The Watchtower teaches that Jesus did not rise physically from the tomb. They teach that Jesus’ body was “dissolved into gases” and that post resurrection, what Jesus and the disciples saw was just a body manifested for the moment. This leads to some very pertinent questions.

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But first, in the Watchtower’s teaching there are two classes of believers, the heavenly class and the earthly class. Believers who are destined to go to heaven are called the anointed, or 144,000, and they do not have a physical body. Only those believers called the other sheep are destined to live on a paradise earth so they will have a physical body. Given their unique interpretation …

1) What does John 2:19-21 teach?

Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then said the Jews, ‘Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear [raise] it up in three days?’ But He spake of the temple of his body.

John 2:19-21

2) According to Acts 2:24-28 what is it for which Christ’s body is resting in hope?

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, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 2:26-27

3) The Watchtower Society teaches that Jesus’ body was dissolved into gases and did not come out of the tomb.

So, isn’t being dissolved into gases just an instant form of corruption?

4) The Watchtower Society teaches that Spirit-begotten believers (the 144,000, the anointed) go to heaven. They will not have physical bodies in heaven. Only the other sheep (99.99% of all Jehovah’s Witnesses are in this classification) will have physical bodies because they will reside on earth.

So, is Paul speaking to Spirit-begotten believers in Romans 8? If so, then why does verse 11 say:

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Romans 8:11

5) If Jesus did not rise from the grave in the body that was placed in the tomb, what is the significance of an empty tomb? See Luke 24:1-12.

6) If the disciples did not believe in the resurrection of the body, why would they run to the tomb to investigate the reports of Jesus’ resurrection? See Luke 24:1-12.

March 11, 2022 E-Letter

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