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EFFECTIVE VERSES TO SHARE WITH JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

What is our condition before God after the fall? We are sinners (rebellers)

Note: All verses quoted below are from the Revised 2013 New World Translation, unless otherwise stated (next to the verse).

Man created in the Image of God

Genesis 1:26-27 26 Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth and every creeping animal that is moving on the earth.” 27 And God went on to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 5:1 1 This is the book of Adam’s history. In the day that God created Adam, he made him in the likeness of God.

Genesis 9:6 6 Anyone shedding man’s blood, by man will his own blood be shed, for in God’s image He made man.

1 Cor 11:7 7 For a man should not have his head covered, as he is God’s image and glory, but the woman is man’s glory.

James 3:9 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;

Note: The Bible never teaches that man was created in the image of an angel but only in the image of God.

What is our condition before God after the fall? We are sinners (rebellers):

Psalms 51:5 5 Look! I was born guilty of error, and my mother conceived me in sin.

Psalms 58:3 3 The wicked go astray from birth; they are wayward, liars from the time they are born.

Isaiah 53:6 6 Like sheep we have all wandered about, each has turned his own way, and Jehovah has caused the error of us all to meet up with him.

John 3:19 19 Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light has come into the world, but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked.
Rom. 3:9b-12 9b For above we have made the charge that Jews as well as Greeks are all under sin; 10 just as it is written: “There is not a righteous man, not even one; 11 there is no one who has any insight; there is no one who searches for God. 12 All men have turned aside, all of them have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness (a better translation is there is no one who is good – see Ps. 14:3 and Ps. 53:3), not so much as one.”

Isa. 64:6 6 And we have all become like someone unclean, and all our acts of righteousness are like a menstrual cloth. We will all wither like a leaf, and our errors will carry us oﬀ like the wind.

1 John 1:8,10 8 If we make the statement, “We have no sin,” we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us”…10 If we make the statement, “We have not sinned,” we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Jer. 17:9 9 The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it?

Matt. 15:18-19 18 However, whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and those things defile a man. 19 For example, out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

Mark 7:21-23 21 For from inside, out of the heart of men, come injurious reasonings, sexual immorality, thefts, murders, 22 acts of adultery, greed, acts of wickedness, deceit, brazen conduct, an envious eye, blasphemy, haughtiness, and unreasonableness. 23 All these wicked things come from within and deﬁle a man.”

Romans 8:7-8 7 Because setting the mind on the ﬂesh means enmity with God, for it is not in subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be. 8 So those who are in harmony with the ﬂesh cannot please God.

1 Cor. 2:14 14 But a physical (not a good translation; a better translation of this word is “unspiritual” or “natural” or “fleshly”) man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually.

Ephesians 2:1 1 Furthermore, God made you alive, though you were dead in your trespasses and sins…

Ephesians 2:4-5 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses—by undeserved kindness you have been saved.

Colossians 2:13 13 Furthermore, though you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcised state of your ﬂesh, God made you alive together with him. He kindly forgave us all our trespasses…

John 5:25 25 “Most truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who have paid attention will live.

1 Pet. 4:6 6 In fact, this is why the good news was declared also to the dead, so that although they are judged in the flesh from the standpoint of men, they might live in harmony with the spirit from God’s standpoint.

Heb. 13:20 20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, with the blood of an everlasting covenant,

All under sin:

Rom. 3:9b-12 9b For above we have made the charge that Jews as well as Greeks are all under sin; 10 just as it is written: “There is not a righteous man, not even one; 11 there is no one who has any insight; there is no one who searches for God. 12 All men have turned aside, all of them have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness (a better translation is there is no one who is good – see Ps. 14:3 and Ps. 53:3), not so much as one.”

Isa. 64:6 6 And we have all become like someone unclean, and all our acts of righteousness are like a menstrual cloth. We will all wither like a leaf, and our errors will carry us oﬀ like the wind.

Jer. 17:9 9 The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it?

Matt. 15:18-19 18 However, whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and those things defile a man. 19 For example, out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

Mark 7:21-23 21 For from inside, out of the heart of men, come injurious reasonings, sexual immorality, thefts, murders, 22 acts of adultery, greed, acts of wickedness, deceit, brazen conduct, an envious eye, blasphemy, haughtiness, and unreasonableness. 23 All these wicked things come from within and deﬁle a man.”

John 5:25 25 “Most truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who have paid attention will live.

Ephesians 2:1 1 Furthermore, God made you alive, though you were dead in your trespasses and sins…

Colossians 2:13 13 Furthermore, though you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcised state of your ﬂesh, God made you alive together with him. He kindly forgave us all our trespasses…

Romans 6:12-14 12 Therefore, do not let sin continue to rule as king in your mortal bodies so that you should obey their desires. 13 Neither go on presenting your bodies to sin as weapons of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, also your bodies to God as weapons of righteousness. 14 For sin must not be master over you, seeing that you are not under law but under undeserved kindness.

Even thinking the thought without doing the act is sin:

1 John 3:15 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life remaining in him.
Matthew 5:27-28 27 “You heard that it was said: ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

What does God require from man now? Perfect obedience:

Matt. 5:43-48 43 “You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? 48 You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
James 2:10 10 For if anyone obeys all the Law but makes a false step in one point, he has become an oﬀender against all of it.

Galatians 3:10 10 All those who depend on works of law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not remain in all the things written in the scroll of the Law by doing them.”

Romans 2:13 13 For the hearers of law are not the ones righteous before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous.

Can man obey God perfectly? No:

Romans 3:9c-12 9c For above we have made the charge that Jews as well as Greeks are all under sin; 10 just as it is written: “There is not a righteous man, not even one; 11 there is no one who has any insight; there is no one who searches for God. 12 All men have turned aside, all of them have become worthless; there is no one who is kind (should be “good” – see Ps. 14:3 and Ps. 53:3), not so much as one.” (Use Ps. 14:3 or Ps. 53:3 that there is no one who is good, not even one.)

Romans 3:19 19 Now we know that all the things the Law says, it addresses to those under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and all the world may become accountable to God for punishment.

Romans 3:23 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Then how is man going to enter into God’s kingdom and be saved? By man’s works (i.e., effort and obedience)? No:

Romans 3:20 20 Therefore, no one will be declared righteous before him by works of law, for by law comes the accurate knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:27-28 27 Where, then, is the boasting? There is no place for it. Through what law? That of works? No indeed, but through the law of faith. 28 For we consider that a man is declared righteous by faith apart from works of law.

Romans 4:2-8 2 For instance, if Abraham was declared righteous as a result of works, he would have reason to boast, but not with God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the man who works, his pay is not counted as an undeserved kindness but as something owed to him. 5 On the other hand, to the man who does not work but puts faith in the One who declares the ungodly one righteous, his faith is counted as righteousness. 6 Just as David also speaks of the happiness of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Happy are those whose lawless deeds have been pardoned and whose sins have been covered; 8 happy is the man whose sin Jehovah will by no means take into account.
Romans 9:10-11 10 Not only then but also when Rebekah conceived twins from the one man, Isaac our forefather; 11 for when they had not yet been born and had not practiced anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose respecting the choosing might continue dependent, not on works, but on the One who calls..

Romans 9:31-33 31 But Israel, although pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to that law. 32 For what reason? Because they pursued it, not by faith, but as by works. They stumbled over the “stone of stumbling”; 33 as it is written: “Look! I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of oﬀense, but the one who rests his faith on it will not be disappointed.”

Romans 10:2-4 2 For I bear them (i.e., Israel) witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge. 3 For because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness (a better translation is – “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”).

Romans 11:6 6 Now if it is by undeserved kindness, it is no longer through works; otherwise, the undeserved kindness would no longer be undeserved kindness.
Gal. 2:16 16 recognize that a man is declared righteous, not by works of law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, so that we may be declared righteous by faith in Christ and not by works of law, for no one will be declared righteous by works of law.

Gal. 3:2,5 2 This one thing I want to ask you: Did you receive the spirit through works of law or because of faith in what you heard?... 5 Therefore, does the one who supplies you the spirit and performs powerful works among you do it because of your works of law or because of your faith in what you heard?

Ephesians 2:8-9 8 By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. 9 No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting.

2 Timothy 1:9 9 He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago…

Titus 3:4-5 4 However, when the kindness of our Savior, God, and his love for mankind were manifested 5 (not because of any righteous works we had done, but because of his own mercy), he saved us by means of the bath that brought us to life and by making us new by holy spirit.

If it is not by man’s works then is it by God’s undesired kindness? Yes:

Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses--by undeserved kindness you have been saved…8 By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. 9 No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting.

2 Timothy 1:9 9 He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago…

Titus 3:4-5 4 However, when the kindness of our Savior, God, and his love for mankind were manifested 5 (not because of any righteous works we had done, but because of his own mercy), he saved us by means of the bath that brought us to life and by making us new by holy spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 10 According to the undeserved kindness of God that was given to me, I laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, but someone else is building on it. But let each one keep watching how he is building on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will be shown for what it is, for the day will show it up, because it will be revealed by means of ﬁre, and the ﬁre itself will prove what sort of work each one has built. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward; 15 if anyone’s work is burned up, he will suﬀer loss, but he himself will be saved; yet, if so, it will be as through ﬁre.

Romans 11:6 6 Now if it is by undeserved kindness, it is no longer through works; otherwise, the undeserved kindness would no longer be undeserved kindness.

According to Jehovah, believers have salvation now? Yes:

Eph 2:4-5 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses--by undeserved kindness you have been saved.

Eph 2:8-9 8 By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. 9 No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting.

2 Tim. 1:9-10 9 He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago, 10 but now it has been made clearly evident through the manifestation of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has shed light on life and incorruption through the good news.

Titus 3:4-7 4 However, when the kindness of our Savior, God, and his love for mankind were manifested 5 (not because of any righteous works we had done, but because of his own mercy), he saved us by means of the bath that brought us to life and by making us new by holy spirit. 6 He poured this spirit out richly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that after being declared righteous through the undeserved kindness of that one, we might become heirs according to a hope of everlasting life.

Rom. 5:9 9 Much more, then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from wrath.

According to Jehovah, believers have everlasting life now? Yes:

John 5:24 24 Most truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes the One who sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment but has passed over from death to life.

Comment: When you share this verse, asked them what the word “has” means. If they try to dismiss the meaning of the word “has” or the overall meaning of is verse, ask them does Jehovah lie and do you really believe what Jehovah said here is true?

John 3:36 36 The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; the one who disobeys (i.e., disbelieves or rejects) the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

John 3:16 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.

Comment: JWs might take you to this verse and point out that Jehovah said that a person exercising faith in Jesus might have everlasting life. They might add, “you see what Jehovah said, the person exercising faith in Jesus might have everlasting life. Note: Bible Translations vary on how this is translated: “may have”, “might have”, “should have”, “will have” and “shall have”. You can point out to the JW that Jehovah used the phrase “might have” to emphasize to the reader that a person needs to exercise faith in His only begotten Son to have this everlasting life. Point out to the JW that Jehovah says in verse 36 that that person exercising faith in the Son has everlasting life. Also note: Some JWs may try to argue that when Jehovah uses the words, “exercising faith”, it means something we do to get this everlasting life (i.e., turning our faith from our Savoir who has done the work to save us, into a work we do to save ourselves). Be aware that “exercising faith” is a bad translation. The Greek word there is “ho pisteuōn” and has the meaning “the (one) believing”. You can either show them that it is not a good translation (you can use their own interlinear to do this) or point out to them what Jehovah said and what He did not say – Jehovah said, “exercising faith”; he did not say “exercising works”. Remind them of the definition of faith (Hebrews 11:1); “Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen.” Emphasize to them the second part of the definition, “Faith is the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen”. Ask them if they really believe this for themselves – that they have the evident demonstration of realities of everlasting life (not seen) since they have faith in Jesus their Savoir? Do they really trust in Jehovah’s words? Do they have everlasting life?

John 6:47 47 Most truly I say to you, whoever believes has everlasting life.

John 10:27-29 27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father.

Comment: Ask them if they are sheep of Jesus’. If so, ask them if they have everlasting life and if they will ever be destroyed? If they say “no” focus on Jesus being the shepherd and Him keeping the sheep from wondering off, falling into holes they can get themselves out of, and the wolves attacking and trying to eat them. If Jesus loses one sheep then He is not a very good shepherd and Jehovah lied.

John 11:25-26 25 Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; 26 and everyone who is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this?

Comment: Ask them if they believe in what Jehovah says here is true, “everyone who is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all?” Also see John 8:51.
John 8:51 51 Most truly I say to you, if anyone observes my word, he will never see death at all.”

John 17:3 3 This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

Comment: Many times JWs will take this verse to prove a person needs to have accurate knowledge to have everlasting life (note: no where in this verse does it use the words “accurate knowledge”; it uses the words “to know”). When they do use this verse, ask them if this applies to them – do they know the only true God (i.e., Jehovah) and Jesus Christ, the one Jehovah sent? If they say “yes”, ask them if they have everlasting life (right now)? If they say “no”, ask them if they really believe in Jehovah’s word? You can also ask them the question, “Besides Jehovah and Jesus, who has the most accurate knowledge of the Bible?” The answer is Satan. He knows the Bible better than we ever will. But does he have everlasting life? Of course not. So the meaning “to know” does not limit the meaning to taking in accurate knowledge only but the idea of knowledge (i.e., correct basic knowledge of who Jehovah and Jesus are), assent (i.e., Jehovah is your God and Jesus is your Lord and Savior), and trust (i.e., because of this, you have everlasting life and salvation).

Romans 6:23 23 For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

Comment: Point out that everlasting life is a gift from Jehovah. Received by faith in Jesus (i.e., the Savior) and not by a person’s works.

1 John 5:9-13 9 If we accept the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. Because this is the witness God gives, the witness that he has given about his Son. 10 The person putting his faith in the Son of God has the witness within himself. The person not having faith in God has made him a liar, because he has not put his faith in the witness given by God concerning his Son. 11 And this is the witness, that God gave us everlasting life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has this life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this life. 13 I write you these things so that you may know that you have life everlasting, you who put your faith in the name of the Son of God.

Comment: John 5:24, John 10:27-29 and this set of verses are probably the most effective verses you can use when sharing everlasting life with JWs. Have them read it and point out to them that Jehovah says there are two witnesses (or testimonies), one of man’s and one of Jehovah’s. Ask them which witness (testimony) is greater? Point out to them, the person who has Jehovah’s witness (testimony) has it inside themselves; the person who does not have Jehovah’s witness (testimony) has made (called) Jehovah a lair because they do not believe His testimony. Asked them what Jehovah’s witness (testimony) is (see verses 11 and 12). Ask them what they should know; they who have Jehovah’s testimony (see verses 13)?

Verses on Saved By Faith and Not By Works

Matthew 7:22-23 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’

Comments: These people appear to be true believers in Jesus because they are prophesying in His name, expel demons in His name, and performed many powerful works in His name. Note these are all good works, no bad works, and they are all done in Jesus’ name. Yet Jesus says to them, get away from me, I never knew you, you workers of lawlessness. Notice that He doesn’t say He knew them once and now He doesn’t know them but He never knew them.

Matthew 8:5-12 5 When he entered Capernaum, an army oﬃcer came to him, pleading with him 6 and saying: “Sir, my servant is laid up in the house with paralysis, and he is suﬀering terribly.” 7 He said to him: “When I get there, I will cure him.” 8 The army oﬃcer replied: “Sir, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but just say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard that, he was amazed and said to those following him: “I tell you the truth, with no one in Israel have I found so great a faith. 11 But I tell you that many from east and west will come and recline at the table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the heavens; 12 whereas the sons of the Kingdom will be thrown into the darkness outside. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.”

Luke 7:36-50 36 Now one of the Pharisees kept asking him to dine with him. So he entered the house of the Pharisee and reclined at the table. 37 And look a woman who was known in the city to be a sinner learned that he was dining in the house of the Pharisee, and she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. 38 Taking a position behind him at his feet, she wept and began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them oﬀ with the hair of her head. Also, she tenderly kissed his feet and poured the perfumed oil on them. 39 Seeing this, the Pharisee who had invited him said to himself: “If this man were really a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman it is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 40 But in reply Jesus said to him: “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He said: “Teacher, say it!” 41 “Two men were debtors to a certain lender; the one was in debt for 500 denarii, but the other for 50. 42 When they did not have anything to pay him back with, he freely forgave them both. Therefore, which one of them will love him more?” 43 In answer Simon said: “I suppose it is the one whom he forgave more.” He said to him: “You judged correctly.” 44 With that he turned to the woman and said to Simon: “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. But this woman wet my feet with her tears and wiped them oﬀ with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but this woman, from the hour that I came in, did not stop tenderly kissing my feet. 46 You did not pour oil on my head, but this woman poured perfumed oil on my feet. 47 Because of this, I tell you, her sins, many though they are, are forgiven, because she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her: “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Those reclining at the table with him started to say among themselves: “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 But he said to the woman: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 17:11-19 11While he was going to Jerusalem, he was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he was entering a village, ten men with leprosy met him, but they stood at a distance. 13 And they raised their voices and said: “Jesus, Instructor, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” Then as they were going oﬀ, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. 16 And he fell face down at Jesus’ feet, thanking him. Furthermore, he was a Samaritan. 17 In reply Jesus said: “All ten were cleansed, were they not? Where, then, are the other nine? 18 Did no one else turn back to give glory to God except this man of another nation?” 19 Then he said to him: “Get up and be on your way; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 18:9-14 9 He also told this illustration to some who trusted in their own righteousness and who considered others as nothing: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like everyone else—extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward but kept beating his chest, saying, ‘O God, be gracious (should be “merciful) to me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home and was proved more righteous (Note: “Was Proved More Righteous” - A bad translation; should be “Was Justified” or “Declared Righteous”) than that Pharisee. Because everyone who exalts himself will be humiliated (Note: Humiliated – A bad translation; should be Humbled), but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Questions to ask: Which man had works and which man had no works but only his sins? Which man received mercy and was declared righteous? Why didn’t Jehovah declared the tax collector righteous who had no works and why didn’t Jehovah declare the religious leader righteous who had works?

Romans 3:19-4:8 19 Now we know that all the things the Law says, it addresses to those under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and all the world may become accountable to God for punishment. 20 Therefore, no one will be declared righteous before him by works of law, for by law comes the accurate knowledge of sin. 21But now apart from law God’s righteousness has been revealed, as the Law and the Prophets bear witness, 22 yes, God’s righteousness through the faith in Jesus Christ, for all those having faith. For there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as an oﬀering for propitiation through faith in his blood. This was to demonstrate his own righteousness, because God in his forbearance was forgiving the sins that occurred in the past. 26 This was to demonstrate his own righteousness in this present season, so that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous the man who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is the boasting? There is no place for it. Through what law? That of works? No indeed, but through the law of faith. 28 For we consider that a man is declared righteous by faith apart from works of law. 29 Or is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of people of the nations? Yes, also of people of the nations. 30 Since God is one, he will declare circumcised people righteous as a result of faith and uncircumcised people righteous by means of their faith. 31 Do we, then, abolish law by means of our faith? Not at all! On the contrary, we uphold law. 4 1That being so, what will we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the ﬂesh? 2 For instance, if Abraham was declared righteous as a result of works, he would have reason to boast, but not with God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the man who works, his pay is not counted as an undeserved kindness but as something owed to him. 5 On the other hand, to the man who does not work but puts faith in the One who declares the ungodly one righteous, his faith is counted as righteousness. 6 Just as David also speaks of the happiness of the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Happy are those whose lawless deeds have been pardoned and whose sins have been covered; 8 happy is the man whose sin Jehovah will by no means take into account.”

Romans 9:10-18 10 only then but also when Rebekah conceived twins from the one man, Isaac our forefather; 11 for when they had not yet been born and had not practiced anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose respecting the choosing might continue dependent, not on works, but on the One who calls, 12 it was said to her: “The older will be the slave of the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “I loved Jacob, but Esau I hated.” 14 What are we to say, then? Is there injustice with God? Certainly not! 15 For he says to Moses: “I will show mercy to whomever I will show mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I will show compassion.” 16 So, then, it depends, not on a person’s desire or on his eﬀort, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very reason I have let you remain: to show my power in connection with you and to have my name declared in all the earth.” 18 So, then, he has mercy on whomever he wishes, but he lets whomever he wishes become obstinate.

Romans 9:30-33 30 What are we to say, then? That people of the nations, although not pursuing righteousness, attained righteousness, the righteousness that results from faith; 31 but Israel, although pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to that law. 32 For what reason? Because they pursued it, not by faith, but as by works. They stumbled over the “stone of stumbling”; 33 as it is written: “Look! I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of oﬀense, but the one who rests his faith on it will not be disappointed.”

Romans 10:2-4 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge. 3 For because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness.

Romans 11:6 6 Now if it is by undeserved kindness, it is no longer through works; otherwise, the undeserved kindness would no longer be undeserved kindness.

I Cor. 3:10-15 10 According to the undeserved kindness of God that was given to me, I laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, but someone else is building on it. But let each one keep watching how he is building on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will be shown for what it is, for the day will show it up, because it will be revealed by means of ﬁre, and the ﬁre itself will prove what sort of work each one has built. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward; 15 if anyone’s work is burned up, he will suﬀer loss, but he himself will be saved; yet, if so, it will be as through ﬁre.

Gal. 2:16 16Recognize that a man is declared righteous, not by works of law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, so that we may be declared righteous by faith in Christ and not by works of law, for no one will be declared righteous by works of law.

Gal. 3:8-11 8 Now the scripture, foreseeing that God would declare people of the nations righteous through faith, declared the good news beforehand to Abraham, namely: “By means of you all the nations will be blessed.” 9 So those who adhere to faith are being blessed together with Abraham, who had faith. 10 All those who depend on works of law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not remain in all the things written in the scroll of the Law by doing them.” 11 Moreover, it is evident that by law no one is declared righteous with God, because “the righteous one will live by reason of faith.”

Eph 2:4-9 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses--by undeserved kindness you have been saved. 6 Moreover, he raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming systems of things he might demonstrate the surpassing riches of his undeserved kindness in his graciousness toward us in union with Christ Jesus. 8 By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. 9 No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting.

Phil. 3:4b-9 4b If any other man thinks he has grounds for conﬁdence in the ﬂesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born from Hebrews; regarding law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the congregation; regarding righteousness based on law, one who proved himself blameless. 7 Yet, the things that were gains to me, I have considered loss on account of the Christ. 8 What is more, I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in union with him, not because of my own righteousness from following the Law, but because of the righteousness that is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.

2 Tim. 1:9-10 9 He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given to us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long ago, 10 but now it has been made clearly evident through the manifestation of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has shed light on life and incorruption through the good news,

Titus 3:3-7 3 For we too were once senseless, disobedient, led astray, being slaves to various desires and pleasures, carrying on in badness and envy, detestable, hating one another. 4 However, when the kindness of our Savior, God, and his love for mankind were manifested 5 (not because of any righteous works we had done, but because of his own mercy), he saved us by means of the bath that brought us to life and by making us new by holy spirit. 6 He poured this spirit out richly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that after being declared righteous through the undeserved kindness of that one, we might become heirs according to a hope of everlasting life.

Hebrews 11:1 1Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen.

Verses By Faith and Works

James 2:14-26 14 Of what beneﬁt is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? 15 If a brother or a sister is lacking clothing and enough food for the day, 16 yet one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what beneﬁt is it? 17 So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead. 18 Nevertheless, someone will say: “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder. 20 But do you care to know, O empty man, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father declared righteous by works after he oﬀered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that his faith was active along with his works and his faith was perfected by his works, 23 and the scripture was fulﬁlled that says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called Jehovah’s friend. 24 You see that a man is to be declared righteous by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same manner, was not Rahab the prostitute also declared righteous by works after she received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? 26 Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Comment: James was dealing with a Christian congregation, believers in Jehovah, but they had a serious sin problem – they breaking the second greatest commandment - not loving their neighbor as themselves (e.g., showing favoritism - favoring the rich and disliking the poor and not providing food and clothes to those who were need). He challenges this Christian congregation to show their faith without works and he was going the show his faith by his works. Even demons believe (having a type of faith but not saving faith) there is one God (Jehovah) and shudder. Many, many people say they have faith (believe) in God (Jehovah) but do they really? We learn from James that saving faith will have works. To summarize the Bible’s teaching on this, we are saved by faith alone (i.e., not our works, or even per se our faith; but our faith in our Savior, Jesus; the object of our faith - which is outside of ourselves) but saving faith is never alone (i.e, it causes us to have works). So faith plus works does equal salvation, but faith in our savior alone equals salvation and causes works.

Phil. 2:12 12 Consequently, my beloved ones, just as you have always obeyed, not only during my presence but now much more readily during my absence, keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

(Answer: Phil. 2:13 13 For God is the one who for the sake of his good pleasure energizes you, giving you both the desire and the power to act.)

1 Cor. 12:6 6 and there are different activities, and yet it is the same God who performs them all in everyone.
1 Cor. 15:10 10 But by God’s undeserved kindness I am what I am. And his undeserved kindness to me was not in vain, but I labored more than all of them; yet it was not I, but the undeserved kindness of God that is with me. (See 2 Cor. 11:23-27).
2 Cor. 11:23-27 23 Are they ministers of Christ? I reply like a madman, I am more outstandingly one: I have done more work, been imprisoned more often, suffered countless beatings, and experienced many near-deaths. 24 Five times I received 40 strokes less one from the Jews, 25 three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the open sea; 26 in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own people, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, 27 in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, frequently without food, in cold and lacking clothing.
Eph. 2:10 10 We are God’s handiwork and were created in union with Christ Jesus for good works, which God determined in advance for us to walk in them.
Col. 1:29 29 To this end I am indeed working hard, exerting myself with his strength that is operating powerfully within me.
Heb. 13:21 21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us through Jesus Christ what is well-pleasing in his sight, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Heb. 6:4-6 4 For as regards those who were once enlightened and who have tasted the heavenly free gift and who have become partakers of holy spirit 5 and who have tasted the fine word of God and powers of the coming system of things, 6 but have fallen away, it is impossible to revive them again to repentance, because they nail the Son of God to the stake again for themselves and expose him to public shame.

(Answer: Matt. 13:20-21 20 As for the one sown on rocky ground, this is the one hearing the word and at once accepting it with joy. 21 Yet, he has no root in himself but continues for a time, and after tribulation or persecution has arisen on account of the word, he is at once stumbled (other translations say “fall away”.
Mk. 4:16-17 16 Likewise, these are the ones sown on rocky ground; as soon as they have heard the word, they accept it with joy. 17 Yet they have no root in themselves, but they continue for a time; then as soon as tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, they are stumbled.
Lk. 8:13 13 Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy, but these have no root. They believe for a while, but in a season of testing, they fall away.
Also see Matt. 13:22 22 As for the one sown among the thorns, this is the one hearing the word, but the anxiety of this system of things and the deceptive power of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Mk. 4:18-19 18 There are still others that are sown among the thorns. These are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the anxieties of this system of things and the deceptive power of riches and the desires for everything else make inroads and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Lk. 8:14 14 As for that which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, but by being carried away by anxieties, riches, and pleasures of this life, they are completely choked and bring nothing to maturity.)

Examples of Jesus’ disciples and believing Jews that stop following Jesus:

John 6:60-69 60 When they heard this, many of his disciples said: “This speech is shocking; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were murmuring about this, said to them: “Does this stumble you? 62 What, therefore, if you should see the Son of man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that is lifegiving; the flesh is of no use at all. The sayings that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him. 65 He went on to say: “This is why I have said to you, no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 Because of this, many of his disciples went off to the things behind and would no longer walk with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve: “You do not want to go also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life. 69 We have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 8:31-59 31 Then Jesus went on to say to the Jews who had believed him: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They replied to him: “We are Abraham’s offspring and never have been slaves to anyone. How is it you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them: “Most truly I say to you, every doer of sin is a slave of sin. 35 Moreover, the slave does not remain in the household forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be truly free. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s offspring. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word makes no progress among you. 38 I speak the things I have seen while with my Father, but you do the things you have heard from your father.” 39 In answer they said to him: “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them: “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. 40 But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You are doing the works of your father.” They said to him: “We were not born from immorality; we have one Father, God.” 42 Jesus said to them: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I have not come of my own initiative, but that One sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot listen to my word. 44 You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie. 45 Because I, on the other hand, tell you the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who of you convicts me of sin? If I speak truth, why is it that you do not believe me? 47 The one who is from God listens to the sayings of God. This is why you do not listen, because you are not from God.” 48 In answer the Jews said to him: “Are we not right in saying, ‘You are a Samaritan and have a demon’?” 49 Jesus answered: “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 But I am not seeking glory for myself; there is One who is seeking and judging. 51 Most truly I say to you, if anyone observes my word, he will never see death at all.” 52 The Jews said to him: “Now we do know that you have a demon. Abraham died, also the prophets, but you say, ‘If anyone observes my word, he will never taste death at all.’ 53 You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died, are you? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?” 54 Jesus answered: “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, the one who you say is your God. 55 Yet you have not known him, but I know him. And if I said I do not know him, I would be like you, a liar. But I do know him and am observing his word. 56 Abraham your father rejoiced greatly at the prospect of seeing my day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” 57 Then the Jews said to him: “You are not yet 50 years old, and still you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid and went out of the temple.
2 John1:9 9 Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son.

Undeserved Kindness

John 1:17 17 Because the Law was given through Moses, the undeserved kindness and the truth came to be through Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:4-11 4 On arriving in Jerusalem, they were kindly received by the congregation and the apostles and the elders, and they related the many things God had done by means of them. 5 But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up from their seats and said: “It is necessary to circumcise them and command them to observe the Law of Moses.” 6 So the apostles and the elders gathered together to look into this matter. 7 After much intense discussion had taken place, Peter rose and said to them: “Men, brothers, you well know that from early days God made the choice among you that through my mouth people of the nations should hear the word of the good news and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by giving them the holy spirit, just as he did to us also. 9 And he made no distinction at all between us and them, but puriﬁed their hearts by faith. 10 So why are you now making a test of God by imposing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our forefathers nor we were capable of bearing? 11 On the contrary, we have faith that we are saved through the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus in the same way that they are.”

Romans 3:21-24 21 But now apart from law God’s righteousness has been revealed, as the Law and the Prophets bear witness, 22 yes, God’s righteousness through the faith in Jesus Christ, for all those having faith. For there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:15-21 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, how much more did the undeserved kindness of God and his free gift by the undeserved kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to many! 16 Also, it is not the same with the free gift as with the way things worked through the one man who sinned. For the judgment after one trespass was condemnation, but the gift after many trespasses was a declaration of righteousness. 17 For if by the trespass of the one man death ruled as king through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of the undeserved kindness and of the free gift of righteousness rule as kings in life through the one person, Jesus Christ! 18 So, then, as through one trespass the result to men of all sorts was condemnation, so too through one act of justiﬁcation the result to men of all sorts is their being declared righteous for life. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one person many will be made righteous. 20 Now the Law came on the scene so that trespassing might increase. But where sin abounded, undeserved kindness abounded still more. 21To what end? So that just as sin ruled as king with death, so also undeserved kindness might rule as king through righteousness leading to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:12-14 12 Therefore, do not let sin continue to rule as king in your mortal bodies so that you should obey their desires. 13 Neither go on presenting your bodies to sin as weapons of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, also your bodies to God as weapons of righteousness. 14 For sin must not be master over you, seeing that you are not under law but under undeserved kindness.

Romans 11:6 6 Now if it is by undeserved kindness, it is no longer through works; otherwise, the undeserved kindness would no longer be undeserved kindness.

Galatians 2:15-21 15 We who are Jews by birth, and not sinners from the nations, 16 recognize that a man is declared righteous, not by works of law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, so that we may be declared righteous by faith in Christ and not by works of law, for no one will be declared righteous by works of law. 17 Now if we have also been found sinners while seeking to be declared righteous by means of Christ, is Christ then sin’s minister? Certainly not! 18 If the very things that I once tore down I build up again, I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. 19 For through law I died toward law, so that I might become alive toward God. 20 I am nailed to the stake along with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who is living in union with me. Indeed, the life that I now live in the ﬂesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and handed himself over for me. 21 I do not reject the undeserved kindness of God, for if righteousness is through law, Christ actually died for nothing.

Galatians 5:4 4 You are separated from Christ, you who are trying to be declared righteous by means of law; you have fallen away from his undeserved kindness.

Ephesians 1:5-7 5 For he foreordained us to be adopted as his own sons through Jesus Christ, according to his good pleasure and will, 6 in praise of his glorious undeserved kindness that he kindly bestowed on us by means of his beloved one. 7 By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one, yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.

Ephesians 2:4-10 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses--by undeserved kindness you have been saved. 6 Moreover, he raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming systems of things he might demonstrate the surpassing riches of his undeserved kindness in his graciousness toward us in union with Christ Jesus. 8 By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. 9 No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting. 10 We are God’s handiwork and were created in union with Christ Jesus for good works, which God determined in advance for us to walk in them.

According To Jehovah, has the Kingdom of God come to the earth? Yes:

Col. 1:13 13 He rescued us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Luke 17:20-21 20 On being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, he answered them: “The Kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness; 21 nor will people say, ‘See here!’ or, ‘There!’ For look! the Kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Matt. 12:28 28 But if it is by means of God’s spirit that I expel the demons, the Kingdom of God has really overtaken you.
Mark 1:14-15 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the good news of God 15 and saying: “The appointed time has been fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent, and have faith in the good news.”

Luke 10:8-11 8 “Also, wherever you enter into a city and they receive you, eat what is set before you 9 and cure the sick ones in it and tell them: ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’10 But wherever you enter into a city and they do not receive you, go out into its main streets and say: 11 ‘We wipe off against you even the dust that sticks to our feet from your city. Nevertheless, know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near.’
Luke 11:20 20 But if it is by means of God’s ﬁnger that I expel the demons, the Kingdom of God has really overtaken you.

Matt.3:1-2 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”

Matt. 4:17 17 From that time on, Jesus began preaching and saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”

Does heaven belong to believers, just like the earth? Yes:

Matt. 5:3 3 Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.

Matt. 5:10 10 Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.

Matt. 6:20 20 Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Matt. 7:21 21 Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.

Matt. 8:11 11 But I tell you that many from east and west will come and recline at the table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the heavens.

Matt. 10:7 7 As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.

Matt. 11:12 12 But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press, and those pressing forward are seizing it.

Matt. 23:13 13 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in.

Luke 6:22-23 22 “Happy are you whenever men hate you, and when they exclude you and reproach you and denounce your name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for look! your reward is great in heaven, for those are the same things their forefathers used to do to the prophets.

Luke 10:20 20 “Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are made subject to you, but rejoice because your names have been written in the heavens.”

1 Cor. 15:49 49 And just as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly one.

2 Cor. 5:1-9 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, should be torn down, we are to have a building from God, a house not made with hands, everlasting in the heavens. 2 For in this house we do indeed groan, earnestly desiring to put on the one for us from heaven, 3 so that when we do put it on, we will not be found naked. 4 In fact, we who are in this tent groan, being weighed down, because we do not want to put this one oﬀ, but we want to put the other on, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the spirit as a token of what is to come. 6 So we are always of good courage and know that while we have our home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, 7 for we are walking by faith, not by sight. 8 But we are of good courage and would prefer to be absent from the body and to make our home with the Lord. 9 So whether at home with him or absent from him, we make it our aim to be acceptable to him.

2 Cor. 12:2-4 2 I know a man in union with Christ who, 14 years ago—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows--was caught away to the third heaven. 3 Yes, I know such a man —whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows— 4 who was caught away into paradise and heard words that cannot be spoken and that are not lawful for a man to say.

Eph. 2:4-7 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses—by undeserved kindness you have been saved. 6 Moreover, he raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming systems of things he might demonstrate the surpassing riches of his undeserved kindness in his graciousness toward us in union with Christ Jesus.

Phil. 3:18-21 18 For there are many—I used to mention them often but now I mention them also with weeping— who are walking as enemies of the torture stake of the Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, and their god is their belly, and their glory is really their shame, and they have their minds on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship exists in the heavens, and we are eagerly waiting for a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our humble body to be like his glorious body by his great power that enables him to subject all things to himself.

Col. 1:3-6 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all the holy ones 5 because of the hope that is being reserved for you in the heavens. You previously heard about this hope through the message of truth of the good news 6 that has come to you. Just as the good news is bearing fruit and increasing in all the world, so it is also doing among you from the day you heard and accurately knew the undeserved kindness of God in truth.

2 Tim. 4:18 18 The Lord will deliver me from every wicked work and will save me for his heavenly kingdom.

Heb. 2:16-3:1 16 For he is really not assisting angels at all, but he is assisting Abraham’s seed. 17 Consequently he was obliged to become like his “brothers” in all respects, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, in order to offer propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself has suffered when being put to the test, he is able to come to the aid of those who are being put to the test. 1 Consequently, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest whom we confess—Jesus.

Heb. 11:8-10, 13-16 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, although not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the land of the promise as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the very same promise. 10 For he was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is God…13 In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulﬁllment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land. 14 For those who speak in such a way make it evident that they are earnestly seeking a place of their own. 15 And yet, if they had kept remembering the place from which they had departed, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called on as their God, for he has prepared city for them.

Heb. 12:22-24 22 But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels 23 in general assembly, and the congregation of the ﬁrstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives (Greek says “spirits”) of righteous ones who have been made perfect, 24 and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood.

1 Pet. 1:3-5 3 Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an incorruptible and undeﬁled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you, 5 who are being safeguarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last period of time.

Rev. 19:1-2 1 After this I heard what seemed to be a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven. They said: “Praise Jah! The salvation and the glory and the power belong to our God, 2 because his judgments are true and righteous. For he has executed judgment on the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his slaves that is on her hands.”

Has the Kingdom of God come to the Earth? Yes

Col. 1:13 13 He rescued us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Matt. 12:28 28 But if it is by means of God’s spirit that I expel the demons, the Kingdom of God has really overtaken you.
Matt. 21:43 43 This is why I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.
Mark 1:14-15 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the good news of God 15 and saying: “The appointed time has been fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent, and have faith in the good news.”
Luke 6:20 20 And he looked up at his disciples and began to say: “Happy are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.”
Luke 10:8-11 8 “Also, wherever you enter into a city and they receive you, eat what is set before you 9 and cure the sick ones in it and tell them: ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’10 But wherever you enter into a city and they do not receive you, go out into its main streets and say: 11 ‘We wipe off against you even the dust that sticks to our feet from your city. Nevertheless, know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near.’
Luke 11:20 20 But if it is by means of God’s ﬁnger l that I expel the demons, the Kingdom of God has really overtaken you.
Luke 17:20-21 20 On being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, he answered them: “The Kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness; 21 nor will people say, ‘See here!’ or, ‘There!’ For look! the Kingdom of God is in your midst.”
John 3:3,5 3 In response Jesus said to him: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”… 5 Jesus answered: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus – Ruler of the Kings of the Earth

Rev. 1:5 5 and from Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness,” “the ﬁrstborn from the dead,” and “the Ruler of the kings of the earth.”

Phil. 2:9-11 9 For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground 11 and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Rev. 17:14 14 These will battle with the Lamb, but because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them. Also, those with him who are called and chosen and faithful will do so.”

Rev. 19:13-16 13 and he is clothed with an outer garment stained with blood, and he is called by the name The Word of God. 14 Also, the armies in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, ﬁne linen. 15 And out of his mouth protrudes a sharp, long sword with which to strike the nations, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. Moreover, he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his outer garment, yes, on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Rev. 11:15 15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.”

Jehovah is the Ruler of the Kingdoms of the Nations and Ruler in the Kingdom of Mankind

Answering 1 John 5:19 19 We know that we originate with God (we are of God), but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. (see John 17:14,16 below)
And
2 Cor. 4:3-4 3 If, in fact, the good news we declare is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.

And

2 Cor. 3:14-16 14 But their minds were dulled. For to this present day, the same veil remains unlifted when the old covenant is read, because it is taken away only by means of Christ. 15 In fact, to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their hearts. 16 But when one turns to Jehovah (the Greek says Lord referring to Jesus), the veil is taken away.

2 Chr. 20:6 6 and he said: “O Jehovah the God of our forefathers, are you not God in the heavens; do you not have dominion over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, and no one can stand against you.

Dan. 4:17, 25, 32 17 This is by the decree of watchers, and the request is by the word of the holy ones, so that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he gives it to whomever he wants, and he sets up over it even the lowliest of men.”…25 You will be driven away from among men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field, and you will be given vegetation to eat just like bulls; and you will become wet with the dew of the heavens, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he grants it to whomever he wants…32 and from mankind you are being driven away. With the beasts of the field your dwelling will be, and you will be given vegetation to eat just like bulls, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he grants it to whomever he wants.’”

Dan. 5:21 21 He was driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was given vegetation to eat just like bulls, and his body became wet with the dew of the heavens, until he came to know that the Most High God is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that he sets up over it whomever he wants.

John 17:14,16 14 I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world…16 They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.

John 18:36 36 Jesus answered: “My Kingdom is no part of this world. If my Kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not from this source.”

Gal. 1:4 4 He gave himself for our sins so that he might rescue us from the present wicked system of things according to the will of our God and Father,

Jesus knew from the beginning the one who would betray Him (John 6:64)

John 6:64-71 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him. 65 He went on to say: “This is why I have said to you, no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 Because of this, many of his disciples went oﬀ to the things behind and would no longer walk with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve: “You do not want to go also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life. 69 We have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them: “I chose you twelve, did I not? Yet one of you is a slanderer.” 71 He was, in fact, speaking of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for this one was going to betray him, although he was one of the Twelve. (“Slanderer” is a bad translation. It should be “Devil” – see John 13:2, 27)

Comment: In Verse 64, we are told by Jesus that some of His disciples (see Verses 60 and 66) did not believe. In Verse 64, we are also told that Jesus knew from the beginning who these disciples were (I believe Judas Iscariot is included as one of these disciples). Based on the context, the term “from the beginning” in Verse 64 is referring to the time when Jesus called each one of these persons to follow Him as one of His disciples. In Verse 65, we are told why they do not believe. It is because no one can come to Jesus unless it has been granted to them by the Father. In Verse 66, we are told this is the reason why these disciples left Jesus. Now going back to Verse 64, we also told that Jesus knew from the beginning that one of His disciples would betray Him. In Verses 70 and 71, we find out that the one who was going to betray Him was Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples. Jesus says, “I chose you twelve, did I not? Yet one of you is a slanderer (a better translation is ‘a devil’ – cross reference John 13:27)” – referring to Judas Iscariot as the one who was going to betray Jesus. Again, based upon on the context of Verses 64, 70 and 71, the betrayer, who is one of Jesus’ twelve disciples which He chose, who is also called a devil, is none other than Judas Iscariot. So the meaning, “from the beginning” in Verse 64 in reference to Jesus knowing from the beginning the one who would betray Him, must be understood as the time when Jesus chose Judas Iscariot to be a disciple of His.

John 13:2, 10-11, 18-19, 21-27 2 The evening meal was going on, and the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him…10 Jesus said to him: “Whoever has bathed does not need to have more than his feet washed, but is completely clean. And you men are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew the man who was betraying him. This is why he said: “Not all of you are clean.”… 18 I am not talking about all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this was so that the scripture might be fulﬁlled: ‘The one who was eating my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 From this moment on, I am telling you before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe that I am he…21 After saying these things, Jesus became troubled in spirit, and he bore witness, saying: “Most truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples began to look at one another, being at a loss as to which one he was talking about. 23 One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining close to Jesus. 24 Therefore, Simon Peter nodded to this one and said to him: “Tell us whom he is talking about.” 25 So the latter leaned back on the chest of Jesus and said to him: “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered: “It is the one to whom I will give the piece of bread that I dip.” So after dipping the bread, he took it and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After Judas took the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. So Jesus said to him: “What you are doing, do it more quickly.”

Comment: Jesus indicates that He knows at this time (i.e., the last supper), that Judas Iscariot was the man that was going to betray Him (see verses 11 and 26). Look what happen to Judas after he had received the piece of bread from Jesus – Satan entered into him.

Jesus loses none of all those (e.g., sheep/disciples) whom the Father has given Him

John 6:37 37 All those whom the Father gives me will come to me, and I will never drive away the one who comes to me; (see John 6:65 and John 6:44)
John 6:65 65 He went on to say: “This is why I have said to you, no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
John 6:44 44 No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him, and I will resurrect him on the last day.
John 6:39 39 This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose none out of all those whom he has given me, but that I should resurrect them on the last day.
John 10:27-29 27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father.
John 17:12 12 When I was with them, I used to watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me; and I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Ps. 41:9 9 Even the man at peace with me, one whom I trusted, who was eating my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
John 18:8-9 8 Jesus answered: “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill what he had said: “Of those whom you have given me, I have not lost a single one.”
Acts 1:16-17 16 “Men, brothers, it was necessary for the scripture to be fulfilled that the holy spirit spoke prophetically through David about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he had been numbered among us and he obtained a share in this ministry.

Is Jesus God?

Isaiah 9:6 6 For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Comment: Isaiah 9:6 is a future prophecy concerning Jesus and one of His names that Jehovah said He would be called is “Mighty God”. Jehovah here is calling Jesus, “God” with the capital “G”. Many people do not like this and try to lessen the weight of this by using Isaiah 9:6 to show a clear difference between Jehovah, the Almighty God, and Jesus, the Mighty God. But is this really correct? To answer this question we will need to look at how Jehovah uses the name, “Mighty God”, in the Book of Isaiah. If we look at the very next chapter, (Isaiah 10:20-21), Jehovah speaking through Isaiah, calls Himself, the “Mighty God”:

Isa. 10:20-21 20 In that day those remaining of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer support themselves on the one who struck them; But they will support themselves on Jehovah, The Holy One of Israel, with faithfulness. 21 Only a remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.

But how can this be since in many places in the Bible we see Jehovah clearly called the Almighty God (Genesis 17:1, Genesis 35:11, Exodus 6:3, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Revelations 11:17, Revelations 15:3, Revelation 16:6, Revelations 19:6, and Revelation 21:22). Isn’t there a major difference between Mighty God and Almighty God? How are we to make sense of this? Well, we know that Isaiah is a true prophet of Jehovah and he only believes in the one true God, that being Jehovah. We also know that the Book of Isaiah is not man’s words but Jehovah’s words, so we can trust that whatever it says is true. From this we must conclude that both Jehovah and Jesus are named the Mighty God, and yet, there are not two Mighty Gods but only one. We know this because Jehovah tells us this in John 17:3 that there is only one true God and that true God is Jehovah (e.g., Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah 45:6, and John 17:3). So based on this, Jesus must also be Jehovah (i.e., Jehovah the Son, not Jehovah the Father) since He is called the Mighty God just as Jehovah is called the Mighty God.

Jesus the Almighty God?

Note: Follow the titles (“the First and the Last” then “the Alpha and the Omega” and finally “the Almighty”) for Jesus through the verses below.

Rev. 1:17-18 17 And when I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet. And he laid his right hand upon me and said: “Do not be fearful. I am the First and the Last, 18 and the living one; and I became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (See verse 13 to see that these verses are referring to Jesus.)

Rev. 22:12-13 12 “‘Look! I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to repay each one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (See verse 20 to see that these verses are referring to Jesus, the one coming quickly.)

Rev. 1:5-8 5 and from Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness,” “the firstborn from the dead,” and “the Ruler of the kings of the earth.” To him who loves us and who set us free from our sins by means of his own blood — 6 and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—yes, to him be the glory and the might forever. Amen. 7 Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief because of him. Yes, Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says Jehovah (Lord) God, “the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.”

Also see (JW) Emphatic Diaglott’s Alphabetical Appendix – Under “Almighty”.

John 1:1 1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.

Comment: In John 1:1, we see Jehovah’s Word (i.e., the Son of God) already existing before the beginning (i.e., creation – see Genesis 1:1) and He is with His Father, Jehovah, and He is exactly like His Father – both being God. The New World Translation has a different understanding of this verse and translates the last part of John 1:1 as “the Word was a god.” This is not a good translation of this Greek phrase, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος (kai Theon ēn ho logos). None of the other modern English Bible translations have the last part of John 1:1 translated this way. They generally translate it as “the Word was God”. Below is the best explanation that I have found from a modern Greek scholar (i.e., Dr. Daniel Wallace) on why “the Word was God” is the best way to translate the last part of John 1:1 (Note – it is a little technical):

Referring to John 1:1c, the nominative case is the case that the subject (i.e., “the Word”) is in (The nominative case is one of the grammatical cases of a noun or other part of speech, which generally marks the subject of a verb or the predicate noun or predicate adjective, as opposed to its object or other verb arguments). When the subject takes an equative verb like “is” (i.e., a verb that equates the subject with something else), then another noun also appears in the nominative case—the predicate nominative (i.e., “God”). In the sentence, “John is a man,” “John” is the subject and “man” is the predicate nominative. In English the subject (i.e., “the Word”) and predicate nominative (i.e., “God”) are distinguished by word order (the subject comes first). Not so in Greek. Since word order in Greek is quite flexible and is used for emphasis rather than for strict grammatical function, other means are used to distinguish subject from predicate nominative. For example, if one of the two nouns has the definite article (i.e, “the”), it is the subject.

As we have said, word order is employed especially for the sake of emphasis. Generally speaking, when a word is thrown to the front of the clause it is done so for emphasis. When a predicate nominative is thrown in front of the verb, by virtue of word order it takes on emphasis. A good illustration of this is John 1:1 c. The English versions typically have, “and the Word was God.” But in Greek, the word order has been reversed. It reads:

καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος (the Greek)
kai Theon ēn ho logos (the English transliteration)
and God was the Word (the English equivalent)

We know that “the Word” is the subject because it has the definite article (i.e., “the”), and we translate it accordingly: “and the Word was God.” Two questions, both of theological import, should come to mind: (1) why was θεός (i.e., the Greek word for “God”) thrown forward? and (2) why does it lack the article (i.e., the word “the” in front of the word “God”)?

In brief, its emphatic position (i.e., the grammatical word position that the word “θεός” {God} is in) stresses its essence or quality: “What God was, the Word was” is how one Bible translation (i.e., the Moffat translation) brings out this force. Its lack of a definite article (i.e., “the”) keeps us from identifying the person of “the Word” (i.e., Jesus Christ) with the person of “God” (i.e., the Father). That is to say, the word order tells us that Jesus Christ has all the divine attributes that the Father has; lack of the article (i.e., “the”) tells us that Jesus Christ is not the Father. John’s wording here is beautifully compact! It is, in fact, one of the most elegantly terse theological statements one could ever find. As Martin Luther said, the lack of an article is against Sabellianism; and the word order is against Arianism.

To state this another way, look at how the different Greek constructions would be rendered:

καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν ὁ θεός (the Greek)
kai ho Theos ēn ho logos (the English transliteration)
“and the Word was the God” (the English translation)

(i.e., Jesus is the Father; this is Sabellianism - an ancient heresy that taught that Jesus is the same person as the Father. God, besides having the name “Father”, also has the name “Son”; so the Father and the Son are the same person and the same God.)

καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν θεός (the Greek)
kai ho logos ēn Theos (the English transliteration)
“and the Word was a god” (the English translation)
(i.e., Jesus is god or god-like; this is Arianism – another ancient heresy that taught that Jesus {i.e., Son} was a separate, maybe similar, but definitely a lesser and created god than God the Father.)

καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος (the Greek)
kai Theos ēn ho logos (the English transliteration)
“and the Word was God” (the English translation)
(i.e., the Word {i.e., Jesus} has the same nature as God {i.e., the Father}; this is Orthodox (i.e., correct and accepted Christian) View – the ancient approved understanding of Christianity. When talking about God’s nature, we are talking about His “whatness” or substance {i.e., what makes God, God}. God’s nature is usually characterized by His attributes {i.e., He is Spirit, the Creator, all powerful, all knowing, perfect, transcendent, simple, patient, love, holy, righteous, good, merciful, gracious, unchanging, independent, eternal, life, truth, light, etc.} as we see His works through history. Because the Father and the Son have the same attributes, it shows us that they both also have the same nature.)

Jesus Christ is God because the Bible calls Him God and He has all the same attributes that the Father has. But he is not the first person (i.e, God the Father) but the second person (i.e, God the Son) of the Godhead (i.e., Trinity). All this is concisely affirmed in καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος (“and God was the Word”).

Daniel B. Wallace (Note - I did try to add some clarifications, in parathesis, in what Wallace wrote to help better explain what Wallace was saying.)

One last comment but it is an important one, there are those who believe that the Word has all of attributes that God has but to a lesser degree thus the Word is “a god” but not “the Almighty God”. There are three problems with holding this view. Problem 1 – If the Word (Jesus) is “a god/a God” then he must be a separate god/God from the Father. But this raises the question, is Jesus a true God or a false god? If the answer is He is a true God then one is forced to believe in two true Gods (i.e., the Son is a God and the Father is a God), which is polytheism (i.e., the belief that there are two or more true Gods) and this violates Scripture (see John 17:3 - This means everlasting life their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ). If the answer is He is a false god (i.e., not really a God at all though someone may worship and pray to him as a true God such as idols, men, angels or Satan, etc.), then one is forced to rely on a false god who was sent by a true God to teach them and guide them to a true God - this makes absolutely no sense at all (i.e., going thru a false god to have a relationship with a true God???). Another question that should be raised to those who hold that Jesus is a god (i.e., a false god) is, why would anyone trust in (or follow) a false god to lead you to a true God? Can anyone know a true God by following a false god? This kind of thinking can only lead one into trouble. Also, at the end of the day, one will be forced to believe that Jesus is not a true God, and this violates Scripture (see John 20:28 and Isaiah 9:6 which shows that He really is a true God). Problem 2 – Those who hold to the understanding of two true Gods (i.e., the Son is a God and the Father is a God) may point out that only the Father is called the Almighty God (e.g., Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:2, 3; and Rev. 4:8) in Scripture but never the Son; the Son is only called the Mighty God in Scripture (Isaiah 9:6) but never the Father; so there are two true Gods in a sense, one Almighty and one Mighty, but only one who deserves true worship (i.e., the Almighty God). But does Jehovah really teach this? In Isaiah 9:6, in a prophecy concerning Jesus, the future Jesus is called the “Mighty God”. But in the very next chapter (Chapter 10:20, 21), Isaiah, a true prophet of God, calls Jehovah the “Mighty God”. We know that Isaiah only believes in only one God (i.e., Mighty God) but identify both the future Jesus and Jehovah as that one mighty God. Also, in Revelation 1:17, 18, John the Revelator identifies Jesus with the title “the First and the Last”. In Revelation 22:12,13, John again identifies Jesus with the title “the First and the Last” but he also identifies Jesus with another title, “the Alpha and the Omega”. In Revelation 1:8, John again identifies Jesus with the title “the Alpha and the Omega” but he also identifies Jesus with another title “the Almighty”. So based on these Scriptural texts, we see that Jesus is also called the Almighty, just like His Father. Problem 3 – Only Jehovah is called “the God”; never “a god” or “a God”. But Jesus is called “a god” but not “the god” or “the God”. So Jesus cannot be equal to Jehovah; He must be a lesser god. But does Jehovah really teach this? Below are a few examples where Jehovah is called a God:

Deut. 5:9 9 You must not bow down to them nor be led to serve them, for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation of those who hate me.

Isa. 40:28 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, is a God for all eternity. He never tires out or grows weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

Isa. 45:15 15 Truly you are a God who conceals himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

Daniel 2:28, 47 28 But there is a God in the heavens who is a Revealer of secrets, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what is to happen in the ﬁnal part of the days. This is your dream, and these are the visions of your head as you lay on your bed…47 The king said to Daniel: “Truly your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a Revealer of secrets, because you were able to reveal this secret.”

Luke 20:38 38 “He is a God, not of the dead, but of the living, for they are all living to him.”

If Jesus is a lesser god then the Father because He is called “a god”, does this mean that the Father a lesser God also since He too is called “a God”?

One last note: the determination of whether the word “θεός” (i.e., the Greek word for God) is going to be translated into English “god” or “God” can only be determined by the context. If Bible translators ignore the context and interject their personal bias into the translation then the translation stops being God’s word and becomes man’s word. I think one can see this happening in the New World Translation of John 1:1.

John 1:18 18 No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained Him.

Comment: In John 1:18, John tells us that no man has seen God at any time except the Son, the only begotten God, who is at His Father’s (i.e., Jehovah) side. The New World Translation has a different understanding of this verse and translates the middle part of John 1:18 as “the only begotten god.” This is not a good translation of this Greek phrase, μονογενὴς Θεὸς (monogenēs Theos). None of the other modern English Bible translations which use the earliest Greek manuscripts have the middle part of John 1:18 translated this way. They translate it as “the only begotten God”, “the unique God”, “the unique One, who is himself God”, “the only God”, “the only one, himself God”, “the only Son, who is truly God”, “the only Son, who is the same as God”, or “the one and only Son, who is himself God”. Notice that all of these modern Bible translations with the exception for the New World Translation translate the word “Θεὸς” (god/God) in the middle part of John 1:18 with a capital “G” which shows that their understanding of the Greek text is Jesus is God, just like His Father. The translators of the New World Translation have again translated “Θεὸς” as “god” with a small “g” instead of “God” with a big “G” because they believe that Jesus is only God-like, a separate, lesser, created god than God the Father. But is this correct? As we have seen in the John 1:1 Comment (above), translating the word “Θεὸς” as “god” causes all kinds of problems and contradicts other scriptures. Another point to be made here is, is the word “μονογενὴς” (monogenes; translated “only begotten”). It is usually used as an adjective and is a compound word made up of “μονος” (“monos” and pronounced mon'-os; and has the meaning “only”) and “γενος” (“genos” and pronounced ghen'-os; and has the meaning “to beget, to bring forth, generate”). It has the meaning to “beget” or “generate” (I beget of the male/female, I bring forth, give birth to). This word is used nine times in the New Testament (Luke 7:12, Luke 8:42, Luke 9:38, John 1:14, John 1:18; John 3:16, John 3:18; Hebrews 11:17 and 1 John 4:9) and it always refers to the parent’s only son or daughter. When it is used in this context, it cannot mean “one of a kind” (i.e., the only one or unique one in a group of individuals connected by shared characteristics) because the parent is also of the same “kind” as the son or daughter (i.e., a human being). In Luke 7:12, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother. In Luke 8:42, a presiding synagogue official’s (Jairus) only daughter was dying. In Luke 9:38, a man whose only [boy] is demon possessed. In Hebrews 11:17, Isaac is called Abraham’s only begotten (even though Abraham had another son - Ishmael) because Jehovah, through Sarah, command (see Gen. 21:10,12), “What will be called your oﬀspring will be through Isaac.” In John’s Gospel and First Epistle the same word “μονογενὴς” is used to describe the special relationship of Jesus to God (i.e., in generating the Son – that is, God the Father communicates His divine nature to God the Son; so the Son has the very same nature as the Father). He uses this Greek word in five places:

John 1:14 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NASB)
John 1:18 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (NASB)
John 3:16 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (NASB)
John 3:18 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (NASB)
1 John 4:9 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. (NASB)

In three of the five places the word “μονογενὴς” (monogenes; “only begotten”) is used, it is an adjective modifying “Son”; and in one of these (1:18) the only begotten God is said to be “in the bosom of the Father.” In the one place where it occurs as a substantive (1:14), it is followed by the prepositional phrase “from the Father,” which implies sonship. And so we see that in every occurrence, John is using the word as a biological metaphor, in which Christ is the “only begotten Son” of the Father. Why is this importance to know? The biological metaphors, “only begotten from the Father”; “only begotten God”; “His only begotten Son”; “only begotten Son of God”; and “His only begotten Son”, convey that “the only begotten God” and “the only begotten Son” share the genus (i.e., a category of being distinguished by some common characteristic or quality) of the Father, thus showing the Son is a true natural Son, having the same divine nature or essence as the Father. So the meaning of the word “μονογενὴς” here is not just “only” or “one and only,” as in the RSV, NIV, and ESV translations. John is not saying that the Son is “one of a kind.” He is saying that the Son is the second of a kind, uniquely sharing the genus of the Father because he is the only begotten Son of the Father, as in the KJV, ERV, and NASB. In the early centuries of Christianity, this point of exegesis acquired great importance. During the fourth century a teaching known as the Arian heresy (which maintained that the Son was a created being) threatened the Church, and in response to it the orthodox Fathers emphasized that the Scripture speaks of a begetting of the Son, not a creation. On that Scriptural basis they maintained that the Son must be understood to be of the same essence as the Father (“ὁμοούσιος τῷ πατρί”; “homooúsios tó patrí”). The orthodox Fathers further explained that when Scripture speaks of this “begetting” it refers to something taking place in eternity (i.e., outside of time/not within time) and so there was never a time when the Father was without the Son, generally expressed as the eternal begotten Son or the Son is being eternal generated by the Father (the Father has no beginning and no end and the Son has no beginning and no end). The orthodox teaching on this subject was set forth in the Nicaea Creed adopted by the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 and the Nicene Constantinopolitan Creed adopted by the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381:
“And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made.” (A quote from a small portion of the Nicene Constantinopolitan Creed)

John 20:19-28 19 When it was late that day, the ﬁrst day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them: “May you have peace.” 20 After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced at seeing the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again: “May you have peace. Just as the Father has sent me, I also am sending you.” 22 After saying this he blew on them and said to them: “Receive holy spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain those of anyone, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas, one of the Twelve, who was called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him: “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them: “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my ﬁnger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will never believe it.” 26 Well, eight days later his disciples were again indoors, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and he stood in their midst and said: “May you have peace.” 27 Next he said to Thomas: “Put your ﬁnger here, and see my hands, and take your hand and stick it into my side, and stop doubting but believe.” 28 In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord and my God!”

Comment: Here, Jesus appears to ten of His disciples in a locked room after He had risen from the dead. He showed them His hands and His side as physical evidence (i.e., His body) that He had risen from the dead. But one of the twelve disciples, Thomas, was not present when Jesus appeared. When the other disciples told him that they had seen Jesus, he refused to believe that Jesus had really risen from the dead. He said that the only way he would believe was if he was able to see and touch the nail and spear scars on His body. Eight days later, Jesus appears to the eleven disciples, this time including Thomas, in a locked room. Jesus shows Thomas His hands and His side and even allows Thomas to touch the scar marks on His body from the nails and spear. When Thomas verifies that it is really Jesus that has come back from the dead, he professes that Jesus is the Lord and God of him. This is very significant when you put this in the context of who Thomas is and Jesus’ following reply. Thomas was one of Jesus’ twelve chosen disciples and held to the Jewish orthodox belief that there is only one true God (Deut. 6:4 - O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah; John 17:3 - This means everlasting life their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.) So when Thomas professes this, he is professing that Jesus is his Lord and his God (i.e., Jehovah). So the next question needs to be asked, did Thomas get this right (i.e., was Jesus really Jehovah) or did he get it wrong (i.e., was Thomas committing blasphemy by making a man a god)? Notice that Jesus did not reply to Thomas, “You have blasphemed by calling Me your Lord and your God” but replied (verse 29), “Because you have seen me, have you believed? Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.” But what about Jesus, maybe He made a mistake in His response back to Thomas and the other ten disciples, and got it wrong? But we know from Scripture that Jesus did the will of His Father and not His own will so the words that He spoke were not His words but His Father’s. We also know that the Father does not make any mistakes. Based on this, we can trust that Jesus is the God of Thomas and the true God of the Bible.

John 5:11-23 11 But he answered them: “The same one who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 12 They asked him: “Who is the man who told you, ‘Pick it up and walk’?” 13 But the healed man did not know who he was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 After this Jesus found him in the temple and said to him: “See, you have become well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse does not happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things during the Sabbath. 17 But he answered them: “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.” 18 This is why the Jews began seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was also calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God. 19 Therefore, in response Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, the Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son does also in like manner. 20 For the Father has aﬀection for the Son and shows him all the things he himself does, and he will show him works greater than these, so that you may marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead up and makes them alive, so the Son also makes alive whomever he wants to. 22 For the Father judges no one at all, but he has entrusted all the judging to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

Comment: The Jews got angry and begin persecuting Jesus when He heals a man who has been ill for 38 years on the Sabbath. Jesus replies to them by saying, “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.” At this statement, the Jews desired even more to kill Him because they believed He had blasphemed when He called God his own Father and thus making himself equal to God. There are many today who believe that the Jews actually misinterpreted or twisted Jesus’ statement, “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working” to mean that He had blasphemed by calling God (i.e., Jehovah) his own Father, and making himself equal to God (i.e., Jehovah). But did the Jews really misunderstand or twist Jesus’ statement? Notice in Jesus’ reply back to the Jews, he doesn’t correct them by saying, “You got this all wrong. I was not calling God my own Father nor am I equal with God.” But in His reply, He actual confirms that their understanding is correct by saying that He does not do these things (e.g. healing the man who was ill for 38 years on the Sabbath) on His own initiative, but He did the things He saw His Father do. So the things His Father shows Him, He can do also because His Father loves Him and wants everyone to honor Him as “Son” as they honor God as “Father”. In the future, He will perform greater works, which the Father will show Him (e.g., raise the dead and judge everyone). So in this discourse, we see that Jesus is actually God’s very own Son and that He is equal with God in His abilities to do everything the Father can do.

John 10:30-33 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32 Jesus replied to them: “I displayed to you many fine works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?” 33 The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy; for you, although being a man, make yourself a god.”

Comment: The New World Translation translates the last part of John 10:33 as “make yourself a god.” This is not a good translation of this Greek phrase. None of the other modern English Bible translations have the last part of John 10:33 translated this way. They translate it as “claim to be God”, “declare yourself God”, “make yourself God”, or “make yourself to be God”. Notice that all of the modern Bible translators except for the New World Translation translators translate the word “God” in the last part of John 10:33 with a capital “G”. So most Bible translators understand this text to say the reason why the Jews want to stone Jesus is because He being a man makes Himself out to be God (i.e., equal to Jehovah). That is why the Jews are accusing Him of blaspheming. It would make little sense for the Jews to accuse Jesus of blaspheming for thinking he was a god (i.e., a little god or god-like - like an angel) although only being a man. This would not be blasphemy for the Jews to accuse Him of being like an angel.

John 19:6-7 6 However, when the chief priests and the oﬃcers saw him, they shouted: “To the stake with him! To the stake with him!” Pilate said to them: “Take him yourselves and execute him, for I do not ﬁnd any fault in him.” 7 The Jews answered him: “We have a law, and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself God’s son.”

Comment: The New World Translation translates the last part of John 19:7 as “because he made himself God’s son (ὁ υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ).” This is a misleading translation of this Greek phrase because it gives the reader the idea that Jesus is God’s son only by him being created in God’s image because the word “son” has a small “s”. Note - none of the other modern English Bible translations translate the last part of John 19:7 this way. They all translate “ὁ υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ” as “the Son of God” with a capital “S” which tells the reader that He is God’s actual Son (i.e., He has the very same nature as His Father, thus making Him God). So what Jehovah is teaching us here in these verses are that the reason why the Jews (i.e., verse 6 - the chief priests and the officers) wanted to put Jesus to death was not because Jesus claimed that He was God’s son (i.e. created in God’s image; this would make no sense since the Jews, themselves, are also created in God’s image) but because Jesus claimed that He was God’s Son (i.e., God’s very own Son, having the very same nature as His Father). Below are all of the places in the New World Translation where Jesus is referred to as God’s son/God’s Son. Notice that in every place except in John 19:6-7, Jesus is always called “God’s Son”. This shows the bias of New World Translation translators in their effort to hide from people that Jesus is God’s only true Son (compared to angels and men as God’s created sons).

Matthew 14:25-33 25 But in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When they (disciples) caught sight of him (Jesus) walking on the sea, the disciples were troubled, saying: “It is an apparition (i.e., a ghost)!” And they cried out in their fear. 27 But at once Jesus spoke to them, saying: “Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid. 28 Peter answered him: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you over the waters.” 29 He said: “Come!” So, Peter got out of the boat and walked over the waters and went toward Jesus. 30 But looking at the windstorm, he became afraid. And when he started to sink, he cried out: “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately stretching out his hand, Jesus caught hold of him and said to him: “You with little faith, why did you give way to doubt?” 32 After they got up into the boat, the windstorm abated. 33 Then those in the boat did obeisance (i.e., bowed down) to him, saying: “You really are God’s Son.”
Matthew 27:37-43 37 They also posted above his head the charge against him, in writing: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” 38 Then two robbers were put on stakes alongside him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 And those passing by spoke abusively of him, shaking their heads 40 and saying: “You who would throw down the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are a son of God, come down oﬀ the torture stake!” 41 In the same way also, the chief priests with the scribes and the elders began mocking him, saying: 42 “Others he saved; himself he cannot save! He is King of Israel; let him now come down oﬀ the torture stake, and we will believe in him. 43 He has put his trust in God; let Him now rescue him if He wants him, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’”

Matthew 27:50-54 50 Again Jesus called out with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And look! the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. 52 And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the holy ones who had fallen asleep were raised up 53 (and people coming out from among the tombs after his being raised up entered into the holy city), and they became visible to many people. 54 But when the army oﬃcer and those with him keeping watch over Jesus saw the earthquake and the things happening, they grew very much afraid and said: “Certainly this was God’s Son.”

Mark 15:34-39 34 And at the ninth hour, Jesus called out with a loud voice: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, when translated: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of those standing near, on hearing it, began to say: “See! He is calling Elijah.” 36 Then someone ran, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying: “Let him be! Let us see whether Elijah comes to take him down.” 37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and expired. 38 And the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 Now when the army oﬃcer who was standing by with him in view saw that he had expired under these circumstances, he said: “Certainly this man was God’s Son.”

Luke 1:26-35 26 In her sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin promised in marriage to a man named Joseph of David’s house, and the name of the virgin was Mary. 28 And coming in, the angel said to her: “Greetings, you highly favored one, Jehovah is with you.” 29 But she was deeply disturbed at his words and tried to understand what kind of greeting this might be. 30 So the angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And look! you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. 32 This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule as King over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his Kingdom.” 34 But Mary said to the angel: “How is this to be, since I am not having sexual relations with a man?” 35 In answer the angel said to her: “Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the Most High will overshadow you. And for that reason the one who is born will be called holy, God’s Son.

John 10:30-36 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32 Jesus replied to them: “I displayed to you many fine works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?” 33 The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy; for you, although being a man, make yourself a god.” 34 Jesus answered them: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said: “You are gods”’? 35 If he called ‘gods’ those against whom the word of God came—and yet the scripture cannot be nullified— 36 do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

Romans 1:1-4 1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus and called to be an apostle, set apart for God’s good news, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who came to be from the oﬀspring of David according to the ﬂesh, 4 but who with power was declared God’s Son according to the spirit of holiness by means of resurrection from the dead—yes, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 John 4:15 15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is God’s Son, God remains in union with such one and he in union with God.

Matthew 26:63b-66 63b So the high priest said to him: “I put you under oath by the living God to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it. But I say to you: From now on 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. 66 What is your opinion?” They answered: “He deserves to die.”

Comment: The Jews arrest Jesus and took Him to Caiaphas, the high priest. Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin questioned Jesus looking for any reasons to put Jesus to death but Jesus keeps silent. So Caiaphas puts Jesus under a sworn oath to God, and asks if He is “the Son of God”. Jesus’ response is that He is and that they will see Him sitting next to His Father in heaven and returning back to the earth on the clouds of heaven. Caiaphas rips his clothes and declares to all who are there that Jesus has blasphemed because Jesus has admitted that He is God’s very own Son and they will see Him rule on His Father’s throne in heaven and will be returning to earth on the clouds of heaven. He asks if the rest of the Sanhedrin agrees that Jesus has blasphemed and they agree.

Mark 14:61-64 61 But he kept silent and made no reply at all. Again the high priest began to question him and said to him: “Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Then Jesus said: “I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 At this the high priest ripped his inner garments and said: “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving of death.

Does Jesus have the name Jehovah? Yes:

Jer. 23:5-6 5 “Look! The days are coming,” declares Jehovah, “when I will raise up to David a righteous sprout. And a king will reign and show insight and uphold justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will reside in security. 6 And this is the name by which he will be called: Jehovah Is Our Righteousness.”

Comment: Many people do not believe that Jesus is God because He is not called Jehovah. But in Jeremiah 23, verse 5, Jehovah declares a prophecy concerning His future Son, Jesus, by telling us He is going to rise up from the linage of David this righteous descendant, who will reign as king over Israel in righteousness and in justice; Judah will be saved and Israel will live in security. In verse 6, Jehovah says his name will be called, “Jehovah is our Righteousness”. Please note that Jehovah did not say this was the meaning of His name but His actual name. Even when people see this, they still a very hard time believing this but all one needs to ask is the Book of Jeremiah part of Jehovah’s Word, and if so, would He lie to us when He tells us that Jesus also has the name “Jehovah is our Righteousness”? True followers of Jehovah will believe what He tells them is true.

John 17:11-12 11 “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. 12 When I was with them, I used to watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me; and I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, so that the scripture might be fulﬁlled.

Comment: Jesus is getting ready to return to His Father in heaven. Because Jesus is leaving, He has requested the Father to watch over all of the people which the Father had original given to Jesus to take care of and give everlasting life to. Jesus goes on to say that He (Jesus) has kept these people in His Father’s own name (i.e., Jehovah), the name His own Father gave to Him (i.e., Jehovah). Again, would Jehovah mislead us when He says He has given His Son His own name, Jehovah?

Matthew 28:19 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.

Phil. 2:9-11 9 For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground— 11 and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Eph. 1:20-21 20 which he exercised toward Christ when he raised him up from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named, not only in this system of things but also in that to come.

Isaiah 6 compared with John 12:41???

Isaiah 8:14 compared with Rom. 9:33???

Isaiah 45:23 compared with Rom. 14:11???

Heb. 1:10, 6 compared with Ps. 102:26, 97:7???

Jehovah the Mighty God?

Isaiah 10:20-21 20 And it will certainly occur in that day that those remaining over of Israel and those who have escaped of the house of Jacob will never again support themselves upon the one striking them, and they will certainly support themselves upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in trueness. 21 A mere remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.

Jer. 32:17-18 17 “Alas, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Here you yourself have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. The whole matter is not too wonderful for you yourself, 18 the One exercising loving-kindness toward thousands, and repaying the error of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them, the true God, the great One, the mighty One, Jehovah of armies being his name,…

Zephaniah 3:16-17 16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion. May your hands not drop down. 17 Jehovah your God is in the midst of you. As a mighty One, he will save. He will exult over you with rejoicing. He will become silent in his love. He will be joyful over you with happy cries.

Jesus the Mighty God

Isaiah 9:6 6 For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Verses on Praying to Jehovah and Praying to Jesus Verses for Jehovah:

John 15:16 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you to go and keep bearing fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that no matter what you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (Also see Matt.6:8, 7:11; Luke 11:13; John 16:23/John 11:22; James 1:5; 1 John 5:16.) (Compare to Jesus in John 14:13-14 below.)

Matt. 26:53 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels? (Compare to Jesus in Acts 7:59 below.)

Acts 2:21 21 And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” (Quote from Joel 2:32.)

Romans 10:13 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” (Quote from Joel 2:32.) (Compare to Jesus in Rom. 10:13 below.)

Joel 2:32 32 And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, just as Jehovah has said, The survivors whom Jehovah calls.”
1 Pet. 1:17 17 And if you are calling on the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence. (Compare to Jesus in 1 Cor. 1:2-3 and 2 Tim. 2:22 below.)

Verses for Jesus:

John 14:13-14 13 Also, whatever you ask in my name, I will do this, so that the Father may be gloriﬁed in connection with the Son. 14 If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Acts 7:59-60 59 And they went on casting stones at Stephen as he (Stephan) made appeal and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then, bending his knees, he cried out with a strong voice: “Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them.” And after saying this he fell asleep in death.

Acts 9:1-22 1 But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women. 3 Now as he was traveling and getting near Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven ﬂashed around him, 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 He asked: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 Now the men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing, indeed, the sound of a voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul then got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he did not see anything, and he neither ate nor drank. 10 There was a disciple named Ananias in Damascus, and the Lord said to him in a vision: “Ananias!” He said: “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him: “Get up, go to the street called Straight, and look for a man named Saul, from Tarsus, at the house of Judas. For look! he is praying, 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he may recover sight.” 13 But Ananias answered: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, about all the harm he did to your holy ones in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those calling on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him: “Go! Because this man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel. 16 For I will show him plainly how many things he must suﬀer for my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house, and he laid his hands on him and said: “Saul, brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road along which you were coming, has sent me so that you may recover sight and be ﬁlled with holy spirit.” 18 And immediately, what looked like scales fell from his eyes, and he recovered his sight. He then got up and was baptized, 19 and he ate some food and gained strength. He stayed for some days with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately in the synagogues he (Saul/Paul) began to preach about Jesus, that this one is the Son of God. 21 But all those hearing him were astonished and were saying: “Is this not the man who ravaged those in Jerusalem who call on this name? Did he not come here for the purpose of arresting them and taking them to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul kept on acquiring more and more power and was confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus, as he proved logically that this is the Christ.

Acts 22:12-16 12 “Then a man named Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well-reported-on by all the Jews living there, 13 came to me. He stood by me and said to me: ‘Saul, brother, regain your sight!’ And that very moment I looked up and saw him. 14 He said: ‘The God of our forefathers has chosen you to come to know his will and to see the righteous one and to hear the voice of his mouth, 15 because you are to be a witness for him to all men of the things you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you delaying? Rise, get baptized, and wash your sins away by your calling on his name.’

Romans 10:13 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” (Quote from Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13 is referring to Jesus, not His Father - see the context below.)
Joel 2:32 32 And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, just as Jehovah has said, The survivors whom Jehovah calls.”
Romans 10:6-17 6 But the righteousness resulting from faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ that is, to bring Christ down, 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your own mouth and in your own heart”; that is, “the word” of faith, which we are preaching. 9 For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation. 11 For the scripture says: “No one who rests his faith on him will be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. There is the same Lord over all, who is rich toward all those calling on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” 14 However, how will they call on him if they have not put faith in him? How, in turn, will they put faith in him about whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach? 15 How, in turn, will they preach unless they have been sent out? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who declare good news of good things!” 16 Nevertheless, they did not all obey the good news. For Isaiah says: “Jehovah, who has put faith in the thing heard from us?” 17 So faith follows the thing heard. In turn, what is heard is through the word about Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2-3 2 To the congregation of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in union with Christ Jesus, called to be holy ones, together with all who everywhere are calling upon the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 3 May YOU have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 12:7b-9 7b To keep me from becoming overly exalted, I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me, so that I might not be overly exalted. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. 9 But he said to me: “My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you, for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I will boast about my weaknesses, in order that the power of the Christ may remain over me like a tent.

2 Timothy 2:22 22 So, flee from the desires incidental to youth, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call upon the Lord out of a clean heart.

Is Jesus Michael the Archangel?
Jesus is superior to all of the angels:

Hebrews 1:2-8, 13 2 Now at the end of these days he has spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things. 3 He is the reﬂection of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power. And after he had made a puriﬁcation for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 So he has become better than the angels to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs. 5 For example, to which one of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; today I have become your father”? And again: “I will become his father, and he will become my son”? 6 But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.” 7 Also, he says about the angels: “He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a ﬂame of ﬁre.” 8 But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness… 13 But about which of the angels has he ever said: “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet”?

Hebrews 2:5 5 For it is not to angels that he has subjected the inhabited earth to come, about which we are speaking. (Future inhabited earth is not subjected to angels)

Matthew 28:18 18 Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. (Jesus has all authority – in heaven and earth; heaven and earth is subjected to Him – even all angels)

Ephesians 1:20-22 20 which he exercised toward Christ when he raised him up from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named, not only in this system of things but also in that to come. 22 He also subjected all things under his feet and made him head over all things with regard to the congregation. (Has seated Him at God’s right hand in heaven that is far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named – in this system and in the one to come; subjected all things, all creation, to him)

1 Peter 3:22 22 He is at God’s right hand, for he went to heaven, and angels and authorities and powers were made subject to him. (angels are subjected to Him)

Hebrews 2:8 8 All things you subjected under his feet.” By subjecting all things to him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him. (all things – all Creation, including all angels - is subjected to him)

Jesus is not resurrected a spirit:

Luke 24:39 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.”

Michael did not an bring a judgement in abusive terms against Satan but Jesus did:

Michael

Jude 1:9 9 But when Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: “May Jehovah rebuke you.”

2 Peter 2:11 11 whereas angels, although they are greater in strength and power, do not bring against them an accusation in abusive terms, out of respect for Jehovah.

Jesus

Matthew 4:10-11 10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” 11 Then the Devil left him, and look! Angels came and began to minister to him.

John 8:44 44 You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie.

Michael is one of the foremost princes but Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords

Michael

Daniel 10:13 13 But the prince of the royal realm of Persia stood in opposition to me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the foremost princes, came to help me; and I remained there beside the kings of Persia.

Daniel 10:21 21 However, I will tell you the things recorded in the writings of truth. There is no one strongly supporting me in these things but Michael, your prince.

Daniel 12:1 1 “During that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book.

Jesus

Revelation 17:12-14 12 “The ten horns that you saw mean ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they do receive authority as kings for one hour with the wild beast. 13 These have one thought, so they give their power and authority to the wild beast. 14 These will battle with the Lamb, but because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them. Also, those with him who are called and chosen and faithful will do so.”

Revelation 19:11-16 11 I saw heaven opened, and look! a white horse. And the one seated on it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. 12 His eyes are a ﬁery ﬂame, and on his head are many diadems. He has a name written that no one knows but he himself, 13 and he is clothed with an outer garment stained with blood, and he is called by the name The Word of God. 14 Also, the armies in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, ﬁne linen. 15 And out of his mouth protrudes a sharp, long sword with which to strike the nations, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. Moreover, he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his outer garment, yes, on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Michael and his angels fought against the Devil and His angels compared to Jesus did not have to fight against the Devil and His angels

Michael

Daniel 10:12,13&21 12 He then said to me: “Do not be afraid, O Daniel. Your words have been heard from the first day that you gave your heart to understanding and to humbling yourself before your God, and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the royal realm of Persia stood in opposition to me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the foremost princes, came to help me; and I remained there beside the kings of Persia… 21 However, I will tell you the things recorded in the writings of truth. There is no one strongly supporting me in these things but Michael, your prince.

Revelation 12:7-9 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them any longer in heaven. 9 So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.

Jesus

Matthew 4:10-11 10 Then Jesus said to him: “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” 11 Then the Devil left him, and look! Angels came and began to minister to him.

Mark 1:21-28 21 And they went into Capernaum. As soon as the Sabbath began, he went into the synagogue and started to teach. 22 And they were astounded at his way of teaching, for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue who was under the power of an unclean spirit, and he shouted: 24 “What have we to do with you, Jesus the Nazarene′? Did you come to destroy us? I know exactly who you are, the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked it, saying: “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, after throwing the man into a convulsion and yelling at the top of its voice, came out of him. 27 Well, the people were all so astonished that they began to discuss it among themselves, saying: “What is this? A new teaching! He authoritatively orders even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 So the report about him spread quickly in all directions throughout the entire region of Galilee.

Mark 3:11-12 11 Even the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and cry out and say: “You are the Son of God.” 12 But many times he sternly ordered them not to make him known.

Mark 5:1-20 1 Then they came to the other side of the sea into the region of the Gerasenes. 2 And immediately after Jesus got out of the boat, a man under the power of an unclean spirit met him from among the tombs. 3 His haunt was among the tombs, and up to that time, absolutely no one was able to bind him securely, even with a chain. 4 He had often been bound with fetters and chains, but he snapped the chains apart and smashed the fetters; and nobody had the strength to subdue him. 5 And continually, night and day, he was crying out in the tombs and in the mountains and slashing himself with stones. 6 But on catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down to him. 7 Then he cried out with a loud voice: “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I put you under oath by God not to torment me.” 8 For Jesus had been saying to it: “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit.” 9 But Jesus asked him: “What is your name?” And he replied: “My name is Legion, because there are many of us.” 10 And he kept pleading with Jesus not to send the spirits out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of swine was feeding there at the mountain. 12 So the spirits pleaded with him: “Send us into the swine, so that we may enter into them.” 13 And he gave them permission. With that the unclean spirits came out and went into the swine, and the herd rushed over the precipice into the sea, about 2,000 of them, and were drowned in the sea. 14 But their herders ﬂed and reported it in the city and in the countryside, and people came to see what had happened. 15 So they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who previously had the Legion, sitting clothed and in his right mind, and they grew fearful. 16 Also, those who had seen it related to them how this had happened to the demon possessed man and the swine. 17 So they began to plead with Jesus to go away from their region. 18 Now as he was boarding the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed pleaded to go with him. 19 However, he did not let him but said to him: “Go home to your relatives, and report to them all the things Jehovah has done for you and the mercy he has shown you.” 20 This man went away and started to proclaim in the Decapolis all the things Jesus had done for him, and all the people were amazed.

Jesus raised from the dead as a Man and not a Spirit

Luke 24:36-43 36 While they were speaking of these things, he himself stood in their midst and said to them: “May you have peace.” 37 But because they were terrified and frightened, they imagined that they were seeing a spirit. 38 So he said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why have doubts come up in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.” 40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and amazement, he said to them: “Do you have something there to eat?” 42 So they handed him a piece of broiled ﬁsh, 43 and he took it and ate it before their eyes.

Acts 17:31 31 Because he has set a day on which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has provided a guarantee to all men by resurrecting him from the dead.”

1 Tim 2:5 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus,…

Coming back as the Son of man, not as Michael the archangel

Matthew 16:27 27 For the Son of man is to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each one according to his behavior.

Matthew 17:22-23 22 It was while they were gathered together in Galilee that Jesus said to them: “The Son of man is going to be betrayed into men’s hands, 23 and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.” And they were very much grieved.

Matthew 19:28 28 Jesus said to them: “Truly I say to you, in the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

Matthew 20:18-19 18 “Look! We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death 19 and hand him over to men of the nations to be mocked and scourged and executed on a stake; and on the third day he will be raised up.”

Matthews 24:29-31 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.

Matthew 24:36-44 36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38 For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the ﬁeld; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. 41 Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. 42 Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 On this account, you too prove yourselves ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.

Matthew 25:31-34 31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.
Matthew 26:63-64 63 But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to him: “I put you under oath by the living God to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it. But I say to you: From now on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 8:31 31 Also, he began teaching them that the Son of man must undergo many suﬀerings and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and rise three days later.

Mark 8:38 38 For whoever becomes ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 9:2-7 2 Six days later Jesus took Peter and James and John along and led them up into a lofty mountain by themselves. And he was transﬁgured before them; 3 his outer garments began to listen, becoming far whiter than any clothes cleaner on earth could whiten them. 4 Also, Elijah with Moses appeared to them, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus: “Rabbi, it is ﬁne for us to be here. So let us erect three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 In fact, he did not know how to react, for they were quite fearful. 7 And a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.” 8 Then suddenly they looked around and saw that no one was with them any longer except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he strictly ordered them not to relate to anybody what they had seen until after the Son of man had risen from the dead.

Mark 9:31 31 For he was teaching his disciples and telling them: “The Son of man is going to be betrayed into men’s hands, and they will kill him, but despite being killed, he will rise three days later.”

Mark 10:33-34 33 “Look! We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to men of the nations, 34 and these will mock him and spit on him and scourge him and kill him, but three days later he will rise.”

Mark 13:24-27 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling out of heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from earth’s extremity to heaven’s extremity.

Mark 14:61-64 61 But he kept silent and made no reply at all. Again the high priest began to question him and said to him: “Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Then Jesus said: “I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 At this the high priest ripped his garments and said: “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving of death.

Luke 9:22-23 22 Then in a stern talk to them, he instructed them not to tell this to anybody, 23 but he said: “The Son of man must undergo many suﬀerings and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised up.”

Luke 9:26 26 For whoever becomes ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and of the holy angels.

Luke 21:25-27 25 “Also, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation. 26 People will become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Luke 22:69-70 69 However, from now on the Son of man will be seated at the powerful right hand of God.” 70 At this they all said: “Are you, therefore, the Son of God?” He said to them: “You yourselves are saying that I am.”

Acts 7:55-56 55 But he, being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God’s glory and of Jesus standing at God’s right hand, 56 and he said: “Look! I see the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.

Jesus received worship and honor but angels are not to be worshipped

Jesus

Heb. 1:6 6 But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.” (Note: Early JW New World Translations {from 1950 to around the late 1970s; 1984 NWT w/references footnote} of Hebrews 1:6 have, “And let all of God’s angels worship him.”).

Revelation 5:11-14 11 And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 and they were saying with a loud voice: “The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and all the things in them, saying: “To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.” 14 The four living creatures were saying: “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped.

Philippians 2:9-11 9 For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other (other was added; not in the Greek text) name, 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground— 11 and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Heb. 1:5,13 5 For example, to which one of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; today I have become your father”? And again: “I will become his father, and he will become my son”?... 13 But about which of the angels has he ever said: “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet”?

Angels

Revelation 19:10 10 At that I fell down before his feet to worship him. But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that! I am only a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who have the work of witnessing concerning Jesus. Worship God! For the witness concerning Jesus is what inspires prophecy.”

Revelation 22:8-9 8 Well I, John, was the one hearing and seeing these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing me these things. 9 But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that! I am only a fellow slave of you and of your brothers the prophets and of those observing the words of this scroll. Worship God.”

Jesus coming with His angels & Jehovah coming with all His angels

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 7 But you who suﬀer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a ﬂaming ﬁre, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.

Zechariah 14:5-6 5 You will ﬂee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains will extend all the way to Azel. You will have to ﬂee, just as you ﬂed because of the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. And Jehovah my God will come, and all the holy ones will be with him. 6 “In that day there will be no precious light—things will be congealed.”

Revelation 12:7-9 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them any longer in heaven. 9 So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.

Jesus coming with all the angels.

Matthew 25:31 31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne.

Is the Holy Spirit, Jehovah or God? The Holy Spirit called Jehovah

II Corinthians 3:17-18 17 Now Jehovah is the Spirit; and where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors the glory of Jehovah, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, exactly as done by Jehovah the Spirit. (Note: In Acts 5:9, Ananias tested the Spirit of Jehovah which we are told is the Holy Spirit from Acts 5:3).

The Holy Spirit as God

Acts 5:3-4, 9-10 3 But Peter said: “Ananias, why has Satan emboldened you to lie to the holy spirit and secretly hold back some of the price of the ﬁeld? 4 As long as it remained with you, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was it not in your control? Why have you thought up such a deed as this in your heart? You have lied, not to men, but to God.”…9 So Peter said to her: “Why did you two agree to make a test of the spirit of Jehovah? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Instantly she collapsed at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead and they carried her out and buried her alongside her husband.

Acts 28:25-27 25 So because they disagreed with one another, they began to leave, and Paul made this one comment: “The holy spirit aptly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “You will indeed hear but you will by no means understand; and you will indeed look but by no means see. 27 For the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes, so that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn back and I heal them.”’” (Note: Paul here is quoting Isaiah. 6:9-10. In Isaiah 6:9, Jehovah says this to Isaiah but in Acts 28:25-28, Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit said this to Isaiah.)

Isaiah 6:8-10 8 Then I heard the voice of Jehovah saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said: “Here I am! Send me!” 9 And he replied, “Go, and say to this people: ‘You will hear again and again, but you will not understand; You will see again and again, But you will not get any knowledge.’ 10 Make the heart of this people unreceptive, make their ears unresponsive, and paste their eyes together, so that they may not see with their eyes and hear with their ears, so that their heart may not understand and they may not turn back and be healed.”

Hebrews 3:7-11 7 Therefore, just as the holy spirit says, “Today if you listen to his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as on the occasion of provoking to bitter anger, as in the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your forefathers put me to the test and tried me, despite seeing my works for 40 years. 10 This is why I became disgusted with this generation and said: ‘They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not come to know my ways.’ 11 So I swore in my anger: ‘They will not enter into my rest.’” (Comment: The Writer of the Book of Hebrews is referencing Psalms 95:7-11. In Psalms 95:7-11, we are told that Jehovah spoke a warning to the nation of Israel but in Hebrews 3:7-11, we are told that the Holy Spirit spoke this warning to the nation of Israel and even the world.)

Psalms 95:7-11 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep in his care. Today if you listen to his voice, 8 do not harden your heart as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your forefathers tested me; they challenged me, though they had seen my works. 10 For 40 years I felt a loathing toward that generation, and I said: “They are a people who always go astray in their hearts; they have not come to know my ways.” 11 So I swore in my anger: “They will not enter into my rest.”

Hebrews 10:15-17 15 Moreover, the holy spirit also bears witness to us, for after it has said: 16 “‘This is the covenant that I shall covenant toward them after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I shall write them,’” it says afterwards: “And I shall by no means call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind anymore.” (Comment: The Writer of the Book of Hebrew is referencing Jeremiah 31:33-34. In Jeremiah 31:31-34, we are told that Jehovah will make a new covenant with Israel but in Hebrews 10:15-17, the writer of Hebrews says that the Holy Spirit will make a new covenant with Israel.)

Jeremiah 31:31-34 31 “Look! The days are coming,” declares Jehovah, “when I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, ‘my covenant that they broke, although I was their true master,’ declares Jehovah.” 33 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares Jehovah. “I will put my law within them, and in their heart I will write it. And I will become their God, and they will become my people.” 34 “And they will no longer teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know Jehovah!’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them,” declares Jehovah. “For I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin.”

Holy Spirit as Creator

Job 26:13 13 With his breath he makes the skies clear; His hand pierces the elusive serpent.
Job. 33:4 4 God’s own spirit made me, and the Almighty’s own breath brought me to life.
Psalms 33:6 6 By the word of Jehovah the heavens were made, and by the spirit of his mouth everything in them.
Psalms 104:30 30 If you send out your spirit, they are created, and you renew the surface of the ground.
Romans 8:2,10 2 For the law of the spirit that gives life in union with Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death…10 But if Christ is in union with you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness.

Holy Spirit – A Person?

Note: If the word “spirit” in the Bible is in reference to beings that are distinct, possess life, have a mind and a will, and can communicate with others then the “spirit” is a person. Examples are the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, spirits, angels (Michael & Gabriel), demons and Satan.

Isaiah 40:13,14 13 Who has taken the measurements of the spirit of Jehovah, and who can instruct him as his adviser? 14 With whom did he consult to gain understanding, or who teaches him in the path of justice, or teaches him knowledge, or shows him the way of true understanding?

Matt. 4:1 1 Then Jesus was led by the spirit up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.

Matt. 10:19-20 19 However, when they hand you over, do not become anxious about how or what you are to speak, for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour; 20 for the ones speaking are not just you, but it is the spirit of your Father that speaks by you.

Matt. 12:31-32 31 “For this reason I say to you, every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. 32 For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come.

Matt. 28:19 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.

Mark 1:12 12 And immediately the spirit impelled him to go into the wilderness.

Mark 3:28-29 28 Truly I say to you that all things will be forgiven the sons of men, no matter what sins they comment and what blasphemies they speak. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit has no forgiveness forever but is guilty of everlasting sin.” (blasphemy - the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for)

Mark 12:36 36 By the holy spirit David himself said, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet.”’

Mark 13:11 11 And when they are taking you to hand you over, do not be anxious beforehand about what to say; but whatever is given you in that hour, say this, for you are not the ones speaking, but the holy spirit is.

Luke 2:26 26 Furthermore, it had been divinely revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of Jehovah.

Luke 4:1 1 Then Jesus, full of holy spirit, turned away from the Jordan, and he was led about by the spirit in the wilderness;

Luke 12:10-12 10 And everyone who says a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they bring you in before public assemblies, government officials and authorities, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak in defense or what you will say; for the holy spirit will teach you in that very hour the things you should say.”

John 14:16-17 16 And I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever, 17 the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither sees it nor knows it. You know it, because it remains with you and is in you.

John 14:26 26 But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.

John 15:26 26 When the helper comes that I will send you from the Father, the spirit of the truth, which comes from the Father, that one will bear witness about me;

John 16:13-14 13 However, when that one comes, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own initiative, but what he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things to come. 14 That one will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and will declare it to you.

Acts 1:16 16 “Men, brothers, it was necessary for the scripture to be fulfilled that the holy spirit spoke prophetically through David about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus,

Acts 2:4 4 and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak in different languages, just as the spirit enabled them to speak.

Acts 5:3-4 3 But Peter said: “Ananias, why has Satan emboldened you to lie to the holy spirit and secretly hold back some of the price of the ﬁeld? 4 As long as it remained with you, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was it not in your control? Why have you thought up such a deed as this in your heart? You have lied, not to men, but to God.”

Acts 5:9-10 9 So Peter said to her: “Why did you two agree to make a test of the spirit of Jehovah? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Instantly she collapsed at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead and they carried her out and buried her alongside her husband.

Acts 7:51-53 51 “Obstinate men and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the holy spirit; as your forefathers did, so you do. 52 Which one of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced in advance coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become, 53 you who received the Law as transmitted by angels but have not kept it.”

Acts 8:29 29 So the spirit said to Philip: “Go over and approach this chariot.”

Acts 8:39 39 When they had come up out of the water, Jehovah’s spirit quickly led Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore, for he kept going on his way rejoicing.

Acts 10:19-20 19 As Peter was still pondering over the vision, the spirit said: “Look! Three men are asking for you. 20 So get up, go downstairs and go with them, not doubting at all, because I have sent them.”

Acts 11:12 12 Then the spirit told me to go with them, not doubting at all. But these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the house of the man.

Acts 13:2-4 2 As they were ministering to Jehovah and fasting, the holy spirit said: “Set aside for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So these men, sent out by the holy spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed away to Cyprus.

Acts 15:28-29 28 For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things, 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully keep your- selves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”

Acts 16:6-7 6 Moreover, they traveled through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, because they were forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word in the providence of Asia. 7 Further, when they came down to Mysia, they made efforts to go into Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus did not permit them.

Acts 20:22-23 22 And now, look! bound in the spirit, I am traveling to Jerusalem, although not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that from city to city the holy spirit repeatedly bears witness to me, saying that imprisonment and tribulations are waiting for me.

Acts 20:28 28 Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son.

Acts 21:4 4 We searched for and found the disciples and remained there for seven days. But through the spirit they repeatedly told Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem.

Acts 21:11 11 And he came to us and took up Paul’s belt and tied his own feet and hands and said: “Thus says the holy spirit, ‘The man to whom this belt belongs will be bound like this by the Jews in Jerusalem, and they will give him into the hands of people of the nations.’”

Acts 28:25-26 25 So because they disagreed with one another, they began to leave, and Paul made this one comment: “The holy spirit aptly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “You will indeed hear but by no means understand, and you will indeed look but by no means see.” (Isa. 6:9-10).

Romans 8:16 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Romans 8:26 26 In like manner, the spirit also joins in with help for our weakness; for the problem is that we do not know what we should pray for as we need to, but the spirit itself pleads for us with unuttered groanings.
Romans 15:30 30 Now I urge you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the spirit, that you exert yourselves with me in prayers to God for me,

I Corinthians 2:10-11 10 For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man that is in him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God except the spirit of God.

I Corinthians 2:13 13 These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, as we combine spiritual matters with spiritual words.

II Corinthians 3:17-18 17 Now Jehovah is the Spirit; and where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors the glory of Jehovah, are transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, exactly as it is done by Jehovah the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 30 Also, do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which you have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.

Hebrews 3:7-11 7 Therefore, just as the holy spirit says, “Today if you listen to his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as on the occasion of provoking to bitter anger, as in the day of test in the wilderness, where your forefathers put me to the test and tried me, despite seeing my works for forty years. 10 This is why I became disgusted with this generation and said, “They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not come to know my ways.’ 11 So I swore in my anger, ‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”

Hebrews 10:15-17 15 Moreover, the holy spirit also bears witness to us, for after it has said: 16 “‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.’” 17 Then it says: “And I will no longer call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind.”

Revelations 2:7 7 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: To the one conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Revelations 2:11 11 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: The one who conquers will by no means be harmed by the second death.

Revelations 2:17 17 “‘Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white pebble, and written on the pebble is a new name that no one knows except the one receiving it.’”

Revelations 2:29 29 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations.’

Revelations 3:6 6 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations.’

Revelations 3:13 13 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations.’

Revelations 3:22 22 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations.’

Revelations 14:13 13 And I heard a voice out of heaven say: “Write: Happy are the dead who die in union with the Lord from this time onward. Yes, says the spirit, let them rest from their labors, for the things they did go right with them.”

Revelations 22:17 17 And the spirit and the bride keep on saying, “Come! And let anyone hearing say’ “Come!” And let anyone thirsting come; let anyone that wishes take life’s water free.

Does Man have an immaterial part – soul/spirit? Yes:

Ecclesiastes 12:7 7 Then the dust returns to the earth, just as it was, and the spirit returns to the true God who gave it.

Luke 8:53-55 53 At this they began to laugh at him scornfully, because they knew she had died. 54 But he took her by the hand and called to her: “Child, get up!” 55 And her spirit returned, and she rose immediately, and he ordered that something be given her to eat. (The 12 year old girl that died was Jarius’ daughter; Jarius was a synagogue official.)

Luke 23:46 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice and said: “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” After he said this, he expired.

Luke 24:36-43 36 While they were speaking of these things, he himself stood in their midst and said to them: “May you have peace.” 37 But because they were terriﬁed and frightened, they imagined that they were seeing a spirit. 38 So he said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why have doubts come up in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have ﬂesh and bones just as you see that I have.” 40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and amazement, he said to them: “Do you have something there to eat?” 42 So they handed him a piece of broiled ﬁsh, 43 and he took it and ate it before their eyes.

John 19:30 30 When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said: “It has been accomplished!” and bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.

Acts 7:59 59 As they were stoning Stephen, he made this appeal: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Romans 8:16 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children.

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 10 For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God except the spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5 1 Actually sexual immorality is reported among you, and such immorality as is not even found among the nations—of a man living with his father’s wife. 2 And are you proud of it? Should you not rather mourn, so that the man who committed this deed should be taken away from your midst? 3 Although absent in body, I am present in spirit, and I have already judged the man who has done this, as if I were actually with you. 4 When you are gathered together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and knowing that I am with you in spirit along with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you must hand such a man over to Satan for the destruction of the ﬂesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 7:1 1 Therefore, since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1 Thes. 5:23 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may the spirit and soul and body of you brothers, sound in every respect, be preserved blameless at the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 12:9 9 Furthermore, our human fathers used to discipline us, and we gave them respect. Should we not more readily submit ourselves to the Father of our spiritual life (Gr. says “spirits”, “not spiritual lives”) and live?

Hebrews 12:22-24 24 But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels 23 in general assembly, and the congregation of the ﬁrstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect, 24 and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood. (Gr. says “spirits”, “not spiritual lives”)

1 Peter 3:18-20 18 For Christ died once for all time for sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death in the ﬂesh but made alive in the spirit. 19 And in this state he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who had formerly been disobedient when God was patiently waiting in Noah’s day, while the ark was being constructed, in which a few people, that is, eight souls, were carried safely through the water.

Matt. 10:28 28 And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; a rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna

1 Thes. 5:23 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may the spirit and soul and body of you brothers, sound in every respect, be preserved blameless at the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Rev. 6:9-11 9 When he opened the ﬁfth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the witness they had given. 10 They shouted with a loud voice, saying: “Until when, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was ﬁlled of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had been.

Rev. 20:4-5 4 And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed for the witness they gave about Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had not worshipped the wild beast or its image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christl for 1,000 years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.

But doesn’t the spirit or soul of a Man still live on after the body dies?

Eccl. 12:7 7 Then the dust returns to the earth, just as it was, and the spirit returns to the true God who gave it.

Matt. 10:28 28 And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; a rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Matt. 16:28,17:1-9 28 Truly I say to you that there are some of those standing here who will not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom.” 17 1 Six days later Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John along and led them up into a lofty mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transﬁgured before them; his face shone as the sun, and his outer garments became brilliant as the light. 3 And look, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah conversing with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, it is ﬁne for us to be here. If you wish, I will erect three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, look! a bright cloud overshadowed them, and look! A voice out of the cloud said: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved. Listen to him.” 6 At hearing this, the disciples fell facedown and became very much afraid. 7 Then Jesus came near, and touching them, he said: “Get up. Have no fear.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one but Jesus himself. 9 As they were descending from the mountain, Jesus commanded them: “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of man is raised up from the dead.” (vision - ὅραμα [horama]: that which is seen, a sight, spectacle - see Acts 7:31; a divinely granted supernatural sight, either while awake or possibly asleep, of a revelation that God has revealed).

Mark 9:1-8 1 Furthermore, he said to them: “Truly I say to you that there are some of those standing here who will not taste death at all until ﬁrst they see the Kingdom of God already having come in power.” 2 Six days later Jesus took Peter and James and John along and led them up into a lofty mountain by themselves. And he was transﬁgured before them; 3 his outer garments began to glisten, becoming far whiter than any clothes cleaner on earth could whiten them. 4 Also, Elijah with Moses appeared to them, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus: “Rabbi, it is ﬁne for us to be here. So let us erect three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 In fact, he did not know how to react, for they were quite fearful. 7 And a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.” 8 Then suddenly they looked around and saw that no one was with them any longer except Jesus.

Luke 9:27-36 27 But I tell you truly, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death at all until first they see the Kingdom of God.” 28 In fact, about eight days after saying these words, he took Peter, John, and James along and climbed up the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothing became glitteringly white. 30 And look! two men were conversing with him; they were Moses and Elijah. 31 These appeared with glory and began talking about his departure, which he was about to fulﬁll at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those with him were weighed down with sleep, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 And as these were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus: “Instructor, it is ﬁne for us to be here. So let us erect three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not realize what he was saying. 34 But as he was saying these things, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them. As they entered into the cloud, they became afraid. 35 Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying: “This is my Son, the one who has been chosen. Listen to him.” 36 As the voice spoke, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet and did not report to anyone in those days any of the things they saw.

Luke 16:19-31 19 There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and linen, enjoying himself day after day with magniﬁcence. 20 But a beggar named Lazarus used to be put at his gate, covered with ulcers 21 and desiring to be ﬁlled with the things dropping from the table of the rich man. Yes, even the dogs would come and lick his ulcers. 22 Now in the course of time, the beggar died and was carried oﬀ by the angels to Abraham’s side. “Also, the rich man died and was buried. 23 And in the Grave he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and he saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his ﬁnger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this blazing ﬁre.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you had your ﬁll of good things in your lifetime, but Lazarus for his part received bad things. Now, however, he is being comforted here, but you are in anguish. 27 And besides all these things, a great chasm has been ﬁxed between us and you, so that those who want to go over from here to you cannot, neither may people cross over from there to us.’ Then he said, ‘That being so, I ask you, father, to send him to the house of my father, 28 for I have ﬁve brothers, in order that he may give them a thorough witness so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to these.’ 30 Then he said, ‘No, indeed, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 20:37-38 37 But that the dead are raised up, even Moses made known in the account about the thornbush, when he calls Jehovah ‘the God of Abraham and God of Isaac and God of Jacob.’ 38 He is a God, not of the dead, but of the living, for they are all living to him.”

Luke 23:39-43 39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to speak abusively to him, saying: “You are the Christ, are you not? Save yourself and us too!” 40 In response the other rebuked him, saying: “Do you not fear God at all, now that you have received the same judgment? 41 And we rightly so, for we are getting back what we deserve for the things we did; but this man did nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your Kingdom.” 43 And he said to him: “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:46 46 And Jesus called out with a loud voice and said: “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” After he said this, he expired.

John 2:18-22 18 Therefore, in response the Jews said to him: “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?” 19 Jesus replied to them: “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said: “This temple was built in 46 years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was talking about the temple of his body. 22 When, though, he was raised up from the dead, his disciples recalled that he used to say this, and they believed the scripture and what Jesus had spoken.

John 10:17-18 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I surrender my life, so that I may receive it again. 18 No man takes it away from me, but I surrender it of my own initiative. I have authority to surrender it, and I have authority to receive it again. This commandment I received from my Father.”

Acts 7:59 59 As they were stoning Stephen, he made this appeal: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

2 Cor. 5:6-9 6 So we are always of good courage and know that while we have our home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, 7 for we are walking by faith, not by sight. 8 But we are of good courage and would prefer to be absent from the body and to make our home with the Lord. 9 So whether at home with him or absent from him, we make it our aim to be acceptable to him.

Phil. 1:20-23 20 This is in harmony with my eager expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed in any respect, but that with all freeness of speech Christ will now, as always before, be magniﬁed by means of my body, whether through life or through death. 21 For in my case, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I am to live on in the ﬂesh, this is a fruitage of my work; yet what I would choose, I do not make known. 23 I am torn between these two things, for I do desire the releasing and the being with Christ, which is, to be sure, far better.

1 Thes. 4:13-17 13 Moreover, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who are sleeping in death, so that you may not sorrow as the rest do who have no hope. 14 For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death through Jesus. 15 For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; 16 because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise ﬁrst. 17 Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord.

1 Thes. 5:10 10 He died for us, so that whether we stay awake or are asleep, we should live together with him.

2 Tim. 4:6 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink oﬀering, and the time for my releasing is imminent. (related to Phil. 1:20-23)

2 Pet. 1:13-15 13 But I consider it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you with reminders, 14 knowing as I do that my tabernacle is soon to be removed, just as also our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 I will always do my utmost so that after my departure, you may be able to recall these things for yourselves. (see Luke 9:31)

Rev. 6:9-11 9 When he opened the ﬁfth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the witness they had given. 10 They shouted with a loud voice, saying: “Until when, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was ﬁlled of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had been.

Rev. 20:4 4 And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed for the witness they gave about Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had not worshipped the wild beast or its image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for 1,000 years.

Answers to the JWs use regarding soul and spirit:

Gen. 2:7 7 And Jehovah God went on to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul. (The latest revised edition of the New World Translation shows “a living person.” Also see 1 Cor. 15:45, “a living person”).

“Living Soul” doesn’t mean a soul that has come alive but is a reference to man who has become a living person. The newly revised New World Translation now says, “living person”.

Eccl. 9:2-6,10 2 All have the very same outcome, the righteous and the wicked, the good and the clean and the unclean, those sacriﬁcing and those not sacriﬁcing. The good one is the same as the sinner; the one who swears an oath is the same as the one who is cautious about swearing an oath. 3 This is a distressing thing that happens under the sun: Because all have the same outcome, the heart of humans is also full of bad; and there is madness in their heart during their life, and then they die! 4 There is hope for whoever is among the living, because a live dog is better oﬀ than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they no longer have any share in what is done under the sun…10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going.

Comment: These verses are talking about death (outcome). The righteous and wicked; those that sacrifice and those who don’t; the good one and the sinner; those who swear oaths and who are reluctant to swear oaths. The distressing thing, while they live on the earth, their hearts are full of bad and madness; then they die. But that is better then being dead. Why? Because you are still alive with distressing hope. The old proverb is true: A live dog is better off than a dead lion. It is better to be alive with distress and know that someday you will die then to be dead, without knowledge and rewards, and being totally forgotten about. There is no longer a place for them on the earth. The same idea is found in Job 14:21-22 talking about a father who died, “21 His sons are honored, but he does not know it; They become insignificant, but he does not realize it. 22 He feels pain only while he is still in his flesh; He mourns only while he is still alive.”

Eccl. 3:18-21 18 I also said in my heart about the sons of men that the true God will test them and show them that they are like animals, 19 for there is an outcome for humans and an outcome for animals; they all have the same outcome. As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit. So man has no superiority over animals, for everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place. They all come from the dust, and they all are returning to the dust. 21 Who really knows whether the spirit of humans ascends upward, and whether the spirit of animals descends down to the earth?

These verses are essentially saying the same thing as Eccl. 9:1-6, except humans are being compared with animals. Both humans and animals have the same outcome, they are going to die. They all have but one spirit, so man has no superiority over animals – because everything is futile. All are going the same place – all come from dust and all return to dust. Does anybody really know if human spirits ascend to heaven and animal spirits descend to earth? Again, Solomon is sharing how the world thinks about death – this world is all there is. We know this is not Jehovah’s wisdom because after physical death there is a resurrection of the human body – those who trusted in Jehovah’s Son received glorified bodies, that can never die, and are allowed to enter Jehovah’s kingdom; those who denied Jehovah’s Son but trusted in their own righteousness received resurrected bodies and received Jehovah’s final judgment – the second death, the lake of fire. We also know that humans are superior to animal because Jehovah made man to rule over animals (Gen. 1:26) and their spirits are different than animals because some are given immortality (Rom. 2:7) and others receive the judgment of the second death (Rev. 21:8), and at death, we know their spirits do return to Jehovah (Eccl. 12:7).

Ps. 146:4 4 His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground; On that very day his thoughts perish.

Comment: The word for “thoughts” in Aramaic is “estonotaw”. It is only found here in the Bible. It does have the definition, “thoughts” (plural) but I believe the idea David is trying to convey to the reader, is once somebody dies, all of their future earthly plans come to an end. Most modern Bible translations translate “estonotaw” is “plans” in Psalms 146:4.

Did Jesus really die on a torture stake? No:

Matthew 27:37 37 They also posted above his head the charge against him, in writing: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.”

John 20:25 25 So the other disciples were telling him: “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them: “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will never believe it.

In the future, does heaven and earth come together? Yes:

Rev. 21:1-7 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” 5 And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 And he said to me: “They have come to pass! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To anyone thirsting I will give from the spring of the water of life free. 7 Anyone conquering will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Torment

Matthew 8:28-34 28 When he came to the other side into the region of the Gadarenes, two demon possessed men coming out from among the tombs met him. They were unusually ﬁerce, so nobody had the courage to pass by on that road. 29 And look! they screamed, saying: “What have we to do with you, Son of God? Did you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” (see Matt. 25:41- everlasting fire – the Devil and his angels) 30 A long way oﬀ from them, a herd of many swine was feeding. 31 So the demons began to plead with him, saying: “If you expel us, send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And he said to them: “Go!” With that they came out and went oﬀ into the swine, and look! the entire herd rushed over the precipice into the sea and died in the waters. 33 But the herders ﬂed, and going into the city, they reported everything, including the account of the demon-possessed men. 34 And look! all the city turned out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they urged him to depart from their region.

Mark 5:1-20 1 Then they came to the other side of the sea into the region of the Gerasenes. 2 And immediately after Jesus got out of the boat, a man under the power of an unclean spirit met him from among the tombs. 3 His haunt was among the tombs, and up to that time, absolutely no one was able to bind him securely, even with a chain. 4 He had often been bound with fetters and chains, but he snapped the chains apart and smashed the fetters; and nobody had the strength to subdue him. 5 And continually, night and day, he was crying out in the tombs and in the mountains and slashing himself with stones. 6 But on catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down to him. 7Then he cried out with a loud voice: “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I put you under oath by God not to torment me.” (see Matt. 25:41- everlasting fire – the Devil and his angels) 8 For Jesus had been saying to it: “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit.” 9 But Jesus asked him: “What is your name?” And he replied: “My name is Legion, because there are many of us.” 10 And he kept pleading with Jesus not to send the spirits out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of swine was feeding there at the mountain. 12 So the spirits pleaded with him: “Send us into the swine, so that we may enter into them.” 13 And he gave them permission. With that the unclean spirits came out and went into the swine, and the herd rushed over the precipice into the sea, about 2,000 of them, and were drowned in the sea. 14 But their herders ﬂed and reported it in the city and in the countryside, and people came to see what had happened. 15 So they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who previously had the Legion, sitting clothed and in his right mind, and they grew fearful. 16 Also, those who had seen it related to them how this had happened to the demon possessed man and the swine. 17 So they began to plead with Jesus to go away from their region. 18 Now as he was boarding the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed pleaded to go with him. 19 However, he did not let him but said to him: “Go home to your relatives, and report to them all the things Jehovah has done for you and the mercy he has shown you.” 20 This man went away and started to proclaim in the Decapolis all the things Jesus had done for him, and all the people were amazed.

Luke 8:26-39 26 And they put in to shore in the region of the Gerasenes, which is on the side opposite Galilee. 27 As Jesus got out onto land, a demon-possessed man from the city met him. For a considerable time he had not worn clothing, and he was staying, not in a house, but among the tombs. 28 At the sight of Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice, he said: “What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” (see Matt. 25:41- everlasting fire – the Devil and his angels) 29 (For Jesus had been ordering the unclean spirit to come out of the man. It had seized him on many occasions, and he was repeatedly bound with chains and fetters and kept under guard, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the isolated places.) 30 Jesus asked him: “What is your name?” He said: “Legion,” for many demons had entered into him. 31 And they kept pleading with him not to order them to go away into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the mountain, so they pleaded with him to permit them to enter into the swine, and he gave them permission. 33 With that the demons came out of the man and went into the swine, and the herd rushed over the precipice into the lake and drowned. 34 But when the herders saw what had happened, they ﬂed and reported it in the city and in the countryside. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had come out, clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, and they grew fearful. 36 Those who had seen it reported to them how the demon possessed man had been made well. 37 Then a great number from the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to go away from them, because they were gripped by great fear. Then he went aboard the boat to depart. 38 However, the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging to continue with him, but he sent the man away, saying: 39 “Go back home, and keep on relating what God did for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what Jesus had done for him.

Luke 16:19-31 19There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and linen, enjoying himself day after day with magniﬁcence. 20 But a beggar named Lazarus used to be put at his gate, covered with ulcers 21 and desiring to be ﬁlled with the things dropping from the table of the rich man. Yes, even the dogs would come and lick his ulcers. 22 Now in the course of time, the beggar died and was carried oﬀ by the angels to Abraham’s side. “Also, the rich man died and was buried. 23 And in the Grave he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and he saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his ﬁnger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this blazing ﬁre.’ (see Matt. 13:42 – “pitch them into the fiery furnace” and Rev. 20:15 – “whoever was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire”) 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you had your ﬁll of good things in your lifetime, but Lazarus for his part received bad things. Now, however, he is being comforted here, but you are in anguish. 26 And besides all these things, a great chasm has been ﬁxed between us and you, so that those who want to go over from here to you cannot, neither may people cross over from there to us.’ 27 Then he said, ‘That being so, I ask you, father, to send him to the house of my father, 28 for I have ﬁve brothers, in order that he may give them a thorough witness so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to these.’ 30 Then he said, ‘No, indeed, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 7 Just because of receiving such extraordinary revelations. To keep me from becoming overly exalted, I was given a thorn in the ﬂesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me, so that I might not be overly exalted. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it would depart from me. 9 But he said to me: “My undeserved kindness is suﬃcient for you, for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I will boast about my weaknesses, in order that the power of the Christ may remain over me like a tent.

Revelation 11:10 10 And those dwelling on the earth rejoice over them and celebrate, and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those dwelling on the earth.

Revelation 14:9-11 9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the wild beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of His wrath, and he will be tormented with ﬁre and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and day and night they have no rest, those who worship the wild beast and its image and whoever receives the mark of its name.

Revelation 18:7,10,15 7 To the extent that she gloriﬁed herself and lived in shameless luxury, to that extent give her torment and mourning. For she keeps saying in her heart: ‘I sit as queen, and I am not a widow, and I will never see mourning.’… 10 They will stand at a distance because of their fear of her torment and say: ‘Too bad, too bad, you great city, Babylon you strong city, because in one hour your judgment has arrived!’… 15“The merchants who sold these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of their fear of her torment and will weep and mourn,

Revelation 20:10 10 And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of ﬁre and sulfur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Comment: Jehovah Witnesses understand death as annihilation (non-existence), except for a memory of you in Jehovah’s. So those who get thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur (i.e., the second death – see Rev. 2:11, 20:6, 20:14, 21:8) do not get torment forever and ever but only annihilated. But does Jehovah really teach that?

Gehenna/Lake of Fire

Matt. 5:22,29,30 22 However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the Gehenna… 29 If, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be pitched into Gehenna. 30 Also, if your right hand is making you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to land in Gehenna.

Matt. 10:28 28 And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Matt. 18:7-9 7 “Woe to the world because of the stumbling blocks! Of course, it is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the man through whom the stumbling block comes! 8 If, then, your hand or your foot makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or lame than to be thrown with two hands or two feet into the everlasting fire. (see Matt. 25:41 – “into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels”) 9 Also, if your eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter one-eyed into life than to be thrown with two eyes into the fiery Gehenna (see Matt. 13:42 - “they will pitch them into the fiery furnace” & Rev. 19:20 - “they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur”).

Matt. 23:15,33 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you travel over sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him a subject for Gehenna twice as much so as yourselves…33 “Serpents, offspring of vipers, how will you flee from the judgment of Gehenna?

Matt. 25:41 41 “Then he (the King) will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire (see Jude 1:7 - “by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire”) prepared for the Devil and his angels.

Mark 9:43,45,47 43 “If ever your hand makes you stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than to go off with two hands into Gehenna, into the fire that cannot be put out…45 And if your foot makes you stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame than to be thrown with two feet into Gehenna…47 And if your eye makes you stumble, throw it away. It is better for you to enter one-eyed into the Kingdom of God than to be thrown with two eyes into Gehenna,…

Luke 12:5 5 But I will show you whom to fear: Fear the One who after killing has authority to throw into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear this One.

2 Thes. 1:6-10 6 This takes into account that it is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you. 7 But you who suffer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. 9 These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength, 10 at the time when he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder among all those who exercised faith, because the witness we gave met with faith among you.

James 3:6 6 The tongue is also a fire. The tongue represents a world of unrighteousness among our body members, for it defiles all the body and sets the whole course of life on fire, and it is set on fire by Gehenna.

Gehenna – A Place of Torment?

Matt. 13:24-30,36-42 24 He presented another illustration to them, saying: “The Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to a man who sowed fine seed in his field. 25 While men were sleeping, his enemy came and oversowed weeds in among the wheat and left. 26 When the stalk sprouted and produced fruit, then the weeds also appeared. 27 So the slaves of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow fine seed in your field? How, then, does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy, a man, did this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go out and collect them?’ 29 He said, ‘No, for fear that while collecting the weeds, you uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest season, I will tell the reapers: First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up; then gather the wheat into my storehouse.’”…36 Then after dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples came to him and said: “Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field.” 37 In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world. As for the fine seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom, but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. 41 The Son of man will send his angels, and they will collect out from his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and people who practice lawlessness, 42 and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.
Matt. 25:41,46a 41 “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go away from me, you who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels…46a These will depart into everlasting cutting-off (eternal punishment)…
Jude 1:7 7 In the same manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them also gave themselves over to gross sexual immorality and pursued unnatural fleshly desires; they are placed before us as a warning example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire (see 2 Thes. 1:9 – “the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction”).
Luke 16:23,24, 28 23 And in the Grave he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and he saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this blazing fire… 28 for I have five brothers, in order that he may give them a thorough witness so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’
Rev. 14:9-11 9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the wild beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of His wrath, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur (see Rev. 20:10 - “into the lake of fire and sulfur” & Rev. 21:8 – “the lake that burns with fire and sulfur”) in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and day and night they have no rest, those who worship the wild beast and its image and whoever receives the mark of its name.
Rev. 20:10 10 And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur (see Matt. 25:41 – “into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels”), where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Lake of Fire

Rev. 19:20 20 And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who worship its image. While still alive, they both were hurled into the fiery lake that burns with sulfur.
Rev. 20:10,14,15 10 And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever...14 And death and the Grave were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire. 15 Furthermore, whoever was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire.
Rev. 21:8 8 But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and the sexually immoral and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death.” (see Rev. 20:14 – “This means the second death, the lake of fire.”)

Second Death

Rev. 2:11 11 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: The one who conquers will by no means be harmed by the second death.’
Rev. 20:6,14 6 Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years…14 And death and the Grave were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire.
Rev. 21:8 8 But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and the sexually immoral and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death.”

Free Gift

Acts 2:38 38 Peter said to them: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit.

Acts 8:18-20 18 Now when Simon saw that the spirit was given through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, 19 saying: “Give me this authority also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive holy spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him: “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the free gift of God with money.

Acts 10:45 45 And the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also on people of the nations.

Acts 11:15-17 15 But when I started to speak, the holy spirit fell on them just as it did also on us in the beginning. 16 At this I recalled the saying of the Lord, how he used to say: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with holy spirit.’ 17 If, therefore, God gave the same free gift to them that he gave to us who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to hinder God?”

Rom 3:24 24 and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus.

Rom 5:15-17 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, how much more did the undeserved kindness of God and his free gift by the undeserved kindness of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to many! 16 Also, it is not the same with the free gift as with the way things worked through the one man who sinned. For the judgment after one trespass was condemnation, but the gift after many trespasses was a declaration of righteousness. 17 For if by the trespass of the one man death ruled as king through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of the undeserved kindness and of the free gift of righteousness rule as kings in life through the one person, Jesus Christ!

Rom 6:23 23 For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eph 2:8-9 8 By this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift. 9 No, it is not a result of works, so that no one should have grounds for boasting.

Eph 3:7 7 I became a minister of this according to the free gift of God’s undeserved kindness that was given me through the operation of his power.

Eph 4:7 7 Now undeserved kindness was given to each one of us according to how the Christ measured out the free gift.

The Great Crowd – On the Earth or In Heaven?

Rev. 7:9,15-17 9 After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands…15 That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down on them nor any scorching heat, 17 because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them and will guide them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”

Rev. 19:1-3 1 After this I heard what seemed to be a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven. They said: “Praise Jah! The salvation and the glory and the power belong to our God, 2 because his judgments are true and righteous. For he has executed judgment on the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his slaves that is on her hands.” 3 And right away for the second time they said: “Praise Jah! And the smoke from her goes on ascending forever and ever.”

144,000

Rev. 7:4-8 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 Out of the tribe of Judah 12,000 sealed; out of the tribe of Reuben 12,000; out of the tribe of Gad 12,000; 6 out of the tribe of Asher 12,000; out of the tribe of Naphtali 12,000; out of the tribe of Manasseh 12,000; 7 out of the tribe of Simeon 12,000; out of the tribe of Levi 12,000; out of the tribe of Issachar 12,000; 8 out of the tribe of Zebulun 12,000; out of the tribe of Joseph 12,000; out of the tribe of Benjamin 12,000 sealed.
Rev. 14:1-5 1 Then I saw, and look! the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. 2 I heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; and the sound that I heard was like singers who accompany themselves by playing on their harps. 3 And they are singing what seems to be a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to master that song except the 144,000, who have been bought from the earth. 4 These are the ones who did not defile themselves with women; in fact, they are virgins. These are the ones who keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes. These were bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (see 1 Cor. 15:20,23 – first fruits), 5 and no deceit was found in their mouths; they are without blemish.
Matt. 19:28 28 Jesus said to them: “Truly I say to you, in the recreation, when the Son of man sits down on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:30 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel.

The Great Crowd

Rev. 7:9-10, 15-17 9 After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues (see Rev. 5:9), standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. 10 And they keep shouting with a loud voice, saying: “Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”…15 That is why they are before the throne of God, and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down on them nor any scorching heat, 17 because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them and will guide them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”
Rev. 19:1-3 1 After this I heard what seemed to be a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven. They said: “Praise Jah! The salvation and the glory and the power belong to our God, 2 because his judgments are true and righteous. For he has executed judgment on the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his slaves that is on her hands (see Rev. 6:10).” 3 And right away for the second time they said: “Praise Jah! And the smoke from her goes on ascending forever and ever.”
Rev. 20:4-6 4 And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed for the witness they gave about Jesus and for speaking about God (see Rev. 6:9), and those who had not worshipped the wild beast or its image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for 1,000 years (“ruled as kings with the Christ” - bad translation; should be “reigned with Christ). 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him (“ruled as kings with him” - bad translation; should be “reigned with Him”) for the 1,000 years.
Rev. 5:9-10 9 And they sing a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought people for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth (“they are to rule as kings over the earth” - bad translation; should be “they will reign upon the earth).”
Rev. 6:9-11 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the witness they had given. 10 They shouted with a loud voice, saying: “Until when, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had been.

Who is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

Matt. 24:45-51 45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so! 47 Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings. 48 “But if ever that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ 49 and he starts to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, 51 and he will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his place with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.
Luke 12:41-48 41 Then Peter said: “Lord, are you telling this illustration just to us or also to everyone?” 42 And the Lord said: “Who really is the faithful steward, the discreet one, whom his master will appoint over his body of attendants to keep giving them their measure of food supplies at the proper time? 43 Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so! 44 I tell you truthfully, he will appoint him over all his belongings. 45 But if ever that slave should say in his heart, ‘My master delays coming,’ and starts to beat the male and female servants and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day that he is not expecting him and at an hour that he does not know, and he will punish him with the greatest severity and assign him a part with the unfaithful ones. 47 Then that slave who understood the will of his master but did not get ready or do what he asked will be beaten with many strokes. 48 But the one who did not understand and yet did things deserving of strokes will be beaten with few. Indeed, everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him, and the one who was put in charge of much will have more than usual demanded of him.

Predestined/Foreordained? Yes.

Greek (προορίζω), proorizó: to determine, decide beforehand, to foreordain, appoint beforehand.

Acts 4:28 28 to do what your hand and counsel had determined beforehand to occur.
Rom. 8:29,30 29 because those whom he gave his first recognition he also foreordained to be patterned after the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 Moreover, those whom he foreordained are the ones he also called; and those whom he called are the ones he also declared to be righteous. Finally those whom he declared righteous are the ones he also glorified.
1 Cor. 2:7 7 But we speak God’s wisdom in a sacred secret, the hidden wisdom, which God foreordained before the systems of things for our glory.
Eph. 1:5,11 5 For he foreordained us to be adopted as his own sons through Jesus Christ, according to his good pleasure and will,…11 with whom we are in union and were assigned as heirs, having been foreordained according to the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things as he decides according to his will,…

Foreknowledge

Greek (πρόγνωσις), prognósis: forethought, prearrangement.

Acts 2:23 23 This man, who was handed over by the determined will and foreknowledge of God, you fastened to a stake by the hand of lawless men, and you did away with him.
1 Pet. 1:2 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the temporary residents scattered about in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, to those chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, with sanctification by the spirit, for the purpose of being obedient and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ: May undeserved kindness and peace be increased to you.

Has The Name “Jesus” after He Died and Resurrected

John 21:14 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after being raised up from the dead.
Acts 1:11 11 and said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who was taken up from you into the sky will come in the same manner as you have seen him going into the sky.”
Acts 7:59 59 And they went on casting stones at Stephen as he (Stephan) made appeal and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Acts 9:5,17 5 He asked: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…17 So Ananias went and entered the house, and he laid his hands on him and said: “Saul, brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road along which you were coming, has sent me so that you may recover sight and be filled with holy spirit.”
Rom. 8:34 34 Who will condemn them? Christ Jesus is the one who died, yes, more than that the one who was raised up, who is at the right hand of God and who also pleads for us.
1 Cor. 9:1 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
Phil. 2:9-11 9 For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground— 11 and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Phil. 3:20 20 But our citizenship exists in the heavens, and we are eagerly waiting for a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,…
1 Thes. 1:10 10 and to wait for his Son from the heavens, whom he raised up from the dead, namely, Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
2 Thes. 1:7-8 7 But you who suffer tribulation will be given relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.
Heb. 4:14 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold on to our public declaration of him.
Heb. 6:20 20 where a forerunner has entered in our behalf, Jesus, who has become a high priest in the manner of Melchizedek forever.
Rev. 22:16 16 “‘I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to you about these things for the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright morning star.’”

Has Jehovah Totally Give Up On The Jews? No.

Rom. 11:1-5,11-12,15, 25-28 1 I ask, then, God did not reject his people, did he? By no means! For I too am an Israelite, of the offspring of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he first recognized. Do you not know what the scripture says in connection with Elijah, as he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Jehovah, they have killed your prophets, they have dug up your altars, and I alone am left, and now they are trying to take my life.” 4 Yet, what does the divine pronouncement say to him? “I have left for myself 7,000 men who have not bent the knee to Baal.” 5 So in the same way, at the present time also, there is a remnant according to a choosing through undeserved kindness…11 So I ask, they did not stumble and fall completely, did they? Certainly not! But by their false step, there is salvation to people of the nations, to incite them to jealousy. 12 Now if their false step means riches to the world and their decrease means riches to people of the nations, how much more will their full number mean (i.e., fulfillment be)!... 15 For if their being cast away means reconciliation for the world, what will the acceptance of them mean but life from the dead?... 25 For I do not want you to be unaware of this sacred secret, brothers, so that you do not become wise in your own eyes: A partial dulling of senses has come upon Israel until the full number of people of the nations has come in, 26 and in this manner all Israel will be saved. Just as it is written: “The deliverer will come out of Zion and turn away ungodly practices from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them, when I take their sins away.” 28 True, with respect to the good news, they are enemies for your sakes; but with respect to God’s choosing, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

The Book of Life

Ex. 32:32-35 32 But now if you are willing, pardon their sin; if not, please wipe me out from your book that you have written.” 33 However, Jehovah said to Moses: “Whoever has sinned against me, I will wipe him out of my book. 34 Go now, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you. Look! My angel will go ahead of you, and on the day when I make an accounting, I will bring punishment on them for their sin.” 35 Then Jehovah began plaguing the people because they had made the calf, the one that Aaron had made.
Ps. 69:27-28 27 Add more guilt to their guilt, and may they have no share in your righteousness. 28 Let them be erased from the book of the living, and may they not be enrolled among the righteous.
Ps 139:16 Your eyes even saw me as an embryo; All its parts were written in your book
regarding the days when they were formed, before any of them existed.
Dan. 12:1 12 “During that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book.
Luke 10:20 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are made subject to you, but rejoice because your names have been written in the heavens.”
Phil. 4:3 3 Yes, I request you also, as a true fellow worker, to keep assisting these women who have striven side by side with me for the good news, along with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rev. 3:5 5 The one who conquers will thus be dressed in white garments, and I will by no means blot out his name from the book of life, but I will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.
Rev. 13:8 8 And all those who dwell on the earth will worship it (wild beast). From the founding of the world, not one of their names has been written in the scroll of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.
Rev. 17:8 8 The wild beast that you saw was, but is not, and yet is about to ascend out of the abyss, and it is to go off into destruction. And the inhabitants of the earth—those whose names have not been written in the scroll of life from the founding of the world—will be amazed when they see how the wild beast was, but is not, and yet will be present.
Rev. 20:12-15 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. But another scroll was opened; it is the scroll of life. The dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the Grave gave up the dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds. 14 And death and the Grave were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire. 15 Furthermore, whoever was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire.
Rev. 21:27 27 But anything defiled and anyone who does what is disgusting and deceitful will in no way enter into it (the holy city, the New Jerusalem); only those written in the Lamb’s scroll of life will enter.

Slave to Sin

John 8:34 34 Jesus answered them: “Most truly I say to you, every doer of sin is a slave of sin.”
Rom. 6:16 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?
2 Pet. 2:19 19 While they are promising them freedom, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for if anyone is overcome by someone, he is his slave (or by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved).

Slave to Righteousness and God

Rom.6:17-19 17 But thanks to God that although you were once the slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over. 18 Yes, since you were set free from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh; for just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness leading to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
Rom.6:21-22 21 What, then, was the fruit that you used to produce at that time? Things of which you are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death. 22 However, now that you were set free from sin and became slaves to God, you are producing your fruit in the way of holiness, and the end is everlasting life.

Assurance

John 10:27-29 27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father.
John 6:39 39 This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose none out of all those whom he has given me, but that I should resurrect them on the last day.
John 18:8-9 8 Jesus answered: “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill what he had said: “Of those whom you have given me, I have not lost a single one.”

Rom. 8:29-30 29 because those whom he gave his first recognition (i.e., foreknew - knows beforehand - in love) he also foreordained (i.e., predestined) to be patterned after the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 Moreover, those whom he foreordained (i.e., predestined) are the ones he also called; and those whom he called are the ones he also declared to be righteous (i.e., justified). Finally those whom he declared righteous (i.e., justified) are the ones he also glorified.

Rom. 8:38-39 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers 39 nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Also see Rom. 8:35-37.
Rom. 8:35-37 35 Who will separate us from the love of the Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 Just as it is written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” 37 On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious (i.e., overwhelmingly conquers) through the one who loved us.
Phil. 1:6 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that the one who started a good work in you will bring it to completion (i.e., able to accomplish it) until the day of Christ Jesus.

Obey/Do not obey

John 3:36 36 The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; the one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
Heb. 5:9 9 And after he had been made perfect, he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him,
1 Pet. 4:17 17 For it is the appointed time for the judgment to start with the house of God. Now if it starts first with us, what will the outcome be for those who are not obedient to the good news of God?
1 Pet. 1:1-2 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the temporary residents scattered about in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, to those chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, with sanctification by the spirit, for the purpose of being obedient and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ (i.e., to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood:

True Christians are indwelled by the Holy Spirit

Rom. 8:9 9 However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this person does not belong to him.

Rom. 8:11 11 If, now, the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in you.

Rom. 8:15-17 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 If, then, we are children, we are also heirs—heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ—provided we suffer together so that we may also be glorified together.
1 Cor. 3:16 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that the spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Cor. 6:19 19 Do you not know that your body is the temple of the holy spirit within you, which you have from God? Also, you do not belong to yourselves,
Gal. 4:6 6 Now because you are sons, God has sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, and it cries out: “Abba, Father!”
2 Tim. 1:14 14 Guard this fine trust by means of the holy spirit, which is dwelling in us.
1 John 4:13 13 By this we know that we are remaining in union with him and he in union with us, because he has given his spirit to us.

Jehovah Is All-Knowing

Job 36:4 4 Truly my words are not false; The One perfect in knowledge is here before you.

Job 37:15-16 15 Do you know how God controls the clouds and how he causes the lightning to flash from his cloud? 16 Do you know how the clouds float? These are the wonderful works of the One perfect in knowledge.

1 John 3:19-20 19 By this we will know that we originate with the truth, and we will assure our hearts before him 20 regarding whatever our hearts may condemn us in, because God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.

1 Sam. 2:3 3 Do not keep speaking with haughtiness; Let nothing arrogant come from your mouth, for Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and by him deeds are rightly evaluated.

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I sanctified you. I made you a prophet to the nations.”

Job 42:2 “Now I know that you are able to do all things and that nothing you have in mind to do is impossible for you.”

2 Timothy 2:19 Despite that, the solid foundation of God remains standing, having this seal, “Jehovah knows those who belong to him,” and, “Let everyone calling on the name of Jehovah renounce unrighteousness.”

Isaiah 46:10 From the beginning I foretell the outcome, and from long ago the things that have not yet been done. I say, ‘My decision will stand, and I will do whatever I please.’

Isaiah 48:5-6 5 I told you long ago. Before it came about, I caused you to hear it, so that you could not say, ‘My idol did this; My carved image and my metal image commanded this.’ 6 You have heard and seen all of this. Will you not declare it? From now on I am announcing new things to you, guarded secrets that you have not known.

Psalm 139:14-16 14 I praise you because in an awe-inspiring way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes even saw me as an embryo; All its parts were written in your book regarding the days when they were formed.

Psalm 147:4-5 4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls all of them by name. 5 Our Lord is great and is mighty in power; His understanding is beyond measure.

Resurrection of the Righteous and the Wicked

John 5:29 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.
Daniel 12:2 2 And many of those asleep in the dust of the earth will wake up, some to everlasting life and others to reproach and to everlasting contempt (i.e., everlasting abhorrence/despising someone).
Matt. 25:46 46 These will depart into everlasting cutting-off (i.e., those on His left-you who have been cursed/goats will enter into eternal punishment), but the righteous ones into everlasting life (i.e., those on His right/sheep).”
Acts 24:15 15 And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
1 Corinthians 15:45 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living person.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Hardening

Ex. 4:21 21 Then Jehovah said to Moses: “After you have returned to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have empowered you to do. But I will allow his heart to become obstinate, and he will not send the people away.

Ex. 7:3 3 As for me, I will allow Pharaoh’s heart to become obstinate, and I will multiply my signs and my miracles in the land of Egypt.

Ex. 9:12 12 But Jehovah allowed Pharaoh’s heart to become obstinate, and he did not listen to them, just as Jehovah had told Moses.

Ex. 10:20
Ex. 10:27
Ex. 11:10
Ex. 14:4
Ex. 14:17
Deut. 2:30
Joshua 11:20
Mark 6:52
John 12:40 (1 John 2:11)
Rom. 9:18
Rom. 11:7
Rom. 11:25
2 Cor. 3:14
2 Cor. 4:4
Acts 26:18
Acts 26:23
1 Kings 22:22?
Isa. 6:10