One of our ladies told me two Sundays ago that a Jehovah Witness had come to her door with some literature and invited her to a commemoration/memorial of the death of Christ. As far as I can recall, I have not addressed the Witnesses since I have been at this Indiana church and I know for sure I have never brought them up in this blog. Most Christians know that their beliefs are different from ours, but for most, it is just that they are pacifists and do not serve in the military, do not celebrate birthdays, including Christ’s birthday, use a different Bible, believe something about the 144,000 people mentioned in the Book of the Revelation and they call God by the name Jehovah. Other than that, most are pretty much ignorant on the movement.

But they are very different. The differences are not like some of the differences that separate some of our Christian denominations. We often disagree on things like the basic meaning of baptism or how often we should take the Lord’s Supper, but the differences in the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christianity are severe enough that the Witnesses are actually a cult when set against Christianity.

One of the principle differences, and the difference from which all other differences stem, is their concept of authority. The would say that their authority is the Scripture. But the reality is much different. The Witnesses have a very active publishing house which produces a large quantity of printed material. ‘The Watchtower” and “Awake” magazines are the most common, but they also have a lot of books and booklets that are largely given away. Make Sure of all Things, Reasoning from the Scriptures, Let God be True, Aid to Bible Understanding, The New World, The Truth Shall Make You Free, Your Will Be Done on Earth, Children and others that seem to change every five years or so. The books were written by members of their Council of Elders and so everything contained therein has the same basic authority as Scripture. In their magazines, if an article is written by a Council member, it, too, has great authority. Of all their publications, the most insidious is a seven volume set called Studies in the Scriptures. This is in the guise of a commentary set on the Bible, but it has been written by a former President of the Witnesses that if one just read the Bible (which they call The New World Translation) and didn’t read Studies in the Scriptures, they could not possibly understand the Bible. But, if they read the Studies in the Scriptures and never opened up the Bible, they would have a full understanding of Scripture.

The Jehovah Witnesses were the subject of my seminary thesis in comparative religions. Like most people, I went into the study with little real knowledge of this religious group. I came away from it with a very heavy heart. They are told in their training sessions that they are not to listen to you when you explain your faith. In fact, they are not supposed to give you time to explain your faith. They are told that to listen to you is a sin, and since their form of salvation is based on works, this can keep them from Paradise. The real reason, however, is that their beliefs are paper thin and cannot stand up to reasonable discourse. To test this, the next time a Witness comes to your door, offer to swap time with them. You will listen to them for 30 minutes without interrupting if they will listen to you for 30 minutes without interrupting, as you both explain your faith. Since it is your house, you insist you go first. Most of the time, they will not accept your terms. However, if you are going to do this, rest assured that they will have 30 minutes ready in their minds. Will you?

Following are twenty five items that separate their beliefs from ours that go directly against the Bible. Just so you know who they are.

1.              There is one God in one person. We also believe there is one God, but we say that He is manifested in three forms, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They say that these are actually three different gods. Which leads to the belief that there is no Trinity.

2.              The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive. We cannot be led guided or directed by the Holy Spirit.

3.              Jehovah's first creation was his 'only-begotten Son' and was used by Jehovah in creating all other things. Which on the surface doesn’t sound to wrong. Except for the fact that Jesus wasn’t created. According to Scripture, Jesus is in all respects God. If God was not created, neither was Jesus. Still God’s Son, but not created. Can I explain this odd fact? No, I cannot. I accept it on faith.

4.              Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man. Michael was a completely different creature, Biblically speaking. Angels are not divine. In fact, humans are called a little higher creation than angels. Just using the Bible as our guide, if Jesus was actually Michael, we humans would be higher than Jesus.

5.              Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh. They say that Jesus was not divine, but they also say that the 144,000 are divine.

6.              Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body. He rose as a spirit. This is why one of our ladies was invited to a memorial for Jesus. He is dead. His spirit remains, but He is dead.

7.              Jesus and Satan are actually brothers, separated by Satan’s fall. This comes from the teaching that Jesus is actually Michael the archangel. Before the fall of Satan he was Lucifer, also, they believe, an archangel and therefore, the brother of Jesus.

8.              Jesus had to come to faith of God and have sufficient works to have His spirit to rise to God. In other words, Jesus had to be saved.

9.              Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake. This one of the bizarre little twists that makes no sense. Why do they claim a stake over a cross? Yet, in their literature, including the New World Translation, where they have an illustration of the death of Christ, they have a large pole stuck in the ground and a man impaled on it. Think a telephone pole with no cross bars on it and the top of it sharpened to a point. The point has pierce through the chest of the man on it, coming out through his heart. Going through his heart, the man would be dead. No last words, no giving his mother over to his friend to be cared for. No suffering beyond the initial thrust. Historically speaking, the Romans never used this form of execution. Their styles always included punishment as well as execution. They say that this is plain from the Greek, but the Greek text they claimed to have used for a translation base uses the word Σταυρός, which is the Greek word for cross. The Greek word for stake is πάσσαλος and appears nowhere in the Bible. The words are totally different, so it cannot be claimed to be a mistranslation. There is a reason, though. It is coming up in a bit.

10.           Jesus began his invisible rule over the earth in 1914. Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Jehovah Witnesses, had written extensively about 1914 being the end of the world. Of course, the world did not end in 1914, so they had to come up with something. They solved this by saying that the old world ended and now Jesus is ruling the new world. At first, they said there would never be another war. In just a very short time, World War One broke upon the world, so that was shot. Actually, there have been two other end of the world prophecies since 1914 that haven’t worked out, so they have become even more creative.

11.           Jesus' ransom sacrifice did not include Adam or Eve. This is completely contrary to Scripture, which tells us that Jesus died for all. Their reasoning is that Adam and Eve sinned willfully and cannot therefore, be redeemed. If you follow that reasoning through to its logical conclusion, all sin since has been out of our control.

12.           Their church is the self-proclaimed prophet of God. Only they have the truth.

13.           They claim to be the only channel of God's truth. Not only are they the truth, they are the only ones that can express the truth. Not even our Bible.

14.           Only their church members will be saved. No one else will be have a chance. However, their concept of salvation is different from ours. 144,000, who have all been preordained from the beginning of time, will go to heaven. All other Jehovah Witnesses who have done good jobs, will be allowed to live in Paradise here on earth, which is still a pretty good deal.

15.           Good works are necessary for salvation. This is why they work so hard at getting their message across. They have to in order to get to spend eternity in Paradise, which is different from heaven.

16.           The soul ceases to exist after death. There are Christian groups that teach ‘soul sleep’ at death until the Resurrection, then the soul comes awake. The Witnesses teach that the soul dies. Hard to even conceive.

17.           There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished. No one likes to think of a fiery hell, but it is in the Bible, as well as a Lake of Fire, which is a different place serving the same function. Also, it is in their Scripture. To them, it is all symbolic. So, what happens to those of us who do not embrace their theology? Our bodies will be destroyed in an instant and that will be it. No punishment other than the few seconds it takes to be destroyed. Since the soul is dead, there will be no suffering. Nothing to worry about.

18.           Only 144,000 Jehovah's Witness go to heaven. Originally, Charles Taze Russell said that when all 144,000 had been born, the world would end. This was prophesized to be in 1914. Supposedly, the number was reached then because the world ended and Jesus began His invisible rule over the earth. But, there are thousands who believe they are part of the 144,000 now. It has created a lot of confusion and is a question they don’t like to get into. The number of 144,000 is only mentioned twice in the Bible, including their Bible. Once in Revelation 7 and once in Revelation 14. In their Studies of the Scriptures the verses that are referenced are just the verses that concern the number. Revelation 7:4---And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: and Revelation 14:1-3---Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. There Bible says the same thing. They teach that the 144,000 refers to the redeemed as Witnesses. Men and women. However, if you read all the verses in those passages rather than those four verses, you will find that these are witnesses, but not Jehovah Witnesses. They are witnessing the work and power of Christ. You will also find out that these 144,000 are redeemed Jews. They are all men. They are all virgins.

19.           Only the 144,000 may take communion. You know if you are part of this number and if you are not. If you are a part of this number you are sealed, therefore, you do not have to go door to door and you can take Communion.

20.           Blood transfusions are a sin. You could be receiving tainted blood of a non-Witness.

21.           The Cross is a pagan symbol and should not be used. Actually, the cross symbol existed way before Christ in pagan theologies. This goes all the way back to a ruler named Nimrod who founded the ancient city of Nineveh. The cross symbol was a very minor religious symbol. It was not, though, a religious symbol to the Romans. Just a devious method of execution. This is why they say Jesus was killed on a stake rather than a cross.

22.           Salvation is by faith and what you do. Faith and works.

23.           Each of the 6 creative days of God in Genesis 1 was 7000 years long. The Hebrew word translated in the English Bible for ‘day’ is extremely close to the word for ‘eon,’ a much longer period of time. This is a much discussed point in theology. However, where the 7,000 year period for eon came from is anyone’s guess. Using this idea, man would have been created at 42,000 years. Since this has been around since the beginning of the Jehovah Witnesses (1876), it has to be assumed that this was an attempt to incorporate evolution into the mix. Early on in the study of evolution, the vast amounts of time we have today were much shorter.
24.    They also refuse to vote, salute the flag, sing the "Star Spangled Banner," or celebrate Christmas or birthdays. They are not allowed to serve in the armed forces. They will, however, take the Christmas bonus at work and they will enjoy and accept all the rights and liberties earned by those who have served in the armed services and those who have participated in government exercise.

25.           Satan, when he was Lucifer, was entrusted with the obligation and charged with the duty of overseeing the creation of the earth. Which means, if they believe God created the earth as they say they do, Satan oversaw God’s work.

Understand, I am not attacking these people. I am just telling you what they believe. They are led and empowered by Satan to corrupt the church of the Lord.