Mike,
Could you tell us about the Jehovah’s Witnesses?
ANSWER: Here are just a few things about the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are good people with good hearts, but they are very much a cult deceived by a false doctrine. The group was founded upon two false prophesies, one in the late 1800’s and one in the early 1900’s when the group professed to have discovered the day when Jesus would return. We know that the Scriptures make it clear that Jesus did not know that day when He was on the earth Matthew 24:36. When Jesus did not return as they said, they claimed to have made a mistake and changed their promise. We know the Scriptures that a true prophet of God is never wrong and they can’t change their mind after the prediction doesn’t come true.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is a created being. In fact, they believe that He was Michael the Archangel and then became the Christ. They believe he is a prophet, simply a son of God and not God the Son. In fact, they reject the trinity completely and their leaders have done their best to delete from their bible every reference that brings about the trinity teaching. They believe the Holy Spirit is nothing more than the breath of God.To teach that Christ is a created being is to fly in the face of even their Bible. Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: All things were created by Him and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” To say that Jesus is created is to say He somehow created Himself. That is an impossibility to create yourself before you exist.
Their answer to John 1:1 which says in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, they simply insert their own word “the Word was a god.” This goes against the original text, but their bible arbitrarily changes the wording to fit their belief.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses also deny Hell to be eternal. They believe the lost will be burned up and cease to exist. That is why you will not see Mark 11:44 or 11:46 in their bible as it tells us the soul or worm will never die. Hell is eternal and the Bible makes that clear. However, they have removed that from their Bible.
Another famous wrong belief of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is the belief that only 144,000 people will make it to Heaven. Everyone else will live on Earth in a paradise here. That teaching is based out of Revelation chapter 7. The Bible makes it clear it is talking about Israelites that are sealed to God. It calls them by tribe and has nothing to do with the people in Heaven. In fact, if you look at verse 9 of chapter 7 right after the 144,000 are called off, John talks of a multitude no man can number in Heaven in white robes.
This belief of 144,000 that make it to Heaven has caused the Jehovah’s Witnesses to become a works based religion. That is why they go out and knock on doors and put their entire life into work. They do not believe we are saved by grace and not by works lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 They believe they will earn Heaven by being super saints and that is not according to Scripture.
One other thing to quickly discuss, they do not believe in blood transfusions based on the Scripture Genesis 9:4 and Leviticus 3:17. The Bible is clearly speaking of eating blood and has nothing to do with blood transfusions.
There is so much more and if you need more, I will get it to you. This is a basic overview of some of the reasons the Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult. I have spent a lot of time talking with them and they need prayer. They are not bad people, but deceived people.
