many here seem to believe that the position of agnosticism is somehow more reasonable than theism or atheism.
nonsense!
it is a misconception to believe that belief or non-belief in the existence of god/s are the two extremes which glare at each other over the fence of agnosticism.
Simple answer I think!
Just as atheist is a/ theist meaning "no theist" theist being god.
why shouldn't agnostic be a/ gnostic meaning "no gnostic" gnostic being knowledge?
agnostic asks questions because he doesn't have the knowledge he is asking questions about.
Works for me!
Steam Psalm 50:5
i was visited by jehovah's witnesses three times, and i decided to attend a meeting of theirs (which was this morning).
i had brought a page of questions because i was expecting more of a discussion.
this was not the case and i left after two hours.
"WHOM THE LORD KNEW FACE TO FACE" To others of the prophets the Lord usually manifested himself through visions or dreams or by angels in human form, but seemingly Moses was granted a still closer approach to the divine presence. When thinking of the expression, "face to face," we should understand it to signify that Moses enjoyed a closeness of fellowship and favor with the Lord rather than that he really looked into the face of Jehovah, concerning which it is written, "No man can see my face and live" (`Ex. 33:20`); and again, "Whom no man hath seen or can see." (`I Tim. 6:16`.) It may be that our Lord Jesus as Michael especially represented the Father with Moses, as it was he who prevented the Adversary from having Moses' body after death. But in any event, applying the matter antitypically to the Christ, we see that in a special sense the antitypical Moses in the flesh throughout this Gospel Age has had a favor in connection with the divine presence not enjoyed by any others of previous times. We see the Lord's face with the eye of faith, for we have seen our Lord Jesus, who represents the Father, and who declares that whosoever hath seen him hath seen the Father--has enjoyed the best possible revelation of the Father whom no man hath seen. Again he declares respecting the Church, his Body, "Their angels [messengers] do always have access to the face of my Father," as though he would tell us that all of our interests and affairs are brought directly to the Father's attention, so that there is no danger of any delay and any peradventure that all things will work together for good to them who love him. Again we see the Father's face in the sense that we see his love, which is displayed to us through a knowledge of the Truth by the holy Spirit granted to us. Not merely divine Exxcerpt from WT, Reprints, page 4055. Available on ctrussell.us Probably most if not all of your contradictions can be explained in Pastor Russell's writings. Sad that you do not believe the Bible to be from God. Steam Psalm 50:5 145:18-20
About Acts 7:59 and Stephen asking Lord Jesus receive my spirit.
Jesus had told them that all judgment had been turned over to him. Also they were in the gospel of the Law Age. The King had come and the Jews had him killed. Paul had not yet brought out the Gospel of the High Calling. Stephan saw Jesus next to God and thought it proper to speak unto Jesus.
Jesus is to be the God of earth during his kingdom. (Rev. 21:7) The resurrected billions will pray to Jesus, NOT to Jehovah.
Stephen knew that all spirits return unto God but Jesus had the power of judgment. And that was what concerned Stephen, his being judged. (Ecclesiastes 12:6,7) (John 5:22)(Matt. 11:27)(Acts 17:31)(1 Peter 4:5)(John 3:35, 17:2)
why is the bible never read in context?
just read the passage straight through and learn from that passage.
why is there always something to decode?
Think of the finished product! It takes many scriptures from different books of the Bible to explain God's Divine Plan of the Ages.
You can read thru the Bible, verse by verse but not understand much about truth.
Pastor Russell. wrote his books on "Topics" with many scriptures being used from all over the Bible. He is the only one who has brought out the understanding of the Bible and the Great Divine Plan.
You would do well to read his books; "The Studies in the Scriptures"..
Steam Psalm 50:5
ok, here's a hypothetical that i'm curious about.. what if armageddon really did happen?
not necessarily according to jw terms or timetable, but at some point it happens in your lifetime.
would any of you return to the jws?.
This post is for Lowden of UK.
You lack understanding of what is being done by God. You should read the books written by Pastor Russell called "Studies in the Scriptures".
We are living thru "The Permission of Evil".. Sin has been allowed to prevail for six thousand years and in the seventh thousand years it will be stopped. By Christ's Kingdom.
Try to see the BIG PICTURE.
God is going to put creatures on billions of planets. He will rule in righteousness. Justice will be the norm.
When disobedience showed its self; God decided that it would be used as an illustration of the consequences of sin, how horrible that could become. Satan was put on planet earth because of his blatant ambition to replace God and the actions he committed in acquiring gemstones to wear on his body.
Then the first animal with reasoning ability, Adam, was created on planet earth. You know the story about Eve and the serpent. Instigated by Satan with the first lie. Satan didn't have to grasp for power but he did. Adam didn't have to eat the fruit but he did.
The consequences of that small sin that Adam committed have been tremendous; we, the human race are the victims, we have had to suffer thru the results. We are the Pioneers of the Universe.
God had a plan whereby he would recover as many as possible from sin and death. We call it "salvation". Eventuall;y most of the human race will receive eternal human life. Also from this sinner race God is making his own family, the called out class, the Church, the 144,000. There will be a great multitude who receive spirit life and serve in God's authority.. Further knowledge of God's Plans is limited; till we reach the 8th Creative Day.
God's Justice demands that a sinner must die. He is trying to teach us about this terrible thing called death. He has the power to bring back one and all to life. Killing one or a thousand is no extreme thing to him. He has set many examples in the Bible of what he can do and what he will do under certain circumstances. This is God's Experimental Farm, some things work out well and some may not. But God has put on a great demonstration of his righteousness and his power over thousands of years. Even the angels have been affected and they have been observers of these things also.
When other creatures are put on other planets they will be instructed about Justice and Death by what happened to Adam's family. Sin will not be permitted, summary Justice will prevail. Being perfect they will be well instructed without practicing sin. If one does sin, bang he dies. Immediately. God is not going to allow sin in his Universe. Somewhere an illustration had to be made and that somewhere is on planet earth.
I suggest strongly that you stop bad mouthing God or Jesus. You are inviting disaster.
Steam Psalm 50:5
do you believe in the existence of angels?
what about demons?
do you believe in the biblical heirarchy of seraphs, cherubs etc?
Yes, I believe angels exist, the fallen ones are among us and soon will have greater liberty for their judgment by the Church. They will cause havoc in the world. I do not believe that men will turn into angels. The 144,000 and the Great Multitude will become spirit beings of a higher order than angels. The Seraphs are spirit beings but the cherubim are not. There is an order among spirit beings of rank and authority. There is much more of the unseen Universe than of visible things.
Steam Psalm 50:5
ok, here's a hypothetical that i'm curious about.. what if armageddon really did happen?
not necessarily according to jw terms or timetable, but at some point it happens in your lifetime.
would any of you return to the jws?.
Why don't you people look the word "Armageddon" up in Strong's. It's real meaning is the attitude of the nations which brought on WWl and continues in the world today. We have been in Armageddon since 1914. It's a long period of time, a condition NOT a location. The big fight of Ezekiel 38,39 is at Jerusalem not Megiddo. Apocalypse means revealment or revelation, that's all. The word is being misused by many.
Pastor Russell said: "our eyes of understanding should discern clearly the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty now in progress." WT Sep't. 1, 1916 page 265 Reprints 5951
That is Armageddon.
Steam Psalm 50:5
i've been taught as a j.w.
that the "new heavens" is made up of 144,000 annointed christians and the "new earth" are those that will inhabit the earth in a paradise.
i've noticed a sundry of differing minds on this site and i would appreciate any different takes on this scripture found at isaiah and 2 peter thanks still nothing.
Jehovah used to live in the center of the galaxy on a planet
Once, this is the first time I heard this. Can you fill in more explanation?
My Thanks to Lovely Lil for her supportiing statements.
Steam Psalm 50:5
i've been taught as a j.w.
that the "new heavens" is made up of 144,000 annointed christians and the "new earth" are those that will inhabit the earth in a paradise.
i've noticed a sundry of differing minds on this site and i would appreciate any different takes on this scripture found at isaiah and 2 peter thanks still nothing.
Revelation 21:1- "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."
Remember the first world passed away in a great flood- deluge of water but; the earth is still here.
The Bible states that the earth is here forever. (Ecclesiastes 1:4, Psalm 78:69, 104:5, Isaiah 45:18 says; formed it to be inhabitated. The planet is always going to be here.
Thus the scriptures you refer to are using symbolic language.
Earth is the society of mankind.
Heaven is the higher powers unseen to man. Satan and his angels.
Sea is the irreligious element of society. The sea class.
A new heaven under Christ and the 144,000 and the Great Multitude.
A new earth or society of righteousness.
But a sea class no longer exists.
When a verse seems unreal consider the symbolic application in interpretation.
Steam Psalm 50:5
last night i heard for the first time that other religions teach that mary was always a virgin and that she never had any more children.
please explain how jw's arrive to say she did have more children.
i am so lost because i haven't been to a meeting in a hundred years.
Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born. That seems clear enough.
Did Mary have other children? Some say YES!
Others say NO!
Best for you to study it and make up your own mind!
I believe Mary had several children, Jesus being the first one.
Steam Psalm 50:5
