1 John 2:18

Carl

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1 John 2:18 "Young children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared, from which fact we know that it is the last hour."

What did John mean when he said it was the "final hour?"
 
This was posted on e-watchman about 10 years ago

 
This was posted on e-watchman about 10 years ago

Thank you! My son sent me a video, and this verse was a topic of discussion. I knew it wasn't what they were talking about, but I needed a better understanding so I can debate the topic in the future.
 
I know you've answered my question about the "rock" statement by Jesus before, but I'm putting these verses here for easy reference... if you have another article that pertains to this topic, please share it.

Matthew 16:18 "Also, I say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my congregation, and the gates of the Grave will not overpower it.

2 Samuel 22:3 "My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and my horn of salvation, my secure refuge and my place to flee, my savior; you who save me from violence."
 
I know you've answered my question about the "rock" statement by Jesus before, but I'm putting these verses here for easy reference... if you have another article that pertains to this topic, please share it.

Matthew 16:18 "Also, I say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my congregation, and the gates of the Grave will not overpower it.

2 Samuel 22:3 "My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and my horn of salvation, my secure refuge and my place to flee, my savior; you who save me from violence."
I haven't written anything about it, but the Watchtower sure has. Here are some links



 
Personally, I believe Jesus addressed Peter as he did in order to allow for the apostasy of the Catholic Church, to test our faith at this time. He didn't call Peter THE rock, even though Peter means rock. He was referring to himself as the chief cornerstone.. or foundation of the congregation. Peter and the others were rocks that were then used to build the new Temple.
 
A summary of my beliefs, please correct me if I'm wrong in any spots. I plan to print this off and hand it out to family & friends.

Jehovah created the Universe; therefore, He's outside of it and cannot be contained within it. The first thing He did was create an exact copy of Himself in Jesus (Colossians 1:15-20). Jesus, a separate person acting on Jehovah's authority, created everything and everyone, including the angels. After Adam was created, Satan, whose real name we don't know, became prideful and haughty. He also became envious and resentful of Jehovah because he wanted to be worshipped, leading to his rebellion. This set in motion a chain of events whereby Satan has tried to prove that mankind cannot rule themselves simply by aligning their free will with Jehovah's. Jehovah has allowed Satan to test his theory by granting him power over the world, but not over those who call on Jehovah's name. Once this restraint is lifted, Satan will be given the chance to test those who are called to be brothers of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:24). As Christ's brothers, they will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3) but will still be in subjection to Jesus as their King (Revelation 19:16).

After Satan's rebellion, Jehovah created the "sacred secret" (Ephesians 1:9-12), which is a heavenly government that will administer the Kingdom during the 1,000-year reign of Jesus. As "kings & priests" (Revelation 5:10), the anointed will lead and teach those who are resurrected. During this time, Jesus will rule from Jehovah's throne, in Jehovah's name. All authority will rest in his hands, and he will effectively be functioning as Jehovah. The anointed will have been changed into angelic beings, making them brothers of Jesus, but not his equal (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Paul described this at (1 Corinthians 15:8), after he saw the then glorified Jesus; similar to how Peter, James and John saw Jesus when he was transfigured (Matthew 17:2).

I don't believe Jesus has returned yet, but all signs (Matthew 24) indicate he will be arriving soon to inspect his bride, the anointed. Those who have remained loyal will be sealed, while those who have not will be damned to eternal death. This will lead to Armageddon, whereby Satan will be thrown into the Abyss for the duration of the 1,000 year Kingdom. The reason Jehovah provides the literal 1,000 year Kingdom without any satanic influence is to allow people from other religions, or atheists, to be taught the Truth without any interference. Jehovah is a just and loving God, and this provision proves it.

How do I know the Kingdom is a literal 1,000 years? 2 Peter 3:8 "However, do not let this escape your notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day."

Paul's letter to the Romans addresses the idea that everyone doesn't need to know the truth of the Bible (Romans 2:14). But is that what he said? All of those who died without knowing about Jesus will receive a resurrection into the Kingdom, but they won't be granted eternal life just yet. After the 1,000 years is up, Jehovah allows Satan to tempt the resurrected one more time. Those who fail undergo the 2nd death (Revelation 20:14), while those pass the test are given eternal life. Meanwhile, those who are of the first resurrection, Christ's brothers, aren't subject to the second death (Revelation 20:6), as they've already received eternal life.

I don't believe there is any way to pass the test that comes at the conclusion of the 1,000 years unless you understand the relationship between Jehovah and Jesus. John 14:6 "Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." When the anointed brothers of Christ are sealed, they'll finally understand the Father-Son relationship, but most of mankind won't until they pass the final test.

What about Romans 2:14 "For when people of the nations, who do not have law, do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves." It's impossible for anyone to gain eternal life without know the Truth; that's what the 1,000 year Kingdom is all about. This verse simply means that someone who dutifully follows the religion they were raised in isn't condemned to death just because they weren't born into a Christian family. All will be given an equal opportunity to gain eternal life.
 
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I would not say that Satan became jealous of Adam's free will because the angels had the gift of free will too. That is why Satan could rebel, because he had free will. Satan's downfall was that he became prideful and haughty, what we would call a narcissist. And he became envious and resentful of God. He wanted humans to worship him.
 
I would not say that Satan became jealous of Adam's free will because the angels had the gift of free will too. That is why Satan could rebel, because he had free will. Satan's downfall was that he became prideful and haughty, what we would call a narcissist. And he became envious and resentful of God. He wanted humans to worship him.
Edited, thank you.
 
I love Jehovah! Today on a whim I decided to create a 1-page handout summarizing my beliefs. I just highlighted it and right clicked, and guess what... it's exactly 1 page... no more and no less. I literally couldn't fit one more line.
 
Obviously, I know the Kingdom hasn't come, but how do I prove that to those who believe it has?

1. Satan would have to be out of commission in the abyss. Catholics have an answer for that which makes no sense.
2. The false prophet and wild beast would have come and gone. They believe the beast was a series of Roman emperors, and that there will be another false prophet. Does this jive with Revelation? No, but I'm fighting against centuries of Catholic dogma, so this avenue is shut.
3. The harvest has to occur BEFORE the Kingdom can begin, and there aren't multiple harvests as far as I can tell. I'm working on a paper that proves this. I'll post it on this thread when it's complete.
4. The Man of Lawlessness would have had to have come and gone. Catholics believe this occurred already. Again, this would mean their house would be full of wheat and no weeds. Hello! What about all the Church scandals?
5. There would be ZERO conjecture! Jesus answers all questions during the Kingdom, as the anointed preach and teach. Even Catholics admit they still have questions with no answers, so how could we be in the Kingdom for the past 1,900 years then?


So here I am... surrounded by honest, God loving Catholics... not hypocrites and PIMOs. There's a reason Jehovah allowed Satan to place Father Kevin in this parish. He's a wonderful man, very conservative and God fearing. I don't believe it was a coincidence. I believe it's a test of my faith in the Truth. Hopefully when the time comes, I'll be able to lead many Catholics, and others, to the Truth... including Father Kevin! That's my goal anyway.
 
1. Satan would have to be out of commission in the abyss. Catholics have an answer for that which makes no sense.
Do not some Catholic priests practice exorcism? What is there to exorcise if Satan and his angels have been put away? If Satan has been put away shouldn't those exorcists be excommunicated for fraud?
2. The false prophet and wild beast would have come and gone. They believe the beast was a series of Roman emperors, and that there will be another false prophet. Does this jive with Revelation? No, but I'm fighting against centuries of Catholic dogma, so this avenue is shut.
Christ is the one who puts the false prophet and beast out of action. It is called Armageddon.

And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army. 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. But the rest were killed off with the long sword that proceeded out of the mouth of the one seated on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh." - Rev 19:19-21
3. The harvest has to occur BEFORE the Kingdom can begin, and there aren't multiple harvests as far as I can tell. I'm working on a paper that proves this. I'll post it on this thread when it's complete.
I would only modify your statement to say that the harvest will begin as a result of the Kingdom coming to power.
4. The Man of Lawlessness would have had to have come and gone. Catholics believe this occurred already. Again, this would mean their house would be full of wheat and no weeds. Hello! What about all the Church scandals?
The man of lawlessness is alive and well up until the moment Christ's manifestation blows him away.

"Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence." - 2 Thessalonians 2:8
5. There would be ZERO conjecture! Jesus answers all questions during the Kingdom, as the anointed preach and teach. Even Catholics admit they still have questions with no answers, so how could we be in the Kingdom for the past 1,900 years then?
The reason Catholics have questions with no answers is because they refuse to accept what the Bible teaches.
 
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A summary of my beliefs, please correct me if I'm wrong in any spots. I plan to print this off and hand it out to family & friends.

Jehovah created the Universe; therefore, He's outside of it and cannot be contained within it. The first thing He did was create an exact copy of Himself in Jesus (Colossians 1:15-20). Jesus, a separate person acting on Jehovah's authority, created everything and everyone, including the angels. After Adam was created, Satan, whose real name we don't know, became prideful and haughty. He also became envious and resentful of Jehovah because he wanted to be worshipped, leading to his rebellion. This set in motion a chain of events whereby Satan has tried to prove that mankind cannot rule themselves simply by aligning their free will with Jehovah's. Jehovah has allowed Satan to test his theory by granting him power over the world, but not over those who call on Jehovah's name. Once this restraint is lifted, Satan will be given the chance to test those who are called to be brothers of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:24). As Christ's brothers, they will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3) but will still be in subjection to Jesus as their King (Revelation 19:16).

After Satan's rebellion, Jehovah created the "sacred secret" (Ephesians 1:9-12), which is a heavenly government that will administer the Kingdom during the 1,000-year reign of Jesus. As "kings & priests" (Revelation 5:10), the anointed will lead and teach those who are resurrected. During this time, Jesus will rule from Jehovah's throne, in Jehovah's name. All authority will rest in his hands, and he will effectively be functioning as Jehovah. The anointed will have been changed into angelic beings, making them brothers of Jesus, but not his equal (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Paul described this at (1 Corinthians 15:8), after he saw the then glorified Jesus; similar to how Peter, James and John saw Jesus when he was transfigured (Matthew 17:2).

I don't believe Jesus has returned yet, but all signs (Matthew 24) indicate he will be arriving soon to inspect his bride, the anointed. Those who have remained loyal will be sealed, while those who have not will be damned to eternal death. This will lead to Armageddon, whereby Satan will be thrown into the Abyss for the duration of the 1,000 year Kingdom. The reason Jehovah provides the literal 1,000 year Kingdom without any satanic influence is to allow people from other religions, or atheists, to be taught the Truth without any interference. Jehovah is a just and loving God, and this provision proves it.

How do I know the Kingdom is a literal 1,000 years? 2 Peter 3:8 "However, do not let this escape your notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day."

Paul's letter to the Romans addresses the idea that everyone doesn't need to know the truth of the Bible (Romans 2:14). But is that what he said? All of those who died without knowing about Jesus will receive a resurrection into the Kingdom, but they won't be granted eternal life just yet. After the 1,000 years is up, Jehovah allows Satan to tempt the resurrected one more time. Those who fail undergo the 2nd death (Revelation 20:14), while those pass the test are given eternal life. Meanwhile, those who are of the first resurrection, Christ's brothers, aren't subject to the second death (Revelation 20:6), as they've already received eternal life.

I don't believe there is any way to pass the test that comes at the conclusion of the 1,000 years unless you understand the relationship between Jehovah and Jesus. John 14:6 "Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." When the anointed brothers of Christ are sealed, they'll finally understand the Father-Son relationship, but most of mankind won't until they pass the final test.

What about Romans 2:14 "For when people of the nations, who do not have law, do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves." It's impossible for anyone to gain eternal life without know the Truth; that's what the 1,000 year Kingdom is all about. This verse simply means that someone who dutifully follows the religion they were raised in isn't condemned to death just because they weren't born into a Christian family. All will be given an equal opportunity to gain eternal life.
Serenity said:
It truly is a blessing to know the truth.

1) There is a loving Creator who made the earth and all things on it, not for nothing, but that it may be inhabited.

2) Jehovah, the Creator has an eternal purpose for mankind and the earth and therefore won't allow them to be destroyed by an asteroid or a nuclear war.

3) That purpose is that the earth be restored and made into a beautiful paradise and that it be inhabited by all righteous mankind who will be restored to human perfection, with perfect health, including the resurrected dead of mankind, making life on earth not only worth living but truly a delight and joy forever.

5) This restoration will be accomplished through a special arrangement with Jesus Christ and 144,000 bought from among mankind ruling as kings and priests for 1,000 years.

6) After the 1,000 years the kingdom will be handed back to Jehovah, the Creator. The earth and mankind will be forever ruled by their loving Creator, and heavenly Father, the One who made all things, who controls all things and has the love, justice, wisdom, and power to do so.

7) Perfected mankind will forever enjoy the glorious freedom of the children of God.


I think this is a better summary of the Kingdom.
 
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I think you might be going about this the wrong way Carl. Like RK said....
The reason Catholics have questions with no answers is because they refuse to accept what the Bible teaches.
But it's more than that, they don't even know what the Bible teaches because they don't read it. I had a Catholic tell me in service once, that us mere humans couldn't understand the Bible without a priest telling us what it means. So they not only have no understanding of deep things they have no understanding of "milk". They don't understand the most basic of Bible truths, the nature of Jehovah and Jesus what happens to us when we die, hell fire etc.


What you might try is start from the beginning with Adam and Eve. Catholics believe in per-destination. (Jehovah can see the future but he doesn't always use it. I can run, but I usually walk. I might not be able to run much longer but so far I still can. LOL) They believe that God, knew Adam and Eve and Satan for that matter were going to sin. That is why so many in false religion believe God created Satan. So I would start there by asking your sons, "if God knew Adam and Eve were going to sin, and the Bible says God cannot test anyone with evil things, then why did he create them, knowing they were going to sin, and by extension, created all the horrible conditions we have lived with these last 6,000 years?" Another point to make is, "if Adam and Eve had not sinned, they would have lived forever as humans, then there would have been no need for humans to have an immortal soul, so when did God create their immortal soul?" Another is this, "if Adam and Eve went to hell, then why didn't God tell them, "if you eat from the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you are going to burn forever in hell fire?"
 
So are Catholics "Preterists" i.e. Do they believe the events of Revelation have come and gone and we are living in Satan's Little Season?
There seems to be a growing amount of Christians in the Truth community who have been deceived by this teaching due to the obvious discepencies in the timeline.
I say deceived because False religion still exists.
However, Rev 18:21 says that when Babylon is destroyed it will never be seen again.
Rev 20: 7 says Satan and Gog of Magog will be released after the 1000 years, but there is no mention of Babylon the Great returning.
Also, cannot believe that the 'Little Season " could last approximately 100 -300 years, which is when they say the so called reset and mud floods occurred.
I don't know if we are talking about the same thing, but the @Watchman 's makes a great refutation to Preterists, as does @Carl 's hand out.
 
When my son tries to explain his beliefs, I have to hold my tongue due to the way they twist Scriptures to fit their conjecture. Just like the WT does, but they've had an 1,800-year head start! Imagine how powerfully entrenched the WT doctrine would be if it had that long to control minds. I realized there's no way to get through to him right now, so it's a wait and act when Jesus returns situation. I make sure to follow Deuteronomy 6:7 as much as possible. I know it's getting through to him, and that Jehovah will help when the time comes. He's just like a PIMI JW... loves the organization to the point of idolization. All bets are off when the GT begins!
 
Here's my take on the trinity, that I'll use when I can discuss it with my sons' priest.

God has no beginning or ending, therefore time doesn't exist to Him. He does have a name that's been translated into the various modern languages. Jehovah is the English translation of His ancient Hebrew name, just as Jesus is the English translation of his ancient Hebrew name. We don't call Jesus by his ancient or modern Hebrew name, so we should do likewise with Jehovah.

Jehovah's first act concerning our Universe was to create an exact copy of Himself (1), though whom all creation would come into existence. This means that Jesus is our creator, by means of Jehovah's authority. As a separate person, Jesus was given free will to decide to follow his Father, or rebel. He remained loyal to Jehovah and freely choose to empty himself of his godly form to become a human, so that he could become the perfect sacrifice for our sins (3).

Jehovah created Jesus because it is impossible for God to dwell within His own creation. By creating an exact copy of Himself, Jehovah gave the world a means to see Him through Jesus. When we look at Jesus, we're seeing Jehovah, but they are still separate persons, with their own individual free will. If they aren't separate, then Jesus didn't sacrifice himself for us, because he would have known he would be resurrecting himself. Instead, he had to have faith that his Father would resurrect him, thus making it the ultimate sacrifice based on faith.

Jesus came to the Earth in Jehovah's name, which means he came with the full authority of Jehovah. He also made his Father's name known (4). It's important to know Jehovah's name because by it we will be saved (5,6). When Jesus returns, he will come with full authority and power, functioning as Jehovah (7). After Satan and death are destroyed, Jesus will hand the throne back to Jehovah (8).

Jesus is not Jehovah; because a son can't be his own father. John 1:1 can be properly understood when you consider that Jesus becomes Jehovah in the sense that when he sits down on Jehovah's throne, he rules in His name. Jesus was created to be the visual representation of Jehovah, the invisible God; the means by which humans can see God. We know that no flesh can see God and live (9), which is why Jesus was created, to be the image of God for us.

The reason there is so much confusion is because one side elevates Jesus to an equal footing with Jehovah, while others diminish his role to being a mere angel or less, just a prophet. When Jehovah created Jesus, all of His knowledge dwelled within him, and his access to Jehovah's Holy Spirit gave him great authority. That said, he still wasn't equal to Jehovah. We know this because the apostles will become like Jesus when they judge angels (10, 11). The apostles will become one with Jesus, but will never be equal to him or Jehovah, just as Jesus isn't equal to God (12).

The Holy Spirit is not a separate person, with free will, it's Jehovah's power. Trinitarians tend to ignore the Holy Spirit, because it's a mystery to them, but when you look at the Scriptures, it becomes crystal clear who or what it is. Jesus described this power when he unknowingly healed a woman who had suffered from a medical condition for 12 years (13). When Jehovah says He will live among us, it comes by means of Jesus, who was created by Jehovah to be our King (14). Jehovah can't empty Himself from the Heaven that exists outside of our Universe and come live among us. Finally, when Jehovah spoke to the prophets of old, He did so via his Holy Spirit, not face to face (15).

Citations:

1) Colossians 1:15-19, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist, and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might become the one who is first in all things;  because God was pleased to have all fullness to dwell in him,"

2) Philippians 2:5-8 "Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God’s form, did not even consider the idea of trying to be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and became human. More than that, when he came as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, yes, death on a torture stake."

3) 1 John 2:2 "And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s."

4) John 5:43 " I have come in the name of my Father,"

5) Joel 2:32 "And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved;"

6) Acts 2:21 "And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”’

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

8) 1 Corinthians 15:28 "But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone."

9) Exodus 33:20 “You cannot see my face, for no man can see me and live.”

10) 1 Corinthians 6:3 "Do you not know that we will judge angels?"

11) Philippians 3:20-21"But our citizenship exists in the heavens, and we are eagerly waiting for a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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"

12) John 17:20-23 “I make request, not concerning these only, but also concerning those putting faith in me through their word, so that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one. I in union with them and you in union with me, in order that they may be perfected into one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me."

13) Mark 5:25-34 "Now there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for 12 years. She had suffered much at the hands of many physicians and had spent all her resources, and she was no better but, rather, had become worse. When she heard the reports about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his outer garment, for she kept saying: “If I touch just his outer garments, I will get well.” And immediately her flow of blood dried up, and she sensed in her body that she had been healed of the grievous sickness.

Immediately Jesus realized in himself that power had gone out of him, and he turned around in the crowd and asked: “Who touched my outer garments?” But his disciples said to him: “You see the crowd pressing in on you, and you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” However, he was looking around to see who had done this. The woman, frightened and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. He said to her: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed from your grievous sickness.”


14) Zechariah 2:10-13 “Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion; for I am coming, and I will reside in your midst,” declares Jehovah. “Many nations will join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and they will become my people; and I will reside in your midst.” And you will have to know that Jehovah of armies has sent me to you. Jehovah will take possession of Judah as his portion on the holy ground, and he will again choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before Jehovah, for he is taking action from his holy dwelling."

15) Zechariah 7:12 "They made their heart like a diamond and would not obey the law and the words that Jehovah of armies sent by his spirit through the former prophets. So there came great indignation from Jehovah of armies.”
 
I think this would be a good scripture to add
Daniel 7:13-14

13  “I kept watching in the visions of the night, and look! with the clouds of the heavens, someone like a son of man was coming; and he gained access to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him up close before that One. 14  And to him there were given rulership, honor, and a kingdom, that the peoples, nations, and language groups should all serve him. His rulership is an everlasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed.
 
I think this would be a good scripture to add
Daniel 7:13-14

13  “I kept watching in the visions of the night, and look! with the clouds of the heavens, someone like a son of man was coming; and he gained access to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him up close before that One. 14  And to him there were given rulership, honor, and a kingdom, that the peoples, nations, and language groups should all serve him. His rulership is an everlasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed.
Thank you, I added that one!
 
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