Jehovahs witnesses churches of men

THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN

• In our previous studies, we noted that in Matt 16:18-19 Jesus said he would build His church/kingdom. His church/kingdom is not of this world per John 18:36. It is spiritual in nature. He built only one per Eph 1:22-23 & 4:4.

• In Acts 2:47 we noted that on Pentecost in about AD33, the Lord added to the church those being saved who had repented and were baptized according to the gospel preached by Peter on that day.


• We also noted that those Colossians who had been baptized (immersed in water – Acts 8:36), were buried and then rose with Him in baptism. They were dead in trespasses, had been quickened or made alive with him and were forgiven of their sins by the Lord Col 2:11-13.

• We noted that upon their obedience to the gospel, the Colossians were translated into the kingdom of His dear Son per Col 1:13


• The Lord built His church/kingdom in the first century exactly the way He wanted it.

• According to Luke 1:33 there shall be no end to the Lord’s church/kingdom.

• We noted that in the first century there were local churches of Christ per Rom 1:16 and that the same pattern of teaching was taught in every local church (1 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 1:13)


• Since the first century, uninspired men have sought to build their own churches and have regulated them according to their own doctrine and commandments. See Matt 15:9

• John wrote in 2 John 9 that those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ do not have God.

• In John 6:46, the Lord asks why those call Him Lord and don’t do what He says.


• This will be the first of numerous studies examining the churches of men.

• We will note when they were established, who established them and some of their doctrine that contradicts the truth as written by the inspired apostles in the New Testament. These churches are not the Lord’s.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

• Date of Origin 1870• Founder Charles Taze Russell • Their BibleNew World Translation of the Holy

Scriptures• Authority Watchtower Bible and Tract

Society• Name Derived from God’s Name in the

Hebrew and “witnesses” in Isaiah 43:10 and similar passages.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford • Elected to replace Russell in 1917 and changed the

Society’s name to Jehovah's Witnesses• Wrote and published “Millions Now Living Will Never

Die” in 1920.• In it he predicted that the Jewish Patriarchs such as

Abraham and Jacob would be resurrected in 1925 marking the beginning of Christ’s thousand year reign.

• They weren’t and numerous other predictions failed to occur as well.


• They distribute Watchtower and Awake magazines door to door so you are likely to meet them at some time.

• They deny Jesus is God the Creator• They deny the three individuals of the

Godhead.• They deny baptism remits sin• They teach New Creation Theory (NCT)


• Watchtower Bible and Tract Society• “We need to examine, not only what we

personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God's word, or are they based on the traditions of men?”- The Truth the Leads to Eternal Life, p. 13

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• Testimony of JW’s in Scotland trial in 1954• Testimony of Frederick W. Franz • Franz was Watchtower Society vice-president in 1954, but later

became president.• Q. Is there any hope of salvation for a man who depends upon

his Bible alone when he is in a situation in the world where he cannot get the tracts and publications of your Incorporation? A. He is dependent on the Bible.

• Q. Will he be able to interpret it truly? A. No. (p. 133)

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• Testimony of Frederick W. Franz:• Q. Can you tell me this; are these theological publications and

semi-monthly periodicals used for discussion or statements of doctrine? A. Yes.

• Q. Are these statements held to be authoritative? A. Yes.

• Q. Is their acceptance a matter of choice, or is it obligatory on all those who wish to be and remain members of the Society? A. It is obligatory.(p. 4)


• And furthermore: • Q. Is it for that reason that Jehovah's witnesses

accept without question doctrines and Biblical interpretations as expounded by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society through its Directors? A. Yes.

• Q. In publications both periodical and in book form?A. Yes. (p. 25)


• Also:• Q. A witness has no alternative, has he, to

accept as authoritative and to be obeyed, instructions in the "Watchtower" or the "Informant" or "Awake!"?A. He must accept those. (p. 123)

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• So, public Watchtower literature agrees with the Bible

when it instructs all people to question every teaching they hear - including teachings of the Watchtower Society - by comparing them to the Bible. But on trial the Watchtower officials admitted that actually Jehovah's Witnesses must accept the teachings of the Watchtower periodicals and books "without question." They have "no alternative" but to accept them. So these Watchtower officials contradict their own publications. More important, they contradict the Bible.

• Note Acts 17:11, 1 Thess 2:13 and 2 John 9.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• They deny Jesus is God• Matt 1:23 …shall call His name Emmanuel which being

interpreted is God with us.• John 1:1 & 14 In the beginning was the Word and the

Word was with God and the Word was God …and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us…

• Heb 1:8 ..unto the Son He saith, Thy throne O God is forever…

• John 8:24 & 58..if ye believe not that I Am…before Abraham was, I Am…


• They deny the Godhead• Gen 1:26 And God said Let us make man in

our image…• Matt 28:19 ..baptizing them in the name of

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit• John 14:26 ..the Comforter which is the Holy

Spirit the Father will send in my name…

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• They deny baptism remits sin• In The Truth That leads to Eternal Life, they state: "When love for God

moves you so that you want to do his will, then it is proper that you go to him in prayer. . . . It is appropriate that you tell Jehovah that you want to belong to him and that you want to do his will. . . After you have made your dedication to Jehovah to do his will, he will expect you to keep it. . . . What, then does Christian baptism signify? It is not a washing away of one's sins, because cleansing from sin comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:7). Rather, it is a public demonstration, testifying that one has made a solemn dedication to Jehovah God and is presenting himself to do his will. . . . If you have made up your mind to serve Jehovah and want to be baptized, then make this known to the overseer of the congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses with which you are associated. He will gladly assist you without any charge for the baptism" (pp. 182-194,

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• In The Watchtower magazine (4-1-93), they carried an article entitled:

"Baptize!" they ask: • "Why did Jesus require that his disciples be baptized? Well, it was a

fitting symbol of their whole-hearted dedication to God .... Are you one who has been associated with Jehovah's Witnesses for some time? Perhaps you have already made the necessary changes in your life in accordance with Bible principles but have not taken the steps of dedication and baptism. .. . There are many people who have taken in an accurate knowledge of the Bible but have not yet fully availed themselves of God's provision for salvation by being baptized.... A person who truly has such love and wants a special relationship with Jehovah God would not hold back from freely dedicating his life to him. Baptism is but an outward symbol of that dedication" (pp. 5-7)


• God says:• Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise,

and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. KJV

• Acts 2:38 ..Repent and be baptized ….for the remission of sins…

• 1 Pet 3:21 …baptism doth also now save us• Mark 16:16…he that believeth and is baptized

shall be saved…

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• They teach New Creation Theology (NCT)• Rutherford wrote, “He (Jehovah) ordained also that a

certain specific number should be chosen from amongst men to be his joint heirs in the Kingdom -- participants with him of the New Creation. We have every reason to believe that the definite, fixed number of the elect is that several times stated in Revelation (7:4; 14:1); namely 144,000 ’redeemed from amongst men’.” The New Creation, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, page 179.

• To be joint heirs in the kingdom means the 144,000 rule with Him in heaven.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• The Jehovah’s Witness organization contends that the earth will

never pass away; it will simply go through a process of cleansing and renovation. According to them, the earth will be changed but not pass away. This will allegedly occur after the final judgment.

• J.F. Rutherford, one of the founders and principal representatives of the Jehovah’s Witness organization wrote as follows: “When mankind reaches perfection at the close of the Millennial age, as already shown, they will be admitted into membership in the Kingdom of God and given the entire control of earth as at first designed -- each man a sovereign, a king.” The Plan of the Ages, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Brooklyn, NY, Page 296.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES• To the Jehovah’s Witness, Armageddon is a righteous war fought by

God.• This war of God will prepare the way for a righteous new order.

Unlike wars of men, which kill both the good and the bad, Armageddon will destroy only the bad (Psa. 92:7). Jehovah God will be the Judge, and he will remove any who willfully refuse to obey his righteous laws. . . After Armageddon, no part of this wicked world will remain. Only persons who serve God will continue to live (1 Jn. 2:17) (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Brooklyn, NY, 1982, p. 155).

• These are not the 144,000 who are in heaven. These will live on a physical renovated earth forever.


• What does God say?• Matt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away• 2 Pet 3:10-12 …the earth …shall be burned up• Heb 1:10-12 …they shall perish…• Rev 20:11 ..the earth and the heaven fled

away• Rev 21:1 ..the first heaven and the first earth

were passed away


• 1 Cor 15:23-24 …then cometh the end..• John 5:28-29 ..all that are in the graves shall

hear His voice and come forth….• 1 Thess 4:16-17..the dead in Christ shall rise

first…• Matt 25:31-46 …When the Son of man shall

come in His glory…He shall separate the sheep from the goats….


• 2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be ….KJV

• John 8:24 Believe• Luke 13:3 & 5 Repent• Mat 10:32 Confess• Mk 16:16 Baptized• James 1:25 Continue

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