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| Spirituality, Religion, etc. - Q & A |
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Message |
    
Jillchuang
Starlite Member
Username: Jillchuang
| | Posted on Sunday, May 03, 2009 - 11:12 am: | 
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God's words....the truth
Jesus is our salvation
He is known as the word
God's words...the truth
If we know the truth,
the truth will set us free.
The word of Jehovah God is sharp like sword
With power and authority.
Men don't live by bread alone
They live by God's words...the truth
If we speak the truth, God lives with us
If we lie, we are speaking the words
of the evil ones, father of all liars.
May God's words...the truth
be with us in our hearts
and our life for always.
Christian brothers & sisters, please help to spread the good news of God !
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ALIANNE OUSSAMEUR (Alianne)
Starlite Member
Username: Alianne
| | Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 06:33 pm: |
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PAGAN ORIGIN
MICHAEL THIS IS WHAT A FEW BOOKS SAY CONCERNING THE TRINITY BEEING
OF PAGAN ORIGIN
“The recognition of a trinity was universal in all the ancient nations of the world.”—The Two Babylons, Hislop.
“The word triad, or trinity, was borrowed from the pagan schools of philosophy and introduced into the theology of Christians of the middle second century by Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch.”—Bibliotheque Ecclesiastique, Dupin.
“Trinity is a very marked feature in Hindooism, and is discernible in Persian, Egyptian, Roman, Japanese, Indian and the most ancient Grecian mythologies.”—Religious Dictionary, Abbott.
Yes, the trinity finds its origin in the pagan concept of a multiplicity, plurality or pantheon of gods. The law Jehovah God gave to the Jews stated diametrically the opposite: “Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.”—Deut. 6:4, AS.
Jehovah God says: “Come now, and let us reason together.” (Isa. 1:18) The advocates of the trinity admit that it is not subject to reason or logic, and so they resort to terming it a “mystery”. But the Bible contains no divine mysteries. It contains “sacred secrets”. Every use of the words “mystery” and “mysteries” in the King James Version comes from the same Greek root word meaning “to shut the mouth”, that is, to keep secret. There is a vast difference between a secret and a mystery. A secret is merely that which has not been made known, but a mystery is that which cannot be understood.
The advocates of the trinity admit that they cannot understand it. In vain they try to do the impossible, to elucidate it by analogies which are not analogous in vital respects; a practice which convicts them of inconsistency and a lack of confidence in the merits of their position. Jehovah God by his Word furnishes us with ample reasons and logical bases for all regarding which he expects us to exercise faith. Through the apostle Paul he counsels: “Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is right.” (1 Thess. 5:21, NW) We can make sure of what is right only by a process of reasoning on God’s Word.
The fact that the teaching of the trinity is not mentioned, not discussed, not explained nor vindicated anywhere in the Scriptures when so many other main points of teaching are (and that in spite of the fact that it has been the most controversial teaching of so-called Christianity) is strong circumstantial evidence that neither Christ Jesus nor his apostles nor disciples, nor, for that matter, any of the prophets of old recognized or taught such a mysterious teaching. God through his Word appeals to our reason. The trinity doctrine is a negation of both the Scriptures and reason.
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ALIANNE OUSSAMEUR (Alianne)
Starlite Member
Username: Alianne
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 09:56 pm: |
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THIS CONTRADICTION OF SCRIPTURES IS FROM MICHAEL: HE BELIEVES THAT GOD IS A TRINITY WHICH IS A CONTRADICTION OF THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE. DID YOU NOTICE,IN THE 2 SCRIPTURES THAT YOU POSTED MICHAEL, THE WORD "LORD" IN CAPITAL LETTERS???
DID ANYONE EVER TELL YOU WHY "LORD" WAS WRITTEN IN CAPITAL LETTERS??? BIBLE SCOLARS KNOW THAT EVERYTIME YOU SEE THE CAPITAL LETTERS OF "LORD" IT MEANS THAT THAT IS WHERE THE YHWH WAS WRITTEN WHICH STAND FOR YAHWEH OR JEHOVAH. IF YOU YOURSELF PLUG IN THE NAME "YHWH" INTO THESE "LORD", IT WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN LED TO BELEIVE, THE TRINITY-3BEINGS IN ONE. TRY IT!!! THEN TELL ME WHAT YOU COME UP WITH. IT WILL NOT BE YOUR TRINITY DOCTRINE!!! "YHWH" WAS WRITTEN OVER 7 THOUSAND TIMES IN THE BIBLE AND REPLACED BY "LORD".
1 Kings 8:60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD(YAHWEH) is God; there is no one else.
Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD(YAHWEH, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me." |
ALIANNE OUSSAMEUR (Alianne)
Starlite Member
Username: Alianne
| | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 12:39 pm: |
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Contradiction #78
Zaheer: Did God decide that the life-span of humans would be limited
to 120 years (Genesis 6:3) or was God telling Noah that He would cause the flood to occur in 120 years???
The correct understanding of this scripture is that God was telling Noah that it would be 120 years before he would bring on the flood and destroy the wicked who had filled the earth..
The Bible encyclopedia " INSIGHT ON THE SCRIPTURES" vol.2 p.507 : "Jehovah Purposes to Destroy That World. Jehovah set a time limit for the existence of that ungodly world, saying: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” (Ge 6:3) Evidently these words were spoken to Noah. About 20 years after that, Noah’s first son (probably Japheth) was born (2470 B.C.E.), and the record shows that another son, Shem, was born two years later. The time of Ham’s birth is not stated, but these three sons were grown and married when the divine instructions were given to Noah to build an ark. Consequently, it is likely that only 40 or 50 years then remained before the Deluge. (Ge 6:13-18) Now, brought into a covenant with Jehovah (Ge 6:18) and assisted by his family, Noah set to work as a builder and “a preacher of righteousness,” warning that wicked generation of impending destruction.—2Pe. 2:5 |
ALIANNE OUSSAMEUR (Alianne)
Starlite Member
Username: Alianne
| | Posted on Monday, August 01, 2005 - 12:01 pm: |
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3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS????
What we are trying to determine is whether it truly was 3 days and 3 nights that Jesus was in the grave as mentioned in the Bible. You can put in any day into this equation and come to the understanding that it truly was 3 days and nights that Jesus spent as dead in the grave. Please, notice however, that the Bible did not say 3 literal twenty four hour days
Jesus died 3 p.m. Friday afternoon = 1st day
9 p.m..to 12 midnight Friday = 1st night
a 24 hour Saturday (Sabbath) = 2nd day & 2nd night
12 midnight to 6 a.m. Sunday = 3rd night
6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday = 3rd day.
Different days and hours can be put into this equation and we still have 3 days and 3 nights in the grave as Jesus had foretold he would be. |
ALIANNE OUSSAMEUR (Alianne)
Starlite Member
Username: Alianne
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 09:37 am: |
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Deuteronomy 18:18 does not refer to Jesus Christ but it is an explicit prophecy about the prophet Muhammed!.'
ZAHEER: I DISAGREE WITH YOUR ABOVE STATEMENT
1) How could Muhammed be the one referred to in Deuteronomy 18:18 as Moses was speaking to the Israelites who are the descendants of Jacob which had no linkage to the Ishmaelites? Moses also said:"A prophet I shall raise up for them from the midst of their brothers..." by brothers meaning Israelites
2) Muhammad, who lived in the seventh century C.E., claimed to be an Ishmaelite not an Israelite descendant of Abraham. Did Muhammed ever say in the Quran that he was the one referred to at Deut 18:18? Pray tell me where in the Quran? Jesus however was an Israelite , a Jew.
3)The people after witnessing the miracles of Jesus said that Jesus must be the prophet that Moses had spoken of. this is where you will find this info in the Bible
JOHN 5:45,46 47: "Do not think that I will accuse YOU to the Father; there is one that accuses YOU, Moses, in whom YOU have put YOUR hope. 46 In fact, if YOU believed Moses YOU would believe me, for that one wrote about me. 47 But if YOU do not believe the writings of that one, how will YOU believe my sayings?”
JOHN 6;14,15 :"Hence when the men saw the signs he performed, they began to say: “This is for a certainty the prophet that was to come into the world.” 15 Therefore Jesus, knowing they were about to come and seize him to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain all alone.
LUKE 24:25-27 : "So he said to them: “O senseless ones and slow in heart to believe on all the things the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” 27 And commencing at Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures.
4) Also the Bible states the animosity Ishmael had toward Isaac seems to have been handed down to his descendants, even to the extent of "hating the God of Isaac", for the psalmist, in enumerating those that are “the very ones intensely hating” , includes the Ishmaelites. (Ps 83:1, 2, 5, 6)
DEUTERONOMY 18:18 "A prophet I shall raise up for them from the midst of their brothers, like you; and I shall indeed put my words in his mouth, and he will certainly speak to them all that I shall command him " |
ALIANNE OUSSAMEUR (Alianne)
Starlite Member
Username: Alianne
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 09:33 am: |
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Deuteronomy 18:18 does not refer to Jesus Christ but it is an explicit prophecy about the prophet Muhammed!.'
ZAHEER: I DISAGREE WITH YOUR ABOVE STATEMENT
1) How could Muhammed be the one referred to in Deuteronomy 18:18 as Moses was speaking to the Israelites who are the descendants of Jacob which had no linkage to the Ishmaelites? Moses also said:"A prophet I shall raise up for them from the midst of their brothers..." by brothers meaning Israelites
2) Muhammad, who lived in the seventh century C.E., claimed to be an Ishmaelite not an Israelite descendant of Abraham. Did Muhammed ever say in the Quran that he was the one referred to at Deut 18:18? Pray tell me where in the Quran? Jesus however was an Israelite , a Jew.
3)The people after witnessing the miracles of Jesus said that Jesus must be the prophet that Moses had spoken of. this is where you will find this info in the Bible
JOHN 5:45,46 47: "Do not think that I will accuse YOU to the Father; there is one that accuses YOU, Moses, in whom YOU have put YOUR hope. 46 In fact, if YOU believed Moses YOU would believe me, for that one wrote about me. 47 But if YOU do not believe the writings of that one, how will YOU believe my sayings?”
JOHN 6;14,15 :"Hence when the men saw the signs he performed, they began to say: “This is for a certainty the prophet that was to come into the world.” 15 Therefore Jesus, knowing they were about to come and seize him to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain all alone.
LUKE 24:25-27 : "So he said to them: “O senseless ones and slow in heart to believe on all the things the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” 27 And commencing at Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures.
4) Also the Bible states the animosity Ishmael had toward Isaac seems to have been handed down to his descendants, even to the extent of "hating the God of Isaac", for the psalmist, in enumerating those that are “the very ones intensely hating” , includes the Ishmaelites. (Ps 83:1, 2, 5, 6)
DEUTERONOMY 18:18 "A prophet I shall raise up for them from the midst of their brothers, like you; and I shall indeed put my words in his mouth, and he will certainly speak to them all that I shall command him " |
ALIANNE OUSSAMEUR (Alianne)
Starlite Member
Username: Alianne
| | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 02:39 pm: |
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HI! EVERYONE
Zaheer has posted 101 contradictions found in the Bible. I beleive there are no contradictions and if you are curious to what I have to say to him read on...
IN ANSWER TO #26: THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION IN THESE 2 SCRIPTURES.
JACOB IS THE FATHER OF JOSEPH AS MENTIONED IN (Matthew 1:16).
Why then is Heli mentioned in (Luke 3:23).
THE REASON IS AS FOLLOWS:
Mary the mother of Jesus was the daughter of Heli, though the genealogy given by Luke lists Mary’s husband Joseph as the “son of Heli.” Says M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopaedia (1881, Vol. III, p. 774): “In constructing their genealogical tables, it is well known that the Jews reckoned wholly by males, rejecting, where the blood of the grandfather passed to the grandson through a daughter, the name of the daughter herself, and counting that daughter’s husband for the son of the maternal grandfather (Numb. xxvi, 33; xxvii, 4-7).” It is undoubtedly for this reason the historian Luke says that Joseph was the “son of Heli.”—Lu 3:23.
ZAHEER'S QUESTION
Who was the father of Joseph, husband of Mary?
(a) Jacob (Matthew 1:16).
(b) Heli (Luke 3:23). |
Michelle Thomas (Rainn)
Starlite Member
Username: Rainn
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 03:50 am: |
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tis so quiet for all the minds wandering amoung the questions we frequently dismiss... *grins*
Rainn - poetess and priestess
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Scott Whitmore (Emhotep)
Starlite Member
Username: Emhotep
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 03:46 pm: |
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}}}}
Ona Gwe, Waki
Wm Scott Whitmore
aka
Em~Hotep
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Michelle Thomas (Rainn)
Starlite Member
Username: Rainn
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 12:11 pm: |
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 09:42 am:
Do you include the spirit board in a description of auto write? If the answer is yes, then yes. It worked for me, It could have been me moving it so desperately wanting it to work, but I have had the feeling that I was not alone in the process, as if I had support in the words composed. I think that the possability is a high one that energies of earth or entities if you rather, will assist and guide those in need. If you are unsettled in life so may you be in whatever comes beyond. The former living may be sympathetic to the still living.
Jennifer Olivia Woodliff
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Actually, when auto/spirit writing the idea is to allow yourself to be used as the medium in communication. Basically, you allow the spirit/entity to use your body to write, draw, etc.
And no, Jasmine didn't scare me away, although, i do not adhere to her beliefs, this is an open desicussion.
Rainn - poetess and priestess
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Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 08:11 am: |
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My poetic neighbor Olivia, conversing on spiritual matters is not to bash...
“Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor.”—Eph. 4:25.
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Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 08:00 am: |
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Hello Olivia, I am not disturbed by your posting as it is questions, thoughts and sharing from each one of our lifestyle’s and beliefs that lead us to fact or fiction in the quest of 'Truth.'
“The fact is that the Bible makes God’s Word crystal clear on what he thinks of people seeking prophetic advise from demons.”
I simply follow God's truth and since this is a spiritual discussion area where you and others have brought up things that are not of spiritual benefit in God’s eye view, I thought it appropriate to turn on God’s lamp of knowledge as Scott asked me to chime in the conversation.
Why not enjoy the truth of Jehovah God's perspective AND the teaching’s of God’s Word by Jesus Christ on the things that are being talked about here.
If anyone desires to do His will, he will know concerning the teaching whether it is from God or I speak of my own originality.’” (John 7:14-17) So those people listening had to make decisions either to accept the message as from God or reject it. The same is true today. Some hearers put faith in Jesus’ words and make progress and prepare themselves to preach the same message, namely, “The kingdom of the heavens is at hand.” The least one can do is tell others what one hears about God, in one’s daily conversations with other persons. All of us can do that much, can we not? Article_reference w67 1\1 5-12; “They Followed Him”
“He said to them: ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once abandoning the nets, they followed him.”—Matt. 4:19, 20.
As you have seen Jehovah’s Word here Olivia straight from Divine Scripture.
Sincerely, Jasmine Snow
I have enjoyed sharing with you the good news.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Whom ever would like to read Chapter seven from the book Truth; I have included a link.
http://www.thestarlitecafe.com/poems/90/poem_721459.html |
jennifer olivia woodliff (Starloser)
Starlite Member
Username: Starloser
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 07:10 am: |
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Michelle Thomas, I hope the messege I left did not discern you. It seems Jasmine was severely disturbed by this discussion. Let their be more positive post' for this thread and less bash!
Jennifer Olivia Woodliff
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Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 06:40 am: |
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HOW WICKED SPIRITS TRY TO MISLEAD YOU
What is spiritism? It is involvement with demons, or wicked spirits, either directly or through a human medium. Spiritism does for demons what bait does for hunters: It attracts prey. And just as a hunter uses a variety of baits to lure animals into his trap, so wicked spirits encourage various forms of spiritism to bring humans under their control. (Compare Psalm 119:110.) Some of these forms are divination, magic, looking for omens, sorcery, binding with spells, consulting mediums, and inquiring of the dead.
Reference_The book of knowledge; 'Resist Wicked Spirit Forces.'
A brother writes: "My wife's fleshly brother came to our beautiful island with his new bride. After they were here for one day we tactfully approached them with an offer to study the Bible. The offer was accepted. The young woman came to the Kingdom Hall and after a couple of weeks had completely quit smoking. She said, 'It is not clean, and I want to be clean.' It was as simple as that. During the second study, the husband revealed his involvement in spiritism, and when they discussed chapter 7 in the Truth book he said, 'I know there are demons, for I have contacted them!' He was quite involved in spiritism, having started out years ago using the (((Ouija board and having graduated to astro-projection))), which is projecting one's mind away from the body to another location. When we finished the chapter on wicked spirits, he had thrown all his books on spiritism and occultism in the garbage. By this time they were both attending meetings regularly and this brought further blessings. Although the study with this couple began in October, they both engaged in the ministry in December and are now part of the grand family of Jehovah's people. They were baptized at our circuit assembly, culminating the six-month study course in the Truth book."
Article_reference yb71 71-190. |
Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 06:27 am: |
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The Bible's clear teachings remove confusion about what happens to the dead. The Scriptures plainly state that death is "the last enemy" that will be destroyed. (1 Corinthians 15:26) What strength and comfort we can draw from knowledge of the resurrection hope! |
Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 06:24 am: |
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RESURRECTION TO WHERE?
A limited number of men and women will be resurrected to life in heaven. As kings and priests with Jesus, they will share in undoing all the effects of death that mankind inherited from the first man, Adam. (Romans 5:12; Revelation 5:9, 10) How many will God take to heaven to rule with Christ? According to the Bible, only 144,000. (Revelation 7:4; 14:1) Jehovah will give each of these resurrected ones a spirit body so that they can live in heaven.-1 Corinthians 15:35, 38, 42-45; 1 Peter 3:18.
By far the majority of those who have died will be resurrected to a paradise earth. (Psalm 37:11, 29; Matthew 6:10) Part of the reason for resurrecting some to heaven is to complete God's purpose for the earth. Jesus Christ and the 144,000 in heaven will progressively bring obedient mankind back to the perfection that our original parents threw away. This will include resurrected ones, as indicated by Jesus when he told the dying man impaled next to him: "You will be with me in Paradise."-Luke 23:42, 43.
On the Paradise earth, death, which today produces such futility, will be removed. (Romans 8:19-21) The prophet Isaiah declared that Jehovah God "will actually swallow up death forever." (Isaiah 25:8) The apostle John was given a vision of the time when obedient mankind will experience freedom from pain and death. Yes, "God himself will be with them. 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."-Revelation 21:1-4.
The Bible's clear teachings remove confusion about what happens to the dead. The Scriptures plainly state that death is "the last enemy" that will be destroyed. (1 Corinthians 15:26) What strength and comfort we can draw from knowledge of the resurrection hope! And how glad we can be that our dead loved ones who are in God's memory will awaken from the sleep of death to enjoy all the good things he has in store for those who love him! (Psalm 145:16) Such blessings will be accomplished through God's Kingdom. But when was its rule to begin? Let us see. Reference from the book of Knowledge; 'What Happens to our Dead Loved Ones?'
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Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 06:21 am: |
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"ALL THOSE IN THE MEMORIAL TOMBS"
The word that Jesus' disciples used for "resurrection" literally means "raising up" or "standing up." This is a raising up from the lifeless condition of death-as it were, a standing up out of the common grave of mankind. Jehovah God can easily resurrect a person. Why? Because Jehovah is the Originator of life. Today, humans can record the voices and images of men and women on videotape and can replay these recordings after the individuals die. Surely, then, our almighty Creator can record the details of any individual and resurrect the same person, giving him or her a newly formed body.
Jesus Christ said: "The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his [Jesus'] voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment." (John 5:28, 29) All those in Jehovah's memory will be resurrected and instructed in his ways. For those who act in harmony with the knowledge of God, this will turn out to be a resurrection of life. However, it will turn out to be a resurrection of condemnatory judgment for those who reject God's teachings and rulership.
Naturally, those who have pursued a righteous course as Jehovah's servants will be resurrected. In fact, the resurrection hope strengthened many to face death, even in cases of violent persecution. They knew that God could restore them to life. (Matthew 10:28) But millions of people have died without showing whether they would comply with God's righteous standards. They too will be resurrected. Confident in Jehovah's purpose in this regard, the apostle Paul said: "I have hope toward God . . . that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous."-Acts 24:15.
The apostle John received a thrilling vision of resurrected ones standing before God's throne. John then wrote: "The sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds. And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-14) Think of that! All the dead who are in God's memory have the prospect of release from Hades (Greek, hai´des), or Sheol, mankind's common grave. (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:31) They will have an opportunity to demonstrate by their deeds whether they will serve God. Then "death and Hades" will be hurled into what is called "the lake of fire," symbolizing complete destruction, as does the term "Gehenna." (Luke 12:5) The common grave of mankind itself will have been emptied and will cease to exist when the resurrection is completed. How comforting it is to learn from the Bible that God does not torture anyone!-Jeremiah 7:30, 31. Reference from the book of Knowledge; 'What Happens to our Dead Loved Ones?' |
Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 06:19 am: |
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"TO DUST YOU WILL RETURN"
Jehovah clearly explained what death would mean for the sinner Adam. God said: "In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19) Adam would return where? To the ground, to the dust from which he had been created. At death Adam would simply cease to exist!
In this regard, human death does not differ from that of the animals. They too are souls, and the same spirit, or life force, energizes them. (Genesis 1:24) At Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20, the wise man Solomon tells us: "As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit, so that [in death] there is no superiority of the man over the beast . . . They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust." Man was superior to the beasts in that he was created in God's image, reflecting the qualities of Jehovah. (Genesis 1:26, 27) Yet, at death humans and animals alike return to the dust.
Solomon further explained what death means, saying: "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." Yes, the dead know absolutely nothing. In view of this, Solomon urged: "All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going." (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) Where do the dead go? To Sheol (Hebrew, she´ohl´), the common grave of mankind. Our dead loved ones are not conscious of anything. They are not suffering, and they cannot affect us in any way.
Must all of us and our loved ones live only a few years and then cease to exist forever? Not according to the Bible. At the time of Adam's rebellion, Jehovah God immediately instituted arrangements to reverse the terrible consequences of human sin. Death was not part of God's purpose for mankind. (Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9) Hence, death does not have to be final for us or for our loved ones.
Reference from the book of Knowledge; 'What Happens to our Dead Loved Ones?' |
Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 06:14 am: |
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WHAT IS THE "SPIRIT" IN HUMANS?
The ancient Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato held that there must be something inherently immortal inside man and woman-a soul that survives death and never really dies. Earth wide, millions believe this today. This belief often engenders as much fear of the dead as it does concern for their welfare. (((The Bible teaches us something quite different about the dead.)))
In considering the condition of the dead, we must remember that our original father, Adam, did not have a soul. He was a soul. In an awe-inspiring act of creation, God formed man-the soul-from the basic elements of the earth and then breathed into him "the breath of life." Genesis 2:7 tells us: "Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul." Adam's life was sustained by breathing. Yet, more than the blowing of air into man's lungs was involved when God put the breath of life into Adam. The Bible speaks of "the force of life" that is active in earthly living creatures.-Genesis 7:22.
What is "the force of life"? It is the vital spark of life that God put into the lifeless body of Adam. This force was then sustained by the breathing process. But what is the "spirit" referred to at Psalm 146:4? That verse says of one who dies: "His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish." When the Bible writers used the word "spirit" in this way, they did not have in mind a disembodied soul that continues living after the body dies.
The "spirit" that departs from humans at death is the life force that originated with our Creator. (Psalm 36:9; Acts 17:28) This life force does not have any of the characteristics of the creature it animates, just as electricity does not take on the features of the equipment it powers. When someone dies, the spirit (life force) ceases to animate the body cells, much as a light goes out when the electricity is turned off. When the life force stops sustaining the human body, man-the soul-dies.-Psalm 104:29; Ecclesiastes 12:1, 7.
Reference from the book of Knowledge; 'What Happens to our Dead Loved Ones?' |
Scott Whitmore (Emhotep)
Starlite Member
Username: Emhotep
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 09:24 pm: |
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Hi there
Michelle I am Scott ( Emhotep ), this may also be
a area which you wish to chime in on Jasmine. That
being "SPIRIT WALKING" and or "SPIRIT DREAMING" I
know that it is possible for me to "PROJECT MY OWN
SPIRIT/SOUL OUT FROM MY BODY". What do you feel in
said matter. As far as Ouija board goes some times
people read to much into what isn't there, and you
say something about the place of the dead. Girl if
one is there they don't think they are " DEAD ", I
know this and might explain to Y'all one day.
Respond back to me at:
Scott
zanthor2691@aol.com
 }
Ona Gwe, Waki
Wm Scott Whitmore
aka
Em~Hotep
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Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 11:13 am: |
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"The former living may be sympathetic to the still living."
Fear of the Dead Widespread
One encyclopedia, Encarta, states the following about the way many peoples view their dead ancestors: "Deceased relatives . . . are believed to have become powerful spiritual beings or, less frequently, to have attained the status of gods. [This concept] is based on the belief that ancestors are active members of society, still interested in the affairs of their living relatives. It has been extensively documented in West African societies . . . , in Polynesia and Melanesia (the Dobu and the Manus), among several Indo-European peoples (the ancient Scandinavians and Germans), and especially in China and Japan. In general, ancestors are believed to wield great authority, having special powers to influence the course of events or to control the well-being of their living relatives. Protection of the family is one of their main concerns. They are considered intermediaries between the supreme god, or the gods, and the people, and can communicate with the living through dreams and by possession. The attitude toward them is one of mixed fear and reverence. If neglected, the ancestors may cause disease and other misfortunes. Propitiation, supplication, prayer, and sacrifice are various ways in which the living can communicate with their ancestors."
Indeed, a family's income can be sapped because of fear of the dead. Often, elaborate ceremonies requiring food and drink, live animals for sacrifice, and expensive garb are demanded by those who strongly believe the dead should be feared.
But are dead relatives or ancestors really in a state that demands fear and reverence? What does God's Word, the Bible, say?
Can the Dead Harm You?
You may be interested to know that the Bible acknowledges such beliefs. In the book of Deuteronomy, practices related to fear of the dead are mentioned. It states: "There should not be found in you anyone who . . . binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead. For everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah."-Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
Notice that Jehovah God condemned such rites. Why? Because they are based on a lie. The foremost lie concerning the dead is that the soul lives on. For example, the magazine The Straight Path said this about what happens to the dead: "Death is nothing other than the departure of the soul. . . . The grave is a reservoir for the body only, not the soul."
The Bible does not agree. Read for yourself Ezekiel 18:4: "Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die." (King James Version) Also, the condition of the dead was spelled out clearly in God's Word at Ecclesiastes 9:5: "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." This explains why food left for the dead does not get consumed unless it is eaten by someone living.
The Bible, however, does not leave us without hope for those who are in the grave. They can live again! The Bible speaks of a "resurrection." (John 5:28, 29; 11:25; Acts 24:15) This will take place at God's due time. Meanwhile, the dead lie unconscious in the grave, 'sleeping,' until God's time for them to "awaken."-John 11:11-14; Psalm 13:3.
People generally fear the unknown. Accurate knowledge can set a person free from unfounded superstitions. The Bible gives us the truth about the condition of those in the grave. Put simply, you need not fear the dead!-John 8:32.
Article_reference g96 8\8 18-19; The Bible's Viewpoint Should You Fear the Dead?
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Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 11:06 am: |
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Approach to Angels or to Demons?
Much of the current angel movement dabbles in the occult. Consider Marcia's experience. "From September to December 1986," she says, "I began to receive messages from 'beyond the third dimension.' I saw apparitions and had incredible 'past life' dreams. I contacted friends who had died and had many other psychic experiences in which I knew things about people I had just met. I also became blessed with the gift of automatic writing and transmitted messages from discarnates. Some, whom I have never met in their earthly lives, would deliver messages to others through me."
The use of divination as a means to "communicate" with angels is not uncommon. One source outrightly encourages its readers to employ rune stones, tarot cards, I Ching coins, palmistry, and astrology. "Allow your inner knowing self to lead you to the right oracle," the authors write, "and trust that an angel will meet you there."
According to the Bible, however, whatever 'meets you there' certainly is not one of God's angels. Why? Because divination stands in open defiance of God, and true worshipers-in heaven and on earth-have nothing to do with it. Why, in Israel divination was a capital offense! "Everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah," the Law stated.-Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:10-12.
"An Angel of Light"
It should not surprise us that the Devil can make divination appear beneficial, even angelic. The Bible says that Satan "keeps transforming himself into an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14) He can even fabricate portents and then make them come true, deceiving onlookers into thinking that the omen is from God. (Compare Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.) But all of Satan's works-no matter how virtuous or how sinister they may appear-serve one of two purposes: to turn people against Jehovah or simply to blind their minds so that 'the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ might not shine through.' (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) This latter method of deception is often the most effective.
Consider the Bible account of a servant girl in the first century. Her predictions brought much gain to her masters. For many days she followed the disciples, saying: "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are publishing to you the way of salvation." Her words were true. Yet, the account tells us that she was possessed, not by an angel, but by "a demon of divination." Eventually, Paul "turned and said to the spirit: 'I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And it came out that very hour."-Acts 16:16-18.
Why did Paul expel this spirit? After all, it provided much income to the masters of the demon-possessed girl. With supernatural powers, the servant girl may have told farmers when to plant, maidens when to marry, and miners where to look for gold. Why, this spirit even moved the girl to speak some words of truth, publicly praising the disciples!
Nevertheless, it was "a demon of divination." As such, it had no right to make proclamations about Jehovah and his provision for salvation. Its complimentary speech, perhaps uttered to lend credence to the servant girl's predictions, distracted onlookers from Christ's true followers. With good reason, Paul warned the Corinthians: "You cannot be partaking of 'the table of Jehovah' and the table of demons." (1 Corinthians 10:21) Not surprisingly, first-century Christians destroyed all their books that were associated with divination.-Acts 19:19.
Article_reference w95 11\1 4-8; The Truth About Angels
Becoming acquainted with someone usually includes learning something about that one's family. It is the same with coming to know Jehovah God. More is involved than simply learning his name. We must also come to know something about his "family" in heaven. (Compare Ephesians 3:14, 15.) The Bible calls the angels God's "sons." (Job 1:6) Considering their significant role in the Bible, we should want to know more about them to understand their place in God's purpose. |
Jasmine Andrea Snow (Snowprincess)
Starlite Member
Username: Snowprincess
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 10:50 am: |
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The spirit board...A deceiver and dangerous.
The Ouija Board-How Can It Affect You?
What Makes It Work?
The Bible, however, sheds light on what makes the mysterious Ouija board work. How so?
As a way of probing into the unknown, the Ouija board is a form of divination. The Bible, at 1 Samuel 15:23, places divination parallel with the use of "uncanny power." Many who use the Ouija board attest to acquiring "psychic" ability, a truly uncanny, mysterious power that enables them to know things about other persons and events without using normal means of communication. What could be behind that power?
The Bible book of Acts of the Apostles pinpoints the source of a certain servant girl's ability to predict the future as being "a spirit, a demon of divination." When the apostle Paul ordered the spirit to "come out of her," she lost her power of prediction. (Acts 16:16-19) Could the Ouija board, too, involve wicked spirits, or demons? Consider some effects of its use.
"Some researchers warn," observes Russell Chandler, "that the game can lure the susceptible into the weird world of spirit communication-even demonic possession." Harold Sherman, president of the ESP Research Associates Foundation in Little Rock, Arkansas, observes: "The majority who have become involved with possessive and other spirit entities came by this experience through the Ouija board."
Writer Alan Vaughan, who never had a psychic experience until the age of twenty-eight and had been skeptical about such things, relates what happened to him:
"It began on November 7, 1965, when I was trying out a newly purchased Ouija board to amuse a friend convalescing from an operation. . . . 'Spirits' began to appear on the board. One, who called himself 'Z,' answered our questions accurately and with a peculiarly old-fashioned vocabulary.
"Later, I began to experiment alone with the Ouija and soon found myself 'possessed' by a rather neurotic personality who called herself 'Nada.' . . . But then, both to my fascination and fear, 'Nada' got inside my head. I could hear her voice repeating the same phrases over and over again. . . . I took my Ouija to visit a friend to investigate further what was happening. I felt the presence of 'Z' and across the room my friend announced that the pointer was starting to move. It went to 'Z' and then spelled out a message: 'Awful consequences-possession.' At that point I became alarmed, for it had not occurred to me that having a strange voice in one's head was tantamount to possession."
A Pennsylvania woman tells of an experience in her family as a result of using a Ouija board:
"It told us many lies but it also told us many things which were true. . . . Then one night when we were all in bed, my mother was having her usual bedtime snack before turning in. All of a sudden we heard a crash, a yell and a cat hissing and spitting and running like mad around the kitchen. When we got up to see what was wrong, we found my mother on the floor, tea spilled all over her and the cat half out of its mind.
"Immediately we got out the Ouija board . . . We asked, 'What happened?' Answer: 'I broke your mother's chair and I scared the cat.' 'Why?' 'For fun.' 'Who are you?' Then this thing slowly spelled out 'D-e-v-i-l.' . . .
Some object that most people do not have such unusual experiences with the Ouija board. But should that make any difference? Should you explore something that both the Bible and real-life experiences show can be related to "wicked spirit forces"? (Eph. 6:12) Surely the Scriptures are reasonable when asking: "Can a man rake together fire into his bosom and yet his very garments not be burned?"-Prov. 6:27.
Many indeed have been "burned," adversely affected, by experimenting with the Ouija board or in other ways trying to develop psychic powers. Says Dr. Harmon H. Bro, social scientist and specialist in psychology: "Psychic development is like playing psychological Russian roulette-like being hypnotized by a stranger of unknown training and intent."
The connection of the Ouija board with divination, spiritism and "uncanny power," all of which God disapproves, along with the frightening experiences that many have had, makes it plain that experimenting with the Ouija board could have only a detrimental effect on you.-Deut. 18:10-12. Article_reference g75 2\8 10-11. |
SkyBrush (A.D. Hilliard) (Skybrush)
Starlite Member
Username: Skybrush
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 10:39 am: |
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I had a blind aunt, blinded at the age of three, who was not able to read or write in a conventional way. As she grew older she had learned to read in brail and possessed a typewriter that could type in brail. In later years, on occasions when I would visit and read to her, she would ask for a pencil and paper. I thought she was just showing some of her Irish humor, but soon learned otherwise. She would start by just scribbling, creating incoherent marks on the paper. Many times after the scribbles a message/answer that was bothering me would appear. I have witnessed this many times and though she has now passed, I am still amazed at what I witnessed. She would whisper to me, “Don’t fight the power!” Remember now, she could not write with out doing so in brail, and she did not know what the written word even looked like, let alone be able to duplicate.
SkyBrush (A.D. Hilliard)
You must first learn to fly with the sparrow before you soar with the eagle..Kahlil Gibran
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jennifer olivia woodliff (Starloser)
Starlite Member
Username: Starloser
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 08:42 am: |
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Do you include the spirit board in a description of auto write? If the answer is yes, then yes. It worked for me, It could have been me moving it so desperately wanting it to work, but I have had the feeling that I was not alone in the process, as if I had support in the words composed. I think that the possability is a high one that energies of earth or entities if you rather, will assist and guide those in need. If you are unsettled in life so may you be in whatever comes beyond. The former living may be sympathetic to the still living.
Jennifer Olivia Woodliff
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Michelle Thomas (Rainn)
Starlite Member
Username: Rainn
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 07:54 am: |
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Has anyone ever experience auto/spirit writing? Does it exist? Thoughts or comments anyone?
Rainn - poetess and priestess
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Michelle Thomas (Rainn)
Starlite Member
Username: Rainn
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 07:49 am: |
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I've seen a lot of threads dealing with spirituality here and in other places. So... I thought it might be fun and enlightening to have a Q&A thread specifically for Spirituality, Religion, Metaphysical, and other general questions. So here it goes...
Rainn - poetess and priestess
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