We continue from where we left off https://islamunmasked.com/2018/10/09/jesus-is-jehovah-god-according-to-the-jehovahs-witnesses-bible-pt-1b/.

The Christian Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is the very heavenly Lord whom all believers are to slave for:

“If, however, you were raised up with the Christ, go on seeking the things above, where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God… Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as for Jehovah (to Kyrio), and not for men, for you know that it is from Jehovah (Kyriou) you will receive the inheritance as a reward. Slave for the Master, Christ (to Kyrio Christo).” Colossians 3:1, 23-24

This explains we find Christ’s disciples identifying themselves as the slaves of the Lord Jesus:

“Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus and called to be an apostle, set apart for God’s good news,” Romans 1:1

“Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in union with Christ Jesus who are in Phi·lipʹpi, along with overseers and ministerial servants:” Philippians 1:1

“Simon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have acquired a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and the Savior Jesus Christ:” 2 Peter 1:1

“Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James, to the called ones who are loved by God the Father and preserved for Jesus Christ:” Jude 1:1

This next example is rather astonishing:

“James, a slave of God AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (Kyriou ‘Iesou Christou), to the 12 tribes that are scattered about: Greetings!” James 1:1

Here we have a monotheistic Jew, who clearly was aware of the teachings of both the Old Testament and the Lord Jesus Christ that a believer has only one Lord in heaven whom he is to serve, identifying himself as the slave of BOTH God AND Jesus Christ! Now the only way that James could be the slave of both without violating the express commands of the risen Lord and the Hebrew Bible is if God and Christ are essentially one, e.g., Jesus must also be God and therefore one with the Father in essence, which means that they are not two separate Lords. Rather, God and Christ are two distinct Persons who coexist as the one eternal, sovereign Lord of all creation.

And now pay attention to this next passage, since it is equally astounding:

“To the angel of the congregation in Thy·a·tiʹra write: These are the things that the Son of God says, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine copper: ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and ministry and endurance, and that your deeds of late are more than those you did at first. Nevertheless, I do hold this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezʹe·bel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. Look! I am about to throw her into a sickbed, and those committing adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with deadly plague, so that all the congregations will know that I am the one who searches the innermost thoughts and hearts, and I will give to you individually according to your deeds.” Revelation 2:18-23

Christ not only refers to believers as his very own slaves here, he even attributes to himself the very characteristics and function, which the Holy Bible ascribes to Jehovah God Almighty:

“I, Jehovah, am searching the heart, Examining the innermost thoughts, To give to each one according to his ways, According to the fruitage of his works.” Jeremiah 17:20 – cf. 11:20; 29:23

“Also loyal love is yours, O Jehovah, For you repay each one according to his deeds.” Psalm 62:12

“If you say, ‘But we did not know about this,” Does not the One who examines hearts discern it? Yes, the One who watches you will know And will repay each man according to his activity.” Proverbs 24:12

“But according to your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of the revealing of God’s righteous judgment. And he will pay back to each one according to his works:” Romans 2:5-6

Now compare this next example,

“Look! The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will come with power, And his arm will rule for him. Look! His reward is with him, And the wage he pays is before him.” Isaiah 40:10 – cf. 62:11

With what the Lord Jesus says of himself:

“For the Son of man is to come in the glory of HIS Father with HIS angels, and then HE will repay each one according to his behavior.” Matthew 16:27

“‘Look! I AM COMING QUICKLY, and the reward I give is with me, to repay each one according to his work. I am the Alʹpha and the O·meʹga, the first and the last, the beginning and the end… I, JESUS, sent my angel to bear witness to you about these things for the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright morning star.’… The one who bears witness of these things says, ‘Yes, I AM COMING QUICKLY.’ Amen! COME, LORD JESUS.” Revelation 22:12-13, 16, 20 – cf. 1:17-18; 2:8

Not only does the risen Lord claim to be the One who knows everyone’s heart and mind, and who will personally come to repay every individual for all that s/he has done, he even goes as far as to identify himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, all of which are divine names attributed to God Almighty! (Cf. Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Revelation 1:8; 21:6-7).

That Jesus is the One speaking in Revelation 22:12-13 is not only confirmed by the immediate context, as we just saw, but also by the following passage where our Lord clearly says that the Father judges no one since he has given the Son the right to judge all creation:

“For the Father judges NO ONE at all, but he has entrusted ALL THE JUDGING to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” John 5:22-23

The foregoing places JWs in a predicament. If Jesus isn’t Jehovah God Incarnate then how can he reign as the Lord in heaven whom all true believers are to turn to and slave for, when the Scriptures teach that Jehovah is the only heavenly Lord that a person has and is to serve? And why would the inspired NT writers ascribe to Jesus the very functions, characteristics and names that the OT attributes to Jehovah God alone? Why would they take texts that specifically refer to Jehovah and apply them to the Lord Jesus if in fact he isn’t Jehovah God in the flesh?

Lord Jesus willing, there shall be additional installments in this series that will be posted in the near future.

 

 

 

 

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