation. Some may point to the fact that the Bible, too, encourages meditation. However, Christian meditation is an active meditation, pondering on upbuilding and beneficial matters. (Psalm 63:6; Proverbs 15:28; Philippians 4:8) Yoga-style meditation is something else. “The soul’s essence, pure intelligence, is obscured by mental activities, whose suppression is the main purpose of Yoga. The mind is to be controlled by constant practice of meditation and nonattachment to material objects. The ultimate result is the suppression of all mental tendencies, conscious or latent.”—The Encyclopedia Americana.
Is such emptying of the mind healthy? One practicer reports that during one extended period of exercise and meditation, he felt frequent attacks by invisible forces. The demons can take advantage of a mind that is empty and fill it with their own thoughts. (Luke 11:24-26) So beware! This practice could make you their prey.
Visualizing (imagining or fantasizing)--the WTS visualizes all the time in the convention dramas as they "add" events and people that never existed in the bible account.
Q11, 12) (a) What tragedy befell the widow of Zarephath, and how did she respond at first? (b) Describe what ,Jehovah empowered his prophet Elijah to do for the widow.
11) Picture the scene. For some weeks, the prophet Elijah has been a guest of the widow of Zarephath, living in a chamber on her roof. It is a dark era. The region is stricken by drought and famine. Many are dying. Jehovah has already used Elijah to perform a prolonged miracle to reward the faith of this humble widow. She and her young son were on the brink of starvation, down to their last meal, when God empowered Elijah to perform a miracle so that her supply of flour and oil was miraculously sustained. Now, though, tragedy befalls her. Illness suddenly strikes the child, and soon he stops breathing. How devastated the widow is! It is bad enough to live without the strength and support of a husband, but now she has lost her only child. In her grief, she even blames Elijah and his God, Jehovah! What will the prophet do?
Another OT account for Christians....
Illness suddenly strikes the child, and soon he stops breathing--not as convincing as Lazarus resurrection where he had been buried 4 days and many people even enemies witnessed his coming to life. Even Lazarus could not go without breathing for four days.
she even blames Elijah and his God, Jehovah!--lurkers don't consider this an example of what to do with the elders...you will find yourself up before a judicial committee before you can say "Jesus."
[Picture on page 29] "See, your son is alive"
12) Elijah does not reprove the widow for her false accusation. Instead, he says: "Give me your son." After carrying the dead child to the roof chamber, Elijah prays repeatedly for the child's life to be returned. Finally, Jehovah acts! Imagine the joy spreading over Elijah's face as he sees the boy's chest heave with the intake of air. The child's eyelids open, and his eyes glisten with life. Elijah brings the boy down to his mother and says: "See, your son is alive." Her joy is beyond description. She says: "Now, indeed, I do know that you are a man of God and that Jehovah's word in your mouth is true." (1 Kings 17:824) Her faith in Jehovah and in his representative is stronger than ever.
Elijah does not reprove the widow for her false accusation.
Elijah prays repeatedly --what made him believe he could do this since God had never resurrected anyone before? Why not today...has any Christian or non-Christian since 100 C.E. resurrected anyone? Why did he have to repeatedly pray? Sincerity comes with many words, no.
Q13) Why does the account about Elijah resurrecting a widow's son bring comfort to us today?
13) Meditating on such an account surely brings you great comfort. How clear it is that Jehovah is able to defeat our enemy death! Just imagine the day when that widow's joy is multiplied thousands of times over in the general resurrection of the dead! The joy in heaven will also be great as Jehovah delights in directing his Son to carry out resurrections on a global scale. (John 5:28, 29) Has death taken someone dear to you? How wonderful it is to know that Jehovah can and will restore the dead to life!
Meditating--not Zen or TM...you will be letting in the demons per the WTS.
What is the general resurrection of the dead per the WTS?
Jehovah delights in directing his Son to carry out resurrections on a global scale--again Jesus is an impersonal tool. Will Adam and Eve be resurrected? What did Russell and Rutherford believe?
CARROT:How often has an active jw told you that unless you come back, you will not see your dead mother, father, brother, etc., and what will that jw tell them when THEY are resurrected? The WTS also teaches its members to target people for conversion who are sad about losing someone recently even printing a brochure and tract for that purpose-Has death taken someone dear to you? How wonderful it is to know that Jehovah can and will restore the dead to life!
Your Hope and Your Life Now
Q14) How can the resurrection hope affect your life?
14) How can the resurrection hope affect the way you live right now? You can draw strength from this hope when facing hardships, challenges, persecution, or danger. Satan wants you to be so terrified of death that you would willingly barter your integrity for some hollow promise of safety. Remember that Satan said to Jehovah: "Everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul." (Job 2:4) In making such a statement, Satan maligned all of us, including you. Is it true that you will quit serving God if you face danger? By contemplating the hope of the resurrection, you can make firm your determination to keep on doing the will of your heavenly Father.
What challenges, hardships, persecution, or danger to most jws today face? Old age and illness. What do you face? How do non-jws face such things? Is crying at a funeral evidence that a person does not believe in the resurrection?
Will be brave enough to leave the WTS in order to keep doing the will of God and not the will of the WTS? How many people has the WTS/FDS/GB resurrected? Where do you place your confidence, in God or the WTS? Who has the power of life and death, the elders, the CO, the DO, the branch office, the Nethinim, the GB?
Q15) How might Jesus' words recorded at Matthew 10:28 bring us comfort in the face of danger?
15) Jesus said: "Do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." (Matthew 10:28) We need not be in dread of Satan or his human agents. True, some may have the power to cause harm, even death. However, the worst they can do is still only temporary. Jehovah can and will undo any damage done to his faithful servants, even resurrecting them. It is Jehovah alone who is worthy of our fear, our profound awe and respect. He alone has the power to take away life and all prospects for future life, destroying both body and soul in Gehenna. Happily, Jehovah does not want that to happen to you. (2 Peter 3:9) Because of the resurrection hope, we as God's servants can always be sure that we are safe. Everlasting life lies ahead of us as long as we are faithful, and there is nothing that Satan or his minions can do about that.-Psalm 118:6; Hebrews 13:6.
Kill the body and cannot kill the soul--remember the elders can only kill your "body" by disfellowshipping you but cannot touch your soul.
We need not be in dread of Satan or his human agents.--including the WTS who are responsible for the deaths of many who follow their ever-changing doctrines on health matters, including transfusions and transplants.
CARROT--Everlasting life lies ahead of us as long as we are faithful (to the WTS dogma per the WTS) and there is nothing that Satan or his minions can do about that.
Q16) How does our viewpoint affect the priorities that we set?
16) If the resurrection hope is real to us, it can shape our attitude about life. We realize that `whether we live or we die, we belong to Jehovah.' (Romans 14:7, 8) In setting priorities, we therefore apply Paul's counsel: "Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2) Many people are in a frantic rush to gratify every desire, every ambition, every impulse. Because they view life as being short, they seem almost desperate in their pursuit of pleasure, and if they have a form of worship, it certainly does not harmonize with the "perfect will of God."
We realize that `whether we live or we die, we belong to Jehovah.' (Romans 14:7, 8)
How does the WTS justify inserting "Jehovah" here rather than "Christ"? Is it a quote from the OT, no. It is an inference based on the WTS interpretation of the OT.
*** Rbi8 pp. 1564-1565 1D The Divine Name in the Christian Greek Scriptures ***To know where the divine name was replaced by the Greek words ?????? and Te??, we have determined where the inspired Christian writers have quoted verses, passages and expressions from the Hebrew Scriptures and then we have referred back to the Hebrew text to ascertain whether the divine name appears there. In this way we determined the identity to give Ky'ri·os and The·os' and the personality with which to clothe them.
Many people are in a frantic rush to gratify every desire, every ambition, every impulse.--a very subjective statement since people like this are found among baptized, active members in the WTS.
if they have a form of worship, it certainly does not harmonize with the "perfect will of God."--the perfect will of the WTS.
Q17, 18) (a) How does Jehovah's Word acknowledge the shortness of human life, but what does God want for us? (b) Why are we moved to praise Jehovah daily?
17) True, life is short. "It must quickly pass by, and away we fly," perhaps in some 70 or 80 years. (Psalm 90:10) Humans come and go like green grass, like a passing shadow, like an exhalation. (Psalm 103:15; 144:3, 4) But God did not purpose that we spend a few decades growing up and gaining some wisdom and experience, only to spend the next few decades breaking down and descending into illness and death. Jehovah created humans with the desire to live forever. "Time indefinite he has put in their heart," the Bible tells us. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Is God cruel, giving us such a desire and then making it impossible to fulfill it? No, indeed, for "God is love." (1 John 4:8) He will use the resurrection to make everlasting life possible for people who have died.
70 or 80 years--basis for projecting the end to be in 1984 or 1994 and the impetus for the 1995 change from the 1914 generation to the ambiguous "any day" generation.
CARROT--Jehovah created humans with the desire to live forever. "Time indefinite he has put in their heart," the Bible tells us. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Is God cruel, giving us such a desire and then making it impossible to fulfill it? No, indeed, for "God is love." (1 John 4:8) He will use the resurrection to make everlasting life possible for people who have died.
18) Thanks to the resurrection hope, we can have a secure future. We need not be frantic, driven to reach our full potential right now. We need not make use of this dying world "to the full." (1 Corinthians 7:29-31; 1 John 2:17) Unlike those with no real hope, we have the wonderful gift of knowing that if we remain faithful to Jehovah God, we will have all eternity to laud him and enjoy life. By all means, then, let us daily praise Jehovah, who makes the resurrection hope a certainty!
We (only baptized jws) can have a secure future..unlike all those (all 6.5 billion non-jw men, women and children who will soon die at Armageddon, with no hope of a resurrection, ever again.)
*** w89 9/1 p. 19 par. 7 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium ***Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the “flesh” that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history.
daily praise Jehovah, who makes the resurrection hope a certainty!--WHERE'S JESUS?
How Would You Answer?
• How should we feel about the resurrection?
• What factors make the resurrection hope a certainty?
• How may you draw comfort from the resurrection hope?
• What effect might the resurrection hope have on the way you live?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
As I sip my Earl Grey, I contemplate how arrogant the WTS in determining who will be resurrected and how they have vacillated on that even. Remember, the power we give them, is the only real power they have over us.
We received some vastly needed rain here. Contrast with the overabundance of rain elsewhere..........the world is strange.
We are doing some projects today and watched the fireworks at sunset in our area on Wednesday which I have done for many years even as a jw without a twinge of doing the forbidden, the elders do it, a little voice says. For those not in the US, I will light a sparkler for all you fine people and your courage and tenacity.
Love, Blondie
