Expert: John Fields - 5/19/2010

Question
Dear John,

I am a member of the Lord's church in south Africa, I have a few Jehovah's Witness friends and they claim that JW is the true religion. Can you clarify the following for me:

Matthew 5:5 Jesus Christ says blessed are meek for they will inherit the earth, the JW use this verse to back up their teachings that the meek will reign on earth, please also clarify for me Acts 2:34.
There is also the issue of not taking blood, do their have a point, please see Acts 21:25
Lastly, they often argue why God created the world if he was going to destroy it, how should I answer that question

Thank you,

God bless you

Answer
The Jehovah Witness cult relies on a few corrupt men at the top of the organization running the group and convincing them that they need to sell tracts to have any chance at reaching heaven. Their's is an ENTIRELY works based system of salvation and it is demonstrably false.

I'll touch briefly on the other subjects. I believe they are biblical on a few subjects just as virtually all denominational groups are right about a few things. I personally believe that the meek inheriting the earth is prophetic of Heaven. We WILL inherit the NEW earth and the NEW Heaven. The earth was said destroyed the first time by water. Yet, obviously it was reborn through destruction and exists to this day. I believe that the burning up of Heaven and Earth will result in an entirely sin free world with Jesus reigning forever. Many think the world will disappear altogether. But I think the apostle Peter would disagree.  

2 Peter 3:10-13 (10) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

I think this shows that heaven and earth will be remade just as in the days of Noah only via fire rather than water. A New Heaven and Earth will result where RIGHTEOUSNESS dwells. Some people think this is metaphor. But I personally do not. That paradise and Eden started on earth seems indicative of God's plan to involve earth in eternity. This is Bible they do not own this. Their contention that only 144,000 will be in Heaven and that the New Heaven and Earth will be two separate plains of existence is nonsense.

As to reigning:
2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him;If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
Revelation 5:10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.
"Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

These say we will reign WITH Jesus (wherever He is) Rev 5:10 places this reign on earth. Is it a thousand year reign? I have always thought this to be figurative. If someone has come to God through the Gospel and is watching God and loving Him with all of heart, soul, mind and strength AND the neighbor as themselves he is ready to meet ANY reality. I am much more confident dealing with non-figurative language and salvation through Jesus knowing that God will take care of the things that I don't know enough about if I focus my attention on these things He has made clear.

If I am wrong on the reigning and the inheriting it matters not. These are God's to deal with. I won't be assigning myself any territories. We are talking facts and not matters which should in any way divide us. Eternity is where God is and that is ALL that matters to me.

Acts 21:25 is something which was carried through from the Old Testament that in cultish fashion they have fastened upon as being of incredible importance. Ironically, their blind and insistent obedience on this matter is symptom to why they CANNOT be saved. They INSIST that this work must be done to be saved and faithful. Therefore they have actually added this to the Gospel. Galatians 1:6-9 says that anyone who adds to the Gospel is invalidating the Gospel's ability to save. It becomes a different and damning message.

Christ is the end of law keeping to be saved. We do not keep law to be saved but to praise God and show our love for Him having saved us. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. The perfect keeping of law is what is required to be saved by law. Only Jesus has done this. James 2:10 says that if we stumble in just one point of law that we will be guilty of breaking ALL law. Galatians 5:4 says that ANYONE who seeks to be justified (saved) by law-keeping will fall from grace and be severed from Christ. This is because they are adding other work to Jesus' completed work of the Gospel. What is the Gospel? it is shown in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. It is God's power to save man (Romans 1:16) NOT men attempting to fumble through and save themselves by trying to keep law.

Jehovah's Witnesses are false in many ways but their seeking to be justified by law tops their bad list. You would spend your time the best by attempting to show them THIS error above all the rest. We must be VERY careful not to commit this error ourselves. It is easy to do.

Finally, your question about Acts 2:34. This passage is referring to an earlier prophecy. Peter points out that it could not be talking about David since he died and had gone to the grave, seeing corruption. The one this spoke of did not see corruption. It could only describe Jesus.

I hope this helps.