Christian Essentials: “Christian” Cults Jehovah Witnesses
Christian Essentials: “Christian” Cults Jehovah Witnesses
To really understand the Jehovah witness cult we must first go back to it’s roots. The JW’s are a distorted offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church which is a distortion of the Millerite Adventist movement from the early 1800’s. The Adventists founder William Miller was born in 1782 on the east coast of the United States. He was licensed to preach by a Baptist church but was
never ordained. After having studied the Bible for two years, in 1818 Miller announced to the world that in 25 years (March 1844) Jesus Christ would return to the earth.
At the height of his ministry, Miller had gathered some 50,000 followers, who had also become known as "Adventists." When March 1844 came and went with no sign of Jesus Christ having returned, Miller recalculated the new date to October 22, 1844. When Jesus did not return on October 22, 1844, the entire Millerite movement collapsed as his followers' Christian faith were destroyed. Miller revamped his doctrine to say that Christ had indeed returned, but that Miller had not understood that Christ first had to come to the "Heavenly Sanctuary," which He is now busy cleaning. Once Jesus has cleansed things up in heaven, He would be coming back to the earth.
The remnant that bought into this lie formed the Advent Church and in 1845 William Miller became its first president. The name was later changed to Seventh Day Adventists and after the death of Miller in 1849 a new false prophet came on the scene, this time a woman, Ellen G. White. Her ascension as a "prophetess" in the Seventh Day Adventist Church had now begun. During her years as the "seer" for the SDA church, she prophesied a number of predictions, which did not come true. One of the most blatant false prophecies she made was when she predicted before the American Civil war, that the Union would not be preserved but that the United States would be divided, slavery would not be abolished but England would intervene and declare war on the United States.
Ellen G. White taught that all other churches except the SDA church were teaching lies from the Devil. Only SDA members are true and obedient believers; prayers spoken in other churches are only answered by the Devil.
They believe that in the last days just before Christ returns, only those worshipping on Saturday will be saved. They particularly believe that worshipping on Sunday will be the mark of the beast. They consider themselves to be the only true, remnant church and all others will be condemned in time. They believe the doctrine of soul sleeping, which states that the souls of believers in Christ are not in heaven, but are sleeping in the graves. The Bible says those who were saved on earth by receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior and died are now living a full and joyous life in heaven. Rev. 7:9-17
They believe in the final and total annihilation of the wicked, where they will simply cease to exist after the final judgment. This doctrine is in harmony with the Jehovah's Witnesses. The Bible says they will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:12-15
They do not believe in the eternal punishment of Satan and his fallen angels. They believe that the penalty for sinning against a Holy God is merely annihilation. Satan is the scapegoat; the sins of the believers are laid upon him, and he and these sins are finally burned up. The Bible says that Satan and his fallen angels will be cast in the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:10-15
Another offshoot of the Millerite/Adventist movement was the group which eventually became known as the Jehovah Witnesses. This sect started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell. Russell named his group the “Millennial Dawn Bible Study.” Charles T. Russell began writing a series of books he called “The Millennial Dawn,” which stretched to six volumes before his death and contained much of the theology Jehovah’s Witnesses now hold. After Russell's death in 1916, Judge J. F. Rutherford, Russell's friend and successor, wrote the seventh and final volume of the “Millennial Dawn” series, “The Finished Mystery,” in 1917. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1886 and quickly became the vehicle through which the “Millennial Dawn” movement began distributing their views to others. The group was known as the “Russellites” until 1931 when, due to a split in the group, it was renamed the “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” The group from which it split became known as the “Bible students.”
Charles Taze Russell was born from a Presbyterian family. His father was an elite Freemason. Russell joined a Congregational Church but was troubled by the churches teachings of hell, which led him to be skeptical about the church in his early adolescence. By the age of 18 (1869) he participated in a reunion by the Second Adventists, held by Jonas Wendell. What he heard resurrected his faith in the Bible. The Adventists believed that the soul is put to rest after death awaiting resurrection. Therefore, no Hell. Russell studied the Bible and was greatly influenced by many Adventists such as George Storrs, Jonas Wendell, George Stetson and Nelson Barbour. Many of Russell’s doctrines came from the Adventists of the first hour including William Miller’s predictions because of his calculations of date for the return of Christ.
One of the major Adventist influences on Russell was Nelson Barbour whom published the magazine “The Midnight Cry” (later named “Herald of the Morning”). Barbour thought Christ would return in a visible manner in 1874. Since nothing happened in 1874, Barbour thought that Christ did actually come, but remained invisible. In 1876, when Charles Taze Russell received a copy of Herald of the Morning, he believed the invisible return of Christ of 1874. He accepted more of the chronologies of events established by Barbour including the calculations of the ‘Gentile Times”.
Russell wrote an article about the Gentile Times in the periodic Bible Examiner by George Storrs. Nelson Barbour and Charles Taze Russell joined for the publication of the Adventist magazine Herald of the Morning, where Russell became the assistant editor. In Barbour’s chronology, He says that 6000 years since the creation of Adam ended in 1873 and that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874. The harvest would happen between 1874 and 1914 the end of “The Gentile Times”. 
The Watchtower bases its beliefs and doctrines on the original and expanded teachings of Charles Taze Russell, Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and their successors. The governing body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only body in the cult that claims authority to interpret Scripture. In other words, what the governing body says concerning any scriptural passage is viewed as the last word, and independent thinking is strongly discouraged. This is in direct opposition to Paul's admonition to Timothy (and to us as well) to study to be approved by God, so that we need not be ashamed as we correctly handle the Word of God. This admonition, found in 2 Timothy 2:15, is a clear instruction from God to each of His children to be like the Berean Christians, who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught lined up with the Word.
What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe?
Close scrutiny of their doctrinal position on such subjects as the deity of Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and the atonement shows beyond a doubt that they do not hold to orthodox Christian positions on these subjects. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly declare Jesus to be God (John 1:1,14, 8:58, 10:30). Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. This contradicts countless scriptures which declare salvation to be received by grace through faith (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God. Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the concept of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and instead hold to a ransom theory, that Jesus’ death was a ransom payment for Adam’s sin.
How do the Jehovah’s Witnesses justify these unbiblical doctrines?
First, they claim that the church has corrupted the Bible over the centuries; thus, they have re-translated the Bible into what they call the New World Translation. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society altered the text of the Bible to make it fit their false doctrine, rather than basing their doctrine on what the Bible actually teaches. The New World Translation has gone through numerous editions, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses discover more and more Scriptures that contradict their doctrines.
According to Jehovah's Witness' theology, God is a single person, not a Trinity, who does not know all things and is not everywhere. He first created Michael the Archangel through whom He created all "other things," including the universe, the earth, Adam and Eve, etc. This creative work took God 42,000 years. At one point, The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society taught that God ruled the universe from somewhere in the Pleiades star system. They have since modified this to say that the "Pleiades can no longer be considered the center of the universe and it would be unwise for us to try to fix God's throne as being at a particular spot in the universe."1 Such changes and even contradictions are frequent in the Watchtower organization. When a doctrine changes, they tell their followers that the light of truth is getting brighter.
Despite having only a seventh grade education, Russell boasted that he was the incarnation of truth, for he referred to his Studies in the Scriptures as "not mere comments on the Bible, but they are practically the Bible itself" (The WatchTower, Sept. 15; 1910; cited in Martin, p. 46). He insisted that the Bible was not studied for over 1200 years and that only he was competent to interpret it - completely ignoring the Church Fathers.
One of the more remarkable stories involves the very first president of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, Charles Taze Russell. The man was found guilty of selling phony “Miracle Wheat” through his publication Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald’s of Christ’s Presence. Russell claimed that this “Miracle Wheat” was superior to regular wheat, and would grow five times as fast as any other brand. After the Brooklyn Daily Eagle ran a cartoon ridiculing Russell and his “Miracle Wheat,” Russell sued the newspaper. When the “Miracle Wheat” was investigated by government agencies, it was found to be slightly inferior to standard wheat. Needless to say, the Eagle won the suit. (p. 14, Nov. 1, 1916, Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
In spite of his lack of formal training in theology or biblical languages, Russell claimed to be the only one with the truth, and he vigorously condemned all other Christian religions. As a result, ministers of various denominations began exposing Russell's false teachings and questionable character. Rev. J.J.Ross published a pamphlet that exposed Russell's false claims and doctrines. He revealed that Russell "never attended the higher schools of learning: knows comparatively nothing of philosophy, systematic or historical theology; and is totally ignorant of the [biblical] languages [i.e. Hebrew and Greek]". Ross concluded that Russell's teaching was "anti-rational, anti-scientific, anti-Biblical,[and] anti-Christian". Russell unsuccessfully tried to stop circulation of this damaging information by suing Rev. Ross for defamatory libel.
However, he not only lost the suit, but in the process perjured himself in court when he lied under oath about his knowledge of the Greek language. In the end Russell admitted the statements about himself in the pamphlet were true. He could not even identify any greek letters he was asked to read.
The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the version of the Bible accepted and promoted by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, is worthy of doubt. It was translated exclusively by members of the Watchtower sect, all of whom entered into the Brooklyn headquarters, over a short period of three years. Of the seven translators known to this author, only Frederick Franz had any training whatsoever in the original biblical languages, and nowhere near the caliber we might expect of a qualified translator. Franz was self-taught in Hebrew, and had studied Greek for two years. In Franz's autobiography, concerning his education at the University of Cincinnati, we find the following: "What a blessing it was to study Bible Greek under Professor Arthur Kensella! Under Dr. Joseph Harry, an author of some Greek works, I also studied the classical Greek. I knew that if I wanted to become a Presbyterian clergyman, I had to have a command of Bible Greek. So I furiously applied myself and got passing grades…" (The Watchtower, May 1, 1987, p. 24).
Franz misleads the reader into thinking that biblical Greek studies were his primary pertinent coursework in this matter, and that his studies in classical Greek were supplementary. In fact, quite the opposite is correct: Franz took 2 hours of Bible Greek and 21 hours of classical Greek. Furthermore, Kensella lacked a Ph.D. and taught entry-level courses. Hence, he was an instructor, not a professor as Franz alleged, demonstrable by a quick perusal of the course catalog of 1911.
To contrast, the New International Version, was translated over a period of eighteen years by an international assembly of over one hundred scholars, from fifteen denominations. Why is that significant? I don't know about you, but the fact that only four members from the same sect were responsible for the New World Translation makes me suspicious.
The Jehovah Witness New World translation deliberately mistranslated many biblical verses to support their unchristian doctrines.
Jehovah or Jesus? Jesus or Michael?
They teach that Yahweh (Jehovah) of the Old Testament is the LORD God who created Jesus, the Archangel Michael who created everything else and was the person who appears in the OT as “The Angel of the LORD”.
This violates scripture as orthodox Christianity teaches that Jesus is the uncreated creator of the universe, equal and of the same substance with the Father and appeared multiple times in the OT in his preincarnate form as “The Angel of the LORD”.
Who is the First and the Last?
In Rev 22:12-13, Jesus Christ, the one who is "coming quickly", says of himself, " I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end". In Rev 1:17-18, Jesus, the one who "became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever", refers to himself as the first and the last. Rev 21:6, in speaking of God, says, "...I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end ...". God is also referred to as the "first" and the "last" in Isa 44:6 and Isa 48:12. How can this be since by definition of these words there can only be one first and one last?
Isaiah 44:6 (ESV)
Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
Isaiah 48:12 (ESV)
“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.
Who is the Creator?
Jn 1:3 says that Jesus created "all things", but in Isa 44:24, God says that he "by myself" created the heavens and the earth and asks the question "Who was with me?" when the heavens and the earth were created. How can this be since if Jesus was created by God, then he would have been with God when everything else was created?
Isaiah 44:24 (ESV)
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,
Who is the Mighty God?
Jesus Christ is referred to as "Mighty God" in Isa 9:6 ("For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us ... And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God ..."). Jehovah is referred to as "Mighty God" in Isa 10:20-21. How can this be if there is only one God (1Cor 8:4, Isa 43:10, 44:6)?
Isaiah 10:20-21 (ESV)
In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
When would the thief on the cross go to paradise?
Jesus uses the phrase "Truly I say to you, ..." over 50 times in the Bible. In the NWT, the comma is placed after the word "you" every time except in Lk 23:43, where the comma is placed after the word "today". Why is the comma placed after "today" instead of after "you" in this verse? If the translation of this phrase in Lk 23:43 was consistent with the translation of this phrase in all the other verses in which it appears (see concordance), and the comma was placed after the word "you", how would it read?
Luke 23:43 (ESV)
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43 (NWT)
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
Other?
In Phil 2:9, the NWT inserts the word "other", even though it doesn't appear in the original Greek. What is the reason for inserting this word?
Philippians 2:9 (NIV)
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
Philippians 2:9 (NWT)
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every (other) name,
διο ο θεος και υπερυψωσεν
Therefore the God also highly exalted
αυτον και εχαρισατο αυτω
Him and gave him
το ονομα υπερ παν ονομα
the name above every name
Thomas?
In Jn 20:28, Thomas refers to Jesus in Greek as
Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου !
"Ho kyrios moy kai ho theos moy".
This translates literally as "the Lord of me and THE God of me". Why does Jesus, in Jn 20:29, affirm Thomas for having come to this realization? If Jesus really wasn't the Lord and THE God of Thomas, why didn't Jesus correct him for making either a false assumption or a blasphemous statement?
A God?
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος ,
In beginning was the Word
καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν
and the Word was with the
Θεόν καὶ ἦν ὁ Λόγος
God and was the God
The NWT translates Jn 1:1 as "... and the Word was WITH God, and the Word was a god". How can the Word (Jesus) be "a god" if God says in Deut 32:39, "See now that I-I am he, and there are NO gods together WITH me ..."?
The Jehovah Witness Claim
After Adam sinned, the paradise which God had created for them was ruined. So, God instituted a system of redemption which was revealed in the Bible and would ultimately lead to the crucifixion of Jesus the messiah. But, in the meantime, God needed to have a visible, theocratic organization on earth to accurately represent Him. Throughout history, this true organization had a remnant of faithful Jehovah's Witnesses (Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc.); but it wasn't until the late 1800's that Charles Taze Russell formally began what is now known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society which is run out of Brooklyn, New York. This organization claims to be the only true channel of God's truth on earth today and that it alone can properly interpret God's word since it is the angel directed prophet of God on earth.
When it came time for the savior to be born, Michael the Archangel became a human in the form of Jesus. Jesus grew and kept all the laws of God and never sinned. Finally, when Jesus died, it was not on a cross but on a torture stake where he bore the sins of mankind--but this did not include Adam's sins. Jesus rose from the dead as a spirit, not physically (his body was dissolved and taken by God); and during his visitations to people on earth, he manifested a temporary physical body for them to see and touch. Thus began the true Christian church of Jehovah's followers.
Throughout history there have been faithful Jehovah's witnesses who have managed to keep The Truth in spite of the "demonic" doctrine of Trinitarianism that has permeated the Christian church in "Christendom." Christendom is filled with pastors who are antichrists in churches run by Satan and who support the earthly governments which are all of the devil. In other words, all of Christianity is false; and only the Jehovah's Witness "theocratic" organization led by several men in Brooklyn, New York, is true.
A Pyramid Scheme
In the late 19th Century, a number of Bible students became interested in the "mysteries" of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh. One such individual was Charles Taze Russell, founder of the group later known as the Jehovah's Witnesses. In his book "Thy Kingdom Come" vol. 3 (Originally published in 1890), Russell goes into great detail of the various measurements inside the pyramid, using "pyramid inches" (1)in effort to prove that the construction of the pyramid was inspired by God to stand as a corroborating witness To the Bible, as well as reveal the dates of Christ's Second Coming.
"So, then, if we measure backward down the "First Ascending Passage" to its junction with the "Entrance Passage," we shall have a fixed date to mark upon the downward passage. This measure is 1542 inches, and indicates the year BC 1542, as the date at that point. Then measuring down the "Entrance Passage" from that point, to find the distance to the entrance of the "Pit," representing the great trouble and destruction with which this age is to close, when evil will be overthrown from power, we find it to be 3416 inches, symbolizing 3416 years from the above date, BC 1542. This calculation shows AD. 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years BC plus 1874 years AD. equals 3416 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation -- no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will be noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the Bible testimony on this subject.
JWs do not refer to their places of worship as churches, but rather as a “Kingdom Hall.” They have no paid clergy, for they believe the “model of first-century Christianity” is one in which “all baptized members are ordained ministers and share in the preaching and teaching work.” Both men and women can be ministers, though within each congregation “spiritually mature men” serve as “older men,” or elders.” About 20 congregations form a circuit, and congregations receive periodic visits from traveling elders known as circuit overseers.
Doctrinal guidance is provided by a Governing Body made up of longtime JWs who currently work at the international offices in Brooklyn, New York. A number of corporations are in use by JWs, though they are often referred to collectively as “The Society” after the oldest and most prominent of their corporation, “The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania” (which is now located in Brooklyn). Not much is known about the financing of the JW corporations other than that they own significant real estate holdings in New York City. For instance, the group’s headquarters, which is currently for sale, is expected to be sold for around $1 billion.
As of August 2016, Jehovah's Witnesses report an average membership of approximately 8.13 million actively involved in preaching, with a peak of 8.34 million. The Watchtower continues to engage in cultic manipulation of its people through the prohibition of military service, the celebration of holidays, and the saluting of the nation’s flag. The impetus for these restrictions is rooted in their false claim to be the exclusive organized collection of Jehovah’s people. The Watchtower views these practices as devices of Satan to lead people away from Jehovah. The Watchtower sees the entire “world system” (any activity not connected with the Watchtower) as connected to Satan and is thus prohibited. This would include the practice of blood transfusions, which the Watchtower wrongly believes to be prohibited by Scripture. The Watchtower has stated that a blood transfusion “may result in the immediate and very temporary prolongation of life, but at the cost of eternal life for a dedicated Christian.”
Question: “Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse blood transfusions?”
Answer: Acts 15:19-21, 28 is the Scripture Jehovah’s Witnesses typically point to as the reason they refuse to accept blood donations. Acts 15:20 says, “Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.” It is clear from the context that the instructions were against eating / drinking blood, not blood transfusions. Blood transfusions were not even possible in Bible times, so there is no possibility that this Scripture could be referring to blood transfusions. There were many pagan religious practices that involved eating and drinking blood and/or strangling an animal to keep more of its blood in its meat. This is what the Bible speaks against, not blood transfusions.
Is it acceptable for a Christian to receive or give a blood transfusion? Since the Bible does not explicitly say, a decision of this nature can only be made between a person and God. One consideration might be that God created billions of people over the centuries, but only four blood types, making it possible to transfuse blood from one person to another, regardless of race or nationality. Perhaps this is an argument for the legitimacy of blood transfusions. A person should carefully and prayerfully consider what God would have him do in regards to receiving/giving a blood transfusion. There is no command either way in Scripture. Blood transfusions are, therefore, a matter of conscience
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