The Islamic thought is that Islam will dominate the world, so it’s no surprise that Muslims are very zealous in spreading the teaching of Islam. We know of these individuals who want to give dawah in different ways, some engage in giving dawah through debates, blogs, news, fake reaction videos, street booths etc.
There’s a group called Dawahpedia Projects in Canada that will target nominal Christians[1] on the street corner and seek to convert them to Islam. It’s unfortunate because this nominal Christianity is what’s put forth in the public sphere, and sadly the world would think that’s Christianity. Wolves in sheep’s clothing have taken root preaching a false Gospel which has laid hold on helpless souls and we pray that the LORD of Host opens their eyes to the truth.
When they (Muslims) are faced with a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus who’s familiar with Islam’s deceptive tactics, these Muslims become flustered and do not know how to respond because they cannot control the conversation. Case in point wit the following comment from Dawahpedia Projects.
According to this Abdoool Dawahpedia, claims that Jesus is not the Word “OF” Allah, but the verse says Jesus is “His Word.” This Muslim is going against his own Qur’an. I want him to show anyone else called the “Word of Allah” or “His Word” etc. Any language similar to this of any one else besides Jesus.
Islam teaches that the word of Allah is eternal now this Abdoool has a choice he can either agree that Allah’s word is eternal, but he doesn’t want to admit that because that means Jesus would be eternal. The other option he has is to say Allah’s word is not eternal but created meaning the Qur’an is created and not eternal. Do you see the dilemma Muslims face when asked this question?
According to their own sources, the word of Allah is “Kalimatu minhu” (a Word from him) and wakalimatuhu (his Word) in referring to Jesus both have the same meaning saying Jesus came from Allah as his Word. This title is only given to Jesus, no other prophet bears the same title as Jesus including Muhammad.
Muslims try their best to downplay this unique title only given to Jesus, they will try to say that this refers to when Allah created Isa by saying “Be (kun fa-yakūnu) and it is.” The problem is that when you check out the word-for-word breakdown of the Arabic wakalimatuhu is a 3rd person masculine singular possessive pronoun, with special emphasis on the word possessive.
Possession would be in the genitive case translated “of” if we were studying the Greek New Testament in the Bible that would correlate to “the Son of God” indicating possession. We can confirm this when diving into how the word is used throughout the Qur’an by clicking on the link (wakalimatuhu) you’ll be directed to another page which displays every occurrence of the word.
Virgin birth -The Qur’an gives an account of the birth of Jesus in chapter 3. Mary is described as being a virgin, chosen by God, and considered with great honor. “Behold! the angels said: O Mary! Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary.” [Qur’an 3:45] . Verse 47 relates the response of and to Mary, “She said: O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me? He said: ‘Even so: Allah creates what He wills: When He has decreed a plan, He merely says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is!” The Qur’an thus affirms and Muslims believe that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. The birth is seen as a sign (ayah) of Allah’s power and as a miraculous event. And Muslims have a high regard also for Mary. However, the Qur’an presents Jesus as the son of Mary and not as the Son of God, a significant point particularly emphasized.
Like Adam (pbuh) -Though the unique birth of Jesus with one parent is no indication of divinity just as Adam’s creation was without any parentage [Qur’an 3:59] .
The above quote from Islamicity.org speaks of the Islamic teaching that Adam and Isa (Jesus) were created in the same manner. Comparing the 2 they claim since Jesus had a mother and no father that’s not proof of diety because Adam had no father or mother. The problem with this comparison is that mankind had a beginning, therefore, of course, Adam didn’t have parents. But this doesn’t make him the same as Jesus, as this still doesn’t change the fact that Jesus is called the Word of Allah and a Spirit from Allah while Adam is not.
Also, the concept that Allah says “Be and it is” is not true. Allah created Adam using his hands from mud (clay)[2] and then blew his spirit into him. Did Allah say “Be” before he used his hands to mould Adam or afterwards? If before then what’s the purpose of saying “Be” that’s like building a car and once you’re finished saying “Be” that makes no sense! You still used your hands to make the car the same as Allah made Adam.
If he said “Be” after moulding the clay with his hands makes no sense Allah still used mud and his hands to create Adam and THEN said “Be” after the fact? If we look into the account of how Isa (non-biblical Jesus) was created we see that he was not made with mud or clay, and Allah didn’t use his hands.
The creation of Isa involved Jibril blowing into Islamic Mary’s vagina found in the Surat l-anbiyāa (The Prophets). This is completely different from how Adam was created! The relevant verse is provided below, bear in mind the different translations and how they render the verse, keep in mind that words in the brackets [] are not found in the Arabic.
Look at some of the rediculous and deceptive ways Muslims translate the verse. Halali & Khan says “We breathed into (the sleeves of ) her (shirt or garment)” since when do babies come from the sleeves of woman? Pickthall says “We breathed into (something)” so Allah doesn’t know what that “something” is? Saheeh International translates it as “We breathed into [garment]” again is Allah saying babies come from clothing, the god of Islam is in the dry cleaning business?
The Arabic is clear it says Jibril breathed into Mary’s vagina (فَرْجَهَا, farjaha) and Muslims claim they hold Mary in the highest honour, put the word in Google Translate and you’ll get “her vagina.”
Here’s a screenshot of the Arabic in Google Translate, try it for yourself.
There’s no way around it when we look directly at the sources of Islam instead of taking what Muslims tell us at face value we see they are not telling the truth. And that’s how these Muslim missionaries like Dawahpedia lie to people to deceive them into a false religious sex cult.
Conclusion
What have we learnt today? Well that Jesus is called “the Word of Allah and a spirit from Allah” this is a possessive noun in the genitive case. No other person in the Qur’an has this title, it belongs solely to Jesus. Adam and Jesus were not created the same, Allah used his hands in creating Adam, and Jibril blew into the false Mary’s vagina making her pregnant with Isa (fake Jesus). And this can be confirmed by copying the Arabic text and translating it through Google Translate.
Remember here we do not hate Muslims, we love them and want them to come to Jesus Christ for eternal life. Jesus Christ said He’s the only way to the Father, in other words unless you believe in the real Jesus who’s the Son of God who died on the cross and rose from the dead on the 3rd day. Then you’ll cannot have eternal life. Make a choice Muslims what’s it going to be Muhammad and the Qur’an or Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible?
Footnotes
[1] What is nominal Christianity? Nominalism can be understood as possessing a name, title, or label that is ultimately meaningless due to its empty formality. Thus, a nominal Christian is simply a “Christian” in name only. Though they may attend church services or may believe some of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith, they lack a true relationship with Christ and have failed to surrender the entirety of their lives to Him as their Lord and Savior by way of genuine faith and repentance. The church of Sardis is a prime example of nominal Christianity. Revelation 3:1 states, “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write…’I know your works, that you have a name of being alive, but you are dead.’” Though many in the church of Sardis claimed Christianity and performed many of the common church functions, Jesus boldly declared that their name was baseless, and they were spiritually dead. Though it may seem harsh or unloving, Jesus had compassion on these nominal Christians and was wanting to make them aware of the reality of their spiritual condition before it was too late. Zach Bollman (2021, January 20). How and when to reference. Retrieved from https://www.fellowshipinchrist.org/nominal-christianity/
[2]15:26 Surely We created man of a clay of mudmoulded,
God is never referred to in the female tense then how are members from WMSCOG deceived into believing such a thing? Like all cults the WMSCOG twist scriptures to get their doctrines into the heads of many people who are lacking understanding of what the Bible teaches.
This quote makes the fallacy of equivocation mistake. The logic used is because humans experience the makings of a family which consist of children who are born from a father and mother, therefore, it makes sense that God the Father would need a “mother god” in order to create. It’s a carnal way of thinking, the WMSCOG creates a humanistic God. They’re trying to reduce the Eternal God of the Bible bringing Him down to our human standard. On the WMSCOG site under “god the mother” they cite a few scriptures stating these are proof of “god the mother” under the heading God the Mother Exists they cite Romans 1:19-20.
There’s no evidence proving any existence of “god the mother” in the above verses. The WMSCOG uses this to allude to their being a “god the mother” in saying it’s a “mystery”. The context of Romans 1:19-20 is speaking of unbelief and the consequences thereof. The unregenerate man looks at creation, he enjoys its sunsets, gazes at the stars, and realises the vastness of the sea. Then he begins to see himself in the true light and where does he fit in all of this? He contemplates how all of this came to be (Job 7:17; Job 15:14; Psalm 8:4; 144:3; Ecclesiastes 6:11; Hebrews 2:6)?
Romans 1:19-20 is telling us that mankind has no excuse when the time comes that we will stand before our Creator to give an account of all that we’ve done in this life. God has given us more than a sufficient amount of evidence for His existence. There will not be 1 Atheist who will appear before the Almighty God and claim that God didn’t reveal Himself to them, because the creation testify’s of the Creator (Psalm 19:1; 97:6).
Another verse they use to argue that the Bible teaches a “god the mother” is found in Genesis.
All Christians believe in the Godhead, we believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the one God spoken of in Deuteronomy 6:4. Nowhere in the Bible is “god the mother” spoken of, when Christ told the disciples “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” wouldn’t this have been a perfect time to mention “god the mother”?
Yet, the Lord Jesus never mentions anything about any female deity, in Genesis 1:26 Elohim which is the plural Hebrew word for “gods”, it’s also a generic term used for even false gods. In Exodus 32 when the people asked Aaron to “make us gods” the word there is also Elohim. God in His infinite wisdom knew that He was to be distinguished from other “gods” which are not gods at all but idols.
This is the reason Moses asked God saying “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” Moses knew that there were many “gods” the Bible speaks of Molech, Baal, Ashtoreth, Chemosh, the heathens often caused the children of Israel to worship false gods. God made sure we knew He alone is the True God telling Moses IAMTHATIAM (Exodus 3:14). The True God Yahweh wanted to be certain that He was recognisable as the true God among all the idols that littered the land.
If the WMSCOG cannot bring clear scriptures from the Bible to substantiate their claim, then we must reject this false idea of “god the mother” just because as humans we need a male and female to produce offspring. God is not subjected to the laws of creation, He doesn’t procreate which is a blasphemous thing to even insinuate by saying that since believers are children of God therefore there must be a Father and mother.
This is simply not true, we are children of God because the LORD has given us His Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:8). If you’ve found yourself part of WMSCOG I highly suggest that you leave and don’t come back, instead go to Jesus Christ for salvation. Jesus Christ is not God the Father, which is another erroneous teaching we will explore, He’s the Son of God who can save you from your sins. God bless.
Jehovah Witnesses claim “Jehovah God” refers to only the Father. They deny Jesus Christ is the “The Alpha and the Omega” in this article we will seek to identify if Christ is “The Alpha and the Omega” or not.
If we examine the context of the verses in Revelation we can come to a clear understanding who “The Alpha and the Omega” is. Reading the surrounding text is paramount in understanding a passage. Let’s focus on Revelation 1:8, I’ll include the text before and after highlighting the verse in focus.
v1 is speaking of this individual who’s (1) coming in the clouds, that’s the first point to keep in mind (2) every eye shall see Him, and (3) “and they [also] which pierced him:”
The question we have to ask are there other scriptures which speak of this individual coming in the clouds? We sure do let’s take a look.
On 4 separate occasions the Lord Jesus referred to Himself as the one coming in the clouds, the cloud rider which is a Yahweh reference.
Here we have 4 verses in-which the Lord Jesus says they will see the Son of man (Jesus Christ) coming in the clouds. Also it’s a well known fact Jesus Christ was pierced when He was on the cross.
Ok, so we’ve dealt with verse 7, let’s move onto verse 8. While reading from v7 to v8 there’s a continuous narrative, the one who’s coming in the clouds speaks and says “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.”
Here the speaker says (1) I am Alpha and Omega (2) the beginning and the ending says who? The Lord in the Greek it’s κύριος used not the Tetragrammaton which is where we get the name Jehovah from. (3) which is and which was and which is to come.
Let’s work backwards “which is and which was and which is to come” as we established Jesus Christ is the one coming not the Father. Also which is speaks to the deity of Christ, which was points to the death of Christ and which is to come of course is referring to when Christ second coming in the future. And lastly, the same speaker says He’s the Alpha and Omega.
v9 is without a doubt speaking of Jesus Christ not the Father. (1) I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, (2) the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, (3) for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John the apostle says he’s a companion or partaker in tribulation. Jesus Christ mentions that believers will have tribulation in this world.
Jesus Christ is called the King of kings and Lord of lords, the King of the kingdom is Christ; He’s the One who has established an everlasting kingdom sitting on the throne of David.
Jehovah Witnesses try to twist these verses to say that the Alpha and Omega is not Jesus Christ but “Jehovah.” JW’s always refer to the Father as “Jehovah” only therefore they try to diminish the deity of Christ. As it was just proven through methodically going through the verses we see plenty of proof that the Lord Jesus is the Alpha and Omega spoken of in Revelation.
If the Trinity were true, it should be clearly and consistently presented in the Bible. Why? Because, as the apostles affirmed, the Bible is God’s revelation of himself to mankind. And since we need to know God to worship him acceptably, the Bible should be clear in telling us just who he is.
Should You Believe in the Trinity? pg 5
The Watchtower Society claims the doctrine of the Trinity is not “clearly and consistently presented in the Bible.” Before we prove this statement to be untrue we have to understand how the Watchtower is structured. The governing body (8 men) are the ones who call all the shots, they’re responsible for disseminating Watchtower doctrine to its members.
The everyday Jehovah Witness in my personal view are people who are sincere, but in all their zeal they are sincerely mistaken. In fact they are kept in the cult by confusion and manipulation of the scriptures. On the other hand the governing body in my opinion are deceivers and are fully aware of what they are doing. For this reason when dealing with Jehovah Witnesses I try to view the every day Witness as someone who’s lost and deceived by a group of deceivers. Therefore, a little compassion goes a long way in dealing with the JW’s at the carts.
Why are the JW’s confused about the Trinity doctrine, well first and foremost is because they’ve failed in knowing who the Lord Jesus is; if you get Christ wrong then all your doctrine will be erroneous.
Let’s go through some scriptures which lays out the Trinity doctrine. And we will aim to make it consistently clear and present it for our Jehovah Witness friends.
Jesus Christ is the Creator of the heavens and the earth:
Notice the LORD created the heavens alone and spread abroad the earth by His self. Let’s move on, if God created everything then what do Jehovah Witnesses do with John 1:1-3, 10.
Is this a contradiction when God says He’s created all things alone? Well if you’re a Jehovah Witness it is because according to their theology Jesus is not God yet Jehovah used Jesus to create everything other than Himself.
Question if Jesus is a created creature as Watchtower teaches that would place Jesus in the created category with everything else besides God who is uncreated/eternal. But wait the scriptures especially Colossians 1:16 which says Jesus created all things. This means Jesus Christ can’t belong in the same category otherwise Christ would have to create Himself.
Watchtower takes Colossians 1:16 and instead of saying “all things” they altered the scripture to say “all other things” in order to fit with their own theology claiming Jesus is a created lesser god. Can you see how adding the word “other” completely changes the meaning of this text? these are just 1 of the sneaky tricks the Watchtower is known for.
This would make Jesus Christ God because He created the heavens and earth.
The Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit is God. We can determine the Holy Spirit is God in the following ways: (1) He’s called God. (2) He’s treated on an equal basis with God the Father and God the Son. (3) He has the attributes of God. (4) He does the work of God.
It certainly clear the Trinity can be seen in just these few verses and there are many more found in our Bible. This is a big dilemma for Jehovah Witnesses, and because this information is damaging to the Watchtower theology JW’s are instructed by the governing body not to research in order to keep them in the dark.
In the last two articles we’ve been examining the teachings of a small influential cult called the Christadelphians. The Christadelphians deny the personhood of the Holy Spirit and believe He’s not distinct from the Father. Let’s dive into this one and see if that’s what the Bible teaches? If you’ve missed the last post you can view it here: Christadelphians “Doctrines to be Rejected” 2
We reject the doctrine that the Holy Spirit is a person distinct from the Father.
Other non-Trinitarian cults agree with the Christadelphians on the personhood of the Holy Spirit, calling Him an “it” and would say the Holy Spirit is “God’s active force” sort of like an electrical current or invisible power.
In the word of God we can gather that the Holy Spirit possesses all the traits and attributes of Personhood, He has a will, a mind, He speaks; and feels just like you and I. If these are not the characteristics of a person then I’m not sure what is?
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter
The Lord Jesus told His disciples that He must go away, if not then the Holy Spirit wouldn’t come. The Holy Spirit was sent into the world by the Lord Jesus and the Father (John 14:16), just the same as Christ was sent into the world also by the Father (John 10:36, John 3:17, John 17:18). Only a person could be sent into the world, not a force or idea. In this article it’s my task to present to you the Personhood of the Holy Spirit.
The wonderful truth is we can only fellowship with a person, therefore, how important is it to the believer to recognise the Personhood of the Holy Spirit? There are no disagreements as to the Father and the Son (Jesus Christ) being distinct persons, so is the One who lives in believers is a person as well.
He possesses all components of personhood as you and I. Non-Christian cults such as the Christadelphians would refer to the Holy Spirit as an “it.” Confusion from text such as Romans 8:16 reads “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit” this can cause some to think the Holy Spirit is an “it” instead of a person.
This difficulty comes with the English translation. Do not be mistaken Christ refers to the Holy Spirit multiple times as being a “He.” In John chapters 14-16 the Holy Spirit is referenced as “He”, “Him.”
Note these 3 scriptures of many shows forth the characteristics of a person. The Lord Jesus says in John 14:17 the Holy Spirit is called “Him” and we can “know Him” but the world “cannot receive or see Him”, but believers can because “He” will dwell in us.
Christ continues in John 15:26 saying “when the Comforter is come” only a person can “come” only a person can “send” another person. And the verse says the Holy Spirit will “testify of me” that’s of Christ Jesus. Then in John 16:13“the Spirit of truth” is called “He” and will “guide” believers into all truth. He “speaks” and “hears” lastly He will show believers things to come. Look at all the personal pronouns just in 3 verses.
The Holy Spirit also possesses all the categories of personality that is intelligence,emotion and will. 3 more scriptures which come to mind in regards to these categories are:
Intelligence gives a person the ability to think, know and understand things. This is shown in the book of Romans chapter 8 in which apostle Paul explains to believers the Spirit has a mind of His own “the mind of the Spirit” (Romans 8:27). The verse before tells is the Spirit “maketh intercession” (Romans 8:26) for believers only a person who has consciousness can perform such an act.
Emotion is the capacity to feel whether those feelings are sadness, joy or anger; these are only displayed from a person. We find in the book of Ephesians the Holy Spirit can be grieved. The definition of “grieved” is (1)to cause to suffer distress (2) to feel or show grief over (3) to submit a formal grievance concerning. Believers are told “grieve not the Holy Spirit” or don’t cause distress to the Holy Spirit.
The biblical definition of grieve: λυπέωlypéō, loo-peh’-o; from G3077; to distress; reflexively or passively, to be sad:—cause grief, grieve, be in heaviness, (be) sorrow(-ful), be (make) sorry.
Outline of Biblical Usage I. to make sorrowful II. to affect with sadness, cause grief, to throw into sorrow III. to grieve, offend IV. to make one uneasy, cause him a scruple
How can an impersonal force be caused grief or sorrow? It can’t, it’s just not possible for electricity or wind to be grieved or have emotions. The Christadelphians like other cults that deny the Trinity fail to understand the Personhood of the Holy Spirit. We agree the Father and Son are persons but when it comes to the Holy Spirit they fail to see these scriptural truths.
Will is the ability to make choices, in the book of Acts we’re given insight as the Holy Spirit gave direction to Paul and Barnabas asking for them to separate which was accompanied with speech.
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
It’s simple to see the Holy Spirit possesses the same characteristics of personhood we do (intellegence, emotion, will), the Holy Spirit is called “He” and “Him” and is able to think, feel and make decisions. If this doesn’t constitute Personhood then what does? In our future article we’ll answer the question does man have an immortal soul.
This is the first article concerning the World Mission Society Church Of God. We’ve been warned time and time again by our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles to remain steadfast in the faith because many deceivers and false teachers would teach heretical doctrines.
It’s in our best interest to remain focused on Christ and by doing so we come to know our Lord more each day, as we study the scriptures we’ll not be in a dangerous position to be lured into any cult. Because we’ll be able to distinguish true teachings of the Bible from the false. We’re starting with a high level view of WMSCOG’s beliefs otherwise known as the “Mother god church”. I myself am learning what they teach so bare along with me.
Any group which claims exclusivity on “the truth” or makes any statement that you need to be part of their church in order to have salvation is a cult. According to the WMSCOG website it claims (1) “The church that Jesus established and the apostles attended is the Church of God” (2) “The Church of God, which we are attending today, is the only legitimate church that God has established to save human beings” (3) “Let us confirm that the Church of God is the true church that has inherited the truth.”
In this statement they claim Jesus established their church, it’s the only legitimate church established to save human beings and they alone are the true church. We can conclude WMSCOG is saying all other churches are not “legitimate.”
The issue is any group which comes along with a “new teaching” or “revelation” cannot be Christian. This is how cults start with some new teaching no one ever heard of. If this is true then why didn’t the Lord Jesus or any of the apostles preach about “mother god?” That’s because what WMSCOG teaches is not in the Bible, they take specific scriptures and pull them out of their context in order to deceive others in believing what the cult teaches.
The WMSCOG is reminiscent of the Jehovah Witnesses with a different twist. They’re both legalistic teaching their members they have to observe rule keeping, both have a distorted view of who Jesus Christ is. This group in particular claims a dead Korean man named Ahn Sahng hong is Jesus Christ and God the Father. Which highly blasphemous on many levels.
Nowhere in the Bible will you find “god the mother”, the scriptures the WMSCOG uses in order to get you to believe this are (Mt 6:9) and (Gal 4:26). Let’s look at those verses closely and see if “god the mother” is spoken of. By looking at the surrounding text we can get the context of what’s being said.
The Lord Jesus was asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray.
AhnSungHong the false Christ renounced Buddhism and was baptised in 1948, at the time he was attending the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Afterwards he was excommunicated in the year of 1962 from the Seventh-day Adventist over disputes he held against the cross. A few others left the SDA and followed Ahn and in 1964 he then established his own group called Witnesses of Jesus Church of God.
Some beliefs Ahn’s taught was baptism as the first step towards salvation. Everyone must adhere to keeping the Sabbath day, and not worship on Sundays. He also considered the cross to be idolatry. The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread should be kept. As well as other feasts found in Leviticus 23.
During the course of Ahn’s Witnesses of Jesus Church of God another member by the name of Um Sooin, created a division with a new teaching. She claimed through tying in different verses using eisegesis that she was “the only bride”, “the Heavenly Jerusalem”, “the New Jerusalem” on earth, “the comforter sent by God.”
This in turn caused Ahn to write a book refuting Um Sooin called Problems with the New Jerusalem, the Bride and Women’s Veils in which Ahn said:
Ahn Sahng-hong, Problems with the New Jerusalem, the Bride and Women’s Veils, 1980 & 1983
Even within this cult they cannot agree on doctrine, it shows the confusion within the World Mission Society Church of God. The Bible tells us that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) and if God is not the author of confusion then this means satan is the one working within this group.
Here’s another paragraph from the WMSCOG in which they claim to believe in the Bible and its entirety then say “come to God the Father and God the Mother.” The Bible never teaches anything about god the Mother, therefore, we can conclude the members do not believe the Bible but what they are told by their leaders what the Bible means.
All cults operate in this way they indoctrinate people in regards to certain teachings to the point when the individual tries to read the Bible for themselves they do so with a filter which was provided by the group in question in this case WMSCOG.
This is only meant to be an introductory insight into what this particular group believes, it’s our intention to dig deeper into the World Mission Society Church Of God doctrines in later issues. Thanks for reading, stay safe and God bless.
The Watchtower uses such terminology as ‘ransom sacrifice’ in reference to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Talking with Jehovah’s Witnesses or other cults can sometimes be a bit confusing. They will use similar vocabulary with different meanings.
Packaged in the words ‘ransom sacrifice’ the Jehovah Witnesses say Adam was created as a perfect man but because he sinned in the garden he lost the perfect life for all humans. Sounds straight forward right? They then say Jesus was Jehovah God’s ‘first created creature’ as Michael the archangel. Then ‘Jehovah transferred Jesus from heaven to earth, and Jesus was born as a perfect human, without sin’. Meanwhile Michael the archangel ceased to exist while Jesus was on the earth. When Jesus went back to heaven Jesus ceased to be and Michael the archangel was recreated in heaven.
The Watchtower would insinuate this by inserting their own meaning into the text. Just as a side note Jehovah Witnesses have their own manipulated bible called the New World Translation, this bible (using the term loosely) was created in order to fit their doctrine. It’s a false bible just so you’re aware. Back to the point is Jesus a created creature or God Himself? We’ll let the Bible answer this for us.
1. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus Christ created the worlds.
Groups such as the Watchtower place an emphasis on works by taking John 3:16 adding the word ‘exercises’ give the notion of working for salvation. If you visit the Watchtower’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures someone at the organization goofed. They didn’t realise their kingdom interlinear doesn’t agree with their New World Translation if you compare them.
You’ll also notice in the above quote that they claim Jesus ‘returned to heaven as a spirit creature’. In the book of Luke chapter 24 we have the account when Jesus Christ showed Himself to the disciples after His resurrection.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ appears to His disciples and they were afraid and thought Jesus was a spirit.
2. The Lord then corrects them showing His disciples He is not a spirit. How does He do this? By showing them His hands and feet which bore the prints of the nails proving it was the same body which hung on the cross. They also physically touch Him and Jesus said He has flesh and bones. A spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones.
It’s interesting that the Watchtower would claim Jesus Christ serves as ‘an advocate’ for those who ‘exercise faith’ in His sacrifice. While this sounds nice and it is true that Jesus is the advocate for all believers, that’s what the Bible teaches.
In Watchtower theology it’s just not that simple. You see they teach that Jesus is the mediator only for ‘anointed Christians’ who number 144,000. The Greek word for advocate is paráklētos
παράκλητος paráklētos, par-ak’-lay-tos; an intercessor, consoler:—advocate, comforter.
The Biblical usage for advocate is as follows. A. one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate. B. one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor. i. of Christ in his exaltation at God’s right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins C. in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant. ii. of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.
This is very similar to what a mediator does, here’s the Biblical definition for mediator.
μεσίτης mesítēs, mes-ee’-tace; from G3319; a go-between, i.e. (simply) an internunciator, or (by implication) a reconciler (intercessor):—mediator.
I. one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant. II. a medium of communication, arbitrator.
Both of these roles are fulfilled by Christ as our mediator and advocate. Unfortunately most Jehovah Witnesses are not part of the New Covenant according to Watchtower theology therefore this leaves them without a mediator / advocate. Here’s a few quotes from the Watchtower concerning this teaching.
Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2 p.362 Mediator
The society robs the Jehovah Witness of all the promises given by God because the general Jehovah’s Witness has no clue Jesus is not their mediator. And because they don’t have a the Lord Jesus as mediator being an advocate for them they don’t have salvation.
Lastly, the Jehovah Witnesses believe you must perform works in order to be in a ‘good standing’ when you see ‘exercise faith’ this is what it means. This means they believe by going good deeds they are proving to Jehovah they are worthy of being saved or savable. This teaching is contrary to what God’s word says.
There you go, the Watchtower teaches believing in Jesus Christ is not sufficient that ‘more is required’. They cite James 2:26 as a proof text but the Watchtower entirely misses the meaning of the verse. The apostle James is not contradicting Paul (Ephesians 2:8-10).
James is telling us that true faith produces genuine works but those works have no baring on our salvation. Works are the by product of real faith not a means of acquiring salvation.
Jehovah Witnesses must understand that we are not against them personally, our heart goes out to those who are trapped in the Watchtower and afraid to leave because they will lose their families, jobs, friends etc. We understand it’s giving up a lot. But the Lord Jesus said:
Your soul is on the line, our desire and more importantly God’s desire is that you come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. In doing so by trusting in Him for the forgiveness of your sins you can have the free gift of eternal life. You can know right now presently that you have eternal life.
God bless and hope you’ll trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation.
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Please note the Watchtower is claiming that during the second century A.D. the Church Jesus Christ established was “overrun by false Christians”. This is a blatant contradiction to the Lord Jesus words in which we read concerning this found in the gospel of Matthew.
What does our Lord mean when He says “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (the Church)”? It’s pretty simple to understand that Christ was saying nothing will be able to go against His Church.
κατισχύωkatischýō, kat-is-khoo’-o; from G2596 and G2480; to overpower:—prevail (against).
Yet the Watchtower is saying the Church was “overrun”? Who are we to believe the Watchtower or Jesus Christ? I’ll trust in the words of Christ. Watchtower goes on to say “From that time until the late 19th century, there was no organized group of God’s servants on earth”.
The early Watchtower came into existence in the 1800’s during that time other “restoration” movements began. If there were no true Christians until Charles Taze Russell founded the bible students which later became known as the Watchtower/Jehovah Witnesses under Joseph Franklin Rutherford then the Church Christ created died out according to this article. Who was God using before the Watchtower came to be?
Who was a Christian then between the ascension of Jesus Christ until Charles Taze Russell came? Do you see the significance of such a statement? The Watchtower is saying they alone are the only “true Christians” in the world. We see that in this next portion of the statement “From that time until the late 19th century, there was no organized group of God’s servants on earth”.
In essence they’re saying God had none who were “true Christians” and are calling Jesus Christ a lair because Christ said “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (the Church)”? The Watchtower says “false Christianity hid the identity of true Christians”. If you’ve ever spoken with a JW before you might hear them say “what other group do you know in the world is preaching from door to door”.
The mindset of a Jehovah’s Witness is no one is preaching, no one is fulfilling the great commission the Lord Jesus has commanded for us to fulfill found in the Gospel of Mark.
The Watchtower fails to see that Christian missionaries have been going to other countries preaching Christ for centuries. An easy search for Christian missionaries history will bring up a slew of information on this subject. Christian missionaries have preached all over the world including Ghana (David Livingstone), Guatemala, Japan etc.
Anyone who follows Jesus Christ is a true Christian, it’s quite amazing that the Watchtower denies so many biblical truths which Christianity has believed and taught throughout the centuries. The greatest truth being of Jesus Christ deity as God, yet Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be “true Christians”? How can one be called a Christian if they deny Christ?
The very word Christian bears the name of Christ, to be a Christian means you’re a follower of Jesus Christ and proclaim His name to a dying world. Have you noticed Jehovah Witnesses never pray in the name of Jesus Christ, they rarely mention His name.
ΧριστιανόςChristianós, khris-tee-an-os’; from G5547; a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ:—Christian.
The only name that comes forth from a Jehovah’s Witness is “Jehovah” not Jesus Christ. Isn’t that interesting?
We take precautions in our every day lives by avoiding suspicious emails, covering the keypad when purchasing an item, and peer over our shoulder at the ATM making sure to keep your pin code safe. One of the greatest crimes today is identity theft!
Identity theft has to be one of the most difficult situations a person can face. The victim must fight to regain their identity, the same can be said when speaking of Jesus Christ. His identity has been hijacked since the days of the apostles. Paul the apostle warned the church in Corinth not to fall for “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4).
Who is the Jesus of the Watchtower? Today we’re going to focus on this “Jesus” by examining an article from their bible questions answered page (“Believe in Jesus”—Is Belief in Jesus Enough for Salvation?).
All world religions including non-Christian cults teach a person cannot inherit salvation simply by trusting in Christ. For cultist simply trusting in Christ seems too easy, therefore, in the mind of the Jehovah’s Witness, they can’t comprehend the simplicity which is in Christ.
“Christians believe that Jesus died for the sins of humankind. (1 Peter 3:18) However, salvation requires more than believing in Jesus as Savior. The demons know that Jesus is “the Son of God,” but they face destruction, not salvation. Luke 4:41; Jude 6.” — Watchtower (Bible Questions Answered)
The Watchtower claims “salvation requires more than believing in Jesus as Savior” the Watchtower teaches a works-based salvation which cannot save anyone. Let’s see what the scriptures have to say about this?
Starting with the apostles it’s known unto us that salvation is a work of God, not us, and salvation is granted to the hell-bound sinner the moment they place their trust in Christ. There are multiple verses proving we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Bible says salvation is not by works, salvation is only made possible by trusting in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. When verses such as Ephesians 2:8-9 are shown to a Jehovah’s Witness, they immediately resort to Bible hopscotch. One Jehovah’s Witness “proof text” for a works-based salvation is found in the book of James.
The zealous Jehovah’s Witness will quote half the verse saying “faith without works is dead”. At first glance, it seems as if James is contradicting Paul but that’s not the case. The scriptures cannot contradict themselves, If we read the surrounding text we will get the context to James 2:20.
Please note “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works”, the context shows a man to man situation whereas one man says he has faith. The other says he will prove his faith by his works. These verses are in no sense portraying a man being justified by works in the sight of God on the contrary. These verses are teaching a believer will produce works as a byproduct of their faith in the presence of men. Not that their works is a means to obtaining salvation.
When we re-read the Jehovah’s Witnesses “proof text” now the verse makes sense and its clear that James doesn’t contradict Paul in saying:
This is what cults do, they take verses out of context in order to indoctrinate individuals. When reading James chapter 2 we must understand the background. James then goes on to explain how Abraham was justified.
James tells us Abraham was justified because of his faith which brought about Abraham’s works. Abraham’s faith produced works because he “believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness”.
The Watchtower then gives a list of questions about how is one saved and the “sinner’s prayer”. They pose the question by the Philippian jailer “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:25-31).
Here’s what the Watchtower says one must do in order to be saved. First point they make is believing that Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sins+believe what the Bible says in regards to Him is accurate.
You must believe that Jesus sacrificed his life for our sins. (Acts 16:30, 31; 1 John 2:2) This includes believing that Jesus was a real person and that all of what the Bible account says about him is accurate. — Watchtower (Bible Questions Answered)
Strange that the Watchtower says salvation is contingent on “believing that Jesus was a real person and that all of what the Bible account says about him is accurate”. This is strange to say, obviously when an individual is saved they believe Jesus is a real person and God’s word is true. But notice how they make it about working for salvation.
They said “and that all of what the Bible account says about him is accurate“, just as was mentioned earlier, just trusting in the finished works of Christ is too difficult for cults to accept.
The second requirement for salvation according to the Watchtower is “learning what the Bible really teaches”.
Learn what the Bible really teaches. (2 Timothy 3:15) The Bible says that the apostle Paul and Silas told a jailer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will get saved.” Then, after that, they began to teach “the word of Jehovah” to the jailer. (Acts 16:31, 32) This indicates that the jailer could not truly believe in Jesus unless he had a basic understanding of God’s Word. He needed accurate knowledge based on the Scriptures.—1 Timothy 2:3, 4. — Watchtower (Bible Questions Answered)
The reason the Watchtower says a requirement for salvation is “learning what the Bible really teaches” is because they trick people into believing they need to be associated with the organization in order to be savable. Take a look at this quote from them.
This quote is essentially places the Watchtower organization in the position only Jesus Christ posses. Without straightly saying you must be part of the Watchtower organization to have salvation because the Bible according to them is not sufficient.
The third requirement for salvation according to the Watchtower is you must “repent or feel a deep sorrow”.
Repent. (Acts 3:19) You must also repent, or feel deep sorrow, over previous wrong attitudes and conduct. Your repentance will be obvious to others as you stop practices that offend God and do “works that befit repentance.”—Acts 26:20. — Watchtower (Bible Questions Answered)
When one places their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation that person(s) has already repented. They’ve “changed their mind” from dead works (Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 9:14) to then being a follower of Christ. Repentance doesn’t mean to “feel a deep sorrow” as the Watchtower defines it. Repentance means to have a change of mind.
Strong’s Definitions μετάνοιαmetánoia, met-an’-oy-ah; from G3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication, reversal (of (another’s) decision):—repentance.
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon μετάνοια, μετανοίας, ἡ (μετανοέω), a change of mind: as it appears in one who repents of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done.
The fourth requirement a Jehovah’s Witness must complete for salvation is baptism. Is it now apparent how the Watchtower by placing these “requirements” on its members is making them try to obtain salvation by their own means?
Get baptized. (Matthew 28:19) Jesus said that those who become his disciples would be baptized. The jailer mentioned earlier was baptized. (Acts 16:33) Similarly, after the apostle Peter taught a large crowd the truth about Jesus, “those who gladly accepted his word were baptized.”—Acts 2:40, 41.— Watchtower (Bible Questions Answered)
We have many accounts of people getting saved, and when the apostles recognized a person professed faith in Jesus Christ, they were immediately baptised on the spot.
This is not the same as what’s shown in the scriptures, the Watchtower removes “the Holy Spirit” and inserting themselves between the person seeking salvation and Christ. Therefore the baptism a Jehovah Witness goes through is not valid. The fifth requirement put forth is to Obey Jesus’ instructions.
Obey Jesus’ instructions. (Hebrews 5:9) Those who “observe all the things” that Jesus commanded show by their life course that they are his followers. (Matthew 28:20) They become “doers of the word and not hearers only.”—James 1:22.— Watchtower (Bible Questions Answered)
It goes without saying a Christian obeys Jesus Christ but the Bible never teaches a person must first obey the “instructions” of Jesus in order to have salvation. According to the book of Romans, it shows that those who haven’t been converted are at enmity against God and are not subject to His law.
ἔχθραéchthra, ekh’-thrah; feminine of G2190; hostility; by implication, a reason for opposition:—enmity, hatred.
Therefore, how can the unregenerate man/woman obey the instructions of Jesus Christ not yet having the Holy Spirit which enables the person to submit to God’s moral law? The answer is they cannot.
The reason why the Watchtower points to “obeying Jesus instructions” is they allude to a fallacious belief that one must “take in knowledge” as a prerequisite to obtaining salvation. The Watchtower has convinced the general rank in file member to believe this by taking John 17:3 and translating the text differently from all other Bibles to read “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ”. Notice “taking in knowledge of you”.
There’s a vast difference between “taking in knowledge of you” and “that they might know you”, one is just knowing the other is having a relationship. The Watchtower doesn’t want its members to have a relationship with God, they want them to be dependant on the organization. The sixth requirement is Endure to the end.
Endure to the end. (Mark 13:13) Jesus’ disciples “need endurance” in order to be saved. (Hebrews 10:36) For example, the apostle Paul maintained strict obedience to Jesus’ teachings and loyalty to God, and he endured in this course from the day he became a Christian until he died.—1 Corinthians 9:27.— Watchtower (Bible Questions Answered)
The Watchtower doesn’t understand that (Mark 13:13) is referring to the tribulation period, reading in context the previous verses speak of those willing to betray believers delivering them to magistrates (the authorities) being put to death. Why is this occurring? The scriptures say in those days believers in Christ will be preaching the Gospel around the world (Mark 13:10).
As for the book of Hebrews, understanding the background helps us to get the context. This general epistle was written to Jewish believers who were facing persecution because they chose to follow Christ instead of Judaism. It was written in a style to remind the Jews who now professed faith in Christ that the former things they used to place their trust in (works based religious system) cannot save them.
The past experience they had in Judaism and now turning away from that religion by placing faith in Christ brought persecution to those Jewish believers. The Watchtower takes such verses to enforce works for salvation. Hence the reason they’re always out with their witnessing carts and recording time or going “door to door”, the Jehovah’s Witness must continually work hard in trying to merit salvation. But if you ask them if they know they’re saved they cannot say with certainty that they have salvation because they have no assurance.
Salvation is by trusting in Jesus Christ alone, He has completed all the work required and said “it is finished”.
Lastly, the Watchtower mentions the “Sinner’s Prayer”, unfortunately, some people have fallen for this teaching. Not all Christians believe in this, what we do believe is God draws (John 6:44) and leads the individual to repentance (Romans 2:4). The person drawn to Christ will come to an understanding they have sinned against God and will see the need for Christ as their Saviour by placing their trust in Him and thus being saved.
The men of that governing body, like the apostles and older men in Jerusalem, have many years of experience in God’s service. But they do not rely on human wisdom in making decisions. No, being governed theocratically, they follow the example of the early governing body in Jerusalem, whose decisions were based on God’s Word and were made under the direction of holy spirit.
Watchtower Online Library — God’s Visible Organization You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth
What of Jehovah’s Christian channel of communication today? Which of the hundreds of sects and denominations of those who claim to be Christian is Jehovah’s spokesman today in the earth as his divinely appointed and organized channel ofcommunication?
Watchtower Online Library — Christian Channel of Communication: TWELVE REQUIREMENTS FOR CHRISTIAN CHANNEL TODAY
The evidences, therefore, are overwhelming that the anointed Christian remnant among Jehovah’s witnesses today comprise the collective channel of communication.
Watchtower Online Library — Christian Channel of Communication: KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH CHANNEL
Question For The Jehovah’s Witness
If God always had a “visible organization on earth” then when did it start? Was the organization always there or did it start in the 1870s when Charles Taze Russell formed the “Bible Students” and later was carried on by Joseph Franklin Rutherford on January 6, 1917?
If this was the beginning of “Jehovah’s visible organization” was Jehovah without any witnesses for 2000 years? And there was an organization before Russell came why didn’t he just join them, why start his own organization?
These are the deceptions of cults they allure unsuspecting individuals by grandiose claims. Please note in the first quote are comparing themselves to the apostles. Men who were divinely inspired through the Holy Spirit, men who the Lord Jesus ordained to preach the Gospel and do works which testified of the Lord Jesus, not an “organization”.
It’s interesting isn’t it? Just a little something to get you thinking. If you’d like more information on the Watchtower’s history please take a look at this documentary on the Watchtower’s beginnings.
If you’ve been following along, last time we took a look at one of the Christadelphians core beliefs. The Christadelphians deny that God is three persons, a common error you’ll find with groups such as these is they deviate from fundamental Christian beliefs. If you missed the article you can read it here: Christadelphians “Doctrines to be Rejected” We reject the doctrine that God is three persons.
We reject The Son of God was co-eternal with the Father.
This article is to compare the Jesus of the Christadelphians with the Lord Jesus of the Bible. Paul the apostle said to the saints in Corinth that it was possible to be deceived by an another Jesus, another spirit and another gospel. We endeavour to seek the truth of God’s word so that we’re not deceived into believing in a Jesus which cannot save us from our sins.
As Christians it’s simple to know when a religion tries to pass off their version of Jesus as being “just a prophet” or “just a good teacher”. We can agree Jesus Christ is a prophet and teacher but to believers He’s much much more! Identifying non-Christian cults is more tricky as they tend to use the same biblical terminology but with different meanings, that’s what makes them dangerous.
Some religions have suggested that their gods have sexual relations with mortals. The account of the birth of Jesus is not like this at all. The one true God, who created all life, created His Son in the womb of Mary. Jesus was truly the son of Mary and truly the Son of God; a child miraculously formed in her womb by the Spirit power of the Creator Himself. — Who is Jesus?
(christadelphia.org)
Please pay close attention to the quote, notice the Christadelphians believe that Jesus Christ was “created in the womb”. They deny His pre-existence, what this article will seek to prove is that Jesus Christ indeed pre-exist before the incarnation. A classical way to prove this would be to start where most would in the Gospel of John but we’re not going to do that, we other scriptures which prove who is Jesus Christ.
The book of Psalms gives us an answer when compared with other scriptures, king David a man after God’s own heart was also called a prophet (Acts 2:29-30) he prayed to the LORD saying:
It’s a prayer to God how do we know? Because he says “Hear my prayer, O LORD”. We established this is a prayer to God later on in verses 25-27 we’re told about the attributes of the LORD.
The verses above tell us that God “laid the foundation of the earth” and created the heavens. The immutable unchanging eternal LORD God will never perish and will remain forever, but the earth and heavens will perish. Keeping our place turn with me to the book of Hebrews chapter 1.
In Hebrews the focus is the Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews chapter 1 talks about how Christ is better than all the angels, therefore Christ cannot be an angel (sorry Jehovah Witnesses). The chapter tells us that God spoke to us in various ways, those ways are through the Old Testament prophets and fathers but in these last days was spoken by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2)
Continuing down in verse 8 the Father calls the Son God saying the Son’s throne will last forever.
Notice that the writer of Hebrews is quoting from Psalm 45:6-7 and is directly applying them to Jesus Christ in verses 8, 9 but that’s not the main point, it’s the next 3 verses we’re interested in.
Please note the quote from Psalm 102:25-27 and Hebrews 1:10-12 are word for word the same. This shows that Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth because He’s God. The final nail in the coffin of the Christiadelphian beliefs is found in the book of Isaiah in which we have the LORD saying He created everything alone by Himself.
Now if Jesus is not God but created as the Christadelphians would suggest then that would be a contradiction in God’s word. We know that God’s word never contradicts even if it seems like one, therefore, we know that Jesus Christ did in fact pre-exist. There you have it straight from God’s word, Jesus Christ is God!
Other scriptures which prove His deity are: John 1:1-3 (All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.), Colossians 1:15-17 (…For by him were all things created,…), John 8:58 (…Before Abraham was, I am.).
As always feel free to like or comment and until next time God bless.
Learn more about the Christadelphian cult from these sites:
All cults (Christadelphians, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Baháʼí, Hare Krishna, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam) reject Jesus Christ is God, the Bible calls them antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22, 1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7). According to the Watchtower they believe that ‘Jehovah’ is Almighty God and Jesus Christ was the first being created by ‘Jehovah’. In-fact Jehovah Witnesses are taught from the Watchtower to believe Jesus is Michael the archangel. The following is a statement from their FAQ in regards to who Jesus is.
Yes. We believe in Jesus, who said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) We have faith that Jesus came to earth from heaven and gave his perfect human life as a ransom sacrifice. (Matthew 20:28) His death and resurrection make it possible for those exercising faith in him to gain everlasting life. (John 3:16) We also believe that Jesus is now ruling as King of God’s heavenly Kingdom, which will soon bring peace to the entire earth. (Revelation 11:15) However, we take Jesus at his word when he said: “The Father is greater than I am.” (John 14:28) So we do not worship Jesus, as we do not believe that he is Almighty God. – Watchtower
What does the Bible really teach about Jesus?
The Bible teaches that God alone is the creator, an angel doesn’t have the power God alone possesses because God created the angels also. When you examine the Jehovah Witnesses theology you’ll see how there are many problems.
1 They say Jesus was created by Jehovah and through Jesus Jehovah made everything else. If that were so then why does God tell us otherwise?
Reading carefully we see that Isaiah 44:24 says that God created the heavens and earth by Himself. This proves that God didn’t use an “agent” to create “all other things” as the Watchtower teaches. Yet we see that Jesus created all things in the book of John chapter 1 reads (speaking of Jesus Christ).
The verse in John says “and without him was not any thing made that was made”. Nothing was made without Jesus Christ making it. Therefore, the Jehovah Witnesses have a contradiction because they say Jesus Christ is not God yet they say Jesus helped God in creation. But clearly the Bible says only God created all things alone.
Read it and make the decision for yourself who you think is correct, the Watchtower or God’s Word the Bible. Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in Jesus at least not the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
We truly live in an age full of lies and deceptions, the father of lies (John 8:44) loves to disseminate falsehoods when it comes to the God we worship and praise. One of the worlds largest cults the Jehovah Witnesses also known as the Watchtower has put out their latest Watchtower magazine No. 1 2020.
The Watchtower magazine is the premier way Jehovah Witnesses derive their doctrine, while they will tell you they get their teachings from the Bible; do not be deceived JW’s are told no one can understand the Bible on it’s own without “the faithful and discreet slave” in other words the governing body telling them how to interpret the Bible. According to the Watchtower here’s a quote as to how we are to understand the Bible.
As you can see the Watchtower places themselves in a position as to control its members saying they cannot understand the Bible alone. This claim is false the word of God tells us directly as believers to prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We are to try the spirits because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1), and to study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15).
Yet the Watchtower says no one can know God’s word outside of their organization. The true marks of a cult indeed! The purpose of this article is to try or test the so called “truth” of the Watchtower.
The Search for Truth
The Watchtower opens up with the following statement. “Knowing the truth can be a matter of life and death. For example, consider how our lives have been affected by the answer to the following question, How do infectious diseases spread?”.
We can wholly agree that “Knowing the truth can be a matter of life and death” in fact we would go a step further in saying “Knowing the truth IS a matter of life and death”. This is why we go out in love to share the truth of God’s word with Jehovah Witnesses because they’ve been misled by the Watchtower, believing Jesus is not God is a serious salvific problem. Jehovah Witnesses have been taught Jesus is not God but is Michael the arc-angel.
God’s word says otherwise, the word of God says the Lord Jesus is God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16), that He didn’t take on the nature of angels (Hebrews 2:16). Michael the arc-angel didn’t dare bring any accusation against satan in his own authority (Jude 1:9). In contrast Jesus Christ did rebuke satan many times one of those being the temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 16:23, Mark 8:33, Luke 4:8). Therefore, Jesus and Michael cannot be the same person.
The Watchtower continues on to say “For thousands of years, no one really knew the answer to that question. Meanwhile, plagues and epidemics took millions of lives. Eventually, scientists learned the truth. They discovered that diseases were often caused by germs—microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses. Finding out that one truth has helped people prevent and treat many diseases, which has led to billions of people living longer and healthier lives”.
It saddens Christians to see how Jehovah Witnesses cannot see they themselves have a huge epidemic, a disease caused by the Watchtower germ. It’s causing them to remain in their sins because they trusted in a false Jesus which cannot save. The Apostle Paul warned us about believing in a false Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).
The Watchtower then said this statement “You may wonder, ‘How is it possible to find out the truth about anything?’ After all, finding out the truth about many things seems to be getting more and more difficult. Why?”
The reason why “finding out the truth” seems difficult to the Watchtower is thats cults like them cloud people’s minds with lies and deceit. They place a barrier between individuals and God. It’s a futile attempt as God can still reach these individuals and have been as we see more people waking up to the Watchtower’s lies.
This next statement shows how the Watchtower isolates an individual by telling them not to look at other information. They instil fear and do not allow their members to think for themselves. This is what they said:
“Many people do not trust governments, businesses, or the media to tell them the truth. They find it difficult to distinguish facts from opinions, half-truths, and outright lies that are presented as reliable information. In this climate of distrust and misinformation, people disagree not only on how to interpret the facts but also on what the actual facts are.” – Watchtower
We see how the Watchtower inserts themselves as the only ones capable of distinguishing “facts from opinions” they strip people of independent thinking. Look at the following quote from them which says.
Notice the Watchtower is saying that “independent thinking is from satan” this is how they trap and indoctrinate those who fall victim to the lies of the Watchtower. They then give an analogy for the search for truth presenting us with a little scenario in which a lady names Jessica makes certain to protect herself from food allergies. This is what they said:
Consider Jessica’s situation. “My daughter’s peanut allergy is so severe,” she says, “that even a trace amount of peanut protein can be fatal.” Jessica needs to know that the food she buys will be safe for her daughter. “My first step is to read food labels carefully to check the ingredients. Then I do further research and even contact the manufacturer to confirm that there is no risk of cross contamination. I also consider other reliable sources that can vouch for the company’s reputation for following safe food practices.”
Your daily search for truth may not be as critical as Jessica’s, but like Jessica, you may use the following approach to find answers to questions you have:
They then list the ways in which to find truth, the Watchtower says “Get the facts. Do additional research. Make sure your sources are credible.” How deceitful because Jehovah Witnesses are only allowed to find “facts” and “research” only within Watchtower sources.
The Truth About God and Christ
This next section is from the magazine on their views about God and Christ, we’ll answer what the Watchtower puts forth with the Bible to see how well holds up against God’s word. Understanding that only the true Jesus Christ of the Bible can save the sinner from going to hell for all eternity, keeping that in mind let’s see if the Watchtower believes in the true Christ.
The article starts with a few Bible verses namely John 17:3, Daniel 7:18, Revelation 4:11. Then they give this statement “Although humans worship many gods, there is only one true God. He is “the Supreme One,” the Creator of everything and the Source of all life”.
Let’s see what those verses say that we can understand the meaning of the text. John 17:3 says:
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
The Jehovah Witnesses believe because the text says “…that they might know thee the only true God,…” they take this to mean “only the Father is God Almighty” Christians can partly agree with this because we indeed believe the Father is God Almighty, but does that mean the Son (Jesus Christ) is not? No. That’s not what the text is saying, let’s read it again.
It reads “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” notice the text is saying both the Father is God AND the Son is God. How you might ask? It’s because Jesus Christ shares the same nature as the Father, we do not believe in 2 separate God’s like the Jehovah Witnesses do. The JW’s believe in a big God who is more powerful and a lesser god Jesus.
Is that what the Bible teaches a bigger and lesser god? Here’s what the Bible says in speaking about Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John says:
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
We see that the Word (another name for Jesus before the incarnation) always existed in eternal fellowship with the Father therefore, He’s not “created”. The text says the Word is God in the Greek it says “and God was the Word” and lastly it says “all things were made by him” Jesus made all things and we know only God made all things this proves Jesus Christ is God Almighty just as much as the Father is God Almighty.
Paul the apostle wrote in the book of Colossians proving the Lord Jesus Christ deity saying.
Colossians 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Again we have text which says “all things were created” by Jesus Christ. The Watchtower takes this same text and adds the word “other” thereby changing the meaning of the text. See post Here’s Why You Can’t Trust The New World Translation.
We see a consistent theme in regards to Jesus Christ creating all things. Both the Father and the Son (Jesus) are equal this is why we read Jesus is equal to the Father (John 5:18, Philippians 2:6).
They also quoted Revelation 4:11 in trying to say only God the Father should be worshipped. Is Jesus Christ worshipped the same as the Father? Let’s find out. In that same book we have an account in which all of creation joins in worship to God.
Revelation 7:9-12 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Here we have universal worship of God we have angels and a multitude of people from all nations standing before the throne AND before the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and what did they say? It says all the angels, elders, 4 beast and people fell down before the throne on their faces worshipping God saying “Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”
No created creature ever will receive the worship which is displayed here, this worship is only reserved for God Almighty and it says they worshipped the Lamb (Jesus Christ).
The apostle Thomas also worshipped Jesus saying “my Lord and my God” after seeing the prints of the nails in the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 20:28). When Jesus Christ was born the wise men came to worship Him and brought Him gifts (Matthew 2:11). A leper who wanted to be healed from his leprosy worshipped Jesus (Matthew 8:2). A certain ruler came and worshipped Jesus Christ asking Him to raise his daughter from the dead (Matthew 9:18).
When Jesus was walking on water Peter asked to join Him, when Peter began to sink the Lord saved him they came back into the boat and they all worshipped Him (Matthew 14:33). A woman from Canaan came asking to deliver her daughter from a devil and the lady worshipped Him (Matthew 15:25). There’s many more but I think you get the point Jesus Christ is worshipped the same as the Father and to prove that here’s a verse.
John 5:23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
The Watchtower then says that the true personal name of God is JEHOVAH. This is their little niche, they say only true Christians use the name “JEHOVAH”. They say: “God’s name appears in the original text SOME 7,000 TIMES. JEHOVAH is God’s name. LORD, GOD, FATHER—Some of Jehovah’s titles”.
Where did the name “JEHOVAH” come from? The name comes from the Tetragrammaton. It’s a Latinized mispronunciation of the Hebrew name, resulting from combining the consonants of the name, YHWH and Adonai meaning Lord. YHWH + Adonai
Removing “d”, “n”, “i” from Adonai which leaves “A o a” they took this and inserted these letters between YHWH. When done you get YaHoWaH In Hebrew the “Y” when rendered into Greek has a “J” sound becoming “Jahovah” or Jehovah. Certainly this cannot be God’s name. God actually gives us His name in the book of Exodus.
Moses asked God what’s His name and God said:
Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Then God said: Exodus 3:15 …this [is] my name for ever, and this [is] my memorial unto all generations. Jehovah is not God’s name and the Watchtower is very mistaken by thinking it is.
In this latest Watchtower magazine they state: “What Is God’s Name? God himself says: “I am Jehovah. That is my name.” (Isaiah 42:8) The personal name of God appears some 7,000 times in the Bible. However, many Bible translations improperly substitute this name with a title, such as “Lord.” God wants you to be his friend, so he encourages you to “call on his name.”—Psalm 105:1.” – Watchtower
Notice how the Jehovah Witnesses say “The personal name of God” but as we just saw the name Jehovah is an invention from man. Additionally, the Watchtower took the text in Isaiah 42:8 and added the name Jehovah. This is how the text actually reads.
Isaiah 42:8 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Not Jehovah but LORD, the Watchtower inserted that name in there to lead their members to believe the Bible they have (New World Translation) is the “most accurate”See postWhere the name Jehovah come from?
The Watchtower cites Psalm 105:1 saying “However, many Bible translations improperly substitute this name with a title, such as “Lord.” God wants you to be his friend, so he encourages you to “call on his name.”—Psalm 105:1.”
The Septuagint is the Hebrew scriptures which were translated into Greek for Jews who were living in other parts. The Greek language was the common language. The Hebrew scribes took the name Yahweh the name for God and translated it to κύριος (kŷros) which is LORD in reference to God in the Greek.
Paul the apostle took this word κύριος which is in reference to God Almighty and applied it to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Notice it says “called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord”. This is not a contradiction because Jesus Christ is the Lord (Philippians 2:11)
Psalm 105:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
The Watchtower says “God’s Form. God is an invisible spirit. (John 4:24) The Bible confirms that “no man has seen God.” (John 1:18)” We agree that “no man has seen God” but there’s a problem with Watchtower theology. According to Watchtower theology no one has seen God at anytime, the problem is there were many people who did see God.
Abraham saw God Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Isaac saw God Genesis 26:1-2 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
Jacob saw God Genesis 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Sarah saw God Genesis 21:1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
Hagar saw God Genesis 16:13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
Moses saw God Exodus 33:17-23 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, [there is] a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
Joshua saw God Joshua 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, [Art] thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but [as] captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy. And Joshua did so.
We have all these accounts in which people saw God, how does the Jehovah Witness reconcile this? As Christians we know that no man has seen God the Father but all of the people mentioned did in fact see God Almighty. God Himself says He appeared.
Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Who did they see then? I’ll tell you who they saw they saw the Lord Jesus Christ as God Almighty. This is why we know there’s no contradictions in God’s word. The Watchtower has many contradictions in saying Jesus is not God, the moment they took that position they lost all credibility in the Old Testament scriptures as well as the New Testament.
What Is the Difference Between God and Christ?
The claim of the Watchtower is that Jesus is not God, they think of Jesus as being created by God and that He’s really Michael the arc-angel.
Jesus Is Not God. Jesus is unique—he is the only person created directly by God. That is why the Bible calls him God’s Son. (John 1:14) After creating Jesus, Jehovah used his firstborn as “a master worker” to create everything and everyone else.—Proverbs 8:30, 31; Colossians 1:15, 16. – Watchtower
As we saw earlier Jesus is called the Word and the Word is God (John 1:1). Jesus created all things (Colossians 1:15-17). Jesus Christ is called God by God the Father (Hebrews 1:8) and in that same chapter it says Jesus created the heavens and the earth and both the heavens and the earth will perish but Jesus Christ will stay the same as the eternal God (Hebrews 1:10-12). In Revelation it calls Jesus the Almighty God (Revelation 1:8, 11).
Watchtower says: “Jesus Christ never claimed to be God. Instead, he explained: “I am a representative from [God], and that One sent me.” (John 7:29) When speaking to one of his disciples, Jesus called Jehovah “my Father and your Father” and “my God and your God.” (John 20:17) After Jesus died, Jehovah resurrected him to life in heaven and gave him great authority at His right hand.—Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:32, 33.”
They try to cite verses which make it seem as though Jesus is not God but let’s explain the passages.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.
Jesus Christ is going to call the Father God I mean what else would He call His Father? We know that there’s only one true God and all three (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) are called God.
God the Father (John 6:27, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Galatians 1:1, 3, Ephesians 6:23, Philippians 2:11, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Peter 1:17, 2 John 1:3, Jude 1:1)
Jesus Christ called God not only does the New Testament give direct evidence that Jesus is God, it also provides indirect evidence. There are many indirect references that could be cited. Some of these include. According to Scripture, Jesus possessed certain attributes that belong to God alone. Jesus Is All-Knowing (Luke 6:8). Jesus was able to tell the Samaritan woman her past history without having previously met her (John 4:18). She later said: John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
The disciples of Jesus recognized this fact (John 16:30). He knew how many times Peter denied Him (John 21:17). The apostles said Jesus knows the hearts of all men (Acts 1:24). He demonstrated knowledge about things that only someone all knowing could know such as the future (Matthew 16:21).
Jesus Is Everywhere Present Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. He’s with us till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Jesus fills everything (Ephesians 1:23, Ephesians 4:10, Colossians 3:11).
Jesus’ Nature Is Unchangeable Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.Jesus Has Life In Himself John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. He’s the Life (John 14:6).
Jesus Is All-Powerful Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.Jesus Has Existed For All Eternity (John 1:1). Jesus Christ shares the same glory with the Father (John 17:5).
John the Baptist was born before Jesus yet John testified that Jesus existed before him (John 1:15, John 1:30). The Testimony Of The Writer To The Hebrews Jesus made the worlds (Hebrews 1:2). Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory (John 12:41) The reference to Isaiah seeing the glory of Jesus is found in Isaiah 6:1-3.
Jesus Is A Member Of The Trinity Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.Jesus Is Equal To God In His NamesJesus Is The I Am (Exodus 3:14, John 8:56, 58-59).
Jesus Is Lord The God of the Bible is called the LORD in the Old Testament (Exodus 6:1-2). Jesus is also addressed as LORD (Acts 2:36, 1 Corinthians 12:3).
Jesus Is The Lord Of Lords The God of the Old Testament is called LORD OF LORDS (Deuteronomy 10:17). Jesus is the LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 17:14). Jesus Is The Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10:14-15).
Jesus Is The Alpha And Omega and God alone is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8). Jesus said: Revelation 22:12-13 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Jesus Is Immanuel: God With Us (Matthew 1:22-23). Jesus Has A Unique Relationship With God The Father (John 8:49). Jesus Is Put On An Equal Level With God (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Jesus Has A Heavenly Origin Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. (John 3:31, John 6:38).
Jesus Allowed Himself To Be Worshipped The God who reveals Himself in the Bible has made it clear that He is the only One deserving worship. In the Ten Commandments: (Exodus 20:3). When satan wanted Jesus to worship him, Jesus refused by saying: “Matthew 4:10 …Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve”.
Jesus Was Worshipped By The People (Matthew 28:9, John 9:38, John 5:23). The Angels Were Commanded To Worship Jesus (Hebrews 1:5-6). All Creation Is To Worship Jesus (Revelation 5:13). Jesus Was Addressed In Prayer The Apostles asked Jesus who should replace Judas (Acts 1:24-26). Stephen, the first recorded martyr of the church, prayed to Jesus as he was being killed (Acts 7:59, 60).
Jesus Forgave Sins (Luke 7:48) On another occasion he said to a paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” (Mark 2:5). Only God can forgive sins (Isaiah 43:25). Jesus Will Judge The World (Psalm 96:12-13) Jesus claimed that He would judge the world (John 5:22, Acts 17:31).
Jesus Is The Creator John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Not one thing has been created apart from Him. The Apostle Paul also testified to Jesus being the Creator (Colossians 1:16). Jesus Sustains All Things (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3).
Jesus Is The Ruler Over All Things Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Jesus Will Raise The Dead (John 5:28,29, Philippians 3:21, 2 Timothy 4:1). Jesus Gives Spiritual Life To Believers John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Jesus Will Give Eternal Life To Believers John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand (John 17:2).
Jesus Will Bring About The Renewal Of The Heavens And The Earth Scripture says that Jesus, the Creator, will renew the heavens and earth (Hebrews 1:10-12, Matthew 19:28).
Everyone Will Confess That Jesus Is Lord (Philippians 2:9-12) The fact that everything in the universe will confess Jesus is Lord (Yahweh, or Jehovah) proves that He indeed is almighty God. He Has The Same Nature As God (Philippians 2:6, Hebrews 1:3).
The conclusion to the Watchtower Magazine №1 2020
Our conclusion is the Watchtower magazine is rubbish, it’s quite evident that the Jehovah Witnesses are a cult. They won’t let you think for yourself, you must only listen to the governing body, you can’t do research outside of Watchtower sources. And the biggest thing is they deny the Lord Jesus Christ deity which is leading 9 million Jehovah Witnesses world wide to hell.
This is not a cheap shot at the Jehovah Witnesses themselves as they are just people who have been deceived by a small group of wicked men. We are against the Watchtower organization for putting out lies and deception. We hope that if you are a Jehovah Witness that you’ll look into the evidence for yourself, your eternity depends upon it.
Last Wednesday as I went out to preach the Gospel in the open air a gentleman walking by stopped to listen to what was being said. After some time he asked a few questions, the questioned asked was “can a homosexual who eats pork be a Christian” ? As always I gave him a biblical answer saying “practising homosexuals cannot be Christian, and dietary laws only apply to Jews in the Old Testament; I’m a gentile” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Romans 1:26-27).
He then asked if a person should follow the 613 commandments given in the Law of Moses. It was at this time I realised what I was dealing with, I asked him “are you a Black Hebrew Israelite?”. After a little hesitation, he admitted to being a BHI. I truthfully told him he cannot have salvation by trying to keep the Law.
Black Hebrew Israelites History
The origins of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement began with Frank Cherry and William Saunders Crowdy, both men claimed they had revelations in which “God” revealed to them that African Americans are descendants of the Hebrews in the Christian Bible; Cherry also embraced anti-semitism, claimed that the earth is square, and predicted that Jesus would return in the year 2000. Cherry worked on ships and railroads in the South before running a religious congregation. He taught that God, Jesus, Adam, and Eve were Black.
Crowdy claimed to have had several visions in which he was told “that Blacks were descendants of the ten lost tribes of Israel.” He created the “Church of God and Saints of Christ” and is regarded as a founder of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement. Setting up congregations in Kansas in 1896. In these early days he was arrested 22 times. After setting up another congregation in Topeka, he spread his beliefs in Sedalia, Missouri, Chicago, and several cities in New York, establishing an Elder-in-Charge in each city before moving to the next. In 1903, he bought 40 acres of land in Suffolk, Virginia, calling it “Canaan Land”.
During the following decades, many more Black Hebrew congregations were established, with some holding no connection to Christianity. After World War I, another Black Hebrew congregation was set up in Harlem by Wentworth Arthur Matthew, called the “Commandment Keepers of the Living God.” Selecting elements of Judaism and adopting. In 1930 he moved the congregation to Brooklyn, where he later founded the Israelite Rabbinical Seminary, where Black Hebrew rabbis have been educated/ordained.
Black Hebrew Israelites Camps
While the “Black Hebrew Israelites” all believe similar teachings they can differ between camps. It’s my endeavor to touch upon each specific congregation and their beliefs in the future, Lord willing. For the purposes of this post we will be looking into the Israel United In Christ (IUIC) congregation. All “Black Hebrew Israelites” believe that the 12 tribes spoken of in the Bible refers to them, more specifically they do not believe that the Jews which are in Jerusalem are the true Jews.
Beliefs
IUIC and other congregations teach the tribes consist of “Afrocentric peoples”, when these groups hit the streets to preach what they believe you’ll see a chart which breaks down the “12 tribes of Israel” according to them, here’s how it’s listed.
JUDAH – Blacks/Negroes (American Blacks).
BENJAMIN – West Indians (Jamaica, and the West Indies).
According to them, the true Hebrews are people from the Caribbean, American Blacks and Native Americans. They believe this because they try to tie in the Transatlantic slave trade with the scattered Jews mentioned in the Bible, thereby proclaiming they’re persecuted and held captive in lands such as America. They view Jewish people located in Jerusalem as not authentic Israelites, yet some of those Jews can trace their lineage back, through historical documentation (scrolls) of the names of each male belonging to at least the tribes of Judah and Levi.
Make no mistake “Black Hebrew Israelites” are a cult (just like the Jehovah Witnesses, Christadelphians or Mormons) they use the Trans Atlantic slave trade as a way to lure unsuspecting people indoctrinating them through emotions. A majority of the members of IUIC and other BHI groups are disenchanted by how they are treated in terms of socio-economic factors, and understandably so. They feel betrayed by the communities they’re a part of and the challenges they face.
The Person of Jesus Christ
For the “Black Hebrew Israelite” skin colour is everything to them, their doctrines are soaked in racist beliefs, and because of this, they teach that Jesus Christ was a black man. If you’ve ever come across BHI you’ll notice the signs they carry one of them has a picture of a black man with white hair and beard. They get this teaching from two sets of scriptures, one from the book of Revelation and the other from the book of Daniel.
Revelation 1:13-15 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Daniel 10:5-6 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins [were] girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also [was] like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
It’s easy to see how someone who’s in the flesh would think these verses describe Jesus Christ as being “black”. We must keep in mind that the Messiah is a Jew, our Lord told us that “…salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22). The Lord Jesus was the seed of king David according to the flesh (Romans 1:3) and born of a Jewish virgin woman (Matthew 1:1-16, Luke 1:31). Therefore, we must deduce that Jesus was indeed a Jew.
As for His exact appearance being from Bethlehem, He could have somewhat brown coloured skin, but He’s certainly not a black man. Additionally, both sets of scriptures presented for Revelation 1:13-15 and Daniel 10:5-6 are visions of the glorified Christ after His earthly ministry. Shown in His divine glory, as Creator and King of kings and Lord of lords.
a. His head and hair were white like wool: The white hair speaks of old age, wisdom and timelessness. The phrase white as snow also emphasizes the idea of purity (Isaiah 1:18).
i. The white hair and head also connect Jesus with the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9). The name of Ancient of Days belongs to God the Father, yet it also applies to Christ in that He is eternal and equal with the Father as to his Divine nature.
ii. This was not only a symbol but evidence of his glory.
b. His eyes like a flame of fire: Fire is often associated with judgment in the Scriptures (Matthew 5:22, 2 Peter 3:7). Jesus eyes could search into the hearts of man, penetrating judgment (Revelation 2:23).
c. His feet were like fine brass: The Lord Jesus took the judgment we all deserve upon Himself, these feet like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace speaks of refinement and purity. (Luke 12:50)
i. Brass is a metal connected with judgment and sacrifice. Israel’s altar of sacrifice was made of brass (Exodus 27:1-6), and it was called the “brazen altar.”
ii. Brass is also a strong metal, the strongest known in the ancient world. Therefore feet… like fine brass are His steadfastness, stability and permanence, He being able to endure all things
iii. Everything in this vision speaks of strength, majesty, authority and righteousness. None of this is about “race” as these groups are hung up on because they run off of hatred and racism.
Repentance
According to the IUIC website under “Learn The Truth/How Do I Repent” here’s what they say about “who” can repent “Repentance is for the Israelites first and foremost for blessings to come upon the Earth.” They then go on to cite different scriptures some of them having nothing to do with repentance, such as Revelation 7:1-4.
IUIC says in reference to the Revelation verse “This proves the angels are even holding back the final destruction until 144,000 Israelites are sealed with the understanding that they are Israelites and the keeping of God’s laws in Christ.” What the Black Hebrew Israelites fail to understand that 144,000 while yes they are Israelites they were chosen to preach the Gospel during the Great Tribulation.
They go as far as to place the nation of Israel on the same level as Christ Himself! Here’s what they say “Everything must begin with Christ and the Nation of Israel. In the end, the nations will be obedient to the Most High’s laws under Christ and the nation of Israel” Notice they include the nation of Israel on the same level as Jesus Christ.
To argue their views they cite Psalms 149:1-9, Isaiah 14:1-4, Isaiah 60:9-16, Revelation 21:24 but we must understand the context of these verses.
Psalms 149:1-9 There are two portions to this particular Psalm, the first half deals with the saints singing praise to God (vv. 1–6a) the second half speaks of the reign of the saints (vv. 6b–9). The time in question is when the Lord Jesus returns to earth and ushers in the millennial kingdom.
Isaiah 14:1-4 The LORD showing His mercy restores Israel to their own land. Gentile nations will assists in the return and live peacefully with God’s people. Israel’s former overlords will be her servants. Notice in that verse it says “The strangers shall be joined with them” God has always had in His plan for all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) not only Jews. As for being “servants” we can’t forget that the Lord Jesus being our greatest example also came to serve during His earthly ministry (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 13:1-7) and we’re told to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13).
Isaiah 60:9-16 Reflects a time in which Israel’s people will return to the land in flocks bringing their wealth with them in ships. Foreigners will help as construction workers and kings as servants of God. Israel will no longer have to worry about persecution for they will no longer be hated but recognized as “The city of the Holy One”.
Revelation 21:24 Gentile nations will enjoy its beauty (New Jerusalem), and the kings of the earth will come with their tribute the Lord Himself. They will pay homage to the King Himself and that’s Jesus Christ not the “Black Hebrew Israelites”.
IUIC goes unto to say “Ultimately everyone will be obedient to the Laws of the Most High taught to them by the Israelites.” When they mention “Laws” they’re referring to the Old Testament Law. One thing all cults have in common is that they focus on trying to keep the Law.
God’s word is clear “no flesh will be justified” by the Law (Romans 3:20) that our works cannot justify us, “justification” only comes by “faith in Christ” alone (Galatians 2:16) because all our “righteousnesses are filthy rags” before a Holy God (Isaiah 64:6). God’s word even says what’s the purpose of the Law and that’s to bring the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20), that the Law is a “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ” for justification (Galatians 3:24), that the Law brings death.
Romans 7:5-11 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin [was] dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew [me].
The book of Hebrews says for those who are saved the commandment/Law is done away, cancelled or disannulled (Hebrews 7:18-19). The believer in Christ who has trusted in Him never needs to fear because there’s no condemnation for the believer in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
This statement here by the IUIC is really funny and I’ll tell you why. “The Most High is letting Israel know if they return back unto him, it must be done in sincerity and truth (by keeping His Laws in Christ), and not as a hypocrite. An example of these hypocrites are those who know the commandments of God but yet keep the traditions of men. Wherefore Brothers and Sisters it is imperative we repent and humble ourselves to the scriptures.” According to IUIC we must keep the Old Testament Laws which would place a person under a condemnation which is not funny at all. But what is that they say “it is imperative we repent and humble ourselves to the scriptures”.
If you’ve done any digging around or come across Black Hebrew Israelites you will quickly realise that they are anything but “humble“. They are quick to curse and humiliate people walking by on the streets, even making people kiss their boots if at all possible. This is definitely not how the man or woman of God should behave. This is another cult which uses emotionalism and racism in order to gain more members with those who sympathise.
Conclusion
How are we as believers to deal with cults such as these? The best way is to share the true Gospel found in the scriptures (John 3:15-18, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). They need to understand that Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6) and that salvation is a free gift freely given by God to the sinner (Ephesians 2:8-9). Whenever we share the pure unadulterated Gospel all the false gospel preached by this cult will vanish away because there’s only one Gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
As I continue to look into the inner workings and beliefs of this strange and unique cult I’ll write more on them, Lord willing. This was sort of an introductory as to what some of their beliefs are. In the meantime let us remember the words of our Lord on the cross when He said “it is finished” (John 19:30) nothing more needs to be done.
” . . . people cannot see the Divine Plan in studying the Bible by itself . . . if he then lays them [Scripture Studies] aside and ignores them and goes to the bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures,” (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1910, p. 298).
An anti-christ statement straight from the Watchtower, they conclude that a person must read their publications/magazines in order to understand the Bible, if not then you will be in spiritual darkness. A tactic Watchtower utilises controlling others critical thinking, they don’t want you to think for yourself and tell members to solely rely on the Watchtower’s interpretation of the Bible.
The Bible Says
We are to search the scriptures (God’s word) not additional books or magazines.
Acts 17:10-11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The Christian is to study the word/scriptures that we may never be ashamed and can rightly divide the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The scriptures makes us wise unto salvation in the case of Timothy.
2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Scripture can be understood and no one has a monopoly on God’s Holy word.
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
If you want to read the article in its entirety you can find it here for download.
Jehovah Witnesses often give lip service that they believe salvation is grace through faith in Christ, yet they also say that a Witness “is not yet declared righteous”. The Watchtower teaches that a Witness is not declared worthy of the right to everlasting life until the end of the Millennium, only then will they know if they have everlasting life. This means no Jehovah Witness has the assurance of salvation.
The truth is Jehovah Witnesses aren’t going door to door or standing next to carts because they care. The truth is they believe the only way they can make it into “paradise” is by doing “good works”. This is why you’ll see Jehovah Witnesses everywhere as if a penyata exploded.
The Watchtower teaches it’s members that they need to work for salvation or “exercise faith” in Jehovah God. And what entitles “exercising faith”? This entitles going door to door, standing on street corners counting their time and baptism, is something a person must do to gain everlasting life. Here’s what the Watchtower says.
Just as Noah was preserved through the Flood, loyal baptized ones will be preserved when the present wicked world meets its end. (Mark 13:10; Rev. 7:9, 10) This makes dedication and baptism very important. A person who needlessly delays getting baptized endangers his prospects for everlasting life. – Baptism A Requirement for Christians The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom (Study) 2018
What the Bible Says about Assurance Of Salvation?
Every believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit unto salvation
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
The Bible Describes The Various Ways In Which The Believer’s Security Is Confirmed. The believer in Jesus Christ can know right now that we have eternal life.
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The Lord Jesus will never leave the believer.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
We have passed or be translated from death to life.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
The believer is free and not a servant of sin.
John 8:32-36 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
We have been set free from the law of sin & death.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
We shall never face judgment/condemnation again and have passed from death to life.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
There is no condemnation for the born again believer.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The old man of the flesh is put to death.
Romans 6:3-6 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
There is new life in Christ, you’re made a new creature in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
We have become identified in Christ.
Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He is able to save believers forever, the Lord Jesus Christ saves us fully!
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society claim exclusivity when it comes to truth, some claims they make are that “Jehovah Witnesses are the only true Christians” (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1979, p. 30.) or because they go “door to door” they alone are doing God’s work. Another group called Mormons also goes “door to door” will Jehovah Witnesses say that Mormons are the only true Christians? Is going “door to door” how we determine who’s a “true Christian”? A true Christian is a person who has been born again, a follower of the Lord Jesus.
Both are Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses are known cults and both claim exclusivity when it comes to “the truth”. In this post, we will look at the society’s Bible called the New World Translation and see for ourselves if it’s “the truth”. Before we examine the text in the NWT we first should understand how it came to be, who are the men responsible for translating the grey Bible all Jehovah Witnesses stand by.
New World Translation Beginnings
The Watchtower created a committee of 6 men all of which were former governing body members and published their first New World Translation in 1950. The men responsible for the translation are Raymond Franz, Nathan H. Knorr, Fredrick W. Franz, Albert D. Schroeder, George D. Gangas, and Milton G. Henschel, out of the 6 only Frederick Franz claimed to have had sufficient knowledge in biblical languages. Franz had stated that he was familiar with not only Hebrew, but with Greek, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French for the purpose of biblical translation.”
Franz couldn’t translate the languages here’s the transcript to the court case in which Frederick Franz was examined in court regarding his “biblical knowledge”. The following is a court transcript of F W. Franz was questioned in a Scotland.
Article ID: DJ200
From the Pursuer’s Proof of the cross-examination held on Wednesday, November 24, 1954, p. 7, paragraphs A-B. Examining Fred W. Franz, vice-president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and sent as representative of the Society and the Translation Comm.
Q: Have you also made yourself familiar with Hebrew?
A: (Franz) Yes.
Q: So that you have a substantial linguistic apparatus at your command?
A: Yes, for use in my biblical work.
Q: I think you are able to read and follow the Bible in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French?
A: Yes.
The Truth is that F W. Franz holds no degree in Greek or Hebrew,
and cannot read either Greek or Hebrew, as a translator should. He dropped out of the University of Cincinnati after his sophomore year and had not been studying anything having to do with theology. Therefore, his qualifications as the only officially recognized member of the translation committee are definitely not adequate. Later during the same crossexamination, Franz had to admit that he was unable to translate a Bible verse.
Q: You, yourself, read and speak Hebrew, do you?
A: I do not speak Hebrew.
Q: You do not?
A: No.
Q: Can you, yourself, translate that into Hebrew?
A: Which?
Q: That fourth verse of the second chapter of Genesis?
A: You mean here?
Q: Yes.
A: No.
Knowing this information we can see that none of the “committee translators” had the appropriate knowledge to translate any verses of the Bible. Let’s see how the Watchtower has purposefully changed scriptures to fit their own doctrine.
How the Watchtower changed the scriptures
Here’s the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures published by the Watchtower in 1969. Notice in their own Greek interlinear for Colossians 1:15-17 a favourite passage among Jehovah Witnesses when trying to prove Jesus Christ is not God. The Greek text says “all things” are created by Jesus Christ. If all things are created by Jesus Christ then that would make Him God. The Watchtower doesn’t believe Jesus Christ is God. They say that Jesus was “a god” making Him a created creature more specifically Michael the Archangel according to Watchtower theology. Of course, Watchtower is against the fact that Jesus is God and felt the need to change the scriptures to suit their own teachings.
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (1984 Edition)
Here we see a copy of their New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (1984 Edition) and the same passage for Colossians 1:15-17. Notice that the word “other” is in brackets to signify that word is not found in the original language and has been inserted into the text. All members of the Jehovah Witnesses are to understand that this rendition is not how the Greek language reads in the scriptures. Moving forward the Watchtower wanted to further deny the deity of Christ and would later come out with another version of their Bible.
Here’s the latest version of the Jehovah Witness Bible New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (2013 Revision). Notice how the brackets are removed but the word “other” remains. If a person for the first time would read this Bible they wouldn’t realise that the word “other” doesn’t belong in the text. This is very underhanded and deceitful, why would the Watchtower go to such lengths to try to cover up the fact that Jesus Christ is God? It’s because this organization is not directed by God at all, this is one of the reasons why the Jehovah Witness religion is a cult.
Here’s the actual rendition of Colossians 1:15-17.
Colossians 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
To Jehovah Witnesses
Is this really the kind of organization you can trust in? One that will deliberately use sneaky tactics in order to indoctrinate you with unscriptural teachings? I understand it’s hard to come to the truth that the Watchtower is false after investing so many years into the organization but your soul is in great danger by staying in this cult. You must be born again the Lord Jesus said.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The Watchtower is ruled by a group of men called “The Governing Body” who rule with an iron fist. These 7 men are according to Jehovah Witnesses as “anointed ones” they’re responsible for all doctrines believed by the Jehovah Witnesses. While they say the bible is their ultimate authority it’s simply not true if any JW disagrees with these men the individual will be disfellowshipped with the snap of a finger.
Watchtower February 2017 (Study Edition)
The Watchtower has made the following statement in one of their Watchtower February 2017 (Study Edition) concerning these men at the top running the organization. Let me first say that the Watchtower magazine is where Jehovah Witnesses go for their doctrine which is handed down from the governing body and is considered on an equal level to the bible. This is, of course, the case with any cult, Mormons would say the same for the book of Mormon. But this is not our focus today. In the Watchtower February study addition under “Who Is Leading God’s People Today?” on page 26 we read.
“The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction.” – Watchtower
The Governing Body is not inspired
If you’re a current Jehovah Witness reading this do you take comfort in this statement? “The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction” and has. These individuals who are disseminating information have confessed that they’re not “inspired nor infallible”. This means the doctrines JW’s adhere to can be false and are false. This is tremendous for the Watchtower to make this statement. For those following these men are placing their families in grave danger.
The next body of text reads “In fact, the Watch Tower Publications Index includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our Scriptural understanding since 1870.” Beliefs Clarified is an index which shows Jehovah Witness doctrine which needed to be “corrected” because of misunderstanding. The list is enormous over 100+ doctrines needed correction and proves without a shadow of a doubt that the Watchtower is not God’s “organization” as they would lead people to believe.
Here is a list of beliefs which were changed because of a misunderstanding of scripture, it’s actually astounding.
Beliefs Clarified Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2019
1928, Christmas: kr 102-103; w95 5/15 19; jv 199 cross: kr 104-105 Easter: kr 105 ‘good news of kingdom’ not preached by Bible distribution: w06 2/1 24-25 Great Pyramid of Giza (Gizeh): w00 1/1 9-10; jv 201 Kingdom more important than personal salvation: kr 50
1988, 144,000 sing new song before 24 elders (Re 14:3): re 200-201 approved associates: w88 11/15 10-15, 17 figurative heart: it-1 1057-1058 no resurrection for dead in Sodom and Gomorrah: w88 6/1 30-31 parents may study with disfellowshipped minor child: w88 11/15 20 Revelation: w95 5/15 21; jv 148 unbaptized publishers: w89 2/15 29; w88 11/15 16-20
1991, meaning of Proverbs 27:23: w91 8/1 31
1992, Nethinim and sons of the servants of Solomon after exile: w92 4/15 12-17, 31
1993, kings of north and south during time of the end (Da 11, 12): w93 11/1 13-23 start and end of 1,260 days (Re 11:3) and time, times, and a half (Da 7:25; 12:7): w94 8/1 31; w93 11/1 9-10
1994, tribulation and celestial phenomena (Mt 24:29-31; Mr 13:24-27; Lu 21:25-28): w94 2/15 16-21
1996, acceptability of customary (tribal) marriage: g96 12/8 23 civilian service in lieu of military service: yb97 16; w96 5/1 19-20 “flesh” saved through “great tribulation” (Mt 24:22): w96 8/15 15-20 great tribulation “cut short” (Mt 24:22): w96 8/15 17-18
2002, courtyard in which “great crowd” serve (Re 7:15): w02 5/1 30-31
2003, meaning of baptism of Jewish believers at Pentecost 33 C.E.: w03 5/15 30-31 why some early Christians observed features of the Law: w03 3/15 23-25
2007, start of heavenly resurrection: w07 1/1 27-30 when calling to heavenly hope ceases: w07 5/1 30-31; w07 8/15 19
2008, illustration of dragnet (Mt 13): w08 7/15 20-21 illustration of foundation of house (Lu 6:46-49): w08 2/15 31-32; w08 11/1 29-31 illustration of leaven hidden in flour (Mt 13; Lu 13): w08 7/15 19-21 illustration of man casting seed (Mr 4:26-29): w08 7/15 14-16 illustration of mustard grain (Mt 13; Mr 4; Lu 13): w08 7/15 17-19, 21 Mary’s pain during Jesus’ birth: w08 10/1 23 “this generation” (Mt 24:34; Mr 13:30; Lu 21:32): w10 4/15 10-11; w08 2/15 23-24; w08 4/15 29
2009, “all creation that is under heaven” (Col 1:23): bt 217 head covering for female interpreters for the deaf at meetings: w09 11/15 12-13 resurrection hope for baby dying in womb: w09 4/15 12-13
2010, illustration of wheat and weeds (sowing of seed) (Mt 13:24, 38): w10 3/15 20 illustration of wheat and weeds (wheat brought into storehouse) (Mt 13:30): w10 3/15 22
2011, entering Jehovah’s rest (Heb 4): w11 7/15 24-28 feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image (Da 2): kr 177; w12 6/15 15-16, 19 Jesus “a corresponding ransom” (1Ti 2:6): w11 6/15 13; w11 8/15 32 olive tree (Ro 11): w11 5/15 23-25 Peter in Rome: w11 8/1 25
2012, “all these kingdoms” (Da 2:44): w12 6/15 17 Mordecai and Esther “divide spoil” in fulfillment of Genesis 49:27: ia 142; w12 1/1 29 ruin caused by “king fierce in countenance” (Da 8:23, 24): w12 6/15 16 toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image (Da 2): w12 6/15 16 when seventh world power emerged: w12 6/15 15, 19
2013, anointed not to survive Armageddon on earth: w13 7/15 5 ‘Assyrian invades our land’ (Mic 5:5): w13 11/15 20 chosen ones gathered (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27): w13 7/15 5 “evil slave” (Mt 24:48-51): w13 7/15 24 “faithful and discreet slave” (Mt 24:45-47): w17.02 26; w15 3/15 8-9; w13 7/15 8, 20-25 great tribulation: w13 7/15 3-8 illustration of wheat and weeds (Mt 13): w13 7/15 13-14 Jesus comes, arrives (Mt 24, 25): w13 7/15 7-8, 24 Jesus inspects spiritual temple 1914-1919 (Mal 3:1-4): w13 7/15 11-12 meaning of name Jehovah: w15 12/15 10-11; nwt 1735
2014, appointment of elders and ministerial servants: w16.11 11; w14 11/15 28-29 basis first-century Jews had for being “in expectation” of Messiah (Lu 3:15): w14 2/15 26-27; w14 6/15 22 drinking an alcoholic beverage before engaging in sacred service: w14 11/15 17 duration of cleansing of spiritual temple (Mal 3:1-4): w14 11/15 30 marriage in resurrection (Lu 20:34-36): w14 8/15 29-30 “solid foundation of God” (2Ti 2:19): w14 7/15 8-9, 13 two witnesses (Re 11): w14 11/15 30
2015, Gog of Magog (Eze 38, 39): rr 240; w15 5/15 29-30 head covering for sister conducting Bible study: w15 2/15 30 illustration of talents (Mt 25): w15 3/15 20-24 illustration of ten virgins (Mt 25): w15 3/15 13-16 paradise Paul saw in vision (2Co 12:1-4): w15 7/15 8-9 types and antitypes: w15 3/15 9-11, 17-18; w15 6/15 32
2016, anointed zealously active during World War I: w16.11 27-29 captivity of anointed to Babylon the Great: w16.03 29-31; w16.11 21-30 congregational expression of joy over reinstatement of someone: w16.05 32 Jesus taken by Satan to battlement of temple (Mt 4:5; Lu 4:9): w16.03 31-32;w16.06 32 man with secretary’s inkhorn (Eze 9): rr 238; w16.06 16-17; w16.12 18 meaning of two sticks (Eze 37:15-28): rr 240; w16.07 31-32 valley of dry bones (Eze 37:1-14): rr 239; w16.03 29-31
2017, Jehovah “will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear”—how? (1Co 10:13): w17.02 29-30 line of descent of Messiah not tied to firstborn: w17.12 14-15
2018, Ezekiel’s temple vision (Eze 40-48): rr 138-141, 240 four faces of living creatures (Eze 1, 10): rr 43, 45, 48, 238 meaning of term “new world”: w18.12 8 Oholah and Oholibah (Eze 23): rr 166, 239 “river” embraces worship in addition to rulership (Ps 46:4): rr 204 to whom Psalm 144:12-15 applies: w18.04 32 whether Christendom is antitypical Jerusalem: rr 174, 239
After looking at this extensive list of failed teaching which needed correction, there no shadow of doubt that this organization of the Watchtower is not lead by God. God never makes any mistakes and for a group of men who claim to get direct divine instruction from “Jehovah God” have in this list alone over 100+ doctrines which needed correction.
“Raised in the truth”
When engaging with Jehovah Witnesses they will make statements such as “I was raised in the truth” or they might ask someone “when did you come into the truth”. Jehovah Witnesses refer to the organization as “the truth”, this is pretty disturbing because the only Truth is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jehovah Witnesses say that they are the “only true religion” and all others are false.
Watchtower December 1981
According to the 1981 Watchtower magazine, the Jehovah Witnesses made this claim of being the only true organization from God.
Interestingly enough we see that we must be in touch with God’s channel of communication and that reading the bible alone is not going to help? The Watchtower is saying that unless you’re a part of their organization then you just won’t understand the bible neither will you “progress along the road to life”. This is how the Watchtower cult brainwashes people to believe they must be a Jehovah Witness in order to have salvation. Outside of the Watchtower no one can be saved or make it to “paradise earth”.
Here’s an inside look as to the structure of the Watchtower in how they distribute doctrine while the 7 men we mentioned earlier keep themselves at the top of the “food chain” sort of speak.
As you can see this is how the Watchtower is structured. According to Watchtower “Jehovah God” gives spiritual food through Jesus Christ that then is passed down to “the governing body” they, in turn, will pass it down to the “elders” and “ministerial servants” then to everyone else.
These 7 men claim they alone receive direct revelation from God. But if you recall their statement “The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction”, So which is it? If they are getting doctrine straight from God Himself as this chart portrays, they wouldn’t have countless failed prophecies.
Failed Prophecies
Before we look at some of those failed prophecies let’s take a look at one of their quotes from the Awake magazine 1968 speaking about false prophets.
“True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end of the world,’ even announcing a specific date. …Yet, nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? …Missing from such people were God’s truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them.”—Awake!, October 8, 1968, p. 23
Let us also hold the Watchtower to the same standard that we may determine if they have “God’s truths”? Here’s a list of some failed prophecies which never came to pass from the Watchtower.
The Watchtower Society proclaimed that 1914 would “end” world governments that never happened in 1914 we still have world governments.
“We see no reason for changing the figures—nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe, God’s dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.”—Zion’s Watch Tower, July 15, 1894, p. 226-231 [Watchtower Reprints, p. 1677]
The Watchtower Society was sure that the date 1914 would not be “changed” and it was changed “not the date for the beginning, but for the end”?
When 1914 failed, they “changed” the “date” in their updated edition of The Time is At Hand book?
1918 – “Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russel to learn the meaning of the downfall of ‘Christianity.’ ” —The Finished Mystery,Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 7, 1917, p. 485
Jehovah Witnesses believe in a God that doesn’t exist God will never destroy His church this reminds me of when the disciples asked the Lord Jesus to command fire to come down from heaven and the Lord rebuked them (Luke 9:55-56).
If you’d like to look into it more here’s a link to a bunch of their false prophecies.
It’s plain to see that the Watchtower is not of God, they follow erroneous doctrines some of which are blasphemous, and they have predicted a ton of false prophecies which never came to pass when they said it would. This qualifies them as false prophets, the bible says:
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Judge for yourself can God make mistakes absolutely not, and if an organization which claims to be God’s only theocratic organization on earth and God’s prophet makes false predictions such as these then we must reject all claims and beliefs from the Jehovah Witnesses. Here’s another statement from them just so you can see that they claim to be a “prophet”.
“So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? …He had a “prophet” to warn them. 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?” —The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p. 197
To the Jehovah’s Witness
This is not an attack on you this is to disprove the false doctrine of the Watchtower. You must understand that you have been deceived by this cult. Because you never trusted in the true Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible you’re still dead in your sins. Don’t be angry at the messenger it was the Watchtower who lied to you. Abandon this cult and be saved by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ said:
John 5:39-40 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Prove All Things
We as Christians are to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21) if we hear something which doesn’t agree with God’s word then we are to reject it, for God cannot lie. Therefore we can conclude that anything that’s against God’s word is a lie straight from satan himself the father of lies (John 8:44).
If the Christadelphians truly believe in God’s word then they would have to agree on that point that God’s word is the final authority, not a man or group of men; but God Himself. That being said let us look at God’s word to see if the beliefs held by the Christadelphians concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and His knowledge is accurate or not.
Another point: God is all-knowing, Jesus learned (Luke 2:40, 52) during his life, which implicitly means acquiring knowledge or wisdom not previously possessed. In fact, there were some things Jesus never knew until after his resurrection – like the date of his return (Mrk 13:32). Traditional Christian thought (see above) has it that he never ceased to be God, so how did he learn? Did he just ‘forget’ for a while, while on earth? Did he later “remember” that he was omniscient? Again, omniscience and humanity are mutually exclusive characteristics. And if you are omniscient, you can’t shed that quality temporarily. – Christadelphians
The problem with cults such as the Christadelphians is that they try to reduce the Lord Jesus to a mere human being. The carnal mind cannot comprehend the things of God (Romans 8:7) nor receive the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). The mistake the Christadelphians make is that they refused the deity of Christ but they are more than willing to accept the humanity of Christ, this is common among the cults. More on the Christadelphians beliefs.
The Two Natures of Christ
Any group which believes that Jesus Christ is a created being falls into this grave error because they have adopted the Arianism heresy. The true biblical Jesus Christ of the bible has 2 natures. He always existed as God because He (Jesus) is the Word or the Logos from the Greek. Here’s the Greek text which is very precise and powerful.
this for LET-BE-beING-Disposed In You Which and In Anointed Jesus WHO IN FORM OF-God belongING NOT Snatching Deems The To-Be Equal to God.
The rest of those verses tell us what Jesus Christ did while He was still God.
Philippians 2:7-8 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He took on the form of a servant and humbled Himself going to the cross paying for our sins that we could have eternal life. Those verses in Philippians shows forth both natures of the Lord Jesus, He being both fully God and fully man. Jesus Christ as the man was at times hungry (Luke 24:41-43) and wearied or tired (John 4:6), He didn’t know the hour because of the human nature of the Lord Jesus. But that in no way negates the fact that He’s God in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).
The Christadelphians cannot understand this they place God in a box and are saying He can’t be both; God can do anything He wishes, you and I cannot. It’s not hard to understand that God came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3).
As for the Lord Jesus’s knowledge as God. The disciples clearly said He (Jesus) knows all things. Did Jesus ever rebuke the disciples saying no He doesn’t know all things? No, He did not. Because He clearly did, this is why Christ could tell Simon Peter “thou shalt deny me thrice” (Matthew 26:34, Mark 14:30, Luke 22:61). Peter remembered this after he did deny the Lord (Matthew 26:75) no mere man can do the things the Lord Jesus can. Here are the supporting scriptures proving Christ knew all things.
John 16:30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
As for why the Lord Jesus said He didn’t know the hour only further proves the Triune Godhead (Trinity). The Father reserves certain things unto Himself, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are all co-equal and co-eternal but it also displays the distinct persons in the Godhead as being the one true God. I know that may be hard for Christadelphians to understand but it’s true. And the reason why they don’t understand it is that they’re not saved. Just like Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Unitarians. If you trust in a God that’s different from the God of the bible you just cannot have salvation; and if you’re not saved how can you know God? You just cannot.
Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
The Father the Son and the Holy Spirit all have different roles. The Father calls or draws the sinner to His Son Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus redeems the sinner by the sacrifice on the cross covering our sins by His blood and the Holy Spirit indwells the believer sealing him unto that day marking those who have received salvation and signifying those individuals who are redeemed and belong to God; empowering us to live a life pleasing to God through His Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
This is the third post concerning the erroneous doctrine of the Christadelphians, we are going to visit each doctrine concerning this cult and prove why it’s ungodly and carnal. Here’s another belief from the group which states.
“For the temptations of Christ to have been in any way real, there had to exist the possibility that he could sin. If Christ is God, it is impossible that he could have sinned, for God is perfect by nature. Jesus pointed this out in Mt 19:17, marking the distinction between himself and God (only ONE is good…). If Christ was God, and therefore couldn’t sin, all his ‘temptations’ were faked, and his identification with mankind a cruel sham! And for those affirming the “fully God/fully man” idea, do you really see God locking Himself into a nature that could potentially sin? Finally, James explicitly states that God cannot be tempted by evil (1:13-15).” – The Christadelphians
First, let’s look at the quote from Matthew 19:17 this is when the Lord Jesus was approached by the rich young ruler and he asked a question saying: “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16 the context of these verses shows forth the truth of these verses.
The Deity of Christ
Our Lord’s deity was not diminished by His coming into the world. However, cults like the Christadelphians attempt to deny this truth. The purpose of this article is to consider Scriptures that they use (or, rather, abuse).
The “rich young ruler” addressed the Lord as “Good Master,” or “Good Teacher” and asked Him, “What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” The Lord replied, “Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God” (Matthew 19:16, 17). Some claim that here the Lord Jesus is saying that He is not God, however, the opposite is the case.
The man was mistaken on two counts. First, he thought that he could get eternal life by his own works “What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”. Second, he only recognized Jesus as a good teacher, not as God. The Lord’s response points out the inconsistency of what the man was saying. If He is not God, the man cannot rightly call Him “good.” If He is “good,” He must be God. Thus, He is not denying that He is “good” or that He is God. He is showing the man that He is “good” because He is God. Contrary to it being a denial of His deity, it is an affirmation of it.
By fully understanding the context of the scriptures we understand that Jesus Christ is God and was asking the “rich young ruler” in the form of a question, are you confessing that I AM God? After which the Lord guided him through the commandments showing him that perfection is God’s requirements and because this man was trusting in his own works for salvation. The Lord had to show him that he’s not capable of keeping the law since he’s not perfect.
Only God alone is perfect and that in itself proves the Lord Jesus Christ as being God. Only He was perfect without sin just as (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22) Paul and Peter affirmed in their epistles. The Lord Jesus is the light of the world and has no darkness in Him (John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:46).
1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The Christadelphians argue that because God cannot be tempted and because Christ was tempted therefore He’s not God? Is that really logical to think because something was attempted therefore that’s proof that Christ was not God? This kind of thinking is faulty and irrational. satan was not going to sit back and not try to thwart God’s plan of salvation and just because he tried to do so doesn’t in any way take away the fact that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.
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.
It was not possible for the Lord Jesus Christ to sin but satan is still going to try, the same is true with believers, we are purchased by the blood of Christ and belong to Him but satan is still going to try to tempt the child of God and cause us to stumble. And while that may be so we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and kept until that glorious day when we’re with the Lord. We can agree that God cannot be tempted and it’s impossible for Him to sin but that doesn’t mean the enemy is not going to try.
To the Christadelphian
To those who identify as being a Christadelphian, you have a responsibility to look into this for yourself. Don’t allow others to influence/indoctrinate you into false teaching which is leading you away from God’s truth. I hope that you’ll follow these postings as this is not an attack on you. We are reaching out to you because your precious soul is at risk of ending up in hell, separated from God for all eternity. The scriptures speak of the Bereans who were more noble than those in Thessalonica and searched the scriptures daily to make sure those things were so or true (Acts 17:11).
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
Consider the majesty and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, He alone can lay claims to all of these and more because He is the great I AM. We hope and pray that God will open your eyes to the truth of His word that you may have eternal life. Remember Paul the apostle said that it’s possible for you to fall for “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4) which is a false Jesus and that’s who the Christadelphians fell for. A Jesus which has no power to save, we want you to come to know the true Lord Jesus of the Bible.
Whatsoever Things Are True 