Resurrection or recreation

 

 

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 The RESURRECTION According to the Watchtower 

                       Michael or Jesus?             

What was consistently proclaimed all throughout the book of Acts, was the Resurrection. But what kind of resurrection is it, a Spirit or bodily one?

In I Peter 3:18, Peter writes that Christ was “Put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) in the Spirit.” The society uses this to support their teaching saying “Jesus became a living spirit creature, as he had been before he came to earth.” (Happiness-how to find it,1980 p.118) This does not mean that He died spiritually and now he is spiritually resurrected, or by the Spirit. It means he died in the body “Put to death in the flesh” not the Spirit. The spirit of Christ did not die when his flesh did, he continued his life existing in the spirit.   This is the same word in Jn.4:24 of God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.  In Rom. 8:8-9 he writes those who are in the flesh cannot please God, however you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. This same context is used for the spiritual man who walks in the spirit. If we interpret this as the JW's do then we who are flesh, would now spirit creatures without any physical bodies when we walk in the Spirit.

“Having given up his flesh for the life of the world, Christ could never take it again and become a man once more.” (You can live in Paradise on Earth, p.169, 1982) “Hence Jesus Christ was not resurrected with the sacrificed human body,” (Things in Which it is impossible for God to Lie, p. 355)

It appears the Jehovah’s Witnesses have a problem with what God plainly says in Scripture about a physical resurrection. “We deny that he raised in the flesh, and challenge any statement to that effect as being unscriptural.” (The Finished Mystery p.57 1917)

Jesus must be a spirit being. He simply materialized bodies. (Awake 7/22/1973, p.4)

“Therefore the bodies in which Jesus manifested himself to his disciples after his return to life were not the body in which he was nailed to the tree.” (KINGDOM at HAND, p. 259) When they speak of bodies plural they mean that Jesus appeared in many different ones to the witnesses.

Irenaeus fought against the Gnostics in his writings and debates, he wrote of  Marcion who made up a number of changes found in varying manuscripts of Luke and the large number of verses Marcion omitted.  For  example the scripture “And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet” (Luke 24:40) was be omitted by Marcion. For he did not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus but only in a spiritual resurrection. So the Jehovah's Witnesses get their doctrine from this early teacher of heresy who also changed the Bible's words.

They claim “Jesus resurrection is not of the same body, he merely materialized flesh and blood to be seen and believed.” This of course needed to be done since you can’t see a spirit. In other words they would never have believed if he hadn’t faked the nail prints in his fake materialized body. Look I’m back, see! In Luke 24:39 Jesus said “I am not a spirit but I have flesh and bones.” Was he telling the truth or lying. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the body that dies with the body that resurrects. If this is not true, then the apostles who preached that Christ arose from the dead are false witnesses because belief in the resurrection is essential for salvation.

So if the body was not the same that died there is no resurrection and clearly they are teaching about ANOTHER Jesus, and a different resurrection.

If the same body does not rise then there is no resurrection. But this is what resurrection means, what dies is brought back to life. This is why Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t teach one can be saved now, they have no gospel, the resurrection is clearly missing!

Why is Jesus’ resurrection any different than all the others he himself resurrected?

“Our Lord's human body was, however, supernaturally removed from the tomb; because had it remained there it would have been an insurmountable obstacle to the faith of the disciples, who were not yet instructed in spiritual things - for 'the spirit was not yet given.' John 7:39 We know nothing about what became of it, except that it did not decay or corrupt... Many Christians have the idea that our Lord's glorious spiritual body is the very same body that was crucified and laid away in Joseph's tomb: This is a great mistake,” ( Time is at Hand, p.128) If we are mistaken then so was the apostle Paul and the rest of the apostles that wrote us the testimonies.

Christ's human body not being raised is also believed by occultists such as Johannes Greber who agrees with them... “The 'resurrection of the dead' has therefore not the slightest reference to the resurrection of the physical body.”( Communications with the Spirit World, p. 385) “-The body of Jesus similarly to the bodies of Enoch and Elijah have been dissolved into od.” (ibid p.385) So they are in agreement with occultists on this essential fact of Scripture. This is the same occultist they went to for the New World translation of their Scriptures.

To the Jehovah’s Witness, the personality “the soul” dies with the body. “This personality is dependent upon the body and therefore ceases to exist when the body dies.”(Awake, p.7 Sept.22, 1955)

So what happened to Jesus is no different than what happens to anyone else, “Jesus was dead, he was unconscious, out of existence. Death did not mean a transition to another life for Jesus; rather non existence.” (Awake p.27 July, 22 1979)

“As soon as the breathe of life leaves, the body would be as before. The spark of life having gone there would be no soul. Where does a soul go? It would not go anywhere. We have a candle. You blow out the light… it does not go to some other place, but is simply extinguished. So with man. (WT 3/15 1913 Russell answering a question on the soul, p.667)

This is not Bible doctrine but Buddhism, where the soul is extinguished. Russell taught so many things contrary to Scripture, he was not a Christian. According to their own doctrinal changes, he wouldn’t even qualify to be a Jehovah’s Witness today.

What happened to his body then? “The scriptures answer; It was disposed of by Jehovah God, dissolved into its constituent elements or atoms,” (Watchtower, p.518 Oct.1, 1953)They further explain what happens in the event of death. “Adam ceased to be a breather, or soul, and went back to the lifeless dust from which he had been taken. It was the reverse of the creation process. No part of him lived on. He went completely into non existence.” (Good news to make you happy p.89 1976)

Can you imagine the apostles sitting around in discussion saying how much they miss Jesus because he was evaporated!

So not only do they teach a different body is being made, but a whole new spirit creature is made from scratch. He is not the same one who died for our sins bodily or in spirit.

So then if one goes out of existence how do they come back?

“What will be resurrected? The body? No, for it gas disintegrated and its atoms have become parts of other living things, which, in turn, may have become part of other living creatures.” (WT6/1/1959 p.346)

Resurrection involves a reactivating of the life pattern of the individual, which life pattern god has retained in His memory (Reasoning from the scriptures p.333 1985.) “for God -to resurrect a person, what would he have to do? He would have to make a body, having the same traits, restoring, also the memory, which has provided the- person with the characteristics he had acquired during his lifetime. The entire soul would thus be restored.” (Wt dec.1, 1973 p.726)

How is the individual, the “soul,” with the personality, the life pattern, resurrected? We might best answer that question by means of an illustration, that of a phonograph recording. The factors combining to make the life pattern are like the sounds recorded on a blank phonograph record that stands for the brain, primary-, At the same time -is having a master disc made of the same life pattern on his marvelous memory. At death the phonograph record is broken as it were, and what was recorded thereon would be forever lost were it not for the duplicate record in made by God. In the resurrection God makes a blank record, a human body, and then stamps it on the brain the life pattern he has recorded. Upon giving life to that body the result is an individual that will recognize himself and be recognized by others as having previously existed. (Awake Sept 22,1995 p.7)

The Jehovah’s Witnesses insists that the person who died is not raised. Not to worry because God makes a perfect copy, a recording of him to enjoy paradise earth. But who then is really there? The original is the real person who is gone, but his copy God made looks, sounds, and feels like him will have a wonderful life, but the real person will not be there. This is not scriptural fact but fantasy. So here is how the Witnesses define a resurrection. A completely new person that is made from memory, both body and spirit. This would be more accurately described as a recreation from nothing a completely new beginning. Sounds wonderful except for the fact you as Jehovah’s Witness are not really there.

So they do not have the gospel that will save, and it is for this very reason they teach one must do works and found publishing the good news, by going door to door preaching the paradise that will come. But as we have seen even if they are the most faithful JW that ever lived, they will not be there because they have no resurrection but a recreation , a clone of the original.

Is Christ resurrected? YES says the Watchtower

But not that we should overlook their doubletalk “The religious leaders could not stop Gods son from coming out of the tomb. (Acts 2:32 MT.27:62-66, 28:1-7)There can be no doubt that Christ was raised from the dead,”… Further proof that the dead can be raised was given later through the apostles Peter and Paul. First, Peter resurrected Tabitha, also called Dorcas, of the city of Joppa. (Acts 9:36-42) And then Paul brought back to life young Eutychus, who had died when he fell from a third-floor window while Paul was speaking. (Acts 20:7-12) Surely these nine resurrections recorded in the Bible give certain proof that the dead can be brought back to life! “(you can live in paradise on earth 1982, p.169) From this one would think they are correct in their view, but they are correct only by mistake. Look at who they use, those who died and were resurrected physically. They contradict their own false teaching.

A physical resurrection of the Old Testament saints on earth

'...we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected' (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 88)

“ that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions of people now on the earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then, based upon the promises set forth in the divine Word, we must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions now living will never die.” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die. 1920 p. 97)

The chief thing to be restored is the human race to life; and since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact that there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men and Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth. (Millions now living will never die, 1920 p 89-90)

1924 “No doubt many boys and girls who read this book will live to see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, and those other men of old come forth in the glory of their better resurrection, of perfect in mind and body. It will not take long for Christ to appoint them to their post of honor and authority as his earthly representatives. The world and all the present conveniences will seen strange to them at first, but they will soon become accustomed to the new methods. They may have some amusing experiences at first; for they never saw telephones, radios, automobiles, electric lights, aeroplanes, steam engines, and many other things so familiar to us. (The Way To Paradise, 1924, p. 226)

Here we have a separate physical resurrection that never happened. Much like the spiritual resurrection of 1918 of some of the 144,000. When the house Beth Sarim was built for them and they didn’t show up they didn’t let it go vacant, they had the president move in.

Christ resurrected? NOT SO says the Watchtower

What does resurrection actually mean to a Jehovah Witness? “What will be resurrected? The body? NO. for it has disintegrated and its atoms have become part of other living things. Which in turn may have become part of other living creatures.” (W.T p.346 June 1, 1959) “For the man Jesus is dead, forever dead.”(Studies in the scriptures Vol.5, p.454 1899) “Jesus as a man must remain dead for ever.” (Government, p.110 1928) 

“Resurrection involves a reactivating of the life pattern of the individual, which life pattern God has retained in his memory.” (Reasoning from the scriptures p.333 1985) “Jesus became a living spirit creature as he had been before coming to earth.” (Happiness-how to find it p.118 1980)  “He was the first to be raised a spirit person.” (You can live in paradise on earth p.172 1982) “Jesus Christ was not made a human creature at his resurrection but was made a spirit, which accounts for his invisibility.” (WT p.101-102 April 1, 1947) What invisibility, it never says this it always teaches he appeared seen by many and even ate with them. The assumption is that he walked through the walls to the disciples in the room but it never says this. He could easily trans-locate himself from one place to another.

What does resurrection mean in the Bible?

1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God “the man” Christ Jesus .” He was raised in the same flesh and bone body, he is not a spirit named Michael the Archangel. He is still in the body he took in the incarnation as he mediates as a man (anthroôpos).

Jn.2:19-21 “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again in three days “…”But he was speaking of the temple of his body.” He was speaking of the temple, His body (soma - Greek - body not spirit not soul – body) did Jesus lie or misrepresent what he would do. Not only does he say the same body will be raised up But that he will do this. How does one accomplish this fact if they are out of existence. Remember according to the WT “he was unconscious, out of existence. Death did not mean a transition to another life for Jesus; rather non existence.”

Acts 2:24-28 “Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death”. What dies the body nowhere do we find a spirit being resurrected in the scriptures. Peter sums up his sermon in vs.31 “he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades nor his flesh see corruption.” Christ went as a living soul to paradise not only that he states he did not see corruption in his body or soul. this means his body was not left to rot in the ground but was brought out as the firstfruits unto eternal life . Neither was his soul annihilated as the Watchtower teaches.

1 Cor.15:44-46 it is a recreation of the same natural that died yet it was raised incorruptible and eternal having the Spirit as its source of operation. The resurrection is a spiritually dominated body, it will be the motivating force of its existence.

Where not all resurrections physical. Did not Lazarus come back in his same body? What of Jairus daughter? She did not come back a spirit creature. Why is Jesus’ resurrection different than all the examples in the Bible? Why does Paul use Jesus' resurrection as the model for all Christians who have died. If Jesus did not rise from the grave in a physical body then what is the significance of an empty tomb?

Why did the disciples run to the tomb to investigate the report of his resurrection if they did not believe in a bodily resurrection? Why would they conclude the resurrection had occurred from the fact he was not their, if they couldn’t see him in the first place as a spirit. Why were the Roman Guards asked by the Jews to protect the tomb so no one would steal the body and say he rose? Jesus was resurrected on earth like anyone else. Why does Paul use Jesus' resurrection as the prototype for all Christians? Phil. 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This would hardly be so if one goes into non existence. These are questions that need to be answered by the witness at your door.

If the person who died is not raised and God makes a perfect copy of him to enjoy paradise earth, then who is there? The original is the real person who is gone forever, but his copy who looks, sounds, and feels like him will have a wonderful life, but the real original person will not be there. This is not scriptural but fantasy.

Not believing the Resurrection

Jesus often his future resurrection as a proof of His claims (John 2:19-22; 10:18). He even offered it as the unique sign of who He is, declaring that no other sign would be given to that unbelieving generation (Matt. 12:40). Unfortunately there are some that claim to believe in Christ and are unbelievers today.

1 Pet. 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” This is why they have no hope of a future life, they don’t believe in a physical resurrection.

1 Cor.15:11-15: “ Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.   Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up-- if in fact the dead do not rise.” This is why the Jehovah's Witnesses can’t be saved, nor receive Gods grace, because they deny the very Gospel that can save them.

So how do they say there is no resurrection from the dead?

Christ resurrected forever

The organization teaches that Jesus was made alive as a spirit. He is Michael the Archangel. So not only do they not have a true resurrection but the wrong person as well. The Bible said that He came back in the same body that died on the cross? The Watchtower says no!   Did you know that the Watchtower Society made the same mistake that the apostles of our Lord made when they though they had seen a spirit Luke 24:36-39?  Jesus does in fact say that he rose physically correcting their mistake right on the spot, saying, “a spirit does NOT have flesh and bone.”

In other words if he was a Spirit materializing he would have said something completely different, instead he is reaffirming that he is physical and he eats a number of times to prove it. Jesus himself said he raised from the dead.

If there is no physical resurrection, then there is no real evidence. An immaterial body has no verifiable connection with a material body, there has to be a correspondence with the body that died and that is raised or it is not a true resurrection

Rev.1:5: “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

Rev.1:18: “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

Rev.2:8: “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.

Acts 2:23: “ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death” To die and be brought back to life is always relative to the human body.

Acts 2:24-28:  “Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death”. What dies the body nowhere do we find a spirit being resurrected in the scriptures. “For you will not leave my soul in Hades Nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption.” Tells us God would not let him see corruption or decay, this is a term for mortality and fallen humanity. Peter sums up his sermon in v.31 “he, forseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades nor his flesh see corruption” Christ went as a living soul to paradise, not to annihilation. V.32 “This Jesus God raised up of which we are all witnesses.” Scripture states he did not see corruption, meaning his body was not left to rot in the ground but was brought out as the firstfruits unto eternal life 1 Cor.15:20, 23. Jesus is not raised from non existence but from the dead. To say Christ died spiritually the way they define it is a new revelation, but not a biblical one. Also 13:35-37 no corruption certainly means no non existence.

1 John 4:2 says “that every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” Verse 3 then states that every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. Those who deny that Jesus came in the flesh are of the anti-Christ spirit. This is one of the ways to discern a false teacher from a true one. Writing after the Resurrection, John declared that Jesus “came [and remained] in the flesh” (1 John 4:2; 2 John 7). The body that emerged from the tomb Sunday morning was the exact same body that went in the tomb.

John is using perfect tense in Greek, which denotes a past action with continuing results into the present, and continuing on into the future. He came in the flesh, rose in the flesh, and is still in the flesh. The same body that He was born and died with, He rose with. If one claims that Christ rose as a spirit creature, and not physically, they are of the anti Christ spirit and are denying the third point of the Gospel.

92 times the Bible says “it is written” (present tense). This means that the Bible was the Word of God in the past, and continues in the present forever. This same tense is applied to His bodily resurrection. 2 Jn.7 also addresses this saying “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, this is a deceiver and an antichrist.” In this epistle John uses the present tense in Greek which focuses specifically on the future coming of the Lord. People who deny Jesus has come in the flesh and rose in spirit and not in the body, are of the spirit of antichrist. (1 Jn. 4:2 focuses on the past 2 Jn. 7 focuses on the future) This is pointing to the fact he rose again in the same body and is coming back in this same body.

As Acts 1:11 He will come in the same manner he left visibly to all with the physical eye. How do we know he left physically, because they watched Him arise into heaven. The same body, the same person, the same way He will return.  But the Jehovah’s Witnesses says “We are not to look for Christ to be visible to human eyes when he comes again.” (WT 2/15/1955 p.102) Rev.1:7  “Behold he is coming with clouds (glory), and Every eye will see him even they who pierced him” Mt.24:27 “For as the lightning flashes from east to west so will the coming of the son of man be.” Everyone can see lightning no matter what religion they would belong to, even if they did not believe in God.

The question that logically comes up is how does one know if this event occurred, if you can’t see it, being that it is invisible? How much faith is required to make this a fact. The truth is, it did not occur and this should be evident to even the witnesses. What is needed, is this doctrine of theirs to be buried in the ground, put out of existence never to be seen again, just as they claim Jesus was! Only then can they be removed from siding with a teaching from what the Bible clearly calls Anti Christ.

 

 

 

 

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