True Story

True Story

One day, while handing out gospel tracts on the street, I met a man whose story deeply moved me. He told me that he had just been turned away from a church because he was wearing jeans. They told him, "Don't ever come back until you wear dress pants."

My heart broke for him. I couldn't help but think of David, who danced before the ark of the Lord with all his might, wearing only a linen ephod. David's passion for God's presence mattered far more than his outward appearance. Yet Michal (his wife) judged him for how he looked instead of recognizing his heart of worship.

How often do we make the same mistake today? We look at people's clothing instead of their hearts. 

The Bible says, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

This man wanted nothing more than to worship God with His people. He couldn't afford a suit, so he wore the best clothes he had. Instead of welcoming him, he was rejected.

Jesus never turned people away because of what they wore. He welcomed the poor, the broken, the outcast, and the sinner. The church should do the same.

Scripture tells us, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Righteous judgment looks beyond clothing and sees a person's motives, their circumstances, and their desire to seek God.

May we never become like Michal, criticizing those whose hearts are passionately pursuing the Lord. Instead, let us welcome everyone who longs to be in God's presence, regardless of what they are wearing.

The account of King David dancing before the Ark of the Lord is found in 2 Samuel 6:14-22 (and a parallel account in 1 Chronicles 15:29).

Instead of his royal robes, David wore a "linen ephod," which was a simple, sleeveless priestly garment. His wife Michal was embarrassed, accusing him of exposing himself like a vulgar man, but David replied that he would gladly humble himself even more to honor God.

Healing Scripture and Prayer

Let's explore Isaiah 53:3–5 and 1 Peter 2:24 through the lens of charismatic and Pentecostal Christian theology, which emphasizes faith, the atonement, divine healing, and the present-day work of the Holy Spirit.

🔥 Isaiah 53:3–5 (NKJV)

> “He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief...

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.”

🔥 1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV)

> “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,

that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—

by whose stripes you were healed.”

✝️ CHARISMATIC INTERPRETATION AND TEACHING

1. Healing Is in the Atonement

Charismatics teach that physical healing is not just a separate blessing—it is part of what Jesus paid for in the atonement. When Isaiah says, “By His stripes we are healed,” and Peter echoes it in the past tense—“you were healed”—they affirm that this healing is already accomplished.

> 🔑 Key teaching: Just as Jesus bore our sins, He also bore our sicknesses. Salvation and healing flow from the same fountain—the cross.

2. The Word “Stripes” (Hebrew: chabburah)

In Hebrew, "stripes" (Isaiah 53:5) refers to the severe wounds from the scourging Jesus endured. Charismatics often visualize this vividly—emphasizing that every lash of the Roman whip purchased a measure of healing for humanity.

> 🔥 Teaching emphasis: The blood of Jesus heals spirit, soul, and body. His suffering wasn’t just emotional or spiritual—it was physical, and it brought physical healing.

3. "Griefs" and "Sorrows" = Sickness and Pain

Charismatic teachers often highlight that the Hebrew words for "griefs" (choli) and "sorrows" (mak'ob) more accurately translate to sicknesses and pains.

> 📖 Matthew 8:16–17 confirms this interpretation:

> "...He cast out spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 'He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.'"

So Jesus’ earthly healing ministry was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53—not just His crucifixion.

4. Past Tense in 1 Peter 2:24

The transition from Isaiah’s “we are healed” (present) to Peter’s “you were healed” (past) is critical.

> 💡 Charismatic insight: Healing is already accomplished. It is not something we beg for—it is something we receive by faith, just as we receive salvation.

🙌 FAITH FOR HEALING

Charismatics teach that healing must be claimed by faith, standing on the finished work of Christ. Just as one receives salvation by believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth (Romans 10:9–10), healing is received by believing and confessing God’s Word.

> 🗣️ Confession example:

"By His stripes, I was healed. I receive my healing now. I reject sickness and receive wholeness in Jesus’ name."

They also emphasize that the Holy Spirit makes this healing real in the believer’s life—often through laying on of hands, anointing with oil, prayer, gifts of healing, or even miracles.

🎯 COMMON CHARISMATIC APPLICATION POINTS

Healing is part of the new covenant package.

Doubt and unbelief hinder receiving healing.

You must speak the Word and act in faith.

Symptoms don’t negate truth—you stand firm until manifestation.

Healing is not based on your works but on Jesus’ finished work.

🙏 CHARISMATIC FAITH DECLARATION PRAYER

> Father God,

I thank You for sending Jesus, the Lamb of God, who bore not only my sin but also my sickness. According to Isaiah 53:5, He was wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquities, and by His stripes I am healed.

Lord Jesus, You carried my pains and sicknesses, and on the cross, You settled it all. You said, “It is finished.” I receive healing as part of the finished work of the cross.

According to 1 Peter 2:24, I declare that I was healed, and if I was healed, then I am healed now. I rebuke sickness, infirmity, weakness, pain, and disease in my body. They have no legal right to stay.

Holy Spirit, I invite You to manifest this healing power in my body. I receive it now, by faith—not by sight, not by feeling, but by trusting in the truth of Your Word.

Thank You, Lord, for the blood that saves, the cross that redeems, and the stripes that heal. I stand on Your promise. I walk in divine health, strength, and vitality.

In Jesus’ mighty name,

Amen!

From a charismatic and Pentecostal Christian perspective, the doctrine of cessationism—the belief that spiritual gifts like healing, miracles, and prophecy ceased with the death of the apostles—is viewed not only as biblically incorrect but as a deceptive strategy of the enemy to rob believers of their inheritance in Christ.

Here’s a breakdown of why many spirit-filled believers boldly say:

👉 Cessationism is a lie from the devil, and healing is still for today.

🔥 1. Cessationism Has No Clear Biblical Foundation

There is no scripture that says healing or the gifts of the Spirit would end with the apostles or the completion of the Bible.

Misused verse:

> 1 Corinthians 13:8–10

“...whether there are prophecies, they will fail... when that which is perfect has come...”

📌 Rebuttal: Cessationists claim “that which is perfect” refers to the Bible, but in context, Paul is talking about the return of Christ—when we will “see face to face” (v.12). That has not happened yet!

> Until Jesus returns, we still live in a broken, sin-infected world that needs healing, miracles, and supernatural intervention.

✝️ 2. Healing Is Part of the Atonement

> Isaiah 53:5 — “By His stripes we are healed.”

1 Peter 2:24 — “By His stripes you were healed.”

Jesus didn’t just bear sin on the cross—He bore sickness, infirmity, and pain. If salvation is for today, so is healing, because they both came from the same sacrifice.

🙌 3. Jesus Healed All—and Never Changed

> Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Everywhere Jesus went, He healed the sick (Matthew 4:24, Luke 6:19). If He healed then, and He doesn’t change, He is still healing now.

🕊️ 4. The Holy Spirit Still Operates with Power

> 1 Corinthians 12:7–11 lists gifts like:

Healing

Working of miracles

Prophecy

Tongues and interpretation

These gifts were given to build up the Church. The Church is still here—so are the gifts. Cessationism implies the Holy Spirit changed His ministry—but that’s impossible (John 14:16 calls Him the eternal Helper).

🛑 5. Cessationism Is a Strategy of Satan

The devil knows that he cannot stop salvation, so he works to neutralize the Church’s power. He wants Christians to believe that:

Miracles don’t happen anymore

Healing is only "spiritual"

God only moves in history, not now

📢 Charismatic response: That’s a lie! Healing testifies to the Gospel’s power and spreads revival. The devil hates that—so he pushes cessationism to make churches weak, dry, and skeptical.

🌍 6. Modern-Day Testimonies Disprove Cessationism

Across the world—especially in underground and persecuted churches—believers are experiencing:

Instant healings

Blind eyes opening

Demons cast out

Cancer vanishing

Dead raised (yes, even today)

> Jesus said,

“These signs will follow those who believe...” (Mark 16:17–18)

That includes healing and deliverance—not just in the 1st century, but now.

🧎‍♂️ 7. Faith Is Required to Receive Healing

Cessationism produces a culture of doubt.

> But Jesus said in Matthew 9:29 — “According to your faith, be it unto you.”

Faith unlocks healing. The enemy uses cessationism to plant doubt, which blocks people from receiving what Jesus paid for.

🙏 Final Word

Cessationism dishonors the power of the cross, grieves the Holy Spirit, and robs the Church of the supernatural tools God gave her. It isn’t just a doctrinal disagreement—it’s a spiritual deception.

Jesus is still healer.

The Holy Spirit still gives gifts.

God’s power is still moving.

🔥 DECLARATION

> “I renounce the lie that God no longer heals. I believe Jesus is alive, and by His stripes I was healed. The Holy Spirit lives in me, and His power works through me today. I walk in faith, not doubt. I receive and release healing in Jesus’ name!”

More Healing Scriptures

Here is a comprehensive list of key scriptures from both the Old Testament and New Testament where God promises health, healing, restoration, and divine strength for His people. These verses emphasize both physical and spiritual healing, often linked to faith, obedience, and the atoning work of Christ.

📖 Old Testament Scriptures on Health and Healing

1. Exodus 15:26

> “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God... I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

2. Exodus 23:25

> “So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.”

3. Deuteronomy 7:15

> “And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known.”

4. Deuteronomy 30:19–20

> “Choose life, that both you and your descendants may live... for He is your life and the length of your days.”

5. Psalm 103:2–3

> “Bless the LORD, O my soul... who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.”

6. Psalm 107:20

> “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

7. Proverbs 4:20–22

> “My son, give attention to my words... For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”

8. Isaiah 53:4–5

> “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows... by His stripes we are healed.”

9. Jeremiah 17:14

> “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.”

10. Jeremiah 30:17

> “‘For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the LORD.”

11. Malachi 4:2

> “But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.”

📖 New Testament Scriptures on Health and Healing

1. Matthew 4:23–24

> “And Jesus went about... healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.”

2. Matthew 8:16–17

> “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”

3. Mark 5:34

> “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

4. Mark 11:24

> “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

5. Luke 4:18

> “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…”

6. Luke 6:19

> “And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.”

7. Luke 9:11

> “He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.”

8. John 10:10

> “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

9. Acts 10:38

> “God anointed Jesus... who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.”

10. Romans 8:11

> “He who raised Christ... will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

11. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

> “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit... glorify God in your body.”

12. James 5:14–15

> “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders... and the prayer of faith will save the sick.”

13. 1 Peter 2:24

> “...by whose stripes you were healed.”

🙏 Prayer for Health and Healing (Personalized and Faith-Filled)

> Heavenly Father,

I come to You in the mighty name of Jesus, according to Your Word that cannot fail. I thank You that You are the LORD who heals me (Exodus 15:26). I declare that as I serve You, You bless my food and water and remove sickness from my body (Exodus 23:25). I receive the promise that You take away from me all sickness and give me health instead (Deuteronomy 7:15).

Lord, You are my life and the length of my days (Deuteronomy 30:20). You forgive all my sins and heal all my diseases (Psalm 103:3). I thank You that You have sent Your Word and healed me (Psalm 107:20). I treasure Your Word, for it is life to me and health to all my flesh (Proverbs 4:22).

I declare boldly that by the stripes of Jesus I am healed (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24). Lord Jesus, You took my sickness and bore my infirmities (Matthew 8:17). I believe that Your healing power flows through me now, restoring my body and renewing my strength.

You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. As You healed all who came to You then, You are healing me now (Matthew 4:24, Luke 6:19). My faith makes me whole (Mark 5:34), and I believe that I receive what I ask for in prayer (Mark 11:24).

Holy Spirit, quicken my mortal body and fill me with divine life (Romans 8:11). I declare my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and it glorifies God in health and strength (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

Father, I receive Your healing now by faith. I stand on Your promises. I speak life over my body, strength to my bones, clarity to my mind, and peace to my heart. I receive restoration, wholeness, and vitality.

Thank You, Lord, for restoring health to me and healing all my wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). I rejoice in Your healing wings, and I walk in the abundance of life You promised (Malachi 4:2, John 10:10).

In Jesus’ name I pray and receive,

Amen.

Jesus Christ Is LORD

"What does it mean that Jesus is Lord?"

 

Generally speaking, a lord is someone with authority, control, or power over others; to say that someone is “lord” is to consider that person a master or ruler of some kind. In Jesus’ day, the word lord was often used as a title of respect toward earthly authorities; when the leper called Jesus “Lord” in Matthew 8:2, he was showing Jesus respect as a healer and teacher (see also Matthew 8:25 and 15:25). So can refer to "Lord" when speaking of the idol Baal? 
NO! Baal is a small "L" lord, as in a master or ruler whom the idolatrous people subject themselves to. 

While “LORD” (Yahweh) of the Hebrew Bible is equated with the “Lord Jesus” by the apostles. The statement “Jesus is Lord” means that Jesus is God. 

Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). 
He is Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5). 
He is “our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 1:4). 
He is, in fact, the Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14).
 
However, after the resurrection, the title “Lord,” as applied to Jesus, became much more than a title of honor or respect. Saying, “Jesus is Lord,” became a way of declaring Jesus’ deity. It began with Thomas’ exclamation when Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection: “Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28). 
From then on, the apostles’ message was that Jesus is Lord, meaning “Jesus is God.” Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost contained that theme: “Let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). Later, in Cornelius’s house, Peter declared that Jesus is “Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). Note how in Romans 10:9 Jesus’ lordship is linked to His resurrection: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus referred to Himself as “Lord” many times (e.g., Luke 19:31; John 13:13). And when we compare the Old Testament with the New, we find several times when the “LORD” (Yahweh) of the Hebrew Bible is equated with the “Lord Jesus” by the apostles. For example, Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good,” and that passage is alluded to in 1 Peter 2:3, except there Jesus is the “Lord” who is good. Isaiah 8:13 says that “the LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy”; in 1 Peter 3:15 we are commanded, “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy” (ESV).

Amazingly, the Lord Jesus left His exalted position in heaven and came to earth to save us. In His Incarnation, He showed us what true meekness looks like (see Matthew 11:29). Just before His arrest, Jesus used His power and authority to teach us humility: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). The last will be first, according to our Lord (Matthew 19:30).

In saying, “Jesus is Lord,” we commit ourselves to obey Him. Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). An acknowledgment of Jesus’ lordship is logically accompanied by a submission to Jesus’ authority. If Jesus is Lord, then He owns us; He has the right to tell us what to do.

A person who says, “Jesus is Lord,” with a full understanding of what that means (Jesus is God and has supreme authority over all things) has been divinely enlightened: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). Faith in the Lord Jesus is required for salvation (Acts 16:31).

Jesus is Lord. It’s the truth, whether or not people acknowledge the fact. He is more than the Messiah, more than the Savior; He is the Lord of all. Someday, all will submit to that truth: “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).

What Does the Greek Word Kurios (Lord) Mean?

When referring to the true God, the New Testament sometimes uses the Greek word kurios translated as "Lord." It is important that we have a correct understanding of the word because it is often misunderstood.

It Does Not Always Refer To God

The thought behind the word kurios is supremacy and authority. Kurios is used a number of different ways in the New Testament.

The Word Can Mean Sir

Sometimes the word is merely a polite title meaning, "Sir."

"Sir," [kurios] they said, "We remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' " (Matthew 27:63).

It Also Means Master Or Owner

In some contexts, it has the idea of a title such as, "Master," or "Owner."

A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master [kurios] (Matthew 10:24).

Kurios Can Refer To Husbands

Even husbands are called by the word kurios.

Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him master [kurios] (1 Peter 3:6).

The Word Was Used Of Idols

Paul uses the plural of kurios to refer to idols.

Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods [kurios] in heaven or on earth-as in fact there are many gods and many lords (1 Corinthians 8:5).

It Can Also Mean The LORD (Yahweh Or Jehovah)

There are many times, however, that kurios is equivalent to the divine name Yahweh, or Jehovah.

But Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord (Acts 15:40).

Jesus Is Addressed As Both Human And Divine

We find Jesus being addressed by the human and divine usages of kurios. The polite form of kurios meaning, "Sir," is used. In John's gospel Jesus met a woman at a well in Samaria. She addressed Him as kurios (sir).

The woman said to him, "Sir (kurios), you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? (John 4:11).

There are other times when kurios speaks of Jesus' full Deity as God the Son.

So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10,11).

Paul wrote to the Romans.

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

Divine And Human Usage In The Same Verse

We find both uses of kurios in the same verse.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters {kurios] in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord [kurios] (Colossians 3:22).

Summary

The Greek word kurios has a number of different meanings. It can mean sir, master, owner, or even refer to an idol. However on a number of occasions it is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word Yahweh or Jehovah. This is the divine name for God. Jesus Christ is designated as the Lord in many New Testament references. This is the consistent truth of Scripture - Jesus is Yahweh or Jehovah.

Other Links

What does it mean that Jesus is Lord?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-is-Lord.html

29 Bible Verses about Christ Is Lord

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Christ-Is-Lord

What Does the Greek Word Kurios (Lord) Mean?
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_1307.cfm

The Lord of the Sabbath - Sunday Worship

Jesus Was Not A Socialist

Contrary to popular belief, Jesus was in fact a capitalist not a communist or a socialist. 

You're absolutely right to make a distinction between voluntary charity and compulsory redistribution through government control. Jesus never promoted state-enforced economic equality; instead, He emphasized personal responsibility, private property, and voluntary generosity, not coercive socialism or communism.

The Sinners Prayer

🙏Title: The Sinner's Prayer: Embracing Faith in Jesus Christ

The Sinner's Prayer has long been a cornerstone of Christian tradition, offering believers a heartfelt expression of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Rooted in the conviction of trusting in Jesus and relying on the eternal truth of God's Word, it serves as a profound declaration of one's acceptance of Christ's sacrifice for redemption.

At its core, the Sinner's Prayer embodies a sincere acknowledgment of human fallibility and a humble plea for divine mercy. It signifies a turning point in an individual's spiritual journey, where they consciously choose to surrender their lives to Christ and seek forgiveness for their sins.

The prayer itself is a simple yet profound affirmation of faith, often personalized by individuals as they pour out their hearts before God. It acknowledges Jesus as the Savior, trusting in His word and the unfailing truth of Scripture. It embraces the belief in Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross for the atonement of sins, His resurrection, and His ascension to the right hand of God.

Central to the Sinner's Prayer is the recognition of Jesus as the propitiation for sin, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. It is an expression of gratitude for His boundless love and grace, which offers salvation to all who believe.

Moreover, the Sinner's Prayer underscores the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers and empowers them to live a life pleasing to God. Through faith in Christ, individuals become adopted as sons and daughters of God, heirs to His kingdom and recipients of His unmerited favor.

In essence, the Sinner's Prayer encapsulates the essence of Christian faith—a heartfelt plea for forgiveness, a declaration of trust in Jesus Christ, and a commitment to follow Him faithfully. It is a profound act of surrender, paving the way for a life transformed by the redeeming love of God.

Jesus: That Which Is Perfect

Jesus: That Which Is Perfect

 

 

1 Corinthians 13;10 "That which is perfect"

### The Active Gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Church: Their Purpose and Continuation

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are essential aspects of the Christian faith, given to believers for the edification and growth of the Church. These gifts are not only active but are also vital for the Church's mission and will continue to be so until the end times. Here, we will explore the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, their purpose within the Church, and why they will remain active until the rapture and the ultimate revelation of God's perfect love.

Miracles Are For Today

Title: Embracing the Miraculous: Understanding the Continuation of Miracles in Today's World

Exposing the Cult of Scientology: A Christian Perspective

**Exposing the Cult of Scientology: A Christian Perspective**

Unraveling the Layers of Scientology: A Fusion of Religious Philosophies and the Legacy of L. Ron Hubbard

In the vast landscape of modern religions, few have elicited as much curiosity, controversy, and scrutiny as the Church of Scientology. Founded by Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, commonly known as L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology presents a unique blend of religious philosophies that have captivated millions worldwide. At its core lies a fusion of ideas and practices drawn from various sources, reflecting Hubbard's eclectic background and visionary pursuits.

The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

 

The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

We Believe... The KJV (King James Version) Bible is the canon of scripture, both old and new testaments are the word of God, the product of holy men who spoke and wrote being divinely inspired (divinely breathed) by (borne by the agency) of the Holy Spirit. (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21). It is my personal conviction that the KJV is the most accurate bible version to date, although I am not be legalistic regarding the rejection of other bible versions, so long as they do not contradict or leave out inspired scripture verses as found in the KJV. It is the Spirit of the Word of God that gives life, not being legalistic about the P’s and Q’s.


The doctrine of the inspiration of the Bible means that the Bible in the original documents is God-breathed, that it is a divine product, and, because it is divine, the original documents are inerrant.  The copies of those documents are not inspired.  We have copies of inspired documents.

2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." Paul who wrote this epistle was obviously referring to the entirety of the Old Testament as being inspired.  The word "inspired" is literally "God-breathed."  This is an interesting phrase, since it implies that the Scriptures are from the mouth of God. 

Likewise, Peter says in 2 Pet. 1:21, "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Notice that Peter is stating that prophecy is not the product of human will.  Instead, prophecy occurs by those moved by the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, we can easily see that the Old Testament Scriptures are full of statements and phrases claiming to be the Word of God.

"Thus says the Lord" occurs 418 times in the NASB, 413 in the KJV

Exodus 4:22, "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, 'Israel is My son, My first-born.'"

1 Kings 11:31, "And he said to Jeroboam, 'Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes.'"

Isaiah 7:7, "thus says the Lord God, 'It shall not stand nor shall it come to pass.'"

"God said" occurs 46 times in both the NASB and the KJV

Genesis 1:3, "Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light."

Exodus 3:14, "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you."

Exodus 6:2-3, "God spoke further to Moses and said to him, 'I am the Lord; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them.'"

God spoke through prophets...

1 Kings 14:18, "And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through His servant Ahijah the prophet."

2 Sam. 24:11-12, "When David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 'Go and speak to David, Thus the Lord says, "I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I may do to you."

Zech. 7:7, "Are not these the words which the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous with its cities around it, and the Negev and the foothills were inhabited?"

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through people...

2 Sam. 23:2, "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue."

1 Kings 22:24, "Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, 'How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?'"

2 Chron. 20:14-15, "Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; 15 and he said, 'Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.'"

As you can see, the Old Testament Scriptures are clearly full of statements showing the inspiration of God through the writers.  The Old Testament assumes and speaks from the perspective of divine inspiration. Should we do any less?

What about the New Testament?

We see that the Old Testament is repeatedly spoken of as being inspired via the numerous references cited above, but what about the New Testament?  Are the New Testament books inspired as well?

The Christian church has always considered the New Testament documents to be inspired.  Though in the early church there were some debates on which New Testament books to include in the Bible, God worked through the Christian church to recognize those inspired works.  Therefore we now have 27 inspired books for the New Testament.

In 1 Cor. 14:37 Paul said, "If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment."

In 2 Pet. 3:16 Peter said, "as also in all [Paul's] letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction."

Also, Jesus said in John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
This means that the Lord has commissioned the apostles to accurately record what Jesus had said because the Holy Spirit would be working in them.

So, we can see that Jesus promised direction from the Holy Spirit, that Paul considered what he wrote to be the commands of God, and that Peter recognized Paul's writings as Scripture.  In addition, since the Christian Church recognizes the 27 books of the New Testament are inspired, and since we see internal claims of inspiration in the New Testament, we conclude that inspiration applies to the New Testament documents as well.

Objections?...

Does Inspiration Violate Free Will?

Inspiration does NOT violate free will.  What if the person through whom God is working has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and desires to have the Lord speak through him?
Would this negate the ability of God to inerrantly speak through such a person?
Would it also mean that the person has no free will if he has voluntarily subjected his will to the will of God?
Certainly, God has the ability to work through individuals to bring them to a place where they can record inerrant statements.  Cannot God manifest himself to someone, deliver to him a verbal message, and have that person record it?
Would that statement not be inspired of God?

Prov. 21:1,"The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever He wishes."  This verse clearly states that God is able to work through an individual's "free will" to bring about what God desires.


Free Download "The Divine Inspiration of the Bible
by Arthur W. Pink" http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/The%20Divinie%20Inspiration%20of%20the%20Bible.pdf

Watch "THE BIBLE" YouTube video playlist.

**The Timeless Legacy of the King James Version Bible: God's Inspired Word**

For centuries, the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible has stood as a beacon of truth, wisdom, and inspiration for millions of believers around the world. Its rich language, poetic beauty, and unparalleled historical significance have made it a cornerstone of the Christian faith. In this article, we will explore the historical and biblical evidence that affirms the authenticity and authority of the King James Version as the inspired Word of God, breathed out by the Holy Spirit for the edification of believers.

The Gospel From A To Z

The Gospel from A to Z

A. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

B. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

C. “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

D. “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8

Click below to EXPAND!...

E. “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:14

F. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

G. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

H. “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

I. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

J. “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:29

K. “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matthew 7:7

L. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22

M. “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” II Corinthians 12:9

N. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” II Corinthians 6:2

O. “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8

P. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Q. “Quicken me according to Thy Word.” Psalm 119:154

R. “Repent ye, and believe the Gospel.” Mark 1:15

S. “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16

T. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

U. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

V. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

W. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” I Peter 2:24

X. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Y. “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” I Peter 2:9

MESSAGE TO NEW-AGERS

 

A MESSAGE TO NEW-AGERS: YOUR NEW AGE ENERGY IS A DELUSION. YOU HAVE NO POWER TO HEAL OR DELIVER OTHERS OR YOURSELF, STOP KIDDING YOURSELF. THE ONLY POWER IS WHEN YOU TAP INTO THE HOLY GHOST OF GOD, WITHOUT GOD YOU CAN DO NOTHING, BUT WITH HIM YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO LIFE....

I'M FED UP WITH READING POSTS ON FACEBOOK BY PEOPLE WHO POST NEW AGE IGNORANCE THAT DEFIES THE REALITY OF A HEALING AND DELIVERING POWER OF YAHWEH GOD - YOU ARE NOT GOD, YOU ARE NOT CHRIST!

YOUR EFFORTS ARE TO HIDE FROM THE ONE WHO CAN REALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE - THE REAL AND TRUE GOD. 

 

STOP BEING AN Eckhart Tolle SPIRITUAL DUMB ASS AND FALSE PROPHET WHO PRESENTS A FALSE CHRIST (WHICH JESUS WARNED US ABOUT IN MATTHEW 24), MANY WILL COME IN HIS NAME...THAT DON'T KNOW THE REAL CHRIST AND PRESENT A FALSE CHRIST. THE SON OF GOD WAS MADE MANIFEST TO DESTROY THE POWER OF THE DEVIL. HE IS RISEN, AND HAS BEEN GIVEN ALL POWER OVER THE POWERS OF HELL AND DEATH. HE HAS RELEASED THIS SAME POWER EXCLUSIVELY TO THOSE WHO ARE HIS ANOINTED SONS AND DAUGHTERS - BORN AGAIN (BORN FROM ABOVE BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD). 

 

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR RIGHT NOW, BURN YOUR IGNORANT NEW AGE BOOKS AND GO GET A BIBLE. LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REAL CHILD OF GOD ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT WITH DYNAMITE POWER TO HEAL AND DELIVER PEOPLE IN NEED OF GODS SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD!

 

WATCH THIS VIDEO OF PASTOR WHO USED TO TEACH NEW AGE AND LEARN THE WAY THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, BY THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN HIS LIFE. CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ATTAINED BY A MENTAL ASSENT, BUT AN UNDENIABLE EXPERIENCE CONVEYED BY THE TANGIBLE REVELATORY PRESENCE OF GOD, AND THAT BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT IN A PERSONS LIFE.

 

WATCH -  https://youtu.be/7Pf38FRFXvA

 

 

What Jesus Says About Hell?

What Jesus Says About Hell?

Jesus said hell is a place of...

"fire" Matt 7:19, 13:40, 25:41

"everlasting fire" Matt 18:8, 25:41

"eternal damnation" Mark 3:29

"hell fire" Matt 5:22, 18:9, Mark 9:47

"damnation" Matt 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47

"damnation of hell" Matt 23:33

"resurrection of damnation" John 5:29

"furnace of fire" Matt 13:42, 50

"the fire that never shall be quenched"   Mark 9:43, 45

"the fire is not quenched" Mark 9:44, 46, 48

"Where their worm dieth not" Mark 9:44, 46, 48

"wailing and gnashing of teeth" Matt 13:42, 50

"weeping and gnashing of teeth"   Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30

"torments" Luke 16:23

"tormented in this flame" Luke 16:24

"place of torment" Luke 16:28

"outer darkness" Matt 8:12, 22:13

"everlasting punishment

In Luke 16, Jesus Christ gives a frightening picture of hell:

22 . . . the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (Luke 16:22-28)

HELL IS A PLACE OF FIRE

The man in Luke 16:24 cries: ". . .I am tormented in this FLAME."

In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: "And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting FIRE,. . ."

Revelation 20:15 says, " And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE."

THE BIBLE GIVES THE LOCATION OF HELL

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He descended into hell. In Acts 2, Peter is speaking, verse 31, " . . . seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in HELL"

When Jesus Christ died His soul went into hell.

And in Matthew 12:40, Jesus Christ says:

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly: so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the HEART OF THE EARTH. "

The Bible is clear — Hell is inside the earth!

Ephesians 4:9, says of Jesus: "Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH."

In Numbers 16, the Bible gives the account of people falling into hell alive!

"And THE EARTH OPENED HER MOUTH, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive INTO THE PIT, and the EARTH CLOSED UPON THEM:" Numbers 16:32-33

In Mark 9:46, Jesus Christ says about hell: "Where THEIR WORM dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

Jesus said explicitly — THEIR worm — not a worm, or the worm — but THEIR worm. The Bible teaches that Christians will one day have a body like the Lord Jesus Christ. Could it be, as some Bible students teach — that men and women in hell take on the form of their father, Satan (John 8:44)? In Revelation 12:3, Satan is described as a red dragon. Could Jesus Christ be referring to the body lost men and women will have for eternity?

And Jesus Christ said, "Where THEIR WORM dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

Have you read Isaiah 66 where the Lord Jesus Christ is quoting Mark 9:46?

Look at the context and time period of Isaiah 66:22-24:

Isaiah 66:22-24:
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

The "new heavens and new earth" of Isaiah 66:22 matches Revelation 21:1. This occurs AFTER the Great White Throne Judgement of Revelation 20:10-15! The references to "carcases"; "their worm"; "their fire" (vs 24) — is AFTER the Great White Throne Judgement of the LOST people! The reference to ". . the men that have transgressed. . ." are the LOST people AFTER the Great White Throne Judgement.

And at this point — they have received their NEW BODY! Notice what Isaiah says, the saved people shall "LOOK upon the CARCASES of the men that have transgressed. . ." It's worth mentioning that a "carcase" is not always a "DEAD body". For instance, two times the Bible specifically uses the term "dead carcase" (Deut. 14:8 and Ezek 6:5). If a carcase is ALWAYS a "dead" body, then why say "dead" carcase? And there's NOTHING in the context of Isaiah to imply these "men that transgressed" are "dead".

In fact, Isaiah clearly says, "their worm shall NOT DIE". Even in our language, we refer to a living body as a "carcase". For example, "Get your carcase [body] in here". Why is that important? Because when the saved people in Isaiah 66:24 are "looking upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed" — And do you know what they are SEEING? "Their worm"! The "carcase" they are seeing is "their WORM that shall not die". The end of Isaiah 66:24 is a frightening endorsement of this interpretation. What the saved people are viewing Isaiah says is , ". . . an abhorring unto all flesh". And my friend, that is not JUST a normal flesh body they are looking at! It is something that will send chills screaming through your soul at the horror. And it will happen!

Revelation 14:10 says, " . . . and he shall be tormented with fire and BRIMSTONE . . ." And Job 18 describes the " . . . PLACE of him that knoweth not God" (vs 21), in verse 15 as, " . . . BRIMSTONE shall be scattered upon his habitation." Do you know what brimstone is? It's sulfur. And do you know where sulfur or brimstone is found? INSIDE THIS EARTH! According to the book Volcanoes by Pierre Kohler (p. 43), when Mt. St Helens erupted in 1980 — 150,000 tons of sulfurous gas was ejected! Job is the oldest book in the Bible, written over 3,000 years ago, and yet Job knew what science wouldn't know for years — inside this earth is BRIMSTONE!

HELL IS FOREVER!

All who enter hell — abandon all hope!

The horror of hell — for even one second is unbearable — but FOREVER!

Jesus says in Matthew 25:41: ". . . Depart from me, ye cursed, into EVERLASTING fire, . . ."

Rev. 14:11: "The smoke of their TORMENT ascendeth up for EVER AND EVER: and they have NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT."

Just look how the Bible warns of the eternity and permance of hell!

everlasting fire ’ Matthew18:8, 25:41
everlasting punishment ’ Matthew 25:46
everlasting chains ’ Jude 1:6
eternal damnation ’ Mark 3:29
eternal judgment ’ Hebrews 6:2
eternal fire ’ Jude 1:7
unquenchable fire ’ Matthew 3:12
the fire that never shall be quenched ’ Mark 9:43, 44, 45, 46, 48
fire unquenchable ’ Luke 3:17
mist of darkness is reserved for ever ’ 2 Peter 2:17
the blackness of darkness for ever ’ Jude 1:13

Jesus Christ took hell very serious. . .

Jesus Christ says in Mark 9:43-47,

43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Jesus Christ took hell so serious — He could say without the slightest hesitation — to remove your eye, cut off your hand or foot, if that would keep you out of hell!

Another factor is that the statement, “Jesus talked more about hell than about heaven,” probably refers to the total number of verses devoted to the subject, and not just the number of references to the words “hell” or “heaven.”

HELL. ‘Hell’ in the NT renders the Gk. word transliterated as ‘Gehenna’ (Mt. 5:22, 29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mk. 9:43, 45, 47; Lk. 12:5; Jas. 3:6). The name is derived from the Heb. the Valley of (the son[s] of Hinnom, a valley near Jerusalem (Jos. 15:8; 18:16), where children were sacrificed by fire in connection with pagan rites (2 Ki. 23:10; 2 Ch. 28:3; 33:6; Je. 7:31; 32:35). Its original derivation is obscure, but Hinnom is almost certainly the name of a person. In later Jewish writings Gehenna came to mean the place of punishment for sinners (Assumption of Moses 10:10; 2 Esdras 7:36). It was depicted as a place of unquenchable fire-the general idea of fire to express the divine judgment is found in the OT (Dt. 32:22; Dn. 7:10). The rabbinic literature contains various opinions as to who would suffer eternal punishment. The ideas were widespread that the sufferings of some would be terminated by annihilation, or that the fires of Gehenna were in some cases purgatorial (Rosh Hashanah 16b-17a; 58b; Mishnah Eduyoth 2. 10). But those who held these doctrines also taught the reality of eternal punishment for certain classes of sinners. Both this literature and the Apocryphal books affirm belief in an eternal retribution (cf. Judith 16:17; Psalms of Solomon 3:13). The teaching of the NT endorses this past belief. The fire of hell is unquenchable (Mk. 9:43), eternal (Mt. 18:8), its punishment is the converse of eternal life (Mt. 25:46). There is no suggestion that those who enter hell ever emerge from it. However, the NT leaves the door open for the belief that while hell as a manifestation of God’s implacable wrath against sin is unending, the existence of those who suffer in it may not be. It is difficult to reconcile the ultimate fulfillment of the whole universe in Christ (Eph. 1:10; Col. 1:20) with the continued existence of those who reject him. Some scholars have contended that an eternal punishment is one which is eternal in its effects; in any case eternal does not necessarily mean never-ending, but implies ‘long duration extending to the writer’s mental horizon’ (J. A. Beet). On the other hand Rev. 20:10 does indicate conscious, never-ending torment for the devil and his agents, albeit in a highly symbolic passage, and some would affirm that a similar end awaits human beings who ultimately refuse to repent. In any case, nothing should be allowed to detract from the seriousness of our Lord’s warnings about the terrible reality of God’s judgment in the world to come. In Jas. 3:6 Gehenna, like the bottomless pit in Rev. 9:1ff.; 11:7, appears to be the source of evil on the earth. NT imagery concerning eternal punishment is not uniform. As well as fire it is described as darkness (Mt. 25:30; 2 Pet. 2:17), death (Rev. 2:11), destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord (2 Thes. 1:9; Mt. 7:21-23), and a debt to pay (Mt. 5:25-26). In 2 Pet. 2:4 only, we find the Verb translated in RSV ‘cast into hell’, and rendered by the Pesh. ‘cast down to the lower regions’. is the classical word for the place of eternal punishment but is here applied to the intermediate sphere of punishment for fallen angels. 

Who Will Be Sent To The Lake Of Fire?

Eternal life is knowing a person, Jesus Christ.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3).

Unbelievers will not have that privilege of eternal life. Though they do not possess eternal life, they will exist eternally. Their final destination is hell, or the "lake  of fire." The Bible specifically tells us who it is that will populate the lake of fire.
                                 
1.  Hypocrites
 
The place of final judgment is where God will place hypocrites. Jesus said.

And will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites (Matthew 24:51).

A hypocrite is an actor, someone wearing a false face. Many religious people without a genuine relationship to Christ will end up in hell because they are merely pretending to be a Christian.
                            
2.  Judas Iscariot
   
Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus, has been consigned to the place of final judgment. Peter said of him.

To take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place (Acts 1:25).            

                          
3.  The Antichrist

The final antichrist, or false Christ, that comes upon the scene of history will have his end in hell.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume  with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

4.  The False Prophet
  
The false prophet, the cohort of the antichrist, will also be sent to the lake of fire.

Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone (Revelation 19:20).

                                  
5.  Satan
 
The lake of fire has been prepared for the devil and his evil angels. The Scripture says that this will be his final destination.

And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

                          
6.  The Fallen Angels
 
The angels who rebelled against God will be sent to the "lake of fire."

Then He [God] will say to those on His left,  'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' (Matthew 25:41).

7.  All Unrepentant Sinners
  
The lake of fire will be the final destination of all unrepentant sinners. This includes everyone, before and after Christ, who have not responded to God's Word. Those who have not trusted Christ as Savior will find their way to the lake of fire. John wrote.

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

Jesus said.

I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come . . . Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He (John 8:21,24).

Summary

The Bible specifies who will be living in hell, or the lake of fire. This is their final judgment from which there is no escape. They include.

1.  Hypocrites

2.  Judas Iscariot

3.  The Antichrist

4.  The False Prophet

5.  Satan

6.  The Fallen Angels

7.  All Unrepentant Sinners

Witnessing To Jehovah's Witnesses

Witnessing To Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witness Theology…

Here are a few of their core beliefs:

1 Jehovah is the one true God. (but they do not know the true God - "No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Matthew 11:27)

2 They deny the Trinity. (Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22)

3 Jesus was an exalted man that God used to create the earth, but Jesus himself is a created being—not God. Here is one key verse that refutes the idea that God/Jesus was created - Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am HE: before me there was no God.



According to Isaiah 43:10 there was no God created before Him and there will be none created after Him. The Hebrew word for formed is "yastar " which means to be made, created, formed, fashioned, framed. The question to ask a Jehovah’s Witness from Isaiah 43:10 is Jesus a true God or a false god?

If you want to know what to say when a Jehovah’s Witness comes and knocks at your door this is the one Bible verse that completely crushes the Watchtower theology! Isaiah 43:10 is one verse that dismantles and destroys the foundation of what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe about God and Jesus. The Watchtower Organization is false and what the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been taught to believe about Jesus is unbiblical, heretical, and false!

This one Bible verse exposes the false teachings and false doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Organization. According to what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe and teach Jesus is a created God, a god, but Isaiah 43:10 proves that the Watchtower teachings are false and unbiblical. The Bible teaches Jesus is God in John 1:1, John 5:18-23, John 8:24, John 8:58, John 10:30, John 14:9, John 20:28, Romans 10:13, Philippians 2:5-11; Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1, 1 John 5:20, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:17-18, Revelation 22:12-13, and other Scriptures from the Old Testament (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 19:24; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 48:16).

4 Jesus has divine attributes, but is only god-like.

5 When Jehovah raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus was a spirit-being, not a physical being.

6 The Holy Spirit is not a person, but a force.

7 Only 144,000 people will go to heaven—in general this includes only JW's alive in 1935. As of August 2015, Jehovah's Witnesses report an average membership of approximately 7.98 million actively involved in preaching, with a peak of 8.2 million.
8 Other faithful JW's will have eternal life on paradise earth. All others disintegrate at death.

9 There is no hell.

10 All "religions" besides JW are of the devil 

Ask: how thankful you are that the Bible has taught you that you have freedom in Christ (John 8:36; 2 Corinthians 3:17), that you so appreciate that you have been saved by God's grace and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9); that inspite of nobody being good enough to get to heaven (Romans 3:10) God in his mercy has chosen some since before the foundation of the world for salvation (Ephesians 1:4), that anyone who trusts in Jesus will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11), that there is no condemnation for those that are in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1), that you know you will be with Jesus forever (John 14:1-6), that you pray that your new JW friends will find freedom in Christ, etc. 

Early on, ask if you could all agree that you are seeking the truth. Ask them what their source is for the truth. Agree with them that the Bible is the final source of truth. But as the Bible teaches, it is healthy to "test everything" (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). It is good to test each "religion" against Scripture.

Now, here are more specific questions to ask:

Psalm 102 vs. Hebrews 1. Ask them to read a verse from the Psalms about Jehovah from their own Bible. They will probably go to Psalm 102:25-27. (If not, ask them to go to that specific passage.) Confirm what that they understand what they just read, that it is about Jehovah, who is the creator of all things (the heavens and the earth), and that He does not change. Then ask them to go to Hebrews 1:6-12 and read it out loud. Here Jesus is described using the specific passage from Psalms that describes Jehovah! Ask them to confirm that this is about the Son (verses 6 and 10). Then ask them, "Who is this about, that created the heavens and the earth?" For confirmation, their own Bible (the New World Translation) links verse 10 with Psalm 102:25!

John 12 vs. Isaiah 6. After stunning them with the above reference, ask them if you can show them one more. Turn to John 12:39-41 and ask them to read it. Then ask them to read Isaiah 6:10, which is what John quoted. Then ask them: "If you had asked Isaiah, who would he have said he is referring to?" (They will say Jehovah.) Then ask them: "Who do you think John was referring to?" (They will have to admit that it was Jesus.)

John 1:1.

How many Gods are there?

The most famous distortion in the NWT is John 1:1. The NWT inserts the word "a" in front of the second God in this verse. So the NWT reads "In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." Obviously this is to denigrate Jesus. They will be prepared to defend why they put "a" into the text. There are ways to debate them on this. But a much more powerful approach, one that they will not be prepared for is the following. Sort of scratch your head and ask them, "How many true Gods are there?" Get them to agree that there is only one true God by going to such passages as Isaiah 44:6, 8. (There are several other pertinent passages, including Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; Isaiah 43:11, and John 17:3-5.) Then ask, "Can we agree that something that is not true, is false?" They should agree. Then say, "I understand that you have a strange wording for John 1:1. What does the Watchtower Bible say?" After they read it out loud, ask them, "OK. Is Jesus a true God or a false God?" They absolutely cannot answer this. If they say Jesus is a true God, then there are 2 Gods. But they cannot say he is a false God either, because John says he is (in their Bible) "a" god. (Jesus cannot be a false god like the golden calf or like the "so-called gods" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 8:5.) They might say that Jesus is "lesser god." If so, then ask, "Is Jesus a lesser true God or a lesser false God?" Emphasize this point as many times as you can in the meetings. Even if they do not bring up this passage, be sure that you do.

Revelation 1:8. Alpha and Omega. Take them to Revelation 1:8. Ask them who is speaking in this passage. (The NWT says that Jehovah is speaking.) Then say, "OK. You believe that Jehovah is speaking. We believe that Jesus is speaking. Here is why, and we'd like your opinion." First, emphasize that the speaker is the "Alpha and Omega." Then back up to the preceding verse (1:7), and note that it says "pierced," which obviously means Jesus. Then flip back to the end of Revelation. Ask them to read out loud verses 22:12-13. Point that out the speaker here also claims to be the "Alpha and Omega, the first and the last." Keep your finger in the Bible here and ask them to turn to Isaiah 44:6, and Isaiah 48:12-13—which reinforces Jehovah God as the "first and last." Then go to Revelation 22:16, get them to read it aloud, and proclaim that it is clearly Jesus speaking, since he identifies himself. (The NWT has beginning quotation marks starting with verse 12 and ending after verse 16, which further clarifies that it is Jesus who is claiming to be the Alpha and Omega/First and Last.) Then have them read Revelation 22:20, which again confirms that it is Jesus speaking. Then close the loop by going back to Revelation 1:8, and asking, "Do you see why it is Jesus, the one who claims to be the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, that is speaking? Wouldn't you agree that since this is Jesus who is speaking, there are only 2 alternatives, that Jesus and Jehovah are the same, and/or that the Watchtower has mistranslated Revelation 1:8?" They will be stumped! We recommend putting sequential numbers in your Bible by each of these passages to help you follow them in order. (Put a note in the margin when to flip to Isaiah.) Very easy. All you have to do is remember to go to the first part of Revelation, then to the end of Revelation. (Note: The reason that the Watchtower purposely mistranslated Revelation 1:8 is no doubt because the word "almighty" is used to describe God. They cannot accept Jesus as the Almighty. Also, note that their own KIT shows that the Greek word for God in this passage is Kyrios (Lord), but they arbitrarily substitute Jehovah.)

Insertion of "Jehovah."

They may tell you that the reason for religion is to honor the name of Jehovah. Tell them that you understand that the NWT translation has inserted the word Jehovah hundreds of times in the New Testament, even though it never appears a single time in any New Testament Greek manuscript. (They have deceitfully and arbitrarily substituted the word Jehovah for the Greek words theos (God) and kurios (Lord) in the New Testament. If they bring up the Septuagint as using the term Jehovah, remind them that that is irrelevant, because it is a Greek translation of the Old Testament.) Ask them why Jehovah is inserted. They may respond that the Watchtower re-inserted Jehovah because Satan removed it from early manuscripts. Next, get them to show you even one place in their own KIT where the word Jehovah is in the Greek. (It is not there.) Then you may want to draw a diagram on a piece of paper or chalkboard as follows. Draw some circles at the top of the page. Say that these represent the original New Testament manuscripts. Then draw some multiple lines coming under some of these, and then some multiple lines under these down the page. This represents how the manuscripts were copied and re-copied over time.

Explain that the original manuscripts were written by different people at different times and places who did not have email and could not collude. Since they were considered valuable, they were quickly copied and recopied. There are extant some 24,000 ancient New Testament manuscripts, including 5,000 in Greek. Then ask, "How did Satan get to all these?" Then, "What best fits the evidence, that Satan changed thousands of manuscripts, or that the Watchtower deceptively changed the NWT translation?"

John 8:58. I am. The NWT has deceivingly altered this important text, but you can still use it to show that Jesus claimed deity, and at the same time show them that the Watchtower has tried to deceive. This famous passage in most translations reads, "Before Abraham was born, I am." This is a direct reference to the "I am" of the Old Testament. (Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 44:6, 48:12). (Note: The NWT mistranslates Exodus 3:14, reading, "I shall prove to be." But you can still use Exodus 3:14, as the JW's will probably be aware of the controversy.) In John 8:58, Jesus is clearly claiming both eternal existence and indeed to be Jehovah of the Old Testament. The NWT, in an obvious cover-up, translates it, "Before Abraham came into existence, I have been." You can indict the Watchtower by referring to their own KIT and simply saying to the JW's, "I happen to be familiar with this passage. If you look in your KIT, you will see that the Greek phrase is 'EGO EIMI,' which is the present tense of 'to be.' In fact, please look at how your own KIT translates this phrase in other passages, for example, John 13:19 and John 8:24. Why did the Watchtower translate this phrase differently in John 8:58, unless they were trying to cover-up the truth?"

John 10:30-33. The NWT could not cover up all truth in the New Testament. This passage is another of Jesus' many claims to be God. He, says, "I and the Father are one." The JW's will say something like, "Jesus was just saying that he and Jehovah were of "unity of purpose." Your response can be, "The Jews believed that they had unity of purpose with God. Since they already had that, why did they pick up stones to kill Jesus? Wasn't death the penalty for blasphemy, which is what they knew Jesus just committed by claiming to be God?"

John 20:28. Here Thomas calls Jesus, "My Lord and my God." (Same in the NWT). Ask the JW's, "Who did Thomas come to believe that Jesus was?" Expect the JW's to come up with a lame rebuttal, and then say, "It would have been blasphemy for Jesus to accept the title of God, if he was not God. Wouldn't Jesus have rebuked Thomas immediately for his words if they were not true!?"

Bible Test. "You think you have the truth. We think we have the truth. How about us taking the Bible test? Please read me what your Bible says in 2 Corinthians 13:5 ("examine yourselves"), and Galatians 1:6-9 ("perverting the good news"). What do you think about what these passages say?"

Obedience. "You say you are 'witnesses.' Would you read Acts 1:8 out loud? (you will be my witnesses) Who is speaking here? [Jesus] Given this passage, do you think you are being obedient?"

The Trinity

The JW's have an incomplete understanding of the Trinity. (They refer to orthodox Christians as "Trinitarians.") While there is much to say from Scripture about this, we suggest simply explaining what Trinitarians believe: We do not believe in 3 Gods in one person. Rather, we believe in 3 persons in one God. You might explain to them that there are many examples of trinities in nature. For example, (see “The Trinity”) Water comes in 3 forms—solid, liquid, and gas. But water is still the same chemical substance regardless of the form. Water, which is also vital for our Life on earth. Water molecules (H2O) are made of two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom. Physically one Hydrogen atom is bonded to one side of an Oxygen atom and another is bonded to the other side. They look something like this: H-O-H,. This can remind us of the Trinity, where the Oxygen can represent the Holy Spirit between the Father and the Son who are each represented by the two Hydrogen atoms.

Visible Light or White Light which we see can be made of these three colours: Red, Green and Blue. Scientists call them the "Primary colours of Light".

Atoms, Creation is made of atoms, and all atoms are made of three basic particles, Protons, Neutrons and Electrons. They are told that these three particles are the building blocks of all physical substances. Protons have a positive charge, electrons are negative and neutrons are neutral.

The Sun, made up of three parts – light, heat and mass.

A human being – is tri-partite, spirit, souls and body.

You can also point to Matthew 28:19 and ask, "Can you see that because 'name' is singular, that plurality within unity is indicated?" (name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)

They may say that the word Trinity is not in the Bible. Respond by saying that neither are the words millennium, theocracy, or rapture (which are common terms in their theology).

They may say that the Trinity was a concept that was not formulated until the Fourth Century. You might respond with, "Is that what the Watchtower organization teaches?! Of course, that is not true! Many early church fathers discussed the Trinity, such as Clement of Rome in 100 AD, Ignatius in 107 AD, and Melito of Sardis in 180 AD! Why would the Watchtower promote that when they know it is not true?

Humanity/Divinity of Jesus

The JW's will use various passages to show that Jesus is just a man, and is a lower/separate being from the Father. For example, they will point to passages such as when Jesus prayed to the Father, or when Jesus said "The Father is greater than I," etc. Indeed, this is a valid observation. But, they simply do not understand the nature of Jesus. They do not understand that Jesus, according to the Bible, was both true man and true God. When they bring up these passages, say something like, "I can see how you would feel the way you do looking only at those passages. But let's look at Philippians 2:7-8. The Bible makes it clear how Jesus could be both true God and true man by voluntarily humbling himself to be a man. Have you ever thought about that? (Or, has the Watchtower ever discussed this with you?)" Then pause, and let this sink in. What they also need to understand is that Jesus was became a servant to the Father as the “son of man” while remaining fully God, as the “Son of God” in his deity.

For example – a restaurant boss is not a greater human than a waitress, simply because the waitress serves under the boss’s authority and takes orders from them.

A husband is not a greater human being than his wife, simply because the man is the head of his wife. God has created all mankind equal, both male and female.

They may refer to the passage that says that Jesus is a "mediator" between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). When they do, they will say that Jesus could not be God if he is a mediator. Respond by saying, "By that same reasoning, he could not be man either, could he? (If they are consistent in their interpretation of that passage, they must admit that they are saying that mediator is equa-distant between both God and man.)" Then explain that Jesus can only be both 100% God and 100% man. Only God could do the things he did and claim the things he claimed. But Jesus had to be man as well, in order for his painful death to be meaningful as payment for our sins.

"Who raised Jesus from the dead?" (as if that proved Jesus could not be God). Agree that God (the Father) raised Jesus from the dead.

Now read John 2:19 (I will raise it in 3 days) and John 10:17-18 (I have authority to take it up again) from the NWT out loud, and ask, "Don't you agree that it is clear that Jesus raised himself?" Thus Jesus = God. (This should cause them considerable trouble.)

Other Doubt-Creating Questions

"Did God not have any witnesses between the time of the New Testament and the late 1800's when the Watchtower organization was formed?" or "How did people understand the Bible for 1800 years prior to the Watchtower?" (JW was started in the late 1800's by a man named Charles Taves Russell.)

"Do you believe in Jesus' resurrection? Do you believe 1 Corinthians 15:17, that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, your faith is in vain? Does it seem that Jesus is the central point of the New Testament?"

"What would you do if you ever discovered that the Watchtower taught something different from the Bible?"

"I understand that The Watchtower magazine differs from the NWT on Romans 10:13, which says, 'everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.' But The Watchtower magazine, May 1, 1978, p.12, says this refers to Jesus! I do not have the magazine, but could you look that up for me by the next meeting to see if that's true?"

"Isn't it true that The Watchtower magazine has given changing, contradictory statements about whether to worship Jesus? Would you check these old issues for me: I understand that certain passages say that you should worship Jesus (March 1880, p. 83 and 8/15/1941, p. 252). But other passages say we should not worship Jesus (1/1/1954, p.31 and 11/1/1964, p. 671)."

"Why don't you, instead of focusing on what the Watchtower says about the Bible, take a week or a month to let Jehovah speak to you directly from the Bible?"

The Archangel Michael Is Not The Lord Jesus Christ.

Ask them to show you where in the Bible this idea comes from. (They cannot.)

Since the Watchtower Society speaks of "Jesus Christ, whom we understand from the Scriptures to be Michael the archangel" (The Watchtower, February 15, 1979, p. 31), put the JW on the spot and ask him to show you “the Scriptures” that say Jesus is Michael. There are none.

The Watchtower Society New World Translation (NWT) mentions Michael five times as: 1) “one of the foremost princes” (Dan. 10:13); 2) "the prince of [Daniel's] people" (Dan. 10:21); 3) "the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel's] people" (Dan. 12:1); 4) “the archangel” who "had a difference with the devil and was disputing about Moses body" but "did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms" (Jude 9); and 5) a participant in heavenly conflict when “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon” (Rev. 12:7).

Ask the Jehovah's Witness which one of these verses says that Michael is Jesus Christ. Help him to see that it is necessary to read Scripture plus a complicated Watchtower argument to reach that conclusion. Rather than being merely “one of the foremost princes,” Jesus Christ is “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14, NWT) and is "far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this system of things, but also in that to come" (Ephesians 1:21, NWT). And, unlike "Michael who did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 9), Jesus Christ displayed His authority over the devil when He freely commanded him, "Go away, Satan!" (Matthew 4:10, NWT).

In arguing that Jesus is Michael the archangel, the Watchtower Society also points to another verse that does not use the name Michael but says that "the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangels voice and with God's trumpet…" (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NWT). However, the expression “with an archangels voice” simply means that the archangel, like God's trumpet, will herald the coming of the Lord, not that the Lord is an archangel. Point out to the JW that none of the verses he has attempted to use as proof-texts even comes close to stating that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel. In fact, Scripture clearly teaches the opposite: namely, that the Son of God is superior to the angels.

The entire first chapter of Hebrews is devoted to this theme. Have the Witness read Hebrews chapter one aloud with you, and, as you do so, interrupt to point out the sharp contrast between angels and the Son of God.

"For to what angel did God ever say, Thou are my Son…? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, Let all Gods angels worship him" (vv. 5,6,).

Remind the JW that angels consistently refuse worship ("Be careful! Do not do that! …Worship God," Revelation 22:8,9, NWT), but the Fathers command concerning the Son is, “Let all Gods angels worship him” (Hebrews 1:6).

That is how the Watchtowers own New World Translation read for some 20 years until, in 1970, the Society changed it to read “do obeisance to him” instead of “worship him”--part of their consistent campaign to eliminate from their Bible all references to the deity of Christ.

The Gospel

JW's have no concept of grace and have probably never heard a good news testimony. Be sure to work yours in. You might even ask them to agree to share testimonies. You may also want to read them the "good news" (the NWT uses this phrase instead of "gospel") in 1 Corinthians 15:1-7. This passage most clearly in the Bible tells us what the gospel is. Then ask, isn't this wonderful that we are saved by Christ's death and resurrection?

Jehovah and Jesus Are Worthy of the Same Status

Jehovah		Jesus
Isaiah 12:2, 43:11 Titus 1:3, 2:10 Luke 1:47	the savior/only savior	Titus 1:4, 2:13 Luke 2:11 John 4:42 Acts 4:12
Isaiah 43:10	we are to be his witnesses *	Acts 1:8
John 14:1(a)	have faith in	John 14:1(b)
Isaiah 45:22-23	knees bend/ tongues swear to	Philippians 2:9-11
Revelation 4:11	worthy to receive honor and glory	Revelation 5:12
Acts 16:34	believe in to be saved **	Acts 16:31
Joel 2:32	whoever calls on his name is saved	Acts 2:21
Joshua 24:24	serve him	Colossians 3:24
Nehemiah 9:6 Revelation 7:11	is worshipped by angels	Hebrews 1:4-6
Matthew 4:10 John 4:24 Revelation 5:13-14, 11:16	others worship him (gave obeisance to him)	Matthew 14:33, 28:9 John 9:38 Revelation 5:14
"Thus saith the Lord." (used dozens of times)	speaks with divine authority	"Truly, I say to you..." (used dozens of times)

Have Same Names and Titles

Jehovah		Jesus
Exodus 20:2-3 Deuteronomy 32:39 Isaiah 41:10, 43:10, 44:6, 44:8, 45:5, 44:22 1 Corinthians 8:4-52	God	Matthew 1:23 John 1:1, 20:28 Hebrews 1:8-12 1 Timothy 1:17
Romans 10:12-13	Lord	Luke 2:11
Deuteronomy 10:17 Jeremiah 32:18	Mighty God ***	Isaiah 9:6
Genesis 17:1 Exodus 6:3	Almighty God	Revelation 1:8
Isaiah 44:6, 48:12	First and Last	Revelation 1:17, 2:8, 22:13
Exodus 3:14 Deuteronomy 32:39 Isaiah 44:6, 48:12	I Am	John 8:58, (Same Greek phrase as John 8:24, 13:19, 18:5 per KIT)
Deuteronomy 10:17 Psalm 136:2-3 Daniel 2:47 1 Timothy 6:15	King of King, Lord of Lords	Revelation 17:14, 19:16
Hosea 11:9	Holy One	Acts 3:14
Psalm 116:5	Righteous One	Acts 3:14 1 John 2:1
Psalm 23:1	Shepherd	John 10:11
Psalm 18:31	Rock	1 Corinthians 10:4

Perform the Same Acts

Jehovah		Jesus
Acts 2:32	who resurrected Jesus	John 2:19 10:17-18
Genesis 1:1 Isaiah 44:24, 45:12 Nehemiah 9:6 Revelation 4:11	created heaven & earth/all things	John 1:3 Colossians 1:16
Psalm 65:3 Isaiah 43:25 Jeremiah 31:34	forgives sins	Luke 5:20-21 Mark 2:7-9
2 Chronicles 7:14, et. al.	hears prayer	John 14:14 (KIT "ask me")
Jeremiah 17:10	examines the heart & rewards conduct	Revelation 2:23
Genesis 18:25 Psalm 96:13	judges all	John 5:22 2 Timothy 4:1
Proverbs 3:12	reproves those he loves	Revelation 3:19
Psalm 107:29 Psalm 89:9	calms wind & waves	Luke 8:24 Mark 4:39-41
John 5:21(a)	raises the dead	John 5:21(b)
Romans 6:23	offers eternal life	John 5:39-40, 10:28
Isaiah 41:10	is with us	Matthew 28:20

Have the Same Attributes

Jehovah		Jesus
Psalm 90:2 Proverbs 8:23	eternal "from time indefinite"	Isaiah 9:6 Micah 5:2 John 1:2
Psalm 139:7-12 Proverbs 15:3	omnipresent	Matthew 18:20, 28:20
Isaiah 45:5-13	omnipotent	Matthew 28:18
1 Kings 8:39 Jeremiah 17:9,10,16 1 John 3:20	omniscient	Matthew 11:27 Luke 5:4-6 John 2:25, 16:30, 21:17
Malachi 3:6	does not change	Hebrews 13:8
Jeremiah 42:5	true and faithful witness	Revelation 3:14
Psalm 27:1	light	John 8:12
Psalm 71:5	our hope	1 Timothy 1:1
Psalm 46:1	our strength	Philippians 4:13
Jeremiah 17:13	source of living water	John 4:14 Revelation 21:6
Revelation 15:4	righteous	Acts 3:14

Holy Spirit Is God

JW's believe that the Holy Spirit is a force, not a person. But there are many examples of his personhood in Scripture. Ask: "To qualify as an intelligent person, does one need to think, act, communicate, and have a will? We believe the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has all these attributes of a person. Could we get your opinion on these passages?"

Acts 5:3-4 Holy Spirit can be lied to. When you lie to the Holy Spirit, you lie to God.

Acts 13:2 Holy Spirit speaks and uses a personal pronoun of himself. He can be obeyed.

1 Corinthians 2:10 Holy Spirit has a mind/searches.

Ephesians 4:30 Holy Spirit has emotions/may be grieved.

John 16:7 Holy Spirit has a will.

John 14:26 Holy Spirit teaches.

John 15:26 Holy Spirit testifies.

Acts 8:29 Holy Spirit issues commands.

Romans 8:26 Holy Spirit intercedes/prays.

Ask the JW's, "Given these clear examples that the Holy Spirit is more than just a force, but is in fact a person of the godhead, can you see that the Watchtower's teaching about the Holy Spirit is incomplete?"

Only 144,000 Going To Heaven?

Prophecy JW's believe that only144,000 go to heaven, while other Jehovah's Witnesses spend eternity on earth. This latter group is referred to as the "great crowd." Ask them to read Revelation 19:1 and then ask: "From where are those in the great crowd calling?" And here is a tact with prophecy: "If a someone utters prophecy that does not come to pass, is he a false prophet?" First look up together Deuteronomy 18:22, which defines how to know a false prophet. Then say, "Based on the Watchtower magazine article I suggested you look up last time, the JW's clearly claim to be prophets (Watchtower April 1, 1972, p. 197). It is documented clearly that the Watchtower organization has made a number of false prophecies. For example, they predicted the second coming for 1884 (book The Harp of God, pgs. 236, 239-240). Then they set the 'beginning of the end' for 1899 (The Harp of God 1928 edition, pgs. 235-239) Then later they predicted Armageddon for 1914 (from the book The Time is At Hand, 1911 edition, p. 101). Then Armageddon was changed to 1918 (book The Finished Mystery, 1917 edition, p. 485). Then Armageddon was changed to 1925 (The Watch Tower magazine, July, 15, 1924, p. 211). Then they predicted the return of Abraham and other prophets of old in 1925 (book Millions Now Living Will Die, 1920, p. 89-90). Next they said that 1914 was really the 'starting date for the last generation before Armegeddon,' (The Watchtower, November 1, 1950, p. 419.) Then, 6000 years of human history come to an end in 1975 (Awake! magazine, October 8, 1966, p. 8). Then they said that 'anyone born by 1914 will see Armageddon' (The Watchtower, May 14, 1984, p. 5). Then they said that 'anyone who sees the events signaling the End, regardless of any relationship to 1914, will see

Armageddon' (The Watchtower, November 1, 1995, pgs. 17-20). May I give you a list of these prophecies for you to check out on your own?" Then, "Given that the Watchtower organization has changed many dates and doctrines through the years, what happened to those JW's who believed the Watchtower's earlier predictions? Are they going to heaven?"

144,000 "Will women be among the 144,000?"

(They will say yes.) Then, "What does Revelation 14:4 mean? Doesn't this passage clearly indicate than only men who are celibate bachelors or faithful husbands are among the 144,000?" Here are some other questions: "Where does Scripture indicate that entrance into the so-called 'little-flock' of anointed believers would be closed in the year 1935?" "If becoming 'born from God' in 1 John 5:1 is open to 'whoever believes'—and if the requirement for entering the kingdom of heaven is being 'born of God' or 'born again' as in John 3:5—then isn't the kingdom of heaven open to 'whoever believes' and not just 144,000 people?" Also, "What justification is there for switching methods of interpretation —from literal to figurative—right in the middle of Revelation 7:4?"

Believers in heaven now?

"What does 2 Kings 2:1-11 say in the Watchtower Bible?" (Elijah ascending into heaven) "What did Jesus mean in Luke 23:43 when he told the thief on the cross that 'today he would be with him in paradise'?" "How do you reconcile the Watchtower teaching that Old Testament saints look forward to an earthly destiny, with the scriptural evidence that says Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., are with God in heaven (Matthew 8:11; Luke 13:28)?"

Creator "Genesis 1:1 and Isaiah 44:24 say that Yahweh is creator of all things...all alone. How do we reconcile John 1:3 that states Christ is the creator of all things?"

Translations

"What do you say to the fact that 4 of the 5 translators of the NWT had no Hebrew or Greek language training whatever, and the fifth Frederick Franz admitted in a court of law in 1954 that he could not read Hebrew?" (They may say that no one knows who translated the NWT. You might ask whether they use the Internet, and tell them that there is lots of information about their organization that they might not know about on the Internet!)

Jehovah’s Witnesses say they are the only true Christians, but they are neither Protestant nor Catholic. The fundamental doctrinal issue that distinguishes them from orthodox Christianity is the Trinity. They say the doctrine of the Trinity is a pagan teaching, but they misrepresent it, saying that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit must be three gods. They actually agree with the Trinity doctrine when it says that the Father and the Son are two Persons, but they imagine they need to prove this to Trinitarians. They fail to grasp how the three Persons comprise the One Being of God, and so they come up with the idea of a Big God and a little god—two gods. They say Jesus was created (Arianism), that He was Michael the archangel, and that Jesus’ body was not resurrected; it simply disappeared and He rose as a spirit creature. They say the Holy Spirit is not a person but is Jehovah’s active force or energy.

Because they say that Jesus is a demi-god, their understanding of salvation and atonement is wrong. They say Jesus, who was a perfect Man, died only to atone for the sin of Adam and that, when we die, our death pays the penalty of our own sin. Only some 10,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses today can possibly claim to be born again and have a heavenly hope. The rest say they don’t want to go to heaven to be with the Lord but they want to live forever on a paradise earth (Restorationism). They believe if they remain faithful and obedient till the end of the Millennial Reign of Christ Jesus, they will earn the right to be declared righteous, and that’s why they have to keep on striving, with no assurance of salvation. Only today’s “remnant” of the 144,000 can say they are in the New Covenant and that Christ Jesus is their mediator. All must be obedient to the leaders (the Watchtower Society and its Governing Body) if they wish to survive Armageddon. To disagree with what the Governing Body says is to disagree with Jehovah because He uses them as His sole channel of communication to dispense “the truth.” Only they saw “with spiritual eyes of discernment” that Christ Jesus started to rule from heaven in 1914, an invisible “second presence.” Also, they say Christ Jesus will never return to earth but will remain in heaven, there to rule with the 144,000 over the earth.

With all these unbiblical beliefs, where does one begin to witness to a Jehovah’s Witness? There is only one place to begin—with the person of Christ Jesus, whose deity is the foundation of Christianity. Jehovah’s Witnesses are unable to grasp the significance of Jesus’ death and why they must be born again in order to have their sins forgiven. Before they can put all their trust in the finished work of Christ Jesus, they have to understand they are not saved, which means they are presently lost in their sin. No Witness has the assurance of salvation, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who belong to the Father through Christ (Romans 8:16). The full deity of Jesus Christ can only be revealed to them by the Holy Spirit, whom they relegate to commodity status, like electricity. To the Witnesses, the Holy Spirit is a “thing,” not a Person.

Witnessing to the Witnesses must be done in Christian love and with compassion. Remember, they have been deceived and believe a false gospel, yet many have a genuine love for God and are utterly sincere in their beliefs. Do not be afraid of them (1 John 4:17–19), but let them know how much you care about their eternal salvation. Share your Christian testimony with them. Talk to them, discuss spiritual matters with them, but do not allow them to conduct what they describe as a Bible study, which is actually a study of their literature. Be aware they will not read any non-Watchtower literature or attend a church service. They say they will only accept what the Bible says, but their New World Translation has been drastically altered to reflect their theology, and every reference in the New Testament to the deity of Christ Jesus has been removed. It always comes as a surprise to them to meet people who love the Lord, display the fruit of the Spirit, and use the Bible as the basis for their faith (Hebrews 4:12). Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Direct all your conversation to the person of Christ and the need to put total faith in what He has done. Do not allow them to lead you down the path they wish you to take, namely, considering how you can survive Armageddon to live on a paradise earth. This is not the gospel. Above all else, pray for them.

 

 

 

Jesus is Not Michael the Archangel

(Witnessing to JW's)

It is clear from Scripture that Jesus is NOT and has never been an angel or an archangel! It would appear that the only support you have for such a belief is the literature of heretical cults and the false doctrinal writings Ellen White, and their Watchtower magazine.

The Watchtower theology deviates most dramatically from orthodox Christianity. In contrast to the Trinitarian concept of one God in three Persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--the JW’s have been taught to believe that God the Father alone is “Jehovah,” the only true God; that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel, the first angelic being created by God; and that the Holy Spirit is neither God nor a person, but rather God's impersonal “active force.” 

There are no Bible verses, which say, “Michael is Jesus Christ.” In fact, Scripture clearly teaches the opposite: namely, that the Son of God is superior to the angels. The entire first chapter of Hebrews is devoted to this theme. 

THE BIBLE SAYS:

"For to which of the angels did He ever say, 'Thou art My Son, today I have begotten thee?'"  Hebrews 1:5 (emphasis added). And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, Let all Gods angels worship him" (vv. 5,6, Revised Standard Version).

"But of the Son He says, 'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever...'"  Hebrews 1:8a

"But to which of the angels has He ever said, 'Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet?' Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?"  Hebrews 1:13-14 (emphasis added).

JW’s use Scripture plus the erroneous non-canonical Watchtower to argue and to reach this conclusion. But Jesus is not merely “one of the foremost princes,” Jesus Christ is “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14,) and is "far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this system of things, but also in that to come" (Ephesians 1:21). And, unlike "Michael who did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 9), Jesus Christ displayed His authority over the devil when He freely commanded him, "Go away, Satan!" (Matthew 4:10).

JW Misinterpreted Scriptures

JW’s misinterpret Bible verses while attempting to argue that Jesus is Michael the archangel.   For example "the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangels voice and with God's trumpet…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). However, the expression “with an archangels voice” simply means that the archangel, like God's trumpet, will herald the coming of the Lord, not that the Lord is an archangel. “The Lord himself” – not an angel, is descending from heaven. The sound of his voice is like that of an archangels voice and that of a trumpet, this refers to the character of his voice, not to him being an angel. The Lord Jehovah command the angels, not the other way around.   

John 14:28 Jesus said, "The Father is greater than I"

Question: "If Jesus was God, why did He say "The Father is greater than I" in John 14:28?" 

Answer: Jesus says repeatedly that He is doing the Father’s will, thereby implying that He is somehow subservient to the Father. The question then becomes how can Jesus be equal to God when by His own admission He is subservient to the will of God? The answer to this question lies within the nature of the incarnation. During the incarnation, Jesus was temporarily “made lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:9), which refers to Jesus’ status. Jesus was fully human and “made lower than the angels.” However, Jesus is fully divine, too. By taking on human nature, Jesus did not relinquish His divine nature—God cannot stop being God.

Question: How do we reconcile the fact that the second Person of the Trinity is fully divine yet fully human and by definition “lower than the angels”?

Answer: Philippians 2:6-11 6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: The word rendered "being" (ὑπάρχων) means, as R.V. in margin, being originally. It looks back to the time before the Incarnation, when the Word, the Λόγος ἄσαρκος, was with God (comp. John 8:58; John 17:5, 24).

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (proves that the second Person of the Trinity took on human form, and that Christ “made himself of no reputation” means that Jesus voluntarily relinquished the prerogative of freely exercising His divine attributes and subjected Himself to the will of the Father while on earth). “Taking upon him the form of a servant” Jesus, being first in the form of God, took the form of a servant, meaning he possessed originally the essential attributes of Deity, and assumed in addition the essential attributes of humanity. He was perfect God; he became perfect as a sinless man, completely yielded in obedience to the will of God the Father, even the death of the cross (comp. Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4). 

Verse 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God (the Father) also hath highly exalted him (Jesus), and given him a name which is above every name: Jesus, which was given him at his circumcision, in accordance with the angel's message; but also the name Lord or Jehovah (comp. Ver. 11 Jesus Christ is Lord), which was indeed his before his incarnation, but was given (comp. Matthew 28:18, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth") to Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son, God and Man in one Person. The name "Jesus" (Phil 2:10), which is even now in glory His name of honor (Acts 9:5). "Above" not only men, but angels (Eph 1:21). The exaltation was of Christ's human nature, in union with the Divine. At the name of Jesus, not the mere sound of the word, but the authority of Jesus, all should pay solemn homage.  

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. It is to the glory of God the Father, to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; for it is his will, that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father, John 5:23. Here we see such motives to self-denying love as nothing else can supply. Do we thus love and obey the Son of God?

Another thing to consider is the fact that subservience in role does not equate to subservience in essence. For example, consider an employer/employee relationship. The employer has the right to make demands of the employee, and the employee has the obligation to serve the employer. The roles clearly define a subservient relationship. However, both people are still human beings and share in the same human nature. There is no difference between the two as to their essence; they stand as equals. Therefore, the fact that the Son took on a human nature and made Himself subservient to the Father in no way denies the deity of the Son, nor does it diminish His essential equality with the Father. The “greatness” spoken of in this verse, then, relates to role, not to essence.

Jesus Is The Firstborn

Col. 1:15, "firstborn of all creation"

Jesus is the Firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.) The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of a new creation in him, he is not the first created for he is the creator himself.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exists," (Col. 1:15-17, for context. The New World Translation--Emphasis added. Note the NWT's addition of 'other' into the text four times. This is discussed here).

The Jehovah's Witnesses interpret the word "firstborn" here to mean "first created" because it is consistent with their theological presupposition that Jesus is a created thing. Of course, Jesus, the Word become flesh (John 1:1, 14) is not a created thing but that hasn't stopped the Watchtower organization from claiming He is. Nevertheless, there is a Greek word for "first created," and it was in use at the time of Paul's writing to the Colossians. He did not use it here. The Greek for "firstborn" is proto with tikto which would give us "firstborn" and that is what we find here in Colossians 1:15. The Greek for "first created" would be proto with ktizo, and it is not used here.

Second, the Biblical use of the word "firstborn" is most interesting. It can mean the first born child in a family (Luke 2:7), but it can also mean "pre-eminence." In Psalm 89:20, 27 it says, "I have found David My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him . . . I also shall make him My first-born," (NASB). As you can see, David, who was the last one born in his family, was called the firstborn by God. This is a title of preeminence.

Third, firstborn is also a title that is transferable:

Gen. 41:51-52, "And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: For, said he, God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

Jer. 31:9 " . . . for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn."

Scripture best interprets Scripture. Firstborn does not require a meaning of first created as the Jehovah's Witnesses say it means here. "Firstborn" can mean the first born person in a family, and it can also be a title of preeminence which is transferable. That is obvious since Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14) and is also the first born son of Mary. In addition, He is the pre-eminent one in all things. The Jehovah's Witnesses should consider this when they examine Col. 1:15. They should also abandon the Watchtower which guides them in their thinking and believing.

Jesus, Not Angels Are Worshipped

Angels consistently refuse worship ("Be careful! Do not do that! …Worship God," Revelation 22:8,9, NWT), but the Fathers command concerning the Son is, “Let all Gods angels worship him” (Hebrews 1:6). That is how the Watchtowers own New World Translation read for some 20 years until, in 1970, the Society changed it to read “do obeisance to him” instead of “worship him”--part of their consistent campaign to eliminate from their Bible all references to the deity of Christ. (See John 10:36 comment.) The teaching that Jesus is Michael the Archangel is an old, tired Arian argument. The early Adventist pioneers also taught the heresy called "Arianism" which teaches that Jesus is not God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity.

Jesus is Jehovah in the Book of Revelation

Using verse reference from the book of Revelation alone proves that Jesus is Jehovah God. I recommend that you use the KJV of the Bible when witnessesing, but in this case alone, you can even use the Jehovah’s Witnesses false version of the Bible, the New World Translation, to refute their false theology):

1) Begin by reading with the Jehovah’s Witness from Revelation 1:8.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Question: “Who is the Alpha and the Omega?”

Answer: it says right there, the Alpha and the Omega is the Lord God (or Jehovah God in their translation).”

2) Next, read from Revelation 22:13.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”

Question: “Now, who exactly is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last?”

Answer: “We just saw who the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last is, he is the Lord God (or Jehovah God in their translation).

3) Lastly, read with them from Revelation 1:17-18.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last”

Question: (stop here and ask again, ‘who is the First and the Last?’).

Answer: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” Revelation 1:18

Final Question - Ask the JW, “So, when exactly did the Lord God (or Jehovah God in their translation) die?” And many Jehovah’s Witnesses will just curiously look at that passage, having never seen this connection before. The Bible is clear in identifying Jesus Christ as the Lord God (or Jehovah God). If you want to demonstrate this reality even further, read with them from Revelation 22:13 & 16, where the Alpha and the Omega says, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.”