"Questions for Jehovah Witnesses"

[Grace Seeker]

Hiroshi, as you well know, wooden constructions of a text (which is what you get with a "literal translation") are generally not the best, if they were we wouldn't have nearly the number of different translations that we do today as each attempts to put the more wooden construction into modern syntax. Nonetheless, I see that Young's also agrees with Green (who I've never heard of). So, I checked out a few good commentaries to see how they dealt with it. The all had Jesus making the command, but none of them supposed that his voice was to be equated with that of the archangel. None even discuss the possibility that Jesus might be identified with the archangel and these are commentaries willing to look at difficult constructions in the text. (For instance one of them spent considerable time dealing with differences between Paul's view of this event and that reported by Matthew.) All had Jesus' voice accompanied by that of the archangel's voice and trumpet. You haven't given me any reason to see it differently.
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[Hiroshi]

Hiroshi, as you well know, wooden constructions of a text (which is what you get with a "literal translation") are generally not the best, if they were we wouldn't have nearly the number of different translations that we do today as each attempts to put the more wooden construction into modern syntax. Nonetheless, I see that Young's also agrees with Green (who I've never heard of). So, I checked out a few good commentaries to see how they dealt with it. The all had Jesus making the command, but none of them supposed that his voice was to be equated with that of the archangel. None even discuss the possibility that Jesus might be identified with the archangel and these are commentaries willing to look at difficult constructions in the text. (For instance one of them spent considerable time dealing with differences between Paul's view of this event and that reported by Matthew.) All had Jesus' voice accompanied by that of the archangel's voice and trumpet. You haven't given me any reason to see it differently.
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Many versions of the Bible render the verse in a way that disassociates Jesus from the archangel's voice and sometimes even from the shout or commanding call. All Jesus does is descend from heaven and that's it. I believe that this is straining the translation in order to please trinitarians. Even the simple wording of the old King James gives the impression that the archangel's voice is that of the Lord shouting. But I can't comment on the grammar of the verse without doing more research.

Another point to consider is that Michael is said to "stand up" (Daniel 12:1) at the time when Jesus begins ruling as king. In the book of Daniel to "stand up" means to take up kingly power (e.g. Daniel 9:22; Daniel 11:2-3).

 

[Hiroshi]

Surah 26:60-67 says: "So they pursued them at sunrise. And when the two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said: "We are sure to be overtaken." (Moses) said: "By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me!" Then We told Moses by inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. And We made the other party approach thither. We delivered Moses and all who were with him; But We drowned the others. Verily in this is a Sign:" (Yusuf Ali)

Jehovah's Witnesses believe indeed that the events that took place at the Red Sea at this time are a sign for later generations. This is a sign, or a prophetic picture, of what will take place at Armageddon.

There are a number of things to consider. In the parallel account in the Bible, in Exodus 14:13-14 we are told: "Then Moses said to the people: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will perform for you today. For the Egyptians whom you do see today you will not see again, no, never again. Jehovah will himself fight for you, and you yourselves will be silent.”"

At Armageddon, God's people on earth will not be required to fight their enemies. God himself will fight for them.

And Exodus 14:10 says: "When Pharaoh got close by, the sons of Israel began to raise their eyes and here the Egyptians were marching after them; and the sons of Israel got quite afraid and began to cry out to Jehovah."

At Armageddon it will seem, to all appearances, that God's people are trapped with no way out. This was the situation with the Israelites who had Pharaoh's army behind them in hot pursuit and the Red Sea in front of them, blocking their way. From a human standpoint it looked as if their was no escape for them. But this was a test of their faith. They had to exercise complete trust in God that he would protect them by his miraclous power.

In Exodus 14:17-18 God says: “As for me, here I am letting the hearts of the Egyptians become obstinate, that they may go in after them and that I may get glory for myself by means of Pharaoh and all his military forces, his war chariots and his cavalrymen. And the Egyptians will certainly know that I am Jehovah when I get glory for myself by means of Pharaoh, his war chariots and his cavalrymen.”

Similarly Revelation 17:17 says: "God put it into their heart to carry out his thought".

God is in complete control and will cause the enemies of his people to act in exactly the way that will lead to their own ruination. At the climax of the events even these enemies will have to acknowledge that God is supreme and glorious.

And one last thing to note: At Armageddon there will be no neutral ground. Everyone will be either for God's people or against.