Defend Jehovah's Witnesses

Sunday, November 17, 2013

'Cult' - Jehovah's Witnesses Do NOT Fit This Label

People who oppose Jehovah's Witnesses like to use the word 'cult' to describe them because it has a general negative connotation. They are counting on people who are not familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses to simply accept this false label and then repeat what they have been told.

The following will examine several common characteristics of cults and will show how Jehovah's Witnesses definitely do not share any of these characteristics.

Jehovah's Witnesses Are Not a Small, Local Group

Cults are regarded as being small, local groups. In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses currently number over 7,ooo,ooo and can be found in almost every country of the world. The World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses is in New York. Located there is the Governing Body, a central group of experienced elders who oversee the worldwide congregation. (For more from the Official Website of Jehovah's Witnesses, see: How Jehovah's Witnesses Are Organized and Jehovah's Witnesses - Their Worldwide Organization and Work)

Jehovah's Witnesses Have Nothing to Hide

Cults are also regarded as encouraging their adherents to live in groups apart from the rest of society. Many also think of cults as being secretive about their activities or having something to hide.

In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses live and work in the midst of other people. They have nothing to hide. In fact, they desire to tell anyone who is willing to listen about everything that they believe.

Their book Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom correctly notes: "Jehovah's Witnesses are in no sense a secret society. Their Bible-based beliefs are fully explained in publications that are available to anyone. Additionally, they put forth special effort to invite the public to attend meetings to see and hear for themselves what takes place." (ALSO SEE: Our Congregation Meetings)

Jehovah's Witnesses Do Not Follow a Living Human Leader

Cults members are also associated with following living human leaders.

Yet Jehovah's Witnesses do not look to any human, but rather to Jesus Christ, as their leader, as their leader. Jehovah’s Witnesses follow what Jesus taught and put it into practice. That is what it means to be a Christian. Accordingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to adhere strictly to the precepts established by the first Christians. (ALSO SEE: Who Was Your Founder?)

Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible. Their worship is a way of life, not a ritual devotion. (ALSO SEE: Are You an American Sect?)

Jehovah's Witnesses Are Financed Through Voluntary Contributions

Leaders of cults have been known to ask for money from their followers. Even what many consider to be 'mainstream' religions encourage their members to give them money through tithes, collection plates, or other means.

However, the work of Jehovah's Witnesses is primarily financed through anonymous, voluntary contributions, as was true with the early Christians. (2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7) No collections are ever taken at their meetings and they do not beg for money from the public. Any donations from interested persons are used to further the worldwide work of Bible education conducted by the Witnesses.

The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, a legal religious corporation that is used by Jehovah's Witnesses, was incorporated in 1884 in accordance with the Nonprofit Corporation Law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. This means that, by law it cannot be and it is not, a profit-making enterprise, nor do individuals make a profit through this Society. The Society's charter states: "It [the Society] does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit, incidentally or otherwise, to its members, directors or officers."'

Even disinterested parties (such as the largest and most popular general reference work on the Internet) plainly state that:

"The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization." (ALSO SEE: How Is Your Work Financed?; and How is the Work of Jehovah’s Witnesses Funded?)

RELATED ARTICLE: Why Jehovah's Witnesses Are NOT a Cult (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Don't Listen To Hearsay, Find Out For Yourself!

So instead of relying solely on hearsay and running the risk of parroting bad information, why not investigate this further for yourself? This way, one will be in a position to be properly informed as to the true faith and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The best way to find out more about Jehovah's Witnesses via the Internet is through the pages of their official website:

The Official Web Site of Jehovah's Witnesses (The Official Jehovah's Witnesses Website Home Page)

What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe?

Search The Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site

Jehovah's Witnesses FAQs

Questions Often Asked by Interested People

Thanksgiving - Links to Information

Click on any of the following links to view:

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Formally Celebrate Thanksgiving Day? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Thanksgiving - Originally Adopted From Pagan Celebrations (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate Thanksgiving? ("Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate Thanksgiving?"; Yahoo Answers)

THANKSGIVING - Does It Have Any Known Pagan Religious Association? (Search For Bible Truths)

Is there anything wrong with buying a turkey, which is on sale, and making a dinner on Thanksgiving? Is Thanksgiving pagan? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Friday, November 15, 2013

Blood Transfusions and Jehovah's Witnesses - Why Do They Refuse?

Jehovah's Witnesses do not consume, donate or transfuse blood, because God Himself consistently made it clear for humans to "abstain from blood". God began with commanding Noah and his family to abstain from blood. (Gen. 9:4) He repeated this through the Mosaic law (Lev. 7:26, 27; 17:10, 11, 13, 14) and He continued to remind us through the pages of the New Testament. (Acts 15:28, 29; Acts 15:19, 20) This is because God has obviously attached a highly important moral principle to blood. (Lev. 17:11)

Because this command went as far back as Noah, Andrew Fuller, viewed by some as "perhaps the most eminent and influential of Baptist theologians," wrote:

"This, being forbidden to Noah, appears also to have been forbidden to all mankind; nor ought this prohibition to be treated as belonging to the ceremonies of the Jewish dispensation. It was not only enjoined before that dispensation existed, but was enforced upon the Gentile Christians by the decrees of the apostles, Acts XV. 20. . . . Blood is the life, and God seems to claim it as sacred to himself." - The Complete Works of the Rev. Andrew Fuller (1836), p. 751.

How Important is it to "Abstain From Blood"?

A close examination of the wording used at Acts 15:28, 29 shows how important it is for Christians to "abstain from blood":

"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these ESSENTIALS ['these necessary things' - RSV]: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." - Acts 15:28, 29 (NASB)

The wording of the Scriptures here does not indicate that this is a relatively unimportant commandment. It says it is "ESSENTIAL".

"Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Want to Live?"

The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses want to live is evidenced by their closely following the advances made in the field of bloodless medicine and surgery. There are endless examples and much documentation of their utilization of this.

Some critics of Jehovah's Witnesses have made false accusations concerning Jehovah's Witnesses' motivations in abstaining from blood. But would Jehovah's Witnesses REALLY be so eager to find quality, medical alternatives to blood transfusions for themselves and their children whom they deeply love if their refusal of blood was tantamount to a form of suicide or a "right to die" as some opposers falsely claim?

Christians who truly follow God's command to "abstain from blood" do not decline all therapies. They reject just one therapy, which even many experts admit come with dangers.

More Information From the Official Website of Jehovah's Witnesses:

What Does the Bible Say About Blood Transfusions? (JW.ORG)

Why don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses accept blood transfusions? (JW.ORG)

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES THE SURGICAL/ETHICAL CHALLENGE (JW.ORG)

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses accept any minor fractions of blood? (w04 6/15 pp. 29-31; Watchtower Online Library)

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses accept any medical products derived from blood? (w00 6/15 pp. 29-31; Watchtower Online Library)

In the light of Bible commands about the proper use of blood, how do Jehovah’s Witnesses view medical procedures using one’s own blood? (w00 10/15 pp. 30-31; Watchtower Online Library)

BLOOD (Insight-1 pp. 344-346; Watchtower Online Library)

Do You Value Life as God Does? (lv chap. 7 pp. 74-85; Watchtower Online Library)

I Accepted God’s View of Blood - A Physician Tells His Story g03 12/8 pp. 12-15; Watchtower Online Library)

Showing Respect For Blood (bh chap. 13 pp. 125-133; Watchtower Online Library)

The Growing Demand for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery - Blood and Jehovah’s Witnesses (g00 1/8 pp. 7-11; Watchtower Online Library)

Blood Transfusions—A Long History of Controversy (g00 1/8 pp. 4-6; Watchtower Online Library)

Blood Fractions and Surgical Procedures (lv pp. 215-218; Watchtower Online Library)

BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

BLOOD (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

Blood (Reasoning From the Scriptures p. 70-p. 76; Watchtower Online Library)

Pages in Defense of Jehovah's Witnesses Stand on Blood

God's View of Blood

Jehovah's Witnesses - Setting the Record Straight

Search For Blood-Related Documents From Jehovah's Witnesses United

Links to Information About Bloodless Medicine

No Blood

Bloodless Medicine and Sugery Hospitals Directory

Network for the Advancement of Transfusion Alternatives

Transfusion-Free Cardiothoracic Surgery - University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

Swedish Services Bloodless Programs

Legal and Medical Resources Concerning Blood Transfusions

Legal and Medical Resources Concerning Blood Transfusions

Blood Transfusion And Outcomes

Articles Concerning Bloodless Surgery and Medicine

Medical Alternatives to Blood Transfusions (JW.org)

Blood Transfusions—How Safe? (JW.org)

Quality Alternatives to Transfusion (JW.org)

You Have the Right to Choose (JW.org)

Witness Patients Often Do Better (JW.org)

'Bloodless' surgery avoids risks of transfusion - Techniques first used for Jehovah's Witnesses gaining popularity (MSNBC)

Blood Transfusions Harmful When Guidelines Ignored (Epoch Times)

Evidence in favor of bloodless surgery mounts (Digital Journal)

Jehovah's Witnesses leading education drive as hospitals adjust to No Blood requests (Canadian Medical Association Journal)

Meeting Life's Challenges Head On - Krystie's Operation Without a Blood Transfusion (BBC NEWS)

The Problem With Transfusions (Time Magazine)

Treating patients like Jehovah's Witnesses could save lives: expert (The Age)

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Conclude That 'Michael' is a Name For Christ in Heaven?

Just as Immanuel is another name for Jesus, Michael is also a pre-human name for Christ. So EVERYTHING said of Christ is also said of Immanuel and Michael. Whether we use the name Michael or Jesus we are speaking of the same individual.

Now, comparison of Biblical statements lead to the reasonable and logical conclusion that Michael was Christ's heavenly name.

The term "archangel" means "chief angel," or "principal angel." It occurs in the Bible only in the singular which indicates that there is only one. Michael is the only one ever called "archangel."

1.) Only two names are associated with authority over angels: Michael (Rev.12:7) and Jesus Christ (Mat.16:27; 25:31; 2Thes.1:7). Michael leads the angels to defeat Satan and hurl him to earth (Re 12:7). Christ leads that heavenly army of angels and conducts God's war. (Re 19:13,19).

2.) At 1Thes. 4:16 the voice of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is described as that of an archangel. The Greek grammar demands that the voice is Christ's, not that he is accompanied by the voice. In every biblical occurrence of this idiom it is always describing the voice of the subject (Lk. 4:33; Rev 5:2; 7:2; 10:3; 14:7,9,15,18; 19:17, Ac 7:60). If Christ were not the Archangel, describing his voice in this way would be like describing a man's voice as a mouse's; highly demeaning and disrespectful. Only the single archangel has the voice of the archangel. Hence, this prophecy gives strong reason for identifying Jesus as the archangel, Michael.

3.) Only one voice can command the dead to rise in the coming resurrection. This authority has been given to the Christ by his Father (Jn.5:25,26). But it is the voice of the archangel that raises the dead during the resurrection. (1Thes. 4:16; cf Dan.12:2). Since only the voice of Christ can raise the dead at the time of the end, and this voice is the voice of an archangel, it is only reasonable to conclude that Christ must be the Archangel.

4.) In Daniel chapter 7, there is a prophecy about the march of world powers to the end-time. At the climax of that prophecy we read that Christ was "given rulership and dignity and kingdom" (Dan.7:13, 14). Then Daniel foretold that during "the time of the end" *Michael* will "stand up" (Dan.10:13;11:40; 12:1). Michael's "standing" indicates a ruling capacity and thus supports the conclusion that Michael is Jesus Christ, since only Jesus is Jehovah's appointed King.

Hence, in the climax of one prophecy, Jesus becomes a king in the end-time. In the other prophecy, Michael exercises kingly power in the end-time. Since both prophecies deal with the same time and the same event, it is reasonable to conclude that they are also dealing with the same person.

5.) Michael's "standing up" was to be associated with an unprecedented "time of distress" (Dan.12:1). The same tribulation is mentioned in Mt.24:21 in regard to Christ's "presence" in kingdom power. Then the book of Revelation (12:7,10,12) specifically mentions Michael as acting at the establishment of God's Kingdom and links this event to extreme trouble for the earth. The correlation of the timing and actions of Michael and Jesus are difficult to ignore.

6.) Finally, Satan is abyssed by an "angel" for a thousand years. (Rev.20:1, 2, 10) However, when Christ was on earth, the demons identified him as the one who was to hurl them into the "abyss" (Mt 8:29). Then Jesus is the one prophesied to crush Satan's head (Gen.3:15; 1Jn 3:8), yet it is the conquering Michael with "his angels" referred to in Revelation 12 as conquering Satan (Ps. 110:1, 2; Acts 2:34, 35).

All the above shows that Michael is repeatedly said to be at the same place as the Christ during the same time period doing the same unique thing as the Christ, but is never seen with the Christ! Kinda like Clark Kent and Superman. This argues that Jesus and Michael are the same, since they both command God's army, the heavenly host of angels.

Because of the solid scriptural evidence that Michael is Christ, most early "church fathers" and many Trinitarian scholars from different religious denominations have agreed that Michael is one of the names of the Christ, including most early Protestants Scholars.

Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrine is not affected in the slightest if Michael is not Christ. Therefore, it is no problem if our logical conclusions regarding Michael are proved wrong when those new scrolls are opened! (Jn.17:3; 1Jn.4:15; Rm.10:9) On the other hand, Trinitarians are aware of the difficulties caused if Christ is identified as Michael due to the extremely strong implications of his inferiority.

SOURCE: This is an answer provided by BAR_ANERGES to a question at Yahoo Answers.

Also see:

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Video: Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Christmas?

For more, see:

CHRISTMAS - Links to Information (Index; Watchtower Online Library)

Christmas (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Christmas? (JW.ORG)

What Does the Bible Say About Christmas? (JW.ORG)

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Christmas? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Christmas Customs - Are They Christian? (w00 12/15 pp. 3-7; Watchtower Online Library)

How Should Christ Be Remembered? (w04 12/15 pp. 4-7; Watchtower Online Library)

Jesus' Birth - How and Why it Happened (w02 12/15 pp. 3-5; Watchtower Online Library)

In Search of the Christmas Spirit (JW.ORG)

Why Do Some People Not Celebrate Christmas? (JW.ORG)

Something Better Than Christmas (JW.ORG)

Remembering Jesus Christ (JW.ORG)

Can the Pagan Customs of Christmas Really Be MADE Acceptable to God? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Christmas - It's Origins And Associations (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

What Does Christmas Music Really Teach? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

CHRISTMAS - Does It Have Any Known Pagan Religious Associations? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

The Date of Jesus' Birth (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Did Jesus Christ or his disciples or his apostles celebrate Christmas? (Search For Bible Truths)

Did Jesus Want His Birthday Celebrated? Did His Followers Celebrate It? (Search For Bible Truths)

Birthday/Christmas Quotes & Resources (Jehovah's Witnesses Redefended)

HANUKKAH (Index; Watchtower Online Library)

Festival of Dedication (Hanukkah) (Index; Watchtower Online Library)

Hanukkah—Is It a “Jewish Christmas”? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Hanukkah (Festival of Dedication) - Significance for Christians (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Natural Disasters Today - Is God Really Responsible?

Some people believe that God uses natural calamities to discipline humankind. Others reject that notion. Still others do not know what to believe.

But does the Bible teach that God is behind the natural disasters we see today? Not at all! God is not causing the earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, droughts, and volcanic eruptions that are so often in today’s news. He is not using these to bring punishment on certain peoples. To a large extent, these are caused by natural forces that have been operating since the earth’s creation. God’s judgments as described in the Bible are quite different from natural disasters. For one thing, God is selective; he reads the hearts of individuals and destroys only those he deems wicked. (Genesis 18:23-32) Furthermore, God sends warnings first, thereby giving the righteous opportunity to escape.

Natural disasters, on the other hand, strike with little or no warning, and they kill and maim indiscriminately. To some extent, mankind has made such disasters worse by damaging the natural environment and by building in areas prone to earthquakes, floods, and extreme weather.

Not only does the Bible shed light on whether God sends natural disasters to punish mankind today, but it also sheds light on what is behind the suffering that so many experience.

The Scriptures Provide a Pattern

The Bible reveals two fundamental truths about God, whose name is Jehovah. First, He is the Creator and as such has the power and authority to control earth’s natural forces. (Revelation 4:11) Second, his actions are always in harmony with His personality, qualities, and principles. He states at Malachi 3:6: “I am Jehovah; I have not changed.” With these points in mind, consider two events in the past, one involving a flood and another involving a drought. You will see that in Bible history when God used natural forces to execute his judgments, he always provided (1) a warning, (2) a reason, and (3) protection for obedient worshippers.

THE FLOOD OF NOAH'S DAY

Warning. Decades before the Flood, Jehovah told Noah: “As for me, here I am bringing the deluge of waters upon the earth to bring to ruin all flesh.” (Genesis 6:17) Noah, “a preacher of righteousness,” warned the people, but they “took no note.”—2 Peter 2:5; Matthew 24:39.

Reason. Jehovah announced: “The end of all flesh has come before me, because the earth is full of violence as a result of them.”—Genesis 6:13.

Protection for obedient worshippers. Jehovah gave Noah detailed instructions regarding the making of an ark for survival of the Flood. “Noah and those who were with him in the ark kept on surviving.”—Genesis 7:23.

DROUGHT IN ISRAEL

Warning. Before Jehovah God brought a severe drought on Israel, his prophet Elijah announced: “There will occur during these years neither dew nor rain, except at the order of [God’s] word!”—1 Kings 17:1.

Reason. Israel’s worship of the false god Baal prompted Jehovah’s action. In explanation, Elijah stated: “You men have left the commandments of Jehovah, and you went following the Baals.”—1 Kings 18:18.

Protection for obedient worshippers. Jehovah provided food for obedient worshippers during the drought.—1 Kings 17:6, 14; 18:4; 19:18.

What the Pattern Reveals

Today there is no evidence that natural disasters are part of a master plan to punish mankind. As a God of justice, Jehovah has never ‘swept away the righteous with the wicked.’ (Genesis 18:23, 25) He made provision for those who were obedient to him. Today natural disasters afflict men, women, and children indiscriminately.

Clearly, current natural disasters do not fit the pattern of divine intervention found in the Scriptures. What is more, these random events are out of harmony with God’s personality. James 1:13 states that God does not try people with evil things, and 1 John 4:8 sums up God’s character in these words: “God is love.” He could never be responsible for the misery inflicted on innocent people by random storms, earthquakes, and similar tragedies. Will such disasters ever end?

The Suffering Will End

Jehovah God never intended for humankind to be plagued by natural disasters. His will is for humans to live forever in peaceful conditions on earth. As he did in Noah’s day, he will intervene in earth’s affairs to remove badness. True to form, Jehovah God is providing advance notice by having a message of warning declared worldwide, thus allowing people to put themselves in line for survival.—Psalm 37:9, 11, 29; Matthew 24:14.

Also see:

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Assist With Disaster Relief? (jw.org)

Partial list of the help Jehovah's Witnesses have given World-wide over a 12-month period ending in mid-2012. (jw.org)

VIDEO: Do Jehovah's Witnesses Assist With Disaster Relief? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Sources For This Article:

The Bible’s Viewpoint - Does God Use Natural Disasters to Punish Mankind Today? (g 12/12 pp. 10-11; Watchtower Online Library)

Are Natural Disasters Punishment From God? (w08 5/1 p. 30; Watchtower Online Library; AUDIO/VIDEO at right.)

Is God Responsible? (g 9/07 pp. 4-7; Watchtower Online Library)

Acts of God? (g 11/06 pp. 3-4; Watchtower Online Library)

Is God Punishing Us? - Natural Disasters—Why So Many? (w11 12/1 pp. 4-5; Watchtower Online Library)

Why does God permit “natural disasters,” which cause extensive damage to property and life? (rs p. 393-p. 400; Watchtower Online Library)

Sunday, November 10, 2013

VIDEO: Do Jehovah's Witnesses Assist With Disaster Relief?

Also see:

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Assist With Disaster Relief? (jw.org)

Partial list of the help Jehovah's Witnesses have given World-wide over a 12-month period ending in mid-2012. (jw.org)

Natural Disasters Today - Is God Really Responsible? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

The Bible’s Viewpoint - Does God Use Natural Disasters to Punish Mankind Today? (g 12/12 pp. 10-11; Watchtower Online Library)

Is God Responsible? (g 9/07 pp. 4-7; Watchtower Online Library)

Acts of God? (g 11/06 pp. 3-4; Watchtower Online Library)

Is God Punishing Us? - Natural Disasters—Why So Many? (w11 12/1 pp. 4-5; Watchtower Online Library)

Why does God permit “natural disasters,” which cause extensive damage to property and life? (rs p. 393-p. 400; Watchtower Online Library)

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Really Forbid Higher Learning (College Education)?

Contrary to what many opposers of Jehovah's Witnesses may say, the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society has never discouraged education.

Among Jehovah's Witnesses are dedicated workers and professionals of every sort, including university professors, doctors and other medical professionals, lawyers, and scientists. Here is just one example where one Jehovah's Witness' college education is promoted:

A Nuclear Scientist Tells His Story (g04 1/22 pp. 19-23; Watchtower Online Library)

The Mischaracterization of Jehovah's Witnesses' Position Concerning Education

Opposers often attempt to mischaracterize Jehovah's Witnesses' position on this matter. College and education itself is not what is discouraged. Instead, the caution is placed on the attractiveness of the pursuit of wealth and the reminder of not losing focus on our main purpose as ministers.

From the 10/1/96 Watchtower, 'Providing for One's Household':

"There is no question that secular education has its advantages. But the Bible places a higher value upon a spiritual education, and God has given parents the responsibility to provide such instruction. (Deuteronomy 11:18, 19; Proverbs 3:13, 14)"

Also see: What Is the Best Education? - Benefit From the Best Education Available! (w05 10/15 pp. 4-7; Watchtower Online Library)

How much formal education Jehovah's Witnesses pursue is a personal, conscientious decision which each person makes for himself or herself. The WBTS has been consistent in encouraging parents and their children to decide for themselves how much formal education to pursue. Note this quote from the 9/1/75 Watchtower, Questions from Readers; "How many years of secular education are advisable for children in Christian households?":

"It is not our purpose here to set out rules for Christian households. Rather, suggestions are offered as guidelines. Let parents and youths plan together for an adequate secular education that will enable the young people to meet their life interests and goals in a wholesome, honorable way. The well-trained youths of today will become tomorrow’s mature, hardworking servants of Jehovah. A balanced view of education now can help to make their enjoyment of God’s spiritual paradise complete."

Friday, November 8, 2013

Would God Create The Entire Universe Just to Accommodate Humans?

Astronomers have not discovered life of any kind in our solar system or in the cosmos beyond. Yet after considering the overwhelming size of the Universe, some have concluded that the odds are great that we are not alone. But since no life has been discovered beyond our world thus far, are astronomers on solid ground when they assert that the universe is teeming with populated worlds? What does the Bible indicate on this matter? According to the Bible, is anyone out there?

The Bible indicates that, considering the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, Earth is the only planet to which the Creator sent his only-begotten Son to become a man and die sacrificially to recover the planet’s inhabitants from sin and its penalty death. The Bible also shows that the Earth will be the only planet on which God, by means of his Son Jesus Christ, will have fought the ‘war of the great day of God the Almighty’ to show his power over all his enemies in heaven and on earth and to vindicate himself as the Universal Sovereign. (Rev. 16:14) (For more, see Extraterrestrials - What Does the Bible Indicate?)

But if we are the only intelligent physical beings in the known Universe, does that mean, then, that God created all those countless trillions of suns (and presumably billions of planets) for no purpose? "Why," one may ask, "would God create the entire Universe seemingly just to accommodate humans on Earth?"

But consider, is it really so difficult to believe that God created the entire universe just for our benefit and wonder? After all, despite the enormity of the universe, it is still 'just' the mere "works of [His] fingers"! (Ps. 8:1) His vast power is so staggering to the imagination that His physical creation is but "the fringes of his ways". (Job 26:14) Putting it in this perspective, creating the entire universe just for us is comparatively insignificant when compared to how much God gave us in another way by means of allowing His own Son to die because of His love for us. (John 3:16,17)

"But," some may ask, "what would be the point of creating all of those countless trillions of suns and planets if humans aren't even able to visit, explore or utilize them?" First, while we understand that, considering the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, the earth is the only inhabited planet in the universe right now, what the future holds for us we do not know.

Another thing to consider is that the Bible points out that God "has put a sense of eternity in people's minds." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) - God's Word Translation. Because of this, God’s creation is so rich and complex that it constantly intrigues us and fills us with awe of Him. The universe is so grand that it serves as a constant reminder of how much there is to be learned from the One who created it and a desire to do so. It serves as a testament of "His eternal power and Godship" and gives us a glimpse of His "invisible [qualities]". (Rom. 1:20) NWT. Trying to grasp the sheer immensity of the Universe can, when seriously pondered, promote an overwhelming admiration and gratitude toward the One who has also given so much in another way by means of His Son on our behalf. (John 3:16,17) No doubt we could begin to feel as did the psalmist who wrote: “Many things you yourself have done, O Jehovah my God, even your wonderful works and your thoughts toward us; there is none to be compared to you. . . . They have become more numerous than I can recount.” (Psalm 40:5) NWT

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