CHAPTER 3

p. 28 (29) Paragraph 5 (Paragraph 7)

Since all Jehovah’s creatures are perfect…(Since Adam became imperfect when he sinned…)[1]

The WTS does not support this bald assertion with Scriptural references, with good reason. There aren’t any. In Genesis, Jehovah God calls his creation “very good,” but very good is not at all identical with perfect. This is important and quite significant as to WTS theology. Nowhere in the Old or New Testament is God’s uncorrupted creation referred to as “perfect,” neither explicitly or implicitly.

According to BDB, “good” in Genesis 1:31 is:

H2896

טוב

ṭôb

BDB Definition:

1) good, pleasant, agreeable (adjective)

1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)

1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)

1c) good, excellent (of its kind)

1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation

1e) good, appropriate, becoming

1f) better (comparative)

1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man’s sensuous nature)

1h) good understanding (of man’s intellectual nature)

1i) good, kind, benign

1j) good, right (ethical)

2) a good thing, benefit, welfare (noun masculine)

2a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

2b) good things (collective)

2c) good, benefit

2d) moral good

3) welfare, benefit, good things (noun feminine)

3a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

3b) good things (collective)

3c) bounty[2]

Please note that “perfect” is not included in any of the above definitions of “good”. The definition indicates something pleasant or agreeable – not perfect.

Genesis 1:31, however, modifies “good” with “very”, which BDB defined as:

H3966

מאד

me'ôd

BDB Definition:

1) exceedingly, much (adverb)

2) might, force, abundance (substantive)

3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly (noun masculine)

3a) force, might

3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree)

3b1) exceedingly

3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly

3b3) with muchness, muchness[3]

Exceedingly pleasant or agreeable, yes. Perfect? No. Perfect is not at all implied in either of the Creation accounts in the Bible, nor in the pre-Fall passages in Chapter 3.

Human beings were not created “perfect,” for humans were able to sin, as the story of the Fall readily demonstrates…***UNDER CONSTRUCTION***

p. 29, Paragraph 6:

...Satan the Devil. He apparently heard God tell Adam and Eve to have children and fill the earth with their offspring. (Genesis 1:27, 28) 'Why all these humans could worship me rather than God!' Satan evidently thought.[4]

Genesis 1:27, 28 [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. [28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (KJV)

It is quite apparent and evident that Satan is not mentioned in Genesis 1:27-28 and equally evident and apparent that the WTBTS has made a profound leap into speculation and conjecture that is not in any way supported by the Scriptures.

p. 31-32, Paragraph 11:

Jesus never doubted that Satan is the ruler of this world. In some miraculous way, Satan once showed Jesus "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory." Satan then promised Jesus: "All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship of me." (Matthew 4:8, 9; Luke 4:5, 6) Think about this. Would that offer have been a temptation to Jesus if Satan was not the ruler of these kingdoms?...

Matthew 4: 8, 9 [8] Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; [9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (KJV)

Luke 4:5, 6 [5] And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. [6] And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. (KJV)

The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offered Jesus power over them, yes. But that does not demand that Satan legitimately possessed power over the kingdoms of the world. Satan, after all, is a liar:

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (KJV)

The WTBTS asserted that if Satan did not legitimately possess power over all the kingdoms of the world, the temptation would not have been genuine, but that is not so. Eve was tempted, genuinely tempted, by the fruit and by what the serpent said. But the serpent lied:

Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. (KJV)

...Jesus did not deny that all these wordly governments were Satan's...[5]

Logical fallacy - argument from silence:

The argument from silence (also called argumentum a silentio in Latin) is generally a conclusion based on silence or lack of contrary evidence.[6]

Jesus didn't deny it, but he didn’t confirm that they belonged to Satan, either.

Perhaps, Jesus was busy rebuking Satan:

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written,… (KJV)

Or maybe more concerned, at that point, with emphasizing who one should properly worship.

The point is the WTS has made an unnecessary and logically fallacious leap.

…Surely, Jesus would have done that if Satan was not the power behind them…[7]

Surely, Jesus would have focused on to whom proper worship is to be given – which was Satan’s challenge and the subject Jesus addressed. As the text tells us.

p. 32, paragraph 12:

...Yet nowhere does the Bible say that either Jehovah or Jesus Christ is ruler of this world...[8]

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (KJV)

Jesus has all authority - not just on earth but in heaven, too. You can review Jesus' omnipotence at: http://www.thearmchairscholar.org/id57.html

...In fact, Jesus specifically referred to Satan as "the ruler of this world." (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11)...[9]

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (KJV)

John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (KJV)

John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (KJV)

Please note that all of the references the WTBTS cites occurs before Christ's work on the cross. John 14:30 even notes this when Jesus said the ruler of this world is coming and what resulted in Satan's coming, doing his worst to our Savior? Salvation. ...salvation to everyone that believeth... (Romans 1:16).

Of 12:31, A.T. Robertson wrote:

The prince of this world (ho archōn tou kosmou toutou). This phrase here, descriptive of Satan as in possession of the evil world, occurs again in Joh 14:30; Joh 16:11. In the temptations Satan claims power over the world and offers to share it with Jesus (Mat 4:8-10; Luk 4:5-8). Jesus did not deny Satan’s power then, but here proclaims final victory over him. (Emphasis mine)[10]

Of the same, Gill wrote,

"The phrase, שר העולם, "the prince of the world", is much used by Jewish writers (d), by whom an angel is meant; and they seem to design the angel of death, which is the devil: and it is certain, that he is here intended, and is so called, not because he has any legal power and authority over the world; but because he has usurped a dominion over it...now the time was at hand, when he should be cast out of the empire of the world he had assumed..." (Emphasis mine)[11]

As a believer in Christ, Satan is no ruler over me. Nor does Satan have so much as a smidgeon of authority over any other believer. Christ's death on the cross removed Satan's power over believers.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (KJV)

...The Bible even refers to Satan the Devil as "the god of this system of things." (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4)...[12]

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 [3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (KJV)

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown wrote, "The worldly make him their God (Phi 3:19). He is, in fact, "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that ruleth in the children of disobedience" (Eph 2:2)."[13] To which, Albert Barnes elaborated:

The name “god” is here given to him, not because he has any divine attributes, but because he actually has the homage of the people of this world as their god, as the being who is really worshipped, or who has the affections of their hearts in the same way as it is given to idols. By “this world” is meant the wicked world; or the mass of people. He has dominion over the world. They obey his will; they execute his plans; they further his purposes, and they are his obedient subjects. He has subdued the world to himself, and was really adored in the place of the true God; see the note on 1Co 10:20. “They sacrificed to devils and not to God.” Here it is meant by the declaration that Satan is the god of this world:

(1) That the world at large was under his control and direction. He secured the apostasy of man, and early brought him to follow his plans; and he has maintained his scepter and dominion since. No more abject submission could be desired by him than has been rendered by the mass of people.

(2) the idolatrous world particularly is under his control, and subject to him; 1Co 10:20. He is worshipped there; and the religious rites and ceremonies of the pagan are in general just such as a mighty being who hated human happiness, and who sought pollution, obscenity, wretchedness, and blood would appoint; and over all the pagan world his power is absolute. In the time of Paul all the world, except the Jews and Christians, was sunk in pagan degradation.

(3) he rules in the hearts and lives of all wicked people - and the world is full of wicked people. They obey him, and submit to his will in executing fraud, and rapine, and piracy, and murder, and adultery, and lewdness; in wars and fightings; in their amusements and pastimes; in dishonesty and falsehood. The dominion of Satan over this world has been, and is still almost universal and absolute; nor has the lapse of 1,800 years rendered the appellation improper as descriptive of his influence, that he is the god of this world. The world pursues his plans; yields to his temptations; neglects, or rejects the reign of God as he pleases; and submits to his scepter, and is still full of abomination cruelty, and pollution, as he desires it to be.[14]

Satan is no legitimate god. He is a false god the ungodly worship and serve, as false idols were worshipped and served in the OT. Are you ungodly? Then Satan is your god. He is not mine. I do not worship him. I do not serve him.

…Regarding this opposer, or Satan, the Christian apostle John wrote: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one."--1 John 5:19.[15]

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown wrote:

The world lieth in the power of, and abiding in, the wicked one, as the resting-place and lord of his slaves; compare "abideth in death," 1Jo 3:14; contrast 1Jo 5:20, "we are in Him that is true." While the believer has been delivered out of his power, the whole world lieth helpless and motionless still in it, just as it was; including the wise, great, respectable, and all who are not by vital union in Christ.[16]

This is contrasting believers vs unbelievers.

p. 34, paragraph 20:

…As time passes, parts of the earth already subdued will expand until the whole globe is as beautiful and productive as the garden of Eden…[17]

What Scripture says the earth will be turned into a paradise, post-Tribulation, over a period of time???

NONE.

p. 36, paragraph 23:

...All those sleeping in death who are in God's memory will be brought back to life. In fact, "there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29.[18]

Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (KJV)

John 5:28-29 [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] 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. (KJV)

John explained the resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous - one to life, the other to judgment. Neither John (nor Luke in Acts) say everybody will be resurrected for another chance at it.

Please note (to borrow brotherbrian's terminology from CARM), the doctrinal drop-in "who are in God's memory".

What Scriptures state only those "in God's memory" are going to be resurrected?[19]

What Scriptures state that the dead are only in God's memory?

p. 36, Paragraph 24:

It was to the coming Paradise on earth that Jesus pointed when he promised the evildoer who died alongside him: “You will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)[20]

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (KJV)

For a thorough examination of Luke 23:43, which readily addresses WTS assertions, please see KNOWLEDGE, Chapter 1 at http://www.thearmchairscholar.org/id10.html . All except the very beginning of that paper addresses WTS claims about Luke 23:43. See also the comprehensive list of every amhn legw reference in the New Testament at: http://www.thearmchairscholar.org/id11.html.

Jesus told the thief who had faith that the thief would be with Jesus in paradise that very day. Needless to say, the earth wasn’t a paradise at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion so Jesus must have been referring to a paradise that was located elsewhere, in Heaven, as the other New Testament usages of the word paradeisos (“paradise”) shows.