"New Light": "A new view of truth can never contradict a former truth. 'New light' never extinguishes older 'light', but adds to it.... So is it with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another". Zion's Watchtower, Feb. 1881
Jesus is NOT Michael the Archangel: "Hence it is said, 'Let all the angels of God worship him': (that must include Michael, the chief angel, hence Michael is not the Son of God)....".
The Watchtower, November 1879, p. 4
Jesus IS Michael the Archangel: "Jesus Christ, whom we understand from the scriptures to be Michael the Archangel." The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1979, p. 31
The Watchtower Society has declared that "new light" can never contradict a former truth. Can Jesus really be Michael the Archangel?
2007-06-12
12:45:43
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12 answers
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asked by
~♥Anna♥~
5
in
Society & Culture
➔ Religion & Spirituality
sklemetti....
you misunderstand... CT Russell started Zion's Watchtower in 1879. You can read every watchtower mag all the way back to 1879. Yes, you can.
And the words about Jesus NOT being Michael were QUOTED from the watchtower...they are NOT my words....here's more of the paragraph in full quote from the 1879 Feb Watchtower:
2007-06-13
07:33:24 ·
update #1
Jesus, means Saviour, and we are carried forward from the mere word to the Exalted Official Position, on account of which He can "save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him." His position is contrasted with that of men and angels, as He is Lord of both, having "all power in heaven and earth." Hence it is said, "Let all the angels of God worship him;" [that must include Michael, the chief angel, hence Michael is not the Son of God] and the reason is, because He has "by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they." Michael or Gabriel are perhaps grander names than Jesus, though Jesus is grand in its very simplicity, but the official character of the Son of God as Saviour and King is the inheritance from His Father, which is far superior to theirs, for it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell. He has given Him a Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow both in heaven and earth.
2007-06-13
07:34:18 ·
update #2
purple diamond... so your comment would then make the BIBLE null and void b/c it's not written in 2007?
Sorry this was written by CT Russell, the person that started the beliefs of JWs. He is supposedly the channel between God and God's chosen people... You should research JWs to understand why this is INDEED important.
2007-06-13
08:22:36 ·
update #3
Sorry Sklemetti... here's more on the
New Light quoted from the Watchtower:
If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now: But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. "New light" never extinguishes older "light," but adds to it. If you were lighting up a building containing seven gas jets you would not extinguish one every time you lighted another, but would add one light to another and they would be in harmony and thus give increase of light: So is it with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another.Our pathway has been one of increase of light in harmony with former light.
2007-06-13
08:30:02 ·
update #4
THE modern history of Jehovah's Witnesses began more than a hundred years ago. In the early 1870's, a rather inconspicuous Bible study group began in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., which is now a part of Pittsburgh. Charles Taze Russell was the prime mover of the group. In July 1879, the first issue of the magazine Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence appeared. By 1880 scores of congregations had spread from that one small Bible study into nearby states. In 1881 Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society was formed, and in 1884 it was incorporated, with Russell as president. The Society's name was later changed to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.
http://www.watchtower.org/library/jt/article_02.htm
2007-06-13
08:41:04 ·
update #5
purple diamond -
you are catching on.... the Bible was inspired by God. These words from CT Russel were from him, a man. Not from God! Nail on the head!!! However, the watchtower claims to be the mouthpiece of God - beginning with CT Russell.... so that means that everything that he said, should mean as MUCH as the bible, and not be changed. Unless.... he was just a man.
2007-06-14
17:27:17 ·
update #6
Thank you for printing that old quote. I think it describes the way that truth becomes fuller, perfectly. I could never have thought to phrase it so well.
As the "truth" becomes clearer and unfolds, it doesn't necessitate the abandoning of former teachings, IF those teachings were actually the truth. And if they weren't the truth, they should never have been taught in the first place as God's "truth", but presented as what they are - human ideas, human opinion - which shouldn't be attributed to God.
2007-06-15 01:38:31
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answer #1
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answered by browneyedgirl 3
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Consider the following:
"Archangel. God’s Word refers to
Michael “the archangel.” (Jude 9) This term means “chief angel.” Notice that Michael is called the archangel. This suggests that there is only one such angel. In fact,
the term “archangel” occurs in the Bible only in the singular, never in the plural. Moreover, Jesus is linked with the office of archangel.
Regarding the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 states: “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice.” Thus the voice of Jesus is described as being that of an archangel. This scripture therefore suggests that Jesus himself is the archangel Michael.
Army Leader. The Bible statesthat “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon . . . and its angels.” (Revelation 12:7) Thus, Michael is the Leader of an army of faithful angels. Revelation also describes Jesus as the Leader of an army of faithful angels. (Revelation 19:14-16)
And the apostle Paul specifically
mentions “the Lord Jesus” and “his
powerful angels.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7; Matthew 16:27; 24:31;
1 Peter 3:22) So the Bible speaks of both Michael and “his angels” and Jesus and “his angels.” (Matthew 13:41) Since God’s Word nowhere indicates that there are two armies of faithful angels in
heaven—one headed by Michael and one headed by Jesus—it is logical to conclude that Michael is none other than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role."
"New Light" doesn't change the truth. It certainly can alter the way someone looks at a matter though. It may be that an earlier understanding wasn't completely correct. It may have been completely wrong even.
Like mentioned above Jehovah's Witnesses used to celebrate Christmas.
2007-06-12 16:19:09
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answer #2
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answered by NMB 5
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Did You know, you ask.
My answer. Do we care that JWs didn't always believe something.
And there is no such thing as "new light" contrary to what any publication states. It is properly called "increased illumination".
Why are you quoting from 1881 magazines? That was even before there was a Watchtower Society.
That November mag you quoted does not say that Jesus is not Michael. Yes, Let all angels of God worship him and the chief angel of Jehovah God, Michael, aka, Jesus does worship Jehovah God.
No, the Watchtower Society has not declared that new light can never contradict a former truth. The Watchtower Society never printed that. There was no Watchtower Society in Feb 1881. The Watchtower Society did not print the Feb 1881 issue of the Watchtower magazine.
2007-06-13 01:48:09
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answer #3
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answered by sklemetti 3
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Why are you quoting from Watchtowers from 1879 & 1881?
We are 2007 now.
This is nearly 130 years later!
Come into this century & stop dwelling over things that happened the century before last
Anna,
It seems to me that your main interest here is generating negative answers against the Witnesses. I cannot understand why a Christian would want to do this.
After all, as Christians, do we not follow Jesus example of tolerance and love toward our fellow human being instead of inciting ill feelings toward them? Especially more so if they are godly people? And don't imply that you are showing love by pointing out what you think are mistakes. Your overuse of question-marks shows how you really feel toward this group of people. (as do your other QAs)
Of course Anna the bible is different.
There's no need for sarcasm. The bible is never outdated. But the Watchtowers that you cite are nearly 130 years old! These were written by imperfect men.
The bible was written (inspired) by God.
God inspired imperfect men to write the bible (didn't you know that?)
He can inspire imperfect men to write anything.
And you're right on one count Anna...
I am as you say 'catching on'.. to how some people on this site who claim to be Christian show an attitude that doesn't reflect Jesus at all.
2007-06-13 07:49:55
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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a Christian is any person who styles his existence after Jesus the trinity used to be announced by way of roman ruler who used to be a Trinitarian to start With as he adopted plato. jesus calmed to be gods son and died ,useless long gone no longer dwelling. do both jesus lied approximately being useless or any person had the energy to resurrect god himself..this might be not likely. the phrase archangel says all of it advert Jesus is peculiarly the angels . and for the duration of the Resurrection Jesus calls out with an archangels voice. to not point out the entire prophesies in daniel approximately michael which are repeated in revelations however bringing up jesus now doing those matters. the bible additionally says while jesus went to heaven he used to be given a brand new identify. as god is almost always exchanging peoples names while they've new assignments. like jacob , abraham, and saul who grew to be paul. so it might make LOGIC Jesus is michael in his pre human sort. if you're a massive Trinity believer you could notice the catholic church who started this instructing good over two hundred years after jesus dying state of their Encyclopædia that the Trinity perception isn't a bible instructing
2016-09-05 14:22:40
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answer #5
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answered by ? 4
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The Jehovah's Witnesses, again, totally screw this up. First, they insult Jesus by turning Him into a created thing, an angel. Next, they assign Him a position that actually is one of the lower ranking angels. I read a book on angels once and it goes something like this: in ranking angels from the highest level to the lowest, there is cherub, seriphim (I think I have the order right), principle, power, dominion, and few others inbetween, THEN comes the archangel and finally the guardian angel. It's been a while since I read that book but if my memory serves me correct, the archangel is actually second to lowest. This is all provided that if Jesus WAS an angel, as the JW's say, He wouldn't have been an archangel because they are one of the lowest ranking ones. However, Jesus was NEVER an angel. Jesus is God, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity.
Remember the opening verses of the gospel of John? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God."
Jesus is God, so says the bible. Not an angel, but GOD.
check out this website for more info on the JW's: www.catholicxjw.com.
God bless and take care.
2007-06-13 01:54:19
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answer #6
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answered by Danny H 6
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Yes.
Jesus is an Angel.
Justin Martyr, 175 years before the Nicene creed.
"There is, and that there is said to be, another God and Lord subject to the Maker of all things who is also called an Angel, because He announces to men whatsoever the Maker of all things, above whom there is no other God, wishes to announce to them.... I shall endeavor to persuade you, that He who is said to have appeared to Abraham, and to Jacob, and to Moses, and who is called God, is distinct from Him who made all things, I mean numerically, not in will. (Dialogue with Trypho, 56).
Justin speaks of the divine Logos as "another God" beside the Father, qualified by the gloss: ‘other, I mean, in number, not in will’. Justin actually finds fault with the view of hellenized Jews who held that the divine Logos is no more distinct from God than sunlight is from the sun and suggested, instead, that the Logos is more like a torch lit from another.
Rev 21:23 - "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."
2007-06-13 04:07:22
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answer #7
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answered by keiichi 6
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Did you know that the medical profession at one time rejected "germ theory"?
Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended that they are infallible or inspired. For more than a century, Jehovah's Witnesses have always presented their suppositions as the result of sincere bible research, rather than as certain and unfailing dogma.
Interestingly, however, even those Christians who did enjoy direct communication from heaven at times came to wrong conclusions; these wrong conclusions were even communicated "out among the brothers"!
For example, the apostle Peter enjoyed remarkable privileges in the early congregation, but it seems that he was the source of an incorrect teaching about the apostle John that was not formally corrected until several DECADES had passed, and John himself finally wrote his gospel about 98 C.E.
(John 21:21-23) Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what will this man do [that is, the apostle John]?” Jesus said to him: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you? You continue following me.” In consequence, this saying went out among the brothers, that [the apostle John] 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?”
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/e/19990715/article_02.htm
2007-06-13 10:29:46
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answer #8
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answered by achtung_heiss 7
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Yes, Anna, as a matter of fact I did know they had changed their beliefs about Jesus and Michael the Archangel, but thank you for sharing that information with us. Not that this evidence is likely to influence them (as shown by those JW's who refuse to pay heed to what their organisation said in the past). They are convinced that the Governing Body is the "faithful and discrete slave" who dispenses God's divine revelations to "the other sheep" (those who don't get to go to heaven). To disagree with the morsels of "truth" given to them would be to invite trouble.
They claim "the light is becoming ever brighter" the closer we get to "the end of this wicked system of things". I don't know about the light getting brighter - seems to me it's being switched on and off at their convenience.
2007-06-13 06:03:48
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Anna, I explain you already, Michael is the great prince, the first of the sons of God, the principal servant of God, the prinicipal messenger of God the one that destroy Satan, and the most powerful being after God almighty.
Jesus is the prince of Isaiah 9:6, the servant of Isaiah 42:1 the firstson of Colossians 1:15 , the seed of genesis 3:15 that will destroy Satan, the one with the voice of Archangel (1 Thess. 4:16) the angel or messenger of covenant of Malachi 3:1-3 and he said that God almighty is higher than him (John 14:28). The powerful angel of Revelation 10:1.
Joshua 5:13-15 And it came about when Joshua happened to be by Jer´i·cho that he proceeded to raise his eyes and look, and there there was a man standing in front of him with his drawn sword in his hand. So Joshua walked up to him and said to him: “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 To this he said: “No, but I—as prince of the army of Jehovah I have now come.” With that Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worship himself and said to him: “What is my lord saying to his servant?” 15 In turn the prince of the army of Jehovah said to Joshua: “Draw your sandals from off your feet, because the place on which you are standing is holy.” At once Joshua did so.
You see how Joshua worship the archangel or chief angel Michael.
By the way we used to celebrate Christmas also but as soon as we learnt that is a false date we stopped if you didn´t know it.
do You want me to send you the several verses that support that?
2007-06-12 13:31:48
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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