THE WATCHTOWER SPIRIT

The following quotation is taken from 'Reasoning from the Scriptures,' 1985 edition, page 380, Watchtower publication.

"Spirit
Definition: The Hebrew word ru'ach and the Greek pneu'ma, which are often translated "spirit,"have a number of meanings. All of them refer to that which is invisible to human sight and which gives evidence of force in motion. The Hebrew and Greek words are used with reference to (1) wind, (2) the active life-force in earthly creatures, (3) the impelling force that issues from a person's figurative heart and that causes him to say and do things in a certain way, (4) inspired utterances originating with an invisible force, (5) spirit persons, and (6) God's active forve, or holy spirit. Several of these usages are here discussed in relation to topics that may arise in the field ministry. "

"What is the holy spirit?
    A comparison of Bible texts that refer to the holy spirit shows that it is spoken of as ‘filling’ people; they can be ‘baptized’ with it; and they can be "anointed" with it. (Luke 1:41; Matt. 3:11; Acts 10:38) None of these expressions would be appropriate if the holy spirit were a person.
    Jesus also referred to the holy spirit as a "helper" (Greek, pa-ra’kle-tos), and he said that this helper would "teach," "bear witness," "speak," and ‘hear.’ (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:13) It is not unusual in the Scriptures for something to be personified. For example, wisdom is said to have "children." (Luke 7:35) Sin and death are spoken of as being kings. (Romans 5:14, 21) While some texts say that the spirit "spoke," other passages make clear that this was done through angels or humans. (Acts 4:24, 25; 28:25; Matt. 10: 19, 20; compare Acts 20:23 with 21:10, 11.)  At 1 John 5:6-8, not only the spirit but also "the water and the blood" are said to ‘bear witness.’ So, none of the expressions found in these texts in themselves prove that the holy spirit is a person.
    The correct identification of the holy spirit must fit all the scriptures that refer to that spirit. With this viewpoint, it is logical to conclude that the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will.—Ps. 104:30; 2 Pet. 1:21; Acts 4:31."

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:3,4, 13-15)

 I was a Jehovah's Witness for 23 years, and I love the people. It was only when I found out that The Watchtower Society produced a deliberately 'doctored' translation of the Bible, did I come to see that the 'organization' was not God's 'organization' at all. Nevertheless, as the apostle Paul felt for his former brethren Israel, 'Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Jehovah's Witnesses is that they may be saved.' (See Romans 10:1.)

SATAN THE DEVIL -Personification or a Person?
"Many believe that the Devil is a wicked spirit person who can influence man  towards evil. Others deny this. They hold that the Devil is not a person, but merely the personification of an abstract principle of evil."

        "You will note, too, that these accounts relate conversations between the Devil and God, and between the Devil and Jesus Christ. Both Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are persons." Can an unintelligent 'force' carry on a conversation with a person? Also, the Bible calls Satan a manslayer, a liar, a father (in a spiritual sense) and a ruler. (John 8:44; 14:30) Only an intelligent person could fit all these descriptions. Therefore, McClintock and Strong's Cyclopoedia states: "All the forms of personal agency are made use of by the sacred writers in setting forth the character and conduct of Satan. . . . Every quality, every action, which can indicate personality, is attributed to him in language which cannot be explained away."

 Three things are necessary to be present in order to qualify as a person.

Let us therefore examine the Scriptures to see what they tell us on each of these issues.

1. INTELLECT - a person who is highly intelligent.
    Intellectual - a person of great wisdom or extensive knowledge.

 These are the Thesaurus' meanings. Do they fit the Holy Spirit?

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26

Pleads - request or ask for, often urgently or insistently. A sign of intellect. Thus Greek scholar W.E.Vine's definition of 'intercession' shows an active force could not do it:-

"Primarily to fall in with, meet with in order to converse; then to make petition, especially to make intercession, plead with a person, either for or against others." (Vine's Dictionary of N.T. Words, vol.2, p.267.)

2. WILL -  A word closely associated with 'Will' is 'Resolve' - the ability to make up one's mind and carry out one's intentions.

 "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." Acts 8:29

"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 1 Corinthians 12:11

3. EMOTION, Feeling - to be physically aware of through the senses.

 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30

We have seen clearly that, according to Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit possesses an intellect, a will, and emotion, and is therefore a person.

Even The Watchtower Bible is forced to accept the personality of the Holy Spirit, for they too translate John 16:7, 13-15 with the terms "him (x1), he (x7), his (x1)," included.

The Watchtower Society attempts to explain away the appearance of the masculine pronoun here, but let us refer to Greek scholar, A.T.Robertson:-

"In (John) 16:13 a more striking example occurs ... Here one has to go back six lines to 'ekeinos' (masculine 'he') again and seven to parakletos. It is more evident therefore in this passage that John is insisting on the personality of the Holy Spirit, when the grammatical gender so easily called for ekeino (neuter 'it'). Cf. 'ho' in Jo. 14:17, 26 and 'auto' in 14:17." Robertson, Grammar, pp.708, 709, from 'Apostles of Denial, p.123, by Edmond C. Gruss.

Let us examine a few Bible texts, out of many, that show the Holy Spirit is God.

1. Ananias - Acts 5:3,4

 "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Acts 5:3-4

 2. MY rest: Hebrews 3:7-11

 " Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)" Hebrews 3:7-11

"For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest." Psalm 95:7-11

 The original account of this event is recorded in Numbers 14:11-38. The 'rest' is the promised land into which the LORD was leading them. The Holy Spirit is God.

Let us look at other Scriptures which show just Who the Holy Spirit is.

ETERNAL - Hebrews 9:14

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

OMNIPRESENT - Psalm 139:7-10

 "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

OMNISCIENT - 1 Corinthians 2:10,11

"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."

Isaiah 40:13,14  -  "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?"

OMNIPOTENT - Luke 1:35

"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

Romans 15:19 - "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 - "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

CREATION - Genesis 1:1,2

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Job 26:13; 33:4 - "By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent........ The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."

Psalm 104:30 - "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth."

REGENERATION -  John 3:5,6

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Titus 3:5,6 - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;"

SANCTIFICATION - Romans 15:16

"That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."

1 Corinthians 6:11 - "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

2 Thessalonians 2:13 - "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

1 Peter 1:2 - "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

 WHY, WHY, WHY?

The 'organization' wants to be the mediator between Jehovah's Witnesses and Jehovah God the Father. The Watchtower Society presents the 'organization' as God's 'organization,' without which Jehovah's Witnesses would be outside of Jehovah's blessing. It alone is given divine understanding of the Bible, therefore Jehovah's Witnesses need to believe that the information coming from The Watchtower Society is from God Himself.

 First though, let me explain very briefly the Jehovah's Witnesses' gospel or good news:-

1. God is only going to redeem 144,000 from the earth, who will join His Son in heaven as the heavenly government that will rule over the earth.
2. The rest of mankind will receive life on earth, are called 'the great crowd' of 'other sheep,' and must be associated with the 'organization' to stand a chance of being in the new earth.
3. Thus only the 144,000 need to be 'born again.'
4. Jesus is the mediator of those in the new covenant, and as only 144,000 are in that new covenant, Jesus is not the mediator of the rest of mankind.

 "Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book. [God only uses 'us.'] Many persons of the world are very intelligent, capable of understanding complex matters. They can read the Holy Scriptures, but they cannot understand their deep meaning. Yet God's people can comprehend such spiritual things. [Only 'we' can  understand the Bible.] Why? Not because of special intelligence on their part, but as the apostle Paul declared: "For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God." (1 Cor. 2:10) Jesus Christ praised his heavenly Father for 'hiding such things from the wise and intellectual ones but revealing them to babes.' (Matt. 11:25) How very much true Christians appreciate associating with the only organization on earth that understands the "deep things of God."!"   [Associate with 'us' to understand the deep things of God.]

[The Watchtower July 1, 1973, p.402, par.4.]

Is Jesus the  "mediator" only for anointed Christians?

The term "mediator" occurs just six times in the Christian Greek Scriptures and Scripturally is always used regarding a formal covenant.
        Moses was the "mediator" of the Law covenant made between God and the nation of Israel. (Gal. 3:19, 20) Christ, though, is the "mediator of a new covenant" between Jehovah and Spiritual Israel, the "Israel of God" that will serve as kings and priests in heaven with Jesus.(Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; Gal. 6:16) At a time when God was selecting those to be taken into that new covenant, the apostle Paul wrote that Christ was the "one mediator between God and men." (1 Tim. 2:5)  Reasonably Paul was here using the word "mediator" in the same way he did the other five times, which occurred before the writing of 1 Timothy 2:5, referring to those then being taken into the new covenant for which Christ is "mediator."  So in this strict Biblical sense Jesus is the "mediator" only for anointed Christians.
        The new covenant will terminate with the glorification of the remnant who are today in that covenant mediated by Christ. The "great crowd" of "other sheep" that is forming today is not in that  new covenant. However, by their associating with the "little flock" of those yet in that covenant they come under benefits that flow from that new covenant. During the millennium Jesus Christ will be their king, high priest and judge. For more detailed information, see Aid to Bible Understanding, pages 1129 and 1130 under "Mediator"; also God's "Eternal Purpose" Now triumphing for Man’s Good, page 160. paragraph 10; also The Watchtower issues of February 15, 1966, pages 105 through 123; November 15, 1972. pages 685 and 686, under the subheading "Leading the Way to a New Covenant"; and April 1, 1973. pages 198 and 199, under the sub-heading "The New Covenant."

At Psalm 89:19, who are the "loyal ones" to whom Jehovah spoke in a vision?

        An examinatinn of Psalm 89 reveals that the subject matter is the Kingdom covenant. Verses 19, 20 and 29 of this psalm read: "At that time you spoke in a vision to your loyal ones, and you proceeded to say: ‘1 have placed help upon a mighty one; I have exalted a chosen one from among the people. I have founf David my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him . . . . And I shall certainly set up his seed forever and his throne as the days of heaven.'"
        The account of 1 Chronicles 17 reveals that the promise of a continuing dynasty in the house of David was revealed to the prophet Nathan in a vision. First Chronicles 17:15 tells us: "According to all these words and according to all this vision was the way that Nathan spoke to David." Therefore. the "loyal ones" are Nathan and David, with David receiving the divine revelation through Nathan.          THE WATCHTOWER — APRIL 1, 1979

Born Again

WHAT WE'VE READ, in Watchtower quotations.

1. Only the 'organization' is directed by God's spirit.
2. Only the 'organization' functions for God's purpose.
3. Only the 'organization' understands the Bible.
4. Christians need to associate with the 'organization.'
5. Jesus is the mediator only of the 144,000.
6. The modern-day organization, 1971.
7. The organizing structure, 1977.
8. Only the 144,000 are born again, 1985.

THE WATCHTOWER'S TOTAL CONTROL

The following article, from THE WATCHTOWER, JAN. 15, 1983, is telling us that Satan was the one who instigated "independent thinking," therefore it must be wrong. Notice that the "organization"mustn't be questioned.

Avoid Independent Thinking
        "From the veiy outset of his rebellion Satan called into question God’s way of doing things. He promoted independent thinking. ‘You can decide for yourself what is good and bad,’ Satan told Eve. 'You don’t have to listen to God. He is not really telling you the tnth.’ (Genesis 3:1-5) To this day, it has been Satan’s subtle design to infect God’s people with this type of thinking.- 2 Timothy 3: 1,13.
        How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization. For example........"

(THE WATCHTOWER, JANUARY 15, 1983 p.22.)

Fight Against Independent Thinking
        "As we study the Bible we learn tlat Jehovah has always guided his servants in an organized way. And just as in the first century there was only one true Christian congregation, so today Jehovah is using only one organization. (Ephesians 4: 4, 5; Matthew 24: 45-47) Yet there are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments before, and so they argue: "‘This shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe." This is independent thinking. Why is it so dangerous?
        Such thinking is an evidence of pride."

 (THE WATCHTOWER, JANUARY 15, 1983 p.27.)

The following extract, from THE WATCHTOWER, MARCH 15, 1969, is telling us that every decision should be based upon what the 'organization' says. So Jehovah's Witnesses need to research Watchtower publications.

        "Jehovah’s organization as directed by his "faithfiul and discreet slave" class should influence our every decision also. How may we avail ourselves of this good influence? By doing personal research in the Bible publications of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society on whatever subject our decision concerns. This always proves to be a real aid in making clear to.........."

(Watchtower March 15, 1969 p.172.)

"How will we put these four things into effect? First, study, as involving heavy research. But in Jehovah’s organization it is not necessary to spend a lot of lime and energy in research, for there are brothers in the organization who are assigned to do that very thing, to help you who do not have so much time for this, these preparing the good material in The Watchtower and other publications of the Society.

(Watcbtower June 1, 1967 p.338)

But what does the Bible tell us?

 Scripture tells us that it is God's Word that enables, not some 'organization.'
 We have clear information as to just who our teacher is to be.

John 16:13 - "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

So it is the Holy Spirit Himself who is to be our teacher, guiding us into all truth.

1 John 5:20 -  "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."

 Again Scripture supports the view that as individuals we are able to understand the things of God, especially as we have the Holy Spirit as our teacher and guide. The Watchtower Bible at 1 John 5:20 in part reads:

"But we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us intellectual capacity that we may gain the knowledge of the true one (NWT)."

 The Watchtower organization tries to be the teacher and the guide for Jehovah's Witnesses. It ties them up inside man-made rules and regulations about what is acceptable, and what is not acceptable. However, Scripture says Christians are free from such control.

2 Corinthians 3:17 -  "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

The Watchtower Society holds back this liberty from Jehovah's Witnesses. They certainly wouldn't want their members to start relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit for help, so they relegate the Holy Spirit to an impersonal, active force.

John 14:26 -  "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

 Again, the Holy Spirit is here shown as restoring the memory of individuals.

1 Corinthians 12:3 -  "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

 It is the Holy Spirit that identifies who Jesus really is, so it is not surprising that Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept that Jesus is God, because they do not know who the Holy Spirit is, and do not accept His Deity or Person.

 It is interesting to note that The Watchtower organization is based upon Old Testament rules and regulations. For example, so much is made of the 'eat no blood' rule, that Jehovah's Witnesses are forbidden blood transfusions. The organization has turned the grace of God into a series of 'do's and don'ts.' Stephen spoke of Israel's resistance to the Holy Spirit:

Acts 7:51 -  "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."

 Paul also made reference to the difference between being legalistic and the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 3:1-3 -  "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

Galatians 5:4 -  " Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

 The Watchtower Society has its own, different gospel message which is examined in Part 3 of this series. While they pay allegiance to the free gift of grace, in practice Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that they have to earn their salvation by doing what the 'organization' tells them is right and proper. The heading of a main study article in The Watchtower, August 15, 1972, page 491 was:

 In an earlier publication The Watchtower stated the following.

"......great crowd." Now they will be able to stand before the God of holiness on the basis of their own righteousness. 0 what a freedom from the.........

.........activity of wicked angels and men. Jehovah God will justify declare righteous, on the basis of their own merit all perfected humans who have withstood that final, decisive test of mankind. He will adopt and acknowledge them as his sons through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:33) They will......"

These quotes were from:-
LIFE EVERLASTING - in FREEDOM OF THE SONS OF GOD 1966 pp.392/400.

 1 Peter 3:15 - "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

In the 3rd part of this series we examine the false gospel of The Watchtower Society. Briefly it is as follows.

1. Only Jehovah's Witnesses, or those associated with the 'organization,' stand any chance of surviving Armageddon at all.
2. Only 144,000 from among them are heaven bound ones, needing to be 'born again.'
3. All other survivors are earth bound, but still have no assurance of salvation.