Sound The Trumpet : Who Do Jehovah's Witnesses Say Jesus Is?

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“Who Do Jehovah's Witnesses Say Jesus Is?”
by Shane Zinck
September 4th, 2009

"Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"

This question, found in Matthew 16:13, was asked by Jesus to his disciples nearly 2000 years

ago. Of course the answers were varied, people told the disciples Jesus was

John the Baptist or one of the prophets. When Jesus asked the disciples who they thought he was,

Simon Peter answered correctly in verse 16 ,"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

If we were to ask the same question today, we would get a variety of answers.

But I want to look at what one particular group would say and compare their answer to

our final authority, the Word of God. That group is The Watchtower Society. The

Watchtower Society is basically the teaching authority of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

What does the Watchtower Society teach about Jesus? They say Jesus is the Archangel

Michael. Is this Scriptural? No! We can compare Watchtower teaching, as found in the New World

Translation (Bible used by Jehovah's Witnesses) and the King James Bible and prove that

Jesus is not the Archangel Michael?

FIRST - Hebrews 1:4-6 says, Jesus is so much better than the angels and the angels are to worship him.

KJV: Hebrews 1:4-6 “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 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? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him”.

NWT: Hebrews 1:4-6 “So he has become better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs. For example, to which one of the angels did he ever say: You are my son; I, today, I have become your father? And again: I myself shall become his father, and he himself will become my son? But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.

Notice in verse 6 of the KJV and NWT, the word "worship" in KJV has been changed to"obeisance" in the NWT. Prior to 1961, the NWT had the word "worship" in verse 6 but changed it to "obeisance" in later versions. The reason for the change was that many Witnesses were getting caught up by this one word, it conveyed the idea that Jesus was God. Jehovah's Witnesses today will tell you any changes to their Bible is because of further enlightenment. Originally, Jehovah's Witnesses used the KJV for their Bible, but much of the KJV contradicts Watchtower teaching, so a version was produced to better meet their belief system. Instead of changing their belief system to match scriptures, the Watchtower changed scripture to match their beliefs. Hence the NWT.

SECOND - Hebrews 2:5 clearly states that God did not place the world in subjection to angels and verse 8 informs us the world is subject to His son:

KJV: Hebrews 2:5, 8 “For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak”. Verse 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. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”

NWT: Hebrews 2:5,8 “For it is not to angels that he has subjected the inhabited earth to come, about which we are speaking.” Verse 8, “All things you subjected under his feet. For in that he subjected all things to him [God] left nothing that is not subject to him. Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him;”

If Jesus is an angel, the world could not be subject to him, as stated in verse 5, yet verse 8 says the world is subject to him. If we go by Watchtower teachings that Jesus is an angel, Hebrews 2:5 and 8 would contradict each other, which is impossible. Scripture can not and does not contradict Scripture!

THIRD - The Watchtower says Jehovah created Michael, who became Jesus, and through Michael, Jehovah created all other things. This would mean Michael created Lucifer, who became Satan.Yet Michael was not able to reprimand his creation in Jude 1:9, but had to call upon The Lord. This would defy logic:

KJV: 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.”

NWT: Jude 1:9 “But when Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: May Jehovah rebuke you.

To the contrary, Jesus had no trouble rebuking Satan in Matthew 4:10-11:

KJV: Matthew 4:10-11 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Verse 11 “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. “

NWT: Matthew 4:10-11 “Then Jesus said to him: Go away, Satan! For it is written, It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.Verse11 “Then the Devil left him, and, look! angels came and began to minister to him.”

Again we would have a contradiction in Scripture if we go by Watchtower teachings. Jesus controls all of creation as found in Mark 4:39, including Satan as noted in Matthew 4:10-11, yet Michael had to call on The Lord for help in dealing with Satan.

FOURTH - We are only to worship God and nothing else, and that includes angels. In Revelation 19:10 John was instructed not to worship angels when he fell at the feet of an angel to worship him.

KJV: Revelation 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

NWT: Revelation 19:10 “At that I fell down before his feet to worship him. But he tells me: Be careful! Do not do that! All I am is a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who have the work of witnessing to Jesus. Worship God; for the bearing witness to Jesus is what inspires prophesying.”

If Jesus were an angel, he would be guilty of sin, as he accepted worship by being called Lord and God by Thomas in John 20:28-29. Being Jewish, Jesus would know being called God would be an act of worship. If he were an angel, Jesus would have corrected Thomas on the spot, but he did not.

KJV: John 20:28 -29 “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Verse 29, “ Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed”.

NWT: John 20:28-29 “In answer Thomas said to him: My Lord and my God! Verse 29, “ Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.

FIFTH - The Watchtower also claims we are not to pray in Jesus name and they site The Lord's Prayer as their example, as this prayer ends simply in "amen." Jesus only gave us this prayer as an example of how we are to pray:

KJV: Matthew 6:9(a) “ After this manner therefore pray ye:...”

NWT: Matthew 6:9(a) “YOU must pray, then, this way:...”

Yet we are told throughout the New Testament to pray in Jesus name:

KJV: John 14:13-14 “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Verse 14 “ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].”

John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

John 16:23 “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you”

Ephesians 5:20 “ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

NWT: John 14:13-14 “Also, whatever it is that YOU ask in my name, I will do this, in order that the Father maybe glorified in connection with the Son.” Verse 14 “If YOU ask anything in my name, I will do it.”

John 15:16 “YOU did not choose me, but I chose YOU, and I appointed YOU to go on and keep bearing fruit and that YOUR fruit should remain; in order that no matter what YOU ask the Father in my name he might give it to YOU.”

John 16:23 “And in that day YOU will ask me no question at all. Most truly I say to YOU, If YOU ask the Father for anything he will give it to YOU in my name. “

Ephesians 5:20 “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks always for all things to our God and Father.”

I have used both the KJV and NWT versions of the Bible to show that even in the translation used by Jehovah's Witnesses, there is serious flaws in the teachings of the Watchtower. Their own Bible version contradicts their own teachings. I pray that this small study will not only strengthen believers in Christ Jesus, but help those searching for the truth in God's word.

WHO IS JESUS ?

KJV: John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

NWT: John 14:6 “Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13