Jehovah’s Witnesses - Part V

This week's article continues the discussion of Jesus’ nature according to Watchtower doctrine. The article last week contained a quote from a Watchtower publication which clearly stated that Jesus and Jehovah of the Old Testament are not the same being (see last week’s bulletin for the exact quote). We want to examine that statement in light of the Bible’s teachings.

The word Jehovah was used by the American Standard Version of 1901 instead of the King James use of LORD in all capital letters to distinguish it from the another Hebrew word translated Lord. The Watchtower Society makes a big distinction between Jehovah and Lord. Old Testament references to Jehovah are not, cannot be references to Jesus, they are different, distinct being. But what says the Scriptures?

Isaiah had a vision of Jehovah in the temple and recorded it in Isaiah 6. The American Standard Version reads as follows:

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts. . . . And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not (Isaiah 6:1-5, 8,9).

Clearly Isaiah saw Jehovah God sitting upon the throne in Jerusalem. He commented to Isaiah on the attitude of the people. But what people? Jews in Isaiah’s day?

The apostle John refers to this event in the life of Isaiah and comments on it. John 12:37-41 reads:

But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him: that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them. These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him.

Notice John says Isaiah saw his (Jesus) glory, and he spake of Him (emphasis added). Isaiah saw Jehovah, who was Jesus according to John the apostle. This means the "Jehovah Witnesses" actually deny the deity of the very One they claim to represent! Any system which involves this kind of contradiction cannot be true. Note again, they actually deny the Jehovah they claim to represent.

Next we plan to examine the Watchtower teaching on the kingdom.