Christians are commanded in God’s word to speak out against false teachers, those who bring in damnable heresies (2 Peter 2:1), these are erroneous false teachers who make shipwreck of the faith (1 Timothy 1:19). Walking around in different cities it’s highly probable that you’ve come across Jehovah Witnesses either on the sidewalk standing next to a book cart of Watchtower/Awake magazines, or perhaps they’ve knocked on your door.

Christians sometimes avoid engaging with JW’s because it’ll end up in an endless debate, but the truth is if we love them and don’t want any to perish then we should be willing to share the gospel with them. Now I’ll just say that before speaking to JW’s you’ll need to know your scriptures to avoid false doctrine they will use. Any Christian should be more concerned with reading the scriptures first and having a firm foundation, becoming comfortable with witnessing with people one on one before engaging cults such as JW’s.

WHAT IS A CULT?
First, we need to understand what’s a cult. Cults run on 3 things fear, families and financials, they also tend to start with 2 founders, in this case, Charles Taze Russell and Joseph Franklin Rutherford. But the most obvious mark of a cult is a deviation from God’s word. This will be a series of false doctrine the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society teaches it’s members.

THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
The Watchtower organization has a group of about 8-12 men called the “governing body”, these men control the entire organization and force Jehovah Witnesses to believe whatever these men say. They rule with an iron fist and if any member dares to question their authority that person is “disfellowshipped” kicked out of the organization and shunned by the organization, family and friends who are also Jehovah Witnesses. One of the false teachings of the Watchtower is they don’t believe the Lord Jesus Christ is God.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses go door to door, distributing Watchtower and Awake magazines, deny the Trinity/Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), the deity of Christ, deny his death on the cross and his physical resurrection.

JW’s believe that the Lord Jesus is Michael the archangel, they say that He’s a created being and that He (the Lord Jesus) didn’t die on a cross but a torture stake. Nowhere in the Bible does it say such things! Just to clarify Jehovah Witnesses have a twisted version of the “bible” if you can call it that. The Watchtower organization created their own bible (NWT) to conform to the doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses by adding words or removing verses. I would ask any Jehovah Witness to show 1 scripture proving the Lord Jesus Christ as being Michael the archangel.

The Watchtower Society must have been utterly embarrassed when the names of the translators of the New World translation were made known to the public. The reason for concern was the translation committee was completely unqualified for the task. Four of the five men in the committee had no Hebrew or Greek training whatsoever (they had only a high school education). The Fifth, Fred W. Franz, claimed to know Hebrew and Greek, but upon examination under oath in a court of law in Edinburg Scotland, he failed a simple Hebrew test. — biblicalworldviewacademy.org

Since we are concerned with the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ as we search the scriptures what does the Bible really teach?

JW’s: “Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel.”

Daniel 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

Notice Michael the archangel is one of the chief princes, therefore there are others like him, therefore, Michael is not unique.

Jude 1:9 “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

Note Michael didn’t dare bring a railing accusation against Satan because Michael knows it’s not his place to do so, but the Lord Jesus did rebuke Satan during the temptation in the wilderness.

Matthew 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Luke 4:8 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

He (The Lord Jesus) rebuked satan again when Peter tried stopping Him from going to the cross to be a ransom sacrifice.

Matthew 16:23 “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Now let’s prove out of the Bible that the Lord Jesus Christ is God. Please pay close attention as always when reading scripture we must read it in context making sure we get the correct meaning and not trying to interpret it differently than the Spirit of God shows forth.

JESUS IS GOD
Revelation Chapter 1:1–8 

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Note verse 1 reads “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” the Lord Jesus is revealing a great truth (which will come to pass) unto His servants through His angel.

Verse 2 states “and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”. How wonderful not only is He revealing to us a great truth but it’s a testimony of the Lord Jesus of all things He saw.

Verse 3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy”. Those who read and hear these words are blessed.

Verse 4 “from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;”. Notice who is it that is, was and which is to come? Who’s coming back? The Lord Jesus Christ is!

Verse 5 these words are very important “and the first begotten of the dead” who is begotten from the dead, or to be more clear who came back from the dead first? The Lord Jesus Christ came back from the dead, or more accurately He was resurrected from the dead 3 days after His crucifixion.

Verse 6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father”. The Lord Jesus Christ is our high priest after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 5:10).

Verse 7 is obviously speaking of the Lord Jesus there’s no mistaking that, He that’s coming in the clouds of heaven with great power and glory!

Verse 8 here it is the Lord Jesus calls Himself Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the ALMIGHTY. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Note: a name for God is Almighty no one can deny this fact.

Let’s look further into the scriptures to see more evidence for the Lord Jesus being called God.

Revelation Chapter 22:12–16 

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Reading this portion of scripture we see that the person it’s speaking of is coming back “I come quickly”, calls Himself “Alpha and Omega” and identifies Himself in verse 16 “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you”.

And lastly let us go back to the first chapter for more clarification. We know that God calls Himself the first and the last, reading chapter 1 again we’ll find more evidence.

Revelation Chapter 1:17–18 

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

PROOF FROM THE BOOKS OF 1 TIMOTHY & HEBREWS
1 Timothy Chapter 1:15–17 

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Hebrews Chapter 1:5–8 

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

This is only one of many scriptures which proves the Lord Jesus Christ is God, the eternal Son of God and has always existed. This is in no way to attack Jehovah Witnesses no. This is written in love because as Christians we want them to have eternal life also, these people have been victims of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, JW’s pray on people who have no knowledge of the scriptures and indoctrinates unsuspecting people.

Unfortunately, I see it every day, we’ve spoken to JW’s and people who might have been given one of their Awake or Watchtower magazines and share the gospel with them. Of course, there are mixed reactions JW’s will shun you if they cannot contend/answer your questions will ignore you or even call the authorities (the very people they teach you should avoid). Most people they trick typically are appreciative when letting them know that you sincerely care and are just helping them not fall into a cult. The point is all Christians should be willing to share the gospel with all people.

TO JEHOVAH WITNESSES 

This is not an attack on you, this is to share the truth out of love. Toss away the New World Translation and read a real Bible, eternity is a long time to be wrong! If you’re a Jehovah’s Witness and want to learn more about what the Watchtower doesn’t want you to know you can visit jwfacts.com that is if you really want to know the truth.