If you do 'or' do not believe in the bible, this is exciting to know!
First a quick overview of the history of the bible we have today (did not include everything only some key points), which is a real eye opener when we get to today, 2010.. (YOU'LL ALSO SEE MANY SIMILARITIES OF THE GB AND WT TO THE CLERGY WHO PERSECUTED THOSE TRYING TO GET THE BIBLE IN ENGLISH)......
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The dead sea scrolls date about date between 150 BCE and 70 CE.
Christianity was under intense persecution by Rome until 311/321. The emporer of Rome was to be worshipped as a god, and refusual to do that was one of the big instigators of the persecution.
From 320's AD to 1380AD - when John Wycliffe wrote the first hand written copys of the bible in English, the bible was only in Latin, and anybody wishing to know it's words was generally by hearing the priests and monks read it, and teach them their understanding of it. (Unfortunately, many were executed and unable to copy or teach at this point)
1450's was when the first printing press was invented.
In 1516 Erasumus is moved to correct the corrupt latin vulgate, and broadcast that scriptures need to be translated from the original hebrew and greek. (I would be interested to see what 'corrections' he did if anybody knows where to locate that)
In 1526 first english, Tyndales bible, on printing press. He was eventually caught and burned at the stake. The church claimed it contained thousands of errors. With bible in the common language, no longer could they control the scriptures, and what man would believe. Men could challenge the teachings of indulgences, and paying to get loved ones out of purgatory, etc.
1560 was first numbered bible, the Geneva bible, making it easy to locate scriptures. Bible now able to more safely be distributed. Mostly based off Tyndales bible.
1582 - Rome realizes they lost fight for english translation of bible available to all, so they make the Rheim's new testament, based off of latin vulgate, not original hebrew / greek.
1611 - King James released - (combination of most translations and supposedly original as well, and removing the negative remarks in the Geneva bible) Geneva bible out of print by 1644.
1600's - religious persecution still persists, and for religous freedom the 'Pilgrims' flood over to America
1782 - first 'english' bible printed in America, a KJV by Robert Aitken
1881 -William Henry Conley - First president of Zion's Watchtower Society
1881 - english revised and wescott and hort greek text released, both few weeks apart. then by 1883 they are merged (this is, the wescott and hort) what the NWT is based on. The WT never translated from scratch their own, they used theirs, and just "as in interlinear style", made a few changes here and there.
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What does this all mean?
In about 2000 years of Christian history, (old testament + ??? more )
457 - years ago, anyone with a bible, english bible, dissenter of Roman Catholic, was burned at the stake, and no possible way to learn bible truth.
228 - years ago, when english bible printing in USA began - at the very least, in USA, - at this point, bible circulation and ownership by those other then just the pastors/bishops on a 'wide scale' was able to begin
126 - years since Russell became Watchtower president - (other organizations started as well, it was when branches of Christianity / new testament based religions really started multiplying, and since out of almost 2,000 years, only the past 100 years had opened the way for the masses to read the bible and study and form their own opinions. The first ones to have radical changes, and with the right resources, were able to grab and snatch all who were ripe for learning by showing them answers which appeared to make more sense then church teachings. Then as the organizations grew they changed and claimed only THEY get the understanding and impossible for individuals to learn it) - When THAT happened, put things in reverse for many. It was equivalent to Roman Catholic forbidding any to be able to read the bible in their own language. Making many believe that, even though they 'have' the bible, it's useless 'looking' for understanding. With many publications, to cover' EVERY' scripture, at the very least with jibberish, and if one did not understand or agree with it, that they just don't have the holy spirit of understanding.
63 years ago - discovery of dead sea scrolls, over 1900 documents, including most of the old testament
33 years ago - the first home computer (1977) was made.
19 years ago - FIRST www world wide website ever made
17 years ago - (1993) world wide web released to general public
12 years ago - true search engines really taking hold vs paid directory listings (able to really start searching for keywords to find websites)
9 years ago - websites and information availabe online really take off, jump from under 5 million to 20 million websites in 1 year
TODAY - over 180 million websites, with COMPUTERS and internet, we have access to almost ANY resource or book out there, within SECONDS. We can grab books and information in other languages and have basic translations in seconds. Able to view many of the dead sea scrolls interlinear or english translations ONLINE. Able to do word searches in bibles for every instance of a certain word or phrase to research and study the bible at very high speeds. Able to find and read notes and ideas from ANYBODY that's posted online what your researching just by typing in the phrase or word. Can check almost every in existence print of the bible from original hebrew/greek scrolls, almost every translation and print version online. For the first time in almost 2000 YEARS, ONLY these past 9 years, are we able to research, to learn more about the bible and dissect it, to type in a word or name in the bible like A'morite and get pictures, history, resources, every occurance of the word in the bible, learn the hebrew meaning, compare scrolls for any variation in the rendering of the name.
RIGHT NOW many really looking for it, and once all of the places are just right, once solid truth and understanding no matter how good or bad it may be, where all researching will find the answer to be the same and agree, you can be sure a wave of youtube videos, viral marketing, messages, the real 'truth' can be spread virtually overnight and available to almost 2 BILLION people worldwide, instantly. Like a virus, multiplying and spreading. With each day more and more documents available, our ability to locate them and how easy, will be incredibly hard for many things of relgious nature to remain hidden.
((Interesting thing, almost scary, the description of the false prophet and demonic inspired utterances in Revelation how they go forth as frogs throughout the earth, kinda matches that, in 'how' it's done that is))