Question # 17

If there are 144,000 spirit anointed people who have a heavenly hope, and a great crowd of people who have another hope of everlasting life on paradise earth, why does Paul say that there is only ONE hope (Eph 4:4), instead of two?

__________________

As I have pointed out already, those with an agenda to deceive others frequently cite only a part of a verse and avoid the context. In this case the context states: "One body there is, and one spirit, even as you were called in the one hope to which you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all persons, who is over all and through all and in all."

Paul is addressing those who have been called to become part of the kingdom. For them there is but one hope, one faith, one baptism, etc. 

Besides, God intends to resurrect the vast majority of mankind back to life on earth regardless of whether or not a person had faith. So, the earthly resurrection is not a hope in the same way. It requires nothing of the person except that they die. However, in the 21st chapter of Acts Paul did mention that he had hope that there would be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Obviously, that is in reference to the earthly resurrection since God would not resurrect an unrighteous person into his presence. In the broader sense, then, there are two hopes. 

Question #18

On pgs. 66, 69, 211, 423, 560, 648, and 719 of Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, reference is made to The Finished Mystery, which was the 7th of the Studies in the Scriptures series published by the WTS in 1917 (pg 66, 719), and was the major publication of the WTS at that time. On pgs. 88, 648, and 651, a picture of this book appears, complete with the winged disk symbol of the Egyptian sun god Ra on its front cover. Is it true that The Finished Mystery taught that Christ was the Almighty of Rev 1:8 (pg 15), that Christ established a "Church" (pg 17), that Christ returned invisibly in 1874 (pg 54, 60, 68). that the Holy Spirit has a personality (pg 57), that the great pyramid of Giza was God's stone witness and was used to predict the year of Armageddon (pg 60), that Armageddon would definitely occur in the spring of 1918 (pg 62), that Christ was crucified (pg 68), that Leviathan of the Bible refers to the steam locomotive (pg 85), and that Michael is the Pope of Rome and the angels are his bishops (pg 188)? According to "current" WTS teachings, Christ returned invisibly in 1914 and in 1918 chose the WTS as his earthly organization because they were the only ones teaching "the Truth". If this was so, then Jesus would have known the teachings of the WTS as put forth in The Finished Mystery, published in 1917. Do you really think that Jesus would have chosen an organization which taught so many things that were not correct according to "current" WTS teachings and are no longer taught as "the truth"?
________________ 

When Jehovah's Witnesses are confronted with this type of question from a Catholic who is obviously familiar with the early writings of the Watchtower it might be wise to reverse the question and have them consider some of the idiotic teachings and practices of Catholicism that demonstrably come straight from Babylon. Perhaps ask them to account for the millions of people who have been murdered by the Vatican through incessant wars, like the Crusades and religious wars against Protestants; the torturing and flailing of "heretics" and those who dared to translate and publish or even read the Bible. Could God possibly have anything to do with an organization that makes deals with dictators and tyrants and shares the loot with plunderers? Get real!

Question # 19

In Jn 20:28, John refers to Jesus in Greek as "Ho kyrios moy kai ho theos moy". This translates literally as "the Lord of me and THE God of me". Why does Jesus, in Jn 20:29, affirm Thomas for having come to this realization? If Jesus really wasn't the Lord and THE God of Thomas, why didn't Jesus correct him for making either a false assumption or a blasphemous statement?

______________

First, Jesus did not affirm that he was God. He merely said, 'because you have seen me you believe?' If persons declare themselves to be worshippers of Jesus based upon the declaration of Thomas, who prior to his seeing Jesus had declared himself to be an unbeliever, then basically such persons betray themselves as not worshipping Jesus' God. 

And really that is the whole point. Satan does not want persons to worship the One whom Jesus addressed as "the only true God." 

Immediately after Jesus was resurrected he told Mary to stop clinging to him because he had not yet ascended to "my God and your God." So, the question Jehovah's Witnesses ought to pose to those who claim that Jesus is God is: Who is Jesus' God? 

It is a simple question, but no trinitarian can supply a sensible answer. 

Question #20

If Christ will not have a visible return to earth, then how will he be seen by "ALL the tribes of the earth" (Mt 24:30), and by "EVERY eye" (Rev 1:7) when he returns? How can Christ "APPEAR" a second time (Heb 9:28) if he will not have a visible return to earth?

________________________________

Right before Jesus ascended back to heaven he told his disciples that the world would behold him no longer. But then Jesus assured his disciples that they would see him. How is that to be harmonized with the verses cited as proof texts that the nations will see Jesus?

First, it must be recognized that Jesus is now in God’s form, meaning no human may see him full-on and survive the encounter. Paul is the only human to have had a glimpse of Christ after he ascended and Paul was blinded for three days from the event. Paul later said that his seeing Christ was as if he had been born premature - meaning that all of Christ’s chosen ones will eventually see the glorified Christ when he returns. We may be certain that seeing Christ is a privilege reserved for the chosen ones.

How, then, are we to understand the verses that say every eye will see him? Again, since Jesus said the world would no longer behold him it must not be in a literal sense that “every eye” will see him. The way it ought to be understood is that every person on earth will be forced to realize that they are fighting against Christ. That is important since the majority of people presently living on earth do not accept Christ as having any authority over them. So, during the great tribulation Muslims, atheists, Catholics and Protestants, and everyone on earth, will know that Christ has come to sanctify the name of Jehovah. 

The Revelation of Christ and the Two Witnesses 

Question #21

HOME OF 65 QUESTIONS FOR JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

In Rev 19:1, where does it say that the great crowd will be?

________________ 

It has apparently never occurred to the questioner that Revelation might refer to more than one great crowd. Revelation 19:1 does indeed refer to a great crowd in heaven, obviously composed of angels. However, is it not possible that there is also a great crowd of loyal worshippers on earth? Certainly reasonable people would agree.

Question #22

If the Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force, how could he: Be referred to as "he" and "him" in Jn 16:7- 8 and Jn 16:13-14; Bear witness (Jn 15:26); Feel hurt (Isa 63:10); Be blasphemed against (Mk 3:29); Say things (Ezek 3:24, Acts 8:29, 10:19, 11:12, and Heb 10:15-17): Desire (Gal 5:17); Be outraged (Heb 10:29); Search (I Cor 2:10); Comfort (Acts 9:31); Be loved (Rom 15:30); Be lied to and be God (Acts 5:3-4)?

________________ 

The Watchtower has an article online that satisfactorily answers this question. The short of it, the Bible at times personifies the spirit, as it does other things. For example, Paul referred to sin as a king.

Question #23

What is the correct spelling of God's proper name, "Yahweh" or "Jehovah"? If Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that "Yahweh" is more proper, why do they misspell it "Jehovah"? If the name of God is so important, then should you not only pronounce it correctly, but spell it correctly too?

_____________________

The correct spelling of God's name depends upon the language into which it is being translated. There are literally thousands of different languages and dialects spoken by mankind around the globe. 

The language of the Bible was originally Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. God's personal appeared in the ancient text thousands of times as YHWH. Due to the fact that Hebrew was written without vowels the exact spelling of the YHWH is uncertain. But because so many proper Hebrew names were derived from variations of YHWH, we can be fairly certain YHWH was pronounced with three syllables, not two as in Yah-weh. Most likely it was pronounced Ye-ho-wah. 

But Yeh-ho-wah is a foreign word in English.When Hebrew names are translated into English the "Y" is dropped in favor of "J." Also, the "W" is translated using the letter "V." So, the construction of the name Jehovah follows the same rules as is applied to all other Hebrew names that are translated into English. 

Question #24

Jn 1:3 says that Jesus created "all things", but in Isa 44:24, God says that he "by myself created the heavens and the earth" and asks the question "Who was with me?" when the heavens and the earth were created. How can this be since if Jesus had been created by God, then he would have been with God when everything else was created?
___________________________

First, it is necessary to correct the questioner. Point out to them that John 1:3 does not say that the Word was the creator, as is implied by the question. John 1:3 and other passages make plain that creation came about through the Word, or by means of him. The wording of those passages indicate that the Word was an agent of the Creator, but not the Creator himself. 

Next Jehovah’s Witnesses ought to direct the questioner to the first  chapter of  Genesis, where God spoke to someone in the invisible realm, saying: “Let us make man in our image.”

Obviously someone was with God. So, having established that fact try to reason with the person and explain to them that Jehovah was speaking to his only-begotten son, also known as the Word. John explained that the Word was with God in the beginning because he is the firstborn of all creation and that all things came into existence through him.

Then try to reason with the person on the context of Isaiah, how Jehovah was revealing that there were no gods that he recognized. That is because there were numerous gods back then that were competing for Jehovah’s worship. 

However, even though Jesus is rightly called a god, he is not a god that came into existence apart from being a direct creation of Jehovah God. As the exact representation of God the Word is rightly called a god, just not in the same sense as the demonic gods of the nations. 

So, Isaiah is not in conflict with what is revealed as regards the Word, it is simply a matter of trinity believers failing to understand the Scriptures. 

Question #25

If the soul is the body, why does Jesus make a distinction between the body and the soul in Mt 10:28?

_________________

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that the soul is merely the body. The soul encompasses the whole of the creature, mind, body, their life as a person. Here is a Watchtower article that explains the various ways the word "soul" is used in the Bible. 

As for Mathew 10:28, which reads: "And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna", Jesus here is using the word "soul" to represent the person's future life prospects. 

Jesus was saying that men may indeed kill us but they cannot determine if we will live again. God, on the other hand, can also kill, but he may also take away any prospect of a resurrection of the dead. Obviously, too, the verse is not saying the soul is immortal, as deluded religionists have been induced to believe. Just the opposite, in fact. Jesus indicated that God could destroy the soul. Basically, Jesus is contrasting two sorts of death. Temporary death and permanent death. Gehenna represents permanent death. Permanent death comes about if God judges a person to be unworthy of a resurrection.

Question #26

In Col 1:15-17, the NWT inserts the word "other" 4 times even though it is not in the original Greek (See Gr- Engl Interlinear). Why is the word "other" inserted? How would these verses read if the word "other" had not been inserted? What does scripture say about adding words to the Bible? See Prov 30:5-6.

____________________________

The span of verses in question read as follows: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist, 18 and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that he might become the one who is first in all things; 19 because [God] saw good for all fullness to dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile again to himself all [other] things by making peace through the blood [he shed] on the torture stake, no matter whether they are the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens.”

As regards the use of the bracketed “other” it is perfectly justified considering the context. (See question #27) The questioner is apparently ignorant of the fact that all translations insert words into the text in order to add clarity. For example, let the reader take note of the fact that the word “God” in verse 19 also appears within brackets. That is because theos does not appear in the Greek text in that verse, so in keeping with their device to inform the reader that the word has been inserted at the descretion of the translator it appears in brackets. The NIV  also inserts “God” and other translations insert “Father,” however, they do not use brackets. So, for the questioner to imply that the NIV is practicing some dark, sinister art of translation simply reflects their ignorance.

Those who wish to believe and perpetrate the lie that Jesus is God, and other similar hoaxes, typically practice their deception upon the unwary by trying to focus attention on letters, words and fragments of verses taken out of context. So, it is always a good idea for Jehovah's Witnesses to get the questioner to read the context. 

So, according to the context cited above Jesus is the image of the Father. Hebrews 1:3 is even more specific, saying that Jesus is the exact representation of his very being.

Most rational and reasonable people will admit that an image and a representation cannot be the same as that which is represented. For instance, a duplicate or a representation of a Picasso is not the same thing as the original painting. It may be an exact copy, but it is still not the original. 

Jesus is an exact representation of Jehovah, but he is not Jehovah, nor is he God’s equal. Furthermore, the scripture plainly states that Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. To speak of God as having a beginning or being born is nonsensical. But, again, rational and honest reasoning people readily admit that sons do not come to life before their Fathers. The trinity hoax, of course, states that the son had no beginning. Why God would relate himself as a son of a father if there is not a true father/son relationship defies all reason.

The key to understanding why it is appropriate to insert “other” in the context above is better understood by a comparison of 1 Corinthians 15:27-29, which states: “For [God] “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him. But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.”

In saying “it is evident that it is with the exception” Paul as stating the obvious fact that God is not subject to Jesus. Likewise, it is evident that Jesus did not create himself. Hence, Jesus, though the firstborn of God, created all other things - with the exception of himself.

Question #27

In Phil 2:9, the NWT inserts the word "other" even though it doesn't appear in the original Greek (See Gr-Engl Interlinear). What is the reason for inserting this word? Is the word "Jehovah" a name? See Exo 6:3, Ps 83:18, and Isa 42:8. How would the verse read if the word "other" had not been inserted? What does scripture say about adding words to the Bible? See Prov 30:5-6. If Christians are persecuted for the sake of Jehovah's name, why did Christ tell the first Christians that they would be persecuted for the sake of his (Jesus') name, instead of Jehovah's (Mt 24:9, Mk 13:13, Lk 21:12,17, Jn 15:21, and Acts 9:16)? If the name "Jehovah" is so important, then why does Acts 4:12 say, "There is salvation in no one else; for there is not another name [vs 10 Jesus Christ] under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must get saved"? If the teachings of the WTS are correct, would this not have been the logical place for God to have used the name "YHWH" or "Jehovah"? Since the word "Jehovah" didn't appear until at least the 12th century, and since the term "Jehovah's Witnesses" wasn't used by the WTS until the early 1930's, doesn't this mean that the first century Christians were not known as "Jehovah's Witnesses"?
______________________


Again, the questioner betrays their ignorance of basic Bible truths, as well as principles of translation. The verse in question states: “For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every [other] name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

First, every translation of the Bible uses words that do not appear in the original text. After all, the obligation of the translator is to convey the intended message of the original, not merely words. That being the case, it is the prerogative of the translator to use the best possible phrasing that makes clear what the original actually meant. 

When the NWT inserts a word that was not in the original they use the device of enclosing the word in brackets. Other translations do not do that. Which translator is being more straightforward?

As for the context of Philippians 2:9, anyone reading the surrounding verses, who does not have an agenda, can clearly see that God gave Jesus the honors bestowed upon him. Jesus did not give himself a name that is above all others. God gave it to him. 

So, it is surely obvious to all put the most perverse deceivers, that, Jesus is not above the One who elevated him to the superior position and decreed that all creation must bow before the Son. That being the case, the NWT is perfectly justified in adding clarity to that passage to make it clear that the name of Jesus is not above the name of God. 

No doubt the reason the NWT committee felt compelled to do that is because the waters have been so muddied up by those who wish to confuse Jehovah with Jesus.

As for the name of Jehovah appearing in English in the 12th century, that is almost as old as the English language itself. In fact, moderns who try to read olde English will realize that it is almost a different language. 

So, the name Jehovah is not a new and strange thing to English. The divine name was introduced into English before modern English even developed and it appeared in the first English translations of the Bible. And the construction of the name JEHOVAH follows exactly the fundamentals of the way all other Hebrew names have been rendered into English.

As for the first century Christians, they were known as the people for God's name. But since English didn't exist then, and the original Christians spoke a variety of languages, we may be sure they did not use the name Jehovah. But they obviously did use his name in their own dialect. And they surely knew that YHWH and Jesus were not the same entity.

The hoax the Devil and his dupes have long sought to foist upon the unlearned is that Jesus has replaced Jehovah, or that they are one and the same. The fact is, the world will soon be forced to know that God is Jehovah, and the beauty of it is that Jesus is going to be the enforcer.

Question #28

The WTS makes the claim, "Like the Primitive Christian Community - the religious publication 'Interpretation' stated in July 1956: 'In their organization and witnessing work, they [Jehovah's Witnesses] come as close as any group to approximating the primitive Christian community..."- Jehovah's Witnesses- Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pg 234, and on pg 677 of the same book, a caption appears titled "Like the early Christians". Do Jehovah's Witnesses pray the "Our Father" (Mt 6:9-13), break bread together (celebrate the Eucharist) frequently (1Cor 10:16-17, 1Cor 11:26-27), come together on Sunday to break bread (Acts 20:7), confirm the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:15-17, 19:5-6, Heb 6:2, 2Tim 1:6), ordain (appoint) priests (elders) through the laying on of hands (Acts 6:5-6, 13:2-3), pray to Jesus (Mt 11:28, Acts 7:59-60, 1Cor 16:22-23, Rev 22:20), anoint the sick with oil (Mk 6:12-13, Jas 5:14), often kneel down to pray (Acts 9:40, 20:36, 21:5, Lk 22:41), consider themselves to be witnesses of Christ (Acts 1:8, 10:39, 13:31), have deacons (1Tim 3:8, 10, 12), fast from than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:10-12), celebrate Pentecost (Acts 2:1, 20:16, 1Cor 16:8), have special people that look after widows and orphans (Acts 6:1-4, Jas 1:27), occaisionally drink wine (1Tim 5:23)? If not, then how can Jehovah's Witnesses consider themselves to be like the primitive Christian community?

_______________________________

Many of the practices cited by the questioner were customs associated with the MiddleEastern culture of antiquity, as well as Judaism, such as anointing the sick with oil. Not only that, but certain practices were phased out, so to speak. For example, all of the original Christians were Jewish, but when Gentiles began to be anointed with holy spirit then it gradually dawned upon the Jewish Christians that they were no longer under the Law, so customs associated with the Sabbath and other festivals, like Pentecost, were no longer observed. Not only that, but the miraculous gifts of the spirit would eventually cease as well.

Jehovah’s Witnesses may consider themselves similar to the primitive Christian community in that they are an evangelical organization. Like the original Christians Jehovah’s Witnesses have gone out into the world preaching the messages of God’s kingdom, in obedience to Christ’s command. Like the first century Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses are a true brotherhood. Also, Jehovah’s Witnesses are distinguished by the fact that they are no part of the world. Mainstream Catholics and Protestants are no only part of the world, they are the world. 

As for eating the Lord's evening meal, that was an annual affair to commemorate the death of Jesus.  Jehovah's Witnesses have deacons too, they are called ministerial servants. 


As for praying the so-called "Our Father," in the very same breath Jesus instructed his followers not to be like the people of the nations who pray the same thing over and over. So, Jesus did not intend for his followers to simply recite the the Lord's prayer. It is an outline or a model prayer, not something to be repeated by rote. By their doing so Catholics betray themselves as being the people of the nations who do not know God.

But certain things listed by the questioner are merely personal matters. For example, some Christians may prefer to knell when praying in private. Also, some of Jehovah's Witnesses drink wine. And for certain, Jehovah's Witnesses witness for Christ and are exhorted to be mindful of widows in the congregations. 

.

Question #29

In Rev 14:13, how can the dead be "happy" and find "rest", if there is no conscious awareness after death?

____________________

There is conscious awareness after death. It comes about by means of the resurrection from the dead.

This question really reflects an appalling ignorance of a very basic truth. When Jesus was on earth he plainly taught that the dead are asleep. Anyone who has ever read the Gospel knows that to be true. When his friend Lazarus died Jesus said that he had gone to sleep. Jesus woke him from the dead. Jesus taught that everyone in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and return to life again. Until that day, though, the dead are dead - as if asleep in the ground.

Paul also referred to those sleeping in death. The reason death is likened to sleep is because when we sleep we are unconscious. The Bible says the dead are unconscious.  People who study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses understand these basic Bible truths in the first few sessions.

Because the churches were long ago infused with mysticism and paganism, people who today imagine themselves to be Christians actually have more in common with Hindus, Muslims and New Age pantheists, who all believe in a mystical soul that survives death and flits off into the world beyond, or wherever. However, while the Bible clearly teaches that the dead are unconscious and will remain in that state until the resurrection, at 1 Corinthians 15:51 Paul revealed a sacred secret. “Look! I tell you a sacred secret: We shall not all fall asleep in death, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet.”

So, according to Paul not all anointed Christians will sleep in death. How is that? Paul explains at 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, saying: “For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord shall in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

So, Paul reveals that all Christians who are in union with Christ who die before his return, or presence, do indeed sleep in death. And they will be resurrected first. However, the chosen ones living during the presence do not have to sleep in death. But they do have to die in the flesh, because as Paul explained flesh and blood cannot inherit the heavenly kingdom. But the difference is, those chosen ones who will die during the presence of Christ do not sleep in death. They will be instantaneously transformed into immortal spirits.

Understanding the sacred secrets revealed by Paul allows us to understand Revelation 14:13, which states in full: “And I heard a voice out of heaven say: 'Write: Happy are the dead who die in union with the Lord from this time onward. Yes, says the spirit, let them rest from their labors, for the things they did go right with them.”

This verse, the context of which is in relation to the 144,000 holy ones, is in complete harmony with the writings of the apostle, showing that there is a specific point at which those who die in union with Christ do not sleep in death. But contrary to the fictions associated with rapture spun by ignorant evangelicals, those in union with Christ must all die eventually. 

To re-state the point: The only difference is those who die during the conclusion will not sleep in death as their predecessors.

Least someone conjure up Hollywood images of happy zombies, the verse in question only refers to them being dead from a human standpoint. They find "rest," not in death, but they rest from the works of faith performed on earth, struggling to get into the kingdom through the narrow door of salvation, trying to serve God and Christ. They rest, in that, “The things they did go right with them” - to heaven.

Question #30

Is it true that the WTS's prophecy that Armageddon will come before "the end of the generation of 1914" (You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth, pg 154), is no longer taught as "the Truth"? If so, then does this mean that this teaching of the WTS, which they have taught as "the Truth" for decades, was really a false teaching? Since the WTS claims that they are the "one channel that the Lord is using during the last days of this system of things" (Jehovah's Witnesses-Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, pg 626) and that the governing body is "the mouthpiece of Jehovah God", does this mean that God changed His mind about this teaching and the definition of "generation"? Is it possible that God could change His mind? Has the WTS ever changed their mind before about a teaching that they once taught as "the Truth"?

____________________

In the first century the apostles were selected to be the mouthpiece for Christ and to determine correct doctrine, etc. However, all during Christ’s ministry the apostles and other disciples were laboring under the delusion that Jesus was going to restore the kingdom of David on earth at that time. When Jesus told them he was going to suffer and be killed the apostles could not understand what he was talking about. But after Jesus was resurrected Jesus opened up their minds to understand the prophecies, at least up to a point. 

Right before Jesus ascended back to heaven Peter asked Jesus what would become of John. Jesus responded: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you? You continue following me.”

The account in the 21st chapter of John goes on to say: “In consequence, this saying went out among the brothers, that that disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: ‘If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you?’”

So, the apostles, the mouthpiece of Christ, the governing body of the Christian congregation back then, misunderstood Jesus, and as a consequence they started a rumor that “went out among the brothers” that John would not die before Christ returned. When John wrote his gospel version he was quite aged, perhaps as much as 60 years had passed and apparently it was only as he neared his own death that the misunderstanding was set straight. The question is: Were the apostles false prophets? 

To be sure, though, there is more to the Watchtower’s 1914 doctrine than a mere misunderstanding. Bible prophecy reveals that God allows for an operation of error to be put in place that will test the love of the truth of his chosen ones and company as an immediate prelude to the actual return of Christ and day of Jehovah. 

For additional reading see the following articles: 

Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Man of Lawlessness

Woe to the Stupid Prophets

Who is Blind? 

Question #31

If the name Jehovah is so important, then why is it never used in the entire Greek New Testament? If men edited out the proper name of God, "YHWH", when they copied the New Testament, as only the WTS claims, thereby altering God's word, then how can we have confidence in ANY of the New Testament? Should we discard the New Testament or the WTS as unreliable?

___________________________________

Satan has long sought to remove God’s name, not just merely from the Bible, but more especially, from the minds and tongues of men.

It is a known fact that the Hebrew letters representing God’s name, YHWH, appeared nearly 7,000 times in the original Hebrew. That Tetragrammaton was also used in the first Greek translations, called the Septuagint. However, eventually the pious Jews came up with a scheme to stop pronouncing the YHWH on the pretext it was too holy to be uttered. That tendency was exposed by Jehovah himself in the 23rd chapter of Jeremiah, where God stated: “They are thinking of making my people forget my name by means of their dreams that they keep relating each one to the other, just as their fathers forgot my name by means of Baal.”

Modern religionists have gone one step further, they have removed any semblance of YHWH from their translations of the Bible altogether. Even the four places where it appeared in the original King James Version have since been expunged in the latest revision. So, clearly the tendency is there on the part of religious authorities and translators to get rid of God’s name. The intent is to make people believe Jesus is God and shove Jehovah out of the picture.

Now when it comes to why the Greek copies do not have the divine name, consider the fact that Jesus and the apostles often quoted from the Hebrew text or possibly the Greek Septuagint, and it was often the case that the quoted text contained the YHWH. 

For example, when Jesus introduced himself as the Messiah in the synagogue in Nazareth he read directly from the first two verses of the 61st chapter of Isaiah, a passage where the divine name appeared in two places in both the Hebrew and Greek then extant. 

It is merely a matter of common sense then to ask, would Jesus have followed a Jewish custom of not pronouncing God’s name, a name Jesus himself said he had made known to men? Obviously, the answer is no. Jesus would have pronounced the name. The question then becomes, why doesn’t it appear in the Greek copies in existence today? 

Since there are no original Greek Scriptures in existence that were produced by the apostles and other Gospel writers, the only sensible answer is that in later centuries Satan the Devil over-reached copyists and induced them to remove God's name from their copies. Given the undeniable hatred of the name that has been manifested from ancient times to the present, there is no doubt that is what occurred. 

Why not discard the rest of the Bible, the questioner asks? Multitudes of Christians in Christendom have, in effect, done just that. It does them little good anyway. Like Jesus said, ‘Why do you call me Lord and yet do not do the things I say?’

During the day of Jehovah, now about to break upon the world, the nations will be forced to know that he is Jehovah and only those who call upon the name of Jehovah in faith will be saved. It is the perfect judgment from Jehovah and a fitting end for those who love the lie. 

Question #32

If Jesus was executed on a torture stake, with both hands together over his head, as only the WTS teaches, why does Jn 20:25 say "... unless I see in his hands the print of the nailS...", indicating that there was more than one nail used for his hands? Two nails would have been used if he was crucified on a cross.

____________________________ 

The original Greek words that are translated as cross in popular versions are xylon and starous, which mean tree and stake, respectively. So, that is a pretty good indication that Jesus was not put to death on a cross. It turns out that the cross was in use as a religious symbol long before Jesus came to earth. When original Christianity became corrupted and hijacked by the Roman empire eventually the cross was instituted as the very symbol of Christianity - thus Satan inserted his pagan symbol in that which claimed to belong to Christ. As far as two nails, that could be understood to mean the two nail prints, one in each hand. Given the foregoing, it certainly should not be the determining factor. 

Question #33

Can Jehovah's Witnesses hold and discuss openly with other Witnesses opinions that differ from orthodox WTS teachings? If no, why not?

_________________________________________

No. The Watchtower strongly discourages Jehovah's Witnesses from private discussions of ideas not sanctioned by the Governing Body. The reason being is the tendency to form sects. As most are aware, the mainstream denominations of Christendom have splintered into hundreds of sects and sub-sects and cults. For the most part the Watchtower has been able to prevent that from happening among Jehovah's Witnesses. 

It ought to be recognized that the apostles acted similarly. For example, Paul instructed Titus to be on guard against those men whom he described as "unruly men, profitless talkers, and deceivers of the mind, especially those men who adhere to the circumcision. It is necessary to shut the mouths of these, as these very men keep on subverting entire households by teaching things they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain. "

So,  it is the responsibility of those in leadership positions within Christ's congregation to protect people from profitless talkers and deceivers who pose the danger of overturning our faith. Ultimately, though, the men in positions of leadership will be judged as to whether they have been faithful to their master.

Question #34

The NWT translates the Greek word "esti" as "is" in almost every instance in the New Testament (Mt 26:18, 38, Mk 14:44, Lk 22:38, etc). See Greek-English Interlinear. Why does the NWT translate the same Greek word as "means" in Mt 26:26-28, Mk 14:22-24, and Lk 22:19? Why the inconsistency in the translation of the word "esti"? If the NWT were consistent and translated the Greek word "esti" as "is" in these verses, what would these verses say? Why did so many of Jesus' disciples leave him when he told them they must eat his body in order to have eternal life? See Jn 6:25-69, Mt 26:26-28.

_____________________________________

A large number of Jesus' original followers were stumbled because they foolishly took Jesus' words literally. They were imagining Jesus was advocating some sort of cannibalism. However, Jesus went on to say to his disciples: “Does this stumble you? What, therefore, if you should behold the Son of man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that is life-giving; the flesh is of no use at all. The sayings that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of that do not believe.”

In that same 6th chapter of John Jesus had said that he was the manna from heaven, in reference to his having come down from heaven to give his flesh in behalf of the world. In explanation Jesus stated that his words are spirit and life. In other words, Jesus was not telling the Jews that had to literally eat his flesh. Jesus was speaking in spiritual terms. On the night of his arrest Jesus instituted the Lord’s Evening meal by passing the bread and wine to his apostles, telling them to eat and drink in his remembrance. The bread and wine represent Christ’s flesh and blood. 

The Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation is one of the most bizarre and ridiculous doctrines ever foisted on gullible people. Like the Jews who wrongly supposed Jesus was telling them they had to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood, Catholics believe that the flour and water wafer and grape juice miraculously transform into the flesh and blood of Christ in the gut of the eater. The fact that people believe such nonsense is an indication that there is no real understanding of spiritual things. 

Question #35

Rev 20:10 says, "And the Devil... the wild beast and the false prophet [already were]; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever". Where will the Devil, the wild beast, and the false prophet be "tormented day and night forever and ever"? Likewise, Rev 14:9-11 says, "... If anyone worship the wild beast... he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur... And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever..." Where could "anyone" be "tormented... forever and ever"?

____________________________________

Jehovah's Witnesses who are confronted with this question ought to ask a few questions of their own. For example, the questioner is suggesting that a symbolic wild beast can be literally tortured. And are we to believe there is a literal monster with seven heads lurking in some cavern under the earth? Also, the typical view of hell is that Satan and his demons oversee a fiery torture chamber, but Revelation depicts the Devil as the one being tortured. So, if the Devil is being tortured, who is doing the torturing? God? Jesus? 

These are the kinds of gross absurdities that empty-headed people accept who insist on taking Bible symbolism literally. 

Question #36

Jesus Christ is referred to as "Mighty God" in Isa 9:6 ("For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us... And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God..."). Jehovah is referred to as "Mighty God" in Isa 10:20-21. How can this be if there is only ONE God

___________________________________________________

Jesus is the firstborn son of Jehovah. Jehovah is, of course, Almighty God. Why should it be considered some extraordinary thing that the one made in God’s exact image and representation, and to whom all power and authority is conferred, will be called a mighty god? 

Question #37

If the WTS claims they are not "inspired" but does refer to themselves as "God's spirit-directed Prophet", what is the difference? Is there such a thing as an "uninspired prophet"? Why would anyone be part of a religious organization which claimed that their teachings were NOT inspired?

________________________________ 

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible was written under divine inspiration and the Bible is the source of the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah’s Witnesses also understand that the Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in the same sense that the Bible writers were; but, the Watchtower claims to be the mouthpiece of Christ, the so-called faithful slave. Ultimately, though, the master must judge each individually as to whether or not they have been faithful to their commission.

Question #38

In the NWT, every time the Greek word "proskuneo"  is used in reference to God, it is translated as "worship" (Rev 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4, Jn 4:20, etc.). Every time "proskuneo" is used in reference to Jesus, it is translated as "obeisance" (Mt 14:33, 28:9,28:17, Lk 24:52, Heb 1:6, etc.), even though it is the same word in the Greek (see Gr-Engl Interlinear). Especially compare the Greek word "prosekunhsan" used with reference to God in Rev 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, and 19:4 and used with reference to Christ in Mt 14:33, 28:9, and 28:17. What is the reason for this inconsistency? If the NWT was consistent in translating "proskuneo" as "worship", how would the verses above referring to Christ read?
____________________________________________________

The translators of the NWT are not inconsistent in their translation of the word “proskyneo.” They explain in the pages of the Watchtower that when proskyneo is used in connection with any person other than God they decided to use the term obeisance. For example, in the LXX Abraham bowed before the men of Canaan. Obviously Abraham was not worshipping those men though. But the Greek term used is proskyneo. And there are other instances where the term is used in connection with men bowing before others as a show of honor. For example, Nebuchadnezzar bowed before Daniel and in the LXX the very same proskyneo appears.

Basically, proskyneo can be alternatively translated either as worship or obeisance, depending on the context. Oddly, the word is related to the Greek word for dog and connotes a dog cringing or cowering at the feet of its master.

No doubt the reason the translators of the NWT make a distinction between worship and obeisance is due to the fact that for centuries clergy, translators and scholars associated with the Bible have done their best to obscure the special relationship that exists between Jehovah and Jesus; so that now the average churchgoer is completely ignorant of it. Satan would have us believe that Jesus is God, because it is a lie. Jesus is the son of God.

But when Jehovah’s Witnesses are confronted with this type of question, which is intended to trick a person into imagining that Jesus is God, since others bowed before him, the question really ought to be asked: Who did Jesus himself worship? No Trinitarian can supply a sensible answer, since even the most unreasonable Trinitarian would likely realize the nonsensical aspect of Jesus worshipping himself. 

But on his last night as a human, when he was in the Garden of Gethsamane sweating blood, the account says that Jesus fell upon his face, beseeching God. That expression is the same as doing obeisance. So, Christ did obeisance, or an act of worship, to God. 

The truth is, Jehovah is God but he has decreed that all creation must bow before his Son too; not because Jesus is God in his own right, but because Jesus proved his undying love for God and his unbreakable devotion to him. With the powers he is given Jesus intends to bring all creation back into worshipful subjection to the one whom he called “my God.” 

Question #39

The NWT translates the Greek word "kyrios"  as "Jehovah" more than 25 times in the New Testament (Mt 3:3, Lk 2:9, Jn 1:23, Acts 21:14, Rom 12:19, Col 1:10, lThess5:2, 1Pet 1:25, Rev 4:8, etc.). Why is the word "Jehovah" translated when it does not appear in the Greek text? Why is the NWT not consistent in translating kyrios (kurion) as "Jehovah" in Rom 10:9, 1Cor 12:3, Phil 2:11, 2Thess 2:1. and Rev 22:21 (see Gr- Engl Interlinear)?

_______________________________________

In the original Hebrew and even in the Greek Septuagint, the personal name of God, represented by the four letters, YHWH, appeared almost 7,000 times. But modern translators have removed all traces of God’s name and have instead substituted it with “LORD.” This bias against the name of God obviously is promoted by that spirit liar, Satan the Devil. He originally over-reached the Jews, inducing them to stop pronouncing YHWH on the basis that the name was too holy to even be uttered by men. But we may be sure that Jesus and the apostles were not influenced by such ignorant superstition. Jesus and the apostles many times quoted directly from the Hebrew Scriptures, citing passages where the YHWH appeared.

For example, when Jesus went to the synagogue and introduced himself as the Messiah he read from the scroll, what we call Isaiah 61:1, which reads: “The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, for the reason that Jehovah has anointed me to tell good news to the meek ones. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to those taken captive and the wide opening of the eyes even to the prisoners...”

Since it is unthinkable that Jesus would have followed the wicked Jewish tradition of avoiding uttering the name of his Father, the question Jehovah’s Witnesses ought to ask persons who ask why the name of Jehovah appears in the New Testament is why the name of Jehovah has been removed?

Since the insidious bias against the name of God by men in positions to directly influence modern Bible translations, as well as copies of ancient texts is undeniable, responsible translators who are devoted to the bearer of the divine name have the right and responsibility to place the name of God in all texts in the New Testament where the Hebrew text containing the YHWH were quoted, as well as where the context indicates a distinction ought to be made between the Lord Jesus and the Lord Jehovah.

Ultimately, Jehovah himself will force the peoples of the world to recognize his name and supremacy and those who have sought to push Jehovah out of the picture will suffer humiliation.

Question #40

The NWT translates the Greek words "ego eimi"  as "I am" every time it appears (Jn 6:34, 6:41, 8:24, 13:19, 15:5, etc.), except in Jn 8:58 where it is translated as "I have been". What is the reason for the inconsistency in this translation? If "ego eimi" was translated in Jn 8:58 the same way it is translated in every other verse in which it appears, how would Jn 8:58 read? See Exo 3:14.

___________________________________________________

If ego eimi is transliterated into English with no consideration for the context and intended meaning then you would have a nonsensical expression, as is the case with most translations that attempt to make a proper noun out of the predicate, ego eimi. It demonstrates the power of brainwashing, that otherwise literate people can read John 8:58 in popular versions and pretend that the verse actually makes sense. In reality, popular versions of John 8:58 are grammatically incorrect. It is amusing that trinitarians are so desperate to make Jesus out to be God that they insist on using fraudulent translations of the Scriptures.

Question #41

In Rev 22:12-13, Jesus Christ, the one who is "coming quickly", says of himself," I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end". In Rev 1:17-18, Jesus, the one who "became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever", refers to himself as the first and the last. Rev 21:6, in speaking of God, says, "...I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end .,.". God is also referred to as the "first" and the "last" in Isa 44:6 and Isa 48:12. How can this be since by definition of these words there can only be one first and one last?

_____________________________________

The questioners' definition of first and last does not take into consideration the unique unique relationship that exists between God and Jesus. God, of course, has always existed and will always exist. In that respect he is the First and Last. But, Jesus has the distinction of being the firstborn of all creation, the first born again son of God, hence Paul described him as the firstborn of many brothers (God does not have any brothers - only sons) Jesus is also firstborn from the dead, that he may be first in all things among God’s creation. Jesus is also the last Adam and the last in the sense that no other creation will ever usurp his greatness or replace him as the preeminent son of Jehovah. 

Question #42

Jesus uses the phrase "Truly I say to you,..." over 50 times in the Bible. In the NWT, the comma is placed after the word "you" every time except in Lk 23:43, where the comma is placed after the word "today". Why is the comma placed after "today" instead of after "you" in this verse? If the translation of this phrase in Lk 23:43 was consistent with the translation of this phrase in all the other verses in which it appears (see concordance), and the comma was placed after the word "you", how would it read?

_________________________________________________

The questioner surely knows that the original Greek did not have punctuation such as commas. The modern language translators must insert commas and other punctuation marks according to the context and known rules of grammar.

The translators of the New World Translation were consistent in their use of commas as regards punctuating the phrase in question. For a certainty, the phrase “truly I say to you today” only occurs once in the Gospels. The questioner seems to imply that the phrase is more common than that and that the NWT inconsistently inserts a comma in one place. This is misleading. Typically, Jesus’ phrase is rendered simply: “truly I say to you.” However, on a few occasions Jesus said “truly I say to you men,” or “truly I say to you people,” - in those instances the comma appears after “men” and “people,” which is consistent with the way it is rendered at Luke 23:43.

Besides merely the mechanical process of inserting punctuation according to rules of grammar, honest translators should also be aware of the intent and meaning on the passage. In the instance of Luke 23:43 most translations render that verse in a way that might give an uneducated person the impression that Jesus was telling the thief that he would be with Christ in paradise that very day. Of course, that is not what Jesus intended to say at all. Jesus did not go to paradise that day. Everyone who has read the account of Jesus’ death surely knows that Jesus died that very day. Instead of paradise Jesus went to Hell, at least according to the King James Bible.

Jehovah’s Witnesses, of course, understand that Jesus was simply in the grave for parts of three days. On the third day Jehovah resurrected Jesus from death. This is the basic, essential truth of the Scriptures. To imply that Jesus and the thief were any place other than in the grave betrays a massive ignorance of a very simple truth. And those who know otherwise but who insist on propping up a fiction by inserting a comma where it does not belong are dishonest and deceptive and have no credibility.

Question #43

Jn 1:3 says in reference to Christ, "All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence". How could Christ have been a created being if ALL things came into existence through him? If Jesus was a created being, then according to Jn 1:3, Jesus would have had to create himself.

__________________________________________

This question really underscores the stupidity behind pretending one verse or one passage of Scripture establishes the truth. In reality, the Bible is a unified, harmonious book. This question really springs from a deep-seated hatred of the truth. 

The truth is, the Scriptures reveal Jesus to be the only-begotten son of God. What does that mean? The Bible reveals that Jesus is the Firstborn son of Jehovah God. And as the first creation of God, who was made to be Jehovah's exact representation, and after God gave birth to his first son he then empowered him to create all other things. So, the creature that eventually came to earth as Jesus was the only person directly created by the Father. Everything else came into existence through the Firstborn. 

No doubt the questioner understands this is what the Bible teaches but, as so many, he (or she) prefers lies to truth and wishes to mislead others. 

Question #44

If the great crowd is to have everlasting life on paradise EARTH, why does IThess 4:17 say, "...we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR; and thus we shall always be with the Lord"?

____________________________________________

In the preceding verse Paul stated that those dead in union with Christ will rise first. Being in union with Christ means that they have been anointed and are part of the so-called body of Christ. But, sober readers ought to take note of the fact that Paul stated that the chosen ones will rise "first." This is in harmony with Revelation 20:6, which refers to the holy ones who experience the blessed "first resurrection." Now, if there is a first resurrection, that means that there is a secondary resurrection, otherwise it is meaningless to designate it as the first. The second resurrection is the earthly resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous, as Jesus indicated when he said that all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out and those who practiced vile things will have a probationary resurrection of judgment.

In contrast with those holy ones who are dead during the presence of Christ, Paul's reference to "we the living" is also in reference to those in union with Christ. But just as there are those dead who are not in union with Christ who will experience the second resurrection of the dead, there will also be living persons on earth during the presence of Christ who are not in union with Christ, but who are obedient to the faith. Revelation refers to these as a great crowd of people who will survive the great tribulation and remain on the earth as the nucleus of a new world.

Question #45

If Christians are persecuted for the sake of Jehovah's name, why did Christ tell the first Christians that they would be persecuted for the sake of his (Jesus') name instead of Jehovah's (Mt 24:9, Mk 13:13, Lk 21:12, 17, Jn 15:2 and Acts 9:16)?

_______________________________________

True Christians are persecuted for the sake of Jehovah and Jesus. For example, there has never been a war that Trinitarians have not supported and joined in the bloodletting. Evangelicals are the most ardent Zionists and flag-waving warmongers. So, they would never be persecuted by a war-loving society. Jehovah's Witnesses, on the other hand, have gone to prison by the thousands in order to be true to Christ. In that respect they are persecuted for Jesus' sake.

Question #46

In Mt 1:23, who is Matthew referring to here that has been given the name which means "With Us Is God"?

______________________________

Jehovah's only-begotten son, Jesus.

Question #47

The Bible says that ONLY God is our savior (Hos 13:4, Isa 43:11,45:21, etc.). How can it be then, that the Bible repeatedly says that Jesus Christ is our savior (Lk 2:11, Phil 3:20. Tit 2:13, 3:6, 2Pet 1:1, 2:20, 3:18, etc.)?

________________________________________

The Bible teaches that Jehovah gave his only-begotten son in order that everyone who obeys him might be saved through him. Because Jesus was faithful to God unto death he has become the savior. The very name of Jesus means "Jehovah is salvation." Even a young child can understand that a father and son are not the same person. But those who have been indoctrinated in Babylon's trinity cannot comprehend the most simple concepts and as a result are willingly blind to the truth.

Question #48

Referring to Isa 14:9-17, if there is no conscious awareness after death, how could Sheol "... become agitated at you in order to meet you on coming in..." (v.9), how could the souls in Sheol "... speak up and say to you..." (v.10-11), how could the souls in Sheol when "...seeing you will gaze even at you; they will give close examination even to you, [saying,] This this the man'..." (v. 16-17), and how would you be aware that this was happening?

___________________________________________

The questioner seems to be suggesting that rotting corpses laid to rest in their graves on beds of maggots can actually sit up and speak. This question obviously springs from a dimly lit mind that cannot grasp allusion and metaphor. Jehovah's Witnesses should not even waste their time trying to explain the deep things of prophecy to someone who cannot comprehend the most elemental things of the Scriptures, such as what death actually entails.

Question #49

Heb 3:1 refers to "holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling". In Mk 3:35, Jesus says, "Whoever does the will of God, this one is my brother..." Therefore, according to the Bible, whoever does the will of God is a brother of Jesus and a partaker of the heavenly calling. How can this be if the Watchtower Society teaches that only 144,000 people go to heaven?

_____________________________________________

The truth is, the heavenly calling is by invitation only. Paul explained that the calling does not depend upon the one wishing, but upon God's choosing. That is why the Bible uses the expression "the chosen ones." Jehovah personally chooses those whom he wishes to adopt as sons - even as Paul indicates in the verse cited by referring to the "heavenly calling." A person may wish with all of the heart to go to heaven, but if God does not call a person and draw them into union with Christ then those who merely claim to be called, when they have not truly been called, are mere frauds and charlatans and deluded fools. And there are masses of persons who profess to be called to heaven, who boast of prophesying in the name of the "Lord," but in the day of judgment Christ will say to them: "Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness."

According to the Bible only 144,000 will master the new song and join Christ in heaven. The vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses, instead of presuming to be called ones, embrace the hope of everlasting life on earth. The presumptuous and untaught will lose out entirely because of their refusal to accept salvation on Jehovah's terms.

A great crowd will never die.

Question #50

Heb 11:16, in speaking about some of the faithful people of the Old Testament (Abel, Noah, Abraham, etc.) says, "But now they are reaching out for a better [place], that is, one belonging to heaven..." and,"... their God for he has made a city ready for them." The footnote on the word "city" refers to HEAVENLY Jerusalem of Heb 12:22 and Rev 21:2. How can this be since according to the teachings of the Watchtower Society, the only people who will go to heaven are the 144,000 spirit anointed who have been chosen from people who lived after Christ died?

_______________________

The preceding verses says that the pre-Christian men and women of faith died and did not receive the fulfillment of the promise. They are, however, in line to receive the blessings of the kingdom, in that sense, it is as though they are reaching out. Revelation 21:2, which the questioner even cites here, clearly reveals that the holy city of God, which is the heavenly kingdom of Christ and the 144,000 chosen ones, is going to symbolically come down from heaven to the earth - meaning, that God's kingdom is going to extent its power over all aspects of life on earth. So, Abraham was awaiting for God's kingdom to rule the earth.

Sadly, it is a case of the questioner being untaught and painfully ignorant of the basic concepts, symbolic language and subtle nuances of the Bible. I am sure Jehovah's Witnesses in your locale would be happy to assist with a free home Bible study. Of course, the Scriptures make reference to those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life in the first century, which means, conversely, there are those who are not rightly disposed to accept salvation on God's terms.

Question #51

In Lk 24:36-39 and in Jn 20:26-27, Jesus showed his disciples the wounds in his body as proof of his resurrection. If Jesus' body had been destroyed by God after he died, how could Jesus show the disciples his body which had the wounds in his hands, feet, and side and claim that he is not just a spirit, "because a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you behold that I have" (Lk 24:39)?

____________________________________________

Jesus appeared to his disciples on numerous occasions and each time he appeared differently. Usually the disciples recognized him by what he said and not by his appearance. However, because Thomas declared that he would never accept the reports of Jesus' resurrection unless he could touch the wounds Jesus materialized a body with wound marks as a way of convincing and rebuking Thomas. Jesus said that a spirit does not have flesh and bones because he wanted to assure them that he was not a vision or apparition. It was not uncommon for angels to materialize flesh, in which case a materialized angel has substance - flesh and bone.

But, that Christ was actually resurrected as a spirt is made plain in the writings of the apostles, namely Peter and Paul, who both wrote that Jesus was resurrected as a life-giving spirit. Besides, Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman very plainly, that "God is a spirit." And, as Paul later explained to the Philippians, prior to his coming to earth Jesus existed in God's form. In other words, he was a spirit too. The last night of his life as a man Jesus asked his Father to glorify him with the glory that he previously had alongside Jehovah in heaven. That is to say, Jesus asked to go back home to the spirit dimension.