Jehovah's Witness

by GAT 03/08/2023 updated 05/01/2026

Jehovah's Witnesses claim their doctrines are a restoration of early Christianity, while they rely upon progressive revelation and ongoing new light; often conflicting with prior doctrinal statements and contrary to the Scriptures. Jehovah's Witness is not a subgroup of Christianity; rather it is pseuso-christian and identifies with a god and gospel differing from the Scriptures.

Table of Contents

Beliefs of the Jehovah's Witness

God created Jesus Christ, and that firstly as Michael the archangel. However, Jesus created all things. "For by Him all things were created" (Col 1:16). Jesus existed before anything was created, "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was (John 17:5).

Jesus was not God in the flesh. However, "And the Word became flesh" (John 1:14), Who was God (John 1:1-3). Jesus Christ suffered a bodily crucifixion in the flesh; "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (John 19:34). And even now, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form," (Col 2:9). Jesus is "God with us", Immanuel (Mat 1:23; see Isa 7:14). "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us" (Tit 2:13-14).

Jesus was not bodily resurrected. However, Jesus explained that He was also flesh and bones after His Resurrection; "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" (Luk 24:39).

The Holy Spirit is an "active force" as opposed to a Person. This point of doctrine is necessary for a denial of the Trinity. However, the Holy Spirit is more than an active force. He belongs to both God the Father and to His Son (Rom 8:9-11), leads God's children (Rom 8:14), communicates to us (Rom 8:16), endwells believers (Rom 8:23), interceeds for believers (Rom 8:26), has thoughts (Rom 8:27) and is able to love (Rom 5:5, 15:30). God has not sent an active force to comfort us, but the Father and the Son sent Their own Spirit who teaches, testifies to God's word and witnesses about Jesus (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7).

Death is a state where the soul neither exists nor has consciousness, death in reference to the unbeliever. According to the Jehovah's Witnesses, "People who die pass out of existence" and "will be destroyed forever." However, the Scriptures do not teach annihilation of the soul; "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Mat 25:46).

Christ's Second Coming occured in 1914 and was invisible. However, Jesus will be seen at His Second Coming, "and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds" (Mat 24:7; see Act 1:11, Rev 1:7).

Salvation depends in part upon a person's association with the Jehovah's Witnesses and adhearance to their ordinances. Its members earn "merits" to maintain salvation while here on earth. However, salvation is not based upon works of a man, but rather upon faith in God and His accomplishment in Jesus Christ when He raised Him from the dead. "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness," (Rom 4:5; see Rom 10:4, 10).

Jesus is not worshipped, but honored or respected. However, men and angels worhipped Jesus and were encouraged to do so (Mat 2:2, Acts 18:13, Heb 1:6).

Heaven is limited to 144,000 where God resides, while all other believers will inhabit a refurbished earth where Jesus will live. However, before the Rapture all New Testament believers who have passed on will be present with the LORD in heaven, where Christ is seated at God's right hand (Rom 8:34, Heb 10:12); 'But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better" (Php 1:23; see John 14:3, 17:24). "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3).

Jehovah's Witness Translation of Scriptures

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society publishes The New World Translation (NWT). It appears that the NWT is mistranslated in order to conceal the deity of Jesus Christ. This section lists several mistranslations of the NWT followed by a correct translation from the Scriptures.