Rev. 20:1-6 is definitely strong evidence that there are two different groups. And this group who take part in the “first resurrection” are the ones who rule and judge with Christ for the thousand years. This also is evidence that there must be a “second” resurrection of worthy ones. These will be “kings and priests.” So in keeping with the illustration they logically must be a limited number compared to the second group who would be ruled over.
When you cross reference to other scriptures which mention those ruling with Christ you see they are called “firstfruits” and given the number of 144,000 compared to a “great crowd.” Parallel verses call these “anointed,” “sealed,” and “Christ’s brothers” compared to others who are declared righteous because they were kind to Christ’s brothers. So we ALWAYS see a small group which would be followed by a larger group which also would be *good* fruitage. These other verses also show that ONLY the 144,000 are said to be “taken from the earth” and the ONLY ones ever definitely seen in heaven. We can then refer to the dozens of Scriptures which explicitly show that righteous humans will live on the earth for eternity.
So when you put all the evidence together you have “proof” that Rev. 20:6 is speaking of those anointed to rule in heaven with Christ.
And yes, this verse does provide overwhealming evidence that Jesus is not *Almighty* God and that the Trinity is false! If Christ were equal to, and the same as Almighty God, he could NEVER be distinguished from *"God"* in any sense.
So, this is just one of many Scriptures which clearly separates and distinguishes Christ from “GOD.” Even when Christ is referred to as "God" in the Bible the context always shows that Jesus is separated from and less than the Eternal, Almighty God (cf. Heb.1:8 w/ Heb.1:9!).
The Trinitarian belief is completely destroyed since Christ cannot be separated from the being of "God." The Athanasian Creed states that Trinitarian's must not "confuse the persons or divide the substance." In other words, while all share the substance “God” it cannot be separated as can the Father, Son and HS. Since "God" to Trinitarians is composed of all three persons combined, separating "God" from Christ would mean that we have four divine beings: the tri-personal God (Father, Son, HS) is with a fourth–the Christ as a separate entity.
The only way that Trinitarians can get around this clear differentiation between Christ and *“God”* is to commit the fallacy of Equivocation. They must redefine the word "God" here to mean “the Father” or just one of the “persons” instead of the whole Godhead. But, the Scriptures plainly separate Christ from the being of "GOD" here and in the other verses above. If Trinitarians do not equivocate on the definition of “God” they identify themselves as polytheistic (One God (Christ) is with another God).
Again, according to Trinitarianism Christ cannot be separated from "God" like he can from the "person" of the Father. If Christ were equal to, and the same as Almighty God, he could NEVER be distinguished from "God" in any sense, especially as is done here.
This is why Jn.1:1 actually destroys the Trinity doctrine. Because we have two beings BOTH who are referred to as “God.” So, logically and semantically, either there were two equal Gods talking to each other or there was one individual classed as divine (a quality) who was with a second individual identified as The [Almighty] God. There are no other valid explanations.
So, the belief of Jehovah’s Witnesses is in complete harmony with God's Word, the rules of interpretation, and Bible Lexicons: There is one Almighty God but in the Bible the title "God" is also be used of many different and unequal individuals such as humans and angels.
Everywhere in the Bible God is separate and distinct from Christ. Christ is always presented as less than Almighty God (Jn. 14:28; 20:17; Mk.13:32; 1Cor.15:27,28; Rev.3:2,12). At the highest position he will ever attain, Jesus still has a God over him and is "subject" to GOD the same way we are "subject" to him.
SOURCE: This the answer provided by BAR_ANERGES to a question at Yahoo Answers.
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When you cross reference to other scriptures which mention those ruling with Christ you see they are called “firstfruits” and given the number of 144,000 compared to a “great crowd.” Parallel verses call these “anointed,” “sealed,” and “Christ’s brothers” compared to others who are declared righteous because they were kind to Christ’s brothers. So we ALWAYS see a small group which would be followed by a larger group which also would be *good* fruitage. These other verses also show that ONLY the 144,000 are said to be “taken from the earth” and the ONLY ones ever definitely seen in heaven. We can then refer to the dozens of Scriptures which explicitly show that righteous humans will live on the earth for eternity.
So when you put all the evidence together you have “proof” that Rev. 20:6 is speaking of those anointed to rule in heaven with Christ.
And yes, this verse does provide overwhealming evidence that Jesus is not *Almighty* God and that the Trinity is false! If Christ were equal to, and the same as Almighty God, he could NEVER be distinguished from *"God"* in any sense.
So, this is just one of many Scriptures which clearly separates and distinguishes Christ from “GOD.” Even when Christ is referred to as "God" in the Bible the context always shows that Jesus is separated from and less than the Eternal, Almighty God (cf. Heb.1:8 w/ Heb.1:9!).
The Trinitarian belief is completely destroyed since Christ cannot be separated from the being of "God." The Athanasian Creed states that Trinitarian's must not "confuse the persons or divide the substance." In other words, while all share the substance “God” it cannot be separated as can the Father, Son and HS. Since "God" to Trinitarians is composed of all three persons combined, separating "God" from Christ would mean that we have four divine beings: the tri-personal God (Father, Son, HS) is with a fourth–the Christ as a separate entity.
The only way that Trinitarians can get around this clear differentiation between Christ and *“God”* is to commit the fallacy of Equivocation. They must redefine the word "God" here to mean “the Father” or just one of the “persons” instead of the whole Godhead. But, the Scriptures plainly separate Christ from the being of "GOD" here and in the other verses above. If Trinitarians do not equivocate on the definition of “God” they identify themselves as polytheistic (One God (Christ) is with another God).
Again, according to Trinitarianism Christ cannot be separated from "God" like he can from the "person" of the Father. If Christ were equal to, and the same as Almighty God, he could NEVER be distinguished from "God" in any sense, especially as is done here.
This is why Jn.1:1 actually destroys the Trinity doctrine. Because we have two beings BOTH who are referred to as “God.” So, logically and semantically, either there were two equal Gods talking to each other or there was one individual classed as divine (a quality) who was with a second individual identified as The [Almighty] God. There are no other valid explanations.
So, the belief of Jehovah’s Witnesses is in complete harmony with God's Word, the rules of interpretation, and Bible Lexicons: There is one Almighty God but in the Bible the title "God" is also be used of many different and unequal individuals such as humans and angels.
Everywhere in the Bible God is separate and distinct from Christ. Christ is always presented as less than Almighty God (Jn. 14:28; 20:17; Mk.13:32; 1Cor.15:27,28; Rev.3:2,12). At the highest position he will ever attain, Jesus still has a God over him and is "subject" to GOD the same way we are "subject" to him.
SOURCE: This the answer provided by BAR_ANERGES to a question at Yahoo Answers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACK TO HOME PAGE INDEX