If the Jehovah's Witnesses are the one and only true witnesses for God?

Question

nd if the organization came in to being in the late nineteenth century, does this mean God was without a witness for over eighteen centuries of church history?

Answer 1

No, of course not.

Jehovah's Witnesses freely acknowledge the important role that some in nominal Christianity performed in keeping alive knowledge and respect of the bible for those dark centuries. The Scriptures actually describe the centuries between the deaths of the apostles and the restoration of true Christianity.

(Matthew 13:47-49) Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet let down into the sea and gathering up fish of every kind. When it got full they hauled it up onto the beach and, sitting down, they collected the fine ones into vessels, but the unsuitable they threw away. That is how it will be in the conclusion of the system of things: the angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the righteous


The parable of the faithful and discreet slave helps bible students to recognize that it was only after Christ's "return" that one "slave" would receive unique privileges. Jehovah's Witnesses look at the evidence and believe that happened soon after 1914.

(Matthew 24:45-47) Who really is the faithful and discreet slave [class] whom his master [Jesus] appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.


Regarding 1914, the Scriptures do show that Jesus sat on the throne of the Messianic Kingship that year. In hindsight, most of humankind can see the historic upheaval that began with World War I. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that mankind in general has seen a wide range of specific signs since 1914, and that anyone can perceive these as significant without even opening a bible.

Yet the bible DOES comment upon it! Jesus foretold this specific collection of signs as evidence that his "presence" or so-called 'second coming' had arrived. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that "presence" to be Jesus' presence as the King of God's Kingdom. Citations are from both New World Translation (NWT) and Youngs Literal Translation (YLT).

(Matthew 24:3, NWT) disciples approached [Jesus] privately, saying: "Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence
(Matthew 24:3, YLT) the disciples came near to [Jesus], saying, 'Tell us, when shall these be? and what is the sign of thy presence...?

(Luke 21:7,24, NWT) Teacher, when will these things actually be, and what will be the sign when these things are destined to occur?
(Luke 21:7,24, YLT) Teacher, when, then, shall these things be? and what is the sign when these things may be about to happen?'

Amazingly, since the 1870's, Jehovah's Witnesses had recognized 1914 as a significant year according to the chronology indicated in bible prophecy. Decades before 1914, Witnesses noted that Jesus' discussion of his second "coming", or second "presence" specifically mentions "the appointed times of the nations", which Jehovah's Witnesses believe to be a centuries-long period of relative godlessness when God's rulership through the Davidic kingship was interrupted (the line of hereditary kings beginning with King David of Israel). Jehovah's Witnesses recognize that the Davidic kingship ended in 607 BCE when Jerusalem fell to Babylon, and would begin again during the fulfillment of the composite "sign" of Matthew 24 and Luke 21.

(Luke 21:24, NWT) Jerusalem [or 'Davidic kingship'] will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.
(Luke 21:24, YLT) Jerusalem [or 'Davidic kingship'] shall be trodden down by nations, till the times of nations be fulfilled.

How long would "the appointed times of the nations" last? Daniel chapter 4 contains a prophecy in which God's rulership, through the Davidic kings is represented by a "tree". That tree is kept down for "seven times", which seems to be seven periods of 360 "days" (See Rev 12:6,14). So Daniel 4:15 seems to be referring to 2520 "days" when God's governmental rulership would not be seen.

(Daniel 4:11-17, NWT) The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. ...14 He ["a holy one"] was calling out loudly, and this is what he was saying: "CHOP the tree down... 15 However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth... let seven times pass over it. 17 ...that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind.
(Daniel 4:11-17, YLT) Become great hath the tree, yea, strong, and its height doth reach to the heavens, and its vision to the end of the whole land...14 He ["a holy one"] is calling mightily, and thus hath said, Cut down the tree...15 but the stump of its roots leave in the earth...and seven times pass over him; 17 ...that the living may know that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He willeth He giveth it, and the lowest of men He doth raise up over it.



But in history, 2520 days is not a significant amount of time. Jehovah's Witnesses look to Scriptures such as Num 14:34 and Ez 4:6 and re-examine the history using 2520 YEARS instead. From 607 BCE to 1914 CE is 2520 years; so many significant things happened that year, and World War I was only one part!.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm

Answer 2

No. All along history there have been people faithful to the true God, Jehovah. They were not organized, but then again, they did not need to be. People who have helped to keep God's Word safe and together in the face of Satan's followers best efforts to destroy it.

Angels probably had some thing to do with it when heavy lifting was required, but men and women have kept the Bible virtually unchanged from the earliest records except for normal errors in translation from one language to another. This is easy to adjust for by reading different translations together, giving us an accurate view of the original writers.

We know the divine name of God because of these people. God is not a name, only a title, like mayor or president. False religion has influenced the majority of the world to overlook the Divine Name, Jehovah. I have seen that name in many different languages. Some I wondered if the print was smudged; but that was the printed language.

The point is that Jehovah's name was known and used throughout time. Now is the time for it to be organized to be told so all of earth's population can hear and decide who they will serve. So we are here. The only ones doing the work Jesus ordered to be done now!

Answer 3

there is not any company in the international that has championed the reason at the back of the reality, different than the Watchtower and Jehovah's Witnesses. inspite of all the prophetic miscues and organizational chicanery, the Watchtower has succeeded in offering the authentic faith into the hearts of receptive ones. the reality approximately Jehovah and Christ; their authentic relationship with one yet another; the which ability of the ransom; the themes of Jehovah's sovereignty and Christian integrity; Jehovah's purpose to destroy the devil's kingdom over the international and herald a paradise below Christ's kingdom—those are the middle truths that have bolstered Jehovah's Witnesses to "act effectively" against the enemy. inspite of itself, the Watchtower has imparted necessary religious insights to tens of millions of people international huge.

Answer 4

Are you familiar with the parable of the wheat and the weeds?
God always stood for the same thing, but he didn't necessarily always have a solid organization on earth.

Adam and Eve were on the team until they rebelled, then apparently Abel was solo for a lil while (til his older brother whacked him).

Enoch was by himself, and God didn't even let him live out full earthly course b/c the evil ppl around him would have brutally murdered him for his uprightness.

The closest to God having an organization during that time was Noah and his family - God's earthly organization was composed of 8 ppl.

After the Flood you had Abraham and his entourage, but we also see that Melchizedek had God's favor... It wasn't until God brought the Nation of Israel out of Egypt and established a covenant with them that He had a solid unified earthly organization, but up until then he obviously acknowledged those walking in righteousness.

After Israel permanently lost their position as God's chosen ppl (rejecting and killing His Son wasn't such a good idea), God showed favor upon the newly formed Christian congregation. Unfortunately, after the Apostles died, Christianity became tainted with philosophy, pagan tradition, and Babylonian mythology. Not only that, but it married the Roman Empire, which tried to extinguish it at its inception.
For the next few centuries there would be right-hearted ones that would earnestly seek Jehovah through diligent study of his word.
It just so happens that in the 1870s Charles Taze Russell and a group of his cohorts did some digging of their own and began publishing these truths in order to combat the lies promoted by the 'mainstream'.

Considering the growth that the organization has experienced in the last 130+ years, the accuracy of the universally-relevant name it chose ('Jehovah's Witness' applies equally to pre-Flood righteous ones, faithful Hebrews, as well as Christians), strict adherence to bible standards, persecution without provocation, etc,etc,etc, what do you think?

Answer 5

You have already received some texts...scriptual answers.
That bore out the truthful answer.
as for just responding to what you said; only.
Well! you said it!
The Bible tells of false / polluted faith from the time of the apostles death to the time near the end, when like John the Baptist, there would be a witness out in the wilderness, sent to the nations.

And Have YOU Never Examined Church History?!?!?!
It Certainly Is Lead By It's Father The Devil.
Babylon the Great or the Harlot riding the wild Beast
ring a bell?
Does the parable of "The Sower of the Wheat & The Weeds" not mean anything to YOU?
An unnumberable amount of ppl (to us humans)
have turned away, Seen or lived the Hypocrisy,
have been turned away, discerned that the church proved false, abused, distorted, mislead and flat out lied to the ppl of earth.
Have YOU never picked up an encyclopedia?
Or The Catholic Encyclopedia?
How about Jewish?

For the most part; all those that Hate J's W's
w/ slander & out right lies; spitting venom
(I read it said once @ YA)
is how I feel towards those disrespecting Jehovah,
Jesus aka Micheal and the ppl here on earth that have searched out truthful & satisfying answers;
and yet I don't retaliate, it wouldn't bring joy to my God.
Nor make His heart rejoice. Neither would it look like I am learning; making myself over in the path that pleases my God and shows as an example of what He teaches us, as He draws us near to Him, holding those He loves in His bosum
Although I am human, & sinful.
I can't say I never ever posted a severe or witty answer.
I have once or twice lost my cool, but later calmed down & apoligized.
Ask Unsilenced Lamb, we even had each other blocked @ 1 time. Not now, at least not the last time I checked.

edit: unsilenced lamb...u put a smile on my face, so early in the a.m., thx ;~)

Answer 6

No. The disciples were the first witnesses and they spread the Gospel of Christ. That very same gospel is still around. Repent or perish. As a result, churches formed. Jesus started the church not an organization!


And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18

Jesus warned about new revelations and said no new revelation would be given!

Then mohammed comes along and gets a revelation, joseph smith gets a revelation and so does chucky russell.

Whats the difference? Islam, moronism, and the watchtower are the results of satanic revelations. All of the sudden only these religions are the only "right" ones...people should spend more time in ONLY the Bible.

Answer 7

It's really nice to read all those JW answers that correctly point out how many faithful witnesses of Jehovah have existed throughout the whole of history, even in the Christian Era that they generally denounce as being almost totally apostate. Now, all they have to do is add up the figures from the time of Christ. They won't even get to the Reformation before surpassing the 144,000 figure. Hundreds of thousands have been martyred for bearing the name of Christ. And they ALL had the heavenly hope. Think well upon this, all you who take upon yourselves the name of Jehovah today.

Answer 8

No, the Jehovah Witnesses do not think they are the only true religion in the past 1000 or so years.

The apostles foretold a great apostasy that will shortly happen after they die. It was evident when their disciples left the teachings and fell into philosophy and rejected the true teachings

Those disciples of John, Paul ect, did not support the trinity, but they believed in 2 in 1 God. The deity of the Holy Spirit came in 400 or so years after they had died. So the proof shows how the great apostasy took effect, and now the teachings changed for the better in our time.

Charles Taze Russell Church leaders tormented him of the idea of hell - years later, those Church leaders came back to him and that what they previously taught him was not true, that people did not actually burn in hell... And thats how the teachings started to change in the past years..



So if anyone thinks JWs are wrong in the beliefs, then I'm always open for a Bible discussion, and I can prove my beliefs witht he word of God.

Answer 9

No, there were many other who were persecuted and killed for teachings truth.

Only today, Opposers of truth can only slander true worshipers.

Isaac Newton is only one example.

The Bible was Newton’s touchstone for testing teachings and doctrine. In discussing the creeds of the Church, Newton made this position very clear. On the basis of the eighth of the Thirty-nine Articles dealing with the Nicene, Athanasius’ and Apostles’ Creeds, he said of the Church of England:

“She doth not require us to receive them by authority of General Councils, and much less by authority of Convocations, but only because they are taken out of the Scriptures. And therefore are we authorised by the Church to compare them with the Scriptures, and see how and in what sense they can be deduced from thence? And when we cannot see the Deduction we are not to rely upon the Authority of the Councils and Synods.”

His conclusion was even more emphatic:

“Even General Councils have erred and may err in matters of faith, and what they decree as necessary to salvation is of no strength or authority unless they can be shown to be taken from the holy Scripture.”

Dealing with this same aspect of the Trinity is a Newton manuscript entitled “Queries Regarding the Word Homoousios.” It reveals a third reason for his denial of the Trinity. This teaching was not part of early Christianity. Queries twelve to fourteen all highlight the doctrine’s lack of original first-century character:

“Query 12. Whether the opinion of the equality of the three substances was not first set on foot in the reign of Julian the Apostate [361-363 C.E.], by Athanasius, Hilary, etc.?

Query 13. Whether the worship of the Holy Ghost was not first set on foot presently after the Council of Sardica? [343 C.E.]

Query 14. Whether the Council of Sardica was not the first Council which declared for the doctrine of the Consubstantial Trinity?”

Perhaps the best summary of Isaac Newton’s Scriptural arguments for his repudiation of the Trinity is found in fourteen ‘Argumenta,’ written in Latin, giving Bible citations for many of them. Numbers four to seven are particularly interesting:

“4. Because God begot the Son at some time, he had not existence from eternity. Proverbs 8:23, 25.

5. Because the Father is greater than the Son. John 14:28.

6. Because the Son did not know his last hour. Mark 13:32, Matt. 24:36, Rev. 1:1, 5:3.

7. Because the Son received all things from the Father.”

Why did Newton not publish these findings during his lifetime? A glance at the background of the times may explain this. Those who wrote against the doctrine of the Trinity were still subject to persecution in England.

As late as 1698 the Act for the Suppression of Blasphemy and Profaneness made it an offense to deny one of the persons of the Trinity to be God, punishable with loss of office, employment and profit on the first occasion, and imprisonment for a repetition.

Newton’s friend William Whiston (translator of the works of Josephus) lost his professorship at Cambridge for this reason in 1711.

In 1693 a pamphlet attacking the Trinity was burned by order of the House of Lords, and the next year its printer and author were prosecuted.

In 1697 Thomas Aikenhead, an eighteen-year-old student charged with denying the Trinity, was hanged at Edinburgh, Scotland.

Jesus said by their works you will recognize his followers.


Did Jesus believe in the trinity? John 17:3

Did John believe in the trinity? Rev 1:5,6

Did Paul believe in the trinity? Eph 1:3, 17, Rom 15:5,6

Did Peter believe in the trinity? 1 Pet 1:3.

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Answer 10

During that time, they were known as Bible Students. Not until much later that they were and are still known as Jehovah's Witnesses. - Isaiah 43:12-13

Answer 11

The true witnesses to God do have his name in their title, or other books in their doctrine. You will see these witnesses confessing the truth of God, and of his Christ, and in the near term. We are 7 years removed from complete witness of the Lord, and under 7 for the Great Day of God Almighty.