About Michael O`Flaherty (Expert=8663) Expertise Did you know that the Bible does talk about the concept of the trinity? Did you know that Jesus did claim to be God, and that unless He washes you, you will not get into heaven? If you want a spirited debate about your beliefs in relation to the Bible, please ask. I will warn you; you might be challenged. Friendly debate only!
Expert: Michael O`Flaherty (Expert=8663) - 7/29/2006
Question Thanks for the prayers. My relationship almost came to an end. But I had a dream I was laying down floating in a dark space all around me. Distorted voices under me in my dream my family was nowhere around. I was praying to God, to give us the strength to fight. And everytime I asked the lord to give us the strentgh to fight. Steel bars was handed to me And I was taking these steel bars and stricking it over my shoulder and under me. And I woke up voicing out loud for God to give us the strength to fight. I came to realize that God does not want me to give up. That he will supply me with what I need to build my house on the mass Rock. Many times I felt the need to leave, but I am reminded of that dream. Thanks for your prayers.
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A close friend of mine is a jehovah witness. I talk with jw's almost on a daily basis trust me I know what to expect. My wife is also a JW's... And I do study with them and I ask a lot of questions and they stumble. Now getting back to my close friend. She has met another JW's who claims to be an anointed. It disturbed her very much but then she accepted it. The reason why it was disturbing to her is because he was about 45yrs old. Now how can we explain that? The only explaination is what I always said: 1935 is based only on feelings and a strong inspiration.
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If an expert replies with an autopilot, what does that mean?
copy and paste:
Subject: 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe of Isreal)
Volunteer Expert: BRENDA MARTIN
Question:
Brenda, In reference to the 144,000 anointed. How many are there left that is still alive today? And when did the 144,000 anointed completed and fullfilled the number of 144,000?
Answer:
"144,000 (12,000 FROM EACH TRIBE OF ISRAEL)" Yes, but not literal Israel--, Rev. 7:4: “I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.” (But in the verses that follow, mention is made of “the tribe of Levi” and “the tribe of Joseph.” These were not included in lists of the 12 tribes of natural Israel. Interestingly, while it is said that people would be “sealed out of every tribe,” the tribes of Dan and Ephraim are not mentioned. [Compare Numbers 1:4-16.] Reference must here be made to the spiritual Israel of God, to those whom Revelation 14:1-3 shows will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom.) "144,000 ANOINTED. HOW MANY ARE THERE LEFT THAT IS STILL ALIVE TODAY?" 8,570 partook of the bread and wine in 2004 "WHEN DID THE 144,000 ANOINTED COMPLETED AND FULLFILLED THE NUMBER OF 144,000?" Evidently, the gathering of these was virtually complete by 1935. Then “a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-17) began to be collected in. Increasing numbers (at that time) of those who heeded the message and who showed zeal in the witness work came to profess an interest in living forever on the Paradise earth. They had no desire to go to heaven. That was not their calling. They were no part of the little flock but rather of the other sheep. (Luke 12:32; John 10:16) Their being identified in 1935 as the great crowd of other sheep was an indication that the choosing of the 144,000 was then about complete. Brenda
This message is sent by autopilot and cannot process replies.
My follow up question came back with an autopilot. Can you tell me why?
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This one cracks me up too -- I didn't realize that they moved the date up to 1935. In 1975, JWs taught that the remainder of the 144,000 were in their 90s then. Of course the world was ending. I remember hearing of people attending services where they would pass communion around. Only the annointed were allowed to partake. The plate would go around and perhaps maybe one person would partake. If you ever meet one of these 8,570 individuals, ask them how they were annointed -- the answer may surprise you.
In Jesus Name!
Michael
www.oflaherty.com/mo.htm
Answer -
That was my point exactly! Being one of the 144,000 was based on a feeling only. What a shame. Many people are being deceived.
I will certainly be praying for you. JWs tend to frown on family members who are not JWs, so that must be a tough position for your wife to be in. I am suprised they tolerate that.
In Jesus Name!
Michael
www.oflaherty.com/mo.htm
Answer Well, I am glad you have not left.
1CO 7:10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.
So keep working on her -- you might actually save her.
You might ask her this question: according to her faith, who raised Jesus from the dead.
If she said God did, she would be right. Acts 2:32 for example.
If she said the Spirit did, she would be right. Romans 8:11 for example.
If she said Jesus raised himself from the dead, she would be right (which the JWs do not believe he did.)
The point is that though the Bible does not use the word “Trinity”, it does teach it.
Jesus is very clear in John 8 that you must believe who he said he claims to be:
JN 8:23 But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
So who did Jesus claim to be?
JN 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
Since the Watchtower has changed their version of the Bible to say “I Have Been”, they are guilty of a great perversion. If you compare the Greek in John 8:58 to the Greek in Exodus 3 (Septuagint), it is clear that Jesus was claiming to be the great I AM of the Old Testament.
God never wanted a few select men to be in-between his relationship with us. The Watchtower believes that they are divinely appointed, that 72 Elders are in constant contact with Jesus, and that they set and disseminate policy out to the masses. That is a farce. You need to teach her that her relationship is direct with God through Jesus only. She should not place her soul in their hands, or even trust you with it – she needs that direct relationship with Jesus.
So I am praying for the both of you that she comes to that realization. No church or person on this earth can save her. Good people don’t go to heaven; saved people do. And Jesus is clear that he is the only way. If she believes that Jesus is nothing more than a created being, the arch-angel Michael, she doesn’t believe he raised his own body, then she doesn’t believe what Jesus claimed about himself. That he is the I AM. As Thomas states in John” “My Lord and my God.” Jesus needs to be her “Lord and God.” Her very soul could be at stake. Stay the course if you can...
