In the past several weeks many members of the church have come to me with questions about the
doctrine of the "Jehovah's Witnesses Sect." I feel it advisable to provide some material that will
be useful in refuting their false and erroneous claims. Their errors are:
Error in founder and foundation. 2. Error in predicting the time of Christ's second advent.
But the Scriptures speak to the contrary: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord
doth come" (Matt. 24:42). "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the
Son of Man cometh" (Matt. 24:44). These passages teach us not to set a date for the Lord's
return. Take a positive approach to Matt. 24:44 and it reads like this: "for in such an hour as ye
think (the Lord will come), the Son of Man cometh (not)." But Russell violated this very thing in
setting a date for Christ to return. But you may wonder how they explain the fact that he was not
seen and is not now seen. They simply say his return was invisible. Now, then, notice how that
attitude violates this scripture: "Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him and
they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Rev. 1:7).
The second coming of Christ is a future thing that all will be able to see. Jehovah's Witnesses
don't like to discuss Russell's blunder.
3. Error of denying the Deity and Divinity of Christ.
But contrary to Russell's opinion that Christ was not a combination of humanity and Divinity, and
was merely "a man," and merely "human," the word of God says: "for in him (Christ) dwelleth all
the fullness of the godhead bodily" (Con. 2:9). "Who (Christ) being the brightness of his
(God's) glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on
high" (Heb. 1:3). During his earthly ministry, he said of himself: "If ye had known me, ye should
have known my father also: and henceforth ye know him and have seen him" (Jno. 14:7). John
says of him: "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of
the Father, he hath declared him" (Jno. 1:18). His very name refutes this Divinity denying
doctrine. "And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us"
(Matt. 1:23). Truly, Jesus was God and man combined and was the only begotten Son of God
while on this earth.
4. Error in denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
Now, will the reader read very carefully 1 Cor. 15:4-8? In this passage you will, find the following evidence that Jesus was visible in bodily form after his resurrection; i.e. was seen of:
(1) "Cephas (Peter) and then of the twelve."
(2) After -- "he was seen of about five hundred brethren."
(3) Of James and "all the apostles."
(4) Finally by Paul himself.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Christ was raised invisible and the Bible teaches that he was raised
in visible bodily form. A final Bible proof of this false claim is found in the experience of Thomas
the doubter. He doubted that what he saw was Jesus whom he knew to be dead. He touched the
Lord's raised body and believed (Jno.. 20:25, 28). What did he touch? the body of Christ, or his
invisible spirit? The answer is evident.
5. Error in denying eternal punishment of the wicked.
Russell teaches here that the "full penalty" of willful sinners is "not a life in torment." But what of Bible teaching? "When the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thess. 1:7-10). In this passage, the word "everlasting" is from the Greek, aionos. It is elsewhere translated, "eternal," "everlasting," and "for ever." We find it in the following passages: "And these shall go away into everlasting (aionios) punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (aionios)" (Matt. 25:46). "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 13:42). "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting (aionios) fire" (Matt. 24:41).
(1) Eternal or everlasting life and punishment are of the same duration, i.e.. never ending.
(2) Punishment and torment is evident in the wailing and the gnashing of teeth.
(3) It is compared to torment in fire.
(4) The fire is everlasting or eternal.
It is summed up in the words of John: "And they shall be tormented day and night forever and
ever" (Rev. 20:10).
6. Error in denying that man has an immortal soul. Jesus replied to this materialistic concept of man in answering the Sadducees in the following
words: "Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord
the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the
dead, but of the living: for all live unto him" (Luke 20:37-39). But how can God be the God of
the living and also be God of dead men, viz. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who were dead at the
time Moses said this? By the fact that men do exist beyond the grave and the dead are raised.
God has given man an immortal soul. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were alive for they had immortal
souls as do all God's human creation. In this man differs from the beast.
If the reader will carefully study Luke 16:19-21, he will find the story of the rich man and beggar
Lazarus. In the story are the following facts:
(1) Both died (vs. 22).
(2) The rich man existed in hell and Lazarus in Abraham,',; bosom. (vs. 24).
(3) The rich man was tormented. (vs. 24).
(4) The emotions of the rich man were strained for his 'Live brethren, still alive, who might be
sent where he was. (vs. 28). Hence, here we find the very opposite of Jehovah's Witness doctrine.
But many times they say that is not a reality but a parable. However, although I deny that it is a
parable, let's for a moment grant that it is a parable. A parable is a comparison of some
experience of life familiar to people that teaches some vital truth. Now, what was Christ
comparing the incident to? Absolutely nothing! He was teaching the existence of life beyond the
grave both in bliss and torment.
I hope and pray that this bit of material will aid those of you who have to meet the representatives
of the Jehovah's Witness Sect. Therefore, it is sent forth with a prayer for the exaltation of Bible
truth and the glory of the kingdom of God.
Compliments of
West End Church of Christ
1609 Parkside Drive
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42122
(502) 842-7880