If this is so, then how do you explain Matthew 8:11 in which Jesus says, "But i tell you that many from eastern parts and western parts will come and recline at the table WITH Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob IN the kingdoms of the heavens.(NWT)
2006-11-01 12:42:43 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Interestingly, Luke's parallel account relating Jesus' words does not mention Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob and also does not mention the heavens.
(Luke 13:29) Furthermore, people will come from eastern parts and western, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe (and perhaps Jesus' listeners at the time readily concluded) that Jesus was not here speaking about the literal men named Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They note that the heavenly hope was not opened until Jesus' own death and resurrection opened the way.
(Hebrews 9:24) Christ entered, not into a holy place made with hands, which is a copy of the reality, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the person of God for us
(Hebrews 9:12) [Christ] entered, no, not with the blood of goats and of young bulls, but with his own blood, once for all time into the holy place and obtained an everlasting deliverance for us.
(Hebrews 10:19-20) We [with a heavenly hope] have boldness for the way of entry into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 which he inaugurated for us as a new and living way through the curtain, that is, his flesh
For example, John the Baptist died well before Jesus, so he will be resurrected to the earth rather than to heaven.
(Matthew 11:11-12) Among those born of women there has not been raised up a greater than John the Baptist; but a person that is a lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he is. 12 But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press
Jehovah's Witnesses note that Abraham is an acknowledged "type" of Jehovah himself and Isaac is an acknowledged "type" of Jesus Christ (compare Genesis 22:1-18 with John 3:16).
Additionally, "Jacob" (also named "Israel") is an acknowledged "type" of the congregation of God, or spiritual Israel.
(Galatians 3:16-29) Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It says, not: “And to seeds,” as in the case of many such, but as in the case of one: “And to your seed,” who is Christ. ...28 You are all one person in union with Christ Jesus. 29 Moreover, if you belong to Christ, you are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.
Jehovah's Witnesses have always taught that these three entities of Jehovah, Jesus, and anointed spiritual Israel *DO* have a heavenly dwelling, and so Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the expression "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" in Matthew 8:11 must refer to God's entire Kingdom arrangement rather than literally to those ancient patriarchs (who have an earthly hope).
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20001001/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2003/11/15/article_02.htm
2006-11-01 15:51:57 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I'm not one of Jehovah"s Witnesses...But to me these patriarchs are better off serving and teaching the resurrected ones on earth after the great tribulation.
They have a lot to explain to all about some details that the Old Testament left out...sort of fill in the pieces of info to those in the Kingdom on earth for a thousand yrs.
Another point, they never saw or was around Jesus in his teachings so in the heavens requires knowledge of the past, present and the future which they only have the past doings recorded in the history of the Hebrews.
Yes they will be here on earth after they are resurrected to be teachers of the Kingdom on earth which the heavenly Kingdom will rule over. There will be other teachers too with them.
2006-11-01 13:12:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Throughout the Bible, Isaac is mentioned dozens of times in the familiar expression "Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Sometimes the point being made is in reference to Jehovah as the God these patriarchs worshiped and served. (Ex 3:6, 16; 4:5; Mt 22:32; Ac 3:13) At other times the reference is to the covenant Jehovah made with them. (Ex 2:24; De 29:13; 2Ki 13:23) Jesus also used this expression in an illustrative way. (Mt 8:11) In one instance Isaac, the patriarchal forefather, is mentioned in a Hebraic parallelism along with his descendants, the nation of Israel.-Am 7:9, 16.
The prophets often used "Jacob" in a figurative sense, with reference to the nation descended from the patriarch. (Isa 9:8; 27:9; Jer 10:25; Eze 39:25; Am 6:8; Mic 1:5; Ro 11:26) Jesus, on one occasion, used the name Jacob figuratively when speaking of those who would be "in the kingdom of the heavens."-Mt 8:11.
He was talking in a figurative way, not literal.
2006-11-01 12:54:43 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Kingdom of the heavens & kingdom of God are used in parallel and are the same (See Mark 10:23, Luk 18:24, Mat 19:23, 24). All those who are saved (the little flock, the great crowd, the resurrected ones (Abraham, Isaac, etc) ) will be part of that kingdom. The heavens & the paradise earth are both under and part of kingdom of God. Jesus stated "10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. ". So both heaven and earth will be governed by God and his will will take place on both. In short you don't need to be in heaven to reside & be a part of the kingdom of God.
2006-11-02 02:03:10 · answer #4 · answered by trustdell1 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
saying if, the scripture is even literal, when it could be speaking ifguratively as brought out by frozen veins,
john 3:13- No man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man
so, no one before Jesus ascended into heaven.
which includes Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
these ones didn't go into heaven, but surely they didn't go into a fiery hell!, so where are they? they are dead. until, they are resurrected through Jesus, with the rest of Christs followers, from around the world, or 'the eastern and western parts'.
And they with the rest of god's faithful worshipers, will recline in the paradise of the 'kingdom of god, or the kingdom of the heavens'. this doesn't mean specifically it has to be in heaven, because john 3:!3 shows otherwise. this shows that it can be on earth, just as the bible says that people will be on the earth. and that the righteous or meek will inherit it.. Psalm 37:10, 11
2006-11-01 12:47:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a real resurrection. No, those who killed Jesus cannot kill Michael the Archangel. The weak man Jesus born of a human laid his life down...what arose on the 3rd day was a mighty spirit able to walk through solid wall and change his features. He materialized a fleshly body so his disciples could see him. Wrong, Jesus was raised from the dead back to life. However he was raised back to the form he had before he came to earth...a spirit. Tell me do you believe Christians who are "born again" when they die they are raised in the same body they died in...a human body? No. If they were we would have seen them ascending into heaven yet no one has ever seen anyone ascending into heaven. They are given a spiritual body that is invisible to human eyes upon resurrection. Only spirits live in heaven...to live in heaven they must be spirits so they are given a new body...a spiritual one. The fact that they have a different body does not mean they are not the same person. Flesh and blood cannot enter or live in heaven. What happen to Jesus fleshly body...Jehovah removed it..possibly disintegrating it into the atoms from which it was formed. We believe those who are to be resurrected back to the earth will be resurrected the way Lazarus was resurrected with a human body similar to the one they died in since that one decomposed into the ground We believe those who are to be resurrected and ascend into the heavens will not be resurrected the way Lazarus was..their resurrection will be similar to Jesus' only they will not need to materialized a fleshly body so that we know that they were resurrected. Jesus had to, or there would be continued doubt that he was raised from the dead. No man knows the day nor the hour...that's fact. No man has ever seen God...that too is fact. Anything else is a lie I am a Jehovah's Witness
2016-05-23 09:28:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably for the same reason they teach that Jesus is really the arch-angel Michael. They've been misled by a false prophet and belong to a cult. That's why when they knock on your door you should read to them from this passage of the Bible before sending them on their way.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
2006-11-01 12:50:27 · answer #7 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
i bet you cant find a scripture that says that abraham isaac and jacob will not reside with christ. sorry, but you are one of those people who were misinformed. matthew 8: 11 is correct.
2006-11-01 12:46:14 · answer #8 · answered by kclr16 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
WHY ARE THE PEOPLE IN Matt.8:12 THERE?
THE ONE OF THE KINGDOM COME DOWN TO THOSE UNDER IT Rev.20:1-6
Heb.9:27 It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgement
1Cor.15:22-28,51-53 As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
THERE IS THE HEAVENLY BODY OF THOUSANDS.THE EARTHLY BODY OF BILLIONS
Rev.3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev.21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Rev.21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev.21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev.21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev.21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Matt.8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt.8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matt.10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Rev.20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev.20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Acts 17:31; 24:15; John 5:20.26-29; Dan.12:2; Isa.26:19; 2Cor.5:10; Matt.12:36; Rom.14:9-12; Philip.2:5,9-12; Rev.20:1-6,12,13;
Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
I hope I do not miss any thing because there are the Priest, then the others saved by them and Jesus. John 12:47,48; Self judged Rev.6:9-11; Rev.12:11;17:6;
2006-11-01 13:10:34 · answer #9 · answered by jeni 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
TIMEOUT: those who do not confess the coming of Jesus
Christ in the flesh. >(false prophets, antichrist ) >
Well,THAT would certainly be those who say "GOD" came
in the flesh, which is UNSCRIPTUAL, because
NO MAN hath SEEN "GOD" at ANY time> (John 1:18) kjv
JW'S BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST CAME IN THE FLESH !
and represented His Father so perfectly, he could say
"If you see me, you see the Father" .Yes, the image of
his Father whom he loved so much, and OBEYED HIM,
and Jesus did not even allow anyone to call him "Good" ...
Only GOD,Jesus said (Luke 18:19) kjv (perfect subjection)
JW's respect Jehovah's arrangement of things, placing
JESUS as MEDIATOR BETWEEN MAN & GOD...Hence,
Jesus is the ONLY WAY to GOD. Simple
2006-11-01 15:55:48 · answer #10 · answered by Merry 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋