* The Name of Messiah

And there is salvation in no other one, for neither is there any other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12.

(1) “What’s in a name?” is often asked, and this question usually implies insignificance to a person's name. For many, it may make no difference whether he is called Peter, James, John, Moses, Aaron or even Joshua (Jesus, Yahshua, Jeshua). Many use these names and other names today without any reference to their signification. But our study of the Bible impresses us with the idea that names, as used in the Bible, are many times full of meaning. In many instances, we find that names in Bible were given with reference to time, place or circumstance, past, present or future. Some names were given as monuments to remind of some special dealings of Jehovah, and others were prophetic. A person’s name often expressed his or her qualities, work or destiny. The very fact that the word “name” occurs more than a thousand times in the Bible confirms its theological importance. In the ancient world a name was not merely a label but was almost equivalent to whoever or whatever bore it.

(2) At times God intervened and changed a person's life and his future direction. When such happened, sometimes the person's name was change to reflect that new direction.  The name given to the first man,  “Adam,” is given the meaning of  “Red” by Brown-Driver-Briggs' Lexicon and is believed to indicate man’s origin “of the [red] earth, earthly.” (1 Corinthians 15:47) Abraham means “father of a great multitude,” or “of many nations.” His name was changed from Abram to Abraham when God made him the promise. (Genesis 17:5) In reference to the same great plan Sarai was changed to Sarah, “Princess.” (Genesis 17:15) These are prophetic in their character and point to the grand success of the good news in enticing the nations to Jehovah, the Father of all, through the agency of the “seed” of promise: The Messiah and His Church (Called Out Ones) the antitypes of Isaac and Rebekah. David means “Beloved” a type of Christ, the true King of Israel. David as a prophet personifies the Messiah, and God makes promises to him as if he were the Messiah.

(3) In I Samuel 25:25 we find this: “Nabal… is just like his name, his name is Fool, and folly goes with him.” The word “Nabal” means “foolish, senseless.” Nabal is described in the Bible as a rich man, having three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. (1 Samuel 25:2) But his richness is offset by his foolishness, as described in his name. According to 1 Samuel 25:3, Nabal was “harsh and evil in his dealing.” (New American Standard Version) King David set men to protect Nabal’s flocks of sheep and goats. When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, David sent some of his men to request a offering from Nabal’s hand. Nabal forgot all that David had done for him, and rebuked David’s men. For this insult David was about to go with 600 men to kill Nabal. But one of the men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife all that had happened. In doing so, he described Nabal as a “worthless man that no man can speak to him.” (1 Samuel 25:17, New American Standard Bible, hereafter NASV) Abigail went before David with many gifts to plead for her husband and her people. She told David: “Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him.” (1 Samuel 25:25) David was moved by Abigail’s courage and discernment. He therefore blessed her and turned his heart away from bringing ruin to Nabal and Nabal’s people. When Abigail returned to Nabal, she found him holding a party, like a king. He was drunk. The next day Abigail told Nabal what had happened and his heart died within him so that he became as a stone. Ten days later Jehovah struck Nabal, so that he died. Thus Nabal’s name was very descriptive of the life he led.

(4) In Revelation 3:4 we read from the King James Version: “Thou hast a few names (Strongs Greek number 3686) even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments.” The Greek word for “names” is used here. It is very evident, however, that the reference is not to mere words that are used to distinguish one person from another, but rather to the individuals themselves. While we believe the King James Version is correct in translating the Greek word as “names,” we find that some translations substitute “people” in this case. (See NASV and New International Version.) While the thought is correct, by translating the word as “people” rather than “names” these translators fail to uphold the Greek text.

(5) The Greek word for name is also used in Revelation 3:1, which reads: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” Here “name” again does not refer to words to distinguish one person from another, but rather reputation. The Christians in Sardis had a reputation of being “alive,” but in reality, they were dead before God.

(6) Name often means authority or power. Thus David sent his men to Nabal in his name, that is, with his authority. (1 Samuel 25:5,9) In Matthew 7:22, many are described as claiming to have done many works in the Master’s name, that is, with his authority. Peter and Paul were asked by the priests: “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (Acts 4:7) These references all show that by coming in the name of another means to come with the authority given by that person. It does not necessarily refer to the word itself that is used to distinguish that person.

(7) Likewise, when our Savior prayed the famous model prayer, he prayed to “Our Father” and that his name be hallowed or sanctified. (Matthew 6:9). It appears evident that, while the English form of the word used to distinguish the Creator, that is, “Jehovah,” is important to discern the one being spoken of, it is not the word “Jehovah”, or a certain spelling and/or pronunciation of that any English form thought to represent the Hebrew pronunciation of that name that is to be sanctified, but rather the personage behind the word.

(8) The Scriptures also use the word “name” in parallelism with memory, remembrance, or renown. “And God, furthermore, said to Moses, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “[Jehovah], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. ” (Exodus 3:15, NASV) In describing his idea of a wicked person, Bildad said: “Memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name abroad.” (Job 18:17, NASV) “O Jehovah, Your name endures forever; O Jehovah, Your memorial is from generation and generation.” (Psalm 135:13, Green’s Literal) In each of these cases, it is not the word used to distinguish the individual, but rather the reputation, prominence, etc., given to the remembrance of the individual bearing the name.

(9) The excellent language of David “You will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption,” was fulfilled in the triumphant resurrection of Christ from the dead. “Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name of which is above every name.” (Psalm 16:8-11; Acts 2:25-36; Philippians 2:9, NASV) The name the only Most High has bestowed on Messiah is not the word represented in English as “Jesus” (or, Jeshua, Yahshua, Joshua, etc.). The Messiah already possessed the appellation representing that name before he was exalted. The “name” refers to a position or official relationship. Therefore it is the position that is meant when the word “name” is used in the verses cited. For we read “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” (Philippians 2:10) At the name, the official position of Jesus (Yahshua) every knee must bow. To receive a prophet in the name of a prophet certainly refers to his official position and honor. — Matthew 10:41.

(10) “You must call his name Iesoun (transliteration from the Greek Received Text).” (Matthew 1:21) The Messiah’s name means “Jehovah is savior” or “Jehovah delivers.” Its meaning carries us forward from the mere word to the exalted official position, on account of which he can “save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” as the means of salvation provided by his Father, Jehovah. (Hebrews 7:25; John 3:16,17; Acts 5:31; 1 John 4:14)

(11) The Messiah’s position is contrasted with that of man and angels, as he is Lord of both, having been given “all power in heaven and earth.” (Matthew 28:18) Hence it is said: “Let all the angels of God bow before him.” (Hebrews 1:7; Daniel 7:14,27) The reason is because he has “obtained a more excellent Name than theirs.’ (Hebrews 1:4) Again, in obtaining this more excellent name, the word used for his name did not change. It is not a word form or any certain pronunciation of the name (Yahshua, Iesous, or Jesus) that is being spoken of here, but rather the position of Messiah. It is the official capacity of the Son of God as Savior and King in the inheritance from his Father, which is far superior to the angels. He has been given a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow both in heaven and earth. (Philippians 2:10) There is “no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12.

(12) It is in a similar sense that “a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” (Proverbs 22:1) The success of Jehovah’s work is to Him “for a name” an honor. (Isaiah 55:13) Additionally, to the obedient Jehovah promises an “everlasting name.” (Isaiah 56:5)

(13) “The name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs 10:7) Does this mean that the word used to distinguish the person would rot? No. It is the reputation of the person bearing the name that is spoken of as rotting, not the word used to represent the name. The word and the name here as elsewhere are not one and the same.

(14) With this view before our minds that the Messiah’s name refers to his official position, and not just to the use of a word to express his name, we approach the subject of the name of Messiah.

(15) In Hebrew, there are several forms, representing different pronunciations, of the word for Messiah’s name; one of those forms is often transliterated as Y@howshuwa`. It is the same word that was used to distinguish the son of Nun, rendered in the King James Version as “Joshua.” There are many speculations as to how the Savior’s name was pronounced in Hebrew; since no one on earth today knows for a certainty what ancient Hebrew actually sounded like, any claim to have an alleged “correct” English pronunciation of the Messiah name has to be based on suppositions. Additionally, the Hebrew does not have just one form and one pronunciation of the name of the Messiah; to claim only one as the true Hebrew pronunciation using someone’s method of transliteration of one of those forms would be to ignore the other forms. In English, however, one form is often used to represent several different spellings and pronunciations of names given in the Old Testament. Most English translators, in the Old Testament, render the name from the Hebrew that is later used of the Messiah as “Joshua” or “Jeshua.” The known Greek manuscripts of the “New Testament” scriptures usually present this name as ÅIhsou’ß transliterated into English as Iesous, although, similar to Hebrew, names in Koine Greek often change in spelling and pronunciation in harmony with contextual usage. Thus, there are at least three different forms and pronunciations of the same name in Koine Greek.
See:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/iesous.html

(16) However, an argument is made that the Christian Scriptures were originally written in Hebrew and later translated into the Greek. Accordingly, it is also argued that we should transliterate the name into English from the Hebrew, not the Greek. Many are advocating the use of the term “Yahshua” rather than “Jesus,” although some have advocated “Joshua, “Jahshua,” “Yeshua,” and other forms.

(17) Whether the “New Testament” was originally written in Hebrew, we do not know for a certainty. There are many things within the New Testament text itself that would seem to indicate otherwise: that the Messiah usually spoke Koine Greek and that most of his listeners seemed to know Greek better than Hebrew or Aramaic. On the other hand, except for what some have produced based on assumptions, we have not seen any actual proof whatsoever that the “New Testament” writings were originally written in Hebrew. All we have examined that asserts this view is highly speculative and often fanciful thinking designed to give credence to a demanded use of certain ways to spell and pronounce for the names of our Creator and his Messiah. None of this is actually relevant, except that based on the further assumption that God is demanded that one must pronounce these names as they were originally pronounced in Hebrew, one assumes that God is demanding a certain pronunciation in English. The Bible records no such demand from God regarding such pronunciations. God has made no such a demand, and historical documents show that in Bible times names were adapted to common forms of sounds from language from one language to another. These changes in forms of spelling and pronunciation did not actually create a different name, but each form is simply a linguistic form of the same name.

(18) Nevertheless, is often argued that personal names do not change from one language to another, and therefore the idea is presented that names should be transliterated from one language to another. For instance, if we listen to a news broadcast that might speak of the President of the United States in another language than English, the announcer will usually refer to him with the English pronunciation, and not translate the name into their language. Therefore, according to this argument, we should not translate the name of the Son of God into English either. It is actually a lie to read Isaiah 42:8 as saying, “I am the Lord; that is my name.”

(19) However, from our studies of what we have of ancient documents, we conclude that the practice common today that endeavors to keep the same pronunciation of a person’s name the same from language to language was not the practice in earlier times, and that it was not the practice in the time that our Savior was in the days of his flesh. If the Septuagint as originally translated used Greek pronunciations for Hebrew names, then this would tend to counter the argument that personal names do not change from one language to another. We do find many instances in writings translated from one language to another in which personal names were given a different sound according the language into which it was being translated. In Bible times, the indication is that names were neither transliterated nor translated form one language to another, but rather that names were rendered and adapted using sounds that contextual fit the target language. Thus the practice of taking the pronunciation of the personal name of a person over from one language to another language is probably a relatively modern custom. Furthermore, transliteration of names from one language to another may not result in keeping the pronunciation of the language of origin. For instance, in some languages, the beginning letter “Y” is given a sound similar “J” in the French Jacques. If one should seek to force, for instance, “Yahshua” as the only true form and pronunciation of the name, many people, if they followed their peculiar tradition of pronunciation, would not pronounce “Yahshua” in the same manner that we would pronounce that name in English, but it would sound more like our English pronunciation of “Joshua”. We should note, however, standardization of pronunciation began to form several centuries ago; in the last few centuries, as foretold by Daniel, travel has been increasing rapidly. (Daniel 12:4) People come and go much more quickly than in earlier centuries. Along with this has come rapid communications.With all the technological influence, it has generally become the custom to call people by their name in their native tongue, especially amongst journalists. But as far as we have been able to ascertain, this has not always been so. Regarding Jeremiah 52:24-34, Adam Rutherford states: “In these closing verses of Jeremiah too, it should be observed that Nebuchadnezzar is not spelt the Jewish way, but the Babylonian way, Nebuchadrezzar.” (Pyramidology, pages, 545, 546) This reveals that spelling and pronunciation of names of individuals did change from one language or dialect to another. The very fact that practically all manuscripts from earlier times contain names rendered in pronunciations common to the language testifies that this is so. Else there would not be many pronunciations of the same name represented in the various ancient languages.

(20) What do all the above findings mean for us today? Is it important to use what many consider the more Hebrew pronunciation of the Messiah’s name that is often claimed to have been Yahshua, or Yeshua? Or it is wrong to refer to the Savior as “Yahshua?” Should we totally reject the pronunciation “Jesus”? Are “Jesus” and “Yahshua” actually two different names, or just two variations of the same name? While linguists may refer to “Jesus” as an English name, yet they also point out that any other version is not actually a different name, but rather lingual modifications of the same name. The various spellings and pronunciations based on renderings from different languages or dialects are all really one and the same name. If we stop and think about it, it would seem ridiculous to think that the Almighty Jehovah and his Son would be overly concerned about such a triviality. Linguists tell us that names rendered according to lingual pronunciation are actually variations of the same name.

(21) Is it wrong, then, to use the term “Jesus?” With all the evidence above we come to the conclusion that this is more a matter of personal preference rather than whether it is right or wrong. Like Iesous and Yahshua, “Jesus” would be just another way of saying the same name.

(22) This is not so regarding the practice of substituting the expression “the Lord” for Jehovah as we discussed in our studies of the Holy Name. “The Lord” and “God are NOT variations of the Hebrew for God’s Holy Name. While there are many who claim they “translate” Jehovah as “the Lord,” no scholar we know of asserts that it carries the same meaning as the Hebrew verb that represents God’s Holy Name.

(23) While we state that it is not wrong to refer to the Savior as "Yahshua", or any of the other forms derived from Hebrew, Aramaic, etc., it would be wrong to add to the scriptures that the Most High demands whatever chosen form one has chosen has to be used, or else one is calling upon a false name for salvation. The demand for some perceived "proper" or "correct" way of pronouncing the name of the Messiah comes from man, not from God. The Bible never demands that the Messiah’s name has to be pronounced as it was originally pronounced in Hebrew, and, if it did, then since no one on earth today knows for certainty how it was originally pronounced in Hebrew, all we would be doing is guessing as to whether we were calling upon the only name by which we must be saved. Additionally, focusing on the pronunciation could actually take us farther and farther away from the mission our Master has given us to do, and lead us into disobedience. How so? What commission are we given by our Master? Especially in these last days it is even more imperative, as our Savior stated: “This good news of the kingdom must be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) This does involve the name that the Most High has given by which we must be saved. But notice that we are not told to preach the word “Jesus,” “Yahshua,” etc. Preaching in the name of Yahshua or Jesus means that we recognize his true office, his position, and his role in the overall plan of the Father, as well as our own relationship to him. How much time do we spend in actual obedience to Yahshua/Jesus in preaching? How much time do we spend trying to prove a certain pronunciation of his name? “Remind them of these things, solemnly testifying before Jehovah not to dispute about words for nothing useful, to the throwing down of those hearing.” — 2 Timothy 2:14.

(24) We know that many have not recognized the true position of the Son and have gone forth preaching “another Jesus,” a Jesus after human tradition. (2 Corinthians 11:4) We believe that many of these will find themselves classed among the sinners in the Millennial kingdom. Thus, when they are raised in the last, they are depicted as coming to Jesus and asking: “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name [by your authority], and in your name [authority] cast out demons, and in your name [authority] perform many miracles?” (Matthew 7:22) They will wonder why they are being left out of the ruling house in the kingdom. Jesus says to them, 'I never knew you. Go away from me, you illegal workers.' (Matthew 7:23) Thus Jesus is telling them that he never gave them legal authority to do the works they were doing and that he never recognized them as his disciples, even though they claimed that they did their works “in his name.”

(25) Despite our presentation above, in which we show why we believe that it is not wrong to use the word “Jesus” as the name of the Messiah, it is more important, we believe, that we preach who the savior is, and not focus on a word to use to represent who he is. As we have already pointed out, no one on earth today knows for a certainty how names were pronounced in ancient Hebrew. Additionally, in English, and it appears most modern languages, the spelling of names and pronunciation are standardized; this was not true in ancient Hebrew, for spellings and pronunciations changed depending on the context. The same is true of Koine Greek; there are at least three different spellings and pronunciations of the name of the Messiah in the New Testament Greek. Even if we could know the actual pronunciation of the Messiah’s name, just using that word or pronunciation does not mean that one is preaching the truth about Messiah. (2 Corinthians 11:4) For instance, one can use the word “Jesus”, or one can use the word “Yahshuah”, but still may not be presenting who is represented in the full Biblical meaning of the real Messiah. For instance, if one presents the Messiah as being a person of a trinity, or if the Messiah is still in the flesh, both of these teachings fall short of who is represented by the name Jesus. This becomes of even greater concern if the Messiah is being presented as sending billions to an eternity of conscious suffering, etc., for not accepting the added-on concepts.

(26) Furthermore, we want to be heard by our brothers who are still in the Babylonish covenants (lies, idolatry, and disobedience — Isaiah 28:15; 57:8). We do not want to become a stumblingblock to them. (1 Corinthians 8:9) Many may turn a deaf ear because they do not recognize whom we are speaking of if we use the term “Yahshua” to represent the Messiah’s name. “If you do not give a clear word through the language, how will it be known the thing being said?” (1 Corinthians 14:9) Most people are instantly afraid of anything that appears too different from what they have grown accustomed to. While the real Jesus himself is often a stumbling block, demanding the use of the word “Yahshua” (or any other English uncommonly used in English) with them may actually become an unnecessary stumbling block for those who make be seeking to worship in spirit and truth.

Obedience to our Savior

(27) As was mentioned earlier, the Messiah gave his disciples a command to do a work toward the world and fellow-believers. Listen to the Master’s voice: “Go . . . and as you go, preach, saying the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 9:6,7) And again, “Let the dead bury the dead; but you go and preach the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60) The disciples of the first century took this command seriously. We read that “daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:42, King James Version) “And he [Paul] went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” (Acts 19:8, King James Version) Paul told the Ephesians: “I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:20,21, King James Version) And the Master’s disciples are taught not only to preach and to publicly proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God, but to pray for it, saying: “May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9,10) The One who dictated that prayer could not err. He would not teach us to ask for anything out of harmony with Jehovah’s will. Therefore that prayer will be answered. There will come a time when the kingdom of God will actually be SET UP in the earth. As a consequence of the setting up of that kingdom, His will must be done ON EARTH, even as it is done in heaven.

(28) It is Satan the Devil who would want to hinder us from preaching the Good News of Jehovah’s kingdom. He is very crafty today even as he was in the Garden of Eden. He is seeking to use every opportunity against us, as the apostle declares. (1 Peter 5:8) He is seeking to devour us. He wants to swallow us up in some manner or another. He is patiently and insidiously laying snares for any who would be a disciple of Jesus. He will use whatever means he has to brow-beat or cajole or otherwise inveigle us in order to keep us from obeying our Master. Our Master has seen it best to permit Satan to have this liberty, and it will not be taken from him until the time he is abyssed. Only then will he be removed in order that he will not be allowed to deceive the nations. (Revelation 20:2,3) Therefore we deduce that in some sense it is profitable to Jehovah’s people that this adversary be granted liberty against us. If it were not so, faith assures us that he would be bound without delay at once restrained of liberty to assault us.

(29) Writing on this same subject, the apostle Paul declares: “We are not ignorant of his devices.” Again he refers to the “wiles of the devil,” implying that he is an ensnarer who wishes to entrap us. Again he declares: “For we wrestle not with flesh and blood [merely], but [our chief conflict is] with principalities and powers [unseen], with wicked spirits in exalted positions.” (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11,12) The apostle here calls attention to the fact that not Satan alone, but all the fallen angels, the demons, his coadjutors, are the foes of the called ones. Therefore Jehovah’s people must be continually on the lookout against their craftiness, schemes and plottings, all of which are more subtle than that of human beings.

(30) As to Satan’s methods of attack, we are given some suggestions also. Although he is alert, like the roaring lion, he never attacks us with a roar. On the contrary, he is very subtle. He creeps upon us in an unlooked place and at unlooked for times, to devour us, to overcome us, to crush out of us our opportunities of service and the rewards of kingdom service being offered to us.

(31) The apostle declares that Satan presents himself in his temptations as an angel, a messenger of God not a messenger of darkness, of error and of gross sin, for he knows that these qualities would alarm and repel all the children of the light. Rather he appears as an angel of light, a messenger of divine favor and truth. (2 Corinthians 11:14) And we are not ignorant of his wiles and devices. We see that for centuries he has used not only so-called “heathen” religious systems to delude and ensnare the heathen, but “Christian” religious systems, to deceive and ensnare those who claim to be the true people of God. At the making of the creeds of Christendom, during the dark ages, we may be sure that Satan was present, and that through various agencies he took an active part in framing their many blasphemous misstatements of the divine qualities and plan, and of deluding the people into thinking that these were the teachings of the divine Word. So through these channels he has wrought great havoc with the truth and greatly hindered Jehovah’s people from receiving both the milk of the Word, and its strong food, and from growing by these means to the stature of the fullness of manhood in Christ. — Hebrews 5:12-14; Colossians 3:2; 1 Peter 2:2.

(32) Coming down to our own day, we see that prophecies foretold a great increase of knowledge both of the divine plan and things pertaining to the world. (Daniel 12:4; 2 Timothy 3:7) Many truths long overlooked have been restored and are being restored. (Matthew 24:45,46; Luke 12:36,37,42,43) But remember how Satan approached Eve in the Garden of Eden? (Genesis 3:1,4,5) Part of what he said was true, but his reason for stating the truth was to lead Eve into believing a lie. (John 8:44; Romans 1:24,25) Likewise, today, Satan is misusing truths that are becoming known in such a way as to mislead as many as possible. “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24, Revised Standard Version) The Muslim ministers shout out many truths but the end result is to get those who follow this way to deny the ransom sacrifice of the Messiah. Our neighbors who are caught up in the “Watchtower” organization present many truths, often in a very persuasive manner. But the end result is to get one to accept the leaders of their “organization” as the proper guides for any who want to come to the Creator in this time. Likewise, many others are being used, often unwittingly, to proclaim many truths in order to lead as many as possible, and if at all possible, the chosen ones, into a snare, that they might be figurative eaten by the figurative devouring eagles. (Job 39:27-30; Luke 17:32-37; Revelation 19:17,18) Among these are the Mormons, the Christian Scientists, Scientologists (Dianetics) and many more. These have put their faith and confidence in their leaders. Because of their faith in their organization, their apostles, their chosen leader(s), etc., they are blinded to many truths that otherwise they might have recognized. Only by becoming free of the controlling environment of these religious groups can one genuinely begin to see the truth.

(33) What does all this have to do with the Messiah’s name? Just this, Satan has always used a truth by taking it to a great extreme in order to misuse it to his ends. Could this be what is happening with the name of the Messiah? Some spend so much time over words, and genealogy of words, that very little, if any, is actually spent in obeying Jesus’ command to preach the Good News. The real mission given by Jesus become subservient to the preaching of a word form. Timothy was told not to “give heed to fables and endless genealogies which brings doubts rather than God’s administration, which is in faith but the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience, and an unpretended faith, from which some, having missed the mark, turned aside to empty talking.” — 1 Timothy 1:4-6.

(34) The aim of Satan is either to keep one from or turn one away from truly being a disciple of Jesus — one who obeys his voice: “Go, make disciples of all nations, teaching them,” etc. (Matthew 28:16-28) Satan would like to confuse us about the matter of making disciples. He would have us think that it is gathering people into belief in a certain pronunciation of a word, an organization, a church group, etc. He would want us, in effect, to begin preaching a “word,” an organization, a person, etc., and correspondingly to that extent leave off the preaching of the true Good News of the kingdom.

(35) But before one can preach the Good News of the Kingdom, one needs to understand what that “Good News” really is. Some preach that everyone who does not join their “organization” will be eternally destroyed in the destruction of Satan’s world. This is “good” news? Others teach that all who do not repent or accept their version of “Jesus” before death go into a state of eternal torture in a lake of fire. This certainly is not Good News for all people. Most of our studies are designed to help you understand the true Good News. We encourage all to read, pray, and study to make sure of what it is that we are commissioned to preach.

(36) Let us then take yet a more earnest heed to the Word that has been spoken, remembering the Master’s expression, He who hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a man who built his house upon a rock and the rain descended and floods came and the storm beat upon that house and it did not fall for it was founded upon a rock a sure foundation. — Hebrews 2:1; Matthew 7:24-27; See our study: Building on the Right Foundation of Faith.

(This study was originally prepared by Ronald R. Day, Senior, in 1995; it has been updated and republished online several times since.)