- Note: The following email exchange is a demonstration of the attitude each of us should have towards anyone claiming to be anointed or have visions. Since it is not our experience, there is no way that we can know anything for certain except if we see clear signs of demonization or extreme mental illness. We can discuss the Scriptures with them about these issues, but only that individual gets to decide what the facts are for theirself. We can have our own view, but we must let them have theirs and not try to convince them otherwise because it is not our place.
I had a vision wrote [November 10, 2017, 10:40 pm]:
- I had a vision of seeing Jesus Christ, I could describe his look and appearance in detail but I won't do it here. I had this vision and received a brotherly love and was according to my experience adopted as a son of God and Brother of Jesus - followed by a strong sensation of burning within and a voice saying "I sanctify you". I am not baptised a JW, but i am studying. I feel very close to Jehovah and everything about the organisation seem correct, except that my teacher believes my vision and any form of modern vision is of the devil. I have a very hard time approaching for baptism because of this experience, not because of the experience but because it seems like the organisation rejects it as a direct false vision sent from satan the devil. The experience changed me as a man. I have also experienced being lifted up from my bed by angels and i also hear Jesus voice some times. Jesus is young according to my experience, not a old man.
- My sincere question is: what is the official belief of the organisation? Is it impossible for someone to have experienced what i recognise as the "christian greek text" experience? Sanctified, in fire of the holy spirit, with the speaking in tongues (I do not speak in tongues now but i did when the experience occured) and I do not know what the spirit spoke through my tongue. What is the organisation's view on this subject. Is it true that the Watchtower once said Rutherford or someone else in the early days had a "flash of the Heavenly throne" and stopped having beard and was clean shaven after the experience?
- As I stated, I have a hard time approaching the baptism now because the JW's says it is impossible to have any of these early Christian experiences in our day.
- Grateful for any answer. thank you.
JW Advisor: Thank you, "I had a vision" for contacting us with your concern. There is much to say that I think you will find comforting.
The organization has stated in our publications that we are not responsible for determining whether someone else, even our own Bible student, is anointed or not. (1 John 2:27) That is up to the student. All that matters is that the student is convinced of their anointing and fully understands what it means.
Variety of Anointings
The Scriptures show that there is no one way to receive an anointing. Those in the upper room on Pentacost 33 CE heard a rushing breeze and received tongues of fire above their heads and began speaking in tongues. (Acts 2:1-4) Paul was one of only 3 people recorded to have received a vision of Jesus, (The other two being Stephen and the apostle John; Acts 7:55, 56; Re 1:1; 5:6-14) but he did not receive his anointing until later, (Acts 9:17-19) but [the Scriptures do not indicate that he ever received] the gift of tongues. Others received their anointing by the laying on of hands. (Acts 8:14-17) Still others have received their anointing at their baptism with no dramatic effects. (Acts 8:36-38) Some of these received their anointing before or after baptism. (Acts 10:44-48) A full understanding of the Scriptures does not appear to have been a requirement of that anointing.Having Visions is not Indulging in Dreams
It is not the having of visions that the Bible speaks against. It is indulging in dreams that Paul warned against. (Jude 8) What this means is that some try to interpret every dream to guide their lives. This is a form of divination, which is condemned in the Bible. (Deuteronomy 18:10) But visions, on the other hand, have a clear spiritual component, usually involving angels or the appearance of Christ or a visual representation of Jehovah on his throne or an angelic voice, or even the voice of Jehovah. So clearly what you experienced does qualify as a vision and it should not be seen as indulging in dreams. For a discussion of visions, see Insight on the Scriptures, vol 2, pp. 1158-1160. You can also do additional research using the publications index on [the wol.jw.org website].[Also, what Paul said was done away with at 1 Corinthians 13:8 was specificaly the spiritual gifts of prophecy, tongues and divinely inspired knowledge, not visions. Those gifts have a particular divine element meant to be shared publically. Personal non-prophetic visions meant for an individual were not specified, therefore we cannot speak with any certainty about them without them being a common shared experience.]
Speaking in a Foreign Language by Spirit
But there is something you need to understand about speaking in tongues: the speaker understands what they are saying, even being able to converse back and forth in the language spoken, they simply speak them in another language. If you read 2 Corinthians 14:13-19, you will see that speaking in tongues does not leave the mind inactive, and thus engages the mind. What one speaks in a tongue, they speak from their heart. The spirit merely causes them to speak it in a foreign language.Tongues, (speaking in an existing foreign language,) are for others to hear in their own language. (Acts 2:7-11) If there is no one to hear and understand what is said, then speaking in the tongue is absolutely pointless. (1 Corinthians 14:7-12) Speaking in tongues was not for identifying ones as anointed, but for showing the transfer of God's favor from the physical Jewish nation who rejected the Christ to the spiritual Christian congregation who accepted the Christ through faith. It also facilitated the preaching of the good news. (1 Corinthians 14:21, 22) These are things not needed today. (1 Corinthians 12:8-12)
Levitation Not in the Bible
Also, there is not one single case of levitation in the Bible other than Jesus being lifted up into the clouds. Such has only ever been associated with demon attacks, particularly in people's beds, or with epilepsy or simple euphoria caused by blood pooling in a particular part of the brain, leading to visions, babeling and feelings of levitation.Stating vile things in a foreign tongue has also been associated with demon attacks. But at the same time, I will not label your experience as demonic or in any way not coming from Jehovah's holy spirit. If you were demonized, it would be clearly evident. But you wrote well and with good words and in a lowly way. But if you have ever had an epileptic attack, then that is the most likely culprit, but I will not pretend to know. [Only you can be certain of that.]
The Unforgiveable Sin
Jesus warned the Pharisees not to falsely attribute acts of the spirit to demons in fear that they should commit the unforgiveable sin. Thus, if there is no clear evidence of demonic influence, such as leading people away from Jehovah God, particularly with apostate sayings or speaking in demonuc tones, then there is no reason to assume that you are in any way demonized. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)If you are aware that it is demons, epilepsy or some other cause, but attribute it to the spirit, after I have made you aware of this, you would become liable to everlasting judgment. But if what has happened to you is from Jehovah's holy spirit and I or anyone else were to attribute it to demons or epilepsy after you or anyone warn them not to, they would also become liable to everlasting judgment. For that reason, you should keep your experience under wraps, revealing it only to those with a right to know.
Satan could use your experience as a means to corrupt you away from God or decieve others into believing you are demonized or that Jehovah's Witnesses entertain demons, thus [making them liable to judgment] or driving them away from Jehovah. Certainly for most, such a thing is beyond their experience and they might come to conclusions about you personally. So be discreet. At the same time, those who do know should themselves be discreet and not make any assumptions regarding it. [I post it here only to show that it is not anyone's place to judge who does not know.]
Counsel
Thus, your Bible teacher is wrong for telling you otherwise. You can direct your Bible teacher to read the January, 2016 Watchtower, pp. 18-19, pars. 5, 6, and 10, for understanding this. You would do well to study that whole article yourself.If you think you need to be sure that you are not being deceived by demons, the Live Forever book had the most comprehensive advice on p. 96, pars 17-19. If you want to be more sure, you can also let the elders know about your experience, making these issues clear to them and ask them to pray over you. But there is also nothing wrong with simply being convicted in your experience. Jehovah did something spectacular for me that he did for someone in the Bible, which no one would believe if I told them, so I keep it to myself.
Guard Against Apostasy
But always be aware that your experience in no way protects you from becoming apostate. Thus always keep a lowly frame of mind and do not believe that your experience in any way entitles you to special privileges within Jehovah's organization. You have to earn those privileges like anyone else.However, your experience does obligate you to live up to that calling and thus privileges are likely to come as you demonstrate your calling. From that day forward, you became responsible for striving to preach the word without let up. You must live up to your calling if you wish to receive the reward of becoming a king and priest in heaven as one of Christ's brothers, having received the adoption of a son of God. You must keep yourself holy and unblemished from the world and prove yourself worthy of the calling. Most of the other sheep do not have witness born to them through holy spirit, so that witness from the spirit gives anointed ones a greater obligation.
The thing that distinguishes the heavenly calling from the earthly hope is their understanding of the spiritual resurrection. Someone with the earthly hope envisions earthly surroundings, but the one with the heavenly hope comprehends a heavenly existence and their weighty responsibility as a king-priest over the earth. (1 Cotinthians 11:27-31; 15:35-57; Eph 2:6; Heb 6:4, 5; 12:22-25)
May Jehovah guide you and protect you and grant you peace and everlasting life through Jesus Christ. [November 11, 2017, 6:26 am]
Did this reply help? [November 15, 2017, 3:33 am]
I had a vision wrote [November 16, 2017, 6:19 am]:
- Hello, yes it helped. I go to meetings now. I will be baptised.
JW Advisor [Addendum]: The anointed are under obligation to spearhead the preaching work and to assist in spreading the message to the entire world as part of their qualification as king-priests. If they do not expend themselves in the work, they may fail to qualify for their calling. (1Corinthians 9:24-27) It is unknown what happens if one fails to qualify, but we can be certain Jehovah is not unjust in dealing with them. It is reasonable to conclude that they simply default to the earthly calling.
Also, one should avoid presumptuously claiming to be anointed if they do not have the witness borne to them by spirit. (Proverbs 21:24) Such may result in their losing out on salvation. (Remember Absolom and Adonijah: 2 Samuel 15-18; 1 Kings 1:1-5-53; 2:13-25) [December 23, 2017, 3:52 am]
