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Author Topic:   Are there any substitutes for having inner peace?
Rahvin
Member
Posts: 4046
Joined: 07-01-2005
Member Rating: 8.3


Message 166 of 300 (233401)
08-15-2005 12:14 PM
Reply to: Message 165 by wmscott
08-13-2005 8:17 AM


Re: These are my arguments,
It is called the "Bible" and it proves God's existence by recording the historical fulfillment of prophecies given by God.
You mean "It's called a BOOK that contains prophesies that were supoposedly fulfilled later on in the book." It's a book, wmscott. A book is not evidence in and of itself. You can use the Bible with faith-related topics, but not this one. You started a thread that discusses the real-world state of mind of individuals - that means the Bible is evidence of diddly and squat.
To accurately predict the future beyond mere guess work, requires a supernatural being, a record of such prophecies being made and their fulfillment is conclusive proof of God's existence. Now since you have a problem accepting the word of God as being inspired, you need only to look at prophecies recorded in the Bible that we see being fulfilled in our day or that have been fulfilled in history long after when the prophecies were written.
Show prophesies from the Bible that are fullfilled today. Show that the prophesies were actually talking about anything related to modenr day events.
This is getting way off topic.
If you were willing to accept the Bible as the word of God, I could prove it to you, but as you say, I can't convince you of anything by referring to the Bible because of your "faith" or rather your lack of faith in God's Word.
Oh, so you conceed? Good! Glad we could get that out of the way finally.
Oh, and you're right - I have fath in God, not in a book about God. I don't worship books.
Just because an interpretation is unique, doesn't mean that it is wrong. An interpretation is proved right or wrong by whether or not it agrees with scripture. On the blood issue for instance, our stand is Biblically correct, all you have to do read the account in Acts to know that,(Acts 15:29 "keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood") but no other religion is willing to take this stand for what is right. Even if you ignore the transfusion issue and just consider the issue of eating blood, which is what the scripture is specifically prohibiting while transfusing blood is a logical deduction since if you can't eat it, you can't transfuse it, most if all Christian religions fail to keep this direct command. Even religious leaders like Martin Luther (: "Now if we want to have a church that conforms to this council, . . . we must teach and insist that henceforth no prince, lord, burgher, or peasant eat geese, doe, stag, or pork cooked in blood . . . And burghers and peasants must abstain especially from red sausage and blood sausage.") have recognized this command as binding on Christians, but have failed to do anything about it. The problem is that when the Bible points in an inconvenient direction, most ignore it. I do have to give the Eastern Church, credit since they observe the command not to eat blood while the Catholic church only observed it until the 12th century. It is part of a larger pattern or trend seen in Christendom, that of over time they have softened their doctrinal position to allow things that God doesn't prove of, like the recent stampede by Christendom to embrace homosexuals despite that the Bible calls it "obscene" (Romans 1:27). Church doctrines today are more based on political correctness or convenience than God's Word, which is why Jehovah's Witnesses are unfortunately alone in closely following scripture.
I disagree. I think this is entuirely an incorrect interpretation, and I believe it to be counter to everythign Jesus taught. I also think this makes you a bigot.
Bt this is off-topic. Your post has nothing to do with inner peace.
"She had been saved by a family of Jehovah's Witnesses, he said, and hidden away from the Nazis for two years."
http://zephyr.unr.edu/.../fall_02_pages/fredrickson_hol.html
Thank you for one example. I'm glad at least one family of Witnesses did such a thing.
My question, then, would be: How did these Witnesses NOT wind up in the camps themselves? I thought Witnesses were thrown in just for BEING Witnesses?

Every time a fundy breaks the laws of thermodynamics, Schroedinger probably kills his cat.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 165 by wmscott, posted 08-13-2005 8:17 AM wmscott has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 167 by wmscott, posted 08-15-2005 7:11 PM Rahvin has replied

wmscott
Member (Idle past 6278 days)
Posts: 580
From: Sussex, WI USA
Joined: 12-19-2001


Message 167 of 300 (233512)
08-15-2005 7:11 PM
Reply to: Message 166 by Rahvin
08-15-2005 12:14 PM


Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
Dear Rahvin;
Show prophesies from the Bible that are fullfilled today. Show that the prophesies were actually talking about anything related to modenr day events.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, biblical chronology pin pointed the year 1914 as the start of Christ's presence, and Jesus listed the following things that would mark his presence in the 24th chapter of Matthew. (Matthew 24:3) "what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?"
Jesus went on to say. (Matthew 24:7-8) "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress."
Of course in the fall of 1914 we had the start of our first world war, with a second just decades later. The Great War as it was called, the war to end all wars, and with all wars it brought food shortages and famine. The year 1914 was a major turning point in history, some called the year the world went mad. Jesus said "All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress." that the signs would continue. Since then we have seen all the signs (I did not quote all of them) in very large measure. While we have seen all of these problems throughout all of human history, we have never seen them on such a large scale and so frequently all at once like we have in the last 91 years. Even among most students of the Bible who are not even Jehovah's Witnesses, it is common knowledge that we are signing the signs Jesus described that would mark his presence and nearness of Armageddon.
Some of the additional signs Jesus stated would mark the time of his presence are; (Matthew 24:9) "Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name." Which we have seen fulfilled in Jehovah's Witnesses being persecuted simply because of being faithful servants of Christ. Another sign Jesus gave for his presence was; (Matthew 24:14) "this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations;" which is being fulfilled in the global preaching work being carried on by Jehovah's Witnesses. Jesus gave the command to his followers to preach the good news to all the earth, and only Jehovah's Witnesses are activity following his command. We are currently preaching in every land on earth and are perhaps just a few years away from reaching every person on the planet in fulfillment of this scripture.
I disagree. I think this is entuirely an incorrect interpretation, and I believe it to be counter to everythign Jesus taught. I also think this makes you a bigot.
Believing you have the only True faith makes one a bigot? What would you call Jesus? "YOU worship what YOU do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews. Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth." (John 4:22-24) Would you really call Jesus a bigot for believing that salvation originated with the Jews only and that other religions of the nations had no salvation, not evening knowing what they were really worshipping? Notice what Christ said "those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth." which would mean that you actually have worship God in a certain way, not just however you please and to know what that way is, you have to follow what the Bible teaches. Those who do not follow what the Bible teaches, are not acceptable to God. Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
As for my interpretation being wrong, show me the errors by showing a contradiction with scripture and explain what is really meant by the scriptures I cited.
My question, then, would be: How did these Witnesses NOT wind up in the camps themselves? I thought Witnesses were thrown in just for BEING Witnesses?
The Witnesses went "underground" and many (<50%) were not caught and remained free to continue the preaching work discreetly.
Sincerely Yours; Wm Scott Anderson

This message is a reply to:
 Message 166 by Rahvin, posted 08-15-2005 12:14 PM Rahvin has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 168 by Rahvin, posted 08-15-2005 7:53 PM wmscott has replied
 Message 169 by mick, posted 08-15-2005 8:10 PM wmscott has replied
 Message 172 by arachnophilia, posted 08-17-2005 5:43 PM wmscott has replied

Rahvin
Member
Posts: 4046
Joined: 07-01-2005
Member Rating: 8.3


Message 168 of 300 (233527)
08-15-2005 7:53 PM
Reply to: Message 167 by wmscott
08-15-2005 7:11 PM


Re: Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
As I mentioned in an earlier post, biblical chronology pin pointed the year 1914 as the start of Christ's presence, and Jesus listed the following things that would mark his presence in the 24th chapter of Matthew. (Matthew 24:3) "what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?"
Jesus went on to say. (Matthew 24:7-8) "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress."
Of course in the fall of 1914 we had the start of our first world war, with a second just decades later. The Great War as it was called, the war to end all wars, and with all wars it brought food shortages and famine. The year 1914 was a major turning point in history, some called the year the world went mad. Jesus said "All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress." that the signs would continue. Since then we have seen all the signs (I did not quote all of them) in very large measure. While we have seen all of these problems throughout all of human history, we have never seen them on such a large scale and so frequently all at once like we have in the last 91 years. Even among most students of the Bible who are not even Jehovah's Witnesses, it is common knowledge that we are signing the signs Jesus described that would mark his presence and nearness of Armageddon.
So....where is He? Last I knew no Second Coming has happened. The "prohpesy" you mention could equally apply to just about any war during which an earthquake occurred. That's not proof, wmscoot, that's supposition.
Some of the additional signs Jesus stated would mark the time of his presence are; (Matthew 24:9) "Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name." Which we have seen fulfilled in Jehovah's Witnesses being persecuted simply because of being faithful servants of Christ. Another sign Jesus gave for his presence was; (Matthew 24:14) "this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations;" which is being fulfilled in the global preaching work being carried on by Jehovah's Witnesses. Jesus gave the command to his followers to preach the good news to all the earth, and only Jehovah's Witnesses are activity following his command. We are currently preaching in every land on earth and are perhaps just a few years away from reaching every person on the planet in fulfillment of this scripture.
A lot of which, like the persecution of Christians (to the point of death anyway) were widespread a thousand years ago but are unheard of today. Doesn't look like fulfillment of prophesy to me.
Believing you have the only True faith makes one a bigot? What would you call Jesus? "YOU worship what YOU do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews. Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth." (John 4:22-24) Would you really call Jesus a bigot for believing that salvation originated with the Jews only and that other religions of the nations had no salvation, not evening knowing what they were really worshipping? Notice what Christ said "those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth." which would mean that you actually have worship God in a certain way, not just however you please and to know what that way is, you have to follow what the Bible teaches. Those who do not follow what the Bible teaches, are not acceptable to God. Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
I would say that the description you just put forth certainly describes God and Jesus as bigots, yes.
Yet another reason I don't take the Bible literally.
In any case, this is wildly off-topic. You're preaching. I'm, not here to prove any religion wrong, including Jehovah's Witnesses, no matter how much I disagree with your beliefs. I'm not going to argue with you any more, wmscott. You've shown a complete inability to follow any rules of debate, and you've turned this 160+ post thread into a preaching pulpit. You've expressed bigotted views and preached JW religious teachings at your opponents throughout the entire ordeal, and I'm frankly tired of it.
Either present some evidence that does not consist entirely of religious rhetoric, or I'm just going to ignore you. I really hope an admin takes a look at this thread and encourages you to actually debate instead of preaching.

Every time a fundy breaks the laws of thermodynamics, Schroedinger probably kills his cat.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 167 by wmscott, posted 08-15-2005 7:11 PM wmscott has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 170 by wmscott, posted 08-17-2005 5:31 PM Rahvin has not replied

mick
Member (Idle past 5016 days)
Posts: 913
Joined: 02-17-2005


Message 169 of 300 (233531)
08-15-2005 8:10 PM
Reply to: Message 167 by wmscott
08-15-2005 7:11 PM


Re: Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
wmscott writes:
Jesus went on to say. (Matthew 24:7-8) "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress."
Which war of recent times is "kingdom against kingdom"?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 167 by wmscott, posted 08-15-2005 7:11 PM wmscott has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 171 by wmscott, posted 08-17-2005 5:32 PM mick has not replied

wmscott
Member (Idle past 6278 days)
Posts: 580
From: Sussex, WI USA
Joined: 12-19-2001


Message 170 of 300 (234198)
08-17-2005 5:31 PM
Reply to: Message 168 by Rahvin
08-15-2005 7:53 PM


Re: Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
Dear Rahvin;
So....where is He? Last I knew no Second Coming has happened. The "prohpesy" you mention could equally apply to just about any war during which an earthquake occurred. That's not proof, wmscoot, that's supposition.
(2 Peter 3:3-4) "For YOU know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: "Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep [in death], all things are continuing exactly as from creation's beginning."
There you just fulfilled another sign of the last days. The Bible chronology pin pointed the year 1914, and no other time period in history has seen what we have seen since then, and that was just the beginning, (Matthew 24:8) "All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress" we can expect much more in the future. Just the second world war was worst then the first, our problems have intensified.
A lot of which, like the persecution of Christians (to the point of death anyway) were widespread a thousand years ago but are unheard of today. Doesn't look like fulfillment of prophesy to me.
Did you forget already about our discussion about Jehovah's Witnesses in the concentration camps? and that was unfortunately by no means an isolated example. We have experienced wide spread persecution in many lands over many years since 1914 and no other period of time has seen anything like the global preaching work being done by Jehovah's Witnesses today.
I would say that the description you just put forth certainly describes God and Jesus as bigots,
That description was quoted from the Bible. This highlights how the course you are on is running in direct conflict with the will of God, when you make statements like that. For those who would serve the God of the Bible, our religious reality is defined by what the Bible states, by your ignoring scripture and following your own ideas, you are following your own fantasy which is of no value since it is not from God. On our topic here of inner peace, following a personal delusion may give a sense of inner peace, but it is as false as your hope for the future is, since in the end it will fail you when the bubble pops. The inner peace based on real hope is always better than anything based on a false hope.
My views are not bigoted, you have merely failed to show me any errors in them. For example, you disagreed with an interpretation I made in an earlier post and in my lost post I challenged you to show where I was wrong, I notice that you made no reply to my challenge at all. That is your pattern, you say my interpretations are wrong, but when called to prove it, you always fold. So why should I be convinced by anything you say when you can't back up anything. You are always saying that I should prove my points and I do, I show you scripture after scripture, cite historical examples, use logical reasoning, but you ignore all of it. But that is your choice and I respect it, I just don't agree with you. In the end you are a loud noise signifying nothing.
Sincerely Yours; Wm Scott Anderson

This message is a reply to:
 Message 168 by Rahvin, posted 08-15-2005 7:53 PM Rahvin has not replied

wmscott
Member (Idle past 6278 days)
Posts: 580
From: Sussex, WI USA
Joined: 12-19-2001


Message 171 of 300 (234199)
08-17-2005 5:32 PM
Reply to: Message 169 by mick
08-15-2005 8:10 PM


Re: Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
Dear Mick;
Which war of recent times is "kingdom against kingdom"?
The term kingdom refers to a governments, it doesn't have to have a king. But if you want to be technical, many of the nations that fought in the Great War, had kings or queens.
Sincerely Yours; Wm Scott Anderson

This message is a reply to:
 Message 169 by mick, posted 08-15-2005 8:10 PM mick has not replied

arachnophilia
Member (Idle past 1374 days)
Posts: 9069
From: god's waiting room
Joined: 05-21-2004


Message 172 of 300 (234204)
08-17-2005 5:43 PM
Reply to: Message 167 by wmscott
08-15-2005 7:11 PM


Re: Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
As I mentioned in an earlier post, biblical chronology pin pointed the year 1914 as the start of Christ's presence, and Jesus listed the following things that would mark his presence in the 24th chapter of Matthew. (Matthew 24:3) "what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?"
Jesus went on to say. (Matthew 24:7-8) "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress."
fallacy of positive instances.
nation has risen against nation starting in genesis, and continuing to modern times. it's hardly a sign of anything -- signs have to be unusual. and famine? yeah, we got those in genesis too.
Believing you have the only True faith makes one a bigot? What would you call Jesus? "YOU worship what YOU do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews. Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth." (John 4:22-24) Would you really call Jesus a bigot for believing that salvation originated with the Jews only and that other religions of the nations had no salvation, not evening knowing what they were really worshipping?
actually, i would call jesus in the book of john a bigot. and a blasphemer. the dude walked around claiming to be god, or the son of god. it's entirely inconsistent with the other gospels, in which is calls himself "son of man" (mortal) which would have caused enough problems due to its messianic connotations (ezekiel/daniel).
why, honestly, would a JEWISH MAN speak of the jews as outsiders? christianity was not it's own sect yet. "we" would have been about a dozen people. kind of arrogant and elitist, wouldn't you say?
doesn't sound like the jesus i know and love.

אָרַח

This message is a reply to:
 Message 167 by wmscott, posted 08-15-2005 7:11 PM wmscott has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 173 by wmscott, posted 08-17-2005 9:08 PM arachnophilia has replied

wmscott
Member (Idle past 6278 days)
Posts: 580
From: Sussex, WI USA
Joined: 12-19-2001


Message 173 of 300 (234267)
08-17-2005 9:08 PM
Reply to: Message 172 by arachnophilia
08-17-2005 5:43 PM


Re: Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
Dear Arachnophilia;
[biblical chronology pin pointed the year 1914]- nation has risen against nation starting in genesis, and continuing to modern times. it's hardly a sign of anything -- signs have to be unusual. and famine? yeah, we got those in genesis too.
You entirely missed the part in brackets, didn't you? Did you never hear of the prophecy of the seven times? (Daniel 4:23) You also missed Jesus' words on the subject of the signs. (Matthew 24:32-33) "Now learn from the fig tree as an illustration this point: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and it puts forth leaves, YOU know that summer is near. Likewise also YOU, when YOU see all these things, know that he is near at the doors." Just as one tree changing colors doesn't mean fall is here, it takes all of the signs occurring together to show that the time is here and the prophecy of the 7 times pointed to 1914 as the start.
(John 4:22-24)- actually, i would call jesus in the book of john a bigot. and a blasphemer. the dude walked around claiming to be god, or the son of god. it's entirely inconsistent with the other gospels, in which is calls himself "son of man" (mortal) which would have caused enough problems due to its messianic connotations (ezekiel/daniel).
why, honestly, would a JEWISH MAN speak of the Jews as outsiders? Christianity was not it's own sect yet. "we" would have been about a dozen people. kind of arrogant and elitist, wouldn't you say?
Did you forget to button your paints when you stood up to answer this post? Because you really dropped your shorts on this one, at John 4:22-24, Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman; (John 4:7) "A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her.", he was talking about the Samaritan religion which was mostly pagan but included some Jewish elements. (2 Kings 17:33) "It was of Jehovah that they became fearers, but it was of their own gods that they proved to be worshipers," That is what Jesus was talking about, the Samaritan religion, not the Jews! Arachnophilia, how could you be so far off on such a basic point, someone else didn't get a hold of your password did they?
It is not only in John that Jesus stated that he was the son of god.
(Matthew 26:63-64)"By the living God I put you under oath to tell us whether you are the Christ the Son of God!" Jesus said to him: "You yourself said [it]"
(Luke 22:70) "Are you, therefore, the Son of God?" He said to them: "YOU yourselves are saying that I am."
or stated to be God's son.
(Mark 15:39)"Certainly this man was God's Son."
(Luke 1:35) "For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God's Son."
Yes, Jesus is God's son in all four of the gospel accounts.
doesn't sound like the jesus i know and love.
That is the problem, you don't really know Jesus or the Bible. Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman could have been addressed to you as well.
Sincerely Yours; Wm Scott Anderson

This message is a reply to:
 Message 172 by arachnophilia, posted 08-17-2005 5:43 PM arachnophilia has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 175 by arachnophilia, posted 08-18-2005 2:11 AM wmscott has replied

Firebird
Inactive Member


Message 174 of 300 (234297)
08-17-2005 10:39 PM
Reply to: Message 129 by wmscott
08-02-2005 6:35 PM


(opening the door again)
Hi Wmscott,
To start at the end . .
You haven't done much other than try to pick about what I say..
Reading over the thread, yes, it can be read as if I’m picking at everything. And still, that’s not the whole story. Basically our main difference is that all your arguments are based on two premises that I do not accept:
1. that the Bible is the literal inspired word of God, and the main way His will is made known
2. That the JW interpretation (or current interpretation) is the only correct way of understanding the Bible and living according to God’s will.
That being the case, all that followed are assertions on your part, and reasons why I cannot accept them on mine. Additionally, you appeared uninterested in anything which could not be turned to the direction of your argument, which was not to actually find out what alternatives non-JWs had to your definition of inner peace.
you really haven't offered better explanations or arguments.
I have offered an alternative viewpoint, articles that point to quantifiable health and happiness from causes other than True inner peace and you have not addressed these. I have shown that at least one individual demonstrated outstanding courage and adherence to principle (Rahvin also did, citing the Pope) and you handwaved the examples away, asserting that only group courage was relevant, and others might just be strong individuals. So since there are strong individuals who can manage without both group support and the True inner peace of the only Bible-based religion, your OP question should be answered. There clearly are other sources of strength.
Just be sure that you are closing your door and not your mind
A good exit line. I am happy to discuss religion and the Bible with my JW family member and acquaintances, to examine literature that contradicts my beliefs, and sometimes learn something.
Can you do the same? Here is an article I found after I last posted, that contradicts your quote below
Actually Jehovah's Witnesses have only made one prediction on when Christ would become King in heaven
I’ve posted this belated reply after reading your response to Rahvin (message 170) in which you said
For those who would serve the God of the Bible, our religious reality is defined by what the Bible states
and
You are always saying that I should prove my points and I do, I show you scripture after scripture, cite historical examples, use logical reasoning, but you ignore all of it.
Given how often your religion has got it wrong, as in the example above, how can you assert your (current) interpretation of scripture as proof which should convince us?
Wishing you the best of everything in any case, Firebird

This message is a reply to:
 Message 129 by wmscott, posted 08-02-2005 6:35 PM wmscott has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 176 by wmscott, posted 08-19-2005 7:49 PM Firebird has replied

arachnophilia
Member (Idle past 1374 days)
Posts: 9069
From: god's waiting room
Joined: 05-21-2004


Message 175 of 300 (234349)
08-18-2005 2:11 AM
Reply to: Message 173 by wmscott
08-17-2005 9:08 PM


Re: Do you wish to call God a bigot too?
You entirely missed the part in brackets, didn't you? Did you never hear of the prophecy of the seven times? (Daniel 4:23)
oh dear. you just can't read, can you?
quote:
Dan 4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
who's this directed at?
quote:
Dan 4:18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen.
where's it fulfilled?
quote:
Dan 4:28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
seriously. prophecy fulfulled. end of story. please read the whole chapter next time. those seven "times" are season or maybe years for which the sentance on nebuchadnezzar is carried out.
Did you forget to button your paints when you stood up to answer this post? Because you really dropped your shorts on this one, at John 4:22-24, Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman; (John 4:7) "A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her.", he was talking about the Samaritan religion which was mostly pagan but included some Jewish elements. (2 Kings 17:33) "It was of Jehovah that they became fearers, but it was of their own gods that they proved to be worshipers," That is what Jesus was talking about, the Samaritan religion, not the Jews! Arachnophilia, how could you be so far off on such a basic point, someone else didn't get a hold of your password did they?
find any map you like, samaria will be smack-dab right in the middle of israel. and with good reason -- it's THE CAPITAL of israel during the divided kingdom. it's really handy to actually know some biblical history.
samaritans were jewish. in jesus's time (and today) they claim to be descendants of people who avoided exile. judeans tend to claim they are outsiders that the assyrians (who captured israel) relocated "trail of tears" style. (ie: the book of kings) thus, there is a lot of hatred and animosity between the citizens of jerusalem (the "real" capital) and the samaritans who only live about THIRTY FIVE MILES away.
it's another of the idolatry claims in the book of kings. it's got a few of them, and it always does it for political reasons. do you suspect that after the assyrian exile ended, and towards the jesus-period that the people who returned went back to occupy their towns? especially the people who lived the capital of the nation?
john seems to buy into the kings story. now compare that to the other gospels. everyone knows the story of the good samaritan, right? the shocking point of that was that someone caught in this city-feud was actually a nice person and the kind of christians we should be. jesus was not preaching judgement and hatred -- he was preaching tolerance and compassion. any attempt to rationalize that another way is just completely unfounded bias and dishonest.
t is not only in John that Jesus stated that he was the son of god.
(Matthew 26:63-64)"By the living God I put you under oath to tell us whether you are the Christ the Son of God!" Jesus said to him: "You yourself said [it]"
(Luke 22:70) "Are you, therefore, the Son of God?" He said to them: "YOU yourselves are saying that I am."
not the same. "i never said that. you said that." doesn't count as "yes, i am!"
or stated to be God's son.
(Mark 15:39)"Certainly this man was God's Son."
(Luke 1:35) "For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God's Son."
that's fine. the gospel-writers can claim it all they want. but a man cannot walk around claiming he is the son of god.
Yes, Jesus is God's son in all four of the gospel accounts.
not disputed. it's about who says it.
That is the problem, you don't really know Jesus or the Bible. Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman could have been addressed to you as well.
uh huh. well, if we're gonna take cheap shots, you obviously don't know god very well either based on your spelling.
This message has been edited by arachnophilia, 08-18-2005 02:26 AM

אָרַח

This message is a reply to:
 Message 173 by wmscott, posted 08-17-2005 9:08 PM wmscott has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 177 by wmscott, posted 08-19-2005 7:52 PM arachnophilia has replied

wmscott
Member (Idle past 6278 days)
Posts: 580
From: Sussex, WI USA
Joined: 12-19-2001


Message 176 of 300 (234929)
08-19-2005 7:49 PM
Reply to: Message 174 by Firebird
08-17-2005 10:39 PM


Re: (opening the door again)
Dear Firebird;
It is good that you know how to open doors as well as close them. I think that we are at an impasse on the topic of inner peace and true inner peace, since you reject my evidence, and you haven't been able to come up with anything that I find convincing. So since we have both have already presented our cases, a continued discussion on that topic would serve little purpose.
Sincerely Yours; Wm Scott Anderson

This message is a reply to:
 Message 174 by Firebird, posted 08-17-2005 10:39 PM Firebird has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 182 by Firebird, posted 08-21-2005 6:39 PM wmscott has replied

wmscott
Member (Idle past 6278 days)
Posts: 580
From: Sussex, WI USA
Joined: 12-19-2001


Message 177 of 300 (234930)
08-19-2005 7:52 PM
Reply to: Message 175 by arachnophilia
08-18-2005 2:11 AM


Arachnophilia you still have it wrong and this is why.
Dear Arachnophilia;
Dan 4:28 "All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar." seriously. prophecy fulfulled. end of story. please read the whole chapter next time. those seven "times" are season or maybe years for which the sentance on nebuchadnezzar is carried out.
It was seven years that Nebuchadnezzar was afflicted with lycanthropy, there are some historical references to this event by the way, this all took place as a way of acting out the prophecy's bigger fulfillment. When Jerusalem was destroyed in the biblical date of 607 BC, the tree was cut down and banded, it was the end of God's rule or kingdom over the earth. Then started the seven gentile times, which were to run until the reestablishment of God's Kingdom. Jesus referred to these times. (Luke 21:24) "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled." Then at the end of the seven gentile times, Jesus is enthroned as king in heaven. (Acts 3:20-21) "Jesus, whom heaven, indeed, must hold within itself until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old time." Those prophets of old, prophesied that Jerusalem would fall and there would be no King on God's throne until the one with the legal right, the heir to the throne of David. (Ezekiel 21:25-27) "And as for you, O deadly wounded, wicked chieftain of Israel, . . . it will certainly become no [one's] until he comes who has the legal right, and I must give [it] to him.' Daniel also prophesied about this too, that a "son of man" would be given a kingdom over the earth that would never end. (Daniel 7:13-14) "I kept on beholding in the visions of the night, and, see there! with the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man happened to be coming; and to the Ancient of Days he gained access, and they brought him up close even before that One. And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin." Paul also taught that Jesus was in heaven waiting to receive his kingdom at the end of the appointed times. (Ephesians 1:10) "for an administration at the full limit of the appointed times, namely, to gather all things together again in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth." Daniel also referred to the end of the times, or the time of the end, when certain things would happen. (Daniel 11:35) "until the time of [the] end; because it is yet for the time appointed." (Daniel 11:40) "And in the time of [the] end." What Daniel prophesied would happen at that time of the end was this;
(Daniel 12:1-4) "And during that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of your people. And there will certainly occur a time of distress such as has not been made to occur since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, every one who is found written down in the book. And there will be many of those asleep in the ground of dust who will wake up, these to indefinitely lasting life and those to reproaches [and] to indefinitely lasting abhorrence. "And the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse; and those who are bringing the many to righteousness, like the stars to time indefinite, even forever. "And as for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of [the] end. Many will rove about, and the [true] knowledge will become abundant."
Michael is the Archangel Michael who of course is Jesus Christ, the term "stand up" refers to becoming King, and just like in Matthew chapter 24 the enthronement of Jesus Christ in heaven, his presence or second coming, is time of many problems on the earth. Daniel also refers to the resurrection and "ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse; and those who are bringing the many to righteousness" refers to preaching the Good News of the Kingdom which would bring many to righteousness. Now that we live in the time of the end, Daniel's book has been unsealed and the meaning is understood and those who know it will rove about with it, even on the Internet.
And this all refers back to Daniel's prophecy about the seven times, Jesus words at Luke 21:24 clearly show that he taught his followers, that the times of the nations, the appointed times, would run until he was installed as king. This time period obviously started with the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BC when the Davidic line of Kings was ended, and the times end when the line of Davidic Kings is reestablished with Jesus as David's heir, taking the throne of the messianic Kingdom in 1914. Jesus is the sprout, twig or root, that grows from the chopped down tree in Daniel and reestablishes David's line of kings and God's rulership over the earth.
(Isaiah 11:1) "And there must go forth a twig out of the stump of Jesse; and out of his roots a sprout"
(Jeremiah 23:5) "Look! There are days coming," is the utterance of Jehovah, "and I will raise up to David a righteous sprout."
(Zechariah 3:8) "for here I am bringing in my servant Sprout!"
(Isaiah 53:2) "And he will come up like a twig before one, and like a root out of waterless land. No stately form does he have, nor any splendor; and when we shall see him, there is not the appearance so that we should desire him."
(Isaiah 11:10) "And it must occur in that day that there will be the root of Jesse that will be standing up as a signal for the peoples. To him even the nations will turn inquiringly,"
(Romans 15:8-12) "Christ . . Just as it is written: . . . And again Isaiah says: "There will be the root of Jesse, and there will be one arising to rule nations; on him nations will rest their hope."
(Revelation 22:16) "'I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to YOU people of these things for the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright morning star.'"
That is why the terms "sprout", "twig", "root", are all used in referring to Jesus, because he sprouts from the "stump of Jesse" which was cut down by Nebuchadnezzar when he destroyed Jerusalem, that is why it was fitting to have him act out the seven times. He lost his position as king for seven years or times, and then gained it back at the end of the seven times.
In my next post we can get into the length of the seven times.
samaritans were Jewish. in Jesus' time (and today) they claim to be descendants of people who avoided exile. judeans tend to claim they are outsiders that the assyrians (who captured israel) relocated "trail of tears" style.
The Samaritans had Jewish blood being descended from Jews who intermarried with gentiles, but were not considered Jewish nor did the Samaritans at the time consider themselves to be Jews. Look at Jesus' words. (John 4:22) "YOU worship what YOU do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews." Jesus addressed the Samaritan woman as a non Jew. Also she stated; (John 4:20) "Our forefathers worshiped in this mountain; but YOU people say that in Jerusalem is the place where persons ought to worship." she didn't consider herself a Jew ether, there is a difference between being of Jewish descent and being a Jew. The important part is that fact that the Samaritans had their own religion that was different from the Jewish faith. Jesus stated that the Samaritans were worshipping what they didn't know, while salvation with the Jews, clearly two different religions. Also the Samaritan woman stated that they didn't worship in the temple like the Jews did, but had their own place of worship on mountain Gerizim, clearly a faith that was different from the Jews.
So your error remains, at John 4:22-24 Jesus was speaking of the Samaritans and their religion, NOT the Jews and their faith.
"
(Luke 22:70) "Are you, therefore, the Son of God?" He said to them: "YOU yourselves are saying that I am."- not the same. "i never said that. you said that." doesn't count as "yes, i am!"
Read the verses in context and see it for yourself.
(Matthew 26:63-65) "By the living God I put you under oath to tell us whether you are the Christ the Son of God!" Jesus said to him: "You yourself said [it]. Yet I say to YOU men, From henceforth YOU will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest ripped his outer garments, saying: "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See! Now YOU have heard the blasphemy."
(Luke 22:70-71) "At this they all said: "Are you, therefore, the Son of God?" He said to them: "YOU yourselves are saying that I am." They said: "Why do we need further witness? For we ourselves have heard [it] out of his own mouth."
Jesus clearly stated that he was the Christ the son of God, even stating how he would come on the clouds of heaven, the Jews also understood Jesus words as a clear statement that he was God's son, apparently they were more discerning than you on this matter. We also have the Gospel of Mark, which states.
(Mark 14:61-64) "Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed One?" Then Jesus said: "I am; and YOU persons will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven." At this the high priest ripped his inner garments and said: "What further need do we have of witnesses? YOU heard the blasphemy. What is evident to YOU?" They all condemned him to be liable to death."
So in all four gospels Jesus clearly identified himself as the son of God.
Sincerely Yours; Wm Scott Anderson

This message is a reply to:
 Message 175 by arachnophilia, posted 08-18-2005 2:11 AM arachnophilia has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 178 by arachnophilia, posted 08-19-2005 11:30 PM wmscott has replied

arachnophilia
Member (Idle past 1374 days)
Posts: 9069
From: god's waiting room
Joined: 05-21-2004


Message 178 of 300 (234966)
08-19-2005 11:30 PM
Reply to: Message 177 by wmscott
08-19-2005 7:52 PM


Re: Arachnophilia you still have it wrong and this is why.
It was seven years that Nebuchadnezzar was afflicted with lycanthropy,
whoa whoa whoa. did you just say "werewolf?" don't get me wrong, werewolves are badass, and "american werewolf in london" terrified me when i was kid --
-- but i don't think there are werewolves in the bible. this is another "simple" argument. i can't believe you even brought this stuff up. read what it says. it uses the words "like" or "as." that's not even a metaphor. those than be hard to pick up. no, this is a simile.
[quote]Dan 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails [/b]like[/b] birds' [claws].[/quote]
he's not turning into a wolf. his hair grows long, and his nails grow long. both hair and nails are things that people naturally have. this passage is reflecting the passage of time withough civilization or tools -- or haircuts. also, werewolves don't eat grass. nebuchadnezzar became a wild man, and for seven seasons, not years.
When Jerusalem was destroyed in the biblical date of 607 BC
586 bc.
Then started the seven gentile times, which were to run until the reestablishment of God's Kingdom. Jesus referred to these times
and these times where what? because the times in that daniel verse are referring to seasons that nebuchadnezzar lived as a wild man -- and NOTHING ELSE. you can't just read and re-apply verses arbitrarily out of context to whatever you want. it's not some hidden code that you have to crack to solve the prophecy of the endtimes. of all of the end-time prophecies in daniel, this is NOT ONE OF THEM.
(Luke 21:24) "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled." Then at the end of the seven gentile times, Jesus is enthroned as king in heaven. (Acts 3:20-21) "Jesus, whom heaven, indeed, must hold within itself until the times of restoration of all things of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets of old time."
those verses are not in support of your point. they do say that jerusalem will be overthrown and reestablished. but they do not say the word "seven" nor do they indicate a time frame or any signs.
Michael is the Archangel Michael who of course is Jesus Christ,
i know the jw's believe this, but you have repeatedly failed to demonstrate any textual evidence for this in the slightest. in fact, revelation refers to michael -- and to jesus. in the same chapter. it stands to reason that if they were the same person, the author would make note of it.
And this all refers back to Daniel's prophecy about the seven times
which you have failed (rather circularly) to actually show are referring to anything other than the sentance of nebuchadnezzar in the wilderness.
This time period obviously started with the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BC
586 bc.
when the Davidic line of Kings was ended,
587 bc, king zedekiah, in captivity.
and the times end when the line of Davidic Kings is reestablished with Jesus as David's heir, taking the throne of the messianic Kingdom in 1914.
wait, what? when did a davidic king of judah sit on the throne in jerusalem, in 1914? nearest i can tell, the ottoman empire still ruled jerusalem until 1917 -- sure that kind of defeats any charge that the messiah cam and went (but "forgot" to remove the foriegn power).
In my next post we can get into the length of the seven times.
no. first you show that "seven times" means anything besides what it says -- nebuchadnezzar's sentance. it's one thing to read prophecy, but another to read into stuff that isn't there.
The Samaritans had Jewish blood being descended from Jews who intermarried with gentiles, but were not considered Jewish nor did the Samaritans at the time consider themselves to be Jews.
no, actually, samaritans not only had jewish blood, but they worship the lord. that makes them jewish. lots of other jews intermarried and worshipped foreign gods, and were still jewish. what makes the samaritans different?
Look at Jesus' words. (John 4:22) "YOU worship what YOU do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews."
wow. another circular argument. you can't cite the verse in question to prove itself. the judean jews (in jerusalem) at the time DID think of them as outsiders, yes. how does this compare with jesus's point about "the good samaritan?" does jesus seem to think the treatment of them as outsiders is fair in that story?
how does that compare to john? does it even sound like the same kind of guy to you?
Also she stated; (John 4:20) "Our forefathers worshiped in this mountain; but YOU people say that in Jerusalem is the place where persons ought to worship." she didn't consider herself a Jew ether, there is a difference between being of Jewish descent and being a Jew.
actually, there's not. ask einstein and all kind of other non-religious, secular, and humanist jews. but strictly speaking, i suppose you're right but for a much more banal reason: jews are from judea. samaritans are from israel. wrong country.
however, look at that statement she makes. this is another time it's good to know some biblical history.
quote:
2Ki 23:19 And all the houses also of the high places that [were] in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke [the LORD] to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
josiah, under the direction of a newly "discovered" scroll (probably the book of deuteronomy) shuts down all of the holy places in judah except the temple in jerusalem. he then wages war against israel to do the same. deuteronomy says:
quote:
Deu 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
Deu 12:13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:
etc. so josiah, with this document in hand, declares ALL other temples idolatrous -- including the one in samaria. he shuts down especially all of the altars on mountains, and in the wilderness. now read the samaritan's statement again:
quote:
"Our forefathers worshiped in this mountain; but YOU people say that in Jerusalem is the place where persons ought to worship."
she's restating josiah's declaration. "YOU people" -- the judeans -- "say the israelites should worship in jerusalem." this was especially not fair in the divided kingdom period. but it's also inconsistent with the rest of the bible, the fact she is pointing out.
where does abraham sacrifice to god? on a mountain.
where does jacob wrestle with god? the desert.
where does moses take down god's laws? on a mountain.
the list goes on, btw. their forefathers -- the patriarchs of the JEWS -- DID worship in the wilderness, on the mountains. she's saying that she's true to the jewish tradition, and that the jerusalem religious elite are not. jesus responds by saying she's not a jew, so her opinion doesn't matter.
not very jesus-like of him, if you ask me. sounds a lot like today's republican party, actually.
Jesus stated that the Samaritans were worshipping what they didn't know, while salvation with the Jews, clearly two different religions.
and the statement doesn't even make sense. there is not reason for it to be in the new testament at all. because WE GENTILES are not jews at all. we are worshipping what we don't know.
oh wait, no. some guy wrote us letters, so we do. coversions are ok, but the conversion of outsiders that kings reports "doesn't count?" that's a heck of a double standard there! willing to bet your salvation on it? becuase that's what's at stake. if jesus's statement here is true, how can anyone be saved who is not a jew?
the jesus of the book of john is not the jesus of the book of luke, or even the jesus of paul's epistles.
Also the Samaritan woman stated that they didn't worship in the temple like the Jews did, but had their own place of worship on mountain Gerizim, clearly a faith that was different from the Jews.
clearly:
quote:
Gen 12:8 And he {Abram} removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, [having] Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
quote:
Deu 27:12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:
no, jews never have religious ceremonies on mountains, especially not the one in question, and certainly not in the very book that forbids it!
Jesus clearly stated that he was the Christ the son of God
and you would believe christ's ACCUSERS over christ? shall we take the devil's word over god's too?
granted, in this case -- they're right. but it's still THEIR words, not christ's.
even stating how he would come on the clouds of heaven, the Jews also understood Jesus words as a clear statement that he was God's son, apparently they were more discerning than you on this matter.
try again. you even quoted this verse above!
quote:
(Daniel 7:13-14) "I kept on beholding in the visions of the night, and, see there! with the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man happened to be coming;"
wanna know how the jews read that? "son of man" means "lowly mortal" idiomatically. it's a title god uses to address prophets like ezekiel. the jews would have known jesus was invoking the words of the prophet daniel, and even thought he was claiming to be a prophet. but not the son of god.
they MIGHT have thought that he was claiming to BE DANIEL. when daniel says "one like the son of man" many people read this as saying "a prophet like me." seeing prophets in the sky is nothing new -- god did take elijah and enoch, didn't he? they were mortal, sons of men.
son of man ≠ son of god. one is a title of humility, the other is a title of a king. they are polar opposites. granted, jesus may have been BOTH, but saying one does not automatically equate to the other.

אָרַח

This message is a reply to:
 Message 177 by wmscott, posted 08-19-2005 7:52 PM wmscott has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 183 by wmscott, posted 08-22-2005 6:30 PM arachnophilia has replied

Brad McFall
Member (Idle past 5063 days)
Posts: 3428
From: Ithaca,NY, USA
Joined: 12-20-2001


Message 179 of 300 (235018)
08-20-2005 3:49 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by wmscott
07-04-2005 5:11 PM


The ability and time granted to produce secular statements like this below are the best example of inner peace other than worshiping that I can think of.

If non-euclidean geometry can be allometrisized through evolutionary changes to the image-proposition above, then free use of Cantor on Kantian-thought-algebra can free the predicate of measurement error collections during econometric extensions of Wright’s path analysis Mendelisitically from the object of information technologists. Of course one would have to reduce more than one variable to a propostional function.
Figure from page 262 in Bill Shipley’s Cause and Correlation in Biology.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by wmscott, posted 07-04-2005 5:11 PM wmscott has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 180 by Nighttrain, posted 08-20-2005 9:04 PM Brad McFall has replied

Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 4024 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004


Message 180 of 300 (235099)
08-20-2005 9:04 PM
Reply to: Message 179 by Brad McFall
08-20-2005 3:49 PM


Couldn`t have put it better myself, Brad.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 179 by Brad McFall, posted 08-20-2005 3:49 PM Brad McFall has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 181 by Brad McFall, posted 08-21-2005 5:05 PM Nighttrain has not replied

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