The main beliefs of the Jehovah Witnesses

Authority

• Contrary to many religions, including Christianity, Jehovah Witnesses is a very well organized religion

• The hierarchy is well established• Sole authority is given to the Governing

Body and the Bible• In reality, it is given to the Governing Body

because the governing Body is the only Entity that can correctly interpret the Bible

Their Bible• New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures/ volunteer

times • Translated by unknown scholars • Claimed to be anonymous to deny credit to themselves• But researchers say that it is because of their lack of

credibility and credentials• Only Fred Franz had one semester of Greek in a seminary• Overemphasis on Jehovah as God’s name• Mistranslations to deny Christ’s deity• Interpretation is accurate only when done by the Watch

and Tower Society under the leadership and instructions of the Governing Body\

• The interpretation needs to be mediated by this only organization to be valid

God

• There is one God for the Jehovah Witnesses

• There is only one name for them: Jehovah• Jehovah is sovereign and Almighty• Jehovah is the Creator• Jehovah is God of the Universe• Jehovah is fully in control• There are a monotheistic religion

Jesus

• Jesus was a great prophet• Jesus never claimed equality with God and is not

part of a Trinity• Jesus is not to be worshipped...It is a form of idolatry• His life is divided into three stages• Before coming on earth• During his life on earth• And after his second coming• Jesus is a created spirit being, ruling as king of

God’s Kingdom• Jesus is not God Almighty

Trinity

• Since Jesus is not God, there is no need of a trinity

• Trinity is outrageous to Jehovah Witnesses

• Man was created in the image of God• Have you ever saw a man with three

heads?• The Holy Spirit is just an active force of

God (just like electricity)

Death

• Death is a state of sleep until resurrection for the judgment

• The soul that sins will die but the righteous will live

• The soul will die also when someone dies, therefore the soul is not immortal

• Not everyone will resurrect, only those chosen by Jehovah

• The sinners are destroyed forever• No need to be resurrected to be judged

Salvation

• No Witnesses have the assurance of salvation• They only hope that they can be saved and hope that

they will• The proven works will show them worthy enough to

be saved and they can not know when they reach that point

• They have to work enough in order to maintain a standard that can show worthiness

• Salvation is not guaranteed in Jesus Christ because any perfect man could have done it

• Two groups that will reach salvation: 144,000 and a great multitude. The first in heavens and the latter on earth

Hell- last days

• A basic foundation of JW doctrines is that hell doesn’t exist

• No bodily torment for anyone• End times were key to the beginning of the JW

movement• Many key dates were given in the beginning for

the end times (none of them was correct)• Armageddon is the literal end of this world• The destroyed people will be annihilated,

disappeared, destroyed with no chance to come back

Witnessing to the Witnesses

• We need to have a heart of compassion for the Jehovah Witnesses

• We have to realize that they are not just a denomination with different ideas and ways of functioning

• They are different from Christianity• They Reject the only way to God• They deny the promise of Christ for a special place in

heaven• We need to share Christ to them• As long as they don’t close the door on us, we need to

keep our door open to share Christ love to them