Posts by Doug Mason

5

Satan. Lucifer. Devil

by Doug Mason in

searchable.. full contents listing at the rear.. http://www.jwstudies.com/revolutions_part_5__satan__lucifer__devil.pdf .

doug.

Doug Mason

Kepler,

Thank you for these references, which I will save. These by Calvin are particularly good.

"Satan" was one of the "sons of God" carrying out actions sanctioned by God and controlled by God. Satan acted as the Prosecutor in God's court. Around 300 BCE, the idea of "Devil" evolved. Later the two entities were merged.

"Lucifer" on the other hand, as your sources confirm, refers to "light", to Venus, which is the name of the Morning Star. It is not evil, as 2 Peter and the Book of Revelation show, with Jesus saying he is the "morning star" (Rev. 22:16. Compare 2 Peter 1:19; Rev. 2:28).

My view is that humanity will discover the source of all evil by looking in the mirror. Until then, all "Others" will be cast as evil and satanic, giving people the excuse to exterminate anyone who does not agree with them. An explanation for religion being the source of conflict, whether in the home, nationally, or internationally ("the Axis of Evil").

Doug

5

Satan. Lucifer. Devil

by Doug Mason in

searchable.. full contents listing at the rear.. http://www.jwstudies.com/revolutions_part_5__satan__lucifer__devil.pdf .

doug.

Doug Mason

Searchable.

Full Contents listing at the rear.

http://www.jwstudies.com/Revolutions_Part_5__Satan__Lucifer__Devil.pdf

Doug

15

What does the WTS say about Satan?

by Doug Mason in

over the past several months, i have been assembling a study dealing with the life and times of satan, the devil.

it is my intention to release the first draft in a few weeks.. i have provided the draft of the last chapter at:.

http://www.jwstudies.com/pages_174-200.pdf .

Doug Mason

Finkelstein,

I agree. Satan sees his genesis at the time monotheism became dominant and entrenched. This took place in association with the Babylonian Captivity and Exile (6th century BCE).

Now that they had only one God, the Jews had to wrestle with the problem that "Badness" existed. The technical term is: Theodicy - Since there is a perfect God, how is it possible for Badness to exist? Previously, the Israelites and Judahites recognised the existence of several gods.

That issue was addressed through the creation of a being who is today known as Satan, Devil, and so on. Initially, Satan was the individual employed by God to do his "not so nice things". At his beginning, Satan was not the evil individual that he became much later.

Doug

15

What does the WTS say about Satan?

by Doug Mason in

over the past several months, i have been assembling a study dealing with the life and times of satan, the devil.

it is my intention to release the first draft in a few weeks.. i have provided the draft of the last chapter at:.

http://www.jwstudies.com/pages_174-200.pdf .

Doug Mason

Hi Ireneus,

Yes, Snake is in Eden, but Satan is not there.

Snake is the wisest of all the animals that God created (Gen 3:1). The caduceus symbol is used in the contexts of eloquence and wisdom.

Moses used a miracle with snakes to demonstrate to Pharaoh the power of God. Moses also elevated Snake for the people to see, which is employed by the Gospel writer as symbolic of Jesus being elevated.

Snake was used by the ancients as the symbol of rebirth and regeneration, given the way it sheds its skin.

Doug

15

What does the WTS say about Satan?

by Doug Mason in

over the past several months, i have been assembling a study dealing with the life and times of satan, the devil.

it is my intention to release the first draft in a few weeks.. i have provided the draft of the last chapter at:.

http://www.jwstudies.com/pages_174-200.pdf .

Doug Mason

Ireneus,

I too have found the subject of Satan fascinating and absorbing.

I am interested in seeing any verifiable reliable sources and locations, along with the specific texts. I cannot rely on hearsay or anecdotes as evidence.

The remit I give myself is to focus on the Hebraic, Jewish, and Christian beliefs. The topic is vast enough without drawing in distant faith-based belief systems, whether Greek, Indian, Mayan, and the like. I am not keen on venturing too much into the early Canaanites, Assyrians, Philistines, or other immediate neighbours, despite their obvious influences

Even with my self-imposed limitations, I have gathered about 200 pages of material (100,000 words plus several images).

Thank you for your interest.

Doug

15

What does the WTS say about Satan?

by Doug Mason in

over the past several months, i have been assembling a study dealing with the life and times of satan, the devil.

it is my intention to release the first draft in a few weeks.. i have provided the draft of the last chapter at:.

http://www.jwstudies.com/pages_174-200.pdf .

Doug Mason

Over the past several months, I have been assembling a Study dealing with the life and times of Satan, the Devil. It is my intention to release the First Draft in a few weeks.

I have provided the Draft of the last Chapter at:

http://www.jwstudies.com/Pages_174-200.pdf

This Chapter deals with Satan in the 20th and 21st centuries. As such, it is the tail at the end of the dog. You do not know what the body looks like, so there will be loose ends.

Nevertheless, I am seeking your suggestions as well as your corrections.

This Chapter includes a Section with quotations on Satan/Devil/demons by the Watchtower Society [WTS]. Please tell me:

1. Am I presenting the WTS correctly or have I made mistakes?

2. Are there better quotations that I should consider as replacements?

3. Are there additional quotations that I should consider?

If you have replacement or additional quotations, you need to provide me with accurate and comprehensive details of the passage and its source.

Thank you,

Doug

19

Summary of WT Foundation Quotes

by Vanderhoven7 in

the watchtower, november 1, 1922, pp.332-337.

do you believe that the king of glory is present, and has been since 1874?… this is the day of all days.

behold, the king reigns!

Doug Mason

If you are looking for more quotations, here is a listing that was compiled by "Glasshouse".

http://www.jwstudies.com/The_List_from_Hourglass.pdf

Doug

19

Summary of WT Foundation Quotes

by Vanderhoven7 in

the watchtower, november 1, 1922, pp.332-337.

do you believe that the king of glory is present, and has been since 1874?… this is the day of all days.

behold, the king reigns!

Doug Mason

Confusedandangry,

If they keep having "new light", when will they have the True Light? How will anyone know what is Truth, if it is subject to change? Does Truth then matter?

Or is it really a matter of WHO is giving the message, rather than WHAT they are saying?

There are, of course, factors at the very personal and family level which come into play, which you would be familiar with, that override any rationality.

Doug

19

Summary of WT Foundation Quotes

by Vanderhoven7 in

the watchtower, november 1, 1922, pp.332-337.

do you believe that the king of glory is present, and has been since 1874?… this is the day of all days.

behold, the king reigns!

Doug Mason

From 1876, Russell taught that the Parousia had taken place in 1874. He then designated the following 40 years to be the "Time of Trouble". This would terminate in 1914 with unprecedented peace under the auspices of the Jews.

Because of this, he named his periodical "Zion's Watch Tower" -- because of his Zionist beliefs, and he subtitled that same magazine as "Herald of Christ's Presence", because he was "heralding" that it had taken place in 1874.

For a while, Rutherford maintained his support for the return of the Jews. Likewise, until about 1930, he maintained the Parousia had taken place in 1874.

I collected and sorted many of these passages in:

http://www.jwstudies.com/The_Watch_Tower_Society_Reveals_Itself.pdf (searchable)

When Russell's predictions regarding 1914 turned out to absolutely hopelessly wrong, Rutherford amended the offending words -- and kept selling the books. For example, "before 1914" was changed to "after 1914".

I provide the evidences at:

http://www.jwstudies.com/Changed_MD_and_SS_words.pdf

Doug

23

Jesus Christ—The Greatest Scientist (and Psychologist) who ever lived on earth!

by Ireneus in

if we eliminate all the controversial and confusing verses attributed to jesus we will get the crystal clear truth from him because his source was (1) god which can be seen from his habit of early morning talking to god in prayer (mark 1:35; john 8:1, 2) which would not have been for material blessings (mathew 6:8; 16:24), and (2) also observance of people.. 1) jesus who said judgment is based on whether we acted humanely or not (mathew 25:31-46) would not have spoken about god’s people and pagans (which means bulk of the things found in gospel had not been spoken/done by jesus).. 2) another important truth he said was about the real key to our happiness which he said is with each one of us.

(luke 17:21).

from his observance of history, he knew there are people from adversities who made great contribution to the world; and there are people from all abundance who lived a life of wastage accomplishing nothing; and there are people who are mixed in varying degree.

Doug Mason

Ireneus,

When we read Mark, Matthew and Luke, we are discovering what each of those communities thought of their own local situation. None of those writers was an eyewitness. None of them heard or saw Jesus. Mark was written 40 years after Jesus lived; Matthew a further 15 years later, while Luke is later still.

Each writing group was making points against others of their own time. Matthew, for example was deeply antagonistic towards Pharisees, so they write a tirade against them (Chapter 23).

None of them was writing literal history. All Bible writers were creating religious stories to influence their own group and against their opposition. This is the feature and purpose of all religious publications, including in our own time. Propaganda.

So seek the reason for any statement they make in terms of their own group, rather than seeing statements being ascribed to Jesus as actually having been said by him.

Doug.