"A very fair and unbiased report from the BBC featured on a popular prime time TV show."A look at a meeting conducted inside one Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Why was Jehovah God's name removed from the Bible?
In Hebrew, God's name appears nearly 7,000 times as four consonants יהוה. These consonants are transliterated YHWH and are known as the Tetragrammaton. In English, the common rendering of that name is “Jehovah” and has been recognized for centuries.
At some point a superstitious idea arose among the Jews that it was wrong even to pronounce the divine name. Evidently, later copyists kept to following the tradition of eliminating the distinctive name of God by replacing it with Ky´ri·os and The·os´ ("LORD" and "GOD"). Unfortunately, because of the superstitions and traditions (things which Jesus condemned (Mt. 15:1-9) concerning the Divine Name, God's name was generally removed from the texts altogether.
Jesus even noted that God's name is to be regarded as Holy (or "Hallowed") and this surely wouldn't mean for it to be withheld from usage or omitted from His Word the Bible. (Mt. 6:9)
Note what The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol. 2, Zondervan, 1986 says on page 649:
"Of primary significance is the name of Yahweh [or Jehovah] which he himself made known in his revelation (Gen. 17:1; Exod. 3:14 [and 3:15]; 6:2...). One of the most fundamental and essential features of the biblical revelation is the fact that God is not without a name: he has a personal name [Jehovah or Yahweh], by which he can, and is to be, invoked."
For more, see:
God's Name
Jehovah - Importance of Name
Search For Bible Truths - ARCHIVE
Scriptures Index
Search For Bible Truths - Search Guide
At some point a superstitious idea arose among the Jews that it was wrong even to pronounce the divine name. Evidently, later copyists kept to following the tradition of eliminating the distinctive name of God by replacing it with Ky´ri·os and The·os´ ("LORD" and "GOD"). Unfortunately, because of the superstitions and traditions (things which Jesus condemned (Mt. 15:1-9) concerning the Divine Name, God's name was generally removed from the texts altogether.
Jesus even noted that God's name is to be regarded as Holy (or "Hallowed") and this surely wouldn't mean for it to be withheld from usage or omitted from His Word the Bible. (Mt. 6:9)
Note what The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol. 2, Zondervan, 1986 says on page 649:
"Of primary significance is the name of Yahweh [or Jehovah] which he himself made known in his revelation (Gen. 17:1; Exod. 3:14 [and 3:15]; 6:2...). One of the most fundamental and essential features of the biblical revelation is the fact that God is not without a name: he has a personal name [Jehovah or Yahweh], by which he can, and is to be, invoked."
For more, see:
God's Name
Jehovah - Importance of Name
Search For Bible Truths - ARCHIVE
Scriptures Index
Search For Bible Truths - Search Guide
What are some practical suggestions for those who have lost a loved one in death?
It is comforting to know that those who have passed away are in no pain (Eccl. 9:5) and that the Bible holds out a hope of resurrection. (John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15)
(For more, see: What Happens After You Die?)
Even so, it is natural to grieve the loss of a loved one because we are still human with normal feelings. (1 Thess. 4:13, 14) Even Jesus wept over the death of his friend Lazarus. (John 11:30-38)
The following is a link to some practical suggestions that hopefully will help from the 'When Someone You Love Dies' Brochure:
When Someone You Love Dies - Some Practical Suggestions
Full Brochure
Search For Bible Truths - ARCHIVE
Scriptures Index
Search For Bible Truths - Search Guide
(For more, see: What Happens After You Die?)
Even so, it is natural to grieve the loss of a loved one because we are still human with normal feelings. (1 Thess. 4:13, 14) Even Jesus wept over the death of his friend Lazarus. (John 11:30-38)
The following is a link to some practical suggestions that hopefully will help from the 'When Someone You Love Dies' Brochure:
When Someone You Love Dies - Some Practical Suggestions
Full Brochure
Search For Bible Truths - ARCHIVE
Scriptures Index
Search For Bible Truths - Search Guide
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Are We Living in the Last Days?
Jesus' disciples asked Jesus when "the conclusion of the system of things" would take place. (Mt. 24:3)
Jesus said: “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:3, 36)
BUT, Jesus did speak of future signs that would mark his presence and the last days:
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs.” (Luke 21:10, 11)
No one doubts that we are living in unprecedented times. Within one lifetime, one has seen horse-drawn carriages to putting men on the moon. Not one, but two World Wars have been fought and whether it is due to better technology and communications delivering more news from remote locations and/or the fact that there are more people to feel the effects - there has been an increase in reported earthquake activity.
One sign in particular that seems to be the key identifier for this specific time period:
“This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
Jehovah's Witnesses' message is about this kingdom. They are currently preaching about this kingdom in 236 lands:
Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Report (Fast Facts-Worldwide; WBTS)
...and their magazines, the Watchtower and Awake are the 1st & 2nd most widely distributed magazines in the world:
Watchtower and Awake are the most widely distributed magazines in the world (SFBT)
For more, see:
LAST DAYS (WOL; it-2 pp. 205-207)
Are We Living in “the Last Days”? (WOL; bh chap. 9 pp. 86-95 - Bible Teach (bh))
Are We Really Living in “the Last Days”? (WOL; w06 9/15 pp. 4-7)
The Last Days - When? (WOL; g 4/08 pp. 4-7)
More "Last Days" WOL search results
Jesus said: “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:3, 36)
BUT, Jesus did speak of future signs that would mark his presence and the last days:
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs.” (Luke 21:10, 11)
No one doubts that we are living in unprecedented times. Within one lifetime, one has seen horse-drawn carriages to putting men on the moon. Not one, but two World Wars have been fought and whether it is due to better technology and communications delivering more news from remote locations and/or the fact that there are more people to feel the effects - there has been an increase in reported earthquake activity.
One sign in particular that seems to be the key identifier for this specific time period:
“This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
Jehovah's Witnesses' message is about this kingdom. They are currently preaching about this kingdom in 236 lands:
Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Report (Fast Facts-Worldwide; WBTS)
...and their magazines, the Watchtower and Awake are the 1st & 2nd most widely distributed magazines in the world:
Watchtower and Awake are the most widely distributed magazines in the world (SFBT)
For more, see:
LAST DAYS (WOL; it-2 pp. 205-207)
Are We Living in “the Last Days”? (WOL; bh chap. 9 pp. 86-95 - Bible Teach (bh))
Are We Really Living in “the Last Days”? (WOL; w06 9/15 pp. 4-7)
The Last Days - When? (WOL; g 4/08 pp. 4-7)
More "Last Days" WOL search results
Are zodiac signs wrong?
The Bible showed that faithful Jews did not practice astrology - and for a good reason. God had explicitly warned them:
"There should not be found in you . . . anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead. For everybody doing these things is something detestable to God." - Deuteronomy 18:10-12
The Bible showed that God's servants took a firm stand against astrology. For example, faithful King Josiah "put out of business . . . those making sacrificial smoke to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations of the zodiac." Josiah's action was said to be "right in God's eyes," and God blessed him for it. (2 Kings 22:2; 23:5)
For more, see
Astrology
Should the Zodiac Influence Your Life?
Is Astrology the Key to Your Future?
Does Astrology really work?
Search For Bible Truths - ARCHIVE
Scriptures Index
Search For Bible Truths - Search Guide
"There should not be found in you . . . anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead. For everybody doing these things is something detestable to God." - Deuteronomy 18:10-12
The Bible showed that God's servants took a firm stand against astrology. For example, faithful King Josiah "put out of business . . . those making sacrificial smoke to Baal, to the sun and to the moon and to the constellations of the zodiac." Josiah's action was said to be "right in God's eyes," and God blessed him for it. (2 Kings 22:2; 23:5)
For more, see
Astrology
Should the Zodiac Influence Your Life?
Is Astrology the Key to Your Future?
Does Astrology really work?
Search For Bible Truths - ARCHIVE
Scriptures Index
Search For Bible Truths - Search Guide
Monday, February 1, 2010
How important is it for true Christians to have unity among themselves?
Paul, writing to the Asia Minor Christians (also composed of both Jewish and ex-pagan Christians), stressed the unity required of ALL Christians regardless of culture, circumstances, hardships, etc.:
"There is one body and one Spirit ... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ..." (Eph. 4:4-6) And, the body of Christ is to be "built up until we all reach unity in the faith ... attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Eph 4:12,13). "You must no longer live as the gentiles do ..." - Eph. 4:17 NIV.
Proper authority in government (whether truly just, good or bad) is to be obeyed by Christians in all things that do not clearly violate God's commandments. (Rom. 13:1) That means that true Christians do not become involved in movements to change (or even criticize or protest) that government.
If this behavior is required for Christians in their relationship with worldly leaders, then HOW MUCH MORE must we obey the decisions of men appointed by God to be our spiritual leaders on earth. Even when we disagree with some of them (as long as they do not clearly ask us to break God's ESSENTIAL commands) we are to be humble and obedient so that the word of God may not be spoken of abusively (as it so clearly is because of the lack of obedience to proper authority by Christendom).
It's so much better to be accused of "slavish conformity" by the members of Christendom than to be so plainly divided into bickering, disobedient parties and sects as are even individual churches in Christendom. Even the strongest of them exists divided...certainly not "one body".
The unity of Christians cannot be overemphasized. And a footnote for John 17:22 says:
"Again the Lord emphasized the importance of unity among his followers, and again the standard is the unity of the Father and the Son." - Zondervan, 1985.
There are other important scriptural teachings which this organization lives by that other organizations either completely ignore or give only lip-service to. But when considering only the few essentials even, it becomes obvious that there is either only one organization today being guided by Jehovah's spirit or there is none.
As Peter said when even Jesus taught some things that stumbled his followers who didn't completely understand,
"Who shall we go to? You have the MESSAGE OF ETERNAL LIFE" - John 6:68 The Jerusalem Bible.
For much more, see:
Organization and Obedience
United by LOVE OF GOD
People Worldwide Are Being United—How?
Search For Bible Truths - ARCHIVE
Scriptures Index
Search For Bible Truths - Search Guide
"There is one body and one Spirit ... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ..." (Eph. 4:4-6) And, the body of Christ is to be "built up until we all reach unity in the faith ... attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Eph 4:12,13). "You must no longer live as the gentiles do ..." - Eph. 4:17 NIV.
Proper authority in government (whether truly just, good or bad) is to be obeyed by Christians in all things that do not clearly violate God's commandments. (Rom. 13:1) That means that true Christians do not become involved in movements to change (or even criticize or protest) that government.
If this behavior is required for Christians in their relationship with worldly leaders, then HOW MUCH MORE must we obey the decisions of men appointed by God to be our spiritual leaders on earth. Even when we disagree with some of them (as long as they do not clearly ask us to break God's ESSENTIAL commands) we are to be humble and obedient so that the word of God may not be spoken of abusively (as it so clearly is because of the lack of obedience to proper authority by Christendom).
It's so much better to be accused of "slavish conformity" by the members of Christendom than to be so plainly divided into bickering, disobedient parties and sects as are even individual churches in Christendom. Even the strongest of them exists divided...certainly not "one body".
The unity of Christians cannot be overemphasized. And a footnote for John 17:22 says:
"Again the Lord emphasized the importance of unity among his followers, and again the standard is the unity of the Father and the Son." - Zondervan, 1985.
There are other important scriptural teachings which this organization lives by that other organizations either completely ignore or give only lip-service to. But when considering only the few essentials even, it becomes obvious that there is either only one organization today being guided by Jehovah's spirit or there is none.
As Peter said when even Jesus taught some things that stumbled his followers who didn't completely understand,
"Who shall we go to? You have the MESSAGE OF ETERNAL LIFE" - John 6:68 The Jerusalem Bible.
For much more, see:
Organization and Obedience
United by LOVE OF GOD
People Worldwide Are Being United—How?
Search For Bible Truths - ARCHIVE
Scriptures Index
Search For Bible Truths - Search Guide
How are we supposed to move forward in life when the Bible says, "You must not covet"?
How are we supposed to move forward in life when the Bible says, "You must not covet"?
To understand, we first must know what it means to covet.
To covet has been defined as “to long inordinately for something WHICH BELONGS TO ANOTHER; as to covet a neighbor’s piece of property because of its fine view.”
There are many things that it is lawful for you to desire to possess, such as a mate, an automobile, or a home. It is also fine to seek to improve or to seek advancement, as long as you are not forcing someone else out of his position:
"If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work." - 1 Tim. 3:1
But as for desiring things that belong to another, that is what the Bible warns against.
Jesus Christ even warned: “Guard against every sort of covetousness.” - Luke 12:15.
For Much More, See:
COVETOUSNESS - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)
Greed (Insight-1 pp. 1005-1006; Watchtower Online Library)
Covetousness (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)
To understand, we first must know what it means to covet.
To covet has been defined as “to long inordinately for something WHICH BELONGS TO ANOTHER; as to covet a neighbor’s piece of property because of its fine view.”
There are many things that it is lawful for you to desire to possess, such as a mate, an automobile, or a home. It is also fine to seek to improve or to seek advancement, as long as you are not forcing someone else out of his position:
"If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer, he is desirous of a fine work." - 1 Tim. 3:1
But as for desiring things that belong to another, that is what the Bible warns against.
Jesus Christ even warned: “Guard against every sort of covetousness.” - Luke 12:15.
For Much More, See:
COVETOUSNESS - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)
Greed (Insight-1 pp. 1005-1006; Watchtower Online Library)
Covetousness (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)
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