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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1960 | September 15
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the world.” For him to have been resurrected in it would have meant that he had taken back this gift of life and mankind was no longer ransomed.—1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Cor. 15:50; Heb. 1:3; John 6:51.
Then how are we to understand Jesus’ words? His disciples thought, because of his sudden appearance in their midst, that they were seeing an apparition, even as they so thought when he came to them upon the water when they were in distress because of a storm. (Matt. 14:26, 27) Rather than try to get them to understand something for which they were not yet ready, Jesus merely assured them that he was no ghost or apparition, which he was not, but that it was indeed he; and he did indeed have a fleshly body which he materialized for the occasion. In other words, Jesus was assuring them that he was not the product of their imagination, neither was he someone else, but in truth and in fact the very Jesus they had known before his death.
Jesus’ answer to his disciples later, as to his restoring the kingdom at that time, was along the same line. (Acts 1:6) He did not stop to explain that his kingdom would be a heavenly one and that they would reign with him from the heavens; they were not prepared for such strikingly new information. “I have many things yet to say to you, but you are not able to bear them at present.” (John 16:12) So Jesus at that time merely told them that it was not for them to know the time for restoring the kingdom to Israel; letting them find out later that the kingdom was never to be restored to fleshly Israel but given to a spiritual Israel. And so with Jesus’ remarks to his disciples as recorded at Luke 24:37-43. He did not endeavor to explain that he had been resurrected a spirit creature and had now materialized for their benefit, but merely drove home the fact that it was really he, the Jesus they had known all along. He asked for something to eat, not because he was hungry, but merely to help impress upon them that he was a real person, not imaginary.
● Is it proper for a Christian to carry life insurance? Is it not a form of gambling?—S.P., U.S.A.
Life insurance and other forms of insurance cannot be condemned as gambling but are rather a form of investment. One is not trying to insure that one will not have an accident or will not die, but is only seeking to provide in the case of an emergency. It is Scriptural for a man to provide for those that are his own, and if he wishes to make such provision in this way, that is entirely up to him.—Gal. 6:5;1 Tim. 5:8.
In some places automobile insurance is compulsory; in others, health insurance is. To comply with such laws is merely to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. (Matt. 22:21) Where the law does not require insurance, it is up to the individual Christian to decide for himself what to do about insurance.
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AnnouncementsThe Watchtower—1960 | September 15
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Announcements
FIELD MINISTRY
September will complete the three-month campaign during which Jehovah’s witnesses are offering to all persons who show interest in the Word of God the Bible-study book “Your Will Be Done on Earth,” along with another book and two booklets, for $1. Special effort should be made to reach those living in areas previously unworked during this campaign.
NOW AVAILABLE
The final volume (Volume 5) of the New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures has just been released at all Peace pursuing District Assemblies of Jehovah’s witnesses. It contains the books of Ezekiel, Daniel and the twelve minor prophets. This completes the excellent modern English translation of the entire Bible. Send for your copy of this final volume today for only $1.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS
October 16: Congregating All Nations at Jehovah’s House. Page 557.
October 23: The Treasure of a Christian Heart. Page 563.
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