• Blog
    • About
    • Comment Policy
    • Contact Me
    • Blog
    • About
    • Comment Policy
    • Contact Me

Witnessing Stages

  • Stage 1 of a Witnessing Relationship: Breaking the Ice - When you meet someone, you first build a level of trust before discussing controversial subjects with them. In talking with Jehovah’s Witnesses, you need to do the same.
  • Stage 2 of a Witnessing Relationship: Building Rapport - Here's how to build rapport with Jehovah's Witnesses so they will keep meeting with you despite your doctrinal disagreements.
  • Guest Post by Michael Clark: Building Rapport with Jehovah’s Witnesses - If your main purpose is to convert every Witness, then don't be surprised if they don't “buy-in.” I prefer a more modest approach -- getting to know them.
  • Stage 3 of a Witnessing Relationship: Treading Lightly - When you begin actual discussions with Jehovah's Witnesses about the Bible, you can go astray by coming on too strong and trying to proceed too fast.
  • Stage 4 of a Witnessing Relationship: Opening Up - At some point you will need to open up about what you believe even though that will cause friction. Here is some advice about how to make the transition.
  • Stage 5 of a Witnessing Relationship: Challenging Directly - In order to be saved, at some point Jehovah's Witnesses' reliance on the Watchtower must be broken so they can place their faith in Christ himself rather than in an organization.
  • Stage 6 of a Witnessing Relationship: Scenario 1: Coming to Jesus - If you believe a Jehovah's Witness is ready to place saving faith in Christ, here is how to proceed and the points you need to make clear.
  • Stage 6 of a Witnessing Relationship: Scenario 2: Walking Away - Often, our efforts to share the gospel with Jehovah's Witnesses end in an impasse. Here's how to handle that situation.
Buy now on Amazon!

Search this site

Browse by Category

Browse by series

BROWSE BY SCRIPTURE

Scripture Index

Sign up for weekly updates

* indicates required

Browse Recent posts

  • Jesus Isn’t Michael: Point #1
  • The Identity of the Holy Spirit
  • The Identity of Jesus Christ
  • The Trinity
  • The New Birth Is Available to Everyone

Browse by Date

Follow @daenglundweb

© 2023

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑

 

Term Christian view WT explanation
Rich man A selfish non-Christian Class of Jewish religious leaders who had special privileges and opportunities before John the Baptist and Jesus
————  —————————————–  ————————————————–
Lazarus A believer named Lazarus Class of common people who hungered for spiritual nourishment but received next to nothing from those religious leaders
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Death Physical death Both classes dying to previous condition as a result of response to kingdom preaching by John the Baptist and Jesus. As a result of this reversal, (1) the Lazarus class now received abundant spiritual food from Jesus and (2) the rich man class lost favor with God when new covenant began at Pentecost
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Abraham Abraham individually and as representing leaders of believers who have died Jehovah
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Abraham’s bosom Conscious paradise for believers who have died Position of favor with Jehovah in this life
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Torment Conscious torment of the unsaved after physical death Torment in this life caused by the fiery judgment messages proclaimed by Jesus’ disciples
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Water to cool tongue Rich man’s torment compared to deep thirst that’s never quenched Request of rich man class to Jehovah to have Jesus’ disciples let up from preaching the fiery kingdom messages that are causing their torment
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Great chasm There is no chance for unsaved to obtain salvation after physical death God’s unchangeable, righteous judgment prevents the granting of the rich man’s request
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Five brothers Five living brothers of the rich man who died Allies of the rich man class who share the same spiritual father—Satan
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Rich man’s purpose in requesting Abraham to send Lazarus to five brothers to warn them Send Lazarus back from the dead so five brothers will see that heaven and hell are real and warn them to repent because they will have no chance after death to repent and avoid the rich man’s torment Rich man doesn’t want his brothers to repent. He is asking Jehovah to have Jesus’ disciples to water down their judgment messages so his allies won’t be tormented by them as he is.
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Sending someone back from the dead to warn them Sending Lazarus from the grave back to warn the brothers Unspecified special signs or miracles to convince the brothers of the truth of Jesus’ message
 ————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Why Abraham refuses The brothers wouldn’t repent even if someone returned from the dead. Their only hope is to heed Moses and the prophets God will not provide special signs or miracles to convince the brothers. Their only hope is to heed Moses and the prophets.
————  —————————————–   ————————————————–
Why does the rich man tell Abraham that if someone from the dead goes to the brothers they will repent? The rich man is in torment and wants his brothers to repent of their sins so they won’t share his fate. No explanation. The rich man doesn’t want his allies to repent. He just wants Jehovah to water down the judgment message in this life so the brothers won’t be torment by them
Rich Man and Lazarus text

Luke 16:19-31 (RSV):

 

19 “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom.

 

24 And he called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, `Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

 

27 And he said, `Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'”