Subject: Is the first resurrection, the rapture? |
Bible Note: Greetings Sisterkath! Allow me to respond to your post in two ways. In my second post, I will address your questions with a basic explanation of the Trinity. In my first post, I will continue to challenge you to consider the implications of Is. 43:10. The reason I continue to pursue this issue is very simple. A correct understanding of the identity of Jesus is essential to one's salvation. Jesus Himself said in John 8:24, "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." The Greek of this verse literally says, "If you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins". I know that the JW's try to hide the fact that in John 8:58 Jesus refers to Himself as the "I AM" or Jehovah. They try to use the arguement that Jesus is referring to a time before Abraham, so grammatically, one must translate John 8:58 as 'I have been'. This is not true, but either way, there is no such issue involved in John 8:24. It is very clear that Jesus is calling Himself Jehovah, the I AM of Exodus. So, if the JW's convince you that Jesus is in fact not Jehovah, then according to John 8:24, you are still lost. So, I urge you again to read 1 Chron. 17:20, 2 Chron. 6:14, Is. 43:10, Is. 44:6-8, Is. 45:21-22, Is. 46:9, and Joel 2:27. These verse all affirm that there is no 'God' besides Jehovah. Now listen carefully my friend. I know that your inclination is to defend what the JW's have taught you, but read these verses carefully. They do not say that there are other lesser Gods. They do not say that there other Gods, but just not as powerful as Jehovah. They all say that there are NO GODS BESIDES JEHOVAH. To teach that Jesus is 'a god' is a direct violation of what Jehovah Himself has said over and over again. These verses are not vague, nor are they hard to understand. They are only a problem because you have bought into a false doctrine. You must believe that Jesus is the "I AM" in order to be saved. So, please, consider these verses carefully. These verse alone should be enough to expose the lie of the Jehovah's Witnesses. But, if you need more, consider Jesus in light of Is. 40:25, "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal? says the Holy One." If the JW's are right, and Jesus is a lesser god, how come He is described as equal to God, when Jehovah Himself says that He has no equals? John 5:18 - " For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." Phil. 2:6 - "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped," If you can't accept the clear statements of Scripture that there are no others gods besides Jehovah, then you will never be able to accept the salvation that is found only in Jesus. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |