Jehovah’s Witnesses present themselves as Bible-believing Christians, but beneath the surface is a system of false doctrine, heretical Christology, and manipulative control that directly opposes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Founded in error and sustained by deception, this cult denies the true nature of Christ, the hope of salvation by grace, and the eternal judgment of unbelievers.
Origins and Founding
The Jehovah’s Witnesses began with Charles Taze Russell in the late 19th century. In 1870, Russell began a Bible study that grew into the “Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society” in 1881, later renamed the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. He denied doctrines such as eternal punishment, the deity of Christ, and taught that Christ’s invisible return had already occurred in 1874.
After his death, Joseph Rutherford assumed leadership and drastically reshaped the movement. He coined the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in 1931 to distinguish them from other Bible students. Under his control, the movement became more authoritarian, and its distinctive doctrines were enforced under threat of excommunication.
Core Doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Denial of the Deity of Christ
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is not God, but a created being, the archangel Michael in pre-human form. But the Bible tells us:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
The New World Translation, their corrupted Bible version, falsely renders this as “the Word was a god”—blatantly denying Christ’s deity. This is linguistically and doctrinally false. The Greek reads: kai theos ēn ho logos—clearly affirming that the Word (Jesus) is God, not a separate lesser being. They also fail to acknowledge that this is not the only blatant verse of Jesus’s deity:
“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9)
Jesus is not part God—He is fully God. To deny His deity is to reject the true Christ.
Rejection of the Trinity
They claim the Trinity is a pagan doctrine. Yet Scripture affirms the triune nature of God clearly.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14)
“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)
These are not three gods, but One God in three Persons—eternally co-equal and co-eternal.
Salvation by Works and Loyalty to the Organization
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that salvation is earned through obedience, baptism, door-to-door ministry, and loyalty to the Watchtower Society. But the Bible says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Salvation is by grace through faith, not by field service hours or organizational allegiance.
Denial of Hell and Eternal Judgment
They teach annihilationism—that the wicked cease to exist instead of facing eternal judgement. While, there is doctrinal evidence to believe that the final judgement may be the destruction of the soul and not eternal torture (this requires an in depth study). Jehovah witnesses believe when an unbeliever dies, they will cease to exist, which is incorrect. All unbelievers will face God on judgement day and there will be a punishment that last forever:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” (Revelation 20:12)
“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)
The same Greek word aionios is used for both eternal life and eternal punishment.
Only 144,000 Go to Heaven
They believe only 144,000 “anointed” Witnesses go to heaven; the rest will live forever on a paradise earth. But the Bible is pretty clear:
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9)
The Bible clearly shows more than 144,000 in heaven, and this number is symbolic, not a limit. The Bible also states very clearly who the 144,000 are:
“They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:3-4)
And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
(Revelation 7:4-8)
The Bible clearly teaches the 144,000 are Jewish male virgins who were redeemed from the earth, not a select group of saints destined for Heaven while the rest live on earth, as the Jehovah Witnesses teach.
Their Tactics of Deception
As with every cult, Jehovah Witnesses utilize distinct tactics to grow their following and deception.
Corrupted Bible (New World Translation): This version mistranslates key verses to align with their doctrines.
Redefining Terms: They redefine common Christian words—like “born again,” “resurrection,” and “spirit”—to obscure meaning and mislead.
Door-to-Door Indoctrination: They target the biblically untrained with partial truths, using well-rehearsed scripts.
Isolation and Control: Members are forbidden from reading outside sources, discouraged from independent Bible study, and disfellowshipped for questioning doctrine.
False Prophecies: Their organization has falsely predicted the end of the world multiple times (1874, 1914, 1925, 1975). Scripture condemns false prophecy:
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak… that prophet shall die.” (Deuteronomy 18:20)
“When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass… you shall not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22)
By biblical standards, the Watchtower is a false prophet.
Why They Are a False Church
Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the core essentials of Christianity:
The Deity of Christ
The Trinity
Salvation by grace through faith
The bodily resurrection
Eternal judgment
John warns clearly:
“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:23)
“Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” (1 John 4:3)
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him.” (2 John 1:10)
The Jehovah’s Witnesses do not preach the true Jesus, do not hold the true Gospel, and are under the curse of Galatians 1:8:
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8)
My Final Thoughts
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not Christians—they are members of a deceptive, controlling, and blasphemous cult. They pervert Scripture, deny the deity of Christ, reject the Gospel of grace, and submit to a human organization in place of the living God. They may appear moral, sincere, and organized, but sincerity does not equal truth. As Paul said:
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–14)
Do not be deceived by their literature or their kindness. They are preaching another Jesus and another gospel, and must be exposed with truth and Scripture. Contend earnestly for the faith. Know your Bible. And when they knock—be ready with the Sword of the Spirit.
