Joined: 10/3/2007(UTC) Posts: 1,191 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 2 post(s)
|
Yada wrote:... I realized, after the fact, that I hadn't done a very good job of 'witnessing to this Witness." I went online and, after some searching, came across a simple approach that might work. To use it, you'll only need to mark/highlight 4 verses from the Book of Revelation (which apparently is the JWs favorite book of the 'Bible'). Here's the excerpt/approach: Quote:Jehovah's Witnesses main denial and stumbling block is the doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. For that reason, we in ministering to Jehovah's Witnesses, we need to deal with that specifically.
There are many passages that show the clear teaching of the deity of Jesus Christ. Jehovah Witnesses love the book of Revelation more than any other Book in the Bible. And since they love it so much, you might as well use it with them.
Ron brought out his Bible and smiled. "Let's begin and you will see something very interesting develop here," he promised.
Ron turned to 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."
Ron asked them, "Who is speaking here? I am the Alpha and Omega, says who?" The younger man answered, " Says the Lord God - Jehovah - God!".
"You are absolutely right, " Ron answered. "We believe that the Alpha and Omega is Jehovah God, just as it says."
Ron continued, "Turn to Revelation 21: 5-7. "
"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. "
Here again we see the identification that Alpha and Omega is Jehovah God. The Watchtower visitors smiled broadly and immediately agreed with Ron. " You are absolutely right," said the elder of the two. " We believe that Alpha and Omega is "Jehovah God. That's what it says."
"Turn to Revelation 22," Ron continued, "beginning with verse 13."
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
Again, the visitors responded that it referred to Jehovah God, the Father.
Ron said, "There's just one more verse, do you think you could help me with it?"
"Oh," they said, "We'd be glad to." They openly smiling now as Ron appeared to grasp their understanding of Jehovah God.
Ron was on a real roll, now. He said, "It's Revelation 1:17-18. Will you read it for me?" he asked.
They turned in their Watchtower Bible and the elder one began to read.
"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.
Ron said, "Stop. I've been trying to figure out who the first and the last is. Tell me who he is."
They said, "We just saw who the first and the last is. The first and the last is Jehovah God."
Ron said, "You mean to tell me the first and the last is Jehovah God?
They said, "Of course he's Jehovah God."
Ron replied, "Well, keep reading."
"I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
There was a hush that followed. Ron then asked them, "When did Jehovah die?" When did God die?" There was no answer as the men stared silently into their scriptures.
Finally the man who did most of the talking said, " I have never seen that before."
"Well," Ron answered, "Is this your own Bible, published by the Watchtower?"
He said, "Well yes, but I've never seen that before."
Ron again asked them, "So, tell me. When did Jehovah die?" They just kept looking at the verse.
At last, he quietly answered, "But Jesus died."
Ron said, "Oh, you mean Jesus is Jehovah God?"
He said, "Well, no. He can't be."
"Why not," Ron asked?
"Well, if Jesus is Jehovah God, that would change everything else in the Bible. everything else we believe about him."
" You know, that's what I thought too," Ron answered."
The older man stood. "We have to leave now."
Ron said, "Sir, could you find out for me when Jehovah died? Would you go back to your Kingdom Hall and ask your overseer when did Jehovah die? When you get the answer could you bring your Watchtower leaders back to my house so they could tell me? I would really appreciate that." Needless to say, they never returned. ... You can cut the simple approach down to two passages: Isaiah 44:6 "This is what Yahuweh says— Israel's King and Redeemer, Yahuweh of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God."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. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."Here are the passages in the Jehovah's Witnesses Bible called the New World Translation: Isaiah 44:6 "This is what Jehovah has said, the King of Israel and the Repurchaser of him, Jehovah of armies, 'I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God.'" Revelation 1:17-18 "And when I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet. And he laid his right hand upon me and said: 'Do not be fearful. I am the First and the Last, and the living one; and I became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Ha´des.'"
|