Zechariah 14 and Acts 1 according to those who reject the deity of Christ

Upvote:1

First, a brief explanation as to the different titles used for God in the Bible:

When God's Hebrew name "YHWH" is used in the Old Testament, English translations usually use "LORD" in all caps or small caps. Most English versions translate YHWH as “LORD” (in all caps). In general, if the English word is LORD (all capital letters), then the Hebrew word translated is YHWH; and, if the English is Lord (using lower case letters), whether referring to God or someone else, it is translating Adonai. Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/meaning-of-Adonai.html

When reading Scripture aloud, the Jews substituted the tetragrammaton YHWH with the word Adonai (“Lord”). Even in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), the translators substituted Kurios (“Lord”) for the Divine Name. Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/YHWH-tetragrammaton.html

The usage of "Lord" and "God" in the New Testament is much less complicated. Almost universally, "God" is a translation of "theos," the general Greek word for deity. Also almost universally, "Lord" is a translation of "kurios," the general Greek word for a master. This is significant to your question.

In the Old Testament the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) is translated as LORD except in the New World Translation (NWT) which translates it as Jehovah. Zechariah 14:1-4 declares that it is the LORD God (YHWH) who will stand on the Mount of Olives and do battle against the nations.

In Acts 1:1-12 there is no doubt that Jesus is called Lord, and it is Jesus who is going to return from heaven. At the time of that prophecy, the disciples were standing on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, which is between Jerusalem and Bethany. Therefore it is the Lord Jesus who is going to fulfil the prophecy of Zechariah 14:1-4 when he returns.

The NWT acknowledges that it is the Lord Jesus in Acts 1:21, but significantly, in Acts 1:24, when the disciples are praying, they insert the name Jehovah in verse 24. This is done to deny the deity of Jesus. Just as they have a Big God (Jehovah) and a little god (Jesus), as is shown in the NWT translation of John 1:1, so they have a Big Lord (Jehovah) and a little lord (Jesus). This is because they believe Jehovah created Jesus as a mighty spirit before he came to earth to be born.

For Christians, there is only ONE Lord and Saviour - Jesus Christ

...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live (1 Corinthians 8:6)

... and no-one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3)

Other supporting Bible verses are 2 Corinthians 4:5, Ephesians 4:5, Philippians 2:11 and 2 Peter 3:18.

Latter Day Saints also believe that the pre-mortal Jesus was created. They do not subscribe to the Christian Trinitarian view of the Godhead either.

According to Mormonism, Jesus is a created being, the first spirit to be born of the Father (Mormon Doctrine, p.129) and a celestial mother (Mormon Doctrine, p.516). Therefore, Jesus could not be the eternal God or part of an eternal Trinity. Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/Mormons-believe-Trinity.html

The Book of Mormon utilises the same English of the King James Version of the Bible and it is my understanding that they have never attempted to produce their own translation of the Bible. They ascribe deity to Jesus, but do not view him as part of the One Being of God in the same way as Trinitarian Christians. Jesus is only one of many gods in Mormon theology.

Upvote:3

Yes, from the perspective of Jehovah's Witnesses, these scriptures are talking about two different lords. The one in Zechariah is Jehovah God. The one in Acts is Jesus Christ, God's Son.

The prophecy in Zechariah 14 doesn't actually use the word "Lord" anywhere. The translators of the DRB have substituted the word "Lord" in place of God's name, which is usually pronounced "Jehovah" or "Yahweh" in English. The New World Translation uses the name Jehovah throughout all of Zechariah 14.

Also, the prophecy at Zechariah 14 wasn't fulfilled by Jesus' ascension from the Mount of Olives or by Jesus' coming as King, but rather the prophecy was figurative of God establishing His Kingdom. - Stay in Jehovah's Valley of Protection, w13 2/15

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