"Are You Ready For Jehovah's Sovereignty?"

"Are you ready for Jehovah's Sovereignty" is the name of the latest Watchtower Study published by the Society. It is also a question they should be asking themselves.

Paragraph 1 A momentous event, one that had never before been seen on earth, occurred about October 29 C.E. The Gospel writer Matthew reports: "After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and [John the Baptizer] saw descending like a dove God's spirit coming upon [Jesus]. Look! Also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: `This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved."' This was one of the few events that was recorded by all four Gospel writers.-Matthew 3:16, 17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:32-34.

Paragraph 2 The visible outpouring of holy spirit upon Jesus identified him as the Anointed One, which term means Messiah, or Christ. (John 1:33) At long last, the promised "seed" had appeared! Standing before John the Baptizer was the one whose heel was to be bruised by Satan and who was to bruise the head of that archenemy of Jehovah and His sovereignty. (Genesis 3: 15) From that point on, Jesus was fully aware that he must endeavor to fulfill Jehovah's purpose regarding His sovereignty and the Kingdom.

From that point on? Did not Jesus as a boy know God to be his Father, the temple his home and his life for the Father?

Luke 2:46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

On a side note, is it so difficult to call John "the Baptist"?

Paragraph 3 To be prepared for the task at hand, "Jesus, full of holy spirit, turned away from the Jordan, and he was led about by the spirit in the wilderness." (Luke 4:1; Mark 1:12) There, for 40 days Jesus had time to meditate deeply on the issue of sovereignty raised by Satan and on the course that He had to take to uphold Jehovah's sovereignty. That issue involves all intelligent creatures—in heaven and on earth. So we do well to consider Jesus' faithful course and see what we must do to show that we too wish to uphold Jehovah's sovereignty.-Job 1:6-12; 2:2-6.

So Jesus had a forty-day sovereignty-themed timeout? The bible says he was tempted not just for those forty days, but according to Luke 4:13, "until an opportune time" arrived. They would do well to consider Jesus faithful course and know he NEVER sinned.

Paragraph 6 To begin with, "Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the good news of God and saying: `The appointed time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near."' (Mark 1:14, 15) In fact, he said: "I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth." (Luke 4:18, 21, 43) Jesus traveled the length and breadth of the land, "preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God." (Luke 8:1) Jesus also performed many powerful works—feeding the crowds, taming the elements, curing the sick, and raising the dead. By means of these miracles, Jesus proved that God can undo all the damage and suffering that resulted from the Edenic rebellion and thus "break up the works of the Devil."-1 John 3:8.

And what were the good news? That Christ became enthroned in 1914 AD and soon the planet would be a garden and friendly animals would roam about?

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

His mission was clear.

Paragraph 8 Jesus spared no effort and passed up no opportunity to bear witness to the Kingdom. He worked incessantly, laboring day and night, even forgoing the normal comforts of life. "Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have roosts, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head," he said. (Luke 9:58; Mark 6:31; John 4:31-34) Shortly before his death, Jesus boldly stated before Pontius Pilate: "For this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." (John 18:37) Jesus' entire life course demonstrated that he came, not simply to be a great teacher or a miracle worker or even just a self-sacrificing Savior, but to uphold Jehovah's sovereign will and to bear witness to God's ability to fulfill that will through the Kingdom.-John 14:6.

That scripture reads,

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

While you are at it, just ignore why Jesus is the Lamb of God and how He paid for our sins.

Hebrews 9:26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Apparently His Sacrifice is important.

Paragraph 10 What comes to your mind when you think of Jesus on the torture stake suffering a slow and agonizing death? Perhaps you remember the ransom sacrifice that Jesus unselfishly gave in behalf of sinful mankind. (Matthew 20:28; John 15:13) You may marvel at the great love that Jehovah showed in providing that sacrifice. (John 3:16) Perhaps you feel as did the Roman army officer who was moved to say: "Certainly this was God's Son." (Matthew 27:54) All of these surely are fitting responses. On the other hand, recall that Jesus' last words on the torture stake were: "It has been accomplished!" (John 19:30) What had been accomplished? While Jesus achieved many things by his life and death, was it not primarily for settling the issue of Jehovah's sovereignty that Jesus came to earth? And was it not foretold that as the "seed," he would suffer the extreme test at Satan's hands so as to clear Jehovah's name of all reproach? (Isaiah 53:3-7) These were weighty responsibilities, yet Jesus fulfilled them in every respect. What an accomplishment!

What has been accomplished? Let's read those verses.

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Contrary to the Watchtower's self-centered theology, God is not about having his ego bruised; He is about about being holy, just, and loving. He Redeems lost and unloveable creatures. What Christ accomplished cannot be added to, it truly has been done.

Paragraph 11 For his faithfulness and loyalty, Jesus was resurrected, not as a human, but as "a life-giving spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Peter 3:18) Jehovah's promise to his glorified Son was: "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet." (Psalm 110:1) The "enemies" include the chief culprit, Satan, and all those making up his "seed." As King of Jehovah's Messianic Kingdom, Jesus Christ will take the lead in bringing all rebels to nothing, in heaven and on earth. (Revelation 12:7-9; 19:11-16; 20:1-3, 10) Then will come the complete fulfillment of the prophecy at Genesis 3:15 as well as of the prayer that Jesus taught his followers: "Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth."-Matthew 6:10; Philippians 2:8-11.

Once again they diminish Jesus and his ressurection. What happened when the disciples saw Jesus and thought he was an apparition?

Luke 24:37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

Later on He even eats in their presence to reassure them he is physical yet glorified.

Paragraph 12 Today, the good news of the Kingdom is being preached in many lands, as Jesus prophesied it would be. (Matthew 24:14) As a result, millions of people have dedicated their life to God. They are excited about the blessings that the Kingdom will bring. They look forward to living forever in peace and security on a paradise earth, and they joyfully tell others about their hope. (Psalm 37:11; 2 Peter 3:13) Are you one of these Kingdom proclaimers? If so, you are to be commended. There is, however, something else that each one of us must consider.

Why don't they continue quoting Psalm 37?

Psalm 37:19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

Is it because they don't expect desertification and cropland losses in their Paradise?

Paragraph 13 The apostle Peter wrote: "Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely." (1 Peter 2:21) Note that in this instance, Peter mentioned, not Jesus' zeal in preaching or his skill in teaching, but his suffering. As an eyewitness, Peter was well-aware of the extent to which Jesus was willing to suffer in order to submit to Jehovah's sovereignty and prove Satan to be the liar that he is. In what ways, then, can we follow Jesus' steps? We must ask ourselves: `To what extent am I willing to suffer in order to support and honor Jehovah's sovereignty? Do I show by the way I live my life and carry out my ministry that upholding Jehovah's sovereignty is my foremost concern?'-Colossians 3:17.

Why then downplay His Sacrifice throughout this entire article?

Witness Paradise

This video portrays what Jehovah's Witnesses regard as the "real life".



An eternity devoid of Jesus Christ is misery.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Titus 2:13 While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

Two Resurrections--With or Without Christ?

The recent trend in Watchtower articles indicate an attempt to diminish a central teaching of theirs: that millions living in the early twentieth century will never die. JW's, please check your Proclaimers book. Even after the 1914 Generation change in November of 1995, the Society stated:

The Watchtower Jan. 1, 1997 p. 11 par. 18 Let All Glorify Jehovah!

In the early 1920’s, a featured public talk presented by Jehovah’s Witnesses was entitled "Millions Now Living Will Never Die." This may have reflected overoptimism at that time. But today that statement can be made with full confidence.

Recent writings from the Watchtower no longer contain such promises, on the contrary, they have even come to the conclusion death is inevitable (gasp!).

The Watchtower Aug. 1, 2007 par 15

Jesus' words point out how easy it is for people to have a warped or distorted view of life. Whether rich or poor, all humans are imperfect and have but one eventuality. Moses of old observed: "In themselves the days of our years are seventy years; and if because of special mightiness they are eighty years, yet their insistence is on trouble and hurtful things; for it must quickly pass by, and away we fly."

More can be said about their false prophecies, for example, assuring the 1950 youth the end will be here so soon, there is no need for higher education.

God has set eternity in our hearts, but like birth, there is a time for death (Eccl 3).

Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment

Death is a natural process. When the Lord returns, those believers who are alive will be taken up to heaven in their new imperishable bodies, but not preceding those who died in Christ.

1 Cor 15:51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Please, my JW brothers and sisters, God wants you to take part in the First Resurrection, for the Second Resurrection will be of despair.

Daniel 12:2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

Please, repent of your sins and receive forgiveness, give your life over to Jesus and trust Him as Saviour and Lord, not the organization you perceive as the "Truth".

A Paradise That Will Never Arrive

Jehovah's Witnesses yearn for a Paradise on Earth after Armageddon. At that time, the JW's will laboriously remove the remains and memories of the bygone world. In effect, every iconic, economic, and historic monument will be eradicated. The rubble and debris resulting from God's judgment upon the world will be discarded. A global cleanup by an unknown, but probable small number of survivors will take place using whatever technology God has spared. The birds of prey will feast on the millions upon millions of corpses littered throughout the planet.

New homes will be built, food and clothing will be abundant, the animal kingdom will be in total subjection, and the remnant of humanity will passionately await the resurrection of their loved ones.

The resurrection of the Just (faithful witnesses of Jehovah) and the Unjust (people who never heard about Jehovah and his Kingdom) will be welcomed by a massive educational program (recent Watchtower magazine confirms meetings will continue into the new system). The resurrected will also be given history lessons, primarily Bible prophecy fulfillment courses.

Experiences will be shared detailing how the Witnesses were firm under trials and tribulation.

"Brother, what did YOU DO to survive?"

"Sister, how did YOU remain loyal to God?"

"How many studies did YOU conduct? What did YOU do to be found worthy?"

People's missing limbs will gradually grow back. Aged and deteriorated skin will heal and be refreshed with youthful vigor. Canes, eyeglasses, hearing aids, drugs, weapons, currency, surveillance equipment will be disposed of. No more borders and countries, yet people will continue to wear culture-specific garbs.

Finally, Satan and his minions will be destroyed and Michael the Messiah, will hand over the Kingdom to His Father. New Scrolls (rules and regulations) will replace the Bible, and everyone will live happily ever after.

This is the Paradise the Creator promised would arrive before the generation of 1914 passes away...oh, sorry. These things must take place very soon!

"I wish I could have met Jesus"

I remember a JW telling me her biggest dream in the New Order is to talk to the 'impaled' wrongdoer whom Jesus had promised would be in the Paradise.

The biggest reason for this desire is to "ask the forgiven criminal what Jesus looked like and what He sounded like."

I have good reason to believe most JW's have contemplated how they could have a chance to meet...or at the minimum, to just get a good look at the Lord and Saviour who died for them. Most Witnesses are happy to look forward to meeting the Great Ones from Antiquity such as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Elijah.

"I wish I would have met Jesus", a Witness may conclude. After all, if all the Apostles and followers of Jesus in the first century are part of the 144,000 going to heaven, then this doesn't leave many eyewitnesses of the Lord to talk to in Paradise. The best they could do is talk to that forgiven sinner, although most don't even know they could chat with John the Baptist, using their definition of the Annointed.

The Society's illustrations portray Jesus as an older King with white hair and beard (though some publications show him as an enthroned young clean-shaven man!). In drawings He has flesh, but they explain he really doesn't have a fleshly body in Heaven. He will be invisible just like His Father (not even some white, trace lines).

Even if they believe Jesus is the Number Two Most Important Being in the Universe, they will someday see Christ in all His Glory, and for that matter, the Holy Father.

Jesus explains his Second Coming will be visible.

Matthew 24:26"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Let us pray these souls are saved by the Almighty God and that they see a Resurrection of Life, not Condemnation!

The Watchtower's False Hope

Paradise will probably be a recurring topic on my blog. Growing up in this religion, Paradise was always talked about as a future garden-like Earth. Almost every JW alive envisions this to be the case. But how presumptuous of us, especially the people who taught us this. The October 1, 2006 Watchtower Magazine even goes so far as to liken Paradise to their illustrations in their literature:

9) Our God-given hope is infinitely superior to anything that the world can offer. Says Psalm 37:34: "Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, and he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. When the wicked ones are cut off, you will see it." Yes, we have every reason to "rejoice in the hope." (Romans 12:12) In order to do so, however, we must keep our hope fresh in mind. Do you regularly reflect on your God-given hope? Can you see yourself in Paradise, glowing with good health, free from anxieties, surrounded by people you love, and sharing in truly fulfilling work?Do you meditate on the Paradise scenes depicted in our publications? Such regular reflection might be likened to cleaning a window that affords a magnificent view. If we neglect to clean the glass, soon dirt and grime will rob us of the scene's clarity and appeal. Other things may then capture our attention. May we never allow that to happen!

How obnoxious of them to portray Paradise like their publications do. One has to take a look and see what their expectations are: A picnic with flowers, fruits, and a zoo perhaps? How limited is their hope, I can now see how materialistic they are. Have they forgotten:

1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

Besides, Paradise is not an Earthly domain, but heavenly!

2 Corinthians 12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.