People know them. People are warned about them. They avoid other Christian churches. Why? Who are they, and what do they want?
At first sight, Jehovah’s Witnesses may seem like merely “other Christians,” compared with so many Protestant churches. To believe this is a grave mistake.
For Jehovah’s Witnesses believe things VERY different from most of Christendom.
Table of Contents
a. Beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses
1. “Jesus Christ is NOT God”
2. “There is no Trinity.”
3. “The Holy Spirit is NOT God”
4. “Christ did NOT rise with his body”
5. “The human soul is NOT immortal”
6. “There is no hell”
7. “There are 4 types of resurrection”
b. What Jehovah’s Witnesses think about all Christendom, and people in general
1. About the Cross
2. About Christmas
3. “Birthdays should not be celebrated”
4. “Blood transfusion is forbidden in the Bible”
5. “All governments and religious institutions are of the devil”
6. “There is no use studying in seminaries”
c. The TRUE history of the Watchtower
NOTE: The biblical passages shown have been taken from the Jerusalem Bible (J) in cases where an exact translation from the Greek is required, and from the Latin American Bible (L) where a translation with clearer language is required. I consider it necessary to clarify this, since the Jerusalem Bible was translated by Spaniards, who use some words different from Latin American Spanish (such as ‘vosotros’ instead of ‘ustedes’, etc.), making the text a little harder to understand for those of us accustomed to Spanish as spoken in Latin America.
Editor’s comments are marked in square brackets [ ].
a. The Beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses
1. “Jesus Christ IS NOT God.”
In their book, “The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life,” they say this about Jesus: “He was created before all the other sons in God’s family. He is God’s only ‘only-begotten’ Son, because he was the only one created directly by Jehovah God; all other things were created through him, as God’s Chief Agent. Thus, before being born on earth as a little boy, he served in heaven, where he was known as ‘the Word’.
But that was not the first thing written in “The Truth…” In its first editions the Watchtower said that Jesus Christ was the Archangel Gabriel, and only when he came into the world did he take human form. I think that makes no sense at all. I suppose that is why they removed it from the book. But you can confirm this by reading the history of the Watchtower in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Macropedia, under the entry “Jehovah’s Witnesses”)
There is also something we must take into account: Jehovah’s Witnesses use their own translation of the Bible. They refuse to accept other translations, because they consider that none of them is truly faithful to the original Greek. Thus, the Witnesses’ translation says the following:
In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” (New World Translation)
But what does this mean? The Witnesses tell us that Jesus is NOT God, and is only a servant, a messenger of God. But where did this “a god” come from?
Comments
If we look at ALL the other translations of the Bible, we will NOT see the “a” included. Why? Does this mean that ONLY the founders of the Watchtower Society can correctly translate from Greek into English? To believe this is absurd.
On Bible translations.
Nevertheless, we must accept the other editions of the Bible as good translations (except for the verses that speak about ‘faith alone’ and ‘milk of the word’ in most Protestant Bibles. However, the discussion about the books of the Bible called ‘deuterocanonical’ is a separate point, which is not discussed in this text).
For the moment, know that the Catholic Church has made excellent translations of the Bible, in almost every language of the world, ALWAYS commenting on any doubtful passage at the foot of each page. And to verify that there is no translation error, every copy has the seal of Nihil Obstat (nothing stands in the way) and the Imprimatur (It may be printed), which indicates ecclesiastical authorization, given by experts in sacred doctrine and in the study of the Bible, that there is no bad translation or interpretation in the Bible that goes against the teachings of Jesus and his apostles.
For Catholics, never hesitate to ask ecclesiastical authorities, since there is much (but VERY MUCH) literature about the Bible. Remember that the people who translated the Bible were experts in Aramaic, Greek, and ancient history. In addition, all priests study Greek and Latin, and have studied for years the works of great Christian theologians, not to mention Church history; therefore it is always necessary, and very beneficial for everyone, to consult a priest about these matters.
And for our separated brethren, regarding interpretations of the Bible, remember that you should always consult your pastor before deducing anything based on the Bible, since private interpretation, even though many do not want to accept it, has been the cause of the great division that exists in Christianity. Therefore, one must ALWAYS consult one’s pastor before reaching conclusions, for it was in this way, studying the Bible by himself, without help, and with limited (if not nonexistent) knowledge of Greek, that James Russell, founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses, deduced that hell does not exist and that the world would end in 1914.
Biblical proofs of the divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Having briefly explained the problem of private interpretation of the Bible, let us now look at the biblical proofs that Jesus IS God:
| In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1) (J)
“I and the Father are one”(John 10:30) (J) |
We can also see that the words “the first and the last,” which were used by God (Isaiah 44:6) are also used by Christ. And we KNOW that it is Christ who says them, because he also says that he was dead and now lives. That refers to his resurrection, and we know that it was Christ who rose.
| I am the first and the last, and the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.”(Revelation 1:17-18) (L). |
Now, let us compare this text with Isaiah 44:6:
| “Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god’ (J) |
Now, we see that the text indicates that Yahweh is not only the King of Israel, but also his Redeemer. (Note that Jesus has the title “King of Kings”). And Jesus is our redeemer. Thus, the Old Testament also supports the belief that Jesus Christ is God. Even IF PERHAPS the correct translation were “Jehovah” and not “Yahweh,” even so the text supports that God is both the Father and the Son. We also see that when Jesus appeared to the apostle Thomas (the one who did not believe that Christ had risen), Thomas says:
| “My Lord and my God.” Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:28) (J) |
Jesus did not correct Thomas when he said that Jesus was God either. On the contrary, he rebuked him because he had not believed him. Now, if Jesus accepts Thomas’s words when he said “My Lord AND my God,” do you not think it was because it is the truth?
(If you still have doubts about the doctrine of the Trinity, you can find many references on the web. You will find a great number of studies, documents, etc.)
2.”There is no Trinity.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that the Trinity is something demonic, since only pagan religions believe in trilogies, whether Hindus, Egyptians, etc.
Comments
Of course, this would only be true if God were a pagan god, and not the One who is:
a) The Egyptian or Hindu “gods” were separate gods. We believe that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three PERSONS, but all three and each one of the three are THE SAME GOD.
b) In fact, there are BIBLICAL PROOFS that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct persons:
| o “Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”(Luke 12:10) (J)
o “You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28) (J) o ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.’ (Lk 22:42) (J) |
c) By proving that 1. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one in essence, and 2. that they are distinct persons from one another, we will have demonstrated the existence of the Trinity. But before showing the proof that the Holy Spirit is God, we will show you the Trinitarian formulas that appear in the Bible:
| o The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all [you] (2 Cor 13:13) (J)
o Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Mt 28:19) (J) (Note that Jesus uses the word ‘name’ (singular). If the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit were different gods, Jesus would have said ‘names’. But it is not so, since the three have one same name: And that is the Name of God. |
3. “The Holy Spirit is NOT God.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses tell us that the Holy Spirit is not God, unlike most Christians and all Catholics, but is the “active force of God.” Let us see whether the Bible supports such a claim:
Comments
Despite the ‘observations’ of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Bible contains several passages that make us think that the Holy Spirit is not only a person, but is God himself. And this teaching of the apostles is accepted as a dogma of Faith by the Catholic Church. Let us see why:
1. The Holy Spirit has emotions, and is referred to as ‘He,’ ‘who’ instead of ‘that’:
| Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30) (J)
It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment… (Note that the actions ‘speak,’ ‘guide,’ ‘hear,’ and ‘say’ and ‘convict,’ which are attributed to the Spirit of Truth [the Holy Spirit], can only be applied to a person. |
2. The Holy Spirit decides, intercedes, helps, teaches, guides, searches, knows, lives—this is only possible in a person:
| § All these gifts are worked by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.(1 Cor 12:11) (L)
(If you wish to corroborate this, you can read 1 Cor 12:8-10, and thus see for yourselves that the text refers to the Holy Spirit. In general, it is very beneficial for all of us to read the Bible regularly, with the help of a priest if we have any doubt. Do not forget that there are also Sunday Bible courses in almost all our parishes, so that whoever thinks that the Church does not help her faithful to be educated in the faith will fall through his own fault). § Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we ought. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us, with sighs and supplications that cannot be expressed. And God, who searches the secrets of the heart, hears the desires of the Spirit because, when the Spirit intercedes for the saints, he does so according to the manner of God. (Rom 8:26-27) (L) § Do you think that Scripture says in vain: The spirit that he [ God ] has made dwell in us yearns jealously? (James 4:5) (J) § For God has revealed it to us through the Spirit; and the spirit searches everything [ that is, even what is most hidden, he sees and knows ], even the depths of God. For what man knows the intimate things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one knows the intimate things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Cor 2:10-11) (J) § We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: to abstain from meat sacrificed [ sacrificed ] to idols, from blood, from animals not bled [ ancient peoples used to eat blood and animals without bleeding them, from antiquity, something God forbade the Jews from the beginning ] and from forbidden sexual relations. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.” (Acts 15:27-29) (L) (Note carefully that things do not seem good or bad to some ‘force,’ for an action cannot think or decide. This text clearly shows us that the Holy Spirit makes decisions, as persons do. There is no room for doubt: The Holy Spirit IS a person. What is more curious is that Jehovah’s Witnesses, who boast so much of biblical studies, claim that blood transfusions, which are approved by ALL Christian religions (except them), are forbidden in the Bible by this passage. And yet they also deny that the Holy Spirit is a person, something that is perfectly clear in the same biblical passage! See then how the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses contradict themselves. |
3. The Holy Spirit receives the same adoration and glory as the Father and the Son:
Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, who is in you and whom you have received from God? (1 Cor 6:19) (J)
The fact that we are sanctuaries (temples) of the Holy Spirit gives us another reason to believe that the Holy Spirit is God.
Do you not know that you are God’s sanctuary and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (1 Cor 3:16) (J)
Compare this passage with the previous one. If the Spirit of God lives in us, the Spirit of God is a HE (for he lives in us), not an ‘IT.’ And how can we be temples of the Holy Spirit and of God at the same time, if they are not ONE in essence?
Now there is a biblical passage that I consider of the greatest importance:
“Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Lk 12:10) (J)
Here there is something worth noting: The word ‘blasphemy’ can only refer to an action toward GOD. Therefore, a question arises:
How can someone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit if he is not God? Furthermore, if a word against the Holy Spirit deserves a greater punishment than one against Jesus, and Jesus is God, how is this possible, if the Holy Spirit were not God? Therefore, the Holy Spirit MUST be God.
4. Indeed, the Bible also tells us that the Lord is the Holy Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit is God Himself:
The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your fathers through the prophet Isaiah: “Go to this people and say: You shall indeed hear, but never understand, and you shall indeed see, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I should heal them.” (Acts 28:25-27) (J)
Now, if we pay attention to the passage of Isaiah 6:9-10, we see that it was God who spoke to Isaiah:
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” I said, “Here am I: send me.” He said: “Go and say to this people: ‘Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people fat, make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:8-10) (J) (It should be noted that here it is not that God’s will is that they not be healed, but that this language is used to highlight the fact itself).
How can this be? While Saint Paul tells us it was the Holy Spirit, Isaiah tells us it is the Lord. The only possibility that there is no contradiction is if the Holy Spirit is God himself. Also pay attention to verse 8 of Isaiah 6: “For us.” God is speaking of himself in the plural, which gives us reason to believe that God is more than one person.
Moreover, in other passages of the Bible, we can see that the Lord is the Spirit:
For the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor 3:17) (J)
This also reminds us: Do Jehovah’s Witnesses have freedom of expression? Can they question even one of their leaders without being expelled from the organization? Are they free to tell the truth about their methods to the public, or do they instead lie—because they believe the wicked are not ‘worthy’ to know the truth? And yet the Bible clearly says: “And the truth will make you free” (John 8:32) (L)
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses really FREE? Or, on the contrary, do their leaders exercise strict control over their conduct? If you have known a Jehovah’s Witness, you will realize that he cannot speak with ex-Witnesses because he would be expelled; he cannot freely choose his clothing because it would ‘give a bad image’… he cannot read certain literature written against the Watchtower, because it is ‘contaminating to the soul’ (or could it be that the Watchtower is afraid that the Witnesses will know the truth, be converted, and be healed?)
1. “Jesus did NOT rise with his body”
In the book they use for teaching, Jehovah’s Witnesses say:
“Jehovah God did not leave his Son dead in the tomb, but raised him to Life on the third day. He was not given human life again, because that would have meant taking back the ransom price. Rather he was made ‘alive in spirit’ (1 Peter 3:18)”
Also in his early writings, Charles T. Russell (founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses) tells us: “The human body of the Lord was taken away from the tomb by the power of God.” (The Harp of God, p.169) “Whether it was dissolved into gases or whether it is still preserved somewhere, no one knows” (Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 120-130).
Comments
A warning about this first statement written by the Witnesses: The fact that Jesus was made alive in the spirit, as Saint Peter says, does NOT contradict the fact that he rose with his body. The two are not mutually exclusive. Also note how the Witnesses ‘support’ their completely false theories with ONE BRIEF passage of the Bible, which is usually quoted out of context.
NOWHERE in the Bible does it say that Jesus did not rise with his body because that would be collecting the ransom price. And not only that, but if we read the first epistle of Saint Peter from the beginning, we will see that he firmly believes in the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us see: “… knowing that you were ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things, silver or gold, but with precious blood…(1 Peter 1:18-19) … those who through Him [Jesus] believe in God, who raised him from the dead (1 Peter 1:21)
We can also read: “… baptism, which saves you … as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21)
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you realize that the Witnesses use this technique to draw you away from the truth. They begin by relating completely false things, which in the end are related (related, NOT justified) to one or two simple verses of the Bible.
Before reading a book written by the Watchtower, you should have a Bible at hand, and read it in COMPLETE context when reading any quoted passage… and see if there is reasonable agreement.
Returning to Jesus’ resurrection, to believe that Jesus did NOT rise with his body would mean that his body would still have been found. But we know that Jesus rose BOTH in body and in spirit:
| Jesus stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas: “Put your finger here and see my hands; bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20:27) |
If Thomas could physically touch Jesus, that means Jesus rose both in body and in spirit.
Also, in the Gospel of Luke, we can see these two passages that show us that Jesus was alive in body, because he could take bread and eat:
| And he went in to stay with them [the disciples of Emmaus]. And it happened that, when he was at table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. (Luke 24:29-30)
They [the apostles] were talking about these things, when he [Jesus] stood among them and said to them: “Peace be with you.” Startled and frightened, they thought they saw a spirit. But he said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were amazed, he said to them: “Have you anything here to eat?” They offered him a piece of broiled fish. He took it and ate before them. (Luke 24:36-40) |
2. “The human soul is NOT immortal”.
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that since animals and man are similar, their souls have the same death. They support this by using the out-of-context passage that says: “The soul that sins, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4,20).
Comments
But, knowing that research is essential to support a belief from the Bible, we see that there are other passages that support the immortality of the soul, and the existence of Hell (see below)
| the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.(Eccl 12:7) |
3. “Hell does not exist.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that those who do not accept joining their congregation will not be part of the resurrection, and their soul will be completely destroyed. The Witnesses say that Catholics, and many Christians in general, give the term ‘sheol’ (from Aramaic) the meaning eternal torment, and that in reality it is not mentioned in the Bible. Then the Witnesses explain some things about the word “sheol.”
Comments.
This, of course, contradicts Sacred Scripture in SEVERAL passages:
| “… than to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched, for the fire itself will preserve them.” (Mark 9:48) |
NOTE: In some translations one reads ‘salted’ instead of ‘preserved.’ At first glance this may not make sense, unless we remember that in the time of Jesus (and even today) and in those regions, meat was preserved by salting it, so that it would not spoil. Applying this to the text, we can see that this refers to ‘preservation.’
Note that here Jesus does NOT use the word “sheol” to describe hell, but uses “gehenna.” In this description of hell…’where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched…’ Jesus does not speak of destruction or disappearance. On the contrary, he describes eternal torment for those who are not righteous before God. And this description was taken from a passage of the prophet Isaiah:
| Thus, from new moon to new moon and from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me,” says Yahweh. And they shall go out and see the dead bodies of the men who rebelled against me; their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” (Isaiah 66:23-24) |
And this is not the ONLY description of Heaven and Hell. The aforementioned final judgment is VERY SPECIFIC, and not at all obscure, in which God shows us his justice: Each person will be repaid according to the love they have shown to their neighbor, regardless of whether they are Jews, Samaritans, or of any religion. Even if they are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
| When the Son of Man comes in his glory, accompanied by all his angels, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand, and the goats at his left.
Then the King will say to those at his right hand: ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me; I was naked, and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me; in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison, and go to see you?’ And the King will say to them: ‘Truly I tell you, as much as you did to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say also to those at his left: ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will say: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ Then he will answer them: ‘Truly I tell you, when you failed to do it to one of the least of these, you failed to do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, and the righteous into eternal life”. (Matthew 25:31-45) |
Therefore, I believe this is enough to refute the claim that hell is not described ANYWHERE in the Bible. And what is more, this passage was taught to us by Jesus himself. Not even by his apostles, but by Himself. And if this teaching is false, then that means Jesus Christ is a vile liar. Would you dare call him that? The Watchtower Society has done this since its foundation.
And there is still more to say about this. Almost all the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses are based on the exclusive interpretation of their founders, concerning the book of Revelation (which, by the way, is the MOST DIFFICULT to interpret. Just take a look at it and you will see what I mean—almost everything is in symbols).
Now then, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not consider the following passage from the book of Revelation, which also supports the existence of Hell:
| Then I saw [Saint John the Evangelist] a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne; and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire—this lake of fire is the second death—and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-14) |
But as for the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
So the second death is the lake of fire… (as we saw, where their worm does not die…) but does this mean that Jehovah’s Witnesses made the mistake of interpreting the Bible by themselves? No, worse. They took the interpretation made by ONE SINGLE MAN, who, besides knowing neither Greek nor Hebrew, translated the Bible by himself, and founded an organization without even consulting a pastor or priest.
4. “There are 4 types of resurrection.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses tell us that there are 4 types of resurrection:
a) The 144,000
The first resurrection will be of the 144,000 chosen in Revelation and refers to the best Jehovah’s Witnesses.
b) The believers of the Old Testament.
The patriarchs, prophets and saints before Christ.
c) The resurrection of life.
In addition to the 144,000 and the believers, there will be many Jehovah’s Witnesses who, instead of going to heaven, will live happily here on earth.
d) The general resurrection or resurrection of judgment.
And finally, those who will have one last opportunity to convert to the Watchtower, or be destroyed forever.
Comments.
Let us remember, first of all, that the book of Revelation was written by means of symbols. If we do not take this into account, we run the risk of interpreting the Bible literally in passages where it was not written to be interpreted literally. Remember that: 12, for the Jews, refers to perfection. Now, if we count 12 by 12, that means ‘the most perfect.’ Now, if we multiply it by 1,000, which means ‘many,’ we obtain the famous 144,000. Therefore, the passage from Revelation tells us that the people who will go to heaven will be perfect, and they will be so many that it will be impossible to count them.
And this includes the people who died BEFORE and AFTER Jesus. If we read Rev 20:11-15 again (see above), we will see that there was no difference between those who died BEFORE the birth of Christ, or after.
Regarding heaven on earth, let us read this passage from Saint Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:
| But someone will ask: ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?’ You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of some other plant. And God gives it a body as he has chosen: to each seed its own body. Not all flesh is alike, but one is the flesh of men, another the flesh of animals, another the flesh of birds, and another of fish.
There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly bodies is one, and that of the earthly bodies is another. The glory of the sun is one, another the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. And star differs from star in glory. So it is with the resurrection of the dead: what is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable; 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. (1 Cor 15:35-44) But it is not the spiritual which is first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man, from the earth [ Adam ], is earthly; the second, [ Jesus ], comes from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are the earthly; and as is the heavenly man, so are the heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. I tell you this, brethren: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (1 Cor 15:46-50) |
And Jesus also supports this. The following passage will be very clear in clarifying the Resurrection of the dead:
| That day some Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection, and they asked him:
“Teacher, Moses said: If a man dies without having children, his brother shall marry the man’s wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died; and, having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. The same happened with the second, and with the third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.” Jesus answered them: “You are in error, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven (Matthew 22:23-31) |
b. Opinions of Jehovah’s Witnesses about Christendom, and people in general.
1. About the Cross
Jehovah’s Witnesses say that the cross is of pagan origin. They argue that it is madness to wear the symbol of death around one’s neck. They say: “Who would think of kissing the revolver used to murder a loved one?”
Comments.
It is true: The cross DOES have pagan origin, because it was the Romans who used it. But beginning with the crucifixion and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Cross takes on a NEW meaning. It is the symbol of the redemption of all sins. And the symbol of the love Jesus has for us.
Saint Paul tells us the following about the cross:
| For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the preaching of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:17-18)
.. Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. (1 Cor 1:22-23) |
We should know now, first of all, that it was thanks to the cross that we have received forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation with God:
| ..[God] canceled the record of debt that stood against us, with its legal demands, and this he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Col 2:14)
… and might reconcile us both [ Jews and Gentiles ] to God in one Body through the cross, thereby putting the Hostility to death in himself (Eph 2:16) |
Moreover, Saint Paul himself is proud of the Cross of our Lord:
| But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! (Gal 6:14) |
The Watchtower says that in truth Jesus did not die on a cross, but on a wooden stake, citing Acts 5:30; 10:39, where the Greek word xulon (wood/tree) is described. But these are very few cases. In all the others, the word stauros is used, which means cross.
Moreover, let us remember that above Our Lord’s head a sign was nailed that said: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37). This could only have been possible if the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ was shaped like “+” and not like “T.” Therefore, it had to be a true cross, and not just any piece of wood, as the Witnesses claim.
2. About Christmas
The Witnesses tell us that we should not celebrate Christmas, since we do not know the exact date of Jesus’ birth. They also say that the Christmas tree is a scandal, since “the tree is of Druid origin. Also, the celebration of December 25 has a pagan origin.”
Comments
The fact that both December 25 and the Christmas tree have pagan origin does not take away from the fact that the wedding ring and circumcision also have it; circumcision acquired a new meaning from God’s covenant with the Jews. Thus, the tree and the date of December 25 are given a new meaning.
There is a German tradition that Saint Boniface, seeing a great oak dedicated to the god Odin, which according to the Germans had magical powers, decided to cut it down and plant in its place a fir tree, which he dedicated to Jesus Christ. Thus the Christmas tree may also come from a Christian tradition.
Regarding December 25, here is the story: The Romans dedicated this date to the birth of the “New Sun.” Meanwhile, Christians were still being persecuted. Noting that God has the title “Sun of Justice” (Psalm 19, Mal 3:20, cf. Rev. 21:23, 22:5), Christians chose this date to celebrate the birth of Christ. The Romans thought that the Christians who celebrated Christmas were only Roman citizens celebrating the ‘new sun.’ Thus, they could celebrate Christmas incognito, without being persecuted.
3. “Birthdays should not be celebrated.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses say that birthdays should not be celebrated because they glorify a person who is neither Jehovah nor Jesus. They also remind us that John the Baptist was beheaded during a birthday celebration.
Comments
Even if we search carefully, we will not find in the Bible ANY passage that forbids us to celebrate birthdays. The fact that Herod beheaded John the Baptist does not imply a prohibition. Furthermore, it is well known that Jews celebrate the twelfth birthday of their children, who have reached the age of majority. If this was accepted by the Jews, why not celebrate Christian birthdays?
Moreover, in most cases, there is nothing reprehensible in Christian birthdays. We do not worship the person being celebrated. Rather, we congratulate him and wish him a good year. And people give him gifts. This can remind us that this may be the last year we see the person being celebrated, and giving a gift is a symbol of our friendship.
4. “Blood transfusions are forbidden because we cannot drink blood.”
The Watchtower forbids blood transfusions by misinterpreting the words in Gen 9:4, Lev 7:26, Acts 15:29.
Comments
But we forget something. Although receiving blood is a way of nourishing ourselves, it is NOT eating. The food we eat cannot be put into our veins; that is what digestion is for. The process of digestion, as is well known, is to transform food into nutrients that our blood can carry. But it ceases to be food. If it was food before, it ceases to be so. It is only amino acids and other compounds. It is also known that hemoglobin (the principal compound of blood), when exposed to stomach acids, is transformed into ammonia. That is why the fecal matter of vampire bats has a large percentage of ammonia. If we were eating when receiving blood transfusions, we would defecate the same as vampires. Obviously, IT IS NOT SO.
There is also much scientific evidence that, when a mother carries a baby in her womb, some components of her blood pass to the baby through the umbilical cord, and thus the baby is nourished thanks to the mother’s blood. If this is natural, why forbid it?
Legal Matters.
There have been many reports of parents who let their sons and daughters die because they have not accepted receiving blood transfusions. In some countries, such as Germany, the Watchtower organization is not admitted as a ‘religion,’ because of beliefs like this that go against life. What is more, despite all the scientific proof of this, the people who are in control of the Watchtower (who are only 14 people in New York, who are NEITHER experts in the Bible, NOR scientists, nor experts in Hebrew and Greek) do not accept it and still forbid blood transfusions.
Would you leave the life of your son or daughter in the hands of 14 strangers who know nothing about medicine and who have to decide for millions of innocent people?
5. “All governments and religious institutions work for Satan, and will disappear one day.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that the Watchtower Society is the ONLY organization sent by Jesus Christ for the world. According to the Watchtower, only its members form part of the body of Christ, which began to be formed in the year 1918, after he returned spiritually in 1914.
Jehovah’s Witnesses also refuse to salute the flag, stand during the national anthem, and go into military service.
Also, as I said before, they say that Catholic missionaries work for Satan.
Returning to the matter of governments, Jehovah’s Witnesses forget this passage of the Bible:
| Be subject, for the Lord’s sake, to every human institution: whether to the king as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God: that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live as free men, and not as those who use freedom as a pretext for evil, but as servants of God. Honor everyone, love the brethren, fear God, honor the king.
Servants, be subject with all respect to your masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the harsh. For it is a beautiful thing to endure pains, mindful of God, when one suffers unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you do wrong and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a beautiful thing before God. (1 Peter 2:13-20) |
6. “There is no use teaching or studying in seminaries.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses criticize Catholicism and other Christian denominations because they study the work of other people. “Neither Jesus nor the apostles went to study the scriptures. So neither should we.”
Comments
Well, if this is their opinion, let us remember. The teacher does not need to study. But the students do. And we, as students of Sound Doctrine, must study the works given to us. Both in the Bible and in later works. If not, they would become useless works. What would become of scientific works if everyone tried to discover the same thing again and again, without relying on previous works? Would the cure for rabies have been discovered, and would work be underway on the cure for cancer?
It is THE SAME in studying the Bible and other religious works.
In his letter to Timothy, Saint Paul tells us the following about study:
| and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able in turn to instruct others (2 Tim 2:2)
Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world. (Matthew 28:19-20) |
Here we see that the apostles were entrusted with TEACHING. I think this is sufficient to prove apostolic teaching. But what is stranger is that Jehovah’s Witnesses DO PRACTICE teaching and study. They do this in the so-called ‘Kingdom Halls,’ where most of the time they teach their doctrines to new converts, not only from the Bible, but from the works of the founders of this sect.
Unfortunately, the students do not even have the opportunity to analyze their teachings objectively. They are only forced to learn them. And this is so exhaustive that even some Witnesses admit that it is a ‘boring and tedious’ process. Now, if the Watchtower condemns teaching and study, why do they practice it? Without even giving the student the opportunity to question these teachings and their origins?
c. The TRUE history of the Watchtower
The history of Jehovah’s Witnesses begins with their founder: Charles Taze Russell. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1852. When he was young, he left the Presbyterian church (of Calvinist beliefs) and Congregationalism, because he believed that God was too good for there to be a hell. So he became agnostic. Then he met the Seventh-day Adventists, who taught him about the Bible and the end of the world. Then he began to read the works of William Miller, founder of the Seventh-day Adventists, and they taught him that the second coming of Christ would be in 1843. This was based on Daniel 8:14, which said: “after 2300 evenings and mornings, the Temple shall be purified.”. Interpreting each day as a year, and counting from the year 457 B.C. (the return of the Jews from Babylon), Miller had concluded that the year of Christ’s return was 1843.
Obviously, this did not happen. But Russell, who was impressed by this, decided to study the Bible more deeply. In 1875, he thought that Jesus had returned to earth spiritually. Russell calculated that Christ would return to the world in 1914. With this, all the evil in the world would disappear, Jerusalem would be freed from pagan domination, and all religions, especially the Catholic Church, would disappear from the face of the Earth.
Then he decided to publish his ‘discoveries’ in a periodical called “Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence” (1879). In 1884, he founded the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. With the money he had obtained from the publications, he bought many properties and built a printing press.
Unfortunately, he also decided to use other methods: He sold cures for cancer, ‘miracle wheat’ that grew 5 times more than common wheat (in reality, it grew less than common wheat), and millennial beans. These frauds led him to be tried in court.
When 1914 arrived, nothing happened. The Catholic Church did not disappear, nor did the governments. Instead, the First World War began. To survive the embarrassment, Russell changed his predictions, saying that he was speaking of the spiritual return of Christ, which “went unnoticed.” Russell’s successor was a judge, Joseph F. Rutherford (who in reality was a lawyer; he was appointed substitute judge for one day). Rutherford used preaching with phonographs and radio. He strongly attacked the Catholic Church, calling it “the harlot of Babylon” and similar insults.
After Rutherford died in a mansion that ‘he had bought for the prophets Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who would be resurrected,’ he was succeeded by Nathan H. Knorr, who changed the society’s techniques. Instead of using phonographs and radio, they chose to use more subtle techniques: door-to-door preaching, which has unfortunately been effective in gaining many proselytes.
Author: Ricardo García
