|
A Review
by
Pastor Gary Hall
RELEASED
by the Watch Tower Society as their latest introductory study book,
the "Knowledge" book contains a number of new teachings
among its usual contents of old chestnuts.
In this article Pastor
Gary Hall, of Liverpool, shares his own thoughts on this latest publication and
asks "Does the book really lead to everlasting life"?
 As with
other Watch Tower publications mention is made of a future paradise
earth.
"What
the Bible says about the future of the earth and mankind might
be summed up in one word - paradise" (page 8).
Also,
"The
Bible...It informs us that God placed the first human pair, Adam
and Eve, in a paradise called the Garden of Eden."
The
fact is that the Bible never mentions either Eden or a future re-created
earth as paradise.
Jehovah's Witnesses often remark that the word "trinity" is
nowhere in the Bible to disprove the doctrine (see page 31 of Knowledge), but
fail to realise that many of the own words do not appear in Scripture. Such is
the case with "paradise earth".
To connect Eden with paradise is foolishness since the word
only appears three times in the Bible, each time in the New Testament.
Before we look at the misquote of Luke 23:43 on page eight,
let us find out what the Bible really says about paradise.
In Revelation 2:7 Jesus says, "To him who overcomes I
will give him to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise
of God."
Because Jesus makes mention of the tree of life does not automatically
place paradise in Eden, or a future earth, as we shall see.
Although God put the tree in Eden it is evident that since
Eden no longer exists that the tree was removed.
If it is not on earth then it can only be in Heaven - where
it originated!
How do we know that paradise is the same place as Heaven? Simple,
the Bible tells us so.
Read what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:2 - "I knew
a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body I cannot tell;
God knoweth) such a one caught up into the third Heaven."
We readily see that Paul was caught up into Heaven. He adds
in verse four - how that he was caught up into paradise.
To hide the fact that heaven and paradise are one and the same
place and are "up", the New World Translation mistranslates these verses.
It adds "caught away as such to the third Heaven" (verse
2) and "caught away into paradise"(verse 4) and, in doing so, removes
the fact that paradise is Heaven.
Of the forty translations of the Bible I have, only the NWT
translates the Greek word "HARPAZO" AS "caught away".
While the meaning of the word can mean "caught away" it
does not fit the context of these verses.
Besides this, since Eden was not on earth, Paul must have been
caught up into Heaven.
As Heaven and paradise are one and the same place where do
we think Jesus was referring to when he said to the thief on the cross; "Assuredly,
I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43 NKJV.
Regardless of the fact that the NWT mistranslates these words
as "Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise", we have
seen that the place called paradise is up in Heaven.
To hide
the fact that heaven and paradise are one and the same place and
are "up", the New World Translation mistranslates these
verses.
Therefore
the man was going to Heaven with Jesus.
The Knowledge book, on page 8 reads;
"The
mention of paradise no doubt brought to that man's mind the happy
state of our first parents Adam and Eve".
This
is false since his thoughts were clearly upon Christ's Kingdom
- "Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." (Luke
23:42 NKJV).
Page 9 of Knowledge makes a remarkable statement
"They
and their offspring were to extend the borders of paradise until
the entire planet became a place of beauty and delight."
They
then try to back this up with Genesis 1:28. This
verse does not even suggest that Adam and Eve were to extend the
borders of Eden, and why should they? Has the Watch Tower Society
forgotten to read Genesis 1:31?
The Bible says; "God saw everything that He had made,
and behold, it was very good." (NKJV)
To infer that Adam was to "extend" what God had created
is to believe that he had some divine qualities and that all that God created
was not very good.
Maybe, due to the weakness of the argument, the book uses Isaiah
55:10-11 as a proof text (page 9).
If we read these verses we shall find that far from referring
to a future paradise earth, they speak of the fact that the extension of Eden
is to place him as a creator god - exactly what Satan wanted him to believe!
Part 2
IN the chapter
entitled "The Book that Reveals the Knowledge of God" mention
is made of the Messiah being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver
(see page 19).
Since this reference is Zechariah 11:12 it does well to read
what it says. "They proceed to pay my wages, thirty pieces of silver." (New
World Translation)
But, why end with verse 12?
Read verse 13, "At that Jehovah said to me: Throw it to
the treasury - majestic value with which I have been valued from their standpoint." (NWT).
Even the Watch Tower Society has to admit that this is what
happened concerning Jesus, yet it is Jehovah that is speaking.
 Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus
only became the Christ at His baptism.
This line is restated on pages 36 and 65. It says that "Jehovah
anointed Jesus with holy spirit, Jesus became the Christ."
This would mean that Jesus was not the Christ from His birth
until His baptism by John.
If Simeon
did not see the Christ, as the Bible said he did, then the Lord
lied to him.
If
this is true how does it tie in with regards to Simeon in Luke
2:26, which reads; "And it happened to him, being instructed
by the Holy spirit, he was not to see death before he would see
the Christ." (NKJV).
The NWT says almost the same thing. If Simeon did not see the
Christ, as the Bible said he did, then the Lord lied to him.
Besides, weren't the shepherds told; "For to you is born
today in the City of David, a saviour, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11
NKJV).
Also, are we to believe that a mere man, John the Baptist,
was "filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb". (Luke
1:14 NKJV), but God's only Begotten son had to wait thirty years?
Someone is lying, but it is not the Bible.
Staying on the theme of the divinity of Christ, it is interesting
that John 3:16 is used on page 39 as evidence of Jesus being "God's only-begotten
son because Jehovah created him directly." Even a new believer in Christ
can spot that this verse does not teach that Jesus is a created being.
As usual, the word "other" is added to Colossians
1:15 to say that Jesus isn't the creator. They also persist in using Proverbs
8:22-31 as proof of Jesus being created, when in fact these verses refer only
to wisdom.
Jesus is constantly attacked in all Watch Tower publications,
and the "Knowledge" book is no exception.
Page 40 states,
"God
transferred his life from Heaven to the womb of a faithful Jewish
virgin named Mary. Jehovah's powerful holy spirit, or active
force, overshadowed Mary, causing her to become pregnant."
Yet
page 82 says;
"This
life force does not have any of the characteristics of the creature
it animates."
Does
this mean that Jesus was a non-person?
They must see Jesus as a non-person to promote their teachings.
Look what is written on page 68.
"Upon
being raised to life in Heaven, he became a life-giving spirit."
Therefore,
since the Holy Spirit isn't a real person, because He is a spirit,
Jesus must be a non-person also, since He is now only a "life-giving
spirit".
Luke 24:39-42 proves that Jesus was raised in His flesh and
bones, and that He was able to eat natural food.
So, in the mind of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus and the Holy
Spirit are not real persons, but, "The Devil is a malicious manslayer. The
Bible reveals that he is a real person."(page 55)
Another attack is made upon Jesus on page 65. Only because
Jesus is the "Last Adam" and is the "Corresponding ransom for
all" is He known as "Eternal Father".
This is weak and foolish invention to destroy what Jesus is
and what He came to do.
This destroying of the ministry of Jesus is very revealingly
brought to the surface on page 69
"Yet,
our salvation is not the most important reason for Jesus' life
and death on earth."
This is why the Watch Tower Society pays so little regard to
Jesus, and has sought to remove all honour to Him in their NWT and other books.
It is little wonder that they say on page 82; "Human death
does not differ from that of the animals."
Part 3
I may be
wrong, but there may be some "new light" in the future
regarding the Jesus/Michael doctrine. Knowledge does not mention
this once.
The unusual statement for Jehovah's Witnesses, on page 153,
may be some indication of some new doctrine in the near future. It reads;
"He
is the only channel through whom we can approach Jehovah God."
While we agree with these words we have to be cautious to why
they were written.
 The usual illustration of Jesus
hanging on a stake is shown on page 67.
It shows a single nail through the wrists of Jesus, despite
the fact that even the NWT says that Jesus had scars from the "nails" in
both His hands (see John 20:25).
So, to say the least, His hands had to be separated.
Universalism, the belief that all will be saved, or given a
chance to repent and follow God after death, is evident on page 88.
"They
will have an opportunity to demonstrate by their deeds whether
they will serve God."
Two
questions will suffice here.
- 1) Where
does the Bible even hint at this?
2) If all will be saved, why did Jesus bother dying for us on the cross?
This idea is a further attack upon the sacrificial death of
our Saviour.
Because the Watch Tower hates the cross they must get rid of
it and what it really means. To believe in universalism is to reject God's way
of salvation.
The 1914 issue is bound up with the fall of Jerusalem in 607
BC. They refer to this date as "very significant"(page 96).
By adding 2,520 years to 607 BC they arrive at 1914.
The main problem here is that Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians
in 587BC which automatically nullifies the 1914 theory.
You will
look in vain, in chapter 11, to find any Scriptural reasons for
dating Jesus' Heavenly rule at 1914.
Wouldn't
we like to see the verse where the Bible teaches that Jesus was "enthroned
in the Heavenly Kingdom in 1914 CE" (page 94)?
Page 97 promises,
"Did
Jesus begin to reign in Heaven at that time? Scriptural reasons
for saying he did will be discussed in the next chapter."
You
will look in vain, in chapter 11, to find any Scriptural reasons
for dating Jesus' Heavenly rule at 1914.
It would be a step in the right direction if the Watch Tower
believed its own writings without going on to disqualify what is written in a
later chapter.
This statement found on page 153, which we accept as Biblically
correct, is made void by further statements on pages 160-161, which refer to
the "faithful and discreet slave" as being "God's channel".
Again, we find either Jesus, or the Watch Tower Society must
fall. It is no surprise to us that Jesus is disregarded once more.
If Jehovah's Witnesses really did study their Bibles, as advised
on page 178, they might come nearer the fundamental truths of God's Word.
Of course, the "faithful and discreet slave", in
Brooklyn USA, would never allow this.
If only they were allowed to put into practice the words found
on page 182;
"Moreover,
we do not earn life by serving Jehovah. Everlasting life is a
gift of God."
Part 4
THE Knowledge
book speaks about the 144,000, Christmas, birthdays, soul-sleep
as well as the family.
There are many good books available that will correct these
doctrines.
The only point I would like to address here is in response
to the amazing and erroneous words found on page 68, regarding the death and
resurrection of Jesus.
On this subject they say;
"He
(Jesus) slept in death for parts of three days."
Since
I've never heard of anyone say that Jesus was dead for parts of
three days, I have to ask, which parts?
If He was alive at certain times then does this not nullify
the idea of soul-sleep?
Only
those who have shut their eyes and closed their brains would accept
this as coming from God.
Once
again the book is way off course, since the Bible teaches that
Jesus was active during the time His body lay in the tomb. (see
1 Peter 3:19 and Eph. 4:8-10)
The Knowledge that Leads to Everlasting Life book is a sloppy
attempt to undermine Bible doctrine and promote life-destroying teachings.
Only those who have shut their eyes and closed their brains
would accept this as coming from God.
As with other books this goes out of its way to promote a Jesus,
but not the Jesus of the Bible.
Some gullible Christians may think that all the references
to Jesus as God's only begotten Son means that the Jehovah's Witnesses are getting
closer to the "Truth".
All those caught up in the web of deceit spun by the Watch
Tower must answer a serious question for themselves.
Jesus once asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I
am?" (Mark 8:29). Peter could have replied something like, "I say you
are a prophet, or maybe Michael the archangel." But no,
Peter's reply was "You are the Christ".
The disciples recognised Jesus as the Messiah. They knew that
the Messiah had to be different from prophets or angels.
In Mark 9:1-7 they had an experience that they would never
forget.
Elijah and Moses met with Jesus after He was transfigured.
Notice that Jesus was transfigured. What was He transfigured
into?
A prophet? That wouldn't have made Him any different from Elijah
and Moses.
An angel? No, because "to which of the angels did He say
at anytime, You are My Son, this day I have begotten You? (Hebrews 1:5).
When God the Father spoke in Mark 9:7 He was not referring
to a mere man or any angel when He said; "This is My beloved Son, hear Him."
Jesus was seen by the disciples as the second, but not inferior,
member of the Godhead in all His Heavenly glory.
Each Jehovah's Witness, and for that matter, every person on
earth must answer the question; "Who do you say Christ is?"
If you listen to your organisation you may get the wrong answer.
Obey God's command to us all...
"This
is My Beloved Son, hear Him."
That is the only way to have the
Knowledge that leads to Everlasting Life.
|
