Response to Surfari

I am truly honored today - I have received my very first rant against the Witnesses in the comments of one of my articles (Is it Enough to Read the Bible Alone). This must mean that I have ruffled at least somebody's feathers :D

But because the comment was so long and completely unrelated to the article, I will be giving it its very own post. The full comment was as follows:

hi obiwan. this is surfari, so you don't have to guess.

ok, i guess you have a point here. i've had to use other aids to find out the meanings of words etc. i didn't even know what a pharisee was, for instance. ammonites i thought were extinct nautiloid sea creatures, who had to fight the israelites.

and history books. ever looked up 607 bc?

but the watchtower does not claim to be an aid. they claim to be an ezekiel class prophet who declares the things to come.

watchtower 1 april 1972. sound familiar? later than your quote, newer light. don't bring that old stuff.

they claim to be be the sole communication channel between god and man. jehovah himself is the editor.

the latest take is that they are a non-inspired prophet, but a prophet nonetheless.

so if an ezekiel class prophet brings a communication from god, saying armageddon in 1914, then armageddon had better happen in 1914.

and if abraham is supposed to resurrect in 1925, he better show up to beth sarim.

you and i both know that none of this happened. nor any of the other "suggestions".

i'm left to conclude that they are not the ezekiel class prophet they claim to be. i cannot look at that and attribute the failures to the watchtower editor, god.

yhwh is not the bumbling fool who directs the watchtower and needs to give new light to cover up failed prophecies.

lies of a false prophet.

i don't follow a false prophet.

conversely, if they're just a bible aid, and fallible, why are you dedicating your life to them? would you die because a bible aid said no blood transfusions?

no. if you are a baptised jw, you were baptised in the name of jehovah's organisation.

very biblical.

no one would be baptised in the name of a bible concordance, or dictionary, or encyclopedia, or anything else on the list.

father, son, spirit. and organisation in that formula?

where did you get the "organisation" bit added on? watchtower?

why would i accept the add on watchtower bits, when i can read for myself and it doesn't say that?

so, either they are a prophet, in which case false and to be avoided.

or they are just a bible aid, in which case i reject them in comparison to the bible. your aid is clearly incorrect, as seen by it's chronologies regarding 1914.

lose lose for watchtowerites.

Lets break this down point by point - there are six of them:

1. 607 BCE and the 1914 chronology is wrong.

2. The Watchtower claims to be an "Ezekiel class" prophet.

3. The Watchtower claims that Jehovah is its direct editor.

4. JW's would die because something other than the Bible told them to abstain from blood.

5. The Faithful and Discreet Slave is nothing but a Bible Study Aid.

6. Jehovah's Witnesses get baptized in the name of an organization.

ever looked up 607 bc?

Yes, actually, I have read quite a bit on 607 BCE, and have determined from the facts that the date is accurate. I simply will not post anything on this site about the date because it has already been covered ad nauseum by others.

http://thirdwitness.com/607_BCE/www.jehovahsjudgment.co.uk/607/pdf/607%20-%20USA%20Letter.pdf

http://onlytruegod.org/jwstrs/JWSTRS-607.pdf

http://folk.uio.no/rolffu/Chronlgy.htm

It just takes a little bit of reading (which apparently you did not do with the "Collected Writings of ThirdWitness" article).

watchtower 1 april 1972. sound familiar?

Of course it is familiar; Witness haters parrot claims about that article probably more than any other. How about I just give you the entire article right here, and then we can analyze it together?

Original April 1, 1972 “Prophet” Article

‘They Shall Know that a Prophet Was Among Them’

JEHOVAH GOD is interested in having people know him. Though he is invisible to human eyes, he provides various ways by which they can know his personality. They can know what to expect from him and what he expects of them.

One can come to understand that Jehovah is a God of surpassing wisdom by observing creation. This also reveals the loving care with which he designed things for man’s welfare and enjoyment. A second way to know God is through his Word of truth, the Bible. Herein one finds the full expression of Jehovah’s purpose toward mankind—why man is on the earth and the blessings that God has in store.

A third way of coming to know Jehovah God is through his representatives. In ancient times he sent prophets as his special messengers. While these men foretold things to come, they also served the people by telling them of God’s will for them at that time, often also warning them of dangers and calamities. People today can view the creative works. They have at hand the Bible, but it is little read or understood. So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come?

IDENTIFYING THE “PROPHET”

These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? The clergy of the so-called “Christian” nations hold themselves before the people as being the ones commissioned to speak for God. But, as pointed out in the previous issue of this magazine, they have failed God and failed as proclaimers of his kingdom by approving a man-made political organization, the League of Nations (now the United Nations), as “the political expression of the Kingdom of God on earth.”

However, Jehovah did not let the people of Christendom, as led by the clergy, go without being warned that the League was a counterfeit substitute for the real kingdom of God. He had a “prophet” to warn them. This “prophet” was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. They are still proclaiming a warning, and have been joined and assisted in their commissioned work by hundreds of thousands of persons who have listened to their message with belief.

Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a “prophet” of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?

During the World War I period this group, the International Bible Students, was very active in preaching the good news of God’s kingdom, as their Leader Jesus Christ had set this work before them in his prophecy at Matthew 24:14. They took literally Jesus’ words to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate: “My kingdom is no part of this world.” (John 18:36) They also took to heart Jesus’ words to his followers:

“You are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” They expected to suffer for living according to that rule, just as Jesus went on to say, “on this account the world hates you.” (John 15:19) Hatred toward them grew into violence during World War I.

These Bible Students had long been concerned with Ezekiel and his prophecy. In 1917 they published a book entitled “The Finished Mystery,” explaining the book of Ezekiel as well as that of Revelation. This book criticized the clergy as false to the Word of Jehovah. Within nine months a ban was put on its circulation in the United States and Canada. Then eight members of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, including its president and secretary-treasurer, were sentenced to prison in the Federal penitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Though the work of these Christians was crippled for a while, after only nine months the eight men were freed from prison, in March 1919. They accepted this as an answer from God to their prayers. Their work was revived, much to the consternation of the clergy, who had been behind the banning.

Accordingly, their magazine The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, in its issues of August 1 and 15, 1919, encouraged vigorous resumption of the work of preaching the good news free from the fear of men. Under the subject “Blessed Are the Fearless,” the following statements were made:

“There is a fear which is very proper, and which everyone must have who is pleasing to God, and this is known as ‘Godly fear’. It means a holy reverence for Jehovah and a fear lest we should displease him and come short of the blessings he has promised us. . . . The Scriptures abound with testimony that those whom God approves do not fear man nor any other creature, but have a holy, reverential fear of Jehovah. In times of old Jehovah justified some men to friendship with him, and the record of his dealing with them was written for the benefit of the church.”

Ezekiel was one of these men so used by God, and not only his prophecies, but also Ezekiel himself and his acts were pictorial of things to come.

THE “PROPHET” SPEAKS TO CHRISTENDOM

A General Convention was held by the International Bible Students at Cedar Point, Ohio, September 1-8, 1919. Thousands of Jehovah’s servants were present from the United States and Canada. There the Watch Tower Society’s president urged the fearless resumption of the work, and this with the use of the outspoken magazine entitled “The Golden Age.” In the public talk delivered on the subject “The Hope for Distressed Humanity,” the speaker declared that the Lord’s displeasure was certain to be visited upon the League of Nations,

“because the clergy—Catholic and Protestant—claiming to be God’s representatives, have abandoned his plan and endorsed the League of Nations, hailing it as a political expression of Christ’s kingdom on earth.”

The League of Nations came into being in 1919 and began really to function when it was ratified by the signatory powers at Paris on January 10, 1920. But Jehovah’s servants continued to proclaim the Messianic kingdom of God. When the ban on The Finished Mystery was lifted, they resumed its circulation and, with it as a textbook, they continued to study the book of Ezekiel. As time went on and further developments fulfilled the prophecy of Ezekiel, a three-volume set of books titled “Vindication” provided an up-to-date understanding, showing more fully the application of the prophecy.

Thus this group of anointed followers of Jesus Christ, doing a work in Christendom paralleling Ezekiel’s work among the Jews, were manifestly the modern-day Ezekiel, the “prophet” commissioned by Jehovah to declare the good news of God’s Messianic kingdom and to give warning to Christendom. It is significant that, in 1931, after twelve years of faithful service despite the opposition of Christendom’s clergy, these followers of Christ embraced the name “Jehovah’s witnesses” at the same convention at which the book Vindication was released.—Isa. 43:10-12, American Standard Version.

PROPHET SENT TO “REBELLIOUS NATIONS”

When Jehovah spoke to the Jewish priest Ezekiel, commissioning him as his prophet, he said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to rebellious nations that have rebelled against me.” (Ezek. 2:3) Who are those who constitute the “sons of Israel” and the “rebellious nations” against Jehovah, in this “time of the end”?

Back there in Ezekiel’s day the Israelite people to whom Ezekiel was sent could be called “rebellious nations” because in 997 B.C.E. ten of the tribes of Israel had revolted against rule by the royal line of David, who sat on “Jehovah’s throne.” (1 Chron. 29:23) Thus there came to be two kingdoms or “nations.” The Kingdom of Israel set up golden calves for worship and the Kingdom of Judah later also rebelled against Jehovah by breaking his laws and engaging in idolatry.

In the modern fulfillment, who are the “rebellious nations” that have rebelled against Jehovah? Their counterpart is Christendom. The Bible gives the proof. For Christendom has applied to herself the apostle Paul’s words at Galatians 6:15, 16 (Authorized Version): “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” For instance, in his “A Commentary and Critical Notes” (1836 edition), the Wesleyan Methodist minister Dr. Adam Clarke makes this comment on the expression “The Israel of God”: “The true Christians, called here the Israel of God, to distinguish them from Israel according to the flesh.”

Romans 2:29 (AV) corroborates the above understanding. The apostle says: “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

The history of Christendom shows that she has not been true to her claim of being “the Israel of God.” From the fourth century on she has shown herself to be apostate, rebellious against Jehovah and his Word of truth. Corresponding to Israel’s history, there was a break between the Greek churches and the Latin churches in 1054 C.E., when the Roman pope’s legates excommunicated Patriarch Michael Cerularius of Constantinople.

Later, in 1529 C.E., the Protestant movement was established by the followers of ex-priest Martin Luther, and in 1534 the king of England, Henry VIII, was declared to be the Supreme Head of the Church of England. After this, numerous non-Roman Catholic sects sprang up, so that a number of so-called “Christian” lands have their own national State churches. Therefore Christendom can be called “nations,” and their attitude toward God’s Word the Bible and toward his Messianic kingdom is one of rebellion toward Jehovah. They continue to prefer political man-rule.

JEHOVAH’S “PROPHET” VINDICATED

Ezekiel’s name meant “God Strengthens,” and in order to carry out his mission to the end he needed God’s help, for the professed people of God to whom he was sent were “insolent of face and hard of heart.” At the time, they might not view or appreciate him as a prophet of Jehovah. Nevertheless, whether they paid attention to him or refrained, the occasion was to come when these rebellious people would “know also that a prophet himself happened to be in the midst of them.” Jehovah would confirm him as a prophet then by causing what Ezekiel prophesied to come true. (Ezek. 2:3-5) Ezekiel was further told:

“And you, O son of man, do not be afraid of them; and of their words do not be afraid, because there are obstinate ones and things pricking you and it is among scorpions that you are dwelling. Of their words do not you be afraid, and at their faces do not you be struck with terror, for they are a rebellious house. And you must speak my words to them, regardless of whether they hear or they refrain, for they are a case of rebellion.”—Ezek. 2:6, 7.

Since the year 1919 C.E. Jehovah’s witnesses have found circumstances to be just like that as they have made the widest possible declaration of the good news of the Kingdom in 207 lands of the earth.

To Ezekiel, in his vision, and, symbolically to the modern-day “prophet,” the spirit-begotten, anointed ones who are the nucleus of Jehovah’s witnesses today, God gave something to eat. Ezekiel says:

“And I began to see, and, look! there was a hand thrust out to me, and, look! in it there was the roll of a book. And he gradually spread it out before me, and it was written upon in front and on the back; and there were written in it dirges and moaning and wailing.”—Ezek. 2:8-10.

No space on the scroll being wasted, it being written upon on both sides, it was a full message, containing a great deal of gloomy messages of calamity, back there to Jewry, and today to Christendom. Why so? Because in both instances Jehovah’s professed people were so rebellious and set in their ungodly way that Jehovah had to pronounce judgment upon them.

The scroll was doubtless delivered to Ezekiel by the hand of one of the cherubs in the vision. This would indicate that Jehovah’s witnesses today make their declaration of the good news of the Kingdom under angelic direction and support. (Rev. 14:6, 7; Matt. 25:31, 32) And since no word or work of Jehovah can fail, for he is God Almighty, the nations will see the fulfillment of what these witnesses say as directed from heaven.

Yes, the time must come shortly that the nations will have to know that really a “prophet” of Jehovah was among them. Actually now more than a million and a half persons are helping that collective or composite “prophet” in his preaching work and well over that number of others are studying the Bible with the “prophet” group and its companions.

So Jehovah has made every provision for individuals to know him and to receive his loving-kindness and life. Thus there is no excuse for Christendom’s people not to know Jehovah. More than that, Jehovah is interested not only in the vindication of his own name but also in vindicating his “prophet.” Through another of his ancient prophets, Isaiah, he said to Jewry just as he says to Christendom today: “Look! My own servants will cry out joyfully because of the good condition of the heart, but you yourselves will make outcries because of the pain of heart and you will howl because of sheer breakdown of spirit.”—Isa. 65:14.

Even today we hear complaints from Christendom’s churches about dwindling church attendance and see many young men abandoning the priesthood and the ministerial profession. Yet at the same time we see spiritual prosperity and contentment among those proclaiming Jehovah’s Messianic kingdom. We may look for an even more marked fulfillment of Isaiah’s words in the near future.

[Footnotes]

See the Federal Council Bulletin, Volume II, No. 1, of the year 1919, pages 12-14.

–End Article-

The first question that we must ask ourselves about this article is NOT how an outsider would understand it, but only how the WITNESSES THEMSELVES would understand it, since it was written specifically for them. So did the Witnesses ever once consider themselves to be inspired prophets able to predict the future by direct messages from God? The answer, in all the decades before 1972 and all the decades after 1972, has consistently been NO.

“Because of this hope, the “faithful and discreet slave” has alerted all of God’s people to the sign of the times indicating the nearness of God’s Kingdom rule. In this regard, however, it must be observed that this “faithful and discreet slave” was never inspired, never perfect. Those writings by certain members of the “slave” class that came to form the Christian part of God’s Word were inspired and infallible, but that is not true of other writings since. Things published were not perfect in the days of Charles Taze Russell, first president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society; nor were they perfect in the days of J. F. Rutherford, the succeeding president. The increasing light on God’s Word as well as the facts of history have repeatedly required that adjustments of one kind or another be made down to the very present time.” (The Watchtower, 1 March 1979, pages 23-24)

Our chronology, however, which is reasonably accurate (but admittedly not infallible), at the best only points to the autumn of 1975 as the end of 6,000 years of man’s existence on earth. It does not necessarily mean that 1975 marks the end of the first 6,000 years of Jehovah’s seventh creative “day.”” (The Watchtower, 15 August 1968, page 499)

“It is not a blind or dumb watchman, but tries to keep in tune with God by searching his Word and being receptive to his guidance, with eyes always open to prophecy so that it knows what to look for in world events, so that it understands the significance of what it sees. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy.—2 Pet. 1:20, 21.

However, The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic. It invites careful and critical examination of its contents in the light of the Scriptures. Its purpose is to aid others to know Jehovah and his purposes toward mankind, and to announce Christ’s established kingdom as our only hope” ("Name and Purpose of the Watchtower," The Watchtower, 15 August 1950, 262-263)

I could list many other quotations from every decade since the 1870's, but that would be a bit beyond the scope of this simple rebuttal.

Essentially, the answer to the question in relation to time looks like this:

Do you consider yourselves to be inspired prophets able to predict the future by direct messages from God?

1870's - NO

1880's - NO

1890's - NO

1900's - NO

1910's - NO

1920's - NO

1930's - NO

1940's - NO 

1950's - NO

1960's - NO

1972 – YES

1979 – NO

1980's - NO

1990's - NO

2000's – NO

Notice anything odd about the above chart? You would be correct if you said that there is a glaring anomaly with the 1972 data entry - it doesn't make the least bit of sense for it to be there. And yet, this is the common-sense defying chart that opposers and apostates want us to accept without question, based on their outside interpretations of the 1972 article posted above. But what does the article really say?

"they believed that were acting like a "prophet" in the same vain as Ezekiel had to...Ezekiel was sent to the JEWS (his own people, the ones claiming to be Gods representatives) to warn them because they had turned away from their God, and in effect, at that time, did not represent God...They only act as a "prophet" in that they do not claim to be inspired, but interpret what they see in inspired Bible prophecy and from world events...Jehovah's Witnesses, are announcing the warning words from Jehovah as found in his inspired book, the Bible. Also, they feel that they would be held accountable to their God if they did not give the warning that is needed today...So the CONTEXT of that article is NOT talking about "predicting" or "prophesying" about something new, but "prophesying " or sounding the WARNING of coming destruction upon false religion and those that listen too her just as Ezekiel did to apostate Israel...A watchman on a WATCHTOWER, has the job of interpreting the events that he sees, (in a sense that makes him a prophet) and letting others know about them. If he were to wait until the enemy was knocking at the gates, it would probably be too late. So, the modern day watchman, continues to give warning according to his interpretation of events and Bible prophecy." (Schmitz, Heinz. "Jehovah's Witnesses and So Called Prophecy")

It is a very important distinction he brings out between those who give their INTERPRETATION of prophecies already written and those who create NEW PROPHECIES based on supposed direct revelation from God. There is also brought out the multiple roles of a prophet of that time period, not all of which involved predicting the future through divine revelation (it doesn't matter whether or not readers or opposers agree with this definition of "prophet." All that matters is, again, how the WITNESSES view the role of prophets)

And interestingly enough, this multi-roled, non-inspired type of prophet is acknowledged and affirmed by nominal Christianity as well. Take for instance the dear Reverend Billy Graham in 1950:

“I sincerely believe that the Lord draweth nigh. We may have another year, maybe two years, to work for Jesus Christ, and, Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe it is all going to be over ... two years and it’s all going to be over.” (McLoughlin, William G., 1978 Revivals, Awakenings and Reform. University of Chicago Press. Chicago. pp.185.)

What's this? Such a renowned and beloved figure in Christendom going around giving out false prophecies?! The Bible tells us exactly what to do with these types!

"‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak." (Deuteronomy 18:20, 21)

"But wait!" you might say. "Billy Graham was never considered to be a prophet, nor did he claim to be one!" Haha try again.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0hi4nIxWohNIQX8WE2Y1vTu4aGning1vFRUfMOUlTamBcmnOn7LEHIfn3F9WO_emZqJyeZ_Jnlf5WQYS55XL1GA5EjZCg44GkW2WV23G-bsjHg1gmVfvNMjnjwBjSFPZuSrWpf-Wa6eQ/s400/213HDV3E84L._SL500_AA140_.jpg

Title reads: "A Prophet With Honor: The Billy Graham Story"

He was called a prophet, spoke in God's name, and gave false prophecies! Hang him high!

Stepping back now a bit, do you see how utterly ridiculous the claims of opposers and apostates can be? Of course Billy Graham was not an inspired, infallible prophet of God with the ability to predict the future through divine revelation! He did the exact same thing that the Witnesses did: give interpretations of of prophecies already written in the Bible and warn the people when they end up on the wrong end of those prophecies because of disobedience to God's laws! There is nothing inherently wrong with this, just as there is nothing wrong with a watchman on a tower (who does know for certain that danger is coming eventually) keeping the townspeople vigilant and warning them when he thinks that he sees that expected danger, even if it later turns out not to be it. And even if the townspeople hate being kept awake and watchful, even through some misinterpretations, they will most certainly be grateful to that watchman when the real danger actually does arrive.

“The vision is yet for the appointed time, and it keeps panting on to the end, and it will not tell a lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late.” (Habakkuk 2:3)

"Expectation postponed is making the heart sick, but the thing desired is a tree of life when it does come." (Proverbs 13:12)

"Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, YOU need nothing to be written to YOU. 2 For YOU yourselves know quite well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. 3 Whenever it is that they are saying: “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape. 4 But YOU, brothers, YOU are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake YOU as it would thieves, 5 for YOU are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to night nor to darkness. So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let us stay awake and keep our senses" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6)

"to YOU who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. 9 These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength, 10 at the time he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder in connection with all those who exercised faith, because the witness we gave met with faith among YOU." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

jehovah himself is the editor. 

This is a non-issue, and has already been refuted sufficiently by others:

http://onlytruegod.org/jwstrs/JWSTRS-gb_trial.pdf 

would you die because a bible aid said no blood transfusions? 

In the extremely rare event that all of today's wonderful bloodless alternatives get exhausted, I would be willing to die in following the BIBLE'S commands to abstain from blood and from things strangled (Genesis 9:3; Acts 15:29; 2 Corinthians 1:9, 10). My beliefs are NOT dependent on the Watchtower magazine, as if they would suddenly become unsupported if the Watchtower went away. Our beliefs all have firm support from the BIBLE, which is why I personally chose to become a Witness in the first place. 

they are just a bible aid 

Quite wrong. The Faithful and Discreet Slave are a group of Christians with authority over Jesus' earthly belongings, who watch the flock and dispense their food, and who USE BIBLE AIDS AS TOOLS FOR TEACHING. (Matthew 24:45; also reread the sections of the "Collected Writings of ThirdWitness" article which deal with the FDS)

It is just as one of Surfari's fellow opposers admitted:

If the core teachings he keeps repeating are in fact true and JW's are the only one's teaching them then that would be a valid reason for becoming a JW rather than some other religion and that would be the case even if the Watchtower's teaching on being appointed over all of Christ's belongings in 1919 was false. If giving spiritual food at the right time was mainly focused on the core teachings of JW's and these core teachings are correct then the WTS is doing a good job.

And if the WTS really is the FDS, and if they really are doing a good job, then you had better listen to them, Bible study aids or not.

no one would be baptised in the name of a bible concordance, or dictionary, or encyclopedia, or anything else on the list...father, son, spirit. and organisation in that formula?...where did you get the "organisation" bit added on? watchtower?...why would i accept the add on watchtower bits, when i can read for myself and it doesn't say that?

Nobody is baptized in the name of the "organization." Witnesses are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the holy spirit.

There is a completely separate question for the baptismal candidates, however, which asks them if they understand that after baptism, they will be recognized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with His spirit directed organization. It is simply to make sure that the candidates actually understand what the baptism will mean.

Sincerely,

Tears of Oberon