8 Despite this, these men too are indulging in dreams, defiling the flesh, despising authority, and speaking abusively of glorious ones. 9 But when Mi′cha·el the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: “May Jehovah rebuke you.”
The Watchtower uses this passage in Jude against its critics, and applies the term “glorious ones” toward those in the Watchtower Hierarchy.
However, a little research will uncover that these “glorious ones” are as some translations say, not human religious leaders, but “angelic majesties.” The word for ‘speaking abusively’ is blasphēmeō which means to “speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme”.
Similarly, “bring a judgment against him in abusive terms”, a similar word blasphēmia arises, which means ‘slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another's good name’.
Here Jude contrasts those who thought so much of themselves, likely Gnostics, so as to blaspheme angels, to the Archangel Michael’s approach toward the Devil. He said, “May Jehovah rebuke you.” Note that Michael’s desire that the Devil be rebuked by God, thereby not thinking the Devil above rebuke, he simply did not speak slanderously or in an uncontrolled manner. The word rebuke is epitimaō and means:
* to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty
* to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely
* to admonish or charge sharply
Actually, in the Greek, it is not, “MAY the Lord rebuke you”, but “The Lord rebuke you.” There is no may about it. The Devil was in the wrong and Michael called him out on it.
Therefore, it is not wrong in pointing out the evils of a religious organization or the leadership. In fact, the Watchtower has a history of doing this themselves, condemning other religious groups in the strongest of terms and dredging up against them every fault they can find. Or take the recent District Convention where they railed against the Apostate Boogeyman. Much of this borders on hate speech if not actually is. Therefore, the Watchtower has a habit of speaking abusively on individuals who they do not agree with. They could well learn the point that Jude was trying to make.
The Watchtower is not above criticism. An honest examination of Watchtower history and teachings reveal many points to dispute with them about, just like Michael disputed with the Devil. Obviously, we must think about our approach in such a dispute.
However, it is not wrong for us to say, “Jehovah rebuke you, Watchtower. Jehovah rebuke you, Governing Body.”
