Posts Tagged ‘Watchtower 1914 generation’

Salvation

January 2, 2016

How Do You Get It and Can You Lose It?

Our salvation presupposes truly genuine repentance. Therefore, we should never speak of salvation as our sole decision, but rather as God’s acceptance of a truly repentant sinner. This article will biblically demonstrate God’s formula for salvation, man’s occupation working for God’s gift, and whether His gift can be lost.

Let us begin by reading what the Watchtower has to say on the issue of salvation.

March 2015 WT

Do you believe that “these words are faithful and true”? Then, learn more about Jesus Christ, and exercise faith in him. If you do, you will gain Jehovah’s approval. Not only will you experience his rich blessing now but you will gain the hope of life eternal in the earthly Paradise, where “death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.”

17 The hope of everlasting life on a paradise earth. “The wages sin pays is death,” says Romans 6:23. The same verse adds: “But the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.” In Chapter 3 of this book, we discussed the blessings of the coming earthly Paradise. (Revelation 21:3, 4) All those future blessings, including life everlasting in perfect health, are made possible because Jesus died for us. To receive those blessings, we need to show that we appreciate the gift of the ransom.

19 How, then, can you demonstrate that you appreciate God’s gift of the ransom? To begin with, get to know the Great Giver, Jehovah. (John 17:3) A study of the Bible with the aid of this publication will help you to do that. As you come to know Jehovah, your love for him will deepen. In turn, that love will make you want to please him.

20 Exercise faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Regarding Jesus, it is said: “The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life.” (John 3:36) How can we exercise faith in Jesus? Such faith is not shown by words alone. “Faith without works is dead,” says James 2:26. Yes, true faith is proved by “works,” that is, by our actions. One way to show that we have faith in Jesus is by doing our best to imitate him not just in what we say but also in what we do.—John 13:15.

In a nutshell, the Watchtower purports that works are necessary to receive God’s blessings, and that their magazine is required reading for true understanding of Scripture. In essence, the Watchtower implies that the Originator of language does not possess the skill to adequately communicate His message, and that our Infinite God needs His finite creation (the Watchtower) to interpret. That said, we find an interesting parallel of this in the book of Genesis. There, Eve was approached by an interpreter of God’s Word. She believed the interpreter and spread the false information to Adam, leading to the original sin. The lesson learned: Listen and obey God’s Word above all else.

Watchtower dogma teaches that works are needed to experience blessings from God, and also also teach that salvation is not guaranteed. When I was a member of the Watchtower, I was taught that I had to work, wait, and hope. Yes, hope that I was saved. There was no guarantee.

How Is Salvation Received

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

God is crystal clear. He promises us that anyone believing in His Son will not perish and will have eternal life. He does not specify any other requirement or condition (e.g., reading the Watchtower is not a prerequisite).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-10

God said His gift of salvation is not of ourselves. What does that really mean … “not of ourselves”? The Author of Scripture makes it abundantly clear that He means “not as a result of works.” That is, any effort, job, performance, task, exertion, or activity on our part. Our Lord extends His gift of salvation to mankind because He loves us. The gift is free but came at great cost. His grace alone saves us through our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Nowhere in Scripture does God teach that giving His gift is contingent upon works, labor, meeting attendance, going door-to-door, reading the Watchtower magazine, or any of the man-made rules outlined by the Watchtower.

God is not fickle (bouncing from one side to another on a whim). He is not arbitrary or capricious (given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior). His formula for our salvation has already been communicated in Scripture: “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9) In other words and as I have already said, reading the Watchtower magazine is not part of God’s formula for salvation. God does not need an interpreter. His Word is crystal clear. The Bible provides His formula for Salvation, with all the instructions included.

Salvation Described

The salvation that comes through Christ may be described in three tenses: past, present, and future. When people believe in Christ, they are saved: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved …” Acts 16:31 … We are also in the process of being saved from the power of sin: “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3 … Finally, we shall be saved from the very presence of sin: “And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.” Romans 13:11

As I said before, our LORD is not fickle, arbitrary or capricious. Our salvation is not contingent upon what we give God. Our eternal salvation was His gift to us before we were even born. I just love the words of Paul below:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 35, 38, 39

I highlighted the words “nor any other created thing,” because they refer to any man-made thing, such as the Watchtower. Their created theology of lies, deception, craftiness, cunning and pretense remind me of the character in the Garden of Eden. This guardian of Adam and Eve (the devil) lied and contradicted his Creator (you know the story). The Watchtower is nothing more than the offspring of the devil.

Scripture quoted by the Watchtower with the intent to contradict, mislead or misrepresent what the Bible is actually communicating is a much rehearsed and skilled practice. The devil has taught them well. The Bible, however, contradicts Watchtower “truths” regarding His formula for salvation:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-10.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 4:24

Can Salvation Be Lost?

Nowhere in God’s inspired Word do we find any hint that our salvation, once received, is in jeopardy of being lost or taken away. Some do not believe this by pointing to the example of Judas Iscariot. He, being one of the chosen, is proof positive (so they say) that salvation is not eternally secure. Let us look into this line of thinking.

Jesus in John 17:12 said:

“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou has given Me; and I guarded them, and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”

The Scripture to be “fulfilled” was the following:

“Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.” Psalm 41:9

Scholar Sprios Zodhiates affirms the position that Judas’ salvation was never lost because he was never saved in the first place (Never Truly Regenerated; Never Truly Born Again): “The son of perdition was always lost. He was never saved.” (The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible pg. 1593, by Dr. Spiros Zodhiates)

Once someone has repented and is accepted by God (truly regenerated; born again), nothing in heaven or on earth (ourselves included) could separate us from our love for Jesus Christ.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 35, 38, 39

Conclusion

Scripture teaches us that God’s plan to save the mankind is twofold: (1) His Love & Grace (2) our faith placed in His Son, Jesus Christ. There are no other qualifications. Man’s participation in God’s salvation formula is restricted to his or her individual acceptance of God The Son. In other words, works are never a prerequisite for salvation; works cannot save us; they are only a by-product. Works become a by-product as evidence of our newly-regenerated heart, not the other way around.

As for losing salvation, this is not found anywhere in Scripture. If God accepts someone who He is not able to keep to the very end, then Christ has failed and that is impossible.  Scripture teaches us that God’s gift of salvation is eternally secure:

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know you have eternal life.” 1John 3:13

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NEW JERUSALEM

January 17, 2015

The Eternal Home of The Church

“Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3

This article will not be an exhaustive piece, but it will give you an overall picture of our future heavenly residence. Unlike my previous articles which compared Watchtower doctrine to Scripture, here I will focus exclusively on the text and will not discuss the Watchtower’s view. With help from Dr. J. Vernon McGee, B.D. Th.M. Th.D, the words of Christ and Scripture concerning our future heavenly residence will be brought into focus. I chose Dr. McGee as my source because of his credentials, but also for his entertaining manner of delivery and unique teaching skills. This entire article is virtually word-for-word out of Dr. McGee’s book, “Man’s Fascination With The Future On Prophecy.” The page number(s) will be noted after each quotation, and I have replaced the Scripture quotations with the New American Standard version, rather than the King James version:

“The fourteenth chapter of John was given by our Lord in the Upper Room, and He introduces something that is entirely new. The first part of the chapter was given to a man to cushion the shock of failure that was to come into his life. Also it was to comfort and put down the fears of this little band of apostles across whose pathway the shadow of the Cross had fallen. Sin was knocking at the door in the Upper Room, demanding it’s pound of flesh. These men were frightened men, and our Lord was speaking to their hearts. He begins by saying, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14:1)

He is putting, as essential, faith in Himself along with faith in God – which, of course, is the thing that makes a Christian today. I was in a hospital visiting a Christian friend, and after I had prayed with him, the man who was in a bed across the room called to me, ‘Preacher, will you pray for me?’ I went over and talked to him and asked, ‘Are you a Christian?’ ‘Well, yes, I believe in God.’ ‘That does not make you a Christian,’ I said, ‘it simply means that you are not an atheist.’ Then I gave him this verse. ‘Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.’ Our Lord begins with His men on that plane, and He continues.

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

…

What is the Father’s house? When you go out tonight, look up into the vaulted sky above you, and you will see the Father’s house. That is His house. Our Lord said, ‘In My Father’s house are many moni, many abiding places, many place to live.’ …

Then He says, I go to prepare a place for you.

This place is different from any other in His universe – ‘I go to prepare a special place for you.’ It is a prepared place for prepared people. The One who was the carpenter of Nazareth down here about two thousand years ago is at this moment preparing a place up yonder for those who are His own. Have you ever wondered about that place He is preparing? Do you wonder what it is like? We are going there some day, and we shall live there eternally.

Then He makes the statement,

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3

As far as I know, this is the first time in the Word of God where it mentions that He is going to take someone off the earth out into space. You will not find that in the Old Testament at all. God did not promise anyone in the Old Testament that He would take him off this earth to a place called heaven. The hope of the Old Testament saints was that there might be a heaven down here on this earth, and that is what I understand the expression, the Kingdom of Heaven, to mean – the reign of the heavens over the earth, the day when this earth becomes a heaven. That is the hope of the Old Testament.” (Pgs 235-238)

“ … The glorious hope of the church is the coming of our Lord Jesus to take us into space to that home He has prepared.

Now, where is that place? What kind of place is it? I turn to the only chapter I know of in the Word of God where there is a description of it, the twenty-first chapter of the Book of Revelation.

As we look at this chapter, I shall not try to make a comprehensive study, but rather I shall make a few suggestions that may intrigue you into probing deeper into this fascinating subject. I believe that if Christians were more interested in the place to which they are going, they would be more concerned about the way in which they are living down here.

If you have read Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, which is actually the experience of Bunyan himself, you will notice that when he got up out of the Slough of Despond and started out, the hope that he had from the beginning was this: ‘I am a pilgrim, and I am on the way to the Celestial City.’ And when he would fall down, he would always get up, brush himself off and say, ‘I am a pilgrim on the way to the Celestial City.’ And when he was incarcerated in Doubting Castle, the key that unlocked the doors and set him free was this promise. When he had mountains to climb, when the way was difficult and discouraging and it seemed as though he would not make it, he got his mind and his heart fixed on that Celestial City.

I believe there are many believers today who have lost sight of this city. They have become discouraged along the way. I say to you, friend, that this world is only a camping place for the night. We all are here temporarily – we are merely pilgrims down here on this earth. We are on the way to the Celestial City. We are on the way to the New Jerusalem. The thing that would encourage the hearts of many today would be to know a little about this place to which we are going.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. Revelation 21:1

John here tells us that God is going to trade in this old earth and the old heaven on a new model. He is going to get a new earth – not get rid of earth entirely but merely get a new one. He calls attention to only one great change in His new earth: there will be no more sea. That which covers three-fourths of the earth’s surface today will be entirely removed. What a tremendous population can then be put on the earth! Someone asked the other day, when I made the suggestion of the population explosion that will probably take place during the Millennium, ‘Where in the world will they go, when we don’t even have room today?’ May I say to you that there will be three-fourths more surface on earth, plus the fact that the curse of sin will be removed from the earth so that it will produce as it never has before. You will be able to find a parking space in that day; there will be plenty of parking spaces! That appeals to me, because we need more parking space in Southern California, and if we could use the Pacific Ocean, we would have the problem solved!” (Pgs 239-240)

Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D in his book, “The Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible” (pg 1696), further explains Revelation 21:1: “Here we have the description of a new heaven and a new earth. The word ‘new’ in Greek is rendered by the word kainos (2537) which means ‘qualitatively new’ and not simply another earth and another heaven. Since our resurrection bodies will be changed, so will the environment in which these new bodies will live.”

“But these are things that concern the earth, and we are not an earthly people. We are to leave this earth. The things that interests us is what John sees in the next verse:

And I saw the holy city new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, make ready as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2

Now, this is the first time the New Jerusalem comes into view. The question is asked, ‘Is it in existence before this?’ I do not know, but I rather think that at the Rapture the church will be brought to this place. I believe this city is to be our permanent home. I think that during the Millennium it will be a matter of commuting back and forth from the earth to the New Jerusalem. Yet the New Jerusalem does not come into view until this point because now eternity opens up and reveals the eternal home of the church.

Notice that the city is a holy city. The inhabitants have been made holy in Christ and in no other way. He is there. That makes it a holy city.

The new Jerusalem is in contrast to the old Jerusalem down here on the earth, and it is coming down from God out of heaven.

Now there are men today – better men than I – who believe that the New Jerusalem comes to the earth. I never have been able to see that, I cannot move it that far. I think it comes out into space, and it comes, apparently, within sight of the earth.

The loveliest thing that God could say about it is that it is prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. … Thus God uses the figure of a bride to characterize this city. It is a thing of exquisite beauty.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them. Revelation 21:3

The New Jerusalem is the temple for the universe of God. This will be the place, apparently, where Israel and the gentile nations of the earth will come to worship. They will come to worship and then return to their homes on the earth.” (Pgs 240-241)

and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

“The second thing that makes the New Jerusalem a wonderful city is ‘there shall be no more death.’ No death. That makes it different from any city I have heard of down here. There will be no cemeteries, there will be no undertakers. … No more death. Would you like to go to a place like that? … What a wonderful place this will be!

And then it says, ‘neither sorrow, nor crying, nether shall there be any more pain.’ All the hospitals will be closed, doctors and nurses will be out of a job, ‘for the former things are passed away.’ Then we come to something that is quite wonderful:

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:5

I love that. Would you like to start all over again? I want to make a confession. I never have been the preacher that I have wanted to be. I never have preached the sermon that I longed to preach. I honestly never have been the man that I have wanted to be. I have not attained, really, my ambition. I have not reached my goal in life. I never have been the husband that I have wanted to be, and I never have been the father that I have wanted to be. As I come to this place in life and look back, I have regrets. I would like to go back and do things differently. And God is going to let me! He says to my heart, ‘In that city, McGee, I make all things new.’” (Pgs 242-243)

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and hight mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. Revelation 21:10, 11

“The jasper stone is evidently similar to our diamond. The city from the outside looks like a diamond. I like to think of its being the wedding ring of the church. It will be like a diamond flashing out through God’s vast universe. I believe it will be the most beautiful thing that you have ever seen because the twelve foundations, which would be the outer surface, are all precious stones through which the light passes. Varied hues and tints from a galaxy of rainbow colors:

Jasper – perhaps the blue diamond
Sapphire – opaque with a greenish or yellowish color
Chalcedony – perhaps green
Emerald – green
Sardonyx – white and yellow
Sardius – red
Chrysolite – golden lustre
Beryl – sea green, aqua
Topaz – greenish yellow
Chrysoprase – golden green
Jacinth – violet
Amethyst – purple or rose red

The presence of the primary colors suggests that every shade and tint is reflected from this city. A rainbow that appears after a summer shower gives only a faint hint of the breathtaking beauty of the city of light. I believe it will be the most thrilling sight in the world to see this city. Nothing in all God’s universe will compare to it.” (Pgs 244-245) [Revelation 21:19-20 identify the stones.]

And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. Revelation 21:16

“It is fifteen hundred miles long, fifteen hundred miles wide, and fifteen hundred miles high. Some men have concluded that it will be a cube; others see it as a pyramid. It is difficult to conceive of either a cube or pyramid project out in space. Cubes and pyramids are appropriate for earthly buildings. I cannot believe that, since God has made everything in space globe-shaped, He would make this square. I do not say this in a dogmatic fashion, for there are many fine Bible students who disagree with me, but I believe that the New Jerusalem is a sphere and these measurements that Scripture gives are the dimensions on the inside of the sphere, a cube within a crystal-clear sphere. I took this problem in solid geometry to a man in the field of theoretical engineering. He worked it out for me and came up with a sphere that is slightly larger than our moon. The diameter of the moon is about 2,160 miles, and that of the New Jerusalem sphere is about 2,600 miles. We live on the outside of the planet called earth, but if my theory is correct, our eternal home will be within the planet called the New Jerusalem.” (Pg 244)

And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelation 21:23

“The New Jerusalem will be independent of the sun and moon for light and life. What a contrast to the earth which is utterly dependent upon the sun and the moon. The sun and moon may even be dependent upon the Celestial City for power to transmit light, since the One who is the source of light and life will dwell within the city. Neither will light be furnished by the New Jerusalem Light and Power Company. The One who is light will be there, and the effulgence of His glory will be manifested in the New Jerusalem unhindered.” (Pg 245)

“The New Jerusalem will be the center of the universe. All activity and glory revolve about this city. The nation of Israel and the gentile nations of the earth will walk in the light of it and bring to it their glory and honor. They will not live in the city but will come, as the priests of old came to the holy place in the tabernacle and temple, for the purpose of worship. There will be no need to bring a blood sacrifice, for the Lamb is there in person.

And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. Revelation 21:22

This city has no temple because it is a temple – God is there and Christ is there. It is the holy place, if you please, because Christ is present. That is the thing that makes it such a wonderful place. The Lord Jesus said,

for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3

We are to be with Him throughout eternity. That, after all, will make it heaven – Christ will be there.

Many folk ask, ‘Will I know my loved ones in heaven?’ We shall certainly know our loved ones in heaven. As Dr. G. Campbell Morgan said years ago when someone asked that question of him, ‘I do not expect to be a bigger fool there than I am here, and I know them here.’ Yes, we shall know our loved ones in heaven.” (Pg 246)

“I hope you will want to go to this city. Someone may ask, ‘Well, how do you get there?’ That brings us back to where we started.

When our Lord was talking to His men in the Upper Room, He said, ‘And you know the way where I am going’ (John 14:4). Sitting there was one of His disciples, a man who had a question mark for a brain, Thomas. This man had doubts. He raised questions about everything and he always saw a dark side of things. He really was not a very pleasant fellow to have around, and I do not know why our Lord called him. In fact, I have never figured out why He called any of them – who would want Simon Peter, Thomas, Andrew, James, or John? All of them were problem children, every one of them. But I am glad He called them because if He will use them there is still hope for me and there is hope for you. This man Thomas is a doubter. He says, ‘Wait a minute, Lord. You say that we know where You are going and we know the way. We don’t!’

Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way. John 14:5

I am glad he was there. He raised my question – he save me from having to ask it.

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14:6

My friend, Jesus is the way to the Celestial City. He has gone before us, and He is preparing an eternal home for all of us who have become children of God through faith in His name.” (Pgs 247-248)

Conclusion:

Our Lord Jesus Christ went away to prepare our eternal home in heaven. The Author of Scripture describes this heavenly abode in beautiful detail. The Apostle Paul reminds us all that death is only the beginning and our heavenly home is much preferred over our earthly residence … “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

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Blood Transfusions

December 20, 2014

Does The Bible Prohibit Blood Transfusions?

The purpose of addressing this particular subject is to allow the Bible to answer the question: “Does The Bible Prohibit Blood Transfusions?” The Watchtower declares that Jehovah forbids blood transfusions. While the Watchtower policy changes from time to time, one fact remains — their membership fears the Organization’s wrath if they accept a blood transfusion. Therefore, I wish to bring biblical clarity to this topic.

First and foremost, we never want to oppose God’s Inspired Word. His Word is absolute and non-negotiable. With that in mind, we look at whether the Bible forbids life-saving blood transfusions, as the Watchtower suggests.

The Organization insists that God’s Word condemns human to human blood transfusions. They base this upon the supposed authority of Acts 15:29. But does this Scripture actually affirm their position, or is the Organization improperly isolating one Scripture from its surrounding context and creating a man-made doctrine?

Acts 15:29 states as follows:

“that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

When interpreting an isolated Scripture (those pulled out of their original context), its primary source must be examined. Understanding the surrounding context is the key to unlocking the meaning of the text. Therefore, a variety of questions must be asked:

(1)    What is the historical event?
(2)    Who is the passage speaking to?
(3)    Why was the content necessary?
(4)    How does it apply to me?

By asking these types of questions, we discover the true purpose of the message being delivered. This, in turn, reveals the actual meaning of the isolated scripture being quoted. So let us apply these questions to Acts 15:29:

1.     What is the historical event?

The Gentiles were accepting Christ, and certain Jews were demanding that the Gentiles become circumcised and be directed to observe the Law of Moses, as seen below at Acts 15:1, 3, 5:

verse 1: “And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’”

verse 3: “Therefore, being sent on their way by the Church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.”

verse 5: “But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who have believed, stood up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.’”

As we see from these beginning verses of Acts 15, a wonderful thing was happening — Gentiles were being saved by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We also see how certain Christian Jews (a sect of the Pharisees) became annoyed. The Christian Jews were telling these new Gentile believers that their salvation was contingent upon being circumcised. They also said that these Gentiles needed to observe the Law of Moses.

2.    Who is the passage speaking to?

The apostle Peter answers this by refuting the words of this certain sect of the Pharisees:

“And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the words of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.’” (Acts 15:7-11)

Peter’s words help us to appreciate that “through the grace of the Lord Jesus” we are saved. He also points out that these Christian Jews were “placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear.” There was no need to circumcise these new Gentile believers in order for them to receive salvation — simply accepting Christ was enough. [As a side note, this reminds me of the yoke of the Watchtower. Their yoke of rules improperly make salvation contingent upon behavior, as if accepting Christ alone is not sufficient.]

3.    Why was the content necessary?

The content was necessary because of the spiritual weakness of some Jewish believers. So James recommended this at Acts 15:19:

“Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.”

Acts 15:22-29 is what the Holy Spirit decided upon, with the final resolution set forth in verses 28 and 29:

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: “that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

The context of Acts 15 and the final resolution of the council are very specific and abundantly clear. This sect of Christian Jews wanted the new Gentile believers to follow certain aspects of the Law of Moses; however, since we are no longer under the Law (which was replaced with Grace), the Jerusalem Council only imposed certain restraints. One of those was the blood issue.

Now in order to fully understand the application of Acts 15:29, we must look to the original blood restriction under the Law of Moses. In other words, what kind of blood was the Mosaic Law referring to:

Leviticus 17:13-16:

“So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.’ And when any person eats an animal which dies, or is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or an alien, he shall wash his cloths and bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean.” [Emphasis added.]

Even prior to the Law of Moses, Jehovah similarly instructed Noah:

Genesis 9:2-4

“And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the terror of you shall be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given. Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.’”

Now that we have examined the entire context of Act 15, thereby shining God’s light of truth over our subject, the interpretation of Acts 15:29 becomes evident. The Law of Moses prohibited the eating of animal blood. The Bible is totally silent on accepting human blood. Even Orthodox Jews have no problem with human-to-human blood transfusions.

To add to this, Greek scholar Dr. Spiros Zodhiates comments on Genesis 9:8-17 (Hebrew Greek Study Bible, pg. 14):

“Throughout history God has dealt with man through covenants or agreements. Later the Jews regarded this covenant between God and Noah as the basis of the relationship between God and all mankind, but the covenants with Abraham and with Moses at Mount Sinai were seen as forming the basis of God’s special relationship with Israel. Some believe that the stipulations laid on the Gentiles in Acts 15:20,29 find some of their source here in the covenant between God and Noah. In spite of the fact that the distinction between clean and unclean animals existed (Gen. 7:2), God allowed the eating of any plant or animal. The only restriction was the eating of animal blood, for that is where the life of the animal resided (Gen. 9:4). Later Israel was forbidden to eat not only blood but also the flesh of certain animals. The Lord removed the clean-unclean distinction from food altogether (Mk. 7:15; Acts 10:15). [Emphasis added.]

As you can see, Dr. Zodhiates affirms the animal blood restriction. Human blood was not the topic under the Law … His conclusion is in complete harmony with Scripture, unlike the Watchtower’s position.

Jehovah’s Word fails to lend any support to the Watchtower’s human blood doctrine, so we are left to wonder. Since God’s word is absolute and non-negotiable, who gave the Watchtower permission to add human blood to the text? The Author of Scripture certainly did not. If Jehovah meant to include human blood in the restriction, He would have said so. Since His restriction was limited only to animal blood, why does the Watchtower continue to masquerade this doctrine in the name of Christianity? Whatever the answer, it is abundantly clear that the Watchtower’s man-made blood doctrine is nothing more than that … man-made. The Inspired writings of Scripture reveal that the Watchtower dogma on this topic goes beyond God’s Inspired Word.

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The 144,000 Identified

November 28, 2014

This article will set to rest the true identity of those mentioned in Revelation 7:4:
“And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.”

It will also reveal the actual identity of the other sheep spoken of in John 10:16:
“And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.”

In a nutshell, the Watchtower asserts that the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation are those exclusively destined for heaven, and the other sheep mentioned in John 10 are those chosen to live on Earth. In other words, only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses will go to heaven, and the rest of the Watchtower’s organization will reside on Earth. So the question is … does Scripture harmonize with the Watchtower’s theology?

Whenever we consider biblical topics, it is imperative that we use Scripture as our ultimate authority. That being said, let us examine the Watchtower’s teachings with respect to the 144,000, and shine the light of Scripture over the Organization’s interpretation.

The 144,000

“And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: Out of the tribe of Judah 12,000 sealed; out of the tribe of Reu’ben 12,000; out of the tribe of Gad 12,000; out of the tribe of Ash’er 12,000; out of the tribe of Naph’ta∙li 12,000; out of the tribe of Ma∙nas’seh 12,000; out of the tribe of Sim’e∙on 12,000; out of the tribe of Le’vi 12,000; out of the Is’sa∙char 12,000; out of the tribe of Zeb’u∙lun 12,000; out of the tribe of Joseph 12,000; out of the tribe of Benjamin 12,000 sealed. After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:4-9 (NWT)

I will start our analysis of Revelation 7 by allowing Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates to share with us what the above passage, in context, is actually communicating. This is taken from his book, The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible —New American Standard Bible (pg. 1680):

“This contains the parenthetical portion between the sixth and seventh seals mentioning two distinct groups: (1) The 144,000, which are sealed, are from the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. This does not mean that the number of Israelites who will be saved will be limited to 144,000. Rather, it refers to 12,000 out of each tribe who are sealed from the wrath of Satan and the antichrist. These are called ‘the first fruits to God and to the Lamb’ (Rev. 14:4). (2) A great multitude, without naming the exact number from all nations as distinct from the nation of Israel, will also be saved. These are described as ‘the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’ (Rev. 7:14).”

In Revelation 7, Scripture describes two groups: the numbered 144,000 sealed who come from the literal twelve tribes of the Nation of Israel (the tribes are named), and an unnumbered great crowd who come out of all nations. Both are seen coming out of the Great Tribulation; both wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The Watchtower asserts that the 144,000 is a literal number, representing those who are heaven-bound after death. However, they do not take literally who (what people) make up the 144,000, even though that information is specifically set forth in verses 5-8. In other words, the Watchtower insists that verse 4 is literal, but verses 5-8 are not. Then they revert back to a literal position for verse 9 (concerning the great crowd).

However, the Bible message is very clear. Jehovah even distinguishes both groups by name: natural Jews and those of the Gentile nations. Nowhere in this biblical passage or context do the Scriptures communicate that the 144,000 are heaven-bound — only that they are seen coming out of the Great Tribulation. There is no reference to them going to heaven.

Since the Watchtower’s interpretation is not supported by Scripture, their dogma questions God’s ability to communicate. Essentially, the Organization is calling Jehovah a liar. They not only contradict Him, they replace His message to mankind with their own.

If we listen to Jehovah Himself, He explains who the 144,000 are and from where they come:

“And I said to him, ‘My lord, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” Revelation 7:13-14

Scripture clearly contradicts the Watchtower’s doctrine regarding the 144,000. Jehovah explicitly states that this group does not even appear until the Tribulation. Hence, they are not even known until that terrible time of future history. Why is this, and what is their function?

In his book, Israelology: The Missing Link In Systematic Theology (pg. 537), Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Th.M., Ph.D., helps us further identify the 144,000:

“This is an exact number because of their special role in the Tribulation. They are sealed for the purpose of being preserved through the Tribulation and, therefore, ‘are not subject to death.’ For that reason, they ‘must be viewed as a separate company.’ … Because these are set apart by God as special witnesses, then there should be no problem with such a specific number like 144,000, and no reason not to take that figure literally. The 144,000 are to be viewed as being ‘part of the remnant of Israel, but not the entire remnant itself.’ This is obvious from at least one fact alone: the 144,000 are saved at the beginning of the Tribulation, while the nation or ‘the remnant’ of Romans 11:26 is not converted until the second advent of Christ. Furthermore, these 144,000 are not only a part of the remnant, they ‘are ministering as sealed witnesses immediately after the church has been raptured.’ … The 144,000 in Revelation seven are ‘set apart … before the great tribulation begins’ and are ‘sealed at the very outset of the tribulation period.’ The myriad of Gentiles saved ‘come to a knowledge of salvation through the ministry of this group.’ In Revelation 14, the same 144,000 are viewed as being with the Messiah in the Messianic Kingdom. These 144,000 Jews are called firstfruits which means ‘they are the first of the harvest of the tribulation period that will come into the millennium to populate the millennial earth.’ They are the firstfruits of many more Jews to come to saving faith. … The specific destiny of the remnant is the Messianic Kingdom when their Messiah will rule over them from the Throne of David.”

From the above, it is clear that the 144,000 do not appear until the Great Tribulation and are chosen because of their special role during the Tribulation period. Thus, the Organization’s position that the 144,000 are Watchtower members destined for heaven fails to find support from Scripture and, therefore, cannot be correct.

The “Other Sheep”

Now we will analyze John 10:16 by addressing the following questions:

(1) Who are the “other sheep”?
(2) Why are they called “other sheep”?
(3) Does the context of John Chapter 10 support the Watchtower “other sheep” doctrine?

To avoid any misunderstanding about the Organization’s position with respect to the identity of the “other sheep,” their doctrine is set forth below:

Identifying the Great Crowd …

“In 1923, Jehovah’s servants discerned that ‘the sheep’ of Jesus’ parable found at Matthew 25:31-46 and the ‘other sheep’ to which he referred as recorded at John 10:16 are people who would have the opportunity to live forever on earth. In 1931 those described at Ezekiel 9:1-11 as being marked in their foreheads were also seen to be those with the earthly hope. Then in 1935 it was learned that the great crowd form part of the other sheep class Jesus spoke about. Today, this favored great crowd numbers in the millions.’” (wt chap. 13 pp. 120-127 – Worship God wt)

Man’s opinions and their interpretation of Scripture cannot usurp God’s intended message. The Bible is and must always be our ultimately authority. Therefore, the Watchtower’s doctrine must be supported within the context of the Scripture they quote from; otherwise, their theology is nothing but a man-made doctrine which is condemned by God, because the true message Jehovah is communicating through Scripture is not being accurately represented.

I want to begin by discussing my third question (does the context of John Chapter 10 support the Watchtower “other sheep” doctrine). According to the Watchtower’s article, the “other sheep” do not receive a heavenly reward but an earthly one. Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that only a certain number are destined for heaven (that is, 144,000). The remainder of Watchtower members fall into the category of the “other sheep,” and they are told that they do not receive a heavenly reward after death but will live forever on earth.

As we examine John 10:16, we will look for any support of the Watchtower’s teaching regarding the “other sheep:”

“And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.” John 10.16

Jesus Christ is communicating here that He has other sheep who will listen to Him and will become part of the one flock. However, this Scripture and its surrounding context fail to address who they are or their final destination after death. So where did the Watchtower learn that information? What biblical passage teaches that the “other sheep” live on earth? From where or whom did the Organization gain the discernment that Christ meant these “other sheep” would not live in heaven but on earth? Similarly, the Watchtower has said, “in 1935 it was learned that the great crowd form part of the other sheep class Jesus spoke about.” Where did they gain this knowledge? Who told the Watchtower that the people of all nations coming out of the Great Tribulation were the “other sheep” Christ was referring to at John 10:16?

Before I continue, I want to illustrate why it is imperative to understand the context which surrounds any biblical verse quoted. The “why” of this will paint an indelible picture in your mind. In my example, I will bring two verses together (by pulling them out of their original context), and then I will form a doctrine around the message I want delivered. The verses I will use are Matthew 27:5 and Luke 10:37:

Matthew 27:5: “And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.”

Luke 10:37: “And he said, ‘the one who showed mercy toward him.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’”

By combining these two verses, an erroneous doctrine can be created:
Jesus Christ taught that suicide was biblically-approved.

Obviously, this is an extreme example, but it demonstrates a dangerous practice called collapsing context. This is the method used by the Watchtower in creating their interpretation of the 144,000. They combine John 10 with Revelation 7, even though these two passages have individual and separate contextual meanings. The context of John 10 and the context of Revelation 7 involve different settings, time frames, audiences and discussions — they have absolutely nothing to do with each other. By collapsing (ignoring) the context of these passages, the Watchtower disregards the art and science of correct biblical hermeneutics (i.e., whenever interpreting Scripture, you cannot pull a Scripture out of its original context and bring it alongside a different context of Scripture to form a doctrine.) In doing this, the Watchtower creates an erroneous doctrine.

Organizations (like the Watchtower) who practice this method substitute God’s truth for their own man-made doctrine and inflict spiritual harm on the unwary and innocent. Please protect yourself from being misled. How? By reading the entire context of the passages being discussed.

Now turning to my first two questions:

Who are the “other sheep” Christ spoke of …
and why are they called the “other sheep”?

When the Gospel was first preached, it was only preached to the Nation of Israel, although most of the Jews rejected Christ as the Messiah. However, Christ assured us that other sheep would listen to Him and they, too, would be included in the one flock. So who was He referring to? The Gentiles (the rest of mankind). It was the Gentiles who would later be given a chance to accept Jesus Christ, and the ones that did accept Him, Christ referred to as the “other sheep.”

“The eye that Christ had to the poor Gentiles. He had sometimes intimated his special concern for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but, saith he, I have other sheep. Those who in process of time should believe in Christ, from among the Gentiles, are here called sheep … Christ speaks of those other sheep to take off the contempt that was put upon him, as having but a little flock, and therefore, if a good shepherd, but a poor shepherd: ‘But saith he, ‘I have more sheep that you see.’” Matthew Henry’s Commentary (pg .1564)

In John 10:16, Jesus Christ was simply saying that the Jews were not the only sheep. When the time was right, the Gentiles would also come into the one fold. They were called “other sheep” because they were not Jews. To read anything else into this passage would be improper. Nowhere in the context of John 10 does Jesus Christ inform us that these “other sheep” are something other than what the passage is communicating. They are called other sheep because they were not part of the original Nation of Israel fold. The Gentiles would also listen to His voice and as Christ said, “they shall become one flock with one shepherd.”

Conclusion

Now that we have compared the Watchtower teachings concerning the 144,000 to Scripture, it is obvious that the Organization’s doctrines are not supported by the Inspired Word of Jehovah. Nevertheless, to further illustrate the erroneousness of their 144,000 doctrine, we can look to history itself. The Watchtower asserts that the 144,000 started to be fulfilled in the first century and was completed by 1935 (about 2,000 years later).

But ask yourself, how many Christians accepted Christ in the first century? The answer is 500,000!

According to some published material, 500,000 Christian were accounted for in the first century, and 7.5 million accepted Jesus Christ during the first three centuries. Yet the Watchtower insists that the 144,000 number was not fulfilled until the year 1935 (which is within the 20th century). When I mentioned this fact to a former member of the Watchtower and close friend of mine, he said, “I don’t understand.”

I explained it to him this way: If the door for the great crowd did not open until 1935 (waiting for the 144,000 number to be completed), where did the 500,000 go in the first century, or for that matter, where did the 7.5 million go during the first three centuries? Christians at that time were eaten by lions, burned at the stake to light Nero’s torches, and made to drink boiling hot oil … yes, these Christians were martyred because they were faithful to Jesus Christ. With that, my friend replied, “Oh, I get it now … I understand … the 144,000 number would have been completed during the first century.” So as you can see, history also contradicts the Watchtower’s 144,000 doctrine.

The Bible teaches us that anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will live in heaven once they die.

“we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates has this to say about the context of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10:

“This passage tells us very clear what happens to the believer when he dies. He goes to be with the Lord, The chapter is closely connected with v. 18 of the previous chapter in which we are told to look at the things which cannot be seen with the physical eye.”

Therefore, everyone accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is guaranteed an eternal future in heaven when they die.

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The Watchtower’s Evolving “1914 Generation” Doctrine

November 8, 2014

The primary purpose of this article is to update my book “The Bible vs. The Watchtower (The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Authority)You Decide…” on the Watchtower’s metamorphosing “1914 generation” doctrine, including clarification regarding the one specific event that Christ foretold must take place before His coming.

The Watchtower recently modified their doctrine concerning the 1914 generation to add a second group of anointed Christians, effectively extending the length of the “generation” and the time for the Watchtower’s doctrine to be fulfilled. This “New Light” or modified position is found in the Watchtower article of January 2014, entitled “‘Let Your Kingdom Come’ — But When?”, which states the following:

Paragraph 15:
“In his detailed prophecy about the conclusion of this system of things, Jesus said: ‘This generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.’ (Read Matthew 24:33-35.) We understand that in mentioning ‘this generation,’ Jesus was referring to two groups of anointed Christians. The first group was on hand in 1914, and they readily discerned the sign of Christ’s presence in that year. Those who made up this group were not merely alive in 1914, but they were spirit-anointed as sons of God in or before that year. –Rom. 8:14-17.” [Emphasis added.]

Paragraph 16:
“The second group included in ‘this generation’ are anointed contemporaries of the first group. They were not simply alive during the lifetime of those in the first group, but they were anointed with holy spirit during the time that those of the first group were still on earth. Thus, not every anointed person today is included in ‘this generation’ of whom Jesus spoke. Today, those in this second group are themselves advancing in years. Yet, Jesus’ words at Matthew 24:34 give us confidence that at least some of ‘this generation will by no means pass away’ before seeing the start of the great tribulation. This should add to our conviction that little time remains before the King of God’s Kingdom acts to destroy the wicked and usher in a righteous new world. –2 Pet. 3:13″

Paragraph 17:
“What conclusion can we draw from the three lines of evidence that we have considered? Jesus cautioned that we would not — and we do not — know the exact day or hour. (Matthew 24:36; 25:13) But we can and do know ‘the season,’ as Paul mentioned. (Read Romans 13:11.) We are living in that season, the last days. If we give our full attention to Bible prophecy and to what Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are doing, we cannot fail to see compelling evidence that we are indeed living close to the end of this system of things.”

In this article, I will focus on the Watchtower’s revised understanding regarding the words of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 24:34: “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.” [All Bible quotations are taken from the Watchtower’s current New World Translation of The Holy Scriptures.]

As set forth on pages 46-47 of my book, the following are Watchtower past truths on this issue:

“And, very important for us, it was foretold that such final results would take place within the lifetime of just one generation, the generation that was alive in 1914.” (Awake, October 8, 1973, emphasis added.)

“Hence our generation is the generation that will see the start and finish of all these things, including Armageddon.” (Watchtower, June 1, 1951, p. 335.)

These previous Watchtower magazines paint a clear picture that the “generation” consists of the one singular generation of those alive in 1914, and that they will see the start and finish of this system, which includes Armageddon. However, this position has evolved over the years, as set forth on page 51 of my book:

“To be sure, the Watchtower’s current position regarding the ‘generation’ in Matthew 24:34 is one that developed through a series of revised interpretations, from initially signifying ‘the lifetime’ of the generation alive in 1914, to those ‘who began to witness the events of 1914,’ to ‘those who saw with understanding what began in 1914,’ and finally to ‘those who see the signs of Jesus’ second coming but fail to mend their ways’ (with no reference to 1914).”

With this history of Watchtower teaching regarding the 1914 generation in mind, let us examine what they are now teaching as Jehovah’s current truth. (I say “current” because it appears He keeps changing His Mind.) Let us begin by dissecting each paragraph followed up with questions of my own:

Paragraph 15 purported “truth”: “We understand that in mentioning ‘this generation,’ Jesus was referring to two groups of anointed Christians.”

Questions to consider: It appears that the Organization now knows the thoughts of Jesus Christ. They say they understand that Jesus is referring to two groups. But where did they acquire this understanding? Does Christ ever say this? In Matthew 24:34, Jesus says: “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.” Jesus Christ only refers to a singular generation. He never mentions two groups within the one “generation.” Therefore, since Jehovah’s Breathed Word fails to communicate this “New Light” posture, where did this new understanding come from? And, if Jesus Christ meant two groups, why then did He only refer to one? The truth is … Jehovah’s Word contradicts the Watchtower’s newfound doctrinal position.

Why then does the Watchtower put forth this revision to the 1914 generation doctrine? Paragraph 16 of the Watchtower article provides the answer:

Paragraph 16 purported “truth”: “The second group included in ‘this generation’ are anointed contemporaries of the first group. … Today, those in this second group are themselves advancing in years.”

Analysis: The 1914 generation, or first group of anointed ones, have either passed away or only a handful are still alive. If the first group all pass away before the system’s end, then the Watchtower’s doctrine would be proven false. Therefore, in order to protect their position, they invented a second group of “contemporaries” to extend the lifetime of the “generation.” But if we analyze the common meanings of “contemporary” and “generation,” it becomes clear that the Watchtower’s interpretation makes no sense.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines “contemporary” as “someone living during the same period of time as another.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines “generation” as “all the people of about the same age within a society.” Thus, while contemporaries co-exist with each other, they are not necessarily within the same generation. A person who is 15 years old can co-exist with (and be a contemporary of) someone who is 75 years old, but the two are not from the same generation. Thus, the Watchtower’s play on words cannot be reconciled.

Matthew 24:34 speaks of only one generation.
There is no mention of two groups, and no mention of contemporaries.

While the Watchtower is correct when they say world conditions are worsening, and Bible prophecy is being fulfilled, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to substantiate the addition of a second group to the 1914 generation. To the contrary, the words of Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 24:34 contradict the Watchtower’s “New Light” doctrine (“this generation” is singular and does not reference contemporaries).

Once again the Watchtower continues to modify their false truths of yesterday for new truths today, which become false truths tomorrow for pseudo truths in the future.

Is Watchtower doctrine, which evolves and changes over time, really a rock upon which to place one’s faith? If Bible truths are what you’re seeking, then the answer is obvious … No.

 

THE ONE SPECIFIC EVENT

Because the Bible is God Breathed and contrary to the convoluted and erroneous Watchtower 1914 generation doctrine, I am compelled to close this article with some illuminating material. That said, however, I will keep it to a minimum and only highlight the most profound passages.

To begin with, in his book, “Exegetical Commentary on Matthew” (pg. 412), Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates discusses Matthew 24:34, as follows:

“In general, Jesus taught that the generation that ‘see [s] all these things (v. 33) will not pass away without witnessing the completion of all the events prophesied. ‘All these things were typically fulfilled in the forty years from A.D. 30 to 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed. Jerusalem’s destruction was a sign for believers to prepare for the rapture of His church and parousia. Typical fulfillment of prophecy enhances imminence – the nearness of the Lord’s return.’”

Dr. Zodhiates helps us to understand the typical fulfillment during the first century. We know Christ did not, and has not yet, appeared because Christ Himself told us what His appearance would be likened to … contrary to the postulated position of the Watchtower (“returned but not seen”):

“For just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence of the Son of man will be.” Matthew 24:27

Christ’s appearance will not be missed — when lightening flashes, it lights up the entire sky. But is there something — some event — that we can look to as a precursor to His return? Perhaps an event that Christ tells us will transpire first?

“Before expounding on the dramatic events leading to the overthrow of the temple, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives and further taught His disciples … Tell us … what [ti, the singular neuter pronoun of tis {5101}, ‘what one thing,’ meaning, from the context, ‘what one sign’] shall be the sign of thy coming [from parousia {3952}, presence, appearance], and of the end … to bring together to completion … of the world … age?

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus will begin with the snatching away of believers to be with Him in glory. The word parousia derives from para (3844), which denotes close proximity … Parousia describes single events as well as processes of several events. There is no doubt that Jesus will return physically to earth in His glorified body. Revelation 1:7 says, ‘Every eye shall see [from optanomai {3700}, to see physically] him (Acts 1:11).” Zodhiates, “Exegetical Commentary on Matthew,” pg 391, discussing Matthew 24:3 (emphasis added).

Although He did not give us the day, hour, or year of His return, He did foretell of a what … the one thing to look for:

“Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place (let the reader use discernment).” Matthew 24:15

Zodhiates comments on Matthew 24:15 below (pg 398):

‘“When,’ the Greek conjunction hotan (3752), focuses on a specific event within the nation of Israel, which will be miraculously preserved. The appearance of the abomination of desolation is connected with the worldwide preaching of the gospel of the kingdom at ‘the end.’ This is the closest Jesus gets to answering the disciple’s question of when in verse 3. However, the ‘when’ is eclipsed by a ‘what,’ that is, some physical object called an ‘abomination of desolation’ is given in place of a date. There will be a day and hour when this profane, sacrilegious idol will be erected, but the disciples were to deduce the time from the sign, not the sign from the times.

In looking at the magnificent temple, Jesus had said (v.2) that one stone would not be left on another, but the entire structure would be ‘thrown down’ or destroyed.

Jesus now spoke of ‘the abomination of desolation.’ The abomination, then, whatever it is, will cause desolation. Believers will see or perceive this disgusting thing at the completion of the age. Furthermore, they will need to ‘mind’ what was written in the book of Daniel to perceive accurately how this event fits into the general scheme.

An antichrist is one who opposes Christ. ‘Anti’ also means in place of, so this last Antichrist will be a supplanter; he will try to replace the true Messiah. Three-and-a-half years into Daniel’s seventieth week, this beast will attempt to replace Christ (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thess. 2:3-10; Rev. 13:5). This ultimate Antichrist surpasses the attempts of former antichrists to replace God as the object of worship (Rev. 13:12)…. According to Daniel 11:36 …, this Antichrist magnifies himself above every god, including the Almighty God, arousing His indignation.” (Emphasis added.)

Here, Christ references the Prophet Daniel and tells the reader to “use discernment,” that is, judge well, look for spiritual direction. This implies that the key event which is to take place prior to the coming of Christ was prophesied during the time of Daniel. The relevant passage is found in Daniel 9:24-27, which speaks directly to the Nation of Israel, so the fulfillment of this prophecy must have direct application to the Nation itself. Without going into a lengthy discussion, I will simply quote the passage and briefly explain the context:

Daniel 9:24-27 sets forth the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah — the 70 weeks of years. As we know, Christ appeared just as Daniel predicted, but Daniel also predicted that someone else would appear:

Verse 24: “There are 70 weeks that have been determined for your people and your holy city, in order to terminate the transgression, to finish off sin, to make atonement for error, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and the prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.”

Verse 25: “You should know and understand that from the issuing of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Leader, there will be 7 weeks, also 62 weeks. She will be restored and rebuilt, with a public square and moat, but in times of distress.”

Verse 26: “And after the 62 weeks, Messiah will be cut off, with nothing for himself. And the people of a leader who is coming will destroy the city and the holy place. And its end will be by the flood. And until the end there will be war; what is decided upon is desolation.” (Emphasis added.)

Verse 27: “And he will keep the covenant in force for the many for one week; and at the half of the week, he will cause sacrifice and gift offer to cease. ‘And on the wing of disgusting things there will be the one causing desolation, and until extermination, what was decided on will be poured out also on the one lying desolate.'”

In verse 26, Daniel speaks of both the Messiah and a leader who has yet to come. According to verse 27 of Daniel’s prophecy, The Antichrist will make a 7-year covenant with the Nation of Israel (this is the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy which marks the beginning of The Great Tribulation), and breaking the covenant three-and-a-half years later. It is this event — “the disgusting thing that causes desolation … standing in a holy place” — that Jesus is alluding to in Matthew 24:15.

What happens once the covenant is broken 3-1/2 years later?

“for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.” Matthew 24:21

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Matthew 24:29

Jesus Christ is seen coming after the tribulation period …

“Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30

In Matthew, chapter 24, Jesus Christ pinpoints and draws attention to one specific event which must take place before His coming (verse 15). Thereafter, He tells us about the Great Tribulation (verses 21-29) and His return at the end of the Tribulation period (verse 30). Then Christ says something very profound in verse 34:

“Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.” Matthew 24:34

Therefore, based on Scripture, Jesus Christ returns after (a) Matthew 24:15 is fulfilled, (b) The Antichrist makes a 7-year covenant with the Nation of Israel and breaks it 3-1/2 years later, causing sacrifices to cease (Daniel 9:27), and (c) the fulfillment of Matthew 24:29.

Finally, based on the context of Christ’s statement at Matthew 24:34, it becomes crystal clear that there will be one generation who sees the events of Matthew 24:15, as well as the beginning and end of the Great Tribulation. As Dr. Zodhiates helps us to appreciate:

“Imminence in these verses refers to Christ’s coming in judgment after the Tribulation period and is aimed squarely at unbelievers.” (“Exegetical Commentary on Matthew,” pg. 412)

Scripture does not evolve. It is truth yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.
Stop believing the self-serving and evolving Watchtower and put your faith and trust in the Bible.

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