"WHO ARE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES AND BELIEVE THAT?"

Answer: The sect known today as Jehovah's Witnesses began in the US state of Pennsylvania in 1870, as a Bible class started by Charles Taze Russell. Russell named his group the "Millennial Dawn Bible Study." Charles T. Russell began writing a series of books called "Millennium Author", which spanned six volumes before his death and contained much of the theology now followed by Jehovah's Witnesses. After Russell's death in 1916, Judge JF Rutherford, Russell's friend and successor, wrote the seventh and final volume of the series "Millennial Dawn", "The Finished Mystery," in 1917. The Watchtower Bible and Tract It was founded in 1886 and quickly became the vehicle through which the movement "Millennial Dawn" began distributing their views to others. The group was known as the "Russellite" until 1931 when, due to a split in the organization, it was renamed "Jehovah's Witnesses". The group from which it split became known as "Bible Students".

As Jehovah's Witnesses believe? A thorough analysis of their doctrinal position on such subjects as the deity of Jesus, salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, the Atonement, etc., shows that they do not hold orthodox Christian positions on these matters. Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly say that Jesus is God (John 1: 1,14; 8:58; 10:30). Jehovah's Witnesses believe salvation is obtained with a combination of faith, good works and obedience. This contradicts countless Scriptures which declare that salvation is received by faith (John 3:16; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Titus 3: 5). Jehovah's Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing that Jesus is a created being and the Holy Spirit is essentially the power of God. Jehovah's Witnesses reject the concept of Christ's death in our place and instead follow the theory of ransom, which says that Jesus' death was payment for Adam's sin.

As Jehovah's Witnesses justify these unbiblical doctrines? (1) They claim that the church over the centuries, corrupted the Bible, and (2) They retraduziram the Bible in what they call the New World Translation. The Watchtower Bible and Tract altered the biblical text to make it fit their false doctrine - rather than basing their doctrine on what the Bible teaches. The New World Translation has had numerous editions, as the Jehovah's Witnesses discover more and more Scriptures that contradict their teachings.

The Jehovah's Witnesses readily appear as a cult that is only loosely based on the Scriptures. The Watchtower bases its beliefs and doctrines on the original and expanded teachings of Charles Taze Russell, Jeudge Joseph Franklin Rutherford and his successors. The Governing Body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only body in the cult that claims authority to interpret Scripture. In other words, what the Governing Body says concerning any passage in Scripture is seen as the final word and think independently is strongly discouraged. This is in direct opposition to the admonition of Paul to Timothy (and us) to study and introduce yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God. This admonition, found in 2 Timothy 2:15 is the clear instruction from God to each of His children in the Body of Christ to be like the Christians of Berea and search the Scriptures daily whether what is being taught is in line with the that the Word has to say on the subject.

Jehovah's Witnesses should be recognized for their "evangelistic efforts." There is probably no other religious group that is more faithful than the Jehovah's Witnesses to spread your message. Unfortunately, the message is full of distortions, deceptions, and false doctrine. May God open the eyes of Jehovah's Witnesses to the truth of the Gospel and the true teaching of God's Word.