To understand the Watchtower teachings about Jesus you have to keep in mind that the Jesus of the WT existed in three different forms: (1) Pre-human, (2) Human, and (3) Post Crucifixion or more simply put: Angel—Human—Angel.
PRE-HUMAN FORM ACCORDING TO THE WT*
To answer this question I turned to my copy of a Witness book, “Aid to Bible Understanding” (a 1,700 page book much like a Bible dictionary/encyclopedia—the updated version is called “Insight on the Scriptures”) and looked up “Michael.” Why would I look up Michael in looking for information about Jesus? Because the WT teaches that Jesus was Jehovah’s first and greatest creation and was, in fact, Michael the Archangel. The Aid book further states, “Scriptural evidence indicated that the name Michael applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return.” (Aid to Bible Understanding, pg. 1152)
WHAT THE WT NEGLECTS TO TELL JW’S ABOUT MICHAEL and JESUS*
The Bible nowhere identifies Jesus as Michael (or any other angel). HEBREWS 1:5-8 DRAWS A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN JESUS AND THE ANGELS, “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? Or again, ‘I will be His Father, and He will be my Son’? And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, ‘Let ALL God’s angels worship Him.’ In speaking of the angels He says, ‘He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.’ But about the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’”
The hierarchy of heavenly beings is made clear in the Hebrew passage—angels worship Jesus who, as God, is alone worthy of worship. No angel is ever worshiped in Scripture; therefore, Jesus (worthy of worship) cannot be Michael or any other angel (not worthy of worship). The angels are called sons of God (Genesis 6:2-4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7), but Jesus is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:8; Matthew 4:3-6.)
Michael the archangel is perhaps the highest of all the angels. Michael is the only angel in the Bible who is designated “the archangel” (Jude verse 9). MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, THOUGH, IS ONLY AN ANGEL. He is not God. The clear distinction in the power and authority of Michael and Jesus can be seen in comparing Matthew 4:10 where Jesus rebukes Satan, and Jude verse 9, where Michael the archangel “dared not bring a judgment of blasphemy against Satan and calls on the Lord to rebuke him.” Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1,14). Michael the archangel is a powerful angel, but still only an angel.
HUMAN FORM ACCORDING TO THE WT
WT also teaches that this archangel was transformed into a human at Bethlehem and was named Jesus but he was not yet the Christ. The Society's book, Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2 p. 440, “According to the angel's announcement at His birth in Bethlehem, HE WAS TO BECOME A SAVIOR, who is Christ the Lord. He became Christ, or Anointed One, after the prophet John baptized him in the Jordan River.”
WHAT THE WT NEGLECTS TO TELL JW’S ABOUT THE CLEAR TEACHING OF LUKE 2:11
Luke 2:11 in the WT’s Kingdom Interlinear Translation
of the Greek Scriptures, “because was born to you today Savior
who is Christ Lord in city of David,”
Luke 2:11 in the WT’s New World Translation, “because there was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in David’s city.”
Luke 2:11 clearly states that the angel announced “for to
you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR WHO IS CHRIST
THE LORD.” This scripture testifies that at his birth Jesus already was the Christ, NOT that he was to become the Christ.
POST HUMAN FORM ACCORDING TO THE WT
In The Kingdom is at Hand the WT explains, “At death he laid aside the human organism in which he ministered as a new creature for three and a half years; and in his resurrection he was no more human. He was raised as a spirit creature.” (p. 258).
Since Jesus was raised a spirit creature, his second return (JW’s prefer second presence) would be as a spirit being, invisible to human eyes and this second presence was predicted to occur in the autumn of 1872, The Divine Plan of the Ages, 1927 ed., p.4.
WT TEACHES THAT JESUS WAS THE MASTER OF DISGUISES
A little-known doctrine of the JW’s states that after
Jesus’ resurrection, he assumed human form temporarily. (NOW FOR THE CRAZY PART) “The fleshly bodies that he materialized
were not identical from one appearance to the next. Thus, even Jesus’ close
friends recognized him only by what he said or did”—not by his physical
appearance. (JW.ORG,
“After Jesus
Resurrection was His Body Flesh or Spirit?”)
For example, “when Jesus appeared to the apostle Thomas,
he took on a body with wound marks. He did this to bolster Thomas’ faith, since
Thomas doubted that Jesus had been raised.” (Ibid)
JESUS OF THE BIBLE
NOT A CREATED BEING AS THE WT TEACHES
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God
and THE WORD WAS GOD.” (John 1:1 KJV)
“Answered Thomas and he said to Him, The Lord of me and THE
GOD OF ME.” (John 20:28, KIT)
“But unto the Son he saith, THY THRONE, O GOD, is for
ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.”
(Hebrews 1:8, KJV)
While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. (Titus 2:13, NIV)
RESURRECTION OF THE SAME BODY
NOT A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION AS THE WT TEACHES
“Therefore, My Father loves Me, because I lay
down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay
it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take
it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18,
NKJV)
“But they were terrified and frightened and supposed they
had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that
it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh
and bones as you see I have.” (Luke 24:37-39, NKJV)
“Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here,
and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and
put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” (John
20:27, NKJV).
CREATOR OF ALL THINGS
NOT CREATED AS THE WT TEACHES
“ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.” (John 1:3, KJV).
“FOR BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were
created by him, and for him:” (Col. 1:16, KJV)
SECOND COMING IS VISIBLE
NOT INVISIBLE AS THE WT TEACHES
“who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing
up into heaven? THIS SAME JESUS, WHO WAS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO
HEAVEN, WILL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YOU SAW HIM GO INTO HEAVEN.(Acts
1:11, NKJV)
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7, NKJV).
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*Thanks to gotquestions.org for this information.
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