Jesus Christ

The Bible's teaching about him is very important. Popular ideas about what we believe also represent the biggest falsehood that is spread about us. Many make up ideas about what we believe claiming that we believe Jesus was only a good man or "only" a perfect human. They often lift text out of context from our literature to claim that. The Bible itself many times refers to Jesus a man without spelling out who he is all over again. Mainly because the New Testament is written to those who are already believers. The letters are to the various Christian congregations of the first century who already know these things. Not to unbelievers who don't yet even know who Jesus is. Romans 5:12-21 many times refers to Jesus as a man. Same for other Bible texts. (1 Corinthians 15:45). If some wrongly inclined person wanted to "twist" the facts, he could make it seem that the apostles themselves believed Jesus was only a man.

I doubt any of you would disagree that it is wrong to misrepresent things in this fashion. Having a disagreement, believing a religion to be wrong, is fine. Being dishonest about what they believe is another thing entirely. That is Satanic. John 8:44. Lying about God and his servants is Satan's big tool. It is how he spent history keeping people in fear of the true followers of Judaism and Christianity all through the Bible along with other tools. The Bible text tells us over and over not to lie about others for any reason. The Bible also tells us that those liking and creating lies will lose eternal life. Revelation 21:8.

A few Scriptures about Jesus (from the New World Translation of Jehovah's Witnesses)

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.

John 6:48-51 I am the bread of life. YOUR forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness and yet died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever; and, for a fact, the bread that I shall give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her: "I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this?"

John 17:3, 5 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. So now you, Father, glorify my alongside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.

See also Matthew 20:28, Acts 4:12, any Bible. 1 John chapter 5 any Modern English Protestant or Catholic Bible.

The rest of the scriptures will be from either the King James Version of 1611 or other Protestant or Catholic Bible versions.

Jesus is really God's Son, not anyone else (see my article on Satan and the demons for a bit more). Matthew 16:13-18.

Jesus did not always exist. His Father, Jehovah God, (Exodus 6:3, Psalm 110:1) literally gave him life and his position.

John 5:26 KJV For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the son to have life in himself.

Proverbs 8:22, 25, 30 King James Version The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.

Living Bible Paraphrased The Lord formed me in the beginning before he created anything else. Yes, I was born before God made the earth and fields, and high plateaus.

New American Bible (Catholic) The LORD begot me, the firstborn of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago; Before the mountains were settled into place, before the hills, I was brought forth; Then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, Playing before him all the while. Footnote on 8:22-31 admits this is a reference to Jesus Christ.

Most reference Bibles list this text in their cross reference of Colossians 1:15-17. John Wesley referred to it in his commentary on the New Testament and many call Jesus wisdom personified.

In any case, the scriptures show that Jesus was begotten, brought forth before all other things or beings. He literally is God's firstborn only begotten son. He was brought forth, formed, genesised (begotten--which means created) before anything else, but he was still a created being who did not always exist.

Satan, demons, Adam are also God's Sons as they were created without sex by divine means. Job 1:6, 7, 2:1, 2, Luke 3:38. Other humans are the sons of men as they were created by men through sex. Proverbs 8:31, Genesis 6:1-4.

The Name of the Almighty God Exodus 6:3 KJV

Everywhere LORD appears in large and small capitals is a place where God's name (in English-Jehovah) was removed. It has been removed from most Bibles because of Jewish tradition that forbids the use of God's name. The apostles warned us not to follow any Jewish fables, or any of the commands of men that turn from truth. Titus 1:14. The Bible also warned of the hatred and blasphemy wicked people would have for God's name. Revelation 13:6, 16:9. However, Jesus and the apostles named Christians after the Almighty God. God's name as well as Christ's is said to be written on their foreheads. Acts 15:14, John 17:6, 11, 26, Revelation 3:12. Even in our private prayers, the thing of greatest importance is to be the hallowing or sanctifying of the name of Jesus' Father. That is the first part of the Lord's Prayer or Our Father that most Christians repeat over and over all their lives.

Psalms 110:1, Hebrews 1:13 KJV Only Psalms quoted. THE LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (The LORD-- Jehovah, placed the Lord--Jesus Christ, at his right hand until time for him to rule.)

Proverbs 8:22, 24, 30 KJV The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him; ; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. Jesus, the first son brought forth, was with and before the LORD before other things were created. The LORD formed this one, was his Father and brought him up.

Nehemiah 9:6, 7 KJV Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven...Thou art the LORD the God, The one who led Israel ALONE is the LORD.

Isaiah 45:5, 6 KJV I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me...I am the LORD, and there is none else. Jehovah alone is God with a capital G. There is no God beside him. Isaiah 44:6, 8. KJV

Matthew 6:9 KJV Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

John 17:3, 6, 26 KJV And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world...And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Jesus' Father is the ONLY TRUE GOD. Jehovah is the only God with a capital G. Jesus kept making his name known to all the disciples he made out of the world and kept them in this name.

John 1:1 Greek Interlinears (ANY) Jesus is called theos just like Satan is at 2 Cor. 4:4 and the belly at Philippians 3:19. Jesus' Father gets a different Greek word, theon. They end in different letters and the vowel o is pronounced differently. Jesus' Father also gets ton (ho--the) in front of theon. The word difference can be checked in any Greek text. Either word is only 4 letters long (theta, eta, omicron, sigma or nu) and they are not confusing. theta looks like the 0 (zero number)with a line through as was done on computers to tell the difference between zero and the letter o. eta and omicron (e and o) look no different. sigma, s, is almost identical to our s. Greek n looks like our v. Same with other texts. Neither theos or ho theon are ever used of the Holy Spirit (Ghost) supposedly the third God.

See also 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 any Bible. God's Son rules until he has destroyed all God's enemies including death. Then he SUBJECTS himself to his Father again, hands over the kingdom back to the Almighty.

THERE IS MUCH MORE ON EITHER OF THESE TOPICS. To view it online, go to the official site of the Watchtower and Jehovah's Witnesses. The URL is www.watchtower.org. Under Beliefs and Activities, there are some brochures online. To learn more about the origin of the teaching that there are 3 Gods, click on Should You Believe the Trinity. To learn more about God's name, Jehovah, click on The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever.

Likely, you have heard that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 humans get to go to heaven to rule with Christ and live forever up there with him and his father. Often, this is twisted to make it seem like we believe only that many people will be saved and gain eternal life. Our opposers ridicule it as a stupid and hopeless idea trying to convince their followers that there would be no point at all in becoming a Jehovah's Witness if only 144,000 people were going to live forever. And that is true! If only that many could gain eternal life, ours would indeed be a pointless religion!!

Before we consider the inheritance of those who are not part of that 144,000, where they spend eternal life and what special blessings are in store for them, we will consider that small group that goes to heaven, what they do, what waits for them and how you know how many there are.

Those of you who are already familiar with popular Christian faiths will already know that the saints who go to heaven with Christ are viewed as his bride or wife. Ephesians 5:23-32. Being united with him in heaven, is called the marriage of the Lamb. Rev. 21:2, 9, John 3:29, Rev. 19:7, 9, and Jesus is called the bridegroom. Luke 5:34, 35

The members of this bride are futher viewed as VIRGIN to be presented to their husband, Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2. They are also said to be given the FIRSTFRUITS of the Holy Spirit as they are born of or baptized with it, rather than merely led by it. Romans 8:23. They are the firstfruits of God's creatures. James 1:18 As a nation of kings and priests they are also said to SING A NEW SONG that comes with their new duties in heaven.

Revelation 14:3,4 tells a great deal about these VIRGINS, these FIRSTFRUITS and a VERY special detail about that NEW SONG they are allowed to sing. KJV reads as follows: "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: AND NO MAN COULD LEARN THAT SONG BUT THE HUNDRED AND FORTY AND FOUR THOUSAND, which were redeemed from the earth. ...they are VIRGINS. These were redeemed from among men, being the FIRSTFRUITS to God and the Lamb. Revelation 14:1, shows these 144,000 are up on Mt. Sion with the Lamb (compare Hebrews 12:22). They are not on earth but stand in rulership with Christ as kings and priests with a special new song to sing. Revelation 5:9, 10.

Though Revelation is the only place mentioning the specific number of those who become kings and priests with Christ, it is not the only place that mentions that group has a specific number to be fulfilled.

Luke 12:32 refers to them as a little flock. Romans 11;25 refers to Gentiles shall come in to make the "fulness" of spiritual Israel. Fulness is the old way of saying full number or quota. Modern English Bibles all use full number or quota here. The same is true of Revelation 6:9-11 which refers to the first part of the saints being resurrected to heaven and resting until the rest of their group is fulfilled. Modern English Bibles again refer to a quota or full number being completed (Protestant, Catholic and Jehovah's Witness versions).

A popular song sung in churches for years mentions that the saints are numbered and the singers desire to be in that number.

However, the Bible indicates that other Christians are not numbered. For instance, there are vast unnumbered individuals who will survive God's war of Armageddon to live forever on earth. Revelation 7:9, 13, 14. Other well known scriptures show that as many as will obey Christ will be saved. However, only a specific number of judges or rulers is needed to join Christ in heaven. Just as when a human court selects a specific number of jurors to try the case.

What do they have to look forward to? What kind of life? Well, they must give up being flesh and blood humans. 1 Corinthians 15:50, Luke 24:39, 2 Peter 1:4. They become partakers of the divine nature that God Almighty possesses. They become spirit creatures made of the same substance and possessing the same form God has. They have to or else they could not live in this realm. (See my notes on trinity).

Because they physically become made like God, they naturally live the same kind of life. They lose their fleshly marriages. Matthew 22: 29, 30. They do not sleep and there is no night time where they live. Revelation 21:22-23, 25; 22:5. Naturally, being judges they must be awake all the time to see all we do and even read our minds. But on earth, there will always be day and night and growing seasons to produce food for the fleshly creatures and humans who live here. Genesis 8:21, 22, Psalm 37, Matthew 5:5. Eating literal, fleshly food is also something those who go to heaven do not do any longer.

And the abode or house they get is not a literal house, but a new body. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, 10; John 14:2, 1 Peter 2:5, Revelation 21:2, 9, 10. They are living stones being built into a temple for God to inhabit, a spiritual house not a literal one built of literal gold, silver and jewel stones. Naturally, if you are a sharer of divine nature and live like God, a literal house isn't going to help or contain you!

********************************************************************** WHERE DO ALL THE OTHER RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE LIVE? WHAT HOPE HAVE THEY? **********************************************************************

Jesus mentioned 2 different inheritances for the righteous people in the blessings or beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5:5, 8. One group who would get to see God and some who would get to inherit the earth. The existence of God's kingdom on earth and in heaven both is a big part of the Lord's Prayer. Many, many Bible texts state that the literal earth, sun, moon, stars will last forever and never be destroyed. Psalm 37, 96:10, 78:69, 148:3,4, 6*, 72:7, 17, 19. It is said that his name will continue as long as the sun and moon endures. Obviously, The Almighty and his Son, both, will be remembered eternally and we will praise them forever. That eternity is compared to the eternity of his creations, the sun, moon, the earth. His name will endure as long as his creations are there. Other verses also state the earth will last forever and tell how life will be on it. Ecclesiastes 1:4, Isaiah 45:18, 55:11, 65:13-66:1, Ps. 89:35-37.

There is so much more on both these inheritances, but I won't be any longer in this space. If you have questions, email me or contact Jehovah's Witnesses in your area.

Since I touched on this in the above sections, and since many consider the Holy Spirit to be God's third personality, and since the miraculous gifts and being born again are so important to most who are churchgoers, we will consider these next. The saints who go to heaven must be baptized in Holy Spirit or born of Holy Spirit to go to heaven. John 3:3. The need for this rebirth is literal. A human doesn't have a spirit or heavenly body trapped inside his literal flesh. (Ezekiel 18:4, 1 Timothy 6:16, Job 27:3). The spirit inside us giving us life and sustaining our breathing is God's own Spirit or Holy Spirit that he shares will all living things. We are not immortal as the above verse in Timothy shows. The saints must literally become Spirit creatures, they must be changed, become a different life form swapping the earthly or fleshly for the heavenly or divine nature they are promised. 1 Corinthians 15:35-53, Ephesians 1:13, 14, 18**. This holy spirit is a token of the inheritance to come. Because of it, they understand all things and know the hope set before them. Both the saints, and all true Christians, know from the Bible that those who go to heaven will not enjoy marriage, sex, sleep, food and other earthly things. Knowing the Bible is evidence that one does (or doesn't have God's Holy Spirit on them). All other of God's righteous servants are simply led or taught by the Holy Spirit and not born of spirit. Naturally, since they are not going to become spirit creatures they do not need a rebirth as spirit creatures. They will be resurrected back to earth during the 1,000 year judgment day as fleshly humans who enjoy day/night, food, etc. Revelation 20:5, Genesis 8:21, 22, Proverbs 2:21, 22, Micah 4:1-5, Isaiah 11:6-9, 65:13-66:1, Psalm 72 more. Because those on earth may marry, there are children living on that new earth playing with the peaceful animals. Isaiah 11:6-9. The holy spirit is referred to as "itself". Romans 8:14, 15, 16*. In fact, all the places in the Bible except 1 where the holy spirit is referred to neuter terms (it terms, neither male or female) are used. No where in the Bible is the holy spirit ever seen as a person or given a personal name. No where in the Bible is the Holy Spirit seen seated on a throne in heaven though Jesus, Jehovah and the saints all get thrones. This is because it is God's energy or power. His active force that empowers his servants and all life. It can be measured out like cups of water. Elisha received 2 portions of the holy spirit, double Elijah's. Moses asked for "some" of the holy spirit on him to be removed and distributed to others. Numbers 11: 17, 25, 26. Gen. 41:38. In order to find a second and third deity (God) to keep the pagan custom of worshipping triads of gods (3 in 1 group), several councils of the Roman Catholic church met and deified first Jesus, then almost a century later, the holy spirit. That was done centuries after the Bible was completed. Galatians 1:7-10, Revelation 22:18, 19. Particularly after the 4th century AD. The Athanasian Creed which formulated the trinity, was written even later than that. See the trinity brochure at our official site for more historical information on this. This whole subject is considered at length so I won't go into it more. ********************************************************************** WHAT WERE THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS? DO PEOPLE STILL POSSESS THEM? ********************************************************************** In the first century, Christians had a short period of time to preach to all they could before the destruction of Jerusalem prophecied by Jesus. And most of them were of humble means. Fishermen, house wives and such. They had no fancy university education and did not speak the dozens of languages in the area. Acts 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 14:21, 22. So they were miraculously able to teach the Bible to others they encounter in their preaching work. It was done before UNbelievers, not in church. In fact, they did not do much tongue speaking in church at all 1 Cor. 28, 29, 30, 31. And at that, they took turns, not all at once. Singing in tongues is never mentioned in the Bible. There was nothing confusing or disorderly about their meetings. 1 Cor. 14:33, 40. In ancient Babel, people's language was confused and they could no longer understand each other. For that reason, the place was named Babel and from that we get our word "babble". What many mistake for the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues to educate unbelievers in the Bible is actually useless "babble" that serves no purpose. The Bible shows that no more messages from God would come after the teaching of those original apostles back in the first century. Galatians 1:7-10, Revelation 22:18, 19. Many groups claim to receive new prophecies or messages in their tongue speaking even while they know that nothing is to be added to God's Word, the Bible. It is all the message we get. And it is available in nearly all languages at least in part. Have you ever seen any tongue speakers go door to door and speak foreign languages miraculously when they encountered people who spoke different languages from them? Matthew 10:12-15, 40, Acts 2:6, 11. Preaching to unbelievers of different language groups with supposed "miraculous gifts" is not even attempted. They attend colleges or classes to learn foreign languages the hard way: word by word, letter by letter, sound by sound. It is similar with "faith healing". Jesus and his apostles and others in the Bible cured ALL, no failures. And the one receiving the healing did not need faith in Jesus to be cured. They were preached to AFTER they were healed. Paul and Barnabas were even mistaken for pagan gods because of the fact they preached after the healing. Acts 14:11, 12. Matthew 15:30, 31. They even cured limbs that had been cut off (maimed, not just lame) and made whole the maimed who had lost body parts. They also did not do these things for Christians. Once you became a member, you still got old, got sick and died like all others. However, we are very close to God's righteous war of Armageddon. Soon, no one will be suffer from old age, illness or Adamic death ever again. Remember, I'm trying to be short. I know reading these pages may not be easy and I only have limited space to use. So there is much more about this topic also. Ask the Witnesses in your area for more information or email me.