A blog by Tom Sheepandgoats (aka Tom Harley)
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Who Molds Who and Who is a Cult
If it is accurate to call first century Christianity a ‘cult’ then it is also accurate to call Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult. Take, for example, Paul’s direction that: “Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions
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When the Music is On, You Can’t Touch ‘Em
“When they have their music on, you can’t touch em.” Mattie would say that about Pentecostals she’d meet in her ministry. What are other scenarios where “you can’t touch em?” How about, ‘When they’re roaring drunk?’ Isaiah had no success with that bunch. They were a sorry lot, and it was not the common people
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When There are Judgments from You in all the Earth: Isaiah 26
“For when there are judgments from you for the earth, The inhabitants of the land learn about righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9) This is a very helpful verse to get our heads around John 5:28-29, which doesn’t make a lot of sense otherwise: Says Jesus: “The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs
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First Thing Upon Arrival—Chow Down: Isaiah 25:6
The first thing we do upon arrival in the new system, apparently, is chow down. Finally, we have arrived and all the promised blessings being to flow. We have been breaking eggs for the first 23 chapters of Isaiah. Finally, an omelette is emerging. The broken eggs were not for nothing. It’s such a departure
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Let Me Count the Treacheries: Isaiah 24
William R Millar, the author of ‘Isaiah 24-27 and the Origin of Apocalyptic’ (1979) argues, not for the first time, but he puts major flesh on the bones, that those four chapters are those of the prophet, or whoever wrote as though the prophet, attempting to rustle up a little “proto-apocalyptic” stew in the kitchen.
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No Vacations Until the Big Vacation: Isaiah 25
Then there was Joe, who in this early days of being a Witness, would decline vacations, saying he as awaiting the Big Vacation. This is plainly what Isaiah 25 is: the big vacation. After that formidable banquet of all the choicest dishes, the real treats roll out “On this mountain he will destroy the shroud
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Be on Your Way
“I knew it!” Jonah fumed. “I KNEW it! I knew you were going to cave at the last minute! You’re just so nice! That’s why I didn’t want to go in the first place!” Isn’t that the gist of Jonah 4:1-2, discussed at the mid-week meeting? “But this was highly displeasing to Jonah, and he
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Shebna: The Corrupt Official Who Flew too High
Always there are public officials, it doesn’t matter where you go, who, during their tenure, amass far more wealth than you would think possible given their salaries. Who can say how they do it? Let me count the ways, but they do it. These people all regard Shebna as their patron saint. They are his
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Maybe it is Like with the Pyramids
If you’re a god, you have to have confidence to disallow images of yourself. Won’t people forget about you? If Jehovah started off a tribal god, the way theologians claim, he is nevertheless a tribal god that would not allow himself to be represented by images or idols. That circumstance alone suggests that he is
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The “House” Villain That Was Philistia:
When your enemy pops off, don’t jump for joy. His replacement may be worse. That’s the message for Philistia after Ahaz dies: In the year that King Ahaz died, this pronouncement was made: “Do not rejoice, Philistia, any of you, Just because the staff of the one striking you has been broken. For from the root