Jon Gary Williams
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Article 51 - False Teachings of Jehovah's Witness
False Teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jon Gary Williams
Has a "Jehovah's Witness" ever knocked on your door? If not, someday they will. Are you aware of what they teach? Did you know they reject most fundamental Bible doctrines? Did you know they espouse a religious philosophy completely foreign to the Bible?
At first glance the "Jehovah's Witness" movement (also known as "Zion's Watchtower Tract Society") may seem to be just another one of the many religious groups around us. After all, don't they claim to follow the Bible? And don't they claim to believe in Christ? A closer look shows us that what we see on the surface is not at all what we find in reality.
Indeed, many unsuspecting people have been misled by the subtle, deceptive nature of "Jehovah's Witness" tactics. Yes, they speak of Christ, the soul, hell, the resurrection and other fundamental Biblical ideas. But what they espouse regarding these and other Biblical terms is not what the Bible teaches.
The Jehovah's Witness religion contains an insidious system of doctrines of which people need to be informed. What exactly do they teach? Following are a some better-known teachings of the Jehovah's Witness religion, along with comparisons to what the scriptures teach.
- They teach that man has no immortal soul, that the soul is only man's breath and that when man dies there is nothing which lives on.
The Bible teaches:
a) There is something which lives after death. (Mt. 10:28; II Cor. 5:8,9)
b) The soul departs the body. (Gen. 35:18)
- They teach that Christ is not eternal and that he is not a part of the Godhead, but that He was created in the same way that the angels were created.
The Bible teaches:
a) Christ is eternal. (Rev. 1:17; 22:13)
b) Christ is God, a part of the Godhead. (John 1:1,14; 20:28; Mt. 1:23; Col. 2:9)
- They teach that Christ's body was not actually raised, but that He was raised only in "spirit form."
The Bible teaches:
a) Christ expressly said He was not in a spirit form. (Lk. 24:39)
b) To reject the resurrection of Christ creates a hopeless religion. (I Cor. 15:14,15)
- They teach that Christ has already returned, but that it occurred secretly and unseen.
The Bible teaches:
a) Every eye shall see him. (Rev. 1:7)
b) He will come with sound, angels and flaming fire. (I Thess. 4:16; II Thess. 1:7,8)
- They teach there is no real hell, but that hell is only the grave.
The Bible teaches:
a) There is punishment beyond the grave. (Mt. 10:28; Lk. 12:4,5)
b) Punishment is eternal. (Mt. 25:41,46; Mk. 9:44,47)
- They teach that the earth will never be destroyed.
The Bible teaches:
a) The earth will someday pass away. (Mt. 5:18)
b) The earth will be burned up. (II Pet. 3:10)
- They teach that only 144,000 people will enter heaven.
The Bible teaches:
a) Christ will deliver his entire kingdom up to God. (I Cor. 15:24)
b) All who do God's commands will enter into Heaven. (Rev. 22:14)
c) The water of life, flowing from God's throne, is for "whosoever will." (Rev. 22:1,17)
- They teach that submitting to blood transfusion is sinful.
The Bible teaches:
a) The eating of blood is condemned. (Gen. 9:4; Lev. 7:27)
b) God's word does not prohibit the transfusion of blood to save or support life.
- They teach that man is not saved through baptism.
The Bible teaches:
a) Baptism is for the "remission of sins." (Acts 2:38)
b) Baptism saves. (Mk. 16;16; I Pet. 3:21
c) In baptism sins are washed away. (Acts 22:16)
d) In baptism people put on Christ. (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27)