Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 7/23/2011

Question
Dear Dr. Abrams:
I feel that finding you is no coincidence. I am presently studying the teachings of the Jehovah's Witness organization, although I have not committed or attended any of their services.  I was raised Baptist, and consider myself a serious student of the Bible. I have embraced some of their teachings. Two fellow employees have provided me with their New World Translation, their books, to include a plethora of their teachings.  However, i am conflicted and becoming confused, and do not feel comfortable discussing this with my minister.  I have sought Almighty God in prayer, and feel he has led me to you.   I know that neither of us would want to find ourselves in a position of being critical of other faiths or teachings.  I SO WANT TO FIND THE TRUTH IN A DEEPER SENSE, and I suppose that is why I am exploring the JW faith.  You are an expert on Biblical teachings.  Your writings are superb, and I thank God for finding you.  Please advise me.  If you wish to answer me privately, I will understand for reasons self-evident.  Bless you, Dr. Abrams.  I pray I will hear from you, as I am confused and desperate at this point.
Your sister in Christ,
Sandy

Answer
Hi Sandy,
   Thank you for your question.  Being raised Baptist I am sure you know a lot about God's word.  It would be nice if I could say something good about the Jehovah's Witnesses, but I cannot because of their beliefs and practices.   God tells us "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."  (1 John 4:1)   I admire you because you are seeking God's truth and I believe that the Lord is working to keep you from making a serious spiritual mistake.

     The Jehovah’s Witnesses originated with a man named Charles Taze Russell in 1884 in America. Until 1931 they were known as the Russellites, Millennial Dawn People, and International Bible Students. The headquarters was moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1909. In 1939 the name of the corporation was changed to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Joseph F. Rutherford became president upon the death of Russell in 1916. The Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) have a strongly centralized leadership, with the congregations closely directed from the headquarters in New York. A traveling minister preaches in about 20 congregations in a circuit, spending about a week at each one. Their meeting houses are called Kingdom Halls.

  The Jehovah’s Witness have many unbiblical beliefs that deny God’s word such as:  

They believe that Jesus did not rise from the dead.  Russell says His body either dissolved into gases or is still preserved somewhere.
They believe that God is not triune;  Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, nor accept the Trinity.
They believe that there is no such thing as a hell of everlasting torment. Hell is just the grave. The wicked are simply annihilated and cease to exist.
They believe that man has no spirit.
They believe the Holy Ghost is not a person of the Godhead, just a "life force" of God.
They exercise mind control over members.
They believe that man must work to be part of "God's system of things"meaning that salvation is by works.
They believe that only the 144,000 mentioned in the book of Revelation will live in heaven with God.
They believe all dead people will have a second chance for eternal life at the millennium. If you do not prove worthiness at this time, you'll be destroyed.
The believe the blood of Christ does not forgive sins, it gives us a "chance" to live again. They have NO assurance of salvation as Jehovah's Witnesses who supposedly know the truth.
They believe Jesus is actually the archangel Michael - Jesus is a created being like an angel and not God.
They believe Jesus is just an agent of God, nothing more.
They believe that Jesus' second coming occurred invisibly or secretly  in 1874. Russell's successor, Rutherford, says this was confirmed by the creation of the first labor organization in 1874.
They believed Russell when he said that in 1914 the millennium would occur and righteousness would be restored to the earth. As 1914 approached, he, and his successor, changed the date to 1915, 1916, 1924, 1928, and on and on to the present day! When you ask a Jehovah's Witness about this, they'll give you the party line, "Well, the Watchtower is reaching different levels of enlightenment."

They believe that   Jesus will not return to earth literally and physically.  There is no Second Coming.
The believe Christians should not serve or honor governments. The reject military service to defend their country against its enemies.

The Jehovah’s Witness rewrote the Bible to fit their false doctrines. (New World Translation)  John 1:1 is the most infamous translation error. Most of the scriptures that have been changed are scriptures that refer to the deity of Christ, a scriptural fact Jehovah's Witnesses try to deny.  If one reads John 1:1 and John 1:14 it is very clear they have perverted God’s word and even who is Jesus Christ.

  What is so sad is they are very sincere in their beliefs, but are very naive and blindly follow the  teachings of their leaders.   Their worse error is that they believe they can earn their right to go to heaven by their good works.   One cannot work their way to heaven as God says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)    

  “ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”  (Titus 3:5)

  ‘Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”  (Galatians 2:16)

  ‘Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2 Timothy 1:9)

  That is pretty clear that works do not save. Sadly all these teachings are contrary to the Bible. The Jehovah’s Witness is a false cult must be rejected because they deny God’s word. You might like to ask the JW that is talking with you this question:  "If I become a JW does that mean I will go to heaven?"  Their answer should be interesting because they have no assurance of heaven.

  God says,  “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”  (Romans 16:17-18).


      Thank you again for writing and I hope I have helped point you in the right direction.  No one likes to criticize what others believer, but believing a false doctrine which is a lie, separates one from God and salvation.   God's says "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."   (John 8:32)    I would suggest that you find a good Independent Baptist church that believes and practices God's word so they can help you in your spiritual life and relation with Jesus Christ.

   Please, if you have further questions or comments please write.

Cooper P Abrams III
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org
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