Is Jesus a god?

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Pictures show:
* Door-to-door visitation
* Awake and Watchtower magazines
* New World Translation
* John 1:1 in NWT
* Teaching Watchtower doctrine rather than God’s word

Q. Two people came to my store, offered me a magazine, and invited me to do bible study with them. I told them I am already a Christian and they said they are too. They said Jesus is a god, but not Almighty God. However, they use a different Bible from mine, which they claimed says the same thing, only theirs is more accurate. Are they legitimate?

A. You did not name the group, but I believe they are Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), a cult founded by Charles Taze Russell in the 1870s. Some people are impressed by their zeal in spreading their “salvation by works” gospel from door to door, and their adherence to a strict moral code. However, zeal does not equal truth. Many followers of other religions are just as zealous, to the point of being fanatical, but missed God completely in trying to establish their own righteousness. JWs reject the doctrine of the Trinity and the deity of Christ, and the full sufficiency of His atonement. Their version of the Bible is called “New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures” (NWT), which they claimed to be the work of a committee of experts in the original languages, although the names of the translators have never been released so that their credentials can be verified.

We came across many of them when we visited the supers in Panama. One case in particular involved a store owner whose friend kept inviting her to the Kingdom Hall, and she was confused whether they are genuine Christians or not. So I invited the friend to take out her bible for a side-by-side comparison to see whether they say the same thing. The text I chose was John 1:1 –

KJV：In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
NWT：In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.

I pointed out to the store owner that the NWT violated a basic rule in Greek grammar (the Granville Sharp’s rule) by inserting the article “a” before the last word “God”, and in so doing intentionally lowered Jesus’ equality with God the Father to a lesser deity. But her friend was not in a mood to listen. She kept insisting that her bible is correct and that they are saying the same thing. All reputable Greek scholars agreed this grammatical rule to be true, except the JWs, who refused to have their scholarship verified. This is but one example amongst many of the NWT purposely twisting Scripture to suit their own teaching. As such, they are not genuine Christians because they deny the fundamentals of the faith, such as the triune God, deity of Christ, salvation by faith alone etc. Do not be deceived.

This Generation will not Pass Away?

Q. In Matthew 24, was Jesus talking about two different events? In v.3 the disciples asked Jesus about His return and the end of the world. V 4-30 should be clearly about the end times, but how does “this generation” in v.34 fit in?

A. Jesus was talking about two different events. His disciples asked Him two things:
1. When will “not one stone of the temple will be left on another” happen, and
2. What will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age?
Jesus answered both questions.

V 4-30 is not only about the end times, as v 4-26 also described the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Some believe v 4-26 had been completely fulfilled when the Romans under Titus destroyed Jerusalem, and that there is no future fulfillment. They are called preterists. Others also see a parallel to the dangerous conditions and spiritual decline to come in the last days (2 Tim. 3:1-5). They believe there is a double reference, historically to the destruction of the temple, and futuristically to the end of the age. I hold this view myself.

Mt. 24:34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. There are several suggestions as to who “this generation” is referring to:
1. A literal generation, in its ordinary sense of a normal life span, i.e. the generation living at that time of Christ. This would be true if the reference is only to the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred about 40 years after Jesus spoke these words. However, v 34 is after the signs in the heavens in v 29, Christ’s return in v 30, and the gathering of the elect in v 31, none of which happened in their lifetime. So I don’t accept this view, otherwise it would imply that Jesus would return soon but was mistaken.
2. Generation can also be translated race, so this is a promise that the Jewish race will survive until the end. This is possible, but the passage was not contrasting Jews and Gentiles, so it would be odd for Jesus to change the subject abruptly.
3. The future generation alive at the beginning of “all these things”, when the hard labor pains start. I hold this view as it fits the context of the lesson from the fig tree in v 31-32. When the fig branch puts forth its leaves, there is only a short time before summer. So when the labor pains start, Christ’s return is near, and all these things will happen in their lifetime.

No One Knows that Day or Hour – Is Jesus omniscent?

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Pictures show:
1. Some people claim to know when Jesus will return.
2. But Jesus said no one knows.

Q. In Mt.24:36 and 42-44, Jesus said no one knows the time of His return and He will return when people least expect Him. But if the rapture is post-tribulation as you say, we know He will return at the end of the tribulation. So was He talking about a pre-tribulation rapture after all, that He could come anytime to fetch us (v.40 is about rapture)? It appears very strange to me that Jesus didn’t know, is it because He was a man at that time so He was not all-knowing?

A. Mt. 24:36 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mt 24:42-44 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

The Lord specifically told us in v 42-44 that we don’t know on what day and hour He will return. We only know generally that it will be at the end of the tribulation, but we don’t know the exact specifics, so we really don’t know when to expect. When people claim to know the day of Christ’s return, they are claiming to know more than Jesus did. Date-setters are false prophets.

I don’t think He was talking about a pre-tribulation rapture, as v 40 may not be referring to the rapture as many assumed. The rapture is actually in v 31. The immediate context of v 40 is v 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. The man and the woman taken in v 40-41 parallel those taken away by the flood. Those were the people who ignored Noah’s warning and taken away in judgment. They were not Noah and his family taken to safety. In contrast, in the rapture in 1 Thes. 4:16-17, those taken or caught up are the dead in Christ and believers who are still alive. There are no deceased Christians in Mt. 24:40-41. So the two cases are different and v 40 does not necessarily refer to the rapture.

Jesus was conscious of His unique relationship to the Father as the eternal Son, yet there was a limitation of His knowledge during His incarnation. Although Jesus was fully God (Jn 1:1, 14), when He became man, He voluntarily restricted the use of certain of His divine attributes. Phil. 2:6-7 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. He did not manifest them unless directed by the Father:

* Jn. 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
* Jn. 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
* Jn. 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

He demonstrated His omniscience on several occasions, e.g. Jn. 2:25 He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man, but He voluntarily restricted that omniscience to only those things God wanted Him to know during the day of His humanity. Because Jesus submitted to the Father in everything, He left the matter of the timing of His return to the Father too. What the Father had not revealed to Him about the future He did not know. After He was resurrected, Jesus resumed His full divine knowledge Mt. 28:18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

No One Knows that Day or Hour – The Fuzzy End

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Pictures show:
* Start of Great Tribulation: Abomination of Desolation in the middle of the 7 years
* When does 1290 days start?
* What’s the purpose of the extra 30 and 45 days?

Yesterday we discussed that we only know Jesus will return after the tribulation, but not the details. In the future, the antichrist will make a treaty with the Jews for 7 years, but in the middle i.e. 3.5 years, the false prophet will set up an image in God’s temple in honor of the antichrist, who will proclaim himself to be God:

* Dan. 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
* 2 Thes. 2:4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
* Rev. 13:14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

Now 3.5 years (42 months of 30 days each) is 1,260 days, which is what’s specified in Rev. 11:2-3 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

But Dan. 12:11-12 mentioned 1290 and 1335 days, where do the extra 30 days and then 45 days come from? When do they begin and end? Are the 30 days an advance announcement before the mid-point of the 7 years, or a grace period at the end? Some think the 30 days are for the final judgment and destruction of the antichrist, while the additional 45 days are for the inauguration of the rule of Christ. But the fact of the matter is nobody really knows. The suggestions are only personal opinions, because Dan. 12 is the only time they are mentioned in the Bible. They do not appear anywhere else. Both Matthew and Mark said Christ’s return will be after the tribulation, with Matthew adding “immediately”. But how immediate? The moment after? The day after? There are lots of speculations, but it could be anytime within this 30 days window. So Christians only know the timeframe of Christ’s return generally but not exactly, and the Lord’s statement is true.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord lets us know He is returning, but He did not tell us when for a reason – He wants us to keep watch and be ready. The faithful and wise servant is the one carrying on his duties at the proper time. The wicked servant eats and drinks and mistreats his fellow servants. I hope the Master will find you faithful when He returns. Don’t be self-deceived.

No One Knows that Day or Hour – Can’t we count?

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Pictures show:
* Days of Noah
* Noah as preacher of righteousness
* No evidence of flood

Q. You believe the rapture to be post-tribulation. Don’t you think that Christians will recognize the tribulation has started when it comes? If so, wouldn’t those people alive at that time know when Christ will return seven years hence? And yet the bible says no one knows, not now, not before, and not then.

A. First, let’s look at the text more closely and do not read into it more than it said: Mt. 24:36-39 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. The text says “no one knows”, but it does not say “no one will have any clue.”

Next consider the days of Noah which Jesus used as an analogy. There were two groups of people then – Noah’s family, and everybody else. God told Noah to build an ark, so his family should know something about God’s plan. What about everyone else? The ark measured 450’ X 75’ X 45’ (Gen. 6:15) and took 100 years (Gen. 5:32, 7:6) to build. Because of its sheer size and the long time it took to construct, it can be reasonably assumed that the ark attracted attention. While it was being built, as a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5) Noah would have warned his contemporaries of coming judgment, and by his faith he condemned the world (Heb. 11:7). So the people should know something about the judgment to come, yet the text said they knew nothing, why?

I believe it is due to unbelief. The people probably laughed at Noah and considered him a fool. They did not have a flood before, so why now? They just ignored him and continued with whatever they were doing, until the flood came and took them away. I suspect something similar at the coming of the Son of Man. With the proliferation of mass media, the internet and Christian broadcasting, one would expect that even non-Christians would have known something, or heard of, Christ’s Second Coming and the signs that precede it. The problem is they don’t believe it. And since they don’t take it to heart, they will be caught by surprise.

What about Christians? Since Jesus taught His disciples the signs of the end of the age (Mt. 24, Mk. 13, Lk. 21), and Christians have been studying that the trigger to the tribulation is the abomination that causes desolation standing in the holy place, I expect Christians would recognize that when it comes. Then can’t they add 1,260 days (3.5 years) to that date and know the day of Christ’s return? The answer is still no, because of Dan. 12:11-12 From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

(To be continued)

Raptured and U-turned

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Pictures show:
* Rapture of saints
* Wedding welcoming party
* Christ’s Second Coming as a thief in the night

Q. You believe the rapture will take place at the end of the tribulation, but the Bible says Jesus will come back with the saints at that time. It does not make sense that Jesus will rapture us and immediately come back with us at the same time. Also the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, so it must be a secret rapture.

A. You have to understand the custom in Jesus’ days. The Greek word for “to meet the Lord” in 1 Thes. 4:7 is apantesis. It appears 3 other times in the NT:
* Mt. 25:1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
* Mt. 25:6 At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
* Acts 28:15 The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us.

The first two refer to the custom of a bridegroom going to the brides’ house for the wedding, and relatives, friends and guests go out from the bride’s home to meet and accompany him back to her house for the banquet. The third refer to friends going out to meet important guests to welcome them to their home. This was also the custom of citizens going out of their city to meet a victorious general, then returning with him and his army to the city for the celebration. In each case it is the welcoming party going out to receive the honored guest that turns back, in the direction from which it just came. When Jesus returns, He will be coming as a Victor for His bride, the Church, who will be the welcoming party, and this is the imagery for the rapture.

Christ’s Second Coming is also compared to “a thief in the night:
* Mt. 24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
* 1 Thes. 5:2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

The main idea, though, is not secrecy, as we have shown in an earlier post that the rapture is a public, noisy event that everyone knows. As the contexts of these passages indicate, the main idea of “thief” is that it is unexpected and will catch you by surprise, and so warn you to keep watch and be ready. Otherwise you will suffer loss:
* Mt. 24:42, 44 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
* 1 Thes. 5:3-4 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

Both concepts of Jesus rapturing us to heaven to escape tribulation, and that it will be secret, are unwarranted by Scripture and the cultural background at that time.

Rapture – Pre or Post? 2

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Pictures show:
1. First resurrection
2. Comparison of Matthew 24:30-31 to 1 Thes. 4:16-17
3. Post-tribulation rapture

Yesterday we established that the rapture at the last trumpet is post-tribulation. Today we pick up on the second strand of evidence – the resurrection. When does the resurrection take place?

Rev. 20:4-6 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

The first resurrection is after the Tribulation but before the Millennium. Those who have part in it are Christians, exactly as prescribed in 1 Thes. 4:17. So both the Apostles Paul and John agree as to the timing of the Rapture. Let’s conclude by referring to the words of our Lord in Mt. 24.

Mt. 24:29-31 Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Note the parallel between v 30-31 and the rapture in 1 Thes. 4:16-17:
* The Son of Man coming cf. the Lord Himself will come 4:16;
* Clouds of the sky cf. clouds 4:17
* Angels cf. archangel 4:16;
* Loud trumpet call cf. loud command, trumpet call 4:16;
* Gather His elect cf. dead in Christ and those still alive caught up 4:17.

They are therefore describing the same event. When does this happen? V 29 tells us, “immediately after the distress” i.e. the Tribulation as the KJV translated it.

So based on the teachings of our Lord, Paul and John, I conclude that the primary textual evidence points to a post-tribulational, premillennial rapture. There are other indirect or implicit evidence, and I’m aware of the arguments against this view, but we can leave them for another time. Brothers and sisters, do not have a false sense of security because you believe you’ll be raptured before any tribulation happens. Study for yourself to see what is the truth, and act accordingly.

Rapture – Pre or Post? 1

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Pictures show:
1. Eschatological positions
2. Post-tribulation used to be the dominant view until dispensationalism came in the 1800’s, but is currently a minority view. This is not a formal random sampling, but an informal poll at a pre-tribulation website. The percentages are indicative only.
3. Rapture
4. The dead in Christ will be raised first.
5. Sequence of seals, trumpets, and bowls in Revelation: 7th seal = 7 trumpets; 7th trumpet = 7 bowls
6. Post-tribulation rapture

Q. What is your position on the rapture and why? Can you provide scripture support?

A. My eschatological position is historic Premillennialism i.e. Post-tribulational rapture. Currently it is a minority view, but I hold it because it is biblical and best reconciles all the available evidence. Since you asked for only the biblical basis, I will restrict myself to direct scriptural evidence and related references only, and not go into historical and philosophical considerations.

The word rapture comes from the Latin verb rapio, which means to snatch or seize, and refers to Christ’s removal of the Church from the world. The most direct reference to this is 1 Thes. 4:16-17 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. After 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.

The words “caught up” in v 17 translate the Greek word harpazo, which occurs 13 times in the NT, and is where the idea rapture came from. Notice the following:
* The Lord Himself will come down from heaven i.e. the Second Coming of Christ;
* It will be a noisy and public, not secret, event, with loud command, voice of the archangel, trumpet call of God;
* The dead in Christ will rise first i.e. resurrection of dead Christians, followed by those who are still alive.

1 Thes. 4:17 itself does not mention tribulation, but provide the important clue that the rapture will be at the time of the resurrection. Now, when will the dead in Christ be raised? The same author Paul tells us in 1 Co. 15:51-52 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed–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. The dead will be raised at the last trumpet. Again there is no specific mention of tribulation, but when is the last trumpet?

The only series of trumpets in Scripture is the seven trumpets in Rev. 8-11. The last time the trumpet is sounded is in Rev. 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Note that the Kingdom of Christ begins upon the sounding of the seventh trumpet. But when is the seventh trumpet in relation to the Tribulation?

When you analyze the book of Revelation, you will see that there are 7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 bowls. The opening of seals begin the seven-year Tribulation. Since we wish to know the timing, we need to ask “Are the seals, trumpets, and bowls sequential or contemporaneous?” This is an exegetical problem that requires more space than this blog can afford, so allow me to state the conclusion first and provide the rationale later. The majority view is that they are successive but nested, i.e.
* The seals come first;
* The 7th seal is or includes the 7 trumpets;
* The 7th trumpet includes the 7 bowls.
In other words, they are telescopic with the 7th seal consisting of the 7 trumpets, and the 7th trumpet consisting of the 7 bowls.

The 7th trumpet is therefore at the end of the Tribulation, not before, and the rapture at the last trumpet is therefore post, not pre-tribulational. In the next post I will continue with evidence from Revelation and the Olivet Discourse.

(To be continued)

Washing Feet

Q. What does Jesus mean in John 13:10 when He said a person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet? What does washing the feet signify?

A. There are two levels of meaning. First there is the nominal meaning based on the custom in Jesus’ days. A man would bathe himself before going to a feast. When he arrived, he only needed to wash his feet, as people wore sandals and walked on dirt roads, to be entirely clean again. Washing guests’ feet was the job of the most menial servants. Jesus was teaching His disciples about humility and servanthood.

Secondly, there is a deeper spiritual meaning. The bath indicates the cleansing that Christ does at salvation:

* Jn 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
* Tit 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

Atonement is complete at that point, and never needs to be repeated. The bath refers to justification and regeneration and is once for all. However, all who have been justified battle sin daily, and need to be cleansed and forgiven again and again. Washing the feet thus signifies sanctification, the process of becoming holy:

* 1 Co 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy,
* 1 Co 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
* Eph. 5:26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
* 1 Thes 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

Believers are justified and granted imputed righteousness, but still need sanctification and personal righteousness.

Millennium

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Pictures show:
* Zechariah 14:9
* Zechariah outline
* A-millennialism
* Post-millennialism
* Pre-millennialism

Q. Is Zechariah 14 talking about the Millennium after the last week (7 years) of Daniel’s 70 ‘7s’?

A. To know where Zech. 14 fits in, we need to see the text in its context. Let’s begin by looking at Zechariah’s structure. Zechariah uses a series of 8 visions, 4 messages, and 2 oracles to portray God’s future plan for His covenant people. The first 8 chapters were written to encourage the remnant while they were rebuilding the temple; while the last 6 were written after the completion of the temple to anticipate Israel’s coming Messiah. The book divides into:

Ch. 1-6 Eight Visions
Ch. 7-8 Four Messages
Ch. 9-14 Two Oracles

The first oracle (ch. 9-11) concerns the first advent and rejection of Israel’s coming King. The second oracle (ch. 12-14) concerns the second advent of Christ and the acceptance of Israel’s King. In ch. 12 the nations will attack Jerusalem, but the Messiah will come and deliver His people. In ch. 13 they will be cleansed of impurity and falsehood, and in ch. 14 the Messiah will come in power to judge the nations and reign in Jerusalem over the whole earth.

Chapter 14 itself is divided as follows:

V 1-2 Final Siege of Jerusalem
V 3-8 Second Coming of the Messiah
V 9-21 Kingdom of the Messiah

So the context of Zech. 14 consists of tribulation, followed by the coming of the Messiah, who will usher in His Kingdom. Now there are 3 main schools of interpreting eschatology:

1. Amillennialism: The view that there will be no period of earthly reign of Christ either before or after His Second Coming. This school allegorizes the Bible. While I believe there are allegories in the Bible (e.g. Ezk. 17:2, 24:3; Gal. 4:24), they are identified within the text as such, and not for the reader to spiritualize into something they themselves imagined. I cannot twist the text into what it did not say or mean, so this view is rejected.
2. Postmillennialism: The approach which believes that Christ will return following the thousand-year reign. This means that He will reign without being physically present. Again, this is not what the text said, and I cannot accept this view.
3. Premillennialism: The belief that Christ will return and then set up a period of His earthly reign for one thousand years. Some evangelicals take “thousand years” to mean a long time.

I subscribe to a literal interpretation of the Bible as far as possible, with the provision that sometimes the authors would use figures of speech to convey their meaning. The view that best fits all the data of Zech. 14:9-21 is Premillennialism, with Christ returning to set up His Kingdom for a thousand years. I therefore concur with your conclusion.