Why discuss Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Because I was raised as a member of this organization, and still have family members in it, I am particularly concerned about them. As I stated in my testimony, many years ago, we parted company for several reasons. It was not only because of doctrinal errors, but because of deliberate attempts by the Watchtower Society to distort quotations of others in an attempt to add credibility to their doctrine. For further proof of this, see my testimony.
There is no doctrinal statement of the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses published in any of their publications or on their website. Therefore, all information must be extracted from various Watchtower publications or piece by piece from what is available on the official website of the Watchtower Society at http://www.JW.org. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, nor do they believe in the deity of Christ.
Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
The Jehovah’s Witness Doctrine of God is in no way similar to modern Christian thinking. They claim their name from a verse in Isaiah 43:10. Originally taken from the American Standard Bible it reads as follows:
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (ASV)
Interestingly enough, this contradicts their own theology. They believe Jesus to be a god, but not a part of the triune God of Christianity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
The very next verse at Isaiah 43:11 also contradicts their theology where it states:
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. (ASV)
“No savior?” If Jesus is not God, then he cannot be a savior! This is the beginning of the error taught by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
So what do they actually believe?
The Father – Jehovah God
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that there is one solitary being from all eternity whose name is Jehovah God. He is the creator and preserver of the universe and of all things visible and invisible.
Note the following definition of God:
Definition: The Supreme Being, whose distinctive name is Jehovah. The Hebrew language uses terms for “God” that convey the idea of strength, also of majesty, dignity, and excellence. In contrast to the true God, there are false gods. Some of these have set themselves up as gods; others have been made objects of worship by those who serve them.
Reasoning From the Scriptures, (Brooklyn, Watchtower Society, 1985), 145
The Son – Jesus Christ
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the Son to be a created being. In The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, they translate John 1:1 as “In (the) beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus lived in heaven as a spirit person before he came to earth and was the first creation of God.
As such they believe him to be a lesser god, or “godlike” but not Almighty God. As such they consider that Thomas’ reference to Jesus as “God” in John 20:28 is a reference to a lesser God than Jehovah. As such, they believe Jehovah’s Son, Jesus Christ resumed his position as Michael the Archangel upon his resurrection as a spirit creature and his return to heaven. Note what is said from JW.Org:
“The Bible states that “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon . . . and its angels.” (Revelation 12:7) Thus, Michael is the Leader of an army of faithful angels. Revelation also describes Jesus as the Leader of an army of faithful angels. (Revelation 19:14-16) And the apostle Paul specifically mentions “the Lord Jesus” and “his powerful angels.” (2 Thessalonians 1:7) So the Bible speaks of both Michael and “his angels” and Jesus and “his angels.” (Matthew 13:41; 16:27; 24:31; 1 Peter 3:22) Since God’s Word nowhere indicates that there are two armies of faithful angels in heaven—one headed by Michael and one headed by Jesus—it is logical to conclude that Michael is none other than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role. “
“Jesus, the Son of God, never claimed to be equal to or of the same substance as his Father. Rather, he said: “I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.” (John 14:28) He also told one of his followers: “I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.”—John 20:17.”
To this, I would just ask Jehovah’s Witnesses to turn to Hebrews 1 and note that the entire chapter makes it abundantly clear that Jesus is superior to the angels. Note these few verses:
Heb 1:5,6 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
The Holy Spirit
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the personhood of the Holy Spirit, They define the holy spirit (no capitals) as God’s active force, a power of Jehovah which acts in a manner similar to electricity. Note what they say:
The holy spirit is not a person. Early Christians “became filled with holy spirit,” and Jehovah said: “I shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh.” (Acts 2:1-4, 17) The holy spirit is not part of a Trinity. It is God’s active force.
But Jesus recognized the personhood of the Holy Spirit. For example in in John’s Gospel:
John_14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
John_14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John_15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
John_16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
Jehovah’s Witnesses MUST put their trust in their Organization
In the following Watchtower Article, notice how strongly they stress “Jehovah’s Organization.” Nowhere will you see anywhere any notion that putting trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is essential for salvation. What is firmly stressed is unquestionable trust in the organization. Notice the emphasis on the exclusivity of the organization in this article. For it is only Jehovah’s Witnesses who will survive the coming battle of Armageddon. Notice these quotations from JW.org:
“Jesus foretold what would happen in the last days: “There will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.” (Matthew 24:3, 21) This tribulation will start when Jehovah destroys “Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion. He will use human governments to do this. (Revelation 17:3-5, 16) What will come next?”
“After false religion is destroyed, Jehovah’s Witnesses will be the only religious organization left on earth. Then Satan and his world will attack God’s servants. It will seem as if Jehovah’s peaceful people have no protection. The Bible says about “Gog of the land of Magog”: “You will come against them like a storm, and you will cover the land like clouds, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.” But that attack will be a big mistake!—Ezekiel 38:1, 2, 9-12.”
“When Satan and his followers attack Jehovah’s people, it will be as if they were attacking Jehovah himself. (Read Zechariah 2:8.) How will Jehovah react? The Sovereign of the universe will immediately rescue his people. He will not allow them to be destroyed. After rescuing his people, Jehovah will begin the war of Armageddon and will completely destroy Satan’s world.—Revelation 16:14, 16.
For the complete article click on:
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/ws20140515/move-ahead-with-jehovahs-organization/
Does the Bible say anywhere that we are to put our trust in an organization? No! God’s Word clearly states we must put or Trust in GOD, not man. Here is what it says:
Psalm_118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
Psalm_118:9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
John_20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Rom_3:22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
Gal_3:22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
1Jn_3:23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
If we are to live in the Truth of Christ, it is Christ alone in whom we must put or salvation.
My life verse is in harmony with this:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6.
May we forever put our trust in CHRIST ALONE!
Truth in Living 