A Paper on Jehovah Witness

Subject: Apologetics
Submitted To: Rev Dr K B Georgekutty Submitted By: Sam, Jinson &
Daniel

Introduction
Jehovah's Witnesses is a Millenarian Restorationist Christian denomination with non-trinitarian beliefs
distinct from mainstream Christianity. The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8.58
million adherents involved in evangelism and an annual Memorial attendance of over 20 million. The founder
of this movement is Charles Taze Russell. Its Origin was in the 1870s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US with
its Headquarters in Warwick, New York.
The Beginning of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses got their start in 1870 when a man named Charles Taze Russell started leading Bible
studies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Jehovah's Witnesses movement came out of the Bible Student
movement, which was also founded by Taze. When Taze began disputing some of the traditional views
within Christianity, the Jehovah's Witnesses were born..
The Name Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses focus on God the Father, so their name is taken from the Tetragrammaton, written as
YHWH or JHVH and articulated either as Yahweh or Jehovah. The group was originally called the Watch
Tower Society because founder Charles Taze Russell published a magazine called Zion's Watch Tower and
Herald of Christ's Presence.
Jehovah's Witnesses Bible
Jehovah's Witnesses use a Bible translation called the New World Translation. Before this translation was
released specifically by and for Jehovah's Witnesses, most relied on the King James Version. The New World
Translation of the Bible is Jehovah's Witnesses own translation, no other religious group uses this Bible and
Jehovah's Witnesses make very little use of other Bibles.
Concept of Trinity
It is one of the more major ways in which Jehovah's Witnesses differ from various Christian denominations.
Jehovah's Witnesses refer to the fact that the Bible never explicitly mentions the term "trinity." They
claim this "doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies."
Teachings about Jesus
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is not equal with God. They teach that Jesus was created by God and
not coexistent wth Him. This, of course, is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. JW.org explains,
"[W]e take Jesus at his word when he said: 'The Father is greater than I am.' (John 14:28) So we do not
worship Jesus, as we do not believe that he is Almighty God."
Teachings on Holy Spirit
Similar to their view of Jesus, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father.
The instead believe the Holy Spirit is a force applied by God. They claim that the Holy Spirit is "impersonal":
"By referring to God’s spirit as his 'hands,' 'fingers,' or 'breath,' the Bible shows that the holy spirit is not a
person. (Exodus 15:8, 10) A craftsman’s hands cannot function independent of his mind and body; likewise,
God’s holy spirit operates only as he directs it. (Luke 11:13) The Bible also compares God’s spirit to water
and associates it with such things as faith and knowledge. These comparisons all point to the impersonal
nature of the holy spirit."
Jehovah's Witnesses concept on Celebrations
Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate Christmas or Easter, which makes sense when you remember that they
don't believe Jesus is equal to God. They also don't celebrate other national holidays or birthdays in an
attempt to remain separate from the world. There are reportedly 8.3 million Jehovah's Witnesses around the
world and nearly 120,000 congregations. They are also known for their evangelical work going door-to-door
attempting to make converts.
 On medical help
Jehovah's Witnesses hold the controversial view of rejecting blood transfusions, even in life or death
situations. Recently, Russia banned Jehovah's Witnesses and this issue was one of the reasons stated for their
doing so. They believe that some treatments conflict with Bible principles, though, and they reject these. For
example, They don’t accept blood transfusions because the Bible forbids taking in blood to sustain the body.
(Acts 15:20) Likewise, the Bible prohibits health treatments or procedures that include occult practices.—
Galatians 5:19-21," 
The following points summarizes a few of their beliefs and Christian Response.
1. Jehovah and Jesus. They say that they worship the one true and Almighty God, the Creator, whose name
is Jehovah. (Psalm 83:18; Revelation 4:11) He is the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.—Exodus
3:6; 32:11; John 20:17. Jehovah's Witnesses emphasize the use of God's name, and they prefer the form
Jehovah—a vocalization of God's name based on the Tetragrammaton. They believe that Jehovah is the only
true God, the creator of all things, and the "Universal Sovereign". They believe that all worship should be
directed toward him, and that he is not part of a Trinity; consequently, the group places more emphasis on
God than on Christ. They believe that the Holy Spirit is God's applied power or "active force", rather than a
person.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is God's only direct creation, that everything else was created through
Christ by means of God's power, and that the initial unassisted act of creation uniquely identifies Jesus as
God's "only-begotten Son". Jesus served as a redeemer and a ransom sacrifice to pay for the sins of humanity.
They believe Jesus died on a single upright post rather than the traditional cross. Biblical references to the
Archangel Michael, Abaddon (Apollyon), and the Word are interpreted as names for Jesus in various roles.
Jesus is considered to be the only intercessor and high priest between God and humanity, and appointed by
God as the king and judge of his kingdom. His role as a mediator (referred to in 1 Timothy 2:5) is applied to
the 'anointed' class, though the 'other sheep' are said to also benefit from the arrangement.
2. Satan
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Satan was originally a perfect angel who developed feelings of self-
importance and craved worship. Satan influenced Adam and Eve to disobey God, and humanity subsequently
became participants in a challenge involving the competing claims of Jehovah and Satan to universal
sovereignty.[179] Other angels who sided with Satan became demons.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Satan and his demons were cast down to earth from heaven after October 1,
1914, at which point the end times began. They believe that Satan is the ruler of the current world order, that
human society is influenced and misled by Satan and his demons, and that they are a cause of human
suffering. They also believe that human governments are controlled by Satan, but that he does not directly
control each human ruler.
3. Bible. They recognize the Bible as God’s inspired message to humans. (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16)
They base their beliefs on all 66 of its books, which include both the “Old Testament” and the “New
Testament.” Professor Jason D. BeDuhn aptly described it when he wrote that Jehovah’s Witnesses built
“their system of belief and practice from the raw material of the Bible without predetermining what was to be
found there.”  They point out that while they accept the entire Bible, they are not fundamentalists. They
believe that parts of the Bible are written in figurative or symbolic language and are not to be understood
literally.—Revelation 1:1.
4. The Trinity. They do not believe in the Trinity. They believe that Jesus Christ is St. Michael the
archangel. They think the Holy Spirit is an “impersonal force” and not actually God and Lord Himself. They
believe that Jesus, as St. Michael the archangel, was God’s first created being. However, our Bible says that
Jesus was never created, but is “co-eternal” with God the Father. In other words, Jesus has always been just
as His Father has always been. Neither one of Them has ever been created. Here is the verse from our Bible
that specifically proves this point:
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)
 The words “I AM” are telling us that Jesus “always was” and thus was never created. This makes both He and
God the Father co-eternal in the Trinity – which means that neither of Them have ever been created, but have
always been in existence.
They believe that the Holy Spirit is an “active force of almighty God which moves His servants to do His
will.” Our Bible specifically tells us that the Holy Spirit is God and Lord Himself and that He is referred to as
“He” in the Bible – which tells us that He is a Person and not some type of “force” that God uses.
5. Life after death. Jehovah's Witnesses believe death is a state of non-existence with no consciousness.
There is no Hell of fiery torment; Hades and Sheol are understood to refer to the condition of death, termed
the common grave. Jehovah's Witnesses consider the soul to be a life or a living body that can die. Jehovah's
Witnesses believe that humanity is in a sinful state, from which release is only possible by means of Jesus'
shed blood as a ransom, or atonement, for the sins of humankind.
Witnesses believe that a "little flock" of 144,000 selected humans go to heaven, but that the majority (the
"other sheep") are to be resurrected by God to a cleansed earth after Armageddon. They interpret Revelation
14:1–5 to mean that the number of Christians going to heaven is limited to exactly 144,000, who will rule
with Jesus as kings and priests over earth. They believe that baptism as one of Jehovah's Witnesses is vital for
salvation and that only they meet scriptural requirements for surviving Armageddon, but that God is the final
judge. During Christ's millennial reign, most people who died prior to Armageddon will be resurrected with
the prospect of living forever; they will be taught the proper way to worship God to prepare them for their
final test at the end of the millennium.
6. The Kingdom of God. This is a real government in heaven, not a condition in the hearts of Christians. It
will replace human governments and accomplish God’s purpose for the earth. (Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:9, 10)
It will take these actions soon, for Bible prophecy indicates that we are living in “the last days.”—2 Timothy
3:1-5; Matthew 24:3-14. Jesus is the King of God’s Kingdom in heaven. He began ruling in 1914.—
Revelation 11:15.
7. Salvation. Deliverance from sin and death is possible through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. (Matthew
20:28; Acts 4:12) To benefit from that sacrifice, people must not only exercise faith in Jesus but also change
their course of life and get baptized. (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 3:16; Acts 3:19, 20) A person’s works prove
that his faith is alive. (James 2:24, 26) However, salvation cannot be earned—it comes through “the
undeserved kindness of God.”—Galatians 2:16, 21.
8. Heaven. Jehovah God, Jesus Christ, and the faithful angels reside in the spirit realm. * (Psalm 103:19-
21; Acts 7:55) A relatively small number of people—144,000—will be resurrected to life in heaven to rule
with Jesus in the Kingdom.—Daniel 7:27;2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:9, 10; 14:1, 3.
However, our Bible tells us in the Book of Revelation that the 144,000 people being talked about are 144,000
Jewish witnesses that God marks and seals during the 7 year Tribulation to help proclaim the Gospel during
this horrific time.
The Bible says that this 144,000 are 12,000 Jews taken from each of the 12 main tribes of Israel. They are
called the “firstfruits” of God, as they are the first set of Jews who get officially saved and accept Jesus Christ
as their true Messiah.
These 144,000 Jewish witnesses are obviously going into heaven since they are saved, but so does everyone
else who accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Here are three key Scripture verses proving
that the gift of eternal salvation is for all who will accept it – not just for 144,000 special chosen ones. “…
that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:15-16) Notice the word
“whoever.” This applies to all who will believe in Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross! “… God our
Savior, who desires ALL MEN to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
Notice God the Father is very clearly stating that He would like “all men” to accept the gift of eternal
salvation through His Son Jesus, not just 144,000 specially chosen people. For “WHOEVER calls upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:12) Again, notice the word “whoever.” God is not making any
exceptions either by race, color, creed, or gender. Our Bible also tells us that God is no respecter of persons
and each person is looked upon equally by our God, not just 144,000 specially chosen people.
 9. Hell
They do not believe in a literal hell where the unsaved and evil people will suffer eternal torment. They
cannot believe that a loving God could create such a horrible place of eternal punishment. They tell their
followers that hell is the “grave” where we are buried in when we die, and that the wicked will simply cease
to exist and will not have to suffer any type of eternal punishment and torment.
However, our Bible teaches just the opposite. Our Bible says that there will be a Great White Throne
Judgment at the end of the 1000 Year Millennium Kingdom. All the unsaved and wicked people will have to
appear before the Lord for this final judgment. This verse says that whoever’s name is not written in the Book
of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone where the smoke of their torment will ascend forever
and ever.
The Lake of Fire and Brimstone will be the eventual end of Satan, all of his demons, the Antichrist, the False
Prophet, and all the rest of unsaved humanity who has ever lived. I believe this passage is literal
interpretation! The Bible says exactly what it means and there is simply no other way you can spin or re-
interpret these words out of Scripture. The verse on this is found in Revelation 20:7-15.
10. Evil and suffering. These began when one of God’s angels rebelled. (John 8:44) This angel, who after
his rebellion was called “Satan” and “Devil,” persuaded the first human couple to join him, and the
consequences have been disastrous for their descendants. (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12) In order to settle the
moral issues raised by Satan, God has allowed evil and suffering, but He will not permit them to continue
forever.
11. Death. People who die pass out of existence. (Psalm 146:4;Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) They do not suffer in
a fiery hell of torment. God will bring billions back from death by means of a resurrection. (Acts 24:15)
However, those who refuse to learn God’s ways after being raised to life will be destroyed forever with no
hope of a resurrection.—Revelation 20:14, 15.
12. The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Our Bible
tells us that when they went into the tomb to see if Jesus was still there, that His entire body was no longer
there. They believe that Jesus was “annihilated” by God, not risen. They believe that after 3 days from His
death, that He was resurrected as a “spirit creature” rather than being resurrected having a new “glorified
spiritual body.”
In other words, they are taking out the word “body.” Our Bible tells us that when we die, we will all be given
a brand new “glorified spiritual body.” Here is the verse: “The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in
incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is
sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1
Corinthians 15:42-50) Put all of these key words together in the above verse, and we will all be getting new
“glorified spiritual bodies” when we die and enter into heaven just as Jesus was given when He fully
resurrected on the third day from His crucifixion.
13. Organizational Structure. They are organized into congregations, each of which is overseen by a body
of elders. However, the elders do not form a clergy class, and they are unsalaried. (Matthew 10:8; 23:8)
They do not practice tithing, and no collections are ever taken at their meetings. (2 Corinthians 9:7) All our
activities are supported by anonymous donations. The Governing Body, a small group of mature Christians
who serve at our world headquarters, provides direction for Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.—Matthew
24:45.
Conclusion
As you can see from all of the above main differences, Jehovah’s Witnesses can in no way qualify as being a
pure true branch of Christianity. We believe that God the Father will in no way honor or accept this cult
religion.