Are You Really . . . A Jehovah’s Witness?

by Charley Carle

Question 1: Would the public identify you as a “Jehovah’s Witness” or as “Jesus’ Witness”?

Jesus warned His disciples about misleading times when false witnesses would mislead people. He said,

“Look out that nobody misleads YOU. Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name” (Matthew 24:4, 9 New World Translation). ‚  

Let’s take time to review what Jesus is saying. His disciples would be hated on account of whose name? Whose name should they make known? Who will Jesus’ followers witness about? He declared,

“And you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Question 2: Who are the real “Jehovah’s Witnesses”?

Does Scripture describe a people designated to be witnesses of Jehovah?

“‘You are my witnesses,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘even my servant whom I have chosen…‘” (Isaiah 43:10a).

Who did Jehovah appoint to be His witnesses?

“…O Jacob…O Israel…I have called (you) by your name. You are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

We see that the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” are Jacob’s descendents. Are you from one of the 12 tribes of Israel too?

What message does the Book of Acts prove to show as the right content for our preaching work? Will you please read from those 22 messages? Their emphasis is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! His witnesses know the message of JESUS is the only way to show people how to gain God’s approval.

Question 3: Is a “Jesus Witness” a “Jehovah’s Witness”?

Jesus acknowledged that He and the Father do have a common divine name,

“Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name which you have given me” (John 17:11b).

Jehovah has seven compound redemptive names. Why does the name “Jehovah is Our Righteousness” belong to Jesus in Jeremiah 23:5-6? Inserting “is” (New World Translation) simply blurs the meaning. The name “Jesus” means
“Jehovah Saves,” so when we speak of Jesus we are speaking of Jehovah. Again we see how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit each have the very same “name” (singular) in Matthew 28:19.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus exposes a lie that is found in Mormonism and some other religions today. Jesus promised that the real church would never fade out of existence or need to be restored. Jehovah’s Witness friend, can you identify who were the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” from the first century until Charles Taze Russell? Or was C.T. Russell the founder? Religious groups are precisely traced through history, but all of the Mormon or Watchtower beginnings appear to date from America. How long has the Watchtower claimed the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses”? The name was first used in 1931 to distinguish one Watchtower division from it’s earlier names or the splits like the “Millennial Dawn,” “International Bible Students Association” and “Russellites.” Remember that names such as “Church of Christ,” “Church of God,” “The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints” or even “Jehovah’s Witnesses” do not assure that a religion accurately represents God.

Question 4: Is a “Jehovah’s Witness” a “Yahweh’s Witness”?

Since a Roman Catholic monk first made the name “Jehovah” (see the Aid Book published by the Watchtower), should we follow Rome by totally embracing that usage?

The Watchtower says in The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, 1984, p. 12, “While many are inclined to view the pronunciation ‘Yahweh’ as the more correct way, we have retained the form ‘Jehovah’ because of people’s familiarity with it for centuries.” Did you notice the reason for using “Jehovah”? Does this seem reasonable if the name is wrong?

The Watchtower conceded on February 1, 1980. “Down through the centuries, the correct pronunciation of the divine name in Hebrew has been lost. Hence, it is uncertain what vowels should be used to fill in
the name.” Then consider the confusion in trying to determine the right pronunciation for YHWH. Add any vowels to the letters “PL” and we get OPAL, PAUL, PILE, POLE, PLEA, PALE, PAIL, POOL, OR PEEL. Considering that the “J” sound is not found in Hebrew, how reliable is the name “Jehovah”?

Question 5: Who did the Apostle John label as the “Antichrist Witnesses”?

“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist” 2 John 7. (Compare Luke 24:39)

Isn’t the opposite of coming in the flesh an invisible appearance like the 1914 teaching of the Watchtower? Doesn’t the future tense in the verse demand the glorified, literal, physical, fleshly, and bodily return of Jesus Christ? The Apostle John, writing at the end of the first century, warned here of great confusion and deception over the second coming of Christ.

Question 6: Is a “Jehovah’s Witness” a “Kyrios Witness”?

Since Jesus quoted the Septuagint that uses “Kyrios” for the divine name, why must anyone today insist upon “Jehovah”?

Do you agree that in the English, “Jehovah” and “Lord” come from the same Greek word? See The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures in Acts 7:59-60. Stephen addressed his prayer to Jesus, an act of worship belonging only to God (for validation see footnote in the 1985 ed). Note how “Lord” and “Jehovah” are used interchangeably. You might say either “Jehovah” or “Lord” in verse 60; you might say either “Lord Jesus” or “Jehovah Jesus” in verse 59. Friend, who did you “call upon” or pray to for salvation?

“For everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” Romans 10:13.

How good! Don’t you want God’s salvation? Notice carefully how the identity of the Lord or Jehovah is connected in thought and person to the “Lord Jesus” of verse 9. The word “for” in verses 10, 11, 12 and 13 determines the identity. Would you ponder this passage and call upon Jesus as your God today? Thomas was either a blasphemer or he called upon Jesus as, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28 (New World Translation) and Jesus promises blessings for such faith (vs. 29).

Where can you turn to when a religion fails you? Friend, Jesus invites you to turn first of all to Him! Have you read what He said according to The Kingdom Interlinear Translation, page 483, under the Greek words for John 14:14?

“if ever anything YOU should ask me in the name of me this I shall do.”

Jesus offers unlimited access, unlimited authority, and unlimited power! To call upon Jehovah means to pray to Him. (Psalm 80:18; Joel 2:32). Calling upon Jesus is recommended and followed for all who will trust Him! (Mat. 11:28; John 7:37; Acts 7:59; 9:6,14,22; 22:16-20; Rom. 10:9-13; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1:9; 2 Cor. 12:7-9; 1 Tim. 1:12; Rev. 22:20). Please, go now to Jesus?