Mike,<\/p>\n

Forgive me, I know you are a busy man with the IWWB website. I say “forgive me” because I suspect this will prove to be a lengthy e-mail. I will try to remain on point and not let this get out of hand. I first want to briefly share with you my experience with our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

The Jehovah’s Witness faith was literally all I had ever known as a youngster. At the age of 15, I decided to become baptized. Although I had been far from sinless to this point of my early teens, I felt a very strong love and appreciation for my Heavenly Father (and his Son). So, I decided to make that public (physical\/carnal) display that I would announce my faith\/resolve.<\/p>\n

On the day of my baptism, I was a little nervous, but nonetheless happy. When my turn came, I must admit that I was a little nervous. The butterflies were starting to boil. The gentleman said those words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” and dunked me in the water. That brief two or three seconds under water seemed like five minutes. I recall what I can only pen as a cleansing of my mind. When I emerged from the water a light came over me and a feeling like I have never felt before.<\/p>\n

By the age of 18, I had forsaken my beliefs because in my rebellious phase I sought to have authority over myself and despised anyone trying to exercise their authority over me. Like anything, this choice in my life has had both good and BAD consequences. Of the bad, I have shamefully partaken in many a drunken party and even experimented with a couple of “minor” controlled substances. Back to my baptism…<\/p>\n

Of all those experiences that I have had with alcohol and other indulgences (and I’ll even include romantic experiences) I have never experienced a feeling like that day after emerging from the baptismal water. I can only conclude that Heavenly Father sent me the Holy Spirit. Oh, how I wish for that feeling of serenity and peace on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

Suffice it to say, based on my exodus about three years later, things changed drastically for me. I was disfellowshipped from the JW faith and spent the next 18 years living with much of the milk of the Word in my heart, but without any practice. Of note, during the last seven years, I have reached a personal eclipse (tribulation) on a couple of occasions. On each occasion, I prayed through the night for help and guidance (relating to the particular tribulation that was befalling me at the time), and on each of those occasions, the VERY next morning … ding-dong … Jehovah’s Witnesses showed up at my door.<\/p>\n

Maybe I am starting to show you the level of confusion that I am living in right now. Approximately one year ago, I decided to dig back into the Bible. Studies and research have led me to sites like yours.<\/p>\n

The confusion and dilemma that I find myself in is quite a pickle, so to speak. I guess if I were to assess myself, I would like to think that I am not a “babe in Christ” and have consumed and digested some of the meat, but I am still to be weaned of the milk. I guess that makes me a “toddler”. Oh, I pray each and every day for God to open up the scriptures to me and show me new spiritual truths and spiritual enlightenment. Unfortunately, I think some of my carnal man is still getting in the way. Hopefully that brings me to some sort of conclusion of this e-mail with some questions that I have for you that I am stuck on. I think I am stuck because much of the JW faith still clings to me, and I think that I have a hard time letting it go; for you now know that I believe that I received the Holy Spirit during a baptism conducted under their care and have also received JWs at my door after night-long fervent prayer (do you have a thought\/comment on this?)<\/p>\n

As a Jehovah’s Witness, I was taught many things contrary to scriptural teachings (and many, not so contrary). But I was always taught that the “God” of the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scriptures as the JWs refers to them) was Jehovah (or Yahweh)… and that this Jehovah was the Father (not Jesus). But not only your site, but others, seem to indicate that the Jehovah\/ Yahweh of the Hebrew scriptures was in fact Jesus before he descended from the heavens.<\/p>\n

Can you help me out with understanding this?<\/p>\n

I also am struggling with letting go of some of the dispensationalism teachings of the JWs. Surely Matthew 24 describes some future event (I thought). But some of your explanations make a lot of sense to me, but yet confuse this carnal, milk-minded brain of mine. Maybe you can answer: when will the resurrection (first and second) occur? Is the resurrection a unique experience to each person (shortly after death)? Or is it a one-time, all encompassing event that resurrects all of the elect (in the first resurrection) and then the rest of the dead at the second resurrection? If it is a one-time event, what about all of those still living (on earth) at the time of “the end” just before the first resurrection? I think my dispensationally-trained mind is having a hard time with these sequence of events.<\/p>\n

My carnal mind almost gets angry that Jesus (in Matthew 24) would almost seem to be mocking people by saying, “Oh yeah, there will be wars, earthquakes, famines, diseases… and then the end will come”. If your understanding of these words are true, isn’t Jesus just telling people, “you are going to live in a corrupt, imperfect, and violent world; then you will die, and then I will come? If so, why all of the details? Aren’t the details important to identify the “last days”?<\/p>\n

As I have read much of your material on the IWWB site, I have observed your quotation of Ecc 9:2-3 several times. Do these verses not refer to this “one event” or “same event” to both the righteous and the wicked alike… do these scriptures not simply refer to death? Of course, I can see that Heb 9:27 adds to the “sum of the words”…. hmmm, maybe I just answered my own question.<\/p>\n

Mike, again please forgive the length of this e-mail. I am reading your articles almost non-stop, and I am simply trying to get beyond this carnal mind of mine and discern these things spiritually. I am far from being able to say that I have read all of your content, but [today] my frustration has been pestering me, and I hope that you might be able to “set me straight”. I will continue to pray to God for this spiritual discernment, but God willing, perhaps you can help me get there.<\/p>\n

May His will be done.
\nT____<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hi T____,<\/p>\n

Thanks for sharing with me your story.<\/p>\n

It is only natural, and it happens to also be spiritually healthy to share with others what has been our journey in coming to know Him who is the Truth. This is done at all of our Bible conferences, and having heard the stories of many from all around the world over the years, it has become clear that while the details may vary, the essential elements of all of our stories are exactly the same.<\/p>\n

In your latest e-mail you ask:<\/p>\n

As I have read much of your material on the IWWB site, I have observed your quotation of Ecc 9:2-3 several times. Do these verses not refer to this “one event” or “same event” to both the righteous and the wicked alike… do these scriptures not simply refer to death? Of course, I can see that Heb 9:27 adds to the “sum of the words”…. hmmm, maybe I just answered my own question.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If Ecc 9:2-3 refers only to death, then Christ was lying when He said this:<\/p>\n

Mat 4:4\u00a0 But he answered and said, It is written, Man<\/strong><\/u> shall not live by bread alone, but by every<\/u> word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And this…<\/p>\n

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh<\/strong><\/u>:
\nMat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.<\/strong>
\nMat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these<\/u> things be fulfilled.<\/strong>
\nMat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.<\/strong><\/u><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If Ecc 9:2 refers only to physical death then Christ was also lying when he said this:<\/p>\n

Rev 1:3\u00a0 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep<\/u> those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.<\/strong>
\nRev 22:7\u00a0 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth<\/u> the sayings of the prophecy of this book.<\/strong>
\nRev 22:8\u00a0 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
\nRev 22:9\u00a0 Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant<\/u>, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book:<\/u> worship God.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

All who are in Christ and are truly our fellowservants, “keep the sayings of this book, and the things written therein.” In the end “all things come alike to all.”<\/p>\n

Ecc 9:2 All things<\/u> come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good<\/strong> and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
\nEcc 9:3\u00a0 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It makes good sense to say that “one event” includes a life of “all things… written therein.” But it makes no sense at all to say that the one event of death, includes “all things… written therein” which all men are commanded to “keep.”<\/p>\n

“Keeping the sayings of the prophecy of this book” is “one event” which will, in the end, be common to all men, but there is no logical way to describe death as “all things… common to all men.”
\nNot one person yet has ever been brought to hunger for a deeper knowledge of our Lord and a closer relationship with Him, without first passing through the “furnace of iron” that is our fiery experience in Egypt and in Babylon.<\/p>\n

1Ki 8:51\u00a0 For they be thy people, and thine inheritance<\/strong><\/u>, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron<\/u>:<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The furnace of iron” and “the valley of the shadow of death” are both part of the “all things… one event” which we all must endure, if ever we are to “know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings.”<\/p>\n

Psa 23:4\u00a0 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death<\/strong>, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff<\/strong> they comfort me.<\/p>\n

Php 3:10\u00a0 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now if you see “dying with Christ” as a daily process, then yes, that “one event” is death, but only in this Biblical sense:<\/p>\n

Rom 6:1\u00a0 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
\nRom 6:2\u00a0 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead<\/u> to sin, live<\/u> any longer therein?<\/strong>
\nRom 6:3\u00a0 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
\nRom 6:4\u00a0 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death<\/u><\/strong>: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.<\/u><\/strong>
\nRom 6:5\u00a0 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death<\/u><\/strong>, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:<\/strong>
\nRom 6:6\u00a0 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him<\/u>,<\/strong> that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
\nRom 6:7\u00a0 For he that is dead is freed from sin.<\/strong>
\nRom 6:8\u00a0 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him<\/strong>:
\nRom 6:9\u00a0 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
\nRom 6:10\u00a0 For in that he died<\/u>, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.<\/strong>
\nRom 6:11\u00a0 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That is the “one event” in which “all things come alike to all”. All men will, in their own appointed time, “reckon themselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive unto God.” To think of this “one event to all” simply as physical death, is to completely miss out on the summation of the “many things I have yet to tell you” of Matthew 24, which “many things” are later given us in the revelation of Jesus Christ, which we are all plainly told to “read, hear and keep.”<\/p>\n

No one in whom the spirit of Christ dwells wants to either add to or take away from his part from the sayings of the prophecy of this book.<\/p>\n

Rev 22:18\u00a0 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
\nRev 22:19\u00a0 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part<\/strong> out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.<\/u><\/strong>
\nRev 22:20\u00a0 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly [into the life of every man of every generation who “reads, hears and keeps the things written therein”]. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Every word of God’s Word confirms that this, too, your story as a Jehovah’s Witness convert, is “common to all men,” whether a Jehovah’s witness, or a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, or Catholic. We all are brought to see our need for a Savior while still serving our the Egyptian taskmaster’s which are the lusts of our flesh.<\/p>\n

Exo 1:13\u00a0 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
\nExo 1:14\u00a0 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
\nExo 2:23\u00a0 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
\nExo 2:24\u00a0 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
\nExo 2:25\u00a0 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When Did he do this? Here is when He comes to us:<\/p>\n

Eph 2:4\u00a0 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
\nEph 2:5\u00a0 Even when we were dead in sins,<\/strong> hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So we all cry out to God to deliver us from our own flesh, and we come with an innocent heart, seeking to know God and His peace. Here is how this stage of our walk is described in the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ, which revelation we are to “read, hear and keep.”<\/p>\n

Rev 2:2\u00a0 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
\nRev 2:3\u00a0 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
\nRev 2:4\u00a0 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We all come to God as babes in Christ, desiring to serve Him but with no “root in ourselves” as yet, and we come to Him while we are yet in the churches of Babylon, looking to those we love and respect to guide us in our new walk. Here is how Christ describes this part of our walk which is common to all men.<\/p>\n

Luk 11:52\u00a0 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When all of this is taking place we are no more aware that we are in the grip and influence of the great whore than a child is aware that he cannot yet eat strong meat. Anyone who has reared children knows that all children think they are qualified to do the things they see their parents doing, long before they really are qualified to do so. This is as true in spirit as it is in this temporal life. We are living our lives at this time, with all the false doctrines with which we have been reared from our youth, still firmly implanted in our minds, and in that part of our walk God answers our prayers “according to the idols of our hearts.”<\/p>\n

Eze 14:4\u00a0 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When I was in the Pentecostal church God answered my prayers according to my Pentecostal idols of the heart. Later as a World Wide Church Of God member, my prayers were answered according to those doctrinal idols.<\/p>\n

While I lived several years of my life believing the doctrines of the Concordant Publishing Concern, my prayers were answered according to those doctrinal idols. You were raised up as a Jehovah’s Witness, and God answered you according to those heart’s idols, for several years. If now you have lain aside all doctrinal and denominational biases, and have come to His word with a heart that wants only to inquire of the Word of God, then God will answer you accordingly.<\/p>\n

It is good that you realize that you have indeed been being sustained by “the milk of the word.” While there is ‘milk’ in the churches of Babylon, it is all poisoned milk, and will never lead you to know the true God of scripture. The orthodox churches all would have us believe that our heavenly Father will burn all sinners in eternal hell fire, if they do not repent and serve Christ now in this life. Many of the supposed cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventists, and at one time, the Worldwide Church of God, all believed in a heavenly Father who would annihilate all sinners. None of this is in accord with the scriptures which teach that is it is through figurative<\/u> fire that all in Adam will be saved in Christ.<\/p>\n

Joh 3:17\u00a0 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1Co 15:22\u00a0 For as<\/strong> in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1Ti 2:4\u00a0 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.<\/p>\n

1Ti 4:10\u00a0 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2Pe 3:9\u00a0 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1Jn 2:2\u00a0 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What I pray you will come to see is that universal salvation may seem like the strong meat of God’s Word, but it is really nothing more than milk. This is made clear when we consider that even though the apostles never once taught either eternal hell fire or eternal annihilation, they did teach the doctrine of “eternal judgment,” and that doctrine of “eternal judgment,” is the teaching that it is through judgment that aionios judgment leads to life for all men. This is but a milk doctrine, and so it is listed.<\/p>\n

Heb 5:12\u00a0 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.<\/strong>
\nHeb 5:13\u00a0 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.<\/strong>
\nHeb 5:14\u00a0 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
\nHeb 6:1\u00a0 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ<\/strong>, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
\nHeb 6:2\u00a0 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.<\/strong>
\nHeb 6:3\u00a0 And this will we do, if God permit.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You confess you are a spiritual “toddler,” and that certainly seems appropriate considering the questions you are posing to me. You seem to think that because you thought you were sincere in what you were doing you were therefore baptized with the holy spirit. God’s holy spirit is in complete accord with His Word, so that it is impossible for anyone who is immersed in the doctrines of Babylon to be baptized with the holy spirit, and this is why that is so.<\/p>\n

Joh 6:63\u00a0 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When all of this is taking place we are no more aware that we are in the grip and influence of the great whore than a child is aware that he cannot yet eat strong meat. Anyone who has reared children knows that all children think they are qualified to do the things they see their parents doing, long before they really are qualified to do so. This is as true in spirit as it is in this temporal life. We are living our lives at this time, with all the false doctrines with which we have been reared from our youth, still firmly implanted in our minds, and in that part of our walk God answers our prayers “according to the idols of our hearts.”<\/p>\n

Eze 14:4\u00a0 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Download e-sword or some Bible software that allows you to check out the original languages. Check out every entry for every word the holy spirit has you to question. If you do that, then the holy spirit itself will reveal to you the true message of that word and of the scripture in view.<\/p>\n

On the matter of whether Christ is Yahweh<\/a>, just go to this URL and read this e-mail. If after reading this letter you still have questions on this subject, then please feel free to get back to me.<\/p>\n

You are right in saying all of the elect [are] (in the first resurrection) and then the rest of the dead at the second resurrection. The time line is laid out in Rev 20 and all the rest of scripture verifies that time line.<\/p>\n

Rev 20:1\u00a0 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
\nRev 20:2\u00a0 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
\nRev 20:3\u00a0 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.<\/strong>
\nRev 20:4\u00a0 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.<\/strong>
\nRev 20:5\u00a0 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
\nRev 20:6\u00a0 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.<\/strong>
\nRev 20:7\u00a0 And when the thousand years are expired<\/strong>, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
\nRev 20:8\u00a0 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.<\/strong>
\nRev 20:9\u00a0 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them<\/strong>.
\nRev 20:10\u00a0 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
\nRev 20:11\u00a0 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.
\nRev 20:12\u00a0 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.
\nRev 20:13\u00a0 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.
\nRev 20:14\u00a0 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
\nRev 20:15\u00a0 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Look at verse 9.<\/p>\n

Verse 8 makes clear that all nations are deceived and all nations are destroyed by the “fire from heaven.” I wondered for virtually all my life, how death could possibly be destroyed to comply with this verse of scripture.<\/p>\n

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
\n1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As long as human babies are being born in vessels of clay, also known as flesh, death will continue. But Rev 20:7-10 reveals that after the period of rule by God’s elect, God will bring the human race in flesh to an end.<\/p>\n

Rev 20:7\u00a0 And when the thousand years are expired<\/strong>, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
\nRev 20:8\u00a0 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.<\/strong>
\nRev 20:9\u00a0 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them<\/strong>.
\nRev 20:10\u00a0 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While it is true that “fire from heaven” is symbolic of the means used to destroy death, the destruction of all flesh is essential to that goal, because death will never be destroyed as long as human babies continue to be born in bodies of sinful, corruptible flesh and blood.<\/p>\n

1Co 15:50\u00a0 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What do we see in the very next verse? We see the second resurrection at the great white throne judgment, which is the lake of fire which will purify all men. That fire is the Word of God, and the ‘lake’ is those in whom that Word resides.<\/p>\n

Heb 12:29\u00a0 For our God is a consuming fire<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Joh 14:9\u00a0 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;<\/strong> and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?<\/p>\n

1Jn 3:2\u00a0 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;<\/strong> for we shall see him as he is.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These promises are only for those who understand that Christ’s Words never pass away, are lived in the lives of his elect in every generation since Christ, and are “the things written therein… the saying of the prophecy of this book” of the revelation of Jesus Christ within us.<\/p>\n

Act 9:5\u00a0 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:<\/strong> it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Time and again, Jesus tells us that we are Him and that how this world treats us is how it treats Him.<\/p>\n

Mat 25:31\u00a0 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
\nMat 25:32\u00a0 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [ his] sheep from the goats:
\nMat 25:33\u00a0 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
\nMat 25:34\u00a0 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
\nMat 25:35\u00a0 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
\nMat 25:36\u00a0 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
\nMat 25:37\u00a0 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [ thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?
\nMat 25:38\u00a0 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?
\nMat 25:39\u00a0 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
\nMat 25:40\u00a0 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.<\/strong>
\nMat 25:41\u00a0 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
\nMat 25:42\u00a0 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
\nMat 25:43\u00a0 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
\nMat 25:44\u00a0 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
\nMat 25:45\u00a0 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the truth of the gospel for all who are in Christ:<\/p>\n

1Jn 4:17\u00a0 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Be sure to read What Is The Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

My carnal mind almost gets angry that Jesus (in Matthew 24) would almost seem to be mocking people by saying, \u201cOh yeah, there will be wars, earthquakes, famines, diseases\u2026 and then the end will come\u201d. If your understanding of these words are true, isn\u2019t Jesus just telling people, \u201cyou are going to live in a corrupt, imperfect, and violent world; then you will die, and then I will come? If so, why all of the details? Aren\u2019t the details important to identify the \u201clast days\u201d?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Absolutely! The details are important to identify the last days. That is Christ’s whole point! That is what this verse is all about:<\/p>\n

Mat 24:32\u00a0 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
\nMat 24:33\u00a0 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.<\/strong>
\nMat 24:34\u00a0 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
\nMat 24:35\u00a0 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But as long as we refuse to believe that “this generation shall not pass till all these things shall be fulfilled,” then our understanding of what is ‘the last days’ is not in line with what is called ‘the end’ in scripture. These events\u00a0 found in Mat 24 are the same imminent events found throughout the book of Revelation. Look at how the revelation of Jesus Christ is both introduced and how it concludes:<\/p>\n

Rev 1:3\u00a0 Blessed is he that readeth<\/strong>, and they that hear the words<\/strong> of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Does “for the time is at hand” sound like this is prophecy is not to be fulfilled for another 2,000 years? Does “for the time is at hand” mean this book is only for the last generation before Christ’s return? That is what it means if you are a dispensationalist and you view all the sayings of this prophecy from that angle. But in doing so you are denying that Christ’s words never pass away, and in doing so you are denying that Christ and His words are the first and the last and the is, was and will be He claims to be on twelve different occasions in this book alone. In doing so you are saying that the prophecy of this book has no personal application for any of God’s elect of any past generation, and that these words are applicable only for those who happen to be standing on this earth at the time of Christ’s return. Nothing could be further from the Truth. It is He who tells us “I am the Truth” who concludes this prophecy with the same admonition with which He begins it.<\/p>\n

Rev 22:7\u00a0 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy<\/strong> of this book.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This prophecy begins and ends with the warning to all who read it, that they are to expect to “keep the things written therein,” and they are to “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” But both warnings say “the time is at hand… behold I come quickly.”<\/p>\n

Like Christ in the 24th chapter of Matthew, these words are addressed to “whosoever reads” and not to the last generation at the end of this age.<\/p>\n

Mat 24:15\u00a0 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand<\/strong>\ud83d\ude42<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The holy place” is the inner chamber of the temple of God, and the New Testament is abundantly clear that “ye are the temple of God and the spirit of God dwells in you.”<\/p>\n

1Co 3:16\u00a0 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [ that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The abomination of desolation is not at the end of this age for those who are given eyes to see that “the end” spoken of by Christ here in Matthew 24 is the end of the age that comes upon every generation of God’s elect.<\/p>\n

1Co 10:11\u00a0 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So don’t be upset with Jesus Christ. He was abundantly clear that His words would never pass away and that they would be fulfilled “in this generation.” Who we all ought to reject are our Babylonian teachers who have blinded our eyes to all these obvious truths which are consistent with words which are<\/strong>, were and will be true in every generation.<\/p>\n

I have no problem with the length of your letter when the heart is sincere in searching for the Truth and is not filled with “idols of the heart.”<\/p>\n

God bless your sincere search to know the mind of God and Jesus, whom He has sent to us to reveal to us the Father.<\/p>\n

Mat 11:27\u00a0 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].<\/p>\n

Joh 17:3\u00a0 And this is life eternal<\/strong>, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Your brother in Christ,
\nMike<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mike, Forgive me, I know you are a busy man with the IWWB website. I say “forgive me” because I suspect this will prove to be a lengthy e-mail. I will try to remain on point and not let this get out of hand. I first want to briefly share with you my experience with our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. The Jehovah’s Witness faith was literally all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[332],"tags":[327,699,44,35,821],"class_list":["post-5469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faqs","tag-dying-daily","tag-one-event","tag-resurrections","tag-salvation","tag-yahweh","series-dying-daily","series-one-event","series-resurrections","series-salvation","series-yahweh"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5469"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20442,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5469\/revisions\/20442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/server1.xploreseo.com\/iswasandwillbe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}