Posts by R. Jerome Harris

4

is the current WT teaching that all prior to jesus death will not go to heaven?

by sowhatnow in

if so would that not make matthew ch 17 vs 3 [transfiguration] a bit confusing to explain?

i mean, where did they come from?

the grave?

R. Jerome Harris

Jesus was quite clear at John 3:13,

"Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man."

One should not care about what the WatchTower or any religious organization says on this matter. It is what God and Christ says. God has commanded at Luke 9:35:

"This is my Son, the one that has been chosen. Listen to him"

Then listen to what Christ says at Luke 9:35.
The transfiguration vision is a powerful teaching point that shows that no one other than Christ is to be listened to. Notice that two great Prophets appeared in vision along with Christ: Elijah and Moses. These were two great Prophets that God used in the past. Now, The Most High God says, "This is my Son ... listen to him." This teaches us that anything Moses, Elijah or any of the Prophets of old said is not greater than the one God uses now to speak to us! His Son! He is greater than Moses and Elijah.
Where Did Elijah and Moses Come From?
Both Prophets Elijah and Moses were long dead. The promised resurrection has not occurred yet and neither had Jesus ascended into heaven at this time.
We have two possible scenarios: (1) It was not Moses and Elijah that Jesus was conversing with. Quite possibly angels. How did Peter know that the persons were Elijah and Moses. They lived in a different time period and he never saw them and would not know what they looked like. Additionally, when Peter said to Jesus,
Lord, it is fine for us to be here. If you wish, I will erect three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for E·li′jah.
Jesus NEVER acknowledged to Peter that these persons were Elijah and Moses. Rather, God intervened and identified Christ as His Son and the one to be listened to. Peter made that assumption.
The other scenario is that of a vision of a future time period where Moses and Elijah would be resurrected. That persons who preceded Christ would be resurrected. And even in that future time period, Christ is greater.
At John 3:16 we are told:

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.

This means that ALL persons born since Adam and who have died (even up to this day) are in their graves awaiting a resurrection. That includes persons who never knew Christ. That includes Moses and Elijah who are now dead. That is the promise we see at John 5:28-29:

Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.

Notice that ALL in their graves will hear his voice and come out. NOT "some" but ALL.
It is for all of mankind Christ died, not just for "some."
ALL of mankind qualifies for a resurrection from the dead. (Born again from the dead). That DOES NOT mean that ALL will attain everlasting life. Upon their being resurrected they will first have to be taught God's righteousness; that is, good and bad as God defines it. At present, we "do not know" good and bad. That is why Jesus ask of his persecutors and executioners at Luke 23:43,

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

All of mankind is in a state of "not knowing what we are doing." That is why Jesus never condemned anyone because he knows that we have not been taught "good and bad." We do not know!
Yet, at the resurrection and having gone through his 1000 year kingdom, we will know. And, then there will be no more forgiveness of sins because Christ will no longer be out intercessor. We will know "good and bad" for ourselves. So if we sin in those future days, we cannot say "we did not know" because we will "know what we do." Sin in those future days cannot be forgiven and the punishment for it is The Lake of Fire (The Second Death). Rev 20:14.
When Christ 1000 year kingdom ends, mankind will know good and bad. (Rev 20:6)
Everyone living today and who will die and persons who died in the past since Adam (to include Adam) WILL be resurrected back to life again. They will "meet the Lord in the air." In other words, in their graves they do not breathe. But when they are resurrected back from the dead, they will breathe air again.
So no one goes to heaven PERIOD. Think about this to: If God's Kingdom comes DOWN to the earth, why does anyone need to go UP to heaven? (Matthew 6:9,10)
All of mankind who ever lived will receive a resurrection back to life again from the dead. Look at the examples of persons Jesus resurrected, how many of them were NOT his followers?
That ALL will be resurrected from the dead is what Christ promised. People should try listening to the Master rather than listening to these religious groups who think they have a special relationship with God and who teach what Christ did not.
Few of the people who Jesus resurrected had a special relationship with him. Some never knew him at all.

90

Some screenshots from new KH meeting!

by pixel in

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they just put up a link to watch a replay of the "new kh meeting", here some screenshots.. .

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R. Jerome Harris

The WTBTS has been into building a real estate empire under the guise of needing more meeting places. Jesus gave sermons on a hill side did he not.
Each and every demonination has it's own particular hook in extracting and making money. Building Kingdom and Assembly Halls is the WTBTS hook.
The WTBTS resembles the young man who approached Jesus and asked him, "Teacher, what good must I do in order to get everlasting life?"
Jesus responded to him,

“... go sell your belongings and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come be my follower.” When the young man heard this saying, he went away grieved, for he was holding many possessions. But Jesus said to his disciples: “Truly I say to YOU that it will be a difficult thing for a rich man to get into the kingdom of the heavens. Again I say to YOU, It is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God."

The WTBTS is a relatively "young" religion. It holds a real estate empire. Yet, would it liquidate and sell all of it and give it to the poor?"
What Jesus said here is sobering! It shows the true nature and heart condition of a religious organizations. I tell you, they sell little and give little.
I know as a former 30 year ex-JW (disassociated) that the WTBTS is stingy and keeps tight strings on their purse.
I am an American and have traveled the world in places people would not even imagine and I have seen how the WTBTS cares for the poor in poor lands (Africa and Asia). I have seen Kingdom Halls (if you want to call them that) that were nothing but shacks with no windows, no bathrooms, no AC, no carpet, no carpet.
I now live in West Africa and I would not pay $5 for some of the Kingdom Halls I have seen over here. It is shameful especially against the backdrop of the lavish Kingdom Halls seen in the United States, Canada, and many places in Europe which are worth many thousands (even millions) of dollars.
The bottom line "It is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God."
The WTBTS and its members (JWs who as far as I am concerned are innocent children and only doing as the parent "the organization" directs them) will have a difficult time getting into the Kingdom of God when it comes down. This is true of all religious organizations.
They are ALL like that young man who had many possessions but who are unwilling to sell ALL of it and give to the poor.
Wake up people!

33

All things considered, when will THE JW religion end?

by sowhatnow in

id give a guess of maybe another 15 to 20 years ,.

nothing will be the same , if there even is a headquarters.. opinion?.

R. Jerome Harris

It is much bigger than JWs ending. Indeed ALL of religion will one day end if they are false.

I say leave JWs alone. I say leave any person of any religious system or organization alone. Who are we to meddle as if what we personally believe is right and everyone else is wrong? Who are we to meddle because we personally do not like someone else's religion or beliefs? They might not like ours either.

13

So, dead members of the 144,000 help direct the preaching work from beyond the grave?

by Zoos in

did i understand that right?

was that a claim rutherford made?.

i don't suppose anyone has that quote..

R. Jerome Harris

Christ did not teach anything like this. I am astounded that men are getting all of the props instead of the one The Most High God told is to listen to. (Luke 9:35)

The biggest lie and/or error made by the WTBTS is that it claims that it has been entrusted with and are preaching the Good News of the Kingdom as stated by Jesus at Matthew 24:14. Not possible.

Firstly, no one anywhere can produce a "Good News of the Kingdom" message. What exactly is it and where is it stated. Placing publications and doing "Field Service" is hardly preaching a Good News of the Kingdom message. Ask 10 JWs - for example - what is the Good News of the Kingdom message and you will get 10 different answers. No one but God knows specifically and exactly what that message is?

Secondly, why would men assume that God would entrust them to deliver it? This is no where stated.

Thirdly, we are told who will be given the Good News of the Kingdom message and who will declare or preach it to all of the world. And, it is not humans.

Revelation 14:6 is crystal clear as to who will declare the Good News of the Kingdom message to all of the inhabited earth.

"And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people."

It will be ONE solitary angel. (Not angels [plural] or humans)

God gives the Good News of the Kingdom message to this angel. Notice that the angel no where is seen given this message to humans to declare. It is humans that this message must be declared to!

I believe this angel is the Faith Witness: Michael (Jesus Christ). He will preach this message "as a WITNESS" to all of the inhabited earth. (Rev 1:5)

No dead 144,000 will preach a Good News message.

What the WTBTS or any other organization is preaching is not any Good News of the Kingdom message.

That it claims that it is preaching one, has misled millions.

It is too bad that what men and organizations and the publications with those organizations say are far more important than what Christ says. (Luke 9:35)

Many people are really glued to these men, organizations and books but not glued to Christ. For if they were truly attached to Christ, they would reject ALL voices (teachings) that issue forth from organizations and the men in them obey God and listen strictly to the Master.

19

Has the WT ever specifically said in print that GB is NOT the FDS in contradiction of current position?

by Pubsinger in

just out of interest.

R. Jerome Harris

The WTBTS - to my knowledge - has never specifically said in print that the GB are not a part of the FDS. Prior to the formation of the WTBTS, Charles Taze Russell (Who founded the International Bible Students Association) was soley considered to be that FDS; no thought was given to a body of men making up a FDS.

The FDS - as when described by the WT in the beginning - were to be viewed as the channel or source of spiritual instruction and "representatives of Christ."

There is a serious problem with this view as Jesus taught at John 14:6 that "he" was the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father but by him.

When an organization enters in and makes itself a representative of Christ and teaches that it is the channel or source of spiritual instruction then it has usurped the role of Christ and it has made itself, "the way, the truth and the life."

There is an insertion and imposition of an organization and a body of men in between mankind and its rightful Owner, Christ Jesus.

Plus we have no teacher (source of spiritual instruction) other than Christ himself. No body of men or organization can be that teacher.

Cain killed his Brother Abel. In a proverbial sense today, religious organization and the men that sit at the top of them have killed Christs teachings and rendered them of no account to the people of the world. It has created a form of Christlike teaching that is false and it has stolen his property that he died for, mankind and treats it as its own.

No 144,000 or anointed thereof exists in this time period. They have not arrived yet and will not arrive until the destruction of this existing world and the promised resurrection occurs. As long as this current world exists, no 144,000 can arrive. Many have been attempting to place them in a time period where they do not belong. They are all of a future time period.

It is men - arrogant and stubborn men - who have an unquenchable thirst to exercise power and control over the household of Christ. And, they have succeeded.

Jesus NEVER taught that the Faithful and Discreet Slave are of the anointed. It is men who are teaching this.

Jesus asked the simple question at Matthew 24:45, "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?"

It is very easy to see who are and who are not faithful and discreet slaves.

In his absence and within Jesus' household there would exist two types of slaves (servants): A faithful and discreet slave and an evil (unfaithful) and non-discreet slave.

A faithful and discreet slave would have remembered and obeyed what Christ taught at Matthew 24:42 and would have been careful and cautious (discreet) not to move forward on his own accord and teach something different from what his Master said at Matthew 24:42.

An unfaithful (evil) and non-discreet slave would ignore what the Master taught at Matthew 24:42 and would move forward teaching what the Master did not.

The faithful and discreet slave would not be teaching that the Master returned and took kingdom power on a certain date (1914). The faithful slave would have remembered what the Master said, "YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming" and they would be watchful.

The unfaithful and non-discreet slave has announced a time/date (1914) as the time when the Lord came. This slave has not been watchful because since it has announced the date of the Lords coming and believes he is already here, there is no need to be watchful anymore. This is in direct conflict with what Christ taught at Matthew 24, 36, Matthew 24:42 and Acts 1:7. (see Matthew 24:50)

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? I submit to you: Which of the two slaves within Jesus' household would be concerned with dates, times and seasons? It was the unfaithful (evil) slave.

The faithful slave was not concerned about dates, times and seasons because he knew what the Master said at Matthew 24:42 (YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming). And so the faithful slave would have simply been in expectation (faithful) of the Lords return but not knowing when he would return.

The unfaithful and evil slave was concerned with times, seasons and dates. How do I know this? Because at Matthew 24:48 this slave would say in his heart, "My master is delaying."

If this evil slave would feel that his Master is delaying, then he must have been EXPECTING him to arrive at a certain time.

The WTBTS had announced prior to the arrival of 1914, that Christ would return and take kingdom power over the earth. Their publications prior to that year is power testimony enough about that fact.

Yet Jesus told his slaves, "Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming."

So, who really is the faithful and discreet slave? Answer: It is not the WTBTS or anyone in it.

The faithful and discreet slave are ANY who have been faithful to what Christ said at Matthew 24:42 AND along with that they will be identified by the "beating" they will receive by the powerful and far more numerous evil slave.

The beating of the faithful and discreet slave is not a literal beating. It is anguish inflicted upon the faithful and discreet slave for his/her stand on "being watchful" and not knowing when their Master will return.

The evil and non-discreet slave will be aggressive and insist that the Master return when THEY predicted he did. (1914)

When the events surrounding 1914 do not come to pass as the evil slave had thought and taught, the beatings upon the faithful slave will intensify. Deep down in its heart, the evil slave will know that the faithful slave was correct what will never admit it and will do all he can to shut up the mouths of the faithful slave from exposing the evil slave and its false teachings.

Behold the evil slave: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. 1914 has proved to be a failed prophecy. As I stated, the time period for the 144000 is not at present but yet future.

Jesus told his slaves: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming."

This statement made by Jesus shows that the WTBTS (who says it knows when the Lord arrived) is NOT the Faithful and Discreet Slave nor is any member within it. Neither is any "organization" on earth.

There are persons - like myself - who are no longer attached to any religious organization who have placed faith in Christ and what he said at Matthew 24:42 and who expose the evil slaves EVERYWHERE (not just the WTBTS) and we take a beating for that stand. Persons like myself represent a threat to them.

30

How is Genesis scientifically incorrect?

by EndofMysteries in

i'll add many things in the bible i don't agree with, but the bible is a collection of books.

now to make sure i'm reading as closely to what is written in genesis, i look at this hebrew interlinear, because english translating and rearranging of words can change it.

http://www.scripture4all.org/onlineinterlinear/otpdf/gen1.pdf.

R. Jerome Harris

Genesis 1:1 does not speak of a planet coming into being from a cloud of dust. No human knows how the planet came to be. Genesis 1:1 simply makes a statement as to "who" created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:2 and onward, focuses attention on the occurrences on THE EARTH (not anything in the heavens) and preparing the earth so that life can be here. Genesis 1:2 speaks of the surface of the planet being all water (no dry land). This also dismisses the notion that all of the water on the earth came from the flood of Noah's day. The water there at the very beginning. Later we see dry land come up out of the water.
Genesis 1:3 speaks of "Let light come to be." This is NOT speaking about the creation of sources of light. As I said earlier, Genesis does not focus on how anything was created in heaven. It focuses on the creation of the things on then watery planet and preparing it so that life can be placed on it. One has to read Genesis Chapter One as if there was a person standing on earth observing all of it. IF a person was able to stand on the earth, he would be able to see light - NOT the source of the light - but light. The sun, moon, stars and other luminaries were already there. Now an earthly observer (if one could have been there) would see light.
Genesis 1:4-5 speaks about light and darkness. The light was called day and the darkness called night. So if there were an earthly observer he would see that at certain parts of the day the earth was lit up and at other parts of the day it was dark. This is the sun rising and setting. Yet, an earthly observer would not be able to see the source of light (the sun) because the earth was covered with thick clouds because it was all water (water cycle). The sunlight would have been diffused. The earth would have resembled a greenhouse. Perfect for the vegetation that would come later.
Genesis 1:6-8 speaks of an atomsphere (Notice that water is being spoken of as no dry land appears at this point. The part that sits above the water is called heaven. (Where the sun, moon and stars are). Technically, a micro-micro inch above the water is heaven. From an ants perspective, the realm we walk in would be heaven to them. Heaven is ANYTHING "immediately" above the surface.
Genesis 1:9-10 is where we see dry land appear out of the water. (Again, keep in mind the planet being prepared for life to be on it.). This dry land is called "earth." The water that is separated by the dry land coming up are called seas. This means that in those early days the planet was a very windy place (dry land not wet land) and a very volcanic place because land came up out of the water and eventually cooled to create dry land. Also, the atmosphere was hot and smoke-filled from all of the volcanic activity. This smoke-filled atomosphere and no life could exist in it; and it would have made it impossible to see the source of light, the sun directly.
Genesis 1:11-12. Now that there was dry land, grass, vegetation, and trees would eventually grow on it. This implies that the smoke-filled atmosphere caused by the volcanic activity has subsided and that the volcanic activity was not as it was before. It also implies thick clouds, rain and diffused sunlight to sustain growth of the the vegetation.
Genesis 1:14-19. Now if an earthly observer was on earth, he would be able to see the sun, moon and stars. Why, because the atmosphere would not be smoke-filled and the cloud midst would be thinner. This IS NOT the creation of the sun, moon and stars. They are already there. It is that now an earthly observer looking up can see them.

Genesis 1:20-23. Now aquatic life appears in the seas and rivers. This implies that the water temperature is such that it can support life and that there are minerals in the water to sustain that life. As well as birds. There was dry land now and trees for the many variety of birds.
Genesis 1:24-26. We see animals appearing on the dry land. The dinosaur was in this time period (day). The animals would fertilize the dry land.
Genesis 1:27. We see the formation of the man from the dry land. Man did not crawl out of the ocean onto dry land. The first man CAME FROM the dry land (earth). (Genesis 2:7)
The days of the creation were not literal 24 hour days. The earth was not as it is now. And besides, why would recogning of a 24 hour day be needed as no man was around and no time pieces (clocks or watches) existed. The days of creation were "epochs of time" (time periods) each day spanning many 1000s of years. The expression "day" should be understood in the context of "my grandfathers day" or "in the day of the horse and buggy." Not a literal 24 hour day.
Also notice that with reference to the 7th day (in which God rested or stopped creating), the statement "And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a seventh day" has not been made. Why not? Because we are in that "day" at present.
When God's kingdom comes down to the earth, it will then be stated as with the first six "creative periods," "And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a seventh day."

15

Is my purpose to help, fail and suffer?

by TheLonelyOne in

hi folks im coming from far for many, for some maybe bit near.

life has been thought.

even though i'm only 27 pain and problems has been around since my first days.

R. Jerome Harris

Only The Most High God can help you (and any of us) the way you (we) need to be help. No religious organization by any name can do that.
There is a tendency in the world to put our trust in people. As people, we do not know what we are doing.
If I were you (and I am not and I do not know your full circumstance), I would detach myself from any religious organization (if you belong to one) and seek God's help. Put God to the test as He has promised that He will help us.
The problem is that many do not know what to ask of the Father (our Creator). It is like this: Would one rather ask God for some a shovel and some seeds to plant a garden so that they can have food? Or, would one ask God for "His" wisdom, "His" knowledge and "His" Understanding. I would ask for the former because when armed with his wisdom, understanding and knowledge I can then figure out how to get a shovel and seeds to plant a garden. It is by possessing the mind of God that we can navigate through lifes problems. No human or human entity can do that for you.
Their is a passage in the Bible at Isaiah 41:10 that says:
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not gaze about, for I am your God. I will fortify you. I will really help you. I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand of righteousness.’"
Jesus' own words at Matthew 6:8 counsels, "So, do not make yourselves like them, for God YOUR Father knows what things YOU are needing before ever YOU ask him."
Jesus promises at Matthew 21:22, "And all the things YOU ask in prayer, having faith, YOU will receive.”
(Please read Mark 11:24, Luke 11:9, John 14:13, James 1:5 and 1 John 3:22)
I provide these Scriptures not to preach to you, but so that you can get an idea that it is NOT about what people can do for you, but for what GOD will do for you FOR FREE! No conditions. He just needs to be given the chance to PROVE TO YOU that He can and will straighten you out. And, in the end, you will not be within or associated with any religious organization as they create and perpetuate mental dysfunction.
King David said long ago at Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord (GOD) is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."
This is clear, it is simply saying, "Give God a chance." Not the God described for us by religious organizations, but to the one YOU will call out to in prayer.
Too often, trust is placed in people and the effects of any help will not be long lasting; and, their might be conditions on receiving help from people. (For example, join their church or organization and you will be helped. Read their literature you will be helped. Study with them and you will be helped. That kind of help is at a cost to YOU and thus it is not FREE).
I am a 62 year old man and I have been there. I have risen high and things were fine for a while and then taken very low. As a former JW the Watch Tower organization or my former Brethren did not help me in that time of dire need. Their solution was to study, study, study. Another line of reasoning given was to step it up and spend more time in the Field Ministry and God would bless me for it. The problem I had with all of that was that it was akin to telling a poor and destitute person who is hungry "To go feed himself" or person who is freezing "To put on a coat." They were just words and no action. Rather than actually giving the person food and a warm coat and shelter it is always words, amen at the end of the meetings and everyone goes in their own directions.
You may have an immediate need that needs to be satisfied. For example, a job, money, and peace of mind. Use any power that you may have to do what you can do and move forward - take it one day at a time - and approach God in prayer and ask for the three things I mentioned. Keep asking. Be a pest about it. Expect to be answered. Do not doubt for one moment. Do not waver. Doubt and wavering are tools of the devil and he will use them to tempt you and discourage you during the process. Just recognize what they are.
I am an African American who works and lives in West Africa now. I see how people live over here and it sobers me up and keeps be grounded in the fact that most people in America - even the poor - have it made and are in a much better situation than many who live in certain parts of Africa.
I find myself never complaining about anything anymore and not having this or that or not having enough of this or that.
I find that the materially poor in the world do not suffer from the pandemic of "mental dysfunction or impairment." They may suffer from hunger and other physical ailments, but the mind is intact.
In the Western and developed countries mental problems are rife.
So what I am saying here is that you should keep in mind that there are others in the world who have it far worse.
If possible, move out of the country to a place in the world where life is simpler and the pressures of living (which cause stress and accelerated aging). There are many places in Africa and Asia (even Iceland where I used to live) where one can live cheaply, stress free, and have time to find themselves and be happy.
You can always return to the USA (or where you live) if your circumstances permit it.

13

The god of the bible doesn't care and here's some proof.

by Crazyguy in

around 600 ad a man named muhammed created a book called the quran.

a few hundred years later the followers of this new religion called islam went on a holy crusade out of arabia to spread their religion.

in one key battle they were met by the ruling government army and were out numbered at least by 3 to 1. they could of easily lost and if god would of made sure of this most likely thier religion would of stayed an insagnificant religion of just arabia.

R. Jerome Harris

There is no "God of the Bible." There is only "God." The Most High. The Creator of the heavens and the earth.

I never did like the expression "God of the Bible" because it makes it appear as if a book - The Bible - is the authority and The One and Only God is hemmed up and imprisoned in a book that men compiled and thoroughly screwed up.

The Most High God is Spirit and NOT within ANYTHING devised by man: His religious organizations or his so-called holy books or portrayals of him as a man (a White man) in art, film and literature.

Thus, God the invisible Spirit can only be accessed and communicated by the things NOT devised by man: Prayer.

Our worship of Him can only be by Spirit and Truth. Not via the confines religious organizations or through books.

17

How do the JW's get around this scripture??

by Crazyguy in

hebrews 9:27new international version (niv).

27 just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, .

.

R. Jerome Harris

The curse of death pronounced upon Adam has not been lifted. We all WILL die. Even Jesus was not an exception.

To understand Hebrews 9:27, one must understand:

1. The difference between dying and perishing.

2. Know what First Birth, First Death, Second Birth and Second Death are.

Dying and Perishing

When God sent His only begotten Son, was it for the purpose of preventing the world of mankind from dying? No! John 3:16 says from "perishing."

If one perishes they cease to exist; even as a dead person. Recall that the first man Adam existed in two forms: As a dead soul and when God breathed into his nostrils he became a living soul. Yet, Adam existed. Existed where? In God's memory. (Book of Life).

If a person dies, they have not perished because they exists in God's memory and will be resurrected. (John 5:28-29)

So we all DIE once.

First Birth, First Death, Second Birth and Second Death

The Bible at Revelation 20:14 speaks of something called The Second Death. This implies that there must be a First Death. If there is a First Death, there must be a First Birth. If there is a First Birth, there must be a Second Birth.

All ever born on earth have a First Birth. We all have a biological mother and father. Adam and Eve were exceptions. God created them. All on earth die. This is our First Death. There is no escaping it.

Now what happens on the other side of our First Death?

Jesus spoke about it with the Pharisee Nicodemus and Nicodemus did not understand him. Jesus used the expression "Born Again."

Born Again implies that a person had a first birth. How can a person be born again unless they were first born? That was essentially what Nicodemus did not understand. Yet, what Jesus was referring to when he spoke of being "Born Again" was being born again from the dead: The Resurrection.

When a person is first born and they take their first breath, what that person has standing inevitably in front of him is an eventual death. (first death)

Upon being resurrected (born again) a person has a Second Birth. At ones resurrection what now stands in front of the person? Another literal death? No! What stands in front of him is the prospect of "perishing" or removed from God's memory. If one is not in God's memory, that person does not exist, not even as a dead person. This perishing is called The Second Death which is the Lake of Fire at Revelation 20:14.

The Lake of Fire (Second Death) is a symbol of nonexistence. Anything placed in The Lake of Fire ceases to exist; it is out of God's memory.

The Second Death (Lake of Fire) can be likened to taking a piece of paper and throwing it into a literal fire. The paper is consumed and ceases to be. It cannot be restored back to paper. It is gone! It ceases to exist.

The Second Death (The Lake of Fire) is not a literal place. The reason why this is certain is to look at what is thrown into it. Death itself and Hell itself are thrown into it. One cannot literally burn death and hell. That death and hell are thrown into the Second Death (The Lake of Fire) is another way of saying that both death and hell will one day "be no more." They will cease to exist!

Rev 21:4 confirms this as it says, "... and death will be no more." Why is that? Because we are previously told at Rev 20:14 that death was thrown into the Second Death (The Lake of Fire).

So yes, we ALL will die once. We ALL will experience a Second Birth (resurrection as promised by Christ). But at our resurrections we face the judgment of perishing (Second Death) if we PURPOSEFULLY and WILLING sin against God WHEN we are FULLY KNOWING (knowledgeable). When we are Fully Knowledgeable (knowing good and bad) then there is no more forgiveness for sin. The sin we commit when we are fully knowledgeable knowing good and bad is what is called the "unforgivable sin" or "the sin that cannot be forgiven."

No one today can possibly commit this type of sin because we "DO NOT" know good and bad. Jesus asked forgiveness for those who persecuted and executed him. Why? Because they DID NOT KNOW what they were doing. Their bad act was forgiven.

Any bad act anyone commits today will be forgiven because WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING.

Yet a time will come when Christ will teach ALL resurrected God's righteousness (the knowing of good and bad). This will take up to 1000 years during his paradise rule over the earth.

By the time his 1000 year kingdom ends, no human on earth will be without excuse. That time AFTER Christs rule ends will be a time of faithful endurance as Satan will be released upon ALL of mankind and will mislead them. An angel will come with a message and awaken the misled. (Rev 14:6) Those who do not respond to that message will do so knowingly and defiantly. They will be without excuse. That is what is called the sin that cannot be forgiven. Christ can no longer ask the Father in our behalf in those future days, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing? All of mankind will one day know what it is doing and thus there cannot be forgiveness for sin anymore.

The third and last World Order is of God. There will be no others.

38

What is the main reason the Watchtower Society baptize their children so young?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

jesus was thirty was he was baptized.

today, you hear of young children getting baptized as young as 10 years old.

the parents, family and congregation think it's a wonderful idea that someone dedicates their life to jehovah at such a young age.

R. Jerome Harris

Water baptism is NOT Christs baptism. It was the baptism of John the Baptizer. Jesus' baptism would be greater than John The Baptizers. His would be with Holy Spirit and Fire. (Matthew 3:11)

Yes, Jesus allowed himself to get baptized with water by John but that was for a reason. Jesus was making a public display to all present who were getting baptized by John that from that day forward, discipleship will cease and so will his baptism. All discipleship will be to Christ and he will baptize with holy spirit and fire. Even John did not want to baptize Jesus with "his"baptism in water because he knew that his ministry was diminishing and another one was starting and it would have a GREATER baptism.

So this tradition of water baptism today is all wrong.

One should ask themselves: Why do we not see Jesus baptizing any of his disciples in water? Why do why not see Jesus' disciples baptizing each other or other who wanted to be disciples of Christ in water? Because they did not practice water baptism and would not have. They knew that Jesus' baptism would be with holy spirit and fire.

Some will say what about the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts Chapter 8 got baptized in water. Acts 8:37 is missing in many Bible translations. I believe it was removed and a story was fabricated to push "water" baptism. I really believe this is what happened. Why? Because it is inconsistent with Jesus' baptism.

This ploy has worked. What do people think about when baptism is mentioned? Water baptism, not baptism with holy spirit and fire (Jesus' baptism).

While we DO NOT read of Jesus himself baptizing even the men he chose (The 12 Apostles) in water, we DO read of him sending and baptizing his disciples with holy spirit and fire. NEVER with water. This is consistent with his baptism. (Acts 2:1-4)