With Harold C. Felder . ©Copyright Harold C. Felder Road Map DisclaimerDisclaimer OriginsOrigins...

With Harold C. Felder

www.GivingAnAnswer.org

©Copyright Harold C. Felder www.GivingAnAnswer.org

Road MapRoad Map

• DisclaimerDisclaimer• OriginsOrigins• Statistics Statistics • PracticesPractices• BeliefsBeliefs• DangersDangers• Reaching them for ChristReaching them for Christ• Summary Summary


DisclaimerDisclaimer

• We are commanded to oppose We are commanded to oppose false doctrinefalse doctrine


Statistics for 2005Statistics for 2005

• Membership at 6,613,829 in 235 Membership at 6,613,829 in 235 countriescountries

• There are 98,269 congregationsThere are 98,269 congregations• Conducted an average of Conducted an average of

6,061,546 Bible studies6,061,546 Bible studies


OriginsOrigins

• Charles Taze RussellCharles Taze Russell- Born February 16, 1852 and raised Born February 16, 1852 and raised

PresbyterianPresbyterian- Russell meet N.H. Barbour who was Russell meet N.H. Barbour who was

associated with the Adventist who taught associated with the Adventist who taught that Christ returned spiritually in 1874that Christ returned spiritually in 1874

- Russell provided Barbour with financial Russell provided Barbour with financial backing in exchange for serving on the backing in exchange for serving on the staff of the staff of the The Herald of the MorningThe Herald of the Morning as an as an assistant editor assistant editor

- Russell and Barbour split over theological Russell and Barbour split over theological differences so they parted ways with a differences so they parted ways with a number of Adventist leaving with Russell number of Adventist leaving with Russell

- The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1896was founded in 1896

- Died October 31, 1916Died October 31, 1916


PracticesPractices

• Door-to-door witnessing is Door-to-door witnessing is necessary for salvation necessary for salvation

• They are governed by the They are governed by the “Governing Body” in Brooklyn NY“Governing Body” in Brooklyn NY

• Members meet in Kingdom Halls Members meet in Kingdom Halls five times a weekfive times a week

• Reject celebration of religious, Reject celebration of religious, national, or cultural holidays as national, or cultural holidays as pagan and idolatrous pagan and idolatrous


PracticesPractices

• Members who disobey the rules Members who disobey the rules can be disfellowshippedcan be disfellowshipped

• They are not allowed to read any They are not allowed to read any material other than the Watch material other than the Watch Tower’sTower’s

• Reading the Bible without the Reading the Bible without the help of Watch Tower literature is help of Watch Tower literature is forbiddenforbidden


BeliefsBeliefs

• God God - The name JehovahThe name Jehovah

» God is only to be referred to as God is only to be referred to as JehovahJehovah

» Superstitious scribes removed the Superstitious scribes removed the namename

» Calling on the name of Jehovah is Calling on the name of Jehovah is necessary for salvation necessary for salvation

» God is not a trinityGod is not a trinity


BeliefsBeliefs

• Response Response - The name JehovahThe name Jehovah

» Ex. 3:15 actually contains the Ex. 3:15 actually contains the tetragram YHWH which most scholars tetragram YHWH which most scholars actually pronounced Yahwehactually pronounced Yahweh

» In thousands of Greek NT manuscripts In thousands of Greek NT manuscripts the tetragram does not appear even the tetragram does not appear even once once

» Jehovah is a man made term and does Jehovah is a man made term and does not appear once in Scripturenot appear once in Scripture

• It is a combination of vowels with Adonai It is a combination of vowels with Adonai and the constants YHWH and the constants YHWH

• YYaaHHooWWaaH or JehovahH or Jehovah


BeliefsBeliefs

• Response Response - Pagan RootsPagan Roots

» Babylonians and Assyrians believed in Babylonians and Assyrians believed in polytheism polytheism


BeliefsBeliefs

• The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit - An impersonal force like electricity An impersonal force like electricity - Being filled, baptized, and anointed Being filled, baptized, and anointed

by the Holy Spirit would make no by the Holy Spirit would make no sense if it were a person sense if it were a person

- Passages that refer to the Holy Passages that refer to the Holy Spirit as a person are merely Spirit as a person are merely personifications personifications


BeliefsBeliefs

• Response Response - The Holy Spirit has all the attributes The Holy Spirit has all the attributes

of personhoodof personhood» MindMind» EmotionsEmotions» Will Will » Refers to Himself as a personRefers to Himself as a person


BeliefsBeliefs

• Response Response - Being Filled with the Holy Spirit Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

does not mean He cannot be a does not mean He cannot be a personperson

- The Holy Spirit is God The Holy Spirit is God


BeliefsBeliefs

• Jesus Jesus - Jesus was not GodJesus was not God- He was the first of God’s creation, He was the first of God’s creation,

through which God created through which God created everything elseeverything else

- He existed for billions of years in He existed for billions of years in his prehuman state as Michael the his prehuman state as Michael the Archangel Archangel

- He gave up his spiritual existence He gave up his spiritual existence when his life force was transferred when his life force was transferred into Mary’s womb into Mary’s womb


BeliefsBeliefs

• Jesus Jesus - He was resurrected a spirit creatureHe was resurrected a spirit creature

» Jesus resumed his identity as Michael Jesus resumed his identity as Michael the Archangel after the resurrectionthe Archangel after the resurrection


BeliefsBeliefs

• Response Response - All things, not all other things were All things, not all other things were

created “by Him and for Him” (Col. created “by Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16) 1:16)

- Christ cannot be the Archangel Christ cannot be the Archangel MichaelMichael

» 1 Thes. 4:16 simply means that 1 Thes. 4:16 simply means that Michael will return with Christ Michael will return with Christ

» Jesus rebuked Satan (Mt. 4:10; 16:23; Jesus rebuked Satan (Mt. 4:10; 16:23; Mk.: 8:33) but Michael could not (Jude Mk.: 8:33) but Michael could not (Jude 9)9)


BeliefsBeliefs

• Response Response - Jesus rose in the same body that was Jesus rose in the same body that was

crucifiedcrucified» The empty tomb indicated that the body which The empty tomb indicated that the body which

vacated is the same one that occupied it. vacated is the same one that occupied it. (Matt. 28) (Matt. 28)

» The crucifixion scars on the resurrection body The crucifixion scars on the resurrection body shows it was the same one that died. (Jn. shows it was the same one that died. (Jn. 20:27)20:27)

» Jesus said that he would raise his body Jesus said that he would raise his body (temple) in three days (Jn. 2:19) (temple) in three days (Jn. 2:19)

» 1 Cor. 15:44 was referring to a Spirit controlled 1 Cor. 15:44 was referring to a Spirit controlled bodybody


BeliefsBeliefs

• Response Response - Jesus is 100% man and 100% GodJesus is 100% man and 100% God


BeliefsBeliefs

• Salvation Salvation - Works basedWorks based

» Christ’s death only wiped out Adam’s Christ’s death only wiped out Adam’s sin and allows us the opportunity to sin and allows us the opportunity to work out our own salvation work out our own salvation

- Only available to Jehovah’s Only available to Jehovah’s Witnesses Witnesses


BeliefsBeliefs

• Response Response - Salvation is by Grace aloneSalvation is by Grace alone- In Christ alone In Christ alone


BeliefsBeliefs

• The After LifeThe After Life - The anointed class The anointed class

» This is made up of the 144,000 people This is made up of the 144,000 people who will inhabit heavenwho will inhabit heaven

» This number was sealed in 1935 This number was sealed in 1935 » They will receive a recreated spirit They will receive a recreated spirit

bodybody

- The earthly classThe earthly class» The remainder of Jehovah’s followersThe remainder of Jehovah’s followers» They will live here on earth, ruled by They will live here on earth, ruled by

the anointed classthe anointed class» They will receive a recreated body and They will receive a recreated body and

personality from the memory of God personality from the memory of God


BeliefsBeliefs

• The After LifeThe After Life - Soul sleepSoul sleep

» All men, even the righteous remain All men, even the righteous remain unconscious and inactive in the grave unconscious and inactive in the grave until the resurrectionuntil the resurrection

- AnnihilationAnnihilation» Hell does not exists. God simply Hell does not exists. God simply

destroys those who are not JW’sdestroys those who are not JW’s


BeliefsBeliefs

• ResponseResponse - Regarding 144,000 Regarding 144,000

» Inconsistent interpretationInconsistent interpretation» Indicates only men would be in heavenIndicates only men would be in heaven

- Heaven is classlessHeaven is classless» No where in Scripture does it say that No where in Scripture does it say that

heaven is limited to 144,000heaven is limited to 144,000

- All believers will receive a bodily All believers will receive a bodily resurrectionresurrection


BeliefsBeliefs

• ResponseResponse - The soul does exists after deathThe soul does exists after death- Hell does exists Hell does exists

» Jesus taught it (Lk. 16)Jesus taught it (Lk. 16)» God’s love demands a hellGod’s love demands a hell» God’s justice demands a hell God’s justice demands a hell » The Cross implies hellThe Cross implies hell


BeliefsBeliefs

• ResponseResponse - Annihilation is unbiblical Annihilation is unbiblical

» The rich man in hell was in conscious The rich man in hell was in conscious torment (Lk. 16)torment (Lk. 16)

» Punishment can only be experience by Punishment can only be experience by those who are consciousthose who are conscious

» There are no degrees of annihilation There are no degrees of annihilation yet the Bible talks about degrees of yet the Bible talks about degrees of punishment (Rev. 20:12-14, Mt. 5:22)punishment (Rev. 20:12-14, Mt. 5:22)


DangersDangers

• Physical considerationsPhysical considerations- Organ transplants Organ transplants - Blood transfusionsBlood transfusions

• SpiritualSpiritual- There is no salvation in the There is no salvation in the

Watchtower organizationWatchtower organization


Reaching them for ChristReaching them for Christ

• Discredit the Watchtower Discredit the Watchtower organizationorganization

- False propheciesFalse prophecies» 1925 – The Return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 1925 – The Return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,

and the Prophetsand the Prophets» 1975 – End of Human History1975 – End of Human History

- Discredit their TranslationDiscredit their Translation» Not recognized by any legitimate scholars as a Not recognized by any legitimate scholars as a

reliable translation reliable translation » Credentials of the translators are non existentCredentials of the translators are non existent

- Emphasize your relationship with GodEmphasize your relationship with God


SummarySummary

• Jehovah’s Witness teachings are Jehovah’s Witness teachings are culticcultic

- Distorted view of ChristDistorted view of Christ- Distorted view of GodDistorted view of God

• Jehovah’s Witness teachings are Jehovah’s Witness teachings are unbiblicalunbiblical

• Jehovah’s Witness teachings are Jehovah’s Witness teachings are dangerousdangerous


The EndThe End

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