WITNESSES? - Their History, Beliefs and Practices 1. History of The Watchtower Organization: 1852 Founder Charles Taze Russell was born 1870’s Russell studied the doctrines of Second Adventists: George Storrs, Jonas Wendell, George Stetson and Nelson Barbour 1879: Russell began publishing Zion’s Watchtower And Herald of Christ’s Presence (Precursor to The Watchtower magazine) 1881: Main Legal Entity Founded - Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania 1909: Headquarters Moved to Brooklyn, New York - Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc 1916: Charles Taze Russell died 1917-1942: Second Watchtower President “Judge” Joseph F. Rutherford 1931: The name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” adopted. 1942-1977: Third Watchtower President Nathan H. Knorr 1978-1992: Fourth Watchtower President: Frederick W. Franz 1992-2000: Fifth Watchtower President: Milton George Henschel 2000: Change in Organizational Structure: Three Corporations Formed: Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Religious Order of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Kingdom Support Services Watchtower “Governing Body” relinquished control of the organization to the Board of Directors, under Don A. Adam 2. Jehovah’s Witness Statistics in 2004: 6 Million active Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.2 Billion hours spent annually in door-to-door proselytizing The Watchtower and Awake! magazines distributed in over 230 countries 6 Million “Bible Studies” (one-on-one Watchtower indoctrination lessons) conducted with potential converts 98 Thousand Congregations 3. Adventist Theology Adopted in Jehovah’s Witness Literature: Christ’s Invisible Presence occurred in 1874, Date was later changed to 1914 Investigative Judgment = Christ’s Inspection of Spiritual Food from 1874-1878, Later changed to 1914-1919 Conditional Mortality, Soul Sleep = Soul does not survive death, Resurrection of only the worthy, No Hell Restoration of Paradise Earth 4. False Prophetic Dates: 1874: Date for Christ’s “invisible presence,” changed to 1914 1914: End of the world 1915: Replaced 1914 for the end of the world 1918: End of the world, the destruction of churches 1925: End of the world with the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob 1929: “Beth Sarim” House of Princes built in San Diego, deeded to king David and other biblical prophets for their “soon” return upon the earth 1940’s: End of the World would come with the “soon” battle of Armageddon 1975: 6,000-years of human history, the end of the world would come within “months, not years.” 1994: 80-year Generation of 1914 should bring the end of the world, 1995 redefined the word “generation” to be symbolic of general readiness for the end. 5. Controversial Practices No holiday or birthday celebrations No participation in flag salutes, voting, politics or war activities No blood transfusions Limited higher education Limited contact with non-Jehovah’s Witness friends and family Shunning of former Jehovah’s Witnesses Forbidding critical thinking and disagreement Forbidding literature critical of the group Forbidding non-Jehovah’s Witness religious broadcasting and church attendance Mandatory door-to-door proselytizing 6. Jehovah’s Witness Bible - New World Translation Translators had insufficient knowledge of biblical manuscripts Translation distorts the Deity of Christ at John 1:1; 8:58; Hebrews 1:8 and other passages to support Watchtower doctrine Inserts God Name “Jehovah” into the New Testament without manuscript support 7. Jehovah’s Witness VS Christian Doctrine Comparison Chart WATCHTOWER DOCTRINE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE The Father alone is the only true God “Jehovah.” Jehovah God is Father, Son, Holy Spirit. – Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 48:16; Zechariah 2:8-11; 11:13; 12:10; 2 Samuel 23:2-3; John 1:1-3; 20:28; Hebrews 1:8 Jesus is the created Archangel “Michael.” Jesus is not created. He is Almighty God. – Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 7:3; Isaiah 44:24 c.f. John 1:3; Isaiah 48:12 c.f. Revelation 1:7-8, 17,18; 2:8; 22:12-13, 20 Jehovah raised Jesus from the dead in an angel “spirit body,” devoid of His human body. Jesus raised His physical body from the dead, fully human and fully God. – Luke 24:39; John 2:18-22; 10:17-18; Acts 17:31; Philippians 2:5-11 God’s “holy spirit” is an impersonal force. The Holy Spirit who is God is also a Person. - Romans 8:27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:17 Only a special group of 144,000 people interpret Scripture. All believers are free to interpret Scripture by the leading of God’s Spirit. – John 16:13; 1 John 2:27 Salvation is found through faith in Jehovah, Jesus and performance in the Watchtower organization. Salvation is in Jesus alone. –John 5:39-40; 10:28-29; 14:6; Acts 4:12 Jesus is not the mediator for all mankind, but only for 144,000 people. Jesus is the mediator for all who place their faith in Him. – 1 Timothy 2:5-6 Heaven and the born-again experience is only for 144,000 Christians who lived from 33 A.D. – 1935A.D. All believers are born-again and enjoy eternal life in Heaven – John 3:3-7; 1:12; 1 John 5:1; Revelation 7:9-15; 19:1 Survivors of Armageddon will rebuild the earth to make it into a Paradise during Christ’s 1000-year reign. After the 1,000-year reign of Christ, God will completely destroy this present universe and recreate a new heavens and a new earth. – 2 Peter 3:7, 10-13; Revelation 21:1-2 All Old Testament believers and Christians who are not in the 144,000 group will live on earth eternally. All believers will be able to live in both Heaven and Earth and be able to go back and forth between both places like Jesus did in His resurrected body. – Matthew 8:11; Luke 13:28-29; Hebrews 11:13-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Acts 1:11; 1 John 3:2 The human soul ceases to exist at death. The human soul survives death into eternity. – Matthew 10:28; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23-24; Revelation 6:9-11 Hell does not exist as a place of torment, but is symbolic of the common grave. Hell is eternal punishment – Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43, 47-49; Luke 16:22-29; Revelation 14:9-11; 20:13-15; 21:8 Christians avoid being involved in war, voting and political activities Christians bring a “salt and light” influence into every aspect of culture, including war and politics. – Matthew 5:13-16; 8:5-13; Acts 10; Romans 16:23; Ecclesiastes 3:8 Blood transfusions violate God’s law against “eating” blood so they must be avoided. Blood transfusions replenish the current blood supply and do not metabolize as food does in the act of “eating.” Thus, they are acceptable for Christians as they do not violate God’s law on blood. Jesus died on a upright torture stake and not a cross. The cross is shunned as a “pagan” symbol. Jesus did not die on an upright stake, but on the cross. The cross is viewed as a symbol of spiritual life in Christ. – John 20:25; Matthew 27:37; 1 Corinthians 1:18 All religious and non-religious holidays and birthday celebrations are banned, except for the celebration of the memorial of Jesus’ death. Christians are free to choose whether or not to celebrate holidays. – Romans 14:5-6; Colossians 2:16; Jesus celebrated Hanukah. - John 10:22-23; Job’s sons celebrated their birthdays. – Job 1:4 1-There is one God in one person, Make Sure of All Things, p 188. 2-There is no Trinity, Let God be True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All Things, p.386. 3-The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 406-407. 4-The Holy Spirit is Gods impersonal active force, The Watchtower, June 1, 1952, p. 24. 5-Jehovahs first creation was his only-begotten Son. . . was used by Jehovah in creating all other things, Aid to Bible Understanding, p. 390-391. 6-Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, The Watchtower, May 15, 1963, p. 307; The New World, 284. 7-Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 306. 8-Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body, Awake! July 22, 1973, p. 4. 9-Jesus was raised not a human creature, but a spirit. Let God be True, p. 276. 10-Jesus was born again, The Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1954, p. 682. 11-Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 89-90. 12-Jesus began his invisible rule over the earth in 1914, The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 300. 13-Jesus ransom sacrifice did not include Adam, Let God be True, p. 119. 14-Their church is the self-proclaimed prophet of God, The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p. 197. 15-They claim to be the only channel of Gods truth, The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 19. 16-Only their church members will be saved, The Watchtower, Feb, 15, 1979, p. 30. 17-Good works are necessary for salvation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, p. 150, 152. 18-The soul ceases to exist after death, Let God be True, p. 59, 60, 67. 19-There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished, Let God be True, p. 79, 80. 20-Only 144,000 Jehovahs Witness go to heaven, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121. 21-Only the 144,000 Jehovahs Witness are born again. Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 76.; Watchtower 11/15/54, p. 681. 22-Only the 144,000 may take communion. 23-Blood transfusions are a sin, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 72-73. 24-The Cross is a pagan symbol and should not be used, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 90-92. 25-Salvation is by faith and what you do, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, p. 150,152. 26-It is possible to lose your salvation, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 358-359. 27-The universe is billions of years old, Your will Be Done on Earth, p. 43. 28-Each of the 6 creative days of God in Genesis 1, was 7000 years long. Therefore, Man was created toward the end of 42,000 years of earths preparation, Let God be True, p. 168. 29-They also refuse to vote, salute the flag, sing the Star Spangled Banner, or celebrate Christmas or birthdays. They are not allowed to serve in the armed forces. 30-Satan was entrusted with the obligation and charged with the duty of overseeing the creation of the earth, Children, pG.55. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Watchtower Society Bible is not a correct translation. It contains wrong translations that were willfully twisted to conform to their doctrine. They omit or add words to scripture to transform to their doctrine Jehovah Witnesses teach that all Christian denominations are in grave error and that only they have the truth Jehovah Witnesses teach that Jesus is a created angel and not the Creator co-eternal with the Father Jehovah Witnesses teach that the trinity doctrine (which is the cornerstone of Christianity) was originated by Satan Jehovah Witnesses teach that Jesus is not Jehovah of the Bible but is a lesser created God Jehovah Witnesses teach the Holy Spirit is a force and not a person Jehovah Witnesses teach human reason is the utmost authority for determining if scripture is valid Jehovah Witnesses teach the soul of man is mortal and that there is no hell or eternal punishment and that death is a cessation of consciousness. The Watchtower society denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and that He will return bodily. They say Jesus is an invisible spirit creature. The Watchtower society teaches that Jesus came back as a spirit in 1914 and is now directing their society and thus fulfilling the righteous kingdom on earth The Watchtower society teaches a limited atonement of Jesus on the cross. They say the rest comes through free will of man The Watchtower society teach that those that are resurrected will become invisible spirit creatures The Watchtower society has poor scholarship and dont even publish who wrote their articles and wont own up to obvious errors in past writings Jehovah Witnesses do not recognize the God given authority of human government Jehovah Witnesses teach that only 144,000 from their organization will rule with Jesus in the Heavenly Sphere Jehovah Witnesses use Christian terms and put different meanings on them like born again which to them instead of being born of the Spirit means a birth-like realization of prospects and hopes for spirit life by resurrection to heaven
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 13:51:59 +0000