Stumpers for the Jehovah's Witnesses

The sect known as Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) began with Charles Taze Russell in the
1870’s. Russell was raised a Presbyterian, then joined the Congregational church,
and was finally influenced by Adventist teachings. By his own admission, he had a
hard time accepting the existence of hell. He sought out the Bible, and as his
"studies" continued, he systematically began to reject the major doctrines of
historic Christianity. He ultimately established his own belief system, and in
1879 he started publishing a magazine to promote his beliefs. This magazine was
the precursor to today’s Watchtower (WT) magazine, by which Jehovah’s Witnesses
are typically known.

In this tract we will examine five topics relating to Russell, the JWs, and their
parent organization, the Watch Tower Society (WTS). We will show that the beliefs
of JWs are unscriptural, and that both Russell and the WTS are completely
unreliable as spiritual guides.

1. Is the Watch Tower Society Reliable?

In 1910 Russell wrote, "If anyone lays the Scripture Studies [short for a 7-volume
WTS publication entitled Studies in the Scriptures, hereafter abbreviated as
Studies] aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with
them, after he has read them for ten years—if he lays them aside and ignores them
and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood the Bible for ten years, our
experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand,
if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references and had not read
a page of the Bible, as such, he will be in the light at the end of two years . .
. " (WT Reprints, 9-15-1910, 4685). The WTS maintains that it is God’s reliable
mouthpiece to the nations, and it claims to be God’s inspired prophet (WT, 4-1-
1972, 197)—and yet its prophecies have repeatedly proven to be false. The only
conclusion to be drawn is that the WTS is to be rejected as a false prophet.

Among other things, the WTS predicted the following: 1889 "The ‘battle of the
great day of God almighty’ (Rev 16:14) which will end in AD 1914 . . . " (Studies,
Vol. 2, 1908 edition, 101).
1891 "With the end of AD 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call
Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown from prophecy" (Studies, Vol.
3, 153).
1894 "The end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the
time of trouble" (WT Reprints, 1-1-1894, 1605 and 1677).
1897 "Our Lord is now present, since October 1874 AD" (Studies, Vol. 4, 1897
edition, 621).
1916 "The six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the
great 7th day, the 1000 years of Christ’s reign began in 1873" (Studies, Vol. 2,
p. 2 of foreword).
1917 "Scriptures . . . prove that the Lord’s Second Advent occurred in the fall of
1874" (Studies, Vol. 7, 68).
1918 "Therefore, we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the faithful prophets of old" (Millions Now Living Will
Never Die, 89).
1922 "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the scriptures than 1914"
(WT, 9-1-1922, 262).
1923 "1925 is definitely settled by the scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now
has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his
faith in a coming deluge" (WT, 4-1-1923, 106).
1925 "The year of 1925 is here. . . . Christians should not be so deeply concerned
about what may transpire this year" (WT, 1-1-1925, 3).
1931 "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones
on earth concerning the dates 1914, 1918, & 1925 . . . and they also learned to
quit fixing dates" (Vindication, 388, 389).
1939 "The disaster of Armageddon is just ahead" (Salvation, 361).
1941 "Armageddon is surely near . . . soon . . . within a few years" (Children,
10).
1946 "Armageddon . . . should come sometime before 1972" (They Have Found a Faith,
44).
1966 "Six thousand years from man’s creation will end in 1975, and the seventh
period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E"
(Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, 29).
1968 "The end of the six thousand years of man’s history in the fall of 1975 is
not tentative, but is accepted as a certain date" (WT, 1-1-1968, 271).

Besides false prophesies, the WTS has misled its members through countless changes
in doctrine and practice:

"To worship Christ in any form cannot be wrong ... " (WT, 3-1880, 83). "It is
unscriptural for worshippers of the living and true God to render worship to the
Son of God, Jesus Christ" (WT, 11-1-1964, 671).

The men of Sodom will be resurrected (WT, 7-1879, 7-8). The men of Sodom will not
be resurrected (WT, 6-1-1952, 338). The men of Sodom will be resurrected (WT 8-1-
1965, 479). The men of Sodom will not be resurrected (WT 6-1-1988, 31). The men of
Sodom will be resurrected (Live Forever, early ed., 179). The men of Sodom will
not be resurrected (Live Forever, later ed., 179). The men of Sodom will be
resurrected (Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2, 985). The men of Sodom will not be
resurrected (Revelation: Its Grand Climax at Hand! 273).

"There could be nothing against our consciences in going into the army" (WT, 4-15-
1903, 120). Due to conscience, Jehovah’s Witnesses must refuse military service
(WT, 2-1-1951, 73).

"We may as well join in with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event
[Christmas] . . . " (WT Reprints, 12-1-1904, 3468). "Christmas and its music are
not from Jehovah . . . What is their source? . . . Satan the devil" (WT, 12-15-
1983, 7).

"Everyone in America should take pleasure in displaying the American flag" (WT
Reprints, 5-15-1917, 6068). The flag is "an idolatrous symbol" (Awake!, 9-8-71,
14).

A much longer list of such contradictions and doctrinal twists by the WTS could be
formed, but this suffices to remove any reason one might have to believe that "It
is through the columns of The Watchtower that Jehovah provides direction and
constant scriptural counsel to his people . . . " (WT, 5-1-1964, 277). If that is
the case, who is to say what will be taught tomorrow?

2. Can You Trust the New World Translation?

The New World Translation (NWT), the JWs’ own Bible version, was created between
1950-61 in several parts, beginning with New Testament (NT). The translation was
made by an "anonymous" committee, which transliterated and altered passages that
were problematic for earlier JWs. Nathan Knorr, Fred Franz, Albert Schroeder,
George Gangas, and Milton Henschel were later identified as the men that created
the text, which is used by no other sect. Franz studied non-biblical Greek for two
years, and taught himself Hebrew. The rest had no formal training in any biblical
language. The text of the NWT is more of a transliteration to fit theological
presumptions than it is a true translation. This can be seen in key verses that
the WTS changed in order to fit its doctrines.

To undermine the divinity of Christ in John 1:1, the NWT reads, " . . . the word
was a god." Non-JW Greek scholars call this "a shocking mistranslation,"
"incorrect," "monstrous," and "evidence of abysmal ignorance of the basic tenets
of Greek grammar." Furthermore, Col. 1:15-17 has been changed to "... by means of
him all [other] things were created." If the text were left as the original Greek
reads, it would clearly state that Jesus created all things. However, the WTS
cannot afford to say that anyone but Jehovah created all things, so it inserted
the word "other" four times into the text.

The 1950, 1961, and 1970 editions of the NWT said that Jesus was to be worshipped
(Heb. 1:6), but the WTS changed the NWT so that later editions would support its
doctrines. The translators now decided to render the Greek word for "worship"
(proskuneo) as "do obeisance" every time it is applied to Jesus, but as "worship"
when modifying Jehovah. If the translators were consistent, then Jesus would be
given the worship due to God in Matthew. 14:33, 28:9, 28:17, Luke 24:52, John
9:38, and Hebrews 1:6.

At the time of the Last Supper, there were over three dozen Aramaic words to say
"this means," "represents," or "signifies," but Jesus used none of them in his
statement, "This is my body." Since the WTS denies the Catholic teaching on the
Eucharist, they have taken the liberty to change our Lord’s words to "This means
my body" in Matthew 26:26.

The NWT also translates the Greek word kurios ("Lord") as "Jehovah" dozens of
times in the NT, despite the fact that the word "Jehovah" is never used by any NT
author. It should also be asked why the NWT does not translate kurios as "Jehovah"
in Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 12:3, Philippians 2:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, and
Revelation 22:21. If it did translate kyrios consistently, then Jesus would be
Jehovah!

3. Is "Jehovah" God’s Name?

In Reasoning From the Scriptures the WTS teaches that "Jehovah" is the proper
pronunciation of God’s name, and so "Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah
will be saved" (Rom. 10:13). They continue, "Many scholars favor the spelling
‘Yahweh,’ but it is uncertain and there is not agreement among them. On the other
hand, ‘Jehovah’ is the form of the name that is most readily recognized, because
it has been used in English for centuries . . . " (p. 195).

However, the JWs’ own Aid to Bible Understanding says, "The first recorded use of
this form [Jehovah] dates from the 13th century C.E. [after Christ]. Raymundus
Martini, a Spanish monk of the Dominican order, used it in his book Pugeo Fidei of
the year 1270. Hebrew scholars generally favor ‘Yahweh’ as the most likely
pronunciation" (pp. 884-885).

New Testament Greek always uses the word "Lord," and never "Jehovah," even in
quotes from the Old Testament (OT). Encyclopedia Judaica, Webster’s Encyclopedia,
Jewish Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, Universal Jewish Encyclopedia and
countless others agree that the title "Jehovah" is erroneous, grammatically
impossible, and was never used by the Jews.

4. Do Humans Possess an Immortal Soul?

Another mistake made by JWs is their denial of the immortality of the soul. The
Bible mentions the soul approximately 200 times, and it can be seen to have very
different meanings according to the context of each passage. This tract will
simply demonstrate that the soul is immortal according to Scripture.

Perhaps the strongest contradiction of the WTS doctrine is seen in Christ’s

descent to Hades. In 1 Peter 3:19, the apostle tells his audience how Jesus
"preached to the spirits in prison." If the dead were aware of nothing, then his
preaching would have been futile. In the OT, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the
condition of the dead, "Sheol underneath has become agitated at you in order to
meet you on coming in . . . all of them speak up and say. . . . Those seeing you
will gaze even at you, saying . . . " (Is. 14:9-11). These verses indicate clearly
that the dead are conscious, and the NT tells the same story. To be absent from
the body is not to be unconscious, but rather it enables one to be home with the
Lord, according to Paul (2 Cor. 5:8, Phil. 1:23). The body is just a tent, or
tabernacle that does not last (2 Cor. 5:1-4; 2 Pet. 1:13), while man cannot kill
the soul (Matt. 10:28). In fact, the souls live past the death of the bodies,
since John "saw . . . the souls of those slaughtered . . . and they cried with a
loud voice, saying . . . and they were told . . . " (Rev. 6:9-11). Because the
soul does not die with the flesh, those in heaven are able to offer our prayers to
God (Rev. 5:8), and live in happiness (Rev. 14:13).

5. Is Hell Real or Not?

The WTS also maintains that everlasting punishment is a myth and a lie invented by
Satan. Hell is merely mankind’s common grave, and is definitely not a fiery
torture, according to them.

According to Scripture, if one is in hell, "he shall be tormented with fire and
sulfur . . . the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and day and
night they have no rest" (Rev. 14:11). This is an "everlasting fire prepared for
the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41). Jesus tells his listeners of Lazarus and
the rich man, where the rich man dies, and is "existing in torment . . . he sees .
. . calls out . . . ‘I am in anguish in this blazing fire’" (Luke 16:19-31). As a
further illustration, Jesus stated that hell is likened to Gehenna. This "Valley
of Hinnom" was located southeast of Jerusalem, and was used as a garbage dump
where trash and waste were continuously burned day and night in a large fire.
Jesus informs the listeners that hell is like this, "where the maggot does not
die, and fire is not put out" (Mark 9:42-48). It is the place where the wicked are
sent, and from this "everlasting fire" (Matt. 18:8) will come "weeping and the
gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 8:12). Now if hell were "a place of rest in hope" as the
WTS teaches, then it is odd that Jesus would choose such contradictory
illustrations to convey this. Lastly, Revelation 20 calls hell a "pool of fire . .
. [where] they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever"—all who are not
in the book of life. So, if one’s name is in the book of life, one enters heaven
(Rev. 21:27). If it not in the book, then a literal hell awaits.

For more information on refuting JW beliefs, see the Catholic Answers tract More
Stumpers for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

NIHIL OBSTAT: I have concluded that the materials

presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors.
Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004

IMPRIMATUR: In accord with 1983 CIC 827

permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004