This weekend some 70,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses from around the world are expected to converge upon Etihad Stadium in Melbourne for an international conference. Since so many JWs will be in town you may well come across some, so it is worthwhile knowing a bit about their origins and what exactly they believe.
The JWs are one of a number of cults which emerged in the US during the mid-nineteenth century. Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) was an Adventist and a millennialist who first laid roots for the movement in the 1870s. He started a Bible study while in his teens in Pennsylvania.
He penned the seven-volume Studies in Scriptures (originally called Millennial Dawn), which he claimed was produced by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and was absolutely essential for understanding the Bible properly. To read the Bible without it would keep people in spiritual darkness he said.
He predicted that the return of Christ would occur in 1874. When that failed to materialise, he reset the date for 1914. A magazine of the group, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence was launched in 1879. J.F. Rutherford (1869-1942) succeeded him, and the group’s present name was adopted in 1931. He especially emphasised the use of the name for God, Jehovah.
He altered some of Russell’s beliefs, including the idea that the true church consists of only 144,000 saints from the time of Christ to 1914. This did not allow for growth, so he added other classes of true believers. He too set wild and whacky dates, including 1925, when Abraham, Isaac and David were said to rise from the dead.
Nathan Knorr took over the reins when Rutherford died in 1942. During his time as leader the organisation mushroomed, with its membership growing from just over 100,000 to more than two million. Also during his leadership, they produced their own version of the Bible, the New World Translation in 1961. It reflected the group’s errant beliefs and cultic teachings.
In 1977 when Knorr died, Frederick Franz took over. Upon his death in 1992, Milton George Henschel became president until his death in 2003. In 2000 some major organisational change took place, and Don Alden Adams is now the current president.
Beliefs
So just what are some of the core teachings of the JWs, and how do they contrast with biblical orthodoxy? First and foremost, they rigorously deny the doctrine of the trinity, and claim that Jesus was the first creature that God made. Indeed, Christ was merely the physical manifestation of the archangel Michael. They even deny that Christ died on a cross, but just an upright pole, so they see the cross as a pagan religious symbol.
The Holy Spirit is also denied deity, and is said to be just an active force rather than a personal being. In their Bible, they famously change core biblical teachings to fit their heretical beliefs. Thus John 1:1 is changed from “the Word was God” (referring to Jesus), to “the Word was a god”. They also claim that God is not omnipresent but is limited to a specific location.
Like most cults, they claim that true Christianity died off long ago, just after the original disciples died, and God raised them up to resurrect the one true faith. They claim to be the one and only true church of God, and all others are deceivers and apostates. All other beliefs and teachings are branded as the lies of Satan.
The 1914 coming of Christ was rebranded as an invisible coming, and they claim Christ set up his heavenly Kingdom then, working through his chosen vessel, the Watchtower Society, based in Brooklyn, New York. Armageddon is coming, in which God will wage war against all mankind, except the JWs. Among the first things to be destroyed are the churches of Christendom.
They also deny the reality of hell, and teach a doctrine called annihilationism, which says the unrighteous will not live forever, but will just be annihilated. As to the true believers, only 144,000 will go to heaven, with the rest of the faithful living on earth forever.
They refuse to allow for blood transfusions, viewing this as a serious sin (based on a faulty understanding of passages such as Leviticus 7:26-27; 17:13-14). Because of this erroneous teaching, a number of JWs have prematurely died. They also view all holidays as being evil, be it Easter or Christmas or even Mother’s Day, and the celebration of anyone’s birthday is strictly forbidden. Faulty interpretation of texts like Galatians 4:10 is responsible for some of these teachings.
Each member is expected to spend 10 hours each week in door to door evangelising, with others doing much more than that. Like all cults, they deal severely with any recalcitrance or disobedience, including disfellowshipping any reprobates.
Salvation is only possible through full obedience to all the Watchtower Society commands. So it is a works-based salvation, instead of justification seen as solely by grace through faith. Indeed, Russell wrote that everlasting life is a reward for those who obey and do such good works.
The first Australian group seems to have been established in Melbourne in 1903, and today there are 60 to 70,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Australia, with nearly a third of them in Queensland. There may be some 20 million Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide.
Like many cults, people are attracted to the JWs for various reasons. One big reason is that most churches do such a poor job of actually training their own people in biblical truth. Doctrine is seldom emphasised, and basic Christian beliefs are often never even learned. Thus many people in mainline churches, including many Catholics, end up being sucked into the JW cult.
So much of even the evangelical church today offer loads of celebrities and entertainment, but very little doctrinal and theological truth. Thus people with such a watery and vapid faith are easy pickings for the cults. The JWs will seem to be authoritative and seem to know what they are talking about, and will easily quote from their version of Bible. They are pre-programmed with stock answers to deal with most questions thrown their way.
That leaves far too many people today easy prey for such groups. So if you meet any of these folks this weekend, or if they come knocking on your door with their Watchtower magazine, my advice is not to enter into a debate with them unless you know what your own faith is about. Sure, it can help to know what a cult like the JWs believe, but it is even more important to know what you believe as a Christian.
It is said that bank tellers are trained to spot counterfeit money, not by mastering the various fakes out there, but by mastering the real thing. They know the original so well that they can pick a counterfeit a mile away. This is how we should be operating. We should know our own faith so well, and have such a solid grasp of the Word of God, that we can spot a fake teaching, a cultic practice, or an aberrant theology a mile away.
Anyone who has a clear and proper grasp of basic biblical teachings will readily be able to discern the many flaws, heretical beliefs, and false doctrines of the JWs and other cults. All the more reason why Christians today must be reading and studying their Bibles daily, taking the time to master core biblical truths.
Theology matters, and false theology – as with the Watchtower Society – will lead people to hell, even if they don’t believe in hell.
For further information
For those seeking more information, there are numerous groups of ex-JWs out there who have found the real Christ and the real Bible. Here for example is one such group: http://4jehovah.org/
And there are many good books for those wanting to take all this further. Here are just some of the good ones:
Bowman, Robert, Jehovah’s Witnesses. Zondervan, 1995.
Duggar, Gordon, Jehovah’s Witnesses: Watch Out for the Watchtower! Baker, 1985.
Gruss, Edmund, Jehovah’s Witnesses: Their Claims, Doctrinal Changes, and Prophetic Speculation. What Does the Record Show? Xulon Press, 2001.
Love, Charles, 20 Questions Jehovah’s Witnesses Cannot Answer. Xulon Press, 2005.
Reed, Davis, Jehovah’s Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse. Baker, 1986.
Rhodes, Ron, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, rev. ed. Harvest House, 2009.
Schnell, William, 30 Years a Watchtower Slave: The Confessions of a Converted Jehovah’s Witness. Baker, 1957, 2002.
18 Replies to “Jehovah’s Witnesses: When Cultists Come To Town”
Bill,
Another informative article and timely.
Thanks
Neil
Many Thanks Bill, as an ex-member of this cult, we can’t bring the message out there enough!
Thanks for such a clear explanation of this group and why so many are attracted to them. It can be helpful to know that they work in pairs so any interaction with them could be better in pairs as well!
Thank you, Bill, for your ministry of equipping the saints with antidotes to error.
When Jehovah’s Witnesses come calling, I grab my Bible and read passages to them from John chapter 1 and Hebrews chapter 1, which clearly establish the divinity of our Lord.
I seldom get very far with my reading, though. The JWs suddenly lose interest and depart.
The JWs came up my front drive one day about 4 years back. I gave them both a rather extended hug. They were both rather weirded out and left. Have never been door knocked by JWs since then.
I always ask JWs what are they and the Watch Tower doing for humanity? They have no response to this, on some occassions they will respond with the common explanation that they are showing people the “truth” and they are the only ones with the “answers” to life. In reality they are doing Nothing to help people, existing only to control and manipulate the minds and emotions of those trapped into this demonic cult. I highly recommend the link Bill has provided(4jehova.org) it has many resources and teachings for those wanting to escape this hideous cult or on how to witness to them. It also has articles by ex JWs who testify of the abuse, manipulation, banishment and mental torture they endured when involved with the cult. Many families in Australia and other Nations have been ruined by the Watchtower and its unholy, satanic teachings. Also, there is a class action here in Australia against the Australian JWs for child abuse http://jwclassaction.com/.
They are also in Senator Nick Xenophon’s sights http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/australian-psychologist-brands-jehovahs-witnesses-a-cruel-cult-as-watchtower-ramps-up-its-shunning-campaign
There is no point in arguing Biblical interpretation with them. Even if you produce iron-clad, irrefutable arguments, they will only conclude that their own knowledge is inadequate, and needs to be up-dated. This is because the centre of their heresy is not their beliefs about the Trinity – erroneous as they are – but about authority. They believe that the JW authorities have The Truth and the sole truth, and that no-one can be saved without it.
The Watchtower Society is a parasite on the body of Christ, in that it can only exist among people who already respect the Bible in some way. William Schnell, in his book, Christians, Awake! said they come around on Sunday mornings when good Christians are at church, and thus get those who are not at church, but feel perhaps they should be. Then he added this marvellous quote:
“So let that be a lesson to you: go to church on Sunday, or the JWs will get you!”
Thank you Bill. They always come evangelizing around here. Quite a few of my neighbours are SDA and LDS and they have their own sets of beliefs and ideas!!
John 8:58 is a verse they find very hard to explain.
They also object to tertiary education. A friend of my sister’s who was very bright intellectually and was studying to be a radiologist became a Jehovah’s Witness and was promptly pulled out of university.Such a waste.
Here are my two favourite responses to the ‘knock on the door’: Them: “Good morning, we are Jehovah’s Witnesses” Me: “Oh no, I’M Jehovah’s Witness!” Them: “Oh, you’re one of us, then!” Me: “No, I’m Jehovah’s witness, and you are members of a cult” (This really confuses them!)
No 2: Them: “Good morning! Can I ask you, do you have a faith?” Me: “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I’m a Christian, and I believe in Jesus Christ”. Them: “Oh, but we believe in Jesus Christ too!”. Me: “Yes, but you don’t believe Jesus is God, do you?” Them: “Oh, yes, we believe Jesus is A god” Me: “Oh, so you’re polytheists then!” (This gets them every time! It’s not in the manual, you see!)
Thanks Bill.
I work with a JW so I expect I will get an earbashing on Monday. These people are very hard to reason with. If they feel you are gaining ground they will very quickly change the topic so they never allow you to finish the conversation presenting the truth. It is very hard to pin them down and stay on track.
None-the-less, we need to remember that they are still people (albeit deceived) created in God’s image, with struggles in life just as we have, and that their desire is to please God and draw close to Him, just like we want to. It is unfortunate that they do not recognise the Triune God of the Bible and have been deceived. We need to treat them with respect as a person if we are to have any chance of presenting the gospel to them when the opportunity arises, and pray, pray, pray as it is spiritual warfare.
Thanks for the timely article Bill. Keep up the good work.
Richard Jardine
Thanks so much for this, Bill. We were in the city this week and met a number of JWs who were, without exception, friendly, interested & decidedly not interested in proselytising. While any cult is dangerous, I think it’s important, as Richard says, to remember that these people are made in the image of Christ & have been deceived badly. As such, they deserve our respect, our prayers & our hope that they can experience true freedom.
I also loved your point about the church needing to update our own theological training. It’s frankly embarrassing how many of us are forced to revert to belittling people on our doorstep because we don’t have a strong enough grasp on our own doctrine!
I remember preaching on the street once and a JW yelled at me “use GOD’s real name”. I said in my friendlyest manner “What yahweh”. He quickly turned and walked away.
As Bill said they are VERY concerned that they use the real name of GOD. Jehovah is a made up English translation of a Hebrew word. I am not saying it incorrect, but not as correct as you could be if learned some Hebrew. They also believe that the Jews have been dumped by GOD and they are now GOD’s chosen people – clear heresy of both the New and Old Testaments.
They used to be quite strict on their members eating with non JW’s, this led to many being influenced to cut ties with family and friends. this may have been relaxed a little?
Mention to the doorknockers that you area practicing Catholic and they really try to convert you. Bring out the Bible and quote from it and then you really need to be saved a.s.a.p.
I once worked with a girl who was a JW and she was always preaching to us. Come Christmas we finally had had enough and told her to hand back her Christmas bonus and that she would be required to come into work over the holidays. We heard no more..
Thanks Bill, you have given good, informative information. Wish I had know this before meeting a JW lady on a flight going to Zambia where there are many JW’s.
Bill
nice and clear.
I think that the fairest comment would be that they are misdirected but as to being guilty of a crime is another thing.
It is likely those who have been given most and rejected knowingly shunned it that will have the bigger share to answer for and that sadly points to many of us Christians more than the JW`s.
So the JW`s may prove right about the final accounting in that Christians will the first to suffer for their foibles.
Regards
Terry
“Also during his leadership, they produced their own version of the Bible, the New World Translation in 1961.”
Hi Bill, another great article.
I believe the 1st New World Translation was 1950; I use mine in evangelism.
He penned the seven-volume Studies in Scriptures (originally called Millennial Dawn), which he claimed was produced by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and was absolutely essential for understanding the Bible properly. To read the Bible without it would keep people in spiritual darkness he said.
Bill,
Another informative article and timely.
Thanks
Neil
Many Thanks Bill, as an ex-member of this cult, we can’t bring the message out there enough!
Thanks for such a clear explanation of this group and why so many are attracted to them. It can be helpful to know that they work in pairs so any interaction with them could be better in pairs as well!
Thank you, Bill, for your ministry of equipping the saints with antidotes to error.
When Jehovah’s Witnesses come calling, I grab my Bible and read passages to them from John chapter 1 and Hebrews chapter 1, which clearly establish the divinity of our Lord.
I seldom get very far with my reading, though. The JWs suddenly lose interest and depart.
The JWs came up my front drive one day about 4 years back. I gave them both a rather extended hug. They were both rather weirded out and left. Have never been door knocked by JWs since then.
I always ask JWs what are they and the Watch Tower doing for humanity? They have no response to this, on some occassions they will respond with the common explanation that they are showing people the “truth” and they are the only ones with the “answers” to life. In reality they are doing Nothing to help people, existing only to control and manipulate the minds and emotions of those trapped into this demonic cult. I highly recommend the link Bill has provided(4jehova.org) it has many resources and teachings for those wanting to escape this hideous cult or on how to witness to them. It also has articles by ex JWs who testify of the abuse, manipulation, banishment and mental torture they endured when involved with the cult. Many families in Australia and other Nations have been ruined by the Watchtower and its unholy, satanic teachings. Also, there is a class action here in Australia against the Australian JWs for child abuse http://jwclassaction.com/.
They are also in Senator Nick Xenophon’s sights http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/australian-psychologist-brands-jehovahs-witnesses-a-cruel-cult-as-watchtower-ramps-up-its-shunning-campaign
There is no point in arguing Biblical interpretation with them. Even if you produce iron-clad, irrefutable arguments, they will only conclude that their own knowledge is inadequate, and needs to be up-dated. This is because the centre of their heresy is not their beliefs about the Trinity – erroneous as they are – but about authority. They believe that the JW authorities have The Truth and the sole truth, and that no-one can be saved without it.
The Watchtower Society is a parasite on the body of Christ, in that it can only exist among people who already respect the Bible in some way. William Schnell, in his book, Christians, Awake! said they come around on Sunday mornings when good Christians are at church, and thus get those who are not at church, but feel perhaps they should be. Then he added this marvellous quote:
“So let that be a lesson to you: go to church on Sunday, or the JWs will get you!”
Thank you Bill. They always come evangelizing around here. Quite a few of my neighbours are SDA and LDS and they have their own sets of beliefs and ideas!!
John 8:58 is a verse they find very hard to explain.
They also object to tertiary education. A friend of my sister’s who was very bright intellectually and was studying to be a radiologist became a Jehovah’s Witness and was promptly pulled out of university.Such a waste.
Here are my two favourite responses to the ‘knock on the door’: Them: “Good morning, we are Jehovah’s Witnesses” Me: “Oh no, I’M Jehovah’s Witness!” Them: “Oh, you’re one of us, then!” Me: “No, I’m Jehovah’s witness, and you are members of a cult” (This really confuses them!)
No 2: Them: “Good morning! Can I ask you, do you have a faith?” Me: “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I’m a Christian, and I believe in Jesus Christ”. Them: “Oh, but we believe in Jesus Christ too!”. Me: “Yes, but you don’t believe Jesus is God, do you?” Them: “Oh, yes, we believe Jesus is A god” Me: “Oh, so you’re polytheists then!” (This gets them every time! It’s not in the manual, you see!)
Thanks Bill.
I work with a JW so I expect I will get an earbashing on Monday. These people are very hard to reason with. If they feel you are gaining ground they will very quickly change the topic so they never allow you to finish the conversation presenting the truth. It is very hard to pin them down and stay on track.
None-the-less, we need to remember that they are still people (albeit deceived) created in God’s image, with struggles in life just as we have, and that their desire is to please God and draw close to Him, just like we want to. It is unfortunate that they do not recognise the Triune God of the Bible and have been deceived. We need to treat them with respect as a person if we are to have any chance of presenting the gospel to them when the opportunity arises, and pray, pray, pray as it is spiritual warfare.
Thanks for the timely article Bill. Keep up the good work.
Richard Jardine
Thanks so much for this, Bill. We were in the city this week and met a number of JWs who were, without exception, friendly, interested & decidedly not interested in proselytising. While any cult is dangerous, I think it’s important, as Richard says, to remember that these people are made in the image of Christ & have been deceived badly. As such, they deserve our respect, our prayers & our hope that they can experience true freedom.
I also loved your point about the church needing to update our own theological training. It’s frankly embarrassing how many of us are forced to revert to belittling people on our doorstep because we don’t have a strong enough grasp on our own doctrine!
I remember preaching on the street once and a JW yelled at me “use GOD’s real name”. I said in my friendlyest manner “What yahweh”. He quickly turned and walked away.
As Bill said they are VERY concerned that they use the real name of GOD. Jehovah is a made up English translation of a Hebrew word. I am not saying it incorrect, but not as correct as you could be if learned some Hebrew. They also believe that the Jews have been dumped by GOD and they are now GOD’s chosen people – clear heresy of both the New and Old Testaments.
They used to be quite strict on their members eating with non JW’s, this led to many being influenced to cut ties with family and friends. this may have been relaxed a little?
Mention to the doorknockers that you area practicing Catholic and they really try to convert you. Bring out the Bible and quote from it and then you really need to be saved a.s.a.p.
I once worked with a girl who was a JW and she was always preaching to us. Come Christmas we finally had had enough and told her to hand back her Christmas bonus and that she would be required to come into work over the holidays. We heard no more..
Thanks Bill, you have given good, informative information. Wish I had know this before meeting a JW lady on a flight going to Zambia where there are many JW’s.
Bill
nice and clear.
I think that the fairest comment would be that they are misdirected but as to being guilty of a crime is another thing.
It is likely those who have been given most and rejected knowingly shunned it that will have the bigger share to answer for and that sadly points to many of us Christians more than the JW`s.
So the JW`s may prove right about the final accounting in that Christians will the first to suffer for their foibles.
Regards
Terry
“Also during his leadership, they produced their own version of the Bible, the New World Translation in 1961.”
Hi Bill, another great article.
I believe the 1st New World Translation was 1950; I use mine in evangelism.
Thanks