What Is the Resurrection?

[Colin Browne]

On 4/4/2018 at 7:50 AM, Queen Esther said:

*HE  WAS  RAISING  UP*   ~~~~~~~

Tuesday - April 3, 2018

 MEMORIAL BIBLE READING:
(Daytime events: Nisan 16) John 20:2-18

(The chapters about Jesus' time just before his death are from the book

JESUS—THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE are in SECTION 6—JESUS’ FINAL MINISTRY

The attachment is undeniable proof that the cross has it's roots in paganism.

In fact everything in this world has some or other connection to paganism. For instance, the days of the week and the months of the year are both named after false gods.

Cross Viking.docx

[Queen Esther]

We're  living  in  a  world  under  Satan's  power  Brother  Colin,  many  things  are  not  okay,  but  Jehovah  is  tolerating,  until  Armageddon,  then  is  finished  with  false  things !!   So  long  we  must  use  our  days  of  the  week,  month's  of  the  year  and  still  much  more,  sorry 

In  the  NW  we  get  new  Script-rolls  and  many  things  become  new

A  wonderful  new  time  started,  in  LOVE  and  PEACE 

[Colin Browne]

On 4/5/2018 at 11:16 AM, Colin Browne said:

Although we avoid involvement in worldly politics, we are allowed to read or listen to news broadcasts. In some cases, it strengthens our faith in Jehovah’s prophecies:

^“And I saw three unclean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and they perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty.”

        (Psalm 2; 76:12; Isa. 24:21, 22; Revelation 16:13,14; 17:2;19:19)

The website below tells about ‘Necklacing’ which was the cruel method of torturing and killing people by placing  petrol-soaked motor car tyres around their necks and setting these alight.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2018-04-03-winnie-disobeyed-orders-from-anc-leadership-to-disband-football-club-mbeki/?platform=hootsuite

 

Many of us meet Muslims in our ministry. There have been a few publications drawing attention to Muslims who have made worthwhile contributions to humanity, and after reading them we pass them to the owners of shops owned by Muslims, and we've made a few friends among them.

Perhaps others have heard about the bombing of a supermarket in Worcester, South Africa on December 24, 1996 by a local terrorist named Stefaans Coetzee who was caught and send to Prison. Mr Claude Schroeder, a Muslim for 30 years, and chairman of the Worcester Hope and Reconciliation visited him in prison on December 9th 1996. Please read the attachment. There are indeed many good Muslims.

For those unable to read .DOCX files, here is the link:

https://www.khulumani.net/reconciliation/item/590-national-day-of-reconciliation-in-worcester-2011-hope-4-worcester.html

Worcestor bombing.docx

[Queen Esther]

Yes,  the  long  link  is  better  for  me  -  thank you !  I  shared  it  to  my  FB  site  and read  it  tmw. -  my  Brother  @Colin Browne....  will  tell  you  soon !  Wish  you  a  great  week

Take  care,  always....  your  sister  Q.E. from  Germany

[Colin Browne]

On 3/31/2018 at 8:45 AM, Queen Esther said:

What Is the Resurrection ?

The Bible’s answer....

In the Bible, the word translated as “resurrection” comes from the Greek a·na?sta·sis, which means “raising up” or “standing up again.” A person who is resurrected is raised up from death and restored to life as the person he was before.—1 Corinthians 15:12, 13.

Although the word “resurrection” is not in the Hebrew Scriptures, often called the Old Testament, the teaching appears there. Through the prophet Hosea, for example, God promised: “From the power of the Grave I will redeem them; from death I will recover them.”—Hosea 13:14; Job 14:13-15; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2, 13.

http://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/what-is-the-resurrection/

As for the resurrection, "There are more questions than answers". Wedding rings as an example. My wife kept and treasured every ring from our first anniversary until the gold seven months later. I could not keep my wife's after she died so, with a very heavy heart, all these were given to a sister. (Eccl. 2: 17-19)

Is it proper for a Christian to wear a wedding ring? (Greece)

Many sincere Christians have asked this question out of a desire to avoid any custom of which God might disapprove. Some of the questioners know that Catholic prelate John H. Newman wrote: “The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, . . . sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison, are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church.” (An Essay on the Development of the Christian Doctrine, 1878) While the facts prove that many of the current religious practices Newman lists definitely were adopted from pagan worship, is that true of the wedding ring?

Actually there are conflicting ideas as to the origin of the wedding ring. Let us give a few examples: “Originally . . . the ring was a fetter, used to bind the captive bride.” (For Richer, for Poorer) “The ring is a relatively modern substitute for the gold coin or other article of value with which a man literally purchased his wife from her father.” (The Jewish Wedding Book) “The wedding ring is supposed to be of Roman origin, and to have sprung from the ancient custom of using rings in making agreements.” (American Cyclopædia) “Various explanations have been given of the connection of the ring with marriage. It would appear that wedding-rings were worn by the Jews prior to Christian times.”—The International Cyclopaedia.

It is thus seen that the precise origin of the wedding ring is uncertain. Even if it were a fact that pagans first used wedding rings, would that rule such out for Christians? Not necessarily. Many of todayÂ’s articles of clothing and aspects of life originated in pagan lands. The present time divisions of hours, minutes and seconds are based on an early Babylonian system. Yet, there is no objection to a ChristianÂ’s using these time divisions, for oneÂ’s doing so does not involve carrying on false religious practices.

Of course, our concern is greater as regards the use of wedding rings, since this relates, not to minor secular matters, but to the marriage relationship, which the Christian rightly views as sacred before God. Really, the question is not so much whether wedding rings were first used by pagans but whether they were originally used as part of false religious practices and still retain such religious significance. As has been shown, the historical evidence does not allow for any definite conclusion on this. What does the Bible say about the use of rings?

The Bible shows that some of God’s servants in the past wore rings, even ones that had special meaning attached to them. Wearing a signet ring could indicate that one had received authority to act in behalf of the ruler who owned it. (Gen. 41:42; Num. 31:50; Esther 8:2, 8; Job 42:11, 12; Luke 15:22) So, while wedding rings are not mentioned, these true worshipers clearly did not scruple against using rings for more than mere adornment.

Some persons say that a wedding ring represents oneÂ’s unending love and devotion in marriage. The increasing divorce rate in many lands where married persons usually wear a wedding ring proves that this meaning is more imagined than real. Nonetheless, for the majority of persons, including Christians, in lands where wedding rings are common, the ring is an outward indication that the wearer is a married person. In other localities the same point is shown in a different way, such as by a womanÂ’s wearing a certain style of clothing.

Of course, a wedding ring is by no means a Christian requirement. One Christian might decide not to wear a wedding ring, because of conscience, personal taste, cost, local custom, or some other reason. Yet another Christian might decide to indicate his married status by means of a wedding ring. Hence, in the final analysis the decision is a personal one, to be made in accord with the conscientious views one holds.  *** w72 1/15 p. 63 Questions From Readers ***

[Queen Esther]

Thank you  Brother @Colin Browne....   I will read the WT article, must look in the internet for that. 

I mean, weddingrings not so importend for everyone. I know couples, they have no rings,  one couple is wearing a chain as sign of married. But its all not a 'must have'...

I believe, to Jesus' time very less couples had wedding rings... Rich people like that, with many Diamonds for the wife ?     But its never a guarantee or bond for everlasting....

[Queen Esther]

Thank  you  my  both  Brothers @Colin Browne  and  @Alzasior Lutor     I  am  so  glad  when  you  like  my  comments,  bec. English  is  not  my  first  language, sorry...

Wish  you  a  sunny  Sunday  wherever  you  are    and Jehovah's  blessing

[Colin Browne]

 

8 hours ago, Queen Esther said:

Thank  you  my  both  Brothers @Colin Browne  and  @Alzasior Lutor     I  am  so  glad  when  you  like  my  comments,  bec. English  is  not  my  first  language, sorry...

Wish  you  a  sunny  Sunday  wherever  you  are    and Jehovah's  blessing

Resurrection of another sort:

The resurrection plant. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_plant

View the .GIF revival of the plant here: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Rose_of_Jericho.gif/220px-Rose_of_Jericho.gif

 

A resurrection plant is any poikilohydric plant that can survive extreme dehydration, even over months or years.

The resurrection plant Selaginella lepidophylla reviving within 3 hours after the addition of water.

Examples include:

Anastatica hierochuntica, also known as the Rose of Jericho, a plant species native to deserts of North Africa

Asteriscus (plant)

Boea hygrometrica

Haberlea rhodopensis

Mesembryanthemum, the plant can revive within a short period of time after a drought

Tillandsia

Myrothamnus flabellifolius, a plant species native to Southern Africa

Xerophyta spp., a monocotyledonous genus typically occurring on rock outcrops in Southern African grasslands

Craterostigma spp., members of the Linderniaceae/Scrophulariaceae with snapdragon-like flowers

Ramonda serbica, a species in the Gesneriaceae family

Selaginella lepidophylla, a plant species native to North America, Central and South America, and sold as a novelty

Lichen, a symbiosis that can survive in extreme desiccation,

 

Certain resurrection plants have long been sold in their dry, "lifeless" form as curiosities. This custom was noted by many 19th century authors and continues today.

 

In December, 2015, resurrection plants were featured in a TED talk given by Professor Jill Farrant , Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa, who performs targeted genetic modification of crop plants to make them tolerate desiccation by activating genes that are already there but not natively expressed in response to drought.  ……………………………………………………

Another Wikipedia link:

Selaginella lepidophylla (syn. Lycopodium lepidophyllum) is a species of desert plant in the spikemoss family (Selaginellaceae). S. lepidophylla is noted for its ability to survive almost complete desiccation; during dry weather in its native habitat, its stems curl into a tight ball and uncurl only when exposed to moisture. The outer stems of Selaginella lepidophylla bend into circular rings in a relatively short period of desiccation, whereas inner stems curl slowly into spirals due to the hydro-actuated strain gradient along their length. It is native to the Chihuahuan Desert. Common names for this plant include flower of stone, false rose of Jericho, rose of Jericho, resurrection plant, resurrection moss, dinosaur plant, siempre viva, stone flower, and doradilla.

Selaginella lepidophylla is easily confused with Anastatica: both species are resurrection plants and form tumbleweeds, and they share the common name "rose of Jericho."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_lepidophylla

 

An article in the Forbes magazine November 2017 says, “In 2050, Africa will be a desert?” (Based on climate change)

The magazine also says, “Africa is likely to be the continent most affected by climate change, and consequently drought. One woman’s solution is plants that can be resurrected back to life. How else must we be prepared.” ………………………………….

 

[Queen Esther]

I not do speculate about Jehovah's wonderful resurrection for us. HE and Jesus, both together will give the blessing if, where and which people coming back to life ❤️?  I will wait, hope and see ??  All the lost animals and plants of sure also coming back under Jehovah's hand❤️  Yes, it will be the best life ever, in LOVE and PEACE.

THANK YOU JEHOVAH & JESUS????

[Queen Esther]

I  just  read  that  by  an  older  Brother  of  us....

THE RESURRECTION  back to earth....of   "both the righteous and the unrighteous"  is part of Jehovah God's will and purpose for mankind and for the earth. READ  Acts 24:15. The number of those receiving this resurrection is unlimited.

NOTICE.... This scripture does not include the "willfully wicked."   And who might be the ones that Jehovah and Jesus would refer to as "willfully wicked?"   We cannot judge anyone, but we can learn Bible principles that would help us reason on the matter.

Also, we learn additional resurrection facts from the words of Christ Jesus recorded for us at  John 5:25-29.  Notice his words in verse 25,  "Those who have paid attention will live."

In addition to this earthly resurrection, The Bible also mentions a "Heavenly resurrection" ....of the "little flock"... termed  "the earlier" or  "the first"  resurrection.... which will include the spirit-anointed Brothers of Jesus.  READ  Philippians 3:11;   The number of those receiving this heavenly resurrection is a limited number.  READ   Revelation 14:1-5.

The heavenly resurrection limited number group will serve in heaven with Christ Jesus, as co-rulers with Christ. They do not practice false religion...  no deceit is found in their mouths.....  they are without blemish !

( Thank  you,  Brother  R. B. Elder )

[Colin Browne]

1 hour ago, Queen Esther said:

I  just  read  that  by  an  older  Brother  of  us....

THE RESURRECTION  back to earth....of   "both the righteous and the unrighteous"  is part of Jehovah God's will and purpose for mankind and for the earth. READ  Acts 24:15. The number of those receiving this resurrection is unlimited.

NOTICE.... This scripture does not include the "willfully wicked."   And who might be the ones that Jehovah and Jesus would refer to as "willfully wicked?"   We cannot judge anyone, but we can learn Bible principles that would help us reason on the matter.

Also, we learn additional resurrection facts from the words of Christ Jesus recorded for us at  John 5:25-29.  Notice his words in verse 25,  "Those who have paid attention will live."

In addition to this earthly resurrection, The Bible also mentions a "Heavenly resurrection" ....of the "little flock"... termed  "the earlier" or  "the first"  resurrection.... which will include the spirit-anointed Brothers of Jesus.  READ  Philippians 3:11;   The number of those receiving this heavenly resurrection is a limited number.  READ   Revelation 14:1-5.

The heavenly resurrection limited number group will serve in heaven with Christ Jesus, as co-rulers with Christ. They do not practice false religion...  no deceit is found in their mouths.....  they are without blemish !

( Thank  you,  Brother  R. B. Elder )

We can expect that very many millions will never return to this earth.

“For 40 years I felt a loathing toward that generation, and I said: “They are a people who always go astray in their hearts; They have not come to know my ways. “So I swore in my anger: “They will not enter into my rest.” (Psalm 95:10, 11) 

If Jehovah condemned the rebellious Israelites for being unfaithful, what hope is there for all the mass murderers since the beginning.

All unrepentant sinners: “For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be pitched into Ge·hen?na. Also, if your right hand is making you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to land in Ge·hen?na." (Matthew 5:29, 30)

The Scribes and Pharisees: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you travel over sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him a subject for Ge·hen?na twice as much so as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15) 

The inescapable sin: “For this reason I say to you, every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come.” (Matthew 12:31, 32)

 

[Queen Esther]

Yes, thats all true my dear Brother @Colin Browne..... All we know is, Adam and Eve NEVER come back to life  -  and maybe some anointed Elders, which made hurerei... But Jehovah will decide that. We have to wait and see...  What HE ever did was always perfect. Jehovah's thoughts, can NEVER be our thoughts   We're so small and like dust for HIM, yes. Look HIS many many Creations, soooo unique and nice??  Under Jehovah and with HIM, we get the BEST life ever???  I am SO happy, we've such a loving GOD???

I hope we see us in the NW,  together with all our loving families and friends,  young, healthy and happy??   THANK YOU  JEHOVAH & JESUS?