Michael the Archangel is Jesus

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  [JWs and SDAs make this statement. Some SDAs are trinitarians, while JWs are Arians (Christ as creature). Col. 1 and Heb. 1 shows that Jesus is Creator of angels, superior to them, not one of them.  Beloved claims to be Calvinist, yet he is going down a heretical path on this one...JWs are not Christians because they do not worship Jesus as YHWH. Mormons are not Christians because they are polytheists/plurality of gods...The biblical understanding is triune and incarnational...Michael The Arch Angel is Jesus Christ...1 Thess 4:16-17; Isa 14:14; Rev 12:16; Jn 5:25-29..."

Learn about Jehovah's Witnesses' denial of the historical, Biblical Jesus.  "They do not believe that Jesus is the preeminent one, the first born over all creation, the second member of the trinity, the one who "spoke and the universe leap into existence (Hanegraaff)." 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first [1 Thess. 4:16].
“The Lord himself shall descend from heaven” I love that—He won’t be sending angels. When He comes to the earth to establish His kingdom, He will send His angels to the four corners of the earth to gather the elect, who will be both Israelites and Gentiles who enter the kingdom. However, there is no angel ministry connected with the Rapture of the church. Angels announced the birth of Christ, but how was He announced? As the Son of David, the newborn King. He was announced as a King. The wise men wanted to know where they could find Him who was born King of the Jews. In contrast to this, at the establishment of the church on the Day of Pentecost, there, were no angels. The Holy Spirit Himself came down. When the Lord takes His church out of the world, the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven. There will be no angels. Angels are connected with Israel but not with the church at all.
He will descend from heaven “with a shout.” That is the voice of command. It is the same voice which He used when He stood at the tomb of Lazarus and said, “Lazarus, come forth” (see John 11:43).
“The voice of the archangel.” Now wait, isn’t that an angel connected with the Rapture? No, it is His voice that will be like the voice of an archangel. It is the quality of His voice, the majesty and the authority of it.
“The trump of God.” Will there be trumpets there? No, it is His voice that will be like a trumpet. Can we be sure of this? In Revelation 1:10, John, who was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” He turned to see who it was, and he saw the glorified Christ. It is the voice of the glorified Christ that is like the sound of a trumpet.
That ought to get rid of all this foolishness about Gabriel blowing his horn or blowing a trumpet. I don’t think Gabriel even owns a trumpet, but if he has one, he won’t need to blow it. The Lord Jesus is not going to need the help of Gabriel. Do you think the Lord Jesus needed Gabriel to come and help Him raise Lazarus from the dead? Can you imagine the Lord Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus saying, “Gabriel, won’t you come over here and help Me get this man out of the grave?” How absolutely foolish! The Lord Jesus will not need anyone to help Him. When He calls His church, their bodies will come up out of the graves."
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord [1 Thess. 4:17].
"Again, “caught up” is the Greek harpazō, meaning “to grasp hastily, snatch up, to lift, transport, or rapture.”
It is going to be a very orderly procedure. The dead will rise first. Here comes Stephen out of the grave. It may be that he will lead the procession since he was the first martyr. Then there will be the apostles and all those millions who have laid down their lives for Jesus. They will just keep coming from right down through the centuries. Finally, if we are alive at that time, we will bring up the rear of the parade. We will be way down at the tail end of it. Most of the church has already gone in through the doorway of death."
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 5:398-399
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High [Isa. 14:13–14].
"These are the five “I wills” of Lucifer. He was setting his will over against the will of God. This is sin in embryo. This is the evolution of evil. There is no evolution of man, but there is an evolution of sin. It began by a creature setting his will against the will of God. As a free moral agent, the creature must be allowed to do this. It is nonsense to talk about a creature who has a free moral will, who can do anything he wants to, but is restricted in his movements in a certain area. Lucifer had a free will.
This is man’s original sin: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). Murder is sin, not just because God says it is, but because it is contrary to the will and character of God. Anything that is contrary to the character and will of God is sin, regardless of what it is. I think that some people can even displease God by going to church.
Imagine little bitty puffed-up creature man, who says to God, “I won’t do what You want me to do. I am going to do it my way.” That is exactly what man is saying today. Well, friend, you are not going to do things your way, because God’s will is going to prevail in the final analysis. Therefore, the prayer of all God’s people should be, “… Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Anything contrary to His will is sin, regardless of what it is.
The sin of Satan was overweening pride. He did not go out and get drunk, and he didn’t steal anything. He went against God’s will. He was created as an angel of light; he was the “son of the morning,” a perfect being. He was given a free moral will—he could choose what he wanted. But he was lifted up—so lifted up by pride that he set his will against the will of God. It wasn’t the purpose of Satan to be different from God; he wanted to be like God. In other words, he wanted to be God. He put his will above the will of God, and any creature who does that puts himself in the place of God.
There are many men like Lucifer today. They put their wills above the will of God and take His place. That is what sin is all about in the human family. There are only two ways: God’s way and man’s way. That is what the Lord Jesus Christ meant when He said, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). My friend, you live in God’s universe today. You breathe His air and enjoy His sunshine. He never sends you a bill for either one or for the life He furnishes. You are His creature. You owe Him a great deal. You are to obey Him.
In his natural state, man is unable to obey God; that is why we have to come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ as lost sinners. Then we are given a new nature. That is what it means to be born again."
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 3:234-235
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth [Rev. 12:15–16].
"And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
In view of the fact that the wilderness is literal, the water also could be literal. God had delivered Israel out of the water, both at the beginning of the wilderness march at the Red Sea and then again at the end of the wilderness march at the Jordan River. However, the floods of water could be armies flowing like a river upon them. This figure of speech has been used by Isaiah (see Isa. 8:7–8).
In Ezekiel’s picture of the last days, the king of the north is seen marching on Israel. Satan will use every means to destroy the people. How will he be stopped? No nation is there to stop him. But God is there, and He will destroy him with natural forces when he invades Palestine: “And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone” (Ezek. 38:22). This gives us an indication of what John is talking about here in Revelation."
THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ [Rev. 12:17].
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and he went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.
The rest of her seed” may refer to the remnant who is God’s witness in this period—the 144,000 who have been sealed. They are evidently witnessing throughout the world. These “keep the commandments of God,” which places them back under the Law. This precludes the possibility of the witnesses being the church.
All anti-Semitism is Satan inspired and will finally culminate in Satan’s making a supreme effort to destroy the nation of Israel. From the brickyards of Pharaoh’s Egypt, Haman’s gallows, Herod’s cruel edict, through Hitler’s purge, and to the world of the Great Tribulation, Satan has led the attack against these people because of the man child—Jesus Christ."
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 5:994-995
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice [John 5:25, 28].
What does He mean in verse 25 when He says “the hour … now is”? Well, we’re in that period of the hour that is coming. Verse 28 makes it clear that the hour has not yet arrived, but “the hour is coming.” The whole thought is that we are living in the period or the age or the dispensation that is moving to the time when “the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”
If we are in the period of the “hour that is coming,” then what does He mean that it also “now is”? Who are the dead who hear His voice now? In John 11 where we have the incident in which Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, you will remember that He said to the two sisters at the time of the death of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26. italics mine). “Though he were dead.” Does this mean the person that is in the grave hears? No, no, this is referring to spiritual death! Death means separation from God. The hour is coming when those who are in the grave shall hear His voice and shall live, but the hour is now when those who are spiritually dead hear His voice and live. Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers that they had been dead in trespasses and sins. That is the spiritual condition of everyone. But then, “he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death [out of spiritual death] unto life,” the life that He gives. So in verses 25 and 28 He is talking about two separate things. The time is now when Christ gives spiritual life. The hour is coming when He will raise the dead out of the grave.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man [John 5:26–27].
The Lord Jesus is a life giver, you see. Not only does He have life, but He gives life. He also has the right to execute judgment. He came the first time as the Savior and not to judge, but He is coming the next time as the Judge. At that time, those in the graves will hear His voice.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [John 5:28–29].
"A better translation for the word damnation would be “judgment.”
There are two resurrections mentioned here. The Book of Revelation is even more specific and describes the completion of the first resurrection (Rev. 20:4–6) and the second resurrection (Rev. 20:11–15). The first resurrection is the resurrection of all the saved—the first phase of which is the next thing on the agenda of God. We call it the Rapture of the church. “Rapture” is a good translation of the Greek harpazo&#181. Paul used it in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 where he says we shall be “caught up,” which means “to be raptured.” The Rapture takes place at some time in the future. It is not dated and there are no signs given for it. It could happen at any moment. He is going to call His own out of this world, both the living and the dead. That is part of the first resurrection. Then, during the Tribulation Period, a great many believers will become martyrs. They will be raised at the end of the Great Tribulation Period together with the Old Testament saints. That also is part of the first resurrection. They will be raised to live forever here upon this earth. That is the first resurrection. It is the resurrection of life, as our Lord called it.
Then the resurrection of judgment is the Great White Throne judgment when all the unsaved, of all the ages, will be raised. They wanted to be judged by their works, and they will be! They will stand before God who is just and righteous; they will have an opportunity to stand before a Holy God and to plead their case. But God has already warned them; there is no one saved in that judgment. It is only the lost who are brought there, and they will be judged according to their works, because there are degrees in punishment (see Luke 12:47–48)."
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me [John 5:30].
"Jesus says, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” That is His self-limitation when He came down to this earth and took upon Himself our humanity. He came down as a man, not to do His own will but the Father’s will.
This is the example for us today. You and I have a will, an old nature, that is not obedient to God. We can’t be obedient to God because we are actually in rebellion against God. That is the natural state of every man. That is the reason our Lord had to tell Nicodemus that he must be born again. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). You and I have to have the new birth because this old nature is incorrigible, my friend. It is in rebellion against God. It has been carrying a protest banner before the gates of heaven ever since man came out through the gates of paradise in the Garden of Eden.
Now our Lord is going to show that there are witnesses to the fact that His claims are true."
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:397-398

See: 

Jehovah's Witnesses Refuted

I am a Witness

10 Questions & Answers:  Jehovah's Witnesses

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]: 

[Phil 2:6]

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God [Phil. 2:6].
"This is, I confess, a rather stilted translation. When Christ was at the right hand of God the Father, He wasn’t hanging on to His position. There was no danger of His losing His place in the Godhead because of any lack on His part or because of the ability and ambition of a contender. He hadn’t gone to school to learn to become God; He had not advanced from another position. He was God. It wasn’t as if the Lord Jesus had to say to God the Father, “Now You be sure to keep My position for Me while I’m gone for thirty-three years. Keep a sharp eye out for Gabriel—I think he would like to have My place.” I am not being irreverent; I am trying to show you that this was not something that He had to hold on to. The position belonged to Him. He was God.
Nor did He leave heaven reluctantly. At no time did He say, “Oh, I just hate to leave heaven. I don’t want to go down on that trip.” He came joyfully. “… for the joy that was set before him …” (Heb. 12:2, italics mine) He endured the cross. He said, “… Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God” (Heb. 10:7). He came to this earth with joy. He was not releasing something that He wanted to hold on to when He came to this earth."
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 5:301-302

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  [Michael/Gabriel]

Angels are created beings (Ps. 148:2, 5; Col. 1:16).  Jesus is the Creator ( John 1:3, 10; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16, 17; Heb. 1:2, 10; Rev. 3:14).  Jesus is not the archangel Michael that Jehovah's false witnesses say he is.  Angels were created by God and Christ (Ne 9:6; Col 1:16).  They correctly worship God and Christ (Ne 9:6; Php 2:9-11; Heb 1:6).  They communicate the will of God and Christ (Da 8:16,17; 9:21-23; 10:11; 12:6,7; Mt 2:13,20; Lu 1:19,28; Ac 5:20; 8:26; 10:5; 27:23; Re 1:1).  The angels execute the purposes of God (Nu 22:22; Ps 103:21; Mt 13:39-42; 28:2; Joh 5:4; Re 5:2.) and the judgments of God ( 2Sa 24:16; 2Ki 19:35; Ps 35:5,6; Ac 12:23; Re 16:1). 

Gabriel and Michael are important angels but they are not to be worshipped. 

"[A]ngel of the Lord (or angel of Yahweh), a figure appearing frequently in the ot (Gen. 16:7-13; 22:11; Exod. 3:2; Num. 22:22; Judg. 13:3; Zech. 1:11; 3:1, to cite only a few references) and also in the nt (Luke 2:9-15). References to this figure usually occur when something dramatic and meaningful is about to happen, generally with serious consequences, either good or ill, for God’s people. The angel of the Lord seems to have been understood as distinct from other angels and, in the earlier ot literature, appears to be almost another designation for God. In most cases, however, the angel of the Lord served primarily as a messenger from God to the people to prepare the way for God’s appearance and activity. In some passages, the term probably only designates ‘an’ angel of God (e.g., 1 Kings 19:4-8)."
ot Old Testament
nt New Testament
Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary. Includes index. (1st ed.) (30). San Francisco: Harper & Row.

"Learn about Jehovah's Witnesses' denial of the historical, Biblical Jesus. "They do not believe that Jesus is the preeminent one, the first born over all creation, the second member of the trinity, the one who "spoke and the universe leap into existence (Hanegraaff)."

See: 

Jehovah's Witnesses Refuted

I am a Witness

10 Questions & Answers Jehovah's Witnesses

Recommended websites:

InPlainSite.org/

4Jehovah.org

DefendingContending.com

ApolgeticsIndex.org

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  [1 Cor 8:6]

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him [1 Cor. 8:5–6].
"These idols were merely called gods. As I stood in the ruins of the temple of Apollo in Corinth, I thought of this passage of Scripture. I thought of all the sacrifices that had been offered to that image of Apollo there. It was nothing. The meat was brought in to the idol, put there for a little while, and then it was taken to the meat shop. It didn’t make any difference in the meat—the idol was nothing. The instructed Christian knew that. He knew there is but one God, the Father, and that there is but one Lord Jesus Christ. He made all things, and all things belong to Him."
 
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:38-39). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Re 4:11]

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created [Rev. 4:9–11].
"This is the first great worship scene which we see in heaven.
When should be whensoever, indicating that this is a continual act of worship. In other words, praise and adoration are the eternal activity of God’s creatures in heaven. The creature worships the Creator as the triune God: “Holy, holy, holy.” Worship is the activity of heaven.
I have a sermon which I have not preached in quite some while, which is entitled, “Why Do You Want to Go to Heaven?” Many people say that not everybody who is talking about heaven is going to heaven. The better question is, Why do you want to go to heaven? Is the idea to miss hell? I myself do not think that to be an unworthy motive, but may I say to you that if you go to heaven, you are going to find yourself either getting down on your face or getting up, worshiping the triune God and especially the Lord Jesus Christ. If you find worship boring down here and you are not interested in worshiping the Lord Jesus and expressing your heart’s desire to Him, why in the world do you want to go to heaven? We are going to spend a lot of time up there worshiping Him.
“And cast their crowns before the throne.” The crowns of the church are laid at Jesus’ feet as an act of submission and worship. Many people talk of there being a crown for them over there. Frankly, if we get a crown at all, I think that after we wear it for awhile and the newness wears off, we are going to feel embarrassed. What in the world are we doing wearing a crown? The only One worthy up there is the Lord Jesus. Therefore, we are going to lay our crown at His feet.
“For thou hast created all things.” Dr. Walvoord, in his very excellent book, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, calls attention to something here that I think is important. The living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne. They worship Him for His attributes, because He is who He is. However, the four and twenty elders who represent the church worship Him not only because of His attributes but also because of what He has done. Here they worship Him as Creator—“thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” In other words, the church comes out of this little earth which is God’s creation, and they join in the worship because He created this earth down here. Genesis 1:1 is accurate, and the church believes it.
“And for thy pleasure they are and were created.” “For thy pleasure” is more accurately translated “because of thy will.” The reason that God created this earth and that things are as they are is because it was in His plan and purpose. I do not understand a great deal of what He is doing, and I do not understand a great deal about this universe in which I live, but I do know that it is created this way because this is the way He wanted it. He is in charge, and we are to worship Him because He created this little earth. I am glad that He did, and I am glad that He created me. He could have forgotten all about me, but I am glad that I was in the plan and purpose of God. We worship Him because of that."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:932-933). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  "[Was Jesus] firstborn of every creature[?]"

Yes.  Firstborn over creation (Col. 1:15).  Note the parallel verses: 

15 He is dthe image of the invisible God, ethe firstborn over all creation.
d 2 Cor. 4:4; Heb. 1:3
e Ps. 89:27; Rev. 3:14
The New King James Version. 1982 (Col 1:15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

"Manhood before creation[?]"

No.  Jesus took on human flesh (Jn 1:14).  He is now and will forever be 100% man and 100% God.  The apostle John made this clear:  Jesus (man) Christ (God) [1 Jn 1:7].  

Response to comment [from other]:  "So honoring Jesus as 'the Christ' (Anointed), or by the name of 'Michael' (one Like God) is all relative and keeping to the spiritual reality..."

No.  The apostle Paul warned of false teachers (Gal. 1:6–8).  They are subtle and covetous (Rogers).  We are to try them and test their claims based on the word of God.

A person will receive the truth if he is of God.  The apostle John said:  "We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 Jn 4:5-6)."  

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  "He was brought forth."

He lowered himself to become man (Jn 1:14).  There was never a time when he did not exist (Gen. 1:26; Psa. 102:25–27 with Heb. 1:8–12.Prov. 8:22–36; John 1:1–3; John 3:13; John 6:62; John 8:56–58; John 17:5; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; Phil. 2:5–7; Col. 1:15–17; Heb. 1:1, 2; Heb. 2:9, 14–16; Rev. 4:11). 

"...[P]rior to that He was Flesh and Spirit, A Heavenly Flesh, much as it is now."

That is incorrect.  His nature was all new at his incarnation (Jn 1:14).  He will forever be 100% man and 100% God.  The apostle John made this clear Jesus (man) Christ (God) [1 Jn 1:3].

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  "You need to look at my thread on Jesus the man from heaven."

"Proverbs 8:22, 23 says, “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach:
The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was a created being and the “earliest” of God achievements.

“Many professed Christian writers of the early centuries of the Common Era understood this section to refer symbolically to God’s Son in his prehuman state…there can be no denying that that Son was ‘produced’ by Jehovah ‘as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago,’ nor that the Son was ‘beside [Jehovah] as a master worker’ during earth’s creation.” (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, pg. 918)

The Bible teaches:
The Jehovah’s Witnesses interpretation of Proverbs 8 violates the context of Proverbs. The first nine chapters of Proverbs deals with wisdom personified thus the wisdom talked about in Proverbs 8 is NOT referring to Jesus.

For example, if we take Proverbs 8:22-30 to literally mean Christ, than we have to take literally that Jesus is a women who cries in the streets (1:20-21), who lives with someone named ‘Prudence’ (8:12) in a house with seven pillars (9:1).

It’s worth noting that no New Testament writer attributes Proverbs 8 to Jesus and simply put, Proverbs 8 is a personification of wisdom used in a poetic style for the purpose of emphasis and impact.

Matthew 19:16, 17 says, “Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments...’”  Verses Jehovah's Witnesses Use to Deny Christ's Deity.  Calvary Aurora. 

See:

Jehovah's Witnesses Apologetics (MS Word)
Jehovah's Witnesses False Prophecies (MS Word)
Jehovah's Witnesses Doctrinal Reversals (MS Word)
Is Jesus Christ the Archangel Michael? (MS Word)
Verses Jehovah's Witnesses Use to Deny Christ's Deity (MS Word)

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  [Mt 11:19]

 

"11:16-19. Jesus compared that generation to a group of little children sitting in the marketplaces who could not be pleased by anything. Like children rejecting the suggestions to “play” wedding (flute . . . dance) or funeral (dirge . . . mourn) music, the people rejected both John and Jesus. They were not satisfied with John the Baptist because he did not eat or drink, or with Jesus who did eat and drink with sinners. They said John had a demon, and they rejected Jesus as a glutton and a drunkard and a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” Though that generation was not happy with anything, the wisdom of the approach of both John and Jesus would be proved right by the results, namely, that many people would be brought into the kingdom."

Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:44). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

 

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children [Matt. 11:19].
"Jesus was friendly. What about Him? “Oh, He is gluttonous. He’s too friendly with sinners!” They weren’t pleased with John, nor were they pleased with Jesus.
There are some folk that you simply cannot please, and you are better off to forget about them. They don’t like one preacher because he just stands up there and in a monotone gives his sermon. Then the next preacher they don’t like because he is very demonstrative and pounds the pulpit. Or one is too profound, and they don’t understand him, and the other is too simple—so they don’t like him either. There are a lot of people whom no one can please, and that was certainly true in our Lord’s day."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:64). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Ps 2:7]

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee [Ps. 2:7].
"This is a verse that the Jehovah Witnesses use a great deal. I wish they would listen long enough to find out what it means. It would help them a great deal to find it has no reference to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ—which they would see if only they would turn to the New Testament and let the Spirit of God interpret. This verse was quoted by the apostle Paul when he preached in Antioch of Pisidia. This was, I believe, one of his greatest sermons; and he was talking about the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (Acts 13:33).
The reference in the second psalm is not to the birth of Jesus. He never was begotten in the sense of having a beginning. Rather, this is in reference to His resurrection. Christ was begotten out of Joseph’s tomb. Jesus is the eternal Son of God, and God is the eternal Father. You cannot have an eternal Father without having an eternal Son. They were this throughout eternity. This is their position in the Trinity. It hasn’t anything to do with someone being born, but it does have something to do with someone being begotten from the dead. It has to do with resurrection. I’m afraid the Jehovah’s Witnesses have not heard this, but they could find, with a little honest searching, that the New Testament makes it very clear Jesus Christ is not a creature. He is the theanthropic Person. He is the God-man. Psalm 2:7 sustains this doctrine."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:668-669). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Ac 13:33]

God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee [Acts 13:32–33].
"This Old Testament reference, Psalm 2:7, does not refer to the birth of Christ; it refers to the resurrection of Christ. “This day have I begotten thee”—not begotten in the Virgin Birth but actually in the resurrection from the dead."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:569). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Col 1:15]

"Colossians 1:15 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach…
To Jehovah’s Witnesses, this verse obviously “proves” that Jesus had a beginning at a point in time since He is the “firstborn over all creation”. They teach that God created Jesus, known as Michael the archangel before His incarnation, and then Jesus created all [other] things.

 “the Scriptures identify the Word (Jesus in his prehuman existence) as God’s first creation, his firstborn Son.” (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, pg. 918)

The Bible teaches…
The Jehovah’s Witnesses confuse the word firstborn [Greek: prototokos] with the word first created [Greek: protoktsis]. Protoktsis or first created is never used of Jesus in the New Testament.

Firstborn means “heir, superior and pre-immanent in rank above all.” In other words, Jesus is “heir and superior over all creation.”

In Hebrew culture, the “firstborn” was the son in the family who was in the pre-eminent position and not necessarily the one chronologically born first.

For example, in Genesis 41:50-51, Ephraim was physically born after Manasseh yet Ephraim was the “firstborn” or pre-eminent according to Jeremiah 31:9.

Again, David was the last child born to Jesse (1 Samuel 16:10-11) but God says in Psalm 89:20, 27 that He “will make him My firstborn”, in other words, His pre-eminent."

[Re 3:14]

Revelation 3:14 says, “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:”

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach…
This is a favorite verse of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to “prove” that Jesus had a beginning and was the first “creation of God.” They will say, “See, Jesus is the beginning of the creation.”

 “Jehovah’s first creation was his ‘only-begotten Son’ (John 3:16), ‘the beginning of the creation by God.’ (Rev. 3:14)…After creating his only-begotten Son, Jehovah used him in bringing the heavenly angels into existence.” (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, pg. 390, 391)

The Bible teaches…
The word beginning [Greek: arche] means “originator, designer, first cause, superior”.

 Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon says arche means “that by which anything begins to be, the origin, active cause”

 Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament says arche means “The beginner, or author”

 The New International Version of the Bible translates arche as “ruler” or “the ruler of God’s creation.”

 Chuck Smith says in his book, What is the World Coming To, “Jesus is the origination of the creation powers or the origin of God’s creation. So He is actually the creative force, and that’s what Revelation is speaking of here – the creative force of the creation of God.”

 Dr. John MacArthur says, “Arche (Beginning) does not mean that Christ was the first person God created, but rather that Christ Himself is the source or origin of creation (cf. Rev. 22:13). Through His power everything was created (John 1:3; Heb. 1:2).”

We get the English words architect and archbishop indicating “someone who builds or who rules over something”.

Arche is also used of God (Revelation 1:8; 21:6: 22:13) in regards to Him being “the beginning [arche] and the end.” We cannot say that God thus had a beginning but instead, these verses mean that God was “the origin and active cause” of all things..."  Full text  Verses Jehovah's Witnesses Use to Deny Christ's Deity (MS Word).  Calvary Aurora:  Apologetics

[Eccl 9:10]

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest [Eccl. 9:10].
"It is certainly true that the body in the grave can no longer hold a hammer in its hand. The brain is no longer able to study or perform any mental chores. Solomon is speaking only of the body. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” He is talking about the hand, not the soul. It is the hand that will be put into the grave. If you are a child of God, you will go into the presence of the Lord. If you are not a child of God, you will go to the place of the dead until you are raised to be judged at the Great White Throne. This life does not end it all. This book does not teach soul sleep."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (3:130). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Re 20:13]

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works [Rev. 20:12–13].
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne; and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works.
Yes, my friend, you will be able to get a fair trial there. Your life is on tape, and Christ happens to have the tape. When He plays it back, you will be able to listen to it, and it is not going to sound good to you, by any means. Are you willing to stand before God and have Him play the tape of your life? I think He will have it on a television screen so that you can watch it, too. Do you think your life can stand the test? I do not know about you, but I could not make it. Thank God for His grace—“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
The dead are classified as the small and the great. They are all lost, for evidently none have their names written in the Book of Life. They had never turned to God for salvation. The Lord Jesus said that in His generation “… ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). These folk standing before His throne had not come.
These are books which record the works of all individuals. God keeps the tapes, and He will play them at the right time. There will be a lot of politicians who will have their tapes played in that day, and there will be a lot of public figures—even preachers—who will have their tapes played in that day, and they are not going to be happy about it. If you are saved, you are not going to stand before this judgment. Your works are to be judged as a child of God at the judgment seat of Christ, which will be for the purpose of rewards (see 2 Cor. 5:10). The Great White Throne judgment is the judgment of the lost. Multitudes want to be judged according to their works. This is their opportunity. The judgment is just, but no one is saved by works.
“And the sea gave up the dead that were in it.” Multitudes who have gone to a watery grave in which the chemicals of their bodies have been dissolved in the waters of the sea will be raised. God will have no problem with this. After all, they are only atoms. He just has to put them together again. He did it once; He can do it again. The graves on earth will give up their bodies; and hades, the place where the spirits of the lost go, will disgorge for this judgment."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:1060-1061). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Ps 16:10]

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption [Ps. 16:8–10].
"This is the psalm of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was the heart of Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost. “For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [sheol was the Hebrew word, meaning “the unseen world”], neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day [from where Peter was preaching in the temple area, they could see the tomb of David, and Peter undoubtedly pointed to it]. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption” (Acts 2:25–31). Peter said clearly that Psalm 16:8–10 spoke of the resurrection of Christ. There are several liberal expositors—Perowne is one of them—who say that Psalm 16 has no reference to the resurrection of Christ. When a liberal makes that statement, I have to consider what Simon Peter said. When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, several thousand people turned to Christ and were saved, which brought about a revolution in the Roman Empire. With this in mind I feel like saying to the liberals, “How many are coming to the Lord through your ministry?” That is the real test. Simon Peter said that Psalm 16 refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and I am taking his word for it.
Peter also said more on the day of Pentecost: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:32–36). Obviously Psalm 16 refers to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul also quoted from this psalm. In Acts 13:35–37 he says, “Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.” You see, Paul also said it was the psalm of Jesus’ resurrection.
What we have in this psalm is quite remarkable. In verse 8 we have the life of Christ. “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” That, my friend, was the pathway He followed down here, and it is the pathway I want to follow.
Then in verse 9 we have the death of Christ: “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” He died there upon the cross, knowing that God would raise Him from the dead.
Then we have the resurrection of Christ in verse 10: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [that is, the grave]; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
Then we have the ascension of Christ in verse 11..."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:694-695). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Ac 2:27]

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption [Acts 2:25–27].
"The word hell should be “sheol.” In that day it was sheol.
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:520). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Mt 5:5]

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth [Matt. 5:5].
"We find this in Psalm 37:11. The meek are not inheriting the earth in this day in which we live—I’m sure you recognize that. So apparently the Sermon on the Mount is not in effect today. However, when Christ is reigning, the meek will inherit the earth.
How do you become meek? Our Lord was meek and lowly, and He will inherit all things; we are the heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. We are told that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, temperance, and meekness. Only the Spirit of God can break you and make you meek. If you could produce meekness by your own effort, you would be proud of yourself, wouldn’t you? And out goes your meekness! Meekness is not produced by self-effort but by Spirit effort. Only the Holy Spirit can produce meekness in the heart of a yielded Christian. The Christian who has learned the secret of producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit can turn here to the Beatitudes and read, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth,” and see that the rewards of meekness are still in the future. Paul asked the Corinthian believers, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? …” (1 Cor. 6:2).
The Beatitudes present goals which the child of God wants to realize in his own life, but he can’t do it on his own. You may have heard of the preacher who had a message entitled “Meekness and How I Attained It.” He said that he hadn’t delivered his message yet, but as soon as he got an audience big enough, he was going to give it! Well, I have a notion that he had long since lost his meekness. Meekness can only be a fruit of the Holy Spirit."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:30). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Ps 37:10-11]

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth [Ps. 37:9].
"God will see to it that those who wait upon the Lord will one day inherit the earth. The wicked are going to be cut off."
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace [Ps. 37:11].
Someday the meek shall inherit the earth. The day will come when God will put His people on the earth. I heard a preacher say, “God is going to save so many people that there won’t be enough room for them on earth, so He made heaven to take care of the overflow.” Heaven is not for the overflow; it is for the church. Israel will inherit the earth. To make a statement like that preacher did is to hopelessly confuse the purposes of God."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:739). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Ps 37:29]

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever [Ps. 37:29].
"This verse again tells us that God is going to make good His promise to Abraham and to the children of Israel. He promised them earthly blessings. He did not promise that to you and me. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings. You will be confused if you believe God has promised you earthly blessings. It is true that many Christians are blessed with material things, but that is surplus. It is an added blessing; and, if God has blessed you that way, you have a tremendous responsibility. I feel sorry for some of the rich saints who are not using their money the way God wants them to use it."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:739). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Pr 2:21-22]

For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it [Prov. 2:16–22].
"Who is the strange woman? In Israel, God had made a law that no Israelite woman was to play the prostitute. I am confident that if any woman did that, she was automatically put outside the bounds of Israel, and she was classed with sinners—and later with publicans. The stranger was the Gentile who came in. She recognized that there would be a place for her to ply her trade. So the “strange woman” would be a foreigner, the stranger, who came into Israel to practice prostitution. The young man is warned about her. He is told what might happen to him. “None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.” They will lose their health.
An elder in a church back East told me that he almost wrecked his life with just one escapade. He said, “I went out on the town one night with the boys, and that one night I picked up a venereal disease. Back in those days it took years to get rid of the result of that. It almost wrecked my life.” God warns against that.
In our contemporary culture when sex without marriage is accepted behavior, we are finding that venereal disease is reaching epidemic proportions. When I was a young fellow, I belonged to an organization whose leader was a very fine doctor. He called in a group of us fellows because he saw that we were doing a great deal of running around. He said he just wanted to have a friendly talk with us. Well, he scared the daylights out of me. People today say that we don’t want to frighten our young people. Well, I thank God for what the doctor told us and for the fact that he did scare us. That is exactly what the writer here in Proverbs is doing. He warns the young man about the evil man and the strange woman."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (3:12-13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  "[W]isdom personified is feminine simply because the noun "wisdom" has female gender in both Hebrew and Greek. There is no reason why it cannot represent Jesus."

Jesus is wisdom (Jn 14:6).  Wisdom in the Bible is pictured as a woman.  And spiritual wisdom is different than worldly wisdom.

Spiritual wisdom:

Num. 27:21; Judg. 20:18; 1 Kin. 3:7, 9 2 Chr. 1:10. 1 Kin. 8:36; Job 34:32; Psa. 5:8; Psa. 25:4, 5; Psa. 27:11; Psa. 31:3; Psa. 39:4; Psa. 43:3; Psa. 86:11; Psa. 90:12; Psa. 119:12, 19, 26, 27, 33, 34, 66, 68, 73, 80, 124, 125, 135, 144, 169, 171; Psa. 139:24; Eph. 1:16–19; Eph. 3:14–19; Eph. 6:18–20; Phil. 1:9, 10; Col. 1:9, 10; Col. 2:1–3; Col. 4:2–4; 2 Tim. 2:7; Jas. 1:5

Worldly wisdom:

Gen. 3:6, 7; Job 4:18–21; Job 5:13; Job 11:2, 12; Job 37:24; Prov. 3:7; Prov. 15:21, 22; Prov. 16:25; Prov. 17:2, 10; Prov. 18:1; Prov. 20:18; Prov. 21:20, 22, 30; Prov. 24:3–7; Prov. 28:11; Eccl. 1:18; Eccl. 2:1–26; Eccl. 7:11–13, 16–25; Eccl. 8:1, 16, 17; Eccl. 10:2, 3, 10; Isa. 5:21; Isa. 28:24–29; Isa. 29:14–16; Isa. 47:10, 11; Jer. 8:7–9; Jer. 9:23, 24; Jer. 49:7; Matt. 6:23; Matt. 7:24–27; Matt. 11:25 Luke 10:21. Luke 16:8; Rom. 1:21–23; 1 Cor. 1:17–26; 1 Cor. 2:1–14; 1 Cor. 3:18–20; 1 Cor. 8:1, 2; 2 Cor. 1:12; Col. 2:8; 1 Tim. 6:20, 21.

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  "You need to take a look at my Thread, [J]esus the man from heaven, or you can look at the one I have on the Deity of Christ..."

"The bottom line is that over and over again, The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society misinterprets Scripture, blatantly perverts the Deity of Jesus Christ, goes against all the best Greek manuscripts and rewrites their version of the Bible, i.e. The New World Translation to the determent of its followers.

Jesus Christ is not just “a god”, the first of Jehovah’s created beings but is God Almighty Himself and Scripture bares that out over and over again..." Full text:  Verses Jehovah's Witnesses Use to Deny Christ's Deity (MS Word)

Also see:

Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses and what are their beliefs? Why are the Jehovah's Witnesses considered a cult?

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions? Is receiving a blood transfusion a violation of the Biblical command not to consume blood?

I am a Jehovah's Witness, why should I consider becoming a Christian? What is the difference between a Christian and a Jehovah's Witness?

Is the New World Translation a valid version of the Bible? Did the Jehovah's Witnesses intentionally alter the Bible to create the New World Translation...

Is Jesus Michael the Archangel? Why do Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is Michael the Archangel?

Who are the 144,000? Is 144,000 a limit to the number of people God will allow into the New Heaven? Are the 144,000 (144.000) end times witnesses ...

What is the definition of a cult? What are the beliefs that cause a group to be considered a cult?

What does the Bible say about organ donation / donating blood? Should a Christian donate blood to be used for blood transfusions?

Questions about Cults & Religions: What is the definition of a cult? What is the right religion for me? Is Jesus the only way of salvation?

Recommended Resources:
Correcting the Cults by Norman L. Geisler
Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses by Ron Rhodes
Answering Jehovah’s Witnesses Subject by Subject by David A. Reed
Jehovah’s Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse by David A. Reed
Why You Should Believe in the Trinity by Robert M. Bowman, Jr.

[Job 18:13]

It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.
His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street [Job 18:11–17].
"He is saying that disease shall waste the body of the wicked. The fire of God will destroy his habitation, and his name shall be blotted out. His family shall perish—he will have neither son nor grandson. His desolation shall astonish future generations. All of this is true of the wicked, but it is not applicable to Job. A statement can be absolutely true, and yet have no application to an individual situation.
This is the reason, I feel, that a great deal of so-called “counseling” today is dangerous. I think there are many fine Christian psychologists; I know some of them, and I would recommend them. But, candidly, many psychologists often have premises which are not accurate, and for that reason they are not able to counsel.
These men are trying to counsel Job, but they are not able to do so. Bildad says the wicked are going to be judged. The wicked will be blotted out. That is true. Look in our own day to the fate of Hitler and Stalin and other dictators. As they lived, they died. Although his statement is true, Job is not that kind of man by any means."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:619-620). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Ro 8:29]

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified [Rom. 8:29–30].
“For” refers back to verse 28 to remind us that he is not talking about anybody being elected to be lost, but he is speaking of “the called,” the predestined ones. Predestination never has any reference to the lost. You will never find it used in connection with them. If you ever hear someone talk about being predestined to be lost, you know he is not being scriptural.
Predestination means that, when God saves you, He is going to see you through. Whom He foreknew, He predestinated, and whom He predestinated, He called, and whom He called, He justified, and whom He justified, He glorified. In other words, this amazing section is on sanctification—yet Paul does not even mention being sanctified. Why? Because sanctification is the work of God in the heart and life of the believer. This is God’s eternal purpose. It just simply means this: When the Lord—who is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, the Good Shepherd of the Sheep, and Chief Shepherd of the Sheep—starts out with one hundred sheep, He’s going to come home with one hundred sheep; He will not lose one of them. You may remember that our Lord gave a parable about this, recorded in Luke 15. There was a shepherd, a good shepherd, who represents the Lord Jesus. One little old sheep got lost, got away. You would think He might say, “Well, let him go. We’ve got ninety-nine of them safe in the fold. That’s a good percentage.” Anyone raising sheep knows that if you get to market with a little over fifty percent of those that are born, you’re doing well. But this is an unusual shepherd. He is not satisfied with ninety-nine. If He justifies one hundred sheep, He’s going to glorify one hundred sheep. I’ll make this rather personal. Someday He will be counting them in—“One, two, three, four, five … ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine—where in the world is Vernon McGee? Well, it looks like he didn’t make it. We’ll let him go because a great many people didn’t think he was going to make it anyway.” My friend, thank God He won’t let him go. That shepherd is going after him. The doctrine of election means that the Lord will be coming home with one hundred sheep! This is not a frightful doctrine; it is a wonderful doctrine. It means that Vernon McGee’s going to be there; and it means you are going to be there, my friend, if you have trusted Christ. This is a most comforting doctrine in these uncertain days in which we live.
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:705-706). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Re 22:13]

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star [Rev. 22:12–16].
"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are they that wash their robes, in order that theirs shall be authority over the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.
The church should know this program of God. Either the angel is bearing a very personal word from Jesus, or else the Lord is breaking through and saying it personally. Our Lord promises that He is coming again. That is His personal declaration. No believer can doubt or deny this all-important and personal promise of the Lord Jesus.
He will personally reward each believer individually—those in the church at the Rapture as well as those of Israel and the Gentiles at His return to set up His kingdom at the Millennium.
It is little wonder that Paul could write: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?” (Phil. 3:10–14).
Again the Lord Jesus asserts His deity: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” He said this at the beginning of Revelation, and He concludes with it.
Only blood-washed believers have authority over the Tree of Life and access to the Holy City (see Eph. 1:7–12).
“Dogs” come off rather badly in Scripture. This perhaps does not mean that there will be no dogs in heaven, but because dogs were scavengers in the ancient world they were considered unclean and impure. Also, “dogs” was the designation for Gentiles (see Matt. 15:21–28) and Paul’s label for Judaizers (see Phil. 3:2).
Apparently the Lord Jesus had sent His angel with this very personal message. “I Jesus”—He takes the name of His saviorhood, the name He received when He took upon Himself humanity, and the name that no man knows but He Himself. You and I are going to spend eternity just centering on Him and His person. My friend, if you are not interested in Jesus today, I do not know why you would want to go to heaven. That is all we are going to talk about up there; we are going to talk about Him.
He is called “the root and the offspring of David,” which connects Him with the Old Testament. But He is “the bright and morning star” to the church. Have you noticed that the bright and morning star always appears at the darkest time of the night? Its appearance indicates that the sun will be coming up shortly. The Old Testament ended with the promise that “the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings”—that is the Old Testament hope (see Mal. 4:2). But to us, He is the Bright and Morning Star who will come at a very dark moment."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:1078-1079). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Lk 12:11]

"12:4-12 (Matt. 10:28-31). Jesus went on to teach that His disciples (My friends) should be fearless (Luke 12:4, 7; cf. v. 32) because God would take care of them. Instead of fearing men who could kill their bodies (cf. 11:48-50), they should fear God, the One who has the power to throw one into hell. This follows as a natural corollary of 12:2-3—God knows everything. The disciples were far more valuable to God than sparrows, which were sold for a small amount (five birds for two pennies). The word for “penny” is assarion, a Roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius (a day’s wage), and used only here and in Matthew 10:29. Since God takes care of common little birds (cf. Luke 12:22), He will also care for His own, even knowing the number of their hairs.
The point of verses 8-10 is that disciples must make a choice. To acknowledge denotes the fact that the disciples recognized Him as the Messiah and therefore they had access to the way of salvation. Those who did not acknowledge Him were denying themselves the way of salvation. Jesus carried the logic one step further, noting that one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. In Matthew 12:32 Jesus linked this activity with the Pharisees who were rejecting the work of Jesus. Apparently the Pharisees were being convicted by the Holy Spirit that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, but were rejecting His witness. They could never be forgiven because they were rejecting God’s only means of salvation. (In contrast to that, a number of Jesus’ own brothers who initially rejected Him [John 7:5] later came to faith [Acts 1:14] and were forgiven even though they had spoken against the Son of Man.)
Jesus then promised the disciples (Luke 12:11-12) that when they were arraigned and brought before officials because of their preaching and teaching (cf. Acts 4:1-21), the Holy Spirit would teach them what to say. In contrast to Jesus’ enemies, who blasphemed the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ followers would be helped by the Holy Spirit."
cf. confer, compare
v. verse
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:237). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
 

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say [Luke 12:11–12].
This is not intended to be an excuse for a lazy preacher or Sunday school teacher failing to make preparation. Rather, it was assurance to His own men that the Holy Spirit, whom He would send, would give them courage and wisdom as they faithfully witnessed for Him. We have many examples of this in the Book of Acts."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:300-301). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[Re 3:4]

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy [Rev. 3:4].
"But thou hast a few names (persons) in Sardis that did not besmirch (defile) their Christian life (garments); and they shall walk with me in white (garments); for they are worthy.
In Israel it was never the corporate body of the total national life but always a remnant that was true to God. Here the church is told, “You have a few.” In Luke 12:32 the Lord called His church “little flock.” Protestantism today has its saints who love the Word, who are faithful to Him even in these days, and who stand by the Word of God. They do not engage in sin-defiling activities, nor are they engaged in fleshly activity.
Protestantism has produced some great men, and I will mention some, although I am going to leave out a great many. I think of the Reformation leaders: Martin Luther and John Calvin stand out, head and shoulders, above all others. Of course, there was John Knox, a great man of God who did so much for Scotland. Later on, there was John Bunyan, the great Baptist who wrote Pilgrim’s Progress, which tells of his own life and how God marvelously saved him. John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist church. God marvelously saved that man and used him in such a way that he is given credit by historians for saving England from the revolution which destroyed France and prevented it from ever becoming a first-rate nation again. Wesley has been called the greatest Englishman of all. He certainly did more for that country than any other Englishman who has ever lived. Then there was a man like John Moffat, the Scotchman who went to Africa, and David Livingstone who first opened up that continent. William Carey went to India and later was followed by a sickly young man by the name of Henry Martyn. Finally, I always like to include Titus Coan, who led the greatest revival since Pentecost out in the Hawaiian Islands.
Protestantism has had some names who didn’t defile themselves and were true to the Word of God. There are quite a few such men living today, but I wouldn’t dare to begin to name them because of the fact that I would be apt to leave some out who ought to be included.
Protestantism has certainly produced some great men of God. Romanism did the same thing, even during the Dark Ages, but that does not mean to commend the system. The system of Romanism and the system of Protestantism, as they are revealed in the great denominations which have departed from the faith, to me are the organizations which will eventually bring in the apostate church because they have departed from the great tenets and doctrines of the Christian faith."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:914). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[1 Cor 8:6]

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him [1 Cor. 8:5–6].
"These idols were merely called gods. As I stood in the ruins of the temple of Apollo in Corinth, I thought of this passage of Scripture. I thought of all the sacrifices that had been offered to that image of Apollo there. It was nothing. The meat was brought in to the idol, put there for a little while, and then it was taken to the meat shop. It didn’t make any difference in the meat—the idol was nothing. The instructed Christian knew that. He knew there is but one God, the Father, and that there is but one Lord Jesus Christ. He made all things, and all things belong to Him."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (5:38-39). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  "[S]erpent.  Have you looked at the other threads I recommended?"

Yes, and I reject the claims.  Jesus is Lord (Jn 1:1). 

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  "No? Then how could Lazarus in sheol/hades carry a drop of water on his finger? (Luke 16:24)"

"Now we come to another great parable that only Luke presents. I do not believe this is a fictitious story. I believe He drew this story from real life just as He did His other parables. Jesus used illustrations that were familiar to His hearers. They knew exactly what He was talking about. He uses the name of one of the individuals involved in this parable; the Lord would not have given the name of someone who did not exist.
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day [Luke 16:19].
This is the story of a rich man who lived and died without God. It moves into a realm that we know nothing about. In this parable the Lord passes from this world to the next without making any break at all. Although we cannot penetrate the curtain between this life and the next life, our Lord speaks of the next world as naturally as He speaks of this life.
When man is left to his own imagination, he seeks out many inventions and out of his wildest dreams he makes unlimited speculations. When man uses his imagination, he gets into trouble. In this parable we learn what the Word of God says. There were only four men who ever spoke with authority concerning the other side of death: the Lord Jesus; Lazarus; John, who was given the Revelation; and Paul, who was “… caught up to the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2).
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores.
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores [Luke 16:20–21].
Here are two men at the opposite ends of the social and financial ladder—and, I suppose, every other ladder. One man represents the top echelon in riches, and the other man represents the lowest extreme of poverty. No two men could be farther apart in every way. This poor man was dependent upon the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. He never was invited to sit at the rich man’s table; he had to be kept in a menial place. The dogs came and licked his sores. In a few words our Lord pictures the depths of the terrible degradation and despair into which this man had fallen. I am sure had you lived in that town you might have gotten the impression that poor Lazarus, dressed in rags, did not have much in the way of any spiritual discernment or spiritual riches. I am sure all of us would have written him off as a hopeless case. On the other hand, I am sure that the rich man had several buildings named after him—perhaps a church, a school, or a mission enterprise. I am sure he had a wonderful name in the town in which these two men lived. However, all that the people in the town could see were the outward appearances of the rich man and the beggar whose sores were licked by dogs. This is a picture of abject poverty and extreme riches. Two men could not have been farther apart.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried [Luke 16:22].
Our Lord comes right to the door of death and passes through it as if it were nothing unusual. When the beggar died, there was no funeral. They just took his body out and threw it into the Valley of Gehenna where refuse was thrown and burned; this is the place where they threw the bodies of the poor in that day. The minute the beggar stepped through the doorway of death, angels became his pall-bearers and he was carried by them into Abraham’s Bosom.
The rich man also died and was buried. He had a big funeral, and the preacher pushed him all the way to the top spot in heaven. The only trouble is that the preacher got his directions mixed up; the rich man went the other way.
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom [Luke 16:23].
Notice two things here: The lost go to a place of conscious torment. Also, people know each other after death. We do not lose our identities.
The word hell is in the Greek hadēs, meaning “the unseen world.” Actually, hell, as we think of it, is a place that has not yet been opened up for business; we don’t read of it until we get to Revelation 20:10, where it tells us that hell’s first occupants will be the Anti-christ and the false prophet. When they died, Lazarus and the rich man went to the unseen world, the place of the departed dead.
Death is separation; it never means extinction. Adam, in the day that he ate of the forbidden fruit, died. Physically he did not die until about nine hundred years later, but the day that he ate of the fruit he was separated from God. Jesus spoke of it when He said, “… I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die …” (John 11:25–26). Man is separated from God by sin. People are dead while they live. Paul told the Ephesians, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1).
Certain spots in a big city are really alive and jumping at night. If you want to see a lot of zombies and dead people, look in on one of these nightclubs. That is where you will find them. They are beating the drums, blaring out the music, getting the beat, drinking all they can, and getting high on drugs because they are dead and want to live.
There is a second death, which is spiritual death, and it means eternal separation from God. At physical death the body becomes inert and lifeless because the person’s spirit has moved out. The body is put into the grave, and the elements return to the dust: “… for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 3:19). Therefore, death means separation.
It will help us understand this parable if we realize that Sheol or hades (translated hell in the New Testament) is divided into two compartments: paradise (which is called Abraham’s Bosom in this parable) and the place of torment. Paradise was emptied when Christ took with Him at His ascension the Old Testament believers (see Eph. 4:8–10). The place of torment will deliver up the lost for judgment at the Great White Throne (see Rev. 20:11–15). All who stand at this judgment are lost, and they will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.
Now when the rich man died, his spirit went to the place of torment, the compartment where the lost go. The beggar went to the compartment called paradise or Abraham’s Bosom.
Note that our Lord is not saying that the rich man went to the place of torment because he was rich and that the poor man went to Abraham’s Bosom because he was poor. Going through the doorway of death certainly changed their status, but it was due to what was in the hearts of these two men. This is what our Lord has been saying through this entire section—man cannot judge by the outward appearance.
There are some other things revealed in this story that we would not know if our Lord had not revealed them.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame [Luke 16:24].
The rich man becomes the beggar, while the beggar is now the rich man.
 
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence [Luke 16:25–26].
The bodies of believers today, since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, go into the grave and return to dust, but their spirits go to be with Christ. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). The lost today still go to the place of torment in hades. Ephesians 4:8–10 gives us the following picture, “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)” In other words, when our Lord descended into hades after His crucifixion on the cross, He entered the paradise section, emptied it, and took everyone into God’s presence. No one occupies the paradise section of hades today. The only part of hades still occupied is the place of torment where unbelievers go when they die. The day is coming when hades will be cast into the lake of fire and men will no longer go there at all (see Rev. 20:14).
The body is merely the physical house in which we live. At death we move out of our old homes. You can do anything you want to with the old house after it is deserted, but the important thing is what happens to the spirit after it has left the body. Where is it going?
Heaven is a place, friend, and the moment you die you will either go there to be with Christ, or you will go to the place of torment where you will ultimately be judged and then cast into the lake of fire. The point is that God never intended the latter as an end for anyone of the human family. The lake of fire was made for the Devil and his angels (see Matt. 25:41). You choose your final destination.
“There is a great gulf fixed:” our Lord made that clear. You must make the decision in this life where you will go after your death. You do not get a second chance after death.
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house [Luke 16:27].
Notice his concern for his living brothers. He wanted them to repent, change their minds before it was too late. Friend, if the lost could come back, they would preach the gospel to us."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:320-322). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Jesus was/is higher than any angel.  Why do you think God called David his "servant"?

 

And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them [Ezek. 37:24].
"That one Shepherd is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. When He came, He was born in the line of David. Read Matthew 1; Luke 1–2—both very carefully record that He came in the line of David. The One that came in that line is the Shepherd, and He will rule over them. I personally believe that God will raise up David to reign over Israel, either in the Millennium or in the eternal kingdom which will be ushered in immediately following the Millennium. Some commentators say he will reign in the Millennium; others say it will be the eternal kingdom. I believe he will reign during both, that he will serve as the vice-regent of the Lord Jesus Christ down here on this earth."
McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (3:511). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]  "Jesus was sent by the Father, He was an Messenger which is the same as a Angel.  Angel and Messenger are the same word."

From Godrulz:  "theos can be used of God Almighty or Satan or stone idols (gods). Just because they are the same word, does not make God an idol or Satan.  You seem to follow this distorted logic in making Jesus the angel Michael. Why can't you accept that Jesus is the Lord of angels and Michael is a chief angel, but not Lord (Jude 9)? Your argument is false and grasping at straws to support your preconceived error.

Response to comment [from a Jehovah's Witness]:  [To C Moore] "You don't understand the bible, your under the power of the antichrist, and unless your an elect, your on your way to hell..."

You claimed not to be a Jehovah's Witness.  They teach that there is no hell (which is unbiblical).  Do you believe there is no hell? 

Response to comment [from Elohiym]:  "...[T]ell me why Jesus will come with the voice of an archangel (a chief messenger) if he is not capable of being an archangel? 1 Thessalonians 4:16."

Is Jesus the archangel Michael?  Is he a created being?  Or, is he the creator of the heavens and the earth?

Response to comment [from Elohiym]  "Jesus is the chief messenger (archangel). Michael is just one the 100+ different titles given to Christ Jesus throughout scripture."

That makes your position pretty clear.  That puts you in the kingdom of the cults not Christianity.  Why are you calling yourself "Christian" here?  Are you in actuality a Jehovah's Witness?

"I see you are only on a witch hunt...I am a Christian..."

If you believe that Jesus was a created being, you are not a Christian.  That belief puts you in the kingdom of the cults. 

See:

Satan, Inc (TOL Heretic List)

Jehovah's Witnesses

Response to comment [from Elohiym]:  "If you deny that Jesus came in the flesh (created), you have the spirit of antichrist (1Jo 4:3). And if you think that I am going to participate in your little inquisition, you are delusional."

Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian.  The verse you quote refers to the testimony of the Holy Spirit inside you.  If you do not have Jesus, you do not have life (1 Jn 5:12).

Whether a person denies Jesus in the flesh (that he was born of a virgin, lived the perfect life that neither you and could live, died and rose again) or denies Jesus in the spirit (his deity [Christ is his divine title], he is an antichrist (1 Jn 4:3).

If you question this, repent of your sin and ask the Holy Spirit to make Jesus real to you.  Is Jesus God?  Ask the Holy Spirit.    

"I believe Christ Jesus is God."

Jehovah's Witnesses claim this too.  But they do not worship the real Jesus.  They worship a false Jesus.  You said:  "Jesus is the chief messenger (archangel). Michael is just one the 100+ different titles given to Christ Jesus throughout scripture."  [Michael the Arch Angel is Jesus Christ January 18th, 2009, 11:48 AM http://www.theologyonline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1946163#post1946163]

What about "given to Christ" do I fail to understand?

"...[Y]ou are not interested in truth, just interested pursuing your self-appointed task of heretic hunting."

I am interested in knowing who I am speaking to and so are others at TOL.  Do you deny that Jesus spoke and the universe leapt into existence?  (Jn 1:1-3).  Is he the uncreated creator?  

Michael the Archangel is Jesus