What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe ? 

 

1. Deity Of Christ

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus never claimed to be God. This is the  line of demarcation between Christianity and the kingdom of the cults. Dr. Walter Martin quote – “The average Jehovah’s Witness can make a doctrinal pretzel out of the average Christian in about 30 seconds”. We must be prepared to let Jehovah’s Witnesses into our home to share the Gospel with them.

 

They believe Jesus is the archangel Michael. Christians and enemies of Jesus know He claimed to be God. In Exodus God refers to Himself as “I AM”.

Exodus 3:13-14

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, “What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.’

 

When the Jews questioned Jesus, He too claimed to be I AM.

John 8:54-59

Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, “I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

 

 

Did the Jews pick up stones because Jesus was claiming to be an angel? No. He was claiming to be God and the punishment for blasphemy was stoning! Jehovah’s Witnesses know this is a problem. The bible they use, The New World Translation (NWT), is not translated properly from the original Greek manuscripts. It disconnects John 8:58 from Exodus 3:14. 

NWT - Exodus 3:14

At this God said to Moses: “I SHALL PROVE TO BE WHAT I SHALL PROVE TO BE.” And he added: “This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, ‘I SHALL PROVE TO BE has sent me to YOU.'”

The 1984 large print NWT with references has a footnote on Exodus 3:14 admitting that the Hebrew would be rendered into Greek as “Ego eimi” which translates to I AM. The 1985 Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures reveals that Jesus’ words at John 8:58 are “Ego eimi” as well.

 

Jesus asked, “who do you say I am?”

Matthew 16:13-18

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. .” Jesus And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

 

God is preeminent. He is superior to or above all others. Angels are not. Angels are beings created by God. Therefore Jesus is not Michael the archangel. Angels refuse to be worshiped. Jesus was worshiped.

Colossians 1:12-18

giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

 

Hebrews 1:1-7

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”

We have three possibilities

1. Jesus was telling falsehoods and knew it, and so he was a liar.

2. Jesus was telling falsehoods but believed he was telling the truth, and so he was insane.

3. Jesus was telling the truth, and so he was divine.

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic- on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon and you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” [ 1 ] 

 

Most people are willing to accept Jesus Christ as a great moral teacher, but the Gospels record that Jesus made many claims to divinity.

John 10:24

Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” 

 

In this next passage, Jesus is forgiving sin. Only God can forgive sin.

Matthew 9:1

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, “Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”–then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

 

 

2. Jehovah

JW’s use this verse to argue that they are the only true worshipers of God, because they call God , Jehovah.

NWT - Exodus 3:15 

Then God said once more to Moses: “This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, ‘Jehovah the God of YOUR forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to YOU.’ This is my name to time indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation.

 

The original Hebrew would be YHWH (Yahweh, I AM). God is the self existing Eternal One, but He has more than one name. When teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus instructed them to address “Our Father”.

Exodus 3:15

God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: “The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations”

 

Jesus calls God the Father.

John 14:6-7

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

 

3. Holy Spirit

NWT changes the word "who" to ­"which" and  "He" to "one"

John 15:26

NWT - When the helper arrives that I will send YOU from the Father, the spirit of the truth, which proceeds from the Father, that one will bear witness about me;

John 15:26

NKJ -  “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

Here is an example of a man lying to The Holy Spirit. Notice how verse 4 states that The Holy Spirit is God.

 

Acts 5:1-4 

NWT -  However, a certain man, Ananias by name, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession and secretly held back some of the price, his wife also knowing about it, and he brought just a part and deposited it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said: “An·a·ni..as, why has Satan emboldened you to play false to the holy spirit and to hold back secretly some of the price of the field? As long as it remained with you did it not remain yours, and after it was sold did it not continue in your control? Why was it that you purposed such a deed as this in your heart? You have played false, not to men, but to God.”

 

Acts 5:1-4

NKJ - But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

 

He (the Holy Spirit) intercedes for us when we are lost for words.

Romans 8:26-27

NWT - In like manner the spirit also joins in with help for our weakness; for the [problem of] what we should pray for as we need to we do not know, but the spirit itself pleads for us with groanings unuttered. Yet he who searches the hearts knows what the meaning of the spirit is, because it is pleading in accord with God for holy ones.

 

Romans 8:26-27 

NKJ -  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

 

He (The Holy Spirit) lives in us. Notice how NWT has all capitals for YOU (the people) and lower case for Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19 

NWT - What! Do YOU not know that the body of YOU people is [the] temple of the holy spirit within YOU, which YOU have from God? Also, YOU do not belong to yourselves

1 Corinthians 6:19

NKJ - Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

 

He (The Holy Spirit) continually fills us…

Acts 2:4 

NWT - and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.

 

Acts 2:4 

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

4. Witnesses

Isaiah 43:10

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 

 

In context, this is referring to Israel as God’s witness to pagan nations in Old Testament history. Jehovah’s Witnesses claim this verse is referring to them and only they are chosen by God to reveal the truth. But unless they can jump into a time machine and go back in time, this verse doesn’t apply to them. Was God without a witness over 18 centuries of church history? The New Testament is clear that we are to be Christ’s (not Jehovah’s) witnesses regarding His physical resurrection. 

Acts 2:32

Acts 3:15

Acts 4:33

Acts 13:30-31

 

5. Birthday Celebrations

The Watchtower (Jehovah’s Witnesses) prohibits birthday celebrations. Pharaoh had someone put to death on his birthday, so they believe birthdays shouldn’t be celebrated.

Genesis 40:20-22

Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

 

Matthew 14:6-12

But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 

 

Birthday celebrations appear in the bible with godly families as well.

Job 1:4

And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

 

Job 3:1-3

Every year when Job’s sons had birthdays, they invited their brothers and sisters to join them for a celebration. On these occasions they would get together to eat and drink.

 

The birth of John the Baptist was celebrated.

Luke 1:14-15

You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice with you at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or hard liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

 

There is no logical basis in scripture for banning birthday celebrations among Bible believers today. It is not up to the individual Witness to read the bible and come up with the conclusion, but rather the Watchtower’s governing body. They hold the official interpretation and use disciplinary action to enforce the policy on all Witnesses. 

 

 

6. Blood Transfusions

Although the Watchtower organization started in the late 1870s, the doctrine on blood transfusions wasn’t instituted until 1944. The leaders of the Watchtower have a history of introducing medical prohibitions and then later changing their minds. In 1967, JW’s were expected to choose blindless rather than accept a cornea transplant or die rather than submit to a kidney transplant. In 1980, the leaders reversed this teaching and allowed transplants. Between 1931 and 1952, JW’s had to refuse vaccinations for themselves and their children. JW’s attempt to quote scripture to support their position, but the real reason for their stand is blind obedience to the Watchtower Society. If the organization lifted its prohibition tomorrow, JW’s would freely accept transfusions. JW elders even went as far as interrogating a terminal cancer patient in a hospital deathbed because he accepted a blood transfusion!

 

Leviticus 7:22-27

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ″Speak to the children of Israel, saying: “You shall not eat any fat, of ox or sheep or goat. And the fat of an animal that dies naturally, and the fat of what is torn by wild beasts, may be used in any other way; but you shall by no means eat it. For whoever eats the fat of the animal of which men offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, the person who eats it shall be cut off from his people. Moreover you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of bird or beast. Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.'”

 

Orthodox Jews still observe the regulations for kosher butchering and bleeding of meat, have no religious objections to blood transfusions. Transfusions are not the issue in this text.  Christians understand how blood played a major role in those animal sacrifices as a foreshadow of the precious blood of our Savior, The Lamb of God. We don’t hold to the dietary regulations, but see them as types and shadows that point to reality.

 

Lives are being lost due to medical prohibitions, defining the watchtower as a cult from a sociological perspective. The eternal danger is that souls are being lost because of their false doctrine, defining the watchtower as a cult from a theological perspective. They go door to door trying to save people, unaware of their own need for a Savior. Invite them into your home, and share the Gospel. You can be a witness to the witnesses.

 

7. The Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

 

Stauros, the Greek word for stake could be a wooden structure of various shapes: an upright stake, a cross for crucifixion or a pale for impaling a corpse.

Watchtower literature contained pictures of Jesus on a cross in the following Watchtower publications: 1927 publication entitled Creation, January 1891 issue of the Watchtower Magazine, 1921 Watchtower book entitled The Harp Of God & 1928 Watchtower book entitled Reconciliation. They got rid of the cross with the October 1931 issue. November 1972 issue states that “no biblical evidence even intimates that Jesus died on a cross. August 1987 issue states, “Jesus most likely was executed upright on a stake without any crossbeam”

 

One must ask why a true prophet of God who speaks with the voice of Jehovah changes positions like this. Scholars make decisions in translations. If there was evidence that just a stake was used, it would have been translated that way. The Roman two-timbered cross (crux compacta) arose after the first century AD. Outside of the Bible , Dionysius of Halicarnassus (first century B.C. Roman Antiquities, 7.69.1-2). described this ancient practice: “A Roman citizen of no obscure station, having ordered one of his slaves to be put to death, delivered him to his fellow-slaves to be led away, and in order that his punishment might be witnessed by all, directed them to drag him through the Forum and every other conspicuous part of the city as they whipped him, and that he should go ahead of the procession which the Romans were at the time conducting in honour of the god. The men ordered to lead the slave to his punishment, having stretched out both hands and fastened them to a piece of wood (tas kheiras apoteinantes amphoteras kai xuló prosdésantes) which extended across his chest and shoulders as far as his wrists, followed him, tearing his naked body with whips“

 

When Jesus spoke of Peter’s future crucifixion He indicated that Peter’s arms would be outstretched, not above his head. 

John 21:18-19

"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”

 

I know of no Christians who worships a cross. To wear a cross around your neck or to have a cross structure at a church doesn’t mean you worship or venerate it. It represents a worshipful attitude toward Christ and his work of salvation. So the Watchtower misuses Exodus 20:4-5 with regards to the cross. 

Christians are more likely to make idols out of work, children, a spouse, money, or status. 

Exodus 20:4-5

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

 

8. Worship

In Revelation 22:8 John fell down to worship an angel and the angel said, “Don’t do that!” Jesus can’t be angel because he receives worship. If Jesus was an angel he would have corrected them like the angel did to John.

Revelation 5:8-12

When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Angels Exalt the Lamb. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

 

9. Angel or God

If no angel can be called God’s Son, then Jesus who is the Son of God can’t be the archangel Michael.

Hebrews 1:5

For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again, “I will be a Father to Him

And He shall be a Son to Me”?

 

10. Rule The World

No angel can rule the world. Scripture clearly states that Christ is the ruler of the world. Therefore Christ can’t be the archangel Michael.

Hebrews 2:5

For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.

Luke 1:32-33

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;  and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Revelation 19:13-16  

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

 

11. Neutral In Politics 

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in being neutral when it comes to politics to the point where they don’t even vote for President. Satan is the ruler of the world and they don’t want to take part in the world system. They only want to be part of the Kingdom of God. They do submit to government but stay neutral in political affairs.

 

Christians believe that we have temporary roles as citizens to do what is right and good. Abortion should be the issue front and center, in the hearts and minds of Christians, This is one issue that the church shouldn't compromise on. Unfortunately In America, a large percentage of Christians vote for Democrat leaders who support the murder of the unborn. 

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

 

The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul and mind. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. By loving your neighbor, to promote what is right and good you will step into the political realm. Your worldview and faith go hand in hand. 

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

 

The role of government is to promote good and punish evil

Romans 13:1-17

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

 

We reject a government that interferes with our loyalty to God

Acts 5:27-32

When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a  Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

 

Jesus supported paying taxes to the government. 

Mark 12:13-17

Then they *sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. They *came and *said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”  They brought one. And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.

 

Cited Sources:  Mere Christianity by C.S., Lewis [ 1 ] , Jehovah’s Witnesses Answered by David Reed [ 2 ] , The Concord Monitor of New Hampshire (December 8, 1984 issue) [ 3 ] , The Wondrous Cross - Isaac Watts 1707 [ 4 ] ,