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Jehovah’s Witnesses:
The Watchtower Society
Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2010
Outline
I. Background of Jehovah’s Witnesses
II. Basic Beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses
III. Evaluation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
IV. Answering Objections
Outline
I. Background of Jehovah’s Witnesses
A. History of the Movement
B. Basic Writings of the Movement
C. Membership of the Movement
A. History of the Movement
1. "Pastor" Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) began
his teaching c.1870.
2. “”Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society” was
incorporated in 1884 by Russell. He wrote a six
volume set called Studies in the Scriptures.
3. Judge Joseph F. Rutherford (1869-1942) began 1916.
He wrote Harp of God and 19 more books (1921-1941).
Russell
Rutherford
4. Name "Jehovah's Witnesses”
was chosen to distinguish them
from splinter group "Russellites."
6. It was Incorporated in 1931 as
the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society. The offices are in
Brooklyn, NY.
7. In 1975 the "governing body" (of
about 12 men) became the
supreme authority of JWs.
8. President Nathan Knorr began the Watchtower Bible
School of Gilead (1943) and published the New World
Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
9. Next presidents were Fred Franz and Milton Henschel.
B. Basic Writings of the Witnesses
1. Bible: New World Translation of the Holy
Scriptures
2. Magazines: The Watchtower and Awake
3. Books:
Studies in the Scriptures (SS)—7 vols. by Russell
Deliverance (D)
The Harp of God (HG)
The New Heavens and New Earth (NHNE)
What has Religion done for Mankind? (WRM)
Let God be True (LGT)
Reasoning from the Scriptures (RS)
Let Your Name be Sanctified (LNS)
Aid to Bible Understanding (ABU)
Should You Believe in the Trinity? (SBT)
Make Sure of All Things (MSAT).
C. JWs Membership: Now Seven Million
Outline
I. Background of Jehovah’s Witnesses
II. Basic Beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses
A. Belief about the Bible
1. The Bible is the Inspired
Word of God.
2. Most Bible translations
distort the Word of God
on crucial doctrines.
3. The only trustworthy
translation is the JW’s
New World Translation
of the Holy Scriptures
(1961).
B. Belief about God
1. There is only one God and only one person is God
(the Father) who is called Jehovah (MSAT, 386).
Son is one in “purpose,” not nature, with God.
2. The Trinity is a pagan doctrine (LGT, 101-102).
It is the most “deceptive doctrine” (RS, 407).
The Holy Spirit is not a person but a force
emanating from the Father (RS, 406-407).
“The holy spirit has no personal name. The
reason for this is that the holy spirit is not an
intelligent person. It is the impersonal, invisible
active force that finds it source and reservoir in
Jehovah God and that he uses to accomplish his
will…” (LNS, 269).
He is “a force that can be adapted to perform a
great variety of operations” (SYBT, 20).
C. Belief about Christ
“Michael the archangel is no other than the onlybegotten Son of Jehovah God, now Jesus Christ”
(NHNE, 30-31). “‘ Michael the great prince’ is none
other than Jesus Christ himself” (W [12/15/84], 29).
1. Before Bethlehem--Christ was Michael the
archangel, the first created being (LGT, 101).
2. While on earth--a sinless man of flesh [not an
angel] (NHNE, 28-30; RS, 306)).
3. After the resurrection--Christ became a spirit
(Michael) again (WRM, 231).
a. Jesus’ Resurrection was in a "spirit" body.
b. Either his physical body turned to gases or else
God has preserved it somewhere (D, 235).
D. Beliefs about Human Beings
1. Man is a soul/body identity (Monism)
2. At death we cease to exist (Annihilation)
a. “Hell” is the grave.
b. There is no place of conscious torment.
3. At resurrection believers get a recreation.
E. Beliefs about Salvation
1. God's part: Death of Christ provides
deliverance of all men from death (namely, by
their resurrection and a second chance for
salvation, HG, 170).
2. Faith plus Works are necessary for salvation
(SS, vol 1, 150, 152).
2. Man's part: those who are faithful in this life
and in the Millennium will be saved.
a. 144,000--"Anointed class" of heavenly
spirits who reign with Christ (LGT, 301).
b. "Great Crowd " or "Other sheep"--others
form an earthly class of bodies who live on
earth forever.
F. Beliefs about the Church
1. All Christian churches are
apostate and idolatrous
instruments of the Devil.
2. Jehovah's Witnesses
"Anointed Class " (144,000)
are the true Theocracy of
God.
3. Only the “Anointed Class” can take communion
offered only once a year (about 1/20 of JW’s partake).
4. “Unless we are in touch with this channel of
communication [The Watchtower Society]…, we will not
progress along the road of life, no matter how much
Bible reading we do” (Watchtower [12/1/81], 27).
JW Organization Claims to be
God’s “Prophet” on Earth
“Who is this prophet?...
This “prophet” was not
one man, but was a body
of men and women. It
was…[the] International
Bible Students. Today
they are know as
Jehovah’s Christian
Witnesses” (Watchtower
[4/1/72], 197).
G. Beliefs About the Future
1. Christ's reign began (invisibly) in l914 A.D.
Dan. 4:32 says "seven times" or times of the
Gentiles=360 x 7 = 2520 "days"= years: 607 B. C.
to l914 A.D. (TSMF, 300).
2. Present world is headed toward the Battle of
Armageddon.
3. Millennium will follow in which humans will
be resurrected to salvation or else to a second
chance "trial" for life.
a. 144,000 “anointed” will be in heaven forever.
b. The rest of JWs live on earth forever.
4. Those who reject 2nd chance will be annihilated.
There is no hell (LGT, 79, 80).
H. Beliefs About Other Things
1. All human government is demonically
controlled.
2. It is idolatrous to salute the flag, hold
political office, or go to war.
3. Voting, holding a government job, and
serving in military are sinful.
4. Blood transfusions, vaccinations, and organ
transplants once held to be sinful (RS, 7273)—now no longer forbidden.
5. Birthday and holiday celebrations are
"pagan” and sinful.
6. JWs engage in “Shunning” those who have
been disfellowshipped (excommunicated),
even their own family members (Watchtower
[7/15/63], 443-444)
Outline
I. Background of Jehovah’s Witnesses
II. Basic Beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses
III. Evaluation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
A. Evaluation of their View of the Bible
A. Evaluation of their View of the Bible
JW translation: “In [the]
beginning the Word was,
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was a
god” (Jn. 1:1)
“Truly I tell you today,
You will be with me in
Paradise [some day]”
(Lk. 23:43).
Three Way to deny Scripture: Add to it (like Roman
Catholics), or take away from it (like Liberals), or
mistranslate it (like JWs).
Noted Scholars on JW Bible
Princeton Professor Bruce M.
Metzger ( The Bible Translator
15/3 (July 1964) declared that
they “have incorporated in their
translation of the New Testament
several quite erroneous
renderings of the Greek." Others
are "totally without warrant
from the Greek” and some are
“a plain piece of special pleading.“
Dr. Julius Mantey (A Manual Grammar of the Greek NT)
called it “a shocking mistranslation.” British scholar H.H.
Rowley asserted that “From beginning to end this volume
is a shinning example of how the Bible should not be
translated” (cited by Ron Rhodes, RSJW, 97).
Spiritist Cited as Basis for JW View
1. In his NT (1937) he
trans. Jn. 1:1 as “the Word
[Christ] was a god.”
2. JWs use this rendering
and cite Greber as an
authority (later repudiated).
3. Greber was a spiritist,
author of Communication
with the Spirit World.
4. Greber claimed spirits helped him translate
his Bible by revealing “large illuminated
letters and words passing before his eyes”
(Rhodes, RSJW, 102).
Ant-Trinitarian Bias in JW Bible
Gen. 1:1-2. "In [the] beginning God created the heavens and
the earth…. And God's active force was moving to and fro
over the surface of the waters." The ruach elohim ("Spirit of
God"). This was to avoid the Trinitarian understanding of
the "Spirit of God."
Zech. 12:10. "...they will look upon the one whom they have
pierced..." Here the Hebrew "look upon me [God] whom
they have pierced," is altered in order to avoid the assertion
that the one who is to be pierced is God.
John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was a god." Instead of the literal
"the Word was God," we have "a god," which JWs
interprets as a created angelic being.
Col. 1:15-17. "He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other]
things were created in the heavens and upon the earth….”
“Other” was added because they believe Christ is a
created being rather than the eternal God.
Heb. 1:8. "God is your throne forever." This nonsensical
statement is put instead of "your throne, O God, is forever."
B. Evaluation of their View of God
1. The Father and Son are both called Lord and God
Psa. 2:7—“The LORD has said to me, ‘You are My Son’”;
Psa. 45:6,7—“Your throne O God is forever and ever….
Psa. 110:1—“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right
hand till I make your enemies your footstool’”; Prov.
30:4—“What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if
you know.” Isa. 9:6--“His name shall be called wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity….” Isa. 63:7,
9—“…the LORD has bestowed on us…. And the Angel
[Messenger] of His presence saved them” [cf. Ex. 3:2-14];
Zech. 1:12.—“The the Angel [Messenger] of the LORD
answered and said, ‘O LORD of hosts…’”; Mt. 3:17—”A
Voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am well pleased’”; Jn. 17:5—”And now Father
glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had
with you before the world existed.”; Heb. 1:8--”but of the
son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and
ever….’”
B. Evaluation of their View of God
1. The Father and Son are both called God
2. The Holy Spirit is a Person (not a Force)
Mat. 28:19--“Go, therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name [not “names”] of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
J n. 14:26—“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send I my name, he will teach you all
things…”
Jn. 16:13—When the Spirit of truth comes, he will
guide you into all the truth….”
Eph. 5:30—“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by
whom you are sealed to the day of redemption.”
1 Cor. 12:11: We are “empowered by one and the same
Spirit…as he wills.”
Acts 13:14: They were “sent on their way by [the
command of] the Holy Spirit.”
3. The Holy Spirit is God.
a. He has the name of God, “the Spirit of God”
b. He performs acts of God like creation (Gen. 1:2),
regeneration (Jn. 3:5-7), and miracles (1 Cor. 12:8-11).
c. He is associated with other persons in God:
Father, Son, Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:18-20)
d. He can be blasphemed like God (Mt. 12:32).
e. He can be lied to as God (Acts 5:3, 5):
Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your
heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…. You have not lied to
men but to God.”
f. He is used in a benediction from God ( 2 Cor. 13:14):
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of
God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
all.”
C. Evaluation of their View of Christ
1. The Messiah (Christ) is called God in the OT
Psa 2:7—“The LORD has said to me, ‘You are My Son.’”
Psa. 45:6,7—“Your throne O God is forever and ever….
Therefore, God, even your God, has anointed you….”
Psa. 110:1—“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right
hand till I make your enemies your footstool.’” Prov.
30:4—“What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if
you know.” Isa. 9:6--“His name shall be called wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,* Father of Eternity….” Isa.
63:7, 9—“…the LORD has bestowed on us…. And the
Angel [Messenger] of His presence saved them” [Ex.
3:2-14]. Zech. 1:12.—“The the Angel [Messenger] of the
LORD answered and said, ‘O LORD of hosts….’” Zech.
12:10.—“And I [the LORD] will pour on the house of
David…the spirit of grace; then they will look on Me
[the LORD] whom they have pierced….” Zech. 14:16.—
“All the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go
up form year to year to worship the King, the LORD of
host….”
*Same word is used of LORD [Jehovah] in Isa. 10:21.
2. There are no “lesser” gods.
JW Claim: Jesus is a “lesser god” (Jn. 1:1)
Bible Response:
Deut. 32:39: “See now that I, I am He, and there is no
god besides Me.”
Isa. 43:10: Before Me there was no God formed, and
there will be none after Me.”
Isa. 44:8: “Is there any God besides Me, or is there any
other Rock? I know of none.”
Isa. 45:5: “I am the LORD, and there is no other besides
Me there is no God.”
1 Cor. 8:5-6: “For although there many be so-called gods
in heaven or on earth--…yet for us there is one
God….”
3. Jesus claimed to be Jehovah (God)
1. He claimed to be the "I AM.” He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you,
before Abraham was, I AM” (Jn. 8:58) [of Ex. 3:14] in John 5:58.
[Even JW note on Ex. 3:14 [1984 ed.] admits that OT Greek
translation (Septuagint) of ego eimi in Ex. 3:14 is same as Jn. 8:58].
2. He forgave sins which only God can do. Jesus said, “Son, your sins
are forgiven you” The scribes replied, “Who can forgive sins but God
alone?” (Mk. 2:5-7).
3. He claimed He should be honored just as the Father is honored.
“All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who
does not honor the Son does not honor the Father” (Jn. 5:23).
4. He said He was the Jewish Messiah who was God (Isa. 9:6; 45:6;
Psa. 110:1; Zech. 12:10).
“The woman said to Him, ‘I know the Messiah is coming….’ Jesus
said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He’” (Jn. 4:25-26).
The high priest said, “’Are you the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the
blessed?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of
heaven. Then the high priest said, ‘what further need do we have of
witness? You have heard the blasphemy!’” (Mk. 14:61-62).
5. He accepted worship on numerous occasions which is due only to
God (Mt. 4:10) when both humans (Acts 14:15) and angels o
refused worship (Rev. 22:8-9). Yet Jesus accepted worship by
1) The mother of James & John (Mt. 20:20); 2) The Gerasene
demoniac (Mk. 5:6); 3) A blind man (Jn. 9:38); 4) Doubting
Thomas (Jn. 20:28); 5) The women at the tomb (Mt. 28:9);6)
Canaanite woman (Mt. 15:25); 7) His disciples (Mt. 14:33); 8) A
healed leper (Mt. 8:2); 9) A rich young ruler [Mt. 9:18); 10)
disciples at Great Commission (Mt. 28:17).
6. He put His words on the level with God’s. “Heaven and earth will
pass away, but my words will by no means pass away” (Mt. 24:35).
“He that rejects Me, … the word that I have spoken will judge him in
the last day” (Jn. 12:48).
7. He asked Us to pray in His Name. “Whatever you ask in My name
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Jn.
14:13).
8. He accepted the titles of deity.
“And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and My God”
(Jn. 20:28). “Simon Peter …said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the
Living God.’ Jesus said , ‘Blessed are you, (Mt. 16:17-18).
9. He claimed to be “the first and the last” (Rev. 22:13 cf. Isa. 44:6).
4. His Disciples Claimed He was God
• Peter did: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”
(Mt. 16:16-18).
• John did: “In the beginning was the Word., and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God (Jn. 1:1 cf. 8:58; 12:41
(cf. Isa. 6:1; 20:28)
• The Writer of Hebrews did: Christ “being the brightness of
His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding
all things by the word of his power…” (1:3). “For to which of
the angels did He ever say: ‘You are My Son’” (1:5). “When
He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all
the angels of god worship Him’” (1:6) “But to the Son He
says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…’” (1:8).
• Paul did: “Christ, who is over all, the eternally blessed God
(Rom. 9:5). “Looking for the blessed hope and the great God
and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). “For by Him all
things were created…. All things were created through Him
and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all
things consist [are held together] (Col. 1:16-17). “For in Him
all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily” (Col. 2:9).
Jesus was not Michael the Archangel
1. Jesus is Jehovah (see above), and Michael is
only an angel.
2. Jesus is worshipped by angels and, so, he is
not one of them (Heb. 1:6)
3. Jesus created angels and, so, he was not one
of them (Col. 1:16).
4. Jesus rebuked the Devil (Mt. 17:18) and
Michael could not do this (Jude 9).
5. Michael means “who is like God” but Jesus is
God (see above).
6. Michael is distinguished from Jesus (1 Thes.
4:16).
Answering Some Objections
Objection 1: Jesus Denied He was God
Jesus said, “Why call me good? There is
none good but God” (Mk. 10:18).
Response: This is not a denial but a
question. Jesus is asking him if he realized
the implications of his statement.
Objection 2. Jesus said, “The Father is greater
than I” (Jn. 14:28).
Response: The Father as God is greater than
Jesus is as a man. The Father is greater in
office, but not better in nature.
Objection 3: Jesus affirmed that “But of that day
and hour no one knows, neither the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”
(Mk. 13:32).
Response: Jesus knew the time as God; he did
not know it as man. He has two natures.
God’s Tri-Unity
Father
Divine
Nature
Son
Human
Nature
Holy
Spirit
Note: 1) Jesus knew everything in His divine nature.
2) Jesus did not know everything in his human nature.
Objection 4: Jn. 17:3 says Jesus prayed to the Father,
saying, “this is eternal life, that they know you the
only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent.”
Response: He said the Father is the only true God, but
he did not say that only the Father is God (cf. Gen.
7:23; Jn. 8:9).
Objection 5: In Jn. 10:34 Jesus said, “You are gods”
[in a derivative sense], not in an absolute sense.
Likewise, Jesus was God only in a derivative sense.
Response: His argument in John 10 is a fortiori,
(with the greater force) namely, “If human judges
can be called gods (in Psa. 82) in that they stand in
the place of God in a derivative sense, how much
more can the Son of God be called God who is God in
an absolute sense (Jn. 1:1,2; 8:58; Jn. 20:28; Rom.
9:5; Heb. 1:8).
Objection 6: “He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation” (Col. 1:15). It is
objected that Jesus was the first one born or
created.
Response: “firstborn” can mean priority in rank,
not in time (David was youngest son but God’s
“firstborn”--Psa. 89:27). He is not created but
Creator and sustainer of all things (vs. 16-17).
So, He is first over creation, not first in creation.
Objection 7: Christ is called “the beginning of the
creation of God.” They claim this means he
was the first one created (Rev. 3:14).
Response: 1) This means absolute Beginner,
Source of all. 2) Otherwise, it would contradict
the clear teaching that He created all things (Jn.
1:3; Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:16). 3) This same term is
used of the “Lord” the “Almighty” (1:8). It is also
used of the Father who is God (21:5-6).
Objection 8: “For God so love the world that he
gave his only begotten son…” (Jn. 3:16).
Response: “Only begotten” (Gk. monogenas)
means unique or one of a kind. Isaac was
called “only begotten” (Heb. 11:17) when
Abraham had another son (Ishmael). So it can’t
mean the first one born.
Objection 9: He can’t be both God and Man at the
same time; this is contradictory.
Response:
1. He is God and Man at the same time, but not
both in the same sense.
2. One can be a father and a husband at the
same time, but not in the same sense.
3. Jesus has both a divine and a human
nature.
God’s Tri-Unity
Father
Divine
Nature
Son
Human
Nature
Holy
Spirit
Note: 1) The divine nature is not the human nature.
2) Jesus has both natures at the same time, but they
are not both the same nature (the triangle is not the
circle).
D. Evaluation of JW View of Resurrection
Jesus was raised in the same physical body of flesh
and bones in which he died. His resurrection
body:
1. Left an empty tomb and grave clothes behind
(Mt. 28:6; Jn. 29:5-7).
2. Had crucifixion scars (Lk. 24:37 Jn. 20:27).
3. Was the same as the one that died (Jn. 2:19-22).
4. Had flesh and bones (Lk. 24:39).
5. Was touched by physical hands (Mt. 28:9; Jn.
20:17).
6. Was seen with physical eyes (1 Cor. 9:1; 15:6-8)
7. Ate food on several occasions (Lk. 24:42-43;
Acts 10:41).
E. Evaluation of JW View of Salvation
1. Salvation is not by faith plus works as JW say.
The Watchtower affirmed that “to get one’s name
written in the Book of Life will depend on one’s works”
(4/1/47, p. 204).
JW’s “…must be set apart more and more from this
world…, demonstrating their dependability by
carrying out their dedication faithfully until death”
(LGT, 200)
Eph. 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved though
faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of
God, not a result of works….”
Titus 3:5-6: “…he saved us, not because of works done
by us in righteousness, but according to his
mercy….”
Rom 4:5: “And to the one who does not work but
believes in him who justifies the ungodly; his faith is
counted as righteousness….”
2. Christ’s atonement was not incomplete
JW hold that Christ only died to pay the exact amount for Adam’s
sin and make it possible for men to work their way toward
salvation. “Since one man’s sin (that of Adam) has been
responsible for causing the entire human family to be sinners, the
shed blood of another perfect human (in effect, a second Adam),
being of corresponding value, could balance the scales of justice.”
So, if Jesus had been God, the payment would have been way too
much!
Response: 1) Only a God-man can mediate between God and man (1
Tim. 2:5). 2) Christ’s death was sufficient to pay for the sins of all
mankind (Rom. 5:18-19; 1 Jn. 2:2). 3) He had to be God to satisfy
the righteous demands of a holy God (Rom. 3:21-26). 4) He had
to be a perfect man since a sinner cannot save sinners. 5) Christ
work on the Cross was complete (Jn. 19:30; Heb. 10:14). All that
is left is for us to accept his free gift of salvation (Rom. 6:23).
Salvation is by faith alone (Jn. 3:15, 16, 36; 5:24; 11:25: 12:46;
20:31; Acts 16:31; Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6).
JW Objections to Physical Resurrection
Objection 1: 1 Cor. 15:44 speaks of a “spiritual body.”
Response: 1) Manna was “spiritual” food (1 Cor. 10: 3) but
it was literal food. 2) Godly Christian is “spiritual” ( 1
Cor. 2:15) but has a physical body. 3) The literal Bible is
a spiritual book. 4) “Spiritual” means dominated or
directed by the spirit, that is, immortal, not immaterial.
5) resurrection body is a spiritual (i.e., spirit directed)
“soma” which always means physical body (when used of
individual humans in the NT.
Objection 2: 1 Cor. 15:50 says “flesh and blood can’t enter
the kingdom of God.”
Response: 1) In context (v. 53) it means “mortal” flesh. 2)
Resurrection body has immortal “flesh and bones” (Lk.
24:39).
JW Objections to Physical Resurrection
Objection 3: Resurrection body will be a “changed”
body.
Response: 1) The change is from mortal to immortal,
not from material to immaterial. 2) The change is
not in substance but in accidents (qualities).
Objection 4: Jesus resurrection body could walk
through doors, so, it must have been immaterial.
Response: 1) It does not actually say he walked
through the door (Jn. 20:19). 2) He could walk on
water in a physical body before his resurrection.
3) The resurrection body has supernatural abilities,
but it is still a physical body.
E. Evaluation of JW View of the Soul
Contrary to JW view, the Soul (immaterial dimension of human
beings) can exist apart from their body:
Mat. 10:28: Only the body can be killed, not the soul.
Mat. 17:3: Moses and Elijah were conscious in heaven.
Lk. 16:22-28: Rich man and Lazarus were conscious after death.
Lk. 20:38: Abraham was still “living” in Jesus’ day.
Lk. 23:43: Thief on Cross was conscious in Paradise.
2 Cor. 5:8: We are “absent from the body and present with Christ.”
Phil. 1:23: “It is far better to depart and to be with Christ.”
1 Thes. 4:14: Departed souls will come “with” Christ at his return.
Heb. 12:23: “Spirits of the righteous [are] made perfect” in heaven.
Rev. 6:9-10: “Souls” in heaven were conscious.
Lk. 23:46: Jesus’ “spirit” was conscious in Paradise (cf. Lk. 23:43).
between death and resurrection. Note: “I say unto you” is common
introductory phrase. It is redundant to say “I say unto you today.”
F. Evaluation of their View of Hell
The Evidence that Hell is not annihilation:
1. It is a place of “torment,” and there is no torment in
nothingness.
2. It is a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt.
13:50) which is a conscious activity.
3. It is “everlasting” (2 Thes. 1:7-9), but annihilation is
instantaneous.
4. There are degrees of punishment in Hell (Rev. 20:1213), but there are no degrees of nothingness.
5. Rich man was in “torment” in Hell (Lk. 16:23).
6. The beast and false prophet were conscious after 1000
years in the Lake of fire (Rev. 29:10 cf. 19:20).
7. Hell is “eternal” which is the same word used for God
(Rom 16:26; 1 Tim. 1:7; Heb. 9:14; 13:7; Rev. 4:9).
G. Evaluation of their View of Future
1. No one knows the time of Christ’s return.
Matt. 24:36: “But concerning that day and hour no
one knows, not even the angels of heaven, not the Son.”
Acts 1:7: “It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons that the Father has fixed by his own
authority.”
G. Evaluation of their View of Future
1. No one knows the time of Christ’s return.
Matt. 24:36: “But concerning that day and hour no
one knows, not even the angels of heaven, not the Son.”
Acts 1:7: “It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons that the Father has fixed by his own
authority.”
2. Christ’s return is visible and physical.
Acts 1:10-11: “This Jesus…will come in the same way as
you saw him go into heaven.”
Rev. 1:7: “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and
every eye will see him….”
Mat. 24:3: “Tell us, …what will be the sing of your
coming (parousia)* and of the end of close of the age?
*This means physical appearing (2 Cor. 16:17; 2 Cor. 7:6)
3.
The 144,00 are not “anointed” Christians,
as JWs believe.
1. The text says they are only “men” who have
not known women (Rev. 14:4), men and
women, as JWs believe.
2. The word “tribe” is always used literally in
the Bible. Hence, they are Jews from various
tribes of Israel.
3. They are future saints from the Tribulation
period (Rev. 7:13-14), not from today .
4. Many False Prophecies of JWs
Deut. 18:22: “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the
LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the
LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken
presumptuously.”
1897—“Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since
October 1874” (SS, vol. 4, 621)
1899—“…the battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev. 16:14)
which will end in 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s
present rulership, is already commenced” (The Time is at Hand,
101[1908 edition]).
1916—“The Bible chronology herein presented shows that…the
great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ’s Reign, began in 1873”
(The Time is at Hand, p. ii (Forward).
1918—Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark
the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of
old, particularly those named by the Apostles in Hebrews 11, to
the condition of human perfection” (Millions Now Living Will
Never Die, 89).
1922—“The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated in
Scripture than 1914” (The Watchtower [9/1/22], 262).
1923—“Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the
Scriptures” (WT [4/1/23], 106).
1925—“The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians
have looked forward to this year. This may be accomplished.
It may not be…. Christians should not be so deeply concerned
about what may transpire” (WT [1/1/25], 3).
1925—“It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the
minds of the consecrated, that thought that 1925 should see an
end to the work” (WT [Sept., 1925], 262).
1926--“Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the
Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends
inflated their imaginations beyond reason...” (WT, [1926], 232).
1941--“Receiving the gift…,the Lord’s provided instruments for
most effective work in the remaining months before
Armageddon” (WT [9/15/41], 288).
1968--“True, there have been those in times past who predicted an
‘end to the world’, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing
happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false
prophesying? What was missing?... Missing from such people
were God’s truths and evidence that he was pursuing and guiding
them” (Awake, 10/8/68).
1968--“Why are you looking forward to 1975” (WT [8/1/68], 494).
148 Wrong Predictions—former JW William Schnell counted 148
changes made between 1917 and 1928 (Rhodes, RSJW, 350).
Occult Predictions—Charles Taze Russell used Pyramidology to
predict the future, saying, “This calculations shows A. D. 1874 as
marking the beginning of the period of trouble…such as was not
since there was a nation—no, nor ever shall be afterward”
(Studies in the Scripture, cited by R. Tucker, Another Gospel,
124).
a. This “Bible in Stone” doctrine was lauded till 1925.
b. It was finally repudiated in 1928 (by Judge Rutherford).
In the OT one wrong prediction got someone stoned!
Russell is buried beneath a large pyramid
H. Evaluation of their view that Death is final; there is
no second chance (Heb. 9:27; Jn. 5:23f.; Lk.
16:26). Resurrection of lost is not to second chance
but to "damnation" (Jn. 5:29).
I. That Government is demonic. Bible says it is
ordained of God (Rom 13:1-7), and we are to obey
it (Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13-14), unless they command
us to sin (Ex. 1; Dan. 3, 6, Acts 4, 5; Rev. 13).
J. That God opposes celebrating birthdays or events
honoring others. He said, “Pay to all what is owed
to them…respect to whom respect is owed, honor
to whom honor is owed” (Rom. 13:7). “Rejoice
with those who rejoice…” (Rom. 12:15).
K. That all war is wrong. Not so, only unjust war is
wrong (Gen. 9:6; 14:17-20; Ex. 22:2; Lk. 3:14;
Rom. 13:1-7).
Note: 1 Cor. 5:9-11 was disassociation for immorality,
idolatry, etc., not for leaving JWs.
K. Children who Refuse Blood are Martyrs!
1. Blood transfusions are not “eating”
blood forbidden in Acts 15. Blood is
not sacred as they claim ( from Lev.
17:11).
2. Not to save life is a sin (Js. 4:17).
3. You don’t lose your salvation as
JWs said: They “may result in the
immediate and very temporary
prolongation of life, but that at the
cost of eternal life for a dedicated
Christian” (Blood, Medicine, and the
Law [’61], 55)! See Jn. 10:28;
Rom.8:36; 2 Tim. 2:13; Phil. 1:6.
JWs on Use of Blood
• (1) Forbidden for all: transfusion of whole blood or
any “primary” components: red cells; white cells;
plasma (serum) and platelets (Watchtower, 6/15/00,
p. 29 and Watchtower, 6/15/00, p. 31)
(2) Permitted based on individual conscience—
“fractions” of components of blood (Watchtower,
6/15/00, p. 30 and Watchtower, 6/15/00, p. 31)
(3) Permitted: Use of their own blood circulated in
machines—but not stored for an operation
(Watchtower, 10/15/00, pp. 30-31).
• See Blood's Out of Body Experience (a work that
proves many JWs take blood transfusions anyway).
L. Other Medical Practices are Evil
1. Organ transplants are
cannibalism (Watchtower,
1967; Reversed in 1980)
2. Vaccinations break God’s
covenant with Noah (1931;
Dropped in the 1950s)
M. Celebrating Birthdays are Sinful
Reason given: The only two mentioned in
the Bible were evil (Gen 40; Mat. 14).
Response: 1) The text is descriptive, not
prescriptive. 2) It was Pharaoh (and
Herod) who did evil at the celebration,
not the celebration itself. 3) Pharaoh
also did good at the party (released a
prisoner).
N. Wearing a Cross is Sinful
Reasons: 1) Jesus did not die on a cross but on a
stake; 2) Religious images are a form of idolatry.
Response: 1) Even JW’s used the symbol of a cross
and crown until 1931. 2) Jesus did die on a cross
as is indicated by: a) the Greek word (stauros) that
usually means a cross (Mt. 27:32); b) the use of
two nails for his hands (Jn. 20:25-27); c) assertion
that the inscription was above his head, not his
hands (Mt. 27:37); d) Peters reference to Peter
“stretching out his hands” to die (Jn. 21:18, 19).
3) Symbols (images) are not sinful unless they are
use as a means of worship. Anything from a rock
to the Bible can be an idol—if it is worshipped.
Rutherford’s Cadillac could have been an Idol!