A few weeks ago, I got the results of a CAT scan in which it was revealed that the aortic valve in my heart has created a dangerous aneurysm. Four years ago, and only six weeks after my wife passed away from cancer, I had open-heart surgery—specifically, a Bentall procedure—to replace a defective heart valve and to deal with an aortic aneurysm, a condition I had inherited from my mother’s side of the family. I opted for a pig’s valve as a replacement, because I didn’t want to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life, something required for an artificial heart valve. Unfortunately, the replacement valve is liquifying—a very rare circumstance in which the valve loses structural consistency. In short, it could blow at any time.
So, on May 7th, 2021, which is the date I also plan to release this video, I’ll be back under the knife getting a new type of tissue valve. The doctor is very confident that the operation will be a success. He is one of the leading surgeons for this type of heart surgery here in Canada. I am very optimistic that the outcome will be favorable, but regardless of what happens I am not worried. If I survive, I get to continue to do this work which has given my life so much meaning. On the other hand, if I fall asleep in death, I will be with Christ. That is the hope that sustains me. I am speaking subjectively, of course, as was Paul in 62 C.E. when he was languishing in prison in Rome and wrote, “For in my case to live is Christ, and to die, gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
We tend not to think too much about our own mortality until it is forced upon us. I have a very good friend who has been incredibly supportive of me, especially since the time of my wife’s passing. He has suffered a great deal in his own life, and in part due to that, he is an atheist. I would joke with him that if he is right and I am wrong, he’ll never get to say, “I told you so.” However, if I am the one who is right, then upon his resurrection, I will most definitely tell him, “I told you so”. Of course, given the circumstances, I doubt very much he will mind.
From my previous experience going under anesthesia, I won’t realize exactly when I fall asleep. From that point, until I awaken, no time will have passed from my point of view. I will either wake up inside a recovery room in the hospital, or Christ will be standing before me to welcome me back. If the latter, then I will have the added blessing of being with my friends, because, whether Jesus returns tomorrow, or a year from now, or 100 years from now, we will all be together. And more than that, lost friends from the past as well as family members who passed on before me, will also be there. So, I can understand why Paul would say, “to live is Christ, and to die, gain.”
The point is that speaking subjectively, the time span between your death and your rebirth with Christ is non-existent. Objectively, it may be hundreds or even thousands of years, but to you, it will be instantaneous. That helps us to understand a controversial passage in Scripture.
As Jesus was dying on the cross, one of the criminals repented and said, “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.”
Jesus replied to that man saying, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
That is how the New International Version renders Luke 23:43. However Jehovah’s Witnesses translate the verse this way, moving the comma to the other side of the word “today” and thus changing the meaning of Jesus’ words: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.”
There were no commas in ancient Greek, so it is up to the translator to decide where to put them and all other punctuation marks. Almost every version of the Bible, puts the comma in front of “today”.
I think the New World Translation has it wrong and all the other versions have it right, but not for the reason the translators think. I believe that religious bias guides them, because the majority believe in an immortal soul and in the Trinity. Hence the body of Jesus and the body of the criminal died, but their souls lived on, Jesus as God, of course. I don’t believe in the Trinity nor in an immortal soul as I’ve discussed in other videos, because I take Jesus’ words at face value when he says,
“. . .For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.” (Matthew 12:40)
In that case, why do I think the New World Translation has the placed the comma incorrectly?
Was Jesus just being emphatic, as they assume? I don’t think so, and here’s why.
Jesus is never recorded as saying, “truly I tell you today”, as a form of emphasis. He says, “truly I tell you”, or “truly I say” about 50 times in Scripture, but he never adds any kind of temporal qualifier. You and I might do that if we’re trying to convince somebody of something we’re going to do that we failed to do before. If your mate tells you, “You promised to do that before, but you didn’t do it.” You might reply with something like, “Well, I’m telling you now that I’m going to do it.” The “now” is a temporal qualifier used to try to convince your mate that this time things will be different. But Jesus is never recorded doing that. He says, “truly I say” many times in Scripture, but he never adds “today”. He has no need to.
I think – and this is just speculation admittedly, but so is everyone else’s interpretation of this – I think that Jesus was speaking from the point of view of the criminal. Even in all his suffering and anguish, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, he could still dig deep and say something motivated by love and guided by the immense wisdom that he alone possessed. Jesus knew that the criminal would die shortly but would not go into some afterlife of hell such as the pagan Greeks taught and so many of the Jews of the time also believed. Jesus knew that from the criminal’s point of view, he would be in paradise that very day. There would be no gap in time between the moment of his death and the moment of his resurrection. What would he care that all of humanity would see thousands of years go by? All that would matter to the him was that his suffering was almost over and his salvation was imminent.
Jesus didn’t have the time nor the energy to explain all the intricacies of life, death, and the resurrection to the repentant man dying next to him. In one short sentence, Jesus told the criminal all he needed to know to put his mind at rest. That man saw Jesus die, then shortly afterwards, the soldiers came and broke his legs so that the full weight of his body would hang from his arms causing him to suffocate to death quickly. From his point of view, the time between his last breath on the cross and his first breath in paradise would be instantaneous. He would close his eyes, and then open them again to see Jesus extending a hand to raise him up, perhaps saying, “Didn’t I just tell you that today you would be with me in paradise?”
Natural people have trouble accepting this point of view. When I say “natural”, I’m referring to Paul’s use of the phrase in his letter to the Corinthians:
“The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, 15 Beroean Study Bible)
The word translated here as “natural” is /psoo-khee-kós/ psuchikos in Greek meaning “animal, natural, sensuous” relating to “physical (tangilble) life alone (i.e. apart from God’s inworking of faith)” (HELPS Word-studies)
There is a negative connotation to the word in Greek which is not conveyed in English by “natural” which is usually viewed in a positive light. Perhaps a better rendering would be “carnal” or “fleshly”, the carnal man or the fleshly man.
Carnal people are quick to criticize the God of the Old Testament because they cannot reason spiritually. To the carnal man, Jehovah is wicked and cruel because he destroyed the world of mankind in the flood, wiped out the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from heaven, ordered the genocide of all the Canaanites, and took the life of King David and Bathsheba’s newborn baby.
The carnal man will judge God as if he were a man with the limitations of a man. If you are going to be so presumptuous as to pass judgment on almighty God, then recognize him as God with the power of God, and all the universal responsibility of God, both to his human children and to his celestial family of angels. Do not judge him as if he were limited like you and I are.
Let me illustrate it to you this way. Do you think that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment? Are you one of those people who thinks that a lifetime in prison is a kinder form of punishment then taking a man’s life by lethal injection?
From a carnal or fleshly point of view, a man’s point of view, that may make sense. But again, if you truly believe in God, you have to see things from God’s point of view. Are you a Christian? Do you truly believe in salvation? If so, then consider this. If you were the one facing the option of either 50 years in a prison cell followed by death of old age, and someone gave you the option of accepting immediate death by lethal injection, which would you take?
I would take lethal injection in a New York minute, because death is life. Death is the doorway to a better life. Why languish in a prison cell for 50 years, then die, then be resurrected to a better life, when you could die immediately and get there without suffering for 50 years in prison?
I’m not advocating for the death penalty nor am I against it. I don’t get involved in the politics of this world. I’m only trying to make a point about our salvation. We need to see things from God’s point of view if are going to understand life, death, the resurrection, and our salvation.
To explain that better, I’m going to get a little “sciency” on you, so please bear with me.
Have you ever noticed how some of your appliances hum? Or when you’re walking down the street by a power transformer up on a pole feeding your house with electricity, have you heard the hum it makes? That hum is the result of electrical current alternating back and forth 60 times a second. It goes in one direction, then goes in the other direction, over and over, 60 times a second. The human ear can hear sounds as low as 20 Cycles per second or as we now call them Hertz, 20 Hertz. No, it has nothing to do with the car rental agency. Most of us can easily hear something vibrating at 60 Hz.
So, when an electrical current runs through a wire, we can hear it. It also creates a magnetic field. We all know what a magnet is. Whenever there is an electrical current, there is a magnetic field. Nobody knows why. It just is.
Am I boring you yet? Bear with me, I’m almost at the point. What happens if you increase the frequency, of that current, so that the number of times that current alternates back-and-forth goes from 60 times a second to, say, 1,050,000 time a second. What you get, at least here in Toronto is CHUM AM radio 1050 on the radio dial. Let’s say you raise the frequency even higher, to 96,300,000 Hertz, or cycles per second. Well, you would be listening to my favourite classical music station, 96.3 FM “beautiful music for a crazy world”.
But let’s go higher. Let’s go up to 450 trillion Hertz on the electromagnetic spectrum. When the frequency gets that high, you begin to see the color red. Pump it up to 750 trillion Hertz, and you see the color blue. Go higher, and you don’t see it anymore but it’s still there. You get Ultraviolet light that gives you that beautiful sun tan, if you don’t stay out too long. Even higher frequencies produce x-rays, gamma rays. The point is that all of this is on the same electromagnetic spectrum, the only thing that changes is the frequency, the number of times it goes back and forth.
Until recently, a little over 100 years ago, the carnal man only saw the tiny part that we call light. He was unaware of all the rest of it. Then scientists built devices that could detect and produce radio waves, x-rays, and everything in between.
We now believe in things we cannot see with our eyes or feel with our other senses, because scientists have given us the means to perceive these things. Well, Jehovah God is the source of all knowledge, and the word “science” is derived from the Greek word for knowledge. Therefore, Jehovah God is the source of all science. And what we can perceive of the world and the universe even with our devices is still a tiny, infinitesimally small part of the reality that is out there but beyond our grasp. If God, who is greater than any scientist, tells us something is there, the spiritual man listens and understands. But the carnal man refuses to do so. The carnal man sees with eyes of flesh, but the spiritual man sees with eyes of faith.
Let’s try to look at some of the things God has done that to the carnal man seems as so cruel and evil.
Regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, we read,
“. . .and by reducing the cities Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them, setting a pattern for ungodly persons of things to come;” (2 Peter 2:6)
For reasons God understands better than any of us, he has allowed wickedness to exist for thousands of years. He has a timetable. He will not allow anything to slow it down or speed it up. If he had not confused the languages at Babel, civilization would have advanced too quickly. If he had allowed gross, widespread sin like that practiced in Sodom and Gomorrah to go unchallenged, civilization would have become corrupted again as it was in the pre-flood era.
Jehovah God has not allowed humanity to go its own way for thousands of years on a whim. He has a purpose to all of this. He is a loving father. Any father who loses his children wants only to get them back. When Adam and Eve rebelled, they were thrown out of the family of God. But Jehovah, being the foremost of all fathers, only wants his children back. So, everything he does is ultimately with that goal in mind. At Genesis 3:15, he prophesied about the development of two seeds or genetic lines. Eventually, one seed would dominate the other, eliminating it entirely. That was the seed or offspring of the woman that had God’s blessing and through which all things would be restored.
At the time of the flood, that seed had been almost eliminated. There were only eight individuals in the whole world still forming part of that seed. If the seed had been lost, all humanity would have been lost. Never again would God allow humanity to go so far astray as in the pre-flood world. So, when those in Sodom and Gomorrah were duplicating the wickedness of the pre-flood age, God put a stop to it as an object lesson for all generations that followed.
Still, the carnal man will claim that is cruel because they never had a chance to repent. Is this God’s idea of acceptable losses, collateral damage to the greater mission? No, Jehovah is not a man that he is limited in that way.
Most of the electromagnetic spectrum is undetectable to our physical senses, yet it exists. When someone we love dies, all we can see is the loss. They are no more. But God sees things beyond what we can see. We need to start looking at things through his eyes. I cannot see radio waves, but I know they exist because I have a device called a radio that can pick them up and translate them into sound. The spiritual man has a similar device. It’s called faith. With eyes of faith, we can see things that are hidden to the carnal man. Using eyes of faith, we can see that all those who have died, have not really died. This was the truth that Jesus taught to us when Lazarus died. When Lazarus was seriously ill, his two sisters, Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus:
“Lord, see! the one you have affection for is sick.” But when Jesus heard it, he said: “This sickness is not meant to end in death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. However, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he actually remained in the place where he was for two more days.” (John 11:3-6)
Sometimes we can get ourselves in a lot of trouble when we get hyper-literal. Notice that Jesus said this sickness is not meant to end in death. But it did. Lazarus did die. So, what did Jesus mean? Carrying on in John:
“After he said these things, he added: “Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep, but I am traveling there to awaken him.” The disciples then said to him: “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get well.” Jesus, however, had spoken about his death. But they imagined he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly: “Lazarus has died, and I rejoice for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”” (John 11:11-15)
Jesus knew that the death of Lazarus was going to cause his two sisters great suffering. Yet, he remained in place. He didn’t cure him at distance nor did he leave immediately to heal him. He set the lesson he was about to teach them and indeed all his disciples as of far greater value than that suffering. It would be nice if we never had to suffer at all, but the reality of life is that often it is only through suffering that great things are achieved. For us as Christians, it is only through suffering that we are refined and made worthy of the greater prize being offered to us. So, we look at such suffering as inconsequential when compared with the overwhelming value of eternal life. But there’s another lesson that we can take from what Jesus taught us about the death of Lazarus in this case.
He compares death to sleep.
The men and women of Sodom and Gomorrah died by God’s hand abruptly. However, if he hadn’t acted they would have grown old and died in any case. We all die. And we all die at God’s hand whether it be directly by, for instance, fire from heaven; or indirectly, because of the condemnation of death upon Adam and Eve which we have inherited, and which came from God.
By faith we accept Jesus understanding of death. Death is like being asleep. We spend one third of our lives unconscious and yet none of us regret that. In fact, we often look forward to sleep. We don’t consider ourselves to have died while we are asleep. We are simply unaware of the world around us. We wake up in the morning, turn on the TV or radio, and try to find out what happened while we were asleep.
The men and women of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Canaanites who were wiped out when Israel invaded their land, those who died in the flood, and yes, that baby of David and Bathsheba’s – all of them will wake up again. That baby for instance. Will it have any memory of having died? Do you have any memory of life as a baby? It will only know the life it has in paradise. Yes, he missed out on life in the turbulent family of David with all the misery that went with it. He will now enjoy a far better life. The only ones who suffered by that baby’s death were David and Bathsheba who were responsible for much misery and deserved what they got.
The point I’m trying to make with all of this is that we have to stop looking at life with carnal eyes. We have to stop thinking that what we see is all there is. As we continue our study of the Bible we will come to see that there is two of everything. There are two seeds warring with each other. There are the forces of light and the forces of darkness. There is good, there is evil. There is the flesh, and there is the spirit. There are two types of death, there are two types of life; there are two types of resurrection.
As for the two types of death, there is the death you can wake up from which Jesus describes as being asleep, and there is the death you cannot awake from, which is called the second death. The second death means total destruction of body and soul as if consumed by fire.
Since there are two types of death, it follows that there should be two types of life. At 1 Timothy 6:19, the apostle Paul counsels Timothy to “get a firm hold on the ‘real life.’”
If there is a real life, then there must also be a fake or false one, by contrast.
As there are two types of death, and two types of life, there are also two types of resurrection.
Paul spoke of the resurrection of the righteous, and another of the unrighteous.
“I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15 New Living Translation)
Obviously, Paul would be part of the resurrection of the righteous. I’m sure that the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah killed by God with fire from heaven will be in the resurrection of the unrighteous.
Jesus also spoke of two resurrections but he worded it differently, and his wording teaches us a great deal about death and life and about the hope of the resurrection.
In our next video, we’re going to use Jesus’ words regarding life and death and resurrection to try to answer the following questions:
- Are the people we think are dead, really dead?
- Are the people we think are alive, really alive?
- Why are there two resurrections?
- Who comprises the first resurrection?
- What will they do?
- When will it occur?
- Who make up the second resurrection?
- What will be their fate?
- When will it occur?
Every Christian religion claims to have solved these riddles. In fact, most have found some pieces to the puzzle, but each has also corrupted the truth with the doctrines of men. So no religion that I have studied gets salvation right. That should not surprise any of us. Organized religion is hampered by its main goal which is to gather followers. If you are going to sell a product, you have to have something the other guy doesn’t have. Followers mean money and power. Why should I give my money and my time to any particular organized religion if they’re selling the same product as the next guy? They have to sell something unique, something the next guy doesn’t have, something that appeals to me. Yet the message of the Bible is one and it is universal. So, religions have to change that message with their own personal doctrinal interpretation to hook in followers.
If everyone just followed Jesus as leader, we would have only one church or congregation: Christianity. If you are here with me, then I hope you share my goal which is to never again follow men, and instead follow only the Christ.
In the next video, we’ll start to tackle the questions I’ve just listed. I look forward to it. Thank you for being on this journey with me and thank you for your ongoing support.
Archived Comments
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Comment by PierrotSud on 2021-05-08 11:09:59
Eric, I am thinking of you for your heavy operation!
Excuse me but we want you to wake up, we like your light on the Truth!
So stay with us!
But as you say, even if something tragic happens to you, you will wake up to Jesus.
Thank you for your clear and sincere explanations.
Have a good awakening and take some time for yourself !
Sincerely!
PierreReply by Naomi on 2021-05-08 15:14:23
Just want to say, I love your expressions. Beautiful
Comment by Beroeans Creed on 2021-05-08 11:16:51
Eric I’m confident you came through the surgery and will make a full recovery as I’m just as confident Jehovah is not finished with your ministry and comfort you bring too so many JW refugees.
This article is proof, and should be the type “spiritual meat” being served from those who claim to be the FDS.
Looking forward to the next video in the series!Reply by Naomi on 2021-05-08 15:15:41
Wonderfully expressed. I totally agree with Your sentiments.
Comment by louabbott on 2021-05-07 08:21:17
Our prayers are that your surgery will be a complete success, for selfish reasons. We want your find mind and great work to continue with us!
Reply by MarthaMartha on 2021-05-07 08:59:54
I also send my best wishes.
Louabbott, perhaps you can help me. I am unable to view the YouTube video as a message comes up saying it’s private. Do you have any suggestions for me to be able to see it?Reply by MarthaMartha on 2021-05-07 10:24:22
It’s sorted now, thank you.
Comment by hirdy46 on 2021-05-07 10:18:46
Thoughts and prayers are with you
Really encouraging material you have given us - I get it
Our loss would be your gain
Hoping you can stay a little longer as you are a very insightful person like James and the other good people at meetings
May God our Father keep and love you always ?Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2021-05-17 17:36:12
Thank you so much. It seems the Lord heard the prayers of many. I'm thankful for that.
Comment by Zacheus on 2021-05-08 03:30:28
wish you all the best in your surgery.
a Big hug!
Live well and prosper!
Comment by Naomi on 2021-05-08 08:22:24
Eric, you are in our prayers concerning your recovery From this serious surgery. We just learned of this today so we’re assuming hopefully that you are now in the recovery process. This lesson you posted yesterday for all of our sake, is exactly the subject matter we are endeavoring to understand more clearly. We pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help us in understanding these deeper things, to have a clearer hope for the future. I am so looking forward to your future discussions on this subject & the answers to those questions you listed. These are the same questions I have been searching the scriptures for answers. Please take the necessary time to rest & let your body heal from this surgery. We need you, Eric!
Comment by Philologos on 2021-05-22 22:28:49
Great news! Eric, I am glad that each day you are getting stronger.
Comment by katrina on 2021-05-23 08:03:52
Great news Eric!!
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2021-06-08 03:25:05
Hi Eric. no comment, but I cannot get in to comment on your main judicial article which currently shows no comments, so I presume it is not just me.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2021-06-08 16:05:00
I am not sure why that article does not allow comments. I have a ticket open with the IT people to find out what's going on.
Reply by Ad_Lang on 2021-06-10 13:26:59
Same for me. I did notice at some point that there was some security issue with a plugin and it was temporarily disabled. Perhaps that has something to do with it.
Comment by safeguardyourheart on 2021-05-08 12:09:33
Looking forward to your recovery and God's help on the those handling the medical procedure too.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2021-05-17 17:35:12
Thank you so much
Comment by Latecomer20 on 2021-05-08 13:40:22
Hi Eric, if you're reading this, you made it through your surgery. Take some time and get well. Of course we are anxious for Part 2 of Saving Humanity, but we can wait. Your video is very timely as it addresses a fundamental understanding. Recently I've been focused on what happens when we die and where are we until resurrection (asleep in death in the grave/Sheol is my understanding). As I read my way through the Bible with an aim of baptism perhaps this summer, I am exposing myself to a broad range of biblical thought including Beroean Pickets as I attempt to walk the path that leads through the narrow gate to life. I do listen to mainstream Christian AM radio while I'm working listening to various pastors (some living, some dead) but am cognizant of the mainstream dogma/teachings of men slipped into these sermons such as the Trinity, Jesus being Almighty God, everyone that's not saved are going to Hell and of course going to Heaven immediately after death, to name a few. I'm not finding the type of clarity you bring to the table and deeply appreciate your body of work here on BP and look forward to each new article or video from you and the team of contributors. Thank you Eric!
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2021-05-09 04:49:23
Eric,
May I wish you all the best in your recovery from your surgery. I have been reading the stuff you (and those who have assisted) have produced on this site since 2015, and it is impossible to underestimate how much you have helped me see things as they really are. You have helped me reason properly, so much so that my wife is in a similar position now. You have encouraged me to dig properly, to not let go until truth has been found, and not to put my trust in men, at least not until I have proved they are trustworthy, a lesson I wish I had learned many years ago. I cannot thank you enough, and, dangerous as it may be (We still have unawakened family members), I am now able to speak very freely about scriptural truth with some former friends, who are still in, and even some who were not particularly friends.
I do not know where you get the ability to put these things across so well, but if there was ever evidence of God's backing, it is here.
As I said, I cannot thank you enough for all you have already done, and expect to find in the future.
God's blessing be with you.
LJ
Comment by Bobcat on 2021-05-09 06:53:48
Wishing (and praying) for all the best Eric.
Has anyone heard any news about how Eric is doing?Reply by Wendy Wiens on 2021-05-13 15:10:45
Hello Bobcat, I have learned that Eric is doing very well and deeply appreciates our prayers. He is now recovering well. He has been detached from the drainage tubes, heart monitor, medications given at surgery. He is up and walking, even without a walker for short distances and he should be able to go home from the hospital tomorrow or soon after. Thank you for your prayers. I am certain our loving Heavenly Father heard so many of our prayers and answered them!
Reply by Bobcat on 2021-05-16 17:38:29
Thank you Wendy.
Comment by Frankie on 2021-05-09 16:31:58
Thank you Eric for excellent video. The comma in Luke 23:43 is very well explained, as well as other things about carnal and spiritual points of view.
I pray for you. I hope you are OK and you woke up inside a recovery room in the hospital, because Philippians 1:21 is followed by other verses.
Yes, “to die is gain” .... but it is more necessary for us picketers that you will remain in the body and I hope that you will continue with all of us for our furtherance and the joy of faith (Philippians 1:24-25).
God bless you Eric.
Frankie
Comment by Kairaat on 2021-05-11 06:30:11
Dear Eric I hope your surgery was successful and you are recovering well. Thank you for all the videos. Upon awakening to the hypocrisy of the WTS, all your videos have helped me to know my Heavenly Father for who He really is i.e. LOVE and to honor my Lord Jesus as required by our Father. The opportunity to be with Christ in a group of an unknown number of people on the basis of just faith humbles me. So simple and such a generous gift from our Heaven Father. Thank you and see you soon..
Comment by MarthaMartha on 2021-05-11 17:28:48
I’m so glad to hear you are progressing in your recovery Eric. Sending love and greetings, rest and heal well. Many thanks for your work, I was remembering how I stumbled across your site just at right time for me to learn the truth. Your work was pivotal in my awakening.
Thank you, all the best from Chester UK.
Comment by Dorota on 2021-05-13 06:20:57
Eric, mam nadzieję, że wszystko w porządku. Razem z mężem oglądamy Twoje filmy i dyskutujemy o nich. Jesteśmy wybudzeniu od roku.
Czekamy z niecierpliwością na nowe
Comment by jujubean on 2021-05-14 23:38:38
I loved this explanation, that I always felt that the comma was off as to what Christ really meant for that man next to him... What if, is what I have always thought. Eric, your life is not finished, you have so much to offer and for individuals as myself, you, Jim and Wendy have been my lifesaver in this sea. May our heavenly Father continue to bless and I have no words what you are mean to me.
Agape.
Juju.
Comment by ZbigniewJan on 2021-05-16 18:50:05
Hello Eric !!!!
Your lecture was an elegant farewell. He was classy, calm and gentle nostalgic. I am very glad that you will have to work a little more on this goodbye. We are still waiting for you on this material earth with great anticipation. I envy You so many kind people praying for your recovery. I also do it all the time. We need you, you inspire us, you force us to think and act. I wish you much health, strength and joy in your service.
I am waiting!!!!!!Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2021-05-17 08:25:16
ZbigniewJan, thank you for your kind words. I got back home on Friday after eight days in the hospital. I'm posting a video explaining everything once I get a little stronger.
Reply by Domine Ivimus on 2021-05-17 17:41:04
Great news! Please take your time
Reply by Frankie on 2021-05-19 11:32:22
Thanks God. Eric, welcome again to your and our BP home!
Comment by Lydie on 2021-05-18 07:47:48
Meleti That's great news that you're already recovering at home.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2021-05-18 18:05:10
Each day I get a little stronger.
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2021-05-18 09:31:12
Absolutely fantastic, Eric ! So glad you have come through. Rounds of applause (and probably some thanks to the medics) from me !!.
Comment by Derek Shelley on 2023-10-13 07:03:32
Hello Eric,
Thank you for your reply. I note your humour, which reminded me of my garden broom for some reason. I've had that broom for forty years, new handles, new brush every few years, but had it, as I say for forty years.
Eric, I consider your videos on Saving Humanity to be in a realm of their own. The insight you show into this subject is, as far as i'm concerned, a masterpiece. Itgave me insight to something I had never knowingly thought about before, and yet it fitted somehow into a hole, just the correct size and shape in my scriptural enlightenment, which began with my new found freedon in November 2021.
My last thoughts on the placing of the comma, for what they are worth, is that most translations seem to be made by those who believe in the trinity? Thus by placing the comma before "today", it seems to make a case for the trinitarians to say, 'well of course Jesus said today, because the criminal entered to be with God. Even though God the Son was dead for three days, the criminal was with God the father, so all is accurate, and as written'. Thus the comma would be placed where it will be of full use to them.
Whereas placed where the New World Translation puts it, to my mind, dampens the trinitarian's fire, and seemingly adds weight to delay of Jesus being dead for three days and then the time it took, maybe, to receive the Kingdom, and for the resurrections to take place. Thanks Eric for the wonderful ability to be able to discuss such thrilling things with a fellow 'free' Christian, and one who like myself hopes to be included in the first resurrection. Apologies if this post seems garbled or lacking punctuation, but there was a problem my end with writing this
Comment by Derek Shelley on 2023-10-02 07:05:56
Dear Eric,
I find your videos extremely thought provoking. I gues that is one of your aims.
Concerning your comments of the placement of the comma in the scenario of Jesus statement to the man impaled near him. Does it matter particularly, in this instance, where the comma was placed? Shouldnt the important factor be that Jesus made the statement that he would be with him in paradise?
Your explanation concerning why you thought the Jw's had put the comma in the wrong place was interesting. However, maybe Jesus was being emphatic about the paradise; surely it is something to be emphatic about? As we do not have the original scriptures, the fact that most Bible versions place the comma where it is, is not really definitive of where it should be. Most Bible versions lean on the trinitarian side, we know they are wrong, so surely the fact that most Bibles place the comma where they do isn't particularly significant, is it? The Aramaic English New Testament by Andrew Roth, renders Luke 23:43 "Truly I say to you today: You will be with me in paradise."
Now is that paradise Jesus was referring to, a physical, or spiritual paradise? Either way it appears to me, that this man will be part of the first resurrection, does it to you? Many people repent on their death beds, who is to say whether that repentence is sincere, or a kneejerk reaction? It appears that Jesus read this man's heart and found him genuine, because, surely anyone having a part in the second resurrection, would not enter a paradise until deemed alive in God's eyes? If Jesus knew this man was having part in the second resurrection, then Jesus could not have meant that the man would have been in the paradise immediately he awakened from death. The premise being, that if Jesus told him, today you will be with me in paradise presents a sort of immediacy, whereas if Jesus says, I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise, then a time lag might be inferred. Hence going back to my first paragraphReply by Meleti Vivlon on 2023-10-02 17:37:42
Hi Derek,
My thoughts on the comma placement are merely my thoughts, my opinion. As such, they have no weight and should not be taken as anything more than the theories of a man. I like to joke that my opinions are of great value. In fact if you take them to a Tim Hortons (Canadian version of Star Bucks, only better) they'll allow you to trade them in for a coffee, as long as you add a couple of dollars for the coffee.
As for what Jesus meant by "you will be with me in paradise", I'm not so sure. Does he mean that man would be part of the first resurrection? It can be argued both ways, so I'll put that down to a matter of opinion as well.