Posts by JCanon

64

Since it is obvious all religion is wrong why do so many believe?

by jwfacts in

any religion that claims it is the only correct one is obviously wrong.

by it's arrogance it becomes mutually exclusive of any other religion.

when one steps back they can see that the contradiction of one religion over the others is a proof that they all must be wrong.

JCanon

Daunt, I think you make an excellent point!

Christianity today, I feel, does not do much besides help people feel important in this life that does not give free importance tickets. I feel that in this day and age, we have too many other avenues that help individuals more than God-thought to go on their way of life.

I believe the simple practice of some type of religion with some decent ideals has it's own benefits within itself, whether based upon fantasies or realities. Doctrinal issues and "truth" are another matter entirely. Case in point I dismiss the witness organization for their Biblical inaccuracies but if I had children to raise I'd definitely want them raised as witnesses in that envirnment because the social situation in the witness cult-community teach great practical life fundamentals (except not going to college!) Good observation.

JC

18

A Gospel Puzzle

by thinker in

(this is wt bs!

so with fear and great joy, these women also run off.. (matt 28:8 also mary m. and other mary.

mary m. has already gone according to the wt!).

JCanon

What seems to be one thing might due to lack of expertise with koine Greek and understanding adequately idiomatic expressions. When these are taken into complete consideration there is complete harmony between the gospels.

Passover was held on Nisan 14 from y to Midnight, followed by Jesus' arrest on Nisan 15th when the date changed at Midnight (i.e. one of the details of Jewish dating not appreciated). That was a Saturday and a sabbath in 33 CE. He did not go in front of the Sanhedrine until sunrise and was there close to five hours before being presented before Pilate just before Noon. He was interrogated for a while but Pilate sent him to Herod later that afternoon. Jesus was in the custody of Herod for the following 4 days where he conducted trials before having to return Jesus with a verdict in time for the customary release of one prisoner. Jesus trial was on Wednesday, Nisan 19th at Noon, before "preparation for passover" sabbath day of Nisan 21st. He was impaled at 9:00 p.m. later that day of preparation which began at sundown and remained on the torture stake until the following day at Noon, Nisan 20th, when it became dark for three hours, at which point he expired around 3:00 p.m. Nisan 20th. This was just a few hours before sabbath would begin of Nisan 21st. He was put into the tomb before sabbath began and remained there the rest of that day and two days and three nights, rising on Nisan 23rd before 3:00 a.m. He remained on the planet for 40 days and ascended to heaven 3 days before Pentecost when Holy Spirit was sent.

That is what the coordinated gospels confirm. There is no conflict. Just lack of understanding of Jewish customs and terms and language syntax.

But, if you don't know these details of language and custom, it is possible to get confused as many have.

JC

18

A Gospel Puzzle

by thinker in

(this is wt bs!

so with fear and great joy, these women also run off.. (matt 28:8 also mary m. and other mary.

mary m. has already gone according to the wt!).

JCanon

The actual problem is with Biblical scholarship being inadequately familiar with the cultural influences and practices back then. Miriam, that is "Mary" was used in that culture the same way "Maria" and "Jesus" is used in Latin American cultures. It is quite proliferative. Look at all the different Mary's associated with Jesus? His own mother was named "Mary".

This brings us to Mary Magdalene. Back then, sometimes a persons station, place of birth or other affiliation was used to distinguish them from others. There was no true "surname" practice going on. Thus "Mary Magdalene" is often misconstrued as a a surname or a second name instead of a reference to an occupation ior position, such as a housekeeper companion. This is likely the case since Mary Magdalene is consistently associated with other households. The Mary Magdalene who first saw Jesus in the garden seems to be connected with the household of Peter and John who might have been living together at the time. The Mary Magdalane who saw Jesus on the road with the "Other Mary" was, obviously with the "Other Mary" and perhaps her maid/companion. And the Mary Magdalene who arrived after the sun came up with Jesus' mother Mary and other relatives to put spices on the grave was likely a servant in her household.

Magdalene is considered to be related to "Madeline" or "Magda" which in German is a reference to a 'maid'. Thus a "Magdalene" might have been a formal title given to a professional housekeeper and companion or that position.

So, lets say, because of the extremely popular use of the name Mary, the Marys that were oftentimes houseservants were called Mary Magdalenes, or "Maid Mary". Problem is, three of the households closely connected with Jesus had Maid Marys in their households. Now everyone back then knew all there of the Mary Magdalenes. The problem came when writing the gospels was distinguishing when each of them visited the tomb of Jesus. You could not very well simply give one account since others who knew when the other Mary Magdalenes arrived would presume a conflict. So how the gospels handled it was to give the details of each with some "identification" recognizable to those back there of which was which. This seems to be the association with the household she was attached to, that is the household of Peter and John, the Other Mary and Mary the Mother of Jesus, respectively, for the three different times they arrived.

Also the specific times and some differing circumstances when arrival at the tomb were included to distinguish the three visits, not that giving the specific times should have been enough. The first Mary Magdalene who was maid to Peter and John arrived at night, shortly after 3:00 a.m. It was still dark. She encountered Jesus near the tomb and presumed he was a gardener.

The second Mary Magdalane and her employer, "The Other Mary" arrived shortly before sunrise. Jesus had left the area by then but they encountered him on the road.

The last Mary Magdalene to arrive, a servant in the houshold of Jesus' Mother Mary who came with spices, didn't come until after the sun had risen and it was already light. When they got to the tomb Jesus was long gone and they didn't see him.

So that's why the accounts are all so different. It's because there were three different Mary Magdalenes in these three different households coming to the tomb at three different tiems and they sort of had to include each visit so as not to confuse. But because the gospels handled the visits separately, in later times, especially with a title like "Mary Magdalene" which seems like a distinctive name for one individual, some have become confused and thought that the gospels were in conflict, and others have tried to explain why there was no conflict and haromize them, when in fact, its' just a matter of observing these were three different women coming to the tomb at three different times and different circumstances.

Sorry but the gospel writers, Jews, were not dummies who couldn't manage to coordinate their stories of what happened during the visit of a single woman to the tomb of Jesus as some presume.

So as noted, sometimes the lack of perception among scholars creates problems that are not really there. The case of not recognizing there were three different Mary Magadelenes and that "Magadelene" was a title (similar in our culture for say a nurse, i.e. Nurse Ratchet) is one example. Some of it is bias as well. That is, looking for "errors" they can exploit to condemn the gospels, there is no real effort to analyze the situation fully to find some resolution to a seeming conflict. Instead the error is taken superficially and then exploited in error. So the dumber the scholars are the greater the number of errors, the smarter the scholars are, the less the perceived contradictions.

Obviosly, this one was not that difficult to resolve.

JC

32

Is the bible inspired?

by jwfacts in

i am trying to determine if it can be proved that the bible is inspired, and was wondering if most people here believe it is or is not.. i am writing a document on proof of inspiration, but it has ended up more of an article that shows the bible can not be proven to be inspired.

i will be interested in what people think about it when it is finished.

however i am worried that posting such an article may alienate those on jwd that believe the bible to be gods word.

JCanon

Some people say there is no evidence for God or for inspiration or any of that. But that is only because God or an angel has not personally spoken to them. Moses, who interacted with God directly would disagree because his experience was beyond the "Bible" or a written concept of a god.

So those persons whose religious experience reaches beyond the scriptures, though in harmony with the scriptures, just laugh at this. Those of us who have spoken to God or seen angels have a new reference for the authenticity of the Bible. Those who have not can only doubt, complain and scorn. But it doesn't change anything that is real or unreal.

But I will admit that having some personal spiritual event or experience, whether paranormal or drug-induced, does make a difference on whether you think there is really a god, angels or the Bible represents the truth.

JC

32

Is the bible inspired?

by jwfacts in

i am trying to determine if it can be proved that the bible is inspired, and was wondering if most people here believe it is or is not.. i am writing a document on proof of inspiration, but it has ended up more of an article that shows the bible can not be proven to be inspired.

i will be interested in what people think about it when it is finished.

however i am worried that posting such an article may alienate those on jwd that believe the bible to be gods word.

JCanon

Hello Trevor, your philosophical take on this is classic but optional..

The Bible is a book which has endured by concentrating on the past and the future. It warns against such a philosophy as mine because living for the moment makes it’s teachings redundant.

My philosophical take on this is that while we only have the "moment" now, you still can choose what you do. You can be good or bad. All God is saying is that if you continue to do good in your "moment" then you will get another moment.

As far as the angels go, they don't have defective bodies and so there's no real age limit set on their lives as in the case of animals and plants. But they were created "mortal" along with their free moral agency. Thus the only ones God gives "eternal life" to as a guarantee are those who past the test and those who past the test must be willing to die for God's cause and policies. Thus it is said that he who tries to hold on to his life (for the moment's selfish pleasures?) will lose it. He who lets go of his life for the sake of the kingdom will get it back.

Thus, those who give up the "moment" gain eternity. Those who try to hold onto the moment, lose eternity.

God's offer of eternal life addresses the "greatest love of all" and that is to love yourself. Why cut yourself short? When you choose God, over everything else, your family, wealth, whatever, then you are choosing YOURSELF over all. Serving God is the best personal choice you can make. Choosing the moment means you make things or passions, whether people or activities your "god" and those gods will eventually kill you. And without life? You have nothing. And that moment is forgotten. Satan thinks the glorious moment is better than the eternal compromise. God understands. Accepts the rejection. Allows the moment within reason, and then that moment and that person is forgotten by those who choose eternal life.

Your argument becomes a moot point though, when if each of us is given that one moment, an we can choose God or Satan, those who choose God out of preference to God are the happy with their choice. The extended life is just a perk....a very BIG perk!

The way I look at it, people willing die for causes all the time. Why not die for God's cause since it is the more noble of causes? But especially since you can also get eternal life? There actually is more to be concerned with than this moment after all, no?

JC

6

Abomination of Desolation - could this have been the holocaust?

by Qcmbr in

if so it does say that the second coming would follow such a time.

JCanon

Qcmbr

You are right on the money!!! The "disgusting thing that causes desolation" is Gog of Magog who desolates Israel just before the Messiah arrives. Since the Nazis desolated the Jews during the Holocaust, they fulfill the abdomination causing desolation!

Gog of Magog relates the the racist policies adopted by the children of Magog who was the son of Japath, Noah's eldest son and the father of the "white" nations, thus the Germans. These would desolate modern-day Judah only leaving one-third to survive and return to Zion (Zech 13:8).

That white racism would continue to be a problem is noted that Satan inspires Gog of Magog to rebel against Christ and the anointed at the end of the millennium.

The "disgusting thing" also relates to the connection with the pagain mysteries. The Nazis weer known to be into the occult and practices linking them to ancient cultic practices. A central theme of the "mysteries" was to suffer through several degrees in an attempt to go from being human to becoming a "god" and often that is translated into the racist concept of the purity of being white skinned as opposed to dark-skinned. What is elevated among men though is a disgusting thing to God, so this abomination causes desolation of Judah at the time of the Holocaust.

The specific "sign" to look for, therefore, was when the Nazi's surrounded atypical Jerusalem, the "holy place" which was the transplanted people of Judah and their largest concentrated settlement in Warsaw, Poland. When the Nazis in 1939 surrounded Warsaw, literally, that was the sign when the bombardment was over to flee to the mountains. If you didn't then the Jews were sealed off into ghettos and eventually liquidated.

This also has to occur during the prescribed chronology time period of 7 years from 1940 to 1947, a time period "cut short or no flesh would be saved." That is the entire nation of Jews would have been destroyed if WWII was not cut short, the severe winter in Russia helping to slow the Nazis down. As it was, though, they did effectively fulfill Biblel prophecy and exterminate two-thirds of the Jewish population in Europe which served as atypical "Judah" in this prophecy.

The "holy place" is also a reference to Jehovah's witnesses, thus the focus of the Nazis in persecuting the witnesses was also a sign.

When this "great tribulation" ended as Daniel 12 notes, and the Jews are no longer in exile, it ends 1290 days. The Messiah was to arrive 45 years later.

Nazi Germany is also the "head that received the death stroke" of the 666 Beast representing the nations of Christendom. This head received the death stroke when conquered in 1945 but then it revived to become the strongest European economy again to fulfill prophecy.

JC

32

Is the bible inspired?

by jwfacts in

i am trying to determine if it can be proved that the bible is inspired, and was wondering if most people here believe it is or is not.. i am writing a document on proof of inspiration, but it has ended up more of an article that shows the bible can not be proven to be inspired.

i will be interested in what people think about it when it is finished.

however i am worried that posting such an article may alienate those on jwd that believe the bible to be gods word.

JCanon

Your reply was in earnest as always but alas it is wasted on me.
I am more interested in the Robins returning to my garden this winter than p rophecy concerning the Jews returning to their homeland.

Thanks, but I'm thining that things may not always be the same. Your life can change overnight if a storm strikes or the government collapses. The ultimate guarantee is serving God and hoping to gain eternal life. JC

32

Is the bible inspired?

by jwfacts in

i am trying to determine if it can be proved that the bible is inspired, and was wondering if most people here believe it is or is not.. i am writing a document on proof of inspiration, but it has ended up more of an article that shows the bible can not be proven to be inspired.

i will be interested in what people think about it when it is finished.

however i am worried that posting such an article may alienate those on jwd that believe the bible to be gods word.

JCanon

Hi Trevor

But if you really must look to the bible for answers then you will need someone to decode it for you. Enter the erstwhile, mind boggling, unfathomable and inspired, expert on matters Biblical - JCanon

You know, in a way on this topic, its more fun to talk to non-believers than believers since they tend to be more objective and "logical"!!!

Thus I like to point out the prophecies which come true or "coincidences" of the Bible mixed with modern events.

Take for instance the prophecy that the Jews would be restored to their homeland after two thirds of them would be exterminated.

8 “And it must occur in all the land,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “[that] two parts in it are what will be cut off [and] expire; and as for the third [part], it will be left remaining in it. 9 And I shall certainly bring the third [part] through the fire; and I shall actually refine them as in the refining of silver, and examine them as in the examining of gold. It, for its part, will call upon my name, and I, for my part, will answer it. I will say, ‘It is my people,’ and it, in its turn, will say, ‘Jehovah is my God.’”

Two-thirds of the Jews died in the Holocaust, a third was brought through the fire and restored to Palestine. This prophecy is about the Holocaust happening just before the Jews are restored to their homeland.

THE JUBILEE: One of my favorites. The Jewish jubilee marks major events in Jewish history when they are freed from slavery are regain their homeland. The Exodus was in 1386BCE, which is 19 jubilees from 455BCE, the time the Jews returned home from Babylonian exile. But the 50th jubilee from 455BCE is 1947! I find that profoundly interesting that this final return to their homeland falls on a jubilee year. Is that a coincidence that there is a connection between 1947 and 455BCE? Maybe. Maybe not. But it it adds credibility to that concept. And thus credibility to the Bible.

Or the prophecy about the Beast with four wings as a prophecy that at one point one nation or coalition would be the absolute military superpower with no close rivals. That is precisely the situation we have now! One great superpower! The Bible prophesied it 2000 years ago and it is now happening.

As as me having the goods on how to interpret the Bible, I'm not the only one. But understanding of the secrets of the Bible was prophesied to be revealed in our day... Daniel 12:3

3 “And the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse; and those who are bringing the many to righteousness, like the stars to time indefinite, even forever."

So yes, I'm one of those "ones having insight" that was prophesied. So this is a good time, if you want to see the Bible's prophesies worked out to seek that knowledge because it is out there now being revealed.

For instance, I'm not the only one who marked 1947 and the end of the 1290 days! This seems to be rather obvious to others as well...

http://www.prophecycorner.com/agee/procon206.html

My outgoing email
From Marilyn Agee

OR

http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:SvwVYfefE6IJ:homepage.idx.com.au/fdowsett/cameo10.htm+1947+1290+days+1335+1260&hl=en

It cannot surely be coincidence that from the actual date when that statement was made by President Reagan to the day of the Feast of Trumpets in 1988 was exactly 280 days, the period of human gestation which as we know, ends with the woman's travail. Thus we can be assured that we are now in that final period of travail.
1917 + 30 (1290 - 1260) + 45 (1335 - 1290) = 1992.
Dec. 1917, or Israel's 1918 + 30 + 45 = late Sept. 1992 to late Sept. 1993. (Feast of Trumpets date).

OR

http://www.triumphpro.com/1260,1290,1335_3.htm

A "Day for a Year" -- the DUALITY of
Prophecy

According to this vital key to understanding many Biblical prophecies, a "day" in the prophetic scenario actually equals a YEAR in actual fulfillment!

Is there a "day for a year" revelation of this vital prophecy of Daniel 12? The answer is an astounding YES!

Isaac Newton, a faithful and zealous student of the Scriptures, as well as the man who discovered the law of gravity, the laws of motion, and laws of optics, in 1697 gave a lecture at Cambridge which was published by the title "The Observations on Apocalypse of the Prophet Daniel and Saint John." In the tenth and twelfth chapters of Daniel, he discusses the "last days," the coming of the Messiah, and the world events that transpire to bring about Israel's final glory. In this context, three periods of days are revealed to Daniel -- 1260, 1290, and 1335. Newton referred to them as "the days of 1260," "the days of 1290," and "the days of 1335." According to Isaac Newton, "the days of 1260" refer to a time when a world kingdom or power would give occasion to bring about the return of the Jews to their promised land. Newton wrote:

"When, at some future time, you see a major world power give occasion to the return
of the Jews to their land, write by that date, 1260. All subsequent events and times
will be pivotal to that occasion."

If we use this approach, it was on November 3, 1917, when the world's most prominent power of that time, the British Empire, issued the Balfour Declaration, permitting the Jews to go home to their original home-land in Judea. This was shortly after British General Allenby defeated the Turks in the Middle East and conquered Jerusalem, putting an end to the world's longest surviving empire of that time -- the Ottoman Empire of Turkey.

However, the crisis of World War II prompted many more Jews to flee and emigrate to Palestine, and the new British leadership was negative to Jewish immigration. Nevertheless, 30 years after the Balfour Declaration, in 1947-48, the United Nations passed a resolution establishing a Jewish homeland or nation in Palestine -- and in May 1948 Israel once again became a literal nation, although it was forced to defend its newfound frontiers from massed Arab armies which immediately attacked on all fronts!

If 1917 was the 1260 years, then the 1290 years would have been 30 years later -- the year 1947-48! This would mean that the 1335 years would be an additional 45 years later -- or 1992-93!

But what about the date that the 1260 days or "years" begins? Is that not also significant? If we count backward from 1917 A.D., 1260 years, we come to the year 658 A.D. What happened that year that would be significant to the Jews?

11

two Bible & jw questions

by carla in

first question is - husband says that god will establish a kingdom ruled by jesus (or should that be michael?

) then jesus turns it back over to god.

how's that?and what then becomes of jesus?

JCanon

First question is - Husband says that God will establish a kingdom ruled by Jesus (or should that be Michael?) THEN Jesus turns it back over to God. What? How's that?And what then becomes of Jesus? How the heck to they arrive at this? (doesn't 2Peter 1:11 say Jesus' kingdom is eternal?)

Christ turning everything back over to God is more in the sense that God's rule and the correct order of things were interrupted when Adam and Eve sinned along with Satan as part of his rebellion. 6000 years of Satanic influence and mankind's rule would transpire followed by a "rest" from Satan during Christ's millennial rule. But things are not quite right yet as Satan is again released to test mankind of that world and after he is destroyed, the Judgment Day and the judgment of all of mankind takes places along with the second resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous. But then after that is all done, and all the righteous have life and all the wicked are gone, the world and kingdom are in its right state again and Christ then returns it to God having accomplished his task regarding it. He presents to God as an ordered, obedient world, free from rebellion and Satan.

But he remains king and god over the world and heaven as God as given it to him as a gift, everything in the universe and and in heaven. But there is a slight change since God can now come down to earth and "dwell with mankind" again. The world that is estranged from him now will be acceptable again. Christ and the 144,000 will serve as God's temple, so they remain kings and priests, and Christ's kingdom now is God's kingdom in every sense.

You know, we think about all these people, a static world population and living forever might eventually get boring. But since everyone will be judged and approved for eternal life, it would be "safe" to take couples from this population and transplant them throughout the universe to begin whole new worlds. It does say that God will make "All things New" again and it will be the end of his rest of Creative activity of 49,000 years (7 x 7000=49,000). If so, this will not likely take place until after another 1000 years since the millennium following Judgment Day is a JUBILEE MILLENNIUM as far as 1000-year days go since the beginning of the Creative Week.

It seems to me that God took various planets and "assembled" them into our solar system after chosing this spot. He could do the same elsewhere and then transplant volunteer couples to begin whole new worlds all other the universe that could take another 7000 years each to completely repopulate. The same rules will apply though, granting permission to go the trees of life will depend upon obedience, but there will be no repeat of the rebellion by Satan or a world of dying mankind since the origianl couples will begin already having eternal life. Each new world will have a perfect start. With the depopulation of this planet, likely some replenishment population will begin again perhaps.

The anointed 144,000, who will be angels, will be able to travel to all these new worlds in the universe and help govern them. Who knows?

Further, since a third of the angels rebelled at the time of Satan, maybe God will replenish the angelic population well, maybe choosing new angels from among mankind who wish to be angels?

Lot of speculation but I think within reason by what we see today. Never a dull moment, for sure. God didn't grant eternal life for us to be bored. Instead the universe will be a beautiful and "high" as a field of poppies!!!

JC

11

two Bible & jw questions

by carla in

first question is - husband says that god will establish a kingdom ruled by jesus (or should that be michael?

) then jesus turns it back over to god.

how's that?and what then becomes of jesus?

JCanon

The concept of "heaven and earth" was an idiomatic concept in the Jewish culture. That is the absolute order and harmony of the stars and planets and the consistency of the rotation of the earth became a concept of the 'order of things" synonymous with the "system of things." When something major changed, they considered it a "new heavens and earth." For instance, the song in the movie "The Wiz" is about a "Whole New World" when the wicked witch of the West was killed. So we have that concept two.

But variations of that are also found in the Bible to refer to observable changes in world circumstances. For instance, after Satan is destroyed, which is major change in circumstances in both heaven and earth, it speaks of that "old system of things" or old heaven and earth as fleeing...."From before him the earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them." This is the end of the system of things that knew Satan's influence and everything connected with it. As well, the purpose of the 1000-year reign under Christ also ends. This phrase introduces a complete "new" venue now, that of JUDGMENT DAY. Judgment Day is a completely new set if circumstances where all will be judged and there will be mass resurrections, etc. A completely different world and focus than before. Likewise when Judgment day is over and done with, it is said at Revelation 21: "And I saw a new hean and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away...." This time the old heaven and earth was the system of things in operation to effect Judgment Day. Now the 8th Creative Day of 7000 years begins and God is making "all things new". Likewise at Matthew 24:35 when Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away" it is a reference to that world or current system of things that was prophesied to pass away but all that he said would come true.

The end of the "world" or the system of things under gentile rule represented a major change for the Jews. Thus the "end of the system of things" in the context of what Jesus was speaking of was synonymuos with the end of the "appointed times of the nations" who would trample Jerusalem until an appointed time. The "gentile times" ended when the Jews officially ended their exile on November 20, 1947 when the UN ratified the Partition Amendment granting control over part of Palestine to the Jews as their own country. Thus the "end of the system of things" referred to in Matthew ended in 1947 and is not a reference to the world after Armgeddon, which of course, likewise willl end a "system of things" when Christ begins to rule.

As noted, these are idiomatic concepts and not about the literal heavens and earth.

JC