The Nature Of Christ's Resurrection

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Were you to ask John Q and/or Jane Doe Watchtower Society missionary if they believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, I can assure you they would answer in the affirmative. However, what you may not know is that you and they would not be speaking the same language as the conversation would be talking about two very different processes that go by the same name. In other words: you would find yourself thrown off by semantic double speak.

In Watchtower Society theology, an angel named Michael volunteered to come to the earth to die for humanity's sins. But in order to do so; he had to relinquish his angel existence to become a human existence seeing as how in Society theology it is impossible for someone to exist as a spirit being and a human being simultaneously. However, when Michael expired, he didn't go completely out of existence. Instead, his "life force" remained intact and was transferred to a human form.

"the transferal of the life of his firstborn Son from the spirit realm to earth. Only in this way could the child eventually born have retained identity as the same person who had resided in heaven as the Word." (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, p.920)

"He had to become a perfect man and yet not lose his continuity of life. His life-force was not to be extinguished but would be transferred to the ovum of the virgin girl, Mary." (Watchtower magazine, 2-15-82, p.7)

But Michael's existence as a human being was only temporary. When his human form passed away on the cross, the Society claims that God transferred Michael's life force back into his angel form thus restoring him to his former spirit existence; leaving the corpse of his human existence in a permanent state of decease.

In other words: in Watchtower thinking, the resurrection that classical Christianity celebrates at Easter should be celebrating the resurrection of an angel instead of the resurrection of a human.

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● John 2:19-21 . . Jesus answered and said to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews therefore said: It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days? But He was speaking of the temple of his body.

Watch as I revise a portion of that passage.

"Jesus answered and said to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise up another one to replace it."

The language of John 2:19-21 indicates (to me at least) that when Jesus exited the tomb, he did so with the self-same body in which he was laid to rest.

Q: Well if that's the case, then why didn't a number of his closest friends recognize him?

A: The last time they saw Jesus he was beaten and bloodied beyond recognition, plus; to their recollection, he was supposed to be dead and buried.

● Isa 52:14 . .There were many who were appalled at him-- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--

Most everybody has, at one time or another, failed to recognize a familiar face when it turns up somewhere unexpected. Jesus was certainly no exception to that bit of human foible. The last person on earth anybody expected to see alive, in good health, and all cleaned up was him.

NOTE: The Romans abused Jesus quite a bit before he was executed, but the results were nothing like what's described in Isa 52:14. He got in that condition not at the hands of the Romans; but by God's own hand during those three hours of darkness on the cross (Isa 53:5-6, Isa 53:10). Well; if God would do that to His own son; what do you suppose He has in store for skeptics and mockers who mean little more to Him than wild pigs and feral dogs?

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● Luke 23:50-54 . . And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

. . .This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

For the benefit of those looking in who may not be familiar with the ancient Jews' religion: the day of preparation is set aside for the Jews to rid their homes of leaven; plus slaughter and roast lambs with fire ready to eat for that night's Passover dinner. (Exodus chapter 12)

Passover for 2018 is Saturday, March 31; making preparation day Friday, March 30. So; if Jesus were to be crucified this year, his first night in the tomb would be Friday night, his second night would be Saturday night, and his third night-- as per Matt 12:40 --would be Sunday night.

His first day in the tomb would be Saturday, his second day would be Sunday, and his third day-- as per Matt 12:40 --would be Monday.

Monday would also be Christ's resurrection day seeing as how the preponderance of evidence attests that he rose from the dead on the third day rather than after the third day was over and done with.

Matt 17:22-23
Mark 9:31
Luke 9:22
Luke 24:21-23
Luke 24:46
Acts 10:40
1Cor 15:4

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The chronology of Post #26 isn't based upon the year Jesus actually went to the cross; it's based upon 2018. Had Jesus been crucified this year, the first day of the week would be positioned in the chronology quite different than his year.

For example: Passover for 2017 was Tuesday, April 11. So preparation day would've been Monday, April 10.

Had Jesus been crucified in 2017; his first night in the tomb would've been Monday night, his second would've been Tuesday night, and his third would've been Wednesday night.

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