Many Christians are aware that there is "something wrong" with the Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings, but are often unsure just what that "something" actually is. After all, the JWs "sound so Christian." The confusion arises because Jehovah's Witnesses (as do other pseudo-Christian cults) use Christian terminology, but redefine the meaning of the terms. What follows is a comparison of Watchtower teachings with those of the Bible.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE WATCHTOWER

Q. "At any rate, Jehovah God is now the editor of the paper, is that right?"
A. "He is today the editor of the paper."
Q. "How long has he been editor of the paper."
A. "Since its inception he has been guiding it."
(Testimony of Watchtower vice-president Fred Franz, Olin Moyle vs. WTBTS, 1943, Section 2596-2597)

So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? ... affirmative ... This "prophet" was not a man, but was a body of men and women ... known as the International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian witnesses. (THE WATCHTOWER 4/1/72)

JESUS CHRIST

WTBTS: Jesus is the archangel Michael. "He (Jesus) resumed his pre-human name, Michael, so that again there was a 'Michael the archangel" in heaven' (God's Eternal Purpose Now Triumphing, 1974, p. 155).

BIBLE: Jesus is God. "Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him. "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:28-29). (See also: Isaiah 9:6; John 1:14, 18; Romans 9:5; Hebrews 1:8; Revelation 22:12-16.)

THE HOLY SPIRIT

WTBTS: The Holy Spirit is not a person. "From God there goes forth an invisible active force ... it is correctly called holy spirit" (Holy Spirit, 1976, p. 11).

BIBLE: The Holy Spirit is God, and He is a person. He possesses the essential elements of being -- mind, will, and emotion. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). (See also: Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:26; Acts 28:25; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:11)

THE TRINITY

WTBTS: Satan originated the doctrine of the Trinity. "Never was there a more deceptive doctrine advanced than that of the Trinity. It could have originated in only one mind, and that the mind of Satan the Devil" (Reconciliation, 1928, p.101).

BIBLE: The Father is God. "For he received honor and glory from God the Father"
(I1 Peter 1:17).

The Son is God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).

The Holy Spirit is God. "Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit ... You have not lied to men but to God" (Acts 5:3-4).

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

WTBTS: Jesus was resurrected a spirit. "So he must be a spirit being ... Jesus simply materialized bodies" (Awake!, July 22, 1973, p.4).

BIBLE: Jesus prophesied His bodily resurrection. "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days ... But the temple he had spoken of was his body"
(John 2:19-21).

Jesus was resurrected in body according to eyewitnesses. If Jesus simply "manifested bodies" He would be a deceiver. "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have" (Luke 24:39).

SALVATION

WTBTS: There are four necessary requirements for salvation. The first is "taking in knowledge" of God. The second is "to obey God's laws." The third is to "be associated with God's channel, his organization (the Watchtower)." The fourth is that "God requires that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his government by loyally advocating his Kingdom rule to others" (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1983, pp. 12, 13).

BIBLE: Salvation is by grace alone, through faith. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

CONCERNING FALSE PROPHETS

WTBTS: "True, there have been those in times past who predicted an "end to the world," even announcing a specific date ... The end did not come ... Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them" (Awake, Oct. 8, 1968, p.23).

BIBLE: "Many will say to me in that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name' ... Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:22-23).

SOME FALSE PROPHECIES GIVEN BY THE WATCHTOWER

The "battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14), which will end in AD 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced" (The Time Is at Hand, 1888 (1911 ed.), p. 101).

The date of the close of that "battle" is definitely marked in scripture as October 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October 1874. (The Watchtower, Jan 15, 1892, p.22)

The present great war in Europe is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures. (Rev 16:16-20) (Pastor Russell's Sermons, 1917)

The Apostle Paul in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews names a long list of faithful men who died ... They are to be resurrected as perfect men and constitute the princes and rulers in the earth ... Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p. 89)