Christians only!- What is wrong with Jehovah Witnesses?

Question

Please state your denomination after your response!

Answer 1

In a six page tract published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WBTS), entitled What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe? a select few of their teachings are mentioned. Among other things, the reader should be aware of the following:

(1) Their denial of the deity of Christ is based on Scripture which shows the true humanity of Christ while avoiding or distorting other Scriptures which affirm His true deity such as Jesus' statement after His resurrection that he has all 100% authority or power in Heaven and on earth (Mt. 28:18). Notice: Jesus, not the Father, has all authority in Heaven! Remember, Jesus humbled himself when he came to the earth, taking the very nature of a servant, even though his nature is God (Phil. 2:5-8).

(2) The Jehovah's Witnesses (JW's) have their own Bible translation called the New World Translation (NWT), which has inconsistently translated the Greek word which shows that Jesus received worship from His disciples. In that translation, if it can be properly called such, Jesus is said to have received "obeisance" and not "worship." Among other places, please see Mt. 28:9. That same Greek word found there is properly translated at other passages as "worship" in their Greek English Interlinear called the Kingdom Interlinear Translation (1969 edition). To be exact, in Mt. 2:11; 14:33; 28:9 and 28:17 the Greek word is translated obeisance because it refers to the Lord Jesus, but when the same exact Greek word is used at Rev. 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4; 20:4 and Jn. 4:20 it is rendered worshiped because it doesn't refer to Jesus. This is not good scholarship, neither is it being consistent, as they claim in the foreword of their translation.

(3) Another striking characteristic of the NWT is their usage of "Jehovah." They have done this over 6,000 times in their Bible! But in other literature that they have published, they have gone on record as stating that Yahweh is "the more correct way" to render God's name! Their actual quote is:

While inclining to view the pronunciation "Yah.weh" as the more correct way, we have retained the form "Jehovah" because of people's familiarity with it since the 14th century (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (KIT), 1969 ed., p. 23).
Furthermore, they admit that no one ever used the Latinized word "Jehovah" until the thirteenth century. This word is of Catholic origin:
By combining the vowel signs of 'Adho.nay and 'Elo.him' with the four consonants of the Tetragrammaton the pronunciations Yeho.wah' and Yehowih' were formed. The first of these provided the basis for the Latinized form "Jehova(h)." The first recorded use of this form dates from the thirteenth century C.E. Raymundus Martini, a Spanish monk of the Dominican Order, used it in his book Pugeo Fidei of the year 1270. Hebrew scholars generally favor "Yahweh" as the most likely pronunciation (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, pp. 884, 885).(26)
(4) Another unique characteristic of the JW's belief system is their strange view that only 144,000 will enter Heaven. Please know that the 12,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel (equaling 144,000) as mentioned in Rev. 7:4-8 and 14:1-3 does not state that they will be the only ones that will enter Heaven!
Let's take a look at two passages by focusing in on the words "before the throne":

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. (Rev 14:1) And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. (Rev 14:2) And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (Rev 14:3)
The second passage is:
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Rev 7:9) And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Rev 7:10) All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (Rev 7:11) saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" (Rev 7:12) Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" (Rev 7:13) I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 7:14) Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. (Rev 7:15)
Please note, according to Rev. 14:1-3, the 144,000 are "before the throne." If they are in Heaven, then there are many others in Heaven as well because that same phrase "before the throne" is also found in 7:9 and refers to a great multitude that no man can count, which is a different group from the 144,000!
Further, please remember this: the JW's take part of the Rev. 14:1-3 passage literally and part of it figuratively. In other words, the number they take literally but they figuratively interpret the Israelite tribes to mean something other than Israelite tribes!

The Lord Jesus taught:

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:26)
From the above passage, Jesus taught that all of his servants will be in the same place as he is! Hence, since Jesus is in Heaven, all of his servants, which certainly exceeds 144,000, will be in Heaven with him, according to Jesus himself!
(5) While JW's call themselves "Christians," the reader should be advised that not everyone who says, "Lord, Lord" will enter into the kingdom of God (Mt. 7:21). Moreover, the JW's fail the test to identify themselves as being "in the faith." In 2 Cor. 13:5, we read:

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Cor 13:5)
Since the JW's wrongly teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, without any clear Scriptural backing, and since an angel cannot dwell in multitudes of Christians at the same time, then their view of Christ is not only wrong but they would fail the doctrinal test to be in the faith!
(6) So what do JW's want from you and what do they believe about salvation? Let the following quote from their own literature answer this:

Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God's new system. There is only one. There was just the one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization—God's visible organization—that will survive the fast-approaching "great tribulation." It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:21) You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life.—Psalm 133:1-3. (You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth, 1982, p. 255.)
The JW's want you to spread their false teachings, just as they themselves do. Furthermore, their own literature clearly states you must be part of their organization to receive everlasting life, as you just read. Finally, the JW religion is based on the teachings of a Bible-defined false prophet from their first president, C. T. Russell, on through to the present time. Though they claim the light gets brighter and brighter, their own prophetic track record has consistently remained the same, that is, one false prophecy after another after another! They have made prophecies that have failed about the following years: 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925, 1931, 1941, 1975 and 1995. Though the JW's claim they "admit their mistakes," they refuse to admit their 1975 false prophecy (or "mistake" as they call it). A true prophet does not make false prophecies (Jer. 28:9)!
The Lord Jesus warned that false prophets would arise and would "deceive" many people (Mt. 24:11, 24). Dear reader, don't allow yourself to be a victim of this organization, which is a ravenous wolf in sheep's clothing (Mt. 7:15) but claims of itself to be Jehovah's organization.

Those who will, in the end, enter God's kingdom have a trusting, submitting and enduring faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Furthermore, such faith in Christ produces holy living and good fruit. And all those "in the truth" today can wholeheartedly agree with the Apostle Thomas who called Jesus both his Lord and his God (Jn. 20:28). For more information, contact:



Evangelical Outreach
PO Box 265
Washington, PA 15301-0265, USA




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Mr./Ms. Jehovah's Witness, don't be deceived by the Watch Tower!

Please notice the picture at the beginning of the tract, "What do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?" One woman is giving another what the JW’s call a home Bible Study. Look closely at the picture. The book shown is not the Bible but a Watch Tower publication. Also notice the brief case in the teaching woman’s lap. These brief cases that the JW’s carry are always full of WT publications. The JW’s claim that one cannot find or know the truth by reading the Bible alone. How does this claim compare with what God has stated in 2 Tim. 3:16,17?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Note that in the first paragraph of the second section on page 2 of their tract they only quote 2 Tim. 3:16, omitting verse 17 because it does not agree with their belief. It states that God’s word, the Bible, alone is completely sufficient.
In the last paragraph on page 2 of their tract is quoted John 6:57. A common practice of the WT is to pick a few select verses out of context to support their claims and beliefs. An example of this is found right here. In Chapter 6 of John, verse 51 it shows that IF you are a true believer Christ dwells within you. The JW’s reject this clear teaching. (Please see also 1 Jn. 5:12,13; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:4; 2 Cor. 6:14-16).

Why do the JW's use their own Bible? The reason is that it has many changes that are not in agreement with the original Greek and Hebrew text, but was made to be in agreement with their unique beliefs. What does God say in his word, the Bible, will happen to those who add, subtract and change words from the Bible (Rev. 22:18)?

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
In reference to their quoting Mt. 6:9 and Jn. 17:6 in the first complete paragraph of page 3 of this tract and to their stating that Jesus prayed to the Father, ask yourself the following question: Why did Jesus allow and not reproach Stephen, who prayed specifically to him (Acts 7:59)?


While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
On page 3 of their tract in the second paragraph, the WT quotes Rev. 1:5. In the immediately preceding verse (4), who is "him who is and was and who is to come," and where is he seated? Does God the Father share his throne with a lesser God? Note the NWT indicates that Jesus is a lesser God, "a god," in John 1:1. (See Isa. 42:8.)
In the second paragraph of page 3 of their tract, the WT states that Jesus is appointed invisible King. What Bible verses show this and how does this compare with his physical, visible return (Rev. 1:7 cf. Mt. 26:63,64)?

At the end of the first paragraph of page 4 the WT quotes Rev. 14:1,3 to try to support that only 144,000 people will enter heaven. Do all JW's who claim to be of the 144,000 meet the requirements outlined in the next two verses, verses 4 and 5 of this chapter? Should a believer trying to understand God's truths read all of this chapter in context to get the full meaning? Who decides what is to be taken as literal or figurative, the WT or the guidance of the Holy Spirit? (1 Jn. 2:27; Jn. 16:13)

Remembering that the WT has made prophecies that have failed about the following years: 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925, 1931, 1941, 1975 and 1995, ask yourself the question, "Why has the WT Society continued to falsely prophesy about Jesus' return, when not even the Son (Jesus Christ) knows the date and hour?"

The WT references Mark 12:31 in the second paragraph of page 5 of their tract and states that they are "widely noted for the love that is manifested among our Christian brothers," the key word being "our." The Bible states love for our "neighbor." What are the JW's doing to show their love for those outside of their own organization?

The WT references Acts 15:28-29 in the second paragraph of page 2 of their tract, to support their teaching against blood transfusions used to save lives. When one reads all of the chapter for each reference to the use of blood it becomes apparent that these are in reference to the blood of sacrifices to idols, not for saving human lives. Reference what the Bible says about intent versus tradition in Lk. 14:5.

On page 6 in the first paragraph of their tract, the WT quotes Jn. 5:28,29 as the JW's believe that the unsaved simply die rather than going to eternal punishment in Hell, why according to vs. 29 will the unsaved dead be raised during the judgment, to be informed that they will continue to be dead?

The WT quotes Mt. 24:36-39 in the second paragraph of page 6 of their tract. Why do the JW's quote this as their belief, especially vs. 36, when they have continued to disregard this council by having a long documented history of false prophecies? Why also do the JW's state verse 39 if they believe that Christ has already returned invisibly? Have the events mentioned in verse 40 which happen at Christ's return happened yet?

The WT quotes 2 Peter 3:5-7, 13 in the second paragraph of page 6 of their tract. Note again according to verse 7 the judgment of those already dead.

The WT quotes Rev. 7:9, 13-15; 21:1-5 in the second paragraph of page 6 of their tract. Verses 21:1-5 indicate that God will dwell with men. Is this what the WT teaches about the paradise on earth? Who is the first and last spoken of in the next verse, Jesus or Jehovah? Reference verses 22:12-13: is Jehovah coming soon to judge mankind or is Jesus?

I was raised as a Witness and I have been Born Again by his Grace. I am a Born Again, Radical, Spirit Filled, Tongue Speaking Christian. I attend a non-denominational church b/c I don't believe the name of your religion does anything for your salvation, only having a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Be Blessed and Rejoice in the Lord!

Answer 2

Disfellowshipped JW
1982 Corning, CA Congregation
For cause, but not the ones some ex-JWs who want to put themselves on a pedestal, want you to believe, and know you will without question.

You could wait until next May when this program about Jehovah’s Witnesses is shown on PBS to determine what you think is wrong about them. It was done by an independent film company.

http://www.knocking.org/

Setting aside any Bible issues, the major things wrong with them is their abilities to achieve things that other religions are unable to, which clearly shows there has to be something wrong with them. These include that:

They believe in obeying the law, even the inconvenient ones, such as speed limits when late for work;

They believe in paying taxes, even though there are many ways they could avoid them, as most religions do’

They believe in keeping their word, such as to the IRS that they will not promote politics in the church, and they actually mean it;

They teach their youth that waiting until marriage is preferable to using protection, and for the most part, the youths actually believe it....As a result, they have the lowest rates of out-of-wedlock births and STDs....Yes, there is the occasional ones who would rather have their fun now than wait, but there are far more who choose to wait;

They treat their youth with respect, not just "do what you're told!";

Youths are taught side by side with the adults, the Bible as a whole, and not just Bible stories....The very young may not understand what they are being taught, but by the time you reach the age of understanding, they have a good basic knowledge of the scriptures;

The congregations never get so large that the individual gets lost in the crowd. Since everyone is taught the same, it is easy to start a new congregation, with a set of elders;

Everyone knows everyone, whether in their congregation, or in their circuit....When Katrina happened, every Jehovah’s Witnesses, along with neighbors, living in New Orleans could be found in Texas, with every witness accounted for;

They believe their Kingdom Halls should compliment a neighborhood, and not overwhelm it, so they are small and don’t include a lot of expensive decorative features....Each KH can hold up to four congregations; and

They encourage all their members to read the Bible and submit their thoughts....This was before the NWT and when they were using the KJV, or Authorized Version....It should be noted that this version of the KJV was not the first, but the fifth....It took four revisions over a 150 year period, before it was approved by the Church of England.

The greatest problem with JWs can be summed up by asking just one question:

WHAT DAY DO YOU OBSERVE THE MEMORIAL ON?

In every other religion, they will say in May, but all JWs, over the age of 12, will say at sunset on Niacin 14, which falls on the first full moon after the vernal equinox, the Memorial of the Last Supper. This is the only day, aside from wedding anniversaries, that Christ said to continue keeping. Clearly there must be a reason why this day is ignored by Christendom. Perhaps Christ was wrong on this one and the witnesses are over reacting.

Answer 3

Great Question, I can't wait to see what fellow Christians say to put down another religious belief.

As a former Christian, I have to say I believed that they were just a little to "works" focused to be true Christians. Jehovah's Witnesses always were condemning everything, from holidays and birthdays, to other denominations and each other. They are very focused on getting everything right and people are always under threat of being corrected and shunned. Not a very loving religion.

Their doctrines however, probably closer to biblical truths than most evangelical beliefs. Their understanding on the state of Hell seems to make more sense than the typical "everlasting fire" belief held by most Christians. Their neglect of Holidays makes sense as well. Why would real Christians celebrate days that have been intermingled with pagan beliefs?

Now days I see the witnesses through a different light and can look objectively at their doctrine. In the past I looked at it with the intent of finding fault and evil. Just like most Christians. I believe now that they are just trying to get everything in the Bible right to the letter. The nature of the Old Testament and the lack of clarity throughout the bible can lead to a very dim look on life and a very ridged belief system. This is what has happened to the JWs. You can't blame them though, after all, they are just trying to do God's will. Christians who attack them, should take a good look at themselves and see if they are truly trying to live by God's law, or whether they are just jealous that the JWs are a little more convicted in their belief?

I don't care either way, I would like it if the JWs would give me a break on Saturday mornings though.

Answer 4

Hi. I see nothing wrong with people trying to follow the Bible. By the way Witnesses do recognise Jesus as the son of God. I do not know why people get our beliefs so mixed up in their minds.

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses

Answer 5

Their theology denies most of the major beliefs of historic Christianity. They do not believe in the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, His bodily resurrection, salvation by grace through faith, and the eternal punishment of the wicked. They even have the "New World Translation" of the scriptures, rewritten to support these beliefs.

I would suggest that they obtain a copy of scripture that is accepted as an accurate translation of the original Hebrew and Greek. Compare it to the "New World Translation". See for yourself what teachings are in full harmony with God's Word, and not based on the traditions of men. If they are lovers of the Truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination. Let God be true...

Verses to consider:
Rev. 3:14 "of" and "by"
Prov 8:22 "possessed" and "produced"
Col. 1:15 "firstborn" and "first created"
Col. 1:16, 17, 20 insertion of the word "other"
Not capitalizing "Spirit" in any ref. to the Holy Spirit
Eph. 4:30 "with which" and "by whom"
John 14:26 "which" and "whom", "that one" and "He"
John 1:1 Word was "a" God
John 8:58 "was, I Am" and "came into existence, I have been."

Also consider:
Eph. 2:8,9
Titus 3:5
2 Thess. 1:7-9
Matt. 25:46
2 Tim. 3:16,17

Answer 6

I'm Catholic.
I believe Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings are far more correct than Christendom's teachings. I'm pretty sure there are few errorous teachings found in Jehovah's Witnesses belief but that doesn't make them a false religion either. It proves this group to be Jehovah's true organization on this earth.

Answer 7

1. they use a translation of the Bible that differs from everyone else's without any scholarly references as to why. The footnotes are ideological not educational
2. they are concerned with nonsense like the shape of the piece of wood Jesus got nailed to.
3. unlike Christians, they dispute the divinity of Christ and the reality of the Trinity, a major feature of all branches of Christianity.
4. They don't feed the hungry
5. they don't shelter the homeless
6. they think the original name of our God is Jehovah and there is no J in Hebrew
7. they attack us for using images but print pictures in their books and pamphlets
8. they were pacifists and did not fight the nazis. true enough that some people calling themselves Christians ended up in the nazi camp, but the majority of both Catholics and Protestants actually actively fought that filth.
9. I could go on all day because i see nothing right about them
I am Roman Catholic

Answer 8

I'm not a Christian but I'll answer anyway.

JW's make it a little hard when holidays come around. They don't celebrate any, so when there is an office party, they don't participate. I don't mind if they don't participate, but what do they do when they receive Xmas gifts from someone who doesn't know about them being JW? Do they give the gift back?

I don't celebrate Xmas either (or any Xian holiday), but if someone gives me a gift, I thank them and accept.

I don't know why they believe that only 144,000 will enter heaven. Heaven is a state of being, whether in this Earthly world or beyond in the spiritual realm.

As for the trinity, they're right on that point. Jesus was not God, never was, never will be.

Answer 9

They teach false doctrine and they use the verse of scriptures from the Bible to make people think that they are Christians when they are not.
One thing that I know about Jehovah Witnesses that goes against God's Will is that they go out and pester people to join their church and if they use or believe in the Bible then they would know that the Lord would want us to come to him of our own accord which means that we don't have to dress up in all black like they do coming to somebody's house in a group having one person do all of the talking while the other just stands quietly looking sinster at you.
Not only that, you have to do something to prove yourself worthy to join their cult and that is exactly what it is,a cult.

True,I don't know everything and I thank God that I don't but I do know enough to say that J.W. like mormons is a cult using the Bible to cover up their true identity of who they are and what they are about..

Free Will Baptist

Answer 10

Nice question. They came around to me just the other day. Jehovah's witnessess, otherwise known as the mormons were founded by one man, joseph smith, wrote an entire book based on "divine intervention" There are 14 things that the mormons really belive. They are listed here.

1 - God was once a man who lived on another planet

2 - We are co-eternal with God

3 - The origin of Jesus Christ (god actually had intercourse with mary)

4 - Truth is determined by feelings

5 - What a Prophet said can be revised depending on the circumstances

6 - Saving our dead ancestors shows we are the only Christian church

7 - Ex-Mormons or apostates had sin in their life or never had a testimony

8 - We will only read church approved materials

9 - We need to convert the whole world to Mormonism

10 - By being Mormons we are assured of salvation - even if we are wrong

11 - Since we have the name of Christ in our church - our church is the only true one.

12 - We believe in the Book of Mormon

13 - The fruits of Mormonism prove it is the true church

14 Since there are people who oppose our beliefs - our beliefs must be true

Tho all of them go completly against what jesus christ taught the last one is just crazy. As you can see the mormons are just a fake religon, based upon a lier.

Answer 11

I am a Christian and I attend different churches, so I don't really have a denomination, but if I were to choose, probably Lutheran.

Jehovah Witness teaches that Jesus was not God - to them I say:

Isaiah 9:6

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Note - MIGHTY GOD and EVERLASTING FATHER -

The Bible cannot be more plain that this - Jesus, fully human, fully GOD.