Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!porthos.rutgers.edu!christian From: fibercom!lab@uunet.uu.net (Lance Beckner) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: JW's and Scripture Message-ID: Date: 15 Sep 89 07:16:27 GMT Sender: hedrick@porthos.rutgers.edu Organization: FiberCom, Inc., Roanoke, Virginia Lines: 152 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu As I mentioned in an earlier article, there are some obvious Biblical truths that the Jehovah's Witnesses deny. To me, this shows that they are not the true church. The Physical Resurrection of Christ: The JW's insist that Christ's second coming occurred in 1914. In order for this to be true, He obviously had to have come spiritually only. The problem with this is that after Jesus ascension, the angels said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come IN LIKE MANNER as you SAW Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11, emphasis mine) So we know, as do the JW's, that as Jesus was after His resurrection, so He will return. The JW's therefore deny that Jesus Christ's body was resurrected, and insist that He was raised spiritually. Scripture states otherwise: Luke 24:39 "Behold My hands and My feet that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." Here, Jesus makes it clear that He is more than Just a spirit. John 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." In these passages, one of two things is happening. Either Jesus' body was truly raised from the dead, or He was deceiving His disciples. Since deception is usually an attribute only used to characterize Satan and those who follow him, I would have to say that Jesus' Body was resurrected. To the credit of the JW's, they come up with a good question concerning this: "But how is it that when He appeared to some, they did not recognize Him?" As always, the answer is found in Scripture: Luke 24:16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. This of course, brings another question: "How did He vanish from their sight?" also, "How can He appear in a room when the doors are shut? (see John 20:19). My answer to this is: "I do not know, but I accept it by faith without throwing away parts of scripture that make Jesus out to be a liar or a deceiver." Other passages that show Jesus was bodily resurrected: John 2:19-21 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. We also know that Jesus' return will be physical and visible: Matt 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Has any of this happened yet? Matt 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. The tribes of the earth have not mourned at His coming because He has not yet returned. Again, the JW's have a good question: "How will everyone see Him at once, if He appears over your house, how will those in Australia see His return?" Again, I do not know. But if the Bible says everyone will see Him, then everyone will. "For with God nothing shall be impossible." (Luke 1:37). Jesus Himself warns us to beware of those that claim that He has already returned. He also tells us that those that say He has returned will be very convincing (as the JW's are): Matt 24:23-27 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See I have told you beforehand. Therefore, if any say to you, 'Look He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Must You be "Born Again"? The JW's insist that being "Born Again" is something that happens at the resurrection. Let's look at scripture: John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." These two passages don't prove much one way or the other. But let's read on: John 1:12,13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the ~~~~~~~~ right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, ~~~~ nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Those who RECEIVED (past tense) WERE BORN (past tense). Being born again is something that happens when you receive Jesus. 1 Pet 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. Peter here is addressing believers. If I am not mistaken, God's word applies to all believers. Not just those in the first century. Again, he says that being born again is something that has already happened to them. I hope this helps. Peace, Lance -- Lance A. Beckner INTERNET: lab@fibercom.com FiberCom, Inc. UUCP: ...!uunet!fibercom!lab P.O. Box 11966 FAX: (703) 342-5961 Roanoke, VA 24022-1966 PHONE: (703) 342-6700