Search The Scriptures: October 7, 2001
TIPS FOR DEALING WITH WATCHTOWER FOLLOWERS - 1
INTRODUCTION:
A. Good morning, my friends, and welcome to this edition of the bible study program - Search
the Scriptures. My name is J.R. Bronger, and on behalf of the Danville church of Christ I am
delighted to have you join us as we study the bible. What excites the Danville church of Christ
about these times together on Search the Scriptures is that together we are restoring original
first-century Christianity in the hearts and minds of honest men and women. Together we can
help one another come to a fuller understanding of the scriptures and then be what God intends
for us to be - both individually and collectively.
B. But before we get into our study for this morning, let me remind you that if you have any
questions or comments, or if you would just like to browse our web site, you can do so at
www.danvillechurchofchrist.org You can also contact me by way of the web site or by phoning
me at the office at the building of the Danville church of Christ. That phone number is 745-
4708. Please let me hear from you, especially if you have a subject or a text you would like to
hear discussed on Search the Scriptures. Also, if you hear a sermon on Search the Scriptures
that you would like to have, either on cassette tape or CD, just let us know because we will be
pleased to give it to you absolutely free of charge. Just contact us and let us know which sermon
you would like. And, remember, my friends, if you do order a lesson, please do so by the date
the study aired.
C. Ladies and gentlemen, the apostle Paul wrote in Eph. 5:11 and have no fellowship with the
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unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Without a doubt one of the most zealous
false religious organizations known to man is the Jehovah’s Witnesses. At least one
representative of this denomination has probably been to your house and offered to study with
you. The study is often disguised as a bible study when - in fact - it is an effort to drown you in
their tracts, publications and doctrine. Often Christians don’t know how to respond to these
fervent and congenial men and women who knock on our doors. Some Christians are intimidated
and graciously decline any offer to study with them. Other people decide the best approach is to
demand they leave the premises as soon as possible. Sometimes, however, Christians schedule a
study in an effort to teach these Jehovah’s Witnesses the truth of the saving gospel. Often these
efforts prove ineffectual, because many Christians don’t know how to deal with members of the
Watchtower Society. I’ve even known of believers who have been swept away into error by
these zealous sectarians. Today’s study begins a two-part examination dedicated to helping
Christians become prepared to deal successfully with those Jehovah’s Witnesses with whom we
may have occasion to study. We will be giving you a lot of information, so it might be that you
will want to order copies of the broadcast today and next Sunday. Ladies and gentlemen, to be
successful in teaching Jehovah’s Witnesses we must first know a little about the group with
which they are associated and its history.
I. Charles Taze Russell, who was born February 16, 1852 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the
founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the controlling organization behind the
Jehovah’s Witnesses. His father owned a men’s clothing store that financed him in his work.
Russell had no formal training as a minister for any denomination. And, it was around the year
1870 that he became involved with a religious party called the Second Adventists. This was a
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splinter group of a movement started a few years earlier by a man named William Miller, a
Baptist minister, who thought he had discovered scriptural evidence that Christ would return in
March of 1843. When there was no return, the date was changed to March 1844. When that also
failed, Mr. Miller confessed that he had been mistaken and left the movement. He died in 1849.
Russell himself indicated he was spiritually indebted to Miller. He said that the “Miller
movement” was the beginning of the right understanding of Daniel’s visions - and that the Lord
was definitely in Miller’s movement. My friends, you would think that these failures would put
an end to date setting. However, after Miller’s failures, many of those who followed him
continued to set other dates. The largest group of these date setters became known as the
Seventh-Day Adventists. They claimed the problem of missed dates was nothing but minor
mistakes, not in the date but in the place to which Christ was to come. Instead of earth, they
decided Christ actually went to cleanse his sanctuary in heaven. Ellen G. White, who ultimately
gained control, did not set a date but did claim Christ would come within a few months, and later
that it would be in the lifetime of some of them. But the Second Adventists, the group with
which Charles Taze Russell was aligned, ultimately set 1874 as the date for Christ’s return.
When Jesus did not appear, a sympathizer, Nelson H. Barbour, in his paper, The Herald of the
Morning, proposed the solution that Jesus had in fact come, but not visibly. Barbour wrote that
Jesus came invisibly, and Russell quickly accepted that solution and these two men did some
publishing together for a while, but they soon had a falling out. Russell continued to develop his
own religious system, and over several years he published six volumes called “Studies In The
Scriptures” or “Millennial Dawn.” Russell taught that Christ came invisibly in1874 and from
then to 1914, he was gathering his people. According to Russell, 1914 was to be the end of the
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“Times of the Gentiles.” And at that time, all nations and all Christendom were to be destroyed.
And guess what? It did not happen! And, my friends, when it did not happen, Russell reset the
date to 1915. Again, his prediction failed. He died in 1916. After Russell died, there was a power
struggle and “Judge” Rutherford, the legal counsel for the organization, succeeded in taking
control. This resulted in a split. One group became known as the International Bible Students.
Rutherford’s group eventually took the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in 1931. After Russell’s
death a seventh volume, called “The Finished Mystery,” was compiled from Russell’s writings.
The date for God to [quote] “destroy the churches wholesale and the church members by the
millions” was reset to 1918. Obviously this also failed. Then, in 1920 Rutherford wrote a booklet
entitled, “The World Has Ended, Millions Now Living Will Never Die,” in which he set 1925 as
the date for the resurrection of the faithful men of old mentioned in Heb. 11. That date, too,
failed and in 1929 he built a mansion called, Beth-Sarim (or, House of the Princes), in San
Diego, California, to, in his words, “. . . provide tangible proof that there are those on earth
today who fully believe . . . that the faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be
back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth. The title to Beth-Sarim is vested in
the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY in trust, to be used by the president of the
Society and his assistants for the present, and thereafter to be forever at the disposal of the
aforementioned princes on the earth.” But, in spite of this, the property was eventually sold.
From then on they shied away from setting specific dates. However, they continued to say that
the end would only be within a “few months,” and therefore people should not marry or have
children. One final specific date set was for 1975, over which they whipped up excitement that
the Millennium was about to begin. When that failed, many Jehovah’s Witnesses became
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disillusioned with any reliability of their claims. Although the Society was directly responsible
for pumping up the expectations of their followers, it blamed their members for jumping to
unwarranted conclusions. However, the problem they never answered was how the millennium
could begin without Armageddon and their long promised paradise of a thousand years on earth.
They also had the problem of their often repeated claims that the New World must begin within
the lives of the generation of 1914. So, now they have come full circle. Just as they were forced
to change the date of Christ’s coming to 1914 because the generation limitations had passed,
now for the same reason they have had to revise their interpretation concerning the meaning of
“this generation” to allow for more time. My good friends, you should have a knowledge of
their history and their past prophecies and their clear-cut failures, because they will try to
convince you that the Watchtower Society is the faithful and wise servant, of Matt. 24:45, who
is commissioned to give them food in due season.
II. Now, let’s become familiar with some of their teachings. First, as we just said, any Jehovah’s
Witness who seeks to study with you is throughly convinced that no one [including you] can
understand the bible except through their organization. Two, their organizational nucleus of
“spirit-begotten, anointed ones,” like Ezekiel, is a modern-day “prophet,” who, in their words is
“under angelic direction and support,” and guided in the [quote] “minutest details, even to the
choosing of the year text.” Three, Christ became invisibly present (the “Parousia”) in 1914
which was changed from, 1874. Also, in 1918 Jesus began to reign (which was changed from,
1878). Four, at the Battle of Armageddon, to take place during the generation in which Jesus
became present, God will destroy all of the nations, churches and organizations other than the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and set up a perfect world order. Five, Jehovah God’s
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people are divided into two classes, the “heavenly class” of 144,000 spirit anointed ones (also
known as the “little flock”), and the “earthly class” (also known as “the great crowd” of
“other sheep”). And, only the 144,000 will be permitted to go to heaven to live in “spirit
bodies.” All others will live on earth to be ruled over by the “heavenly class.” Six, after Jesus
became present, in 1918, members of the 144,000 “heavenly class” who had died were raised,
and those who die after 1918 are to be instantly raised in “spiritual bodies.” Seven, Jesus is only
mediator to the “heavenly class,” not those who will live on paradise earth. Only the heavenly
class is in God’s new covenant. However, by association with the “heavenly class” the “earthly
class” may come under some of its benefits. Eight, absolutely no “independent thinking” is
permitted by anyone. Only what the Watchtower publishes is allowed taught. Nine, anything
published by former Jehovah’s Witnesses is “apostate” and is prohibited from being read or
listened to. Ten, man does not have a soul that continues to exist after the body dies. Death, they
tell us, is total absence of being. Jesus did not go to paradise for three days. Instead, he ceased to
exist while in the grave. Eleven, the word “resurrection” means to be created again by God
from his memory of a person’s so-called “life pattern.” Jesus, we’re told, was not resurrected
but was re-created from God’s memory. Twelve, the body of Jesus could not have been raised,
because it was dissolved into gasses. After which he received a nonmaterial “spiritual body”
when he was raised. And, when he appeared to his disciples, he created bodies in which he
appeared in order to convince them he had been raised. Thirteen, the willfully wicked will not
be raised from the dead to face judgment. Fourteen, hell is [quote] “a place of rest in hope.”
The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the story Jesus told about the rich man and Lazarus in Lk.
16:19-31 is a mythical story, intended as a figurative representation of something different from
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what is stated. Fifteen, they teach there is no place of eternal torment. References, in the bible to
such a place, are only intend to teach that the wicked are instantly consumed into everlasting
nonexistence. Sixteen, Christ died to give us another chance for a thousand years to show we can
become perfect humans on earth. This is different from saying that Christ died to save us from
our sins. Seventeen, the earth will not be burned up in fire as Peter says in 2 Pet. 3, instead, it
will be cleansed of all evil and become a paradise in which to live forever. Eighteen, the
“Trinity,” consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is a myth borrowed from paganism.
Nineteen, the Holy Spirit is just the “active force” of God, and not a person. Twenty, Christ is
not God Almighty but only the archangel, Michael, created in the beginning, through whom
Jehovah God created all (other) things. Twenty-one, saluting the flag is idolatry. Twenty-two,
serving in the military is prohibited, except for “alternative service.” Twenty-three, people who
take issue with official Watchtower teachings are disfellowshipped in a private, backroom, threeman
“Judicial Committee” meeting. Anyone the Committee decides to disfellowship is totally
shunned until the Elders are satisfied that the disfellowshipped have demonstrated they have
shown sufficient submission. This may take a year or more. Obviously, these are not all the
doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but these are the ones that tend to distinguish them. You
should know what they believe in any effort to teach them the truth. I know the conventional
wisdom that says, just knowing the truth is sufficient in being able to teach the lost. While I
totally agree with that - I also believe to be as effective as possible, we should know the doctrine
and belief system of those we are attempting to teach. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:22 I have become
all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. When Paul taught the Jews, he was
familiar with their beliefs, when he taught the gentiles, he knew their beliefs. This enabled him,
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not only to refute false convictions, but also to teach the truth of the gospel. When he was in
Athens he told an audience of Greek philosophers in Acts 17:22-23 men of Athens, I perceive
that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the
objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN
GOD. Therefore, the one whom you worship without knowing, him I proclaim to you. And,
later he even mentioned a statement made by one of their poets in an effort to reach them with
the gospel. Know the truth of the bible when you attempt to teach members of the Watchtower
Society, but also know their doctrines and belief system.
III. And, also know the way these representatives think. Reduced to its simplest expression, the
Watchtower system can be summed up in the word, dependent. Everything is focused on
making their followers totally dependent on the central organization and not the bible. As I stated
a few moments ago, this organization prohibits any “independent thinking.” From the very
beginning anyone studying Watchtower material is taught to rely totally on their books and
publications. Like I said a moment ago, they have “book studies” instead of bible studies. These
people are told they cannot understand the bible except through the Watchtower organization.
They are taught very early that all others are deceived by Satan. They are taught that the
“Remnant of 144,000” as represented by the Watchtower governing body, is God’s “prophet
class” guided by angels even “in the minutest detail.” They are taught that they are “slaves.”
Also, ladies and gentlemen, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not permitted to have friends outside the
Watchtower Society. Further, they cannot even have close regular associations with family
members who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses. Also, if they persistently disagree with the
Watchtower they are cut off from all of their family and friends who remain unquestionably
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loyal to the Society. This slavish dependence explains why they seem unshaken, no matter what
they are showed in the bible. Therefore, to get someone out of the Watchtower system, it is
absolutely necessary to break this dependency upon the organization. Often, before being
able to influence them with the scriptures, they somehow must come to realize that the
Watchtower is not reliable. This is difficult but not impossible. Various things may accomplish
this. One, might be some bad experiences with the Watchtower dictatorship. When you can
speak to them frankly about the hurt the organization causes families by their “three-men-in-aback-
room-justice,” it can be very effective. Two, they also may be shaken loose by some key
scripture that conflicts with what they have been taught. In spite of the best efforts of the
Society, the people you are trying to teach are not all just clones of their leadership. The
scriptures are still able to cast down every high thing that exalts itself against God according to 2
Cor. 10:5. The gospel, in the words of Rom. 1:16, is still the power of God to salvation. Three,
show to those you are trying to reach that the Society has repeatedly given false prophecies about
the time of the coming of Jesus and the coming of Armageddon. This, I believe, is one of the
most effective methods of revealing that the Governing Body is unreliable, and not guided by
God. There are many good places to find photocopies of things they have written, and to show
them their own writings is powerful. It takes away their claim that the material is “apostate.”
Couple this with the statement in Deut. 18:22 that says, when a prophet speaks in the name of
the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has
not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. Four,
show to them the absurdity that God would spend 1400 to 1500 years preparing the bible to
guide his people into all truth, according to Jn. 16:13, and yet make that word so it could not be
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understood without so-called “spirit anointed” leaders to explain it. And, worse yet, according
to them, no “anointed class” leaders were provided for nearly 2000 years until the Watchtower
Society came along. And, since then, their failed predictions required repeated changes of dates
and interpretations. Five, show their many changes in teachings over the years, and this is easy
to do. They have changed back and forth several times concerning whether Sodom will be
resurrected. They have changed back and forth several times as to whether the powers in Rom.
13 refer to earthly governments. They used to prohibit vaccinations or receiving transplanted
body parts or blood transfusions. There have been many, many other such changes that can be
easily documented. Six, show them the nonsense of emphasizing the meddling and trivial
prohibitions and regulations, which are not in the bible. Such things as, observing birthdays,
wearing beards and so forth, have no scriptural basis whatsoever. These are binding where God
has not. Seven, teach them the continual “wear and tear” of being required to go door-to-door a
predetermined amount of time, filling out reports, reading literature, participating in endless
meetings takes its toll on them emotionally. When you do, many begin questioning the scriptural
basis for such demands. My friends, what I am suggesting is this. Whatever it takes to raise
questions as to the reliability of those in their leadership may become a crack in the Watchtower
wall. The problem is that Jehovah’s Witnesses often begin making these breaks out of human
necessity, but fail to understand that there is a scriptural basis for leaving. That is, they get out of
the Watchtower but fail to get the Watchtower out of them. Without knowing that the problems
they encounter come from violations of scripture, they are torn by fear and guilt and after leaving
the Society they will not go to churches where they can get help. This is where you must help.
Some have come into church buildings and suddenly burst into tears and run out. People
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unfamiliar with the hold the Society has cannot understand what these people are struggling with
and will often have difficulty communicating with them. These people may seem to have left it
all behind them but when they marry and have children they get a desperate urge to get back in
so that they will not be destroyed at Armageddon. To be truly free, the Jehovah’s Witness needs
to go through the process of removing the tangle of unscriptural guilt and fear from his thinking.
As a believer you can and you must help him or her break free from this control.
IV. Here are some guidelines, I believe, will help you - as they have helped me - whenever you
have the occasion to study with a Jehovah’s Witness. These are not intended to be presented as
absolutes, because different situations may require needed adjustments. However, these do
contain a number of simple yet effective tools to break down their dependant system. One, if
you want to really teach the Watchtower Witnesses, do not have a verbal shootout with them at
the door. To be effective, you need time and preparation. Show interest. Ask questions. Don’t
argue and don’t become deceptively eager to get a study going. Be willing to take their literature
but decline to give them a contribution. You cannot scripturally - financially support a false
religious organization. Tell them you have your own faith but would be willing to listen to what
they believe at another time. Ask how you can get more information. If they offer to come back,
set up an appointment. Two, do not drop whatever you are doing and talk to them whenever they
come around. I know this sounds a little strange but it is very important. Arrange a time to get
together, but if they come at other times, decline to take time out to visit. If you let them draw
you into a study whenever they come to the door, then just whenever you are making a point,
others will come for them, or they will excuse themselves and say that they have to go to another
appointment. Set a time agreeable to you both and keep the engagement. Three, get their phone
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number and address. Getting their phone number begins giving you some control over the timing
of the studies and any changes of plans. Better yet, it makes it possible for you to contact them
and talk individually without another Witness playing watchdog. You can call and ask questions,
even if they give some excuse for not coming back. Likewise, their address permits you to send
information directly to them without the knowledge of others, even if the study ends. Four, plan
for, and insist on, discussion of a particular subject upon which you are prepared. Jehovah’s
Witnesses like to control the topic, usually starting with the Trinity. This is because few people
have a good understanding on this subject. God says, “to whom will you liken me?” (In Isa.
46:5). And, we all know it’s hard [no it’s impossible] to draw a picture of God. And, like a
fungus growing in the darkness, Witnesses can only make progress where there is ignorance.
They are trained to be like a smart racoon being chased by a dog. A racoon will often swim out
into deep water and if the dog follows he gets him in over his head and drowns him. Next week,
we will begin discussing various approaches to take when discussing such topics as the Trinity.
CONCLUSION:
A. And with this, I will have to close for today. We will conclude this study next week so be sure
to tune in next Sunday morning at 7. Also, stay tuned this morning for some important closing
announcements. Until next time, for the Danville church of Christ, this is J.R. Bronger saying
goodbye for now.