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Matthew 24:52,53

JayJayDee

Avid JW Bible Student
I say they were spiritual.
The form seen by eye was temporary.

As it was when my grandfather saw his beloved after she passed.

I believe that the account in Matt 27:52, 53 says that after a great earthquake, the bodies of the holy ones were exposed by being thrown out of their tombs. There is nothing said about them speaking but only that they were seen.

If people believe that holy ones are in heaven, how is it that they are still in their graves? Can those who believe that this is literal explain this? :confused:
 

Awoon

Well-Known Member
I believe that the account in Matt 27:52, 53 says that after a great earthquake, the bodies of the holy ones were exposed by being thrown out of their tombs. There is nothing said about them speaking but only that they were seen.

If people believe that holy ones are in heaven, how is it that they are still in their graves? Can those who believe that this is literal explain this? :confused:


KJV and yes it is Matt.27 v52 and 53.
53. And came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city, and appeared to many.
Where are they today?
 

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
KJV and yes it is Matt.27 v52 and 53.
53. And came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city, and appeared to many.
Where are they today?

We've given you several answers of what could have happened to them. What kind of answer are you seeking? Or are you not really expecting an answer that you would want.
 

Awoon

Well-Known Member
We've given you several answers of what could have happened to them. What kind of answer are you seeking? Or are you not really expecting an answer that you would want.

Just looking for hoistorical evidence. If people came out of graves and walked in your city/town people would talk ,video it, record it write about it outside of just ONE books account. Wouldnt they? Then their relatives would speak about it for thousands of years.
 

Shiranui117

Pronounced Shee-ra-noo-ee
Premium Member
Just looking for hoistorical evidence. If people came out of graves and walked in your city/town people would talk ,video it, record it write about it outside of just ONE books account. Wouldnt they? Then their relatives would speak about it for thousands of years.
Graves weren't always inside the boundaries of the city, so it wouldn't necessarily have been obvious whether or not the people wandering into your city were risen from the dead. Plus, I think the people at the time had more important things to worry about, like a massive freaking earthquake that just happened, and the veil in the Temple being torn in half.
 

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
Just looking for hoistorical evidence. If people came out of graves and walked in your city/town people would talk ,video it, record it write about it outside of just ONE books account. Wouldnt they? Then their relatives would speak about it for thousands of years.

It was obvious that those relatives didn't write any of the books in the NT. There are probably millions of writings from that time period that were destroyed. A lot of the dead sea scrolls were in pretty bad shape and were only partial (for example). Reading and writing wasn't considered as important back then as it is now, also.
 

Astounded

Member
You agreed with hitchy. So where were they taken up to? If you say heaven, then tell us where in the universe heaven is.

The Jehovah's Witnesses have an answer for you.

1927 "The face of the deep, of course, would be toward the Pleiades, which are claimed to be the habitation of Jehovah." (Creation; 1927; 2,175,000 ed.; p. 94)
1928 "The constellation of the seven stars forming the Pleiades appears to be the crowning center around which the known systems of the planets revolve even as our sun's planets obey the sun and travel in their respective orbits. It has been suggested, and with much weight, that one of the stars of that group is the dwelling-place of Jehovah and the place of the highest heavens;..." (Reconciliation; 1928; p. 14)
1928 "The constellation of the Pleiades is a small one compared with others which scientific instruments disclose to the wondering eyes of man. But the greatness in size of other stars or planets is small when compared with the Pleiades in importance, because the Pleiades is the place of the eternal throne of God." (Reconciliation; 1928; p. 14)

Warp factor 6, Mr Sulu.......
 

JayJayDee

Avid JW Bible Student
The Jehovah's Witnesses have an answer for you.

1927 "The face of the deep, of course, would be toward the Pleiades, which are claimed to be the habitation of Jehovah." (Creation; 1927; 2,175,000 ed.; p. 94)
1928 "The constellation of the seven stars forming the Pleiades appears to be the crowning center around which the known systems of the planets revolve even as our sun's planets obey the sun and travel in their respective orbits. It has been suggested, and with much weight, that one of the stars of that group is the dwelling-place of Jehovah and the place of the highest heavens;..." (Reconciliation; 1928; p. 14)
1928 "The constellation of the Pleiades is a small one compared with others which scientific instruments disclose to the wondering eyes of man. But the greatness in size of other stars or planets is small when compared with the Pleiades in importance, because the Pleiades is the place of the eternal throne of God." (Reconciliation; 1928; p. 14)

Warp factor 6, Mr Sulu.......

Sorry, dredging up ancient history answers nothing. We've moved on since the beginning of last century. Things get clearer as Jehovah's day draws nearer, just as the Bible says.

JW's believe that heaven is where it's always been. It existed long before the earth or the universe did and its a place that no human but Jesus and his 144,000 will see in reality.
 

Astounded

Member
Sorry, dredging up ancient history answers nothing. We've moved on since the beginning of last century. Things get clearer as Jehovah's day draws nearer, just as the Bible says.

JW's believe that heaven is where it's always been. It existed long before the earth or the universe did and its a place that no human but Jesus and his 144,000 will see in reality.

Sure it does. It means that JW's can never be certain they are being told the full truth.
 

Shiranui117

Pronounced Shee-ra-noo-ee
Premium Member
Sorry, dredging up ancient history answers nothing. We've moved on since the beginning of last century. Things get clearer as Jehovah's day draws nearer, just as the Bible says.

JW's believe that heaven is where it's always been. It existed long before the earth or the universe did and its a place that no human but Jesus and his 144,000 will see in reality.
So your faith changes over time? What about contending for the faith that was delivered once for all to the saints?
 

JayJayDee

Avid JW Bible Student
So your faith changes over time? What about contending for the faith that was delivered once for all to the saints?

Shiranui, it is not God's word that changes over time but the understanding of it that increases.

Daniel said that in the "time of the end", abundant knowledge along with insight and understanding would take place among many. This was to take place when a cleansing, whitening and refining encouraged truth seekers to challenge mainstream beliefs. (Dan 12:4,9,10)

As these last days progressed, a separating was to take place which would make a clear distinction between the wheat and the weeds. The weeds just kept their core beliefs and quibbled over minor differences in doctrine, branching off into literally thousands of sects who seem to believe that all Christians are somehow saved despite this incredibly divided state. That is not what Paul said about Christian unity. (1Cor 1:10)

It was foretold that 'the light on the path would get brighter as day dawned'. (Prov 4:18) Spiritual light was to take obedient ones out of darkness, like the gradual rising of the sun sheds light on everything, making all things clearly visible.

As Jehovah's day approaches, understanding was to increase. This has been our experience. Things that seemed right in those very early days have been refined and cleansed as understanding increased.
What was found to be in error was discarded.

We can defend all of our beliefs from our clearer understanding of the scriptures. Jesus said that he would be "with" his disciples in the work that he assigned to them....the preaching and disciple making work. Who are known the world over for their preaching? Who are hated for doing that work by those who already consider themselves to be "believers"?

When you understand that Jesus and his disciples preached in exactly the same circumstances and received the same treatment for the same reason, it becomes clear to us why Jesus said that "few" would listen to a message that seems to be in opposition to the accepted Christian doctrines. (Matt 24:36-39; 7:13,14)

Jesus said that his true disciples would "know the truth" and it would "set them free". It is indeed liberating to cast off the shackles of false Christianity and enjoy the "freedom of the children of God". (Rom 8:19-21) :)
 
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Shiranui117

Pronounced Shee-ra-noo-ee
Premium Member
Shiranui, it is not God's word that changes over time but the understanding of it that increases.
Agreed. But not even the understanding changes; it is just clarified and specified.

Daniel said that in the "time of the end", abundant knowledge along with insight and understanding would take place among many. This was to take place when a cleansing, whitening and refining encouraged truth seekers to challenge mainstream beliefs. (Dan 12:4,9,10)
I see nothing about challenging mainstream beliefs in the Scripture you quoted. And I read the entire chapter.

As these last days progressed, a separating was to take place which would make a clear distinction between the wheat and the weeds. The weeds just kept their core beliefs and quibbled over minor differences in doctrine, branching off into literally thousands of sects who seem to believe that all Christians are somehow saved despite this incredibly divided state. That is not what Paul said about Christian unity. (1Cor 1:10)
Paul also said that the Church is the pillar and ground of the Truth in 1 Timothy 3:15.

As Jehovah's day approaches, understanding was to increase. This has been our experience. Things that seemed right in those very early days have been refined and cleansed as understanding increased.
What was found to be in error was discarded.
The fact that your church got things wrong in the first place shows that yours is not the Church of which Paul speaks.

We can defend all of our beliefs from our clearer understanding of the scriptures. Jesus said that he would be "with" his disciples in the work that he assigned to them....the preaching and disciple making work. Who are known the world over for their preaching? Who are hated for doing that work by those who already consider themselves to be "believers"?
The Catholics are pretty well-known for evangelization. The Orthodox have done a pretty good job of it too. So have Mormons and Protestant groups.

When you understand that Jesus and his disciples preached in exactly the same circumstances and received the same treatment for the same reason, it becomes clear to us why Jesus said that "few" would listen to a message that seems to be in opposition to the accepted Christian doctrines. (Matt 24:36-39; 7:13,14)
You should consider why the "accepted Christian doctrines" are accepted by every other Christian group, including isolated groups that had very little contact or influence from others.

Jesus said that his true disciples would "know the truth" and it would "set them free". It is indeed liberating to cast off the shackles of false Christianity and enjoy the "freedom of the children of God". (Rom 8:19-21) :)
But then the question comes, what IS "false Christianity"? The answer is not as clear-cut as you would like it to be.
 
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