The Jehovah’s Witnesses A False Religious Organization

Course Schedule Overview of basic JW teachings Overview of basic JW teachings The significance of 1914 to Jehovah’s Witnesses The significance of 1914 to Jehovah’s Witnesses The 144,000 and the great crowd The 144,000 and the great crowd JW teachings about eternal life and hell JW teachings about eternal life and hell The Theocratic War Doctrine The Theocratic War Doctrine

Overview of Basic JW Beliefs Be aware that JW’s are very zealous Be aware that JW’s are very zealous They believe that they have the truth and you do not They believe that they have the truth and you do not Being a JW requires a significant commitment! Being a JW requires a significant commitment! –Time –Changed relationships –Changed lifestyle –Moral –Sincere –PREPARED!

Overview of Basic JW Beliefs In this lesson, we will cover the following topics In this lesson, we will cover the following topics –Premillennialism –The Watchtower Society –The Nature of God –The Nature of Man –Miscellaneous Peculiar Doctrines

The Watchtower Society God’s ONLY visible organization God’s ONLY visible organization Chosen by God in 1919 Chosen by God in 1919 Consists of the anointed Consists of the anointed Man is incapable of understanding the Bible without the help of the Watchtower Society Man is incapable of understanding the Bible without the help of the Watchtower Society Claim that Matthew 24:45-47 refers to the Watchtower Society Claim that Matthew 24:45-47 refers to the Watchtower Society

Jehovah’s Witnesses Circular Reasoning God Chose the Watchtower in 1919 How do you know? Only they were teaching truth then. What about changes? That is “new light” Could that be true of others? No, because…

The Nature of God Jesus is NOT deity Jesus is NOT deity –He is the first of God’s creations (Col. 1:15) –He is Michael the angel (like God) The NWT changes “worship” to “obeisance” when Jesus is the object The NWT changes “worship” to “obeisance” when Jesus is the object –The Kingdom Interlinear is incriminating in this! –“Proskuneo” is “obeisance” to Jesus –“Proskuneo” is “worship” to God, the devil, demons or idols!

The Nature of God The Holy Spirit is NOT a person The Holy Spirit is NOT a person –“It” is God’s “active force” Matthew 3:11 is a favorite proof text Matthew 3:11 is a favorite proof text –Contrast, not a comparison Acts 2:4, 33 is another proof text Acts 2:4, 33 is another proof text –Paul was a person and he was “poured out” (Phil. 2:17; 2 Tim. 4:6) Have Jehovah’s Witnesses read the following passages Have Jehovah’s Witnesses read the following passages –John 16:5-17 –Acts 5:3-4

The Nature of God God is not represented in Scripture as a trinity godhead God is not represented in Scripture as a trinity godhead This is a logical conclusion of their teaching about Jesus and the Holy Spirit This is a logical conclusion of their teaching about Jesus and the Holy Spirit Their main argument is that this concept is confusing, therefore untrue Their main argument is that this concept is confusing, therefore untrue Have Jehovah’s Witnesses read the following verses Have Jehovah’s Witnesses read the following verses –Gen. 1:26; 3:22 –Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19 –John 14:26

The Nature of Man The spirit has no existence apart from the body The spirit has no existence apart from the body The soul is a man’s body and spirit The soul is a man’s body and spirit The soul does not live after the body dies The soul does not live after the body dies Hell is simply the grave Hell is simply the grave Eternal non-existence is the result of being cast into gehenna or the lake of fire Eternal non-existence is the result of being cast into gehenna or the lake of fire Proof texts – Ps. 146:3-4; Ezek. 18:4, 20; Eccl. 9:3- 10 Proof texts – Ps. 146:3-4; Ezek. 18:4, 20; Eccl. 9:3- 10 Have Jehovah’s Witnesses read – 1 Sam. 28:3-19; Luke 16:19-31; Acts 9:36-41 Have Jehovah’s Witnesses read – 1 Sam. 28:3-19; Luke 16:19-31; Acts 9:36-41

Misc. Peculiar Doctrines No birthdays or holidays No birthdays or holidays No blood transfusions No blood transfusions Jesus died on a torture stake without a cross beam, NOT a cross Jesus died on a torture stake without a cross beam, NOT a cross Salvation is based on works Salvation is based on works No civic activity No civic activity College education is discouraged College education is discouraged

Premillennialism Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own brand of premillennialism Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own brand of premillennialism –Different from mainstream premillennialism What is a premillennialist? What is a premillennialist? –The second coming is before the 1000 year reign of Christ –The 1000 year kingdom is earthly –Attempt to apply Revelation to current events –Commonly set end time dates

Mainstream Premillennialism Bodies of unbelievers Bodies of believers The Church Tribulation on earth Battle of Armageddon Mt. of Olives 1000 years The raptureSecond coming Great White Throne

Watchtower Premillennialism Dead unbelievers bodily raised later in 1000 years Dead anointed spiritually raised in 1918 or immediately Tribulation on earth Battle of Armageddon 1000 years kingdom and judgment Jesus’ invisible parousia, 1914 Jesus rules his kingdom in heaven with the “anointed”, 1918 Final Revelation of the King Satan bound in the “abyss” Lake of Fire, destruction Satan and his followers New Earth Dead righteous bodily raised during the 1000 years

The Jehovah’s Witnesses A False Religious Organization

Course Schedule Overview of basic JW teachings Overview of basic JW teachings The significance of 1914 to Jehovah’s Witnesses The significance of 1914 to Jehovah’s Witnesses The 144,000 and the great crowd The 144,000 and the great crowd JW teachings about eternal life and hell JW teachings about eternal life and hell The Theocratic War Doctrine The Theocratic War Doctrine

The Significance of 1914 Before we begin this study, I’ll ask some Foundations review questions to set the stage Before we begin this study, I’ll ask some Foundations review questions to set the stage What are the key dates in the period of the Captivity? What are the key dates in the period of the Captivity? –It lasted from 606 to 536 BC (The 70 years of Jeremiah 25:8-14) –Daniel was taken with the first group in 606 –Ezekiel was taken with the second group in 597 –Zedekiah was taken when Jerusalem fell in 586 (2 Kings 25:1-10)

The Significance of 1914 Jesus is supposed to have returned invisibly in 1914 Jesus is supposed to have returned invisibly in 1914 –Note the NWT of Matt. 24:3 et al. –Parousia is rendered “presence” –Regardless of the English word, His parousia will NOT be silent or invisible! This is the date when the “times of the Gentiles” ended (Luke 21:24) This is the date when the “times of the Gentiles” ended (Luke 21:24) Jesus (Michael) then became king of God’s heavenly kingdom Jesus (Michael) then became king of God’s heavenly kingdom

Why 1914? The prophecy in Daniel 4 is used to support this date The prophecy in Daniel 4 is used to support this date They apply the cutting down of the tree to the fall of Jerusalem They apply the cutting down of the tree to the fall of Jerusalem –They make the “7 times” refer to day years, making 2520 days –Then, each prophetic day is a year, which gives 2520 years 2520 years is counted from the falling of Jerusalem to the invisible parousia in years is counted from the falling of Jerusalem to the invisible parousia in 1914

Why 1914? Now, let’s do some math… Now, let’s do some math… –Subtract 2520 from 1914 –That’s 606 (607) BC! The Watchtower insists that the fall of Jerusalem at the hand of Babylon happened in 607 BC The Watchtower insists that the fall of Jerusalem at the hand of Babylon happened in 607 BC NOBODY else uses this date for that event NOBODY else uses this date for that event Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586! Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586! If the Watchtower is wrong about this date, what else could they be wrong about? If the Watchtower is wrong about this date, what else could they be wrong about?

Daniel 4 Read Daniel 4 Read Daniel 4 What is Daniel 4 a prophecy about? What is Daniel 4 a prophecy about? Where does Daniel 4 mention “the times of the Gentiles”? Where does Daniel 4 mention “the times of the Gentiles”? Where is the tree of Daniel 4 applied to Jerusalem? Where is the tree of Daniel 4 applied to Jerusalem? When was this prophecy fulfilled? When was this prophecy fulfilled?

End Time Prophecies How do we identify a false prophet? Deut 18:20-22 and Jer. 29:10-17 How do we identify a false prophet? Deut 18:20-22 and Jer. 29:10-17 The Watchtower has a history of prophesying in the name of Jehovah things that “follow not” The Watchtower has a history of prophesying in the name of Jehovah things that “follow not”

End Time Prophecies In 1889, The Watchtower predicted that the world would end in 1914 In 1889, The Watchtower predicted that the world would end in 1914 –This was repeatedly reiterated in 1894 During this time, the Watchtower actually believed that Jesus silently came in 1874 (not 1914) During this time, the Watchtower actually believed that Jesus silently came in 1874 (not 1914) The end of the Gentiles, not the end of time, happened in 1914 The end of the Gentiles, not the end of time, happened in 1914 The end will be in 1925 The end will be in 1925 In 1926… People only imagined that we said the end would be in 1925 In 1926… People only imagined that we said the end would be in 1925 The end will be in 1975 The end will be in 1975 In 1975… Maybe a few months after 1975 will be the end In 1975… Maybe a few months after 1975 will be the end The generation that saw the events of 1914 will also see the end The generation that saw the events of 1914 will also see the end Finally, in 1995, the Watchtower admits that they don’t know when the end will be; it will be soon Finally, in 1995, the Watchtower admits that they don’t know when the end will be; it will be soon

Summary 1914 is a key date in Watchtower chronology 1914 is a key date in Watchtower chronology JW’s are indoctrinated as to 1914’s significance JW’s are indoctrinated as to 1914’s significance The Watchtower has not always assigned the same significance to 1914 The Watchtower has not always assigned the same significance to 1914 The Watchtower has tried and failed to predict the date of the end of the world The Watchtower has tried and failed to predict the date of the end of the world The Watchtower does not honestly present its history The Watchtower does not honestly present its history

The Jehovah’s Witnesses A False Religious Organization

Course Schedule Overview of basic JW teachings Overview of basic JW teachings The significance of 1914 to Jehovah’s Witnesses The significance of 1914 to Jehovah’s Witnesses The 144,000 and the great crowd The 144,000 and the great crowd JW teachings about eternal life and hell JW teachings about eternal life and hell The Theocratic War Doctrine The Theocratic War Doctrine

The Theocratic War Doctrine Simply put, it is right to lie or withhold truth if you are doing the Jehovah’s work Simply put, it is right to lie or withhold truth if you are doing the Jehovah’s work Lying in general is not condoned; only in certain circumstances Lying in general is not condoned; only in certain circumstances Rank and file are not liars Rank and file are not liars Important because they will lie to you! Important because they will lie to you! This doctrine is peculiar to them This doctrine is peculiar to them

How Can Lying Be Justified? They do not admit to teaching lying! They do not admit to teaching lying! They justify it by changing the definition of lying They justify it by changing the definition of lying The definition of lying is restricted to telling an untruth to someone who is not entitled to know the truth The definition of lying is restricted to telling an untruth to someone who is not entitled to know the truth They also attempt to deceive by saying that they only allow withholding information They also attempt to deceive by saying that they only allow withholding information –However, their definitions and history show otherwise! –They will tell outright falsehoods!

Definitions Lies are untruths told for selfish reasons and which work injury to others Lies are untruths told for selfish reasons and which work injury to others Lying generally involves saying something false to a person who is entitled to know the truth and doing so with the intent to deceive or to injure him or another person Lying generally involves saying something false to a person who is entitled to know the truth and doing so with the intent to deceive or to injure him or another person Hiding the truth, which he is not entitled to know, from an enemy does not harm him Hiding the truth, which he is not entitled to know, from an enemy does not harm him

Proof Texts Matt. 10:16 Matt. 10:16 Josh. 2:1-21; Heb. 11:31 Josh. 2:1-21; Heb. 11:31 Gen. 12:10-13; 20:1-2, 11 Gen. 12:10-13; 20:1-2, 11 2 Kin. 6: Kin. 6:8-23 Matt. 15:1-6; 21:23-27 Matt. 15:1-6; 21:23-27

Truth About Honesty and Deception Christians are to love the truth Christians are to love the truth –Even if truth causes harm or inconvenience –Eph. 4:20-25; Col. 3:9-10 Where does deception come from? (John 8:44) Where does deception come from? (John 8:44) Christians are to be characterized by honesty and honoring their word Christians are to be characterized by honesty and honoring their word –Matt. 5:34-37; James 5:12

Summary “Theocratic War Strategy” is how JW’s conceal the changes to their doctrines over the years! “Theocratic War Strategy” is how JW’s conceal the changes to their doctrines over the years! It is how they justify their behavior in courtrooms It is how they justify their behavior in courtrooms It is how they cover up their 9 or 10 failed end time prophecies It is how they cover up their 9 or 10 failed end time prophecies Ironically, they deny teaching this! Ironically, they deny teaching this!