Sabrina whisks away on her new bicycle. She is full of joy, and can hardly wait to show her friends her new bike at the local playground. As she speeds past an alley, a drunk driver fails to yield, and hits her, sending her sprawling into a fence. Witnesses nearby call 911, and she is quickly picked up by paramedics. Soon the parents are notified, and they rush to her side at the nearby hospital. Upon their arrival doctors solicit their approval to administer 2 pints of blood, seeing she experienced a severed artery. The parents immediately reply, "no we're Jehovah's Witnesses and we refuse blood transfusions." The medical staff, reconfirms the criticality of the blood, but the parents refuse.
After requesting a court order to save the girls life, time is running out. Sabrina is in a coma, and vital body functions are shutting down. The medical staff is pleading with the parents while awaiting judicial intervention. The parents love their daughter, but won't challenge the Watch Tower forbiddance of blood. Then suddenly Sabrina's heart stops, she no longer breathes.......she is dead........
This is the all too common occurrence within the organization called The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (WT). Thousands of children have been sacrificed on the altar of the Watch Tower. BARC has researched the Watch Tower and will shine the light of God's Holy Word on it's teachings. We will give biblical answers to the numerous WT diversions from truth. But let us begin with an overview of it's origin, influence, and checkered past Visit WWW.FREEMINDS.ORG.
Throughout early Church history, there has arisen many oppositions to it, politically and doctrinally. One such adversary was the Arian heresy, which denied the Deity of Jesus Christ. The Arian heresy challenged the cornerstone of Christianity; 'Jesus being true God and true man.' Arians affirmed that Jesus was merely the first and greatest creature of God's creation and was elevated to the rank of 'a god'. This teaching first appeared in 319 A. D. with Arius of Alexander, a teacher and Presbyter of the Alexandrian church in Egypt.
There was much Greek mystic thought in Egypt during this time since the Greeks conquered Egyptian civilizations. The rationalistic theology of Greece had begun to infiltrate Christian doctrine, forever seeking a reasonable explanation to revelations and mysteries that were never intended to be understood outside of the mind of God. The most profound and mysterious of those revelations was the Trinity. Seeking to explain away this mystery, certain of the Greek influenced theologians of the era criticized the part believed most vulnerable, the Nature and identity of Jesus Christ.
Prominent among these theologians was Lucian of Antioch, leader of the Syrian church. Lucian was devoted to the concept 'once the Son of God was not'. He was killed by over zealous members of the orthodoxy for his heresy. Lucian cursed his murderers, for his prize pupil Arius generated more opposition and heresy than Lucian. Arius taught that (1) If God the Father gave birth to the Son, Jesus had to have a beginning of existence.(2) Once the Son was not. (3) He was created out of nothing. Arius arrived at this seemingly reasonable theory because he did not fully comprehend or apprehend the scriptures.
Arius sought to supply answers where the Bible did not completely expound upon, namely how Jesus could be both God and man, but staying true to each nature. Arius dared not deny, but accepted the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6, but never rescinded or renounced his errors. The great gospel warrior Athanasius, battled Arianism until it led to the Council of Nicaea which convened in Bithynia the summer of 325 A.D. Athanasius had the pleasure of seeing the Arian theology officially condemned as heresy, and it's leaders excommunicated. 300 bishops banded together against the Arian minority of 30, (which dwindled to 18) as the Council set it's stamp of approval on what the scriptures always taught, that Jesus is true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20).
The Council of Nicaea drew once and for all a line of demarcation between the biblical doctrine of God and the spirits of error. The Arians would ascribe to Jesus titles of His Father, but would deny Him attributes of the Fathers Nature, and essence. The Council concluded that if Christ be not of one nature with His Father and the Holy Spirit, then He must be inferior to them and the unity of the Godhead becomes a hollow linguistic sham.
Today the mystery (2 Timothy 3:16) of the Trinity remains unsolved as it did in the year 325 A. D. The rationalistic mind attempting to analyze God by a scientific or pragmatic approach still rejects what it can't term 'reasonable'. There are those who still dishonor and demote Jesus Christ from His Deity, and eternal Nature. This Arian heresy is revived and repackaged under a new name: 'The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Jehovah's Witnesses' (WT). We at BARC would like to say from our hearts that we love all Jehovah's Witnesses. We all have relatives and friends who are baptized members of the Society. We pray that Jehovah's Witnesses will see our hearts are reaching out to them, and we desire to present truths that the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society has hidden.
The WT began in 1879 by one Charles Taze Russell, who embraced the Arian ideology. He founded ''Herald of the Morning' which developed into today's Watch Tower magazine. The Watch Tower has evolved into a circulation of 17.8 million copies per month in over 106 languages. Pastor Russell incorporated ''Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society' in 1886. Russell wrote six books entitled ''Studies in the scriptures.' The seventh volume 'The Finished Mystery' caused a split in the organization. The largest group followed the second leader Judge Rutherford. Under Rutherford the group evolved into it's present name 'Jehovah's Witnesses'.
Pastor Russell was involved in many unscrupulous activities such as selling 'Miracle Wheat' seed, reported to produce five times more wheat than other seeds. He owned 999 of the 1,000 shares of Watch Tower stock, essentially making all contributions the property of Russell, since he owned the stock. Pastor Russell taught the Egyptian Pyramids were God inspired structures, he used the dimensions and measurements of the pyramids to prophesy and predict Armageddon in 1914. This is also validated by his gravestone being constructed to look like a pyramid. There is additional evidence Russell had corrally ties to the mystery religion of Masonry. Russell was a deceiver, he claimed to have a great knowledge of Greek and Hebrew, and was challenged by Reverend J J. Ross, pastor of the James Street Baptist church of Hamilton, Ontario. Ross wrote a blistering pamphlet denouncing Russell's theology.
Russell brought a libel suit against Ross for "defamatory libel" in an effort to silence Ross. However, Ross used the libel suit to demonstrate that Russell was not a scholar, or theologian. Ross considered Russell's whole system, anti-rational, anti-scientific, anti-biblical, anti-Christian, and a deplorable perversion of the gospel of God's dear Son. Ross had stated that Russell had no schooling or knowledge of the dead languages (Greek, Hebrew). To prove his purpose of the libel suit, Russell had to demonstrate his knowledge of languages.
During the hearing, Ross's lawyer, Counselor Staunton asked Russell, who swore before Almighty God to tell the whole truth, did he know Greek? Here is the transcript:
Question (Attorney Staunton): "Do you know the Greek alphabet"?
Answer (Russell): "Oh yes"
Question (Staunton): "Can you tell me the correct letters if you see them"?
Answer (Russell): "Some of them; I might make a mistake on some of them".
Question (Staunton): " Would you tell me the names of those on the top of the page, page 447, I have got here?"
Answer (Russell): " Well I don't know that I would be able to."
Question (Staunton): "You can't tell what those letters are? Look at them and see if you know."
Answer (Russell):" My way...."[he was interrupted at this point and not allowed to explain].
Question (Staunton): "Are you familiar with the Greek language?"
Answer (Russell): " NO !!!"
It is clear that the founder of the Watch Tower was a liar, perjurer. He first said he knew the language, then said he was shaky at it and would make mistakes, then finally with no place to go, admits he didn't know it. The cross-examination was not over. Let's view the transcript of Russell's responses to his credentials as a Bible teacher.
Question (Staunton): "Is it true you were never ordained?"
Answer (Russell): "It is not true."
At this point Attorney Staunton had to appeal to the magistrate to make Russell answer the questions directly. The magistrate ruled that Russell must answer the questions directed to him. Here are the results of the cross-examination:
Question (Staunton): Now, you never were ordained by a bishop, clergyman, presbytery, council, or any body of men living?"
Answer (Russell, after a long pause): "I never was."
Russell claimed that he was not divorced and had no judgments of alimony, Counselor Staunton clearly produced documents that proved Russell was divorced and had to pay alimony. Russell was a scandalous perjurer, pretending to be a God inspired man. This is similar to Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, he claims to be the instrument of God, but was a polygamist, with disdain for black people. How can good fruit evolve from a corruptible root? Russell wrote: No one can know God's plan for salvation without Russell's theology. He also stated; no one can study the Bible alone without his interpretations. Russell inspired most of the doctrines and concepts that the Watch Tower teaches today.
In 1908 the headquarters moved to Brooklyn, New York. Acres of land were purchased, included was a 'Kingdom Farm', a Bible School called Gilead. Russell continued his preaching until his death in 1916.
After Russell's death, total power was passed to Judge Rutherford. Rutherford gained acclaim by attacking all organized religions. He produced recordings, radio broadcast, blasting Christendom until his death in his mansion in 1942. Rutherford was a great orator, who could hold an audience spell bound. He was constantly at odds with the governments of the world. He was arrested and convicted for violating the "Espionage Laws" in 1918.He served time in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. He was released in 1919, and seen as a persecuted martyr-hero.
Nathan Homer Knorr, was elected President after Rutherford's death. He established Gilead Missionary Training School. He was diligent in following his predecessors footsteps, by opposing Christianity. Knorr died in 1977, and F. W. Franz was elected to replace him. With each succeeding president, the control of the Society grows stronger. One gleaming contradiction is the Watch Towers attempt to disconnect it's self from past leaders. They deny they teach the doctrines of Russell, but BARC will clearly demonstrate that just as Russell was a liar, the WT is also guilty of rank deception.
The WT wrote: "Who is preaching the teachings of Pastor Russell? Certainly not Jehovah's Witnesses! They cannot be accused of following him, for they neither quote him as an authority nor publish nor distribute his writings." Now let's look at documented fact, and see the truth. Historically Jehovah's Witnesses have quoted Russell numerous times since his death in 1916. In 1923 Judge Rutherford, heir to the Russell throne wrote a book about fifty pages long entitled "World Distress: Why and the Remedy." This president of The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society quoted Russell over sixteen times; referred to Studies in the Scriptures at least twelve times. He used six pages to promote Studies in the Scriptures. In 1925 WT leaders quoted Russell's prophetic chronology of 1914, in it's tirade against organized religion. The WT recommended Russell's writings in the back of the book Comfort for All People.
In the book Jehovah's Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, published in 1959, Russell was given high praise. The WT devoted about fifty pages to Russell's invaluable contributions to the Society and it's doctrines. As recent as 1978, in the publication Jehovah's Witnesses in the Twentieth Century, Russell is credited as the Bible teacher Jehovah used to begin the organization. The WT wrote that Christ had appeared the second time on earth since 1874.Rutherford claimed that Russell was used to bring to the attention of the people the understanding of the Bible. In 1953 the WT quote Russell five times in the pamphlet entitled Jehovah's Witnesses Christians or Communist?
Dr. Walter Martin, founder of the Christian Research Institute, determined that a careful perusal of the facts will reveal that Jehovah's Witnesses never stopped being "RUSSELLITES" no matter how the WT denies it. On the death of F. W. Franz in 1992, vice president Milton Henschel was elevated to president. Present WT membership totals over 5 million, with over 40 thousand new converts being baptized in the United States.
The WT appears to be the most pristine and Godly organization on earth. They revel in the fact that their leaders have no salary, special titles or dress. The truth is, Jehovah's Witnesses have just as many divorces, drug addictions, alcoholics, psychiatric cases, pedophiles, homosexuality, social abuse cases, adulteries, fornications as any other group of people. The WT boast that they don't collect offerings in the Kingdom Hall, but with mandatory field service and the selling of magazines, 6 million people will raise millions of 'Benjamins' weekly. In other words: "Don't believe the hype!
The WT is an absolute autocracy. ALL authority is vested in The Governing Body, even the authority to understand and teach the Bible. The WT sternly asserts: "Jehovah's visible organization under Christ, is the channel for bringing the divine interpretation of His word to His people." The WT calls it's self the instrument giving meat to His people in due season. In the 1 December 2002 edition of the WT it says on pg.17, "private reading of the Bible is not enough" The discreet slave class (Governing Body) is needed. Witnesses are told to commit to the demands of the Society, for the Society is 'essential for life,' so they must submit and accept every aspect. They are required to adhere to all decisions, and it's scriptural understanding. Witnesses are to 'avoid independent thinking'.....The WT say's; Fight independent thinking. Finally the WT tells Jehovah's Witnesses....identify with the organization and serve God as part of it.
This requirement is contrary to scripture. Christians are told to test all things,(1 Thessalonians 5:21). Try or test the spirits (doctrines) to see if they are of God (1 John 4:1),Study to show ourselves approved, workmen that need not be ashamed, properly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul called the Bereans noble for questioning and testing his teachings to see if they were correct (Acts 17:11). Galatians 1:6 say's, if an angel or anyone comes and preaches any other gospel other than what Jesus and the apostles preached, let them be cursed and fitted for destruction in eternal torment. We are discouraged from submitting to organizations or people. We are to test all teachings in light of the Word of God!
Within the WT, questioning or testing is not permitted, and if discovered is punished swiftly. They are disfellowshipped for examining the organization. That's when they really discover the cruel, ungodly spirit that really persist within this cult. Family members, friends must shun you, and have nothing to do with you. They can't talk or have any communication with you. The WT is so callous that they will help you examine the teachings of other religious groups, but destroy you, if you question or examine them. Proverbs 18:17 reminds us; " He who states his case first seems right until his rival comes and cross-examines him." The Bible approves of testing and questioning spiritual things and doctrines. The WT strong armed policies of silencing its critics is unbiblical.
This is no different than the absolute control that Hitler exhibited over Nazi Germany, or Stalin exerted over Communist Russia, David Koresh utilized over his cult in Waco, Texas. The earmarks of all cults is it's members relinquish all thought, and reason to a person or organization.
The most subtle, yet deadly method of control engaged by the WT was the introduction of the 'New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures' (NWT). This version of the Bible was completed in 1950,with several revisions up and unto 1984. Jehovah's Witnesses claim that their translation is "the work of competent scholars" and gives clarity to the scriptures that other translations do not." We at BARC can't perform an exhaustive refutation of the authenticity of the NWT, but will demonstrate it's core errors.
The NWT claims it's scholars are superior to those who translated the King James Version of the Bible, The NIV, RSV, Amplified, ASV, Ryrie, Wuest versions. The WT also prop their translators above Wycliffe and Tyndale, Joseph Thayer, Edgar Goodspeed, Julius Mantey, J. G. Maachen, W.E. Vine, A. T. Robertson
Despite the WT claims, THE WATCH TOWER HAS NO SCHOLARS.
.............................NONE!!!!
The scholars they quote to support their fallacious doctrines are either quoted out of context, or they quote them in part. Johann Gerber who the NWT cites as the influence behind their translation of John 1:1 and John 8:58 is a European spiritual medium, that used demonic spirit guides to translate the Bible for him.
Dr. Robert Countess, who wrote a doctoral dissertation on the Greek of the NWT, concluded that the translation "must be viewed as a radically biased piece of work." At some points it is actually dishonest. At others it is neither modern nor scholarly." No wonder British scholar H. H. Rowley asserted, "From the beginning to the end, this volume (NWT) is a shining example of how the Bible should not be translated." Rowley went on to say "This translation is an insult to the Word of God." Dr. Julius Mantey, author of A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament, calls the NWT " A shocking mistranslation. "Dr. Bruce Metzger, professor of The New Testament at Princeton University, calls it " a frightful mistranslation, erroneous, pernicious, and reprehensible." Dr. William Barclay concluded that "the deliberate distortion of truth by this sect is seen in their New Testament translation...it is abundantly clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually dishonest."
The WT has no members of it's translation committee that had any training or recognized degrees in Hebrew, Arabic or Greek exegesis. We find it interesting that the WT hides the identity and credentials of it's translation committee, presenting their anonymity as humility. Imagine if a medical treatment center opened it's doors, and performed unorthodox procedures on it's patients. When a person had a cough the doctors removed their larynx. If a patient skinned their knee, the doctors amputated their leg. Soon the American Medical Association board investigated the facility, and the certification of the staff. The staff director responded by saying "Our staff members and their credentials are anonymous."
Any person possessing gray matter in their skull will want to see credentials and expertise before they let someone operate on it. The reason the WT doesn't list the translation committee members names is, they know they lack credentials. BARC with the assistance of the Christian Research Institute (CRI) has discovered who they are. They included Nathan Knorr, (president of the Society at the time), Fredrick W. Franz, Albert Schroeder, George Ganges, Milton Henschel. ( current president). None had any university training at all except Franz. He had two years, but dropped out never completing even an undergraduate degree.
Franz while being questioned as the NWT committee representative, admitted he could not translate Genesis 2:4. Here is the transcript of the Pursur's Proof of the cross-examination held on Wednesday, November 24,1954.
Q. Have you also made your self familiar with Hebrew?
A. (Franz) Yes.
Q. So that you have a substantial linguistic apparatus at your hand?
A. Yes, for the use of biblical work.
Q. I think you can and are able to read and follow the Bible in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French?
A. Yes.
Later, during the same cross-examination :
Q. You yourself, read and speak Hebrew, do you?
A. (Franz) 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
At this juncture we could put to rest any notion that the NWT has any credibility. The CRI asked a Hebrew professor at Biola University, if Genesis 2:4 was a difficult text to translate. The professor replied "a first year student would not pass if they couldn't translate that verse."
We will look at some glaring examples of NWT error, due to it's lack of linguistic scholarship.
The WT claims that the LLX contained the divine name Jehovah, before the original autographs were tampered with. The WT erroneously suggest that the tetragrammaton was used in the New Testament Greek as well. The WT seizes the responsibility to restore God's true name, and boast that their organization produced the first translation that restores it. The only trouble with that is, they don't technically know His true name. In the Old Testament Hebrew LLX, the Talmudic scribes/copyist wrote God's name as YHWH. That's four consonants and no vowels, which is unpronounceable. So the Y was changed to J, an E was added before the H an O was added, then the W was changed to V, an A was added before the last H, and there you have it: Jehovah.
If you are going to add vowels to make it pronounceable, you could have added any combination of vowels. It could have been rendered JIHIVIH, JEHEVEH, JAHAVAH etc, without any violation to the grammar. This shows empirically that the slanted insistence that God's name is 'Jehovah' is incorrect. It is only a devised name from the Tetragrammaton. If you look at scripture you will see many variations of God's name. The Bible calls God Adonai, Elohim, El Elyon, El Shaddai, Almighty. When reading the Bible there is a classic discourse between God and Moses in Exodus 3:14. Moses asked the question, Who shall I tell Pharaoh sent me? God had every opportunity to say: Tell Pharaoh; Jehovah has sent you. But what did God say? He said; "Tell Pharaoh, I AM, has sent you." Tell Pharaoh "I AM THAT I AM" has sent you. The Hebrew word for I AM is "Ehyeh" it is the closest term that we have as to the correct pronunciation of God's name.
The NWT translation committed the most egregious violation of grammar. The NWT inserted the Hebrew YHWH (tetragrammaton) into the New Testament Greek. All Greek scholars attest that the YHWH IS NOT FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT! This is once again another glaring example of the WT shoddy and callous mishandling of the Word of God. The New Testament word for God is theos or kurios. The Greek scholar W. E. Vine writes; In the Septuagint, theos or kurios translates the Hebrew words Elohim, Jehovah (YHWH). In effect the scholar testifies that YHWH is forbidden in the Greek..
The WT agrees with Arius of Alexander, that Jesus is not God or Deity. So this requires that all text that teach Jesus is eternal or Deity be changed. It is similar to the person who commits a murder, they want the authorities to believe it was someone else, or it was a case of suicide, so they must discard or wipe off the murder weapon. They must add a suicide note, or relocate the body. The WT had to hide or erase the evidence in scripture that confirms Jesus Christ is God.
One of the ways they did it was with the NWT. They could never explain away the many passages that clearly taught that Jesus was God, so they developed a translation that obscured or altered them. We will examine some notable verses that teach that Jesus is God, and scrape through the veneer of NWT sabotage. We will look at John 1:1, John 8:58, John 10:33, John 20:28,Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, Colossians 1:16, Philippians 2:9-11 Acts 5:3,Acts 13:4, Acts 20:28,Hebrews 1:6-8, Revelation 1:7-8, Revelation 1:18.
The Body of Christ, by reading the Bible has learned that God has revealed Himself in three persons, they are co-equal, eternal, distinct, of the same nature, substance, essence. Yet the Bible teaches that there is only one God. The sum of this revealed truth resulted in the term entitled 'Trinity'. The term means three persons comprise the one true God. The WT does not believe that partly due to it's attempt to defame anything taught by the Catholic Church of Rome. We at BARC disagree with many teachings of Roman Catholicism as well. The Protestant Reformation resisted all of Rome's heresies, but never departed from the clear doctrinal teachings of scripture. WT adherents remark, "the word Trinity is not in the Bible, so it isn't true." This narrow premise evaporates when the facts demonstrate the Watch Tower uses numerous terms that are not in the Bible. The WT uses terms such as Kingdom Hall, Jehovah's Society, active force, Theocratic Millennial Kingdom.
The WT say's "...Satan is the originator of the Trinity doctrine."
"Any trying to reason out the Trinity teaching leads to confusion of mind."
"The Holy Spirit is not a person, it is God's active force."
"The 39 books of the Hebrew Scriptures, nor the 27 inspired books of the Christian Greek Scriptures provide any clear teaching of the Trinity."
"Certainly the apostle John was not so unreasonable as to say that someone (the Word) was with some other individual (God) and at the same time was that other individual (God)"
Jehovah's Witnesses by reading the WT interpretation of the scriptures and reading the NWT deny the Trinity.
The main ingredient in the recipe of error is: The Bible and another book.
If you are reading this, and you are a Witness or share in WT teachings, let's make a proposition. If the Bible calls three different persons God, but proclaims there is only one God, would you acknowledge there is a basis for Christians belief in the Trinity, and that the WT is wrong? Let's explore the Bible and see its conclusion.
Many people claim that the Trinity doesn't make sense, they say it's confusing. The premise is, if it's hard to comprehend then it's not from God. Well, we have a question for you, Is it difficult to comprehend that God was always here? That Jesus was born of a virgin? You as a finite human being, can't comprehend that someone was here infinitely. But you believe it! You can't comprehend how our immense universe functions. You don't understand how negative charges in an atomic furnace hold together. You don't understand how microscopic microprocessors function, but you use them. You don't understand the science of aerodynamics, but you will purchase a ticket and trust your life on it, traveling 500 miles per hour at 35,000 feet.
There are several things we believe without fully understanding it. God does not ask us to comprehend it, just apprehend it. We must trust it, and believe it, because it's in scripture. Our understanding will be clear when we see Christ.
John 1:1 says, in the KJV, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Wuest translation says; In the beginning the Word was existing, and the Word was in fellowship with God the Father, and the Word was as to His essence absolute Deity. The Amplified Version reads; In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. The contributing scholars to these translations are some of the worlds foremost Hebrew and Greek scholars. Frances Siewart (Litt. B, B.D. M.A. Litt D), M.R. Vincent, J. H. Thayer, A. T. Robertson, E. C. Colwell, Julius Mantey, Kenneth Wuest.
The WT has been negligent in its spiritual fiduciary responsibility, and opposes the clear teachings of scripture in an effort to maintain organizational views.
The NWT translation renders the verse John 1:1; In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was 'a god'.
The Greek reads in John 1:1; "In the beginning [or origin" Greek arche] was the Word [Logos] and the Word was with God. [ton theon] and the Word was God [theos]. Contrary to the Emphatic Diaglott and the NWT. The Greek construction leaves no other possible rendering of the text. Continue to read and let the 'TRUTH' make you free! The subject of the sentence is word (Logos), the verb was. There can be no direct object following 'was' since according to grammatical usage intransitive verbs take no objects but instead predicate nominatives, which refer back to the subject, in this case, word (Logos). The Greek scholar E. C. Colwell formulated a rule that clearly states that a definitive predicate nominative (in this case, theos-God) never takes an article when it precedes the verb (was), as we find in John 1:1. It is easy to see that no article is needed for theos (God) and to translate it 'a god' is both incorrect grammar and poor Greek since theos is the predicate nominative of was in the third sentence-clause of the verse and must refer back to the subject, word (Logos). Christ, if He is the Word "made flesh" (John 1:14). can be no one else except God unless the Greek text and consequently God's word be denied.
The WT claims that their rendering is correct, but remember, they have no scholars! Read W. E. Vines comments on theos in Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words pg.500.Vine say's, concerning John 1:1; To translate it literally 'a god was the Word' is misleading. Moreover the Word is the subject of the sentence, exemplifies the rule that the subject is determined by its having the article when the predicate is anarthrous" (without the article).
The NWT is correct in the first portion of the text; In the beginning was the Word. The Bible teaches as well as the NWT that Jesus is the beginning, (Colossians 1:18) This fact, that the Word was here in the beginning is established. John 1:14 says; the Word that was here in the beginning was Christ. Genesis 1:1 tells us that in the beginning God created. So we can deduce that Jesus the Word was the Creator in the beginning. In John 1:1, the NWT claims that absence of the definite article requires the translation 'a god'. There are several verses where the absence of the definite article is present, but the text makes no sense. They don't do it in Matthew 3:9, 6:24, Luke 1:35, 78,John 1:6,12-13,18,Romans 1:7,17. You can't honestly render theos 'a god' in John 1:1 and then render it 'of God' in Matthew 3:9,Luke 1:35, John 1:6.
We could list at great length, but suggest consultation of the Greek New Testament by either D. Erwin Nestle or Westcott and Hort, in conjunction with the Elements of Greek by Francis Kingsley Ball on noun endings, etc. Then if Jehovah's Witnesses are insistent on the fallacious "a god" rendition, then they at least should be consistent. The facts are that the NWT uses and remove the articular emphasis whenever it suits their fancy, regardless to the grammatical laws to the contrary. The WT has been notorious for half-quoting scholars to support their shoddy translation. Dr. Julius Mantey said; 'he was quoted out of context by the WT and wrote them stating " There is no statement in our grammar that was ever meant to imply that 'a god' was a permissible translation of John 1:1" and it is neither scholarly nor reasonable to translate John 1:1 'The Word was a god'. With this mistranslation, the NWT introduced polytheism (more than one God) into the Bible. Isaiah 44:6, states there was no other God/god formed. The NWT translation in an effort to demote Christ opened the door of heresy, by teaching there is a big God and another little god.
Charles Darwin didn't believe that God created the universe, so he wrote 'Origin of the Species' trying to explain away the biblical account of creation. Darwin called cells simple, but modern technology and atomic microscopes proved that Darwin's prejudices were not creditable. Similarly, the WT does not believe that Jesus is God, so they dismantle all verses that say otherwise. However, scholars prove that the NWT is not creditable. The Bible does not teach that there are three God's, we know there is only one. The Bible tells us in John 1:1 that there are two persons who existed in the beginning, and they are both called God. We will look at other text that tell us that the Spirit is called God, but there is only one God. The body of believers have embraced this truth since the first century. The first thing we learn about God is, He can do anything, and His ways are higher than ours. With that in mind, Is it possible that the Father, and His Son can be of the same substance?
The main characteristic of God is His eternality, is it plausible that there can be more than one eternal person? Especially if the scriptures tell us, "in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God". If we look at this example; Men conceive son's genetically composed of their same DNA, bone and blood. A man can't genetically produce a son of a different species than himself. How then, can God have a Son that is not eternal, composed of His same substance and essence? Jesus was not produced, nor did He proceed from the Father. The point is, in Father/Son relationships, they are the same substance.
The WT teaches its followers that Jesus is 'a god', a mighty one The Arch angel Michael. When he came to earth he was transformed into Christ, and after Calvary transformed back into Michael. The Bible paints quite a different picture of Michael. In Daniel 10:13, it calls Michael one of many chief princes. Jesus could not be 'one of many' since scripture gives Christ a unique position with the Father. Jude 9, opens a truth that the WT closes. Michael an angel, was unable to oppose Satan but proclaimed "The Lord" rebuke you. This is not Christ, Jesus had complete authority over the Devil. There is no place in scripture that teaches Christ was an angel?
If not for the slanted, biased attempt of the WT to change the Bible, this would not be an item of discussion.
John 8:58 is another text that the NWT changed to fit their theology. It reads in the KJV, which utilized more than fifty Greek scholars in it's translation. Jesus said unto them....Before Abraham was [born] I AM . When comparing this with the Septuagint translations of Exodus 3:14, and Isaiah 43:10-13 we find the translation is identical. Any intelligent scholar recognizes that 'IAM' is synonymous with GOD! Jesus literally said to the Jews, I am Jehovah God! The Jews understood the meaning of Christ claim, since they took up stones to kill Him for blasphemy. Jewish law gave five reasons for legal stoning, and remember Jews were legalist.(1) Familiar Spirits,(2) Cursing (blasphemy), (3) False Prophets,(4) Stubborn Rebellion,(5) Adultery, rape. The one they perceived Christ violated was number two, Blasphemy. We understand that Jesus didn't actually violate any law, the Jews, just as the WT, did not believe Jesus was the Logos [God in flesh] .
Jehovah's Witnesses declare that the Greek rendering of ego eimi (I AM) in John 8:58 is properly rendered in the 'perfect indefinite tense' (I have been," not "I AM" ). Accredited Greek scholars have unmasked the bold perversion of the WT, and expose the grammatical error of the NWT. First the NWT does not operate within standard rules of grammar when translating. In grammar there are verbs, predicates, nouns, nominatives, conjunctions, future, past, present tenses, etc. The NWT INVENTED A TENSE TO ALTER THE SCRIPTURES! The invented tense is called the 'perfect indefinite' tense. Communities drive their cars with standard rules, and signs. The Jehovah's Witnesses have been told that a red light means ACCELERATE, so they accelerate and get killed by a 18 wheeler in the intersection. The point is, there must be standard basics in our terminology and definitions. The world can't operate on the premise that 1+1=2, and the WT teaches that it equals 3. If nouns are subjects, the WT must not define them as prepositions.
Dr. Robertson, who is quoted as authoritative by the NWT translators, states "eimi is absolute". The phrase is used four times (John 8:24, 8:58,13:19,18:5). It is a reference to the Septuagint, Deuteronomy 32:39,Isaiah 43:10,Exodus 3:14). The phrase is used only to reiterate Jehovah's Lordship. The context is that Jesus knew the future, and only God has that attribute. This is clearly seen in John 13:19. The WT claims that the use 'I have been' is permissible since the phrase is a 'historical present'. But here we go again, with the red light meaning accelerate. Standard grammars reserve the use of historical presents to narratives alone. John 8:58 is not a narrative, but a firm declaration that Jesus was the I AM, [Ehyeh], and since Jehovah is the only 'I AM', Jesus was claiming to be one with God the Father, co-equal, the fullness of the Deity in the flesh. This is in harmony with the correct translation of John 1:1.
Colossians 1:15-17 says that Jesus existed before all things, and created all things. The WT inserted [other] to inject their theology into the text. This is like God saying, "all people whether white, yellow, or black are intelligent," then someone adds a word, rendering it "all people whether white, yellow [except] blacks are intelligent." It changes everything about the statement. The verse confirms Jesus as God, for if he existed before all things, He must be Creator. For there are only two categories of beings, the Creator and the things he created. If Jesus was before all things, He could not be one of the created things. This proves categorically, Jesus is the Creator.
Hebrews 1:3-6, tells us something the WT does not teach Jehovah's Witnesses. He [Christ] is the reflection of [his] glory and the exact representation of his very being (NWT). This passage establishes beyond a doubt that Jesus is of the same substance, essence as the Father. No creation is ever declared to be of God's very essence (Greek, hupostaseos) therefore, the eternal Word, who is the fullness of the Godhead [Deity] bodily (Colossians 2:9). The writer of Hebrews intended to portray Christ as Jehovah or he never would have used such explicit language as "the image imprinted by His substance."
Philippians 2:10-11 say's ;"And every knee shall bow, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [God], to the glory of God the Father." When comparing this verse with Isaiah 45:23 we can see Christ Deity leap right out at you. Isaiah reveals that to Jehovah "every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess. This is in alignment with John 1:14,God the Word became flesh, so Isaiah and Paul, and John were correct, Jesus is Jehovah.
Colossians 2:9 say's "For in Him [Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." The literal translation of the word Godhead (theotetos), is Deity, so in Christ all fullness of the Deity dwells in the flesh.
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, which the WT calls 'comprehensive' gives a complete analysis of theotetos. Jehovah's Witnesses can't forget that Thayer was a Unitarian who denied the Trinity as well, so he was more apt to accept their view. However, his scholastic integrity to the languages prevailed. Thayer states, theotetos [Godhead/Deity] is a form of theos (Deity), or in his own words "the state of being God". In other words, Christ was the fullness of the Deity (Jehovah) in the flesh! The Emphatic Diaglott correctly translates theotetos 'Deity.' The NWT which possesses no Greek scholars renders it {the divine quality} robbing Christ of His true Deity. Thayer rebuffs the NWT by explaining that theot (Deity) differs from theiot (Divinity) as essence differs from quality.
John 5:18 tells us, "[He] said God was his Father, making himself equal with God. The Greek term ison (equal) can't be debated; nor is it contextually or grammatically allowable that John is merely recording what the Jews said about Jesus, as the WT regrettably argues. The sentence structure clearly demonstrates JOHN SAID IT! In the Jewish mind, claiming to be the Son of God means equality with God. The WT fails to understand that being the Son does not constitute inferiority of Nature or class. If a human has a son, is the son less than human? No! The son is of the same nature, essence and substance as the father. The WT uses the narrow argument that Jesus being the 'Son of God' indicates that's all Jesus was. But before he was called Jesus He was called the eternal Word, equal with God the Father.
Revelation 1:7-8 says; "He is coming in the clouds.....I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End says the Lord God, He who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. The WT lied in the publication "Should You Believe In The Trinity?" (1989). They state on page 13, Jesus is never called the Almighty. When you read Matthew 24:30, it is evident that the one coming in clouds in Revelation 1:7-8 is Jesus the Almighty. It must also be noted that Isaiah 44:6 says that only Jehovah is the First and Last, Alpha and Omega, Jesus claimed that title in Revelation 1:7 as well.
Revelation 1:17-18 proclaims that the First and Last was eternal, died, but resurrected and possesses the keys of death and Hades. At this juncture the WT is in a doctrinal corner. This is where the proverbial rope runs out, and the doctrinal neck breaks. If the WT insist that the verse is speaking of the Father, (Jehovah in their vernacular), then they must also claim that the Father died. If they properly assert that the text is speaking of Jesus, then they have to acknowledge that Jesus is the First and Last. They remember Isaiah 44:6 says; Jehovah or God is the only First and Last.
Isaiah 7:14 says "A virgin shall bear and conceive a son and his name shall be called 'Emmanuel" Matthew 1:22-23 says; When Jesus was born, it occurred to fulfill the prophecy" His name shall be called Emmanuel which means "GOD WITH US". It does not say 'a god' with us, but GOD with us!
Isaiah 9:6 informs us of the attributes and identification of Jesus Christ. It reads; "Unto us a child is born a son is given: the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
The Watch Tower has danced around this passage in a way that would rival Bo jangles. The WT claims that this verse only confirms their view that Jesus is not God Almighty, but just a mighty God. Herein is the problem with this construct. The WT in their effort to deny the Trinity and Christ Deity, teach there is more than one God. This is contrary to everything that Christians have read in scripture. There is only one God (Isaiah 44:6). The WT's survival is conditioned on the biblical credulity of it's adherents. If JW's studied a reputable Bible for themselves, they would see the WT error.
In Isaiah 10:20-21, the Bible say's, Jehovah was the mighty God. We at BARC must ask JW's a serious question, Is Jehovah the only true God? We are certain that the answer is yes. Since Isaiah 9:6 teaches that Jesus is the mighty God, read Jeremiah 32:18. The text tells us that the true God, the Great God is the mighty one (God), Jehovah of armies! This is so clear, Jehovah is called the mighty God, Jesus is called the mighty God. So Jesus is the true God ! We have also noted that Jesus is called the Almighty, so there is no degrading of Christ as to His Nature, essence, substance.
1 Timothy 3:16 says; Great is the mystery... He [God] was manifest or seen in the flesh....preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.
1 Timothy 1:16-17 informs us .....that by believing on Jesus Christ one can obtain eternal life. Jesus is the King eternal, incorruptible, immortal, invisible, the Only God, be honor, forever....The WT claims the King eternal is Jehovah of course, however, the context of both passages are speaking about Christ, this is confirmed in Revelation 19:16, it tells us Jesus is the King of Kings.
Titus 2:13 testifies that; "We are awaiting for the blessed hope the glorious appearing, of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." Here Jesus is called the great God and Savior. The WT attempts to evade the ONE coming is Jesus by suggesting that two are coming, the Father Jehovah, and Jesus. This is refuted by a rule of grammar called the {Granville Sharp rule}. This rule insist that two singular personal pronouns connected by 'and' uniformly means both nouns refer to the same person. God and Savior= Jesus. Granville states "there is no exception in the New Testament." Matthew 24:30,Revelation 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Acts 20:28 proclaims; Take care of the church of God, which He Himself [God] purchased with His own blood. Here Paul affirms that God purchased the church with HIS OWN BLOOD! The NWT changed the verse and added the word [son], to strip Christ of His Deity.
John 20:28; Thomas said My Lord, and My God! Thomas was not using slang or a figure of speech, or Jesus would have rebuked him for using the Lord's name in vain. If he was improperly calling Jesus God, Jesus would have corrected him. Jesus was Lord and God, the glorified Ancient of days. This is why He accepted worship from the disciples.
Micah 5:2 says, ....Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little among the clans of Judah, yet out of you shall come the deliverer, ruler of Israel. Whose goings forth have been from old ancient of days, from everlasting eternity.
Zechariah 12:10; reminds us that Jehovah claimed He was the one who would be pierced.
Genesis 1:26 shouts out, "Let "US" [Father, Son, Holy Spirit] make man in "OUR" image and likeness." This is even properly translated in the NWT. Only God has creative ability. The "US" didn't include angels, for they are created beings. There are only two categories, Creator & creation. The only plausible conclusion to apprehend is, the one God is a plurality. The term Elohim (God) means, plurality. If this is not the case, Why didn't the passage read, Let ME make man in MY image?
Genesis 11:7 says;" Let "US" go down and confound their language." Once again the plurality, yet oneness of God is seen in the text. This is an affirmation that the same Creator in Genesis 1:26 is operating in His plurality concerning the affairs of His creation. If not for WT deception, this could not be missed.
Genesis 18; Gives us the most compelling account in scripture as to the marvelous truth of God's unity, oneness, and plurality. Allow me to expound on the chapter. Abraham was around one hundred years old, along with his barren wife Sarah they resided by the plains of Mamre. God approached Abraham at his tent, but appeared as three men. Abraham recognized correctly that the three men were the 'ONE GOD' for he bowed down to the ground worshipfully, and said , " My Lord or [God] (singular), don't pass by your servant." Abraham goes on to say, "wash your feet, rest yourselves " (plural),..."refresh and sustain your hearts (plural) before you go any further, for that is why you have come to your servant." Abraham was not mistaken, or committing blasphemy, for he saw what Genesis 1:26, Genesis 11:7 revealed, that God is an 'US', and the 'US' came and visited the "Father of Faith" Abraham. We see that the patriarch Abraham, worshipped and served the three, that are the one God.
We at BARC find other definitive truths in this chapter of Genesis, the axiom of one being three is solidly established. The 8th and 9th verses speak of the three eating and making enquiries about Sarah and her barrenness. The 16th verse speaks of the three looking and walking towards Sodom. Chapter 19 speaks of two angels arriving in Sodom at Lots house. Verse 24 reads in the NWT, "Jehovah [on the earth] made it rain, sulphur and fire from Jehovah from the heavens..." It must be understood that angels have the ability to appear as men, so certainly God can appear as angels or men.
To shed light on the biblical principle, Genesis 32:23-32; gives us the graphic account of Jacob, being confronted by a Man, which wrestled with him all night. The Man changed Jacobs name to Israel, and when Israel asked the Man his name, the Man described as an Angel declined to answer. So Israel (Jacob) called the place Peniel, for he saw GOD FACE TO FACE! It is vividly apparent that God in the appearance as a man wrestled with Jacob, and was described as an angel. So when looking at Genesis chapters 18 & 19 we must see the interchangeable manifestations of God. We see that during Christ resurrection, Luke gives the account of men standing at the tomb, Matthew say's the two were one great angel. Mark say's that one man was standing there. Were they confused, or is it consistent that angels, can appear as men? Therefore, God can easily appear as a man or angel. Hebrews 13:2 say's; "be careful to entertain strangers (men) for we may unknowingly be confronting an angel appearing as a man." (my paraphrase).
So in summation of Genesis chapters 18 & 19, we must glean the facts that the only persons who are worthy of worship is God. Abraham fell before the three men, Lot fell before the two angels, and they never resisted adoration, reverence or being called Lord, or Jehovah. God appearing as men or angels would naturally accept worship or adoration. When men fell before natural angels, (not God appearing as an angel) they instructed men to stop and reiterated the fact that "only God is to be worshipped". In Revelation 19:10 we see where John made the error of worshipping what John thought was God. The angel said "Get up" I am just a servant just like you and the other Christians. Then the angel says "[only] worship God!" In other instances where men fell before angels, the act was an overpowering presence accompanied by trembling fear or weakness, not reverence adoration or worship.
Colossians 2:9 reveals that "All the fullness of the Godhead (Deity) dwells in bodily form." This is conclusive evidence from the scriptures that Deity was in Christ. The NWT changed it to read "......all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily." That's it, low key, no big deal! It appears to be a camouflaged presentation of Christ Deity in scripture.
Hebrews 1:6; describes where God said "........... let all the angels of God worship Him (Jesus)." The WT has been evasive in their exegesis, for the 1961 and 1970 editions of the NWT say's worship Him (Jesus). Somehow this truth temporarily escaped the censors knife. Later editions read "do obeisance to Him" The Greek word for worship is prokuneo, this is the same word in Revelation 22:8-9;where once again an angel say's prokuneo (worship) God. If it means worship in Revelation 22:9; Then it's worship in Hebrews 1:6;and Matthew 28:17; not obeisance. If the WT was honest, they would render them all worship or all obeisance. But since they accept worship for the Father in Revelation 22:9; and reject worship for Jesus, they change the words to fit their beliefs.
W. E. Vine in his Expository Dictionary of Greek Words explains, the term obeisance is only used in scripture when referring to GOD!! The WT by using terminological sleight of hand, tried to avoid the truth, hoping that Jehovah's Witnesses would not test them and find out, obeisance meant worship!! Jesus was worshipped, and was true God. They have not told the Jehovah's Witnesses that trust it to interpret the Bible for them this truth: The Father told angels to worship the Son. The angel in Revelation 22:9; said, "I am a servant just like you John, only God can be worshipped." Unless once again the truth confirms that Jesus is true God worthy of worship.
Acts 10:25; records where Cornelius worshipped Peter, it was improper to worship anyone but God, so Peter rebuked, and corrected him.
Matthew 28:17; mentions the disciples worshipped Christ, it was proper, and Jesus accepted it, for He was true God.
Luke 4:7 speaks of Christ during His temptation and duel with Satan. Satan asked Christ to worship him. Jesus referred to the passage in Deuteronomy 6:13, that say's "Only to Jehovah, should we fear (reverence) or serve (worship)." Deuteronomy 10:20 reaffirms this truth. The dilemma that the WT faces is, Christ who did the perfect will of the Father said, "only Jehovah can receive worship," but Jesus accepted worship. Then the Father commands angels to worship Jesus. The Father said "honor the Son even as you honor the Father" (John 5:23). We have a major contradiction or, we have another confirmation by the scriptures that Jesus is true God.
Hebrews 1:8; thunders out a truth that provides empirical evidence that Jesus is God. Thank God, The NWT committee overlooked this one. For in the NWT it reads, "But with reference to the SON: "God is your throne forever...... " There is no ambiguity, the WT in it's own translation confirms that the Father calls the Son GOD!
Any rational unbiased enquirer can see there is a mountain of evidence in scripture that proves Jesus is Deity, eternal, worshipped, that He is called God, eternal Life. Although the Watch Tower presents Christ in an aleatory fashion, the Society is wrong in their demotion of Christ. And Jesus said, "If you don't believe 'I am He', you shall die in your sins". This is not a peripheral or cursory statement. Our eternal destinies hinge on our belief that Jesus was God in human form.
There are some text the WT utilizes to support their view that Jesus is subordinate to Jehovah. We will exegete them, so the proper meaning can be brought forth.
Matthew 6:9 is used by the WT to teach that the name Jehovah is to be sanctified. They insist that Christians can only pray in Jehovah's name. But Jesus never used Jehovah when He prayed. Look at John 14:36..."Abba, Father all things are possible to you...." John 17:1; "Father the hour has come...." John 11:41; " Father I thank you...".In Matthew 6:9 Jesus proved definitively, that praying using the name Jehovah was not required. But when you read Acts 7:59-60, Stephen prayed, "LORD JESUS, receive my spirit..." The Watch Tower changed verse 60 to Jehovah, but left v.59 Jesus. Jesus was the object of prayer, worship, and called God throughout scripture.
John 14:28 says ".......My Father is greater than I.
This is a favorite in the WT playbook. When attempting to refute the Trinity or the Athanasian Creed. The WT has taught that this proves Jehovah is greater or superior to Christ. However, when you read Philippians 2:6-7, it must be remembered that while on earth, Jesus did not grasp after or choose to operate in His Deity (equality with God), but willingly humbled Himself and made no reputation, taking on the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men. The passage does not teach Christ wasn't Deity, He just didn't elect to operate in it for the greater need of redeeming sinful mankind. Because of that fact, Jesus name is defined as being above all names. All shall bow and confess that name, Christ Jesus. Salvation can only be obtained by that name. Jesus humbled Himself and is exalted above all.
That's why Jesus could pray to the Father, submit to His will, call the Father God. That's why Jesus acting as a man had to sleep, eat, use the toilet. He had human emotions and frailties. He felt lonely, had despairs, disappointments, and wept. He had human limitations, He asked questions, didn't know the time of the end of the world, didn't know how many fish and bread were available to feed the five thousand. Jesus didn't operate in His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence while robed in flesh.
The incarnation was the act of God identifying with man. God (The Word) humbled Himself, came to earth and lived the perfect life that no man could live, and shed His blood. Jesus was fully God and fully man, becoming our High Priest, touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Although not an exact analogy, we can see this truth somewhat portrayed in the comic character {'Superman'. Superman had enormous power before he came to earth and took on the personality and name of Clark Kent. He acted like a passive, humble, common man working at the Daily Planet.} Although He was Superman he humbled himself, and operated as Clark Kent. But he never stopped being Superman!
The WT has not taught these truths, that Jesus was also made lower than angels while on earth ( Hebrews 2:9) in order to redeem mankind. But we also know that while on earth angels ministered to Him, and were under His control. The point is, Jesus could rightly say while on earth operating as a humble servant,' My Father is greater than I", for 'greater' is descriptive of position. Positionally the Father was greater than Christ during His earth walk. Jesus never said "My Father is better than I", for 'better' is descriptive of Nature, essence, substance. Jesus will again subject Himself to the Father after completing His redemptive work (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).Jesus the Word will rule with the Father and Holy Spirit. They in harmony will position themselves as eternal God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Most Jehovah's Witnesses don't realize the major revisions the WT has made over the years. Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Society, back in 1880 approved the 'worship of Jesus Christ' in an article. Russell also approved prayers to Jesus Christ.
The WT in July 1898, under the section "Interesting Queries" we read, "Question: The fact that our Lord received worship is claimed by some to be evidence that while on earth he was God the Father disguised in a human body of flesh, and not really a man. Was he really worshipped, or is the translation faulty?" Answer: "Yes, we believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worshipped, and properly so! "
From 1916-1940 the WT wrote several books indicating that Jesus should be worshipped along with Jehovah. We will list a few statements of the WT.
The Harp of God: Rutherford quoting Matthew 28:1-10; speaks of verse 9;"And they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him."
Deliverance:" Crucifixes were erected, and the people turned to these rather than let them intelligently worship the Lord Jehovah and The Lord Jesus Christ."
Vindication, vol.3:During the Millennium, "the princes will lead the people in their worship of Jehovah and of Christ."
Preparation: Rutherford wrote "All who live must worship and serve Jehovah and Christ Jesus."
Members of the Governing Body have taken harder and harder stands in their attack of the Savior of the world. The WT Charter was amended to rob Christ of His Deity. The Yearbook in 1945-53 read: "the purpose of the Society was to ..........worship Jehovah Almighty and The Lord Jesus Christ." The 1955 edition deleted the name Lord Jesus Christ. The 'Songbook' produced by the WT in 1905 had twice as many songs praising Jesus as there were praising Jehovah. In 1928 the number of songs extolling Jehovah and Jesus were equal. The 1984 edition had four times as many songs extolling Jehovah than Christ. The Society had made a diabolical decision to demote Jesus and make His Deity obscure among the Witnesses.
The WT, by using reputable translations before 1950, could not hide the scriptures confirming the equality of Jesus with the Father. However the formation of the NWT in 1950, marked the Societies deceptive 'blitzkrieg' at full throttle.
The Bible firmly establishes that Jesus is God, but are there clear references that indicate and teach that the Holy Spirit is eternal or God? We at BARC must declare there is synchronization and harmony in the Godhead. The Bible in Genesis 1:2; says, "the Spirit was moving over the waters in the beginning." The WT in an effort to dismantle the biblical teaching of the Trinity, had to also demote The Holy Spirit. The WT allowed Jesus to maintain His personhood, but the WT degraded the person of the Holy Spirit to a "force". The NWT calls the Holy Spirit either 'holy spirit' (without the definite article) or 'active force'. As we will demonstrate, the WT has made a grievous error, in presenting God the Holy Spirit as a power or force.
We have already established the fact that God is revealed in plurality (Elohim), that God revealed Himself as three persons. We will see that the third person is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit filled and controlled Jesus. In John 16:13 it reads, "When he the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead and guide into all the truth." "He will not speak on His own authority but what He hears he will speak...." We see first that the Holy Spirit is called a person 'He" not 'it'. Secondly we see that this person speaks words, hears, tells and has a mind. This is contrary to the concept that the Holy Spirit is an active force.
The Watch Tower contends that if the Spirit fills believers, it could not be a person. The error in this contention is, if we use the same reasoning, we would have to negate the personhood of the Father and Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:19 instills the fact that God (The Father), will fill us. Ephesians 1:23 mentions that Christ fills all and all. God the Father fills believers, and Jesus Christ fills believers as well. The WT should call both Father and Son 'its' or 'forces', since they fill believers.
Acts 13:2, describes the Holy Spirit calling and sending Barnabas and Paul to perform 'His' spiritual work. The question arises that the Holy Spirit must be less than God because He doesn't speak on His own authority. This does not diminish His Deity at all, for Jesus said, "I do nothing on my own authority or will, I do the will of Him that sent me." But we have listed a plethora of verses that confirm Jesus as God. It is also a fact that only God called the apostles to spiritual work.
Revelation 2:7, 2:29, 3:22 tells us to listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches. We see that in Revelation 2:1' God is speaking to the churches, but repeatedly the scriptures reminds us, 'God' speaking to the churches is, The Holy Spirit.
Just as in Hebrews 1:8 when the Father calls Jesus God, Jehovah's Witnesses were never taught that the Bible directly calls The Holy Spirit God. It is found in Acts 5:3-4, it say's; "But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit...." Peter say's in verse 4.......You have not lied to men but to GOD! Who did Ananias lie to? The Holy Spirit! Who did Peter explain Ananias lied to? God! Peter could have said, You lied to 'Jehovah's active force' but Peter knew, God was the Holy Spirit!
John 4:24 reminds us, that God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth. We have a question for the WT. Is God Holy? Is God a Spirit? So, wouldn't it be permissible to call God, Holy Spirit?
Romans 8:5, commands us to seek things that gratify the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:9-10, speaks of the Holy Spirit being the Spirit of Christ living in us as Christ dwells in us. Putting the Holy Spirit on the same functional level as Christ.
Romans 8:11, Calls the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of 'Him' who raised Jesus from the dead. That is God who raised Jesus. So in verse 9, He is called the Spirit of Christ. We see again that the Father, Son, Holy Spirit are harmoniously the one God.
Romans 8:16 calls The Holy Spirit Him. This destroys the active force theory.
Romans 8:26-27 teaches us that the Holy Spirit has attributes of personality. He bears, prays, intercedes, pleads, yearns, commands, testifies. The Holy Spirit has a mind, no sincere Jehovah's Witness can read these passages and conclude that the Holy Spirit is just a 'force' as the WT has portrayed Him.
1 Corinthians 12; explains that The Holy Spirit distributes gifts, "as He wills."
John 14:17; and 16:13; calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth.
1 John 5:6 or 7; reads "And it is the Holy Spirit Who bears witness, Because The Holy Spirit is The Truth !" Jesus said in John 14:6; "I am the Way the Truth and the Life." Jeremiah 4:2; proclaims God lives or is Truth. The Trinity is seen again, for all are called the Truth. The Holy Spirit has been granted the awesome mission of leading directing, and empowering the dynamic organism called the Church of Jesus Christ until He returns to reign eternally. The Holy Spirit is a person, called God in scripture. You may find 'The force' in a Star Wars movie, but not in Holy Scripture. The proposition was raised, 'if we could demonstrate from the scriptures that the Father is called God, and the scriptures taught Jesus was indeed God, and The Holy Spirit had attributes of, and was called God. Would the follower of the Watch Tower acknowledge that the WT was wrong?' It is difficult to do, when you've been convinced it was God's organization on the earth. This is a critical and crucial decision, "we have eyes, what do we really see?"
We see an interesting fact concerning the Trinity in John 2:19-22; Jesus said "if the temple was destroyed, 'He' would raise it up in three days." The Jews thought He was speaking of the building, but He explained He was talking of the temple of His body. They remembered Jesus promise when He was risen from the dead. So we must accept the fact that Jesus raised Himself from the dead. Romans 8:11; indicates the person of the 'Holy Spirit' is what raised Jesus from the grave. Romans 10:9; claims that 'God' raised Jesus from the dead. We have a contradiction, or it's true, they all did it, for all three are the one God.
Matthew 28:19; reads in the American Standard Version;" Go ye therefore and make disciples of all men baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. It is highly revealing that the 'name' is singular in the Greek, indicating there is one God, but there are three distinct persons in the Godhead-the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Theologian Robert Reymond draws our attention of this verse in the doctrine of the Trinity. (1) Jesus does not say "into the names [plural] of the Father, Son, and of The Holy Spirit, or what is its virtual equivalent.(2) "into the name of the Father, and into the name of the Son, and into the name of the Holy Spirit." as if we had to deal with three separate Beings. Nor does He say,(3) "into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (omitting the three recurring articles), as if "the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit might be taken as merely three designations of a single person. What He does say is this:(4) "into the name [singular] of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit," first asserting the unity, of the three by combining them all within the bounds of a single Name, and then throwing into emphasis the distinctness of each by introducing them in turn with the repeated article.
Matthew 3; reveals that at the Jordan baptism, Jesus was in the water, The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form of a dove, and the Father spoke from Heaven. All three working together in the Godhead at the baptism.
In 2 Corinthians 13:14; we see the Triune benediction to the letter including the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with them all.
The Trinity is not easy to comprehend as many verses are not easy to understand. The temporal finite mind will never clearly comprehend the eternal, infinite mind and purposes of God. The Christians task is not to discard or alter what is difficult, but we are tasked to study and rightly divide the word of truth.1 Corinthians 13:12 tempers us in that, we see now through a glass darkly, but when we see Him face to face we will see the mystery clearly. We are all commanded to believe what is revealed.
God is not 1+1+1=3, but triplex 1x1x1=1. God is composite oneness, He is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient. All three possess these qualities in scripture. Let's look at another proposition: Is it possible for God to hear all our prayers simultaneously? Can God be in Heaven and in Chicago simultaneously? Can God appear as a man on earth and still be eternal God in Heaven? Can God be Holy and Spirit? The answer to all questions is YES! We have shown by the scriptures, God did just that. Arius of Alexander denied it in 325 A.D., and the WT denies it today.
We will journey forward, examining other doctrines of the WT, cutting through the thick brush of doctrinal error.
Jehovah's Witnesses have been told that at death the body is annihilated, and the person becomes extinct. So they had to change verses that taught otherwise. In Luke 23:43; It say's "Truly (verily) I say unto you, today you shall be with me in Paradise. This teaches that there is no annihilation or extinction if a person that same day, would be in Heaven with Christ. The WT made a slick and subtle change, they moved the comma over one word and placed it behind the word 'today'. So it would say "Truly I say unto you today, you shall be with me in Paradise. This changes the thought and teaching of Christ concerning our eternal state.
Jesus meant that during the same day He was speaking, the thief on the cross would be with Him in Paradise. The NWT by moving the comma behind the word today, changes the meaning to: Christ was only highlighting the date when He was speaking. When you look at all other scriptures where Jesus used the term "Truly (verily) I say unto you," The comma always follows the word 'you,' only dishonest and biased translators would sabotage scripture to fit their premise.
The WT knows nothing of biblical hermeneutics, they allegorize text that are literal. The first rule of interpretation is always embrace the literal meaning unless another meaning is mandatory. Jesus spoke in parables, and always gave the literal interpretation of them. The WT does not follow that rule. Remember, they say red lights mean: Accelerate.
In John 3:3; the Bible says, "Truly I say unto you, unless a person is born again, they cannot see the Kingdom of God." The WT diminishes this truth, and insist that being born again is unnecessary. The WT has interpreted the Bible for JW's, and convinced them that being 'born again' is only for the 144,000 or the Heavenly class. Since most JW's are classified as the 'great crowd' or earthly class they don't require being born again (Watch Tower 2/15/86 pg. 14).This is why the number of participants in communion falls annually, only the Heavenly Class, that will be priest and kings with Christ can partake. The JW's must read John 3:3 and listen to what Christ said, not the WT. It say's EVERYONE must be born again, or they can't see the Kingdom of God.
1 John 5:1; say's, "Everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God."
Galatians 4:5-6; speaks of being adopted by the Spirit into Christ. Romans 8:14-16; again reveals we are born into God's family through 'spiritual adoption'. Romans 8:8-9;"......If Christ Spirit dwells in us we are in harmony with Him"......if we have not received Christ Spirit, that person is none of Christ." In John 3:3-5; Jesus told Nicodemus, It is imperative to be born again of the water and the Spirit to abide in God's Kingdom [in heaven and in earth].
The WT has erroneously taught that Heaven is for a selected few, by saying the 'great crowd' will inherit the earth. We will discuss the eternal status of the great crowd later. But the passages that the WT uses to teach that most Jehovah's Witnesses will remain on earth are misinterpreted. An example of WT error is seen in how they interpret Psalms 37:9,11,29 "For evildoers will be cut off: but the meek shall inherit the earth......The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.
{The context makes it apparent that the Psalm is not referring to some distant future time when God will remove all wicked people, and allow righteous people to live eternally on the earth. Rather, the writer is speaking of people in his immediate generations.} It is critical to recognize that the Hebrew word for earth in this context is speaking of land, specifically, the land of Judea, given by God as an inheritance to their fathers and their posterity forever (Deuteronomy 4:38). What does verse 29; mean when it says that the righteous shall inherit the land and dwell there forever? The Hebrew word for forever often means 'in the foreseeable future'. Simply put, it means that they would dwell in the land during their entire lifetime, as will their children, and so on.
Yes, Jesus taught in Matthew 5:5, that the meek will inherit the earth, but this is not the eternal state or abode of the righteous. It is a reminder of what God promised in Psalms 37.Revelation 21.1 confirms the truth of Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13, that the new created earth and heaven are one new universe. They are created perfectly for our new spiritual body, and eternal spirit. There will not be two separate eternal categories. The WT pulls the cover over it's head and then exposes it's feet. They teach that only 144,000 can go to heaven, but Matthew 5:10; informs us that those persecuted for righteousness sake, theirs is the Kingdom of heaven without restrictions of classes.
The NWT has twisted the doctrine of salvation (Soteriology) in that it teaches that man does not posses a soul, but is the soul. In many Hebrew text, soul is used interchangeably with the body and spirit of man. The WT ignores that fact and insist soul only means the body. This is easily refuted by two passages. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that there is a difference between soul and spirit. We will ask any sincere Witness to do a word study of the words Spirit, and Greek and Hebrew words nephesh, and psuche. Man is referred to as a soul in many passages, however, other text inform us that the body and the soul are distinct. The Bible clearly teaches that the soul departs at the death of the body (see Genesis 35:18,1 King 17:21-22,Revelation 6:-11).The Bible teaches, the soul not destroyed at physical death.
Matthew 17; unveils the panoramic event of the appearing of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration communing with Christ. We know that Moses had been physically dead for centuries, with no record of his resurrection in scripture. The WT claims that this was only a vision. However Greek scholar (see Thayer, 451) says, the term horama in this context is translated literally as "that which is seen-a spectacle" not a mere vision..
Luke 16:19-31; gives an historical account of the state of the redeemed and the state of the wicked after death.
Luke 20:37-38 , the Lord Jesus there speaking of the revelation God gave to Moses, makes it clear that when God said, I AM "the God of Abraham ,Isaac, and, Jacob." He was not the God of the dead, but the God of the living, for they had all been physically dead. The obvious conclusion is that their spiritual natures transcended their physical death.
Acts 7:59; affirms that Stephen's spirit separated at his physical death.
Philippians 1:22-24; teaches us that when Paul died, he would depart from his body and be immediately with Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:1-9; Paul testifies of being absent from the body and being consciously present with the Lord. Death in scripture is defined as: SEPARATION.
1 Corinthians 15:54-56; affirms Jesus destroyed death. Annihilation, and extinction are concepts foreign to New Testament theology.
Hebrews 4:12; demonstrates, man has a soul, spirit, joints, marrow (body).
1 Thessalonians 5:23; reveals that we have a body, spirit, and soul.
Revelation 6:9; gives view of those who had been martyred for Christ.
Revelation 20:4; speaks of the eternal component of men as souls.
The intent of the WT from the onset is to promote their doctrines, and blind men from the great benefits of salvation through Jesus Christ. Look at the agenda: Deny Christ Deity, dilute His names prominence, promote allegiance to the Society rather than Christ alone, convince men that they don't possess a soul that transcends death, convince JWs that Heaven is not for most adherents, diminish their desire to be saved, convince them that being born again of the Spirit is unnecessary. Follow the Societies position over the truths of scripture. The WT places focus on being baptized into an organization, the Bible emphasizes being baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-5).
The Bible in Ephesians 2:8-9 liberates us by saying, "We are saved by grace, through faith in Christ, not of works, lest any one can boast it is the gift of God". The WT has presented a religion that is a system of WORKS, RULES, DEEDS, CONFORMITY. The door to door 'field service' is not a cursory activity, it is a part of the works that supposedly earn you favor with God and the Society. Jehovah's Witnesses will tell you they do it willingly, some do, but don't think for a minute that a Witness will not be reprimanded and looked down upon if they don't purchase and distribute literature. Most of what justifies you with God within the organization are the things that the WT mandates. There is no room for free thought or nonconformity to WT requisites.
In Acts 16:30; the Roman jailer asked Paul and Silas, What must I do to be saved? The apostles didn't say obey the Theocratic Society, and conform to the teachings of an earthly organization, obey their rules, study the Awake or Watch Tower magazines, they said; Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shall be saved and thou house. The WT refuses to use the term as it relates to the JWs who trust it for truth. You will find out that Jesus placed the premium importance on being 'saved'.
Listen to the Bibles urgency for all men to be saved, In John 3:17, God clarifies the purpose of Jesus advent, was that the world through Him might be saved.
1Timothy 2:4 reminds us, God desires that ALL MEN BE SAVED and come to know the truth. The WT claims that it is the truth, but the Bible says that Jesus, the Word, and the Spirit are Truth, not an organization.
Christ and the apostles mention over 37 accounts where being saved is an imperative of the New Testament assembly. Why has the WT avoided the command and provision of Jehovah? Could it be that the WT has started down the road of Russellism and can't portray Christ and the plan of salvation properly, lest they concede their error, and loose their hold on their followers?
We at BARC challenge any JW to get a reputable Bible dictionary of Christian or Bible terms and study the following terms. Remember to study them in their context throughout the Bible.
Study: conversion, imputation, supplication, redemption, propitiation, reconciliation, sanctification, justification, glorification, adoption, remission, substitution, regeneration, preservation. These are essential to properly understand, if the Christian is to comprehend the length and breath of salvation. The WT has shaded and veiled these vital principles to JWs everywhere. We at BARC truly love all Jehovah's Witnesses, and pray that they find true liberation and communion in Christ.
In keeping with this theme of salvation, the WT interprets Revelation 7:4-9; and Revelation 14:1-4; as being a Heavenly class of Jehovah's Witnesses. The WT claims they consist of women, men, teens who have been baptized into the Society from all generations. The WT also teaches that the last participant in this class was born in 1935, to fit their false prophecy of when Armageddon would occur. Now read the verses yourself, and listen to what your heart tells you they are saying. They should tell you that 144,000 descendants of the tribes of Israel were servants of God during the tribulation period. They are not a symbolic tribe or spiritual Israel for the tribes are individually listed so there would be no mistake of their origin. The 144,000, plus so many people that they were innumerable arrived at God's throne in Heaven. The verses also tell us they were washed in the blood of Christ and that the 144,000 were JEWISH, VIRGIN MEN!
The manner in which the WT allegorizes and sensationalizes the scriptures is not a misdemeanor, it is nothing short of a spiritual "class 1 felony."
Where in the Bible does it say that in 1935, the entrance to Heaven was closed, and a 'great crowd' would be gathered and restricted to the earth after that? NO WHERE !!! But the WT has perverted the truths of scripture to again keep sincere Jehovah's Witnesses in darkness. The WT forgot that in Revelation 19:1; it proclaims the 'great crowd' was in Heaven!
1 Corinthians 8:6 says, But to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we are in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. JW's say, There is one God, and who is He? The Father! So Jesus is not God! This appears plausible, but to see the consistent truth in scripture, we must not assume that the first part of the verse excludes Jesus unless we exclude the Father from the second part. For if we use the same line of reasoning, we would have to conclude that Jehovah is not Lord. For the text say's that Jesus is the one Lord. Isaiah 43:3 say's that Jehovah is the Lord, the Savior. Hosea 13:4 says there is no Savior but Jehovah. We could not deny Titus 1:13, that calls Jesus the Great God and Savior because of Isaiah 43:3, and Hosea 13:4.We must include all these truths and conclude Jesus and the Father are God.
Colossians 1:15 reads; He is the image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation. The WT cite this verse as proof that Jesus is not God, but an angel or created being. The WT has not properly taught JWs that the term 'firstborn' does not always mean the first one born or created. It often means rank, authority, priority. When you read 1 Samuel 16:11; it speaks of King David being the last-born son of Jesse. This is as far as you could be from the first one born. However, when you read Psalms 89:27 it calls David the first born. The term means David was preeminent, or promoted in rank above his brothers.
Genesis 41:51-52 records; that Manasseh was the firstborn son and Ephraim is the second one born. But in Jeremiah 31:9 it records that Ephraim was the firstborn. Here again it informs us that the word firstborn does not always mean the first- one- born.
Colossians 1:18 confirms this by saying; He is the Head of His body, the church, seeing He is the beginning, The Firstborn from among the dead, so that he alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand preeminent] (AMP) (also read NKJV).
The WT claims to speak for Jehovah God. It claims to be the voice and channel of God's truth. In this sense it claims a special position as a prophet. The Bible prophets were held to a strict standard when they spoke for God. If they proclaimed or foretold something in the name of Jehovah, it had to occur exactly as spoken 100% of the time, or they were defined as a false prophet (please read Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Jeremiah 23:15-32).
The WT has disqualified itself as a prophet or spokesman for Jehovah by its many false prophesies.
The WT in the booklet the Harp of God claims "the Lord's second presence (coming) would occur in 1874."
In the booklet The Time is at Hand it say's "The 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' will end in 1914, overthrowing the earths present rulership, is already commenced." The WT claims Christ came invisibly in 1914,and that He is presently ruling. But Matthew 24 and Revelation 1:7-8 say's, He is coming back and every eye shall see Him. In a 1972 booklet entitled Paradise Restored to Mankind By Theocracy, the WT changed its false prophecy of the worlds overthrow and Armageddon occurring. In the booklet, the WT attempting to cover its tracks, refashions the false prophecy to mean that Jehovah shook the spiritual demonic world, and that Armageddon is coming soon after 1972. The term parousia, speaks of presence, but in the context of Revelation 1:7-8, it speaks of tangible actual visibility. This is a classic example of the power of WT deception. A Jehovah's Witness can read the Bible and see where it say's every eye shall see Christ, and that Jesus will appear in the clouds, but reject what the Bible says, and accept what the WT tells them. Oh how our hearts go out to Jehovah's Witnesses.
Concerning Christ return, one of the Greek terms is apokalupsis, which carries the basic meaning of 'revelation', 'visible disclosure', 'unveiling', and 'removing the cover'. The word is used of pulling off a cover of a sculpture for everyone to see. The word is used for Christ second coming in 1 Peter 4:13. Another word used for Christ second coming is epiphaneia, which carries the basic meaning 'to appear'. The word literally means 'a shining forth'. It is used in Acts 1:10-11,Titus 2:13, 1 Timothy 6:14;These verses teach us, that just as Christ came the first time bodily and visibly, so shall He come the second time. The NWT incorrectly changes the word appear (epiphaneia) to 'manifestation' to support their false prophecies. We must never forget Matthew 24:29,30;.......At that time the Son of Man will appear in the sky.....They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky....
In the booklet Finished Mystery it say's, "in 1918, God would destroy the churches wholesale, and church members by millions would die in the streets during Armageddon....." Within the booklet, it interprets Revelation 12, as being the Popes and Bishops of Rome. Also it interprets the distance of 1600 furlongs in Revelation 14, as referring to the distance from Scranton, Pa. to WT HQs in Brooklyn, NY, if you travel by way of Hoboken Ferry & Lackawanna Railroad. Lastly it interprets the Leviathan in Job 40 'as being a steam locomotive, and the coupling link as its tongue.' Any sincere Jehovah's Witness should get "Finished Mystery" and examine for yourselves the error of this deceptive Society.
The Watch Tower edition 15 July 1924 say's, "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures, because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel....." Unfortunately, Jehovah's Witnesses sold their homes, businesses, and refused to plant crops, but the WT lied on God again.
The Watch Tower edition 1 November 1950 say's, 1914 is the starting date for the last generation before Armageddon.
The Watch Tower said that "Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the patriarchs would come back to earth. Judge Rutherford ordered the building of 'Beth Sarim' (House of Princes) which was completed in 1930.Witnesses contributed their monies to build it. Rutherford lived in this palatial mansion that had an equivalent value of over 1,000,000 dollars until his death in 1942.The WT sold the property in 1948, hopefully closing an embarrassing chapter in their history.
The Watch Tower prophesied in 1968 article, Why are you looking forward to 1975? They inferred Armageddon would occur in 1975. Witnesses postponed college, marriage, forfeited bank accounts to the Society, to warn others that Armageddon was about to occur.
Watchtower spokesman Eugene Mortenson, speaking at an International Assembly said, "Jesus is in Kingdom Power, and we are already in the last (human) generation." The WT disfellowshipped, Pioneer Carl Olaf Johnson from Europe because he questioned how the WT arrived at the date 1914 as being the year of Armageddon. The WT claimed that the date was arrived at by counting from the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 B.C. Johnson asked how could that be true when all historians had strong evidence the city was destroyed twenty years later in 587 B.C. The sad fact is, if the last generation started in 1914, the youngest remaining person is 89. By WT calculations the world will end within forty years, for it is unlikely anyone will live to be 135 years old.
Raymond Franz, former member of the Governing Body, during a taped interview, explains how he was given a copy of a document prepared by other members that would move the date signaling the start of the last generation to 1957.This was a political maneuver prompted by the fear that they will be exposed again as false prophets since most people born in 1914 were dead. The strategy appears to be, 'since we survived the lies about 1914, 1919, 1925 being the end of the world, we can continue to move dates and cover our error'. They would use the sign of something bright in the heavens as an indicator. The Russian 'Sputnik' launching was to be the sign. The WT scrapped the idea, but this demonstrates the cold and callous manner that the WT handles the Word of God.
Of course none of the prophesies came to pass, and the WT has committed the most heinous of spiritual crimes: FALSE PROPHESY! Jehovah God made this act the clearest indication of who was not His authentic representative or spokesman. The WT had to admit that they lied, but instead of acknowledging they were a false prophet they said "the light just gets brighter". In other words, they were walking in darkness, and now you can trust them. If the light gets brighter, then an innocent Jehovah's Witness may find out five years from now that what they are being taught today is wrong.
The Bible never allowed false prophets spiritual clemency for just saying, "I admit I am a false prophet, but now the light is brighter!!" When a person or organization is truly speaking for God, the light can not be brighter. In the 1 December 2002 edition of the WT on page 17 the Society inserts a disclaimer of the errors the Society has committed in the past. On pg. 17 it say's "The discreet slave is not infallible...even with the best of intentions can be mistaken...however their motives are pure....." this does not nullify the biblical requirement that those speaking for Jehovah be exact and infallible in what they predict. The biblical mandate requires that we distance ourselves from all false prophets, including Jeanne Dixon, Edgar Cayce, Joseph Smith, Muhammad, and the Watch Tower.
By now it is apparent, there is a mountain of evidence exposing the error of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. We could have exposed other errors such as non participation in civic affairs, forbiddance of observing all holidays, non celebration of birthdays, racist history (visit WWW.freeminds.org), but we will sum up our exposition on the WT by covering a few more injurious WT doctrines.
The WT denies the existence of a literal Hell, but it should be noted that Jesus spoke more about Hell than Heaven. Why would Christ spend more time discussing a place that wasn't real? Jesus gave a parable in Matthew 13:24-42, He spoke of man sowing seed in his field, an enemy came and sewed tares among the wheat. Wheat grew and tares sprang up as well. Servants asked how did the tares get among the good seed or wheat? He replied an enemy has done this. The servants desired to weed them out but the owner said "let them grow together, lest while you are rooting them out you will destroy the wheat along with the tares. At harvest time he would tell the reapers to gather the tares and put them in bundles and throw them in the fire.
The disciples came to Him in verse 36, and asked, 'Explain to us what the symbolic parable meant in real terms.' Jesus told them what or who the sower, field, good seed, tares, enemy, harvest, reapers, represented. All of those were symbols, but Jesus intentionally left one term out. What was it? FIRE!!! Why? Because the fire was not a symbol, it was the only part of the parable that was literal !!!!!!!!!
Jesus in Luke 16:19-31, speaks of a rich man, and Lazarus dying and the rich man being tormented in flames. The WT may claim that this is a parable, but remember Jesus never used personal names such as Lazarus in parables, this is a literal historical event.
The Bible is replete with text that clearly teach of a eternal place where men will be tormented in flames. Study Matthew 8:11-12,Luke 13:24-28, 2 Peter 2:17, Jude 13, Revelation 14:9-11, Revelation 19:20, this is conclusive evidence that there is conscious everlasting separation from God, and real torment exist. The WT tries to conceal the obvious, by using shallow and irresponsible scholarship concerning the Greek.
The WT suggest in the booklet Let God Be True (pg. 96) that in all places where hell is translated from the Greek word gehenna it means everlasting destruction (annihilation)." Dr. Walter Martin, remarks that that is a bold faced misrepresentation of the Greek language. There is no evidence that gehenna ever means "annihilation" in the New Testament. To the contrary Dr. Joseph Thayer joins Dr. Martin and reveals that gehenna means literally "fire of hell". The WT points to the historical valley of Hinnon as being a representation of gehenna, however, that valley is extinguished today, so there is nothing eternal about it to associate.
Once again, the Watch Tower has deceived its devotees.
The WT insist on denying that Jesus died on a cross, they teach that it is a pagan symbol that Christians adopted when Satan took control of ecclesiastical authority in early centuries. The WT said that Jesus was crucified on a stake, not a cross. They teach that the Greek word for stake is stauros, (remember the NWT has no Greek scholars). Actually, the Greek word stauros, was used to refer to a variety of wooden structures used in executions. The stauros as a wooden structure took a variety of shapes including: T, +, x, and very infrequently a simple upright beam. The WT is wrong to insist the upright beam is what stauros means.
Evidence that supports the fact that Jesus died on a cross is, the Bible says in John 20:25; Jesus had prints of nails (plural), not just a single nail that was used if both hands were nailed together above His head on a upright stake. In John 21:18-19; Jesus who never lied, said Peter would be crucified with arms outstretched, not above his head. It is important to see that when Jesus was crucified, in Matthew 27:37, a sign saying "King of the Jews" was put above His head, not His hands. Verse 38; tells us that two thieves were on His left and right HANDS. It is vitally important to also realize that during the first century, Rome used crosses to perform crucifixions, not stakes. We agree that stake is a term for stauros but cross is just as viable. The WT won't acknowledge that cross is more feasible when looking at the evidence.
The WT has mistranslated the passage in Acts 15:20, that simply say's ....abstain from and avoid anything that has been polluted by being offered to idols, sexual impurity, and eating meat of animals that have been strangled, and the drinking of blood. This verse is simply a verse that warns the early believers from eating things that are polluted by their use in idolatry, and participating in the pagan practices of the region, such as drinking animal blood. Few JWs realize that the Society has played hop scotch with this doctrine over the years.
In July 29,1925 the WT said, in a publication called Golden Age, that JWs that frequently donated blood for transfusions should be commended.
On 1May 1929 the Society changed and forbade simple vaccinations, they considered vaccinations eating blood.
On 15 November 1967, the WT forbade organ transplants, calling them cannibalism. They reversed this position in 1980.
On 1 July 1945 the WT forbade any form of transfusion, if you died, too bad!
On 1 June 1974 the WT determined transfusions (in special cases) could be allowed with no disfellowshipping.
On 22 June 1982, the WT addressed major and minor components of blood. They were distinguished, and the WT allowed the use of minor components.
On 1 August 1995, the WT allowed certain JWs to have a transfusion.
On 14 June 2000,The London Times reports, the WT has made a major U-turn and made transfusions a non disfellowshipping offense. Paul Gilles, a Watch Tower spokesman say's, "If a person was in a position where they were in a life threatening situation, we would allow a transfusion, and not take action against them." I can hear the dead children cry out from their graves, who were forced to die thirty to sixty years ago. How could you let us die and tell us it was Jehovah's will, and now claim it is condoned?
Why the U-turn? Why so many alterations to what they claim is a concrete forbiddance by Jehovah? The Society has lost untold millions of dollars in litigation and law suits, for forbidding people to live. This is one of the core reasons the Society has restructured its self. The Governing Body that controls the lives of the millions, distanced its self from direct libel when a child dies because they forbade a transfusion. This is the danger of devoting ones self to a totalitarian organization. Yet despite the roller coaster ride, with its dips, curves, jerks, all must conform with no dissension.
The original leaders who supposedly spoke for God, allowed transfusions. Then suddenly under the leadership of Nathan Knorr, the Society discovered what no other group or person realized: Transfusions are a violation of Jehovah's laws. If God was the framer of the WT, why didn't He inform His organization under Russell, or Rutherford? The WT uses several verses out of context to support a doctrine that has led many innocent people to their graves! They quote Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 3:17, 7:27, and 17:10, 11, 14. Any well oriented student of scripture can easily see these are speaking of sacrifices and animal blood.
There is no mention of human blood, nor a prohibition of transferring life to another by transfusion. A transfusion is not nourishment or feeding, it is not food at all. Blood in the veins is not digested, just circulated. It is the necessary carrier of hydration, oxygen, anti- bodies to balance our enzymes, acids, and fight germs. The WT has taken the colossal leap and equated taking in blood through the veins as eating blood. There is not one verse in the Bible that forbids saving another's life. A transfusion is not eating blood or sacrificing life, it is a transference of life.
The last facet of the WT Gestapo, is its doctrine of shunning. This is a cold callous tactic utilized by the WT to maintain absolute control over its adherents. The WT has some biblical basis for disassociation. Matthew 18:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:6,1 Timothy 6:5, however these passages speak of not following their sloughful example, or carnal attitudes, such as not working and focusing on material gain. The Bible uses terms such as withdraw thyself to imply, don't walk with them spiritually, for there is no agreement.
The extreme execution of shunning instituted by the WT is devoid of love and compassion. The WT will shun a person who questions their practices and doctrines, fails to conform to every Society mandate, commits certain visible sins, reads unapproved materials, celebrates a birthday or holiday, salutes the flag. The person can be sincere and really desire to serve Jehovah, but they will not be allowed to talk to brothers, sisters, mother or father, best friend, uncle. They lose communication and relationship with people they know and love more than any in the world.
The Bible has no extreme injunction as this. This is nothing more than a strong arm tactic designed to halt insurrection and produce intimidation. Raymond Franz, former member of the Governing Body said, "I thought the Bible was the governing force behind the decisions of the Society, but after participating within it, discovered that the Bible was rarely appealed to. Organizational policy always had precedence over scripture." I can think of no greater, hurtful and injurious policy as shunning . A person will think twice before they challenge the Society, with such a social death sentence to serve.
As we mentioned previously, we love all Jehovah's Witnesses, and pray that we have revealed some things that will help in their quest of eternal life.
We've completed our journey and took many pictures, let's pull out the photo album once again, and recap what we've seen.
1.The WT is a modern false prophet, a form of Arianism.
2.The Founder was a huckster and possessed no biblical acumen or knowledge of languages.
3. The NWT has no scholars, and under oath translators admitted it.
4. The NWT has been proven faulty, altered and incorrect in its presentation of Jesus Deity.
5. We have proven there are three persons called God in scripture.
6.We have documented the WT has misrepresented the eternal state of the soul, and eternal torment.
7. We have demonstrated that eternal life in Heaven is available for all.
8. We have shown from scripture, that being born again is a command to all.
9. We proved from scripture, it is imperative and central to Christ that we be saved.
10. We also show how inconsistent and erroneous the WT has been concerning blood transfusions.
No genuine and sincere reader can cling to the WT after weighing all that's been presented. The areas of discussion are not casual or non consequential, they are the centerpieces of biblical doctrine. Where you stand on these vital doctrines will determine where you spend eternity. Discard all fear, pride and defense mechanisms that oppose you. God will give you courage, and strength. I pray you find true joy and freedom and salvation through Christ. May the love of Christ and the saving power of the Holy Spirit abound towards you forever.
Bibliography:
Kingdom of the Cults; Walter Martin
Jehovah's Witnesses Answered; David Reed
Jehovah's Witnesses; Walter Martin
Christian Research Journal, vol. 23 num 2; Christian Research Institute.