ProJesus

“Dear JESUS, I have a problem...It’s me” “Dear child, I have the answer.....It’s ME”

JEHOVAH  WITNESS

After the Civil War, many religious groups came forward professing “another Jesus” (They professed to be Christian).  Besides the Jehovah Witnesses, there were the Christian Science, the Unity and many other organizations professing a different gospel.  Their teachings basically said that Jesus is not God.  Because of this heresy, an organization was formed from the various conservative Christian Churches.  This group became known as the “Fundamentalists”.  They stated many beliefs, however, their main concern was to state “The Essentials of Christianity”.
They are:
     1.  That the Bible is from God and is without error.
     2.  The “trinity” is true and Jesus is the one true God.
     3.  The virgin birth and other miracles in the Bible.
     4.  Jesus, God the Son, died on the cross for our sins.
     5. Jesus rose from the dead, is alive today and will return as King and judge over all creation.

When asked, why are you talking about Jesus, an excellent response is “Jesus told me to do so”.  It’s in the Great Commission  Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Also 1Peter 3:15 tells us to “....Always be prepared to have an answer to everyone who asks you...”.  In doing so, it is important to follow 2 Tim 2:24-26 “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel.....”  Also see Col 4:5-6.

It is harder to get information about the Jehovah Witnesses because they are very secretive!!  I'm not saying that they are underground or subversive, but, you will not find an author on any of their publications or books.  They all come from the "Watchtower Society".  So, you can't say that any particular person was a false prophet.   Their magazines have been revised and have changed some prophecies for the last 30-40 years.  Not one person takes responsibility.

The following is a short History of the Jehovah Witnesses (J.W.):
HISTORY
The Jehovah Witnesses were started by Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916).
1865 End of the Civil War—there was much uproar about society, politics and religion.
1867  Charles Russell’s parents were Presbyterians but at the age of 15, he decided to join the Congregation Church.
1870 Charles Russell started Bible studies (age 18).  (Note comparison to Joseph Smith who started the Mormon Church).
1877 Charles Russell with N.H. Barbour wrote a 194 page book entitled “Three worlds or Plan of Redemption”--The book states that Christ’S second coming was in 1874 and He was invisible. Then, a 40 year period began which would end in 1914 as the end of the Gentile times.
1880 There were 30 Congregations.
1881 The Zion’s Watchtower tract society was formed.
1884 The recognized year as the official beginning of the J.W.’s
1886 Charles Russell wrote the “Scripture Studies Series”.  He has this to say  about his own writings; “Not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the
Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the ‘Scripture 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 then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his 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 would be in the light at the end of two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures”.
1916 After Russell’s death, Joseph Rutherford became president and made many changes.
1918 Many leaders were found guilty of refusing duty in the military.  Again in WWII.
1942 After Rutherford’s death, Nathan Knorr (1905-1977) became the third president.  The leadership was placed into the hands of a board known as the Governing Board.  The society started publishing their books and articles anonymously.  They translated the Bible into their own New World Translation under Nathan Knorr.
1977 Knorr died and Fredrick Franz (1893-1992) became president.  Under his term, some leaders rejected that only 144,000 Christians will be “born again”.
1992 When Franz died a remember of the Governing Body, Milton Henschel became president.

What about some of their Teaching and Prophecies?
TEACHINGS
Let’s look at one of the changes in their teachings.  The Watchtower magazine of 1880 said that “to worship Christ in any form cannot be wrong”.  Again in another issue in1882.  Then, many years later, the Watchtower stated that it is unscriptural to worship Jesus.  The 1961 edition of their Bible (The New World Translation-((NWT)) said, in Hebrews 1:6 “...worship him”.  However, the 1971 edition of the NWT sates “....do obeisance to him”.  This is not a small area of Theology.  If the latest Watchtower and the NWT are correct, why the drastic change in their Theology?  Review your Bible in; John 20:28; Mat t2:11; John 9:18; Matt 28:9 and Matt 28:17 in all situations, Jesus was “Worshiped”. In the book of Revelation Jesus receives the same worship as God the Father.  The Jehovah Witnesses have changed their teaching. Why?
In addition, there are no celebrations for birthdays, Christmas, Easter and all holidays.  They also do not allow blood transfusions, involvement in politics or displaying of the American flag.

PROPHECIES
Many cults make Prophecies about any number of subjects.  One main subject that most make predictions is the “second coming” of Jesus.  The Jehovah Witnesses are no exception.  The year 1914 is the key year for the prophecy concerning Matt24:34; “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened”.  The “things” referred to are the return of Christ and the end of the world as we know it.  Since the late 1940's each issue of Awake had been promising “the establishment of a righteous New World”.  Then in 1964 it added the assurance that this would happen “in this generation” and that the world would end.  In 1982 there were more promises.  But in 1987 the Awake magazine prophecy about the 1914 generation was dropped without explanation.  Then restored, with changes, in the march 8, 1988 issue.  The Nov. 1, 1995 issue gave a statement about how they have speculated in the past about the time of the “great tribulation”.  Obviously, the Jehovah Witness prediction did not come true.
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GENERAL:
When a J.W. comes to your door, the odds are that you won't win them over in let's say 30 minutes.  They are schooled and trained in the "Mission" that they are on.  That's not to say that you should not do or say something.  Jesus commanded us to "Go and tell others about Him".  You may encounter neighbors, friends, family or work associates who are a member of one of the over 200 religions and cults in the United States all of which do not agree with the "Essentials" of Christianity.  Let's say you have a family member who is looking into the Jehovah Witnesses, what do you say.   So, where do we start?  After prayer!!   Review the information that I have sent and where a Bible verse  is pertinent, mark it with a "post-it" and place it in your Bible.  For example, write, "JW- Gen 1:26-27 The plural word for God is "ELOHIM" showing the reason for the verse "Let Us make man in Our image".  Without question, this is God the Father, God the Son(Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit all having a conversation about the Creation of "man".  You could have a dozen of these in your Bible for ready reference just for the J.W.'s.

You would not be expected to remember the details of  the numerous cults.  In your Bible reading, you will discover many  verses that you may want to mark.  Use a “post-it” and make a comment to yourself for future use.
Below is a chart titled “Who saves us God or Jesus?”  These verses give you the evidence that Jesus and God are the same.
We will follow this article with additional information about the Jehovah Witnesses.  We must never forger, all of the Jehovah Witnesses were Created by Jesus, God the Son, and He wants none to perish.

WHO SAVES US, GOD OR JESUS?  OR ARE THEY ONE AND THE SAME?
Old Testament Isa 43:11         I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no Savior.
New Testament Acts 4:12      Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven (Jesus)

Old Testament Jonah 2:9       Salvation comes from the Lord
New Testament Titus 2:13     The glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Old Testament 2Sam 22:12     ...Exalted be God, the rock, my Savior.
New Testament John 4:42       ...and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.

Old Testament Isa 12:2          Surely God is my Salvation
New Testament Heb 1:8        But about the Son He says, your throne, Oh God, will last for ever and ever,...

Old Testament Isa 45:22        Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other
New Testament Titus 3:4       ...And love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, ...through Jesus Christ our Savior

Old Testament Deut 1:17          ...For  judgement belongs to God
New Testament John 5:22        ...All  judgement to the Son

Old Testament Isa 55:3            ...Hear me that your soul may live
New Testament 1 John 5:20     ...In His Son Jesus Christ, He is the true God and eternal life

Old Testament Mal 3:6             I the Lord do not change
New Testament Heb 13:8        Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!