Lovers of Truth series - No. 3
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WATCHTOWER TEACHINGS
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Many have misrepresented just what
The
Watchtower Society of Jehovah's Witnesses teach and believe.
Let me, as simply as possible,
try to explain their beliefs. Only by knowing their beliefs can we begin
to understand Jehovah's Witnesses themselves.
THEY BELIEVE THAT.....
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The 'Trinity' is a pagan concept.
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Jesus is not God, and is a created being.
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The Holy Spirit is not a person, but an invisible
active force. (For a fuller explanation see "The
Deity and Person of the Holy Spirit").
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Only 144,000 are going to heaven. The rest of
mankind that earn God's favour will have life on this earth.
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Jesus was resurrected as a spirit, without a physical
body. See "The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ."
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Jesus is only the mediator of 144,000, the only
ones in the new covenant.
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Jehovah God has rejected the churches of Christendom,
and today only uses The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society as
His channel of communication.
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For anyone to please God they must accept this
channel, and become associated with it, proving loyal and obedient to it.
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Scripture can only be understood by a 'faithful
and discreet slave' class of people, those going to heaven. Therefore Watchtower
followers must 'meekly' accept their findings, and go along with them without
question.
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Any 'witnesses' that actively question the 'organization'
are likely to be 'thrown out' of The Watchtower Society.
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Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to converse
or associate with ex-J.W's. Even family gatherings are restricted. For
example, as happened to me, I was not allowed at my son's wedding or reception.
All I did was to resign from an organization I'd joined.
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Jehovah's Witnesses should let The Watchtower
influence every decision they ever make.
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The Bible was written almost exclusively for the
special 144,000 heaven-bound class. Therefore much of it does not apply
to the earth-bound majority.
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Only members of the heavenly class are 'born again.'
(See relevant section of "The Gospel
& the Kingdom of God").
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Man does not have an immortal soul.
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At death a person goes out of existence. But the
memory, personality and characteristics of that person are retained in
Jehovah's memory.
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The Watchtower does not teach the same
type of resurrection as evangelical Christians. To them the body has gone
out of existence completely. But if worthy, Jehovah will re-create a body,
and put into it the memory, personality and characteristics of the person
who died. Though they do not realize it, this is not a resurrection at
all (resurrection means bringing back to life that which died). The
Watchtower unknowingly teach reincarnation.
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Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas,
Easter, birthdays or take part in any other national celebrations. Many
individuals do remember their wedding anniversary.
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The Watchtower teaches that blood transfusions
are wrong and against God's law.(See "The Blood
Transfusion Issue"). They will accept blood substitutes. Surgeons have
developed specialist ways of dealing with this problem, and today many
skilfully carry out major surgical operations without using blood transfusions.
Jehovah's Witnesses feel so strongly about this that they are prepared
to die rather than submit to having a blood transfusion.
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Jehovah's Witnesses will visit doctors and hospitals,
and accept almost every other kind of medical advice.
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Jehovah's Witnesses do not vote in elections.
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Jehovah's Witnesses are conscientious objectors,
and will not join the armed forces.
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The Watchtower teaches that hell is simply
mankind's common grave, and not a fiery place of eternal punishment for
the wicked.
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Armageddon is God's world-wide war against wickedness,
and not a battle localized around the plains of Megiddo.
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The Watchtower teaches that because they
rejected Jesus, the Jews are no longer God's chosen people, but can only
receive eternal life by becoming Christians.
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Jehovah's Witnesses reject the theory of evolution.
They believe in God's direct creation. (In this they agree with both Bible
Christians and scientific fact - See "Why I accept
the Genesis Record").
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They claim each creative day was 7,000 years long.
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They hold to the Bible as God's inspired Word.
However, they have produced a Bible that has been subtly changed to uphold
their doctrines and beliefs. (See "The Watchtower
Bible.")
JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG:
There are many associated beliefs
that are too numerous to list, that are subject to change as The Watchtower
receives 'new light.' The Watchtower are constantly
refining their beliefs. This often means a change of belief, sometimes
going back to a former belief. In other words, the only truth is 'present
day' truth.
Then there are the teachings associated
with main doctrines:
For example.....
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While they do believe that Jesus gave His life
as a sacrifice, they claim he didn't die on a cross, but on an upright
stake. (See relevant section of
"The Gospel & the Kingdom of God" )
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Jesus has another identity. He is Michael the
archangel. (See first section of "The
Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ").
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Jesus came invisibly in 1914, and will never return
to the earth in a physical body again.
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God will destroy man's rulership at the battle
of Armageddon.
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God is neither Omnipresent nor Omniscient. He
requires information from angels. God lives in a specific place.
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The Kingdom of God is a government that will bring
ideal living conditions on earth. This government will rule from heaven,
and be administered through elders on the earth, via a central organization.
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To be saved through Armageddon, all must be associated
with The Watchtower Society.
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Disfellowshiping (rejecting and casting out) covers
many areas. No smoking; no immoral sex activities; no celebrations; no
blood transfusions; no enlisting in the armed forces; no working for companies
tied to the armed forces or a political area; no voting in political elections;
no gambling; no reading anti-Watchtower material; no talking or
associating with ex-J.W's; no attending other churches; total obedience
to the 'organization.'
All the above is only part
of the list. It is regularly added to, and because The Watchtower
claims to be God's only channel of communication, it must be obeyed.
TOTAL CONTROL.
The Watchtower assumes total
control of Jehovah's Witnesses, who have been thoroughly convinced that
God is only dealing with mankind today through their 'organization.' Sadly,
Jehovah's Witnesses do not enjoy the freedom of thought and action that
is taught in Scripture.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV) |
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty. |
Galatians 5:4 (KJV) |
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are
justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. |
Galatians 2:21 (KJV) |
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come
by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. |
J.W's NOT SAVED.....
Because The Watchtower teaches that
only the 144,000 heaven-bound ones are 'born again,' earth-bound Jehovah's
Witnesses receive no teaching on the subject. They follow God by being
associated with The Watchtower Society. Thus they live in fear of
breaking the rules, displeasing the 'organization,' and being thrown out,
and therefore dying at Armageddon. This belief is taken so far that Jehovah's
Witnesses even feel guilty if they have a thought contrary to Watchtower
teachings.
Jehovah's Witnesses are generally very moral,
hardworking, sincere, zealous and dedicated people. They love their children
and other family members (providing they haven't been 'thrown out' of,
or have resigned from, the 'organization.'). There are exceptions to this.
The love of some wives and husbands is greater than the demands of The
Watchtower, and they remain close. While officially The Watchtower
teaches that marriage is forever, they accept separation, if staying married
results in physical, mental or spiritual danger. This is the way out for
married J.W's if they want to separate.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES NEED HELP.
Christians, will you tell them
about the real Jesus?
1 Corinthians 15:1-5 (KJV) |
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also
ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye
have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which
I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according
to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: |
John 3:16 (KJV) |
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. |
Finally...
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If you are not a Jehovah's Witness,
then do not listen to them.
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If you already study with them, discontinue
the study.
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If you are one of Jehovah's Witnesses,
start thinking for yourself.
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If you are a Christian, TELL
J.W's ABOUT JESUS.
Author: Bill Browning