ANOTHER JESUS

We are warned by the word of God that anyone who preaches or teaches a heresy will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:20,21). Therefore, the honest and good heart should be willing to have their teachings examined by the word of God. But he that does what is true comes to the light, in order that his works may be made manifest as having been worked in harmony with God (John 3:21). In the book of Second Corinthians, chapter eleven verse four, the Holy Spirit warns that many will come preaching another Jesus. And, since Jesus Christ is the central theme of the Bible fro Genesis to Revelation, to be wrong about WHO Jesus is would be to be wrong altogether. If we teach or preach another Jesus, different from the one spoken of in the Scriptures, then of course we will not be able to enter into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:11). Our adversary, the Devil is happy for us to be right about every subject in the Bible, if he can only succeed in getting us to be wrong about Jesus. Satan knows that if he can get us to teach or preach a heresy on this one vital subject, the central theme of the Bible, we will be kept from entering into that everlasting Kingdom of our Lord

IS JESUS OF NAZARETH IN HEAVEN?

Is Jesus of Nazareth in Heaven? Does Jesus of Nazareth exist anywhere today? The Watchtower Society would answer NO to these questions. If you are a member of the Watchtower organization, you will perhaps be shocked at the following quotation from the July 22nd, 1984 issue of AWAKE magazine. If Satan has lulled you into spiritual slumber, this statement should cause you to AWAKE! The title of the article was Jesus of Nazareth---Who Really Was He? Sounds innocent enough, until you come to another heading within the article: Jesus of Nazareth---Who is He NOW? Listen, if you please, to this shockingly bold statement: The earthly man Jesus of Nazareth NO LONGER EXISTS. He was put to death in 33 C.E. But, a change had taken place at His baptism three and a half years earlier. Anointed with Gods holy spirit, Jesus of Nazareth became Jesus Christ---the anointed one, the promised Messiah. And as such, he was resurrected by God to heavenly life on the third day following His death. So although the man Jesus of Nazareth is dead, Jesus Christ is alive. Thus, as important as it is to know who Jesus of Nazareth was, it is even more important to know who Jesus Christ is---Acts 10:37-43. (Emphasis mine E.R.) This is what the Watchtower Society believes. But

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

It is most important that we take not mans words for anything, but rather believe God on all matters (Psalm 118:8). For the Scriptures cannot be nullified (John 10:35). To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20). The only problem with the above quotation from

AWAKE magazine is that there are no scriptures to support it. The Bible says that, By the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter shall be established (II Corinthians 13:1). No where in the entire Bible does it say: The earthly man Jesus of Nazareth no longer existsthe man Jesus of Nazareth is dead. As a matter of fact, if we examine the Scriptures, we see that it is actually contrary to the very idea.

THE ANGEL KNEW JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS ALIVE!!

If Jesus of Nazareth died, and no longer exists then the angel at the tomb was lying. When we examine this heavenly messengers testimony, it is evident that he believed Jesus of Nazareth to be ALIVE. Stop being stunned, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was impaled. He was raised up, He is not here. See the place where they laid Him (Mark 16:6). We are persuaded that had the angel believed as the Watchtower Society does, he would have said: Jesus of Nazareth no longer exists---he was put to death never to exist again But that is not what he said. The angel could also have told them about how Jesus of Nazareth was changed to become Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, yet he did not. He did not say these things because the word of God nowhere teaches such doctrine. Quite to the contrary, Gods angel actually explained to the two women that Jesus the Nazarene, who was impaled, was raised up. The angel did not say that Jesus the Christ was raised up, but rather that Jesus of Nazareth, who was impaled, was raised up. The angel then presented the absence of Jesus the Nazarenes body as proof of His resurrection. If the Watchtower is correct in saying that Jesus of Nazareths body was not resurrected, why did Gods angel present the absence of Jesus the Nazarenes body as proof of His resurrection? According to the Watchtower Society, Gods angel was either deluded or bearing false witness.

PETER BELIEVED JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS ALIVE!!

On the day of Pentecost, Peter used these words at the opening of his message: Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus the Nazarene (Acts 2:22). He goes on to close his message by saying, THIS Jesus whom you impaled, God has made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). Notice here that Peter is saying, that it was Jesus the Nazarene who was impaled and that God had made him both Lord and Christ. --- THIS Jesus of Nazareth. Further, in the book of Acts, chapter three, verse six, we find Peter saying these words to a lame man: Silver and gold I do not posses, but what I do have is what I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk. And the man began immediately walking and leaping. Question: Could Jesus of Nazareth who had died and ceased to exist have given this man the power to walk? After healing this lame man, Peter and John went about preaching, and were arrested for it. The next day, the elders and scribes, along with Annas the high priest, Ciaphas, John and Alexander came to the prison and set Peter and John in their midst and asked them this question: By what power, or in what name have ye done this? Then, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto themBe it known unto ye all, and to all the people

of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in Him doth this man stand here before you whole (Acts 4:710 ASV 1901). Notice how clear the question is: By what power, or in what name have ye done this? And the answer is just as clear: In the name of Jesus Christ of NAZARETH whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in HIM doth this man stand here before you whole. Please notice, it is the same Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified that God also raised from the dead. It was the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth that was responsible for making the lame man whole. It should be obvious to all that the Watchtower writer did nod receive his information that, Jesus of Nazareth no longer existed from the Apostle Peter. For we have no doubt as to where the Apostle Peter received his information: Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8).

JESUS HIMSELF KNEW HE WAS ALIVE!!

When Saul of Tarsus was struck down on the road to Damascus, he cried out to heaven, Who are you Lord? And Jesus replied to him I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting (Acts 22:8). Please notice, Jesus did not say: I was Jesus the Nazarene, but I AM Jesus the Nazarene. The same Jesus of Nazareth that gave Peter the power to heal a man who was lame from his mothers womb, is now revealing Himself to Saul. That He would be crucified and then resurrected to sit at the right hand of God was no new revelation. Long before He greeted Saul on the road to Tarsus with the words: I am Jesus of Nazareth, He was teaching that He Himself, the same Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified would also be resurrected. Listen to His very own words: The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after that He is killed, He shall rise the third day (Mark 9:31).

TWO ANGELS TESTIFY

Behold, two men stood by them in shining garments; why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (Luke 24:4-7)? The first angel that was quoted in this article announced that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified and then resurrected on the third day. The two angels quoted in this account refer to the one resurrected one as the Son of Man. According to the Watchtower Societys Aid To Bible Understanding, the terms Son of Man, and Jesus of Nazareth both refer to the same person. (Pg. 1531, Aid To Bible Understanding).

CHRISTS RESURRECTED BODY

After taking a whip and driving the sheep and cattle out of the temple and overturning the tables of the moneychangers, the Jews confronted Jesus. Then the Jews demanded of Him, What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this? Jesus answered them, Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days. The 3

Jews replied, It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days? But the temple He had spoken of was His BODY. After he was raised from the dead, His disciples recalled what He had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken (John 2:18-22). The Jewish leaders were angry with Jesus for cleansing the temple of its religious corruption and they were demanding proof for His divine commission to do such a thing. The Jews wanted Jesus to DO something or produce evidence that would prove to them that He was a prophet like Elijah or Nehemiah. Jesus could foresee that just as the Jews had rejected His reform of the temple abuses, they would eventually reject all of His work and finally kill Him. By predicting His own death and the precise time of His resurrection, Jesus could establish beyond any doubt that He was Gods promised Messiah, and as Gods Messiah, He would have the authority from God to clean up the temple, or anything else that was out of order in His Fathers house. The sign of all signs would be Jesus predicted death and the resurrection of His BODY three days later. But the temple He had spoken of was His BODY. After He was raised from the dead, His disciples recalled what He had said (John 2:21,22).

HOW JESUS PROVED THAT HIS BODY WAS RESURRECTED

Since Jesus predicted to the Jews that He would be certified and that His bodily resurrection would be a sign that He was the Messiah, we should expect an emphasis to be made by Jesus on His body after the resurrection. Since the disciples recalled what He had said concerning His bodily resurrection, it would be natural for the disciples to take an unusual interest in the inspection of His physical BODY. After Jesus was resurrected, does the Scriptures say that He placed any emphasis on His body and do the Scriptures in any way indicate that the disciples took any interest in His body? Let us take a closer look at what is recorded in the Bible. And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit (Luke 24:36,37). Now, what is Jesus going to do? He predicted that the sign of His Messiah ship would be the resurrection of His BODY (John 2:21,22). His body has indeed been resurrected, but His own disciples do not believe it. They believe He is a spirit. How will Jesus convince them that His body was literally resurrected from the grave (as He had predicted)---the same body that was crucified? And He said unto them, Why are you troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that is I Myself; handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. And when He had spoken, He showed them His hands and feet (Luke 24:38-40).

HOW DID JESUS CONVINCE THEM HIS BODY WAS RAISED?

How was it proven to the disciples that the same body of Jesus that had been crucified was also raised from the dead? Answer: By an extremely close and minute examination of the body of the one who claimed He was Jesus of Nazareth who had been raised from the dead. Are we able to prove from the word of God that the apostles did, indeed, give a 4

detailed examination of Jesus post resurrection body after He said to them: Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet (Luke 28:39,40)? I believe that that we can. In our English language, we have a very limited number of words that describe the word vision. The Greek Language however, is much more precise, having approximately twelve words to describe the meaning of the word vision.

BEHOLD!
Twelve of the Greek words describing vision are given in Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words on pages 114 and 115. The Holy Spirit uses two of these words to describe the way in which the apostles looked at Jesus resurrected body. The first word we will examine is theoreo. This interesting word is found in Luke 24:39 (NWT). See My hands and my feet, that it is I myself; feel me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you BEHOLD that I have. The New World Translation apparently recognizes the significance of this unusual word and translates it BEHOLD in the above passage rather than see as found in most translations. Consider now, Vines definition of this word theoreo. From theoros, a spectator, is used of one who looks at a thing with interest and for a purpose, usually indicating the careful observation of details. Jesus had told the Jews that after He was crucified, His BODY would be resurrected (John 2:18-22). In view of this prediction, would anyone consider it strange for the disciples to look at Jesus resurrected body with interest, and for the careful observation of details? Of course not, it would be expected. This word theoreo, is also found in the gospel of Matthew chapter twenty-seven, verse fifty-five. Let us notice that in Matthew 27:50 Jesus is being crucified; in verse 51 the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rock-masses were split. In verse 52, the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints, which slept, arose. In verse 54, the centurion was so impressed by this site that he exclaimed, Truly this was the Son of God! Then the Scriptures say, in verse 55, that the women who followed Jesus from Galilee were there, BEHOLDING (theoreo) from a distance. The Holy Spirit is telling us that the disciples were looking as intently at Jesus resurrected body as these women were looking at Him crucified.

HANDLE ME AND SEE!

After giving Jesus resurrected body a careful visual inspection, Jesus then invited them to Handle Me, and see (Luke 24:39). Jesus did not want to leave any stone unturned in presenting the evidence that His body was actually and literally resurrected from that tomb. If Jesus had only given them the opportunity to visually inspect His body, it would have left the door open for Satan to suggest that they were only looking at a spirit that resembled Jesus of Nazareth. To avoid this pitfall, Jesus said to His disciples: HANDLE ME, and see. Did the disciples really do as Jesus admonished them: FEEL me, and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you behold that I 5

have (Luke 24:39 NWT)? The Apostle John does not leave us to wonder about this important question. He said, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our HANDS HAVE HANDLED, of the Word of life (I John 1:1). The Holy Spirit now uses a different Greek word to describe what one sees while he is handling an object that is to be inspected. The word we are considering in the above passage is theaomai. Let us look at the definition given by Vines. To behold, view attentive, contemplateit signifies a more earnest contemplation than the ordinary verbs for to seestresses more the ACTION of the person beholding (pp. 115, 1019). I will now quote from two different translations that bring out the meaning of this word. We are writing to you about something which has always existed yet which we ourselves actually heard and saw with our own eyes: something which we had opportunity to OBSERVE CLOSELY and even to hold in our hands, and yet as we know now, was something of the very word of life Himself (I John 1:1 Phillips Modern English)! That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have VIEWED ATTENTIVELY and our hands felt, concerning the word of life (I John 1:1 NWT). According to the New World Translation, the disciples viewed the Lords body attentively as they handled it or felt it with their hands. This same word is used by the Holy Spirit to describe how intently the disciples watched Jesus ascension up to heaven (Acts 1:11). The Greek word theaomai is used again by the Holy Spirit to describe how Mary Magdalene looked at Jesus resurrected body (Mark 16:11). Even though this unusual Greek word was used by the Holy Spirit to describe the intensity and thoroughness of her viewing of Christs resurrected body, the disciples believed not. Marys use of this word in her testimony should have brought FAITH to the disciples hearts, because we see that Jesus Himself, again uses this Greek word in Mark 16:14, when He rebukes them for not believing Marys testimony. But later He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table and He reproved their lack of faith and hard heartedness, because they did not believe those who had beheld Him, now raised up from the dead (Mark 16:14 NWT). Jesus knew that the use of this word in Marys testimony should have brought faith to their hearts and He justly reproves them for their unbelief.

WAS JESUS RAISED AS AN INVISIBLE SPIRIT?

Now, lets examine the evidence that the Watchtower presents for the resurrection of an invisible spirit, rather than the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The Watchtower organization says; Those guards of the memorial tomb saw Jehovahs angel, but they did not see Jesus come to life and come out of the tomb. He did not take up again that body in which he had been killed as a human sacrifice to God. The apostle Peter tells us so, saying: Christ died once for all time concerning sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, that he might lead you to God, he being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the spirit. I Peter 3:18 (LET YOUR NAME BE SANCTIFIED p. 267, 1961). This verse in First Peter does not say that God raised Jesus up as a spirit, but rather that God raised him up in the spirit, or BY His Spirit. There is a great difference in Jesus being raised as an invisible spirit and in Jesus body being 6

raised BY Gods Spirit. The apostle Paul makes this point crystal clear for us in the following passage: But if the Spirit of Him that has raised up Jesus from among the dead dwell in you (Romans 8:11). In keeping in harmony with the passages studied earlier, and this particular passage, the Emphatic Diaglott translates I Peter 3:18 in the following way: Being indeed put to death in the flesh, but made alive BY the Spirit.

WAS ISAAC BORN AN INVISIBLE SPIRIT?

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also is it now (Galatians 4:28,29 ASV 1901). Abraham was 100 years old, and his wife Sarah was 90. The prospect of Sarah giving birth to Isaac was very unlikely at that age, and what made it even more unlikely was the fact that Sarah had been barren all of her life. However, we know that with God all things are possible (Philippians 4:13). And so we see, that in order for Scripture to be fulfilled, there had to be a special intervention of God. This is why it was said that Isaac was born after the Spirit. We should keep in mind, that even though Isaacs birth was made possible only by the Spirits special intervention, he definitely was not born with an invisible spirit body. Although his birth was BY the Spirits intervention, Isaac was still born a normal flesh and blood human child. A normal boy! The same Holy Spirit that enabled Sarah to conceive and bare Isaac in the face of such impossible odds was also responsible for raising Jesus bodily from the grave. Therefore, it should be clear to all, that if Isaac could be miraculously born after the Spirit, and still come forth as a normal flesh and blood baby, then Jesus also could be made alive by the Spirit and come forth from the grave in His resurrected BODY by the power of the Spirit, just as He had predicted (John 2:19-22).

IS JEHOVAH A DECIEVER?
Can anyone who truly believes in the Word of God and in the righteousness of Jehovah believe that He would have PERMITTED Jesus of Nazareth to be crucified, eliminate his body, and then miraculously fabricate a different body, a duplicate of the body of Jesus of Nazareth, for the archangel Michael to inhabit? Or that He would further ALLOW the archangel, disguised by that body, to deceive the disciples by saying, it is I myself (Jesus of Nazareth---not Michael, the archangel, Luke 24:39). Would the one of whom the Scriptures say, did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth (I Peter 2:22), have agreed to be a party to such a deception? Is Jehovah a deceiver? Does He tell us lies and falsehoods in order to manipulate us? Of course He does not! Jehovah delights in truthfulness (Psalm 51:6) and He is faithful and trustworthy (II Chronicles 6:14,15; I Corinthians 1:9). It is Satan, our adversary, the Lawless one who is the deceiver (Genesis 3:4), who uses deception (II Thessalonians 2:10).

NOT EVEN A HINT!

The Watchtower organization says that while Jesus was on earth, it was not even hinted at that he (Jesus) had been Michael in heaven (Your Will Be Done On Earth p. 315). This is one statement with which I whole-heartedly agree. Since it is indeed true that Jesus never gave even a hint while He was on earth (or after) that He had formerly been Michael, the archangel, while in heaven, then who would the disciples have thought He was when He appeared to them saying, it is I myself (Luke 24:39)? If the one who was in that resurrected body was not Jesus of Nazareth, then He would have been guilty of gross deception when He said to the disciples, it is I myself?? In view of the fact that the Scriptures say, Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), we are persuaded that He did not deceive the disciples, but was in truth Jesus of NAZARETH.

OUR PRIEST MUST BE TAKEN FROM AMONG MEN!

The Scriptures declare that every priest and every High Priest had to be taken from among men (Hebrews 5:1-3). A priest must partake of the nature of the persons over whom he ministers. Why is this so? Because, a priest must be a man, so that he might be able to, deal moderately with the ignorant and erring ones since he also is surrounded with his own weakness (Hebrews 5:2 NWT). It was for this very reason that God did not choose angels to be our priests. Angels do not have the nature of men. Nor do they truly understand men. Only a man could be subject to the temptations that are common to men, and experience the suffering that men do, and thereby, be equipped to minister unto men in a sympathetic, understanding and merciful way.

JESUS FIT THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE OUR HIGH PRIEST

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are ---yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

DID JESUS ENTER HEAVEN WITH HIS OWN BLOOD?

The Scriptures teach that Jesus, our great High Priest, has gone through the heavens (Hebrews 4:14). Jesus went through the heavens so that He might enter The Most Holy Place with His OWN blood, which was shed for our eternal redemption. He entered

the Most Holy Place once for all by His OWN blood, having obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).

THE WATCHTOWERS JESUS DID NOT ENTER HEAVEN WITH HIS OWN BLOOD!
The Watchtower organization teaches The earthly man Jesus of Nazareth NO LONGER EXISTS. He was put to death in C.E. 33 (AWAKE, July 22, 1984). They have fabricated another Jesus to take his place, namely---Michael, the archangel. Realizing that the real Jesus had to enter into the Most Holy Place in heaven with His OWN blood in order to obtain eternal redemption for His people, and that it was impossible for their Jesus to do this being an angel, they have substituted ANOTHER procedure for their Jesus to follow when he supposedly went into the presence of God. At the end of forty days of miraculous appearances to his disciples, Jesus ascended into heaven. He returned to the presence of his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, who is spirit (Acts 1:1-11; John 4:23,24). There he presented to God the VALUE of his sacrifice as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. ( Babylon The Great Has Fallen, p.424). Notice that he did not present to God his own blood, as the Scriptures do plainly tell us, but rather, he offers only the VALUE of his sacrifice. Knowing that Michael the archangel had no blood to shed, it would be impossible for him to have entered once for all into the Most Holy Place and obtain eternal redemption for the world. It is obvious that the Watchtower organization has created for him an alternate role. Michael supposedly entered into the presence of God and offered to Him the VALUE of his sacrifice, not his OWN blood, as was required by God. Unfortunately, Satan was not very clever when he inspired the fabrication of this counterfeit, bloodless, Cain-like sacrifice. It should be clear to any honest heart that the Jesus of the Watchtower organization is ANOTHER JESUS (II Corinthians 11:4). According to the Watchtower organization, Michael, the archangel, did not go into the Most Holy Place, in the presence of God with his OWN blood to obtain eternal redemption for those belonging to the Watchtower organization, but rather, made a substitute and presented to God the VALUE of that sacrifice.

I AM JESUS OF NAZARETH
It is obvious now why, in answer to Sauls question: Who art thou Lord? the answer came back, I am Jesus of Nazareth(Acts 22:8). It was Jesus of Nazareth who shed His blood for our sins. Those who crucified Him did not realize that they had crucified The Lord of The Glory (I Corinthians 2:8 The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of The Greek Scriptures). Remember Jesus Christ of the Seed of David, has been raised from the Dead according to my glad tidings (II Timothy 2:8 Emphatic Diaglott). If Jesus Christ of the Seed of David was raised from the dead, we can be assured that the Watchtower organization is teaching HERESY when they say that Michael, the archangel was raised up. The Scriptures are clear in their declaration that it was Jesus of Nazareth,

the Seed of David, who passed through the heavens and entered into the Most Holy Place with His OWN blood to obtain eternal redemption for you.

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