Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christians?

Jehovah's Witnesses do not associate with professed Christians, although they do consider themselves to be true Christians the way Christ originally intended. According to Watchtower publications, the whole of historical Christendom has been in apostasy since the death of Christ's original apostles in the first century A.D. Traditional Christianity, along with all other world religions, are together considered MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT - THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH, as revealed in Revelation 17:5. They believe that salvation comes only to those Christians who reject conventional Christianity and accept the teachings of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (currently over six million of them worldwide). They are known for going door to door in small groups or pairs, spreading their tracts and magazines (Awake! and The Watchtower), and often debating with those who claim they already believe in Jesus as their savior. The final day of the Lord is near and it is their duty to evangelize the coming of Jehovah's kingdom to the ends of the earth without haste. Since they are well trained in biblical study and preaching, it is basically impossible to convince them any other way but their own. They see all other people as being influenced by Satan in one way or another -- by one religion, philosophy, or another. Members are allowed to read only Watchtower literature and approved texts which comply with their own teaching. Basic faults which Jehovah's Witnesses find with modern Christianity include the following:

  • Christendom
    Jehovah's Witnesses claim Isaiah 43:10-12 as their call to witness to the world for Jehovah God and consider themselves to be true Christians, the way Christ intended before the second century, when Christianity became tainted with Roman paganism and Greek philosophy (referred to as "Christendom" in much of the Watchtower literature). The reformations and revivals throughout Christian history are seen as divisions and fragmentation and considered signs of apostasy. Among many of the religious institutions targeted by the Witnesses as Satanic in origin, the Roman Catholic Church stands out as one of its chief enemies.

  • Denominationalism
    There was only one form of belief, one way of living, and one form of government in the Old Testament. Likewise, there was only one form of belief for a unified body of Christians in the first century A.D. Even today there can only be one form of belief and one theocratic organization in Jesus Christ. Therefore, there cannot be different denominations among God's true followers. The only united body of believers are Jehovah's Witnesses -- headquartered in Brooklyn, New York -- who must separate themselves from Christians out of necessity for the preservation of their doctrines that traditional Christians are apostate and disunited. To call Jehovah's Witnesses Christians is nothing more than labeling them as just another denomination within Christianity. It should be pointed out that the Jehovah's Witnesses is itself a faction of the Russellite movement.

  • Organized Religion
    Both Charles Taze Russell and Joseph F. Rutherford, the two men most responsible for the success of the Jehovah's Witnesses, were adamantly opposed to organized religion, particularly those that were Christian. Rutherford often used the term "racket" to describe traditional Christian denominations. Jehovah's Witnesses weigh biblical scripture against their own God-given reason and logic, generally disputing the faith of orthodox Christianity in Jesus Christ and his mysteries, often revealed through the saints.

  • Trinity
    The Trinity, or triune diety consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is a false and complicated doctrine devised by Satan and based on Greek philosophy. Nowhere in the Bible is the word "Trinity" used. The Holy Spirit is God's active force, not a person. The mystery of the Trinity concept is an insult to the God-given rationale of Jehovah's Witnesses, who have explained it away as three gods in one, rather than the Scriptural description of the three distinct personages of God. The anti-trinitarian beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses can also be seen in those of the Arians of the third century.

  • Diety of Christ
    Christ is Michael the archangel, the first and foremost among God's creatures and not to be worshiped. Jesus never said he was Jehovah God, a doctrine introduced by second and third century bishops of Christendom with a strong background in Greek philosophy. Jehovah's Witnesses point to passages such as John 10:34-36, 14:28, 17:3, 20:17, Mark 13:32, Luke 22:42, Acts 2:32, and 1 Corinthians 11:3, 15:28 as proof that Jesus was not God. According to the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses, John 1:1 is rendered, "In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." The Watchtower's You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth (p 40) says, "So we find that some translations of verse 1 give the correct idea of the original language when they read: 'The Word was with God, and the Word was divine,' or was 'a god,' that is, the Word was a powerful godlike one."

  • Immortality
    The concept of an immortal soul is also based on Greek philosophy. The problem with an immortal soul or spirit is where it must go once the physical body dies, thus the philosophical ideas of heaven, hell, purgatory, and limbo. By Watchtower belief, the soul is inseparable from the body, so when the body dies, so does the soul (contrary to Ecclesiastes 12:7, Matthew 27:50, and Luke 23:46). Those who die outside Christ's saving grace will simply cease to exist, while those who have been faithful to the teachings of Christ in life will be resurrected with a new body and soul in the end days to live here on Earth in paradise forever.

  • Priesthood
    Christ employed a universal priesthood of all believers, however, historical Christendom has employed only a select few to act as priestly subjugators over the masses.

  • Crucifixion
    The cross has become a religious symbol of Christendom as well as a form of idolatry. Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that Jesus was crucified on a single post called a "torture stake," not a cross. Galations 6:14 of the New World Translation reads, "Never may it occur that I should boast, except in the torture stake of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been impaled to me and I to the world." Christ's death was as a ransom for mankind, but Jesus was not God incarnate. Although he was the Son of God, his sacrificial death atoned for man's sins not because he was God, but because he led a perfect life -- the only thing necessary to cancel the inherited disablilty of Adam's fall from grace.

  • Hell
    One of the most perplexing biblical challenges to the Watchtower's founder, Charles Taze Russell, was that of the existence of hell. He considered that God's standards would be lower than men's if he used his power to create human beings who he also predestined to suffer eternal torment. Through re-interpretation of biblical scripture, he eradicated the concept of a fiery hell and instead promoted the more humanitarian ideal of the complete destruction of the unbeliever's soul. Whereas most Christians consider hell (Greek Gehenna) as a literal place of fiery torment (Matthew 5:22, 29-30, 10:28-33, 25:41-46), Jehovah's Witnesses consider it a symbol of complete destruction. They also interpret the Hebrew Sheol and Greek Tartarus as simply the grave.

  • Judgment Day
    Christians believe that there will be a final "great white throne" judgment of all who have lived on earth throughout the history of mankind (Revelation 20:11-15). All will be judged by their deeds and those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that there will be a final judgment, however, all who have never heard the gospel of Jesus will be resurrected on Earth and allowed a certain amount of time to learn God's ways and prove that they truly love God. In this sense, Judgment Day is a thousand-year period on Earth during which time some people are allowed a second chance.

  • Second Coming
    Based on interpretation of Matthew 24:3 from Greek manuscripts of the New Testament -- when Jesus' disciples asked him for the visible signs of his second coming -- Jehovah's Witnesses believe that this appearance would not be physically visible, but spiritually invisible. In conjunction with prophecies that Jesus would return towards the end of the nineteenth century, Jehovah's Witnesses calculated that 1914 was the date of Christ's return as a parousi'a, or invisible "presence" (the Greek word parousia is generally translated as "coming" or "advent" by most scholars in such contexts). 1914 was also significant for Jehovah's Witnesses because it was the year in which the 2,520-year reign of the Gentiles ended, Satan was cast out of heaven to rule over the earth, and when Christ began to rule God's heavenly kingdom. Jesus will not return to Earth at all, rather, he will eventually defeat Satan and rule over it from heaven.

  • God's Name
    Traditional Christianity translates the Tetragrammaton (the four Hebrew consonants which represent the unspeakable name of the Almighty) as a variation of YHVH, YHWH, IHVH, JHVH, and JHWH. With the addition of vowels to assist in pronunciation, the two most commonly used terms are Yahweh and Jehovah, with various substitutions of LORD (used by many biblical translations to indicate the Tetragrammaton), God (Hebrew Elohim and Greek Theos), GOD (another variation of LORD), and Lord (Hebrew Adonai and Greek Kyrios). Jehovah's Witnesses believe there is only one proper name for God, which is Jehovah, a Latin translation popularly used beginning in the thirteenth century. Those who are God's true followers refer to him by his true name, Jehovah. They point out that the name Jehovah is no longer used in other Bibles (except for a few places in the KJV) and cite it as an example of the decline of true reverence for God. ("Yahweh" is the name of choice for most modern Hebrew scholars because it is believed to be the closest approximation of how the name sounds when spoken in the Hebrew, which no one really knows. The actual word "Jehovah" first appeared in Tyndale's sixteenth-century English translation of the Bible.)

  • Christmas
    Christ admonished his followers to commemorate his sacrificial death with bread and wine, but said nothing of celebrating his birthday. Besides, he was believed to have been born sometime in Autumn, not on December 25. Christmas, along with Easter, were derived from pagan celebrations and should not be observed by true Christians.

        "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." (Colossians 2:2-10)

History

The Jehovah's Witnesses, corporately known as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, were begun in Pennsylvania around 1872 by Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), a haberdasher and former Congregationalist who held Bible studies for those disinterested in organized religion. His followers came to be known as Russellites to outsiders, as Bible Students to those on the inside. Russell wrote six books in a series called Studies in the Scriptures and in 1917, the year following his death, another was published called The Finished Mystery, which was a posthumus compilation of his other writings, a commentary on Revelation and Ezekiel, and "the final witness of the church" (p 256). This last book caused a split with his followers primarily over its scriptural errors, scathing indictment against evangelical ministers, and judgment upon all who didn't agree with its teachings. Those who held to his original teachings were called The Dawn Bible Students Association. That year, Russell's lawyer and a Bible Student member, Judge Joseph F. Rutherford (1869-1942), was elected as second president of the larger remaining group, the Watch Tower Society. In the 1920s, the Bible Students took to preaching door to door in accordance with Acts 20:20. At a 1931 national convention, they collectively agreed to be called Jehovah's Witnesses. Members are taught early on how to teach and preach from biblical scripture. They are lead locally by unpaid spiritual elders, all under the oversight of international zone, circuit, and district servants from branch offices, with headquarters in Brooklyn, New York -- referred to by its members as "Bethel," which is also the headquarters of Jehovah's theocratic kingdom on Earth.

Literature

Jehovah's Witnesses boast nearly 2,500,000 publishers worldwide with a circulation of over one million Watchtower publications daily. Among their regular publications are over a dozen books, pamphlets, and magazines only available in Kingdom Halls or handed out by a Jehovah's Witness. Following are some of their more popular publications:

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is the Jehovah's Witnesses own Bible translation and was published under the direction of the third Watchtower president, Nathan H. Knorr. The New Testament was first published in 1950 as the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures (with the use of the word "Jehovah"). The Old Testament was produced in five volumes and published between 1953-1960. All six volumes were combined, revised, and published in 1961 as the New World Translation of the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures, then revised again in 1970 and 1984. Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God. They consider its 66 books to be inspired and historically accurate, however, they have translated their own version due to their view that most other translations are tainted with traditional viewpoints grounded in paganism, as well as being grossly erroneous in their translations and transliterations of the original Greek and Hebrew. Although it purports to be "a faithful translation of the Scriptures from the original languages," of the members of the original New World Bible Translation Committee (of whom no names are publicly available), not one had a recognized degree in Hebrew or Greek translation or exegesis according to William Cetnar, who was working in the Watchtower Society's international headquarters when the work was first begun (he claims the translators were all high ranking Society members). In 1973, the Watchtower Society also published The Comprehensive Concordance of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in supplement to the NWT Bible.

Until the publication of the New World Translation, the Watchtower Society had used over seventy other Bible translations in their studies. Other, less reliable, Bible translations appealed to by Jehovah's Witnesses when appropriate for their own concerns include the King James Version (published by the Watchtower Society in 1942), American Standard Version (published by the Watchtower Society in 1944), The Bible in Living English (published by the Watchtower Society in 1972), and The New English Bible.

The Emphatic Diaglott is an interlinear English translation of the Greek New Testament and is used by many Jehovah's Witnesses Bible students. It was originally written and published between 1857-65 by Benjamin F. Wilson, a former member of the Disciples of Christ, and re-published in 1927 by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. According to Sundaylaw.net, "It will be noted that Wilson's work was greatly influenced by the Codex Vaticanus. Since it had been altered by the Gnostics to more closely conform to their view that Christ was a created being, this manuscript quite naturally attracted the attention of the Jehovah's Witnesses, who shared a similar doctrinal viewpoint." According to ReachoutTrust.org, "Benjamin Wilson, the original publisher of the ED was a newspaper editor. He was not well educated; neither did he have the respect of well-known scholars. Additionally, he was a Christadelphian, and therefore shared a common theology with the Watchtower Society on issues such as denial of the Trinity, the personality of the Holy Spirit, eternal punishment and the full atonement of Christ."

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures is another Greek/English interlinear Bible (word-for-word Greek-to-English translation based on the 1948 revised Westcott and Hort Greek text of 1881), approved by the New World Bible Translation Committee. It was originally published in 1969 by the Watchtower Society, but deemed too biased towards Watchtower doctrine even by its own members, so it was revised in 1985.

Mankind's Search for God, a small book (usually with a red hardbound cover) which compares major world religions and then sums them all up as the Great Harlot Babylon, all Satanically controlled and devoid of God's truth. The only way to redemption and salvation is through Jesus Christ of the New Testament -- not of traditional Christendom, but of Jesus' true teachings as found in the literature and biblical translation of the Watchtower Society. This book is usually handed out after successive home visits.

You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, another small book (usually with a red hardbound cover) handed out on follow-up home visits, which explains such concepts as Satan (cast out of heaven to earth in 1914, current ruler of the world), hell (no such place, unbelievers are completely destroyed), evil spirits (fallen angels who pretend to be the spirits of the deceased), God (an intelligent Creator named Jehovah), the Holy Spirit (God's active force), worship (doing God's will), the Bible (transcribed by men from God much as a businessman uses a secretary to write a letter), Jesus (a mighty spirit person and the first of all God's created beings), man's existence (to have full, happy lives by living in harmony with God's will), the human soul (dies with the body), wickedness (allowed by God to prevail in order to prove that men cannot govern themselves), heaven (144,000 Witnesses to rule over Earth with God), God's Kingdom (Christ began to rule in 1914), Second Coming (not literal, since Jesus already returned in 1914), Armageddon (some who were alive in 1914 will live to see it), paradise (after cleaning up the mess of Armageddon, believers will work the land under God's government), resurrection (both of the righteous and unrighteous, such as the criminal in Luke 23:39-43), paradise (here on Earth), Judgment Day (lasting 1,000 years), Ten Commandments (abolished by Christ), and family relationships. According to this book, the road to destruction is "spacious" and its travelers are permitted freedom to please themselves, while the road to Jehovah's kingdom is "cramped" and its travelers are required to obey the instructions and laws of God (p 255).

The Watchtower - Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom, originally published in 1879 as Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, is now published in over 125 languages and is the most widely circulated religious magazine in the world with nearly twenty million copies printed monthly. Jehovah's Witnesses consider this God's mouthpiece of truth.

Awake!, originally published in 1919 as The Golden Age -- following World War I as a companion magazine to The Watchtower -- serves to awaken people to the significance of the times and build confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful new world.

Beliefs

Jesus Christ was Jehovah God's first created being. He died on a stake as a ransom for all obedient humans by his perfect life and was raised not physically, but spiritually. Satan is the invisible ruler of this world, whose influence permiates all other forms of Christianity. We are now in the time of the end and one day soon the face of the Earth will be destroyed in a cataclysmic battle known as Har-Magedon (Armageddon), thereafter to be rebuilt as an earthly paradise by both surviving and resurrected Witnesses. The faithful who have died as a result of Adam's sin will rise and live upon the earthly paradise under Jehovah God's governmental kingdom. Based on Revelation chapter seven, 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses have already been chosen to rule with God in heaven and are there now. There is no hell for the eternal damnation of the wicked -- instead, unbelievers and the unfaithful will be eternally cut off from Jehovah and will simply cease to exist. Each member who is baptized by full immersion becomes an evangelist for Jehovah and must devote themselves to giving public testominy to the scriptural truths of the Bible, which is God's inerrent word to mankind. The Sabbath is not observed since true believers are no longer under the authority of the Law of Moses. Instead, Bible studies are held three times a week in Kingdom Halls and a memorial supper is celebrated each year at Passover with unleavened bread and red wine symbolizing the body and blood of Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses adhere only to those governmental laws and social practices which are deemed scripturally moral, which excludes military service, pledging allegiance to any flag or country, and voting. Marks of Jehovah's Witnesses which distinguish them from traditional Christians include the proclamation of God's kingdom from house to house, seemingly keen Scriptural knowledge, separation from secular relations, use of what they believe to be the proper name for God (Jehovah), claim that Christ has already come, denial of hell, refusal to take blood transfusions, and the disfellowship of impure members.

        "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect -- if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:23-27)

It should be known that the founder of the original sect which became the Jehovah's Witnesses, Charles Taze Russell, was not altogether a man of honest dealings. He claimed to have evengelized in many cities around the world which he did visit, but stayed only long enough to say just a few words. Most of his heavily advertised tours and speaking engagements were promotional schemes designed to sell his printed sermons. Some who openly opposed Russell's ploys or theology were sued for defamatory libel. Although an elected "pastor" by his own followers, who also deemed him a logician and theologian, he was not ordained by any accredited organization, had no higher education, no theological or philosophical training, nor working knowledge of the dead languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin) -- all of which he claimed to possess under oath (Russell v. Ross, 1913). Russell claimed that his books were a necessary instrument to understanding biblical scripture, so much so that one was better off reading only his books rather than the Bible alone (The Watchtower, p 298, 9/15/1910). He also declared several unfulfilled prophecies, most of which heralded Armageddon, the physical Second Coming, and the earthly presence of the Old Testament patriarchs to happen during the first quarter of the twentieth century. His successor, Joseph F. Rutherford, successfully attempted to distance and disassociate the Jehovah's Witnesses from the discredited Russellites (even though Rutherford himself prophesied the return of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob before 1930, to live in a mansion he had built in San Diego, CA). Although modern Jehovah's Witnesses may claim no connection to Russell's teachings, holding instead to Rutherford's wing of the sect, Rutherford himself upheld Russell as a Bible scholar, prophet, and a man of God akin to William Tyndale. The third Watchtower president, Nathan H. Knorr, also prophesied Armegeddon to take place in 1975, after which over a million followers left in disillusionment.

Regardless, in light of their current teachings, specifically those which deny the doctrines of traditional Christianity (Trinity, diety of Christ, physical Second Coming, and hell), it must be asserted that Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christians -- traditional, historic, true, nor biblical. The following list consists of apparent contradictions between Watchtower doctrine and their own version of the Bible, the New World Translation (NWT). Note that "YOU" in uppercase in NWT scripture is intended as a plural pronoun.

Divine Mysteries

Jehovah's Witnesses claim that the Bible holds no divine mysteries which cannot be understood, but only sacred secrets which can only be revealed through the logical discernment of the true believer with the correct translation and proper understanding of Scripture. They point to Isaiah 1:18 as an invitation by God to use reason to understand his ways. Although many translations render Isaiah 1:18 similarly as, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD" (KJV), the NWT translation renders it, " 'Come, now, YOU people, and let us set matters straight between us,' says Jehovah." In this sense, according to the Bible of the Jehovah's Witnesses, God is inviting man not to reason on his own, nor even to share in a logical process of deduction with the Almighty and come to a joint conclusion, rather, he is allowing the reader to better understand his mysterious ways by providing a clarifying glimpse into his own methods. According to Romans 11:33-35, no man has the ability to fully understand either the secrets or mysteries of God: "O the depth of God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments [are] and past tracing out his ways [are]! For 'who has come to know Jehovah's mind, or who has become his counselor?' Or, 'Who has first given to him, so that it must be repaid to him?' " (NWT)

144,000 Sealed

According to Revelation chapter 7 and 14:1-5, God will bring out of the tribulation of the final days 144,000 of his servants, seal them on their foreheads, and take them to heaven. Jehovah's Witnesses believe this to have been fulfilled by 1935, that these have already been chosen from among their own rank, and that they are currently ruling in heaven with Christ. According to all biblical accounts, including the NWT, the 144,000 are to come from the original, literal twelve tribes of Israel: "And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: Out of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed; out of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed." (Revelation 7:4-8, NWT)

Christ's Resurrected Body

According to Watchtower doctrine, God raised Jesus from the dead as a spirit. He was not resurrected physically, but his appearance to his disciples for forty days after his death and resurrection was as the appearance of angels to men in the Old Testament. His spiritual form materialized in human likeness in order for his followers to see and comprehend him. Contrary to this belief, the NWT leaves some indication that Christ's body was raised physically. Although rendered slightly different than most popular translations, Luke 24:36-43 of the NWT reads: "While they were speaking of these things he himself stood in their midst [[and said to them: 'May YOU have peace.']] But because they were terrified, and had become frightened, they were imagining they beheld a spirit. So he said to them: 'Why are YOU troubled, and why is it doubts come up in YOUR hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; feel me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as YOU behold that I have.' [[And as he said this he showed them his hands and his feet.]] But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and were wondering, he said to them: 'Do YOU have something there to eat?' And they handed him a piece of broiled fish; and he took it and ate it before their eyes." Likewise, John 20:27 of the NWT is rendered, "Next he said to Thomas: 'Put your finger here, and see my hands, and take your hand and stick it into my side, and stop being unbelieving but become believing.' " Jehovah's Witnesses in turn claim that Christ must have disguised his spiritual form to trick his disciples into thinking that he had a human body in order to convince them of his resurrection. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul reveals that not only did Jesus rise from the dead in bodily form, but that he remains in bodily form as mediator between God and man: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all; [this is] what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times." (2 Timothy 2:5-6, NWT) Note: double brackets in NWT scripture suggest interpolations in the original text.

Diety of Christ

Jehovah's Witnesses deny the deity of Christ and his co-equality with God, even though according to John 10:30 of the NWT he said, "I and the Father are one." Colossians 1:15-20 of the NWT states, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist, and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that he might become the one who is first in all things; because [God] saw good for all fullness to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile again to himself all [other] things by making peace through the blood [he shed] on the torture stake, no matter whether they are the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens." Note that the NWT uses brackets to insert words not originally in the text, but as a means to "complete the sense in the English text" (Forward to the NWT). Another NWT "[other]" example is Philippians 2:9, "God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every [other] name." Even so, that name must either be God's or synonymous with him: "In answer Thomas said to him: 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him: 'Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.' " (John 20:28-29, NWT)

It is also important to note that Jehovah's Witnesses often point to Isaiah 43:10-11 as proof positive that there is no God but Jehovah: " 'YOU are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. I, I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior.' " (NWT) If so, then the NWT rendition of John 1:1, that Jesus as the Word was a god, must be false. Either Christ is one with the Father and therefore God himself, or else he is no god at all. But Jesus does claim to be God in the NWT, for he says that he is "the First and the Last" and "the Alpha and the Omega" (Revelation 1:17, 22:13), a title claimed by Jehovah God (Revelation 1:8, 21:6).

Everlasting Fire

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in a hell of eternal fiery torment and render Matthew 25:46 as an "everlasting cutting-off," rather than everlasting or eternal punishment (NIV, TLB, RSV, NASV, KJV). Even so, the NWT account of Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus separates people like sheep and goats, still renders verse 41 as: "Then he will say, in turn, to those on his left, 'Be on YOUR way from me, YOU who have been cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.' " The NWT also renders Matthew 5:22 as fiery Gehenna: "whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, 'You despicable fool!' will be liable to the fiery Gehenna." The word Gehenna comes from the Hebrew gehinnom, or valley of Hinnom, and was a location outside the city walls of Jerusalem where refuse was continually burned. Jesus didn't use Gehenna to describe the afterlife for God's enemies as a cutting-off, as Matthew 3:40-42 of the NWT will attest: "Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where [their] weeping and the gnashing of [their] teeth will be." Revelation 14:9-11 of the NWT simply states it outright: "And another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his wrath, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and day and night they have no rest, those who worship the wild beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.' " Then there's the lake of fire at the second death, into which hell itself will be cast, and of which Revelation 20:10 of the NWT states, "And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet [already were]; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." If they will be tormented forever and ever in the lake of fire, then what of those who follow? "And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire. Furthermore, whoever was not found written in the book of life was hurled into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14, NWT)

Here it must be noted that the Jehovah's Witnesses consider Luke 16:19-31 as both a parable and a prophecy. Fulfilled in 1918, Lazarus represents the faithful body of Christ found among the Jehovah's Witnesses and the rich man represents the clergy of modern Christianity who are tormented by the preaching of the Watchtower's truth. Most Christians, on the other hand, view this passage not as a parable but as an actual occurrence and an example of what happens to those who reject God in this life.

Second Coming

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the second coming of Christ has already taken place. Jesus did not mean that his second coming would be a physical return to Earth to be seen and witnessed by all, but that he would return spiritually -- not actually to dwell on Earth with humans, only to reign from heaven over his earthly kingdom. Like God, no human may be able to behold his Son in their physical state. Regardless, even the NWT translates the following verses as as a clear announcement that Christ will return visibly to Earth on clouds to be seen by everyone: "And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Matthew 24:30); "Jesus said to him: 'You yourself said [it]. Yet I say to YOU men, From henceforth YOU will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.' " (Matthew 26:64); "And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory." (Mark 13:26); "Then Jesus said: 'I am; and YOU persons will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.' " (Mark 14:62); "And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." (Luke 21:27); "And after he had said these things, while they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud caught him up from their vision. And as they were gazing into the sky while he was on his way, two men in white garments stood alongside them, and they said: 'Men of Galilee, why do YOU stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who was received up from YOU into the sky will come thus in the same manner as YOU have beheld him going into the sky.' " (Acts 1:9-11); "Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief because of him. Yes, Amen." (Revelation 1:7).

Holy Spirit

Jehovah's Witnesses deny the personage of the Holy Spirit and claim that it is an invisible spirit force from God -- not God himself. Contrary to this is Christ's promise of the person of the Holy Spirit in John 16:7-15: "Nevertheless, I am telling YOU the truth, It is for YOUR benefit I am going away. For if I do not go away, the helper will by no means come to YOU; but if I do go my way, I will send him to YOU. And when that one arrives he will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: in the first place, concerning sin, because they are not exercising faith in me; then concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and YOU will behold me no longer; then concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have many things yet to say to YOU, but YOU are not able to bear them at present. However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming. That one will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and will declare it to YOU. All the things that the Father has are mine. That is why I said he receives from what is mine and declares [it] to YOU" (NWT). Simply put, Jesus describes the Spirit as an indvidual with a masculine gender and personal characteristics -- not as a genderless form of spiritual energy.

        "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature [in the form of] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)

Jehovah's Witnesses claim Isaiah 43:10-13 as their identity: "YOU are my witnesses," is the utterance of Jehovah, "even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. I-I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior. I myself have told forth and have saved and have caused [it] to be heard, when there was among YOU no strange [god]. So YOU are my witnesses," is the utterance of Jehovah, "and I am God. Also, all the time I am the same One; and there is no one effecting deliverance out of my own hand. I shall get active, and who can turn it back?" (NWT). Of these same people Isaiah 55:8-9 also states, "For the thoughts of YOU people are not my thoughts, nor are my ways YOUR ways," is the utterance of Jehovah. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than YOUR ways, and my thoughts than YOUR thoughts." (NWT)

Listed below are some of the more popular websites dealing with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Although Jehovah's Witnesses themselves may never willingly come in contact with those sites that reject their doctrines, some may find the truth which will set them free from Watchtower bondage.

607v587.com

"Is 607bce the correct date for the fall of Jerusalem? Is it important? It is if you are one of Jehovah's witnesses. This date is now positioned as the primary basis for the many significant 'prophecies' and 'claims' which have been proclaimed by the Jehovah's Witness movement worldwide. Before I go any further, let me just briefly outline the background to my own current situation. I am currently still known as one of Jehovah's witnesses and have been for the last 27 years. The JW belief system is all I have ever known. Most of my family are still in the 'truth', as is also the case for my wife's family. Up until a year ago, whenever I read the date (607 BCE) in the various magazines and literature that the Watchtower publish, I had no reason to doubt that the Society had a sound basis for applying this dating protocol in support of their teachings. If you too are one of Jehovah's Witnesses reading this, you will no doubt agree with me that the norm is take for granted any of the information we are 'fed' with as being absolutely rock solid. Why? Because the information comes directly from the Governing Body. That's why! As a devout JW, I was always left completely satisfied with any of the Society's assertions for dating. Indeed, I think most JW's take it as gospel, anything that the Society comes out with. For me, my confidence in the Governing Body was always unreserved as is no doubt the case for millions of other JW's worldwide who also feel the same. My feeling was that the Society would obviously have thoroughly checked out all the historical and archaeological evidence available and would only have used reliable dates, wouldn't they. Wouldn't they? WRONG!"

Adrian Bible Students Homepage

"The Adrian Bible Students are non-denominational students of the bible that hold to the basic teachings of Charles Taze Russell as outlined in the six volumes of Studies in The Scriptures. We are NOT part of the Jehovah's Witness organization. WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?
1- Jesus Christ gave his life as a "ransom for all" 1 Timothy 2:6. that through his obedience to the Heavenly Father all of mankind will receive the opportunity for eternal life in the 1,000 year millennial age mentioned in Revelations the 20th chapter and in Isaiah the 35th chapter of the Holy Bible.
2- Jesus Christ is just who he said he was, the SON of God. He was the first creation of the Heavenly Father, "the beginning of the creation of God." Revelations 3:14
3- There are two distinct salvations as taught in the Bible. One for the general world of mankind during the "times of restitution of all things" described in Acts 3:21. Those found worthy of life during the 1,000 year day of judgement, will be permitted to live forever on a perfect earth (Isaiah 35th chapter) that has been restored to the paradise conditions of the Garden of Eden. The other salvation described in the Bible is the reward given to the "little flock," the true saints of God. This "144,000" are mentioned in Revelation 20:6, "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first ressurection. Over such the second death has no power." These members of the bride of Christ will become immortal partakers of the "divine nature" 2 Peter 1:4. These will partake in the judging of the world during the 1,000 year day of judgment. 1st Corinthians 6:2.
4- The nation of Israel and the ancient worthies of the old testament have a unique relationship with God. Jerusalem will serve as the capitol of the world in the earthly kingdom of God. (Jeremiah 32:6-11), (Revelation 21:10), (Micah 4:1-8). The re-establishment of Isreal as a nation in 1948, after being desolate for over 1,800 years, is a fulfillment of prophecy and is a sign of the soon to be established Kingdom of God.
5- The "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Death is an unconscious state in which there are no works or device (Ecclesiastes 8:5-10). The doctrine of eternal torture advocated by most Christian sects is a grevious error and comes as a result of confusing symbolic scriptures with literal scriptures. "The soul that sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:20)
6- The earth is not going to be destroyed with fire like so many Christians wrongly believe. According to the Bible "the earth abides forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4)
7- God does not sanction earthly organizations. His call is to individual Christians, and not religious denominations.
8- The "Antichrist" mentioned in the Bible is not an individual man, but the office of the Pope, the self proclaimed "head" of the Universal Christian Church. The system of false religion, evil doctrines, and religious genocides that have been brought about by the Roman Catholic Church clearly identifies it as "Mystery Babylon the Great" in Revelation 17:5.
9- Jesus Christ will reign during the earthly phase of the Kingdom until he has destroyed all of his enemies. "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:26) Following this he will hand all things back to the Father. At this point even he will be subjected to the Father. (1 Corinthians 15:28)"

Apologetics for Christians - Jehovah's Witnesses, Dawn Bible Students & International Bible Students

"This section is on Jehovah's Witnesses. Our intention is to share the Scriptures in truth and love, and to show that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is not a true Organization of God. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the religious organization that is in control of what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and what they are to teach others. The history of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has gone through many doctrinal changes and prophetical allusions. The founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society organization is Charles Taze Russell, who died in 1916. After the death of Charles Taze Russell a man identified as judge F. Rutherford took control of the group at that time called International Bible Students, and he died in 1942. The major theological doctrines, false prophecies, and practices of the Jehovah's Witnesses have come from Charles Taze Russell and judge F. Rutherford, whether they acknowledge this or not it is a fact."

Apologetics Index -- Jehovah's Witnesses: The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

"Jehovah's Witnesses consider themselves to be the only true Christians. However, their organization - the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society - denies and/or contradicts several of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. Individuals who, while claiming to be Christians, reject one of more central (key) doctrines of the Christian faith are considered heretics. Groups which reject such doctrines while claiming to represent Christianity, are considered cults of Christianity. Thus, while Jehovah's Witnesses profess to be Christians, they are outside orthodox Christianity and are considered to be, theologically, a cult of Christianity. Sociologically, this religious movement has a number of cult-like characteristics and problems as well, including the high level of control exerted over its members' lives, its unbiblical approach to the practice of shunning, and its teachings regarding blood transfusions (which have resulted in many needless deaths)."

Beacon

"Light for former Jehovah's WItnesses... for for people out of the Watchtower Society of Jehovah's Witnesses seeking a balanced Bible perspective."

Bible Students Online

"The Bible Students had their humble beginning in the late 1860s. In 1868, a young businessman named Charles Taze Russell, who feared the Lord, began studying with a small band of Christians independent of the creeds of the Churches, they soon discovered that many of the doctrines that were popularly taught and believed were inconsistent with the Bible. Dissatisfied, Mr. Russell devoted himself to a careful independent study of the Scriptures. He made no claim to any vision or personal revelation. The work of Mr. Russell attracted the support of others in America and Britain who were convinced of the truth of his conclusions. Together they formed the Bible Students Association. Since then, Bible Student communities have been established in many countries all over the world."

Christian Apologetics Research Ministry - Jehovah's Witnesses

"The Jehovah's Witnesses go door-to-door, want you to do 'book' studies with them, and teach doctrines not in line with the Bible. They are persistent and well trained by the Watchtower Organization. Are the Jehovah's Witnesses Christian?"

Evangelical Outreach - Information for Jehovah's Witnesses

"The seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures identifies itself as the posthumous work of Pastor Russell. Are Russell's teachings keys to spiritual understanding as claimed? ...Sooner or later everybody is going to encounter a Jehovah's Witness. Our new set of questions for thinking JW's will help you convince them they really do not have God's truth as they have been deceived into thinking... The whole Bible is filled with references to Jesus in one way or another. Each name or title refers to yet another important place or position that Jesus holds in God's plan for man's salvation... Was Jesus mistaken at John 5:37 or could there be another explanation regarding who was heard and seen as God in OT times? ...All through the Scriptures we find evidence that Jesus is not the Father, but is deity (God by nature) like the Father. With all of this evidence about plurality between the Father and Son, how multitudes have been deceived about this is alarming to say the least. It seems once again that a creed or doctrinal confession has been the basis for one's personal belief rather than the Holy Scriptures. The truth is: Jesus is not the person of the Father, but he is deity like the Father... The New World Translation (NWT) of the Jehovah's Witnesses is a very important piece of evidence to examine when considering the self-exalting claims of the Watchtower Society... Every person will encounter a Jehovah's Witness, since their door-to-door and street evangelism is so thorough. They usually make an issue about knowing God's name, even to the point of calling themselves a Jehovah's Witness. This article will help the Christian answer them... The Trinity is a very important doctrine to know about because there are a lot of groups that deny the Trinity... If Scripture pointedly declares that the wicked dead will be eternally tormented, then we must interpret God's mercy, love, grace and justice as allowing for this. This article is a powerful refutation to the teaching of annihilation... Many deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. They all tend to use the same argumentation, which is dealt with in this article... "Jehovah's Organization" or false prophet (ravening wolf in sheep's clothing, Matt. 7:15)? How shall we know?"

exjws.net

"A community of survivors with years of experience."

Free Minds - Watchers of the Watchtower World

"A non-profit organization keeping an eye on the Watchtower... The information on this site was posted to offer the public a resource concerning controversial and/or potentially unsafe groups--some that have been called "cults"--and related subjects."

Jehovah's Witnesses - Authorized site of the Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses

"Jehovah is the personal name of God, as found in the Bible. A witness is a person who relates facts from direct personal knowledge or proclaims views or truths of which he is convinced. Thus, the name Jehovah's Witnesses designates an organized group of Christians who proclaim the truth that Jehovah is a loving and just God, deserving of our love and obedience. They do this by sharing what they have learned from the Bible with friends and neighbors. -Isaiah 43:10-12."

Jehovah's Witnesses United

"For those who are interested in a new level of Jehovah's Witnesses resources, we welcome you to Jehovah's Witnesses United. It is our goal to provide current information as it relates to Jehovah's Witnesses and to provide resources concerning related issues."

JW Files - Research on the Jehovah's Witnesses

"What motivates people to study and eventually become a Jehovah's Witness (JW)? Every religion I know of offers two things: first a set of practices, disciplines, and behaviors, which identify the members of that religion and shape, when successful, their perceptions and consciousness. Secondly, a religion offers security; it says that out of the many paths we as humans could tread this specific path defined by the practices, disciplines, and behaviors is the correct one, that if you follow these directions you will be rewarded either with heaven or a paradise as JWs believe. JWs have been programmed with a set of beliefs to proselytize as a prerequisite for that reward. This creates a potential for uninformed persons to be indoctrinated and recruited to the Watchtower belief system. The negative consequences are not explained nor are they apparent to the new recruit until it's too late to leave honorably without any emotional, mental, and spiritual pain.

JW Info Line

"We are Richard and Cheryl Schatz, a Christian couple living in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada who have been actively involved in ministering to former Jehovah's Witnesses. We have never been Jehovah's Witnesses ourselves, but we have a great deal of love and compassion especially for Jehovah's Witnesses who are contemplating leaving the Watchtower. Since 1988 we have operated a recorded message for Jehovah's Witnesses that has seen over 83,000 phone calls up to March 2003 (780-478-7126). We have also had the privilege of leading a support group for former Jehovah's Witnesses since 1988. The support group has helped us to understand the dilemma of Jehovah's Witnesses when they come to realize that there is something not quite right with the Watchtower organization. It is difficult for Jehovah's Witnesses to leave their family and friends behind when they come out of the Watchtower Society. It is also very difficult to sort out doctrinal issues that would allow them to feel comfortable enough to attend a Christian Church. The purpose of this web site is to present Christian doctrine in a way that will allow Jehovah's Witnesses to better understand the Christian faith and how the Watchtower has indoctrinated their followers to be prejudiced against Christians and historic Christian doctrine. It is to this end that this web site is dedicated."

MacGregor Ministries - Christian Outreach to those trapped in cult groups

"Your mate (friend or child) is now involved in a very dangerous mind control cult group. They are not thinking for themselves any more. The Jehovah Witness elders are doing their thinking for them and telling them what to say and do. If once involved yourself, recognize the fact that you were, for a time, part of a dangerous mind control cult group. It may also be your family is still very much involved as well... As you have noticed your mate or family is not communicating with you because you are not conforming to the organization's rules. The Watchtower teaches shunning to keep people in line. Because of these rules, Jehovah's Witnesses know what will happen if they ever want to leave the group, broken family and friend, relationships etc. Then if one does leave or gets disfellowshiped the only way to restore friendships and families is to toe the Watchtower party line. This practice of shunning draws people back under the organization's control... Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they are able to think for themselves, but in reality the thinking has already been done by their organization. They are expected to support and defend the Watchtower organization and their teachings regardless of any past or future changes. Defending these teachings may be at the expense of your marriage or even at the cost of a loved one's life."

MetaReligion -- Jehova's Witnesses

"Jehovah's Witnesses are the most fervently attacked new religious group today. They are heavily criticized on the Internet. Counter-cultists, have taken the lead on this attack. In addition, many former group members have published books or created web sites that share a negative perspective on the Jehovah's Witnesses. Because this group does have such a large following, it is not surprising that they would be heavily attacked."

Questions! Questions! Questions!

"The best way to evangelize Jehovah's Witnesses is to ask questions. I am not an "apostate" since I have never been a Jehovah's Witness but my former spouse is, and it took me over a year to get sole custody of my children so I could get them out of the Watchtower Society. I have talked to many Witnesses over the years and have had to examine my own faith in the process."

ReligiousTolerance.org - About Jehovah's Witnesses

"Much criticism has been directed at the group because of its unique beliefs, its severe criticism of other faith groups, its refusal to accept blood transfusions, its withdrawal from civic responsibilities, and its continued unsuccessful efforts to predict the date of Armageddon."

TowerWatch Ministries

"I was a faithful and zealous Jehovah's Witness for 35 years, I served as congregation elder for over 20 years and was the Theocratic Ministry School Overseer in my local congregation for 17 years. I accepted every teaching of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society as coming from Jehovah through His Faithful and Discreet Slave. I was convinced I was part of the one true religion in the world. When the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society admitted in the November 1, 1995 Watchtower that they were wrong about the end of this system coming before the generation of 1914 passed away I began to investigate their history. I began to read information on the Internet that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society forbids their members to read. The more research I did the more I realized why the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society forbids their members to research their past. The facts I discovered were very disturbing and I came to the realization that Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was not the one true religion as I had believed all those years. It was the most life altering decision I made in my life but in 1999 I decided to leave the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because of what I found in my research and I wrote a letter of dissociation to my local congregation. I invite you to browse through the 200 or so pages of information I have compiled on Jehovah's Witnesses. I have information on many different aspects of Jehovah's Witnesses, if you don't find what you are looking for on our web site try our many links or email me I will try to find the information for you." (by Cal Lehman)

The Truth About "The Truth" - The Truth About Jehovah's Witnesses

"The purpose of this web page is to present FACTUAL information about Jehovah's Witnesses and their beliefs. Since its inception the JW religion has been claiming that they are the only ones who posses the "truth" of the Bible. However, close research and investigation has proven that this is not the case. The purpose for this information on this site is to reveal the truth about The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society and that claim of, "we have the truth." "

Truth to Tower Ministries - Jehovah's Witnesses

"Have you ever been disturbed on a relaxed Saturday morning by unexpected strangers knocking on your front door? Out front are two well-dressed people, holding briefcases, who are offering free magazines and eager to talk to you about God's Kingdom. They say they're from the local Kingdom Hall and seem to know the bible well. In fact, they can quote scripture from memory and appear to have answers for all your questions. Did you ever wonder who these people are, where they come from and what they believe?"

Walter Martin's Religious InfoNet - Kingdom of the Cults

"Throughout the entire content of inspired Scripture the fact of Christ's identity is clearly taught. He is revealed as Jehovah God in human form (Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14; 8:58; 17:5 [cf. Exodus 3:14]; Hebrews 1:3; Philippians 2:11; Colossians 2:9; and Revelation 1:8, 17,18; etc.). The deity of Jesus Christ is one of the cornerstones of Christianity, and as such has been attacked more vigorously throughout the ages than any other single doctrine of the Christian faith. Adhering to the old Arian heresy of the fourth century A.D., which Athanasius the great church Father refuted in his famous essay "On the Incarnation of the Word," many individuals and all cults steadfastly deny the equality of Jesus Christ with God the Father, and, consequently, the Triune deity. Jehovah's Witnesses, as has been observed, are no exception to this infamous rule. However, the testimony of the Scriptures stands sure, and the above mentioned references alone put to silence forever this blasphemous heresy, which in the power of Satan himself deceives many with its "deceitful handling of the Word of God." The deity of Christ, then, is a prime answer to Jehovah's Witnesses, for if the Trinity is a reality, which it is, if Jesus and Jehovah are 'One' and the same, then the whole framework of the cult collapses into a heap of shattered, disconnected doctrines incapable of even a semblance of congruity."

The Watchman Expositor - Articles on Jehovah's Witnesses

"Watchman Fellowship is an independent Christian research and apologetics ministry focusing on new religious movements, cults, the occult and the New Age. We serve the Christian and secular community as a resource for cult education, counselling, and non-coercive intervention."

Watchtower - Official Web Site of Jehovah's Witnesses

"It is the desire of Jehovah's Witnesses that you become better acquainted with them. You may have met them as neighbors and fellow employees or in other daily affairs of life. You may have seen them on the street, offering their magazines to passersby. Or you may have spoken briefly with them at your door. Actually, Jehovah's Witnesses are interested in you and your welfare. They want to be your friends and to tell you more about themselves, their beliefs, their organization, and how they feel about people and the world in which all of us live."

Watchtower Information Service

"Welcome to Watchtower Information Service! Your source for info on Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Society. The latest News, Articles, Books & more..."

Watchtower Observer

"The information age is promulgating the truth about Christianity through many mediums but none contain the unique possibilities that the Word Wide Web offers. The Internet is a fascinating place for finding material covering all branches of human knowledge... Not all Web sites are beneficial regarding content and the sites listed under the words "Jehovah's Witnesses" in the search engines are both pro and con in the provision of JW material. This last fact should not be taken lightly and discernment is needed when visiting some of the Web pages. Even the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society itself now maintains a web presence as well as numerous pro-Watchtower theology sites."

        "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (2 Peter 3:10-18)

www.holierthanthou.info

References: "Fast Facts on False Teachings" by Ron Carlson and Ed Decker, ©1994 Harvest House Publishers (pp 117-132); "The Kingdom of the Cults" by Walter Martin, ©1965, 77, 85, published by Bethany House Publishers (pp 38-125); "Mankind's Search for God," ©1990 by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania; "New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures," ©1961 by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania; Reachout Trust - Building a Bridge of Reason (http://www.reachouttrust.org/regulars/articles/jw/jw34.htm); Sundaylaw.net (http://www.sundaylaw.net/books/other/standish/bibletrans/mbtu37.htm); Watchtower official website - Jehovah's Witnesses - Who Are They? What Do They Believe? (http://www.watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm); "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth," ©1992 by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.