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Download Word Document
 Why
should Christians spend the time to answer Jehovah Witnesses?
There are several reasons we should concern ourselves with
those involved in the “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society”.
First, Christians are called to be light in a dark world. Many
Jehovah Witnesses are sincere people feeling they have the
truth. Millions have been born into the movement, and many
searching for God, feel they have found the “Truth” in the Watch
Tower Bible and Tract Society. By learning how to share the
Gospel with Jehovah Witnesses, we will be able to free those
entrapped in a false system.
Secondly, Jehovah Witnesses are very active in
evangelizing, many searching for God, are not aware of the
history and beliefs of this movement. By learning how to
answer and educate those seeking God, we can rescue souls from
Hell, or from years of a fruitless spiritual existence.
A Strategy to reach Jehovah Witnesses
Jehovah Witnesses sincerely feel they have the truth, and the
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is the vehicle God is using
in the earth to dispense truth.
Jehovah Witnesses believe:
·
The Bible is God’s inspired Word
·
The Bible could only be understood through the
Watch
Tower
There are two main methods to reach Jehovah Witnesses or any
Bible based cults.
1. Discussion of doctrines and verses
The first method used by many is answering JW’s
verse by verse and doctrine by doctrine. This is the most used
and most frustrating method. Because the source of the
doctrine, is not addressed, and many discussions can go for
hours as a range of topics are discussed. The problem is JW as
well as other groups redefine words in symbolic meanings to
justify their doctrines. For example, even though the book of
Revelation clearly defines the 144,000 as Jews from the 12
tribes of
Israel and male
virgins, the literal meaning is redefined into a symbolism to
mean 144,000 Jehovah Witnesses both male and female regardless
of their virginity. This method allows the theology of the group
to be incorporate the Bible.
2. Discussion on the “Prophethood” of the “Watchtower”
organization
Discussing doctrines and verses can be a great biblical exercise
but many times the results can prove fruitless because their
understanding of the Bible is based on C. T. Russell and
Watchtower explanations. In order to reach Jehovah Witnesses,
the most effective method is to challenge the organization
claiming to be the fountainhead of truth. Since the Watchtower
teaches “Bible Understanding” is impossible without “God’s
Organization” the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the real
issue is not theological understanding but whether the
Watchtower is God’s organization or man’s organization. If
the Watch Tower Organization were pictured as a tree discussion
of doctrines and verses could be illustrated as a discussion of
limbs and branches while a discussion on the prophet status of
the organization could be seen as the roots and trunk. If the
roots and trunk are false then rest of the tree is also false.
The steps to establishing this dialogue are the following.
1.
First
agree the Bible is God’s Word
2.
Establish the belief that the Watch Tower Organization is the
sole instrument on the Earth through which someone can
understand the Bible.
3.
Review the Test of a prophet and ask the question is what the
Bible says about God, “True”?
4.
Establish the logical conclusion, since the Watch Tower Claims
to be God’s Prophet, then they are subject to the “Test of a
Prophet”. Follow this up with the following line of
questioning.
Has “God’s Prophet”, the Watch Tower Bible and Track
Society, been wrong when in Prophesying about God? This forces
the a decision to be made.
False Prophecies of the Jehovah Witnesses
Testimony of a 3rd Generation Jehovah
Witnesses Paul and Pat Blizard
Christian and Jehovah Witnesses Dialogue:
John Christian
is sitting at his kitchen table reading his Bible on a Saturday
morning when he hears a knock on the door. John answers the
door to find a nicely dressed couple, Charles and Melissa
Witness, carrying two bibles and having friendly smiles.
John Christian=JC, Charles Witness= CW, Melissa Witness=MW
JC: Hello how can I help you?
CW:
Hello we are Jehovah’s Witnesses and were talking to our
neighbors about where to find practical help to cope with
problems of life. In the past, many people consulted the
Bible. But we live in a time when attitudes are changing. How
do you feel about it? Do you believe that the Bible is God’s
Word or do you feel that it is just a good book written by
men?...If it from God, how do you think a person can be sure of
that?
JC:
Well that’s great my name is John and I was just reading my
Bible, and exploring its meanings myself.
CW:
John, So do you feel it’s a book written by men or from God?
JC:
I feel it’s a book written by God, but there is a lot to
understand.
CW:
Well maybe its no accident we knocked on your door today. Do you
have time to talk about it?
JC:
Sure, what are your names? Would you like some coffee or water?
CW:
I am Charles Witness and this is my wife Melissa, we have a
daughter she is at Grandma today, thanks for having us in today.
It’s great you are reading the Bible.
MW:
Hi, nice to meet you.
JC:
Just like you I love to talk about the Bible, its changed my
life, so how long have you been JW’s if you don’t mind me
asking?
CW:
We have been JW’s for 10 years, we are from a Catholic
background and our lives were empty and meaningless till we met
and studied with some Jehovah’s Witnesses. After doing a
thorough study we joined the local Kingdom Hall, the Kingdom
Hall is like our church, and we just want to share Jehovah’s
love with all our neighbors.
Transition to the Bible
(One tactic the JW will use is to attack items that are part
of the periphery of Christianity such as the name of
“Resurrection Sunday” known as Easter, Christmas, Christmas
Trees, Birthdays, etc..
This puts most Christians on the defensive. The argument
will then switch to subjects like the Trinity, Hell, and what
happens after death, further putting the Christian on the
defense, especially if he/she is not prepared to address these
issues) The Christian should try to move the conversation
toward the real issue…Is the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
God’s representative or a false Prophet.
JC:
Charles and Melissa that great that you are searching for God, I
can you are both very sincere, but how do you know, what you
believe is true?
CW:
Well for one John Jehovah’s Witnesses believe and trust the
Bible and not traditions. The Bible tells us to go out and
spread the Gospel. What other Church is going into
neighborhoods and telling people about the love of Jehovah God.
Secondly, Much of Christianity celebrates Pagan events like
Easter and Christmas, most people don’t know that Easter is
actually named after “Isthar” a Pagan goddess and Christmas is
not Jesus’ birthday but was a pagan Roman holiday, celebrated on
December 25th before Christmas.
John I hope I didn’t offend you, but you asked why I believe
JW’s are true. I have a hard time believing that God would
sanction Pagan celebrations, if these churches really part of
Jehovah’s Kingdom.
JC: Charles and Melissa I can understand your concerns, I have studied name
Easter, and there is defiantly a pagan element to the name
Easter and the use of Eggs, bunny rabbits and white dresses
associated with Easter. But in reality Easter is bad choice in
a name by the early Missionaries wishing to convert the Pagan’s
to Christianity. The real meaning of Easter is the Passover
lamb provided by God, Jesus Christ who died for our sins. And
those other elements are non-biblical and take away from the
true meaning. So I agree with you about some of what you are
saying.
As far as Christmas, Christmas is just a day set aside to
celebrate the birth of Christ. And if some choose to not
celebrate it because of the days Pagan origins that’s fine, We
celebrate Christ birth on that day, but I understand what you
are saying.
CW: John those are not the only issues, The Trinity is not in the Bible, and
worship of Mary are other issues that really showed us how far
Churches have gone from the truth of Jehovah Word.
Transition to the Test of a Prophet
(The goal is to get away from doctrinal and verse by verse
debate which will result in little fruit because of JW
indoctrination, but to challenge the
Watch
Tower Organization’s prophet status)
JC: Can I ask you guys a question? Do you believe the Bible is God’s Word?
His inspired Word?
MW:
Yes we do, We believe the Bible is inspired from God.
JC: Have you heard of the “Test of a Prophet”
(Most JW’s are not aware of the test of a prophet, though
they might like to sound like they are aware)
CW: John there are several Test of a Prophet, which one are you talking
about John.
JC: The one I am talking about is in Deuteronomy 18:20-22, can we turn
there?
CW: Sure
JC: Charles can you read the passage?
(JC is taking control of the meeting and directing the
conversation at this point)
CW:
20However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I
have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of
other gods, that prophet must die. 21And in case you should say
in your heart; “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not
spoken?” 22 When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and
the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that
Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke
it. You must not get frightened at him.”
Deut
18:20-22
JC: Charles, does Jehovah God have prophets or a prophet today on Earth?
(JW’s own materials declare they are God’s prophet, so CW
cannot respond no, he is forced to admit to the prophethood of
the
Watch Tower Organization) See supporting materials.
CW:
Great question John, the
Watch Tower is
like a prophet declaring Jehovah’s will for mankind.
JC: Charles, looking back at the Test of a Prophet, we see God’s prophet
must have 100% accuracy, if they don’t, God inspired word tells
us we are not to be frightened, in fact we are told that the
“False prophet” must die. Charles I have studied the Watch
Tower Bible and Tract society and they have made numerous false
prophecies. In fact I have a list right here. Can we discuss
this issue?
CW: We have to admit our Organization has made mistakes in the past, but we
are getting away from date setting from now on.
JC: Charles, God’s word requires 100% accuracy, meaning one false prophecy
disqualifies the whole
Watch
Tower
organization, but there are literally hundreds of false
prophecies.
The Choice is made (At this point Charles and Melissa must
make a choice, do they stay and deal with the Truth of their
organization, or do they leave because the cost is too great)
CW: John we can see you have made up your mind so don’t really want to
bother you anymore. Thanks for having us over.
MW: Bye, nice meeting you.
Are the Jehovah Witnesses God’s Prophet on Earth?
The
Watch
Tower’s
definition of a False Prophet:
Individuals and organizations proclaiming messages that they
attribute to superhuman source but that do not originate with
the true God and are not in harmony with his revealed will.
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THE WATCHTOWER'S CLAIMS ON BEING A PROPHET OF GOD
"Here, then, since 1914, and particularly
since the year 1919, after World War I had ended, we
should look for the modern-day counterpart of the
prophet Ezekiel. Who is Ezekiel's present-day
counterpart, whose message and conduct correspond with
that of that ancient prophet of Jehovah? Of whom today
was he a 'sign' or 'portent'? Not of some individual
man, but of a group of people. Being made up of a
unified company of persons, the modern Ezekiel is a
composite personage, made up of many members, just the
same as the human body is...So it is with the modern-day
counterpart of Ezekiel: it is, not one person's
body, but a composite body, made up of many members. All
the members were together to do the will of Jehovah, who
is the Creator of this modern 'Ezekiel.' Who, then, are
the group of persons who, toward the beginning of this
'time of the end,' were commissioned to serve as the
mouthpiece and active agent of Jehovah? In order to
determine this, check the history of 1919, the first
postwar year after the first world war."
The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah, 1971
ed., p. 70-71
"At the time, they might not view or
appreciate him as a prophet of Jehovah. But whether they
heard him as such or refrained from hearing and paying
attention to him, the occasion was to come when these
rebellious people would 'know also that a prophet
himself happened to be in the midst of them.' Jehovah
would confirm him as a prophet before them by causing
what Ezekiel prophesied to come true...Likewise it
was a trying mission upon which the modern Ezekiel class
was sent, to religious people of the same type as those
in Ezekiel's day. But regardless of how Christendom
views or regards this group of anointed witnesses of
Jehovah, the time must come, and that shortly, when
those making up Christendom will know that really a
'prophet' of Jehovah was among them...Since the year
1919 C.E. the anointed remnant of Jehovah's witnesses
have found it to be just like that as they have spoken
fearlessly the word of Jehovah in the midst of
Christendom."
The Watchtower,
March 15, 1972,
pages 186/187/189
"THERE is a real need today for someone to
speak as a true representative of God. Why? Because
things are taking place that people do not
understandthings that greatly affect their daily
activities, yes, their very lives. The churches do not
have a satisfactory explanation. But God does have.
Is there someone who can bring the truth of God's Word
to the people, letting them know what is ahead and what
they can do for safety and survival?"(page 186)
"Ezekiel was thereby commissioned. Note that
he did not raise himself up to be a prophet. This
difficult mission was not one an individual was likely
to choose for himself. The fact that Jehovah appeared to
him in a remarkable vision (and later in the vision
revealed things to him that could not otherwise have
been known by Ezekiel), also that Jehovah commissioned
him direct …. these things prove that what Ezekiel said
and wrote in his prophecy was inspired by Jehovah. He
was in an outstanding way made a witness of Jehovah God.
His being a witness of Jehovah is emphasized by his
unusually frequent use of God's personal name."(page
187)
"Therefore, when it came time for the name of
Jehovah and his purposes to be declared to the people,
along with God's warning that Christendom is in her
"time of the end," who qualified to be commissioned? Who
was willing to undertake this monumental task as
Jehovah's "servant"? Was there anyone to whom Jehovah's
heavenly "chariot" could roll up and whom it could
confront? More accurately, was there any group on whom
Jehovah would be willing to bestow the commission to
speak as a "prophet" in His name, as was done toward
Ezekiel back there in 613 B.C.E.?"(page 189)
"It is of importance to every individual on
earth to identify the group that Jehovah has
commissioned as his "servant" or messenger. We must
recognize and understand the warning that he brings. We
need to take action on the warning to safeguard our
lives, for they are in a danger as grave as that of the
lives of
Jerusalem's citizens as that city neared destruction.
For this reason forthcoming issues of The Watchtower
will further discuss the identity and work of Jehovah's
commissioned messenger as revealed in His vision to
Ezekiel."(page 189)
The Watchtower,
April 1, 1972,
p. 197/200
"So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them,
to warn them of dangers and to declare things to
come?...These questions can be answered in the
affirmative. Who is this prophet?...This 'prophet' was
not one man, but was a body of men and women.
It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus
Christ, known at that time as International Bible
Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian
witnesses...Of course, it is easy to say that this group
acts as a 'prophet' of God. It is another thing to prove
it. The only way that this can be done is to review the
record. What does it show?"(page 197)
"The scroll was doubtless delivered to Ezekiel
by the hand of one of the cherubs in the vision. This
would indicate that Jehovah's witnesses today make their
declaration of the good news of the Kingdom under
angelic direction and support. (Rev. 14:6, 7; Matt.
25:31, 32) And since no word or work of Jehovah can
fail, for he is God Almighty, the nations will see the
fulfillment of what these witnesses say as directed from
heaven."(page 200)
The Watchtower,
July 1, 1973,
p. 402
"Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah's
organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by
God's holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this
organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his
praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not
a sealed book. Many persons of the world are very
intelligent, capable of understanding complex matters.
They can read the Holy Scriptures, but they cannot
understand their deep meaning. Yet God's people can
comprehend such spiritual things. Why? Not because of
special intelligence on their part, but as the apostle
Paul declared: "For it is to us God has revealed them
through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all
things, even the deep things of God." (1 Cor. 2:10)
Jesus Christ praised his heavenly Father for 'hiding
such things from the wise and intellectual ones but
revealing them to babes.' (Matt. 11:25) How very much
true Christians appreciate associating with the only
organization on earth that understands the 'deep things
of God!'"
The Watchtower 1974, June 15, page 381
"Similarly the "false prophet" is not a
person, but is a system or an organization. A "prophet"
claims to have inspired information for the direction of
others."
Good News--To Make You Happy 1976, page 14
"It was because they did not write of their
own impulse, but were inspired by God. What is here
meant by the word "inspired"? It means that God, the
Creator of heaven and earth, moved these men by his
spirit or invisible empowering force, putting into their
minds what they should write down as his "word", or
message, for mankind."
Clearly from the above quotes from Watchtower
material it is very obvious that the Watchtower claims
to be God's only channel for truth and God's voice here
on earth. The Watchtower is a modern day Ezekiel and
all those of Christendom will know that there is a
'prophet' of God on earth, and that prophet is not one
person, but many persons which is the Jehovah's
Witnesses Organization! They claim to have have divine
angelic inspiration from heaven, and to speak in
Jehovah's name. The Watchtower claimed to be God's
inspired prophet here on earth, to speak just like
Ezekiel did, and the Watchtower even said to investigate
the record to see for yourself! There is no doubt that
the Watchtower has claimed to be a prophet of God
speaking forth in His name. |
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Answering Jehovah’s Witnesses Positions
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Answering Jehovah’s Witnesses |
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The
Return of Christ |
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JW
Position
JW
believe that when Jesus comes, no eye will see Him.
They believe he has already come in 1914.
2.
“Some wrongfully expect a literal fulfillment of the
symbolic statements of the Bible. Such hope to see
the glorified Jesus coming seated on a white cloud
where every human eye will see him. … Since no
earthly men have ever seen the Father … neither will
they see the glorified Son” (LGBT, 186).
3.
“It does not mean that he [Christ] is on the way or
has promised to come, but that he has already
arrived and is here” (LGBT, 198).
Christian Position
Their position is un-biblical and conflicts with
both Old and New Testaments and Jesus Himself, who
tells us every eye will see Him when he returns.
1.
Matthew 24:30-31
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30 |
"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear
in heaven, and then all the tribes of the
earth will mourn, and they will see the
Son of Man coming on the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory. |
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31 |
"And He will send His angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they will gather
together His elect from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other.
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2.
Acts 1:9-11
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9 |
Now when He had spoken these things, while
they watched, He was taken up, and a
cloud received Him out of their sight. |
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10 |
And while they looked steadfastly toward
heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel, |
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11 |
who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you
stand gazing up into heaven? This same
Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will so come in like manner as
you saw Him go into heaven." |
3.
Zechariah 12:10
"And I will pour on the house of David and on
the inhabitants of
Jerusalem
the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they
will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they
will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son,
and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
4.
Revelation 1:7
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7 |
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and
every eye will see Him, even they who
pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth
will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. |
5.
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The
Deity of Christ |
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The JW Position
1.
“The true Scriptures speak of God’s Son, the Word,
as ‘a god.’ He is a ‘mighty god,’ but not the
Almighty God, who is Jehovah” (The Truth Shall
Make You Free, Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society, 1943, 47).
2.
“In other words, he was the first and direct
creation of Jehovah God” (The Kingdom Is at Hand,
Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1944,
46–47, 49).
Christian Response:
The
deity of Christ is clear in both the Old and New
Testaments, both directly and indirectly.
1.
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the
government will be upon His shoulder. And His name
will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Here Jesus is called Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
both terms which would be blasphemous if the Messiah
were not God.
2. Zechariah 12:10
"And I will pour on the house of David and on
the inhabitants of
Jerusalem
the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they
will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they
will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son,
and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
When Zechariah is read in context clearly God
is speaking throughout the whole chapter, then in
the 10th verse Jehovah God identifies
Himself as the “Me whom they pierced”. This verse
is quoted several times in the New Testament and
identified as Jesus, the “Suffering Messiah”, See
Revelation 1:7, John 19:34,37.
3. Hebrews 1:5-14
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5 |
For to which of the angels did He ever say:
"You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"?
And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And
He shall be to Me a Son"? |
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6 |
But when He again brings the firstborn into
the world, He says: "Let all the angels
of God worship Him." |
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7 |
And of the angels He says: "Who makes His
angels spirits And His ministers a flame of
fire." |
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8 |
But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O
God, is forever and ever; A scepter of
righteousness is the scepter of Your
Kingdom. |
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You have loved righteousness and hated
lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God,
has anointed You With the oil of gladness
more than Your companions." |
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10 |
And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid
the foundation of the earth, And the heavens
are the work of Your hands. |
In
the first chapter of Hebrews we clearly told the Son
is not an angel, but God Himself. This is verified
in several points in these verses.
a. The angels are commanded to worship the “Son” when the
Son is brought into the world.
b. The Father calls the Son “God” and tells Him, His
throne is forever.
c. The Father also calls the Son, Lord (Kurios), meaning
possessor of all things by Father.
dddd
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The
Trinity |
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JW
Position
1.
“The doctrine, in brief, is that there are three
gods in one: ‘God the Father, God the Son, and God
the Holy Ghost,’ all three equal in power,
substance, and eternity” (Let God Be True,
Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1946
ed., 100).
Christian Position
The
Christians do not believe in three Gods in one. We
believe God has revealed Himself in three persons,
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The
deity of the Son and the Father covered above but
the unity of the Three is clearly revealed in
scripture.
1.
John 14:9-12
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Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so
long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?
He who has seen Me has seen the Father;
so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? |
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10 |
"Do you not believe that I am in the
Father, and the Father in Me? The words
that I speak to you I do not speak on My own
authority; but the Father who dwells in Me
does the works. |
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"Believe Me that I am in the Father and
the Father in Me, or else believe Me for
the sake of the works themselves. |
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"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who
believes in Me, the works that I do he will
do also; and greater works than these he
will do, because I go to My Father.
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2.
John 16:8-13
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"And when He has come, He will convict
the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment: |
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"of sin, because they do not believe in Me; |
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"of righteousness, because I go to My Father
and you see Me no more; |
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"of judgment, because the ruler of this
world is judged. |
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"I still have many things to say to you, but
you cannot bear them now. |
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"However, when He, the Spirit of truth,
has come, He will guide you into all truth;
for He will not speak on His own
authority, but whatever He hears He will
speak; and He will tell you things to
come. |
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3.
Matthew 3:16-17
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16 |
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up
immediately from the water; and behold, the
heavens were opened to Him, and He saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and alighting upon Him. |
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17 |
And suddenly a voice came from heaven,
saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased."
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4.
Acts 5:3
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3 |
But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan
filled your heart to lie to the Holy
Spirit and keep back part of the price
of the land for yourself? Acts 5:3 |
5. I
Corinthians 6:19
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19 |
Or do you not know that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God, and you are not your
own? |
6.
Ephesians 4:30
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30 |
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. |
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Hell |
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JW
Position
The
JW believe that Hell is just the grave, that it is
not a place of punishement. They believe that when
people die they cease to exist, after they die only
to be re-created at the resurrection.
“Who is responsible for this God-defaming doctrine
of a hell of torment? The promulgator of it is Satan
himself. His purpose in introducing it has been to
frighten the people away from studying the Bible and
to make them hate God” (LGBT, 98).
Christian Response
The
JW position is an un-biblical contradicted by Jesus
Himself, and throughout the New Testament.
1.
Luke 16:19-35 Lazarus and the Rich Man, Jesus
describes a scene before and after death or two
different individuals and their contrasting fate.
The Rich man after his death goes to torment in
Hades, (Hell) while the Lazarus goes to place where
Abraham dwells (Abraham’s bosom,
Paradise). Both men clearly died on the physical earth and their lives
continued after their death.
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19 |
"There was a certain rich man who was clothed
in purple and fine linen and fared
sumptuously every day. |
|
20 |
"But there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his
gate, |
|
21 |
"desiring to be fed with the crumbs which
fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the
dogs came and licked his sores. |
|
22 |
"So it was that the beggar died, and
was carried by the angels to Abraham's
bosom. The rich man also died and was
buried. |
|
23 |
"And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up
his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and
Lazarus in his bosom. |
|
24 |
"Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham,
have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he
may dip the tip of his finger in water and
cool my tongue; for I am tormented in
this flame.' |
|
25 |
"But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in
your lifetime you received your good things,
and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now
he is comforted and you are tormented. |
|
26 |
'And besides all this, between us and you
there is a great gulf fixed, so that those
who want to pass from here to you cannot,
nor can those from there pass to us.' |
|
27 |
"Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father,
that you would send him to my father's
house, |
|
28 |
'for I have five brothers, that he may
testify to them, lest they also come to this
place of torment.' |
|
29 |
"Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and
the prophets; let them hear them.' |
|
30 |
"And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if
one goes to them from the dead, they
will repent.' |
|
31 |
"But he said to him, 'If they do not hear
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded though one rise from the dead.' "
Luke 16:19-35
If there was not Life after death Jesus was
clearly lying and misleading his listeners
with this event of the death of Lazarus and
the Rich man. Jesus clearly teaches Hades
(Hell) being a place of torment for those
who do not know God as demonstrated by
Abraham’s instruction for the brothers of
the Rich man, to listen to Moses and the
prophets.
2. Revelation 14:9-11 In Revelation the
world is warned by an Angel to not submit to
the coming, Antichrist who will demand
worship and allegence by the inhabitants of
the earth receiveing a mark in their hand or
foreheads. Here the angel warns that those
who receive the mark will receive eternal
punishment.
|
9 |
Then a third angel followed them,
saying with a loud voice, "If anyone
worships the beast and his image,
and receives his mark on his
forehead or on his hand, |
|
10 |
"he himself shall also drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out full strength into the
cup of His indignation. He shall
be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels and in the presence of
the Lamb. |
|
11 |
"And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever; and
they have no rest day or night,
who worship the beast and his image,
and whoever receives the mark of his
name." Revelation 14:19-11
The eternal aspect as well as the
consciousness of their existence is
demonstrated by several points.
·
He shall be tormented, meaning
the person will still exist and feel
pain for their actions even after
death.
·
The person will have no rest,
night or day…they will be in a state
of soul sleep, they will exist after
death
|
|
|
|
144,000 |
|
JW
Position
The
JW believe the
Kingdom of
Heaven
is limited to 144,000 individuals, all these
individuals were called before 1935, after 1935 the
Kingdom of Heaven was closed. Of the JW’s who were
part of this original group only about 8000 are
still alive. Those JW’s living today are considered
part of the “Great Crowd” who will occupy paradise
earth.
1.
“Who and how many are able to enter it [the
Kingdom]? The Revelation limits to 144,000 the
number that become a part of the Kingdom and stand
on heavenly
Mount Zion”(Let
God Be True, 136).
Christian Response
The
144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7:3-8 and Revelation
14:1-5 do not fit the Jehovah Witness, who claim to
be the remnant of this group chosen to be part of
the
Kingdom of
Heaven.
·
144,000 are Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel
Revelation 7:4
·
144,000 are virgin males Revelation 14:4
·
144,000 have no deceit in their mouths.
144,000 of the
Watch
Tower
include both males and females, many who have had
children (They are not virgins),
and
some who have had deceit in their mouths. And most
who are not slightly Jewish.
|
|
After Death |
|
JW
Position
JW
believe after death the person no longer exists but
will be re-created at the resurrection if they are
worthy.
“At
death man’s spirit, his life-force, which is
sustained by breathing, ‘goes out.’ It no longer
exists. … When they are dead, both humans and
animals are in this same state of complete
unconsciousness. … That the soul lives on after
death is a lie started by the Devil” (You Can
Live, 77).
Christian Positon
The
JW position is an unbiblical position, as
demonstrated throughout the Bible. The life of
Lazarus and the Rich man clearly show that
immediately after death, the Spirit/Soul of the
individual goes to Hades (Hell) or
Paradise.
After the death of Christ the Christian goes into
Heaven to await the resurrection. The Christian in
Heaven is fully conscious of his existence after
death and in Heaven.
1.
Philippians 1:21-24
|
21 |
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die
is gain. |
|
22 |
But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean
fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose
I cannot tell. |
|
23 |
For I am hard pressed between the two,
having a desire to depart and be with Christ,
which is far better. |
|
24 |
Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more
needful for you. Philippians 1:21-24
Paul commenting on his death, says for him
death is gain, if Paul were to die and cease
to exist how would it be gain? Paul
clarifies his statement that his death means
to depart and be with Christ, not to cease
existing.
|
2.
Revelation 6:9-11
|
9 |
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under
the altar the souls of those who had been
slain for the word of God and for the
testimony which they held. |
|
10 |
And they cried
with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O
Lord, holy and true, until You judge and
avenge our blood on those who dwell on the
earth?" |
|
11 |
Then a white robe was given to each of them;
and it was said to them that they should
rest a little while longer, until both the
number of their fellow servants and their
brethren, who would be killed as they
were, was completed. Revelation 6:9-11
In the Revelation we see souls who were
killed dwelling under the Altar, in Heaven.
They are aware of how they were killed and
the circumstances of their death. This is
hardly soul sleep or non-existence. |
3.
Revelation 15:1-3
|
1 |
Then I saw another sign in heaven,
great and marvelous: seven angels having the
seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of
God is complete. |
|
2 |
And I saw something like a sea of glass
mingled with fire, and those who have the
victory over the beast, over his image
and over his mark and over the number of his
name, standing on the sea of glass,
having harps of God.
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of
God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord
God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O
King of the saints! Revelation 15:1-3
Here again we see people killed because they
refuse to submit to the Antichrist. Their
death is seen as victory over the Antichrist
and his system. The dead in this chapter
are alive and in Heaven singing a song by
the “Sea of glass in Heaven”. |
4.
John 14: 1-4
|
1 |
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe
in God, believe also in Me. |
|
2 |
"In My Father's house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you. |
|
3 |
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be
also. |
|
4 |
"And where I go you know, and the way you
know."
Jesus was talking to all believers here, He
was going to prepare a place in his Father’s
House, that we (who believe) may be where He
is, in Heaven. |
|
|
The
New World Bible Translation |
|
JW
Position
In
the New World Translation, in the New Testament we
read the word “Jehovah” as the name of God. The
word is not found in the Greek manuscripts, instead
the Greek word for Lord or Kurious is used in the
Greek Manuscripts. The adding of a Hebrew word is a
mistranslation.
Christian Position
The
Bible warns against adding anything to the text. The
NWT has added Hebrew words that are not found in the
original Greek, ignoring this warning.
|
18 |
For I testify to everyone who hears the words
of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds
to these things, God will add to him the
plagues that are written in this book; |
|
19 |
and if anyone takes away from the words of
the book of this prophecy, God shall take
away his part from the Book of Life, from
the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book. |
Revelation 22:18-19
|
|
