In 1870, at the age of 18, Charles T. Russell organized a Bible class in
Pittsburgh Pa. USA, which in 1876 elected him as "pastor" of the
group. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1879. The
leadership of the "Society" eventually went to J. F. Rutherford and
the name Jehovah's Witnesses was taken at Columbus, Ohio, in 1931. Their
headquarters are in Brooklyn, New York. They have their own translation of the
Scriptures in which they have taken unwarranted liberties with the Greek text
called the "New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures."
Their leading periodical is the "Watchtower" and they publish
millions of Pamphlets each year which are distributed by their adherents.
Because Jehovah's Witnesses are the product of man's teaching and not the
result of Biblical teaching, there are many points at which they are not only
unscriptural but anti-scriptural. This tract does not allow a thorough
treatment of all the errors believed and taught by Jehovah's Witnesses so we
limit our observations to basic doctrinal errors. They believe and teach error
in regard to:
THEIR NAME
No place in the Word of God do you find the name "Jehovah's Witnesses.
" In the New Testament, those who pleased God were called disciples (Acts
11: 26), saints (Jude), Christians (I Peter 4: 16), and brethren. (I John 3: 14).
DIVINITY
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that there is one God and that His name is Jehovah.
Thus, they deny the deity of Christ and the deity of the Holy Spirit. The
Bible teaches that Christ is God. (Isa. 9:6; Jn.1:1-4,14; Phil. 2:5-8; Jn.
5:23.) The Word of God also teaches that the Holy Spirit is God. (Acts 5:3,4).
These three: God, the Father; Christ, the Son; and the Holy Spirit, comprise
deity. (Col. 2:8).
CHRIST
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Christ was the first creation of God. The Bible
teaches that Christ is eternal in nature and that he was with God the Father
in the creation of all things. The word " God" in Genesis 1:1 is
plural and includes the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The New Testament
writers teach that Christ played an important role in the creation. (Jn. 1:3,
Hebrews 1:2). Christ was not "created" but was the
"creator."
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Christ was put to death in the flesh and that God
disposed of that body just as he disposed of Moses' body and that he was raised
an invisible spirit creature. The Bible teaches that Christ, following his
resurrection, was not invisible but could be easily identified. (Lk. 24:37-39,
42-43; Jn. 20: 25,27).
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the promise of Christ's second coming was
fulfilled in 1914 at which time he was supposed to have received the kingdom.
They also claim that his coming was spiritual and not visible and thus he was
unseen to men. The Bible teaches that Christ's second coming will be visible,
"every eye shall see him" (Rev. 1: 7) and audible (I Thess. 4: 16-
17). The Bible also teaches that Christ is NOW reigning over his kingdom.
(Acts 2:29-36)
THE NATURE OF MAN
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that man is wholly mortal and that like the animals
he ceases to exist when he dies. It is something like the little dog Rover;
"when he is dead, he is dead all over. "The Bible teaches that man
is a triune being; body, soul, and spirit (1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12). Man is
composed of body which come from the dust of the ground. He is composed of a
soul, which is his breath or life, and he is composed of a spirit, which is
made in the image of God. Because there are so many different meanings for the
word "soul" and "spirit" they must be defined according to
their usage in context. Sometimes the word "soul" is used to refer to
nothing more than man's breath, which he has in common with the animals. (Gen.
2:7). There are other times when the word "soul " is used in the
Bible to refer to man's eternal nature or spirit.
God Himself has a soul. (Lev. 26:11,30; Isa. 1:14; Matt 12: 8; Heb. 10:38).
Since God is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24) he has no animal breath. His soul is the
same thing as his spirit. Though man's soul (breath or life) can and does die
(Gen. 37:21; Num. 31:19) his immortal substance cannot die. (Matt 10: 28).
That immortal substance (spirit) is often referred to as his soul. (Psa. 103:
1; Gen 35:18; 1 Kings 17:21; Revelation 20:4).
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
Since Jehovah's Witnesses deny the continuous conscious existence of man's
soul, they deny the Bible doctrine of eternal punishment for sin. To Jehovah's
Witnesses the only hell is the grave. The Bible teaches that man will be
"punished with everlasting destruction." (2 Thess. 1:9; Matt. 25:
46).
CONCLUSION
No person who is interested in his soul's salvation can afford to espouse the
doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses. Their teaching contradicts the teaching of
God's Word at almost every vital point. Follow the Bible and the Bible alone!