A question for Jehovahs Witnesses?

Question

I've just read from a JW that answered a question, stating Jesus is just a creation. So therefore who says I am the Alpha and Omega, the begining and the end, the first and the last. Because in my Bible it has Christs writing in Red, and its Red! Rev 22:13 which to me is exactly the same as Isaiah 41:4 does this not say they are the same? Also in Rev 1:11 And who holds the keys in Rev 1:18 (also in Red)

I'm not attacking you I just want your theory!

So are you been obedient to Acts 1:8?

To abdijah. You are misinterpting what is said! Will you answer my questions please?

will the JWs please answer the specific questions please you will see then they are linked!

In whose name should we meet together? (Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 5:4)

Demons are subject to whose name? (Luke 10:17; Acts 16:18)

Repentance and forgiveness should be preached in whose name? (Luke 24:47)

In whose name are you to believe and receive the forgiveness of sins (John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 10:43; I John 3:23; 5:13)

By whose name, and NO OTHER, do we obtain salvation (Acts 4:12)

Whose name should be invoked as we bring our petitions to God in prayer? (John 14:13, 14; 15:16; 16:23, 24)

In whose name is the Holy Spirit sent? (John 14:26)

Whose name and authority was invoked by the disciples in healing the sick and lame? (Acts 3:16; 4:7-10, 30)

Whose name did Paul tell us to call upon (1 Corinthians 1:2)?

Whose name is above every name (Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9-11)

In the Book of Revelation Jesus is called the beginning of the creation of God.

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, says this (Revelation 3:14).

This verse has been used to say that Jesus was a created being.

Jesus Is The Origin Of God’s Creation
The word translated “beginning” can also have the meaning of “origin.” This idea is that the creation of all things originated with Jesus. He is the source of creation.

Summary

Jesus is called the beginning of God’s creation. This does not mean that he is a created being. It refers to the fact that he is the origin of God’s creation – he is the one who originated the creation process.

Answer 1

Close scrutiny of their doctrinal position on such subjects as the Deity of Jesus, Salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, the Atonement, etc., shows beyond a doubt that they do not hold to orthodox Christian positions on these subjects. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly declare Jesus to be God (John 1:1,14; 8:58; 10:30). Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. This contradicts countless Scriptures which declare salvation to be received by faith (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the power of God. Jehovah’s Witnesses hold to a ransom theory of the atonement, in which Jesus' death paid only for what mankind lost when Adam sinned - namely, the right to perfect life on earth. Thus, they believe in a faith + works arrangement, where sin and death are freely atoned for by Christ, but physical perfection is attained through personal effort, coupled with faith in Christ.

How do the Jehovah’s Witnesses justify these unbiblical doctrines? (1) They claim that the church has, over the centuries, corrupted the Bible, and (2) They have re-translated the Bible in what they call the New World Translation. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society altered the text of the Bible to make it fit their false doctrine – rather than basing their doctrine on what the Bible teaches. The New World Translation has gone through numerous editions, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses discover more and more Scriptures that contradict their doctrines.

Jehovah's Witnesses are readily shown to be a cult that is only loosely based upon Scripture. The Watchtower bases its beliefs and doctrines on the original and expanded teachings of Charles Taze Russell, Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and their successors. The Governing Body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only body in the cult that claims authority to interpret Scripture. In other words, what the Governing Body says concerning any Scriptural passage is viewed as the last word, and independent thinking is strongly discouraged. This is in direct opposition of Paul's admonition to Timothy (and to us as well) to study to show yourself approved of God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God. This admonition, found in 2 Timothy 2:15, is a clear instruction from God to each of His individual children in the Body of Christ to be like the Berean Christians and search the Scriptures daily to see if the things they are being taught line up with what His Word has to say on the subject.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses should be commended for their “evangelistic efforts.” There is probably no religious group that is more faithful than the Jehovah’s Witnesses at getting their message out. Unfortunately, the message is full of distortions, deceptions, and false doctrine. May God open the eyes of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to the truth of the Gospel and the true teaching of God’s Word.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses don't think that Jesus is JUST a creation.
You say it like we don't think him of any importance.
We know he is very important and has a prominent place in heaven alongside his Father Jehovah - John 17:5

We take into consideration ALL scripture - 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Colossians 1:15-17 is very clear when it says that Jesus was the first creation of Jehovah & then through Jesus everything else was created. That's why it says in Genesis "Let us make man in our image" - two personalities

A Trinitarian would do well examining the origins of the Trinity before making an informed choice as to what to believe. Gods in the form of triads were worshiped long before Jesus came to the earth. This form of worship is pagan in origin.

Although I can see how it must look to someone who holds dear the deity of Jesus - we must, if we search for truth, examine all the evidence & not just pick out one or 2 scriptures.

Pix - you didn't really answer my question about Matthew 24:36 - How could Jesus not know what the Father knew if he was God himself?
He would know exactly the same things that his Father knew - but he didn't - as his words in verse 36 clearly show.

There are many other verses disproving the deity of Jesus too.

John 1:18 - many people saw Jesus so how can he be God?

John 14:28 - disproves that Jesus & God are co -equal

John 17:3 - two separate personalities (no mention of the holy spirit)

We, as Jehovah's Witnesses, hold Jesus in very high regard. he is the reason we fufill our ministry, we try to follow in his footsteps closely. We only have the chance of having back what Adam lost for us because of Jesus ransom sacrifice. We only have access to God through Jesus. So, he is extrememly important to us (not just a creation as you put it)
He died an agonising death for all mankind.

Jehovah's Witnesses will be observing the memorial of his death worldwide on April 2nd after sundown at Kingdom Halls throughout the earth.
Anyone is welcome to join us in doing so

Answer 3

First born means the pre eminent one...
And one more point john chapter 1 starts like this

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
verse 3 says all the created beings were created by him.... if he is a creation then wil it be logical to say he created himself

Answer 4

It grossly misrepresents the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses to suggest that the religion teaches that "Jesus is just a creation". In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe!


Clearly, Isaiah 41:4 refers to Jehovah the Father.
(Isaiah 41:4) I, Jehovah, the First One; and with the last ones I am the same.

Of course, Revelation 22:13 also refers to Jehovah the Father
(Revelation 22:13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.


In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses recognize and teach the plain bible truth that all three times the title "Alpha and Omega" is used in Revelation, Almighty God Jehovah is the 'speaker'. The oldest Greek manuscripts, such as Alexandrine, Sinaitic, and Codex Ephraemi rescriptus, show that the KJV's use of the title at Revelation 1:11 is spurious (as in, fraudulent).


It's interesting to consider just how many spurious verses were inserted to try and provide some tenuous support for trinitarianism (see John 8:44).


Jehovah's Witnesses do believe themselves to be uniquely obedient to Acts 1:8 ("...you will be witnesses..."). As Christians and bible students, Jehovah's Witnesses well recognize that there is no conflict between their obedience to God and their obedience to Christ.

(1 Corinthians 11:3) The head of every man is the Christ... in turn the head of the Christ is God

(1 Corinthians 15:28) When all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.


Additional questions should be asked as additional questions.

Answer 5

The Alpha and Omega, as you probably already know, is a title .....meaning the first and the last, or the beginning and the end.
There is no reason to assume only one individual has that title.
There is a president of the U.S.A and a president of Russia. There is a president over most African countries.
One never asks: Who is the REAL president.
They are all presidents, within their areas.
All that to say:
In one sense God Himself can take the title 'Alpha, Omega' for obvious reasons.
Jesus can properly use that same title since he was the first to be raised from the dead as a spirit creature and will still be there even if all others should come up short.
YOU can take the same title, if you wish.
If a girl marries you, you eventually die ....and she never re-marries, what do you become for her?
You represent the first and last husband she ever had.

Jesus hold the keys.

Answer 6

The Jehovah's Witnesses and Col. 1:15

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exists." (Col. 1:15-17, for context. The New World Translation - Emphasis added. Note the NWT’s addition of “other” into the text four times. This is discussed here.)

The Jehovah's Witnesses interpret the word "firstborn" here to mean "first created" because it is consistent with their theological presupposition that Jesus is a created thing. Of course, Jesus, the word become flesh (John 1:1,14) is not a created thing. But that hasn't stopped the Watchtower organization from claiming He is. Nevertheless, there is a Greek word for "first created" and it was in use at the time of Paul's writing to the Colossians. He did not use it here. The Greek for "firstborn" is proto with tikto which would give us "firstborn" and that is what we find here in Colossians 1:15. The Greek for "first created" would be proto with ktizo and it is not used here.
Second, the biblical use of the word "firstborn" is most interesting. It can mean the first born child in a family (Luke 2:7), but it can also mean "pre-eminence." In Psalm 89:20, 27 it says, "I have found David My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him...I also shall make him My first-born" (KJV). As you can see, David, who was the last one born in his family was called the firstborn by God. This is a title of preeminence.
Third, firstborn is also a title that is transferable:

Gen. 41:51-52, "And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: For, said he, God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction" (KJV)

Jer. 31:9, "...for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn (KJV)."

Scripture best interprets scripture. Firstborn does not require a meaning of first created as the Jehovah's Witnesses say it means here. "Firstborn" can mean the first born person in a family and it can also be a title of preeminence which is transferable. That is obvious since Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1,14) and is also the first born son of Mary. In addition, He is the pre-eminent one in all things. The Jehovah's Witnesses should consider this when they examine Col. 1:15. They should also abandon the Watchtower which guides them in their thinking and believing.

Answer 7

This is our reasoning on the matter:

To whom does the title Alpha and Omega belong?
( 1 ) At Rev. 1: 8, its owner is said to be God the Almighty. In verse 11 according to KJ, that the title applied to Jesus. But scholars recognise the reference to the Alpha and Omega to be spurious, and so it does not appear in the RS, Ne, JB, Nab, Dy.

( 2 ) Many translations of Revelation into Hebrew recognize that the one described in verse 8 is Jehovah, and so they restore the personal name of God there.

( 3 ) Revelation 21: 6 & 7 indicates that Christians who are spiritual conquerors are to be 'sons' of the one known as the Alpha and the Omega. That is never said of the relationship of spirit anointed Chrisitians to Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke of them as his 'brothers'. (Heb. 2:11; Matt. 12:50; 25: 40) But those 'brothers' of Jesus are referred to as "sons of God". (Gal. 3: 26; 4: 6)

( 4 ) At Rev. 22: 12, TEV inserts the name Jesus, so the reference to Alpha and Omega in verse 13 is made to appear to apply to him. But the name Jesus does not appear there in the Greek, and other translations do not include it.

( 5 ) At Rev. 22: 13, the Alpha and Omega is also said to be "the first and the last", which expression is applied to Jesus at Rev. 1 : 17 & 18. Similarly, the expression "apostle" is applied both to Jesus and to certain ones of his followers. But that does not prove that they are the same person or are of equal rank, does it? (Heb 3:1) So the evidence points to the conclusion that the title "Alpha and Omega" applies to Almighty God, the Father, not the Son.

Answer 8

First/Last and only to be directly created directly by Jehovah God Himself. First/Last and only to be resurrected to immortal heavenly life directly by Jehovah God himself.

What else do you need 2 know?

And BTW, I find it interesting that the Question states specifically that the target audience is Jehovah's Witnesses but plenty of others are here donating their unwanted 2 cents which compromises the integrity of this discussion.
Hey, I guess you just have 2 accept that when you're dealing with the Internet.

Answer 9

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Answer 10

Rev. 22:13 - Jesus is the first creation by God, and the last created directly by God, and needed for our salvation. There were none like him that came to earth to redeem us of our sins.

Also read Col. 1:15 - Jesus was the firstborn of all creation.

Jehovah God is the almighty alone. - Psalms 83:18

John 8:42
John 14:28 - YOU heard that I said to YOU, I am going away and I am coming [back] to YOU. If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.