Luke 19:45-48; Matthew 21:18-19; 21:12-13
Nisan 10, 33 C.E.
And he entered into the temple and started to throw out those who were selling, saying to them: "It is written, 'And my house will be a house of prayer,' but you made it a cave of robbers."
Furthermore, he went teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal ones of the people were seeking to destroy him; and yet they did not find the effective thing for them to do, for the people one and all kept hanging onto him to hear him.
While returning to the city early in the morning, he got hungry. And he caught sight of a fig tree by the road and went to it, but he found nothing on it except leaves only, and he said to it: "Let no fruit come from you anymore forever." And the fig tree withered instantly.
And Jesus entered into the temple and threw out all those selling and buying in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. And he said to them: "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a cave of robbers."
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Memorial Reading for Sunday, April 5, 2009
Luke 22:29-44
Nisan 9, 33 C.E.
And when he got near to Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Mount of Olives, he sent forth two of the disciples, saying: "Go into the village that is within sight of you, and in it after you pass in you will find a colt tied, on which none of mankind ever sat. Loose it and bring it. But if anyone asks you, 'Why is it you are loosing it?' You must speak in this way, 'The Lord needs it.'" So those who were sent forth departed and found it just as he said to them. But as they were loosing the colt the owners of it said to them: "Why are you loosing the colt?" They said: "The Lord needs it." And they led it to Jesus, and they threw their outer garments upon the colt and set Jesus upon it.
As he moved along they kept spreading their outer garments on the road. As soon as he got near the road down the Mount of Olives all the multitude of the disciples started to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice concerning all the powerful works they had seen, saying: "Blessed is the One coming as the King in Jehovah’s name! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest places!" However, some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him: "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." But in reply he said: "I tell you, If these remained silent, the stones would cry out."
And when he got nearby, he viewed the city and wept over it, saying: "If you, even you, had discerned in this day the things having to do with peace—but now they have been hid from your eyes. Because the days will come upon you when your enemies will build around you a fortification with pointed stakes and will encircle you and distress you from every side, and they will dash you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave a stone upon a stone in you, because you did not discern the time of your being inspected."
Nisan 9, 33 C.E.
And when he got near to Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Mount of Olives, he sent forth two of the disciples, saying: "Go into the village that is within sight of you, and in it after you pass in you will find a colt tied, on which none of mankind ever sat. Loose it and bring it. But if anyone asks you, 'Why is it you are loosing it?' You must speak in this way, 'The Lord needs it.'" So those who were sent forth departed and found it just as he said to them. But as they were loosing the colt the owners of it said to them: "Why are you loosing the colt?" They said: "The Lord needs it." And they led it to Jesus, and they threw their outer garments upon the colt and set Jesus upon it.
As he moved along they kept spreading their outer garments on the road. As soon as he got near the road down the Mount of Olives all the multitude of the disciples started to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice concerning all the powerful works they had seen, saying: "Blessed is the One coming as the King in Jehovah’s name! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest places!" However, some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him: "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." But in reply he said: "I tell you, If these remained silent, the stones would cry out."
And when he got nearby, he viewed the city and wept over it, saying: "If you, even you, had discerned in this day the things having to do with peace—but now they have been hid from your eyes. Because the days will come upon you when your enemies will build around you a fortification with pointed stakes and will encircle you and distress you from every side, and they will dash you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave a stone upon a stone in you, because you did not discern the time of your being inspected."
The Great Tribulation, Pt. 2
In the second part of my dream, things were a little jumpy, not staying in one situation nor having a logical bridge to the next situation. I want to believe that they are two parts of the same dream but could be two different dreams entirely with the same premise. In this one, we are again in about the second day of the Great Tribulation...
-------------------------
In the dream, I walked into a local Christian bookstore, wanting to see how they were reacting. Interestingly, it seemed to be more of a Christian flea market, where people from different "Christian" denominations and "Christian"-based religions can come together to sell their favorite Bible translations and church publications.
After walking in, I saw all the people throwing their Bible's into trashcans, where fires were lit. One group was destroying NLT's, another NIV's, and even another KJV's. One other group, a Sacred Name group, was not burning their Bible's, which were the Zikarown Say'fer Bible. They were trying to give theirs to other people. I took on of the pocket size Bible's (roughly the size of our NWT's) and slipped it into my pocket. I remember being happy that I had a Bible, since all of the New World Translations were either stashed away or confiscated.
There were four more Zikarown Say'fer Bible's in the bin when the group burning the NLT's grabbed them and threw them into the fire...
After this the scene changed, getting even weirder.
...Evidently, some kind of curfew had been enforced and I was not allowed to leave the Christian flea market. The police officers provided blankets and pillows so that we could sleep on the ground. The police officers were posted in the outside entryway so that we could not leave.
One young man next to me, who was part of the Sacred Name group, sighed and pulled out his copy of the Bible and started reading it. Another man who had been burning the NLT took one look at him, got up, and informed the police officers at the door of what was going on. They came in and looked in the direction that the young man was pointing--and thought that he was pointing at me.
As the two police officers walked closer I leaned up, not knowing what to do because I didn't want to bring attention to the person next to me. I started to pull out my Bible to give to them but the young man who had originally pulled out the Bible jumped up and started to run. One of the police officers ran after him.
By this time, everyone in the room was standing up. The police officer grabbed me and started feeling my pocket's, finding the Bible. He smiled and hit me. I smiled back, grabbed the Bible and ran, jumping over blankets and pillows scattered on the floor. He wasn't so lucky, tripping over a tangle of blankets and giving me the opportunity to escape.
When I got outside I saw the original young man get into a car and I jumped in with him.
"It's better if we split up." He said, "Do you still have your Bible?"
I nodded and he said, "Get in another car."
I got out and slipped into Dodge Nitro. "I don't know how to start it. The keys aren't in here."
The young man got out of the car, came to mine, and started it for me. He went back into his car and started driving off. I followed him but the young man who told on us came flying into the parking lot. The one who helped me start my car hit him...
The scene changed at this part again.
...The young man and I were in an interrogation room, waiting for someone to come in. While we were waiting, we started to talk.
"What's your name?" He asked me.
"Shawn. And yours?"
"Brett."
"It's a shame that we ended up getting our Bible's taken." I said.
Before we could continue, the door opened and someone on crutches and covered in bandages came into the room. It was the young man who got hit by the car!
"So, Shawn and Brett. Thanks for what you did, by the way. I realized that religious people are nuts. I can't believe that I ever believed in the Bible!" He smiled.
"I know that you two are stubbornly holding onto your religious beliefs. What religions are you?"
"I'm part of the Assemblies of Yahweh, based off of Deuteronomy 23:8 where it says, 'The children of the third generation that are born unto them shall enter into the assembly of Yahweh. (Zikarown Say'fer Bible)"
He looked at me. "Which religion are you?"
"I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses, based off of Isaiah 43:10 where it says, 'You are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'even my servant whom I have chosen.'"
"It doesn't matter which religion either of you are from. We are all three of us going to die right now." He pulled out a device and continued, "This is a bomb. As soon as I release this lever, we're going to blow up. Even now, this building is being evacuated."
Brett jumped over the table and held the other guys arms together while I grabbed the device. He then grabbed one of the crutches and hit him over the back of the head. The guy was knocked unconscious. Brett grabbed the device from me and told me to run. I nodded and left the room. As I ran towards the exit, I saw the two Bible's on a desk. I grabbed both of them and kicked the doors open. I ran across a parking lot and through a field before ducking down.
The building blew up...
Another jump from scene to scene.
...
The next thing I know I am at home. We were watching the news on television, which was changing back and forth between riots due to the ban on religion, vandalism of places of worship, and a story about a very dangerous form of leprosy which struck out of nowhere and seeming at random. The worst thing about it was that the victim died within two minutes of the first signs.
Two of my family members came down with the leprosy...
And I woke up for good. That was a crazy dream. I wish it hadn't ended abruptly. Oh well.
The thing is, Jesus Christ warned us of a Great Tribulation that was coming, followed by his return were he would finally destroy the wicked. We should all be alert for that and watch the signs. Which signs? I will write about that later. In the meantime, you can read about this Great Tribulation from the Organization that is being used by Jehovah through His holy spirit. You can read about it here. It is the prayer of all Jehovah's Witnesses that when that time comes, you will have the knowledge that you can survive it.
-------------------------
In the dream, I walked into a local Christian bookstore, wanting to see how they were reacting. Interestingly, it seemed to be more of a Christian flea market, where people from different "Christian" denominations and "Christian"-based religions can come together to sell their favorite Bible translations and church publications.
After walking in, I saw all the people throwing their Bible's into trashcans, where fires were lit. One group was destroying NLT's, another NIV's, and even another KJV's. One other group, a Sacred Name group, was not burning their Bible's, which were the Zikarown Say'fer Bible. They were trying to give theirs to other people. I took on of the pocket size Bible's (roughly the size of our NWT's) and slipped it into my pocket. I remember being happy that I had a Bible, since all of the New World Translations were either stashed away or confiscated.
There were four more Zikarown Say'fer Bible's in the bin when the group burning the NLT's grabbed them and threw them into the fire...
After this the scene changed, getting even weirder.
...Evidently, some kind of curfew had been enforced and I was not allowed to leave the Christian flea market. The police officers provided blankets and pillows so that we could sleep on the ground. The police officers were posted in the outside entryway so that we could not leave.
One young man next to me, who was part of the Sacred Name group, sighed and pulled out his copy of the Bible and started reading it. Another man who had been burning the NLT took one look at him, got up, and informed the police officers at the door of what was going on. They came in and looked in the direction that the young man was pointing--and thought that he was pointing at me.
As the two police officers walked closer I leaned up, not knowing what to do because I didn't want to bring attention to the person next to me. I started to pull out my Bible to give to them but the young man who had originally pulled out the Bible jumped up and started to run. One of the police officers ran after him.
By this time, everyone in the room was standing up. The police officer grabbed me and started feeling my pocket's, finding the Bible. He smiled and hit me. I smiled back, grabbed the Bible and ran, jumping over blankets and pillows scattered on the floor. He wasn't so lucky, tripping over a tangle of blankets and giving me the opportunity to escape.
When I got outside I saw the original young man get into a car and I jumped in with him.
"It's better if we split up." He said, "Do you still have your Bible?"
I nodded and he said, "Get in another car."
I got out and slipped into Dodge Nitro. "I don't know how to start it. The keys aren't in here."
The young man got out of the car, came to mine, and started it for me. He went back into his car and started driving off. I followed him but the young man who told on us came flying into the parking lot. The one who helped me start my car hit him...
The scene changed at this part again.
...The young man and I were in an interrogation room, waiting for someone to come in. While we were waiting, we started to talk.
"What's your name?" He asked me.
"Shawn. And yours?"
"Brett."
"It's a shame that we ended up getting our Bible's taken." I said.
Before we could continue, the door opened and someone on crutches and covered in bandages came into the room. It was the young man who got hit by the car!
"So, Shawn and Brett. Thanks for what you did, by the way. I realized that religious people are nuts. I can't believe that I ever believed in the Bible!" He smiled.
"I know that you two are stubbornly holding onto your religious beliefs. What religions are you?"
"I'm part of the Assemblies of Yahweh, based off of Deuteronomy 23:8 where it says, 'The children of the third generation that are born unto them shall enter into the assembly of Yahweh. (Zikarown Say'fer Bible)"
He looked at me. "Which religion are you?"
"I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses, based off of Isaiah 43:10 where it says, 'You are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'even my servant whom I have chosen.'"
"It doesn't matter which religion either of you are from. We are all three of us going to die right now." He pulled out a device and continued, "This is a bomb. As soon as I release this lever, we're going to blow up. Even now, this building is being evacuated."
Brett jumped over the table and held the other guys arms together while I grabbed the device. He then grabbed one of the crutches and hit him over the back of the head. The guy was knocked unconscious. Brett grabbed the device from me and told me to run. I nodded and left the room. As I ran towards the exit, I saw the two Bible's on a desk. I grabbed both of them and kicked the doors open. I ran across a parking lot and through a field before ducking down.
The building blew up...
Another jump from scene to scene.
...
The next thing I know I am at home. We were watching the news on television, which was changing back and forth between riots due to the ban on religion, vandalism of places of worship, and a story about a very dangerous form of leprosy which struck out of nowhere and seeming at random. The worst thing about it was that the victim died within two minutes of the first signs.
Two of my family members came down with the leprosy...
And I woke up for good. That was a crazy dream. I wish it hadn't ended abruptly. Oh well.
The thing is, Jesus Christ warned us of a Great Tribulation that was coming, followed by his return were he would finally destroy the wicked. We should all be alert for that and watch the signs. Which signs? I will write about that later. In the meantime, you can read about this Great Tribulation from the Organization that is being used by Jehovah through His holy spirit. You can read about it here. It is the prayer of all Jehovah's Witnesses that when that time comes, you will have the knowledge that you can survive it.
The Great Tribulation, Pt. 1
I had a very interesting dream last night about the Great Tribulation. Yes, yes, I know that I said I was going to focus on Jesus over the next few days and/or weeks, but this was just too, what, eerie? not to share. I warn you, though, I have very, very vivid and detailed dreams. This is no exception. In fact, as an author, I find much of my inspiration from my detailed dreams.
-------------------------
It started out with my wife yelling at me to come up front. I ran to see what she wanted but all she could do was look at the television. This irritated me a little in the dream but I finally hear the ominous words that had made her scream--the United Nations, backed by the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, had unanimously passed a bill banning all forms of religion!
Within minutes of this startling turn of events, my phone rang. It was the Coordinator of the Body of Elders, asking for all the Elders and Ministerial Servants to meet at his house, seeing as the Kingdom Hall had been cordoned off.
After arriving at his house, (I rode with my grandfather who lives very close) we were each handed a video entitled, Then There Will Be Great Tribulation based off of Jesus' words at Matthew 24:21-22, and a book entitled, The War of the Great Day of God the Almighty based off of Revelation 16:14. We were given specific instructions not to open the book until we had watched the video after arriving home.
Well, this was interrupted by a knock at the door. When the Coordinator of the Body of Elders opened the door, three policemen came walking in. First they told him that some neighbors called the police because a Jehovah's Witness neighbor had about ten cars pull up within a ten minute period. Then they pushed the C.B.E. and handcuffed him, while the rest of us scattered, video and book in hand.
I, along with five other younger brothers, ran out the back to jump the fence. Brother Marcus, Brother Terry, Brother Matt, Brother Chris, and myself jumped the fence. Brother S.B. was about to get over the fence when a police officer dragged him back down. The rest of the older brothers, including my grandfather, didn't even have a chance and were carted off.
Brother Terry ran one direction towards his home, Brothers Marcus and Chris ran in the direction of their homes, and Brother Matt and myself ran in another direction. I don't know what happened to the others.
Upon arriving home, Brother Matt, my wife, and I grabbed my Bible's (all thirty-two translations!)and Society publications and threw them in the back of my car. I had Brother Matt get my grandmother while my wife and I loaded up other essentials.
After my grandmother got a few things, we drove in the direction of Brother Matt's house (which I've never seen), a few miles away.
Upon arriving at his house (it was his house in the dream but in real life is the house of his in-laws), we sealed up my Bible's and publications and buried them in the back in the woods. After that, we decided to split up.
Brother Matt, his wife, his sister-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, mother and father, were going to be in one group, while my wife and grandmother drove about a mile to the house of some other sisters.
After hugs and goodbyes, we drove to the house of Brother and Sister Mike and Brenda. Sister Brenda was the only one there, Brother Mike hadn't made it home from work yet. We got her and drove to the house of Sister Lorraine, Sister Christina, and Sister Maribel. We watched the short video which started out with the words, "This video was specially prepared to aid mature brothers and sisters through the coming weeks, months, or years of the Great Tribulation. Unfortunately, the Bible is quiet on this subject and so this video cannot answer every situation that comes up. Please review it carefully and prayerfully."
After the video, we opened the book. Under the inside title cover it said, "We pray that you opened this book after viewing the included video. This was the first test of the Great Tribulation that would test loyalty to Jehovah." I cannot recall the contents of the video or book.
After immediately completely video, the doorbell rang. Sister Lorraine opened the door and a young police officer stepped in. The rest of us were out of his point-of-view.
"Hello," he said, "are you miss Lorraine ______?"
"Yes."
"We have on our records that you were affiliated with Jehovah's Witnesses."
"Correct."
"Earlier today, we broke up an illegal meeting of leaders in the local Jehovah's Witness congregation."
"What?! Was anyone hurt?"
"No. We apprehended seven older men as well as two younger men. We suspect that there were more then that but many got away."
"Well, good!"
"Have you spoken to any of them? Perhaps a Mr. Terry ______, Mr. Shawn ______, Mr. Matt ______,..." His voice trailed off in my dream.
"If I had, I wouldn't divulge that information."
"Miss ______, I am obligated to search your house, I ask politely but can detain you and search it."
Sister Lorraine sighed, defeated, and stepped out of the way. The young police officer walked in and saw all of us sitting in the living room. He then turned off his walkie-talkie and said, "My grandmother was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and always told me that religion would be banned, signaling the start of the Great Tribulation. I never believed her until now. What can I do?"
I cannot remember the ensuing conversation but we did rip out a couple of pages of the Psalms, Isaiah, and John for him and watched as he folded them and hid them in his shoe. He said that the house of Miss Lorraine ______ was clean and left.
After he closed the door, we heard a knock at the back. Sister Maribel looked out and then opened it. Brother Mike stepped in. He told us that he drove by his own house and saw police officers at the door and decided to come here. We let him watch the video and read the booklet...
-------------------------
At this point, my dog woke me up sneezing. After falling back to sleep, the dream continued, the events taking place later in the day. I will continue it later.
-------------------------
It started out with my wife yelling at me to come up front. I ran to see what she wanted but all she could do was look at the television. This irritated me a little in the dream but I finally hear the ominous words that had made her scream--the United Nations, backed by the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, had unanimously passed a bill banning all forms of religion!
Within minutes of this startling turn of events, my phone rang. It was the Coordinator of the Body of Elders, asking for all the Elders and Ministerial Servants to meet at his house, seeing as the Kingdom Hall had been cordoned off.
After arriving at his house, (I rode with my grandfather who lives very close) we were each handed a video entitled, Then There Will Be Great Tribulation based off of Jesus' words at Matthew 24:21-22, and a book entitled, The War of the Great Day of God the Almighty based off of Revelation 16:14. We were given specific instructions not to open the book until we had watched the video after arriving home.
Well, this was interrupted by a knock at the door. When the Coordinator of the Body of Elders opened the door, three policemen came walking in. First they told him that some neighbors called the police because a Jehovah's Witness neighbor had about ten cars pull up within a ten minute period. Then they pushed the C.B.E. and handcuffed him, while the rest of us scattered, video and book in hand.
I, along with five other younger brothers, ran out the back to jump the fence. Brother Marcus, Brother Terry, Brother Matt, Brother Chris, and myself jumped the fence. Brother S.B. was about to get over the fence when a police officer dragged him back down. The rest of the older brothers, including my grandfather, didn't even have a chance and were carted off.
Brother Terry ran one direction towards his home, Brothers Marcus and Chris ran in the direction of their homes, and Brother Matt and myself ran in another direction. I don't know what happened to the others.
Upon arriving home, Brother Matt, my wife, and I grabbed my Bible's (all thirty-two translations!)and Society publications and threw them in the back of my car. I had Brother Matt get my grandmother while my wife and I loaded up other essentials.
After my grandmother got a few things, we drove in the direction of Brother Matt's house (which I've never seen), a few miles away.
Upon arriving at his house (it was his house in the dream but in real life is the house of his in-laws), we sealed up my Bible's and publications and buried them in the back in the woods. After that, we decided to split up.
Brother Matt, his wife, his sister-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, mother and father, were going to be in one group, while my wife and grandmother drove about a mile to the house of some other sisters.
After hugs and goodbyes, we drove to the house of Brother and Sister Mike and Brenda. Sister Brenda was the only one there, Brother Mike hadn't made it home from work yet. We got her and drove to the house of Sister Lorraine, Sister Christina, and Sister Maribel. We watched the short video which started out with the words, "This video was specially prepared to aid mature brothers and sisters through the coming weeks, months, or years of the Great Tribulation. Unfortunately, the Bible is quiet on this subject and so this video cannot answer every situation that comes up. Please review it carefully and prayerfully."
After the video, we opened the book. Under the inside title cover it said, "We pray that you opened this book after viewing the included video. This was the first test of the Great Tribulation that would test loyalty to Jehovah." I cannot recall the contents of the video or book.
After immediately completely video, the doorbell rang. Sister Lorraine opened the door and a young police officer stepped in. The rest of us were out of his point-of-view.
"Hello," he said, "are you miss Lorraine ______?"
"Yes."
"We have on our records that you were affiliated with Jehovah's Witnesses."
"Correct."
"Earlier today, we broke up an illegal meeting of leaders in the local Jehovah's Witness congregation."
"What?! Was anyone hurt?"
"No. We apprehended seven older men as well as two younger men. We suspect that there were more then that but many got away."
"Well, good!"
"Have you spoken to any of them? Perhaps a Mr. Terry ______, Mr. Shawn ______, Mr. Matt ______,..." His voice trailed off in my dream.
"If I had, I wouldn't divulge that information."
"Miss ______, I am obligated to search your house, I ask politely but can detain you and search it."
Sister Lorraine sighed, defeated, and stepped out of the way. The young police officer walked in and saw all of us sitting in the living room. He then turned off his walkie-talkie and said, "My grandmother was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and always told me that religion would be banned, signaling the start of the Great Tribulation. I never believed her until now. What can I do?"
I cannot remember the ensuing conversation but we did rip out a couple of pages of the Psalms, Isaiah, and John for him and watched as he folded them and hid them in his shoe. He said that the house of Miss Lorraine ______ was clean and left.
After he closed the door, we heard a knock at the back. Sister Maribel looked out and then opened it. Brother Mike stepped in. He told us that he drove by his own house and saw police officers at the door and decided to come here. We let him watch the video and read the booklet...
-------------------------
At this point, my dog woke me up sneezing. After falling back to sleep, the dream continued, the events taking place later in the day. I will continue it later.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Concerning the Messiah
Below are select Scriptures that describe Jesus Christ, who he was, what he did, and the awesome authority given him by God. The Apostles quoted different Scriptures to prove who the Messiah was so I have included the Scriptures that they quoted so you can get a better idea of what they had in mind as they wrote these letters.
John 1
In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in the beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.
What has come into existence by means of him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light is shining in the darkness, but the darkness has not overpowered it.
There arose a man that was sent forth as a representative of God: his name was John. This man came for a witness, in order to bear witness about the light, that people of all sorts might believe through him. He was not that light, but he was meant to bear witness about that light.
The true light that gives light to every sort of man was about to come into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him, but the world did not know him. He came to his own home, but his own people did not take him in. However, as many as did receive him, to them he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name; and they were born, not from blood or from a fleshly will or from man’s will, but from God.
So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of undeserved kindness and truth. (John bore witness about him, yes, he actually cried out—this was the one who said it—saying: "The one coming behind me has advanced in front of me, because he existed before me.") For we all received from out of his fullness, even undeserved kindness upon undeserved kindness. Because the Law was given through Moses, the undeserved kindness and the truth came to be through Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom position with the Father is the one that has explained him.
Hebrews 1
God, who long ago spoke on many occasions and in many ways to our forefathers by means of the prophets, has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things. He is the reflection of his glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power; and after he had made a purification for our sins he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places. So he has become better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs.
For example, to which one of the angels did he ever say: "You are my son; I, today, I have become your father"? (Psalm 2:7) And again: "I myself shall become his father, and he himself will become my son"? (2 Samuel 7:14) But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: "And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him."-Deuteronomy 32:43, Greek Septuagint
Also, with reference to the angels he says: "And he makes his angels spirits, and his public servants a flame of fire." (Psalm 104:4) But with reference to the Son: "God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is the scepter of uprightness. You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your partners." (Psalm 45:6-7) And: "You at the beginning, O Lord, laid the foundations of the earth itself, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They themselves will perish, but you yourself are to remain continually; and just like an outer garment they will all grow old, and you will wrap them up just as a cloak, as an outer garment; and they will be changed, but you are the same, and your years will never run out."-Psalm 102:25-27
But with reference to which one of the angels has he ever said: "Sit at my right hand, until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet"? (Psalm 110:1) Are they not all spirits for public service, sent forth to minister for those who are going to inherit salvation?
Hebrews 2
For it is not to angels that he has subjected the inhabited earth to come, about which we are speaking. But a certain witness has given proof somewhere, saying: "What is man that you keep him in mind, or the son of man that you take care of him? You made him a little lower than angels; with glory and honor you crowned him, and appointed him over the works of your hands. All things you subjected under his feet." (Psalm 8:4-6) For in that he subjected all things to him God left nothing that is not subject to him. Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him; but we behold Jesus, who has been made a little lower than angels, crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, that he by God’s undeserved kindness might taste death for every man.
For it was fitting for the one for whose sake all things are and through whom all things are, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Chief Agent of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he who is sanctifying and those who are being sanctified all stem from one, and for this cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers," as he says: "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the middle of the congregation I will praise you with song." (Psalm 22:22) And again: "I will have my trust in him." (Isaiah 8:17) And again: "Look! I and the young children, whom Jehovah gave me."-Isaiah 8:18
Therefore, since the "young children" are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly partook of the same things, that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil; and that he might emancipate all those who for fear of death were subject to slavery all through their lives. For he is really not assisting angels at all, but he is assisting Abraham’s seed. Consequently he was obliged to become like his "brothers" in all respects, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, in order to offer propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered when being put to the test, he is able to come to the aid of those who are being put to the test.
1 Peter 2
Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected, it is true, by men, but chosen, precious, with God, you yourselves also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house for the purpose of a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it is contained in Scripture: "Look! I am laying in Zion a stone, chosen, a foundation cornerstone, precious; and no one exercising faith in it will by any means come to disappointment."-Isaiah 28:16
It is to you, therefore, that he is precious, because you are believers; but to those not believing, "the identical stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner," (Psalm 118:22) and "a stone of stumbling and a rock-mass of offense." (Isaiah 8:14) These are stumbling because they are disobedient to the word. To this very end they were also appointed. But you are "a chosen race (Deuteronomy 7:6), a royal priesthood, a holy nation (Exodus 19:6), a people for special possession (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6), that you should declare abroad the excellencies (Isaiah 43:21)" of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. For you were once not a people, but are now God’s people; you were those who had not been shown mercy, but are now those who have been shown mercy.
In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely. He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth. When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously. He himself bore our sins in his own body upon the stake, in order that we might be done with sins and live to righteousness. And "by his stripes you were healed." (Isaiah 53:5) For you were like sheep, going astray; but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in the beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.
What has come into existence by means of him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light is shining in the darkness, but the darkness has not overpowered it.
There arose a man that was sent forth as a representative of God: his name was John. This man came for a witness, in order to bear witness about the light, that people of all sorts might believe through him. He was not that light, but he was meant to bear witness about that light.
The true light that gives light to every sort of man was about to come into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him, but the world did not know him. He came to his own home, but his own people did not take him in. However, as many as did receive him, to them he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name; and they were born, not from blood or from a fleshly will or from man’s will, but from God.
So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of undeserved kindness and truth. (John bore witness about him, yes, he actually cried out—this was the one who said it—saying: "The one coming behind me has advanced in front of me, because he existed before me.") For we all received from out of his fullness, even undeserved kindness upon undeserved kindness. Because the Law was given through Moses, the undeserved kindness and the truth came to be through Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom position with the Father is the one that has explained him.
God, who long ago spoke on many occasions and in many ways to our forefathers by means of the prophets, has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things. He is the reflection of his glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power; and after he had made a purification for our sins he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places. So he has become better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs.
For example, to which one of the angels did he ever say: "You are my son; I, today, I have become your father"? (Psalm 2:7) And again: "I myself shall become his father, and he himself will become my son"? (2 Samuel 7:14) But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: "And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him."-Deuteronomy 32:43, Greek Septuagint
Also, with reference to the angels he says: "And he makes his angels spirits, and his public servants a flame of fire." (Psalm 104:4) But with reference to the Son: "God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is the scepter of uprightness. You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you with the oil of exultation more than your partners." (Psalm 45:6-7) And: "You at the beginning, O Lord, laid the foundations of the earth itself, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They themselves will perish, but you yourself are to remain continually; and just like an outer garment they will all grow old, and you will wrap them up just as a cloak, as an outer garment; and they will be changed, but you are the same, and your years will never run out."-Psalm 102:25-27
But with reference to which one of the angels has he ever said: "Sit at my right hand, until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet"? (Psalm 110:1) Are they not all spirits for public service, sent forth to minister for those who are going to inherit salvation?
For it is not to angels that he has subjected the inhabited earth to come, about which we are speaking. But a certain witness has given proof somewhere, saying: "What is man that you keep him in mind, or the son of man that you take care of him? You made him a little lower than angels; with glory and honor you crowned him, and appointed him over the works of your hands. All things you subjected under his feet." (Psalm 8:4-6) For in that he subjected all things to him God left nothing that is not subject to him. Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him; but we behold Jesus, who has been made a little lower than angels, crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, that he by God’s undeserved kindness might taste death for every man.
For it was fitting for the one for whose sake all things are and through whom all things are, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Chief Agent of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he who is sanctifying and those who are being sanctified all stem from one, and for this cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers," as he says: "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the middle of the congregation I will praise you with song." (Psalm 22:22) And again: "I will have my trust in him." (Isaiah 8:17) And again: "Look! I and the young children, whom Jehovah gave me."-Isaiah 8:18
Therefore, since the "young children" are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly partook of the same things, that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil; and that he might emancipate all those who for fear of death were subject to slavery all through their lives. For he is really not assisting angels at all, but he is assisting Abraham’s seed. Consequently he was obliged to become like his "brothers" in all respects, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, in order to offer propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered when being put to the test, he is able to come to the aid of those who are being put to the test.
Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected, it is true, by men, but chosen, precious, with God, you yourselves also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house for the purpose of a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it is contained in Scripture: "Look! I am laying in Zion a stone, chosen, a foundation cornerstone, precious; and no one exercising faith in it will by any means come to disappointment."-Isaiah 28:16
It is to you, therefore, that he is precious, because you are believers; but to those not believing, "the identical stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner," (Psalm 118:22) and "a stone of stumbling and a rock-mass of offense." (Isaiah 8:14) These are stumbling because they are disobedient to the word. To this very end they were also appointed. But you are "a chosen race (Deuteronomy 7:6), a royal priesthood, a holy nation (Exodus 19:6), a people for special possession (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6), that you should declare abroad the excellencies (Isaiah 43:21)" of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. For you were once not a people, but are now God’s people; you were those who had not been shown mercy, but are now those who have been shown mercy.
In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely. He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth. When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously. He himself bore our sins in his own body upon the stake, in order that we might be done with sins and live to righteousness. And "by his stripes you were healed." (Isaiah 53:5) For you were like sheep, going astray; but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
The Messiah in the Psalms
Long before Jesus Christ ever lived, before that name was ever uttered, his life course was laid out for all to see. Holy prophets, such as King David, were inspired to write some of the things that Jesus Christ would do and the things that would happen to him.
All throughout the Psalms, the experiences of the Messiah are clearly visible for all to see. The pain of his death, the shock of his betrayal--the joy of his resurrection and gaining of his Kingdom.
One thing that has to be remembered, is that many times the Psalms are written about humans and their experiences, but oftentimes, these foreshadow someone greater. Let us look at one example of this.
"You Will Not Allow Your Loyal One to See the Pit"
The superscription over Psalm 16 says that this was written by King David. He uses the first person (I, Me, My) throughout but these do not apply to him completely. One verse in particular says, "For you will not leave my soul in Sheol. You will not allow your loyal one to see the pit." (Psalm 16:10) About a Millennium later, the Apostle Peter, one of the Messiah's best friends quotes this Psalm, saying, "God resurrected him by loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to continue to be held fast by it. For David says respecting him...,'you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your loyal one to see corruption'"
Peter admits that David was not speaking of himself, but of the coming Messiah. To drive the point home, he continues by saying, "It is allowable to speak with freeness of speech to you concerning the family head David, that he both deceased and was buried and his tomb is among us to this day. Therefore, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one from the fruitage of his loins upon his throne, he saw beforehand and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in Hades nor did his flesh see corruption."-Acts 2:29-31
No one could deny that King David was dead and ample time had passed for his body to decay. And since David was a prophet, this could not be a false prophecy. How was it fulfilled? Peter said that it was explaining that the Messiah would be resurrected and not forsaken in Hades. Is this what happened?
"This Jesus God resurrected, of which fact we are all witnesses. Therefore because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out this which you see and hear. Actually David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet."' Therefore let all the house of Israel know for a certainty that God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you impaled." (Acts 2:32-36) Yes, Jehovah God resurrected Jesus the Nazarene, Jesus the Messiah--Jesus Christ! Yet, Peter alludes to another prophecy. Let us look at that.
"Sit At My Right Hand
"The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is: 'Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.'" (Psalm 110:1) This Scripture prophecy is quoted or alluded to more times then any other Scripture--between 20 and 25 times in total! What does this Scripture mean?
After Jesus died, he was resurrected three days later. Forty days after that, he went to heaven where first he presented his shed blood to Jehovah God and then he "sat down on the right of the Majesty in lofty places." (Hebrews 1:3) For nearly two thousand years, Jesus Christ was right there next to Jehovah God. One disciple, Stephen, even saw this in a vision. It went like this, "But [Stephen], being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand, and he said: 'Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.'" (Acts 7:55-56) So, according to the Psalms, Jesus died, was resurrected, and sat down at the right hand of God.
"Go Subduing In the Midst of Your Enemies"
Amazingly, the prophecy at Psalm 110 was not finished. At Psalm 110:2 Jehovah continues, "The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, saying: 'Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.'" (Psalm 110:2) After the alloted time, Jesus Christ was to leave his spot at Jehovah's right hand and "go subduing." This was further expounded upon at Revelation 12. We read, "A great sign was seen in heaven, a woman...cries out in her pains and in her agony to give birth...And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was caught away to God and to his throne."-Revelation 12:1-2, 5
What happened immediately after Jesus received his Kingdom? "War broke out in heaven: Michael* and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him." (Revelation 12:7-9) Immediately after Jesus received the kingdom, he went to war with Satan the Devil and threw him to earth from Heaven. Yes, he went subduing in the midst of his enemies! All of this was fulfilled in 1914.
When it comes to this subject, we can find out a lot more by reading Psalm 2. Part of this Psalm had a fulfillment at Jesus' death. Let us see what the Bible has to say about this.
"The Kings of the Earth Take Their Stand"
The writer of Psalm 2, King David, wrote this prophecy. It says, "Why have the nations been in tumult and the national groups themselves kept muttering an empty thing? The kings of earth take their stand and high officials themselves have massed together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one, saying: 'Let us tear their bands apart and cast their cords away from us!' (Psalm 2:1-3) This had a fulfillment in the first-century at the death of Jesus Christ.
These Scriptures are explained to us in a prayer recorded in the book of Acts, "Sovereign Lord, you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, and who through holy spirit said by the mouth of our forefather David, your servant, 'Why did nations become tumultuous and peoples meditate upon empty things? The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers massed together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one.' Even so, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with men of nations and with peoples of Israel were in actuality gathered together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed." (Acts 4:24-27) The prophecy at Psalm 2:1-3 was fulfilled at the death of the Messiah. The Jews screamed, "Impale! Impale him!", Pontius Pilate and King Herod both had a hand in putting him to death, Roman soldiers "spit into his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him in the face." Finally, even though they may not have had a hand in physically nailing him to the torture stake, they were all equally guilty.-Luke 23:11-12, 21; Matthew 26:67; 27:1, 26; Mark 15:25
None of these people, except perhaps Pontius Pilate, had any inkling that it wasn't just Jesus that they were fighting against, but his Father, Jehovah, too. It didn't matter. They were all guilty.
The second Psalm continues on. It says, (this is Jehovah speaking) "'I, even I, have installed my king upon Zion, my holy mountain.' Let me refer to the decree of Jehovah; He has said to me: 'You are my son; I, today, I have become your father.' Ask of me, that I may give nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession. You will break them with an iron scepter, as though a potter’s vessel you will dash them to pieces'...Kiss the son, that He may not become incensed and you may not perish from the way, for his anger flares up easily. Happy are all those taking refuge in him."-Psalm 2:6-9, 12
Remember, Jesus did not stay dead. After waiting at Jehovah's right hand, Jesus took Kingdom power. The nations will one day all belong to him. He will completely annihilate the kings from off the face of the earth. He "will break them...dash them to pieces". Only those who pay due honor to the Son will not have to face the wrath of Jehovah. The Second Psalm is very telling, although a little hard to understand.
The nations are one day going to try to fight against Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:11-14, 19-21) Jesus made it clear that they would not win. That will be the day when "the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin...[This] kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms [all nations that take a stand against Jesus at Armageddon], and it itself will stand to times indefinite."-Daniel 2:44
There is one other prophecy regarding the Messiah in the Psalms that has not been entirely fulfilled yet and is of striking interest.
"He Will Have Subjects From Sea to Sea"
The prophet Isaiah spoke of a coming paradise earth where he said, "And there must go forth a twig out of the stump of Jesse; and out of his roots a sprout will be fruitful. And upon him the spirit of Jehovah must settle down, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of mightiness, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah." (Isaiah 11:1-2) The Father of the Messiah, Jehovah God, is going to be with His Son as he rules all of mankind. Jehovah's holy spirit will help him to be the best ruler that has ever or will ever live on earth.
Under his rule, all of man will live in peace with animals--and each other. (Isaiah 11:6-9) Why not read the rest of the description of Jesus Christ at Isaiah 11:3-5? What a wonderful leader we will have! And just think, all of this will happen on the earth, as spoken of in Isaiah 11:9. The earth will undergo wonderful changes that will mean peace, joy, happiness, and health for all living there!
The last Psalm that we will look at, Psalm 72, continues this thought. Regarding the Messiah we read, "He will have subjects from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Before him the inhabitants of waterless regions will bow down, and his very enemies will lick the dust itself. The kings of Tarshish and of the islands--tribute they will pay. The kings of Sheba and of Seba--a gift they will present. And to him all the kings will prostrate themselves; all the nations, for their part, will serve him."-Psalm 72:8-11
First, Jesus Christ is going to bring all people into subjection to him at Armageddon when he finally returns. At that time, the changes to the earth will begin to take place. He will be a ruler that only has the best interest at heart for his subjects. We are told, "For he will deliver the poor one crying for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper. He will feel sorry for the lowly one and the poor one, and the souls of the poor ones he will save. From oppression and from violence he will redeem their soul, and their blood will be precious in his eyes." (Psalm 72:12-14) The personal interest that Jesus Christ will take in each individual under his care will be most comforting for all of us.
Then the scene sort of shifts from what Christ is going to do for each one of personally to what is going to happen on a world-wide basis. We read, "There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow. His fruit will be as in Lebanon, and those who are from the city will blossom like the vegetation of the earth." (Psalm 72:16) The days of malnutrition and poverty will be no more. Another Prophecy, Psalm 46, is speaking of this same time period. It adds, "He [Jehovah through Jesus] is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces; the wagons he burns in the fire."-Psalm 46:9
Yes, days are coming when wars will cease and poverty will be no more. We will finally live to see the "new heavens and a new earth." (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13) In that day we will all cry out and say these words, "Look! This is our God. We have hoped in him, and he will save us. This is Jehovah. We have hoped in him. Let us be joyful and rejoice in the salvation by him."-Isaiah 25:9
We, as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses, cannot wait for that day to come. If you would like to have a firm hope for the future, namely, living in a day when Psalms 46 and 72 will become a reality as Psalms 2, 16, and 110 already have, then Jehovah's Witnesses will be happy to help you! Yes, join with us as we truly honor both the Father and the Son.-John 5:23
All throughout the Psalms, the experiences of the Messiah are clearly visible for all to see. The pain of his death, the shock of his betrayal--the joy of his resurrection and gaining of his Kingdom.
One thing that has to be remembered, is that many times the Psalms are written about humans and their experiences, but oftentimes, these foreshadow someone greater. Let us look at one example of this.
The superscription over Psalm 16 says that this was written by King David. He uses the first person (I, Me, My) throughout but these do not apply to him completely. One verse in particular says, "For you will not leave my soul in Sheol. You will not allow your loyal one to see the pit." (Psalm 16:10) About a Millennium later, the Apostle Peter, one of the Messiah's best friends quotes this Psalm, saying, "God resurrected him by loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to continue to be held fast by it. For David says respecting him...,'you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your loyal one to see corruption'"
Peter admits that David was not speaking of himself, but of the coming Messiah. To drive the point home, he continues by saying, "It is allowable to speak with freeness of speech to you concerning the family head David, that he both deceased and was buried and his tomb is among us to this day. Therefore, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one from the fruitage of his loins upon his throne, he saw beforehand and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in Hades nor did his flesh see corruption."-Acts 2:29-31
No one could deny that King David was dead and ample time had passed for his body to decay. And since David was a prophet, this could not be a false prophecy. How was it fulfilled? Peter said that it was explaining that the Messiah would be resurrected and not forsaken in Hades. Is this what happened?
"This Jesus God resurrected, of which fact we are all witnesses. Therefore because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out this which you see and hear. Actually David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet."' Therefore let all the house of Israel know for a certainty that God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you impaled." (Acts 2:32-36) Yes, Jehovah God resurrected Jesus the Nazarene, Jesus the Messiah--Jesus Christ! Yet, Peter alludes to another prophecy. Let us look at that.
"The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is: 'Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.'" (Psalm 110:1) This Scripture prophecy is quoted or alluded to more times then any other Scripture--between 20 and 25 times in total! What does this Scripture mean?
After Jesus died, he was resurrected three days later. Forty days after that, he went to heaven where first he presented his shed blood to Jehovah God and then he "sat down on the right of the Majesty in lofty places." (Hebrews 1:3) For nearly two thousand years, Jesus Christ was right there next to Jehovah God. One disciple, Stephen, even saw this in a vision. It went like this, "But [Stephen], being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand, and he said: 'Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.'" (Acts 7:55-56) So, according to the Psalms, Jesus died, was resurrected, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Amazingly, the prophecy at Psalm 110 was not finished. At Psalm 110:2 Jehovah continues, "The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, saying: 'Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.'" (Psalm 110:2) After the alloted time, Jesus Christ was to leave his spot at Jehovah's right hand and "go subduing." This was further expounded upon at Revelation 12. We read, "A great sign was seen in heaven, a woman...cries out in her pains and in her agony to give birth...And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was caught away to God and to his throne."-Revelation 12:1-2, 5
What happened immediately after Jesus received his Kingdom? "War broke out in heaven: Michael* and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him." (Revelation 12:7-9) Immediately after Jesus received the kingdom, he went to war with Satan the Devil and threw him to earth from Heaven. Yes, he went subduing in the midst of his enemies! All of this was fulfilled in 1914.
When it comes to this subject, we can find out a lot more by reading Psalm 2. Part of this Psalm had a fulfillment at Jesus' death. Let us see what the Bible has to say about this.
The writer of Psalm 2, King David, wrote this prophecy. It says, "Why have the nations been in tumult and the national groups themselves kept muttering an empty thing? The kings of earth take their stand and high officials themselves have massed together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one, saying: 'Let us tear their bands apart and cast their cords away from us!' (Psalm 2:1-3) This had a fulfillment in the first-century at the death of Jesus Christ.
These Scriptures are explained to us in a prayer recorded in the book of Acts, "Sovereign Lord, you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, and who through holy spirit said by the mouth of our forefather David, your servant, 'Why did nations become tumultuous and peoples meditate upon empty things? The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers massed together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one.' Even so, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with men of nations and with peoples of Israel were in actuality gathered together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed." (Acts 4:24-27) The prophecy at Psalm 2:1-3 was fulfilled at the death of the Messiah. The Jews screamed, "Impale! Impale him!", Pontius Pilate and King Herod both had a hand in putting him to death, Roman soldiers "spit into his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him in the face." Finally, even though they may not have had a hand in physically nailing him to the torture stake, they were all equally guilty.-Luke 23:11-12, 21; Matthew 26:67; 27:1, 26; Mark 15:25
None of these people, except perhaps Pontius Pilate, had any inkling that it wasn't just Jesus that they were fighting against, but his Father, Jehovah, too. It didn't matter. They were all guilty.
The second Psalm continues on. It says, (this is Jehovah speaking) "'I, even I, have installed my king upon Zion, my holy mountain.' Let me refer to the decree of Jehovah; He has said to me: 'You are my son; I, today, I have become your father.' Ask of me, that I may give nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession. You will break them with an iron scepter, as though a potter’s vessel you will dash them to pieces'...Kiss the son, that He may not become incensed and you may not perish from the way, for his anger flares up easily. Happy are all those taking refuge in him."-Psalm 2:6-9, 12
Remember, Jesus did not stay dead. After waiting at Jehovah's right hand, Jesus took Kingdom power. The nations will one day all belong to him. He will completely annihilate the kings from off the face of the earth. He "will break them...dash them to pieces". Only those who pay due honor to the Son will not have to face the wrath of Jehovah. The Second Psalm is very telling, although a little hard to understand.
The nations are one day going to try to fight against Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:11-14, 19-21) Jesus made it clear that they would not win. That will be the day when "the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin...[This] kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms [all nations that take a stand against Jesus at Armageddon], and it itself will stand to times indefinite."-Daniel 2:44
There is one other prophecy regarding the Messiah in the Psalms that has not been entirely fulfilled yet and is of striking interest.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of a coming paradise earth where he said, "And there must go forth a twig out of the stump of Jesse; and out of his roots a sprout will be fruitful. And upon him the spirit of Jehovah must settle down, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of mightiness, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah." (Isaiah 11:1-2) The Father of the Messiah, Jehovah God, is going to be with His Son as he rules all of mankind. Jehovah's holy spirit will help him to be the best ruler that has ever or will ever live on earth.
Under his rule, all of man will live in peace with animals--and each other. (Isaiah 11:6-9) Why not read the rest of the description of Jesus Christ at Isaiah 11:3-5? What a wonderful leader we will have! And just think, all of this will happen on the earth, as spoken of in Isaiah 11:9. The earth will undergo wonderful changes that will mean peace, joy, happiness, and health for all living there!
The last Psalm that we will look at, Psalm 72, continues this thought. Regarding the Messiah we read, "He will have subjects from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Before him the inhabitants of waterless regions will bow down, and his very enemies will lick the dust itself. The kings of Tarshish and of the islands--tribute they will pay. The kings of Sheba and of Seba--a gift they will present. And to him all the kings will prostrate themselves; all the nations, for their part, will serve him."-Psalm 72:8-11
First, Jesus Christ is going to bring all people into subjection to him at Armageddon when he finally returns. At that time, the changes to the earth will begin to take place. He will be a ruler that only has the best interest at heart for his subjects. We are told, "For he will deliver the poor one crying for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper. He will feel sorry for the lowly one and the poor one, and the souls of the poor ones he will save. From oppression and from violence he will redeem their soul, and their blood will be precious in his eyes." (Psalm 72:12-14) The personal interest that Jesus Christ will take in each individual under his care will be most comforting for all of us.
Then the scene sort of shifts from what Christ is going to do for each one of personally to what is going to happen on a world-wide basis. We read, "There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow. His fruit will be as in Lebanon, and those who are from the city will blossom like the vegetation of the earth." (Psalm 72:16) The days of malnutrition and poverty will be no more. Another Prophecy, Psalm 46, is speaking of this same time period. It adds, "He [Jehovah through Jesus] is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces; the wagons he burns in the fire."-Psalm 46:9
Yes, days are coming when wars will cease and poverty will be no more. We will finally live to see the "new heavens and a new earth." (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13) In that day we will all cry out and say these words, "Look! This is our God. We have hoped in him, and he will save us. This is Jehovah. We have hoped in him. Let us be joyful and rejoice in the salvation by him."-Isaiah 25:9
We, as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses, cannot wait for that day to come. If you would like to have a firm hope for the future, namely, living in a day when Psalms 46 and 72 will become a reality as Psalms 2, 16, and 110 already have, then Jehovah's Witnesses will be happy to help you! Yes, join with us as we truly honor both the Father and the Son.-John 5:23
*Michael the Archangel is in fact Jesus Christ in his pre-human existence. For Biblical reasons for this, please see the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? pg. 218-19 and Reasoning from the Scriptures pg. 218, both published by Jehovah's Witnesses
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Did Jesus Have a Pre-human Existence?
That question may not make sense to many people. Of course Jesus had a pre-human existence! Doesn't the Bible clearly teach that? Evidently, it isn't as clear as was thought for there are many groups that teach that Jesus was not alive in heaven before coming to earth, among them Christadelphians, Restoration Fellowship, and others.
So, was Jesus alive in heaven before coming to earth?
John 1: The Word
"In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in the beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence." (John 1:1-3) The words of the Apostle John leave this subject open to very little debate. There are no other words that John could have used that made the matter clearer.
John tells us what the Word did while in Heaven. He goes on, "He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him, but the world did not know him." (John 1:10) We owe our very existence to Jehovah God, for if not for Him, using the Word as His Master Worker, (Proverbs 8:30) we would not be on earth today. For anyone to deny that Jesus was alive before he came to earth is to deny our existence. We live because God made us through Jesus Christ! To get around this, some may argue that the Word is not the Lord Jesus Christ!
John would not agree. He continues: "So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father." (John 1:14) The Word came to earth in the form of the man Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that someone came to earth from a pre-human existence. Who else would that be? The Scriptures do not say anyone else, besides the Word, came to earth. The Word had to have been Jesus. In fact, the book of Revelation reveals that he was.-Revelation 19:13
John 6:37-38: "I Have Come Down From Heaven"
More important then John's testimony, though, is the testimony of the Word, Jesus, himself. Jesus specifically said that he came down from heaven. "Everything the Father gives me will come to me, and the one that comes to me I will by no means drive away; because I have come down from heaven to do, not my will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:37-28) This Scripture is clear and concise, with no room for argument. For anyone to try to make the claim, "Jesus said nothing of a prehuman existence" is dishonest--or at least made by somebody who does not know the Bible.
Micah 5:2: A Ruler From Early Times
There are many texts throughout the Bible that are prophetic of Jesus as ruler, including Genesis 49:10, Psalm 2:6, and Isaiah 9:6. However, there is one that reveals also is very telling on this subject. A well-known prophecy by the prophet Micah. He says, "And you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite."-Micah 5:2
This prophecy is normally used to show where the Messiah is going to be born. (Matthew 2:4-6; Luke 2:4; John 7:42) Interestingly, we can also tell from it that he is going to be a king and that he had a prehuman existence. This idea was not foreign to any of the Bible writers. One last title of Jesus* will show that it was a commonly held belief that Jesus was a spirit in heaven before his life on earth.
Colossians 1:15: Firstborn
Jesus is a created being. Both Paul and John testify to that. For example, Paul said of Jesus, "He is the image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation." (Colossians 1:15) Christ was the only thing created directly by God, all other things were created by Jehovah through Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus said of himself that he was the "beginning of the creation by God." (Revelation 3:14; Hebrews 1:2) He would know better then any human that he was alive in heaven before coming to earth. For anyone to say otherwise would be to contradict the sayings of our Lord and Savior.
John recorded Jesus as saying that he was the "only-begotten son" of the Father. (John 3:16) The Greek word for "only-begotten" is monogenes. Two Greek-English Lexicons say this of monogenes: "single of its kind, only" and another "the only member of a kin or kind."** Jesus is the only-begotten, the firstborn of all creation. There can be no denying that and all of its implications.
Genesis 1:26: "Let Us"
In the creation account, something that many don't notice are the words Jehovah used while creating man. He did not say "I will create man in my image" but, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness." (Genesis 1:26) Many people point to this Scripture as proof of the false Trinity teaching. However, God was obviously speaking to someone else, not to Himself. Who was He speaking to? Obvious, His only Son, the Word, Jesus Christ.
One person made this argument: "If a friend of mine and I said that we were going to create a stature in our image but it only looked like me, then it would not be in our image, only mine." That would be true in most cases, but not concerning Jehovah and Jesus. Why? Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" and "the exact representation of his very being." (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3) Jesus Christ was made in God's image and so we can be made in the image of Jehovah and Jesus.
Philippians 2:6-7: "He Emptied Himself"
This is the last Scripture that we will use in support of Jesus prehuman existence. It says, "Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7) It is very obvious when you open your mind and really look that Jesus was existing in God's form (as a spirit) but he emptied himself. Now, if Jesus had not been alive in heaven before coming to earth, how could he have emptied himself?
Another telling thing about this Scripture passage is the subject. The context reveals that the true subject is being humble enough to do God's will at all times, no matter what the task is. What good would Philippians 2:5-7 do to admonish humility if Jesus was not alive in heaven? It wouldn't mean anything at all. Christ had to have been alive before coming to earth! There is no way to explain these verses away.
When we study the Scriptures deeply, we come to thrilling conclusions that we may not have seen before. Jesus Christ was humble enough to give up everything he had before his human life and come to save sinful mankind. We owe our everlasting salvation to him. Let us never take away from his experience by denying that he lived before being transferred to Mary's womb and that he displayed humility to come here.
So, was Jesus alive in heaven before coming to earth?
"In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in the beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence." (John 1:1-3) The words of the Apostle John leave this subject open to very little debate. There are no other words that John could have used that made the matter clearer.
John tells us what the Word did while in Heaven. He goes on, "He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him, but the world did not know him." (John 1:10) We owe our very existence to Jehovah God, for if not for Him, using the Word as His Master Worker, (Proverbs 8:30) we would not be on earth today. For anyone to deny that Jesus was alive before he came to earth is to deny our existence. We live because God made us through Jesus Christ! To get around this, some may argue that the Word is not the Lord Jesus Christ!
John would not agree. He continues: "So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father." (John 1:14) The Word came to earth in the form of the man Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that someone came to earth from a pre-human existence. Who else would that be? The Scriptures do not say anyone else, besides the Word, came to earth. The Word had to have been Jesus. In fact, the book of Revelation reveals that he was.-Revelation 19:13
More important then John's testimony, though, is the testimony of the Word, Jesus, himself. Jesus specifically said that he came down from heaven. "Everything the Father gives me will come to me, and the one that comes to me I will by no means drive away; because I have come down from heaven to do, not my will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:37-28) This Scripture is clear and concise, with no room for argument. For anyone to try to make the claim, "Jesus said nothing of a prehuman existence" is dishonest--or at least made by somebody who does not know the Bible.
There are many texts throughout the Bible that are prophetic of Jesus as ruler, including Genesis 49:10, Psalm 2:6, and Isaiah 9:6. However, there is one that reveals also is very telling on this subject. A well-known prophecy by the prophet Micah. He says, "And you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite."-Micah 5:2
This prophecy is normally used to show where the Messiah is going to be born. (Matthew 2:4-6; Luke 2:4; John 7:42) Interestingly, we can also tell from it that he is going to be a king and that he had a prehuman existence. This idea was not foreign to any of the Bible writers. One last title of Jesus* will show that it was a commonly held belief that Jesus was a spirit in heaven before his life on earth.
Jesus is a created being. Both Paul and John testify to that. For example, Paul said of Jesus, "He is the image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation." (Colossians 1:15) Christ was the only thing created directly by God, all other things were created by Jehovah through Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus said of himself that he was the "beginning of the creation by God." (Revelation 3:14; Hebrews 1:2) He would know better then any human that he was alive in heaven before coming to earth. For anyone to say otherwise would be to contradict the sayings of our Lord and Savior.
John recorded Jesus as saying that he was the "only-begotten son" of the Father. (John 3:16) The Greek word for "only-begotten" is monogenes. Two Greek-English Lexicons say this of monogenes: "single of its kind, only" and another "the only member of a kin or kind."** Jesus is the only-begotten, the firstborn of all creation. There can be no denying that and all of its implications.
In the creation account, something that many don't notice are the words Jehovah used while creating man. He did not say "I will create man in my image" but, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness." (Genesis 1:26) Many people point to this Scripture as proof of the false Trinity teaching. However, God was obviously speaking to someone else, not to Himself. Who was He speaking to? Obvious, His only Son, the Word, Jesus Christ.
One person made this argument: "If a friend of mine and I said that we were going to create a stature in our image but it only looked like me, then it would not be in our image, only mine." That would be true in most cases, but not concerning Jehovah and Jesus. Why? Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" and "the exact representation of his very being." (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3) Jesus Christ was made in God's image and so we can be made in the image of Jehovah and Jesus.
This is the last Scripture that we will use in support of Jesus prehuman existence. It says, "Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7) It is very obvious when you open your mind and really look that Jesus was existing in God's form (as a spirit) but he emptied himself. Now, if Jesus had not been alive in heaven before coming to earth, how could he have emptied himself?
Another telling thing about this Scripture passage is the subject. The context reveals that the true subject is being humble enough to do God's will at all times, no matter what the task is. What good would Philippians 2:5-7 do to admonish humility if Jesus was not alive in heaven? It wouldn't mean anything at all. Christ had to have been alive before coming to earth! There is no way to explain these verses away.
When we study the Scriptures deeply, we come to thrilling conclusions that we may not have seen before. Jesus Christ was humble enough to give up everything he had before his human life and come to save sinful mankind. We owe our everlasting salvation to him. Let us never take away from his experience by denying that he lived before being transferred to Mary's womb and that he displayed humility to come here.
*Other Scriptures that prove Jesus had a prehuman existence are John 3:13; 6:62; 8:23, 42, 58; 17:5 and others.
**Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
