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 In the Jehovah's Witnesses translation, Rev. 1:8 says someone 'is coming' and you agree that verse is referring to the Almighty.
Going back one verse to 1:7, who is He who 'is coming' there?
I thank you again for your responses and want you to know I am coming in hate in no way, shape or form. Please do not take my questions or responses in this way because as a follower of Jesus Christ, I seek to be like Him in considering all persons as precious creations that He seeks none to perish.
Jonathan
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Answer -
"WHO IS SPEAKING IN REVELATION 1:8?"
Alpha and Omega: To whom does this title properly belong? At Revelation 1:8, its owner is said to be God (Jehovah), the Almighty.
point 1.--In verse 11 according to KJ, that title is applied to one whose description thereafter shows him to be Jesus Christ. But scholars (including Jehovah’s Witnesses) recognize the reference to Alpha and Omega in verse 11 to be spurious, and so it does not appear in RS, NE, JB, NAB, Dy.
2. Also many translations of Revelation into Hebrew recognize that the one described in verse 8 is Jehovah, and so they restore the personal name of God there.
3. Revelation 21:6, 7 indicates that Christians who are spiritual conquerors are to be ‘sons’ of the one known as the Alpha and the Omega. That is never said of the relationship of spirit-anointed Christians to Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke of them as his ‘brothers.’ (Heb. 2:11; Matt. 12:50; 25:40) But those ‘brothers’ of Jesus are referred to as “sons of God.” (Gal. 3:26; 4:6)
4. At Revelation 22:12, TEV inserts the name Jesus, so the reference to Alpha and Omega in verse 13 is made to appear to apply to him. But the name Jesus does not appear there in Greek, and other translations do not include it.
5. At Revelation 22:13, the Alpha and Omega is also said to be “the first and the last,” which expression is applied to Jesus at Revelation 1:17, 18. Similarly, the expression “apostle” is applied both to Jesus Christ and to certain ones of his followers. But that does not prove that they are the same person or are of equal rank, does it? (Heb. 3:1) So the evidence points to the conclusion that the title “Alpha and Omega” applies to Almighty God, the Father, not to the Son.
Brenda
Answer "REV 1:7, WHO IS HE WHO 'IS COMING' THERE?"
John was speaking here ---Jesus ‘comes’ by turning his attention to the executing of Jehovah’s judgments on the nations. This will result in momentous changes on earth, and since “all the tribes of the earth” have ignored the reality of Jesus’ kingship, they will indeed experience “the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty.”—Revelation 19:11-21; Psalm 2:2, 3, 8, 9.
REV. 1:8 SAYS SOMEONE 'IS COMING'
John is no longer speaking, it is Jehovah the “Almighty” who is speaking now-- First-century Christians would quickly have recognized alpha and omega as the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jehovah’s calling himself by those two letters stresses that before him, there was no almighty God, and there will be none after him. He will bring to a successful conclusion, for all eternity, the issue of Godship. He will be forever vindicated as the one and only almighty God, Supreme Sovereign over all of his creation.—Compare Isaiah 46:10; 55:10, 11.
As I said earlier –“ A person who is really seeking to know the truth about God is not going to search the Bible hoping to find a text that he can construe as fitting what he already believes. “
Also we may find some texts that we feel can be read in more than one way, but when these are compared with other Biblical statements on the same subject their meaning becomes clear.
As I have explained in an earlier post; the Trinity teaching is an “added creed” not a scriptural truth.
“all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching…setting things straight” (2 tim. 3;16,17) in the light of ALL scripture, God is ONE and he has a name that was written in the original manuscripts over 7,000 times.
Jesus was created by Jehovah as the “firstborn of all creation”
The holy spirit is God’s active force.
That is what Jesus taught his early followers because that is what the bible teaches.
