QUESTION #13 – According to Revelation 1:7-8, Jesus is called the Alpha and Omega, Jehovah God, and the Almighty. We know it is Jesus because in verse 7 it says he was pierced. Jesus was the one that was pierced. Also, it says “he is coming” which means the one who was pierced (Jesus) is coming. Then in verse 8 it says Jehovah is coming. So the text is about the same subject (Jesus/Jehovah) who is coming. This can easily be proven by comparing to Revelation 22:13. Notice how the entire context around Revelation 22:13 is about Jesus. Jesus here identifies himself as the ‘Alpha and Omega’. So how do you explain this? Are Jehovah and Jesus both coming and are both ‘Alpha and Omega’?
ANSWER – The opening chapter of Revelation is an introduction. The very first verse explains that it is a message that God gave to Jesus to show his slaves the things that must take place. Again in the second verse John makes a distinction between God and Jesus. Then in the apostle’s greetings to the seven congregations he says: “May you have undeserved kindness and peace from “the One who is and who was and who is coming,” and from the seven spirits that are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness,” “the firstborn from the dead,” and “the Ruler of the kings of the earth.”
A careful reading of the passage above indicates that “the One who is and who was and who is coming” is not Jesus, but Jehovah. That is why John went on to introduce Jesus by saying “and,” meaning someone other than the One who is coming. And “the One who is coming” is Almighty God, “the Alpha and Omega,” not Jesus. Of course, Jesus is coming —but it is in the name of Jehovah. And Jesus is also the beginning and the end, but for different reasons. (Is Jesus the Alpha And Omega?)
QUESTION #14 – The Jews picked up stones to kill Jesus because of blasphemy (John 10:30-33). Who was Jesus claiming to be that caused such a reaction? If he was claiming to be a false little ‘g’ god, as the NWT renders it, how could he even be blaspheming?
The questioner demonstrates an astonishing lack of comprehension. Jesus did not claim to be God. The Jews falsely accused him of making himself a god. The setting was, the Jews surrounded Jesus in the temple and demanded to know if he was the Christ. They did not ask if he was God. But Jesus refused to tell them he was Christ, saying: “I told you, and yet you do not believe. The works that I am doing in my Father’s name, these bear witness about me. But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father. I and the Father are one.”
It was Jesus’ rebuke of them, telling the Jews that they were not his sheep and that he was one with the Father that incited them to attempted murder. But Jesus countered their false accusation that he was making himself a god by saying to them: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said: “You are gods”’? If he called ‘gods’ those against whom the word of God came—and yet the scripture cannot be nullified— do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?”
Jesus set them straight, saying he was God’s Son, not God.
Amazingly, the trinitarians cite the Jews as if they were honest witnesses in the matter, when in fact Jesus had already condemned them as the Devil’s spawn. The Jews lyingly claimed Jesus was making himself equal to God, just as their trinitarian counterparts do today.
QUESTION #15 – According to 1 Timothy 3:16, ‘He’ was made manifest in the flesh. By considering verse 15, we can see that God is the subject immediately prior to verse 16. So it would make sense that verse 16 is referring to God. The WatchTower has even admitted that this was referring to God who was made manifest in the flesh (eg. Watchtower July 1879, Watchtower June 1880. There are also other manuscripts that actually contain the word ‘God’ in verse 16. Therefore, do you agree that God was made manifest in the flesh? If so, who would this make Jesus Christ?
ANSWER – Again, it appears as if trinitarians lack basic reading comprehension skills. The pronoun “he” is not in reference to God, but to the one who demonstrated true godliness and reverence towards God.
Here is what the NIV says: “Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”
In context Paul was giving instructions for appointing overseers and ministerial servants and for the women in the congregation. And then the concluding reference to Jesus was to underscore that Christ set the perfect example of true godly devotion for everyone to imitate. Surely, no rational person would suppose that God worships himself and then recommends his devotion to himself as an example for others to follow.
Jehovah’s Witnesses should appreciate their privilege to know the truth about the true relationship between Jehovah and Jesus. The twisted reasonings of trinitarians only underscores how precious the truth is.