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Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christ’s Pre-human Existence

Christ...before the foundation of the world—1 Peter 1:19,20

Jesus Christ was not only God before “the beginning”, as we sought to establish in a previous article, but as the Bible so plainly states, He was also Jesus Christ “before the foundation of the world.” [1] The first promise from God the Father that He would send Jesus Christ, God the Son, to earth as a man can be found right at the beginning of the Bible. “So the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this,” (that is, deceived the woman – Eve – and through her, the man – Adam – by lying to them and tempting them to do wrong by disobeying God, as detailed in the previous verses of chapter three) “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” [2]

Following the fulfilment of this promise, we find written confirmation of the fact that it was Jesus Christ to whom this referred in the New Testament. “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” [3]  The KJV translates the last sentence of this verse, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Although the word “manifested” is correctly translated in the NIV as “appeared”, it does not have the same depth embodied in the word “manifested”. Jesus did more than just “appear” in the flesh, He actually “became” flesh. The Bible says, “The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.” [4] So, from the foregoing Scripture references we assume, and rightly, that God the Father was speaking of Jesus Christ back in Genesis.

Before “the beginning” He was Jesus Christ, whilst on earth He was Jesus Christ, and now, “at the right hand of God,” [5] in heaven He is still Jesus Christ.

Let us, for a moment, enlarge upon this by examining the words of the apostle Paul. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” [6] (The NIV translation of these verses does not have the same impact. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.”) Here we have further proof, added to that in a previous article, that Jesus Christ, God the Son, is equal in power and glory with God the Father. The Bible makes that plain enough!

Paul continues, “But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” [7] Notice especially here that it was Jesus Christ who became a man. All these verses are referring to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore God exalted him” (the KJV translates it as “highly exalted him”) “to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” [8] No other name is mentioned here, only Jesus; and no place is left out where that name is to be exalted. His name is Jesus Christ in heaven, on the earth, and even in the place of departed spirits, “under the earth”. HE IS KNOWN ONLY BY THAT NAME.

“And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [9] Jesus Christ is Lord—that is plain enough! The Lord referred to in the Old Testament, when obviously not referring to God the Father, is referring to Jesus Christ, God the Son. All through the New Testament we find mention of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is there in the first chapter of the Bible, and the last verse of the last chapter of the Bible says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” [10]  (We have to admit that the KJV translation is far superior to that of the NIV translation, which simply says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.”)

Under a rather irreverent heading – WHERE DID JESUS COME FROM? – they present what is essentially the truth, but it is what is behind it, the interpretation they put on these “truths”, which is suspect. “The Bible teaches that Jesus lived in heaven before he came to earth…On many occasions, Jesus himself said that he lived in heaven before being born a human. (John 3:13; 6:38, 62; 17:4,5) As a spirit creature in heaven, Jesus had a special relationship with Jehovah.” [11] Up to the reference to John’s Gospel, there is really no quarrel with what they state, but then, as so often happens, they contradict the Scriptures by ignoring the truth of the Bible. They refer to Jesus as “a spirit creature in heaven”, totally ignoring one of the Bible references they use themselves. “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” [12] Italics are added for emphasis.  If, as the Bible states, Jesus was in existence “before the foundation of the world” [13], that “He was with God in the beginning,” [14] and “Through him all things were made,” [15] He could hardly be “a spirit creature”, for such a creature would not have the power or authority of original creation as Jesus did.

“Jehovah is called a Father because he is the Creator. Since Jesus was created by God, he is called God’s Son. For similar reasons, other spirit creatures and even the man Adam are called sons of God.” [16] It was Jesus who revealed God as Father, not because He was the Creator. The “other spirit creatures” referred to, including Adam, are not the only ones called sons of God. All Christians who have come to faith in Jesus Christ and are born again of the Spirit of God are “called sons of God”. “You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” [17] It is complete nonsense to suppose that Adam, the “other spirit creatures” and all Christians everywhere have the power and authority of original creation – but Jesus did. This was because He was not a spirit creature, He was not created by God, because, as the Bible states so plainly, He “was God.” [18]

“Jehovah’s only-begotten Son willingly left heaven and came down to earth to live as a human. But you may wonder, ‘How was it possible for a spirit creature to be born as a human?’ To accomplish this, Jehovah performed a miracle. He transferred the life of his first-born Son from heaven to the womb of a Jewish virgin named Mary. No human father was involved. Mary thus gave birth to a perfect son and named him Jesus.” [19] There is no mention, you notice, of the Holy Spirit being involved in this “transfer”.  Yet the Bible plainly states that this virgin named Mary was told, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you…” [20] The phrase used – “Jehovah performed a miracle. He transferred the life of his Son from heaven to a womb” – is reminiscent of the frequent utterances of the Jehovah’s Witnesses through the years suggesting that God dabbles in performing “magic tricks”.

If this seems unfair, we will discover in the last article in this series, dealing with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that God performed what we might describe as a “magic trick” in making the body of the Lord disappear, rather than admit to the truth that He was raised from the dead. Referring to the actual body of Jesus Christ, they say, “We know nothing of what became of it, except that it did not decay or corrupt.. .whether it was dissolved into gasses or whether it is still preserved somewhere as the grand memorial of God’s love, and may be produced and exhibited to the world in the millennium, no one knows.” [21] Such utter blasphemy! If Jesus was God’s Son in heaven before being “magically” transferred to earth, surely the normal thing to do would be to transfer Him back to heaven when His work on earth was done, rather than “magically” dissolve Him into gasses and preserve Him somewhere as a grand memorial. We can only repeat, such utter blasphemy!

Now let us follow that other train of thought. From the Old Testament we have another promise from God the Father that He would send His Son to earth as a man. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” [22] Following this up in the New Testament we find the fulfilment of this promise recorded.  “This is how the birth of Jesus came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit…what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, God with us.”  [23]

The meaning of the name Immanuel (or Emmanuel) is, as the Bible states, “God with us”, and refers to Jesus Christ. This establishes two very important truths. The first, if when Jesus is with us He is also “God with us”, then it is logical to suppose that He must be God Himself—God the Son. Once again the Bible shows the Father and the Son to be equal. The second truth, if the name of Emmanuel in the New Testament is Jesus Christ following His birth, then the name of Immanuel in the Old Testament must also be Jesus Christ, before His birth.

We have, therefore, established that THE SON OF GOD HAS BEEN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SINCE BEFORE THE CREATION, UP TO AND DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY, AND STILL IS TODAY, AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER IN HEAVEN. As conclusive proof of this very important fact we turn again to the Word of God, which very emphatically states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” [24]

Now, why have we taken such great pains to establish this fact? Surely it is obvious to us all that Jesus Christ has always been known by that name, both before, during and since His earthly existence. Why, then, the need to prove something so very obvious? The answer is because the Jehovah’s Witnesses, seemingly always desiring to be different from the true doctrines of the Christian Church, state that, “God’s only-begotten Son in heaven was called Michael.” [25] Can you credit it?

The Son of God is not, after all, the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Archangel Jesus Christ! Only, of course, He was not known as Jesus Christ in heaven, but Michael—the Archangel Michael! What utter and complete blasphemy. What unforgivable heresy. This is why we have been careful to prove first from the Bible that the Lord Jesus Christ has always been God, and that He has been the Lord Jesus Christ since before “the beginning”.

No wild stretch of the imagination will make us believe that the Saviour of the World is nothing more than just an angel—not even an arch-angel!

It seems to me that Jehovah’s Witnesses are out to belittle and downgrade Jesus Christ at every turn. Why, I cannot understand. He “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbles himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.” [26] “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” [27] “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” [28] “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.” [29]

When I think of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me personally; how He suffered and died and rose again; how He saved my soul so that I now rejoice in the sure knowledge of salvation; that because of His sacrifice it is possible for me to have the absolute assurance that I am a child of God, that I have been adopted into God’s family; I am humbled in my spirit, and I bow in worship and adoration—Jesus is Lord. Can you wonder why I am deeply grieved at the blasphemous doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

“The Michael that stands up as the ‘great prince’ to fulfil Daniel 12:1, is the Lord Jesus Christ.” [30] In the Bible, especially in the New Testament, several names and titles are given to Jesus, each one revealing a different aspect of His nature, and the work He came to accomplish. From these different names we can build up a greater understanding of Jesus, because in each case we find they do not alter His character or His nature—the doctrine of Jesus Christ remains the same.

THE LORD—this is the New Testament equivalent of the Old Testament name, Jehovah. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, this name is Almighty God’s personal name. “God is a name applied to Jehovah, the Almighty One. It is sometimes applied to other mighty ones also; whereas the name Jehovah applies exclusively to the great eternal God.” [31] “Because Jehovah is God the Creator, the expression ‘Jehovah God’ is fitting and is used.” [32] Actually, these statements condemn their own doctrine concerning the deity of Christ. Jehovah is but one of the many Old Testament names of God the Father. Therefore, when the New Testament equivalent, “the Lord”, is applied to Jesus, it is a mark of His deity. Indeed, the Bible commands (a command for the future, especially) “that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” [33]

CHRIST—the Greek word meaning, “The Anointed One of God”. This is the same as the Hebrew word, “Messiah” or “Messias”, used in the Old Testament. In the Gospel of John we find both the Hebrew and Greek words used in the one verse, “We have found the Messiah, (that is, the Christ.)” [34] The margin of most Bibles translates “the Christ” as “the Anointed”. It is a name which illustrates His purpose in life, and the authority with which He fulfils that purpose.

JESUS—this is the name used, possibly, more often than any other, and is His earthly name. It simply means, “Saviour”. Joseph was commanded by God the Father, through the angel Gabriel, to call Him by that name. It was not a new name, for He was the Saviour of the world “before the beginning of time.” [35] The KJV translates this verse, “Before the world began.” The angel Gabriel said, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” [36] The literal meaning of the name Jesus is “Jehovah is Saviour”, which strikes another deathblow at Jehovah’s Witness doctrine.

Many other names and titles, too numerous to deal with in detail in this article, are given to Jesus Christ throughout the Bible. A few brief examples, with Scripture references, are included here to enable the reader to check them himself if he requires further support for the aspect of doctrine dealt with in this booklet. In each case it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is referred to! “The Last Adam.” [37] The KJV translates this as “The Second Adam”. “The Bread of Life.” [38] “Son of David.” [39] “King of Kings.” [40] “The Lamb of God.” [41] “The Light of the World.” [42] “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” [43] “The Son of Man.” [44] “The Son of God.” [45] “The Good Shepherd.” [46] “The Way and the Truth and the Life.” [47] “The True Vine.” [48]

THE WORD—this title has already been referred to in a previous article, but because of its importance we will look at it again more fully. “His name is The Word of God.” [49] It is a name which describes Jesus as, “The One Who Reveals” or “The Revealer of God”. I am communicating to you, the reader, by means of printed words in a booklet. If I wish to reveal my thoughts, my ideas, to express my feelings, or make known my wishes to another, I do so by means of words—either spoken, or written (as in a letter or a book) or electronically (as in a Web page, such as www.pen4god.co.uk). In a similar way God reveals Himself to mankind by means of His Son—the Word. This “Mouthpiece” of God the Father is God the Son. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...the Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.” [50]

But this title, The Word, implies much more. I can do no better than quote the following. The Word: “This is the somewhat inadequate translation of the Greek term ‘Logos’, which appears in the original text of John 1:1,14 and Revelation 19:13. Probably the best commentary on its meaning is in Hebrews 1:1-3, where the Son is shown to stand supreme as the Word of God in a perfect sense.

“These verses present the perfection of…

“(i) the relationship between Him who speaks and the Word spoken, who is ’the express image of His person’, His Son;

“(ii) the revelation this ’Word’ conveys in that He is also ’the brightness of His glory’;

“(iii) the effect this ’Word’ produces upon the whole universe in creating and sustaining power (verses 2 and 3) and upon all mankind in redeeming power (verse 3).

“Note also that the ’speaking’ activity of this ’Word’ involves all that He is and all that He does, as well as all that He says.” [51]

Blasphemy, such as that promulgated by Jehovah’s Witnesses, can only result in the condemnation to hell of the promulgators! How can one accept such a false statement as the following? “Before the birth of Jesus there are ten men in the nation of Israel who were listed with the name Michael, yet the Son of God was not to be known on earth by that name. ‘You are to call his name Jesus,’ said the angel Gabriel to Mary his mother. So on earth it was not even hinted at that he had been Michael in heaven.” [52]

Of course it was never hinted at on earth that Jesus was called Michael in heaven—how could it be, when to do so would be completely alien to the true doctrine of Jesus Christ? As we have already said, and we cannot emphasise this too much, the different names and titles given to Jesus throughout the Scriptures each reveal a different aspect of His nature and work, thus building up a greater understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name of Michael would change all that completely!

In fairness to the Jehovah’s Witness theory I have personally studied the Bible at great length from Genesis to Revelation in an attempt to find a reference which even very slightly hinted that Jesus Christ might have at one time been an archangel. I found nothing! I must admit, I expected to find nothing. The Word of God denies that Christ is anything but God the Son. It states this plainly over and over again.

Contrast these two statements. The first was spoken by the apostle Peter, the second written by “Pastor” Russell. “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact... Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” [53] “As chief of the angels and next to the Father, he was known as the Archangel, whose name Michael signifies, ‘Who as God’ or ‘God’s representative’.” [54] Which one are we going to believe, Peter or Russell? The Bible states that Jesus is, in effect, God the Son, Saviour of the World, Anointed of God the Father. Jehovah’s Witnesses state that He is simply an archangel.

I know which statement I believe! Do you?

Who is this Michael? He is described in the Old Testament as the Patron of the Hebrew Nation. “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise.” [55] He is the archangel under whose protection the Jews have been placed. The next reference is in the New Testament, where he is contending with the devil. “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses…” [56] Then, in the very last book of the Bible, Michael and his angels are recorded as waging war with Satan and his angels in heaven. “And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” [57]

There is no argument with the fact that an archangel by the name of Michael really does exist—the Bible says that he does! Equally so, there is no doubt that this same Michael, described in the Old Testament as “one of the chief princes,” [58] does exist for the purpose of taking special charge of the Jewish nation, and is the leader of an angelic army. But this does not give Jehovah’s Witnesses the right to say that, “Jehovah is the chiefest Prince, and with Him his Son Michael is one of the chief princes.” [59]

Have you noticed here that Jehovah has ceased to be GOD and is now reduced to a PRINCE? Likewise, Jesus has ceased to be GOD and is also reduced to a PRINCE—only His name is Michael! I do wish Jehovah’s Witnesses would sort themselves out and make up their minds as to what they really do believe! By present reckoning, God or Prince, Jesus or Michael, whatever they come up with, it will be false!

It is all very confusing, isn’t it? But the Bible says that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the congregations of the saints.” [60] How then do we account for this confusion? Obviously, it is not of God! Stay with what the Bible alone says and there will be no confusion. There is absolutely no proof anywhere in the Bible that Michael was either a son of God, which would be impossible as Jesus is His “only begotten Son”, and angels (even archangels) are created beings, not begotten; and no proof either that Michael is in fact Jesus Christ.

So one again we are forced to the obvious fact that it is Jehovah’s Witnesses who are the authors of confusion. We are also forced to the obvious conclusion that Jehovah’s Witnesses are teaching a false doctrine.

One final thought before we turn to another aspect of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. (This we will do in the next article in this little series of articles with the words, “Jehovah’s Witnesses and…”, in their titles.) The apostle Paul writes this of Jesus— it is “Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life –” [who] “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” [61]

Notice this: IT WAS CHRIST WHO DIED, IT WAS CHRIST WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD, IT WAS CHRIST WHO ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND IT IS CHRIST WHO IS AT THIS MOMENT AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING INTERCESSION FOR US.

To depart from this truth, and to preach something different, is both false and expressly condemned in the Bible. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” [62] Jehovah’s Witnesses, you have been warned—by God!

It is with regret that we have to admit that Jehovah’s Witnesses are preaching another gospel, and are therefore condemned. How can we reconcile what we have just stated from the Bible with these statements? “Jesus Christ, who is Michael the great prince in heaven, is present in the throne of God’s restored kingdom.” [63] “The glorified Jesus Christ, or Michael, is the Chief Cornerstone of the living sanctuary.” [64]  Now we are more confused than ever!

These two Jehovah’s Witness statements alone serve to complicate the simple truth of the Word of God. Compare the two! The Lord Archangel Jesus Michael Christ, a prince, in the throne of God’s restored kingdom, is the Chief Cornerstone of the living sanctuary! This according to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Can you unravel that bit of complicated jargon? I can’t! Jesus is at the right hand of God, making intercession for us. This according to the Bible. One a complicated string of jargon; the other, a simple, plain, easily-understood statement which makes complete sense.

So, reluctantly, we are compelled to not only charge Jehovah’s Witnesses with preaching and teaching a false doctrine, but in so doing, complicating the simple truth of Scripture as well.

JESUS CHRIST HAS NEVER BEEN AN ARCHANGEL, IS NOT NOW THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL, AND NEVER WILL BE.

Let us always remember the Word of God. “JESUS CHRIST the same yesterday and today and for ever.” [65] “Every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is Lord.” [66] JESUS CHRIST, “before the creation of the world.” [67]