Have Jehovah's Witnesses Invited You to their "Memorial of Christ's Death"?

What Is It All About?

 In recent years, just prior to Passover / Easter, the Jehovah's Witnesses have canvassed our neighborhoods, handing out invitations to a special annual service held at their local Kingdom Hall. The service is commonly referred to as the "Memorial Supper", or the "Memorial of Christ's Death".  You may have wondered why there seems to be such a push to get people to attend this service and how it differs from the average "Easter" Sunday service at your local church. This brochure is intended to answer these questions.

 FACT 1: Jehovah's Witnesses commemorate Christ's death--but they do not celebrate His resurrection. Christian churches commemorate both, often holding a "Good Friday" service, a sobering reminder of the price that was paid at Calvary for our sins, as well as a celebratory service on the following Sunday, focusing on Christ's resurrection. This second service is an occasion for joy and praise as we reflect upon the victory He won over sin and death on our behalf. The truth is that Christ's death was only part of His earthly mission, but it would mean absolutely nothing, had he not also risen from the dead and ascended into heaven as our completely victorious Savior-King!

FACT 2: Christ's mission involved much more than simply coming to earth to die. In fact, His mission was 4-fold:

 1. As God in the flesh, God was able to reveal Himself to mankind (Isaiah 9:6, 7; John 8:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9).

 2. He came to fulfill the law by satisfying the penalty for sin (Eph. 2:14-18; Col. 2:14, 15).

 3. He rose from the dead, conquering death once for all time. Now, all who put their faith in Him are brought into God's family and join Him in heavenly glory upon completion of their earthly lives (Rom. 6:8, 9; 2 Tim. 1:10; Heb. 2:14, 15).

 4. With His earthly ministry accomplished, He could fill the role of High Priest and Mediator for all believers (Hebrews 4:14-16).

FACT 3: All of the Biblical truths stated above are completely rejected by the Watchtower Society (WTS) of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The WTS rejects the idea that Christ was fully God as well as fully man, that he was "Immanuel", or "God with us" (cp. Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23). Instead, the WTS teaches that Jesus was an angel who came to earth to live as a sinless, mortal man. After His father resurrected Him and He returned to heaven, he became an angel, once more.

 The WTS, like the Mormon Church, strongly advocates a works-based system of salvation, wherein a person's eternal destiny depends upon his ability to merit God's grace. Since humans repeatedly fall short of the mark, there is never any assurance that someone has achieved it.  Furthermore, to believe such an errant theology reveals that one does not accept the total efficacy of Christ's Atonement or God's grace (Contrast with Colossians 1:19-22; Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5-7).

 Finally, the idea of approaching the throne of God's grace with all boldness (as in Hebrews 4:14-16) is completely lost on the WTS. Their Jehovah-God is depicted as a wrathful and vindictive God of whom his followers must constantly quake in fear, rather than the loving, Father-God of the Scriptures.

FACT 4: The Watchtower Society fosters a caste system theology. The WTS utterly rejects the Biblical concept of a heavenly hope for all believers in Christ. Rather, such is reserved for only a "little flock" of 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses who will become rulers over the rest. (Contrast with 1 Cor. 15:42-57; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Eph. 2:4-6; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 Pet. 1:3-5). Additionally, the WTS teaches that Christ is not the High Priest and Mediator of all believers, but only for the 144,000. The 144,000 are the only ones said to be "in Christ" or born again. Such conclusions are not even remotely suggested anywhere in Scripture.

 This caste system theology is in evidence at their "Memorial Supper", where only persons of the 144,000 "anointed" class are allowed to partake of the emblems. In stark contrast, however, the Bible never indicates that only some persons are to participate in this sacrament. In fact, to deny people from doing so is to deny them eternal life (John 6:53-57)!

What the Scriptures Say

Here are some of the amazing things that Christ's Resurrection won for believers:

      1.      Because of His resurrection Christ was exalted to heaven, so that we now have a Mediator who intercedes for us with God, the Father.

           Through Him, we can now:

         - Receive forgiveness for personal sins we may commit (1 John 1:8, 9).

        - Make our petitions known to God (John 14:13; 1 John 5:14, 15).

        - Obtain grace, mercy, and inner peace (Hebrews 4:14-16; Philippians 4:6, 7).

         . . . And, so much more!

     2.      Because of His resurrection He has defeated the devil and his minions (Colossians 2:15).

3.      Because of His resurrection, we can have the faith needed to appropriate our salvation (Romans 10:9).

4.      Because of His resurrection, we have eternal hope (1 Cor. 6:14; 1 Cor. 15:17; 2 Cor. 4:14).

Why would anyone not want to celebrate such an event???

 Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is no longer on the cross, as we typically see depicted by the Catholic crucifix. This is why Protestants prefer, as the symbol of our faith, the empty cross. It is a symbol that represents His total victory at Calvary.

 Christ is nothing less than our risen Savior. Our eternal hope is inextricably bound with that truth (1 John 3:2)! This is why what is commonly referred to as "Easter" (or, as many Protestants prefer to call it, "Resurrection Day") is an occasion for tremendous joy!

 Christ's resurrection is the reason that Christians look forward, in faith, to His Second Coming and to eternity spent in His very presence. Thus, we do not hold an annual "Memorial" of His death, merely looking behind as the Jehovah's Witnesses do. Christian churches do, however, partake in Communion (on the first day of the week, or on the first Sunday of each month, depending on the church), in accordance with the command given in Scripture. It is not an occasion for dejection, however. Instead, it is a time for reflection and self-examination (1 Cor. 11:28). As we reflect upon the price that our Lord and Savior paid on Calvary, we are reminded of the serious nature of sin and its consequence. At the same time, we are also reminded that, on the basis of the Atonement, we have been "justified" by the grace of God and our sins are forgiven (Isaiah 1:18; Romans 3:21-26; Gal. 2:16; 3:22-28; Titus 3:3-7). This evokes in us a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude, in turn, evokes within us a desire to cultivate a personal relationship with Him, as well as a heartfelt desire to be conformed to His will and to do good works (2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Thess. 4:1-8).

While the secular world is caught up in the non-religious traditions of the "Easter" season, Christians, then, turn their sights toward the real reason for celebration--our new lives in Christ and the eternal salvation that has been bought at such a precious price.  As our holy-day season approaches again this year, we pause to reflect upon the personal significance of all aspects of Christ's earthly mission. We examine our Christian walk with renewed enthusiasm as we continue striving for God's will to be done in our daily lives.

ASK A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS:

§         If Christ's return occurred in 1914, why do you continue to celebrate the Memorial, when the Apostle Paul plainly says that we ought to continue to proclaim His death until He comes again (1 Cor. 11:26)?

§         Do you realize that, by denying you from sharing in Christ's body and blood, the WTS is denying you eternal life (John 6:53-57)?

Have Q’s or Need Help?

Contact us at Freedom_Beacon@yahoo.com

THE WT SAYS:

I. DID THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS/HAD BEEN AN ANGEL?

First, we must realize that there are other versions of Jesus Christ floating around which are FALSE, and this has been the case since the beginning of church history. The Apostle Paul, all the way back in the first century, warned:

2 Corinthians 11: 3, 4—" But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [REJECT] him."

How, then, do we determine whether we believe in the Jesus of the Bible or in some false version of Jesus? Paul says that if other versions of Jesus do not stack up with what he and the other Apostles of Christ taught, then such must be rejected as originating from "another spirit". He clearly identifies that "other spirit" as being none other than the serpent who deceived Eve in Eden. Therefore, what we believe about the nature and person of Jesus Christ is certainly a serious matter!

The fact is. That there is not one verse of Scripture anywhere from which we can conclude that any of the apostles ever proclaimed that Jesus was Michael the Archangel. In fact, the Apostle Paul spent time combating the erroneous teachings of the Sadducees, who taught that He had been an angel in His pre-existence. In refuting this teaching, Paul said:

Hebrews 1: 5-6, 13—"For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." And, again, he restates this in verse 13, saying: "But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?"

Paul makes it clear, in this passage, that:

1.God does not call angels "Son" as He called Jesus. While some Bible translations refer to angels as sons of God (Genesis 6:2-4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7), it is only Jesus whom God calls His only-begotten Son (John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:9).
2. ALL the angels worship JESUS; and,

3. God has not invited any angel to sit at His right hand, as co-ruler—only Jesus occupies this position of authority and power.

In chapter 2 of Hebrews, Paul goes on to state that Jesus—not any of the angels—will have all things in subjection to Him. In fact, since Jesus will have ALL things--including all things in heaven--in subjection to Him, this will include the angels. Furthermore, that Jesus has never had the "nature of angels" is also evident in verse 16:

Hebrews 2: 5, 8, 16 For unto the angels he hath not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. [But, speaking of Jesus:] 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him [including the angels]. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

The Apostle Peter also affirms that angels will be subject to Jesus:

1 Peter 3:22—"Who [Jesus] is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."

II. JESUS IS TO BE WORSHIPPED—ANGELS ARE NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED

Angels who are sent by God say that they are not to be worshipped:

Revelation 22:8, 9—"And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God."

The Apostle Paul says that angels are not to be worshipped:

Colossians 2: 18—"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind"

In fact, Paul says that glorified saints shall judge angels and Peter says that the apostles had divinely given knowledge of the Gospel that even the angels did not have:

1 Corinthians 6:2, 3—"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" [IF JESUS IS AN ANGEL, WILL WE JUDGE HIM TOO?]

1 Peter 1:12—"Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into". [IF JESUS WERE AN ANGEL, DID HE NOT HAVE THE SAME FULL REVELATION OF THE GOSPEL THAT THE APOSTLES HAD?]

While Scripture says that we are not to worship angels, when it comes to Jesus, Scripture says:

Philippians 2: 9—"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Jesus also accepted worship (Matthew 8:2; 28.9) but He Himself said to worship only God (Matthew 4:10). A contradiction?? Blasphemy?? Not if He WAS God? One thing is certain: God is certainly not a mere (created) angel, but is eternal and the creator of all creatures. Therefore, if Jesus was, indeed, affirming His divinity, this makes Him Creator, not created being.

Finally, while scripture never says that Jesus is an angel, it does say that He HAS angels who work for Him:

Matthew 13: 41—"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity"

2 Thessalonians 1:7—"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels"

III. WHO IS MICHAEL ANYWAY?

• Michael is ONE in a CLASS of angels:

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

One of the "chief princes"? How large that group is, we are not told. But the fact that Michael is one among equals proves that he is not totally unique, unlike God’s only-begotten Son.

Since Scripture interprets Scripture, we can use this concept to help us to interpret what is conveyed by the singular form of "archangel" as used in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, which adherents to this doctrine like to reference. There, we read: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

Does this verse prove that Jesus is Michael and that Michael is the only Archangel in existence?

No, because while the term occurs here in the singular, it also appears with a definite article (THE archangel). In his book, Angels: Elect and Evil, theologian Fred Dickason notes that "the definite article with archangel does not necessarily limit the class of archangel to Michael. The article may be one of identification as the well-known archangel instead of limitation as the only archangel. There may be others of the same class or rank, since he is described as ‘one of the chief princes’ (Dan. 10:13)."

(From: Fred Dickason, Angels: Elect and Evil, Chicago: Moody Press, 1975, p. 68)

Furthermore, if we are to take Christ’s coming with the voice of an archangel as proof that He is an archangel, then what do we do with the phrase "with the trump of God"? Does this phrasing, in and of itself, imply that He is God, since He comes with the trump of God? No Trinitarian would ever point to this phrase to prove Christ’s deity, but would, instead, refer to copious other passages that affirm the doctrine. That is because such phrasing, by itself, is not conclusive when it is not supported by other passages of Scripture. Not only must we base Biblical interpretation on the immediate CONTEXT of the passage surrounding the verse itself, but the passage must also be interpreted within the context of Biblical doctrine on the whole. If any interpretation cannot be reconciled with other passages of Scripture, it simply cannot be the correct interpretation, for God does not contradict Himself.

• Michael is the angelic protector of the nation of Israel:

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people [DANIEL’S PEOPLE WERE THE JEWS]: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."

• Michael is unable to do some things that Jesus clearly did do. While Jesus rebuked Satan three times, in Luke chapter 4, Micahel could not:

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

Nor can angels judge wicked men, as Jesus will do:

2 Peter 2:11—"Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord."

• That Jesus and the Michael, who wars with Satan in heaven, are not the same person is evident in the context of Revelation chapter 12:

Revelation 12:5-7—"And she [ISRAEL] brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. [THIS IS JESUS! Thereafter, described as the "lamb" in chapters 14, 17, 19, as well as the "Son of Man, King of kings and Lord of Lords, and The Word, but NEVER as Michael!] 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael [NOT THE SAME PERSON AS IN VERSE 5] and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels"

The following is an excerpt from http://www.macgregorministries.org/jehovahs_witnesses/michaelbecomesjesus.html

Some of the Ante-Nicene Fathers from the first three centuries of the Christian Church offered these statements from their writings:

"[Almighty God] did not, as one might have imagined, send to men any servant, or angel, or ruler..." Mathetes - Epistle to Diognetus, ch.7

" ...God speaks in the creation of man with the very same design, in the following words: 'Let Us make man after our image and likeness...[God] conversed with some one who was numerically distinct from Himself, and also a rational Being. These are the words: 'And God said, Behold, Adam has become as one of us, to know good and evil.' In saying, therefore, 'as one of us,'[Moses] has declared that [there is a certain] number of persons associated with one another, and that they are at least two. For I would not say that the dogma of that heresy which is said to be among you is true, or that the teachers of it can prove that [God] spoke to angels, or that the human frame was the workmanship of angels. But this Offspring, which was truly brought forth from the Father, was with the Father before all the creatures,..." Justin Martyr - Dialogue with Trypho, ch. 62

CHAP. II--THE WORLD WAS NOT FORMED BY ANGELS, OR BY ANY OTHER BEING, CONTRARY TO THE WILL OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, BUT WAS MADE BY THE FATHER THROUGH THE WORD.

"Those, moreover, who say that the world was formed by angels, or by any other maker of it, contrary to the will of Him who is the Supreme Father, err first of all in this very point, that they maintain that angels formed such and so mighty a creation, contrary to the will of the Most High God." Irenaus Against Heresies, Book II, ch. 2, section 1

"He created and made all things by His Word, while He neither required angels to assist Him in the production of those things which are made, nor of any power greatly inferior to Himself, and ignorant of the Father," Irenaus Against Heresies, Book II, ch. 2, section 4

"He (Moses) at first narrated the formation of the world in these words: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," and all other things in succession; but neither gods nor angels [had any share in the work]." Irenaus Against Heresies, Book II, ch.2, section 5

"For the Son, who is the Word of God, arranged these things beforehand from the beginning, the Father being in no want of angels, in order that He might call the creation into being, and form man," Irenaus Against Heresies, Book IV, ch. 7, section 4

"It was not angels, therefore, who made us, nor who formed us, neither had angels power to make an image of God, nor any one else, except the Word of the Lord," Irenaus Against Heresies, Book IV, ch. 20, section 1

"...and that this world belongs to Him (the Word of God), and was made by Him, according to the Father's will, and not by angels;" Irenaus Against Heresies, Book V, ch. 18, section 2

"The Logos, too, before the creation of men, was the Framer of angels." Tatian, Address to the Greeks, ch VII

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES & JOHANNES GREBER

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was the Archangel Michael before He came to earth and was the first being created by Jehovah, through whom he made the universe, the angels and mankind. While on earth, Jesus was merely a sinless man, who gave his perfect life in return for the perfect life lost by Adam. After his death on the "torture stake" [JWS REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE CROSS], He was resurrected as a spirit person, while his body returned to the dust of the earth. They base this conclusion on the fact that the Bible refers to both Michael and Jesus as leading angelic armies. However, when unable to supply any verses that specifically state that Jesus is Michael, they will admit that they have merely "deduced" this idea. In doing so, however, they have gone well beyond the conclusive scope of God’s Word.

Johannes Greber was an ex-priest, turned spirit medium, who wrote a Bible translation based on the doctrines given him by his spirit messengers. The Watchtower Society quoted his translation for 30 some years, even after they discovered his spiritistic practices, simply because his doctrines agreed with theirs. Like the Watchtower, Greber denied the divinity of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity--because his channeled spirits told him these doctrines were false!

Here is an excerpt from the web article on Greber, which analyzes his book, Communication with the Spirit World of God: (NOTE: Some of these statements are also Mormon beliefs).

Jesus is said to be the first created "son of God". (p. 267)

The second 'son of God' is 'Lucifer' the "Light-bearer". (p. 267)

Christ and Lucifer are therefore "brothers". (p. 271)

God created Christ and then all [other] things were created by and through Christ. (pp. 267-8) Adam was once a "high prince in heaven" before coming to earth.

The spirit also said that demons or fallen angels can and will be saved. This would occur after a process of spiritual evolution by reincarnation. Even Lucifer will be saved and be like his "brother" Jesus. (p. 297)

It was his brother Jesus who volunteered among God's angels to make the first attempt to save mankind. In fact, He "begged" God to be the first. If He failed, God would've sent other spirits until the mission was accomplished. (pp. 297-8)

Christ is the highest of the spirits created by God and the sole one to be created directly. ... Christ Himself was not God, but only the first of God’s sons. ... Christ is the highest spirit which the omnipotent God could create. Christ ... is the first created "son of God", and as such, His highest and most perfect Creature. (Page 301, and Page 267)

(See the entire article on Johannes Greber at http://www.seanet.com/~raines/greber.html.)

This doctrine of Jesus as Michael the Archangel lays the groundwork for the denial of Christ’s divinity.

How so? By turning Him into a mere created being, He cannot, at the same time, be Creator of all things. Thus, this tactic has proven useful to the Watchtower Society, which rejects the Trinity doctrine. Any one who believes in the Trinity CANNOT accept that Jesus is Michael, because this would mean that Jesus is not God but was created by God. Trinitarian theology, therefore, negates this entire concept. Thus, only anti-Trinitarians can hold this view.

Charles Taze Russell, who was the founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, had a history of being affilated with a sect of Adventism known as the Second Adventists, or Millerites. The Seventh Day Adventists, however, also share the view that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. They, like their founder, Ellen G. White, also openly deny that Jesus is Almighty God, which is part and parcel of the doctrine of the Tri-unity of God.

Mormons believe that Michael lived on earth as Adam. Adam was his mortal name and Michael was his pre-incarnate and post-mortal name. That means that all of Adam’s descendents (the human race) are actually descendents of Michael. Mormons believe that, since Michael can be translated "who is like God", and mankind is created in the image of God, then God must have a fleshly body, as we do. Launching from this platform, Brigham Young went on to preach that Michael/Adam helped to create the world, came here with a spiritual purpose, and is now an exalted man (a god). This "divine revelation" supported the idea that men can become gods in their own right, which is a foundational teaching of Mormonism.

SATANISM (I KID YOU NOT!)

In his book, "Satan, Prince of This World", William Guy Carr gives us a glimpse into the teachings and practices inherent in the Satanic Black Mass. He says that adepts are taught that:

1. Satan is the eldest son of God (Adonay) and the brother of Michael;
2. Michael, the archangel is the same as Jesus Christ; and,
3. God sent Michael to earth in the form of Jesus Christ to stop the Luciferian conspiracy on earth.

The following are excerpts from Carr’s book:

The second part of the Black Mass perpetuates the defeat of Christ by Satan. Adepts are taught that Satan is the eldest son of God (Adonay) and the brother of St. Michael. The Luciferian dogma teaches that St. Michael, the archangel is one and the same celestial being as Jesus Christ and states that God (Adonay) sent St. Michael to earth in the form of Jesus Christ in order that he could halt the Luciferian conspiracy on this earth as he had done in heaven. (Pg. 45)

Further, the Luciferian doctrine teaches adepts in the highest degrees of Grand Orient Lodges, and the Councils of [Albert] Pike’s New and Reformed Palladian Rite, that God had two sons. They refer to God the Creator, as Adonai, or Adonay. They identify His sons as Satan and St. Michael the Archangel. They claim that Satan accepted the Luciferian ideology because he considered it more practical than his Father’s plan for the rule of the Universe. The Luciferian theologians claim that Satan is the elder brother of St. Michael. They admit that St. Michael, whom they term "the upstart," and "Le Parvenu," did cause Lucifer to be cast out of heaven. But the Luciferian doctrine also claims that by this very act Lucifer was elevated to become God of that part of the Universe we commonly designate as HELL, and that he is therefore the equal of Adonay. (pg. 11)

In addition to claiming that Satan is the eldest son of God (Adonay), and the older brother of Jesus Christ, also claim that Jesus Christ is one and the same person as St. Michael the Archangel. (pg. 14)

VI. WHY DOES SATAN PROMOTE THIS DECEPTION?

As we have seen, the Apostle Paul says that Satan’s purpose is to deceive (2 Cor 11.14). He is especially adept at inventing lies about God, His character, and His nature, just as he has done from the beginning. (Read Genesis chapter 3). If Satan can use the religious leaders to aid in his deception, he will certainly do so (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

It does not fit in with Satan’s purpose for people to know that:

"In Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Col. 2.9)

"In the beginning was the Word [JESUS WAS NOT A CREATED BEING], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

(John 1:1,14)

He is the firstborn over ALL creation (Col. 1:15) since through Him all things were made. (John 1:3).

Jesus came to earth in order to reveal God to man: "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." (Jn 14.9).

Why does what we believe about Jesus matter to Satan???

Because, when we know these things, we also realize that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow (Philippians 2: 9). Satan does not want this! He has always wanted this worship to be his!!

Furthermore, it is important to know the true Christ of Scripture, because Christianity is not about being in a religion. It is about having a personal relationship with our Lord and Creator, Jesus Christ. But, just as in human relationships, we can't have a relationship with someone whom we don’t know. Without that relationship, we cannot be safe from the snares the devil sets for us. 1 Peter 5:6-8 warns, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."

* Some quotes contained in this article have had emphasis added in the form of italic, upper case or bold lettering. Brackets contain added notes.

If you believe that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, please take a moment to consider these questions:

1. How did Michael the Archangel become Jesus? The Bible in no way indicates that the Holy Spirit took an angel and put him in Mary’s womb.

2. What is Jesus’ form since His ascension? Was he raised up as an angel once again? (See Luke 24:39; John 2:19-21).

3. Since John 1:1 teaches that Christ (the Word) is eternal and was with the Father from the beginning, how do you reconcile this with Scriptures that speak of angels being created beings? Since they are created, they can not be eternal, as the Word is eternal.

4. Why does Hebrews 1:4-6 state that Jesus is superior to the angels in every way if he is merely an angel Himself? How can ALL angels worship Him if He is an angel?

5. Why does God command all of the angels to worship the Son (Hebrews 1:6), when He also makes it clear that we are to worship Him alone (Exodus 20; Matthew 4:10)?

6. Since Scripture teaches that Jesus is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13:8), then how can it be said that Jesus was an angel, became a man, and then became an angel again?

If you have been subscribing to this false doctrine and now feel confused about the nature and deity of Jesus Christ, I would urge you to pray for God to send His Spirit of Truth to reveal the truth to you. Jesus promised He would do this in John 16:13, where we read: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

A CHRISTIAN, EX-JW PERSPECTIVE:

by Becky

THE HOLY SPIRIT AS PART OF A TRIUNE GOD

ECCLESIASTES 9: 6, 7

This is the JW "proof" text to support their "soul sleep" doctrine, which they use to try to refute both the doctrine that our souls survive beyond death, and the doctrine of hell.

Here is the text from their NWT monstrosity compared with KJV:

NWT: For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. Also their love, and their hate, and their jealousy have already perished; and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has been done under the sun.

KJV: For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy are now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun.

First of all, with JWs, I INSIST on using the KJV, as they generally will accept that translation above the rest of those of "Christendom". Furthermore, I have seen more people led out of bondage via the KJV than any other translation. Having said that, let's look at a couple of major differences between these passages:

NWT: neither do they anymore have wages

KJV: neither have they any more a reward

This is a HUGE difference. The NWT attempts to make it sound like people will not earn wages for the work they were doing on earth (obviously). But, this is not at all what KJV says. KJV's wording speaks of eternal rewards. Now at this point, you can ask the JW if they believe this is true? Do they really believe that we will not be rewarded for following God in this life? Of course, that is NOT what they believe. They believe that at least the JWs will be rewarded for faithful service. Here, we begin to chip away at the argument.

NWT: because the remembrance of them has been forgotten

KJV: for the memory of them is forgotten

Here, the NWT attempts to make us think that the dead person does not have a memory. However, we know that the soul's survival means that the person does retain such things as emotions, will, memories, etc. KJV does not say that the individual has no more memory, it says that the memory OF THEM is forgotten, conveying the idea that eventually people stop being overwhelmed with grief over our deaths. As time goes on, survivors dwell on our deaths less and less, as they begin to accept and recover from it.

NWT: they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has been done under the sun

KJV: neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun

Here, the NWT toys with the language by substituting "time indefinite" (as in an undisclosed period of time) for "forever". This way, they can get away with saying that they will indeed receive a "portion" or reward for their earthly works at some point in time, which has not been divulged to us yet. That is NOT what the KJV says. It says that they will NEVER receive a portion (reward)-forever. Now, I know this seems to contradict Scriptures that say that we will indeed receive a reward. So, now we have to reconcile this matter. Here's how:

The book of Ecclesiastes presents two viewpoints: A secular point of view, from the standpoint of a person who does not know God. Such a person takes the stance that the author of Ecclesiastes does from chapter one--that "everything is vanity". Throughout, he conveys the old axiom "let's eat and drink and be merry, for tomorrow we shall die." This is not how a person with a personal relationship with his creator views life and it is also not the viewpoint of the author Ecclesiastes, by the time he gets to the end of his life and the end of the book.

As you read this book, you see that, as he comes to be more spiritually minded, his viewpoint changes. The change in tone is nowhere more evident than in the final chapter. From chapter 12, verse one, we find him encouraging his son to "remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them". Then, he sums up, in verses 13 and 14 with: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

Notice how mention of judgment here seems to contradict what was said in chapter 9, verse 6, which says, "neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun". At this point I ask the JW if he thinks that the Bible contradicts itself. He will say no. Then, I ask if the Bible always speaks truth. They will say yes. Then ask them to reconcile these two verses. They CANNOT unless they are willing to acknowledge that Solomon is speaking from a human perspective, devoid of divine revelation and knowledge, at the beginning of this book.

Finally, you can take them back to Eccl. 9: 5,6 and ask them if they can see that this attitude would be something that someone without God would entertain. If they balk, remind them of the phrase in the KJV that says "neither have they any more a portion FOREVER". Keep hammering this point home, as they do believe in an "everlasting life" of sorts.

If they allow you to go any further, then this would be the time to emphasize that they did say that the Bible does not contradict itself. From there, go on to share other passages regarding eternal life, heaven, hell, etc.

I. WT QUOTES (Note: The WT encourages using Jehovah’s--not Jesus’—name. Is this scriptural?):

Happiness, How to Find It, p. 121--turn to J, in prayer, using His name—nothing about Jesus.

Unseen Spirits, Do they Help Us, or Harm Us, p. 25—Omits key part of Scripture that says that Paul uses the name of Jesus to command spirit to come out of slave girl harassing Apostles.

WT 4/15/06, p. 31 in Q from Readers—Nothing about Jesus’ name in whole article.

What Does the Bible Really Teach (in the article: "How to Resist Wicked Spirits")—nothing at all about using Jesus’

WT 11/15/05 (in the article: "How Real is the Devil to You?"), p. 6, 7—knowledge, contact JWs for study—nothing about Jesus.

You Can Live Forever (in the chapter: "Resisting Wicked Spirit Attacks"), p. 96, 97—recommends that we just say "Go away, Satan", and use Jehovah’s name—no mention of using Christ’s name.

II. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:

Mk 9:38, 39--And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

Mk. 16:17--And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Lk. 10:17--And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Acts 16:16--And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

III. WHY IS JESUS’ NAME SO EFFECTIVE WHEN DEALING WITH DEMONS?

Phil. 2:10--That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

1 Pet. 3:22—Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

IV. WE NEED NOT BE IN FEAR OF WICKED SPIRIT FORCES, IF WE HAVE CHRIST WITHIN

A. We are more than conquerors through Christ/He is more powerful than any wicked spirits (Rom. 8:37-39)

B. Rather than being immobilized with fear regarding demons, Scripture says we should:

    1. By submitting ourselves to God, resist the devil and he WILL flee from us:
        JAS 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the DEVIL, and he will flee from us.

    2. Not give the devil a foothold into our lives:
        EPH 4:27 Neither give place to the DEVIL.

    3. Put on the whole armor from God, so we can withstand any attacks:
       

EPH 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the DEVIL. For we wrestle not against  flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

     4. Resist the devil in faith:

1 Pet. 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

V. CONCLUSION

1. We don't have to let the devil have power over us if we:

2. While we don’t want to intentionally engage the devil in battle, there is no need to fear him or his angels.

3. The Apostles cast out demons in Christ's name, and we can use Jesus' name, too, if we come up against the devil.

4. True believers have Christ indwelling them and this makes us more than conquerors through Him (Rom. 8:37-39).

5. People in the WT often report coming under demonic attack. If they are unable to resist the devil and make him flee from them, as the Bible says, then it is apparent that they must not be submitting themselves to God, must not have Christ indwelling them, etc. Otherwise, they would be able to resist, as the Scriptures say.

6. True Christians do not suffer from such attacks, but if they come into contact with persons under demonic control, they are able to rebuke the demons in Jesus’ name, thereby ending the matter.

7. JWs who suffer demonic attack and use Jehovah’s name, most often do not find relief.

8. The name Jehovah is used by occultists, Free Masons, and was used by the modern father of the occult, Aleister Crowley, who even speaks about the name in his books.

the 144,000 & the "Great Crowd"

THE 144,000

WHAT THE WATCHTOWER SAYS:

*        The 144,000, mentioned in Revelation chapters 7 & 14, are "spiritual Jews".

*         They are special "anointed" ones from among Jehovah's Witnesses and the only persons who can get into heaven.

*        They are also called the "little flock" in Luke 12:32.

*        The number began being filled with the 12 Apostles of Christ and ended in 1935.

*         They are the only persons who are born again, sons of God, members of the new covenant and the body of Christ, justified by faith alone, and sanctified.

*         They are the only ones who will receive glorified bodies, see God, and rule with Christ (Rev. 20:6).

*        Only they can partake in communion.

BUT, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE:

*        The 144,000 are natural- born Jews.

*         They are male virgins (Rev. 14: 4).

*         Jesus was addressing His immediate disciples in Luke 12:32.

*        All believers in Christ are sons of God, members of the new covenant, born again, justified, sanctified, and will see heaven.

*         When the Watchtower Society denies most of its members from partaking of the communion emblems, at their annual "Memorial Service", they are denying them eternal life (John 6:53-57)!

HOW DOES THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY (WTS) JUSTIFY THE "SPIRITUAL ISRAEL" CONCEPT?

Their Revelation book, reveals that since its inception the WTS has taken the erroneous and non-Biblical view that an entity known as "spiritual Israelï" replaced the literal nation of Israel as God's people.

Regarding Revelation 7:4, it says:

"Could this not be a reference to literal, fleshly Israel? No, for Revelation 7:4-8 diverges from the usual tribal listing (Numbers 1:17, 47). Obviously, the listing here is not for the purpose of identifying fleshly Jews by their tribes but to show a similar organizational structure for spiritual Israel."

"The Christian congregation is "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Replacing natural Israel as God's nation, it becomes a new Israel that is "really Israel".

" . . . spiritual Israel alone had been brought into the new covenant. Unresponsive natural Israel had no part therein, nor did mankind in general." (Revelation, pp. 117, 118, paragraphs 11, 13, & 18, 1988 ed.)

What does the WTS mean when it says Revelation 7's list of the 12 tribes diverges from the usual tribal listing?

The WTS points to the fact that the tribes listed do not match precisely with other lists found in the Old Testament, such as in Numbers 1:4-16. Instead, Revelation 7 includes Levi and Joseph while excluding Dan and Ephraim. Thus, the WTS has erroneously deduced that reference must here be made to the "spiritual Israel" of God.

THE BIBLICAL EXPLANATION:

Why is Manasseh included while Dan & Ephraim are excluded?

1 Kings 12, starting in verse 25, provides some clues: The passage recaps some basic Jewish history, to wit, the division of the 12 tribes of Israel into 2 opposing factions, with 10 tribes going to King Jeroboam and the other 2 to King Rehoboam. The evil King Jeroboam led his tribes away from God and into idol worship. He even fashioned two golden calves, which he stationed in the cities of Dan and Bethel. Jeroboam was of the tribe of Ephraim (who, along with Manasseh, was a son of Joseph). Since that time, the name Ephraim became synonymous with sin and willful rebellion.

Amos 8:14 gives God's pronouncement against Dan, and Hosea chapters 9 & 10 further discusses His pronouncement against Ephraim. Both tribes would be cast off and cursed due to their spiritual infidelity.  Further pronouncements against Ephraim can be found in Jeremiah 7:15; Hosea 4 & 5; and Psalm 78: 67, 68, while Isaiah 7:1-8 gives pronouncements against the tribe for its alliance with Syria against Judah.

Variations in the lists of the 12 Tribes--paying attention to the context.

In addition to Revelation 7 and Ezekiel 48, there are also other variations of the lists of the 12 tribes of Israel--including those in Gen. 29 and Numbers 1. The contexts in which these variants appear make it evident that specific formats were given on different occasions and for different purposes. These lists were occasionally edited as certain tribes fell from obedience and God's grace.

A blessing/curse list would include or exclude tribes or persons not affected by it, such as in Deuteronomy 33 where Joseph�s son Simeon is excluded. In fact, very early on in Scripture we see this principle in effect, with the very first change in the list of Jacob's sons occurring right after Gen. 49, when Jacob strips Reuben of his rights of first born. Due of this event, the right of the first-born (to receive a double portion of the father's inheritance) passed on to his younger brother, Joseph.

What kind of list is Revelation 7?

 It is clear that Revelation 7 does not pertain to any land grant, as it does in some Old Testament passages, otherwise the tribe of Levi would be excluded, since the priestly tribe did not receive land grants. Additionally, it cannot be based upon physical lineage, as it is in other instances in the Old Testament. We know this, because Manasseh was not the biological child of Jacob, but was adopted.

Therefore, the Revelation 7 list, like the one in Deuteronomy 33, must include blessed tribes while excluding those that were cursed. Further evidence that we are looking at a blessing / curse list is that the list is given in the context of "sealing" 12,000 from each tribe for the purpose of divinely protecting these individuals during the events subsequently described in the book of Revelation. Tribes who are excluded from this list are evidently disqualified from divine benevolence and grace.

The upshot of the matter:

The facts show that there is absolutely no textual or contextual basis to support the WTS's claim that the 114,000 are anything other than the physical descendants of the Jewish Patriarchs. To spiritualize the reference so as to signify any other group--even in reference to the Christian church--blatantly violates the plain sense and intent of the passage. Furthermore, Revelation 7's use of the phrase "from every tribe of the sons of Israel", clearly points to the physical descendants of Jacob. The phrase is used hundreds of times in Scripture and never refers to anything other than naturally born Jews. In fact, the name Israel itself is always used in reference to either the historical place, or to the patriarch Jacob (renamed "Israel") and/or his physical descendants. There is absolutely no indication that any of the Biblical writers ever intended the term to be used in a spiritual sense and the Bible never supports the premise that God has completely rejected the nation of Israel in favor of the Christian Church. Rather, Gentile believers are said to have been "grafted in" to God's family (Romans chapter 11).

THE "GREAT CROWD"

WHAT THE WATCHTOWER SAYS:

*         All Jehovah�s Witnesses, who are not of the 144,000 "anointed ones", belong to a lesser class called the "Great Crowd".

*        The majority of New Testament promises apply solely to the 144,00 and are completely irrelevant to the Great Crowd of "other sheep".

*        The Great Crowd must survive Armageddon to make it to the New World, and are responsible for converting the Armageddon-ravaged earth into an Eden-like paradise.

*         The Great Crowd will be earthly subjects of God' New Order under the rule of Christ & the 144,000.

BUT, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE:

*         There is absolutely no caste system in God's plan of salvation (Coloss. 3:11).

*        In John 10:16, the "other sheep" are Gentile (non-Jewish) believers who would put faith in the Gospel message--as opposed to the "little flock" of Jewish converts to Christianity.

*         The location of the Great Crowd is before the throne of God, which is in heaven, not on the earth. (Rev. 7:9)

*         The believers who survive Armageddon are not Jehovah's Witnesses, but persons who believe the Gospel preached by the angel of God (Rev. 14:6) and the "two witnesses", whom God will send to earth during that time period (Rev. 11:3-12).

ASK A JEHOVAH�S WITNESS:

*         If the 144,000 began to be sealed with the Apostles and ended in 1935, what about all of the Old Testament faithful who were looking forward to a heavenly hope? (Hebrews 11, esp verse 10).

*         Where are any of the WTS's claims, pertaining to the identities of the 144,000 and the Great Crowd, clearly stated in Scripture (in context)?

Have Questions or Need Help?

Contact:  Freedom_Beacon@yahoo.com

"JWs make a big fuss over other religions baptizing infants, but they baptized me at the age of 11!!! Really, how much more did I know at 11 that I didn't know at 1? What I find interesting is that my mother chose to become a jw when she was a grown woman, married with two children and she is the only one that is still a jw. I was baptized at the age of 11 and my older sister was 12 and neither of us are still jws. Is this proof that a child is not equipped to make a commitment such as baptism? Maybe on some level. But isn't it also true that even the adults that are baptized are not told that they will be shunned if they ever decide they don't want to be a jw anymore. I have often wondered how many would get baptized every year if they had full disclosure before baptism of what would happen to them if they wanted out and stopped believing. It would certainly give pause for thought, I would think. It almost seems like a secret not to be discovered until it's too late. First they "love-bomb" you, then when they have you, reality sets in and you're stuck like an animal in a zoo. JWs and other cults like them just continue to disgust me." --Ex-JW, Michele B., NY, USA For more info. on this issue, please watch the following video. Running time, approx. 6 mins. Child Baptism - Watchtower Comments Why Jehovah's Witnesses baptize their children young - in spite of, or because of the consequences? From the April 15, 2008 Watchtower.  Studied the week of July 21-27, 2008 Or, click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l8ELIQEdZE

ON JW BAPTISM, IN GENERAL:

Two very important questions are asked of the JW baptismal candidate and must be responded to in the affirmative if the candidate is to be permitted baptism.

The first question is:
On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

The second is:
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?

SOURCE: Watchtower 6/1/85, p. 30

So, JWs are not only dedicating themselves to Jehovah; there is the added stipulation that is not found in Christian churches:  the act of baptism specifically identifies them with their group (Jehovah's Witnesses)

and in affiliation with the organization (the Watchtower Society). Thus, the now baptized JW, having been baptized into the Watchtower organization, is expected to fully and unquestioningly comply with all of the rules and proscriptions thereof. Failure to do so, along with an attitude which is perceived as "unrepentant", will result in ostracization (disfellowshipping) of the individual by the rest of the congregation, including friends and family who remain in good standing.

In stark contrast, when a Christian is baptized, he is not baptized as a Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, etc. Rather, he is baptized, as a Christian, in the name of all three persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, just as Jesus Himself commanded in Matthew 28: 19, 20. A Christian is not baptized in any other name nor in affiliation with any organization, and Scripture never tells us that we ought to be doing so. Our allegience is to be to Jesus Christ, not any man-made organization.

Please also note that the above questions are actually revisions which came into use in the 1980s. The old versions, reprinted below from a 1973 Watchtower article, can be compared with the new versions.

OLD QUESTIONS
As published in the WT of 5/1/73, p. 280:
1. Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognizing yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?

2. On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you throught Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit?

NEW QUESTIONS:
Now notice the changes as published in the WT 6/1/85, p. 30:

1. On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
2. Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God' spirit-directed organization?

DO you notice the change? Prior to the 1980s, JWs were dedicating themselves to Jehovah, so why the change to something that is NEVER required by Scripture??

WHY DON’T JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES VOTE,

SALUTE THE FLAG, OR GO TO WAR?

Last week, the Slate, a daily internet magazine owned by the Washington Post, posted an article entitled, "Why Serena Williams Won’t Vote for Barack Obama", by Jacob Leibenluft. The article answered this intriguing question by stating: "Serena Williams told reporters at Wimbledon on Wednesday that she's excited about Barack Obama's candidacy but won't vote for him because Jehovah's Witnesses "don't get involved in politics." (NOTE: Read the entire article at http://www.slate.com/id/2194321).

What does being a Jehovah’s Witness have to do with voting, you might ask? Actually, it is important to know that, not only do Jehovah’s Witnesses decline to vote, but they also will not run for public office, go to war, salute their nation’s flag, nor take any form of employment that requires carrying a firearm. In order to understand their reasoning on such matters, we must first understand that such activities are considered to be violations of the Watchtower Society’s strong positions on neutrality and non-violence.

In the past decade, the Watchtower Society has modified its stance on these issues ever so slightly. The following excerpt (from the Watchtower 11/15/1977, p. 686) demonstrates the rigid stance they have traditionally held:

We see, from this excerpt, that their stance is based on their Biblical interpretation of what Jesus meant when he told his disciples to be "no part of the world". Allegiance to the flag is further considered to be akin to idolatry, since the Watchtower equates such a show of allegiance with idol worship. We will deal with what Jesus really meant when he told his disciples to be no part of the world a bit later, but let’s first examine whether or not allegiance and idolatry are synonymous terms.

The definition of allegiance is: "Loyalty or the obligation of loyalty, as to a nation, sovereign, or cause. Idolatry, on the other hand, is defined as: "The worship of idols". What, then, does worship involve? The same dictionary defines worship as: "the reverent love and allegiance accorded a deity, idol, or sacred object" (The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Ed., 1985).

So we see that, while the Watchtower Society seizes upon the presence of the word "allegiance" in both definitions, it fails to acknowledge that there are different types of allegiances. There is your basic loyalty--which we display when we salute our nation’s flag--and then there is the "allegiance accorded a deity". The latter type of allegiance is not at all of the type that we display when we salute our nation’s flag. Contrary to what the Watchtower Society would like its members to believe, when citizens salute their nation’s flag, they are in no way worshipping it, nor are they worshipping the country that it represents, as if it was some deity. To claim that this is the case is, in fact, a complete fallacy.

In the past decade or so, the Watchtower appears to have eased up in some of these matters, inferring that participation in such activities is a personal decision to be made by the individual Jehovah’s Witness. However, this is only another instance where it is very important to read between the lines so that we can grasp what is not being said as much as what is being said. The fact is that, while the Watchtower often appears to be putting its best foot forward in its attempts to blend into mainstream Christianity, appearances are very often deceiving.

Let’s read between the lines of the following excerpts, regarding the issue of voting, and examine the Scriptures referenced within it. These excerpts come from the November 1, 1999 Watchtower’s "Questions from Readers" section:

In other words, if you really have a Bible-trained conscience and are really behaving in a responsible manner toward Jehovah God, you will closely follow the parameters that the Watchtower will now outline:

What did Jesus really mean when he said that his disciples are no part of the world? To answer this question, we must recognize that there are several different words in the original languages that translate into English as the word "world". The word used in both John 17:14 and John 18:36 is the Greek word kosmos, and it can mean any of the following: 1. The mass of men alienated from God and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; 2. Earthly things which that can seduce us from God and which are obstacles to the cause of Christ; and, 3. To be of earthly origin and nature (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Joseph H. Thayer).

The immediate context of these verses determines which definition is the most applicable. For instance, in John 17:14, it is obviously referring to men who are hostile to Christianity, since they are said to hate Jesus’ disciples. Obviously, the earth cannot hate anybody, but hostile humans can. Meanwhile, in John 18:36, it is apparent that Jesus is contrasting the origin of all that is earthly with the origin of his Kingdom, which is heavenly in origin.

By way of comparison, we can also cross-reference John 18:36 with Hebrews 11:9, 10. Here, it says of Abraham: "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (KJV). The idea here is clear—while Abraham had to dwell on this earth in the flesh, tending to his human needs, he lived by faith, knowing that a better, heavenly place awaited him one day (cp. 2 Cor. 5:6,7).

Clearly, there is nothing wrong with tending to our earthly needs, while we are on this earth. We must function as productive members of society, care for the needs of ourselves and of our families, obey the laws of the land, etc. On this fact, Jehovah’s Witnesses will agree. So, is it really wrong to play a part in the election of rulers who have the ability to stabilize the economy, create programs that will benefit our communities, uphold our rights to practice our religion in the way in which we choose, etc?

Let’s consider what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 13:1, 4: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." Paul makes it clear in this passage that human rulers are allowed to act and to be in power by God Himself. So how can participating in the election of human rulers be considered an affront to God?

While it is true that Christians are called to be "ambassadors for Christ", does this mean that we must turn our backs on the earthly state of affairs while we are here? Once again, we can turn to the American Heritage Dictionary to define our terms. Here, the word ambassador is defined as: "A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government to another" (italics added). A more general definition is also given: "Any authorized messenger or representative". Thus, even the dictionary definition takes into account the fact that while an ambassador represents the interests of the entity he represents, he resides under the jurisdiction of the government to which he is sent. This means that he must uphold all of the laws and act in the interests of that government insofar as these do not create direct conflict with the interests of the government that dispatched him.

In fact, an ambassador is a type of diplomat—one who is responsible for negotiating alliances, treaties, and agreements between otherwise opposing forces. This is, in effect, what Christians are called to do—we are called to negotiate an alliance between unbelievers and God by showing them the way to be reconciled to Him. Much of this work is, in fact, dependent upon our finding favor in the eyes of those in authority so that they do not feel they have reason to fight against the work we have been called to do.

I would further point out that it is not "interfering" to exercise one’s right to citizenship. Even the Apostle Paul invoked his rights as a Roman citizen when his immediate safety and his freedom was in jeopardy (see Acts 22:25-30). Jehovah’s Witnesses, themselves, do not balk when it comes to invoking their First Amendment rights when the need arises. In fact, they often do so when it comes to their right to abide by their religious prohibition against blood transfusions in life and death situations involving themselves and their children. Yet they still steadfastly refuse to exercise their right, as citizens, to take part in democratic elective processes.

The Watchtower continues:

While, individually, it is highly unlikely that we will be held accountable for the actions of an elected official, it is important that we, as Christians, vote our values. When we do not cast our vote for a candidate who lines up with our values, we may as well be casting a vote for another candidate who does not share these values. In this way, it really becomes our responsibility to participate in the electoral process. In fact, rather than causing discord within the Christian community, we actually find solidarity in knowing that we have stood together to elect an official who best represents our values and who has our best interests at heart.

Finally, the Watchtower states:

Again, I must stipulate, here, that the only reason we enjoy freedom of speech in the United States today is because of our Constitutional First Amendment rights given to us by the human authorities in this country. It is, therefore, imperative that we strive to maintain this freedom by participating in our right to choose candidates who best represent these values. In doing so, we ensure that we are able to continue to operate unhindered as ambassadors for Christ.

Please remember our observation made at the outset of our examination of the Watchtower stance as published in the above excerpts from their literature. To wit, if you are a Jehovah’s Witness who really has a Bible-trained conscience and is really behaving in a responsible manner toward Jehovah God, you will closely follow the parameters the Watchtower has detailed above. Please notice that, in using such statements, the Watchtower is still effectively able to ensure that its followers comply with its rules even without overtly laying down the law. All they must do is intimate that a REAL follower of Jehovah looks like this or that, and the rank and file will comply even in so-called "conscience matters".

After all, complete compliance with the organization is much safer than running the risk of being "disloyal to Jehovah" via disobedience to his "visible organization". This ploy has proven to be completely effective since rank and file Jehovah’s Witnesses are convinced that they must work out their salvation "with fear and trembling", according to the Watchtower Society’s skewed interpretation of Philippians 2:12. After all, a Jehovah’s Witness’s salvation is dependent upon remaining in good standing with the Watchtower organization, and shunning and disfellowshipping are still a very real possibilities, even when it comes to so-called "conscience matters" that the Watchtower Society actually frowns upon.

In summary: Do we agree with the Jehovah’s Witnesses when they say that God ought to be our supreme authority and that, if we must make a choice, we must obey Him rather than man? Of course! Do we agree with them when they say that Jesus is going to return so and that he will right all the wrongs in the world? Yes, we as Christians eagerly anticipate His coming! Do we agree that Christians should be "no part of this world" insofar as it appertains to those things of the world that can draw us away from pure worship? Absolutely! Do we agree that the devil is devil is the ruler of this world, as stated in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and1 John 5:19? Insofar as the "world" being described is defined as kosmos-- the world of mankind that chooses to serve the devil rather than God, then, yes, we do!

Furthermore, we agree with the Jehovah’s Witnesses that human governments are entirely imperfect, as they consist of imperfect human leaders. We also agree that man is not capable of directing his steps without God’s direction, as the Bible says in Jeremiah 10:23. But, this is all the more reason for Christians to exercise our rights as citizens to elect officials who share our Christian values! We also pray that these elected officials will seek God’s direction as they enact policies and legislation that affect all citizens of our country.

Will man be able to right all of the wrongs in this world? Of course not, but that does not mean that nothing can be done to improve the lives and livelihood of mankind while we must occupy this temporary, earthly home. Should we just sit around lamenting all of the problems in the world and simply wait for Christ to return as we watch the situation worsen before our very eyes? Surely not, if by voting our Christian values, we can be that "light of the world" we are called to be (Matt. 5:14; John 8:12) Like Jesus, we should be able to say, "as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5)!

Here is an article from 2008 that addresses the Jehovah's Witness stance regarding military service:

Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses perceive scrutiny of their beliefs as persecution? Typically, they will react by:

• Leveling accusations of persecution at anyone who questions their doctrines;
• Branding Christian ex-members as "apostates" to be avoided at all costs; and
• Lashing out at the Christian Church and its doctrines.

Such reactions are quite interesting considering that, historically, the Watchtower Society has claimed to have an open door policy regarding the examination of their beliefs. The following quotes, from their own literature, testify to this fact. The Society has said:

In fact, the Watchtower Society used to even encourage its own members to scrutinize its teachings and to inform them if they found something that was in error! Scrutiny of the Watchtower’s prophecies was also invited. These facts are evident in the following quotes:

Meanwhile, the Watchtower has also encouraged individuals belonging to other religions to completely reject their religions once they discovered, through their study of the Watchtower, that their former beliefs conflicted with the Watchtower’s brand of "truth":

Furthermore, when Jehovah’s Witnesses encountered teachings contrary to what they had learned from the Watchtower, they were encouraged to expose such opposing theologies as falsehood and they were not to view doing so as a form of persecution:

It is interesting that the context of the last quote, from their Awake magazine, is actually in reference to the Catholic Church. Meanwhile, the Watchtower itself also claims to be the only way of salvation. However, since the Society has never been good about taking what it dishes out, Jehovah’s Witnesses become quite defensive when such scrutiny is leveled at their own organization. Such double standards are, in fact, consistently evident within the organization today.

Why does the Watchtower promote such intense scrutiny of other religions? They rightly recognize the eternal repercussions of adhering to false religious systems. They have even gone on record as saying:

Given such statements by the Watchtower Society in the past, why is the present day organization so vehemently opposed to self-scrutiny? If do they indeed have "the truth" and are under the immediate direction of God Himself, as they claim to be, then there is nothing to fear from such scrutiny. In fact, Jehovah ought to be able to back up anything He has said through His visible organization, with no problem at all—shouldn’t He?

It is peculiar, then, that the Watchtower Society no longer encourages self-scrutiny. In fact, the rank and file Jehovah’s Witness is told instead that he must "fight against independent thinking" (WT 1/15/83, p. 27). He is also told that he must avoid all opposing material at any cost and should wisely consider it to be "apostate material" and akin to "pornography" (WT 3/15/86, p.12, 14, 17). He is further told that he must never question the organization in any way (WT 1/15/83, p. 22), and that it is not necessary to engage in independent study or independent research:

In fact, at various times in their history (especially in the months following another failed prophecy, or epidemics of disfellowshipping) the Watchtower Society has published copious articles with the intent of guilting its members into not questioning its authority, teachings, or decisions. For example, they have said:

In fact, doubts as to the validity of the organization’s counsel is to be viewed as being inspired by the devil:

Part of the Watchtower’s technique for inspiring such guilty self-recriminations is to consistently instill in its members minds’ the idea that the organization does not provide the counsel of men but that of God himself. The following quotes are typical of this Watchtower method:

Besides using the guilt trip method on it’s members, the Watchtower Society regularly publishes hoards of articles that are intended to bash its opponents in order to ensure that its members steer clear of them. It is also typical of the Watchtower to call into question the motives of its critics, as they do in the following quote:

It is interesting that it has also become the practice of the modern day Watchtower Society and the Jehovah’s Witnesses to attempt to put distance between themselves and their founder, Charles Taze Russell. This is done for a couple of reasons. First, it is historically well-documented fact that Russell dabbled in the occult and was heavily into Free Masonry. Many things he taught and many of the symbols he used and incorporated into Watchtower literature at the time were, in fact, borrowed from these sectors. The winged sun-disk of ancient Egypt, the emphasis on the prophetic importance of the pyramids, and the frequent use of the Freemason cross and crown logo, are just a few examples.

If that were not enough, there were some things that Russell taught that were actually more in harmony with Christendom’s teachings than they are with modern day Jehovah’s Witness beliefs (i.e. belief in the Rapture, the cross, celebrating Christmas, etc.) Yet, the Watchtower, under Russell’s successor, Joseph Rutherford, stated that the test of loyalty to the organization and to Jehovah God was as follows:

If what the Watchtower says, is true, and its followers cannot learn the truth apart from Russell, why did the present day Watchtower Society change so many of Russell’s major teachings—even rejecting some of them outright? In fact, the Watchtower Society under Rutherford went so far as to say:

Did the first two Watchtower presidents, Russell and Rutherford, have it right, or were they completely wrong? Was Russell really Jehovah’s mouthpiece, chosen before his birth to be the Laodicean messenger and the faithful and wise servant who continued to direct the harvest work from heaven after his death? The Watchtower Society has made all of these claims in the past. If what the Watchtower said back then was the truth, why doesn’t it still subscribe to Russell’s beliefs today? On the other hand, if he was wrong about such central Christian concepts then, by the Watchtower Society’s own definition, he was a false teacher and Jehovah’s Witnesses ought to repudiate the organization that he founded (See quote above from Riches, p. 179).

Unfortunately, rather than encourage independent study into such matters, the Watchtower staunchly advises against it. It even instills a profound sense of guilt within its followers just in case they might be considering such an investigation. Jehovah’s Witnesses need to ask themselves why this is the case. They should also ask themselves why their organization has no problem encouraging people of other religions to closely scrutinize their beliefs, yet discourages the very same practice when it comes to its own members.

Perhaps the answer to this question can best be answered by yet another Watchtower Society statement. In addressing the matter of reading the Bible exclusively, without the aid of Watchtower publications, they have stated:

In other words, if a person was to read the Bible alone, he would not come up with Watchtower doctrines such as Michael the Arch-angel’s identity being that of the pre-incarnate Christ. He would never consider that Jesus is the mediator of the 144,000 only or that only the 144,000 can be born again. He would never perceive that the Old Testament patriarchs would return to the earth and take up residence in a Society owned mansion in San Diego, California. Instead, says the Watchtower, he would revert right back to the teachings of the Christian Church (i.e. The Trinity doctrine, the indwelling and personhood of the Holy Spirit, the Rapture, the visible return of Christ, the Deity of Christ, etc.) This statement should give Jehovah’s Witnesses serious cause for pause, if they would only stop and analyze what the Watchtower is really saying here!

Jehovah’s Witnesses, contrary to what the Watchtower says, you ought to be exercising your critical thinking skills and asking yourselves why your organization has made some of the statements quoted in this article—especially if they were supposed to be speaking for Jehovah! The references have been provided; so go ahead and look them up yourself. Remember that it was your own organization that gave this very serious warning:

Has the Watchtower truly been honest with you? Or, have you simply accepted what you’ve been told on blind faith, simply because they claim to speak for Jehovah? Are you able to do the research to find out if these things are true? Remember that the Apostle Paul commended the Bereans for examining the Scriptures daily to see whether even what the apostles of Christ were telling them was the truth. Is your eternal salvation worth taking the initiative to do the same? Should you be putting faith in an organization, as the Watchtower Society encourages (WT 3/1/79, p. 1)? Or, should you put your faith in the only One who can actually assure you of eternal life (John 3:16)?

Please know that the Bible NEVER states that there would be an organization that Jehovah would use to dispense His truth to mankind. The faithful and wise servant of Jesus’ parable was an individual and he was judged by his Master on an individual basis, just as his fellow servants were.

You need to know that Jesus promised that truth would come through one channel and only one—not a human organization—but, the Holy Spirit who is sent to teach us all things (John 14:26). It is the Holy Spirit alone who comes to guide us into all truth (John 16: 13, 14). Why not pray that God will enable you to find the real truth of His word, just as He promised, courtesy of the Holy Spirit?

Finally, God never said that clinging to a particular organization would bring someone salvation, as the Watchtower claims (WT 11/15/81, p. 21). The Bible tells us there is only One who provides us with the way, the truth, and the life. He is Jesus Christ (John 14:6)—not any man-made organization. Turn to Him—the true author of our salvation—today (Hebrews 5:9)!