What happened to the 1918 'Resurrection' ? (page 2)

somebody

The WT tries to slice the cake every way at once to suit themselves.

and concluding we are dealing with another Nostradamus by way of a society.

These two statements pretty well sum things up, guys!

peace,

somebody/gwen

funny one of the wt quotes. say that in 1919 the remanet was cleasned and purified . well rutherford was preaching million now will never die ......in 1918 and when he got out of jail in 1919 he was saying the same bull about 1925. funny these wt quote don't tell us that in 1919 the wt said that jesus returned in 1874 and that when nothing happened that year they tried for 1878 , then when nothing happened again .. the wt said that jesus came in 1874 but choose the wt in 1878 after inspecting all religions till 1878 and all followers of russell etc were to be raptured into heaven in 1881 some 400,000,00believers in christ. don't forget that the great upheaval was to be earth wide in 1905-07 then 1910-12 right before the big one 1914 or 15 . then 1918,1920 or 21 then rutherford was more sure than noah ,that abraham was to return by 1925 in 1917 and again said the same in 1923. anyone that didn't follow the teaching of russell , the birds would be eating their flesh as their bodies rotted in the streets. russell is directing the preaching work from the grave>>> in 1919 the wt is the john , jeremiah, ezekiel, isaiah, paul class.. well what class were all these writers of the bible... they were inspired of god . so the wt is saying that their writings are inspired till anyone questions them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so ask any jw to have a study with you on wt books from 1914 to 1919 because that is what the wt says today that jesus choose them based on......john

UnDisfellowshipped

Great Thread Refiners Fire!

It seemed somewhat of a bastardization

Definitely! Check out how much stretching and perverting the Watchtower Society has to do with 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4 (New World Translation Reference Bible with Footnotes):

1st Thessalonians 4:13-18: Moreover, brothers, we do not want YOU to be ignorant concerning those who are sleeping [in death]; that YOU may not sorrow just as the rest also do who have no hope. For if our faith is that Jesus died and rose again, so, too, those who have fallen asleep [in death] through Jesus God will bring with him. For this is what we tell YOU by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord [Footnote: Jesus] shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep [in death]; because the Lord [Footnote: Jehovah] himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord [Footnote: Jehovah] in the air; and thus we shall always be with [the] Lord [Footnote: Jehovah]. Consequently keep comforting one another with these words.

Hmmm, somehow that doesn't sound like the Watchtower's supposed "invisible" Resurrection of 1918.

Also, notice that the NWT Reference Bible says that Jehovah is the One who is coming "with an archangel's voice", not Jesus.

Here is what the "Reasoning Book" (Pages 312-317) says about the 1918 Resurrection of the anointed ones:

Rapture
Definition:

The belief that faithful Christians will be bodily caught up from the earth, suddenly taken out of the world, to be united with the Lord "in the air." The word "rapture" is understood by some persons, but not by all, to be the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The word "rapture" does not occur in the inspired Scriptures.

When

the apostle Paul said that Christians would be "caught up" to be with the Lord, what subject was being discussed?

1 Thess. 4:13-18, RS: "We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep ["those who sleep in death," NE; "those who have died," TEV, JB], that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (Evidently some members of the Christian congregation in Thessalonica had died. Paul encouraged the survivors to comfort one another with the resurrection hope. He reminded them that Jesus was resurrected after his death; so, too, at the coming of the Lord, those faithful Christians among them who had died would be raised to be with Christ.)

Who

are the ones that will be ‘caught up in the clouds,’ as stated at 1 Thessalonians 4:17?

Verse 15 explains that they are faithful ones "who are left until the coming of the Lord," that is, they are still living at the time of Christ’s coming. Will they ever die? According to Romans 6:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 15:35, 36, 44 (quoted on pages 314, 315), they must die before they can gain heavenly life. But there is no need for them to remain in the death state awaiting Christ’s return. They will instantly be "caught up," "in the twinkling of an eye," to be with the Lord.—1 Cor. 15:51, 52, RS; also Revelation 14:13.

Will

Christ appear visibly on a cloud and then take away faithful Christians into the heavens while the world looks on?

Did

Jesus say whether the world would see him again with their physical eyes?

John 14:19, RS: "Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you [his faithful disciples] will see me; because I live, you will live also." (Italics added.) (Compare 1 Timothy 6:16.)

What is the meaning of the Lord’s ‘descending from heaven’?

Could the Lord "descend from heaven," as stated at 1 Thessalonians 4:16, without being visible to physical eyes? In the days of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, Jehovah said that he was going to "go down to see" what the people were doing. (Gen. 18:21, RS) But when Jehovah made that inspection, no human saw him, although they did see the angelic representatives that he sent. (John 1:18) Similarly, without having to return in the flesh, Jesus could turn his attention to his faithful followers on earth to reward them.

In what sense, then, will humans "see" the Lord "coming in a cloud"?

Jesus foretold: "Then they will see the Son of man [Jesus Christ] coming in a cloud with power and great glory." (Luke 21:27, RS) In no way does this statement or similar ones in other texts contradict what Jesus said as recorded at John 14:19. Consider: At Mount Sinai, what occurred when God ‘came to the people in a thick cloud,’ as stated at Exodus 19:9? (RS) God was invisibly present; the people of Israel saw visible evidence of his presence, but none of them actually saw God with their eyes. So, too, when Jesus said that he would come "in a cloud," he must have meant that he would be invisible to human eyes but that humans would be aware of his presence. They would "see" him with their mental eyes, discerning the fact that he was present. (For further comments, see the main heading "Return of Christ.")

Is it possible for Christians to be taken to heaven with their physical bodies?

1 Cor. 15:50, RS: "I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable."

Does the experience of the prophet Elijah contradict this? Not at all. It must be understood in the light of Jesus’ clear statement centuries later: "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man." (John 3:13, RS) Although Elijah was seen as he "went up by a whirlwind into heaven," this does not mean that he went into the spirit realm. Why not? Because he is later reported as sending a letter of reproof to the king of Judah. (2 Ki. 2:11, RS; 2 Chron. 21:1, 12-15) Before humans invented airplanes, Jehovah there used his own means (a fiery chariot and a whirlwind) to lift Elijah off the ground into the heaven where the birds fly and to transport him to another place.—Compare Genesis 1:6-8, 20.

Will faithful Christians perhaps be taken to heaven secretly, simply disappearing from the earth without dying?

Rom. 6:3-5, RS: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? . . . For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." (What occurred in the case of Jesus set the pattern. His disciples as well as others knew he had died. He was not restored to heavenly life until after his death and resurrection.)

1 Cor. 15:35, 36, 44, RS: "Some one will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?’ You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body." (So death comes before one receives that spiritual body, does it not?)

Will all faithful Christians be taken miraculously from the earth by the Lord before the great tribulation?

Matt. 24:21, 22: "Then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short." (This does not say that "the chosen ones" will all have been taken to heaven before the great tribulation, does it? Rather, it holds out the prospect to them, along with associates in the flesh, of surviving that great tribulation on earth.)

Rev. 7:9, 10, 14, RS: "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!’ . . . ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation.’" (To "come out" of something a person must go into it or be in it. So this great multitude must be persons who actually experience the great tribulation and come out of it as survivors.) (Regarding their being on earth, see pages 167, 168.)

What protection will there be for true Christians during the great tribulation?

Rom. 10:13, RS: "Every one who calls upon the name of the Lord ["Jehovah," NW] will be saved."

Zeph. 2:3, RS: "Seek the LORD ["Jehovah," NW, AS, Yg, By], all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the wrath of the LORD." (Also Isaiah 26:20)

Will all true Christians perhaps be taken to heaven after the great tribulation?

Matt. 5:5, RS: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Ps. 37:29, RS: "The righteous shall possess the land ["earth," Ro, NW], and dwell upon it for ever." (Also verses 10, 11, 34)

1 Cor. 15:50, RS: "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God."

See also the main heading "Born Again."

Will those who go to heaven be returned later to the earth to live forever here in Paradise?

Prov. 2:21, RS: "The upright will inhabit the land ["dwell on earth," NE], and men of integrity will remain in it." (Notice that the scripture does not say that such upright people will return to the earth but that they will remain there.)

1 Thess. 4:17, RS: "And so we [Christians caught away to heaven] shall always be with the Lord."

If Someone Says—

‘Do you believe in the rapture?’

You might reply: ‘I find that not everyone has the same idea as to what the rapture means. May I ask what your thoughts are about it? . . . On any matter, it is beneficial to compare our thoughts with what the Bible itself says. (Use the portions of the material above that are applicable.)’

Or you could say: ‘The rapture has been explained to me as an escape plan for Christians. Many feel that this is the way they will escape the coming great tribulation. Is that how you feel?’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘We certainly want God’s protection at that time, and I find to be very encouraging some texts that show how we can benefit from it. (Zeph. 2:3)’ (2) ‘Interestingly, the Bible shows that God will safeguard some faithful ones right here on earth. (Prov. 2:21, 22) That is in harmony with God’s purpose when he first created Adam and put him in Paradise, is it not?’Another possibility: ‘By the rapture you mean that Christians living at the end of the system of things are to be taken to heaven, is that not right? . . . Have you wondered what they will do when they get to heaven? . . . Notice what Revelation 20:6 (and 5:9, 10) says. . . . But over whom will they rule? (Ps. 37:10, 11, 29)’

Also, below are some more Quotes I found about the "1918 Resurrection":

1991 Yearbook, Pages 133-134:
As 1918 began, expectations increased among the brothers. Prophecies suggested that it would mark the beginning of "the first resurrection" and the taking up of Christ’s bride class to heaven. (Rev. 20:5, 6) Would this embrace all the anointed ones, including the last ones alive on earth at that time? Would the door to "the marriage feast," spoken of at Matthew 25:10, soon be shut? Such questions circulated among the brothers, leading to some very deep discussions. At the Memorial, March 26, that year, 1,714 partook of the emblems. Many of them thought they had celebrated this event for the last time. Why, it seemed that even the work had slowed down! A zealous pilgrim brother, Ernst Lignell, wrote the branch:
"We hope that this was the last occasion of this kind on this side and that our next celebration will be to drink the cup of rejoicing in the Kingdom. However, may the will of our Father be done in everything! If it would please him to let us stay down here in the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ a little longer, we want to yield to that decision of his. But to all appearances, time seems to be very short."
The Bridegroom, though, had other marvelous affairs in mind for the last ones of the anointed on earth. In 1919, at the grand convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, they were reminded of their privilege as the Lord’s ambassadors to announce the incoming of God’s glorious Kingdom. When the echo from this convention reached Sweden, the brothers rejoiced and quickly adjusted to the commission. The work speeded up again.
Tons of literature were placed. The booklets Millions Now Living Will Never Die and Where Are the Dead? were eagerly accepted. At times colporteurs needed this literature so urgently that they telegraphed the branch office to send "500 Millions" or send "200 Dead"—messages that puzzled many a telegraph operator.

It looks to me like, basically, the Watchtower Society was expecting the "Rapture" to occur in 1918, and then when it did not happen, they just claimed that an "invisible" Resurrection of the dead anointed ones happened in 1918.

The Watchtower, February 15th 1995 Issue, Pages 21-22:
14 The resurrection hope entertained by the little flock is unique. In what ways? For one thing, it precedes the general resurrection of "the righteous and the unrighteous." (Acts 24:15) Actually, the resurrection of the anointed falls into a certain order of importance, as is clearly established by these words found at 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23: "Christ has been raised up from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. But each one in his own rank: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence." By having the kind of endurance and faith that Jesus displayed, the little flock know what is in store for them as they finish their earthly course, particularly since the true Lord came to his temple for judgment in 1918.—Malachi 3:1.
15 Paul gives us an added reason to view this resurrection as unique. As recorded at 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, he wrote: "Look! I tell you a sacred secret: We shall not all fall asleep in death, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet. . . . For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality." These words apply to those of the little flock who die during Christ’s presence. Without having to sleep a lengthy period of time in death, they are clothed with immortality, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."
16 In the light of this understanding, we can grasp the sense of the apostle John’s words found at Revelation 14:12, 13. He wrote: "‘Here is where it means endurance for the holy ones, those who observe the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’ And I heard a voice out of heaven say: ‘Write: Happy are the dead who die in union with the Lord from this time onward. Yes, says the spirit, let them rest from their labors, for the things they did go right with them.’"
17 What a unique reward is in store for the remnant of the little flock! Their resurrection will come quickly, right after they fall asleep in death. What a remarkable change they will experience as they take up their assignment in the spirit realm! With such a glorification of the little flock in progress and with the fulfillment of major Bible prophecies so far along, the last remaining members of the little flock truly need "have no fear." And their fearlessness serves to encourage those of the great crowd, who should cultivate a similar attitude of fearlessness as they anticipate deliverance during the greatest time of trouble the earth has ever known.
18 Recounting the activities of the little flock enables them and the great crowd to keep on fearing the true God. The hour for judgment by him has arrived, and the favorable time left is precious. Limited, indeed, is the time for others to act. We, though, do not fear that God’s purpose will fail. It will certainly succeed!
19 Already, the loud heavenly voices have been heard to say: "The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever." (Revelation 11:15) Surely, the Great Shepherd, Jehovah, is guiding all of his sheep in "the tracks of righteousness for his name’s sake." (Psalm 23:3) The little flock are unerringly being led to their heavenly reward. And the other sheep will be delivered safely through the great tribulation to enjoy eternal life in the earthly realm of God’s glorious Kingdom under the rule of Christ Jesus. Hence, while Jesus’ words were addressed to the little flock, surely all of God’s servants on earth have reason to listen to his words: "Have no fear."

The Watchtower, October 1st 1986 Issue, Pages 13-14:
Order of the Resurrection
16 Our faith is strong that Christ, "the firstfruits" of the resurrection and now enthroned at God’s right hand in the heavens, will carry to completion Jehovah’s glorious Kingdom purposes. (Hebrews 6:17, 18; 10:12, 13) As Paul states in another letter: "He [Jesus Christ] must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing." How? In part through the resurrection and the removal of the effects of Adamic death. The apostle had just explained it this way: "Since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a man. For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive. But each one in his own rank: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence." (1 Corinthians 15:20-26) It is to this order of the resurrection that Paul next refers in his first letter to the Thessalonians, saying:
17 "If our faith is that Jesus died and rose again, so, too, those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus God will bring with him. For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first."—1 Thessalonians 4:14-16.
18 After 1914, during Jesus’ "presence" in Kingdom power, he, as the archangel, issues the heavenly command for those "in union with Christ" to assemble. In the case of such anointed ones "asleep in death," this trumpetlike summons calls for their spiritual resurrection into the heavens. The Watchtower has long presented the view that this resurrection of anointed Christians from death commenced in the year 1918.
19 However, what of the remaining anointed Christians on earth, now a diminishing group of less than 10,000? These, too, must complete their earthly life course in faithfulness. As though he were with them during Christ’s presence, Paul writes: "Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17; compare Revelation 1:10.) Thus, in due course, all the 144,000 will be raised to serve as priests and kings on the heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb, Jesus Christ. "This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 14:1, 4; 20:4, 5) But what awaits the billions of mankind who are now in their graves?
20 Though Paul does not specifically mention these in his first letter to the Thessalonians, Revelation 20:12 assures us that "the dead, the great and the small," will be raised up to stand before God’s judgment throne. (See also John 5:28, 29.) However, today "a great crowd" numbering into the millions has already been gathered before that throne. As a group, these will be saved alive through the impending "great tribulation." They are shepherded by the Lamb and guided to "fountains of waters of life," so that they will never need to die off the earth. But due to age or unforeseen occurrence, some of them may die during the Lord’s "presence." (Revelation 7:9, 14, 17; Ecclesiastes 9:11) What of these?
21 The joyful hope of an early resurrection lies ahead for all such "other sheep." (John 10:16) Their faith and works, like those of Abraham of old, have already brought them into a state of friendship with God. Like those men and women of faith described in Hebrews chapter 11, these modern-day "other sheep" have endured trials. Logically they, too, will experience "a better resurrection," no doubt early in the post-Armageddon period. (Hebrews 11:35; James 2:23) Indeed, each one who has, in faith, ‘fed on Jesus’ flesh and drunk his blood’ will share in the fulfillment of his promise: "He . . . has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day."—John 6:54; Romans 5:18, 21; 6:23.
22 After discussing the glorious resurrection hope, Paul admonishes: "Keep comforting one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:18) Then he discusses further vital matters regarding "the presence of our Lord Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) What are these? See the article "Peace From God—When?"

The Watchtower, April 1st 1982 Issue, Page 22:
Time of the "First Resurrection"
8 The Scriptures link this "first resurrection" with Christ’s "presence [Greek, parousia]." (1 Corinthians 15:23) The apostle Paul writes: "The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ [starting from the first century and up to Christ’s coming to the spiritual temple in 1918] will rise first." Paul then goes on to say that the anointed Christians "who survive to the presence [parousia] of the Lord," and who therefore die during the parousia, will be immediately resurrected and "caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) They do not have to "sleep" in the grave, awaiting the resurrection. At death they are "changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."—1 Corinthians 15:51, 52, Revised Standard Version.
9 Events in fulfillment of Bible prophecies indicate that Christ’s presence, or parousia, began in the momentous year 1914. (Matthew 24:3, 7-14) Then "the kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord [Jehovah] and of his Christ." After this world-shaking event "the appointed time for the dead to be judged" came. This judging and the rewarding of those worthy began with those sharing in the "first resurrection" from Christ’s coming to the temple onward. (Revelation 11:15-18) Those anointed Christians who die faithful after the setting up of God’s kingdom are called "happy." Why so? Because theirs is an instantaneous resurrection, allowing them immediately to take up their new duties with Christ Jesus in heaven.—Revelation 14:13.
10 The resurrection of the entire number of 144,000 anointed Christians called to reign with Christ in heaven is appropriately called the "first resurrection." This is so because it precedes in time the resurrection to life on earth of mankind in general, the 144,000 becoming "firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." (Revelation 14:1, 4; James 1:18) This puts them in a position of importance, since no other humans can "be made perfect apart from" these 144,000 priests, kings and judges. (Hebrews 11:40b; Revelation 22:1, 2) Furthermore, it is superior to any earthly resurrection, the 144,000 being raised "in the likeness of his Christ’s resurrection" to incorruptible, immortal life as spirit sons of God.—Romans 6:5.

The Watchtower, June 1st 1970 Issue, Page 331:
The resurrection of the anointed Christians, who number 144,000, is to spirit life in heaven and it began to occur in 1918 C.E., after the establishment of the heavenly Kingdom in 1914. (Rev. 12:1-5; 14:1, 4; 20:4-6; 1 Cor. 15:50-55) Such Christians are "made perfect" in the heavens prior to the earthly resurrection of faithful pre-Christian witnesses of Jehovah.

The Watchtower, August 15th 1969 Issue, Page 486:
There is reason to believe, from Biblical parallels, such as Jesus’ cleansing the temple three and a half years after his being anointed as King, that it was three and a half years after Jesus was installed as King, or in 1918, that Jesus in heaven turned his attention to the judging of his faithful followers who make up the spiritual temple. At that time he rewarded those sleeping in death with a resurrection to heavenly glory. As the apostle Paul foretold, when Christ returned then "those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first."—1 Thess. 4:16; Matt. 21:12-17.

The Watchtower, August 1st 1967 Issue, Pages 455-456:
WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION BEGINS
"And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years." The thousand-year reign of Christ begins immediately after the binding of Satan and his demons and the hurling of them into the abyss. We can appreciate that not every member of the 144,000 will be in the heavens at the start of the thousand-year reign, for there will be a small remnant on the earth who survive Armageddon and who remain on earth for an unstated time. So the statement does not mean that every last one has to be in the heavens with Christ for the entire thousand-year reign. Those who died prior to the establishment of the Kingdom were resurrected at the time of Jehovah’s coming to the temple with his messenger of the covenant in 1918. Revelation 14:13 indicates that a number of the remnant die after the birth of God’s Messianic kingdom in 1914. These do not have to sleep in death until Satan the Devil is bound. They join him by a resurrection without delay.—1 Thess. 4:15, 16; 1 Cor. 15:51-54.
Therefore, when Christ’s thousand-year reign begins, the "remnant" left on earth will not glorify themselves as kings, but they will be here serving the Kingdom interests until their death occurs and they are resurrected. (2 Pet. 3:11-14; Mal. 3:17 to 4:3) They will share in Christ’s thousand-year reign. But Christ is the King and it is his thousand-year rule. It is not necessary for all to be with him the full thousand years. He has been given full Kingdom power. (Rev. 12:5, 10; Ps. 2:8) His reign is a thousand years long from the time of the abyssing of Satan, and most of the 144,000 are with him from the beginning of this period. The parenthetical statement, "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended," is here inserted because the 144,000 who share with Jesus Christ as his new administrators get the reward of life first. John writes of the 144,000: "This is the first resurrection." It is first in time, importance and quality, for the first resurrection is the same kind of resurrection that Jesus Christ experienced.—1 Pet. 3:18; Rom. 6:3-9; Phil. 3:9-11; 2 Tim. 2:11, 12.
"Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority." Jesus looked forward to sharing in a marvelous resurrection, and his followers happily anticipate this. They are raised up from their earthly bodies, which are mortal and corruptible, and changed, in that they are given incorruptible, immortal bodies. They are able to enter into the very presence of God, who is immortal. The "second death" symbolized by the "fiery lake that burns with sulphur" into which the "wild beast" and the "false prophet" were hurled has "no authority" over the 144,000, for immortality means deathlessness. Jesus Christ was given "indestructible life" and these are sharers with him.—1 Cor. 15:53, 54; Heb. 7:16.

The Watchtower, February 15th 1965 Issue, Pages 102-104:
6 Revelation 20:13 says that "the sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Ha´des gave up those dead in them." This does not include the 144,000 footstep followers of Jesus Christ who are referred to in Hebrews 2:16 as "Abraham’s seed," by means of whom all the nations of our earth will procure an everlasting blessing. (Rev. 7:3-8; 14:1, 3; Gen. 12:3; 22:18) Nineteen centuries ago Ha´des or Sheol gave up the dead Jesus Christ, and these 144,000 faithful followers who are his spiritual brothers are made like him in having part in what is called "the first resurrection."
7 According to indications in the Bible, their resurrection began in the year 1918 C.E., or three and a half years after Jesus Christ was enthroned and crowned as heavenly King to begin ruling in the midst of his enemies. (Ps. 110:1, 2; Heb. 10:12, 13; Rev. 14:13) Hence before Revelation, chapter twenty, tells us about the delivering up of the dead ones by the sea and by death and Ha´des, it tells us first about the resurrection of the 144,000 spiritual followers of Jesus Christ, in the following words:
8 "I saw thrones, and there were those who sat down on them, and power of judging was given them. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed with the ax for the witness they bore to Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had worshiped neither the wild beast nor its image and who had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death [symbolized by the lake of fire] has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years."—Rev. 20:4-6, 14; 21:8.
"THE FIRST RESURRECTION"
9 When we say that Revelation 20:13 does not include the above-mentioned 144,000 joint heirs of Jesus Christ, we do not mean that these 144,000 do not go at death into Ha´des or Sheol, or into death in the sea if they should die at sea and their bodies not be recovered for burial on the dry land. In order to have part in "the first resurrection," they need to be raised out of Ha´des or out of death in the sea. The words of Jesus Christ plainly give us to understand this fact when he told his twelve apostles about building his church or congregation upon himself as the foundation rock, for he said: "On this rockmass [petra] I will build my congregation, and the gates of Ha´des will not overpower it." (Matt. 16:18) And after his own resurrection from the dead, Jesus said in his vision to the apostle John: "I am the First and the Last, and the living one; and I became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Ha´des." "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: He that conquers will by no means be harmed by the second death," and so he will be resurrected.—Rev. 1:17, 18; 2:11.
10 The resurrected Jesus Christ will bring to nothing the Devil "having the means to cause death." As Jesus possesses the keys of death and of Ha´des, he will not permit Ha´des to overpower his faithful congregation of 144,000 spiritual brothers. After his heavenly enthronement as King in 1914 C.E., he breaks the power of death and of Ha´des and releases the dead members of his congregation to take part in "the first resurrection." By this invisible, spiritual resurrection, the 144,000 join him in the heavens as his joint heirs to reign and be priests and judges with him for the thousand years that Satan the Devil is bound in the abyss. They are not pictured as standing before the "great white throne" to be judged. Instead, Revelation 20:4 says that they sat down on thrones and "power of judging was given them." Thus their death in Ha´des does not become an endless death, an everlasting death, which is what is signified by the expression "the second death."
11 Repeatedly Jesus Christ assured his faithful disciples that death and Ha´des would not overpower them forever. As God’s instrument for resurrecting, he would see to it that their death in faithfulness to him did not become everlasting. He said:
12 "This is the will of him that sent me, that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given me but that I should resurrect it at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone that beholds the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him at the last day." "No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him; and I will resurrect him in the last day. . . . Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood [by means of faith], you have no life in yourselves. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day."—John 6:39, 40, 44, 53, 54.
13 Even on earth Jesus Christ gave us examples of his coming resurrection power. He brought back to life his dear friend Lazarus, who was then in Sheol for the fourth day. Just before that Jesus said to Martha, the sister of Lazarus: "I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all." After that Jesus had the stone taken away from in front of the memorial tomb and then called Lazarus back to life and out of the tomb. In this miraculous way Martha got her brother Lazarus back sooner than she expected, for she had said to Jesus: "I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day."—John 11:24-44.
14 Of course, Lazarus died again, presumably as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. So he returned to Sheol or Ha´des. But Ha´des will not overpower him as a member of the faithful Christian congregation, for it could not overpower him on that day when Jesus came to Bethany to awaken him from his four-day sleep of death. Only this time, after he is raised from Ha´des with the rest of the Christian congregation by Jesus Christ when ruling as King in God’s kingdom, Lazarus will never die again.—John 11:26.
15 Since Revelation 20:5, 6 speaks of "the first resurrection," it indicates that there is a certain order followed in the resurrection as a whole. This is clearly told to us in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, which speaks to us about the resurrection of the 144,000 disciples who will have a glorious, heavenly, spiritual resurrection. Those verses cited read: "Now Christ has been raised up from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a man. For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive. But each one in his own rank: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence."
16 Revelation, chapter twenty, also indicates order by depicting for us first the coming to life of the 144,000 joint heirs of Jesus Christ, who are made happy in the first resurrection, and later the deliverance from the sea and from Ha´des of all the other dead who get the opportunity for eternal life on earth.

The Watchtower, August 1st 1960 Issue, Page 462:
In a time parallel, Jesus Christ was enthroned as King in heaven A.D. 1914. Three and a half years later, or in 1918, would be the time for him to come to God’s spiritual temple. Would Christendom’s rulers receive him or reject him as King? They rejected him and showed it by killing the work of Jehovah’s witnesses concerning the Kingdom. Just as the Jewish leaders’ rejection of Jesus could not prevent God’s raising of his Son from the dead, so Christendom’s rejection of the King could not prevent God from raising Jesus’ faithful followers from the dead. So in harmony with the picture of 1900 years ago, it was only a short time after the temple’s cleansing in 1918 that the heavenly resurrection of the anointed Christians sleeping in death took place, unseen to human eyes. The nations were then at war: "‘But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged’ . . . And the temple sanctuary of God that is in heaven was opened." (Rev. 11:18, 19) The spring of A.D. 1918 marked the opening of the temple to the King’s entrance and thereafter the resurrection of the anointed Christians who, along with Jesus, make up "the temple of the living God."—2 Cor. 6:16.

refiners fire

John. Indeed. You may be interested in what the book THEN IS FINISHED THE MYSTERY OF GOD (1969) Has to say on the subject of the 1918 resurrection. On page 67 it tells us relative to the "sleeping" saints who were under the alter calling out for vengeance:

..." Something was done for them in 1918. What? Revelation 6 v 11 says that a 'white robe was given to each of them' . This DOUBTLESS refers to their resurrection from the dead at that time and their entranve into the heavenly"....

One may wonder why this is "doubtless" a fact. The book immediately explains why, with typically Brilliant Freddie Franz logic:

,,,"It would hardly be fitting for those slaughtered souls to recieve these white robes while REMAINING UNDER the alter. How long could long flowing robes be kept white under there?"

Brilliant analysis there.Their robes would get dirt on them if they stayed under the alter. Lol

refiners fire

Holy camoley UDF.....give me the rest of the afternoon to read and contemplate THAT one. Lol.

refiners fire

"If our faith is that Jesus died and rose again, so, too, those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus God will bring with him. For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first."—1 Thessalonians 4:14-16. ... After 1914, during Jesus’ "presence" in Kingdom power, he, as the archangel, issues the heavenly command for those "in union with Christ" to assemble. In the case of such anointed ones "asleep in death," this trumpetlike summons calls for their spiritual resurrection into the heavens. The Watchtower has long presented the view that this resurrection of anointed Christians from death commenced in the year 1918".

UDF, they sure like that 1st thessalonians chapter 4 passage which says:

"we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death"

if the blessed remnant in the flesh were" resurrected" to activity in 1919, then the Dead members of the 144,000 MUST have been resurrected to heaven prior to that. Sick reasoning if Ive ever seen it.

petespal2002

But then don't the WTBTS assert somewhere that DURING the time period of Luke 21 when men will faint out of fear because the sign of the son of man has appeared in the heavens, those who have been raised tp the heavens will be 'revealed' to those of the great crowd on earth. So the idea is wait and see who went to heaven from 1918 onwards, that it is unnecassary to know now.

czarofmischief

Why the research? Im as big a looney as they are, what other answer is there? Lol

I'm glad you're on our side, RF... lol

CZAR

Pistoff

Great post RF.

Rest assured, here is being discussed details that 99.9% of JW's will never ever contemplate; never think of or discuss rationally or critically.

Comparative critique is just not in their lexicon.

Francois

Refiner's, you're stomping all around a great scripture that the society should consider making their official policy in all things and that is 1 Thess. 4:11. Read that sucker and tell me if you don't agree that it would constitute a fitting policy for the doddering old fools who run this unspeakable organization.

francois

What happened to the 1918 'Resurrection' ?

somebody

johnny cip

UnDisfellowshipped

refiners fire

refiners fire

refiners fire

petespal2002

czarofmischief

Pistoff

Francois

Share this