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Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements
Official Name:
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., International
Bible Students
Association, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
Founder: Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)
Current Leader(s)
Milton G. Henschel (b. 1918)
World And USA Headquarters
"Bethel", 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201
Canadian Headquarters
Box 4100, Halton Hills, Ontario L7G 4T4
Active Participants
("Publishers"), 1997 Worldwide: 5.6 million in 232
countries; USA: 984,548; Canada:
113,763 Key Publications
PERIODICALS: The Watchtower (16.5 million in 120 languages),
Awake! (16 million in 78
languages)
BOOKS: Reasoning from the Scriptures (Reasoning)----1985, Insight
on the Scriptures - 2
Volumes (Insight) - 1988, Mankind's Search for God-----1990,
Knowledge That Leads to
Everlasting Life (Knowledge) - 1995, Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses----
(published annually)
BIBLE TRANSLATIONS: The Kingdom Interlinear Translation
of the Greek Scriptures (KIT) -
1964, The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT)-----1984
This Interfaith Evangelism Belief
Bulletin presents basic Jehovah's Witnesses history and
doctrines and provides a biblical analysis and response.
Historical background
In 1870, Charles Taze Russell began an independent Bible study,
focusing on the second
coming of Christ and biblical chronology. He published his views
in several books and began
lecturing in 1878. In 1879, Russell founded the monthly publication
Zion's Watch Tower and
Herald of Christ's Presence that were used by study groups he
established.
Zion's Watch Tower and Tract Society was incorporated in 1884
with Russell as president.
From 1886 until his death in 1916, Russell wrote a series of
books called Studies in the
Scriptures. Their contents formed the basis of Jehovah's Witnesses'
unchristian theology.
Russell was succeeded as president in 1917 by his legal assistant,
Joseph Franklin
Rutherford. Rutherford continued Russell's authoritarian leadership
style. He was imprisoned
briefly in 1918 for preaching against military service. He was
a charismatic speaker who often
railed against Christian churches and biblical scholars. He died
in 1942.
Other Jehovah's Witnesses presidents included Nathan H. Knorr
(1942-1977) and Fredrich W.
Franz (1977-1992). The organization expanded worldwide under
these men's leadership, from
about 113,000 in 1942 to more than 4 million in 1992. The current
president is Milton G.
Henschel.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES SOURCES OF AUTHORITY BIBLE
The Bible is considered the divinely inspired and infallible
Word of God. It "contains 66
books in two sections, often called the Old Testament and the
New Testament. Thirty-nine Bible
books were written mainly in Hebrew and 27 in Greek. . . . A
proper study of the Scriptures
must include the entire Bible" (Knowledge, p.13). "Though
the Bible is not a science textbook,
it is scientifically accurate. . . . The Bible contains many
prophecies that have been
fulfilled in detail" (Knowledge, p.17). The New World Translation
of the Holy Scriptures
(NWT), is the English Bible Version published by the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society (WBTS)
. The New World Bible Translation Committee members remain anonymous.
It is regarded as the
best translation because "the translators held so closely
to what is in the original Bible
languages" (Reasoning, p.279).
Biblical Response:
The Bible is indeed composed of the 66 books of the Old and New
Testaments. It is the
inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (see 2 Tim. 3:16-17;
2 Pet. 1:20-21). The NWT
reflects WBTS theology, especially its bias
against the deity of Jesus Christ and the historic
doctrine of the Trinity. For example, John 1:1 reads "and
the Word was a god" in the NWT.
Nearly all other standard English Bible translations say, "and
the Word was God."
The Watchtower Bible And Tract Society
The WBTS's Governing Body is called "the faithful and
discreet slave," a term derived from
the NWT rendering of Matthew 24:25 (The Watchtower, Feb. 1, 1993,
p.16). It is therefore,
regarded as Jehovah God's only channel of accurate biblical interpretation
in the world today.
A requirement for salvation "is that we be associated with
God's channel, his organization"
[the WBTS] (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1993, p.12). Thus there
is no salvation apart from the
WBTS.
Biblical Response:
All people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and
Lord are saved by grace
through faith and are born-again (see John 3:3-16; Rom. 10:9-10;
Eph. 2:8-9). No single
person, church, or religious organization can claim exclusive
possession of the source of salvation or authority
to interpret the Bible. All born-again Christians are capable
of
understanding and interpreting the Scriptures through the illumination
of the Holy Spirit (see
2 Tim. 3:16; John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).
Doctrinal Beliefs Jehovah Is God
The true God is not a nameless God. His name
is Jehovah (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 83:18). His
principal attributes are love, wisdom, justice, and power. God
is a "spirit-being", invisible
and eternal, but has a spiritual body and is not omnipresent
(Insight, vol. 1, p. 969-970).
The historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity is denied. "The
dogma of the Trinity is not
found in the Bible, nor is it in harmony with what the Bible
teaches. It grossly misrepresents
the true God" (Reasoning, p. 424).
Biblical Response:
The Bible teaches there is only one God.
He was called by several names in the Scripture.
Christians acknowledge that the term "Trinity" is not
found in the Bible. Nonetheless, the
doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture. The Bible teaches that
the One God exists in the
three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see
Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 8:6; 12:4-6; 2
Cor.1:21-22; 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:2).
Jesus Christ - Jehovah's First Created Being
Jesus had three periods of existence. In his pre- human existence
he was called "God's
'only-begotten Son' because Jehovah created him directly. As
the 'first-born of all creation',
Jesus was used by God to create all other things (Colossians
1:15; Revelation 3:14) . . .
After Jehovah brought him into existence, the Word [Jesus] spent
ages with God in heaven
before becoming a man on earth" (Knowledge, p. 39). "John
1:1 says that 'the Word' (Jesus in
his pre-human existence) was with God 'in the beginning'. So
the word was with Jehovah when
'the heavens and earth' were created" (Knowledge, p. 39).
He also had the personal name
Michael (the archangel) (Insight, vol. 2, p. 394).
"The Second Stage of Jesus' life course was here on earth.
He willingly submitted as God
transferred his life from heaven to the womb of a faithful Jewish
virgin named Mary"
(Knowledge, p. 40). He became the Messiah at his baptism, who
was executed on a torture stake,
and rose again spiritually "Though the Bible reports on
Jesus' death, he is now alive! He is a
mighty reigning King! And very soon now, he will manifest his
rulership over our troubled
earth" (Knowledge, p. 41).
Biblical Response:
The Bible teaches that Jesus was not created
but was deity from all eternity and
- coequal with the Father. He
came to earth in bodily form to reveal God's nature and character
to
mankind. He now reigns with the Father in heaven and will return
some day to close the age and
judge all people. The Jehovah's Witnesses NWT translation of
John 1:1, Colossians 1:15, and
Revelation 3:14 are biased against Jesus' deity. There is no
biblical basis for identifying
Jesus with Michael the archangel. (see John 1:1-14; 5:17-18;
8:56-59;10:30-33; Col. 1:15-20;
2:9).
Holy Spirit - God's Active Force
The personality and deity of the Holy Spirit
is denied. Holy Spirit is not capitalized in
the NWT. "With this viewpoint, it is logical to conclude
that the holy spirit is the active
force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that
God causes to emanate from
himself to accomplish his holy will" (Reasoning, p. 381).
Biblical Response:
The personality of the Holy Spirit is evidenced in numerous New
Testament Scriptures (see
Luke 12:12; John 15:26; Acts 5:3-10; 13:2-4; 1 Cor. 12:11; Eph.
4:30; Heb. 3:7). His deity is
demonstrated by His divine attributes as revealed in Scripture.
The Holy Spirit convicts the
lost of sin and He indwells believers at conversion
and empowers them to live the Christian
life. (see Matt. 12:31-32; 28:19; Mark 3:29; John 14-16; Rom.
8:4, 26-27; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 2:
18-19; 5:14-33).
Mankind's Sin Brought Death
God created man in his own image, but Adam and Eve willfully
and deliberately disobeyed God.
"'In the day that our first parents ate from the tree of
the knowledge of good and bad, they
were sentenced by God and died from his standpoint. Then they
were expelled from Paradise and
began their descent into physical death" (Knowledge, p.
58). The spirit, or lifeforce, that
God gives us at our birth departs at death. There is no conscious existence at death. "Where
do the dead go? To Sheol, the common grave of mankind. Our dead
loved ones are not conscious
of anything. They are not suffering, and they cannot affect us
in any way" (Knowledge, p.83).
Biblical Response:
Adam and Eve's sin indeed brought evil and death into the world.
Thus, we are dead
spiritually and separated from God. However, at
death, believers in Christ maintain a
conscious relationship with Him while awaiting the resurrection.
- (see Matt. 22:32; Luke 16:22-
23; 23:43; John 11:26; 2 Cor. 5:8; 12:2-4; Phil. 1:23-24; 2 Thes.
4:14-5:10; 2 Pet. 2:9).
Jesus Paid A Ransom Sacrifice
Due to Adam's sin, it was necessary that an atonement be made
to restore what he had lost.
"Only a man with perfect human life could offer up the equivalent
of what Adam lost. After
Adam, the only perfect man born on earth was Jesus Christ"
(Knowledge, p.65). "The Roman governor Pontius Pilate sentenced
him to death on a torture
stake. He was nailed to a wooden pole and hung there upright
. . . Thus, it was on Nisan 14,
33 C.E. [A.D.], that Jesus gave his life as
a 'ransom in exchange for many'"
- (Knowledge, p.66)
. "He slept in death for parts of three days, and then Jehovah
God resurrected him to life as
a mighty spirit being." (Knowledge, p.68).
Biblical Response:
Jesus was not just a perfect man, but also God
incarnate (see Col. 2:9). Thus, His death on
a Roman cross was the self-sacrificial atonement
of God Himself for mankind's sin
- (see 1 Cor.1:17-24; 2:2; 15:3-4). He rose again from the
dead physically, not just spiritually (see Luke
24:14-39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-29; 1 Cor. 15:18).
Salvation - Faith And Obedience
"Therefore, let us show our gratitude for the love displayed
by God and Christ by exercising
faith in Jesus' ransom sacrifice" (Knowledge, p. 69). Requirements
for salvation, in addition
to faith, include baptism by immersion, active association with
the WBTS,
- righteous conduct,
and absolute loyalty to Jehovah. There is no assurance of salvation,
only hope for a
resurrection. Those who fail to live up to the above requirements
or who are disfellowshipped
by the WBTS have no hope of salvation.
Biblical Response:
Salvation is "by grace through faith"
in Jesus Christ alone. No amount of works or
membership in any organization guarantees salvation. It is totally
through faith in Christ
(see Rom. 4:4-5; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Good works are the natural
response to salvation
already received, not its cause (see Eph. 2:10). Salvation is
eternally assured for those who
have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior (see John 1:12; 5:24;
I John 5:13).
Two Classes Of Saved People
Only 144,000 faithful elect Jehovah's
Witnesses, known as the "Anointed Class"
will go to
heaven at death to rule with Jesus. Only those born since 33
C.E. (A.D.) can be part of that
number (based on Rev. 14:1-3). Most Jehovah's Witnesses hope
to be among the "other sheep" or "great crowd"
who will not go to heaven, but, after Armageddon and the Millennium,
will live
forever in Paradise on Earth (based on John 10:16; Rev. 7:9).
Biblical Response:
The WBTS' doctrine of a duality of saved people is not supported
by a careful study of the
Scriptures. The Bible makes no distinction of two classes of
saved people (see Matt. 5:12;
Phil. 3:20). In Revelation 7 and 14, both the 144,000 and the
"great crowd" or "multitude" are
"before the throne" in heaven. All born-again Christians
will live forever in heaven (see John
3:16; 14:3).
Armageddon Is Coming Soon!
"This name [Armageddon or Har-Magedon] is directly associated
with 'the war of the great day
of God the Almighty.' The term applies specifically to the condition,
or situation, to which
'the kings of the entire inhabited earth' are gathered in opposition
to Jehovah and his
Kingdom by Jesus Christ" (Insight, vol. 1, p. 1037.) Armageddon
will mark the destruction by
God of this present evil system, including apostate
"Christendom," and the binding of Satan. Afterward,
Jehovah's surviving people will rebuild
the world in a perfect environment under his rule for 1,000 years
in the Millennium. After the
Millennium, Satan will be released for a short time to test those
resurrected, or born during
the Millennium. (see Knowledge, pp. 182-190).
Biblical Response:
The Bible teaches that Jesus will return physically
to judge mankind and usher in the
Kingdom of God. Christians may respectfully disagree over the
details of biblical
interpretation about the events of the last days and the Millennium.
Setting dates, however,
is strictly forbidden and Jesus warned of false signs of His
return. Nonetheless, believers
are to be ready at any time for His coming (see Matt. 16:24-27;
24:14-51; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-
16; John 5:28-29; 14:2-3; Acts 1:11; 1Thess. 5:1-11).
Final Judgement And Paradise On Earth
After the Millennium, Satan and his allies will be destroyed.
Faithful Jehovah's Witnesses
will inherit everlasting life on perfect Paradise
Earth. Those who have disobeyed
- Jehovah and his law will be annihilated out of existence
with Satan and his demons. This is the
- "second death." Hell is the grave and not a place
of eternal punishment. The doctrine of eternal hell
is regarded as unscriptural, unreasonable, contrary to God's
love, and unjust.
Biblical Response:
All people will face the final judgment of God. The doctrine
of eternal hell is based on a
number of biblical texts and the teachings of Jesus Himself.
He taught that righteous saved
people will have eternal life in heaven but the wicked lost will
suffer eternal punishment in
hell (see Matt. 18:8-9; 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-38; 2 Thess. 1:9).
Witnessing To Jehovah's Witnesses
1.Have a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible.
- 2.Aquire a basic knowledge of
Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs and practices.
- 3.Make a definite plan for the witnessing
encounter and keep the initiative.
- 4.Initially talk about personal concerns to establish a
friendly, courteous, and sincere relationship with the Jehovah's
Witness. Gradually move
on to a discussion of theological issues.
- 5.Be prepared to cite and explain specific
biblical passages supporting Christian doctrines.
- 6.Define your terms clearly and ask the
Jehovah's Witness to do so also.
- 7.Focus the discussion on the primary issue of the person
and work of Christ. Stress the need for a personal relationship
with Him.
- 8.Share your personal testimony of God's grace and your faith
in Jesus as Savior
- and Lord.
- 9.Present the basic plan of salvation and encourage the Jehovah's
Witness to make a decision.
10.Pray and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you.
Tal Davis, Interfaith Evangelism Associate for Cults, Sects,
and New Religious Movements
©1998 North American Mission Board of the SBC. All rights
reserved. Churches may reproduce this publication in limited
quantities for personal use.
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