Then the third angel blew his trumpet. A large star, burning like a torch, dropped from the sky and fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

Wormwood

In the Book of Revelation when the third angel that stood before the throne of God blew his trumpet, the account describes a poisoning of pure water. The pure water is poisoned when a star falls from Heaven:

Revelation 8:10, 11

10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters.

11 The name of the star is called “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

Angels are called “stars” in the Bible. This star is seen falling from Heaven. It is a fallen angel that corrupts the pure water.

Jesus spoke about the last days and foretold that the fallen angels would be cast out of Heaven down to the Earth:

Matthew 24:29

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:”

Jesus when on Earth also had this prophetic vision concerning the devil:

Luke 10:18

18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.”

The vision given to John in the Book of Revelation chapter 12 describes this event occuring:

7 “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels;

8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer.

9 The huge dragon was thrown out—that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him.”

The springs of water, pure knowledge were corrupted in great earnest after Satan’s ouster from Heaven.

Pure knowledge from God is likened to “water” and “springs of living water” in both the Old and the New Testaments.

Isaiah 49:10

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

Ezekiel 36:25, 26

25 Then I will sprinkle pure water on you and make you pure. I will wash away all your filth, the filth from those nasty idols, and I will make you pure.

26 I will also put a new spirit in you to change your way of thinking. I will take out the heart of stone from your body and give you a tender, human heart.

John 4:13-14

13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again,

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to everlasting life.”

John 7:37

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

Revelation 21:6

6 He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

The “star” mentioned in Revelation 8:10, 11 is named “wormwood”.

Wormwood is highly toxic. High doses of wormwood may result in digestive upset, kidney failure, nausea, vomiting,
seizures, and can ultimately be fatal.

The Bible tells us what “wormword” is in God’s eyes:

Deuteronomy 29:18

18 “lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the LORD our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood”

Wormwood is mixing the pure knowledge of God with apostate demonic teachings in order to turn people away from pure worship as described above in the Book of Deuteronomy.

The Watchtower Society along with the rest of Christendom produces a death-dealing doctrine of wormwood by mixing some elements of biblical truth with teachings inspired by demons.

The people drink it, they become sick, and their minds are poisoned.

But there is another important thing to realize about demonic wormwood and its corrupting influence. It has effected non-biblical knowledge as well.

If you observe, every knowledge base has been corrupted from scholary knowledge to the information one finds in various media sources. It is extremely difficult to get any kind of untainted information.

For example, if you find a reliable news source, it won’t stay that way for long. It will turn at some point.

Wormwood has poisoned all knowledge bases as well as knowledge of the word of God.

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Mark 7:8-9

“You put aside God’s command and obey human teachings.”

And Jesus continued, “You have a clever way of rejecting God’s law in order to uphold your own teaching.”  GNT

Over the history of the Watchtower Society (“Jehovah’s Witnesses”), the use of the word apostasy as has had two distinct applications. At times this word has been applied accurately as a deviation from exclusive obedience to Almighty God. And at other times it has been used to describe disobedience to the commands of men, particularly the Watchtower organization and its leadership. This term has a meaning that is derived from Holy Scripture and a meaning that is derived from a human definition.

This article will examine the differences between the definition of apostasy as taught in Holy Scripture and the definition of apostasy according to the Watchtower Society. It will also trace the currently taught view of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” to its origins.

The Watchtower, through its publications, has taught two separate and distinct viewpoints based on whatever the desired effect was at the particular time. When speaking concerning other organized religions, they have tended to use the Biblical view. When speaking to those who are part of their organization, they have chosen to use the tradition humanistic view of apostasy or apostatizing.

The Watchtower’s use of the Biblical (God’s) Definition In the Past

While there are many examples of the Watchtower organization using the definition based on Holy Scripture, time will allow for just a few to be cited here. Anyone with a Watchtower Library CD can for himself or herself search past publications to determine the accuracy of what has been stated in this essay. Lover of truth will do exactly that.

Note: The Watchtower and its legal apparatus have become very shy of any reprinting of their own words. I will quote from its literature with reference notation to the particular publication. If they truly believe that they are the “Truth” and are telling the truth why would be they be fearful to have their words reprinted?

First, let’s examine the use of the word ‘apostasy’ as the writers of Watchtower materials have applied it to the wayward ancient nation of Israel. Those who have been associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses should recall that ancient Israel has at many times been referred to as the “apostate nation of Israel”. If you were to insert this phrase in the search box of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society’s past Library CD or perhaps at the website [[JW.org]], you will find the reference material we will consider.

According to the reference volumes “Insight on the Scriptures”, under the topic Isaiah, Book of, Historical Background, this is what is written concerning why it is appropriate to view the nation of Israel in the times of Isaiah as an apostate nation:

Historical Background. Isaiah 1:1 informs us that Isaiah visioned these things in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. This was a period of severe international tension and one in which false religious attitudes had a profound effect on the people of Judah. Near the beginning of Isaiah’s career King Uzziah died a leper because of his presumptuousness in taking over priestly duties. (2 Ch 26:16, 19-21) It is reported that during the reign of Uzziah’s son Jotham, while the king did what was right, “the people were yet acting ruinously.”—2 Ch 27:2; 2 Ki 15:34.

Next came King Ahaz, who for 16 years set a bad example for the nation, carrying on Baal worship with its rites of human sacrifice. There was “great unfaithfulness toward Jehovah.” (2 Ch 28:1-4, 19) It was at this time that the allied kings of Syria and Israel besieged Jerusalem so that Ahaz, ignoring the counsel of Isaiah the prophet, sent to Tiglath-pileser III, the king of Assyria, for military assistance. (2 Ki 16:5-8; Isa 7:1-12) By this Ahaz ‘made flesh his arm, his heart turning away from Jehovah.’ (Jer 17:5) Assyria agreed to an alliance, but, of course, was interested mainly in expanding its own power. The Assyrian army captured Damascus of Syria and apparently took into exile those inhabitants of religiously apostate Israel that lived E of the Jordan.—1Ch 5:26.

Let the reader note that the apostasy of the nation is directly linked to the behaviors of wicked leaders who had acted unfaithfully toward Almighty God and had deviated from God’s commandments. King Uzziah is mentioned here as deviating when he usurped priestly function for which he was not anointed. King Ahaz is also mentioned as showing “a great unfaithfulness toward Jehovah” by introducing the worship of false Gods (Baal worship).

Here the Watchtower writers at the time gave no difference to the leadership of the nation. In fact the whole nation is referred to as “religiously apostate Israel” from its kings on down. This publication accurately cites Jeremiah 17:5 as it speaks of King Ahaz and his apostatizing.

So the view expressed here of apostasy is not based on disobedience to a human ruler or ruling body. But rather, it is based on a concept that is in agreement with what actions Jehovah God views as apostatizing from Him. It also points out that those of the nation that followed the same course as that of those leaders were viewed as apostates by God as well. They were not able to beg off from their obligation to Jehovah God, saying in effect “Well, we were just following the Kings orders!” No. History shows they were held accountable for their own individual actions. That is no less true today.

Also, from the reference books Insight on the Scriptures, under the topic Apostasy, under the heading Apostasy in Israel we find:

Apostasy in Israel. The first two commandments of the Law condemned all apostasy. (Ex 20:3-6) And before Israel’s entry into the Promised Land, they were warned against the grave danger of apostasy resulting from marriages with the people of the land. (De 7:3, 4) Even though a person who was inciting others to apostasy was a close relative or a marriage mate, he was to be put to death for having “spoken of revolt against Jehovah your God.” (De 13:1-15) The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were quick to exonerate themselves of a charge of apostasy that arose because of their construction of an altar.—Jos 22:21-29.

Many of the kings of Israel and of Judah followed an apostate course—for example, Saul (1 Sa 15:11; 28:6, 7), Jeroboam (1 Ki 12:28-32), Ahab (1 Ki 16:30-33), Ahaziah (1 Ki 22:51-53), Jehoram (2 Ch 21:6-15), Ahaz (2 Ch 28:1-4), and Amon (2 Ch 33:22, 23). In due time a nation of apostates developed because the people listened to apostate priests and prophets (Jer 23:11, 15) and other unprincipled men who, by smooth words and false sayings, led them into loose conduct, immorality, and desertion of Jehovah, “the source of living water.” (Isa 10:6; 32:6, 7; Jer 3:1; 17:13) According to Isaiah 24:5, the very land became “polluted [cha·nephah′] under its inhabitants, for they have bypassed the laws, changed the regulation, broken the indefinitely lasting covenant.” No mercy was to be granted them in the predicted destruction.—Isa 9:17; 33:11-14; Zep 1:4-6.

Here again the publication writers are spot on in defining what real apostasy is all about. Notice the first sentence and the Scriptural support cited in the second sentence (Exodus 20:1-6).

1 And God proceeded to speak all these words, saying:

2 “I am Jehovah your God, who have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves.

3 You must not have any other gods against my face.

4 “You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth.

5 You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me;

6 but exercising loving-kindness toward the thousandth generation in the case of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Under this topic consideration, there is no assertion at all indicating a belief that the term apostasy has anything to do with human authority or anything to do with a failure to be obedient to a lesser authority than Almighty God. Deuteronomy chapter 13 verse 5 is referenced and this scripture speaks concerning a “revolt against Jehovah your God.”

Note: The kings, priest, and prophets were the source of the apostasy. The nation became apostate due to their leadership and example. A reasonable person would have to conclude that true apostasy from God’s viewpoint has nothing to do with failure to follow the edicts/commands of men. Rather, it is a deviation from the righteous commands and standards established by Almighty God himself.

The 1957 Watchtower magazine article entitled “Ancient Israel Backslides”, page 339 appears to contradict the present day teachings of the Watchtower Society:

“The religious leaders of the apostate nation not only refused to heed the prophets themselves, they tried to prevent others from heeding the warnings. Like the dog that bites the hand trying to feed it, these religionists persecuted Jehovah’s servants, even killing many of them. The ill-treatment of the prophets by the backsliding religious leaders and the blind masses following them is summarized at Hebrews 11:36-38 (NW): “Yes, others received their trial by mocking and scourging, indeed, more than that, by bonds and prisons. They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn asunder, they died by slaughter with the sword, they went about in sheep skins, in goat skins, while they were in want, in tribulation, under ill-treatment; and the world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth.”

Please observe that the Watchtower article refers to an “Apostate Nation” that includes both backsliding religious leaders as well as the blind masses that followed them. A reasonable person would have to conclude that, while one can be following the leadership of a nation or religious group, they could still be found to be apostate based on failure to conform to God’s commands.

The Watchtower has literally limped on two different opinions when it comes to defining apostasy. One is a Biblical, theocratically based definition as seen above. The other is an earthly, unscriptural definition that is based on a humanistic interpretation of the term.

Jehovah’s Witnesses use the term pejoratively when speaking about other professed organized Christian groups as Catholics and of Judaism. They relates its usage to mean some deviation from the truth as taught by Holy Scripture. Then when it comes to controlling the conduct of members internally, the word takes on a meaning conforming to the humanistic view. So that if one accepts this second teaching, then wouldn’t their adherents be encouraging members of other religious groups to commit apostasy since they would be rebelling against the hierarchy of their current or present religion by following Jehovah’s Witnesses and their teachings? By this latter interpretation, the meaning of ‘apostasy’ becomes quite arbitrary and it’s use quite capricious.

There is a need to present proof of the obvious. Recent Watchtower magazines and their oral presentations reveal what the current prevailing teaching from the Organization’s Governing Body is regarding what constitutes an apostatizing. The basis upon which a great many are being thrown out of the congregation is proof of which definition they have chosen to accept.

But it is important to examine the roots of where this humanistic view of apostasy comes from. Is it possible to limp on diametrically opposed opinions with regard to these two distinct interpretations of this word and still be pleasing to God?

Lord Jesus Christ spoke aptly about the problem:

Matthew 15:1-6

1 Then there came to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying:

2 “Why is it your disciples overstep the tradition of the men of former times? For example, they do not wash their hands when about to eat a meal.”

3 In reply he said to them: “Why is it YOU also overstep the commandment of God because of YOUR tradition?

4 For example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Let him that reviles father or mother end up in death.’

5 But YOU say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother: “Whatever I have by which you might get benefit from me is a gift dedicated to God,”

6 he must not honor his father at all.’ And so YOU have made the word of God invalid because of YOUR tradition. New World Translation

One view invalidates the other view. One must make a choice.

As discussed earlier, ancient Israel transgressed against God by failing to offer Him their exclusive devotion and by their failure to subject themselves in complete obedience to His commandments. At the time Jesus spoke the words quoted above, the Jewish religious leaders had created a code of conduct based on their own viewpoint of what they felt satisfied God’s righteous requirements. The example that Jesus raised, showed that their tradition invalidated the very intent of God’s commandment requiring children to honor and care for their aged parents. They put on a front as if their motives were based on a desire to please God. But, it was all a screen that covered over their desire to be greedy and stingy while circumventing God’s commands.

That is why Jesus also pointedly stated what is quoted below:

Mark 7:8-9

7 “It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach as doctrines commands of men.’

8 Letting go the commandment of God, YOU hold fast the tradition of men.” New World Translation

These leaders, teachers, and those that followed them had chosen to abandon true worship of Jehovah based on God’s Divine Hierarchy and have created a man-made hierarchy owing allegiance to human authority.

By examining some of the Jewish oral teachings that apply to this subject, we can best see the thinking of the teachers of Judaism both then and now. Compare them to the practices and teachings of the Watchtower Society.

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees

The following oral laws which are still taught by the Jewish rebbe’s (rabbis), seem to lay the foundation for considering deviating from the oral laws as the same as apostasy away from God. The teachers of oral tradition put on even par the teachings of man with the teachings of the Divine One.

Torah (God’s written Law) versus Jewish Oral Tradition (Talmud)Jewish Oral Teaching (Talmud)

Negative Commandment 312

The 312nd prohibition is that we are forbidden from disagreeing with the Sages who pass down the Oral Tradition (may they rest in peace), or from deviating from any of their instructions in Torah matters.

The source of this prohibition is God’s statement (exalted be He), “Do not stray from the word that they declare to you.”

The Sifri says, “The verse, ‘Do not stray…’ constitutes a prohibition. ”One who violates this prohibition, i.e. a zaken mam’re, is executed by strangulation if all the conditions described in the end of Sanhedrin are fulfilled. The details of this mitzvah are explained there.

end of rabbi’s comments

The teachers of oral law cite Deut. 17:11 as the basis for this teaching. However if taken in context, the cited versus seems to refer to matters of civil or criminal nature taken before the High Court and does not refer to commands and judgments that deviate from God’s Law.

Deuteronomy 17:8-12

8 “In case a matter for judicial decision should be too extraordinary for you, one in which blood has been shed, in which a legal claim has been raised, or a violent deed has been committed, matters of dispute, inside your gates, you must also rise and go up to the place that Jehovah your God will choose, 9 and you must go to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge who will be acting in those days, and you must make inquiry, and they must hand down to you the word of the judicial decision. 10 Then you must do in accordance with the word that they will hand down to you from that place which Jehovah will choose; and you must be careful to do according to all that they instruct you. 11 In accordance with the law that they will point out to you, and according to the judicial decision that they will say to you, you should do. You must not turn aside from the word that they will hand down to you, to the right or to the left. 12 And the man who will behave with presumptuousness in not listening to the priest who is standing to minister there to Jehovah your God or to the judge, that man must die; and you must clear out what is bad from Israel.” New World Translation

Deuteronomy 17:8-12

8 If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults—take them to the place the LORD your God will choose.9 Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict. 10 You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you to do.11 Act according to whatever they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left. 12 Anyone who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God is to be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.” New International Version

That this Scripture could not apply to directives that disagree with God’s directives is seen by the fact that throughout the history of the Hebrew nation, God held accountable all who chose to be disobedient to Him despite being instigated to do so by leaders (kings, priest, etc.) The words of Deuteronomy speak about civil disputes that needed to be decided judicially and not about blinding obeying higher human authorities no matter what.

Recently, the Watchtower has tried to dispel concerns of continuing members by assuring them that even if they are receiving instruction that disagrees with Scripture they will not be harmed by choosing to follow and by teaching them. These forget that Almighty God has said, “Each will be judged according to their own individual deeds”.

This also brings to mind what Satan told Eve. The devil told Eve that she could break Almighty God’s commandment and still live. The teachers of the Watchtower Society are saying this very thing.

This teaching handed down from the Watchtower governing body merely echoes the taught “traditions of men”.

Let’s now consider the 173rd positive oral teaching of Judaism. It speaks about obedience to the sages and to the anointed king. While it teaches that the king is to be absolutely obeyed under penalty of death, in the fifth paragraph are the words, “We are required to fulfill any command the king issues unless it contradicts a command of the Torah.” (Torah refers to God’s written law found in the Bible)

Jewish Oral Teaching (Talmud)

The 173rd mitzvah (oral command)is that we are commanded to appoint over ourselves a Jewish king to speak for us and lead us.

The source of this commandment is God’s statement (exalted be He), “You shall appoint for yourselves a king.”

As we have previously, the statement of our Sages in the Sifri, “The Jewish people were commanded three mitzvos upon entering the Land of Israel: to appoint a king, to build the Holy Temple, and to destroy the descendants of Amalek.” Our Sages also said in the Sifri, 5 “The verse, ‘You shall appoint for yourselves a king,’ constitutes a positive commandment.”

This commandment is explained as follows: 6 “The verse, ‘You shall appoint for yourselves a king,’ means that you must instill in yourselves awe of him.” We should think of him with the greatest possible respect, and awareness of his great and exalted status, to the extent that in our eyes he is greater than any of the prophets of that generation.

8 We are required to fulfill any command the king issues unless it contradicts a commandment of the Torah. If a person transgressed the king’s command and does not fulfill it, the king is allowed to execute him by the sword. Our ancestors, may they rest in peace, accepted this upon themselves when they said [to Joshua], “Whoever rebels against your statement, and does not obey all your commands shall be put to death.” Anyone who rebels against a king who was appointed in accordance with the Torah, may be executed by the king.

All the details of this Mitzvah are explained in the second chapter of tractate Sanhedrin, 10 the first chapter of Kerisus, 11 and the seventh chapter of Sotah.

(end of rabbi’s comments)

Were kings like Manasseh and Ahaz to be strictly followed and obeyed? Were the priests of Ezekiel’s day to be strictly listened to and obeyed? Whether or not to cooperate with another should involve considering what you are being asked to cooperate with. All authority below Heaven is relative and obedience is therefore conditional. The obedience to be given the king as stated above was on the condition that his edict does not contradict the written commands of God.

The Watchtower teachers are following the established oral tradition as taught in Judaism.

The next two examples from Jewish oral tradition will demonstrate how these traditions are put on equal par with the written commands from God and are even made superior in the matter of obedience.

Oral teaching 174

The 174th mitzvah is that we are commanded to obey the Beis Din HaGadol and act in accordance with all their instructions regarding what is prohibited and what is permitted. There is no difference whether it is something they received by Oral Tradition; derived using one of the principle of Torah extrapolation; decreed in order to correct some laxity or in response to some other situation where they found it appropriate and that it would strengthen Torah observance. We are required to obey all such directives and to act in accordance with their words, not to transgress them.

The source of this commandment is Gd’s statement1 (exalted be He), “You must keep the Torah as they interpret it for you [and follow the laws that they legislate for you].”

The Sifri says, “The verse, ‘Follow the laws that they legislate for you’ constitutes a positive commandment.”

The details of this mitzvah are explained in the end of tractate Sanhedrin.2

(end of rabbi’s comments)

Here it is stated that there is to be no distinction made from teaching handed down through oral tradition and those derived directly from the Torah. According to this teaching God’s commands and man’s commands have the same weight when it comes to obedience.

Earlier, it was mentioned that the Watchtower governing body is teaching that their commands have to be followed even though what they are teaching is in contradiction to the commandments of God. They have often identified themselves as a “John class” or prophetic channel of God. As such, they demand the final say as to how Scripture is to be interpreted. If a person disagrees with this governing body’s interpretation, the WT governing body’s thoughts and behaviors mirror those found in the 172nd Jewish oral teaching. This oral tradition also applies to the “prophet”. It states that if the prophet’s words must be followed even if this temporarily requires one to transgress the written commands from God:

Oral Teaching: 172nd Mitzvah is that we are commanded to obey each of the Prophets, may they rest in peace, and to fulfill all their instructions. Even if his instructions contradict one or many of these commandments, [we are commanded to obey him] as long as his instructions are temporary. This does not apply, however, if he permanently adds or subtracts [from the commandments], as we explained in the Introduction to our Commentary on the Mishneh.1

The source of this commandment is Gd’s statement (exalted be He), 2 “To him you must listen.” In the words of the Sifri: “The verse, ‘To him you must listen,’ means that even if he tells you to temporarily transgress one of the commandments of the Torah, you must listen to him.”

One who transgressed this mitzvah is punished by Mita bidei shamayim, as it says in God’s statement (exalted be He) 4 “If any person does not listen to My word that he declares in My name, I will punish him.” It has been explained in tractate Sanhedrin that three are punished by mita bidei shamayim: one who disobeys the prophet, a prophet who disobeys his own prophecy, and a prophet who conceals his prophecy. All of them are derived from the phrase, “If any person does not listen.” Our Sages said, “The phrase, lo yishma [‘does not listen’] can also be read, lo yishamei [‘does not listen to himself’] and lo yashmia [‘does not make others listen’].”The details of this mitzvah have been explained in the end of tractate Sanhedrin.

(end of rabbi’s comments)

As is the case among current Jehovah’s Witnesses today, the threat of death, albeit spiritual, is held out as a consequence of failing to following their spiritual leaders with godly obedience.

If one were to adopt this humanistic view of what an apostate is, then they would have also agreed with those who persecuted Lord Jesus Christ to death. He would not subject himself to the authority of the then ruling priesthood, he was branded as an apostate in their terms.

They accused him of blasphemy for stating that the Temple would be thrown down. However, he was undeterred in his obedience to God and doing God’s will. He gave exclusive devotion and obedience to the Father.

This pattern is the same one that has been being played out since the first human renegade Eve made a choice to deviate from God’s righteous requirements.

It always invariably involves a choice to listen to someone or something else other the voice of the commands of God. Almighty God scolded the first man Adam for listening to the voice of someone else. Before sentencing him, God said, “Because you listened to the voice of your wife….”

Jesus stated regarding the Temple priestly class, “Letting go the commandment of God, You hold fast the tradition of men”.

As professed disciples of Jesus Christ, we should follow his lead. We should have his view of what apostasy really is and not that of the traditions of men.

The Apostle Paul wrote to be on guard against deceptive reasoning:

Colossians 2:8

8 Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry YOU off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ; New World Translation

It is true that this tradition has not only affected Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower organization. After the first century, it did not take long before Christendom was formed based on honoring a human hierarchical organization. But it all can be traced back to the deviant traditional teaching taught in the Talmud that contradict Torah teachings.

It has been no accident that throughout the entire history of the Bible Students/Watchtower/Jehovah’s Witnesses era there have existed two distinct entities within. One is of members who were and are truth seekers and wish to be part of the Christian congregation. The other is a hierarchical corporate structure and its blind followers who are bent on maintaining and worshiping a human institution.

As is evident by the publications from the Watchtower that were cited in this post, there have been periods when those who were intent on teaching truth held sway. There have been other periods when the teachings were at best skewed. The organizational forces won that struggle. This fit with the outcome the Bible foretold would occur.

The Watchtower uses the word ‘apostasy’ in the sense that conforms to Jewish oral tradition and which has no basis of validity according to Holy Scripture. Like Jewish oral tradition, their teachings must be accepted as having equal weight with God’s even when theirs are in conflict with God’s written word. To teach such is to teach an apostatizing. And this is what Jehovah’s Witnesses will readily tell you; if it is about someone else. How could one be rendering exclusive devotion and obedience to God while living and teaching contrary to His word?

We will all have an accounting with Almighty God on the central question, “Whom will you obey?”

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This post will examine the necessity for the faithful servants of God not to give up or to give out before completing the work He has set before us by examining the events that happened when the Israelite captives had been freed by King Cyrus in 537 B.C.E and they and the exiles had returned to their then desolate homeland.

We will first examine the restoration promises God had made through the prophets; first looking at the time periods the prophesies were made, when they were fulfilled, and how important to their fulfillment was due-diligence on the part of His people.

Finally, we will look at the experience of one key player, High Priest Joshua, and how the devil resisted him with allegations of unworthiness.

The Restoration Promises

Important in understanding the restoration prophesies found in the Old Testament is dating when they were written and the circumstances that existed when they were written.

Below is a list of Bible Books that contain restoration promises God made:

The Book Of Deuteronomy written between 15th and 7th centuries B.C.E.

The Book of Psalms written between the 10th and 9th centuries B.C.E.

The Book of Isaiah written 740-701 B.C.E.

The Book of Lamentations written 587-575 B.C.E.

The Book of Ezekiel written 593-573 B.C.E.

The Book of Jeremiah written 630-580 B.C.E.

The book of Amos written 788-743 B.C.E.

Please note the time periods in which these Books were written. The date are very important in understanding the fulfillment of the restoration promises.

The prophetic writings in these Books detail two things. God promises that He would both free the Israelites from captive bondage and that He would restore the land.

These two events are the basis for the restoration promises mentioned in all of the Bible Books listed above.

The Israelites were taken into bondage by the gentile King Nebuchadnezzar. The bondage officially began when faithful king Josiah’s son, Jehoahaz was dethroned and taken into captivity around 606 B.C.E. This began the 70 year long captivity God promised due to the nations transgressions.

As stated earlier, the captivity ended precisely 70 years after in 537 B.C.E when the Persian king Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian Empire in a daring night raid.

The foretold 70 years of desolation began later at the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.E.

The desolation was then set to end approximately in the year 517 B.C.E. However something happened after the people returned to their homeland that put the restoration of the land in jeopardy.

Upon returning home, the returning Israelites were very quick to rebuild their individual home while neglecting to rebuild the Temple, the House of God.

This was an important development since the rebuilding of the Temple was prerequisite to God ending the period of desolation and restoring the land.

In fact, King Cyrus had made a decree to the effect that the freed captives were to return home and immediately begin to rebuild the Temple of God:

Ezra 1:2-3

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.”

However, once the people had rebuilt their private homes, they felt self-satisfied and begged off from rebuilding the Temple as commanded. It would be over 14 years later before construction began or about 521 B.C.E.

God became vex toward them for their failure.

Begging Off Before Completing the Lord’s Work

According to the Book of Haggai, God confronted them by sending His prophet to then governor Zerubbabel to say:

Haggai 1:1-4
 1  In the second year of Darayavush  the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai, the prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,

 2  “This is what the LORD of hosts says: These people say, ‘The time hasn’t yet come, the time for the LORD’s house to be built.’”

 3  Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai, the prophet, saying,

 4  “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies waste?

But they seemed to be oblivious to the fact that although they had rebuilt their homes, they were still in want because the land was still unproductive. Note what He says through the prophet:

Haggai 1:5, 6

 5  Now therefore this is what the LORD of hosts says: Consider your ways.

 6  You have sown much, and bring in little. You eat, but you do not have enough. You drink, but you aren’t filled with drink. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm, and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes in it.”

He goes on to tell Zerubbabel what is necessary to remedy their plight:

Haggai 1:7, 8

 7  This is what the LORD of hosts says: “Consider your ways.

 8  Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified,” says the LORD.

It wasn’t that they were not trying to sustain themselves; that was their problem.  It was God that was thwarting any effort they attempted to make. 

Haggai 1:9-11

 9  “You looked for much, and, look, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the LORD of hosts, “Because of my house that lies waste, while each of you is busy with his own house.

 10  Therefore for your sake the heavens withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.

 11  I called for a drought on the land, and on the mountains, and on the grain, and on the new wine, on the oil, and on all what the ground produces, and on men, and on livestock, and on all the labor of the hands.”

When Zerubbabel heard this, he repented. He repented, as well as the High Priest, and all of the remnant who returned became obedient to the word of Jehovah.

Haggai 1:12-15

 12  Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD, their God, and the words of Haggai, the prophet, as the LORD, their God, had sent him; and the people feared the LORD.

 13  Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, spoke the LORD’s message to the people, saying, “I am with you,” says the LORD.

 14  The LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

 15  in the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darayavush the king.

In what is recorded in Haggai chapter two tell us that God place His hand of anointment on both Zerubbabel and Joshua the High Priest due to their faithfulness.

Haggai 2:1-5
 1  In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

 2  “Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

 3  ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn’t it in your eyes as nothing?

 4  Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ says the LORD of hosts.

 5  This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. ‘Do not be afraid.’

He continues by telling them that he will bless them and their obedience would bring blessings for the people and the land.

Haggai 2:6-9, 23

 6  For this is what the LORD of hosts says: ‘Yet once more, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth a and the sea and the dry land;

 7  and I will shake all nations, and they will come with the treasures of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

 8  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.

 9  ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts; ‘and in this place will I give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

 23  In that day, says the LORD of hosts, will I take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you as a signet, for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

High Priest Joshua would come attack by Satan himself because of his repentance from disobedience to God. Satan would challenge Joshua’s worthiness in a vision played out in Heaven before the throne of God. Let’s turn our attention to the Book of Zechariah Chapter 3.

The prophet Zechariah had an most usual vision of a scene acted out in Heaven. This is what he saw:

Zechariah 3:1, 2

1  He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.

 2  The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan. Yes, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you. Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?”

The prophet sees God anointed High Priest and he see the devil standing beside him as his adversary. The bible tells us that Satan is the false accuser of our brothers. (Revelation 12:10)

Well, this is what he is poised to do in regard to Joshua by declaring Joshua is unclean given his past sin and therefore, he unworthy of the service God has entrusted him with.

In verse two, God has already rebuked Satan. Then Jehovah God poses a question to the devil. He ask Satan, ” Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?’

In the vision, Joshua is described as being in unclean clothes:

Zechariah 3:3

 3  Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel.

But God has obviously forgiven Joshua as the next verses reveal:

Zechariah 3:4-5

 4  He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, “Take the filthy garments off of him.” To him he said, “Look, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing.”

 5  I said, “Let them set a clean turban on his head.” So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the angel of the LORD was standing by.

Satan was calling impure what God had made clean. Many today will not accept those God has anointed bringing up prior sins that God has forgiven them for. While they are unforgiving, God is not to those who truly repent as High Priest Joshua did. Such people put their judgments above God’s. But it is God’s judgment that matters.

Jesus said this:

Mark 2:17

“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

The righteous angel of God who was also present, reminds Joshua that he must continue to be faithful and to walk in righteousness in order to be worthy to continue in God’s service and keep his garments clean.

Zechariah 3:6-10

 6  The angel of the LORD protested to Joshua, saying,

 7  “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by.

 8  Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, look, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch.

 9  For, look, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: look, I will engrave its engraving,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

 10  In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.’”

Satan became upset when he couldn’t stop God’s temple from being rebuilt. Faithfulness to God irritates the devil. He had done everything he could to stop the Temple from being reconstructed. Everything from creating a spirit of self-satisfaction among the returned remnant to using organized groups to undermine attempts to rebuild.

Summary

The Restoration Promises

God fulfilled the promises he made to restore the nation of Israel when he brought the Israelites out of Babylonian bondage in 537 B.C.E. and when He restored the land to productivity in 517 B.C.E. There is no commitment to a future restoration of a physical Jewish nation despite the teaching by many that the Bible promises one. All the Old Testament restoration prophecies were written prior to the 537 B.C.E. release from captivity and well before the restoration of the desolate land in 517 B.C.E.

The restoration promises mentioned in New Testament scriptures have to do with all humankind. 

“Do Not Call Anything Impure That God Has Made Clean”

It is God who declares who is righteous and who is unrighteous. While other human beings may put themselves in judgment they are not in the judgment seat of God. God has given that authority to the eternal High Priest Jesus Christ. The devil remains the false accuser of God’s children and attacks them trying to stop them from finishing the work that God has set before them to accomplish.

Do not allow the devil, his angels, nor his wicked human seed to judge you or impede you from fully accomplishing the will of God.

Revelation 3:4

“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.”

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For a Christian believer, no oath is more important than the oath we take at the time of our baptism.

Jesus in his parting words explicitly stated the terms of that oath. From several Bible Translations:

Matthew 28:19, 20

19 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Holman Christian Standard Bible

“Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,: Good News Translation

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” King James Version

” Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit,” New World Translation (NWT)

The New World Translation is the Bible translation created and published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and is the translation of the Bible solely used by “Jehovah’s Witnesses”.  In regard to Matthew 28:19, it reads similarly to other well-recognized translations of the Bible.  The verse clearly states Jesus as instructing his disciples to baptize in the “name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (not capitalized)”.

In the following verse Jesus continues, ^{20 “}and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” GNT

Have “Jehovah’s Witnesses kept Jesus command?  Have their spiritual leaders obeyed everything He commanded to do? 

The answer is no, and particularly in regard to His command concerning baptism.

Most professed Christian at least understand that it is a sin to alter the commandments given by God and Christ.  Yet this is exactly what the Watchtower organization did in 1985 by changing long-standing baptismal vows so that they became a denominational vow. 

Watchtower Society Changes To A Denominational Vow

In 1985, the Watchtower Society changed its baptismal vows so that new Jehovah’s Witnesses committed themselves not only to God, but to the Watchtower Society.

This is evident from the baptismal vows published over the years. The baptismal questions from the Aug. 1, 1966 Watchtower (p. 465) were:

(1) Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?

(2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?

The May 15, 1970 (p. 309) and May 1, 1973 (p. 280) issues printed slightly revised vows.  They were different, but did not change concerning the baptismal candidate vow of dedication in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I was baptized April 18, 1964 and thank God that I was baptized with a pure, unadulterated vow of dedication.

But in 1985, they did make a meaningful change in the wording that baptismal candidates were asked to swear to.

The newest baptismal questions were set forth in the June 1, 1985 (p. 30) Watchtower:

(1) On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

(2) Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?

Note how different the second vow is from the earlier versions. The Society now ask newer members coming into association with them to, in effect, swear allegiance to their denomination from which their membership can be terminated at any time by the Society by disfellowshipping while at the same time convincing these newcomers that they have solely made an oath of dedication to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  

Can this legitimately be considered a real Christian baptism?

Denominational Baptism: Is It Valid?

In the first century, there weren’t various denominations of Christians groups or beliefs. While there were various groups of Christian disciples who met in different places, they did not act as different religious groups with competing views nor were they to divides themselves into different followings.

When a problem did arise when some disciples sought to do so, this is what the Apostle Paul told them in admonishment:

1 Corinthians 1:11-16

The disciples he spoke to were creating competing factional denominations or ‘cliques’. They sought to further identify themselves as specific followers of individuals.

Denominations imply that there is diversity of viewpoints among the one body of Christ. Christ himself said “A house divided cannot stand”. Those that Paul counseled were attempted to divide the Church.

Paul could very well make the statement above today to groups such as “Jehovah’s Witnesses” who display the same conduct of those he spoke to in the first century.

How do they claim to be “God’s spirit-directed organization” while being disobedient to Jesus Christ?  They undermine His sole position as Lord.

A denominational baptism is the act of immersing someone in water based upon the teachings of a group of people who practice division by off naming and un-appointing Christ from divine Lordship; the act of being baptized according to the dictates and teachings of a denomination. Based upon what a denomination is, what it does, and what it stands for indicates any baptism a denomination administers is invalid and unaccepted by God. It is a sin.

Let’s consider again Paul’s words found in 1 Corinthian 1:10-13.  The Bible reads:

In these same verses, Christians are commanded to speak the same thing. This does not mean we become puppets of each other and practice being copy cats to everything a preacher preaches. 

Peter makes it very clear what it means to speak the same thing in 1 Peter 4:11, where the Bible reads:

As Christian disciples, if we are going to speak, then we need to speak the words of God. God’s word is the Bible.

Therefore, we need to speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent. The Bible speaks against denominationalism because denominationalists do not speak the same thing. They speak as spokesmen of their preachers, leaders, and creeds, and not as the spokesmen of God.

In fact, we too are to speak against denominationalism. The Bible speaks nothing about denominational baptism. So, since the scriptures are silent on this subject, then God has nothing to do with it. As far as God is concerned, there is no such thing as denominational baptism. So, how can it be valid?

Christians are to be perfectly  joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. The true church is to be united in understanding, resolution, counsel, and consent. Denominations do not have the same understanding because if they did, they would be trying to restore unity and not promote division.

Denominations do not have the same resolution because each denomination teaches a different methodology on how to get to serve God and Christ.

They are not of the same counsel because if they were, they would follow the deliberate purpose and design of the Bible.

They are not of the same consent because when it comes to God’s word, they cannot agree on anything. The only thing they can agree on is to disagree.

Jesus Christ did not die for something He is against, but rather Christ prayed we all be one.

John 17:20-21:

²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 

²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  ESV

Denominationalism does not represent oneness. According to the dictates of the Bible and what they stand for, denominationalism is wrong and false to the core. Therefore, ANY baptism for ANY purpose that is predicated upon this foundation and its teachings of this satanic trick to drive individuals away from Christ. Hence, their baptisms are invalid.

There are some brethren who believe with all their being denominationalism is wrong. They believe if a person is in a denomination, then that person is lost. They believe everybody practicing denominationalism should repent of this religious error and give their life to Christ.

However, they still will believe that if a person is baptized and understands their baptism was for the remission of sins, then God has saved this person and added them to the church, thus making this person’s baptism valid. Some have even stated God promised remission (forgiveness) of sins to the person who is baptized. So, since God promised it, He has to give it to you.

Biblical Baptism Makes A Person One With Christ….. Denominational Baptism Does Not

The problem that arises as a result of this reasoning is limiting baptism to a two-fold purpose, which is remission of sins and salvation. Although baptism accomplishes both, it does so much more.

Baptism makes a person one with Christ. To affirm a denominational baptism is for the supposed remittance a person’s sins and for the supposed provision of  salvation, but it does not put a person at one with Christ.

In Galatians 3:26-27, the Bible reads:

²⁶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁷ For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  KJV

If a person claims to be in Christ, then they must be aware it was their baptism that put them in Him. If an individual does not believe their baptism put them into Christ, then their baptism is invalid.

If a person was baptized, then it was because of their faith. The Bible teaches in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  KJV

Faith is based upon what a person “hears”. Faith only comes by the word of God. If a person’s “faith” has prompted them to be baptized, then that same faith has prompted them into believing denominationalism or the doctrine of the denomination they identified with is right also.

Since, the Bible does not teach denominationalism as being right before God, then the person who accepted it and practiced it based upon what they were taught and embraced it as a result of their baptism could not have been baptized by an accurate faith to begin with. If their baptism was not based upon faith, which only comes by hearing God’s word, then their baptism is not pure and it did not make them one with Christ.

The Bible teaches us that salvation is only in Christ Jesus. In 2 Timothy 2:10, the Bible states:

“For this reason I go on enduring all things for the sake of the chosen ones, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is through Christ Jesus, along with everlasting glory.” 

If salvation is only in Jesus Christ, and baptism is the only thing that puts an individual into Christ, then baptism has to be predicated upon faith, faith only comes by hearing the word of God. Denominationalism is not a result of faith because the Bible speaks out against it, then anybody and everybody baptized with a denominational baptism was not baptized into Christ, thus making denominational baptism invalid. Hence, any and all baptisms taught and administered by any and all denominations are invalid. This includes “Jehovah’ Witnesses” since 1985.

God Gives Holy Spirit To Those Baptized With Biblical Baptism And Not A Denominational Baptism

When we are baptized, God gives us His Holy Spirit. In Acts 5:32:

“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”  KJV

“We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”  GNT

“And we are witnesses of these matters, and so is the holy spirit, which God has given to those obeying him as ruler.”  NWT

If we can find out what the Holy Spirit is suppose to do in the life of a Christian, then we will also know whether this person’s denominational baptism is valid or not.

In 1 John 3:22-24, note what the Bible says:

^{22 “}And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

²³And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

²⁴And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”  KJV

The Holy Spirit of God enables us to live a righteous life by keeping the commandments of God and by doing those things, which are pleasing to the eyesight of God. Denominationalism is not pleasing to God.

If we practice denominationalism, then we are disobeying the commandments of God. So, this simply means the person baptized with a denominational baptism, who believes they are keeping a commandment by attending, identifying, practicing, and worshiping according to the creeds of a denomination, has just received an invalid baptism for the Holy Spirit of God does not lead an individual into a denomination. Based upon this person’s baptism, they never received the Holy Spirit God promised to all them who obey Him. Although, they were baptized, they were not baptized according to the dictates of the Bible, for if they were, they would have received the Spirit of God, but they did not. Hence, if denominational baptism fails to accomplish the purpose of an individual to receive the Holy Spirit, then denominational baptism has also failed in its purpose to put an individual at one with Christ, to save a person’s soul, and to forgive them of their sins.

Born Again By Way Of Bible Baptism…. Denominational Baptism Does Not Accomplish This

When a person is baptized, then they have been born again. You cannot be born again without baptism. If denominational baptism is valid, then the person baptized with it has been born again. If it can be proven that a person baptized with a denominational baptism has not been born again, then a denominational baptism is invalid.

Jesus himself explained for all of humanity what it means to be “born again”.

John 3:3-5:

^{3 “}Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

⁵ 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.”  KJV

Compare with the New World Translation:

³  “In response Jesus said to him: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

⁴  Nic·o·deʹmus said to him: “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter into the womb of his mother a second time and be born, can he?” 

⁵  Jesus answered: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.”  NWT

If a person wants to be born again, then they have to be born of the water and of the Spirit. Those advocating denominational baptism are placing emphasis only on the water and not on the Spirit. They understand what it means to be born of the water, but have failed in their understanding to know what it means to be born of the Spirit.

This is the process in which one is born of the Spirit. First, this person must receive (that is to accept) Christ and His teachings to be true and not false.

John 1:12:

^{12 “}But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,”  HCSB

If an individual can accept this, then God gives this person the right, the ability, the power to become a child of His. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in and does His part in the born again process. The tool the Holy Spirit uses to accomplish this purpose is the word of God, which is His sword.

Note Ephesians 6:17:

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” KJV

No individual can obey God’s commands in regards to their salvation without knowing what “Thus saith the Lord.” The Spirit uses the word of God to instruct the lost soul what they must do to be saved and what salvation does for them.

This all takes place by way of the word of God and obedience to what is written in it.

This is reaffirmed 1 Peter 1:22-23:

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” KJV

The Holy Spirit is very crucial to the process of being born again. When an individual has been born of the Spirit, they are not born again with a corruptible seed, but of an incorruptible seed. If an individual believes the denomination they “joined” is PART of the true church of Christ, then this person has been born of corruptible seed and their denominational baptism is invalid.

If a person believes they have the right to “join” themselves to a denomination before and after baptism based upon what they have been taught by a denomination, then this person has been born of corruptible seed and their denominational baptism is invalid.

If a person believes God has added them to the denomination that they identify themselves with believing it is the true church of Christ , then this person has been born of corruptible seed and their denominational baptism is invalid.

If a person believes it is okay to worship, accept, and identify with a denomination, then the Holy Spirit of God had nothing to do with this individual’s baptism because the Holy Spirit would not neglect to inform an individual by way of the word of God denominationalism is wrong and God only has but one church and He only adds the saved to His church.

Since the Holy Spirit had nothing to do with denominational baptism, then although they might have obeyed the water part of the plan, but their baptism is still invalid because it was based upon the teachings of a corruptible seed and not an incorruptible seed.

With Bible Baptism, One Is Added To The Church Of Christ….With  Denominational Baptism They Are Not

When a person is baptized into Christ, then God adds them to the church. Acts 2:47:

^{47 “}praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  NIV

Those who believe denominational baptism deny this point. They believe God adds this person to the church regardless of their core beliefs concerning the church. The church are the heirs of the the kingdom of God.

In Matthew 16:18-19, the Bible reads,

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  KJV

So, if God “added” this person baptized with a denominational baptism to the church, then He also “added” them to His kingdom because the church and the kingdom are the same thing, according to the advocates of this doctrine.

However, this is untrue according to the context of John 3:5. The Bible teaches unless an individual is born of the water AND of the Spirit, he CANNOT enter into the kingdom of God (the church). All individuals baptized with a denominational baptism may have been born of the water, but due to their resolve that denominationalism is right, they have not been born of the Spirit because this person has been baptized with a “corruptible seed”.

The seed is the word of God and according to what Peter wrote, the word of God is the incorruptible seed.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 

²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 

²⁴ for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

Valid baptism is the result of an incorruptible seed, which is the word of God by way of the Spirit; whereas, denominational baptism is a result of a corruptible seed. To even suggest denominational baptism is valid is to suggest the word of God is corrupt, but the word of God is not.

1 Timothy 3:16, 17:

^{16 “}All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” KJV

God has spoken by His Word. If a person is not born of the water AND of the Spirit, he CANNOT enter into the kingdom of God. Since a person baptized with a denominational baptism of corruption, then that person was not born of the Holy Spirit, and therefore God has not added this person to His church and they are not allowed entranced into the kingdom.

In Colossians 1:12-14, the Bible reads, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”  KJV

When God adds an individual to His church: (1) He has delivered or rescued them from the power of darkness (sin and error) and (2) He has translated, transferred, or carried them away into the kingdom of His dear Son. The true Christian disciple has been “delivered” and “translated” because he/she has been redeemed by way of the blood of Christ and by such, their sins have been forgiven.

Denominational baptism does not accomplish this purpose. Therefore, a person baptized with a denominational baptism has not been delivered from darkness, has not been translated into the kingdom, has not been redeemed by the blood of Christ, and has not had their sins forgiven, thus making denominational baptism invalid.

Wrong Teaching Equals Wrong Baptism

The right baptism is predicated upon the right teachings. The same word that produces a saving faith is the same word that instructs an individual to be baptized. The same word that instructs a person to be baptized is the same word that teaches denominationalism to be wrong. The same word that teaches denominationalism to be wrong is the same word that teaches the truth about the church.  This is a result of faith coming by hearing the word of God.  (Romans 10:17).

 The Bible further teaches in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  KJV

Denominationalism is not pleasing to God. If denominationalism is not pleasing to God, then it’s baptism is not pleasing to God because it is not a result of faith and whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

In Acts 8:4, 5, and 12, we learn the absolute importance of what we must hear in order to be saved. We must understand baptism saves.

In 1 Peter 3:21, the Bible reads, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Therefore, what we hear must instruct us of the fact baptism now saves us.

In Acts 8:4, the Bible reads, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” If we can figure out what it means to preach the word, then we will have an understanding of what needs to be taught to the individual lost in their sins.

In 2 Timothy 4:2, the Bible admonishes:

^{2 “}to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience.”

When an individual preaches the word, then they must present the true gospel message when folks want to hear it and when folks don’t want to hear it. When an individual preaches the word, they must tell the world of their faults (sin). Denominationalism is sin. A denominational preacher is not going to convince someone of the Biblical facts when he himself is practicing a sin before God. He is going to convince you that denominationalism this is a part of God’s plan for saving man. This is a falsehood!

It is the teaching that leads a person to baptism in the first place. If I was baptized based upon a lie, then my baptism is invalid. Denominationalism is one of the biggest deceptions of the devil. If your baptism is based upon the teachings of a denomination, then your baptism is invalid.

It is the responsibility of the proclaimer of the gospel to make sure you understand what you are about to do and what is in store for you.  When an individual preaches the word, then they must comfort the hearers with the good news of the gospel with all patience and instruction. The preacher cannot comfort the sinner with lies and deceit with instructions and conclusions not found in the Bible. 

The Watchtower Organization claims to be “God’s spirit-directed organization” whereas there is no Biblical support for that assertion. Such an assertion goes contrary to what the Word of God actually teaches.

Millions of people they have baptized since 1985 have been baptized with an invalid baptism as the Scriptures have shown.

The person who has been baptized with a denominational baptism either believed prior to baptism that denominationalism is wrong or they believed denominationalism is right. This has to be the case or they would not have made the conscience decision to attend and identify with a denominational church and continue to adhere to their doctrine believing it is okay before God.

Those that have been baptized into a particular denomination still have opportunity to seek out someone to baptize them correctly as Christ commanded. If they choose not to do so, not only do they remain alienated from Christ, but they also bear the stain of corruption

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