AboutBrenda Martin Expertise I have been one of Jehovah`s Witneses now for over 30 years, in those years I have brought up 4 children, teaching each of them the bible.Being one of Jehovah`s Witnesses has helped me cope with my Epilepsy and bring up a daughter with learning difficulties.I have conducted bible studies with people from nearly every denomination i.e. Muslim. Having used the bible all these years to answer peoples questions, I feel I am qualified to give any answer regarding Jehovah`s Witnesses and the bible.
Experience My experience has been one of attending bible lectures 5 times a week,taking part in these lectures in front of an audience and being with thousands of J.W. at conventions where I have seen the bible at work in peoples lives.It is truly a miracle when you see thousands of people meeting together and not one policeman needed, and not even a piece of litter in sight.It is like another world.
Question Good Morning Brenda. Thank You So Very Much for your willingness to host questions and provide feedback. It is truly appreciated. My main question is, "Who does the bible pertain to?" Basically, I have always felt and believed that the entire bible pertained to, and was written for everyone. That it wholely applies to me. That every word is inspired from God, and written for everyone. I believe that it totally applies to me. But then I read JW stuff, and that seems to exclude much of the bible to pertaining to me, and even most JW's. That just doesn't seem right, and contradicts what I think the bible should be. Where I see it the most is in what I understand the JW's to believe that only 144,000 saved, born again people will go to heaven. That would mean that anything written about heaven would exclude everyone except those that are going to heaven. Why write that much stuff about heaven if it doesn't apply to us. Now I understand that anyone CAN go to heaven, but most will not. Most people are non christian and will not go to heaven. When I say heaven, I see it as a combination of what most people call heaven, and what JW's believe to be paradise on earth. I think that they will be part of the same thing. Heaven being the New Jerusalem with the 12 gates which we will be allowed to come and go through. The gates never close. Paradise earth will be that which is outside New Jerusalem, but available to all who make it to heaven. Why have gates if you can't go through them. I've never seen anything that has that same theory, but that does not mean that it couldn't be that way. I believe that the New Jerusalem will be 12,000 furlongs cubed. I have had JW's tell me that it can't be because it's too big. Well, my God who created the universe and all that is in it, can certainly make anything, any size that He wants to. If He says it will be 12,000 furlongs cubed, with streets of pure gold, and 12 foundations of precious stones, and single pearl gates, and so on. I will certainly believe that He means what He says. Otherwise why inspire it to be written.
Ok, back to the original question. Is the bible written for everyone, and pertains to everyone. If not, what parts do not apply to most people. Now I understand that Most people reject the teachings, but that is by their own free will. The bible still pertains to them, but they refuse it. The muslims, hindu's, buddists, atheists and so on. Those are the people I am talking about rejecting the bible. But they could still come to Jesus and be saved and believe in the true Word of God. But they probably won't.
I hope my question makes enough sense to you to figure out what I am trying to ask. I ramble a bit, and it's hard to convey feelings in writing a question. There are many times in the bible were something is being told to someone. I will use 3 John 1-2 as an example. It says, "The older man to Gaius the beloved, whom I truly love. Beloved one, I pry that in all things you may be propering and having good health just as your solul is prospering". Now does that only apply to Gaius, or does it apply to anyone. I believe it applies to anyone. God does not descriminate and is a respector of no person. That means He loves us all the same. What He has for one, He has for all. He is the same today, as He was yesterday, and will be tomorrow. Of course we have to receive Him.
Anyway, please figure out what I am trying to say, and explain your thoughts on the subject. I am not a JW, but for being a non JW have a above average understanding of JW stuff. I was engaged to a JW and remain friends with her and her family. That's been over 14 years now in which I have daily contact with at least one member of the family. I have attended one memorial, listened to meetings by phone, and have studied some of the materials. I believe some of the teachings but not all of them. I believe some of Charles Russels teachings but not all of them. I care about all my JW friends in which I have about 90 or so.
Thanks again for your willingness to receive and answer questions.
God's Blessings... cliff
Answer Hi there Cliff, nice to hear from you again, you asked--“WHO DOES THE BIBLE PERTAIN TO?"
The Hebrew Scriptures were written in the first place for the fleshly nation of Israel during the time that they had a special relationship with God. The Christian Greek Scriptures were written primarily for “the Israel of God,” those anointed as brothers of Christ and spiritual sons of God.
Of course, that in no way suggests that non-Israelites could not derive great benefit from studying the Hebrew Scriptures. Similarly, Christians who are not anointed with holy spirit derive immeasurable benefits from studying and living according to the counsel found in the Christian Greek Scriptures.—Read 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
"WHY WRITE THAT MUCH STUFF ABOUT HEAVEN IF IT DOESN'T APPLY TO US?"
Romans 15; 4 tells us why—“For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.”
The importance of the Hebrew Scriptures cannot be overemphasized, for without their law code, history, and prophecies, much in the Christian Greek Scriptures would be doubtful in meaning. (Lu 24:27, 44) Yet the Hebrew Scriptures were written primarily for Natural Jews.
The Greek Scriptures were written primarily for Spiritual Jews; however we derive great benefit, comfort, hope & instruction from them.
Just as Paul explains—“Now these things went on befalling them (Jews) as examples, and they were written for a warning to US (anointed) upon whom the ends of the systems of things have arrived.” (1Co 10:11)
Paul wasn’t a Natural Jew, yet he saw the Hebrew Scriptures as pertinent to him & used what happened to the unfaithful Israelites as a warning example to Anointed Christians in Corinth.
"WHAT MOST PEOPLE CALL HEAVEN==WHAT JW'S BELIEVE TO BE PARADISE ON EARTH?"
No; couldn’t be more different; the place, bodies, lives.
Heaven is above, to reside there you need a spirit body & the lives of these ones are as “rulers”
Whereas Earth is right here on this planet, to reside here we have physical bodies & the lives of these ones will be as “subjects”
"PARADISE EARTH IS OUTSIDE NEW JERUSALEM, BUT STILL IN HEAVEN".
Impossible because--Genesis 2:8 states: “Jehovah God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east, and there he put the man [Adam] whom he had formed.” There was an abundance of varied and fascinating plant and animal life. Jehovah blessed the first human pair and said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:28)
God’s original purpose was for all the earth to be a paradise populated by those who appreciatively obey his laws & it will not go unfulfilled as these scriptures show. (Isa. 45:18; 55:10, 11)
The Hebrew Scriptures had never led faithful Jews to expect a reward of heavenly life. Those Scriptures pointed to the restoration of Paradise here on earth. Daniel 7:13, 14 had foretold that when “rulership and dignity and kingdom” would be given to the Messiah, “the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him.” Those SUBJECTS of the Kingdom would be here on the earth.
By what the evildoer said to Jesus, he was evidently expressing the hope that Jesus would remember him when that time came. (John 5:28, 29) Jesus saw in the evildoer’s repentant and respectful attitude a basis for including him among the billions who will be resurrected to earthly life and the opportunity to prove their worthiness to live forever in Paradise.
NEW JERUSALEM IS LITERAL
It is an expression that occurs only twice, & both times in the highly SYMBOLIC book of Revelation. (Re 3:12; 21:2) Re 21:2.
When the Witness said “it can’t be real because it’s so large”, she meant it cannot be an EARTHLY CITY because being a cube; the city was also as high as it was long and wide. No man-made city could ever reach that far into “outer space.”
Also you said it has; “open gates” true; however although these gates were never closed, “anything not sacred and anyone that carries on a disgusting thing and a lie will in no way enter into it; only those written in the Lamb’s scroll of life will.” Re 21:22-27.
3 JOHN 1-2 SAYS, "THE OLDER MAN TO GAIUS THE BELOVED…” DOES THAT ONLY APPLY TO GAIUS, OR DOES IT APPLY TO ANYONE?
We’ve seen that the Hebrew Scriptures were written primarily for the Nation of Israel & the Greek Scriptures were written primarily for Anointed Christians, but all 66 books of the bible were written for all mankind to find “comfort, hope & instruction” We derive great benefit studying both the Hebrew & the Greek.
Gaius was commended by John for; walking in the truth, his hospitality, his faithful work & his love. By extension, those who desire to gain God’s approval should walk in his truth and serve him in truth also. (Joshua 24:14; 1Sa 12:24; Ps 25:4, 5; 26:3-6; 43:3; 86:11; Isa 38:3)
The entire body of Christian teachings, which later became part of the written Word of God, is “the truth” or “the truth of the good news.” Adherence to this truth, ‘walking’ in it, is essential if an individual is to gain salvation. (Ro 2:8; 2Co 4:2; Eph 1:13; 1Ti 2:4; 2Ti 4:4; Tit 1:1, 14; Heb 10:26; 2Jo 1-4; 3Jo 3, 4) so in the first instance it was being said about Gaius, but obviously we can learn from it.
HE LOVES US ALL THE SAME?
Yes of course God loves us all equally :¬) the fact that some will not go to heaven (myself included) does not in any way suggest different; a person doesn’t have to go to heaven to have a truly happy future.
Ps. 37:11: “The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”
Rev. 21:1-4: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . I heard a loud voice from the throne say: ‘Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.’”
Mic. 4:3, 4: “They will not lift up sword, nation against nation, neither will they learn war anymore. And they will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble; for the very mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken it.”
I can’t wait to live on a paradise earth :¬) ruled over by Jesus & the 144,000 anointed will be an absolute delight. Rev. 20:6: 1 Cor. 6:2: Rev. 5:10:
