Taken from the Torchlight Series, Gospel Truths Ministries, Michigan - Jehovah's Witnesses History:
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society boldly claims to be the only organization God is using today to teach His truth and speak for Him.
According to the Watchtower Bible Tract Society (WTB&TS), all non-JWs will be destroyed at Armageddon, an event of divine judgment it threatens is just around the corner. The WT Society prints over 14 million copies of its magazines every week, and has over 4 million (in 1992) Jehovah's Witnesses spreading its doctrines in 200 countries.
What follows are some essential facts everyone should know about the history and doctrine of the JWs. Charles T. Russell (1852 - 1916) founded the JW movement. As a teenager he rejected his Presbyterian roots, joined a more liberal Congregational Church, then left this group as well (2). He denied the deity of Christ and the biblical teachings on hell and eternal punishment. Russell had no formal Bible training, but borrowed and built upon various teachings that were popular at the time. For example, Adventism influenced his denial of hell, and a splinter Adventist group led by N.H. Barbour aroused his interest in endtime prophecies. From Barbour he borrowed the belief that Christ returned invisibly to the world in 1874, and that 1914 was the year the world would be destroyed and the Millennium would begin. In 1879 Russell started his own magazine, Zion's Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Presence (now known as The Watchtower), to promote his doctrines. People were drawn to Russell's sensational endtime predictions, and the organization grew.
In spite of his lack of formal training in theology or biblical languages, Russell claimed to be the only one with the truth, and he vigorously condemned all other Christian religions. As a result, ministers of various denominations began exposing Russell's false teachings and questionable character. Rev. J.J.Ross published a pamphlet that exposed Russell's false claims and doctrines. He revealed that Russell "never attended the higher schools of learning: knows comparatively nothing of philosophy, systematic or historical theology; and is totally ignorant of the [biblical] languages [i.e. Hebrew and Greek]".(3) Ross concluded that Russell's teaching was "anti-rational, anti-scientific, anti-Biblical, [and] anti-Christian." (4) Russell unsuccessfully tried to stop circulation of this damaging information by suing Rev. Ross for defamatory libel.
However, he not only lost the suit, but in the process perjured himself in court when he lied under oath about his knowledge of the Greek language. In the end Russell admitted the statements about himself in the pamphlet were true. (5) In 1906 Russell's wife successfully sued for divorce because of "his conceit, egotism, domination and improper conduct in relation to other women," and won a settlement of $6,036. (6) The court severely censured Russell and called his conduct "insulting." "domineering" and "overbearing" to a degree which made life intolerable to a sensitive Christian woman.(7)
In 1913, Russell unsuccessfully sued The Brooklyn Daily Eagle for libel when that paper exposed his fraudulent attempts to sell ordinary wheat at the exorbitant price of $60 a bushel, claiming it was "Miracle Wheat." (8)Despite these setbacks, Russell continued to attract people with his fantastic prophetic interpretations and dramatic warning that Armageddon would strike in 1914. Whe 1914 came and went, he changed the date to 1915.
Russell died in 1916, leaving his followers doubting and disillusioned by his predictive failures. Joseph Franklin Rutherford then took control of the organization. Rutherford (1869-1942) also used the threat of Aramgeddon to intimidate JWs. He published The Finished Mystery, a book which predicted that in 1918 God would destroy churches and millions of their members, and claimed that by 1920 every kingdom would be swallowed up in anarchy. (9) Rutherford taught that the only way to escape the impending judgment and destruction was to join the Watchtower organization. Fear of Armageddon motivated Witnesses to work hard selling Rutherford's books and other Watchtower Society literature.
When the 1918 and 1920 predictions failed, Rutherford set a new date in his book titled Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1920). It taught that the millennium would start in 1925 and that Old Testament saints like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David would come back to life. The WT Society even built a luxurious Spanish mansion called Beth-Sarim (House of Princes), supposedly to house these patriarchs. In the meantime, however, Rutherford convenient moved into the mansion. He also drove an expensive new car throughout the Great Depression, while rank and file JWs sold Watchtower books and pamphlets door-to-door, and worked at Bethel headquarters for $10 - $15 a month. (10) Six years after Rutherford's death in 1942, the Old Testament saints still had not arrived, so the Society quietly sold "Ben Sarim," thus closing an embarassing chapter in their predictive history. (11)
Under the leadership of Nathan H. Knorr (1905-1977) the WT Society
put away date setting for a time and switched to a different strategy.
Since many of thier teachings could be refuted by key verses in
the King James Bible, Knorr set out to publish a different Bible
for JWs to use. Called the New World Translation (NWT), it blatantly
altered many verses to support Watchtower doctrine. The single
best example of this is John 1:1, which in the King James Version
clearly declares Jesus' deity - "the Word was God."
JWs deny the deity of Christ, so the NWT renders this phrase "the
Word was a god." The translation committee responsible for
the NWT was kept anonymous, undoubtedly to cover up their complete
lack of scholarly qualifications. None of the men who worked on
this project had any formal training in the biblical languages,
except for Frederick Franz. He was chairman of the committee and
had studied Greek for two years at the University of Cincinnati
without graduating, and was only self-taught in Hebrew. (12) After
Knorr's death, Franz became the Watchtower Society's new President.
From 1960 to 1966 the organization's growth rate slowed considerably.
At this point the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (WTB&TS)
introduced a new book and a new date for the end of the world.
Life Everlasting in the Freedom of the Sons of God (1966) by Vice
Presdient Franz (1894-?) concluded that the autumn of 1975 would
mark the beginning of the seveth period of human history. The
Society was careful to avoid printing an outright prediction,
but the message was clear to Jehovah's Witnesses everywhere -
Armageddon was coming soon. Some even sold their homes and property
in 1974 and were praised by their leaders for doing so. Membership
grew by the thousands until 1975 came and went. The many people
realized God was not leading the WT Society and left the organization.
The leaders of the WTB refused to admit they had been wrong about
1975, and instead told disillusioned JWs to "adjust their
viewpoint." (13)
Today many people are unaware of these damaging facts, and the
Witnesses continue to grow in number, publishing massive amounts
of deceptive literature. The WT Society demands complete loyalty
and still predicts Armageddon is coming soon with sure annihilation
for anyone who not join the organization by manipulation and false
prophecies, the WT Society still claims to be the only one teaching
the truth.
The Bible warns us that many false prophets will come claiming
to speak for God (Matthew 7:15; 1John 4:1). Thankfully, it also
provides a practical test for identifying false prophets. In Deuteronomy
18:21-22 we are told that anyone who claims to speak as a prophet
of God and predicts something that does not come true is a false
prophet. You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when
a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet
proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come
true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet
has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him." (NIV)
According to the Bible, one false prophecy makes the speaker a
false prophet. By this test the Watchtower Society's prophecies
concerning 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925 and 1975 prove beyond
a doubt it is a false prophet and that we should turn away from
this group's deceptive doctrines.
When and organization like the WTB & TS claims to be the
only true religion and the sole source of correct Bible teaching,
we must carefully examine their beliefs. If their doctrine are
true, they will be found in the Bible, and their teachings will
be consistent and unchanging year after year. Jehovah's Witnesses,
however deny or twist many of the Bible's basic teachings, and
their beliefs conflict with those held by orthodox Christians
down through the centuries. Consider the following comparisons.
Non-biblical Beliefs
The Nature of God. The Bible teaches that there is only
one true God (ISA. 43:10-11; 44:6,8). Father, Son and Holy Spirit
are identified as distinct Persons within the one Triune Godhead
(Matt. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 13:14). Throughout the New Testament the
Son and the Holy Spirit, as well as the Father are separately
identified as God. Each has divine attributes and acts as God
(Son: Mark 2:5-12; John 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Holy Spirit: Acts 5:3-4;
2Cor. 3:17-18).
By contrast, the WTB denies the triune nature of God and teaches
that such a belief is inspired by Satan. (14) It teaches that
Jehovah, the name of the one true God. corresponds only to God
the Father. JWs also deny that Jesus is God (see next point).
They deny the Holy Spirit is a person, and instead teach he is
merely God's active force, similar to electricity. (15)
Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is God
come in the flesh, and is the Creator of all things (John 1:1-3,14;
Col. 1:16). While never less than God, at the appointed time He
laid aside the glory He shared with the Father and took on a human
nature (John 17:3-5; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 2:9). Following his death,
Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave, appeared to and was recognized
in his body by over 500 people. This fact was crucial to both
the preaching and faith of the early church (Luke 24:39; John
2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:6, 14).
By contrast, the WTB denies the deity of Jesus Christ and teaches
that Jesus is a created being who existed as Michael the archangel
before being born as a perfect man. JWs believe that after Jesus
was buried. God disposed of his physical body. He was raised a
spirit creature and "materialized" a fleshly body to
make himself visible. Now in heaven he is once again known as
Michael the archangel."(16)
Salvation. The Bible teaches that the atoning work of
Christ alone provides the solution for man's sin problem. Jesus
Christ took the personal sins of all men - past, present and future
- in his own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24), and as perfect God
and perfect man he fully met the demands of Divine justice for
us (Romans 3:22-26). Therefore, any and all who receive him by
simple faith (John 1:12; Acts 16:3), can be forgiven, declared
righteous and restored to fellowship with God (2 Cor.5:21; Heb.7:24-26).
By contrast, the WTB teaches that only an elite group of Witnesses,
known as "the 144,000," or the "anointed ones"
are presently credited with Christ's righteousness. Only the 144,000
are born again and expect to reign with Christ in heaven. For
the vast majoiry of remaining JWs, known as the "other sheep"
or the "great crowd," the atoning sacrifice of Christ
only provides a chance at eternal life on earth. (17)
The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace alone apart
from any self-righteous works (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is nothing
we can do to contribute to our salvation because apart from Jesus
Christ we are "dead in our sins" (Eph. 2:1,5).
By contrast, the WTB teaches that salvation "will depend
on one's works." A person must first "come to Jehovah's
organization for salvation" (18) and then comply with everything
they teach. In this way, a relationship with the Jehovah's Witnesses
organization, rather than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,
is presented as the basis of salvation.
Soul Eternal Punishment. The Bible teaches the human
soul continues to exist consciously after death (Isa. 14:9-11;
Luke 16:19-31; Rev.6:9-11). Those who have rejected God's gift
of eternal life will sufer conscious eternal punishment (Matt.
25:41,46; Rev.14:10,11; 20:10,15).
By contrast, the WTB denies eternal punishment and teaches
that the soul cannot exist apart from the body. JWs believe that
death ends all conscious existence. Hell refers to the grave,
and those who are ultimately judged by God will be annihilated
and simply cease to exist. (19)
The Bible. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit's anointing
enables individual Christians to understand God's Word and properly
apply it to their lives (1 John 2:27). By contrast, the WTB
teaches that the Bible can only be interpreted by the Watchtower
Society, and no individual can learn the truth apart from them.
(20)