Keith writes
You have just touched on a flawed doctrinal belief that is foundational to false religion.
First, it is important to understand what false religion means when they call themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses. By this, they declare themselves to be “witnesses of the Father” despite the fact that Jehovah is NOT the name of God at all, but a concoction of human origin from the Dark Ages.
Here is the flaw:
Is it even possible for ANYONE to be a witness of the Father?
The answer to that from the Bible is No!
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:18 NKJV)
This Scripture says that the Father no one has seen, except the Son. So only Jesus can be a witness to the Father!
And if no one has seen the Father, how can anyone testify about the Father???
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day who considered themselves a type of “witnesses of the Father” here:
And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. (John 5:37-38 NKJV)
Did you see that? The Jews considered themselves to be “witnesses of the Father” when in reality they have neither seen Him nor heard Him.
But Jesus said that the Father’s word doesn’t dwell in them because they don’t believe in Jesus, whom the Father testified about.
Thus, it is the will of the Father that all should look to the Son, making them, therefore, witnesses of Jesus:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8 NKJV)
These are the words of Jesus to His disciples just before He was to ascend into Heaven after His resurrection. Clearly He told His followers that they would be “witnesses of Jesus” NOT “witnesses of the Father.”
The same statement is repeated at the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul the Apostle:
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16 NKJV)
The One speaking here is Jesus, and He clearly states that Paul is to bear His Name (not the name of the Father) before kings and Gentiles. Therefore, Paul is also a “Jesus Witness!”
The Apostle Peter also said this:
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:16-18 NKJV)
Peter is a special case in that he not only witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, but He also heard the Father’s voice declaring Jesus to be His Son.
And despite hearing the Father’s voice, Peter is testifying about Christ, NOT the Father!
Why?
Because the Father gave Jesus honor and glory (2 Peter 1:17) The Apostle John, who was there with Peter, echoes the same message:
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. (1 John 4:14 NKJV)
John is referring to the experience in the Mount of Transfiguration where the Bible records what Jesus was speaking about with Moses and Elijah on that mountain:
And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30-31 NKJV)
Thus the prophecy in the Old Testament is referring to being witnesses of Jesus:
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.” (Isaiah 43:10 NKJV)
The Apostle Paul, in his testimony about his conversion said this:
Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. (Acts 22:12-14 NKJV)
Indeed, Paul both saw and heard Jesus, which qualifies him as a “witness” for Jesus to bear His Name before kings and Gentiles.
Conclusion:
It is IMPOSSIBLE to be a “witness of the Father” because no one has seen the Father, but the Son was seen by Abraham, Moses, the elders of Israel, the disciples, and many more!
Every genuine Christian is a “Jesus Witness” and certainly NOT a “Jehovah’s Witness.”