The Jehovah’s Witnesses

by Jannie

Introductory notes

To follow an ideology that only originated around 1870 with a teenager as its founding member, should really be carefully examined, especially if the literature used as a basis, is dubious. What makes it more suspicious, is to discover that this movement has had a translator that was shown in court to be unable to read a passage written in Greek. These claims will be examined and might come as a big shock, but please read on.

So, when referring to Scripture in this meditation, we’ll use the much older KJV (translated from the original Hebrew and Greek into Latin and then English before Jehovah Witnesses were on the scene, even The Amplified Bible is a good translation. The meditation entitled “The Bible” on this website expands on this). We will therefore leave the NWT (New World Translation) aside for this examination but will be mentioned again further on in this meditation (p.4), but for now, note that the NWT is technically not a translation but at best in part a transliteration with many omissions from- and alterations to, the original Greek (even Hebrew and Latin) manuscripts to write a book to suit certain peculiar ideas in contrast to the original manuscripts.  The NWT simply does not represent in English the contextual meaning of original manuscripts.  On p.6 you’ll read of Charles Russell that committed perjury in court, when the court proved that Russell was lying when he said that he knew Greek and could therefore not have translated The Bible from original manuscripts. (For facts on The Bible, refer to the meditations “The Bible” and “Apparent controversies in The Bible”.) Consider Mt 7:21-23; 15:8-9; Rom 10:1-4 with Scriptures such as Heb 10:29 and then please read on.

The Bible is self-declared as the Word of God in 2 Tim 3:16-17; and 2 Pet 1:20-21.
So, let’s start with the following Scriptures in The Bible, and please read this meditation to its end…

 Hebrews 4:12-16, that states in the NKJV, “… For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need…”

1 John 4:1-3, that says, “… Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world…”

 1 Timothy 2:5-7.  “…For God is one, and there is one Mediator of God and of men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.  To this I am ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie), a teacher of the nations, in faith and truth.

 

In John 14:6 Jesus is on record stating that He is the Light, the Life and Truth, and that no one comes to the Father [God] except through Him [Jesus Christ].  And, as far as the name and deity of Jesus Christ is concerned, please get another enlightening insight from the meditation “Who is Jesus Christ”.

Now, how a triune God is one [and the same God], is very easy to grasp in the context of what Deuteronomy 6:4 was addressing.  The heathen’s multiple [false] gods were devised in their own minds for all imaginable things such as rain, fertility, luck, lightning, war and so on; and so the statement “there is only one [true] God” is not at all contradicting the perception of one triune God! Ponder for instance Dt 4:35. This is expanded on further on p.12/18. The meditation “Trinity doctrine” will expand on this, but sufficient convincing points will be put forward in this meditation as well.  Likewise will the meditation “Who is Jesus Christ” show Jesus was not a created angelic being; and will the meditation “Lucifer 1” convincingly show that the devil was no archangel thrown from heaven!  Please read on.

 

Synthesis

Starting point

This meditation is not about arguments of one group against another, but is a genuine attempt to examine a few obvious facts and then aim to illuminate and select the truth.  All should endeavor to only find the Truth.

A big hindrance to the “Jehovah’s Witness” is the lack of real Scriptural reference [The Bible as the Word of God].  Refer to the meditations entitled “The Bible” and “Apparent controversies in The Bible”.  The recent so-called “New World Translation” is in fact not a translation at all and discussed further on in this meditation.

It is a waste of energy and time to religiously witness in groups of two [in ignorance]. First, take note that useless teaching brings no rewards (Jn 3:3,10; 1 Tim 1:7; 1 Cor 3:11-15; Mt 23:1-12).  The meditation “The covenant and the Law” expands on this, but for now, carefully ponder even just Rom 1:17; 3:20,23,28 and Gal 5:4,18. Bear in mind that God’s standard is far higher than what we can come up with (Mt 5:27-28 with Jm 2:10). Then realize that to try and make converts in groups of two, one should be very careful to quote Scriptures such as Lk 10:1 as a “Jehovah’s Witness”, for the context is referenced in Mt 10:1,7-14 and even Mt 23:15 with Gal 1:6-9; 5:4,18! The meaning of Jm 5:20 is also contorted when thinking the messenger gets many sins forgiven by making a convert – hear Jesus in Mt 23:15!  Jm 5:20 says in fact, that the convert [re-born Christian] gets a multitude of sins forgiven when converting to true Christianity because Jesus Christ has paid for all sin of mankind (Jn 3:15-21; 1 Jn 2:4; Acts 4:12; Phil 2:8-11; 1 Thess 5:9; Heb 10:14 and so on). The significance of seventy (not a multitude of “Jehovah’s Witnesses”) that was sent out in groups of two, shows again The Bible as one progressive unfolding revelation culminating in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Jesus as our eternal high Priest (Heb 7) sent out seventy in groups of two (Lk 10:1 with special note to Heb 1:1-8; 3:1-19) as a counter to the Jewish Sanhedrin that consisted of a high priest plus seventy priests (Mt 23).  Follow again a golden thread from The Bible in Ex 1:5; 24:1,9; Num 7:13,19,25,31,37,43,49,55,61,67,73,79,85; 11:16,24,25; 2 Sam 24:15; 2 Ki 10:1,6,7; 2 Ch 21:14; Ezr 8:7,14; Neh 7:8-9; Is 23:15,17; Jer 25:11-12; 29:10; Ez 8:11; Dan 9:2,24 (refer to the meditation “Rapture raptured”); but then significantly, Mt 18:22 and Lk 10:1,17.  Observe that Adoni-bezek (Judges 1:5-7) cut off the thumbs and big toes of seventy kings and that Jesus [re-]appointed seventy in Lk 10:1.  The significance of a missing thumb is that you cannot handle a sword (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12), and with big toes missing, has handicapped balance (to fight, stand, Eph 6:13-15).  Refer to the meditation “Who is Jesus Christ” for more about our Savior-God.

Note at Phil 3:9. Instead of attempting the impossible, i.e. to redeem or save yourself, you can accept the grace of God in our beloved Lord Jesus Christ that at the very least has done the following:

He took the world system that rebels against God (Col 2:20; Gal 6:14)…
He took the entire old creation which is fallen and corrupt (Col 1:20; 2 Cor 5:17)…
He took the Law of Moses and its condemnation (Eph 2:15-16; Gal 3:10-13; Rom 7:1)…
He took on flesh, the old Adamic nature (Rom 5:12; 6:6; 8:2-4)…
He took every power of Satan (Col 2:15; Heb 2:14; 1 Jn 3:8)…
He took every sin that we could ever commit (Col 2:13; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 3:5)…

… and crucified them all!

Jesus is the human face of God. For instance, it was custom then for the bridegroom to supply the food and wine for a wedding. Jesus and Maria attended a wedding at Cana of Galilee and the bridegroom faced humiliation for the wine ran out way to soon. Jesus turned this bridegroom’s impending embarrassment into a glorious display of compassion so that the bridegroom was a hero for leaving the best wine for last – something he didn’t even know at the time. Consider the prophetic image of a bridegroom and his bride, with the wedding as an institute of God (Gen 2:24-25; Mt 19:5; 1 Cor 6:16; especially Eph 5:31-33) …

Jesus is the one that became sin itself condemning it in His flesh (2 Cor 5:21; Jn 3:14; Rom 8:3). He justified and redeemed us, forgiving all our sin that we lay down to follow Him (Rom 5:9; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 10:26-29) and as a result we can stand holy in His sight (Col 1:22; Rom 8:29).

Yes, God is love (refer to the meditation so entitled on this website, for this revelation, if you will…)

Historically accurate facts

The Calendar [date] most of the whole world is using, was based on the birth of Jesus Christ, not Charles Taze Russell.  Jesus Christ was there from the beginning, is the Light to the world, the Alpha and Omega, the Author and Finisher of our faith, the only Savior of all mankind [for those who accept Jesus’ offer]; and every knee shall bow before Jesus Christ – not a discontented teenager with no theological training, who started preaching from his parent’s garage in the year 1870 Anno Domini [the year of our Lord Jesus Christ]!

Only in the authority [Name] of Jesus Christ, the One to Whom all authority was given by God the Father, can any one be called a child of God (Jn 1:12,17,18), led by His Spirit inside of us (Jn 3:3; 14:6-15,21-26; Rom 8:14).  Jesus Christ was not created[1], but sent (Jn 1:1-4,14; Col 1:15-20; Jn 5:23; Rom 8:3; Gal 4:4; 1 Jn 4:9,14; 5:10) – He is the Creator… and Savior!!  Jesus Christ allowed people to worship Him, something no angel ever did.  Heb 1:5 also clearly says that God the Father never called any angel “My Son”.  An angel would and could not represent all of mankind and pay on our behalf for our sin as our beloved Lord Jesus did.

Specific points of contention, such as the Trinitarian idea, can be studied in the meditation so called by the author.  Suffice for now to say that The Creator is bigger than His Creation, and that we have personalities.  It is only fair then, to accept that God is a Designer, and that He had to design and then make His creation materialize, therefore He has intellect, and therefore is a Person.  As a matter of fact, He is the Source of intellect, as intellect is part of His creation.  You are here because of Him, not yourself.  A child is a child because of what the father has done, not what the child does.  So is your sonship [favor] with God not based on your deeds, but faith in what Jesus Christ preached and demonstrated [paid] on His cross, not man that contradict Him today.

From the meditation “Apparent Controversies in The Bible” (www.gospel-truth.co.za), the following example:

Does Ex 33:11 contradict Ex 33:20?

In other words, how could the Lord spoke to Moses face to face in verse 11 yet is told in verse 20 that no man could see God’s face and live?

Superficially, this seems incongruous; but closer examination – of the whole Bible – will reveal the unparalleled magnificence of the Bible’s one, progressive, unfolding revelation of God’s grace and righteousness in Jesus Christ.  The Bible will reveal to those open to God’s Spirit (Jn 4:24; Rom 8:14; 2 Tim 3:16-17 with special note to Jn 14:6-11,17,23,26; 1 Jn 2:16-23), the crux of this Book consisting of a compilation of books:  self-righteousness as opposed to God’s righteousness in Jesus Christ!  I.e. our own attempts under the Law vs God’s grace, Love and Life everlasting!  Christianity is not about heaven or hell, but a living, lasting relationship with a living eternal God (Jn 4:24).

Yet another new insight awaits the open reader of the Bible.  In the meditation “Who is Jesus Christ”, more detail are discussed, but for now, we will discover a Jesus pre-incarnate! Contemplate Just Jn 1:1-4; 14:9; Gal 3:8 and Col 1:15-18 quickly first!  We’ll then ponder the uncertainty of the exact date of birth of Jesus Christ (of Nazareth) and contemplate the enigmatic identity of Melchizedek (Heb 7).  We’ll see why Moses was told he’ll never enter Canaan yet stood on the mount of transfiguration with Elijah and Jesus (Mt 17:2-8).  Moses represented the Law (self-righteousness, Jn 1:17; Phil 3:9) and Elijah the prophets (Heb 1:1-2); but God wants us to listen to [follow, cling to] HIM – Mt 3:17; 17:5; Jn 3:3; 14:6!

Answer

The Lord that spoke to Moses in Ex 33:11 was (is)  יהוה (H3068, yehôvâh), from H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah the Lord. Compare H3050, H3069.  The Amplified Bible note that we read further about an “Angel of the Lord” or “of God” or “of His presence” in Gen 22:11 that can be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ (Gen 16:11,13; 22:11,12; 31:11,13; Ex 3:1-6 and so on). This is a distinct person in Himself from God the Father (Gen 24:7; Ex 23:20; Zech 1:11, and other passages).  Nor does this “Angel of the Lord” appear again after Christ came in human form, hence of necessity the One of the “Three in One” Godhead (refer to the meditation “The Trinity”).  It is possible that this “Angel of the Lord” of the OT could be the visible Lord of the OT as Jesus Christ is to the NT.  The deity of this Person is clearly portrayed in the OT.  The Cambridge Bible observes, “There is a fascinating forecast of the coming Messiah, breaking through the dimness with amazing consistency, at intervals from Genesis to Malachi.  Abraham, Moses, the slave girl Hagar, the impoverished farmer Gideon, even the humble parents of Samson, had seen and talked with Him centuries before the herald angels proclaimed His birth in Bethlehem”…

Ex 33:20 says that no man can face God in self-righteousness (under Law) and stand the test (Rom 3:20,23), as even Uzzah discovered (2 Sam 6:3-8).  This is discussed in the meditation “The Covenant and the Law” (Law has no mercy while God is about the grace and righteousness that Jesus brought [back] for those willing to accept His blood offer on His cross on behalf of all flowing Him.  This is a personal choice free to all alike.  No man and no one else can be an intermediate other than Jesus Christ (1Tim 2:5) and God will not force anyone in any way!  Love [God] does not manipulate – everyone has a genuine free choice.  The will God gave us is discussed in meditations such as “The Will” and “Body, Soul, Spirit”).  Facing [experiencing] God in a New Testament in Jesus Christ, however, is a completely different matter of living in God’s grace and righteousness (Rom 3:24-28; 8:29-39).  Acts 4:11-12!

In Ex 33:18 Moses asked God to show His glory. Now read verse 19 with Jn 1:17; 3:3,16-21… get it?  The Old had fleeting glories and the New offers a lasting glory, but only in Jesus Christ because no man can face [challenge, test] God and be found worthy in self-righteousness (own merit).   God intended for us to have a close, personal and lasting relationship with Him since the beginning.  This Adam revealed when he (Adam) declared that he was naked (unclothed) when God asked Adam where he was (spiritually).  Now contemplate Rom 13:14.  (The meditation “The Covenant and the Law” expands on this).

Indeed, we should read the Bible (not the “NWT”) more carefully, agreed?

Now then, let’s look at false translations from original canonical manuscripts.

Overriding the references to writings of the past, albeit eyewitness accounts in the time when Jesus’ followers and their critics were around to confirm the truth, is the personal relationship with the Jesus so many people are merely talking about.  Many are arguing with empty words with people who know His Voice.  Jesus said, “ I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again, he cannot ever see [know, be acquainted with, and experience] the kingdom of God “ (Jn 3:3).  When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “… the kingdom of God is within and around you…” (Lk 17:20,21).  You can only be re-born (from above) if you confess and believe that Jesus is Lord (Rom 10:9,10; 1 Jn 5; Jn 1:12,13).  If you try and earn favor with God through any works, actions, or religion (like going to “church”, following the ten commandments, etc.), you are not a Christian (follower, believer in Christ), and by no means born-again!  Contemplate Rom 11:6; Heb 8:7,13; 10:9-14 with Gal 5:4,18.  Baptism is not a covenant, it is a decision.  God’s grace is unconditional!  You cannot earn it.  Check Lk 2:11,14; Jn 1:29.  Jesus paid for all sin with His blood on His cross, not yours.  You believe Him or not.  He is the only Savior of all mankind.

“But You do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine].  The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My Voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never loses it or perish throughout the ages.  [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.]  And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.”                 – Jesus, Jn 10:26-28

“But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings[2]) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost.  For the god of this world[3] has blinded the unbelievers’[4] minds (that they should not discern the truth[5]], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.  For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as [merely] your servants for Jesus’ sake.”  – 2 Cor 4:7

The basis or departure point of the most authoritative literature as reference is all important, so we will first look at the backgrounds of true Christianity versus that of the Jehovah’s witnesses.  It is a generally accepted principle that the old test the new, and not the other way around, never the less, we will start with the latter.

The origin and authority of the Bible vs the origin of the New World Translation of the “Johovah’s witnesses” that was written by Nathan Homer Knorr in 1950-1961.

During Knorr’s time the Jehovah’s Witnesses firmly set the date of “Armageddon” to occur in 1975.  Many in the world waited with abated breath for this event.  That date has come and gone.  Still they are around and in embarrassment by this non-event[6], are now claiming the facts were different.  Find those reports and check for yourself who announced what, what was said and when.  Be honest, check the original reports.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses had their roots in the time when the church was talking a lot about doctrines of eschatology and especially the second advent of Christ.  William Miller had the prediction that Christ would return in 1844.  Although this prediction had failed, many of his followers reasoned away this failure, and together with Allen White, founded the Seventh-day Adventist church.  The Plymouth Brethren were also developing their second advent doctrines at this time.  These ideas were never preached before the 1800’s.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the official name of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, was founded by a man called Charles Taze Russell, born in Allegheny near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 16. 02.1852.  At the age of 18 (1870) Charles Russell, with no theological training, began conducting Bible classes.  These members started calling him “pastor”, and when he reached the age of 27, in 1879, Russell founded the magazine Zion’s Watchtower.  Previously [as a child] he was a member of the Congregational church for a while, then moved to the Presbyterian church, but was dissatisfied with the doctrines, especially those on predestination and eternal punishment.  By the age of 17 he was a self-proclaimed skeptic, totally rejecting the validity of the Bible.  (The original manuscripts of the Bible is discussed briefly further in this meditation).

In about 1870, Russell began studying the Second Adventist views of a certain Jonas Wendall. With these teachings he started his study group with 6 members.  This group met for five years.  At this time, the various Adventist factions were saying that there would be no physical return of Christ[7], but that He would be returning spiritually.  They arrived at this conclusion after their disappointment in their own predictions.

Russell espoused this view, and in 1879 published a magazine called Zion’s Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  This magazine had a great impact on the growth of this movement.  By the following year 30 congregations were planted in 7 states.  In 1881, Zion’s Watchtower Tract Society was incorporated with Russell as its manager.  On 13.12.1884, this society was granted a legal charter.

The purpose of this movement, stated in the 10th Article of the Legal Charter, is “… the dissemination of Bible truths in various languages by means of the publication of tracts, pamphlets and other religious documents, and by the use of all other lawful means…”  Russell began to pursue this purpose zealously.

The first Watchtower Tract Society, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses were known, purchased their first property in the town of Alleghany now part of Pittsburgh, in 1889.  This remained the headquarters until 1909.

Russell began travelling the world in 1891, and in 1900 an office was established in London.  Literature began to appear in other languages.  On his second European tour, an office was established in Germany and the following year an office in Australia.

Examining Charles Russell’s life, we see he often violated his integrity.  In 1879, Charles Russell married Maria Francis Ackley who remained childless.  She was actively involved in his society, serving as the first treasurer.  For many years she was the associate editor of the Watch Tower magazine.  In 1897, they separated, and in 1913 Mrs. Russell divorced her husband on the grounds of his “… conceit, egotism, domination, and improper conduct in relation to other woman.”  These traits are clearly displayed in Russell’s writings.  He unashamedly declared that anyone who did not read the “Scripture Studies” alone, but also studied the Bible, that that person would soon be living in darkness.  By implication, that by reading the real Bible people are plunged into darkness, and only Russell’s writings keep a person in the light!  Compare this to the Words of Jesus Christ documented accurately some 1 800 years before Mr. Russell was born, where Jesus Christ stated “ I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one goes to the Father except by Me.”  Also, that only He [Jesus Christ] is the Light to the world (Jn 1:1-4) and that those who reject His teaching, also reject God the Father (Jn 14:9-13,23-24. For further examination of this fact, refer to the meditations “Who is Jesus Christ” and “The Trinity doctrine”).  The thousands of manuscripts dating back to Jesus, and even before His birth, was suddenly challenged by Mr. Russell and his followers who never even knew what would happen to them after they died.  Followers of Jesus as Lord are certain of their salvation (Eph 3:12; 1 Jn 5:11,12; Jn 1:12,13).  Consider the warning against other gospels than that preached by Jesus (Gal 1:6-24).

When J.J. Ross, a Baptist pastor exposed Russell’s works as false, he was sued for libel.  This is when Russell committed perjury in court, when the court proved that Russell was lying when he said that he knew Greek.  When Russell was asked to read a portion of Greek, he was speechless, until he eventually admitted that he was not familiar with any of the original languages of the Scripture that existed long before him.  Russell died 31.10.1916 on a train after returning from a speaking trip in California.

Enter the second major personality of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Joseph Franklin Rutherford became the second president of the Watch Tower Society on 06.01.1917.  He had been serving as the legal counselor of the Society.  He was born on 08.11.1869, seventeen years younger than Charles Russell, in Booneville, Missouri.  His parents were Baptists.  He became a public prosecutor, and later rose to the position of special judge in the 14th judicial District of Missouri, during which time he often acted as judge when the judge was absent.  Thus he became known as “Judge” Rutherford.  He was 25 when he was introduced to the Watch Tower Society, but only joined the Society 12 years later, in 1906.  The following year, he became the Watch Tower’s legal counselor.  In his time the HQ was moved to Brooklyn, New York.

Soon dissatisfaction with Rutherford’s stringent “witnessing” program began to appear in the Watch Tower Society, but Rutherford quelled it immediately by excommunicating the rebels.  Many breakaway groups formed from this action.  Rutherford died on 08.01.1942, and brought about a “theocratic” organization, as apposed to a “democratic” one, where leaders were no longer elected by the congregations, but rather appointed by the Headquarters’ governing body.  They followed a policy of “neutrality” which caused many members to be prosecuted for evading military duty.

A new magazine began to circulate, called “The Golden Age”, which first appeared on 01.10.1919.  Thereafter many publications of various kinds began to appear everywhere.  Schnell, who wrote a book called “Thirty Years a Watch Tower Slave”, showed that during Rutherford’s time, there was a change in policy.  The emphasis now shifted from Bible Study and character development to witnessing and recruiting of new members.  This lead to more than 75% of the members leaving the movement. The remaining members however, got on with the job and ”witnesses” started to appear on the streets, and at the doors of homes selling and distributing the “Watchtower” and “Consolation” magazines.  At a convention in 1931, a resolution was adopted affirming that the official name for members of the Watchtower Society was to be “Jehovah’s Witnesses”.  Now they had an institution whilst being anti-institution (ignoring 1 Pet 2:12-20; Jude 8,10).

Nathan Homer Knorr succeeded Rutherford on 13.01.1942.  Nathan Knorr was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1905, and became a Jehovah’s Witness at the age of 16 after having left the Reformed Church.  By the time he was 18 (eighteen) he was a full-time preacher and had joined the headquarters staff  in Brooklyn.  He co-ordinate the printing department and became general manager of the publishing office and plant in 1932.  In 1934 he became a director of the New York corporation and in 1940 he became the vice-president of the Pennsylvania corporation.  He was 36 years of age when he took over the reigns of leadership.  He seemed to have been completely overshadowed by Russell and Rutherford, but it was during his tenure that the Watchtower Society became an efficient, almost businesslike, organization.

Knorr established the Gilead Watchtower Bible School in South Lansing, New York, in 1943.   He also organized what was called “Theocratic Ministry Schools” in the Temple Halls.  Knorr developed training aids called “Theocratic Aids to Kingdom Publishers”, “Equipped for Every Good Work”, and “Qualified to be Ministers”.   His greatest accomplishment is the publication of “the New World Translation of the Bible”, which began in 1950 with the publication of 5 volumes over 11 years, completed in 1961.

Knorr further regimented the “witnessing” program, and started the Yankee Stadium Conventions in NY city that became an annual event, held each year on the first October, the day the Jehovah Witnesses say is the birth of Christ.  Then followed the false prediction of  “Jehovah’s Witnesses” that “Armageddon” was to happen in 1975.  Today’s “witnesses” try to reason this embarrassment away, but fails to see that they totally misunderstand the Book of Revelation, for one, in the Bible. Nathan Knorr died two years later in June 1977.

It is fear of annihilation that keeps the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” on the streets knocking on doors, they have no personal relationship with-, nor any accurate knowledge of Jesus Christ [God as a Savior-Son, Firstborn, Friend], or a Father [God as a Provider-Creator], or Holy Spirit [God as Spirit, Teacher, Guide, Counselor], and absolutely no idea of a God of Love, grace and mercy.   How sad and how futile the attempts to be your own righteousness by works, and to reject your only Savior.  How tragic to run after doctrines of a few misguided men that rejected Truth that had been established long, long before they entered the scene.

Frederick Franz was the next successor to the presidency.  He was born in 1893 and was eight years older than Nathan Knorr, and came into power at 85.

The Watchtower Society has no official “Articles of Faith”, or “Fundamental Beliefs”, or set of holy books as other cults have.  Their doctrinal source of authority springs from their weekly publications written by anonymous authors.  These publications show that the “witnesses” make their “Bible” fit their doctrine rather than their doctrine fit the [original manuscripts and copies of the] accurate translations of the Bible.

The New World Translation is really a paraphrase of the Bible which pretends to be a translation, making a show of being translators of the original languages.  But upon closer investigation by scholars of Hebrew and Greek it is obviously lacking in academic expertise and even worse, it is lacking Holy Spirit revelation.  The “Jehovah’s Witnesses” have changed the text and came up with a book to suit their own peculiar doctrines, but even failed to have done a thorough job of changing everything to suit their doctrine.  A look at their doctrine will readily show how confusing and misleading their doctrine is, and how it contradicts Scripture.

Remember that יהוה, “YHVH” (Ex 6:3; the Jewish national name of God) is a Hebrew word.  Wherever Ιεχώβα, Kuriŏs the Greek word appears in the NT they have translated Ιεχώβα as “Jehovah” some 237 times.  Why not use the English translation, or the Greek?  Why the pretense of using “the original” with English letters?  But before looking at their doctrine, let us briefly at this point consider the Bible in comparison.

What is the Bible?  What is its origin?  How reliable is it? Is it inspired by God?

What is the Bible?  What makes the Book so hated and so special in the entire world?  The reason stems from the history and the contents of the Bible, and the fact that it is self-proclaimed to be inspired by God.  If this is true, then it implies it is the final authority of the Creator to His creation.  This, many do not like to hear, because they soon discover how wrong they are on moral issues such as abortion, homosexuality, and Who Jesus Christ really is and who He is not.  People [nations, religions] generally just don’t like being wrong.

Remember here that confusion is a state of mind.  This means you cannot trust your mind – or by implication, the mind of another human trying to sell his ideas – you can only trust the Word of God [Who made/designed your mind].  So let us first look at this issue of inspiration and the significance of the Bible.

Note here that many people claiming to be Christians, do not [yet] believe the gospel of Jesus Christ!  The meditation entitled “The Gospel” by the same author explains and proves this convincingly.  Most religious institutions is still a far cry from the Body of Christ [is not His Church, His Body, His Zion, His Bride].  You will also note that the Book of Revelation begins by stating it is the revelation of Jesus Christ… He, in the Spirit, took John back a little while, and then showed him “what would soon happen”.   In other words, what Jesus Christ had accomplished on His cross, having paid for with His Blood (Rev 12:11; 15:8; 16:17 with Jn 19:30).  His work is a finished, accomplished work.  We have to believe Him that He succeeded.  There is only one Lamb of God Who was offered once for all on His cross at Golgotha.  It has happened, it is done!

Charles Wesley, McDowell, in Evidence that demands a verdict, 1990:178), says, “The Bible must be the invention either of good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God.  However, it was not written by good men, because good men would not tell lies by saying “Thus says the Lord”; it was not written by bad men because they would not write so honestly or about the good while condemning sin and unbelief, and themselves to hell; thus, it must be written by divine inspiration”.

But more concretely, surely over 60 000 ancient manuscripts must attest for something!  In 170 AD Irenaeus cited 23 of the 27 N.T. books, omitting only Philemon, James, 2 Peter and 3 John.  The Muratorian fragment, written about the same time, attests to the widespread use of all of the N.T. books except Hebrews, James, 1 Peter and 2 Peter.  However, other church fathers had already cited those omitted books in various writings defending against Gnostic doctrines.  The Codex Barococcio from 206 A.D. includes 64 of the 66 books of today’s Bible (Esther and Revelation were omitted), but they had already been declared as inspired Scripture by Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement, Tertullian and the Muratorian Canon.  In 230 AD, Origen declared that all Christians acknowledged as Scripture the four Gospels, Acts, the epistles of Paul, 1 peter, 1 John and Revelation.  In 367 AD, Athanasius formally circulated the Easter Letter that listed all 27 books as canonical.  The Synod of Hippo (393 AD) and the third Synod of Carthage (397 AD) also recognized these 27 books as canonical.  In addition, during this time, the highly influential church fathers, Jerome (340-420 AD) and Augustine (354-430 AD) published their lists of 27 books completing the N.T.

Translations such as the King James Version are derived from existing copies of ancient manuscripts such as the Hebrew Masoretic Text (Old Testament) and the Greek Textus Receptus (New Testament), and are not translations of texts translated from other interpretations.  The primary difference between today’s Bible translations is merely related to how translators interpret a word or sentence from the original text source (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek).   Hermeneutics is the study of Scripture interpretation, known by scholars.

The absolute reliability of the manuscripts from which today’s Bibles are translated, has significant evidence in its favor.  There are more than 14 000 existing Old Testament manuscripts and fragments copied throughout the Middle East, Mediterranean and European regions that agree dramatically with each other.  In addition, these texts agree with the Septuagint version of the OT, which was translated from Hebrew to Greek some time during the 3rd century BC.  The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the 1940’s and 50’s, also provide phenomenal evidence for the reliability of the ancient transmission of Jewish Scriptures before the arrival of Jesus Christ.  A single error would require the immediate destruction of the entire text, sometimes apparently even the death of careless scribes.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses New World Translation, in contrast, contradict numerous original texts in it contextual meaning.  We will later consider a few prime examples.

The honest and serious scholar will therefore soon discover that the Bible is one, progressive, unfolding, revelation of God; and that this revelation is Jesus Christ as Lord and His gift to us – His Holy Sprit indwelling permanently those that believe Him.  We then become new creations (2 Cor 5:16-21) to His image, we then reveal to be a spirit (re-born, 1 Cor 15:45-49, God -conscious) with a soul (self-conscious intellect, emotion, will) inside a body (physical).  If not re-born [spiritually] you are still only like a beast.  A beast is Bible language for a creature with a soul (mind, intellect, emotion, will) and a body that is all self-centered, but is not spiritual [Spirit is all God-conscious, living according to what His Spirit teaches, guides].

Jesus attests to the inspiration (Theopneustos means “God breathed out”) of the O.T. and His fulfillment of both the prophets and the law (ex. Mt 5:17,18; Lk 24:44; Jn 5:39).  When Jesus refers to the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms, He is referring to the three-part division of the Tanakh[8].

The manuscript evidence for the NT is also dramatic, with over 5 300 known copies of fragments in the original Greek, nearly 800 of which were copied before 1 000 AD.  Some manuscript texts date to the early second and third centuries, with the time between the autographs (original manuscripts) and our earliest existing copies being a remarkable short 60 years.  This manuscript evidence far surpasses the manuscript reliability of other ancient writings that we trust as authentic every day.  Look at these comparisons:  Julius Caesar’s “The Gallic Wars” (10 manuscripts remain, with the earliest dating to 1 000 years after the original autograph); Pliny the Younger’s “History” (7 manuscripts, 750 years elapsed); Thucydides’ “History” ( 8 manuscripts, 1 300 years elapsed); Herodotus’ “History” (8 manuscripts, 1 300 years elapsed); Sophocles (193 manuscripts, 1 400 years); Euripides (9 manuscripts, 1 500 years); and Aristotle (49 scripts, 1 400 yrs).

Homer’s “Iliad”, the most renowned book of ancient Greece, has 643 copies of manuscript support.  In those copies, there are 764 disputed lines of text, as compared to 40 lines in all the NT manuscripts[9].  In fact, many people are unaware that each of William Shakespeare’s 37 plays (written in the 1 600’s) has gaps in the surviving manuscripts, forcing scholars to “fill in the blanks”.  This pales into textual comparison to the over 5 300 copies and fragments of the NT that assure us nothing has been lost.  In fact, all of the NT except 11 verses can be reconstructed from the writings of the early church fathers in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

The Bible [not the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” NWT that contradicts the Bible] clearly defines itself as the communication of God to His creation, through OT men known as prophets.  This communication defines His being, Himself, to His created.  Also His plan [idea] with us and how men, throughout history, have missed it through their own unbelief [distrust, offense] in His Word.  So He sent His unique Son [Word] to legally enter the natural realm to represent man and demonstrate how man should be with His Spirit inside of us.  The first part of the Bible refer to this Messiah, then how He came and paid on His cross with His blood on behalf of all, once for all; and then in the last part, His teachings, revelations of what Jesus had accomplished in the Spiritual realm with that exchange on His cross (Is 53; Col 2; Rev 5:12; 7:14,17; 12:11; 13:8; 21:23,27), and examples of a new dispensation.  God as a Father could so be understood to remain to be God, while sending a special Son to be the sole expression of Himself [Lord of lords, King of kings] here on earth with His Holy Spirit inside a human body.  God is Spirit [invisible], so He is seeking those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (Jn 4:24; 8:32,36; 20:22).  The Bible is very clear that Jesus will return as He left – in a visible, physical body (Jn 21:1-14; Lk 24; Mt 28; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor 15:12-22).  No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:11).  Consider Jesus Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:23-2:2; Is 53 and 1 Pet 2:24).  The OT has a covenant; the NT a Testament (that’s why Jesus had to be buried – Heb 7; Heb 9).  Righteousness does not come out of you, it has come to you in Jesus Christ (Phil 3:9; 2 Cor 5:21).

Man might have flaws, but God imputes His righteousness to believers in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  The purpose of the law was so that people can see and hate self-righteousness (Gal 3; Jm 2:10…).  The law-mentality makes you think you can cash in on your goodness, and that God has this pre-requisite that you must impress Him first with works (even obedience to law, rules), before He can accept you.  This is self-righteousness and not the righteousness God imputes through your Savior Jesus Christ, as Lord.  Jesus [also] demonstrated that He was obedient because of sonship, not how to become a Son through obedience.  Laws cannot change the desire in your heart to do wrong, only Jesus can when you accept His Spirit inside of you   – Rom 3:20-28; 8:1-4; 10:1-4.  Try Gal 5:4 again, you try to impress Him, and you sever yourself from grace.

The Bible defines the purpose of man and his life on earth.  We are created to His image and we are to be above the natural as His children – in Christ, we are supposed to trust in the certainty of His promises of an everlasting life in Christ, just as certain as the true prophecy Jesus gave of His own death and resurrection.  God’s promise was His Spirit continuously inside and upon us, only achievable by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead.  And yes, His resurrection was physical [real] – Jn 20:19-31.

In the Bible God had OT prophets announce, and then apostles who declared and proved, that Jesus Christ was this Savior, His salvation plan for all mankind that would accept His Word [Trust His Word].  Remember that God is Love, and that true love never manipulates.  He gave you your will [to choose] for that very reason.  Think about it.  He gave you the ability and now you have the choice to respond.  Ability + response = responsibility.   Today still, to prophecy means to say what God has said all along (Num 11:29; 1 Cor 14:1-4; 1 Pet 1:10-13).

One thousand years before crucifixions were invented as a method of execution, David prophesied it in Ps 22:16[10].  That same Psalm starts with the words Jesus uttered on His cross, and ends with His last words on His cross.  Jesus fulfilled it, not Charles Russell.  Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah described the death of the Christ [anointed] of God Who would die for all the sin of all the world (Is 52:13-53:12).  In Daniel, 539 years before the birth of Jesus, we are given the exact day He would die as Messiah (9:24-27)!

For more powerful revelations about the true gospel of Jesus Christ, study the meditation entitled “the Gospel” by the same author.  Jesus fulfilled over three hundred prophecies in amazing detail.  But there is infinitely more.  This is merely accepting historical facts recorded by the most credible writers of their time, as well as supernatural evidence of signs, miracles and wonders ;  today still in the name of this same Jesus Christ as Lord.  The author has seen Jesus save his own son from certain death and has seen many cancers healed.  Contact him on 082 4428407 for his and many other verifiable true witnessing of the true Jehovah:  Jesus Christ as Lord.  If you have a problem with the Deity of Jesus Christ, you have a problem with God Himself.

Note at Eph 5:1.  It states that we must be followers of God.  The word “God” here, is θεός (theos, G2316), of uncertain affinity but certainly [a] deity.  This can imply Rom 8:14 (Jn 4:24) but in context, as in the next verse, specifically Christ in us (Jn 17:15,20).  How else can we be imitators of God if we had never witnessed Him on earth in contact with people as Man with God’s Spirit as Guide inside (Heb 1:1-8)?  Hence, Scriptures such as Jn 5:17-23; 10:31; 14:6-11,23-26; 15:5; and Phil 2:5-11; even Eph 1:5-12,17-23; 2:13-22; 4:6-16.

Hebrews chapter one makes it clear in verse five, “For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are My Son, today I have begotten You [established You in an official Sonship relation to bring many sons to glory]?”  He clearly states that Jesus Christ is/became no angel.  Jesus Himself stated repeatedly Who He was and is.

Again, an angel would and could not represent all of mankind and pay on our behalf for our sin as our beloved Lord Jesus did.

We have to take cognizance of such overwhelming evidence and historically accurate reports.  Consider the Truth of Jn 8:32,36; 14:6…

God as Spirit materialized in a human body as Jesus Christ (Joshua Messiah), for at least these reasons:

  • To undo the work the devil had done in the beginning (1 Jn 3:8). See the meditation by the author entitled “Genesis to Revelation” and “Mixing Old and New” for a better exegesis.
  • Jesus had to legitimately [truly] represented mankind and so had to be born of a woman (1 Cor 15:45). Note that He was sent, not created (Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:12-20) as a Seed [Word of God] – Jn 1:14.
  • Jesus had to pay for all sin of all mankind (Jn 1:29; 3:15-16; 1 Tim 2:5; and so on)
  • Jesus had to be buried (Heb 9:16-18; Jn 8:17 with Rom 8:17; Heb 2:8-18; 9:11-14,10:7-14…)
  • Jesus had to rise from the dead to show (a) our sins are forgiven (Mt 6:12,14-15; Jn 20:23; Rom 6 with 12:19); and (b) that Jesus Christ is everlasting Life (Jn 1:4; 5:37-47; 14:6; Rev 2:7; 22:2,14); and (c) that He is our Advocate/Intercessor/Friend (1 Jn 2:1-2; Heb 7:25; 9:24; Jn 3:17-21; Rom 8:2…)

The so-called “Jehovah’s Witnesses” memorize and recite verses in parrot-like fashion after men who has rejected the Bible as the Word of God when they were still teenagers with no knowledge of the original text.  Men who concocted their own doctrines to suit their own personal notions, who reasoned away their false predictions with false declarations that outright oppose the original manuscripts and the original Bible that is beyond any doubt the Word of God.  These “witnesses” believe their own version of the Bible that they call a translation (the so-called “New World Translation”).  This is absurd.  The true Jehovah is a miracle working God that revealed Himself in three Persons:  A Father, a Son, a Holy Spirit – His witnesses knows it for a fact.

Knowing God can only be achieved by accurately knowing Jesus Christ (Jn 3:3,16, 10:9; 14:6; Rom 10) in a personal relationship (Jn 10:27,28; Mt 7:20-23).  Fruit = answered prayers (prophecies) = joy.  When you say what God has said all along [in trust, belief in His Word], His Word will not return void but fulfill what it was set out to do (Is 55:9-11; Gen 1:26-28; and Mt 13:33-43 with Heb 9:26 in the KJV and Mt 5:14).  This is prayer [prayers answered] and this is prophecy:  saying, declaring what God has said/promised all along!

Casually, and superficially, only Mt 28:19 and 2 Cor 13:14 seems capable of a Trinitarian interpretation.  Then there are the plurality and simultaneous singular usage of reference to God as – for example – in Gen 1:26. The Deity of Christ is taught by Paul in Phil 2:6-8 and 1 Tim 3:16; also the personality of the Holy Spirit in Eph 4:30 – he then puts the Three together in the benediction of 2 Cor 13:14.

God has revealed Himself in three Persons ( 2 Tim 3:16-17), so we can understand His Personality:

  1. The Father: Is 63:16; Mal 2:10.  In Isaiah 9:6 Jesus is called everlasting Father [of eternity]!
  2. The Son of Jehovah:  Ps 45:6,7; 2:6,7,12; Prov 30:4; as Messiah with Divine titles in Jer 23:5,6; Is 9:6; and then the Angel of the Lord who bears God’s name and has power to either forgive or retain sins as in Ex 23:20,21. Also Jn 10:30; 14:9; etc. Also consider the Book of Hebrews, especially 1:5; 4:14; chapt 7-10…
  3. The Holy Spirit: Gen 1:2; Is 11:2,3; 48:16; 61:1; 63:10.  Lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God in Acts 5:3,4; Jn 16:8; see also 1 Cor 12:11.  God is Spirit – Jn 4:23-24.  This is how he can be omnipresent.

The Apostle Paul also held this possible view by comparing the following Scriptures:

  1. Eph 4:11.  The 5 leadership gifts (charismata) given by Jesus Himself to equip saints to prove the working of the Holy Spirit, building His church [His Body, Bride, those His Spirit indwells];
  2. Rom 12:6-8. The 7 ministries (diakona) given by the Father to train saints to serve like Jesus;
  3. 1 Cor 12:8-12.  The 9 spiritual gifts (energemata) given by the Holy Spirit to show the Father’s power.

The context of One God (Dt 6:4).  For a more in-depth study on the trinity, see the meditation entitled “Trinity Doctrine” by the author.  Heathens had as many gods as their imagination could come up with (for example Dan 5:4), and against this, God (H430 – plural) had Moses record the statement [fact] in Dt 6:4; refer to the context as stated in Dt 4:35.  This is reiterated by Jesus in Jn 10:30 and by Paul in 1 Cor 8:4-6.  We, however, as a summery, see from even just Genesis 1 through Revelations 22 that our one Creator-God reveals three persons in the one Godhead in unity always working together.  The NT gives us 1 Cor 8:4; Gal 3:20; and Jesus (Jn 1:1-4,14) gave us declarations such as Jn 14:6-15.  It’s for us as if God the Father conceives the thought, God the Son conveys it (Jn 1:1-4; Gal 3:8; Heb 7), and God the Holy Spirit effects it (Gen 1:2; Jn 4:24).  The Father is the Creator, Sustainer and Giver of Life.  The Son is our Lord, Example, First Born, Brother[11], our only Intercessor and Savior.  The Holy Spirit is Omnipresent, is our Helper, Comforter, Teacher, Guide and Power of God[12].  He strengthens, leads, teaches and interprets, gives unity and peace, gives power to pray (and He translates for us) and power to worship and speak, He calls and sets the true believer in Jesus Christ as Savior, apart – as being omniscient and thus capable to do all this to all at once.  If you insist on having a god you defined by man’s ideas, you have a god smaller than yourself and you cannot truly worship [trust] him.  Think about it.  Perhaps this is the issue with unbelievers in a Triune God.

Dt 6:4 says, “Hear,O Israel: The LORD our God is One LORD”.  We observe, then, the following:
(i) “God” is from אלהים (el-o-heem’, H430), plural of  אלהּ    אלוהּ (el-o’-ah, el-o’-ah, H433, probably prolonged (emphatically) from אל ale, H410 shortened  from H352, strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity).  God as in H433 then, is not gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme Creator God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: great, judges, X mighty.

(ii) “One” is from אחד (ekh-awd’, H259), a numeral from H258, properly united, that is, one; or (as an ordinal) first: – a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any (-thing), apiece, a certain few, first, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together.

(iii) “Lord” is from יהוה (yeh-ho-vaw’, H3068), from H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: – Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050, H 3069.

From the above it is clear that our one Creator-Father-God, can certainly present Himself to us as Three Persons “together” as One Almighty and sovereign God; unlike the heathens (and today for example Hindus) who imagine a multitude of gods that in their minds control only their one domain such as luck, rain, hail, and so on. Our Bible declares the earth and all that is in it, belongs to God (Ex 9:29; Dt 10:14; Job 38:4; Ps 24:1; 72:19; 89:11; Is 6:3; 66:1; 1 Cor 10:26).

In the beginning of this meditation, mention was made to find the truth, not to just try and win own arguments.  Note here that Jesus Christ – after His indisputable resurrection – stated that all authority in heaven and earth was given Him, and that He is the Truth, and that if you know HIM, you will know the Truth and He will set you free, and if He sets you free, that you are free indeed (Mt 28:18; Jn 8:32,36).  Do you believe Him?

If signs, miracles and wonders[13] are not following you, you only have [another] dead religion (Mk 16:16-20).

Cults contrast the gospel of Jesus Christ by perverting and twisting the Truth to draw away disciples after themselves.   They do not present the whole Truth and isolate Scripture without comparing Scripture with Scripture honestly.  They alter the copies of original manuscripts and accurate old translations accepted as Scripture to suit their pet doctrines and discard the rest.  This is selective, false, and come from “amongst yourselves” – Acts 20:37-31.  Cults are defined by their denial of the Lordship and Deity of Jesus Christ.

The reliability of ancient manuscripts from which today’s Bibles are translated, is remarkable. It is important to remember that the canon of the New Testament was not the result of any pronouncement by any official of the church or any organizational body.  Rather, the canon was determined by the authoritative use of these books right from the start by the rapidly expanding church of the first and second centuries.  The NT canon was merely a process of formal recognition of already recognized Scripture, to admonish against the various forms of Gnosticism and false teachings that were starting to creep throughout the ever-expanding church.  By the early 300’s AD, all of the NT books were being used in the mainstream church body.

For the purpose of this short overview, we will conclude this discussion by briefly considering some of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ confusing doctrines.  For more detail on the Gospel Truth, consider the meditations by the author referred to earlier, downloadable from www.Gospel-Truth.co.za.

Short summaries on the said doctrines of “Jehovah’s witnesses”.

  1. A Triune God. Jehovah’s say the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ is not one with Jehovah, and that Christ is Jehovah’s first creation considered a god, while the Holy Spirit is God’s “active force”. They say Jesus Christ had a pre-human existence where he was called Michael the Archangel, and that Jesus was born on the 01st October 2 BC, and that He was a mere mortal man, and was raised an immortal spirit without a physical body, and that this spirit is angelic [reverted to Michael the Archangel].  In Jehovah’s witness lore, [an omniscient?] God has only four attributes – justice, power, love, wisdom.

The Bible, however, states that Jesus said they are one (Jn 5:21-47; 8:15-19; 25-58; 10:27-36; 14:8-14,20-31; 16:33; 1 Cor 8:3-7a; 2 Cor 1:2-6; 6:18; Eph 1:17-23; 3:10-21; and so on.  See the Father in you, Christ in you, His Holy Spirit in you – all the one and same God inside you if you are in Christ.

The problem with the concept of a triune God for the “Jehovah’s witness” seems to stem from their simplistic understanding of Dt 6:4. It must be read in the context that the heathens had multiple gods amounting to thousands upon thousands similar to Hindu’s today; i.e. a god for rain, a god for luck, a god for war, etc. etc.  In contrast, God the Creator, expressed Himself as one unity in at least 155 verses in The Bible, such as Ex 3;14; Lev 18:30; 19:34; 24:22; 25:17; and so on.  The meditation “Trinity Doctrine” expands on this, where it should be clear that God revealed Himself to us as a Spirit (Jn 4:24; Rom 8:14!) that is a Perfect Father (even Is 9:6!!!) and most importantly, only One Savior/Friend/Son to us who is re-born [God-conscious again, including acceptance of God’s one and only salvation plan for mankind].  Contemplate Jn 3:3,15-21; 14:6; Acts 4:12.  But, with all these Scripture references, in God’s name, use a Bible such as a KJV or Amplified, not a NWT that is not a canonical translation as discussed earlier in this meditation.

Of interest here, is the word spirits (“… the God of the spirits of all flesh…”) used in Num 16:22, רוּח (rûach, H7307), from H7306 (also meaning to make of quick understanding!); meaning wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): – air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain…  The reader might find the meditation “Body, Soul and Spirit” also enlightening when read with “Trinity Doctrine”.

  1. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that man is soul made up of a body and life principle or force.  The soul, they say, is mortal, not immortal… man and beast die alike.  Well, think about 1 Thess 5:23; and the study on “Body, soul and spirit” by the author that refers to numerous Scriptures explaining these in greater detail.  For now, note that the saved soul (personality) and spirit does not perish with the body when the body dies.  This body of the saved that believed and confessed Jesus as Lord (Rom 10:9,10; Jn 3:16), will anyway be re-united when Jesus returns with His resurrected body (as First Born).  Note in Lk 16:19-31 what Jesus taught on those departed souls in heaven and in hell.  Jesus also pointed out that there is no communication between the dead and those alive.  Demons do this.
  1. They believe in different, separate states of Christ, never equal to God, and that in His pre-human state, He was known as Michael the Archangel.  Note here Heb 1:5 where God (2 Tim 3:16) asks, “To what angel did God ever say, today You are My Son?…”.  They acknowledge Christ as some god, but without immortality!  Note here Scriptures such as Jn 5:39,40; 1 Cor 15:45, 2 Tim 1:10; Jn 1:1-4; 2 Jn 1:6-11.  This is a good example of Scripture in the correct copies of the original (such as the KJV) that existed long before the New World Translation saw publication with it’s own peculiar interpretations and omissions of accepted manuscripts and accurate copies thereof, because of people manipulating a “translation” [the NWT]  to read what they want to believe with pre-conceived ideas.

They say, when Jesus Christ died, He ceased to exist, he was annihilated, that Jehovah disposed of his body just like he did with Moses’ body!  Where is this in Scripture?  Then, they say, Jesus – who no longer exists, is now raised as Michael the Archangel – not physical, but as an immortal spiritual angelic being, appearing and disappearing like angels did.  This is in direct contrast with the Word of God in Mt 1; 28; Lk 3; 24; Jn 21; Acts 2:14-43; Eph 2:6-22; Phil 2:9-11 (In Lk 1 the angel Gabriel announced the arrival of Jesus to Mary as a messenger, after having delivered the same message to Daniel about 550 BC – Heb 1:1-14, angels are ministering spirits and messengers, not ‘sons of God’).

  1. The Watchtower theologians say the life of Jesus deleted the sin that Adam brought on mankind and brought man “at-one” with Adam’s original state before the fall, using the term “ransom” as a word meaning “to release from”.  They say he was annihilated for us, so we cannot be annihilated.  This, again, denies the Deity of Jesus Christ; and what He said He came to accomplish.

The problem with their theory here is that, again, it contradicts Scripture. Jesus ushered in a complete New Testament (Heb 7:12-25; 8:13; 9:16,17); He create new beings (2 Cor 5:14-21; Eph 2:5-22; Col 1:13-29; and so on).  Again note the difference in the original copies taught since Christ and that of the NWT.  Jesus’ grave is empty, and Jesus Christ is very much alive today and in all eternity.

  1. Here they have come up with two separate classes of people, the anointed class who believe their doctrines and repent.  They say repentance is a fruit of believing, and a “recognition and admission of wrong”.  This is then followed by baptism by full immersion in water to become part of the anointed class.  Further requirements are preaching of the “gospel”, maintaining a life of integrity, then they say you can be a member of the body of Christ, a king and priest to God, the bride of Christ, and baptized in the spirit.  Only the anointed class is then entitled to partake of all the benefits of the “New Covenant”, and this only after “Armageddon” in the “millennium”.  The tragedy is that no one of them is assured of a place amongst this elite group.  A longer study of Scripture is required here, and is done by the author in the meditations entitled “The Gospel”, “Rapture raptured”, “Baptism”, and so on.  However, for this purpose, see Acts 10:34,35 where God makes it known that He is no respecter of persons; and that all are equal in Christ (Gal 3:29; Rom 4:14-16; 8:14-17, 29-39).  Also contemplate Jn 5:24, there is no doubt about complete salvation in Jesus Christ irrespective of your outward appearance or lineage (Jn 1:12,13; 3:15-16)!
  1. Refusing medical intervention that can save a life? Heb 3:5 says that God will not leave you nor forsake you nor leave you without support.  Why obtusely refuse support (of trained and well-meaning people)? In the meditation by this author, called “The Testimony”, the following note is made to 1 Cor 5:5:

The context correlates to after-life (Jn 11:25) and the fact that the body can die while the spirit and soul is saved.  The dying [losing] of the body in this case seems in this scripture to be a form of “punishment” but actually serves here as a saving grace for the person who apparently kept on heeding fleshly desires [of his body] instead of living a truly re-born Christian’s life[style] – 1 Cor 6:15-20.  It was best for him to lose his body [die] and his spirit and soul go to heaven and so remain saved than to remain [on earth] and become lost (Heb 6:4-12; 10:26-39)! God did not kill this man, God allowed this man to reap what he sowed (Gal 6:8; Rom 8:13)!!! Never forget that there is no requirement for  man to lose his body for his soul to be saved, our faith in the vicarious death of Jesus Christ for us at His cross at Golgotha and His resurrection, is what saves our soul (Rom 1:17; 10:9-10).  The man mentioned in 1 Cor 5:5 above was apparently venturing to what is mentioned in Heb 10:26-29 (1 Cor 6:15-20), and by the grace and mercy of God alone, could also he experience 2 Pet 3:9 (Jn 3:15-21). 1 Cor 6:15-20 does not mean your body will be “scarred” [made unacceptable to God] by a medical procedure! It is warning us against sexual lasciviousness and immorality and has nothing to do with medicine but rather with our thought-life and lifestyle (1 Cor 6:13-20).

Note at Lev 17:12-14. This does not say a blood transfusion is against God’s will or that it destroys your soul, it was specifically talking about animals and aimed at people who were supposed to be children [followers] of God that should not drink blood [even of animals, be barbaric like heathens]. There is no scientific evidence or any indication in Scripture that your soul [intellect, emotion, will; personality] is in your blood cells and that a transfusion will destroy your soul (see the meditation on “Spirit, Soul, Body”).  There have been many blood transfusions and none were observed to have changed their personality [emotion, intellect, will] to that of the donor.  The word soul is from the Hebrew nepesh and is given as:

H5315 נפשׁ nephesh From H5314 [נפשׁ nâphash A primitive root; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon, that is, (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air): – (be) refresh selves (-ed)]. Properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): – any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead (-ly), desire, X [dis-] contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortality, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

The Lord also said to Moses, in Leviticus 17, that blood represents life and vitality (if shed, it causes death).  Today, we can compare this symbolically, to Jn 6:54-56; 5:26; Rom 8:11; 5:12,14; but mainly Jn 3:15-21. God was not asking Moses to write down for us today that a blood transfusion will make you unsaved (Rom 10:9-10).  The Blood of the Lamb of God – Jesus Christ – paid for all sins of all people who accept His salvation plan for mankind.  This is according to the Word of God, the Word [Bible] that “Jehovah Witnesses” reject.

  1. Doctrines on Church, Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, and Eschatology, are all covered in the studies made by the author (meditations referred to in this discussion). We might do well to consider them?

Just as a final example, let’s look at some of the eschatological views of the so-called “Johovah’s Witnesses”

The 144 000 in Revelation 7

A Watchtower publication states that “the final number of the heavenly church will be 144,000, according to God’s decree” (Let God Be True, p. 113). The balance of saved humanity, they contend, will live on God’s glorified earth.

Note that the term “thousand” is used 19 times in the book of Revelation, but not once is it employed literally.  Those arguing that the number referred to those who were saved from the physical nation of Israel are not leaving a great hope for all the rest; while others feel that this company is a rather limited contingent of spiritual Israel, i.e., the church. Some think this group represents the martyrs who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. Be that as it may, it is generally acknowledged that the number is obviously more sensible if symbolic.

144 000 is 12 (the number of the tribes), both squared and multiplied by 1000; and would be a twofold way of emphasizing completeness (Mounce, 168).

We must, however, emphasize the following two basic principles:

First, one simply cannot randomly mix symbolism with literal descriptions in The Bible and interpret it in such a fashion as to make it contradict the context or other parts of The Bible.

Second, any doctrine which logically implies an absurdity is false and must be rejected.

The Watchtower theory regarding the 144 000 violates both of these principles.

Consider also the following five points.

  1. If the 144 000 represents a literal number, the group of which that number consists is also literal, i.e. Israelites. That would mean, according to the Watchtower scheme of interpretation that no one would be in heaven that was not of the actual tribes listed.
  2. This would then also exclude Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — who were never of the tribes of Israel. This conflicts with Jesus’ affirmation in just Mt 8:11 and Jn 3:16.
  3. If only a literal 144 000 Israelites will enter heaven, then not one Gentile has any hope to the kingdom of heaven. Again, the Lord is then contradicted in Mt 8:11.
  4. If the tribes of Rev 7 are to be literally interpreted, no one from either Ephraim or Dan will enter heaven (they are excluded from the list).
  5. Other OT heroes like Joshua (from Ephraim) and Samson (from Dan) will not be in heaven.

Logically, the Watchtower people must exclude the “great multitude, which no man could number” (Rev 7:9) from heaven. This group, they allege, represents the “earthly class.”  This is not so. This multitude was described as “standing before the throne” (Rev 7:9), which is in heaven (Rev 1:4; 4:2-10). Furthermore, these saints “before the throne” were serving God in “his temple” (Rev 7:15); and “The temple of God … is in heaven” (Rev 11:19); in this context in Revelation 11.  (The next paragraph refers to the words of Jesus in Mt 6:10).

As re-born Christians (actually following Jesus Christ consistently and constantly), we’ll know about 1 Cor 6:15-20.  This temple [sanctuary] as our bodies, are expanded on in meditations such as “Church” and “Body, Soul, Spirit of man” and expands on Mk 14:58 and Acts 7:48.-51.

Note on “earthly classes”

Self-righteousness [from the old Adam, un-renewed; Jn 3:23; Rom 5:18; 1 Cor 15:45; Rom 12:1-2] wants a pecking order [hierarchy in which to seek more importance and privileges more than other, seeking to elevate the self], even in heaven.  This is dead against Rom 2:11 and what Jesus taught in just Mk 10:31, 42-45 (Mt 10:24; 20:16,25-28); even in the OT (Dt 10;17; 2 Chron 19:7).  We should be like Jesus and He demonstrated Love that, for instance, does not insist on its own rights or its own way (1 Cor 13:5; Mt 11:29).  Those who ended up “first” (Mk 10:31) is not to say that there will be a hierarchy of saints in heaven, as steps of comparison, it is in all probability merely showing that self-righteousness will be put to shame (Rom 2:8; Mt 21:43; Jm 4:6). Compare this with Peter’s statement [observation] in Acts 10:34-35.  Bear in mind that this is the Peter who lied to Jesus and betrayed Him thrice (Mk 14:26-31, 66-72); yet saw Jesus heal Malchus (Jn 18:10; Lk 22:49-51); and after His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter [also three times] only if he loved Him (Jn 21:14-17).  This Love (1 Jn 4:8) therefore perfectly demonstrated in Jesus Christ how to live 1 Cor 13on earth.

The Kingdom of God – in Christ – on earth (Lk 12:32; 17:2–21), is another matter, and discussed in the other meditations such as “The Gospel” et al.

The 144 000 mentioned in Rev 14

Once more, however, the numeral is clustered with several other prominent symbols.

  1. There is the “Lamb,” a figure representing Christ (Jn 1:29; Rev 5:6).
  2. There is Mount Zion, a symbol of divine government (Is 2:2-4; 60:14).
  3. There is the numeral 144 000, suggestive of the heavenly complement of God’s people — no one will be missing who is supposed to be there.
  4. Saints are depicted as “virgins,” which descriptively emphasizes their purity (2 Cor 11:2). It obviously does not imply only men will be in heaven, leaving Hannah, Mary, Dorcus, and women of like faith without that hope. Neither does it means that only unmarried men who are virgins will be in heaven. This would exclude Abraham, Moses, Peter, and a host of other biblical characters. These conclusions are utterly ludicrous and thus without any merit.

It is clear that we’re not supposed to be reading in the Book of Revelation that a literal Lamb was literally standing on literal Mount Zion with a group of literal men who had never been intimate with literal women, hence, were literal virgins!

So then, who are the 144000?

The 144 000 of Revelation 14 more likely signifies the entire body of the redeemed in Jesus Christ.

It is possible to be the same redeemed people, even than the “multitude”, from different perspectives, but in a twofold way symbolizing completeness.  A body of people who were “purchased” from among men. The only purchase price ultimately available for human salvation is that of the Blood of Jesus Christ (Gal 4:5; Heb 9:15-17; 10:14), and for those who have submitted to God’s salvation plan in Jesus Christ since that historic event (Jn 3:16-21; 1 Pet 1:18,19; Acts 4:12; 20:28).

Most importantly, note that the Book Revelation depict two cities:  (i) Babylon (Rev 17-18) and (ii) a new Jerusalem (Rev 21).  Note that this city from Is 60:14 and Mt 5:14 is a people, not a place.  The single street like gold and transparent glass, is the omnipresent Holy Spirit of God indwelling His Church (the people re-born following Jesus Christ).  Babylon in contrast, has only a dead-end street. Rev 17 describes seafaring traders with their goods that are counterfeits (17:4-7-18) for the jewels (as in paradise) depicted in the other city depicted in Rev 21.  Note Rev 21:3 with Jn 14:23-26; and Rev 16:17 with Jn 19:30 (The Book Revelation pre-dates the Book John). Compare Rev 21:16 (vv. 24-27) with Eph 2:16-22; 3:14-18-22; 4:15-25.

Finally, the interpretation of a “glorified earth,” subsequent to the Second Coming of Christ, might be a difficulty for a “Jehovah’s Witness” when reading Mt 24:35; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 21:1.

Consider reading the meditation “Revelation the book” on this website, as well.

Conclusion

May this short overview show that in the very least, a serious amount of doubt is cast on gospels other than that preached by Jesus Christ Himself and His disciples that could all demonstrate God’s Truth with signs, miracles and wonders [with power] right from the days that Jesus started His ministry, to this very day. The first records of Church history and what was preached, cannot in good conscious be ignored today.  May you meet our beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and God the Father as Love personally, and hear and listen to His Holy Spirit.

Amen.

[1] The word “begotton” in Jn 1:18; 3:16; is (3439) μονογενής, mŏnŏgĕnës from (3441) and (1096); meaning only, sole, one unique Son manifesting in the natural realm through a woman; a Word [message] that became the Seed that impregnated a woman [for us today, we as His Bride, Church, Body, City, people in whom He dwells].  Carefully consider 1 Cor 15:45-47; 2 Cor 5:1-21; 1 Pet 2:1-10; 1 Tim 3:15-16; 4:7; 6:15; and so on.  Also Mt 15:9; Mk 2:28; Acts 2:36; 10:36; 17:23; Rom 10:12; 14:9; 16:12; Rev 5:14; 7:11; 16,17:14; 19:16… there is only one Lamb of God…

[2] The good news is that only Jesus is your Righteousness, it is not what you try to do but what Jesus has paid for with His blood on His cross; it is not by your works or attempts to follow laws, but by His grace alone (Rom 3:20-28)

[3] The “god of this world”, in context here, is law (previous chapter, 2 Cor 3; also 2 Cor 11:12-15; Gal 5:4; and so on)

[4] Jn 16:9; 1 Jn 2:4

[5] Jn 8:32,36; 14:6,23-27

[6] Suggested further reading:  the meditation entitled “Rapture raptured” by the same author, showing this is a hoax.

[7] See 1 cor 1;4-8; Acts 1:9-11.

[8] Tanakh is an acrostic using the first letters of the words which compile the three sections of the OT. Ta = Torah, Na = Nebi’im (prophets), and Kh = K’tubim (writings).  The books in the Tanakh are the same as in the Protestant OT, arranged in different order.  The Torah is the first 5 books of Moses, the prophets consists of the former and later prophets and the writings begins with Psalms and ends with 2 chronicles.

[9] Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, A General introduction to the Bible, Moody, Chicago, revised and expanded 1986, p. 367

[10] Even accurately implying the use of nails; the Romans tied their victims with rope.  The Jews crucified Jesus (Jn 19)!

[11] Heb 2:8-18; Gal 4:5; Rom 6:5-10; 8:14-17;Jm 4:5; Eph 2:5-10; Jn 17:20-26; and so on

[12] Note that the Spirit of God must be His Person.  He can be grieved (Eph 4:30) and lied to (Acts 5:3); + Is 11:2; Rev 1:4

[13] Signs are miraculous authority over nature that authenticates God’s message; Miracles are works of God that demonstrates His love for people (Acts 10:38); Wonders are demonstrations of God’s unlimited power.