Jehovah’s Witnesses, Part 2

“Why does the Church stay indoors? They have a theology that has dwindled into a philosophy, in which there is no thrill of faith, no terror of doom, and no concern for souls. Unbelief has put out the fires of passion, and worldliness garlands the altar of sacrifice with the tawdry glitter of unreality.”

Samuel Chadwick

Kirk Cameron’s Comment

I spoke with a Jehovah’s Witness on a plane, and she had as little knowledge of the Bible as I did before I became a Christian. She prided herself on “knowledge,” and told me that once I had more knowledge, I’d see her point of view. Ironically, she was void of biblical understanding and her mind was filled with the twisted teaching of this cult. Study this lesson to understand the JW’s errors.

Questions & Objections

Lesson

This lesson presents the basic doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and provides a biblical analysis and response.

Official Names: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., International Bible Students Association, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

Founder: Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916)

Present Leader: Milton G. Henschel (b.1918)

World and USA Headquarters: “Bethel,” Brooklyn, New York

Active Participants (“Publishers”), 1999 Worldwide: 5.9 million in 234 countries; U.S.: 990,340; Canada: 111,032

Key Publications: Periodicals: The Watchtower (16.5 million in 120 languages), Awake! (16 million in 78 languages); Bible Translations: The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures—1964, The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT)—1984

Doctrinal Beliefs

The Bible: The Bible is considered the divinely inspired and infallible Word of God. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) is the English Bible Version published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WBTS). The translation committee members remain anonymous. Jehovah’s Witnesses regard it as the best translation because “the translators held so closely to what is in the original Bible languages” (Reasoning, p.279).

Biblical Response: The Bible is indeed the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (see 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21). The NWT, however, reflects WBTS theology, especially its bias against the deity of Jesus Christ and the historic doctrine of the Trinity. For example, John 1:1 reads “and the Word was a god” in the NWT. Nearly all other standard English Bible translations say “and the Word was God.”

Jehovah Is God: The true God is not a nameless God. His name is Jehovah (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 83:18). His principal attributes are love, wisdom, justice, and power. God is a “spirit-being,” invisible and eternal, but has a spiritual body and is not omnipresent (Insight, vol.1, pp.969–970). The historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity is denied. “The dogma of the Trinity is not found in the Bible, nor is it in harmony with what the Bible teaches. It grossly misrepresents the true God” (Reasoning, p.424).

Biblical Response: The Bible teaches there is only one God. He was called by several names in the Scripture. Christians acknowledge that the term “Trinity” is not found in the Bible; nonetheless, the doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture. The Bible teaches that the One God exists in the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 8:6; 12:4–6; 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:2).

Jesus Christ—Jehovah’s First Created Being: Jesus had three periods of existence. In his pre-human existence he was called “God’s ‘only-begotten Son’ because Jehovah created him directly. As the ‘first-born of all creation,’ Jesus was used by God to create all other things (Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14) ... After Jehovah brought him into existence, the Word [Jesus] spent ages with God in heaven before becoming a man on earth” (Knowledge, p.39). “John 1:1 says that ‘the Word’ (Jesus in his pre-human existence) was with God ‘in the beginning.’ So the word was with Jehovah when ‘the heavens and earth’ were created” (Knowledge, p.39). He also had the personal name Michael (the archangel) (Insight, vol.2, p.394).

“The Second Stage of Jesus’ life course was here on earth. He willingly submitted as God transferred his life from heaven to the womb of a faithful Jewish virgin named Mary” (Knowledge, p.40). He became the Messiah at his baptism, who was executed on a torture stake, and rose again spiritually. “Though the Bible reports on Jesus’ death, he is now alive! He is a mighty reigning King! And very soon now, he will manifest his rulership over our troubled earth” (Knowledge, p.41).

Biblical Response: The Bible teaches that Jesus was not created but was deity from all eternity and coequal with the Father. He came to earth in bodily form to reveal God’s nature and character to mankind. He now reigns with the Father in heaven and will return some day to close the age and judge all people. The Jehovah’s Witnesses NWT translation of John 1:1, Colossians 1:15, and Revelation 3:14 are biased against Jesus’ deity. There is no biblical basis for identifying Jesus with Michael the archangel (see John 1:1–14; 5:17, 18; 8:56–59; 10:30–33; Col. 1:15–20; 2:9).

Holy Spirit—God’s Active Force: The personality and deity of the Holy Spirit is denied. Holy Spirit is not capitalized in the NWT. “With this viewpoint, it is logical to conclude that the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will” (Reasoning, p.381).

Biblical Response: The personality of the Holy Spirit is evidenced in numerous New Testament Scriptures (see Luke 12:12; John 15:26; Acts 5:3–10; 13:2–4; 1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 3:7). His deity is demonstrated by His divine attributes as revealed in Scripture. The Holy Spirit convicts the lost of sin and He indwells believers at conversion and empowers them to live the Christian life (see Matt. 12:31, 32; 28:19; Mark 3:29; John 14—16; Rom. 8:4, 26, 27; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 2:18, 19; 5:14–33).

Mankind’s Sin Brought Death: God created man in his own image, but Adam and Eve willfully and deliberately disobeyed God. “In the day that our first parents ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, they were sentenced by God and died from his standpoint. Then they were expelled from Paradise and began their descent into physical death” (Knowledge, p.58). The spirit, or lifeforce, that God gives us at our birth departs at death. There is no conscious existence at death. “Where do the dead go? To Sheol, the common grave of mankind. Our dead loved ones are not conscious of anything. They are not suffering, and they cannot affect us in any way” (Knowledge, p.83).

Biblical Response: Adam and Eve’s sin indeed brought evil and death into the world. Thus, we are dead spiritually and separated from God. However, at death, believers in Christ maintain a conscious relationship with Him while awaiting the resurrection (see Matt. 22:32; Luke 16:22, 23; 23:43; John 11:26; 2 Cor. 5:8; 12:2–4; Phil. 1:23, 24; 1 Thes. 4:14—5:10; 2 Pet. 2:9).

Jesus Paid a Ransom Sacrifice: Due to Adam’s sin, it was necessary that an atonement be made to restore what he had lost. “Only a man with perfect human life could offer up the equivalent of what Adam lost. After Adam, the only perfect man born on earth was Jesus Christ” (Knowledge, p.65). “The Roman governor Pontius Pilate sentenced him to death on a torture stake. He was nailed to a wooden pole and hung there upright ... Thus, it was on Nisan 14, 33 C.E. [A.D.], that Jesus gave his life as a ‘ransom in exchange for many’” (Knowledge, p.66). “He slept in death for parts of three days, and then Jehovah God resurrected him to life as a mighty spirit being” (Knowledge, p.68).

Biblical Response: Jesus was not just a perfect man, but also God incarnate (see Col. 2:9). Thus, His death on a Roman cross was the self-sacrificial atonement of God Himself for mankind’s sin (see 1 Cor. 1:17–24; 2:2; 15:3, 4). He rose again from the dead physically, not just spiritually (see Luke 24:14–39; John 2:19–21; 20:26–29; 1 Cor. 15:18).

Salvation—Faith and Obedience: “Therefore, let us show our gratitude for the love displayed by God and Christ by exercising faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice” (Knowledge, p.69). Requirements for salvation, in addition to faith, include baptism by immersion, active association with the WBTS, righteous conduct, and absolute loyalty to Jehovah. There is no assurance of salvation, only hope for a resurrection. Those who fail to live up to the above requirements or who are disfellowshiped by the WBTS have no hope of salvation.

Biblical Response: Salvation is “by grace through faith” in Jesus Christ alone. No amount of works or membership in any organization guarantees salvation. It is totally through faith in Christ (see Rom. 4:4, 5; Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5). Good works are the natural response to salvation already received, not its cause (see Eph. 2:10). Salvation is eternally assured for those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior (see John 1:12; 5:24; 1 John 5:13).

Two Classes of Saved People: Only 144,000 faithful elect Jehovah’s Witnesses, known as the “Anointed Class,” will go to heaven at death to rule with Jesus. Only those born since 33 C.E. (A.D.) can be part of that number (based on Rev. 14:1–3). Most Jehovah’s Witnesses hope to be among the “other sheep” or “great crowd” who will not go to heaven, but, after Armageddon and the millennium, will live forever in Paradise on Earth (based on John 10:16; Rev. 7:9).

Biblical Response: The WBTS’ doctrine of a duality of saved people is not supported by a careful study of the Scriptures. The Bible makes no distinction of two classes of saved people (see Matt. 5:12; Phil. 3:20). In Revelation 7 and 14, both the 144,000 and the “great crowd” or “multitude” are “before the throne” in heaven. All born-again Christians will live forever in heaven (see John 3:16; 14:3).

Final Judgment and Paradise on Earth: After the millennium, Satan and his allies will be destroyed. Faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses will inherit everlasting life on perfect Paradise Earth. Those who have disobeyed Jehovah and his law will be annihilated out of existence with Satan and his demons. This is the “second death.” Hell is the grave and not a place of eternal punishment. The doctrine of eternal hell is regarded as unscriptural, unreasonable, contrary to God’s love, and unjust.

Biblical Response: All people will face the final judgment of God. The doctrine of eternal hell is based on a number of biblical texts and the teachings of Jesus Himself. He taught that righteous saved people will have eternal life in heaven but the wicked lost will suffer eternal punishment in hell (see Matt. 18:8, 9; 25:41–46; Mark 9:43–48; 2 Thes. 1:9).

Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses

Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible. Make a definite plan for the witnessing encounter and keep the initiative. Be prepared to cite and explain specific biblical passages supporting Christian doctrines. Define your terms clearly and ask the Jehovah’s Witness to do so also. Focus the discussion on the primary issue of the person and work of Christ. Stress the need for a personal relationship with Him. Share your personal testimony of God’s grace and your faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Present the basic plan of salvation and encourage the Jehovah’s Witness to make a decision. Pray and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you.

Tal Davis, © 1998 North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Alpharetta, Ga. All rights reserved.

Words of Comfort

Sometimes it’s not easy to know how to do good within a society. I remember seeing a sexually explicit magazine cover in a store right at the eye-level of children, so I decided to show my protest by turning the publication over. It would prevent it from being seen by kids, and would send a message to the management that some people don’t like sexually explicit pictures displayed in public. I would have to be quick, though. If someone saw me touching it and knew I was a Christian, it would look bad. So, with great speed, I grabbed the filthy magazine and turned it over.

As I went to make a quick exit, I looked back and saw to my horror that the back cover was far worse than the front!

I crept back, turned it over, and made a quick and heated exit.

Questions

1. How does the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ official Bible translation affect their beliefs about God?
2. What is their belief about God?
3. Explain what JWs view as Jesus’ three periods of existence.
4. How does the JW’s concept of what happens at death contrast with the biblical view?
5. According to JWs, what are the requirements for salvation?

Answers to these review questions are provided in the back of the printed book / source PDF.

Memory Verse

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation.”

John 5:28-29

Last Words

So the heart be right, it is no matter which way the head lieth.

Sir Walter Raleigh, at his execution