Jehovah Witnesses
Comparison of Jehovah Witnesses to our Beliefs
Brief History
Jehovah Witnesses, officially known as The Watchtower Society, began in 1870 when Charles Taze Russell began his own “meeting” or bible study. Russell was disillusioned with the association with previous denominations and with the influence of the Seventh Day Adventists initiated the Witnesses taking the name from Isaiah 43:10. Russell, along with successor J.F. Rutherford, established the Watchtower Society as an organization who would eventually take their teachings door to door in an effort to prepare the world for its impending end. The Watchtower Society today, with its nearly seven million members, is found around the world but with major concentrations in North America, Latin America and Central America. The Watchtower Society adamantly consider themselves not only Christian, but also the only people to be used by God to help usher in his kingdom (The Watchtower, February 1, 1996).
The Watchtower’s main theological teachings revolve around a non-Trinitarian doctrine, hell is limited to the grave, Jesus returned to earth in 1914 to establish his kingdom, and only 144,000 Witnesses ascend to heaven as all remaining Witnesses are to reside on Paradise Earth. Their bible, the New World Translation, is written from their doctrinal viewpoint, as all other traditional translations are considered corrupt. Likewise, they consider the Church as corrupt once the last apostle died until Russell began the Watchtower Society. Rutherford then gave the Watchtower Society its structure and organization overcoming a schism when Russell died in 1916.
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The Trinity
The doctrine of the "trinity" is an invention of man. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW100.htm" \t "_blank" Let God be True HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW100.htm" \t "_blank" , p 100, 101) The “three that bear witness in heaven…” (1 John 5:7) was added to the Bible later and is a therefore a corrupt verse. – (2006 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania).Nowhere in scripture is the word “Trinity” used, yet this term describes the Biblical reality found throughout Scripture: God is one - revealed to us in three separate persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – separate, but one.
Early in church history, different aspects of the Trinity were debated and discussed. Perhaps the earliest and most influential meeting was that of the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451. Leaders of various churches met and agreed upon the standard for orthodoxy using many biblical references that clearly teach an interaction (perichoresis effect) among the Godhead. The clear emphasis is to be placed upon the nature of God, not just a single word. Most evangelical Christians agree with the conclusion they reached.
While the Jehovah's Witnesses believe there is only one “true God”, they deny the biblical concept of the HYPERLINK "http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" \l "Trinity" Trinity at work between God the Father (2 Peter 1:17; Phil. 2:11.), God the Son(John 1:1; John 8:58; Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:6-9; Heb. 1:8), and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). Nevertheless, each Person of the Godhead is apart of One God according to scripture (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10; 44:6-8; 45:5-6, 18, 22; John 10:30; 1 Cor. 8:4).
2 Peter 1:17
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son,with whom I am well pleased,”Philippians 2:11
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”Romans 9:5
To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.Philippians 2:6-11
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Hebrews 1:8
But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”Acts 5:3-4
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”Isaiah 43:10
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.”Isaiah 44:6-8
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. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”Isaiah 45:5-6
“I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.”Isaiah 45:18
For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the Lord, and there is no other.”Isaiah 45:22
“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.“John 10:30
I and the Father are one.1 Corinthians 8:4
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”God
“There is only one true God in one person” – Jehovah (Awake! 2/8/99). God is separate and superior over his son Jesus (Awake! 4/22/05). “God was alone but then began his creation with a son [Logos]” – Rutherford, 15. "There was, therefore, a time when Jehovah was all alone in universal space" (Let God Be True, p. 25). “Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.” (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1983, page 12). Jehovah Witnesses teach that God is not omnipresent but limited to one location – heaven (Awake! 3/8/05).God is ruler of all creation and possess the attributes of being omnipotent (Jer. 32:17,27; Matt. 19:26; Rev. 19:6), omniscient (Deut. 8:2; Ps. 139:1-4; Acts 1:24; 1 John 3:20), and omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-12). The Watchtower Society has redefined the nature of God through their unbiblical teachings (Rom. 1:18-20).
Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?”Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”Revelation 19:6
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.Deuteronomy 8:2
And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.Psalm 139:1-4
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.Acts 1:24
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”1 John 3:20
For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.Psalm 139:7-12
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.Romans 1:18-20
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.-
Jesus
“Jesus was the first creation” – Rutherford, 15. The Logos [Jesus] was a “spirit creature” created by the great Spirit Jehovah – Rutherford, 18. Christ was first of God's creations – (Awake! 4/22/05). “Jesus was equal to the perfect man Adam” (2006 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) He was just a man, however -- not God in the flesh (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p 306 & Awake! 4/22/05). Jesus was also called “Michael” whenever Jehovah called him to do specific tasks – Rutherford, 19. Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, (The Watchtower, May 15, 1963, p. 307; The New World, 284)No place in the Bible describes Jesus as Michael. Neither did the apostles teach that Jesus is Michael or does the tasks of Michael as chief angel (Jude 1:9; Rev. 12:7).
Jude 1:9
But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”Revelation 12:7
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,Jesus repeatedly identified Himself as the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Lord of the Sabbath, Messiah, I am He, etc., The Watchtower Society has developed a Christology that is completely unbiblical and therefore unorthodox.
“Immediately after receiving Kingdom power, Jesus took action. The Bible tells us: “War broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled.” ( HYPERLINK "javascript:showCitedScripture('re','12','7');" Revelation 12:7) “Michael the archangel” is Jesus Christ in his heavenly position.” (What Does the Bible Really Teach? pages 218-19, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.).Watchtower doctrine is contrary to the word of God. HYPERLINK "http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" \l "Jesus" Jesus is not a created being, nor Michael the archangel, but rather He is God the Creator. (John 1:2-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:6).
John 1:2-3
He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." The New World Translation of John 1:1. (NWT published by The Watchtower Society. Brooklyn, NY., 1984). Jesus was “a god” – Rutherford, 16.Hebrews 1:6
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”Jesus was the Word…and the word was God. (John 1:1).
Jesus was only “spiritually” raised, not physically (Awake, 7/22/73, p 4; HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW276.htm" \t "_blank" Let God be True HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW276.htm" \t "_blank" , p 276).The Bible presents ample evidence of His physical resurrection (Matt. 28:1-10; Luke 24:38-39; John 20:19-29; 1 Cor. 15:5-7; Colossians 2:9; Heb. 1:3).
Matthew 28:1-10
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”Luke 24:38-39
And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”John 20:19-29
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”1 Corinthians 15:5-7
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.Colossians 2:9
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,Hebrews 1:3
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,Jesus Christ is God and holds the unique role as mediator on our behalf before His Father (1 Tim. 2:5).
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, -
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is an inanimate force or power. (The Watchtower, 6/1/52, p 24; Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp 406, 407) “Similarly, God has no need to travel to the locations where he intends to use his active force. He simply employs his holy spirit, which can reach to the extremities of creation. Seeing the holy spirit for what it is—God’s powerful active force—can give you confidence that Jehovah will fulfill his promises.” (Awake!, July 2006).The Holy Spirit is not a “force” but is indeed God Himself according to the HYPERLINK "http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" \l "Bible" Bible. (John 16:13-14; Acts 8:29, 13:2). Again, The Watchtower Society does not teach a Trinitarian theology that is a cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy.
John 16:13-14
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.Acts 8:29
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”Acts 13:2
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Bible
"Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." (The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587.)This is simply untrue. Nowhere in Scripture does it state that it belongs to any organization. It is the word of God – not men.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.Deuteronomy 4:1-2
“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.
“It should be expected that the Lord would have a means of communicating to his people on the earth, and he has clearly shown that the magazine called The Watchtower is used for that purpose.” (1939 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, Page 85).Deuteronomy 6:6-9
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.God has revealed Himself to man in many ways and means since the creation of time. His fullest revelation of Himself was in his Son, Jesus Christ. He has left a record of that revelation to us in His word – The Bible.
The idea or principle that God would continually and consistently speak to us without interruption through prophets or others is without Biblical foundation. Never does the Bible state God will constantly, continually, without interruption speak to his people through prophets. There were times in the Bible that God was silent for many years, though his Word stands forever. Additionally, when God did provide a prophet, the Bible never states or assumes that all that prophet said was inspired by God – only that which God preserved in his word – the Bible. For instance, to suggest that everything Jeremiah said during his life was inspired by God is difficult to imagine. Finally, much is misunderstood concerning Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles. Their primary role was calling God's people back to faithful obedience to God's Word – Scripture. Much of the New Testament is made up of quotations of the Old Testament.
The King James Version Bible had over 50,000 errors but they have been corrected by “modern scholars” [i.e., the anonymous translators for the New World Translation], (Awake!, 9/8/1957).2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.Jehovah Witnesses’ doctrine does consider the 66 books of The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) as the only true and divinely inspired Word of God. The NWT is produced and published by an anonymous translation committee of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. Therefore, when they speak of the Bible, they are referring to the NWT for all other translations are judged corrupt according to their teachings.
One common accusation by those who wish to discredit the Bible is the claim that it is "corrupt" and only they possess the true "word of God". They usually point to periods of time in church history where the Catholic Church persecuted those who differed in belief and practice. Though many sad events have occurred throughout history, these conspiracy theorists offer little evidence for this supposed corruption on the massive and complete scale they propose. The Bible itself holds the opposite to be true.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.Additionally, archeologists continue to unearth new finds that support the accuracy and reliability of the Bible as we have it today. One of the largest and most well known are the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered this century.
Man
“So when Jehovah God said that Adam would "return to the ground," he meant that Adam would die and return to the elements in the ground. Adam would not cross over to the spirit realm. At death, Adam would once again be nonexistent. His punishment was death—absence of life—not a transfer to another realm...” (The Watchtower, 7/15/2001).Witnesses teach that after death, the body returns to the ground and only those, “God remembers” will have a spirit that lives on; all who do not will become “non-existent.” In other words, they will be annihilated.
The HYPERLINK "http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" \l "Bible" Bible is clear and unwavering that everyone will exist eternally, either in heaven or in the eternal torment of hell. (John 14:1-3; Rev. 6:9; Matt. 23:33, 25:41, 46; Rev. 20:14).John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”Revelation 6:9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.Matthew 23:33
You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.Matthew 25:46
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”Revelation 20:14
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.Salvation
Salvation is by works (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 150, 152), through membership in the organization (The Watchtower, 2/15/79, p 30). The Church’s mission for the world is for a witness, not conversion. – Russell, 95. "It is evident from this [Rom. 10:9-10] that besides faith and baptism, public declaration to the effect that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised him up from the dead is a requirement for salvation.” (The Watchtower, May 1, 79, p. 15, Baptism, A Christian Requirement) According to Jehovah Witness’ theology, there are only three possible outcomes after death. Those referred to as “The Anointed” (144,000 from Rev. 7:4-8) are “sealed” and will be in heaven to reign with Jehovah God. The remaining faithful Jehovah's Witnesses (unfortunately not numbered with the 144,000) will live forever on Paradise Earth. The third groups are those who are not faithful members of the Watchtower organization and will be destroyed by Jehovah God and thereby cease to exist (annihilation). There is no concept of eternal punishment or hell in Watchtower theology (Let God Be True, pp. 90-95, 289). “Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God's new system. There is only one. There was just one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization God's visible organization that will survive the fast-approaching "great tribulation." It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal... You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life...” ( HYPERLINK "http://quotes.watchtower.ca/organization.htm" You Can live Forever, 1990 p.255).The Watchtower Society teaches a works-based HYPERLINK "http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" \l "SavGrace" salvation that is unbiblical. The eternal security of a person is dependent upon one's relationship with HYPERLINK "http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" \l "JChrist" Jesus Christ given by God’s grace. (John 3:3, 16-20; Acts 4:12; Rom. 3:24-26; 1 John 1:7-10).
John 3:3
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”John 3:16-20
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”Romans 3:24-26
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.1 John 1:7-10
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.Satan
Lucifer was a created being and a son of God – Rutherford, 53. “How, then, did the Devil come to be? The word “devil” means “slanderer” and thus refers to someone who tells malicious lies about others. “Satan” means “Resister,” or opposer. Just as a formerly honest man makes himself a thief by stealing, one of the perfect spirit sons of God acted upon an improper desire and made himself Satan the Devil.” (The Watchtower, 11/5/2005).The Bible does not refer to Lucifer as a “son of God” but an angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven (Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:9). The title “son” implies a relationship and inheritance that simply is unbiblical.
Luke 10:18
And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.Heaven
Only 144,000 Jehovah's Witness go to heaven, (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121). “To begin with, the Bible states that only a limited number of faithful Christians—namely, 144,000 of them—are raised as spirit creatures to live in heaven.” (The Watchtower 10/1/2000). “Those asleep in the grave but who are in God's memory will be resurrected, not to heaven, but to life on a cleansed earth.” (The Watchtower, 10/1/2000).Witnesses believe that earth, not heaven, will be the eternal residence for them. The earth will be cleansed and return to a paradise as it was in the Garden of Eden. Scripture does not teach that a renewed Earth is the eternal home for believers.
The HYPERLINK "http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" \l "Bible" Bible is clear and unwavering that everyone will exist eternally, either with God in a new heaven and earth or in the eternal torment of hell. (John 14:1-3; Rev. 6:9; Matt. 23:33, 25:41, 46; Rev. 20:14).
John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.Revelation 6:9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.Matthew 23:33
You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.Matthew 25:46
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”Revelation 20:14
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.Revelation 21: 1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.Hell
The doctrine of eternal torment (hell) is not valid. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW90.htm" \t "_blank" Let God be True HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW90.htm" \t "_blank" , p.90-90, and HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW94.htm" \t "_blank" p. 94-95) “Hell is not a place of eternal punishment” – Rutherford, 294. “Since the dead have no conscious existence, hell cannot be a fiery place of torment where the wicked suffer after death.” (The Watchtower, 7/15/2002). “How unreasonable to think that Job desired to go to a fiery-hot place for protection! To Job, "hell" was simply the grave, where his suffering would end. The Bible hell, then, is the common grave of mankind where good people as well as bad ones go.” (The Watchtower, 7/15/2002).The HYPERLINK "http://www.watchman.org/cat95.htm" \l "Bible" Bible is clear and unwavering that everyone will exist eternally, either in heaven or in the eternal torment of hell. (John 14:1-3; Rev. 6:9; Matt. 23:33, 25:41, 46; Rev. 20:14). The Watchtower Society believes hell to be limited to the grave. Those who are faithful Witnesses are “remembered” by Jehovah while others become dust, including their soul, and are effectively annihilated meaning they will cease to exist.
John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.Revelation 20:14
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.Revelation 6:9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.Matthew 23:33
You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.Judgement
The soul becomes extinct (nonexistent) after death ( HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW74.htm" Let God be True HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW74.htm" , p. 74, 75 and HYPERLINK "http://www.dianedew.com/JW99.htm" p. 99). Those who believe in the teachings of Jehovah will find eternal life on Paradise Earth, not heaven. (The Watchtower, 10/1/2001). “Once Satan and those who support him are removed, from heaven Jesus will help the survivors to restore the earth to its original condition. Christ will also resurrect all those worthy of the opportunity to live on the restored earth. ( HYPERLINK "javascript:showCitedScripture('lu','23','32');" Luke 23:32, HYPERLINK "javascript:showCitedScripture('lu','23','39-43');" 39-43; HYPERLINK "javascript:showCitedScripture('joh','5','26-29');" John 5:26-29) In so doing, he will nullify some of the effects of the evil suffered by humanity.” (The Watchtower, 1/1/2006).There is scriptural evidence that the soul will live forever and not incur annihilation as Watchtower theology teaches (Acts 2:27, 31; James 5:20). Although the scriptures do refer to a “…new heaven and new earth”, (Rev. 21:1) it is a misinterpretation by the Watchtower Society. That reference points towards a new place of eternal abode with God, not the planet Earth that “passed away.” The Greek word used for “passed away” means to literally disappear like smoke. Hence, this current earth is not to be restored to paradise, but completely be removed and replaced with something more special and eternal.
Acts 2:27
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.Acts 2:31
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.James 5:20
let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.Rev 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.Second Coming
Jesus did return to earth, invisibly, in 1914, (The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 300) “Before we examine the visible evidence that we are living in “the last days” of the present system of things, let us briefly consider an important event that happened in the invisible spirit realm. ( HYPERLINK "javascript:showCitedScripture('2ti','3','1');" 2 Timothy 3:1) Jesus Christ became King in heaven in the year 1914.” (The Watchtower July 15, 2006). “How can it be determined when 6,000 years of human history will end? According to reliable Bible chronology, Adam and Eve were created in 4026 .C.E...This would leave only seven more years from the autumn of 1968 to complete 6,000 full years of human history. That seven-year period will evidently finish in the autumn of the year 1975." (Awake!, October 8, 1968).The Watchtower Society has set 1914, 1918, 1925, and 1975 as dates for the end of the world. Since Armageddon did not occur, then these are false prophecies and show that their leadership does not speak for God. These same prophecies have been central to their doctrine and therefore cannot be trusted.
