the Omega, the beginning and the end, you believe that is speaking about Jehovah God , right?..If this is the case then how to you explain Rev. 1:17-18..which says "When I saw him, I fell at his feet, as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. (18) I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! I hold the keys of death and Hades." If you believe that the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end is speaking of God..How do you explain this scripture , unless Jesus is God..as God has never died. Right?
2007-06-26 01:31:20 · 8 answers · asked by Lisa 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In my Bible , and most everyone else's , Rev. 22: 12-13..Has this as Jesus speaking when he says' "Behold, I am coming soon! and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End". I am sure the Jehovah's Witnesses will say that Jesus is not saying this..But, I think God would not have allowed so many of mankinds Bibles that represent him, show this as Jesus speaking..
2007-06-26 02:14:38 · update #1
Just sat through a class on JW. I'm a Christian. JW do not believe that Jesus is God, but that he is A God, not The God. They apparently believe that He was recreated as Michael the Archangel. They don't believe in resurrection. I've learned that over 1400 changes have been made to the Bible to create their Bible. While their scripture may have similar words, their wording doesn't mean the same to us as it does to them. Interesting class.
2007-06-26 01:48:29 · answer #1 · answered by LadyG 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
In regards to Lady G's comment...I don't know what class you went to....Jehovah's Witnesses most certainly believe in the resurrection. That is the only hope for those who have died.
John 5: 28 & 29 "Do not marvel at this, the hour is coming when all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.." If you look at any of our literature, it all mentioned the hope of the resurrection.
Many have said that the New World Translation was translated with bias. However, what we feel the bible teaches was based on the King James and other translations.
The New World Translation was not completed until 1961.
For an outsiders view of the New World Translation see "Truth in Translation" by Jason David BeDahn. He reviews nine different translations of the Greek Scriptures or New Testament.
2007-06-26 06:40:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The title “the Alpha and the Omega” carries the same thought as “the first and the last” and “the beginning and the end” when these terms are used with reference to Jehovah. Before him there was no Almighty God, and there will be none after him. He will bring to a successful conclusion the issue over Godship, forever vindicated as the one and only Almighty God.—Compare Isa 44:6.
It is true that when the angel speaks for Christ, at Revelation 1:17 (NW), he states: “I am the First and the Last.” But a check of the context shows this “First and Last” was with definite limitations, was relative to just the matter of Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection, as verse 18 shows. Christ was the first one raised in the first resurrection, and the last one that will be raised directly by Jehovah God.
When “First and Last” is again applied to Christ Jesus, at Revelation 2:8, note that again it is with respect to death and resurrection. But when it speaks thus of Jehovah no limitation is set on the meaning.
Jesus is not God. He's God's Son. (John10:36)
2007-06-26 01:37:56 · answer #3 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
All three times the title "Alpha and Omega" is used in Revelation, Almighty God Jehovah is the 'speaker'; the oldest Greek manuscripts, such as Alexandrine, Sinaitic, and Codex Ephraemi rescriptus, show that the KJV's use of the term at Revelation 1:11 is spurious.
While the title "first and last" may seem similar, this latter title is not restricted to Jehovah. Jesus is the 'speaker' of Rev 1:18, and Jesus (not Jehovah) is the one who "was dead".
While trinitarians sometimes try to use these titles to argue that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are the same person, these trinitarians perhaps ignore the basic facts about the bible book of Revelation. Here is how this bible book is introduced, from multiple translations:
Revelation 1:1 (also compare John 12:49)
NWT: A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him
NASB: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him
GWT: This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to him
KJV: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him
ASV: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
BBE: The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him
DBY: Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him
ERV: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
WEY: The revelation given by Jesus Christ, which God granted Him
WBS: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him
WEB: This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him
YLT: A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_06.htm
2007-06-26 06:51:25 · answer #4 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible uses the title King for many people, including anointed resurrected Christians. (Rev 5:10 and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”)
Are we to conclude every king must be Jehovah?
The bible calls many saviors, are we to conclude they must be Jehovah also?
Similar titles do not make people the same or equal to Jehovah.
Hab 1:12 tells us God cannot die.
Therefore Rev 1:17-18 Can not be referring to God.
Notice Rev 1:1 God gave the Revelation to who? Jesus.
Notice Rev 1:6 John himself says the God and Father of Jesus.
John didn't say Jesus is God, but God's Son.
Instead of picking words out of context (see LineDancer) read and apply the entire bible.
As to the girl who studyed J.W.'s in her church, I would recommend studying
With Jehovah's Witnesses.
Why would you trust a Pharisee if you wanted to know about Jesus?
As to our bible:
New Testament:
While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.
“Here at last is a comprehensive comparison of nine major translations of the Bible:
King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Amplified Bible, Today's English Version (Good News Bible), Living Bible, and the New World Translation.
The book provides a general introduction to the history and methods of Bible translation, and gives background on each of these versions. Then it compares them on key passages of the New Testament to determine their accuracy and identify their bias. Passages looked at include:
John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1
Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University
2007-06-26 02:00:38 · answer #5 · answered by TeeM 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a Jehovah's Witnesses.
Just a question?
Where in that passage does Jesus say he's "the Alpha and Omega"?
I see "the First and the Last."
(The first born and the last sacrifice.)
But no "the beginning and the end".
If this for some trinity thing than please, explain this...
A REVELATION
1 A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place.
Who gave Jesus a revelation?
Be well.
2007-06-26 02:00:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
"The First and the Last" is a title given to Jesus describing his unique resurrection. He is not claiming to be equal to Jehovah. He was the first human to be resurrected to immortal spirit life (Colossians 1:18) and he was "the Last" to be resurrected personally by Jehovah. For all the other people who will be resurrected, they will be resurrected by Jesus since he is "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25)
Jesus is now immortal, like his Father, he will never die again.
2007-06-26 02:03:24 · answer #7 · answered by izofblue37 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rev 12 - Every bible shows that Jesus father gave the Revelation about Jesus to his Angel who then passed it on to God's servant John.
V.6 - And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the LORD GOD of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
V.13 - Announces whose Angel is speaking.
Is it Jehovah's Angel or is it Jesus angel who is mentioned in V.16??
Looking at Rev 1:1 answers the question. It is Jehovah's Angel.
(KJV) Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:
(HNV) Rev 1:1 This is the Revelation of Yeshua the Messiah, WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which HE SENT AND MADE KNOWN BY HIS ANGEL TO HIS SERVANT,
The Revelation comes from Jehovah (via Angel) but the Revelation is about Jesus.
2007-06-26 04:59:37 · answer #8 · answered by keiichi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋