Category: cults

Jehovah Witnesses have been taught to believe that God the Father alone is “Jehovah,” the only true God; that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel or *a being outside the Person of the Father, called the Word and co-Creator; and that the Holy Spirit is neither God nor a person, but rather God’s impersonal “active force.”
Since the Watchtower Society speaks of “Jesus Christ, whom we understand from the Scriptures to be Michael the archangel” (The Watchtower, February 15, 1979, p. 31), put the JW on the spot and ask him to show you “the Scriptures” that say Jesus is Michael. There are none. The Watchtower Society New World Translation (NWT) mentions Michael five times as: 1) “one of the foremost princes” (Dan. 10:13); 2) “the prince of [Daniel’s] people” (Dan. 10:21); 3) “the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel’s] people” (Dan. 12:1); 4) “the archangel” who “had a difference with the devil and was disputing about Moses body” but “did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms” (Jude 9); and     5) a participant in heavenly conflict when “Michael and his angels battled with the dragon” (Rev. 12:7).

Jesus Christ is “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14, NWT) and is “far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this system of things, but also in that to come” (Ephesians 1:21, NWT). And, unlike “Michael who did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 9, Today’s English Version), Jesus Christ displayed His authority over the devil when He freely commanded him, “Go away, Satan!” (Matthew 4:10, NWT). In arguing that Jesus is Michael the archangel, the Watchtower Society also points to another verse that does not use the name Michael but says that “the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangels voice and with God’s trumpet…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NWT). However, the expression “with an archangels voice” simply means that the archangel, like God’s trumpet, will herald the coming of the Lord, not that the Lord is an archangel.

Scripture clearly teaches the opposite: namely, that the Son of God is superior to the angels. The entire first chapter of Hebrews is devoted to this theme. Have the the JW’s read Hebrews 1-2 aloud with you, and, as you do so, interrupt to point out the sharp contrast between angels and the Son of God. “For to what angel did God ever say, Thou are my Son…? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, Let all Gods angels worship him” (v. 5 and 6). Remind the JW that angels consistently refuse worship (“Be careful! Do not do that, but worship God,” Revelation 22:8,9) , but the Fathers command concerning the Son is, “Let all Gods angels worship him” (Hebrews 1:6). That is how the Watchtowers own New World Translation read for some 20 years until, in 1970, the Society changed it to read “do obeisance to him” instead of “worship him”–part of their consistent campaign to eliminate from their Bible all references to the deity of Christ. (John 10:36).

The Jehovah’s Witnesses actively teach that the Bible is virtually impossible to understand and that it has to be interpreted through someone who is “anointed” by Holy Spirit. So whatever is written here could change tomorrow if they choose to change the interpretation!  This is much like the many prophecies that they have made that never came true – which makes their founders false prophets! Conveniently enough they have plenty of these “anointed” ones at their headquarters in Brooklyn, NY.  One must follow their legalistic dictates! They teach that God is Jehovah, the Hebrew God of the Old Testament. They teach that He is “one Jehovah” and not part of a trinity.* They teach that Jesus was just a man while on earth. While in heaven He was and is, Michael the Archangel.*
They teach that Jesus isn’t equal to Jehovah and that the two are separate and distinct beings.*
They teach that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force, much like electricity. This force is used by Jehovah to accomplish His will.*
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that any belief system or religious teaching other than theirs is part of the “great apostasy” and is “of the devil”.
They teach that Jesus was hung on a “torture stake” or pole and not a cross.
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that when we die we are completely unconscious. Nothing survives the body except for a memory that Jehovah has of us. If we were good then Jehovah may choose to resurrect us in the “New System”( term to describe paradise).
They teach that when Armageddon comes, all non-Jehovah’s Witnesses will be destroyed by God – and the others will be in a new system of things and paradise.
They teach that taking blood of any type is a violation of God’s laws and is a grave sin. This includes taking blood transfusions.
Jehovah’s Witnesses “disfellowship” members for violations of their laws such as smoking, drinking to excess, fornication, adultery, murder, eating or accepting blood, adopting another faith or attending another church, and disagreeing with the teachings of their leaders.  This is pure oppressive Legalism and deception!
Eating with such a person or even speaking to them is considered a grave sin.
They are duty bound to preach door to door about the impending end of the world in order to avoid being held “blood guilty” by Jehovah at Armageddon. They believe that if they fail to “witness” to others about the need to convert to their faith, they themselves will pay the penalty.

Jehovah Witnesses are obsessed with the notion that objects, books, and television shows can be “demonic” and provide a channel for demons
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in two classes of Christian. One is of the “earthly class” or the “other sheep”. The other class is a “heavenly class” of a literal number: 144,000 spoken of in Revelation. Only the “anointed” or members of the 144,000 have the power to interpret the scriptures.

They teach that meeting attendance and field service (door to door preaching) is mandatory and that to become “inactive” (missing meetings and failing to report time in field service) is to risk losing Jehovah’s favor and dying at Armageddon.
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach a decidedly works based salvation. While they do accept the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ as a perfect man, they believe that they still must work to prove themselves worthy to Jehovah.
They teach that all holidays are “of the devil” and are steeped in paganism. Anyone celebrating a holiday stands to be “disfellowshipped”.
They teach their followers not to join the military or engage in any other profession that might involve taking a life. Any involvement in politics is strictly forbidden including voting or running for any office. .JW children are strongly discouraged from engaging in any organized sporting activity at school. Associating with anyone not a JW is strongly discouraged.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own version of the scriptures that was put together by a team of translators. The New World Translation is their only approved version. They teach that Christ is not to be worshiped and that only Jehovah (the Father) is deserving of such worship.
They believe in a classical creation using 7,000. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the doctrine of “hell fire” or the “lake of fire” where Satan, his demons, and all non-redeemed will be cast, and instead teach that “hell” or “hades” is the common grave of mankind.  The life of a JW is oppressive like Islam in that they have to constantly perform or else lose their special privileges and status!

*Their definition of Jesus Christ is evolving with time.  Apparently many do not claim that he is Michael, but they do believe that he is NOT PART OF THE TRINITY AND IS OUTSIDE THE ORIGINAL GODHOOD.  He is the Word created by God from whom the Holy Spirit emanates.  Read up on the Arinius Heresy which led to the early church convening the Council at Nicea.  What they do is take John 1:1-2 and change the meaning of “Word” to be a god! Their translation says “in the beginning was the Word and the Word was a god”.  Since Jesus Christ is the “Word” - it implies that Jesus Christ is “a god”.   Hence Jesus Christ is separate from the Father or Jehovah and is a created being!  The Nicean & Athanasian Creeds disagree with this JW heresy.  The Athanasian Creed is as follows: we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one Eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one Uncreated, and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.