JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

176
The Jehovah's Witnesses claim that the phrase in question is an "historical present" used
in reference to Abraham and therefore permissible. The problem is that Jesus was not narrating
but arguing, and according to any standard grammar, the "historical present" is used in narrative,
not argument, form of literature.
Yet the Jehovah Witnesses have unknowingly affirmed Jesus' deity in their New World
Translation (NWT—661) by pointing the reader to Revelation 1:17 as a cross reference to
Hebrews 13:8 and thus irrevocably declare that the Jesus Christ of Hebrews 13:8 is the "First and
the Last" of Revelation 1:17.
If Christ is the "First and Last" in Revelation 1:17, He has to be the "Alpha and Omega"
of Revelation 1:8. By their own rendition it reads: "Jehovah God" (NWT). Either there are two
"Firsts and Lasts" (Isa 48:12), or they are identical. Scripture is replete with examples to show
that they are the latter (Isa 51:12; 52:6).
The letter of Hebrews closes as it began by reminding its readers of their unchanging
Lord. He is always the same:
"They will perish, but You remain . . . like a garment they will be changed. But
You remain the same, and Your years will never end" (Heb 1:11-12).
Jesus lives for ever, the Lord of history who will certainly return (10:37) for
those ". . . who are eagerly waiting for Him" (9:28).
Divine Offices and Prerogatives belong to Him
● Source and Giver of Life and Power over Death (Jn 5:21; 11:25).
By implication, direct statement, and deed—all indicate that Jesus has power over life
and death. Hannah in her song of praise Credits God with having the power to kill and to make
alive (1 Sa 2:6). In Psalm 119, the psalmist acknowledges repeatedly (at least 12 times) that it is
Jehovah who gives and preserves life. Yet Jesus Himself claims to have this same power:
"For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life
to whom He desires" (Jn 5:21).
Other Scriptures give equally powerful evidence for Jesus' deity since He is the Source of
life itself:
"I am the way and the truth and the life. . . . You have killed the author of life . . .
this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it
and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father
and has appeared to us. . . For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has