Do you agree that I handled this JW situation fairly?

Question

Years ago, a pair of kindly JW women came to my door monthly. Since they weren't pushy in their proselytizing, I visited with them for a few minutes on my back porch, each time they came.

Once, our conversation turned to the Anti-Christ. I mentioned that he'd literally be a man, but that if he already were alive, his identity was not yet known to us. Whereupon they both became visibly upset, and said, "The Anti-Christ will NOT be a man. It'll be a political SYSTEM."

So I said, "Do either of you have a Bible with you? NOT one of those "Watchtower" versions. A *regular* Bible?

One of them immediately handed me a KJV from her purse. And I turned right to the passage that says THIS:

"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."

Then they REALLY were shaken. Cults run on dogmas, and they couldn't stand contradicting FACTS. They left, and never again returned.

One more very important point. At NO time was I ever discourteous, or anything other than friendly toward those kindly ladies. So in my own mind, I think I handled this fairly. After all -- why pretend that the Bible DIDN'T contradict their cultic dogma?

To "Moises3702" -- We can do it right in here. You present it with "Edit", and I'll respond to you under "Details."

To "Wiccan Rider," "grnlow," and "Bill" --
Point of clarification. Both the ladies and I were fully aware that we all were talking specifically about the leadership of the Tribulation Period... not "anti-christs" in the generic way. We were talking very specifically about the "Beast." THEY thought it would be a *system*, and I pointed out to them that the Bible makes it quite clear that the loathsome leader of the End Times -- the "Beast" -- will be a man.

Answer 1

You did what you needed to do....Give them the Real Word.,


Paul wrote...
1 Corinthians 3:6
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth

You did what Paul did...you planted. The rest was up to the Holy Spirit.

Don't ever feel guilty about not "closing the sale" or leading then to Chrsit...
That's Gods job..not yours.

You just need to continue to plant seeds.

Nice Job

Answer 2

So-called anecdotes such as this have a tendency to sound odd to those familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses, and ...disingenuous (to put it gently).


Firstly, Jehovah's Witnesses certainly do NOT believe or teach that the antichrist is a political system.

In fact, Witnesses certainly do believe the bible to teach that "the antichrist" must include literal humans.

(2 John 7, NWT) For many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

(2 John 7, WEY) For many deceivers have gone out into the world--men who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ who has come in human nature. Such a one is 'the deceiver' and 'the anti-Christ.'

(2 John 7, GWT) Many people who deceive others have gone into the world. They refuse to declare that Jesus Christ came in flesh and blood. This is the mark of a deceiver and an antichrist.


Similarly, Jehovah's Witnesses believe the bible to teach that there were/are multiple antichrists.

(1 John 2:18, NWT) just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists

(1 John 2:18, KJV) ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists


Secondly, this questioner seems to believe that the wild beast of Revelation 13:18 is "the antichrist", and implies that the so-called "JW women" accepted that belief. In actuality, Jehovah's Witnesses believe the bible to teach that this "wild beast" has no real connection with "the antichrist" or "antichrists".

Here is an article from the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses, which discusses what Jehovah's Witnesses actually believe and teach regarding the "wild beast" of Revelation 13:18...
http://watchtower.org/e/20040401/article_01.htm

Answer 3

Being nice & courteous, you handled it right, but your answer about the anti-christ is very wrong.

The Word “antichrist” applies to all who deny what the Bible says about Jesus Christ, all who oppose his Kingdom, and all who mistreat his followers. It also includes individuals, organizations, and nations that falsely claim to represent Christ or that improperly ascribe to themselves the role of Messiah by presumptuously promising to achieve that which only Christ can do, bring about true peace and security.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE ANTICHRIST

1 John 2:18
Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as YOU have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour.

1 John 2:22
Who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one that denies the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3
but every inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s [inspired expression] which YOU have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world.

2 John 7
For many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

The words of both Jesus and John plainly indicate that the antichrist is not a single person but is made up of many individual antichrists. Because they are false prophets, one of their main objectives is religious deception. What are some of their devices?

Spreading Religious Lies: The apostle Paul warned his fellow worker Timothy to beware of the teachings of apostates. Also “loose conduct,” which is a disagard for hish moral principles.

EDIT: Speaking of the Beast at Rev. 13:17,18

A name identifies a person. So how does this number identify the beast? John says that it “is a man’s number,” not that of a spirit person, so the name helps to confirm that the wild beast is earthly, symbolizing human government. Just as six fails to measure up to seven, so 666, six to the third degree, is a fitting name for the world’s gigantic political system that fails so miserably to measure up to God’s standard of perfection. The world’s political wild beast rules supreme under the name-number 666, while big politics, big religion, and big business keep that wild beast functioning as an oppressor of mankind and a persecutor of God’s people.

Answer 4

There is absolutely nothing wrong with how you handled this. I have had similar interactions. I once pointed to a drawing in one of their books, a drawing of Christ's crucifixion. In the pic Jesus is depicted TIED to a pole something like a telephone pole. No sign of sorrow or torment, no sign of blood, no spear in His side, no crown of thorns. When I asked this dear lady if she believed the Lord bled from His head, side, hands and feet, and was in torment, she replied that the Bible says so, and she believed it. When I showed her how the JW's drawing does not show this she was amazed!! The JW's have very subtle ways of denying the blood sacrifice of our Lord. The very memtion of His shed blood for our sins shakes them up. The devil has deceived them.......the devil hates the blood of Christ as it is thru His blood that we receive the free gift of salvation. Pointing things like this out to JW's is necessary to show why we differ. We need to learn to defend our faith!

Answer 5

great article. Blood transfusions are not continuously the respond. they are in basic terms a speedy fix for medical doctors. Nevermind the various circumstances of the guy's physique rejecting the blood or one contracting AIDS from it or different autoimmune ailments. as quickly as I had my son, I signed a "no blood" waiver, so as that they have got been arranged to have an option. because it became out, I lost lots blood I handed out, yet with a shot to conclusion the bleeding and iron pills i became in simple terms positive. in no way suffered any strategies injury or the rest. That became 4 years in the past. I have little question that had I no longer signed the no blood waiver, they could have tried to furnish me blood. you be attentive to, I weep for mankind. They bypass approximately their daily lives finding out directly to forget appropriate to the authentic word of God. because of the fact devil has blinded them. Many have became to atheism and hundreds of different fake religions because of the fact they might't get any satisfaction from those religions. it is in simple terms unhappy that whilst they comprehend that Jehovah's word it the authentic word, that's too late. Thank goodness, i'm no longer in that crowd.

Answer 6

The Bible can be interpreted a million different ways by a million different people. That is why we have so many religions. Although I believe the Bible are based on the concepts given to man by God, I do not take every word literally as man still had to be the one to write it all down...translate it...and interpret what God meant.

Answer 7

They are unwitting pawns of the Greek scholars from the "Watchtower Bible and Tract Society." You were correct in asking to use the KJV rather than to allow them to use the New World Translation.....they will use KJV....if you insist.....
A very good book on the teaching and beliefs of the J.W.s is"The Kingdom of the Cults" by Dr. Walter Martin,as well as tapes and cds on how to witness to them.

I do not hate or even dislike the J.W.s....as they are sincere in their beliefs and are trying desperately to bring others into "The Truth" (as they refer to it)......I believe that they have been mislead by the Watchtower......


More specifically to your question....yes,you did an excellent job.......

Answer 8

I think you handled that very well. Excellent.

Here's one I am waiting to use. Note: All the scriptures given are from the New World Translation.

"According to your New World Translation, who rose Jesus from the dead?"

Acts 2:24 [NWT]
But God resurrected him by loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to continue to be held fast by it.

John 2:19 & 21 [NWT]
In answer Jesus said to them: “Break down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
But he was talking about the temple of his body.

Romans 8:11 [NWT]
If, now, the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in you.

If there is not such thing as a Trinity, then your translation contradicts itself. According to the Greek, the translation above is accurate. However, your doctrine of Jesus being "a god" and not "God incarnate" is proven otherwise by your own bible.

Answer 9

The Antichrist IS ONLY Referred to in first; second; and third John BY THE APOSTLE JOHN In His Small Letters Written AFTER Revelation was Written ! ! !

The Scripture that you were referring to IS IN REVELATION ! ! !

How you think these 2 DIFFERENT PARTS of the Bible Relate You DIDN'T Even BEGIN 2 explain to these SUPPOSED WITNESSES.

Also for you to Keep Referring Back AGAIN AND AGAIN Years Later tells me That YOU'RE STILL LIVING IN THE PAST.

QUIT Going Back Years ago in Your EXISTENCE and Try 2 GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE WONDER BOY

Answer 10

Why are you worried about it? those two women were not very well versed in their doctrine. the JW's that studied with me would have fared better.

If it makes you feel better, you are nicer than I am to them. I left them in the spring of 1975 and they were predicting the end of the world to come in the fall. I was told that Jan1,1976 would never come because the world would end and the new earth would be in progress. I tell them as much when they come to my door. I have lived in this house 11 years and had two to come to my door the first month and none have been back. It happens every time I move, the come once and then they find out I used to be one of them and they never return.

Besides the doctrine of the anti Christ is not biblical. I usually quote scripture to prove this point, but will encourage you to get your bible down and a good concordance and look up anti Christ. You will find every single mention of the anti Christ defines it as simply anyone who rejects Christ as son of God.

Modern Christians get that man of sin who will sit himself up as God and claim to be God confused with the anti Christ. John says there are many anti christs and yes, I know I did not use a capital c, but neither does the KJV when talking about the anti christs.

Hope this helps.

BB