False Teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses

by Jon Gary Williams

They speak of Christ, the soul, hell, the resurrection, and other fundamental biblical ideas. But what they espouse regarding these and other biblical terms does not align with what the Bible teaches.

Has a Jehovah’s Witness ever knocked on your door? If not, someday they will. Are you aware of what they teach? Did you know they reject most fundamental Bible doctrines? Did you know they espouse a religious philosophy completely foreign to the Bible?

The Jehovah’s Witness religion, once known as Zion’s Watchtower Tract Society, now known as Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, may seem like just another of the many religious groups around us. After all, don’t they claim to follow the Bible and believe in Christ? A closer look shows us that what we see on the surface is not at all what we discover upon further investigation.

Indeed, many unsuspecting people have been misled by the subtle, deceptive nature of “Jehovah’s Witness” tactics. Yes, they speak of Christ, the soul, hell, the resurrection, and other fundamental Biblical ideas. But what they espouse regarding these and other Biblical terms does not align with what the Bible teaches.

The Jehovah’s Witness religion contains an insidious system of doctrines of which people need to be informed. What exactly do they teach? The following are some of the better-known teachings of the Jehovah’s Witness religion, along with comparisons to what the Scriptures teach.

• They teach that man has no immortal soul, that the soul is only man’s “breath,” and that when man dies, there is nothing which lives on.
  The Bible teaches:
  • There is something which lives after death (Matthew 10:28; II Corinthians 5:8-9),
  • The soul departs the body at death (Genesis 35:18).
• They teach that Christ is not eternal and not part of the Godhead, but was created in the same way the angels were.
  The Bible teaches:
  • Christ is eternal (Revelation 1:17; 22:13).
  • Christ is God, a part of the Godhead (John 1:1,14; 20:28; Matthew 1:23; Colossians 2:9).
• They teach that Christ’s body was not actually raised but was raised only in “spirit form.”
  The Bible teaches:
  • Christ expressly said He was not in a spirit form (Luke 24:39).
  • To reject the resurrection of Christ creates a hopeless religion (I Corinthians 15:14-15).
• They teach that Christ has already returned, but he did so secretly and unseen.
  The Bible teaches:
  • Every eye shall see him at his return (Revelation 1:7).
  • He will come with sound, angels and flaming fire (I Thessalonians 4:16; II Thessalonians 1:7-8).
• They teach that there is no real hell, but that hell is only the grave.
  The Bible teaches:
  • There is punishment beyond the grave (Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4-5).
  • Punishment is eternal (Matthew 25:41,46; Mark 9:44,47).
• They teach that the earth will never be destroyed.
  The Bible teaches:
  • The earth will someday pass away (Matthew 5:18).
  • The earth will be burned up (II Peter 3:10).
• They teach that only 144,000 people will enter heaven.
  The Bible teaches:
  • Christ will deliver his entire kingdom up to God (I Corinthians 15:24).
  • All who do God’s commands will enter into Heaven (Revelation 22:14).
  • The water of life, flowing from God’s throne, is for “whosoever will” (Revelation 22:1,17).
• They teach that submitting to blood transfusion is sinful.
  The Bible teaches:
  • The eating of blood is condemned (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 7:27).
  • God’s word does not prohibit the transfusion of blood to save or support life.
• They teach that man is not saved through baptism.
  The Bible teaches:
  • Baptism is for the “remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
  • Baptism saves (Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21).
  • In baptism, sins are washed away (Acts 22:16).
  • In baptism, people put on Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27).