[From ws15/05 p. 19 for July 13-19]
“They did not receive the fulfillment of the promises;
but they saw them from a distance.” – Heb. 11:13
There are two words that come up often in Bible study: Eisegesis and Exegesis. While they look very much alike, their meanings are diametrically opposed. Eisegesis is where you try to get the Bible to mean what you say, while exegesis is where you let the Bible mean what it says. To explain it another way, eisegesis is often used when the teacher has a pet idea or agenda and wants to convince you it is Biblical, so he uses selected verses that appear to support his teaching, while ignoring the surrounding context or other related texts that would paint a very different picture.
I think it is safe to say that it is the extensive use of eisegesis as a study method that has caused so many people to dismiss the Bible’s message by echoing the words of Pontius Pilate: “What is truth?” It is a common, and admittedly convenient, excuse for ignoring the Scriptures to say that they can be twisted to mean anything one wishes. This is the legacy of false religious teachers.
As a case in point, the message in this week’s Watchtower study is: Our faith will be strong if we can envision or “see” everlasting life on earth. To make its point, this article misapplies quotes from one of the most inspiring chapters in all of Scripture: Hebrews 11.
Let us compare what the Watchtower says with what the Bible says as we go through the article.
Abel’s Faith
Paragraph 4 says:
Did Abel, the first faithful human, “see” anything that Jehovah had promised? It cannot be said that Abel had foreknowledge of the eventual outworking of the promise contained in God’s words to the serpent: “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel.” (Gen. 3:14, 15) However, Abel likely gave much thought to that promise and realized that someone would be ‘struck in the heel’ so that mankind could be lifted to perfection such as that enjoyed by Adam and Eve before they sinned. Whatever Abel may have visualized regarding the future, he had faith based on God’s promise, and Jehovah therefore accepted his sacrifice.
While the paragraph freely acknowledges the speculative nature of its premises, it nevertheless uses these premises to make a categorical statement about the basis of Abel's faith, namely, a promise that he may or may not have understood. It then cites Hebrews 11:4 as if in proof:
“By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than that of Cain, and through that faith he received the witness that he was righteous, for God approved his gifts, and although he died, he still speaks through his faith.” (Heb 11:4)
Hebrews makes no mention that Abel’s faith was based on any promises, nor on Abel’s ability to visualize his future and that of mankind. The inspired writer attributes his faith to something else entirely, but the article doesn’t mention that. We will, but for now, let’s continue to examine what the article has to say about other examples of faith that Paul gives.
Enoch’s Faith
Paragraph 5 says that Enoch was inspired to prophecy about the destruction of ungodly men. Then it says, “As a man who exercised faith, Enoch could have formed a mental picture of a world free of ungodliness.” More speculation. Who is to say what mental picture he formed? Is human speculation really something on which we want to base our understanding of this all-important Christian quality?
Here’s what is actually said about Enoch’s faith:
"By faith E′noch was transferred so as not to see death, and he was nowhere to be found because God had transferred him; for before he was transferred he received the witness that he had pleased God well." (Heb 11:5)
Let’s do a quick review. By faith, Abel received the witness he was righteous. By faith, Enoch received the witness that he had pleased God well—essentially the same thing. No mention about seeing or visualizing the future.
Noah’s Faith
Paragraph 6 says of Noah:
“Very likely, he would have been heartened to think about mankind as being set free from oppressive rule, inherited sin, and death. We too can “see” such a wonderful time—and it is near indeed!”
We can speculate about what Noah may or may not have thought would be the solution to mankind’s problems, but all we can say for sure is that he believed the warning that God gave concerning the flood and obeyed God by building the ark.
“By faith Noah, after receiving divine warning of things not yet seen, showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; and through this faith he condemned the world, and he became an heir of the righteousness that results from faith.” (Heb 11:7)
His faith resulted in acts of faith that God approved of, as did Enoch’s, as did Abel’s. By faith he was declared righteous. You will notice that all three of these examples were declared righteous because of their faith. This is one of the key points that God's Word is making to Christians who are likewise declared righteous by means of faith. Let us bear that in mind as we continue our study.
Abraham’s Faith
We should pause here to expose yet another tactic of eisegetical study that the Organization makes extensive use of. The article clearly admits that we cannot know what these men envisioned. It is all speculation. However, by skillful use of the questions, the perception of the audience is being adjusted. Notice that in paragraph 7 we are told that “Abraham…could have visualized a grand future….” Then in 8, we are told that “it is likely that Abraham’s ability to form a mental picture of what God had promised....” So we’re still in the realm of speculation, until the question is asked. “What helped Abraham to demonstrate outstanding faith?” Abruptly, the speculation becomes fact which will be voiced by eager commenters at the meeting.
Eisegesis is very effective in the hands of an accepted authority figure. The listener will disregard the evidence before him and focus only on the elements that support the teaching from one who is trusted and esteemed as a leader.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that men of old cannot take part in the government of the New Jerusalem to rule and serve with Christ as kings and priests, despite the evidence from Scripture to the contrary. (Ga 4:26; He 12:22; Re 3:12; 5:10)
Thus the writer of the article has no compunction about teaching that:
Abraham “saw” himself living in a permanent place governed by Jehovah. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and others like them believed in the resurrection of the dead and looked forward to life on earth under God’s Kingdom, “the city having real foundations.” Reflecting on such blessings bolstered their faith in Jehovah.—Read Hebrews 11:15, 16. – par. 9
Notice how we’ve progressed from conditional statements to factual ones? The writer has no problem telling us that Abraham saw himself living on earth under the Messianic Kingdom. He makes no attempt to explain away the inconsistencies of this statement with what it says in Hebrews 11:15, 16.
“And yet, if they had kept remembering the place from which they had departed, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called on as their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Heb 11:15, 16)
The city here spoken of is the New Jerusalem belonging to heaven and prepared for anointed Christians, and demonstrably, for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, among others. Nothing about living on earth under the kingdom. Some might suggest that the earth belongs to the heavens, so Hebrews isn't necessarily referring to a heavenly abode. However, in what appears to be the result of translator bias, the word rendered here with the phrase "belonging to heaven" is epouranios. Strong's gives the following definition for this word as: "heavenly, celestial". So Hebrews is saying that these faithful individuals were reaching out for a heavenly or celestial place.
This is consistent with other Bible texts such as Matthew 8:10-12 which speaks of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob reclining “in the kingdom of the heavens” with anointed gentile Christians while the Jews who rejected Jesus are cast outside. Hebrews 12:22 shows that the city Abraham had prepared for him was the same city prepared for Christians. There is nothing in all this to indicate that the hope held out to Abraham was secondary to that held out to Christians. Abel, Enoch, Abraham and other faithful ones of old were declared righteous by faith. Christians get their reward by being declared righteous by faith. The Organization would object that the difference is that Christians know the Christ, while men of old did not. Therefore, they would argue, Christians can be called children of God through their faith in Christ, but not so pre-Christian men and women of faith.
“Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith. 25 But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus.” (Ga 3:24-26)
This understanding would mean that Christians inherit the promise made to Abraham, but Abraham himself is denied that promise.
“Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.” (Ga 3:29)
However, is that logical? More important, is it what the Bible actually teaches? Can the redeeming quality of Jesus as mediator permitting the adoption of humans as God’s children not be applied retroactively? Were these faithful men of old just unlucky for being born too soon?
Moses’ Faith
Part of the answer to these questions can be found in paragraph 12, which quotes from Hebrews 11:24-26.
“By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin, 26 because he considered the reproach of the Christ to be riches greater than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked intently toward the payment of the reward.” (Heb 11:24-26)
Moses chose the reproach or shame of the Christ. Paul says Christians must imitate Jesus who “endured a torture stake, despising shame….” (He 12:2) Jesus told listeners that if they wanted to be his disciples, they would have to accept his torture stake. At that point in time, no one knew how he was going to die, so why did he use that metaphor? Simply because it was a punishment meted out to the most despised and shameful of criminals. Only someone willing to “despise shame”, i.e., willing to accept the disdain and reproach from family and friends that comes with following the Christ, would be worthy of the Christ. This is precisely what Moses did in a very big way. How could we say that he did not put faith in the Christ—the anointed one—when the Bible specifically says that he did?
The reason the Organization misses this point is that they have evidently missed out on the fullness of the inspired explanation of what faith is.
Visualizing Kingdom Realities
If visualizing Kingdom realities is so important, why hasn’t Jehovah given us more details to go on? Paul speaks about knowing partially and viewing things hazily by means of a metal mirror. (1Co 13:12) It really isn’t clear what the kingdom of the heavens is; what form it will take; where it is; and what it will be like to live there. Furthermore, there is precious little mention in Scripture as to what life will be like on earth under the Messianic kingdom. Again, if visualizing is so crucial to faith, why has God given us so little to work with?
We walk by faith, not by sight. (2Co 5:7) If we can fully visualize the reward, then we are walking by sight. By keeping things vague, God tests our motives by testing our faith. Paul explains this best.
The Definition of Faith
Hebrews chapter 11 opens its dissertation on faith by giving us a definition of the term:
“Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen.” (He 11:1 NWT)
William Barclay’s translation gives this rendering:
“Faith is the confidence that the things which as yet we only hope for really do exist. It is the conviction of the reality of the things which as yet are out of sight.”
The word rendered “assured expectation” (NWT) and “confidence” (Barclay) comes from hupostasis.
HELPS Word-studies gives this meaning:
“(to possess) standing under a guaranteed agreement ("title-deed"); (figuratively) "title" to a promise or property, i.e. a legitimate claim (because it literally is, "under a legal-standing") – entitling someone to what is guaranteed under the particular agreement.”
The Governing Body has taken this meaning and used it to show how Jehovah’s Witnesses hold a virtual title-deed to the paradise on earth. In the publications, artist renditions depict faithful Witness survivors of Armageddon building homes and farming fields. There is a materialistic side effect of this emphasis on things which causes Witnesses to dream of occupying the homes of those killed at Armageddon. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been out in service[i] and had someone in the car group point out a particularly beautiful home and state, “That’s where I want to live in the New World.”
We can now see why the Governing Body would have us believe that Abel, Enoch and the others all visualized the New World. Their version of faith is based on such a visualization. Is this really the message that the inspired writer was communicating to the Hebrews? Was he equating faith to a sort of tit-for-tat contract with God? A divine quid pro quo? “You devote your life to the preaching work and support the Organization, and in exchange, I’ll give you beautiful homes and youth and health and make you princes in the land over the unrighteous resurrected ones”?
No! Most definitely that is not the message of Hebrews 11. After defining faith in verse 1, the definition is refined in verse 6.
“Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” (Heb 11:6)
You will notice he doesn’t say in the latter part of the verse, ‘and that he becomes the fulfiller of promises for those earnestly seeking him.’ There is no evidence he made any promises to Abel and Enoch. The only promise made to Noah entailed how to survive the flood. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not promised a new world, and Moses exercised faith and left his privileged position long before God said a word to him.
What verse 6 is showing is that faith is about belief in the good character of God. Jesus said, “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good except one, God.” (Mark 10:18) Faith will move us to seek God and to do what pleases him because we believe that he is so good and knows us so well that he doesn’t have to promise us anything. He doesn’t have to tell us all about the reward, because whatever it might turn out to be, we know that his goodness and his wisdom will make it the perfect reward for us. We could not do better if we picked it out ourselves. In fact, it’s safe to say we’d do an abysmal job if it were left up to us.
The Big Cheat
The Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses has done such a fantastic job of convincing us that their vision of life on earth in the New World is what we want that we can’t envision anything else, and when God offers us something else, we reject it.
The hope that Jesus offered his followers was to become adopted children of God and serve with him in the kingdom of the heavens. In my experience, when Jehovah’s Witnesses are shown that their "other sheep" doctrine is unscriptural, a common reaction is not one of joy, but confusion and dismay. They think this means they have to live in heaven and they don’t want that. Even when one explains that the exact nature of the reward regarding the kingdom of the heavens is not clear, they are not mollified. They have their hearts set on the prize they’ve envisioned all their lives and nothing else will do.
Based on Hebrews 11, this would appear to be indicative of a lack of faith.
I am not saying that the kingdom of the heavens requires us to live in heaven. Perhaps "heaven" and "heavenly" have a different connotation in this regard. (1Co 15:48; Eph 1:20; 2:6) However, even if it does, what of it? The point of Hebrews 11:1, 6 is that faith in God means not only believing in his existence but in his character as the one who alone is good and who will never betray our trust in his good nature.
This is not good enough for some. There are those, for instance, who discount the idea expressed in 2 Corinthians chapter 15 that Christians are resurrected with a spiritual body. "What would such spirits do after the 1,000 years have ended," they ask? "Where would they go? What purpose could they have?"
Not being able to find an adequate answer to such questions, they discount the possibility entirely. This is where humility and absolute trust in the good character of Jehovah God comes into play. This is what faith is.
Do we presume to know better than God what will make us truly happy? The Watchtower Society has for decades sold us a bill of goods that has us surviving Armageddon while everyone else dies, and then living in paradise for a thousand years. All humanity will live in idyllic peace and harmony for a 1,000 years during which time billions of unrighteous humans will be brought back to life. Somehow, these ones will not disturb the paradisaic nature of earth. Then, the cake walk will continue while Satan is released for an unspecified period of time in which he tempts and misleads countless millions or billions who will eventually war against the holy ones only to be consumed by fire. (Acts 24:15; Re 20:7-10) This is the reward to be preferred over what Jehovah has in store for faithful Christians.
Paul gives us this reassurance into which we can invest our faith:
“Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, neither have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” (1Co 2:9)
We can accept this and trust that whatever Jehovah has in store for those who love him, it will be better than anything we can imagine. Or we can put faith in the "artistic" renderings in the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses and hope they are not wrong yet again.
Me? I’ve had it with the illusions of men. I’ll go with whatever reward the Lord has in store and say, “Thank you very much. Let your will be done.”
_________________________________________
[i] Jehovah’s Witnesses shorthand to described the door-to-door preaching ministry
Archived Comments
We have moved to the Disqus commenting system. To post a new comment, go to the bottom of this page.
Comment by Buster on 2015-07-14 19:15:14
Great write up , you know when they use likely, possibly, maybe, our understanding, that is the moment you tell your self yup they are just adding there own words. Amazing, I can't wait to point these things out at the kingdom hall, cause I will do so. :). .... Most Likely I Will
Comment by Wild Olive on 2015-07-14 23:46:59
Another fine article that clarified faith.
After I had my awakening from the "truth",I now find the idea of millions perishing to make way for others "to have that nice house" repulsive !
I know too many people who live good and right for God to arbitrarily destroy them , amongst that group are quite a few Moslems.
The focus on what can be seen with the eye continues without let up from the visible organization/ golden calf,I hope Jehovah will have mercy on them for their blindness.
Comment by Skye on 2015-07-15 03:51:43
The Good News of the Kingdom of God.
What God originally intended in the beginning, he is going to bring about in the end. Between Genesis and Revelation through the prophets in the OT and echoed by Jesus, Paul and the NT, God tells us what the Kingdom is going to be like.
Comment by Katrina on 2015-07-15 07:07:28
This is the third time this article has been a study article in the past three or four years, many JW are growing old, hang in there even if you are old and may die, those of ancient times never saw the promise but had faith.
For many older JW they were always told you will never grow old and die in this system.
Comment by father jack on 2015-07-15 12:58:06
You have highlighted the very reason I wanted out they are trying to make the bible fit their preconceived ideas . I realised this when I stepped off the Watchtower / Elder treadmill ferrous wheel thing and I actually had the time to read the bible properly and in context . The more I sat at the meetings the more I could see there were very few who understood and taught the true meaning of the verses . The strange thing is as you said meleti many just pass that off as just different interpretation but it's not as if a lot of the verses are difficult to understand even the simplest of verses are taken wildly out of context and given and interpretation that's so obviously wrong . It's a poor show and the conclusion I have come to is that the brothers /sisters are not so much bible students but Watchtower students . Thanks for your review .
Comment by Chris on 2015-07-15 20:29:00
CT Russell taught that Jesus only offered one hope to his follower: Heaven. He never offered any other Hope to them. We have to rightly devide the word of truth. Jehovah's Witnesses use promises to those in the Jewish Age and apply them to the followers in the Gospel Age. This is why they bring you to Psalms 37:29 to prove that the "righteous shall inherit the earth and live forever upon it." "There is one faith ONE HOPE one baptism." Not 2 hopes. Yes there will be people on earth: Ancient Worthies and restored mankind. But Jesus never offered this to any of his followers never. Even Matthew 5:5 (blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth) is speaking of those who will inherit the earth to rule over in heaven. If you look at the surrounding verses they are "the kingdom of the heaven belongs to them" , "their reward is great in the heaven" and "will he called sons of God". These are all heavenly promises not earthly.
Reply by on 2015-07-15 21:10:44
Revelation 5:10 says that the kings and priests will rule ON the earth. Only the NWT and Darby's translation say "over". The Greek word rendered "on" or "upon" in nearly all versions is "epi", a word that means "on" when it refers to a physical location, and only means "over" when it pertains to wielding authority over others. Being "over" the earth in an administrative sense does not require the kings and priests to be literally over the earth in a physical sense. So the kings have authority over people, but they exercise that authority on earth.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-07-16 07:53:07
It certainly fits with the way Jesus did things, appearing to his disciples to give them instructions before leaving. Then he left and went to heaven to be with his Father and every illustration he gave in that regard depicts him as being absent. A ruler cannot be absent and rule, so it doesn't fit that Christ and those with him during his heavenly rule will be far away in heaven instead of hands-on on the earth.
Reply by Chris on 2015-07-19 19:45:24
I do agree that it will rule on but if you look at the Greek it is definitely a possibility that it means over. However, Rev 7,14 state that the rule on mount zion. If you're going to confine them to the mount Zion on earth then they not corrects. 144,000 will not fit. However, the bible says that mount Zion is in heaven. Hebrews 12:22, Psalms 2:6. says that Mount Zion is in heaven. And the 144,000 stand on mount Sion in Rev 14:1 Also, how do these rule as kings a priests on Christ's throne? Christ's throne is not on earth. It's he thrones Gid that Jesus sits on which is in heaven. Rev 3:21
Reply by Wild Olive on 2015-07-16 04:02:13
To add to your comment Chris,the Hebrew word translated earth at Psl 37:29 doesn't mean the planet earth, it means the land or territory where a person originates from,which to a Hebrew meant his allotment in the land of Israel,translated literally misleads the reader, it should be as the KJV renders it "land" not earth, the GB use this mistranslation to bolster their paradise earth apostasy,on top of that, all those verses in the OT are addressed to Israelites who were in a covenanted arrangement with Jehovah,something which all the other sheep don't have, to then apply these verses to them creates a doctrinal conundrum,how can you apply bible verses that were addressed to people in a covenant and then later apply them to people who aren't?
Also on the matter of the "earthly hope", we get constant counsel to "imagine " what life will be like in paradise. Why does a person need to imagine what Holy Spirit bears witness too?.It has to be imagined because it is an imaginary hope, via the judge.Reply by Zua on 2015-07-16 07:15:57
On this point, even the Revised New World Translation acknowledges it, on Psalm 37:3, which reads on footnote: “Or “land.””. My question is: why doesn’t this footnote appear in Psalm 37:29, since it refers to the same word mentioned in the same chapter? The subtle omission of this footnote on verse 29 is in fact misleading.
Reply by Skye on 2015-07-16 10:35:01
To be restored under the Kingdom of God.
The land. Rulership by God with Jesus Christ as King on earth. Our relationship with God.
Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
Reply by on 2015-07-16 21:26:26
It is true that a majority of translations render the word here as "land", but it has the same or similar word appearing in other OT verses over a 100 times, and the vast majority of those cases has it as "earth", with a few as "land" or "ground".
In view of that, it would seem that this verse requires further research before proclaiming we know for certain, (1) if the correct rendering is "earth" or "land", and (2) whether that choice has any meaningful distinction. That is, supposing the right word is land, and not earth, how does the Bible's promise therein substantively change? Or is it a distinction without a difference?
We might note that the NWT makes many, many references to 'the productive land'. But, 'productive land' at its simplest is just dirt or topsoil. Is the Bible singing the praises of good topsoil, or did it have something else in mind?Reply by Skye on 2015-07-17 06:15:10
Rom 4:12 "It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world ....
Paul "inheritance of the world"
Jesus "inheritance of the earth" (Matt 5:5)
Gen 12:7 "The Lord appeared to Abraham and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land (Palestine)'"
Gen 17,7,8
All Christians are spiritual offspring of Abraham (Gal 3:29), and therefore, with Abraham "heirs of the world." This is because the covenant promise to Abraham guaranteed him the land forever.
I don't mean any disrespect, but I sometimes think that the result of being a JW for many years is that we may tend to continue to view the scriptures as to meaning something different from what they actually say, and perhaps that is one reason why some continually debate what this means and what that means. I think it's when we completely break away from the JW Organisation, their publications and teachings, and concentrate on studying the Bible that everything begins to fall into place.
Reply by Wild Olive on 2015-07-17 19:35:49
There are 3 words in Hebrew translated earth
1) Kadur aharets= ball of soil= the planet earth
2) adamah = soil/ dirt
3)erets= land /territory
I think it's pretty clear there is no doubt what's meant
Reply by Skye on 2015-07-18 05:07:42
Therefore the promise of Jesus in Matthew 5:5 "The meek are to inherit the earth/land".
Abraham and his seed have not yet inherited the land/earth. Acts 7:5 "He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child."
Abraham will have to be resurrected in order for him to inherit the Kingdom/land. In Hebrews 11:8 it says that Abraham and his offspring once lived in the promised land, but in verses 13 and 39 it says that these faithful in the OT "all died, not having yet received what had been promised."
This promise made to Abraham continues throughout the Bible.
Reply by Chris on 2015-07-19 19:47:33
Yes. This is in the Jewish dispenSation which is the land promised to Abraham. The Jews are being restored there even today.
Comment by Truthseeker on 2015-07-15 22:34:25
Thank-you for this article! It has proven to be just what I needed to hear, and has allayed certain of my own personal fears, which I see now were created by the use of very artful eisegesis that has managed to stick with me over the years, clouding my understanding of the real meaning of passages I have read many times. I don't know why it's so hard to shake certain ideas once they've been planted, and yet so easy to see the truth when someone lays it all out for you.
Reply by Jenn on 2015-07-19 11:03:07
It's called indoctrination.
Comment by omionmen on 2015-07-17 04:44:23
"This understanding would mean that Christians inherit the promise made to Abraham, but Abraham himself is denied that promise.
“Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.” (Ga 3:29)
However, is that logical? More important, is it what the Bible actually teaches? Can the redeeming quality of Jesus as mediator permitting the adoption of humans as God’s children not be applied retroactively? Were these faithful men of old just unlucky for being born too soon?"
I have long pondered over this thought. Faithful men like Moses, Elijah, Abraham not inheriting the Kingdom of the heavens just because they died before Christ? To me that will b unfair and injustice considering their outstanding faith. That would be just unfortunate to be born too soon.
Since the ransom is applied retroactively as Rom 3: 25,26 says,
"God presented him as an offering for propitiation through faith in his blood.This was to demonstrate his own righteousness, because God in his forbearance was forgiving the sins that occurred in the past. This was to demonstrate his own righteousness in this present season, so that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous the man who has faith in Jesus.".
I am of the believe that heavenly inheritance is.
Comment by yobec on 2015-07-17 10:27:36
Thanks Meleti for pointing out that Moses put faith in "the Christ". I must have read that scripture over and over again and never really gave it much thought.
Now I am wondering, if Paul stating that those who have died in union with Christ will rise first, might actually apply to the likes of Moses. Thought provoking indeed.
Comment by Alien resident on 2015-07-17 17:41:13
Thanks Meleti, I'm not one for speculation and assumption either, compelling reasoning, good question re:Abraham & like the point we walk by faith not sight. It's great that Jehovah has wonderful things in stored for men and women of faith. The bible has plenty of direction to get through today and be happily surprised and Gods gifts in the future.
Comment by on 2015-07-18 12:48:51
"In Hebrews 11:8 it says that Abraham and his offspring once lived in the promised land, but in verses 13 and 39 it says that these faithful in the OT “all died, not having yet received what had been promised.”
In a manner of speaking, Abraham DID receive his promise, and so did the nation of Israel. But, they only received it temporarily. If someone gives you an inheritance of land, but eventually your life is taken from you, what good is your inheritance - to you, that is? It helps your descendants, if you have any, but it doesn't do a thing for you.
So what was the "promise"? Not just to inherit the land, but to LIVE on their inheritance. That's way they could be said to have not received it - because, "in faith, all these died". The land given to Abraham's descendants (or other suitable land, as God could choose to provide) is still here - but Abraham is not.
That is what is most important - not the question of whether it's the whole earth or a parcel of land given as an inheritance to faithful people - it is LIFE ITSELF that is the promise, the hope of living on the land/earth without eventually dying.Reply by Skye on 2015-07-18 13:51:10
That's why Jesus died and was resurrected in order that we can have everlasting life and therefore all the promises about the Kingdom throughout the Hebrew Bible will be fulfilled.
Comment by agapeheartvisions on 2015-07-19 08:02:48
Reblogged this on agapeheartvisions and commented:
Having been a baptized Jehovah's Witness since 1992, and inactive since 2012, with many periods of doubt and uncertainty between times, I truly appreciate this article.Recently, my husband has been following and attempting to encourage me to follow the teachings of the Hebrew Israelites. After much research, I find myself led right back to Beroean Pickets. I cannot and indeed will not base my beliefs on the basis of racial inferiority/superiority or on the whims of humans. I serve a timeless God; Jehovah or Yahweh if you wish, and I embrace all humanity who loves Him and His son Jesus/Yashua as Messiah as my brothers and sisters, irregardless of race, creed or color. Agape,
LaRhonda T.Reply by on 2015-07-19 11:40:25
Every Christian should seriously meditate on Acts 10 (God is not partial) and Acts 17 (God made from one man every nation of men). After a consideration of these passages, no person could claim to be Christian and yet harbor racial prejudice at the same time. Such a course would be unscriptural, hypocritical and inexcusable.
Reply by Mailman on 2015-07-19 20:29:12
Dear Sister, I got baptized December 1991 close to a year before you were baptized. Still active though until now. Nevertheless, I truly appreciate this site for spiritual food far more sumptuous and delightful than what WT offers specifically on major areas of our faith. :)
Comment by humiliore on 2015-07-19 15:04:24
Thank you for this encouraging review. Reading this article really made me angry, as if we've been reduced to self-dilution in order to keep up this brand of faith. However your write up affirmed my belief that we may not know what exactly Jesus has in store, and that right now it shouldn't be our prime motivation. Thank you again brother!
Comment by on 2015-07-20 16:27:12
It's this thing about our being Jehovah's "friends" and not actual "sons", (which includes sisters). When I pray on behalf of the congregation I try to limit the use of the name Jehovah. Not because i don't want to, but because I consider myself a son of God who would never disrespect his father by calling him by his first name.
Reply by on 2015-07-20 20:10:29
It is notable that in 1 Kings 8, Solomon is praying on behalf of Israel at the inauguration of the temple, and he uses the name Jehovah in his prayer (NWT). Solomon was not counseled by the priests for showing disrespect to God, a thing they surely would have done if Solomon have overstepped his bounds by the language he used.
Showing respect for God is certainly no trivial matter, but we must be careful not to insert man-made rules and assumptions about what is and is not respectful. We must look to the scriptures for examples of persons having God's approval, and observe how they behaved.
Having said that, it does seem that the NT has placed emphasis on the term Father rather than God's name from the OT. While there is nothing wrong with using Jehovah or Yahweh in a respectful way, evidently the prospect of being approved as a son of God is just as important, or perhaps more so, than using YHVH in prayerful address and in other ways.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-07-20 20:30:41
The difference between Solomon and us (or the first century Christians for that matter) is that the sacred secret had yet to be revealed in his day. The means by which men got the authority to be called God's children was not yet available. (John 1:12) Hence, you don't find any of the OT men referring to God in prayer as their father.
True, Jehovah referred to himself as the one who would become Solomon's father, and he his son, but it was in a figurative way, as when Jesus said to Mary about John, "Woman, see! Your son!" (John 19:26, 27)
Granted, Jehovah is also our God, so using his name isn't disrespectful, but using it to the exclusion of the unique and intimate term we have been given the authority to use does imply a lack of appreciation for the undeserved kindness of God. After all, anyone has the authority to call him God or Jehovah, but only those putting faith in Jesus can rightfully call him Father.
Witnesses often treat the divine name as some sort of talisman or invocation. I've heard it used a dozen times in a single prayer that the congregation.
I have worked hard at breaking myself of the habit of saying "Our Father, Jehovah..." in prayers, because besides being redundant, it seems to me to imply a lack of intimacy which the simple phrase, "Our Father..." evokes.
Comment by Samaritan Woman on 2015-07-21 00:43:23
Meleti
I have the unfortunate task of attending the KH this weekend with my mom who is visiting. I will definitely need to steal a few of your points for a comment.
Comment by WT Study: Imitate the One Who Promises Everlasting Life | Beroean Pickets on 2015-07-21 01:10:46
[…] While not strictly on topic, I think it will be beneficial to take a little side trip to continue our topic of last week’s study. […]