they are getting baptized into an organization,your trapped like a rat in a cage,thats how they keep you in,you are saved by grace, spirit ,If the spirit of a man has no existence apart from the body, why does Stephen just before his death in Acts 7:59, pray to Jesus to "receive my spirit"? How could Jesus, who was in heaven, receive Stephen's spirit if a man's spirit ceases to exist when the body dies and if no one could enter heaven until the year 1914? Similarly, if the soul ceases to exist after the death of the body, why does Paul say that he would rather be “absent from the body” so he could go make his “home with the Lord” (2Cor 5:8), and why would he say that he would rather depart from this life so that he could go be with Christ (Phil 1:23)? How could Paul be “with Christ” and make his “home with the Lord” if no one could enter heaven until 1914?
2007-10-02 05:04:51 · 18 answers · asked by The Way 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jehovah's Witnesses are certainly not blind to the plain truths of the bible, and Jehovah's Witnesses certainly DO believe that both Stephen and Paul have been resurrected to heaven.
Ironically, the questioner seems "blind" to the fact that neither Stephen nor Paul ever set a deadline for their personal heavenly resurrections. Would anything spoken or written by those men of faith be contradicted if their resurrection was not immediate? No. The bible repeatedly teaches that nearly every human who dies must "sleep" in death until his resurrection.
(John 5:26-29) The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out
(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
So what does the bible teach about "the soul"?
A "soul" is a life, with no implication regarding some immortal otherwordly entity. Each deceased life is in Jehovah God's remembrance (with the potential for future resurrection), but the dead do not exist anywhere but memories until and unless the life is resurrected.
(Ezekiel 18:4) The soul that is sinning - it itself will die.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all
(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]
(Genesis 2:17) But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.”
(Genesis 17:14) And an uncircumcised male who will not get the flesh of his foreskin circumcised, even that soul must be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
(Judges 16:30) And Samson proceeded to say: “Let my soul die with the Philistines.” Then he bent himself with power, and the house went falling upon the axis lords and upon all the people that were in it, so that the dead that he put to death in his own death came to be more than those he had put to death during his lifetime.
(Job 33:22) And his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those inflicting death.
(Psalm 78:50) He did not hold back their soul from death itself; And their life he handed over even to the pestilence.
(Isaiah 53:12) he poured out his soul to the very death
(Acts 3:23) Indeed, any soul that does not listen to that Prophet will be completely destroyed from among the people.’
(Revelation 16:3) And the second one poured out his bowl into the sea. And it became blood as of a dead man, and every living soul died, yes, the things in the sea.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970515/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050501/article_02.htm
2007-10-02 10:41:59 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 9⤊ 4⤋
possibly no longer. they might by no ability make any variety of connection between themselves and Mormons as they suspect they are the sole authentic faith and everybody else is fake. The Watchtower spends a great deal of time turning out to be man made divides between JWs and others to dodge in basic terms those variety of non-public, psychological comparisons. that is all element of the loaded language, and concept combating words that are hammered into Jehovah's Witnesses heads. the two way, I doubt you will get any solutions that provide you any perception. Jehovah's Witnesses can't argue against the Mormons because of the fact the Mormons use extraordinarily much the desirable comparable justifications that JWs do. for this reason they can't disprove the Mormons devoid of disproving themselves. have been you a JW until eventually now? I had by no ability gotten that effect yet i must be incorrect. would not rely if yuo have been, in basic terms curious. There are a great deal of "opposers" on right here that have been by no ability JWs. They, such as you, in basic terms persist with the bible's suggestion to coach all issues and exhibit the fake teachings of fake religions. it particularly is something Athiests (and oddly Jehovah's Witnesses) don't comprehend. Athiests ebcaue they do no longer have confidence the bible, for this reason would not comprehend the ought to persist with its regulations. Jehovah's Witnesses declare it particularly is what they are doing (exposing fake techings) yet deny that others would experience they have the comparable duty. for this reason the "we are preaching, everybody else is persecuting us" mentality Jehovah's Witnesses. save doing what you're doing. It takes each sort in this "conflict". some are reached by ability of subtlety, some are reached by ability of reason, others are reached by ability of countless sharp (metaphorical) cracks to the cranium. (i became interior the 0.33 team!)
2016-10-05 23:22:33 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is the origin of the immortal soul?
"The concept of immortality is a product of Greek thinking, whereas the hope of the resurrection belongs to the Jewish thought...Following Alexander's conquests Judaism gradually absorbed Greek concepts." Dictionnaire Encyclopedique de la Bible (Valence, France; 1935) edited by Alexandre Westphal, Vol. 2, p. 557
"Immortality of the soul is a Greek notion formed in ancient mystery cults and elaborated by the philosopher Plato."
Presbyterian Life, May 1, 1970, p. 35
"Do we believe that there is such a thing as death?...Is it not the separation of soul and body? And to be dead is the completion of this; when the soul exists in herself, and is released from the body and the body is released from the soul, what is this but death?..And does the soul admit to death? No. Then the soul is immortal? Yes." Plato's "Phaedo" Secs. 64, 105, as published in Great Books of the Western World (1952), edited by R.M. Hutchins, Vol. 7 pp 223,245, 246
"The problem of immortality, we have seen, engaged the serious attention of the Babylonian theologians...Neither
the people nor the leaders of religious thought ever faced the possibility of the total annihilation of what once was called into existence. Death was a passage to another kind of life." The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria (Boston, 1898), M. Jastrow, Jr., p. 556
"The belief that the soul continues its existence after the dissolution of the body is a matter of philosophical or theological speculation rather than of simple faith, and is accordingly nowhere expressly taught in the Holy Spiritures."
The Jewish Encyclopedia (1910), Vol. VI, p. 564
What does the bible say?
Ezek 18:4 "Look! All the souls - to me they belong. As the soul of the father likewise the soul of the son - to me they belong. The soul that is sinning - it itself will die."
Ecc. 9: 5 "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all."
Ps 146: 4 "His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish."
Isaiah 53: 12 "He poured out his soul to the very death."
Isaiah 26: 14 "They are dead; they will not live. Impotent in death, they will not rise up."
Eccl. 3: 19 "There is an eventuality as respects the sons of mankind and an eventuality as respects the beast, and they have the same eventuality. As the ones dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit."
Didn't the earily Christian believe in the resurrection?
John 11: 23 & 24 "Jesus said to her: "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him: "I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day."
1 Thess 4: 13 "We do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who are sleeping in death; that you may not sorrow just as the rest also do who have no hope."
Acts 24: 15 "and I have hope toward God, which hope these men themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous."
What did Stephen mean? Just as Jesus said at Luke 23:46 "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit." We know that when his spirit went out, he was not on his way to heaven. Not until the third day when he was resurrected from the dead. Then it was more than 40 days before he ascended to heaven. What Jesus meant and also Stephen knew, was any prospect of living again rests only with God.
Paul as a follower of Jesus had a clear understanding of the condition of the dead and a understanding of the resurrection.
John 5: 28 & 29 "The hour is coming when all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out..."
If everyone is instantly taken to heaven or hell, who would be left in the memorial tombs for Jesus to resurrect? Either there is a resurrection, or we have a immortal soul with no need of resurrection. Jehovah's Witnesses base their beliefs on the bible.
2007-10-02 06:43:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 4⤋
My Brothers and Sisters have already answered your questions using the Bible so that's been covered. I just wanted to let you know that I am not blind. I was in spiritual darkness before I studied with Jehovah's Witnesses, and now my eyes are open to the truth. My Wife and I were baptized in Aug. 1996.
The truth is beautiful, so clear.
We know that the earth will be restored back to a Paradise as it was in the beginning in the Garden of Eden.
We know that most of our hope is to live on this earth forever and the scriptures are clear on that.
We know the truth about what happens when we die. We are unconscious waiting for a resurrection.
We know God's personal name Jehovah.
We have a close relationship with his Son Jesus Christ. We are taught to love our neighbor as our self, and that's not lip service. We show this love by preaching the good news of the Kingdom.
I encourage you to really pray about this and I'm sure your eyes will be opened to the truth to.
We have to be honest and humble.
2007-10-02 12:11:37 · answer #4 · answered by Jason W 4 · 10⤊ 4⤋
Once again, nice speech. As for the actual question you ask, I am blind because my eyes don't work well. Though I don't think I qualify is as legally blind. I have to wear rather strong glasses to see things beyond a total blur. Most likely the poor eyesight is do to genetics.
As for your rudeness, is that how you show a Godly spirit??
2007-10-02 23:04:40 · answer #5 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 7⤊ 3⤋
If you were sincere in wanting accurate answers to your questions you certainly wouldnt be posting them here.
The other point is Jehovahs Witnesses undertake a thorough study of the Bible and then go through an exhaustive series of questions to ensure that prior to dedicating their life to Jehovah God,they totally understand what is expected of them.
There is no such thing as 'trapped as a rat'.
The only rat I can smell is..........you!
2007-10-02 19:49:00 · answer #6 · answered by lillie 6 · 7⤊ 3⤋
It's not so much that but they are a bunch of hypcrites. They lie, slander, love being argumentative and abusive, gossip, participate in things like Judo and Kung Fu (when the society supposedly teaches against it), they make up stories on other witnesses who come forward with the truth about their hypocracy and ungodly conduct, and there is a quite a bit of racism within the organization.
When you speak out against them for their ungodly behavior and hypocracy, they get so fiercely angry and begin to gossip and slander you, yet you stand strong.
The Bible truths are one thing; they are true and correct, but a lot of "THEM" are sickening to deal with. Do these slanderous, embarrassing ones think they are honestly to receive everlasting life? There's one guy on here named JR who loves to slander witnesses who are being persecuted or who "COME OUT" with the tyranny that many of those bad JW's display. He's got a big mouth and thinks he knows it all. Not godly material at all.
And yes, many JW's are blinded; blinded by their own arrogance and refusal to behave---refusal to practice what they preach. I cannot believe they honestly think they have a place ANYWHERE in God's new kingdom. The Bible is true, but most of them ARE A COMPLETE SHAM.
Oh, and they use "we're all imperfect" too much. They abuse and overuse the lame "we're all imperfect" excuse all the time. They need to get some new material and stop making excuses for their hypocracy.
2007-10-03 07:36:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 6⤋
Ezekiel 18:4 in ANY Bible Translation says "The SOUL that is SINNING it Itself WILL Die" !
There Are OVER 100 Scriptures in ANY Bible Translation and in ANY LANGUAGE that says that the Soul CAN OR WILL Die ! ! ! AND (NOT ONE) Scripture ANYWHERE that says the Soul CANNOT Die !
You Mentioned Being Blind and what YOU NEED 2 Do is have an OPEN EYE when YOU Read these MANY Bible Scriptures ! ! !
2007-10-02 05:08:42 · answer #8 · answered by . 7 · 5⤊ 5⤋
Ps. 146:3, 4: "Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish."
Does that sound like someone living on after death?
Jesus made a similar request to God at Luke 23:46 just before he died: “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit." After saying that, the same verse says: "When he had said this, he expired." Did Jesus really die? Yes. And he stayed dead for parts of three days. After that, his Father brought him back to life. Gal. 1:1. Jesus' asked his Father to remember him and to restore him to life in the prophesied 3 days.
When Stephen asked Jesus to receive his spirit, he also made a request to be resurrected to life at God' due time. John 5:28, 29.
Incidentally, Stephen did not pray to Jesus in heaven. Stephen saw Jesus in vision and spoke to him directly. (Acts 7:56, 59) Bear in mind that simply speaking even to God does not in itself constitute a prayer. Adam and Eve spoke to God, offering excuses for their great sin, when He judged them following their sin in Eden. Their talking to him in that way was not a prayer. (Genesis 3:8-19) Hence, it would be incorrect to cite Stephen’s talking to Jesus as evidence that we actually should pray to him.
As it has already been said, when a person dies, "his spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish."
You say JW's are "trapped like a rat in a cage"? When there is something about another person's beliefs that may be different from yours, do you always express it in such an insulting manner? Is this how you get your point across to show that you disagree? You need to learn how to deal with people who don't share your beliefs.
2007-10-02 05:15:37 · answer #9 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 11⤊ 7⤋
Did you ask this question a few days ago?
We answered your question the first time, so why ask it a second time?
2007-10-02 14:01:13 · answer #10 · answered by VMO 4 · 6⤊ 4⤋