On Sunday, September 18, former Circuit Overseer, Richard Rawe and other Ex-JWs hammered questions at a Bible Student Elder. The Bible Student elder answered the question, “Is the Jewish return to Israel a fulfillment of Bible Prophecy?” As you know, JWs do not believe that Jehovah’s promises of a future return to their land apply to natural Israel. Bible Students believe the opposite. Was the Bible Student able to make a compelling presentation? Was he able to stand up to hours of questions and scrutiny? Find out by listening to this remarkable discussion. Click here: 2011-09-18 God Israel MP3
The new born state of Israel was 50 years old in 1998. What a 50 years! To start with—the rebirth of the state of Israel in 1948 was a miracle of history (Ezek.37:1-11; Luke 21:29,30). Never before has a nation been destroyed, its people dispersed to the ends of the earth, and then, nearly two thousand years later, re-gathered to their homeland and re-established as a nation.
When Israel declared itself an independent state on May 14, 1948, still another miracle occurred. The armies of seven Arab nations marched on the newborn State, boasting that they would “push the Jews into the sea.” Outnumbered 100 to 1, Israel not only repelled the invaders but acquired more of Palestine than was granted in the UN partition plan. Yigael Yadin, Israel’s commander of operations in that war, had a terse explanation of Israel’s victory. “It was a miracle!”
Thank you for your insight, but I’m concerned about the clearest and unbiased understanding of the scriptural account in connection with the events of the last days:
– Is it possible that the moment of Jesus’s return will be perceived differently than the human natural sensors, when in the bible Jesus’s return is described as seen by anyone’s eyes (Mat. 24:30; Luke 17:24; Rev. 1:7) and heard as a loud trumpet call with a commanding shout? (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52)
When Jesus said in John 14:19, “A little while longer, and the world will see Me no more…,” did He emphasize a more important aspect of being seen/heard through the perception of the wisdom and obedience to His commands, which are not accepted by the world but originate from His Father, with whom He is in total unity? (John 14:24)
In such a case, is there any contradiction with the auditory and visual effects of His return, or do they complement each other in the event?
Could His “Parousia” — in Old Greek, meaning a visit or a sudden presence —as a thief in the night, implying a brief event with a sudden and unexpected turn of events, after which Jesus would quickly proceed with the prophesied changes leading into the millennium? Alternatively, might it suggest a more gradual process occurring over an extended period, such as from 1914 to 1948, which should continue into the millennium?
Will Jesus accept any delays in implementing of any of His commandments at any time, or he expects to be implemented immediately?
How can eviction “aligns perfectly” to the meaning of Jesus’s Second Great Commandment during the “gradual transition”?