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JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
and the "REAL JESUS"
Lorri MacGregor
HOW TO WITNESS
TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
When talking to Jehovah's
Witnesses, be sure to stay on ONE SUBJECT, and that subject is JESUS
CHRIST. If you have the right Jesus you are right for all eternity,
but if you have the wrong Jesus, you are wrong for all eternity.
Jehovah's Witnesses will attempt to change the subject to the
"Kingdom" or "world conditions." Firmly bring the subject back to
Jesus, and do not allow them to hopscotch the Bible, but read all
verses in their context, several before and several after the verse
they use. Use a recognized Bible translation, not a "New World
Translation" of the Watchtower Society.
This booklet has been carefully and prayerfully prepared to show the
Jehovah's Witness that he does, indeed, have "another Jesus" and not
the Jesus of the Bible.
Pray for the help of the Holy Spirit and His convicting power to be
present. Don't expect immediate results. Witness with authority, and
share your testimony of your personal relationship with Christ. Give
him a copy of this booklet when he leaves and continue to pray for
him. Many thousands have been set free.
Witness out of love, remembering that our precious Lord and Savior
shed His blood for all the lost. Welcome to a difficult but vastly
rewarding mission field!
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND THE REAL JESUS
Since we have the warning in
scripture that there would be those coming to us preaching "another
Jesus", disguising themselves as "apostles of Christ" (2
Cor.11:3,4,13-15 ) we need to examine Jehovah's Witnesses claims
concerning Jesus Christ in the light of scripture.
J.W. Claim: JESUS CHRIST IS NOT ALMIGHTY
GOD BUT A LESSER GOD
J.W. doctrine has two true Gods,
Almighty God Jehovah, and beside Him a lesser " mighty god",
Jesus Christ. John 1:1 has been altered from the original Greek in
their bible to read "the word was a god" to accommodate this
polytheistic doctrine. (see pages 150, 416 - 417, Reasoning From The
Scriptures, 1985 edition published by the Watchtower Society).
Christian Answer: JESUS CHRIST IS ALMIGHTY
GOD
Christians are monotheists,
believers in ONE GOD. "I am He. Before Me there was no God formed
and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the LORD and there is
no Savior besides Me." ( Isaiah 43:10,11) See also Isa. 44:6, 8;
45:22,23 and 46:9. There is only ONE God by nature-- all others are
man-made (Galatians 3:20 and 4:8) See also James 2:19.
Since there is only ONE God allowed in Scripture, if Jesus is called
GOD, He is that one GOD.
Jesus is called "Almighty God"- Revelation 1:8, with
Rev. 22:20.
Jesus is called "the true God" in 1 John 5:20.
Jesus is called "the only God" in 1 Timothy 1:16,17.
Warning-
The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures has tampered with
the above scriptures. Use any other translation of the Bible, or
read the Greek side with the English words under in their "Kingdom
Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures." (1969 edition) .
Be warned the JW's have altered even the interlinear side in their
1985 edition of the K.I.T. to distort the Deity of Jesus Christ.
J.W. Claim: JESUS IS NOT "HO THEOS"
"HO THEOS" means in Greek,
"The God", and the Watchtower teaches that this term applies
only to Jehovah God. (Kingdom Interlinear pages 1158 & 1159, 1969
ed., or page 1139 in the 1985 ed.).
Christian Answer: JESUS IS "HO THEOS"
Prophecy says so Matthew 1:23
The disciples said so John 20:25-28
The Father Jehovah said so Hebrews 1:8
Note: a
Greek-English Interlinear Bible is needed to prove the above points.
J.W. Claim: WE HAVE RESTORED THE NAME "JEHOVAH"
IN THE GREEK TEXT EVERYWHERE THE HEBREW TEXT IS QUOTED.
On pages 11 and 12 of the
Kingdom Interlinear (p 18--1969 ed.) the Watchtower Society promised
that they would insert the name Jehovah where the New Testament
(Greek) writers were quoting the Old Testament (Hebrew) writers.
They deliberately missed a few places!
Christian Answer: JESUS IS JEHOVAH
Using the Watchtower rule above,
we SHOULD find in their translation...
Philippians 2:10,11 quoting Isaiah 45:23 "Jesus
Christ is Jehovah to the glory...."
1 Peter 3:15 based on Isaiah 8:13 SHOULD
be "But sanctify the Christ as Jehovah in
your hearts."
The fact is that the New World Translation
has distorted or removed all scriptures proving the Deity of Jesus
Christ. The men who comprised the Translation Committee had no
adequate schooling or background to function as Bible translators,
having no formal training in Biblical Hebrew or Greek. Their purpose
was not to "translate " accurately, but to distort the word of God
to support their doctrines.
Even the use of the name Jehovah is in error since this name,
according to Watchtower sources, was first used in 1270 A.D. by a
Catholic monk! (See "Aid to Bible Understanding", pages 884 & 885.)
This embarrassing reference has been removed from the Society's
newer concordance "Insight on the Scriptures". Despite speculations
in this newer publication, the name Jehovah was never used by God,
the Israelites, Jesus Christ, the apostles, or the early church.
J.W. Claim: JEHOVAH IS THE CREATOR
"Insight On the Scriptures",
page 526 says, Hence," Jehovah is fittingly and uniquely called
the creator". The "Reasoning" book calls Jesus "...the
second-greatest personage in the universe", and presents him as
a helper for Jehovah in creation.
Christian Answer: JESUS IS THE CREATOR
The Greek word for "first-created" is "protoktistos".
This term is NOT used in connection with Jesus.
The term "Firstborn," "prototokos" means in Greek "Preeminence in
rank." Jesus Christ is the Creator. (John 1: 3,4; Hebrews 1; 10).
Note how the Watchtower Bible has altered Colossians 1:16, 17 by
adding to the Greek text the term "by means of him" and the word
"other" four times. Read without these additions, Colossians 1:16,17
calls Jesus the Creator.
The "Master Worker" doctrine of the Jehovah's Witnesses is disproved
by Isaiah 44:24,
"I, the LORD, am the maker of all things,
stretching out the heavens BY MYSELF and spreading out the
earth ALL ALONE."
J.W.'s will attempt to use parts of
Proverbs chapter 8 to prove Jesus is a creature. Point out that
Proverbs 8 is completely concerned with "wisdom" not "Jesus".
Jehovah's Witnesses likewise try to use the term "only begotten" to
support their doctrine that Jesus was "begotten" or created at the
time of creation. Without disputing over the meaning of "begotten",
point out that the Bible plainly teaches that Jesus was "begotten"
at the time of His resurrection. (Acts 13:32 33).
J.W. Claim: JESUS CHRIST IS THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
"...the name Michael applied
to God's Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also
after his return" (Page 393 of "Insight on
the Scriptures".
Christian Answer: JESUS CHRIST IS NOT AN
ANGEL
Hebrews chapter 1 teaches that Jesus is
"better than the angels" (vs 4 ); The Father never called ANY
ANGEL HIS SON (vs. 5 );
The angels worship Jesus (vs. 6 ).
The Father never invited any angel to sit at His right hand (vs.13
).
The Father calls His Son "God" (Ho Theos) in verse 8. NOWHERE does
scripture say Jesus is Michael.
J.W. Claim: JESUS IS INFERIOR TO JEHOVAH
Jehovah's Witnesses bring forth
texts like John 14:28 where Jesus said " the Father is greater
than I" and John 5:19, which reads,
"the Son cannot do a single thing of his
own initiative but only what he beholds the Father doing."
These texts are used to support
their doctrine that Jesus is lesser that Jehovah. "He is the
second greatest personage in the universe" says the " Reasoning"
book on page 209".
Christian Answer: JESUS IS NOT INFERIOR
Colossians 2:8-10 proves that although
Jesus was a man, he still had "ALL THE
FULLNESS OF DEITY DWELLING IN HIM BODILY."
(The J.W.'s had to drastically alter this
portion of scripture as it destroys their doctrine denying the Deity
of Christ). For a brief scriptural explanation of the Trinity refer
to pages 11 through 14 of this booklet. Scriptures referring to
Jesus' humanity cannot be applied to His Deity.
J.W. Claim: JESUS IS NOT THE "I AM"
The J.W. Bible has altered John
8:58 to read " I have been," robbing Jesus of His Divine
title.
Christian Answer: JESUS IS THE "I AM"
John 8:58 is a direct quote from Exodus
3:14. The Greek reads "ego eimi", "I AM" Jehovah's Witnesses even
invented a new Greek tense to do away with this verse, called the
"perfect indefinite tense". When informed of the nonexistence of
this tense in ANY language, they stated the tense was really "the
perfect tense indicative." This is also impossible for the verb "to
be" from which "I AM" is taken. Any Greek student can tell a
Jehovah's Witness that "ego eimi" is in the present tense, and Jesus
meant what He said-- He is the "I AM'. just as Jehovah is the "I
AM". (see Greek side K.I.T.pg.451, 1985 ed.)
It is a serious matter to deny Jesus is the "I AM", for Jesus
Himself said in John 8:24,
"Unless you believe that I AM you shall
die in your sins."
J.W. Claim: JESUS IS NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED
Page 214 of "Reasoning" book
asks the question: "Does the fact that worship is given to Jesus
prove that He is God?" Despite this admission that Jesus is
worshiped they use the word "obeisance" to teach their followers not
to worship Jesus.
Christian Answer: JESUS IS WORSHIPPED
While on earth Jesus accepted the worship
of men (Matthew 14:33; 28:9), even while directing worship to God
alone (Matt. 4:10), showing Himself to be God.
Every knee must bow to Jesus (Phil. 2:9, 10).
J.W. Claim: JESUS WAS RAISED A SPIRIT
JW's teach Jesus materialized
bodies after His resurrection. (Pg. 217, "Reasoning").
J.W's. use 1 Peter 3:18 which
says Jesus was "made alive in the Spirit."
Christian Answer: JESUS HAD A BODILY
RESURRECTION
The term "in the Spirit" does not mean "a
spirit". The apostle John was " in the spirit " in Rev. 1:10.
Romans 8:9 tells us that the whole congregation was "in the
Spirit." Does this mean John and the early church had become spirits
and lost their fleshly bodies ? No! Read Romans 8:11.
Jesus Himself told His disciples He was NOT A SPIRIT after His
resurrection [ Luke 24:33-45.] The thought of Jesus materializing
fake nail prints on his fake body is nonsense to everyone but the
Watchtower Society.
J.W. Claim: JESUS DID NOT DIE ON A CROSS
J.W.'s give many meanings for
the instrument of Jesus' execution, selecting the word "stake", but
admitting it could equally be a "timber," "piece of wood" or a
"beam." ("Reasoning" book, page 89). A "beam" of course needs to be
supported by a "post", so cannot be a "stake." Their reasoning is
faulty as usual.
Christian Answer: JESUS DIED ON A CROSS
If Jesus' hands were together over His
head with one nail piercing both hands, why did the disciple Thomas
say in John 20:25,
"Unless I shall see in His hands the
imprint of the NAILS and put my finger into the place of the
NAILS..."
Since there was more than one nail,
Christ's hands were NOT together over his head, but separated. WHY
Jesus died is the important thing, not HOW He died. God's blood
purchased the church. [Acts 20:28], See also Rom. 5:15-18.
J.W. Claim: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “TRINITY”
J. W.'s claim the Trinity is
"Not a Bible teaching" (page 405, " Reasoning" book.)
Christian Answer: TRINITY IS THE BIBLE
TRUTH ON GOD
The word "TRINITY" means "Tri-Unity".
While not used in the scripture as a Bible term, it conveys what the
Bible teaches concerning God. The ONE GOD of the Bible is revealed
to us in three ways, as the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT. There is
only ONE GOD.
"I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none
after Me. I, even I, am the LORD and there is no savior besides Me."
Isaiah 43:10,11.
"God is only one" [Galatians 3:20]. "You believe that God is one.
You do well; even the demons also believe and shudder." [ James 2:19
]. We cannot absolutely comprehend the infinite God with our finite
minds. The early church recognized this and had a common confession
"Great is the mystery of Godliness." [1 Tim.3:16].
The one God of scripture is
revealed 3 ways, and we must accept God's revelation of Himself to
us. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all called GOD -
Therefore they must be the ONE GOD.
Since there is no dispute with J.W.'s that the Father is God, we
proceed to the Holy Spirit & Son.
"The Lord is the Spirit" says 2 Cor.
3:17,18. Who then is the Lord? "Jesus is Lord of All" says
Acts 10:36. Deuteronomy 32:6 identifies the Lord as the Father. The
three are the one Lord. The Holy Spirit is called "The Spirit of
Christ" or "The Spirit of God" interchangeably in Romans 8:9.
Notice the terminology in Acts 5:1-10 where the three terms
interchange. "Holy Spirit," "God" and "Spirit of the Lord". Truly "
God is Spirit" [John 4:24]. Although the Father and Son seem to
receive more mention in Scripture, the reason is stated in John
16:13-15 where the work of the Holy Spirit is revealed, namely to
glorify the Father through the Son. Beautiful tri-unity!
In
scripture Jesus is called "God" but is also spoken of as being "with
God" or the "Son of God". In our natural thinking we cannot
understand the "mystery" of Jesus Christ [Col. 2:2].
Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly Man.
Jesus is God [Heb. 1:8], the True God in [1 John 5:20], The Only God
[1Tim. 1:16, 17.]
He came to earth as Emmanuel- God with Us [Matt. 1:23]. For a"
little while" He became lower than the Angels [Heb. 2:9], and
although existing in the form of God, He emptied Himself [ i.e. set
aside His Divine privileges] and took the form of a man. [Phil.
2:5-8].
He was still Deity [Col. 2:9] but functioned as a man to buy back
what Adam lost- a perfect human life [Rom. 5:12,15] While a perfect
man, Jesus placed HIMSELF in the divine order [1 Cor. 11:3] and for
this time said " The Father is greater than I am," [ John 14:28],
"greater" being a Greek word denoting position [ not nature].
The Jews knew Jesus' claim to be the "Son of God' showed He
considered Himself equal to the Father in nature [ John 5:18;
10:30-33; 14:7-9]. After proving faithful to death, Jesus was
exalted and worshiped with a "name above every name' [Phil. 2:9,10].
IN CONCLUSION
Jehovah's Witnesses claim that
they alone are the true followers of God on earth, and yet they do
not even have God's name right. According to Watchtower sources, the
use of the name "Jehovah" began with a Catholic Monk in 1270 A.D.
God's revealed name in scripture is YHWH, and is unpronounceable.
The closest we can get is "Yahweh". Write to us for details.
Jehovah's Witnesses downgrade Jesus Christ, making Him inferior to
their "Jehovah", claim He is an archangel, and deny His Deity. Their
bible," The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures" is not a
translation at all, but a distortion of God's Word. They claim
support for their "translation" from spirit mediums and other cult
groups, but not one recognized Greek or Hebrew scholar will endorse
their efforts. Write to us for documentation.
While we have set the matters straight on J.W. Doctrine, we are in
no way attacking individual Jehovah's Witnesses. Our purpose in
writing this booklet is to equip Christians to defend their faith,
which the J.W.'s have bitterly attacked, calling our doctrines
"satanic".
We know we must love these deceived people with the love of Christ
and lead them to a saving knowledge of Him. Many thousands have been
set free already. A combination of the word of God, and prayer and
the convicting power of the Holy Spirit can set these people free of
bondage. Please join us in this outreach.
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