"'You are My witnesses,' declares the LORD,..." (Isaiah 43: 10, NASB).
I well remember conversing with a Jehovah's Witness friend on the above Scripture text earlier this year. He passionately argued his point that this verse refers to Jehovah's Witnesses, because they are among the only one's who faithfully go door to door "witnessing" to people. I reminded him that Mormons claim the same thing as well, that they are also among the only ones who faithfully "witness" door to door as well. The truth be told, both religions cannot be right, due to the fact that they differ on so many doctrinal points. However, more importantly is the fact that Paul warns the Church today that they preach a "different gospel" as well as"another Jesus" (2 Cor. 11: 4; Gal. 1: 6).
Now as for the above Scripture text that my witness friend shared with me. I pointed him to verses 8-9 and explained to him that these verses tell us plainly that among "all the nations" in the world, Israel was the "chosen" nation to be the true "witnesses" for Jehovah. This of course totally contradicts Watchtower teachings that claim Jehovah's Witnesses as the so called true "witnesses." The very context of the passage here in Isaiah 43: 8-13 speaks for itself. Another important key point to consider is God states that Israel (as well as the Church as a whole) "are My witnesses." The Jehovah's Witnesses cannot be the Lord's true "witnesses'' on the grounds that they falsely represent God, by denying the deity of Christ (see John 1:1, 14, 18; Acts 20: 28; Col. 1: 19; 2: 9, NASB).
In the New Testament, we see the phrase "My witnesses" being used again (Acts 1: 8). So we learn the truth here that:
(1.) Jews were to be the chosen witnesses (see Isa. 43: 10, 12).
(2.) the Church consisting of both Jews and Gentiles are the chosen witnesses (see Acts 1: 8; 2: 32; 3: 15; 4: 33; 5: 32; Rom. 10: 12; Gal. 3: 28; Col. 3: 11).
(3.) finally, Christians are the Lord Jesus Christ's "witnesses" (Acts 1: 8; Isa. 43: 10, 12).
This of course lends further proof that Jesus is also Jehovah, even though both are distinct Persons, yet both are one God.
To add fuel to the fire of deception, my witness friend tried to apply Acts 5: 38-39 to my opposition against the Watchtower Society, which states, "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God! So they took his advice" (ESV). The truth is the above Scripture text, particularily the phrase in verse 38, "for if this plan [doctrine; teaching] or this undertaking is of man, it will fail." Of course, I have faithfully showed my witness friend over and over again the Scripture texts that condemn the false Watchtower teachings. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to discover that the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses "is of man," and has failed time and time again. Their history reveals this in their number of false prophecies. So the truth is, they are found to be the ones "opposing God!"
(1.) Jews were to be the chosen witnesses (see Isa. 43: 10, 12).
(2.) the Church consisting of both Jews and Gentiles are the chosen witnesses (see Acts 1: 8; 2: 32; 3: 15; 4: 33; 5: 32; Rom. 10: 12; Gal. 3: 28; Col. 3: 11).
(3.) finally, Christians are the Lord Jesus Christ's "witnesses" (Acts 1: 8; Isa. 43: 10, 12).
This of course lends further proof that Jesus is also Jehovah, even though both are distinct Persons, yet both are one God.
To add fuel to the fire of deception, my witness friend tried to apply Acts 5: 38-39 to my opposition against the Watchtower Society, which states, "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God! So they took his advice" (ESV). The truth is the above Scripture text, particularily the phrase in verse 38, "for if this plan [doctrine; teaching] or this undertaking is of man, it will fail." Of course, I have faithfully showed my witness friend over and over again the Scripture texts that condemn the false Watchtower teachings. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to discover that the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses "is of man," and has failed time and time again. Their history reveals this in their number of false prophecies. So the truth is, they are found to be the ones "opposing God!"
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