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Monday, December 27, 2010

Tattoos - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Tattoos - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Are tattoos for Christians today? (Search For Bible Truths)

Should I Get a Tattoo? (g03 9/22 pp. 25-27; Watchtower Online Library)

Listed references to tattoos from Watchtower publications/articles (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Wormwood - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Wormwood - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

What is Wormwood as read at Rev. 8:10,11? (Search For Bible Truths)

Not uncommon for the Bible to use stars in a figurative sense (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Wormwood and spiritual poisoning (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Friday, December 17, 2010

Beth - Sarim - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Beth Sarim - Criticism By Opposers of Jehovah's Witnesses is Overhyped, Outdated and Hypocritical (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

J. F. Rutherford and "Beth-Sarim" (Search For Bible Truths)

Russell's "Pyramid Chronology" & Rutherford's "Beth-Sarim" (Search For Bible Truths)

Beth-Sarim (Pastor Russell)

Is Remembering a Child's Adoption Day Equal to Celebrating a Birthday?

Unlike birthdays or other holidays or similar customs, there are no pagan origins or associations connected to adoptions. And unlike birthday celebrations, the Bible does not put adoption in a bad light.

In the Hebrew Scriptures adoption is not dealt with from the viewpoint of legal procedure, but the basic idea is set forth in several cases such as Abraham and his slave Eliezer (Gen. 15:2-4); Rachel and Leah and the children born to Jacob by their handmaids (Gen. 30:3-8, 12, 13, 24); and Pharaoh's daughter and Moses. (Ex. 2:5-10)

By prudently reflecting on the joyfulness of the event of adopting a child is similar to that of celebrating a wedding anniversary. Consider what the 10/15/98 Watchtower mentioned about wedding anniversaries:

"It thus would not be strange that a couple might on their wedding anniversary take time to reflect on the joyfulness of that event and on their resolve to work for success as a couple. Whether they focus on this happy occasion in private, just as a couple, or they have a few relatives or close friends with them would be for them to decide. The occasion should not become a mere excuse for a large social gathering. On this occasion Christians would want to be guided by the principles that apply every day of their lives. So whether one takes note of a wedding anniversary or not is a personal matter. —Romans 13:13, 14."

For more, see:

ADOPTION - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Blood / Blood Transfusions

Click on any of the following links to view:

Blood - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Blood Transfusions (Bible View) Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

BLOOD (Insight-1 pp. 344-346; Watchtower Online Library)

How Can Blood Save Your Life? (JW.ORG)

God's View of Blood - Index (God's View of Blood)

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Refuse Blood Transfusions? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Why Does God Regard Blood as so Important? (Search For Bible Truths)

What is the scriptural basis for the abstinence of blood and is it relevant for Christians today? (Search For Bible Truths)

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses "Abstain From Blood"? (Search For Bible Truths)

How important is it for Christians to "abstain from blood"? (Search For Bible Truths)

Was The Decree to "Abstain From Blood" Only a Temporary Requirement or Obligation to Christians? (Search For Bible Truths)

Could a Christian Have Any Grounds to Ignore The Prohibition on Blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Could God's Moral Principle on Blood be Set Aside in Times of Emergency? (Search For Bible Truths)

Were the commands concerning blood only meant for the Mosaic law? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is the Eating or Drinking of Blood Fundamentally Different From Accepting a Blood Transfusion? (Search For Bible Truths)

Should Christians Donate Blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is Refusal of Blood a Form of Suicide? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is Acts 15:29 only talking about the use of 'ceremonial blood' in pagan rituals? (Search For Bible Truths)

Does God's Moral Principle Concerning Blood Also Apply to Human Blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Should Christians eat red meat since it may contain a trace of blood? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is animal bone marrow acceptable to eat? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Why did the Israelites use blood in sacrifices? (Search For Bible Truths)

Blood as Medicine And The Role of Your Conscience (Search For Bible Truths)

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses allow the use of autologous blood (autotransfusion), such as by having their own blood stored and later put back into them? (Search For Bible Truths)

Are there any treatments other than blood transfusions for those who suffer from myelodysplastic syndrome? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

There are different types of treatment for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. (Myelodysplastic Syndromes Treatment; Natl. Cancer Institute)

Should Christians accept bone marrow transplants? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

What does it mean to take God's name "in vain"? (Ex. 20:7)


Ex. 20:7 in the ASV says:

"Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

Note how other translations render the same verse:

"Do not use my name for evil purposes..." (Good News Translation)

"Never use the name of the LORD your God carelessly..." (God's Word Translation)

""You are not to use lightly the name..." (Complete Jewish Bible)

"You are not to make use of the name...for an evil purpose..." (Bible in Basic English)

“You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way..." (NWT)
------------------------------------------------

The context of this Scripture additionally aids to understanding the intended meaning.

God’s name Jehovah was made known in a special way when he delivered the Israelites from Egypt as his chosen nation. He put His name on that people and gave them His law: “And now if you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special property out of all other peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me. And you yourselves will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Ex. 19:5, 6) The Israelites agreed to obey and be Jehovah’s special property with his name on them. They were warned: “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way.” (Ex. 20:7) NWT

So when this third one of the Ten Commandments says not to take God’s name in vain or in a worthless way, it means much more than not using his name in profanity. It means that those who agree to be God’s people bear his name and must obey the laws and commands and principles his name stands for; otherwise they are taking his name in a worthless way and will not go unpunished.

This law forbids the misuse of God’s name. But it does not forbid the respectful use of his name.
 
There is nothing in the Scriptures that says that this name should not be used. God said not to take His name “in vain,” or “in a worthless way.” But that does not mean that we should not use the name. Rather, it means that servants of Jehovah should not do things that discredit his name. God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

A significant example of taking God’s name in a worthless way is that of the mighty Egyptian Pharaoh. Sneeringly he replied to Moses and Aaron, who appeared before him in God’s name: “Who is Jehovah, so that I should obey his voice . . . ? I do not know Jehovah at all.” His words and actions declared his utter disrespect for Jehovah God and his glorious name. (Ex. 5:2)

For more, see:

God's Name - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

“You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way.” (Ex 20:7) (Insight-2 pp. 1085-1087; Watchtower Online Library)

The Third Commandment (g04 1/22 pp. 5-9; Watchtower Online Library)
The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.” Hence, God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

“To avoid the risk of taking God’s name (YHWH) in vain, devout Jews began to substitute the word ʼǎdōnā(y) for the proper name itself." (Rbi8 pp. 1561-1562 1A The Divine Name in the Hebrew Scriptures; Watchtower Online Library)

What does it mean to "take the lord's name in vain"? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

How Important is God's Name? (Search For Bible Truths)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Fossils - Links to Information

(Also see the "Dinosaurs" Category.)

Click on any of the following links to view:

Fossils - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Fossils (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Does Science Contradict the Genesis Account? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is the Earth really only 10,000 years old? (Search For Bible Truths)

Fasting - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

FASTING - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Fasting—Does It Draw You Closer to God? (w09 4/1 pp. 27-29; Watchtower Online Library)

Is Fasting for Christians? (Search For Bible Truths)

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Savior - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Savior - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Isa. 43:11 / 2 Pet. 3:18 Jehovah only Savior; Jesus Savior (Examining the Trinity)

Title Confusion Trick "Saviour" (Is. 43:11) (Examining the Trinity)

A short exchange on "savior" and Isaiah 43:11 (IN Defense of the NWT)

Beard - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

BEARD - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

BEARD (Insight-1 pp. 266-267; Watchtower Online Library)

Should Christian Men Today Wear Beards? (Search For Bible Truths)

Jehovah's Witnesses - Are Wearing Beards Discouraged? (Defending Jehovah's Witnesses)

"Would it be proper for Christian men to wear a neatly trimed beard? We all know in biblical times Christian men had them including Jesus." (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Appearance (Physical) (Search For Bible Truths)

Should Christian Men Today Wear Beards?

During Jesus' time on earth it was customary to wear beards. Christians came first from a Jewish background, and Jewish men wore beards. Beards were a sign of maturity, wisdom, and piety.

Today Christian ministers, like the early Christians, are concerned with neatness and cleanness, but they strive to dress inconspicuously, so that their appearance does not in any way detract from the dignity or the effectiveness of the message they bear. (2 Cor. 6:3, 4) In recent years in many lands a beard or long hair on a man attracts immediate notice and may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society. God’s ministers want to avoid making any impression that would take attention away from their ministry or hinder anyone from listening to the truth. They know that people are watching true Christians very critically and that to a great extent they judge the entire congregation and the good news by the minister’s appearance as a representative of the congregation.

Also see:

Jehovah's Witnesses - Are Wearing Beards Discouraged? (Defending Jehovah's Witnesses)

"Would it be proper for Christian men to wear a neatly trimed beard? We all know in biblical times Christian men had them including Jesus." (JWQ&A)

Appearance (Physical) (SFBT)

Born Again - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

BORN AGAIN - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

BORN AGAIN - What Does It Mean? (w09 4/1 pp. 1-2; Watchtower Online Library)

Born Again (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Canaan - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

CANAAN (Land) - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

CANAAN (Son of Ham) - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

CANAAN (Insight-1 pp. 399-406; Watchtower Online Library)

Why Canaan was punished? (Genesis 9:20-27) (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Torment / Ba·sa·ni´zo

(Also see TORMENT - Links to Information; INDEX; Watchtower Online Library.)

The Greek word ba·sa·ni´zo (and related terms) occurs over 20 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures. It basically meant “test by the proving stone [ba´sa·nos]” and, by extension, “examine or question by applying torture.” Lexicographers point out that in the Christian Greek Scriptures it is used with the sense of ‘vexing with grievous pains; being harassed, distressed.’—Mt 8:29; Lu 8:28; Re 12:2.

The Bible used ba·sa·ni´zo in a number of instances. For example, a manservant afflicted with paralysis was “terribly tormented” (NW) or “racked with pain” (NE) by it. (Mt 8:6; compare 4:24.) Also, Lot “used to torment his soul” (Ro) or “was vexed” (Mo, RS) by the lawless deeds of the people of Sodom. (2Pe 2:8) The word is even used in regard to the difficult progress of a boat.—Mt 14:24; Mr 6:48.

The Greek noun ba·sa·ni·stes´ occurring at Matthew 18:34 is rendered “jailers” in some translations (AT, Fn, NW; compare Mt 18:30) and “tormentors” or “torturers” in others. (AS, KJ, JB) Torture was sometimes used in prisons to obtain information (compare Ac 22:24, 29, which shows that this was done, although ba·sa·ni´zo is not used here), so ba·sa·ni·stes´ came to be applied to jailers. Regarding its use at Matthew 18:34, The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia observed: “Probably the imprisonment itself was regarded as ‘torment’ (as it doubtless was), and the ‘tormentors’ need mean nothing more than jailers.” (Edited by J. Orr, 1960, Vol. V, p. 2999) Thus, the mentioning in Revelation 20:10 of ones who will be “tormented day and night forever and ever” evidently indicates that they will be in a condition of restraint. That a condition of restraint can be spoken of as “torment” is indicated by the parallel accounts at Matthew 8:29 and Luke 8:31.

Some commentators have pointed to Biblical instances of the word “torment” to support the teaching of eternal suffering in fire. However, as just indicated, there is Scriptural reason to believe that Revelation 20:10 does not have that sense. In fact, verse 14 shows that “the lake of fire” in which the torment occurs, actually means “the second death.” And though Jesus spoke of a certain rich man as “existing in torments” (Lu 16:23, 28), Jesus was not describing the literal experience of a real person but, rather, was setting forth an illustration. Revelation provides a number of other instances where “torment” clearly has an illustrative or symbolic sense, as is evident from context.—Re 9:5; 11:10; 18:7, 10. - Insight, Vol.2, "Torment"

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Does Science Contradict the Genesis Account?

A careful study of the Bible text reveals no conflict with established scientific facts. For that reason, Jehovah’s Witnesses disagree with “Christian” Fundamentalists and many Young Earth Creationists.

(For more see: "Are Jehovah's Witnesses Creationists?"; Watchtower Online Library)

The Bible most certainly is in harmony with our most current scientific understanding. Consider:

The Genesis account clearly outlines how certain animals were created BEFORE MAN was created. Some dinosaurs (and pterosaurs) may indeed have been created in the fifth era listed in Genesis, when the Bible says that God made "flying creatures" and "great sea monsters." Perhaps other types of dinosaurs were created in the sixth epoch. (Genesis 1:20-24)

And fossil evidence clearly shows that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago - LONG (65 million years) before man was created. So they became extinct well before Adam and Eve's time.

The reason that some "Christian" Fundamentalists and Young Earth Creationists "believe "the devil" made fossils and buried them while we weren't watching" is to support their belief that that the Earth itself is only 6-10,000 years old. This conclusion by them is based on Bible genealogy and interpreting the 'days' mentioned in Genesis as literal 24 hour days. The Biblical creation account as recorded in Genesis IS compatible with scientific evidence...it is just that the conclusion mentioned above is a misinterpretation of the Genesis account.

Bible genealogy *does* provide evidence that MAN has been on earth for only thousands of years. But that does not have to mean that the "heavens and earth" have only been around that long as many "Christian" Fundamentalists and Young Earth Creationists will want one to believe.

Gen. 1:2 and on describes God's terreforming of the earth over a period of what the account calls as "days". However, these "days" were most likely NOT literal days, but rather figurative "days" such as the descriptive sayings: "Back in the 'day' of my youth" or "In the 'day' of the dinosaurs". The creative "days" mentioned in Genesis could not have been literal 24 hour days because, in just one example in Gen.1:11-13, grass is described as shooting forth and vegetation bearing seed and fruit trees yielding fruit in just one of these "days". So because these creative "days" were figurative, they could have actually been hundreds, thousands or even millions of years in length.

So in harmony with scientific evidence, God most likely created the earth billions of years ago and THEN created man only thousands of years ago.

For more, see:

Does Science Contradict the Genesis Account? (g 9/06 pp. 18-20; Watchtower Online Library)

Day - Links to Information (Search For Bible Truths)

Creation - Links to Information (Search For Bible Truths)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Only-Begotten (Monogenes) - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

ONLY-BEGOTTEN (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

ONLY-BEGOTTEN (Insight-2 pp. 556-557; Watchtower Online Library)

Monogenes (only begotten) (Defending the NWT)

Begotten and Created (Examining the Trinity)

OBGOD - Jn 1:18 - "only-begotten god" - NWT (Examining the Trinity)

Does Coptic John 1:18 contradict Coptic John 1:1? (NWT & Coptic)

DEF (Examining the Trinity)

THEON (Examining the Trinity)

John 1:18 "the only-begotten god" / Son (Defending the NWT)

Worship - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

WORSHIP (Insight-2 pp. 1210-1212; Watchtower Online Library)

WORSHIP - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Worship (as used in Scripture) (Examining the Trinity)

Is It Proper to Worship Jesus? "Worship" (Proskuneo /Shachah) - Different Levels of Meaning in Scripture (Search For Bible Truths)

Worship or Obeisance? (Bible Translation and Study)

PROSKYNEO-Always "Worship"? (In Defense of The New World Translation)

Heb. 1:6 - "Let all the angels of God worship him [Jesus]." (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Heb. 1:6 "All angels of God worship him" KJV (Search For Bible Truths)

Weddings / Wedding Rings

Click on any of the following links to view:

WEDDINGS - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

RING (Insight-2 p. 812; Watchtower Online Library)

Why are wedding anniversaries acceptable to celebrate but not birthday anniversaries? (Search For Bible Truths)

Should WEDDING RINGS and the use of days and months of the GREGORIAN CALENDAR be avoided by true Christians? (Search For Bible Truths)

A wedding ring has no direct relationship to any act of worship... (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

No pagan worship can be found in the history of the wedding ring. (Cyclopaedia Quotes from 1972 Watchtower article, p. 63 (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Water - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

WATER - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

WATER (Insight-2 pp. 1172-1174; Watchtower Online Library)

Water (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

The unusual (and beneficial) properties of water (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Should a person be baptized by a mere pouring or sprinkling or by complete immersion? (Search For Bible Truths)

If the Holy Spirit is really a person, wouldn't the water and blood be persons too according to Trinitarian reasoning and 1 John 5:8? (Search For Bible Truths)

Flood
From what source was the Flood of Noah's day? (Search For Bible Truths) What effect of a rapid diminishment of a global water canopy? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers) Is there any evidence to support the idea of a global flood?

Water Witching (Dowsing) and Other "Paranormal" Powers (Search For Bible Truths)

Did Jesus turn the water to wine or grape juice? (Search For Bible Truths)

Claim About Moses - The First Dowser?
Is it from this crag that we shall bring out water for YOU?" With that Moses lifted his hand up and struck the crag with his rod twice; and much water began to come out, and the assembly and their beasts of burden began to drink. (Search For Bible Truths)

Dr. Emoto and his claims of the power of water and prayer (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Vote / Voting

Click on any of the following links to view:

How do Jehovah's Witnesses View Voting? (11/1/99 Watchtower via Search For Bible Truths)

Voting in Political Elections (lv pp. 212-215; Watchtower Online Library)

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Vote? (Slate article)

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Vote, Pledge Allegiance Or Support The Military? (Search For Bible Truths)

Watch Tower Society

Click on any of the following links to view:

WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC. - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

WATCHTOWER EDUCATIONAL CENTER (Patterson) - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

WATCHTOWER FARMS (Wallkill) - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Watch Tower Society (Pastor Russell)

Watch Tower Society Incorported (Pastor Russell)

Brooklyn Bethel—100 Years of History (Subjects considered: "Why Move to Brooklyn?" and "Why Called Bethel?") (Pastor Russell)

The Bible House (Pastor Russell)

Their Modern Development and Growth (Pastor Russell)

No Claim of Inspiration (Pastor Russell)

Watchtower

Click on any of the following links to view:

WATCHTOWER (Insight -2 p. 1172; Watchtower Online Library)

WATCHTOWER, THE (Magazine) - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Watchtower and Awake! Magazine Downloads (JW.org)

Why is the Watchtower magazine called the "Watchtower"? (Pastor Russell)

Is it true that Jehovah's Witnesses print the 1st & 2nd most widely distributed magazines in the world? (Search For Bible Truths)

Countering the Claim That the Watchtower is of Pagan Origin (Pastor Russell)

War - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

WAR - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

War (Insight-2 pp. 1166-1170; Watchtower Online Library)

War (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

What is the difference between war in Biblical times and warfare today? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

What is the crucial difference between "biblical" or 'good' warfare and the wars between nations today? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

What is the war of Armageddon and does the use of the name Armageddon (Har–Magedon) mean that the war will be fought at a literal Mountain of Megiddo? (Search For Bible Truths)

Monday, November 15, 2010

April Fools' Day - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

How Should a Christian View April Fools' Day? (Defending Jehovah's Witnesses)

Origins of April Fools' Day (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

When it comes to having fun or playing practical jokes at another's expense, what scriptural principles should be kept in mind? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Holidays (Search For Bible Truths)

Arianism - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Arianism (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Arius - HIST. pt. 3, pars. 1-8; HIST. pt. 5, par. 6 (and f.n. #109, 112, 113, 143, 146) (Examining the Trinity)

Jehovah's Witnesses, not a form of Arianism (Pastor Russell)

Apologizing - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Apologizing - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Apologize (Search results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Cultivate the Spirit of a Lesser One (THE WATCHTOWER (STUDY EDITION) NOVEMBER 2012; JW.ORG)

"Apologizing - A Key Way to Making Peace" (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Is 'Allah' simply translated to English as "God"?

Allah - "the one and only God in the religion of Islam. Etymologically, the name Allah is probably a contraction of the Arabic al-Il'h, 'the God.' The name's origin can be traced back to the earliest Semitic writings in which the word for 'god' was Il or El, the latter being an Old Testament synonym for Yahweh. Allah is the standard Arabic word for "God" and is also used by Arab Christians as well as by Muslims." - Encyclopedia Britannica.com.

The Britannica article above is OK except for its statement that El is an Old Testament synonym for Yahweh. El is sometimes used in Scripture as a title ('God') for YHWH (Yahweh/Jehovah). The usual title in Old Testament Scripture, also meaning 'God,' is Elohim. It is a common TITLE, whereas YHWH (Yahweh/Jehovah) is a proper name given by God Himself in Scripture. Allah has come to be used as a proper name, but it originated as a title, like EL, which simply means 'a god.'

So, yes, Allah is simply translated to English as 'the god.' Muslims, however, would probably tell us that it is a proper name for God.

For more, see:

"Some think that “Jehovah” in Hebrew means “Allah” (God). But..." (T-72 pp. 1-6, The Greatest Name; Watchtower Online Library)

The Greatest Name (JW.ORG)

ALLAH (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Ahaziah - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Ahaziah - Links to Information (Insight-1 pp. 62-63; Watchtower Online Library)

Ahaziah (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Abraham - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

ABRAHAM (Insight-1 pp. 28-32;Watchtower Online Library)

ABRAHAM - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Abraham—A Friend of God (My Book of Bible Stories; JW.ORG)

Luke 16:19-31 - A Parable That Does NOT Teach a Literal Torment in Hell (Search For Bible Truths)

The Biblical Hell (Jehovah's Witnesses United; Includes analysis of Luke 16:19-31)

Even though the story about Abraham's Bosom is supposed to be symbolic, what is the meaning behind it? And why does it say that the angels carried them off after death? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers; Question #2)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Archaeology - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

ARCHAEOLOGY - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

ARCHAEOLOGY (Insight-1 pp. 147-156; Watchtower Online Library)

Archaeology (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of the Twentieth Century Relating to the Biblical World (biblicalstudies.info - Article by Keith N. Schoville; Professor Emeritus of Hebrew and Semitic Studies University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Biblical Archaelogy Review

American Standard Version Bible (ASV) - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

American Standard Version - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online library)

What is the ASV Bible? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Links to ASV Bibles online (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

1975

Click on any of the following links to view:

1975 (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

1975 and Jehovah's Witnesses - The Opposers' Claims Vs. The Facts (Search For Bible Truths)

The Problem with "False Prophecy" Polemics (Bible Translation and Study)

Response to anti-JW video concerning 1975 (AB; Daniel2)

Dates (1914; 1975) (Search For Bible Truths)

False Prophet (Search For Bible Truths Category)

"The JW organization itself didn't actively promote 1975 as a definite date for Armageddon by any means..." (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

"The WTS NEVER said the "End" would come (in 1975). The problem was the people, not the WTS..." (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Alcohol - Links to Information

Click on any of the following to view:

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

WINE AND STRONG DRINK (Insight-2 pp. 1187-1189; Watchtower Online Library)

Alcohol (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Beware of the Intentions of the Heart (THE WATCHTOWER (STUDY EDITION) FEBRUARY 2013; JW.ORG)

How Do Jehovah's Witnesses View the Consumption of Alcohol? (Search For Bible Truths)

How do Jehovah's Witnesses view the consumption of alcohol? (AB; Elijah)

Did Jesus turn the water to wine or grape juice? (Search For Bible Truths)

Birth Control - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

BIRTH CONTROL - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Is it compatible with Bible principles for a Christian married couple to use birth control pills? (Search For Bible Truths)

Are birth-control pills a form of abortion? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Is it compatible with Bible principles for a Christian married couple to use birth control pills? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers; 'Questions From Readers', 6/15/89 Watchtower)

Abiogenesis - Links to Information

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Could life have occurred spontaneously? ("Impossible" Creatures) (Search For Bible Truths)

Does the 'artificial life' breakthrough recently announced by scientists prove 'abiogenesis'? (Search For Bible Truths)

How Did the Universe and Life Originate? (g02 6/8 pp. 4-7; Watchtower Online Library)

Monday, November 8, 2010

Noah - Links to Information

(Also see the "Flood" category.)

Click on any of the following links to view:

NOAH - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Noah (Insight-2 pp. 506-508; Watchtower Online Library)

Noah (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Did the Great Flood of Noah's Day Really Happen? (Search For Bible Truths)

From what source was the Flood of Noah’s day? (Search For Bible Truths)

In what year does the Bible indicate the Great Flood occurred and why didn't Noah's father and grandfather enter the ark? (Search For Bible Truths)

For how long did Noah preach and how can this be proved Scripturally? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Abel - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

ABEL - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

ABEL (Insight-1 pp. 15-16; Watchtower Online Library)

Abel in the Bible Had Faith in God (THE WATCHTOWER JANUARY 2013; JW.ORG)

Who was Abel? (Search For Bible Truths)

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

1914

Click on any of the following links to view:

1914 - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

1914 (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

1914—A Significant Year in Bible Prophecy (What Does the Bible Really Teach?; JW.ORG)

Dates; 1914 (Search For Bible Truths)

'False Prophet' Claim and Jerusalem 607 B.C.E. (Search For Bible Truths)

Seven Times - The Times of The Gentiles (Pastor Russell)

1914 and GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Pastor Russell)

Monday, October 25, 2010

Kingdom Hall

Click on any of the following links to view:

KINGDOM HALLS - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

What is a Kingdom Hall? (w10 5/1 p. 31; Watchtower Online Library)

Kingdom Halls Open to Everyone (w02 11/1 p. 8; Watchtower Online Library)

Where And How Do Jehovah's Witnesses Meet? (Search For Bible Truths)

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses refer to their meeting places as "Kingdom Halls"? (Search For Bible Truths)

VIDEO: Jehovah's Witnesses - A very fair and unbiased report from the BBC "A look at a meeting conducted inside one Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses."(Search For Bible Truths)

What beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses set them apart as different from other religions? (Search For Bible Truths)

What would be appropriate attire when attending Jehovah's Witnesses' places of worship and why? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses hold meetings of worship on the seventh day (Sunday)? Is it because of the Sabbath? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Why do women wear dresses instead of pants to the meetings? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

666 - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Identifying the Wild Beast and Its Mark
In his inspired Word, God provides the needed clues with regard to the number 666, the name, or mark, of the wild beast of Revelation chapter 13. ... We will consider (1) how Bible names are sometimes chosen, (2) the identity of the wild beast, (3) what is meant by 666 being “a man’s number,” and (4) the significance of the number 6 and why it is written in triple digits, namely, 600 plus 60 plus 6, or 666. (w04 4/1 pp. 4-7 - The Watchtower—2004; Watchtower Online Library)

666—Not Just a Puzzle
666—Not Just a Puzzle ... FEW Bible topics have evoked as much interest and concern as the prophecy about the mysterious mark, or name, of “the wild beast”—the number 666. (w04 4/1 p. 3; Watchtower Online Library)

24 Elders - Links to Information

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TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Who are the 24 elders mentioned in Revelation? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

The 24 elders and the 144,000 (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

24 elders are a symbolic number, 144,000 a literal one (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

2520

Click on any of the following links to view:

Number of years between 607 B.C.E. and 1914 C.E. “The appointed times of the nations” (bh p. 215-p. 218 par. 1; Watchtower Online Library)

12 (Twelve) What does this number apparently represent in the Bible?

Numbers can have some significant symbolic meanings in the Bible. And it appears that the number 12 represents a balanced and complete arrangement according to divine standards.

Consider:

Jacob had 12 sons, who became the foundations of the 12 tribes of Israel. Further, these are 12 tribes of the sons of spiritual Israel, each tribe consisting of 12,000 members of which is quoted in Rev. 7:4-8.

Interestingly, 12 apostles were also chosen, who form the secondary foundations of the New Jerusalem, built upon Jesus Christ. (Mt 10:2-4; Re 21:14)

In this sense, multiples of 12 (or 12 + 12) are also mentioned. David established 24 divisions of the priesthood to serve by turn in the temple later built by Solomon. (1 Ch. 24:1-18)

This 12 + 12 combination is also used in identifying the 24 elders who were seated round about God's throne in white outer garments and who were wearing crowns. (Re 4:4)

So learning about this usage of the number 12 throughout the Bible (especially when considering Rev. 7:4-8...12 times 12,000 = 144,000) can help us better understand the numerical significance behind the divine representation of a balanced & complete arrangement.

For more, see:

Twelve - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Friday, October 22, 2010

If Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible, then how was his own death and burial written in Deuteronomy Chapter 34?

Many passages in the Bible show that the first 5 books of the Bible was written by Moses. (Jos. 1:7; Jg. 3:4; 2 Ki. 18:6; Mal 4:4) In addition to David, Luke and John's references, Jesus himself acknowledged that Moses was the writer at Mark 10:3-5 and also at John 5:46, 47.

The closing chapters of the fifth book in question (Deuteronomy) tells of the appointment of Joshua as leader and the death of Moses. So even though the scriptural references and the evidence within the Pentateuch itself shows that its writership properly belongs to Moses, it is clearly with the exception of the closing verses of Deuteronomy.

After writing at length establishing the Mosaic authorship of Deuteronomy, Old Testament scholar Gleason Archer concluded:

"Only chapter 34 is demonstrably post-Mosaic, since it contains a short account of Moses’ decease. But this does not endanger in the slightest the Mosaic authenticity of the other thirty-three chapters, for the closing chapter furnishes only that type of obituary which is often appended to the final work of great men of letters. An author’s final work is often published posthumously (provided he has been writing up to the time of his death). Since Joshua is recorded to have been a faithful and zealous custodian of the Torah, Moses’ literary achievement, it is quite unthinkable that he would have published it without appending such a notice of the decease of his great predecessors." - A Survey of Old Testament Introduction

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Apostasy / Apostates - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

APOSTASY (Insight-1 pp. 126-127; Watchtower Online Library)

APOSTASY - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

What is Apostasy? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Are charges made by apostates really knowledge that is essential for our eternal life? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

The Apostasy, then and now (Pastor Russell)

Some identifying marks of APOSTATES  (Pastor Russell)

Beware of Apostates (Pastor Russell)

Apostates - "animalistic men" (Pastor Russell)

Apostasy, who let the dogs out? (Pastor Russell)

The Apostle John’s Fight Against Apostate Elements (Pastor Russell)

Apostates mourn Ray Franz (1922 - 2010) (Pastor Russell)

Friday, October 15, 2010

Presence - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Presence - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Presence (Insight-2 pp. 676-679; Watchtower Online Library)

Return of Christ  (Pastor Russell)

Will Christ return in a manner visible to human eyes? (Examining the Greek verb horáo.) (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Definition of "presence" (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

"Coming" and "Presence" (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

NWT - Parousia ("Presence") (Defending the New World Translation)

PAROUSIA: "coming" or "presence"-Which? (IN Defense of the NWT)

When will God's Kingdom come? (Search For Bible Truths)

Son of Man Reaps - Rev. 14:14-20 (Search For Bible Truths)

Monday, October 4, 2010

Apocrypha - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

APOCRYPHA - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

APOCRYPHA (Insight-1 pp. 120-125; Watchtower Online Library)

Apocrypha ( Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Why You Can Trust the Biblical Gospels (THE WATCHTOWER 2010-03-01; JW.ORG)

Does the Bible Tell Us the Whole Story About Jesus? (THE WATCHTOWER 2010-04-01; JW.ORG)

Apocrypha—of God or of Men? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

How do we know which books belong in the Bible? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Why are the apocryphal books rejected from our Bible? (bibletopics.com)

The Bible---Do We Have All of It? (Information concerning gnostic writings) (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Is there any connection between the Coptic canonical Gospels and the Coptic Gnostic "gospels"? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

What Is the Gospel of Thomas? (Jehovah's Witnesses United)

"Why is there no gospel of Thomas in the Bible when there other references to this elsewhere?" (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Unity

Click on any of the following links to view:

UNITY - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Unity (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Unity Identifies True Worship (w10 9/15 pp. 12-16; Watchtower Online Library)

Jehovah's Witnesses United By God''s Word (w07 12/1 pp. 4-7; Watchtower Online Library)

Christian Unity Glorifies God (w10 9/15 pp. 16-20; Watchtower Online Library)

Unity of Worship in Our Time—What Does It Mean? (wt chap. 1 pp. 4-13; Watchtower Online Library)

How important is it for true Christians to have unity among themselves? (Search For Bible Truths)

Be "fitly united in the same mind", beware of speaking thoughtlessly, "make sure of the more important things..." (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Organization and Obedience (Search For Bible Truths)

United by LOVE OF GOD (w05 1/1 pp. 4-6; Watchtower Online Library)

"Apologizing - A Key Way to Making Peace" (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)