Posts by Reslight

22

HUMAN NATURE: what the heck is it REALLY?

by Terry in

we all have a nature.

we are each born different from others in many respects.

our human-ness is conceptually the same, however, as we age our differences become more and more apparent.

Reslight

Our human nature today is sinful; we all are born into this world with corrupt, sinful flesh. In other words, all of are "natural" sinners. All of us are born with many desires to sin, some in this direction and others in another direction. This does not make carrying out the sinful behavior correct.
When Adam sinned, we all inherited his sin as his descendants. "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners." (Romans 5:19, New American Standard Bible) "Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with those who practice them." -- Romans 1:21-32, World English Bible
The Greek expression translated "gave up" (Strong's #3860) in the World English translation means "to give over to" or "to turn over to". Thus because of Adam's sin, mankind was turned over to these evil desires. Our being born into this world with these desires does not mean the desires are not sinful, or that God approves of our carrying out the desires. If one is born with a tendency to steal, should he claim it is an acceptable practice for him to steal, since he was born that way? If one is born with a tendency to kill, should he claim that it is an acceptable practice to commit murder, since he was born that way?
In the Bible there are several Greek words that are translated by natural and nature (as in by nature). The words (Strong's #5446, 5449) used in Romans 1:26,27 refer to that which is what considered the proper course of a man and woman sexually, when it describes men and women as changing the natural for that which is not proper by nature. Its source has the meaning of "puff" (Strong's #5456) which implies the outcome of a thing. The usage of Romans 1:26,27 indicates that homosexual behavior is not the intended physical use of the human body.
However, as regarding sin, it could be considered natural, for we read that as believers were once "by nature (Strong's #5449) the children of wrath." The outgrowth of the condemnation upon man through Adam's sin is the sinful nature and God's wrath, so that, as an outgrowth of sin, homosexual behavior could be considered natural, but as an outgrowth of God's original purpose for the human body, it is not natural.
http://reslight.net/homosexual.html
Christian love,
Ronald

37

angels - some questions

by DannyBloem in

1) according to the bible the angels have differences in rank and priveleges.. so why is it ike that?

can god not have some equality in his own organisation in the heaven?

and can we then ever hope on some equality?.

Reslight

[[1) According to the bible the angels have differences in Rank and priveleges.

So why is it ike that? Can God not have some equality in his own organisation in the heaven? And can we then ever hope on some equality?]]

Equality is something that is heard a lot amongst selfish humanity, usually in reference to rights, privileges or opportunities.

We need to remember that it was a desire to be equal to God, or even superior to God, that led Satan in his sin. -- Isaiah 14:13,14.
http://reslight.net/phil2-5.html

God never promises any of his creatures equality. Equality, however, can mean at least three different things: equality of being, equality of authority, and equality of rights and privileges; one can have equality of being, and yet have a different rank as far as authority is concerned. The President of the US is equal as a being to all the rest of the citizens of the US, but all the rest of the citizentry is not equal in rank. God has created ranks of being amonst his creatures, and within those ranks of being he also gives various ranks of authority. We should not expect otherwise.

As far as the angels are concerned, there is nothing in the scriptures I know of that has one angel being superior in being to another angel. There is nothing definite about some angels having superior being than others, although there are a few scriptures that can be seen to say such. Traditionally, I believe the Roman Church has taught that there are several ranks of spirit beings: God, archangels, seraphs, cherubs, and the common angels. Again, there is nothing in the scriptures that definitely show that seraphs or cherubs are actually spirit beings, but there are some scriptures that can be seen as implying they are. There is only one archangel mentioned in the Bible, and that is Michael. Archangel is never used in the plural in the scriptures.
http://reslight.net/archangel.html

The scriptures seem to indicate that even the joint-heirs with Christ will not have the authority that Jesus has, and that the joint-heirs will not have equivalent authority with each other. -- Psalm 45:7; Matthew 20:20-23; Luke 19:11-27; Hebrews 1:9.

With the increase of knowledge and education without any change in the selfishness of men, we have had an increase of clamor for supposed rights.
http://www.heraldmag.org/literature/proph_22.htm
(I do not necessarily agree with every statement, but am in agreement with the general treatment.)

See Brother Russell's statements in:
True Basis for Human Equality
and
Inequality of Conditions and the Remedy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reslight/files/Russell/

Christian love,
Ronald

24

Public Meeting Talk Titles - Listed by Subject.

by Blueblades in

i have over 116 public talk outlines provided by the society.

the list of talk titles for outlines provided by the society is arranged by subject to help the elders more easily identify the public talk outlines that fall into a particular category.it is designed to be used with the s - 99 form.this is for congregation use only.. here are the public meeting talk titles listed by subject.. bible / god 10 different talks on this subject.. christian standards / qualities 14 different talks on this subject.

evangelizing / ministry 5 on this one.. faith / spirituality 13 on this one.

Reslight

[[I want to get a copy of all the outlines! Can they be scanned into PDF format? --VM44]] I also would be like to have a copy of the outlines, if they are available anywhere, or if they can be made available. Christian love, Ronald

23

The God of Christians is Very Vague

by frankiespeakin in

i no longer consider myself a christian.. i feel that there may be a god, but if there is, he's not the god christians worship, for such a god makes no sense.. if as the bible says we need to have faith in jesus to get everlasting life,,, why would this god make it so misleading and leave so much room for ligitmate doubt,,, by having this information passed on to us by men and organizations that have not been totally honest????.

why would he use the bible to relate this information, when the bible is so full of errors????

the evidence is very clear that the bible has been tampered with over the centuries, so that a reasonable person can have legitimate doubts about the bible's origins.. also, why would god use men who are so prone to dishonesty, to convey this lifesaving information?.

Reslight

Reslight's "Booggie man Jehovah" is the same as the JW's Boogie man Jehovah, he chopping at the bit and will soon murder everyone for not being a JW. Too funny.

The above makes little sense in the context of what I presented. The God of the Bible will not "soon murder everyone for not being a JW." While there will be many who will die during the "Armageddon" struggle, it will have nothing to do with whether they are a JW or not a JW. I am not a JW, I do not believe the doctrine of the JWs, and I most certainly do not believe that billions will be eternally destroyed because they are blinded by Satan.

I belive in the God of the Bible, who has promised to bless all the families of the earth through the seed of Abraham.

Christian love,
Ronald

11

3 heavens?

by yxl1 in

2 corinthians 12. .

1i must go on boasting.

although there is nothing to be gained, i will go on to visions and revelations from the lord.

Reslight

"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows -- such a one was caught up [seized upon, carried away -- Strong's #726, harpazo] to the third heaven. And I know such a man -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- how he was caught up [carried away -- Strong's #726, harpazo] into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." -- 1 Corinthians 12:2-4, New King James Version.

Someone has asked us if 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 proves that paradise is in heaven. Our studies have shown that every time the word "paradise" is used in the Bible, it refers either to the original paradise in the Garden of Eden, or the paradise to be restored in the age to come.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 the apostle Paul states that he was seized [Strong's #726, harpazo] into the third heaven and to paradise. What is this "third heaven?" The Bible elsewhere answers this. The apostle Peter tells us that "by the word of God the heavens were of old, the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (2 Peter 3:5, King James Version) Thus the first heaven and the first earth passed away in the flood of Noah's day. Peter continues: "But the heavens and earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:6, KJV)

Here we have the second heaven and the second earth. But Peter further tells us: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13, KJV) So from this we can see that the apostle Paul was seized in time to the third heaven, the "new heaven," and paradise, "the new earth."

They are not referring to new planets, nor to heavens ranged one above another, as many have supposed, but to the third of three great periods of time, beginning with man's creation and extending into the illimitable future. The first of these periods, termed the first heavens and earth--the old order of things--passed away with the Deluge of Noah's day. The second period, "the heavens and the earth which are now," the present order of things, are reserved of God to pass away with a great symbolic fire of trouble -- revolution, etc. -- which will utterly destroy the present spiritual powers and the present social arrangements. -- 2 Peter 3:6,7; Galatians 1:4; Zephaniah 3:8,9.

The third great period is to be a "world without end," under Divine administration. This will be the third heavens and the third earth, or the new heavens and the new earth, which will differ from the present condition of things in that they will be righteous! whereas the present arrangement is imperfect, unrighteous. The "new heavens" will consist of the new spiritual ruling powers of the future -- Christ the Head, and the Church His Body. The present heavens consist of the nominal religious systems which, while claiming Christ for their Head, nevertheless bow in a very large degree to Antichrist, "the god of this world," "the prince of this world," "who now worketh in the children of disobedience," and who is captivating and blinding the whole world, with the exception of the few whose eyes of understanding have been opened, who are under special blessing and leading, who are taught of God -- the Little Flock, "heirs of the Kingdom."--Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4.

"THE PARADISE OF GOD"

It is to this new heavens and new earth condition, this Paradise of God, that Revelation 21:1-4,22-27 speaks of. As the "new heavens" do not mean a new place for God's Throne, so the "new earth" does not mean another planet. The "new heavens" are a new condition, the spiritual power and control of Christ and His glorified Church; so the "new earth" means a new social order on this planet -- "the new heavens and earth"--constituting the world to come -- "wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:10-13.) The declaration of our lesson is that the former heavens and the former earth -- which are now -- will then have passed away and will be no more. All present institutions are to perish utterly in the great Time of Trouble with which this Age is very shortly to end.

-- Excerpt from my work on the RL website; for the entire study, see:
http://reslight.addr.com/thirdheaven.html

Love in the name of Jesus,

Ronald

23

The God of Christians is Very Vague

by frankiespeakin in

i no longer consider myself a christian.. i feel that there may be a god, but if there is, he's not the god christians worship, for such a god makes no sense.. if as the bible says we need to have faith in jesus to get everlasting life,,, why would this god make it so misleading and leave so much room for ligitmate doubt,,, by having this information passed on to us by men and organizations that have not been totally honest????.

why would he use the bible to relate this information, when the bible is so full of errors????

the evidence is very clear that the bible has been tampered with over the centuries, so that a reasonable person can have legitimate doubts about the bible's origins.. also, why would god use men who are so prone to dishonesty, to convey this lifesaving information?.

Reslight

Yes, the God of the Bible is vague at the present time, for it is not yet time for him to make himself known to the world in general. Only a few come to understand who he is and what his purposes are for mankind, the present evil age, etc.

Indeed, the popular forms of Christianity believe in a good news that falls far short of the truth! The prevalent idea of the good news would have us believe that Christians are God's instruments, amidst earth's present turmoil and confusion, to lead as many as possible to Christ in order that they may not suffer an eternity in some horrible place. This kind of good news has been preached for many centuries. Still millions of earth's population have not even heard the name of Jesus, and know nothing of his saving power! Less than a hundred years ago, it was still popular to believe that the nominal church would convert the world to Christ! Every now and then we still hear some misguided minister urge his flock to save the world for "Jesus"! Billions of dollars have been spent trying to convert the world, or at least as many as possible of the world. But is this what the true Good news is about? Is God trying to convert the world? Is he trying to convert as many as possible of the world? Are we to think that millions, perhaps even billions of God's human creation are on the road to some eternal doom without even hearing the `only name given whereby we must be saved?' -- Acts 4:12.

Indeed, if the JWs are correct, and there few millions should represent the englightened ones who are to to be spared eternal destruction at the end of this age, then billions of men, women and children who were never englightened by the truth will be eternally destroyed. And from the standpoint of many churches, billions of unenlightened people will be tortured forever in some eternal torture chamber(s). Yet, millions, perhaps, billions have lived and died without ever hearing the name of Jesus. Are these now suffering for all eternity for not having heard of the only name whereby they must be saved? This is what many "fundamentalist" churches teach. Do these ideas truly represent the God of the Bible?

However, when we look to the Word of God, the Holy Bible, we find that God's great plan of salvation was never intended to be, or ever will be such a failure. The prophet Isaiah foretold the very darkness that has spread over the nations of the earth, but he also foretells its remedy. "Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but Yahweh will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the nations will come to your light." (Isaiah 60:2,3) How happy we can be that God will not leave the nations of the earth in darkness! He has promised that they will come to his light.

But why does God permit such a great portion of the earth to remain in darkness? Why is the Bible, to a large degree, a book of parables, symbolisms and dark sayings? Why is it not completely open and clear so that everyone, everywhere would be able to understand it? Why is it that Doctors of Divinity find its details perplexing, mysterious, incomprehensible? What excuse can be offered for the secrecy connected with a subject in which all should be interested? The answer to these questions are discussed in our next study and will open doors of truth, to a proper appreciation of the Bible as the Word of God.

We should note that the Bible does declare itself to be a book of mysteries, or secrets. The four gospels of the Christian Scriptures (commonly called New Testament) are supposed by many to be the simplest and plainest portion of the Bible. They tell about the deeds and words of Jesus Messiah while he was on this earth. However, in harmony with the prophecies, the Great Teacher himself delivered his message in parables and dark sayings. "He never spoke to the people without using a parable," that "Hearing they might hear and not understand; and seeing, they might see and not perceive." (Matthew 13:14) There are many mysteries or secrets connected with the Bible. We have not reached the time when absolutely everything can be understood in the Bible, not even by the true servants of God. No one on earth today can grasp absolutely everything about the Bible. The conditions of Isaiah 29:18,24 have not yet come. But the Bible does say that "the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more until the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18). We have not yet attained that perfect day.

"Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." -- Matthew 13:13

Someone might say that Jesus spoke in parables or illustrations so that the people might understand better, but this is not the reason Jesus himself gave. The followers of Jesus once asked him why he spoke to the people in parables. In giving his answer he said: "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." (Matthew 13:13) Jesus then quoted from Isaiah 6:9,10, which we will quote from the Jerusalem Bible: "Go and say to this people, `Hear and hear again, but do not understand; see and see again, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people gross, its ears dull; shut its eyes, so that it will not see with its eyes, hear with its ears, understand with its heart, and be converted and healed." Then Jesus said to his followers: "But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear!" (Matthew 13:16, JB) In Mark 4:11,12, Jesus' answer to his disciples is very clear: "Unto you it is given to know the mystery [secret] of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand." If this explanation is to make any sense at all, we must conclude that he was saying that he spoke in parables to keep the multitudes of people from understanding his message, while a few, his true followers, were permitted to understand.

"This is good, and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, the witness of which will be in due time." -- 1 Timothy 2:5-6

This, of course, must be the way that God has intended for it to be. But why? Because God knows, even as he promised, that eventually `all will be saved, and come the knowledge of the truth.' (1 Timothy 2:4) He knows that the time will come when "the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and darkness" and that those "who erred in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmured will learn doctrine." (Isaiah 29:18,24 -- New King James Version, hereafter referred to as NKJV) Yes, the time will come when he will "turn to the peoples a pure language" that they may all call upon him with one consent. -- Zephaniah. 3:9.

"For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all." -- Romans 11:32

Thousands may read the Bible but fail to understand it. God is keeping its truths secret from the people at the present time, not because he does not love them, but because he does love them. Under the present conditions the truth would be injurious to the majority of people. This is because of the sinful nature of mankind as shown in Isaiah 29. But God still loves them, and whom he loves he disciplines. (John 3:16; Hebrews 12:6) So God has "shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all." (Romans 11:32) How well the true believer today may exclaim: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" -- Romans. 11:33.

There are many scriptures that speak of the secrecy connected with the message of the Bible. The apostle Paul refers to its tidings as the message "which was a hidden mystery for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints [dedicated ones]." (Colossians 1:26, JB) At this point we should note that the Good News of the Bible was not made known to the world at large, but only to his "saints". Jesus also, when speaking to his Father in prayer, said: "I bless you, Father, Ruler of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do." (Matthew 11:25-26, JB) Often those that are well spoken of and respected by men are passed by, while outwardly despicable people may be chosen to receive His secrets. -- 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Proceeding the apostle Paul shows us the necessity for this secretiveness as respects the true message of Good News. He shows that if it were generally known amongst men, the Divine program would at times be interfered with. He tells us that none of the princes or prominent ones of the world understood the wisdom of God -- for had they known it, they would not have put Jesus to death. As he explains: "But as it is written [in Isaiah 64:4]: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit .... We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." -- 1 Corinthians 2:8-13.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," says Yahweh. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." -- Isaiah 55:8,9

However, it is a mistake to suppose that God is not interested in converting the world. (Psalm 22:27; 150:6; Romans 14:11) He is more interested in it than any human could possibly be. Why then did He not give us a simple Bible? The reason for its obscurity must be that men have failed to understand the heavenly Father's design and purpose for the present world. We have already given evidence that He confirmed that there would be much misconception and misunderstanding of Him and His purpose. But once we understand God's purposes, then we can answer the question.

We must get rid of the misconceived idea that God is NOW trying to convert the world, or that he is NOW trying to save as many as possible from some eternal doom, as most religious people suppose. If God were trying to convert as many as possible of the world to save them from some eternal doom, would he have not been anxious for his disciples to go to all peoples? Instead he told his disciples NOT to go to the Gentiles. (Matthew 10:5) Jesus was not here being cruel, but he knew of His Father's purposes to enlighten the whole world at a future date. We know that God is not now trying to convert the world, because the world is not converted -- far from it! God accomplishes everything he purposes to do. (Isaiah. 55:10,11) If it were God's purpose to convert the world NOW, then the Good News failed -- it did not accomplish its work. But God has not been trying to convert the world. He does not have to try, because He is omnipotent (John 12:37-40). If people of the world had understood the true Bible message, they would have believed, but that was NOT God's purpose (Matthew 13:10-17; 11:23; 10:5,6; Acts 16:6,7; 1 Peter 1:10-12). God did NOT intend that they should NEVER be converted, because he has promised a time to come when they will be converted, but this has not yet begun, nor will it be accomplished as long as this present evil world continues (2 Timothy 3:1,2; 2 Peter 3:3,4; Matthew 24:37; Isaiah 6:9-11; Dan. 12:1; Zephaniah 3:8-13). The Bible tells us that in "the time of the end" of this world there will be a "time of trouble". This will mean great distress and sorrow for the world of mankind. But this does not mean the destruction of this planet, for the promise is that the earth will blossom as the rose. (Isaiah 35:1,2; Genesis 8:21,22; Ecclesiastes 1:4; Isaiah 45:17,18; Genesis 13:15; 15:18; Acts 7:4,5) The present order of things will be destroyed, and a new order of things will be established. God's Word will continue to be misunderstood until this age (this present evil world) is over. (Zephaniah 3:8,9) Then the darkness surrounding the true Good News will be removed (Isaiah. 25:7; Haggai 2:7). God has purposed the conversion of the world, but not during the past 2000 years. The reason why the Good News is kept secret is that his plans might be hidden from all but the truly meek and lowly at heart who respond to his call, until the due time for all to know. Our Lord was glad that these things were hidden, and thought it right for the Heavenly Father to keep them hidden from the worldly. -- Matthew 11:25,26.

In Isaiah 29:11 it is declared prophetically that the vision of all things (Lesser) is become as the words of a sealed book. Men have turned things upside down, as was foretold (vs. 16). The world needs to be enlightened! Will the world be enlightened by missionaries being sent out in this present evil world? The facts indicate that it will never happen this way. The day in which the world will be enlightened is called in the Bible the "judgment day". It is not a 24-hour day, but as shown in 2 Peter 3:7,8, it is a 1000 year day. During that judgment day the inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness. -- Isaiah 26:9

What now stands in the way of the enlightenment of world? -1- Satan the Devil puts evil thoughts and desires into men's minds and hearts. Hence, if the world is to be enlightened, Satan must be removed that he might not use his power to mislead people. (Revelation 20:2,3) -2-Imperfect missionaries now lack the power and means to accomplish the work. Worldly governments interfere. It will not be so in that Millennial day, for the entire world will then be under the control of Jesus and his authorized agents. (Daniel 2:35,44; Isaiah 11:9; Psalm 72:2-8) -3-Suitably trained teachers must be chosen. Men have thought that they could chose and train them, but only God can do that, and instead of a three or four years' training, it takes all of a dedicated lifetime (Romans 8:18,19; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 6:2; Isaiah 26:9). -4-Ignorance, darkness, confusion prevail now, and there are many confusing, contradictory, false religious teachings; but in that day the knowledge of God will fill the whole earth, and all will know him. (Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 31:34) The Good News message contained in the Bible will come out of its obscurity as its message is made plain (2 Corinthians. 4:4; 1 Corinthians. 11:13-15). Will God give mankind a new Bible? We do not think so. However, provisions will be made so that its books will be opened and all will be judged by the things written in those books (Revelation 20:12,13; Isaiah 29:18). God will remove the vail that is spread over all nations (Isaiah 25:7; 2 Corinthians 4:3). The way will then be made so plain that even a foolish man will not err therein (Isaiah 35:8). Now the Good news message is so obscure that even the wise men stumble at it (John 6:60,61). Yes, the day of judgment is coming, when Jesus will judge everyone in righteousness -- Acts 17:31.

But what about those who have died -- especially those who have died without ever hearing of Jesus (Jesus)? How will they benefit from this enlightenment if they are dead? God has promised that he will awaken all of these from the sleep of death. "Marvel not at this, for an hour is coming, in which all those in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have practiced good to a resurrection of life; and they that did evil, to a resurrection of judgment [Greek -- krisis]." (John 5:28,29 -- King James II Version). Jesus is the true light that enlightens every man that comes into the world (John 1:9). The light will enter their hearts also (1 Timothy 1:4). God wills all men to be saved [delivered from death], and to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4) The salvation spoken of here is not salvation into life for all eternity, but rather salvation [deliverance] from the death state. Having arisen from the dead, they are then taught the truth that they might be saved eternally.

For more on this, see:
http:/reslight.addr.com/understanding.html

In service of Jesus,
Ronald

5

Tetragrammaton in Genesis

by Reslight in

Reslight

The Tetragrammaton in Genesis

A Restoration Light Publication

Unless stated otherwise, all quotations from the Holy Bible are from the World English Bible

translation.

????

God spoke to Moses, and said to him, "I am Yahweh; and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.
Exodus 6:2,3 World English Bible

Part One
Various Theories of Exodus 6:2,3

Many, by reading Exodus 6:2,3, have concluded that God first revealed his name to Moses at the time spoken of in Genesis 6. In other words, it is concluded from the above that no one had ever heard the name of Yahweh before, and that this was the first time it had ever been spoken. According to this theory, none of the servants of God spoken of in Genesis had ever heard of the name of Yahweh.

Yet when we read the book of Genesis we do find that God's name appears there many times. Eve evidently spoke it. (Genesis 4:1) Noah spoke it. (Genesis 9:26) Abram (Abraham) spoke it. (Genesis 13:4; 14:22; 15:2,8; 22:14) Sarai (Sarah) spoke it. (Genesis 16:2,5,13) The servant of Abraham spoke it. (Genesis 24:12,35,40,42,44,56) Laban spoke it. (Genesis 24:50,51; 30:27,30; 31:49) Isaac spoke it. (Genesis 26:22,25; 27:20) Abimlech spoke it. (Genesis 26:28,29) Jacob spoke it. (Genesis 27:7; 28:16,21; 32:9; 49:18) Leah spoke it. (Genesis 29:32,33,35) Rachel spoke it. (Genesis 30:24) This fact may not be apparent in many translations of the scriptures, because the divine name has been replaced with the title, "the L ORD ", making it appear that God's name was "the L ORD ". The following translations are a few that do not substitute the divine name in Genesis: American Standard Version , Rotherham's Emphasized Bible, Young's Literal Translation, World English Bible, New World Translation, New Jerusalem Bible.

Many atheists, agnostics, deists and others point to this scripture, claiming either that it is a contradiction to the record of Genesis, or it is claimed that the record of Genesis is inaccurate, being a forgery of Moses or some later writer, and that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob actually worshipped the gods of the heathen before this, especially one purported to have the name of "El" (which literally means, strength, might, or mighty one). Thus it is important to arrive at a satisfactory understanding concerning this matter, not only because of the accusations of those who oppose the Bible, but because it does involve the most important name in the universe, that is, the name of our Creator, Yahweh.

Coffman states concerning Exodus 6:3: "This passage must be hailed as one of the most difficult in the Bible, the difficulty being in the statement that, 'as Jehovah' (Yahweh), God was unknown to the patriarchs. Whereas, it is a fact that the patriarchs most assuredly DID know God by that name! We may be certain that this apparent contradiction is due to some kind of human error. It is simply inconceivable that Moses, the author of Exodus, could have stated what is recorded here, unless some meaning beyond what seems to be said is intended."* Therefore, we really need to take a closer look.
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*Coffman, James Burton. "Commentary on Exodus 6". "Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament".
http://www.studylight.org/com/bcc/view.cgi?book=ex&chapter=006.
Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.

But if Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were acquainted with the divine name, then why is it stated in Exodus 6 that this name was unknown to them? Exodus 6:2,3 reads from the King James Version: "And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the L ORD : And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." Let us also realize that the King James Version has added the phrase "by my name" before "God Almighty". This gives a false impression concerning the verse, since it would seem to place the term "God Almighty" as another personal name for the Creator. Strictly speaking, God Almighty is not spoken of as the personal name of God. It is a title, and as such it is a titular name, but it is not his personal name. Most translations read similar to the World English Version: "God spoke to Moses, and said to him, 'I am Yahweh; and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.'" Notice that "God Almighty" is not referred to as his name, but rather it is used as a descriptive title, thus two names are not being spoken of, but a title -- God Almighty (El Shaddai) and then the divine name, Yahweh, is added. There are at least four different ways of interpreting the latter part of verse 3.

Viewpoint One: Josephus interpreted Exodus 6:3 to mean that no one had heard of the name Yahweh before then. This has been the conclusion of many others. However, this conclusion does raise the question: How did the tetragrammaton get into the book of Genesis and in the earlier part of the Book of Exodus? If we reason that Moses simply wrote the name in by adding it into the text, then we are left with more questions: What name was being called upon by the various ones spoken of in Genesis? (Genesis 4:26; 12:8; 13:4; 14:22; 16:13; 21:33; 24:7; 26:25? What name did Abraham actually have his servant swear by? (Genesis 24:3) What name did Abraham actually call the mountain in Genesis 22:14? What name did God actually identify himself by in Genesis 15:7; 28:13? What name was originally given as the God of Shem (Genesis 9:26); the God of Abraham (Genesis 24:27,42,48; 26:24); the God of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 28:13)? Many who accept Jospehus' claim that when Moses wrote the book of Genesis, claim that he did it from hindsight and thus inserted the divine name into the mouths of the speakers. But in view of the way many of the scriptures are worded we do not find it plausible to think that EL SHADDAI or some other unknown reference was originally used in these scriptures and that Moses later added the name of Yahweh into these statements. We will present all places where the divine name does appear in Genesis later.

Viewpoint Two: The second way of interpreting this verse is offered by a few*, which would render the phrase "was I not known to them" as a question: "By my name, Yahweh, was I not known to them?" This rendering could be, but most scholars do not accept it since the interrogative in Hebrew is usually shown by an interrogative pronoun, or by adding the letter "He" as the first letter to the sentence. Neither appear here, so the sentence is not usually viewed as interrogative, although there are some fairly good arguments as to why this should still be viewed as interrogative even without such.
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*John Gill states: "by reading the words with an interrogation, the clause will appear more plain, 'and by my name Jehovah was I not known to them?' " -- Gill, John. "Commentary on Exodus 6:3". "The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible".
http://www.studylight.org/com/geb/view.cgi?book=ex&chapter=006&verse=003.
1999.
See also:
http://yahweh.com/pages/pw0898/holocaust.shtml
and:
http://www.apibs.org/devo/001.htm See also: The Sacred Name Bible rendering of Exodus 6:3.

Viewpoint Three: John L. Ronning of the Bible Institute of South Africa, proposed another rendering. He states*: "We propose instead the following translation, which involves reading the preposition wl in place of the negative particle al: '... and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as El Shaddai; but as for My name YHWH, by it I had been known to them.' In more idiomatic English, this could be rendered, 'When I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as El Shaddai, I was already known to them by my name YHWH.'" Evidently he is saying that there is a copyist error and that by changing one letter the whole meaning is different.
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*Ronning, John. L. Exodus 6:3 and Patriarchal Knowledge of the Name "YHWH", copyright 1986
The above quote was obtained from:
http://www.ibri.org/29ex63.htm

Viewpoint Four: The fourth way of interpreting this verse does so by taking into consideration how the word "know" is used in the Hebrew Scriptures. The Hebrew word translated "known" is yada' (Strong's Hebrew #3045). It has various shades of meaning, and its usage in Exodus 6:3 does not necessarily mean that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not aware of the name. For one illustrations of this, we point to Genesis 4:1, where we read that Adam knew [Hebrew, yada'] his wife. It does not mean that he did not know his wife before as a person, but it means that he knew his wife more intimately in the sexual bond. Similarly, in Exodus 6:3, God was revealing his name in a manner different than it had been known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The usage of "yada'" can be also seen by its similar usage in conection with the divine name in Exodus 6:7; 7:17; 8:10,22; 9:14,29; 10:2; 11:7; 14:4,18; 16:6,8,12; 18:11; Deuteronomy 29:6; 1 Kings 20:13; 20:28; Isaiah 49:26; Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 6:7,13,14; 7:4,27; 11:10,12,15,16; 12:20; 13:9,14,21; 14:8; 15:7; 16:62; 20:12,20,38,42; etc.

This is further attested to if one looks at the name in the causative rather than simple present tense. This is believed to be the earlier Jewish view* of the meaning of the name, but Christian translations in English rendered it "I AM." From this theory developed the idea that the divine name means "Eternal One", although the present tense does not refer to eternal past at all. Thus this idea is actually read into the meaning of "I am." Others claim that it means Yahweh exists outside of time, and give the word "eternal" the meaning of a realm in which time does not exist, that is, the absence of time. This is a philosophical theory that cannot be found in the scriptures. There are some good works that refute the idea that Biblical eternity means absence of time.* But the proponents of this view do not give a good explanation as to why God's revealment of such an idea to enslaved Israelites at this time would have had any meaning to their suffering condition.
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*See:
Time and Eternity, by G. T. Stevenson. This book is online at:
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/time/
http://www.heavendwellers.com/time_eternity_index.html
http://www.kingdomlife.com/kingdom/timeand.htm
http://www.godstruthfortoday.org/Library/stevenson/time000.htm
http://www.heavendwellers.com/time_eternity_index.html
Also see:
Understanding God: God and Time, by Jack Cottrell, Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Fall 2002
This report can be found online at:
http://www.cincybible.edu/seminary/academics/facpublications/Cottrell.pdf

However, if we look at the earlier Jewish view that the divine name is causative this would give the the Hebrew phrase Ehyeh Asher Eyeh of Exodus 3:14 the meaning of "I cause to be what I cause to be," rather than "I am who I am." It would give the name Yahweh the meaning of "He [who] causes to be", rather than simply "He is." Nevertheless, most today who accept that the divine name is in the causative look upon this as only meaning Creator, in the sense of the One who created all things, "he creates", which we do not believe would be very meaningly as far as any kind of revealment in Exodus 6:3. This idea would not have impressed the Israelites, for what comfort and encouragement would it be to show an enslaved people that God was the first cause of the universe? Rather we should see something more meaningful to the situation at hand, as the Causer of events according to what he had promised. It is in this latter sense that we find meaning to the revealment of the divine name in Exodus 6:3 (as well as many other scriptures as referred to earlier), that is, that, although Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew of the name Yahweh, they did not know that name in its fuller meaning, as the One who accomplishes the covenant promises.** God made the covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but now he was about to start fulfillment of those promises by delivering Jacob's people from Egypt. Thus this is our preferred understanding of this verse.
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*"Yahweh (ya'we). The Hebrew tetragrammaton (YHVH or YHWH) traditionally pronounced Jehovah (q.v) is now known to be correctly vocalized yahwe. New inscriptional evidence from the second and first millennia B. C. point toward this fact. The old view of Le Clerc, modernly propounded by Paul Haupt and developed by W. F. Albright, has commended itself in the light of the phonetic development and grammatical evidence of increased knowledge of Northwest Semitic and kindred tongues. This thesis holds Yahwe to be originally a finite causative verb from the Northwest Semitic root hwy 'to be, to come into being,' so that the divine name would mean 'he causes to be, or exist,' i. e.,w 'he creates.' Amorite personal names after 2,000 B. C. lend support to the Haupt-Albright view, demonstrating that the employment of the causative stem yahwe "he creates" was in vogue in the linguistic background of early Hebrew." -- Unger's Bible Dictionary, Merrill F. Unger, 1957, Moody Press, Chicago, Page 1177
See also our document on The Divine Name
Also see F M Cross, Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic, pg 60-71; W. F. Albright, Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan, pgs 147-149.
**Some have read into our statement that we are saying that Abraham did not have faith that God would fulfill his promises. This, of course, is not our thought at all.

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Evidently, my earlier post either didn't make it or was deleted. I am reposting this here.

The rest of this study can be found at:
http://reslight.addr.com/genesisyahweh.html

The printable version is at:
http://reslight.addr.com/prints/genesisyahweh.html

Agape love,
Ronald

5

Tetragrammaton in Genesis

by Reslight in

Reslight

Sorry, I evidently hit the wrong button.

Ronald

5

Tetragrammaton in Genesis

by Reslight in

Reslight

51

Explain this then

by Legendary U.2.K. in

(quote, messiah christ jesus) - "but of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but "my father only" <--that's proof that christ is not god, cause if christ was infact god,'dont you think he would know about the coming of his kingdom, also christ said" my father only" , um he said my father, therefore christ is the son of god, infact !!

!christ prayed to god!!

!<---you cant ignore that.. all this cometh str from the bible, and the bible tongues has/been change, but no the words, everything is true.. so prove me wrong, um you cant, so pay attention....

Reslight

[[On the contrary, Col. depicts Christ as image ( see also 2 Cor. 4:4) of the invisible God]]

Thus he is not the invisible God of whom he is the image.

[[ (John 1:18).]]

No one has seen God; Jesus, the Son of God, has told us about him. Jesus is not Yahweh.

[[He is pre-eminent and supreme as God's agent in the creation of all things, including angels (Col. 1:16 and John 1:3).]]

He is God's agent in making the creation; he is not God Almighty.

[[He is prior to all things (Col. 1:17 and Heb. 1:3)]]

He is before the all being spoken. Being the firsborn of creation, he was created before the creation being included in pantwn -- all -- that is being referred to here Colossians 1:17. The "ta panta" of Hebrews 1:3 is referring his bearing *ta panta* -- the all -- that is being spoken of in the context.

[[Firstborn of creation doesn't mean Jesus was the first creature made by the Father.]]

Of course it does mean that he was the first creature made by God. Except there be those who wish see into the Bible that Jesus is Yahweh, there would be doubt as to what this means: Jesus, being the firstborn of all creation, is the first to be created, being included in that of which he is the firstborn of.

[[It means he is the heir of all creation.]]

Being the heir does not mean that he was not created. He is the heir as God's firstborn creature. As the heir of God, he receives what is promised from God. He is not God who gives him this inheritance, anymore than the joint-heirs who also receive an joint-heirship with Jesus as heirs of God.

[[All things were created for him (Col. 1:16)]]

ta panta di autou kai eis auton ektistai

*Ta Panta*, the all, that is being spoken of, was created *di* -- through -- Jesus, and for him.

[[and in him all things hold together (Col. 1:17)]]

ta panta en autw sunesteeken

*Ta Panta* -- All these things -- by means of him are put together.

http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=4921&version=

[[ See also Heb. 1:2. ]]

Hebrews 1:2

ep eschatou twn heemerwn toutwn elaleesen heemin

UPON LAST [PART] OF THE DAYS THESE HE SPOKE TO US1909 2078 3588 2250 3778_94 2980 1473_9

en huiw hon etheeken kleeronomon pantwn di hou

IN SON, WHOM HE PUT HEIR OF ALL (THINGS), THROUGH WHOM1722 5207 3739 5087 2818 3956 1223 3739

kai epoieesen tous aiwnas

ALSO HE MADE THE AGES;2532 4160 3588 0165

Verse one shows that God spoke in times past by his prophets, but now he speaks by means of his Son. The parallel here does not give any indication that Jesus is God, but rather that Jesus, like the prophets, spoke for God. -- Deuteronomy 18:15,18,19.

All variations of *pas* -- panta, pantwn, etc. -- almost always refer to what is being spoken of in context.

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Brown/T/Pierce/1923/allofgod.html
I do not necessarily agree with all conclusions of the above author.

See:
http://reslight.addr.com/col1-16.htm
http://reslight.addr.com/jesbeg.html
http://reslight.addr.com/heb1-1-10.html

Christian love,

Ronald