Just a Collection of Books?

That's what they say. What do you believe?

A human thinks human thoughts. God thinks Godly thoughts. Actually he says that no human thinks like him. He says that as the heavens are higher than the earth, so his ways are from that of humans, and his thoughts from ours.

So when you read his thoughts in the Bible are they superior than human knowledge?



The Bible is replete with prophecy. Many dealing with the Messiah, Christ. When Jesus came to earth things happened to him that no one even discerned from scripture that was foretold to happen to him.

I was thinking about this reviewing the prophets and how Jesus fulfilled so many of their inspired words that were to happen to him.

Have you read through the Bible? It may be hard to understand without guidance. Perhaps you've never looked into it. Never thought about what is really in it.

There was a man, an Ethiopian who was reading a scroll in his hand while he was traveling. The words he was studying were written in Isaiah, the year the words were penned was 732 B. C. E. Over 700 years before Jesus lived. What was he reading in the scroll? We are told:

"Now this was the passage of Scripture that he was reading: “Like a sheep he was brought to the slaughter, and like a lamb that is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. During his humiliation, justice was taken away from him. Who will tell the details of his generation? Because his life is taken away from the earth.”-Acts 8:32, 33.

The disciple Phillip was lead to this honest-hearted man and he asked the Ethiopian eunuch if he understood what he was reading. The man although great in power and status, being in charge of the treasury of queen Candace, humbly admitted he had no idea what this prophecy meant, who it was referring to. He replied: "“I beg you, about whom does the prophet say this? About himself or about some other man?”-Acts 8:34.

Did you know something? For hundreds of years this prophecy was not understood. Even when Jesus Christ walked walked the earth his apostles, his closest friends did not grasp what prophecy was saying about what was going to happen to the Messiah.

This is but one example among hundreds of prophecies concerning Jesus Christ. He knew he had to die. And he eventually even told his apostles that he was going to be delivered up and put to death. Peter did not grasp this. Notice this passage:

"From that time forward, Jesus began explaining to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised up. At this Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying: “Be kind to yourself, Lord; you will not have this happen to you at all.”-Matthew 16:21, 22.

If the Jews read the scriptures why did they not understand these things? Did it happen as the prophet foretold?

Jesus was betrayed for 30 silver pieces, the common price of a slave, by an intimate friend, his apostle Judas. This too was foretold long in advance:

"Then I said to them: “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, withhold them.” And they paid my wages, 30 pieces of silver."-Zechariah 11:12.

"Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, felt remorse and brought the 30 pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders." - Matthew 27:3.

"Even the man at peace with me, one whom I trusted,
Who was eating my bread, has lifted his heel against me."-Psalm 41:8.

"For it is not an enemy who taunts me; Otherwise I could put up with it. It is not a foe who has risen up against me; Otherwise I could conceal myself from him. But it is you, a man like me, My own companion whom I know well."-Psalm 55:12, 13.

"And as they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, one of you who is eating with me will betray me.”-Mark 14:18.



Concerning the words the Ethiopian eunuch was reading, we are told that when Jesus was brought unjustly, and illegally before the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, he remained silent:

"But while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him: “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?”  But he did not answer him, no, not a word, so that the governor was very surprised."-Matthew 8:32.



Like a sheep he was brought to the slaughter just as Isaiah foretold. No one was expecting this to happen, not even Jesus apostles, to the coming Messiah. Yet it all happened as was foretold hundreds of years in advance.



It was even foretold that as Jesus was dying his garments would be divided up by casting lots over them:



"They divide my garments among themselves, And they cast lots for my clothing."Psalm 22:18.

"And they nailed him to the stake and distributed his outer garments by casting lots over them to decide who would take what."-Mark 15:24.

This is just a few but of many many prophecies all fulfilled to the very last detail. All in Jesus life. No one before he was born understood fully what they meant. Not even the angels. Some say over 300 prophecies were fulfilled in him. There is certainly a list too long for me to take the time to put them all down. They include the place of his birth. The fact that King Herod would murder all the children in Bethlehem trying to put him to death, that he his parents would flee to Egypt.

Andi if you would take the time to read the chapter of Isaiah 53 it goes into great detail about the unjust death that would befall Jesus.


It wasn't until after Jesus resurrection and his appearance to his apostles that he opened up their minds and began to explain all these prophecies about him...

He then said to them: “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all the things written about me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and Psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened up their minds fully to grasp the meaning of the Scriptures,  and he said to them, “This is what is written: that the Christ would suffer and rise from among the dead on the third day, and on the basis of his name, repentance for forgiveness of sins would be preached in all the nations—starting out from Jerusalem."-Luke 24:44-47.

Over 40 people in the course of over the course of 1,600 years. And yet the message throughout all harmonizes. There are things that are explained later in the Bible that were not even understood by the angels. And there are things that angels look into the Bible to understand.


Is it really just a book made by man?


It says that the Creator of the universe named Jehovah God inspired its writing.-2 Timothy 3:16, 17. Psalm 83:18. Jeremiah 10:10.



It explains that God's Son Jesus, on returning to heaven has been granted kingdom and a government over all.



It says that in the near future Jesus will ride forth to conquer all wickedness at Armageddon.

Humans cannot provide such a message and preserve it. Human wisdom cannot explain the supernatural wisdom that comes from the words in the Bible. It is from above. It's word unites, offers hope, grants peace, and purpose for l life.

a reply to: EdgeofParadise

But how do you protect your children when you shun them, not speaking/acknowledging them (if they aren't obeying)? I have a family member that is a Witness and the parents shunned their 16 year old daughter to the point she moved out.

Anyway, I do enjoy your efforts and agree with some of what you share.

I cannot wait for the Rapture. Do you believe in healing? Jesus said, "Go forth and heal the sick, cast out demons and spread the word."

All the best.

a reply to: EdgeofParadise

The Bible is replete with prophecy. Many dealing with the Messiah, Christ. When Jesus came to earth things happened to him that no one even discerned from scripture that was foretold to happen to him.

Terrific post!

I don't often read posts dealing with religion for a variety of reasons.

But I read your completely.

Twice.

It's inspired me to do some research of my own concerning what the difference is between Jesus and The Christ.

I've seen it discussed tangentially in various articles and even some posts here, but I'd like to know more.

Please feel free to jump in with your interpretation or definitions of same.

a reply to: hiddeninsite

I respect your viewpoint. I was one that was disfellowshipped for a time because of drunkenness. But that was my fault. And it is a Biblical command.

If a criminal in the world murders or rapes someone and is thrown into prison whose fault is it that he is cut off from friends and family?

The principal is the same. It also keeps the Christian congregation clean. Unlike the Churches of Christendom who condone and even encourage what God detests and condemns, if a Christian in the congregation practices gross sin, such as sexual immorality he his expelled. This is also a protection to our children and all the rest of the congregation. As well as discipline to the one who sinned, that he may regret his actions and return to Jehovah.

Jesus did give miraculous powers to his apostles, and those whom the apostles laid hands on also received some of these miraculous powers. But those of healing and such were done away with when they all died off.

God's holy spirit is still active among his people. It unifies them in peace and love. Something that is not found in the world in general. Also this is the mark of the true follower of Christ, that of love among his followers:

"By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.”-John 13:35.

You can be assured though that all who fall into practicing gross sin, are still loved. I felt love. And I love.

originally posted by: Riffrafter
a reply to: EdgeofParadise

The Bible is replete with prophecy. Many dealing with the Messiah, Christ. When Jesus came to earth things happened to him that no one even discerned from scripture that was foretold to happen to him.

Terrific post!

I don't often read posts dealing with religion for a variety of reasons.

But I read your completely.

Twice.

It's inspired me to do some research of my own concerning what the difference is between Jesus and The Christ.

I've seen it discussed tangentially in various articles and even some posts here, but I'd like to know more.

Please feel free to jump in with your interpretation or definitions of same.

Christ is the Greek word for Messiah which is from Hebrew. They both mean chosen, or anointed. Jesus Christ is the son of God. He inspires prophecy. And fulfills all propehcy in the Bible:

"For the witness concerning Jesus is what inspires prophecy.”-Revelation 19:10.

"To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone putting faith in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”-Acts 10:43.






He lived in heaven before coming to earth as God's only-begotten son and lives in heaven now with even greater authority, he has received Kingdom and Government over all.

a reply to: EdgeofParadise
Seems like a lot to go through. Just to prove what? Jews were some super cereal wierdos back then. Were they really just waiting around for there prophets to give them there profits. But then again, seems to be what all other peoples were doing also.

Also the story you told, is like not really new. Its just something that has been told and retold, over and over age after age, believe it or not. Over time, I think we just live in a cyclical existence, in a cyclical nature, in a cyclical universe. You have Horus/Osiris, a whole sleuth of Sumerian gods doing the resurrection as well, Dionysus also, a God which I cant remember now that used to be worship before Christianity, which was copy and past job of the same story of the resurrection of jessus.

And likely other stuff as well, like the phoenix and who knows what else. Or how about this.

666, the dreaded number of the beat.

6 protons, 6 electrons, 6 neutrons. Carbon 12, the most abundant thing in the universe as far as science is concerned. And well meat based creatures which are carbon based lifeforms. You know the thing which consumes itself, or the snake eating its own tail, the cycle of life as was known in older generations, long long long before your book was even thought of being written.

Or as I like to call it, life. That thing which consumes itself.

Anyways, the future. Everybody seems to have a message of the future.

Predicting the future for such a creature, is almost like predicting its going to snow in Siberia and Alaska at some point in the next coming few thousand years.

Oh ya! Brah. Repent. Like totally. Do whatever. Just remember, Love is the only engine of survival. Isn't that what this Jesus character in the second part of the book said? Or some such.

The future.

originally posted by: EdgeofParadise
a reply to: hiddeninsite

If a criminal in the world murders or rapes someone and is thrown into prison whose fault is it that he is cut off from friends and family?

The principal is the same. It also keeps the Christian congregation clean.

Yet your organisation protects pedophiles, hmmm
Interesting

You have a smooth tongue and white clothing but your church is rotten on the inside

Child sexual abuse covered up by the Watchtower Plentiful television reports, documentaries and lawsuits worldwide state pedophilia amongst the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The organization deliberately hides cases of sexual abuse towards children in the goal to protect their public image. It doesn't report pedophilia cases to the police and pedophiles are not punished internally because of the "two witness" rule. If there is only the child victim testifying against the accused, it is not enough. The accused will be acquitted. According to William «Bill» H. Bowen from www.silentlambs.org..., in 2002 the Watchtower had a database listing 23,720 pedophiles. Today it could go up to 40, 000
www.watchtowerlies.com...

But you deny it or don’t care do you edge

Just so anyone reading along, I post links about the heinous crimes that occur and are happening in Jw.org churches
Edge and other JW members are not allowed to look at any links I post because
They are fearful that they will be caught reading links that don’t tell people how perfect their organisation is and shunned by the community

Also, Edge has to post on ATS because it will give him the points he requires to get into heaven or whatever they believe

Preaching to win bonus points for his god

Jesus also was continuously harassed, and accused falsely, on a number of times they tried to murder him for his truthful speech, and in the end he was put to death by haters of the truth. His words still ring true today though when he said:

"All the same, wisdom is proved righteous by its works.”-Matthew 11:19.

And about those who lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against us:

"“Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. 12 Rejoice and be overjoyed, since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you."-Matthew 5:11, 12.

How does it feel to be a part of fulfilling the prophecy of those who persecute and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing?

What do you think will be your fate? Jesus said:

"Then you will start saying, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our main streets.’ But he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Get away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!’  There is where your weeping and the gnashing of your teeth will be, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown outside. Furthermore, people will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the Kingdom of God. And look! there are those last who will be first, and there are those first who will be last.”-Luke 13:26-30.

a reply to: EdgeofParadise

Yeah well Jesus wasn’t hiding out pedophiles was He?

But of course, you think everything I say is a lie, you can’t even acknowledge that your organisation, can’t even open a link to see if I am lying, can’t do anything but as you are told by your elders

Brainwashed Edge, fully brainwashed

Here is a link
www.watchtowerlies.com...
Now tell me, everyone
Can you open and read this link or are you forbidden
Does your organisation have that much control over you?


And, are you trying to scare me with fear tactics, bible verses about separation from God, really.
I mock Protestant Christians who do that to non believers, as if you a member of a minor cult who are brainwashed into fearing being shunned from a church

I have Jesus, I don’t need a cults opinion or elders or fear tactics.

Stop, open a link and read it

It's just collection of books, written about a guy who spoke in riddles, didn't live in a glass house(or temple in his case) an didn't write a thing.

a reply to: EdgeofParadise

Pretending to know the mind of God is possibly man's greatest possible sin. Nobody knows the infinite mind that is God. To pretend to know what God is thinking means you are able to understand the infinite. In other words, someone pretending to know the mind of God is pretending to be God. Pretending to be God on Earth is the height of human hubris. There may be no other greater possible sin than to be pretending to be God in front of other people.

originally posted by: galadofwarthethird
a reply to: EdgeofParadise
Seems like a lot to go through. Just to prove what? Jews were some super cereal wierdos back then. Were they really just waiting around for there prophets to give them there profits.

The idea prophets means profits for the church is brilliant. I've never heard this expressed this way before.

I've had a theory about Jesus for a long time. There are two possible reasons why they would want to crucify Jesus. The first is the Romans wanted Jesus killed because is was a principle organizer of an uprising against the Romans. Or, the Pharisees wanted Jesus killed because he was preaching you do not have to buy your absolution from the Temple in order to achieve salvation. In other words, what Jesus was teaching took away Pharisees cash cow. I doubt they would crucify Jesus over the splitting of hairs of the finer points of the Jewish religion.

I know people idolize Jesus and idolize the verses of the Bible. But I found this research to be very interesting. There's a theory the Gospel was war-time occupational Roman propaganda. Now before you dismiss this out of hand consider the Jewish people. The Jewish people are the most ruthless and belligerent on the planet. What are the chances these three verses came from the most belligerent people on the planet:

Matt.5 Verses 38 to 48
[38] Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: [39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

No. 10: “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.” (1 Peter 2:18)

Matthew 22:21 Jesus said "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." Romans 13:1 "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those which exist are established by God."

In my mind, it is not very likely the most belligerent people on the planet are suddenly going to turn the other cheek, submit to their masters, and give to Caesar what is Caesar's. Not possible.

With the analysis done by Joseph Atwill, the key lies in the Dead Sea Scrolls which are the only Jewish literature ever discovered from the first century AD or CE... the time Jesus would have been preaching among the Jews. The characters in the Dead Sea Scrolls were militaristic and you can see that this movement wanted to push the foreigners out of Israel; they were fundamentalists, whereas the characters of the Gospels are not.

Joseph began studying the other two major works of that era, The 'New testament' and the 'Wars of the Jews' by Josephus, a Roman court historian who described the war between the Romans and the Jews in the first century. While reading these works side by side he noticed an amazing connection between them.

"Certain events from the ministry of Jesus seem to closely parallel episodes from the military campaign of Titus Flavius. A campaign which took place forty years after Jesus supposedly lived. Joseph's efforts to understand these connections led him to an incredible discovery. Christianity had been invented by a little known family of Roman Caesars, the Flavians, and they left us documents to prove it."

It's very hard to argue with Atwill's argument with regards to the over 40 topological associations all in the SAME sequence and in the same locations between the two literally works compared in his study. The parallels are ASTOUNDING!!!

Another JW error filled thread.

JW's are not going to heaven nor are they getting the earth. So there is only one place for a JW that is left. The one place they don't believe exists yet Jesus Talked about it more than most in the Bible. He didn't call it by a transliterated Greek or Hebrew word. God preserved it into English int he Authorized Version of 1611in plain 5th grade English, Yep you got it right, HELL.

en.wikipedia.org...

And im out of here

a reply to: EdgeofParadise


Romans 8:6-8 King James Version (KJV)

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
King James Version (KJV)
Romans 8:6-8 King James Version (KJV)

Unconverted carnally minded folks will never comprehend the message, will never connect to God will never receive the things of the Spirit. Unless they humble themselves under the might hand of God

a reply to: EdgeofParadise

Is this still your world HQ or did you make the move to Warwick?



I grew up in a town right between Tuxedo Park & Warwick so I know the area very well.

After I got married I moved to Danbury CT. My house was closer to Brewster NY than it was to downtown Danbury. And guess what's in Brewster NY? Yet another mongo JW facility.

So although I've been surrounded by JW's my entire life, I only met a few once when they knocked on the door of a friends house that I was visiting while attending HS. They seemed like nice people...a little needy, but nice.

So today I wouldn't know a JW if I fell over one...which I may have done a few times already anyway.

originally posted by: EdgeofParadise
That's what they say. What do you believe?
So when you read his thoughts in the Bible are they superior than human knowledge?

Breaking the Strong Delusion: Our Morality vs. God's Morality (ATS)

a reply to: dfnj2015

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."
-Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Religion is like a drug for people. My upstairs neighbor is a lunatic she sings to herself talks about the Bible and says I need church to stop smoking. You keep telling yourself I am not going to die and there is meaning to life , a moral compass. And you are getting rewarded. Far greater than all the rubies and gold. That's how you got tricked. You be good to others yourself. When you die you die. Believe whatever you want while your here reprogram yourself to whatever's written in these books. What does science say happens to you when you die? We are organic your brain dies the one animating body. A soul? If you need drugs from stone age believe it or not it's just people writing books. You gonna be a Jehovah witness all your life and sacrifice time and resources. I am Job, gave twenty years to the Masons , he is not coming back in ground somewhere just nature. My life was ruined for my enlightenment . If it makes you happy. People are that afraid of dieing ? You might be being used by a cult. Try to question things rationale . I was reading a thread this mother wrote talking about her daughter worried. Just don't go overboard.