Facts on Jehovah?s Witnesses
Facts About Jehovah?s Witnesses
by JerichoForce 52 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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candidlynuts
There are a lot of good loving people who are Jehovah's witnesses.
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JerichoForce
Facts on Jehovah?s Witnesses
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candidlynuts
what? that was a fact!
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JerichoForce
I'm not disputing that, I am disputing what you have been led to believe in, when held up to scripture is clearly incorrect...
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glitter
If you're trying to paste from a Word document you need to paste it into Notepad and then paste it here.
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Neo
Fun thread!
Neo
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candidlynuts
i disagree with you. there are a lot of good loving people who are jehovahs witnesses. surely your not insulting my parents, grandparents, great grandparents, ?
regardless of the problems the society has, there are a lot of well intentioned good people that are jw's.
regardless of the ones who decieve there are those who are decieved and who are truly seeking Gods approval. thats a fact.
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JerichoForce
Thanks, didn't realise that...here goes...
Facts on Jehovah?s Witnesses
Between 1917 and 1928, they changed their doctrines 148 times! (Prior to 1931, Jehovah's Witnesses had also gone by the names of Millennial Dawn, People's Pulpit Association, The Brooklyn Tabernacle, and the International Bible Students Association.)
A true prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and predicts future things which come to pass. A false prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and predicts future things which do not come to pass
In Watch Tower Issue 1889, "The Time is at Hand," page 101 states, "The battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914, with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced." This 1914 prediction of Christ's return never came true.
The Watch Tower predicted that Christ would return in 1925. The 1918 issue of, "Millions Now Living Will Never Die," p. 89 states, "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the apostle in Hebrews 11 to the condition of human perfection." This proved to be another false prophecy.
The Watch Tower made a third prophecy of the return of Christ; this one was to occur in 1975. The August 15, 1968, issue of, Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?, p. 494, predicted the return of Christ in 1975. Once again the Witnesses were shown to be false prophets
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The Name of God
Jehovah's Witnesses state that God's true name is "Jehovah." They say the term "God," is merely a title, and that the real name for God is "Jehovah." In fact they go so far as to say that unless one calls on the true name of God, "Jehovah," one cannot be saved.(7)
Let's take a real close look at the name "Jehovah" and see if it is in fact the true name of God. The term "Jehovah" is actually a false reading of the Hebrew pronunciation of God, or YAHWEH. Allow me to explain where the word "Jehovah" comes from. The words in the Hebrew Old Testament contained no vowels. The words were constructed of consonant letters only. The Scribes knew what vowels to use in the pronunciation of the words by the construction of the consonants, the context, and memory. It was written this way until the fifth century when the Masoretes added the vowels under the consonants in their version of the Old Testament known as the Masoretic Text.
The name of God in the Old Testament spelled YHWH, was considered holy, and was not to be read aloud. Instead, when the Hebrews came upon YHWH, they would say ADONAY, which means "Lord." In order to indicate this substitution, the Massoretes placed the vowels of ADONAY or the English equivalent of e, o, and a underneath the consonants of YHWH. Later some Christian translators mistakenly combined the vowels of ADONAY with the consonants of YHWH producing the word "Jehovah." Now the term is recognized to be a late hybrid form never used by the Jews. That's the origin of the word "Jehovah." Let's now look at what other scholars say about the name "Jehovah."Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: "Jehovah" -- False reading of the Hebrew YAHWEH.(8)
Encyclopedia Americana: "Jehovah" -- erroneous form of the name of the God of Israel.(9)
Encyclopedia Britannica: The Masoretes who from the 6th to the 10th century worked to reproduce the original text of the Hebrew Bible replaced the vowels of the name YHWH with the vowel signs of Adonai or Elohim. Thus the artificial name Jehovah came into being.(10)
The Jewish Encyclopedia: "Jehovah" -- a mispronunciation of the Hebrew YHWH the name of God. This pronunciation is grammatically impossible.(11)
The New Jewish Encyclopedia: It is clear that the word Jehovah is an artificial composite.(12)
According to the Encyclopedia Judaica, p. 680, vol. 7, "the true pronunciation of the tetragrammaton YHWH was never lost. The name was pronounced Yahweh. It was regularly pronounced this way at least until 586 B.C., as is clear from the Lachish Letters written shortly before this date."
Therefore, for Jehovah's Witnesses to insist Jehovah is the true name of God and that one is saved only if he calls on that name, is an error
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Ressurection of JesusWitnesses believe that Christ's crucified body was disintegrated by Jehovah never to exist again. Accordingly, Jesus was raised as a spirit who then materialized and appeared in several different fleshly bodies as the angels had done. Indeed, it was in this form that He appeared to His disciples; i.e., He wasn't in a human body; He just appeared to be human. He ascended into heaven as a spirit and once again became Michael the Archangel.(13) This doctrine can be easily disproved.
First, in Luke 24:36-43, Jesus clearly states in verse 39 that He is not a spirit but a man of flesh and bone. He even ate food to prove that He was not a spirit but had a physical body. In John 20:24-27, Jesus shows Thomas His wounds. Jesus is clearly demonstrating to His disciples that the body previously on the cross had been resurrected. If Jesus had a different body than the one on the cross, He would have been deliberately deceiving the disciples
Next, turn to some passages where Jesus predicts the resurrection of His body. In John 2:19-21 Jesus says, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." See Acts 2:26-27, another prophecy of the Messiah's bodily resurrection. Clearly the prophecies and Jesus' appearances prove a bodily resurrection.
Witnesses cite 1 Peter 3:18 and 1 Cor. 15:44-50 to back up their belief. In 1 Peter 3:18 we read, "Christ died once and for all... he being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the spirit." This verse does not prove Jesus is a spirit. This verse says that Jesus was raised in the Spirit and by the Spirit of God who gives life. Romans 8:11 states that the Holy Spirit was involved in raising Jesus from the dead. Jesus was not raised as a spirit but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
According to 1 Cor. 15:50, "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." Since Jesus is in heaven, Witnesses say He must be a spirit. It is correct to say that the earthly body cannot enter heaven. However, when Jesus rose, He had a glorified body (Luke 24:39). Therefore, He can dwell in heaven because of His glorified state. According to 1 Cor 15:39, "All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another.... There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies." Christ's glorified body allows Him to travel in the earthly and heavenly dimensions. Some verses indicate that Christ exists in heaven in bodily form. "For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" Colossians 2:9. The verb "dwells" in the Greek is katoikei, and is in the present tense. In other words, Jesus has a glorified body in heaven, the one that was resurrected. Note also 1 Timothy 2:5, "There is one God and one mediator, the man Christ Jesus." The verb "is," is a present tense verb also. How can Jesus be a man if He is Michael the Archangel?The Holy Spirit
Witnesses believe that the Holy Spirit is not a person because they see the Holy Spirit as a force--much like electricity or fire. Here is what Jehovah's Witnesses say about the Holy Spirit.
In their book You Can Live Forever In Paradise on Earth, they state, "As for the `Holy Spirit,' the so-called third person of the Trinity, we have already seen that this is not a person but God's active force."(15)
In their magazine Why Should You Believe in the Trinity? they state, "To a certain extent it (Holy Spirit) can be likened to electricity, a force that can be adapted to perform a great variety of operations."(16)
Here are some verses that are effective in proving the deity of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 5 Ananaias and Sapphira lied to the church about the amount they sold their land for and the amount they gave to the church. Peter confronts them on this issue and states in 5:3, "Ananaias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit...?" Peter later states in the next verse, "You have not lied to men but to God." Here the Holy Spirit is called "God" with a capital G both in our Bibles and in the Witnesses' Bible. "Can you lie to a force like fire or electricity?" The answer is "No." You can only lie to an intelligence, a person.
In Acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit speaks, "While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, `Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" Ask the Witness, "When was the last time electricity or fire spoke to you?" It is obvious only an intelligent person can communicate in language.
Ephesians 4:30 states, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God." Any logical person should realize you can only grieve a living being. "How can you grieve or bring sorrow to an impersonal force like electricity?"
When you put all these facts together, the fact that the Holy Spirit is called God, He can be lied to, He speaks, and He can be grieved, the evidence shows that the Holy Spirit is a person, not an inanimate force. -
JerichoForce
So you are a third generation JW, read what another JW who was also 3rd generation now has to say...
I was a third generation Jehovah's Witness (JW). When I recall the days of my youth it seems that what I heard most often was, "How wrong the "religionist" were, and how right the JWs were. I realize now the vast difference between religion and Christianity. As a JW, I was concerned with works - not only doing such things as preaching from house to house, but with the things I must not do such as celebrating the holidays and birthdays. Every word written by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WBTS) was considered "truth" that must be followed to the letter, whether it's taking a blood transfusion, voting, or participating in a war. To do otherwise was sinning against Jehovah, resulting in the possibility of losing the hope of eternal life.
I was married and had three children before I began having serious doubts about the WBTS being God's only channel of communication. These doubts began to emerge when I had to make some very important decisions that simply went against the grain of my personality. You would think that making decisions such as refusing a blood transfusion could bring about doubts. Like signing papers to let a baby die rather than take blood. I had an RH factor blood condition and in those days they transfused the baby at birth should a problem occur. Fortunately, I was spared - but I was ready and willing to let my children die! Why? Because I was convinced that the WBTS had the "Truth" and should I do differently, I would lose the hope of eternal life and so would my child, should death occur.
I began doubting when the WBTS got "new light" (additions to what had been previously taught).
"New light" said, "If you see JWs sinning and do not report them, you are guilty of that sin yourself. A sister in our congregation took blood when she hemorrhaged at childbirth. My options were - report her - and if I didn't, the sin fell on me. Both options bothered me! You see, when you are ignorant of having a relationship with Christ, you follow people blindly, trusting them to be in God's will. Like a good JW, I reported her and she had to appear before a committee of elders..
This, along with other "new light" caused me to start thinking about "where and how" they get their new light! I inherited a WBTS library from one of my relatives, and began reading the older publications. I learned they had changed their interpretation many times. I took note that the modern literature quoted often from the older publications. Now I was able to pick up the very book they quoted from - and guess what? They often misquoted - took out of context - and misapplied their own writings! After two years of research I realized I was following an organization - led by man's interpretation of the Bible.
I stopped attending meetings, and all JW activities, but I entered a state of spiritual loneliness. Where could I go? All religions were false, so I had been taught! Where is "Truth" found? After a great deal of searching, I decided to try out a Christian Church. We attended for awhile, but had not come to know the true person of Christ. I was not yet convinced the churches were not of the devil. After all - all churches believe in the concept of the Trinity, hellfire, and a soul leaving the body at death. I didn't believe any of these doctrines! While I was trying desperately to sort out doctrines, the WBTS got "new light" saying if any JW attended church, they would be disfellowshipped. Not knowing whether I was following Satan or Jesus - I submitted to the elders, when called to a committee meeting - and stopped attending church - I was not ready to be disfellowshipped for something I was not yet sure of.
Fifteen years later, my Catholic sister-in-law shared that she was born-again. I'd never heard of a born-again Catholic! I saw a change in her life - she was giving up bad habits such as smoking - she was aglow with something. I didn't know what (but of course it was the Holy Spirit!). She spoke of prayer meetings in the Catholic Church. (I'd never heard of that either). She challenged me to a meeting. I went out of curiosity. Right away, I realized this was not a typical "Catholic" meeting. The speaker shared the love of Jesus in such a way that I'd never heard before. He spoke in various denominations, and it was obvious that his focus was on the personage of Jesus Christ. Oh, how I needed this message! When he finished, he asked that we stand, join hands, and sing the Lord's Prayer. Something very unexpected happened. Suddenly, I felt God's liquid love pour over me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes! Without knowing what had happened, I instantly realized I had been searching for "the truth" in all the wrong places and the Truth was there all the time! John 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except by me." Yes, Jesus is the Truth and "He was there all the Time!" No wonder a song was written by that title. The song, "He Touched Me," came to mind - now I understood that, also. I felt such a joy in my heart -I just wanted to rejoice - but restrained myself thinking people would notice a strange look on my face!
When we left, my friend said, "How did you like it?" I just started laughing - I couldn't hold it in any longer! She said, "Something happened to you, didn't it?" I replied, "Yes, - I can't explain it - but I feel as though I've been cleansed from head to toe!" I realize now that I was touched by the power of the Holy Spirit. God knew I could never find the "Truth" by searching through definitions of words - I had my Watchtower blinders on - I couldn't believe the simple gospel, I had to experience it!
Now I understood why Paul had to be knocked from the horse to become a believer -some of us are just like that! I thought sure my new-found joy would be gone the next morning, but it wasn't! I woke up anxious to read the Bible and pray! As I read through the book of John, I wondered when the word, "Jesus" was added to so many pages -seems like I had never realized that before! On my knees in the privacy of my living room, I asked Jesus to come into my life - that I would do anything He asked of me. Well, don't pray this prayer if you're not willing - for I had no idea what He had in store!
My husband liked the change in me - then he was willing to visit prayer meetings, and finally, church. (Yes, we were reported by a JW when seen going into a church - we were visited by two JW elders telling us we were being disfellowshipped - yes - after being out for fifteen years)! Since then, this practice has stopped, but the end results are the same - they are ostracized. My husband accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The next year was spent in deprogramming ourselves - we had to learn everything over! Then the Lord put it on my heart to write a book of my testimony. I kept all my research that went into this book, now in the third printing. I was invited to appear on national TV along with three other former JWs. Soon, all of us began receiving a ton of mail! I had not expected to go into ministry any more than I expected to write a book - but here I was - living out my promise, "I'll do anything!" Before I knew it, I was sharing my research and my newly learned orthodox views with hundreds of JWs and Christians who needed to help loved ones in the JWs. I became a Christian discipler overnight! My JW discipline skills came in handy! I feel so very privileged to lead many JWs to Christ - it was such a joy to explain to them who the true person of Jesus of Christ really is! (JWs believe Jesus is also Michael the archangel - that he was Jehovah's first creation).
We are very happy in a spiritually strong church, Hill 'N Dale Christian Church. I'm especially thrilled to see our Youth Minister educating the young people in becoming servants of Christ - verses being entertained! He is teaching them to witness to others!