Is the Watchtower bible and tract society trustworthy

This society is the foundation of the group known as “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

They publish two publications named;  The Watchtower and Awake magazines.  These publications establish the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the group.  They publish two publications named;  The Watchtower and Awake magazines.  These publications establish the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the group.  They don't accept that Jesus was God in the flesh.  Because of this and other beliefs that they hold I consider them to be a non Christian cult.

The Watchtower Society has a long history of making predictions that time has proven to be false. Dozens of references could be quoted and documented, but a few will suffice to prove the point.

Following is a verified list of 13 False prophecies that they have published over an 81 year period starting in 1897. 

1. 1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874," (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4 page 621.)

2. 1899 "...the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present ruler ship, is already commenced." (The Time Is at Hand, page 101) (1908 edition).

3. 1916 "The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ's Reign, began in 1873." The Time Is at Hand, page ii, (forward).

4. 1918 "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89.

5. 1922 "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914." The Watchtower 9/1/22, page 262.

6. 1923 "Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge." The Watchtower, page 106 4/1/23.

7. 1925 "The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year." The Watchtower, 1/1/25, page. 3.

8. 1925 "It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated, the thought that 1925 should see an end to the work." The Watchtower, Sept, 1925 page 262.

9. 1926 "Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything." The Watchtower, page 232.

10. 1931 "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time...and they also learned to quit fixing dates." Vindication, page 338.

11. 1941 "Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon." The Watchtower, 9/15/41, page 288.

12. 1968 "True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world', even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing?.. Missing from such people were God's truths and evidence that he was using and guiding them." Awake, 10/8/68.

13. 1968 "I know enough of what is going on to assure you that, in fifteen years from today, this world is going to be too dangerous to live in." (Truth That Leads To Eternal Life, p 9, 1968 edition,

It has been 42 years since this prophecy and the world is not too dangerous to live in.  I grant that it is dangerous but it is still livable

1995 "Why Awake is Published"  (Awake Nov 8th 1995) “Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.  Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things."  The Creator’s promise is the Only True prediction that They have made.  Time will Definitely prove it to be true.

This group should seriously consider the words of (Deuteronomy 18:20-22) which says; in The KJV  “  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

21  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

22  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him”

I rest my case and again ask; Is The Watchtower Bible and tract society Trustworthy?.

      A JW might say that the organization is still learning. If that is so, then how can they trust what they are taught now by the Watchtower? Will what they are being taught now turn out to be false also?
      A true prophet of God won't error in prophesying. Only a false prophet does. The Jehovah's Witness organization, that claims to be a prophet of God, is really a false prophet. Jesus warned us by saying, "For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect -- if that were possible" (Matt. 24:24).

Researched and compiled by

Rev. George Pryor Th.M.
 Pastor Emeritus.
revgap@gmail.com

NOTE:

 If you encounter them ask for an explanation of these scriptures read from their bible

Gen.19:24, two Jehovahs?  Ps. 116:4,  Heb.  1:4 Not an angel but is God 1:8,

Be sure you are familiar with them and know what questions to ask.

Are all Christians little gods?

Are all Christians little gods?

The answer is NO

Because of a statement  made in Psalms 82:6 that is taken out of context some have concluded that all believers are little gods because we are the sons and daughters of God (II Cor.6:16&18) that says; 16“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people

18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”  They try to add biblical authority to this idea by referring to a statement made by Jesus in (Jn. 10:34) that says; “Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” and it is also taken out of context and misapplied.

The Hebrew word translated “gods” in Psalm 82:6 is Elohim. It usually refers to the one true GOD, but it does have other references. Psalm 82:1 plainly establishes the group of people being addressed in vs. 6 (“the congregation of the mighty”). It is clear from the next three verses that the word “gods” refers to magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule and not to all of God’s sons and daughters.  Calling a human magistrate a “god” indicates three things: 1) he has authority over other human beings, 2) the power he holds as a civil authority is to be feared (, and 3) he derives his power and authority from God Himself (Rom. 13:3-4), who is pictured as judging the whole earth in verse 8.

The use of the word “gods” to refer to humans is rare in the bible, but it is found elsewhere in the Old Testament. For example, when God sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, “See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1). This simply means that Moses, as the messenger of God, was speaking God’s words and would therefore be God’s representative to the king. The Hebrew word Elohim is translated “judges” in (Exodus 21:6,        22:8,9 and        28).

The whole point of Psalm 82 is that earthly judges must act with impartiality and true justice, because even judges must someday stand

before the Judge of Judges. Verses 6 and 7 warn human magistrates that they, too, must be judged: “I said, `You are gods; you are all sons of The Most High.' But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler.” This passage is saying that God has appointed men to positions of authority in which they are considered as gods among the people. However they must remember that, even though they are representing God in this world, they are mortal and must eventually give an account to God for how they          used that authority.

Now, let’s look at how Jesus uses this passage. Jesus had just claimed to be the Son of God (John 10:25-30). The unbelieving Jews respond by charging Jesus with blasphemy, since He claimed to be God (verse 33). Jesus then quotes Psalm 82:6, reminding the Jews that the Law refers to  men of authority and prestige as “gods.” Jesus’ point is this: you charge me with blasphemy based on my use of the title “Son of God”; yet your own Scriptures apply the same term to magistrates in general. If those who hold a divinely appointed office can be considered “gods,” how much more can the One whom God has chosen and sent. (verses34-36)?

Jesus defended His claim to be the Son of God on biblical and semantic grounds—there is a sense in which influential men can be thought of as gods; therefore, The Messiah can rightly apply the term to Himself.(Philippians 2:5-7).

In direct contrast, we have the serpent’s lie to Eve in the Garden. His statement, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5), was a half-truth. Their eyes were opened (verse 7), but they did not become like God. In fact, they lost authority, rather than gaining it. Satan deceived Eve about her ability to become like God, and so led her into responding to the lie.

 Human beings are Not  “little gods.” We who know Christ as our saviour are God’s children and we do enjoy divine nature.((II Peter1:1-4) that says;  “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”.

NOTE: The Mormons believe that you will become a god after you die if you are a good enough Mormon while on earth.  By the way you get your own planet too

Let us grow up and take Paul’s advice in (Ephesians 4:14) that says; “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

Rev. George Pryor Th.M.

 Pastor Emeritus.

revgap@gmail.com

Are Ehoch and Elijah in Heaven

Are Enoch and Elijah in Heaven ?  The simple answer is NO   they are Dead and in their graves.

I KNOW THIS IS AGAINST THE GRAIN OF TRADITION

Let God’s word be TRUE and Every man a Liar

All Scripture quotes are from the KJV unless otherwise noted

I had always been taught that Enoch and Elijah had gone to heaven without dying but I found out  that the Bible does not verify that.

The Bible does say that Enoch was "translated. Where did he go? Was he immediately taken to the presence of God in heaven? NO! Because Jesus Himself said: "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man" (John 3:13.)   Here are Jesus' own words that no man, except Himself, had ascended into heaven!

And how did He know? Because, He came from there!

Then where is Enoch? Let's see what the Bible says about it.

It says that Enoch Walked With God!

At the age of 65 Enoch had a son named Methuselah. "And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and he begat sons and daughters" (Genesis 5:22).

Here was a man that PLEASED God, a man that WALKED WITH GOD.

Enoch had to have faith, for in Hebrews 11:6  it  states this: "But without faith it is impossible to PLEASE Him: for he that cometh to God must believe the He is, and the He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  So Enoch walked with God. He obeyed God, and followed Him in His paths by Faith.

No one can walk with God unless he is in agreement with and doing the will of God . Amos the prophet said: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3.) So in his generation Enoch was the only recorded person who followed the ways of God - even though it appears to have taken him 65 years to learn how to walk with God!

How long did Enoch walk with God? The scripture says that he "walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years." So Enoch followed God's ways for 300 years. Notice that Moses did not record that Enoch is still walking with God. The scripture says that Enoch Walked with God for 300 years and not one year longer  Enoch is not still walking with God! Why you might ask?

Because "all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years" (Genesis 5:23). All the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Not just part of his days, but all his days! If Enoch did not die - if he was changed to immortality - and thus continued to walk with God, then his days would have been more than three hundred and sixty-five years. But the Bible plainly says that ALL his days were just that many, and no more!

This expression "all his days" is used in the same 5th chapter of Genesis about a dozen times and always it means that the person lived for that length of time ONLY "and he died." So Enoch lived NO MORE than three hundred and sixty-five years because "all his days were three hundred and sixty five years." As he lived only for this length of time At the end of his days there is only ONE   Option. That is to Die.

But you may ask; What about his Translation? Doesn’t that mean he didn't die?

That's what most people carelessly assume without proof.

What Really Happened at Enoch's Translation?

Remember, Moses didn't write that Enoch did not die. Rather Moses wrote that "Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him"  (Genesis 5:24). Paul records the same event by saying that” he was not found, because God had translated him" (Hebrews 11:5).

Thus the scripture records that Enoch was not found because God took him, or "translated" him. The Bible does not say that Enoch went to Heaven when he was translated." Instead it says he was not found.
Certainly Enoch was "translated," but what does the word "translate" mean?

Strange as it may seem, nowhere in all the Bible does "translate" mean to make immortal!

The original Greek word for "translate" is metatithemi.  According to
Strong's Concordance and  it signifies: transfer, transport, exchange, change sides.

The same Greek word is rendered "carried over" in Acts 7:15-16. Here we read that after Jacob died his body was "carried over" - transported, Translated to Sychem where he was buried! That's what the Bible says! Jacob was transported or Translated to the place of burial!

That is why Moses said that God Took Enoch. God removed - translated - him so that he was not found. God took Enoch and buried him!

In Deuteronomy 34:6 we read also how God took Moses from the people after which he died and was buried by God. "But no man knoweth where his sepulcher is  unto this day." God removed Moses. God translated him and he was not found either!

So Enoch was not made immortal after all! He was taken away and was not found. All his days were three hundred and sixty-five years! That's as long as Enoch lived.

Notice another proof that "translate" does not mean to make immortal. It is found in Colossians 1:13: The Father "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath Translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son." Here the Bible says that Christians are already translated - but Christians still die! We are not immortal bodies, but mortal flesh and blood. Although we were once part of the darkness of this world, now we have been Translated, removed from darkness in to the light of the Kingdom of God.

 Enoch has Not Received the Promise of eternal life yet!

Enoch is included by Paul (in Hebrews 11:39) among the fathers who obtained a good report through faith; “ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise”   What promise? The "hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2.)

So Enoch therefore is one of "All These" who have not yet obtained the promise of eternal life and inheritance. Enoch and all the worthies of old will receive the promise of eternal life at the return of Christ,   at the same time All  Christians obtain it (Hebrews 11:40). That is yet future!

Since Enoch has not yet inherited eternal life he must be dead! This is exactly what Paul writes in Hebrews 11:13! Paul says Enoch Died! "These ALL died in faith, not having received what was promised." Who were these "All?

Paul tells us: Abel, Enoch, Noah, and the patriarchs and their wives. Hebrews 11:1-12 list those who had faith and Enoch is included among them. Then in verse 13 Paul proved that they had not inherited the promises by saying: "These ALL [including Enoch] died in faith."

But you may ask,  what about Paul's saying that Enoch "should not see death" in vs.5a?

We know  that the Bible does Not contradict itself so we need further understanding here.

Which Death Did Enoch Escape?

Enoch lived only three hundred and sixty-five years. Then what could Paul possibly have meant by saying: "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found because God had translated him?" This verse nowhere says that Enoch did not die. Rather, it says that Enoch "should not see death." But what does it mean?

There is more than one death mentioned in the Bible. There is a first death, and there is a second death (Revelation 20:6). Which death did Paul mean?

The first death is appointed unto ALL men (Hebrews 9:27). That death can not be humanly evaded. It is inevitable. That death Enoch died, as I have already proven.

But Paul was not writing about that death. The phrase "should not see" is in the conditional tense of the verb, having reference to a future event. It is not in the past tense, that he "did not see" death - but that he "should not see death." So this death that Enoch escaped by being translated is one that he ana all Christians can escape in the future on Certain Conditions!

Did Jesus ever speak of a death that might be escaped? He certainly did! In John 8:51 Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death" - shall never see - that is, suffer - the second death! And again in John 11:26, "Who so liveth and believeth in Me shall never die" -  or "shall not die forever."(that is Spiritually)

This death is one that can be escaped on condition that men keep the sayings of Jesus and believe Him. This death is not the first death, because Christians who keep Jesus' sayings die this first death. Then the death which Enoch should escape must be the second death which will NEVER TOUCH THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION (Revelation 20:6).
And Enoch will be in the first resurrection because he met the conditions!

Enoch had faith, he believed God and walked with God, obeying him. In keeping the sayings of God, Enoch kept the sayings of Jesus too; because Jesus did not speak of Himself, but spoke what the Father commanded Him (John 14:10).

Thus Enoch met the conditions so that he should not see death. The second death shall never touch Enoch, because of his faith and obedience.

Now we can understand Hebrews 11:5: "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."

Two Translations!

This verse plainly mentions two translations.

Examining this verse fact by fact, we notice the Enoch had faith and was translated. This translation - removal, transference - was on condition of FAITH. Now what translation mentioned in the Bible is on condition of faith? It’s the one we read about in Colossians 1:13. The Father "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son."

This is a Figurative/Spirutal Translation - a Figurative removal or transference from the spiritual darkness of this world to the light of the Family or Kingdom of God and Christ. In verse 10 Paul shows that to abide in this Kingdom we must "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing." This is exactly what Enoch did. He walked with God, and pleased God.

Then Enoch, the same as all Christians, were delivered from the power of sin and darkness in which he had been living for365 years. He was removed (translated) from the ways of the world  so that he might inherit eternal life at Christ's return, and should not suffer the second death.

By faith Enoch was separated - removed or translated - from the world, the same as Christians who are not to be a part of the world, although living in the world.

Not only was Enoch Figuratively taken from the society of his day, but he was also Literally removed - Translated - so that he was not found.

God took him physically away from the people, just as He later took Moses. And God buried each so well that neither has ever been found since! Enoch had completed this present normal life. "All his days were three hundred sixty  five years." This was the second translation -  a literal removal at death.

God gave Enoch this sign of physical removal as a type for all those who should later follow Enoch's example of faith. He was taken physically from the people just as Christians are  spiritually removed from the ways of the world. The physical translation or carrying away of Enoch was also a sign to him from God that his faith had been accepted.

Like every true Christian, Enoch is awaiting the hope of the resurrection and the return of Christ (Jude 14, 15).

Now what  about Elijah

You have been told that Elijah went to heaven in a chariot of fire. Yet over 900 years after Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind Jesus Himself said. "NO MAN  hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man!" (John 3:13.)
Is this a Bible contradiction? Did Elijah really ascend to the heaven where God's throne is - even though Jesus said he didn't?
If  Elijah is not in heaven with God  today, then where did Elijah go?

Which Heaven did he go to?

There are three heavens mentioned in the Bible, not just one! And if, as Jesus said, no man, which included Elijah, had ever ascended to the heaven where He came from, then the heaven into which Elijah was taken had to be a different heaven!
Which one was it?
The third heaven is the heaven of God's throne, where Jesus came from and is today. Jesus, being the High Priest of God, is the only man that has the right to be in that heaven with the Father.
Notice why! Hebrews 8:1-5 explains that the original earthly tabernacle under the Old Covenant, with it's most Holy place, or compartment, was the type of the throne of God in heaven. Only the high priest – a type of Christ as High Priest now - was allowed to enter!
The second heaven represents the expanse of this great universe - the space where we find the sun, moon, stars, comets and planets. How often do we find the Psalmist admiring the "heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon, and the stars, which Thou has ordained" (Psalm 8:3; Genesis 1:15-17).
Beside the heaven of the stars, we find that the atmosphere, the air that surrounds this earth, is also called heaven. Birds fly "in the midst of heaven"- this certainly is not God's throne in heaven- for we read in Genesis 1:20 of  "fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." In blessing Jacob, Isaac said; "God give thee of  the dew of heaven," and Moses joyed that the "heavens shall drop down dew" (see Genesis 27:28 and Deuteronomy 33:28).
This first heaven, from which dew comes, means the atmosphere, where the clouds and the wind roam. Everyone of us is right now breathing the air of heaven!
Since Elijah could not have gone to the heaven of God's throne, then to which heaven did he go? ...for the Scripture reads: "and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:1, 11).
The answer ought to already be quite obvious! Elijah "went up by a whirlwind into the atmospheric heaven" - not the heaven of God's throne, but into this earth's atmosphere, the first heaven.

There could be no whirlwind in any other place but in the atmosphere surrounding this earth - in the first heaven, in which the birds fly. You have probably seen the great lifting power of a whirlwind, haven't you?

Why Taken Up?

What was the reason for this unusual act of God? Why did He take Elijah up into the atmosphere? Was it to make him immortal? No! The Scripture says no word about that! The ancient prophets - including Elijah - did not  receive any promise of immortality prior to or apart from us. Notice it in Hebrews 11:13 and 39: "These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise!" And we shall not receive it until Christ returns (Hebrews 11:40).
So Elijah was not to be made immortal - for that would give him pre-eminence above Jesus. But what  does the Bible reveal as the reason for his removal? 2 Kings 2:3 and 5 has the answer.
Notice now what the sons of the prophets said to Elisha in 2:3b NIV: "Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?" Or as the Smith and Goodspeed translation has it, "Do you know that today the Lord is about to take away your master from being your leader?" Christ is the head of the church today as Elijah was the head or leader of the sons or disciples of the prophets in that day. God had sent Elijah as His prophet to wicked king Ahab and to his son Ahaziah. Now God wanted Elisha to direct His work, as Ahaziah the king had died (2 Kings 1-18) and a new king was ruling.
So what did God do?
He could not allow Elijah to be among the people with Elisha directing the work now. That would have been the same as disqualifying him! God never takes an office from a man when that man has been performing his duty well, the only thing God could do would be to remove Elijah so that Elisha would fulfill the office.
This God did do. When he Elijah was taken up, his mantle dropped from him and Elisha picked it up.  See 2 Kings 2:12-15.
what did the "mantle" mean?
In Clarks Commentary we note that it was "worn by prophets and priest as the simple insignia of their office." (Vol. 2, page 484.)
The purpose of God in removing Elijah was to replace him with another man who would occupy his office in Israel for another fifty years. This work had to start under a new king, for Ahaziah had just died. And Elijah was already aging. So as not to disqualify Elijah in the sight of the people, God took him away from the sons of the prophets and the people, allowing the mantle which signified the office of Elijah to drop into the hands of Elisha. Thus God preserved the name and office of His prophet.

How was he Taken Up?

Having crossed Jordan near Jericho, Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind in what appeared to be a chariot and horses of fire. The violet motion of the wind pulled the mantle off the prophet as he was reading the request of Elisha that he would have a double portion of the Spirit of God if he would be allowed by God to see Elijah taken up (2 Kings 2:9). All this meant that Elisha was to be the leader, the new head of the sons of the prophets.
Having ascended into the air, Elijah was borne away out of the sight of the new leader - beyond the horizon.

Where Did Elijah Go?

This has been a perplexing and misunderstood  problem to  most Christians for centuries!
He did not ascend to the throne of God because Jesus said so! Yet he couldn't remain in the air of the first heaven forever.
 God did not say that Elijah was to die at that time. If he had died then Elisha could have assumed his new office without the removal of Elijah.We know that Elisha died in office after fulfilling his duty (2 Kings 13:14).
The sons of the prophets who knew that their master was to be removed also knew that Elijah was not to die then. That is why they were fearful that the Spirit of God might have allowed him to “drop upon some mountain or into some valley" (2 Kings 2:16). Elisha knew that God would preserve Elijah from falling, but at their insistence he permitted them to go in search for him ...to no avail.
Elijah was gone,
But where to? Certainly the whirlwind used by God would not take him beyond the earth's atmosphere. Neither does the Bible account leave Elijah in the air!

The Mysterious Answer Unfolds!

Let us notice the next few years and see what further events the Scripture records. The new king of Israel was another son of Ahab, Jehoram, or Joram as he is sometimes called. The beginning of his reign marked the year of the removal of Elijah (2 Kings 1:18 and 3:1). During this king's reign Elisha was the recognized prophet of God (2 Kings 3:11). In the fifth year of Joram king of Israel, the son of the king of Judah began to reign along with his father in Judah (2 Kings 8:16). His name also was Jehoram. The first thing he did to establish his kingdom rule was to put his relatives to the sword lest they should claim the throne from him (2 Chronicles 21:4). For nearly six years he followed the ways of the nations about him and did evil in God's sight.
Almost ten years had now expired since Elijah was taken from the people. But what do you think was about to happen?

A Letter Comes from Elijah!

Yes, after this wicked rule by the Jewish king, God chose Elijah to write a letter and have it sent to the king!
The contents of the letter are found in 2 Chronicles 21:12-15. In part it reads: "Because thou hast not walked in the ways of ...thy father ...but hast walked  in the way of the kings of Israel ...and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself ...thou shalt have great sickness by disease."
From the wording of the letter, it is clear that Elijah wrote it after these events had occurred, for he speaks of them as past events, and of the disease as future. Two years after the king became diseased the king died - having reigned only eight short years (2 Chronicles 21:18-20).
This proves that the letter was written about ten years after Elijah had been taken to another location by the whirlwind.
God used Elijah to convey the message because he was the prophet of God in days of the present king's father - and the son was not going in the ways of his obedient father, Jehosaphat.
The letter he had others deliver was recognized as his - proving that he was known to be alive someplace. Just how much longer he lived, the Bible does not reveal. but in that "It is appointed unto men once to die" - Elijah must have died sometime later. See Hebrews 9:27. All human beings born of Adam, and that includes Elijah, must die - for we read: "In Adam ALL DIE" (1 Corinthians 15:22).” Elijah was a man "subject to like passions as we are" (James 5:17) ...subject to human nature and death! The prophet, being mortal flesh as we are could not have lived much beyond his seventy years.
To suppose that God gave him the power of an endless life of nearly three thousand years already is to read into the Bible what is not there! (That is called Isogesis) Elijah was mortal, subject to death, and after being lifted into the atmospheric heaven, spent the remaining years of his  life at some  unknown location on the earth, living as every human being, before he died naturally. Scripture has not told us when that was, but as we have seen earlier it has assured us that it did happen.

Was Elijah on the Mount of Tranfiguration?

The only remaining text that puzzle people are those relative to the appearance of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus. The record of the event is found in Matthew 17:1-9: Mark 9:2-10: Luke 9:28-36.
Leaving the mountain Jesus told his disciples: "Tell the vision to no man” (Matthew 17:9)  A vision is not a material reality but a supernatural picture observed by human eyes.
Moses died, and was buried (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). Both he and Elijah were still dead in their graves, but in vision both were seen with Jesus in the glory of the resurrection.  An event to which Moses and Elijah have not yet attained (Hebrews 11:39). The vision was granted the disciples after Jesus had spoken of the glory of immortality in the coming Kingdom.
The Bible is plain here! Elijah is dead in the dust of the earth awaiting the resurrection of the just. Elijah, some years after being removed in the whirlwind, went to the grave, but will rise again to live forevermore as will all who die in Christ will do at His Second coming!
Conclusion:
There were two verses of Scripture that led me to do this study.  They are; (Hebrews 9:27a that says; “And as it is appointed unto men once to die,”  and  (I Cor. 15:50a) that says; “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;”  If these two verses be true, which they are  the tradition is in conflict with Scripture.  After further study I found that these were not the only verses that the tradition was in conflict with.
Rev. George Pryor Th.M. Pastor Emeritus.
NOW YOU KNOW THE TRUTH OF THE MYSTERY of an Old tradition of thought

 

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The two(2) Natures of Jesus

The Two Natures of Jesus The Christ

The Bible plainly teaches that Jesus has two (2) natures  (Divine and human)  This is referred to in Theology as The Hypostatic Union. This is the union of the two natures
 in The Man Jesus. Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1&14; 10:30-33; 20:28; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8). He is fully God and fully man (Col. 2:9); therefore, He has two natures; human &divine. He is not half God and half man. He is(Notice the Present tense here)  100% God and 100% man. He never lost his divinity when He assumed the human nature. He continued to exist as God when He added human nature to Himself ( Jn. 1:14; Phil. 2:5-11). Therefore, there is a "union in one person of a full human nature and a full divine nature. Right now in heaven there is The Man Jesus, who is our Mediator between us and God The Father. ( Rom. 8:34; I Tim. 2:5).

Jesus as God	Jesus as Man
He is worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33).	He worshiped the Father (John 17).
He is prayed to (Acts 7:59).	He prayed to the Father (John 17).
He is sinless (1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15).	He was tempted (Matt. 4:1).
He knows all things (John 21:17).	He grew in wisdom and statue (Luke 2:52). He humbled Himself to live within the limits of the human nature. (Phil. 2:5-8)
He gives eternal life (John 10:28).	He died (Rom. 5:8). He rose from the dead (Luke 24:1-5)
All the fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9).	He now has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).

Jesus has two natures, but only one personality.

The addition of the human nature to the divine nature is Jesus, the God-man.

It started at the birth of Jesus (Jn.1:14) and  continues to exist in Heaven Right Now. (1 Tim. 2:5)

 The teaching that the attributes of both the divine and human natures are ascribed to the one person of Jesus. This means that the man Jesus could lay claim to the glory He had with the Father before the world was made (John 17:5), claim that He descended from heaven, (John 3:13), and also claim *Omnipresence, (Matt. 28:20). All of these are divine qualities that are laid claim to by Jesus; therefore, the attributes of the divine properties were claimed by the man named Jesus.

*His Omnipresence is only thru the  divine spirit part of Him that took affect after the resurrection and Ascension via The Holy Spirit dwelling in all believers. (Jn. 14:26 that says;  “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” And (I Cor. 3:16) that says;  “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” And (Jn. 14:23 that says;  “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him”.  The human part could not do this.  He limited Himself to the limits of the human nature while on earth.(Phil. 2:5-7) that says; “  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:   Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”

Final reference on omnipresence; the Holy Spirit is omnipresent, and so Jesus,   through the Holy Spirit, ( which was His representative.(Jn 14:16) Became omnipresent because they are one in The Godhead along with The Father

Additional Truth:

Jesus has a divine nature and a human nature as one joint substance that is unable to be parted into one nature or the other.

He  is fully God and fully man with one unified personality that is not swayed by one nature or the other because both natures are united as one

The Latin term Communicatio idiomatum  explodes this in more detail. It explains and clarifies the 'communication of properties'

Note: All  fancy sounding  words or terms have a common one that means the same thing.  In this case it is Incarnation

Researched and compiled by.

Rev. George Pryor Th.M.

 Pastor Emeritus.

revgap@gmail.com

Paradise, What is it and where is it

Paradise

What is it and where is it?

Paradise is the temporary holding place for the Spirits of believers until they are reunited with their Resurrected Glorified body  The original location of Paradise was in the heart of the earth and called Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22a)KJV “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:”  This is where Jesus’ Spirit visited  after His death (Eph. 4:9)  and He took the thief on the right with Him. (Luke 23:43)  When Jesus was resurrected He took the Souls that were there and transferred them to a new location in Heaven. (Eph. 4:8&10)  Paul was allowed to see this place but was forbidden to tell us about it. (II Cor. 12:3-4)KJV) “And I knew such a man, whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;

  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
  This is where all souls of believers are under the altar of God in Heaven waiting to receive their Glorified bodies and their final reward. (Rev. 6:9-11)KJV “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”    It’s going to be worth the wait (I Cor. 2:9)KJV “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Confusion:

 There is a passage in (I Peter 3:*18-20) that has caused some confusion and mis-understanding that Jesus went to Hell and suffered for us.  (Luke 16:19-26) makes it very clear that both hell and paradise(Abraham’s bosom) were in the heart of the earth at the time of Jesus’ death. Those on one side could see and  communicate

with those on the other side but could not pass over. (Lk. 16:26)  Jesus went to Paradise after He had finished His suffering on the cross and preached across the gulf to the ones in Hell and let them know that they were there because they chose to not  listen to the

Prophets of old.(Luke 16:29-31)  This is where they would remain until they were cast into the Lake of fire for their final abode (Rev.20:10-15) KJV “ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”.

NOTE:  The Apostle’s Creed (which of Roman Catholic origin  is in error in it’s statement that; Jesus descended into hell  and suffered for us.

* The KJV is the only version that uses suffered in vs. 18 all others say died

Conclusion:

Jesus Did Not go into Hell and suffer there for us.

The only suffering He did for us was on The Gross.  When He said “It is finished” That is exactly what He meant.  There was nothing else that needed to be done to Atone for the sins of man.

Rev. George Pryor Th.M.

 Pastor Emeritus.

revgap@gmail.com