I opened the door. "Hello", they said with friendly voices as they introduced themselves. "We are getting to know our neighbors", they said and "we just wanted to say hello and talk to you about the trouble our world is experiencing today".
Yannic Meyer Licensed as CC BY-NC 2.0
"Voting instructions" by Muffet is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
At this point it should have occurred to me that these women were Jehovah Witnesses (JW's), but it did not. I was in the middle of working and my mind was still at my computer even though my body was standing there at the door. I said "Yes we are living in the last days" in a matter-of-fact voice that conveyed the Lord told us this would happen.
The lady closest to me smiled with her mouth but not with her eyes and I wondered why she was watching me so carefully. I felt uncomfortable so I told them it was nice to meet them, but I was in the middle of working. The other woman laughed lightly and said" oh you have such a nice smile. We’ll let you get back to work." The one closest to me said, "Before we go let me give you this brochure". She reached into a pencil pouch looking bag and produced a pamphlet with the question Is death really the end? I took it, politely wished them a nice day, and closed the door.
As I reflect back on this encounter I'm wondering why I didn't take the time to witness to them. As a Bible believing Christian, I have been told by others that JW’s are not true followers of the faith, but I don’t ever recall researching it for myself. I’ve only heard to avoid them, but this encounter inspired me to learn more.
Who are the JW's and what do they really believe? In these last days as followers of Jesus Christ, we need to know what we know. Our generation must possess the knowledge for ourselves because as Matthew 7:15 warns us “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” If we don't take the time to closely examine information presented to us, we could fall prey to the wolves. So, here's what I discovered about the JW's.
Origins of JW's
In the late 1800s a man named Charles Russell founded the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society to share his teachings and Bible studies. After he died a new leader changed the name to Jehovah’s Witnesses to emphasize their focus on evangelism based on Isaiah 43:10 NKJV “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
Beliefs
As taken from the Jehovah’s Witnesses website: “they recognize certain teachings…as unscriptural. For example, the Bible does not teach that God—the very personification of love—tortures people forever in a fiery hell. Nor does it teach that humans have an immortal soul or that Christians should meddle in politics.”
Let’s look at this statement in detail.
JW's do not believe God created hell to torture people forever which is true in part. God did not create hell for people. He created hell for the devil and his angels. In Matthew chapter 25 verses 31-46 Jesus tells us that when He returns “all nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats (v32).
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (v41). Jesus plainly states in Matthew 25 verse 41 that the everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels but those that choose not to follow Him will be cursed to go into that fire along with the devil and his angels. This is a direct contradiction to JW’s belief that God will not allow people to be tortured in hell forever.
Notice this verse says "everlasting fire" which indeed does mean forever. Revelation 14:11 says “And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” So again, Jesus makes it clear that the torment of those who decide to worship the beast (which is the system implemented by Satan) rather than worshiping God will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. This is a direct and clear contradiction to JW’s belief that hell is not eternal.
If the language of Matthew 25:31-46 and Revelation 14:11 sound harsh let’s look at 2 Thessalonians 1:9. It reads “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” As a follower of Jesus Christ being separated from God is a scary thought. It is hell. It is harsh and several scriptures (Matthew 13:42, Matthew 13:50, Luke 16:23) plainly state that it will be a fiery and eternal destruction.
The second belief they declare on their website is “Nor does it (the Bible) teach that humans have an immortal soul…".
Let’s examine this closely because it is a major deviation from the Christian belief in the Trinity.
Matthew 16:24 states “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Our soul is immortal. The body will return to dust, but the soul will live on forever either in heaven or in hell. We already discussed this in the previous point.
Followers of Jesus Christ believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the Holy Trinity. In Matthew 3:16-17 scripture states “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” This is a direct and clear contradiction to JW’s belief that Jesus is only the Son of God and there is no Trinity.
In this passage we see God the Father acknowledging Jesus as His Son, we see the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus, and because Jesus is God's Son the people in those times were able to see Jesus in a physical body. They are all one, three distinct beings acting on one accord, in one authority. Jesus is God in physical form.
To make this point clearer let's look at John 14:9 which makes reference to a conversation Jesus had with Philip, one of his disciples. Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Jesus plainly states that seeing Him is to see the Father because they are one within the Holy Trinity.
JW's focus on evangelism but they seem not to consider Matthew 28:19 which says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". This is the Trinity.
I found it strange that JW’s claim to be Christians, but their website does not directly mention the Trinity. As a follower of Jesus Christ belief in the Trinity is foundational and a lack of reference to this concept is extremely concerning.
The third declaration they mention is that Christians should not meddle in politics.
In Matthew chapter 22 verse 19 the Pharisees asked Jesus a question about paying taxes and Jesus said, “Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Paul also says in Romans 13:1 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
So, the issue of Christians being involved in politics is clear. We should follow the laws of the land and pray that God’s will be done. Vote for the candidate that you feel aligns with God’s principles and pray that His will be done fully understanding that whoever wins that election was God’s will to win.
God is sovereign. He controls what happens all the time. Nothing is a surprise to God. Scripture clearly tells us “There is no authority except that which God has established” so there is no need for us to avoid political activity. On the contrary, we should become involved so the will of God can be done through us.
Mere humans cannot tamper with the sovereign will of God. He allows things to happen, and He uses what the enemy means to harm us for our good. Politically we can rest in the knowledge that God's will is being done regardless.
I'm glad I took the time to visit their website. Their beliefs are contrary to biblical scripture. On the surface it appears that they believe in John 3:16 but it rings false. Although they do believe that Jesus is the Son of God, they do not believe that He is also God. This alone makes it a false religion.
The only way to God the Father is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Not believing Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9), not believing in the immortality of the soul (Matthew 3:16-17) and not accepting that hell is a real place that unbelievers will be sentenced to (Matthew 25:41) are major deviations from the truth of God's word.
I believe in the sovereignty of God and fully acknowledge that only God ultimately decides who enters the Kingdom of Heaven. We as believers, followers and members of the body of Jesus Christ, must unite and focus more on what actually unites us. Our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love one another with the love of Christ is our expected duty.
Thankfully the gift of salvation is still available. 2 Chronicles 7:14 states "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." May we all continue to seek the face of the Lord and His will for our lives. Shalom.
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