|
Unbanned Bible Publications |
|
Defending God’s Truth in Church Doctrine and Political History – Renette Vermeulen |
|
DID JESUS CLAIM EQUALITY WITH GOD, SUPPOSEDLY “MAKING HIMSELF ‘A GOD’ LIKE LUCIFER,” OR LIKE THE GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH?”Lucifer was never ‘a god’ at all. He cannot create a single thing but rather destroys everything The Only God and Creator made “so very good!” He was a mighty angel who committed munity against the Most High God, was cast out of heaven, and became Satan the devil.” Full stop. The following are serious questions JWS, other Unitarians, and Muslims pose. They ask, “If Jesus was God, who ran the universe for three days while He was in the grave?” And, “If Jesus is God, Who was He praying to in the garden?” John 6:34-40, “But that you may know that the Son of Man, [God in the flesh of a human being] has power on earth to forgive sins…” (Mark 2:10.) “In Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of His [God’s] grace…” (Eph. 1:7.) John 5:21-25, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He wills! [Only God Himself can give life!] For the Father judges no one, but has delivered all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him... Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him Who sent Me has [now already, complete and in full] everlasting life and will not come into judgment, but has [past tense] passed from death into life… The [spiritually] dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear [His voice] will live!’” (Jn. 5:21-29.) In all Bible translations, except the ‘bibles’ spawned by JWS and their Jesus-denying contemporaries, Jesus declared over and over again that He Is God Himself! Þ Not ‘a’ god, or as JWS say, “a god of this world like Lucifer the devil,” but the Highest God, (Jn. 1:1-13.) Satan is a mere creature of Jesus God, whom God, for the time being, allows to deceive people who choose to be deceived, (Heb. 1:1-14; 1 Jn. 5:18-19.) There does not exist an Old Testament God and a separate New Testament God, a Greater god and a ‘lesser’ god, etcetera. God is One God; there is no other god in the entire universe! Neither is Jesus a Savior, a Lord of lords, a King of kings, etcetera. Jesus Is THE Lord of all!
So, the silly questions of those who do not read the Bible for themselves, attack the full humanity and complete Divinity of the Man Jesus, as well as the inseparability of the True Biblical Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If we read the whole Bible and especially the New Testament for ourselves, we will find that the Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Is inseparably Jesus God Himself, (KJV: Col. 2:9; Rom. 1:20; 1 Tim. 3:16; Acts 17:29; Jn. 14:9-11; 10:30, Mt. 28:19-20, etcetera.) Neither the word nor the concept of ‘the trinity,’ which are three separate ‘divine persons’ or gods in agreement: one on the throne, one on the cross, and a third hovering somewhere in the air, is found in the true context of the Bible — and no, I am NOT ‘Oneness Pentecostal, Jesus-Only, and anything else. I am only interested in Bible Truth, and real political and church history. God is not merely omniscient, (all-knowing) and almighty, but omnipresent or everywhere at the same time. God is God; no human mind can fathom the depths of His Being. What we do know from the true context of both the Old and New Testaments, is that God is One God! (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29!) Þ When Jesus was born as a human on earth, He remained inseparably God in heaven at the same time. So, when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, it was not because one god was separated from the other god, but because the Son in human form, (in His frail ‘flesh,’) was ‘encased,’ so to speak, in human flesh and bone. As a mere human, the man Jesus prayed for Himself. If one really wants to dissect The Godhead of the Bible, one would either go mad or make up wild stories such as ‘three separate gods in agreement, therefore in oneness.’
Jesus did not merely claim ‘equality’ with God! Jesus announced that He Is God! (Heb. 1:1-12; Col. 2:9.) Jesus said to the Hebrews in Jn. 8:23-24, “[…You are from beneath; I AM from above. You are of this world; I AM not of this world. Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins if you do not believe that I AM He, [Savior Father God…]” (Isa. 9:6!) “Before Abraham was, I Am…” (Ex. 3:14-15; 6:2-3, 8; Jn. 8:58.) John 1:1-14, “The [Living] Word [Jesus] was with God and the Word [always] was God… ALL things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made! ...And The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” Þ The words of the God of the Old Testament and His Son Jesus of the New Testament ring true through the whole Bible, proclaiming, “Understand that I Am He, [I Am Who I Am — not the transliteration ‘Jehovah!’] Before Me there was no God formed, nor will there be after Me,” (Isa. 53:10-11!) Hebrews 7:1-3, “[Jesus is] King of Salem, (King of Peace…) King of righteousness, without [a physical] father, without [a spiritual] mother, without [spiritual] genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life…” “[The man Jesus] in the Form of God [is the Divine Essence of God Himself…]” (Phil. 2:6-8.) “Christ, Who is the [human or physical] Image of God…” The exact picture of Who God is! 2 Corinthians 4:4.) “…He who believes in Me has [present tense] everlasting life. I Am [YHWH not the false transliteration “Jehovah,”] the Bread of Life… The Good Shepherd…” Jesus, the One Who Is to return to earth to execute judgment, Is the Almighty God, (Rev. 1:6-8.) “In Him dwells [present tense] all the fullness of the Godhead [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] bodily!” (Col. 2:9.) Jesus is the embodiment or ‘flesh’ of The Godhead of the entire Bible! WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL BECAME JESUS?The Watchtower, 1/02/1979 p. 31, refers to "Jesus Christ, whom we understand from the Scriptures to be Michael the archangel.” JWs also say that Jesus is the first angel whom God created. They tell their followers, when Jesus was born as a human baby, it was actually Michael the archangel “who became flesh,” and Michael was named “Jesus.” I challenge all Jehovah’s Witness, if this blasphemy against God, the Lord Jesus Christ can be true, (John 1:1-14!) then prove it from the contextual truth of the Bible, not the Watchtower! I dare you to show the world which of the following verses, which you use to ‘prove’ this doctrine, declare that Jesus is Michael the archangel. Just remember, it is vital to view these verses in real Biblical context. The truth of a teaching can never be found in only one verse here and one verse there, or even in one passage of Scripture. “The entirety of God’s Word is Truth,” (Ps. 119:160.) Let us first establish the difference between Christ Jesus and the archangel Michael, as they are definitely not the same person! It is a sound, contextual, Biblical fact that “all” God’s angels, archangels included, are mere creatures of God. God commanded angels and humans to worship God only, (Exodus 20:1-6.) Angels do not worship other angels. All Holy angels worship God! In obedience and reverence to God, angels refuse the worship of humans. When John, in Revelation 22:8-9, fell on his face to worship the angel, the angel said, “See that you do not do that… Worship God.” If angels and Jesus’ disciples worship the archangel Michael, they are committing idolatry and witchcraft! Throughout Scripture, His disciples worshipped Jesus, (Mt. 14:33! 28:9; 17; Jn. 20:28.) Þ Again, let the contextual truth of the BIBLE, not the Watchtower, speak: How can it be possible that Michael the archangel can align himself with Jesus’ Divine testimony in Jn. 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God…”? Russellites reject this irrefutable verse in the Bible because “it was [supposedly] translated wrongly!” Shamelessly, they refer to their own invention of this verse in their New World Translation, which reads, “Originally the Word was... with God, and the Word was a god.” Þ By fabricating their own scriptures, JWS make Jesus into a ‘lower,’ ‘smaller,’ ‘subordinate’ ‘secondary’ and ‘another’ god of world systems such as Satan. Hence, they declare in the Watchtower, 1 March 1959, p. 150, “The one and only true God is Jehovah.” So, how can they maintain that Jesus is “a god,” and follow some of His teachings? According to their definition of Who Jesus Is, they are actually following ‘the fallen angel worshipped as “a god,” Satan! The Scriptures, which JWs’ abuse to ‘prove’ that ‘Michael became Jesus’“Michael, one of the chief princes [came to help me…]” (Dan. 10:13.) “No one upholds me against these, except Michael [the nation of Israel’s] prince," (Dan. 10:21.) "At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince, who stands watch over the sons of [the physical nation of Israel,]" (Dan. 12:1.) “Prince” in this context, merely mean ‘the one who guards under the authority of God the King.’ From the context of Daniel Chapter 10, it is clear Michael, a mighty creature of God, one of the angelic ‘combat generals’ of Jesus’ armies, is the nation of Israel’s main angelic sentinel and protector. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with [Satan] the dragon… and [Satan’s fallen] angels,” (Rev. 12:7) The Bible does not declare that Jesus is an archangel, angelic warden, or a ‘combat general.’ Jesus is the God and Commander-in-Chief of the entire heavenly host. Hence, Revelation 17:14 states, “[Demonic forces] will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb [Jesus Christ] will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings...” (Rev. 17:14.) “Yet,” JWs embroider on this blasphemy, “Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil… dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude 9.) God Jesus will not allow such audacity from an angel: to claim he is lord! Clearly, Michael was referring to the Lord God Christ Jesus in this passage, not to himself! It seems that Michael is either too holy to argue with the fallen Lucifer, or they are equal in strength, so that Michael referred his lies to God Himself! This is so because Jesus is “seated… in heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. [God the Father] put all things under His feet, and gave [the man Jesus Who Is and always will be God]; to be Head over all things…” (Eph. 1:20-23; Co. 2:9!) Christ Jesus Himself, while in the flesh of a human being and tempted by Satan in the wilderness, simply commanded the evil one, “Get behind Me, Satan! [Some translations say, “Away with you, Satan!”] For it is written, you will worship the Lord our God, and Him only you will serve. Then the devil left Jesus, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him,” (Mt. 4:10-11.) Hebrews 1:1-9, “For to which of the angels did God ever say: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten you [as a human being on earth...] Let ALL the angels of God worship him…’” Scripture leaves no doubt that Jesus is God Himself, not an angel! And where does one read in the Bible that angels worship one another? I Thessalonians 4:16, “The Lord [Jesus] Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, [not as an archangel] and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” This verse does not say it is Michael descending from heaven, but makes it clear that it is ‘The Lord God Jesus Christ Himself;” calling His holy bride and body to heaven with a thunderous voice like that of an archangel – and Michael is not mentioned here!
Is it true that “the firstborn OVER (not ‘of’) all creation and of many brethren” make Jesus a mere human?The Jehovah’s Witness establishment also teaches that Jesus is not God, but “the firstborn of all creation.” By this, they mean that God created Jesus as a mere angelic being, called Michael. Bible truth: Colossians 1:15, “Jesus is the [visible, human] Image of the invisible God, [Hebrews 1:3,] the firstborn OVER [not ‘OF’] all creation.” By deliberately changing one word, “OVER,” to “OF,” they degrade God to one of His created beings! What’s more, this verse does not refer to Jesus’ human birth, but to His exalted position as Creator of all creation! Hebrews 1:2, “[...God has] appointed [the man Jesus] Heir of all things, through Whom also He made the words… (v. 8,) To His Son He says: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; [reigned with] a sceptre of righteousness …” JWs also abuse Romans 8:29, “…[Jesus or Michael] is the firstborn of many brethren…” The true context is explained in 1 Corinthians 15:21-23, “For since by man, [the human Adam,] came [spiritual and physical] death [at the fall in the garden;] by Man, [Jesus, Who was first to be resurrected from the grave under His New Testament Covenant,] came the resurrection of the dead.”
Was Jesus resurrected as a spirit without flesh and bones?True believers, who died serving Jesus Christ, will be resurrected bodily from the grave to “meet Him in the air” at Jesus’ return, (1 Ths. 4:17). “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ ALL will be made alive… In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, [ALL true believers “sleeping” in their graves…] will be raised incorruptible…” (1 Cor. 15:52!) This means, real believers who are alive at Jesus’ return, together with those who are deceased and whose bodies are in their graves, will be made alive and miraculously changed into glorious, resurrected bodies, similar to the resurrected body of Jesus after He had risen from the dead. Þ When the resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples, “they were terrified and supposed they had seen a spirit... [But Jesus said,] “Behold My hands and feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones like I have… So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence,” (Lu. 24:36-43.) There is no doubt that Jesus was raised literally from the dead in a glorified, physical body. Þ Still, to justify their defiance of God’s own testimony to His bodily resurrection, JWs again replace one simple word, (BY,) with their own word, (IN.) They read 1 Peter 3:18 as follows, “…Being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive IN the Spirit…” This lie has a completely different meaning to what is really written there, “Being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive BY the Spirit!” If only people would read the Real Bible for themselves, and read the whole verse and even the whole passage, to interpret what they read in context! What this undoubtedly proves, is that Jehovah’s Witnesses are very dangerous, crafty distorters and deceivers of God’s True Word!
To cover the fact that Jesus was bodily resurrected and the tomb was empty, Egyptologist/masonic founder of the JWs, Charles Taze Russell, taught in ‘The Time is at Hand,’ p. 129, “[Jesus’] body was supernaturally removed from the tomb… no one knows…” JWS carry this unbiblical statement further by saying in ‘Make sure of all things,’ “Jesus’ Resurrection not of Same Body: ‘He merely materialized flesh and blood to be seen and believed.’” Again, Scripture completely refutes these lies as well. Jesus Himself answers the Russellites as He answered the unbelieving Thomas, “Reach your finger here [and feel my wounds.] Look at My hands, and reach your hand here [and feel my wound.] Put your hand into My side… Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” Jesus Himself declared that a spirit, such as Michael the archangel, does not have flesh and bones! Therefore, it is simply impossible to force a ‘spiritual’ resurrection into Jesus’ own words concerning the substance of His glorified, resurrected body. As seen above, Jesus even ate, and then walked through walls, because Jesus was resurrected immortal in a glorified spiritual/human body. Þ Yet, Russellites mock Scripture and laugh at Thomas’ declaration to minimize it to, “He was so amazed by the spirit appearing to him,’ he burst forth with the exclamation, ‘My Lord and my God!” As the author F.W. Thomas comments, “Are we to believe that the unbelieving Thomas got so excited here that he forgot himself, took the Lord’s Name in vain, [and committed idolatry]!” This kind of trickery is exposed by the clear words of our text: “And Thomas [calmly] answered and said unto [Jesus,] My Lord and my God,” (Jn. 20:28.) It is undeniable fact that Thomas WAS addressing Jesus [Himself.] Therefore, his statement is not an exclamation.”
The Russellites also twist Jesus’ meeting with Mary in the garden, saying, “[The spirit of] Jesus appeared as a gardener to Mary.” This is a blatant lie. In John 20:1, Mary came to the tomb “while it was still dark…” John 20:15 actually states, “…She, supposing Him to be the gardener…” Mary mistook Jesus for the gardener because it was till dark! Jesus did not ‘shape shift’ into the likeness of the gardener. In the dim light, Mary made a mistake and assumed He was the gardener! Similarly, Jesus’ disciples allegedly “did not know it was Jesus” standing in the distance on the sea shore in the first light of the morning! (Jn. 21:4.) Jesus the spirit did not ‘shape shift’ to ‘appear’ as a fisherman standing on the shore! He was far away. They did not recognize Him in the distance. When Jesus went to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He was not ‘under cover’ as some kind of ‘secret agent!’ He actually “restrained their eyes so that they did not recognize Him!” On this occasion, God Jesus chose to remain unrecognized for the moment. It was not as the JWS teach in “Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 127-128, “The clothing in which He appeared… must have been specially created, and… appropriate for each occasion…” What fairy tales they tell the people!
Jehovah’s Witnesses were also deceived to believe the human man Michael, who was born as Jesus, ascended into heaven to become Michael again! This is another great deception. Concerning Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the Bible unmistakably declares: After Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the grave, He Himself “began at Moses and all the Prophets, [the Old Testament Scriptures,] and expanded to them the things concerning Himself,” (Lu. 24:27.) “And Jesus… lifted up His hands and blessed them… While He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven, and they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy…” (Lu. 24:50-53.) Þ If Jesus’ disciples worshipped the so-called ascending Michael, they would been committing gross idolatry and witchcraft, as God commanded in Exodus 20:1-6, “You will have no other gods beside Me…” Therefore, the archangel Michael too, bows to worship Jesus, because God commanded in Hebrews 1:6, “Let all Gods angels worship Him!” There is only One God in the whole of Scripture, prophesied in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament, and His Name is Jesus! (Continue) |