1	Jehovah’s Witnesses The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
2	Do we really know them? History -- where did they come from? Doctrines -- what they believe Practices -- how they live Presence in world today When you encounter them . . .
3	Charles Taze Russell 1852-1916 Bounced from Presbyterian to Congregational churches Ended up contemptuous of all Age 17 -- Heard convincing argument that hell did not exist 1870 -- at age 18 organized Bible class
4	The Russell era Captivated by Adventist preaching on Christ’s Second Coming 1876 -- joined staff of Adventist publication “Herald of the Morning” That group said Christ had returned invisibly in 1874 and would take believers to heaven in 1878
5	Charles Taze Russell 1879 Took control of Barbour’s publication, renamed it “Watchtower” Married Began feeling he was the 7th messenger of Revelation
6	Movement gets underway 1884 -- Incorporated Zion’s Watchtower Tract Society 1893 -- First major convention in Chicago 360 in attendance 70 baptisms
7	1914? 1894 -- Watchtower set 1914 as the return of Christ and beginning of millennium 1914 came and went . . . remains key date for Jehovah’s Witnesses “The Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away” -- Awake! October, 1995
8	Pyramidology measurements of Egyptian Great Pyramid used to calculate dates 1909 Wife divorced him moved headquarters from Pittsburgh to Brooklyn 1916 Died during train trip Buried near this pyramid structure
9	“Judge” Rutherford 1869-1942 A power vacuum ensued with Russell’s death By quasi-legal maneuvering, this lawyer edged out competition and took over the organization in 1917
10	Judge Rutherford 1869-1942 First visited by Watch Tower representatives in his Missouri law offices in 1894 Baptized as a Bible Student in 1906 When he took over, several groups splintered off
11	Rutherford continues dating game 1918 -- Watchtower sets Christ’s return for 1925 “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” -- article became book title two years later Worldwide anarchy was predicted to occur in 1920
12	Expansion in Rutherford era 1919 -- began Awake! 1920’s, 30’s -- Extensive use of radio and phonograph records 1933 -- over 400 radio stations were carrying his Bible lectures
13	Steady revision of doctrine and structure 1931 -- New name: Jehovah’s Witnesses Under Rutherford, membership grew from 10,000 in 1916 to 100,000 in 1942
14	"Beth-Sarim" Beth-Sarim Palatial San Diego home built by Rutherford To be deeded to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David when they returned to earth Rutherford planned to be buried here After his death, quietly sold Beth-Shan 79 acres purchased in 1939; also deeded to “princes” Had bomb shelter
15	Personality era ends With Rutherford’s death, the era of charismatic, flamboyant leadership ended. Power now vested in the governing council.
16	JW Bible translation “New World” Bible translation appeared in 1950 Only one member of translation committee knew anything about the original languages of the Bible Knorr had two years of Greek What is the “New World Translation?” An authentic translation? No. Systematic re-writing of Scripture in support of doctrinal positions. Yes.
17	1975 -- a new date 1966 book hinted that 1975 would see a new period in human history. August 1968 Watchtower set 1975 as year for Armageddon For JW’s, period of growth leading up to 1975, then stagnation when the year came and went
18	Doctrines - Beliefs Eschatology (end times) Soteriology (salvation) Pneumatolgy (doctrine of Holy Spirit) Christology (beliefs about Jesus Christ)
19	Authority Watchtower Society claims to speak for Jehovah as His sole “channel of communication” on the earth
20	Beliefs: Apocalyptic Focused on end times Waiting for paradise on earth after battle of Armageddon
21	Future Paradise on earth Only 144,000 “anointed” will go to heaven Hell does not exist; evil people will simply be annihilated
22	Salvation People God approves will receive eternal life here on earth You may be saved, depending on your faithfulness and obedience “Just as a proper secular education is necessary to fit a person for a place in everyday society, so a proper Bible education is necessary to equip one for entering the society that will survive to live in the Paradise earth.” -- from Jehovah’s Witnesses web site
23	Holy Spirit Denial of trinity Claim trinity comes from ancient mythology “a complicated, freakish-looking, three-headed God” -- Let God Be True Holy Spirit is an active force like electricity or fire
24	Core issue: Christology As fascinating as all the date setting and shifting is . . . As fascinating as the issues of blood transfusions and saluting the flag may be . . . The core of our disagreement with our Jehovah’s Witness friends centers on Jesus Christ
25	Latter day Arians Arianism -- a 4th century heresy denying deity of Christ, saying Jesus was the first thing God created To JW’s, Jesus Christ is Archangel Michael At Jesus’ death, God disposed of Jesus’ physical body. Because Jesus was raised a spirit creature, God had to “materialize” a fleshly body for him
26	Practices -- how they live No drugs; alcohol in moderation Sexual purity Limited social environment Pervasive us/them mentality Everyone else is of the devil Heavy control Not allowed to read literature critical of JW’s Children discouraged from higher learning Respect government but do not participate in elections
27	Community life Congregations Attendance expected at weekly “book studies” (can be in homes) Full congregations meet in “Kingdom Halls” Ministers serve without pay Disfellowshipping -- kicking people out of the family Communion or Lord’s Supper Observed annually on date of Jesus’ death Nisan 14 -- March/April Only 144,000 elite may take the elements In 1999 the “partakers” worldwide were 8,755
28	Iconoclastic “overthrowing traditional or popular ideas” No celebrating Christmas No celebrating Easter No celebrating birthdays No celebrating Mother’s Day No saluting of the national flag No blood transfusions
29	Iconoclastic “overthrowing traditional or popular ideas” Jehovah’s Witnesses say Jesus died on a stake rather than on a cross
30	Presence in world today 800,000 in USA 5 million “publishers” worldwide 300, 000 baptisms annually 100,000 net increase 90,000 “congregations” worldwide
31	Global publishing operation 15 million publications each week Brooklyn factory building bought in 1927 Several expansions 3,000 now work there
32	Recruitment / Evangelism Door-to-door house calls 740 house calls needed to recruit one new member
33	7 Step Process Literature put in prospect’s hands “Back calling” or follow up Prospect starts actual “book study” Attendance at Kingdom Hall meetings Attendance at worship services Active tract distribution Baptism
34	When we encounter them Do we slam that door? Do we just politely close it? If we let them in . . . should we try to prove them wrong?
35	When we encounter them Remember . . . They believe they are the only “true religion” JW’s are used to attacks and persecution Using logic to prove them wrong accomplishes little Criticism will likely encounter a stone wall
36	Overcoming “true religion” syndrome Shy away from “setting them straight” Ask disarming questions See yourself as a sower of seeds, not a harvester
37	Question possibilities . . . not to provoke a fight Have true Christians always existed somewhere over the last 2,000 years? Are the marks of real Christians exclusive to the Watchtower or are they shared by other groups? Does the Watchtower believe all other Christian groups are completely false?
38	Questions on the Bible Was the Bible written to all people? Can someone who had a Bible and no other literature understand it and become all that God wanted him or her to be? The Mormons claim that one must study their books in order to get an accurate knowledge of Scriptures. What do you think of that?
39	Key question on Christ Can you come to Christ as your mediator?
40	Be friendly and neighborly Don’t focus on winning arguments Don’t defend yourself or your beliefs Win trust Don’t try to back people into a corner Allow them to “save face”
41	Use of Scripture Get your Bible Read aloud every text they mention Look carefully with them at the context (the surrounding verses and chapters) in a verse appears
42	Be sensitive to whom you are speaking. . . Someone made in God’s image for whom Christ died A human being with whom you have much in common
43	Stay in touch with the One in whose presence you are having the discussion. . . Your greatest advantage is prayer Be constant in prayer as you talk with them
44	Maintain with discipline . . . your position and role Humility and love Make your conversation “heart to heart” rather than “head to head”
45	A bit of poetry . . . He drew a circle that shut me out. Heretic, rebel; a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win. We drew a circle that took him in. -- Edwin Markham
46	Jehovah’s Witnesses The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (end)