Vol. 8, No. 9, 1991

Another Gospel?

Craig Branch

Bible: "But though we, or an angel from heaven (if any), preach any other gospel unto you that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8-9).

Watchtower Society: "Let the honest-hearted person compare the kind of preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom done by the religious systems of Christendom during all the centuries with that done by Jehovah's Witnesses since the end of World World I in 1918. They are not one and the same kind" (Watchtower, May 1, 1981, p.17, emphasis mine).

The Bible defines all cults or pseudo-Christians as one coming with a different Jesus or a different gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15). The Jehovah's Witnesses organization (Watchtower Society) stands condemned by their own admission and by the facts of Scripture.

How can you help the Jehovah's Witness understand that the Watchtower is a false teacher, that they have received a "different gospel"; and how they can be saved?

Ask the JW what is the gospel message that they preach, by which we are saved? They should respond that the gospel is the reestablishment of God's kingdom on the earth (ushered in by Christ's invisible return in 1914).

Indicate that all the Christian churches that you know of proclaim that the gospel that saves you is the believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ His doing by grace. Isn't that a different gospel from yours?

Then have them turn to 1 Corinthians 15:14 and carefully note what is specifically the gospel by which you are saved. Then turn to Galatians 1:6-9 to see what God thinks of another "gospel" that Paul has not preached.

If there is any question what their stated and fatal position is, refer them to the May 1, 1981 Watchtower, p.17.

One of the most diabolical maneuvers the Watchtower has performed is in the area of the gospel. Like other doctrines, the current Watchtower teaching on the gospel has evolved. Before the 1930s they taught only 144,000 would be justified in heaven. Then they added a two class distinction of the Great Multitude in addition to the 144,000, who would be in heaven (since their numbers had begun to exceed that number by then).

Then in 1935, Rutherford received new light, which is their current doctrine. They now believe that only 144,000 special, faithful JWs will be spiritually resurrected (not bodily) and exist in heaven for eternity.

These are called the Anointed Ones, or little flock, and are the only ones who are considered born again. The remainder (99%) of faithful JWs will live on a paradise earth in a recreated body. These people are referred to as the Great Multitude or great crowd class.

That is why the average Christian is blocked if he asks the normal questions such as If you died tonight, do you know without a doubt you will go to heaven?; or if the Christian attempts to share all the relevant scripture dealing with grace, born again, heaven etc., the JW automatically thinks that these Scriptures do not apply to them, unless they are of the anointed class.

The Watchtower has maneuvered its members into not only exclusively trusting the Watchtower's interpretations, reading a perverted and biased Bible (their New World Translation), but just in case a member reads his Bible or any Bible unfiltered, they still think the Bible is segmented and not all written to them!

To avoid this first hurdle and to get to the real issue, the Christian should ask the question, "Do you know for sure that you will survive Armageddon and have everlasting life, have you done what Jehovah has required so that you can be sure, as I am sure?" This gets to the heart of the issue of why they are working so hard to get God's approval and gain eternal life. When you begin to share about the gospel of grace and eternal life, you can expect the following obstacles:

They attempt to indicate that there are two different groups spoken of and therefore two sets of Scriptures apply:

1. In John 10:16; Luke 12:32, didn't Jesus say that He had other sheep not of this fold?

2. Matthew 5:5;6:9-10; II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1; Psalm 37:9-11, all indicate an earthly hope.

3. Revelation 5:10; 20:6-indicates that people in heaven will reign over the earth as kings with Christ. Rulers must have subjects.

4. Rev.14:1-3 indicates that the 144,000 were bought From the earth singing a new song. These 144,000 could not be natural Jews because in 7:4-8 when the 12 tribes are listed, there never were tribes of Joseph and Levi, and where are Ephraim and Dan? So they are just spiritual or figurative Jews (Rom.2: 28-29; Gal. 3:26-29).

In Response

First of all, the Bible never makes a distinction of two different ways of salvation. There are not two hopes (See Eph. 4:4). There is only one body of saved or redeemed mankind. John 10:16, in context, validates this point, as it says Jesus is the only shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. The other sheep are gathered into one flock, one shepherd. These other sheep are specifically identified, not as an earthly class or heavenly class, but as Gentiles, joined together with the Jews into the one hope (See Eph. 2:4-24).

At this point a crucial issue needs to be introduced to the JW, which brings the Watchtower's lie into focus. Ask the JW to comment on 1Tim.2:5. Notice that Christ is the only mediator for all men. Ask if a church, another man, or group could ever be a mediator (one who stands in place of, reconciling the wrath of God)?

Ask them if the Watchtower Society or the 144,000 can be their mediator? Most are then shocked to discover that the Watchtower claims that the 144,000 are their mediators (Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1979, pp. 24-27).

Additionally, the Watchtower teaches that all those who had died before Pentecost, including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob et.al., would reside on the earth and not heaven. Ask the JW where is the kingdom of heaven? Then ask which are they going to believe the Watchtower, or the Bible?

Now have them read Matt. 8:11, and Hebrews 11, especially verses 11-16 where clearly Abraham and all the Old Testament saints are to receive a heavenly inheritance, clearly as opposed to an earthly one.

In Rev. 7:4-8 this is a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel or natural Israel. The fact that there is a difference in listing is not unusual as in the twenty lists of tribes in the Old Testament, there are 18 different orders. If the 144,000 is literal, then why isnt the fact that they are all male virgins also taken literally (Rev. 14:4)?

The fact is that the great crowd in Rev 7:9-17 is in the same location as the 144,000. The entire scene is in heaven. The great crowd (7:9,15); the angels, elders, and four creatures (7:11); and the 144,000 (Rev. 14:3) are all before the throne (It is exactly the same Greek word).

In addition, the same great crowd or multitude (same Greek word) is specifically said to be in heaven (Rev.19:1). The Watch¬tower lamely says this great crowd must be angels, although every time great crowd is used in the New Testament, it refers to humans. Also the location of the great crowd is in His temple (7:15). The location of the temple is clearly in heaven (11:19; 14:17).

Now share the multitude of verses demonstrating all men's need to be born again, born by Gods Spirit in order to gain eternal life (John 3:3, 5; I Tim. 2:5; I Cor. 12:3, 13; John 6:53-58; John 1:12; I Jn. 5:1; 2 Cor. 5:21; John 5:39-40; especially take them through Rom. 8:5-17; no class distinctions in Christ, Gal. 3:26,28; John 12:26; Matt. 5:11-12; I Cor. 12:27).

Show them that all must partake of communion (i.e. Memorial Meal) as the symbol that you are united to Him and have eternal life, John 6:53-58 (The Watchtower says this is only for the 144,000.)! If not, you have no life.

Also note that all the letters are addressed to everyone in the churches. Nowhere do the writers differentiate in their teaching. Note: Eph. 2:6; 2 Tim. 4:18; Heb. 3:1; Phil. 3:20; Col. 1:5; I Pet. 1:4; I Cor. 12:12-13.