Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

If Jehovah’s Witnesses turn away?

It is easy to see why people join the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many come from dry religious backgrounds that had notsatisfied them. Then they meet some enthusiastic people who take God seriously. Their devotion and hard work is attractive. So often it is this emotional draw that brings people into religion. I have just read Esther Baker’s book ‘I once was a Buddist Nun’. She describes how she had led a dissolute life as a student but found this did not satisfy her. Then she met some Buddhists who were looking for more and their self-denying altruism attracted her and for many years she was a devotee. Yet the search for truth led her to seek out some Christians and she eventually became a Christian missionary.

There are countless stories like this from those who were first attracted to the devotion of the Jehovah’s Witnesses but who later began to question whether this organisation really was the voice of God and whether Jesus is much more than they teach. Unfortunately there is a trap as friendships often become restricted to members of the Witnesses and people are warned that if they question the Watchtower or leave the fellowship their eternal destiny is at risk.

The Watchtower publications explicitly instruct members to cut off contact with disfellowshipped individuals, including family members in many cases. Below are quotes from official Jehovah’s Witness literature that confirm this teaching.

1. Ostracism (Shunning) of Former Members

“Apostates are ‘mentally diseased,’ and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. Jehovah, the Great Physician, tells us to avoid all contact with them.” Watchtower, April 15, 1988, p. 27

This encourages total avoidance of those who leave or criticise the organisation.

“A simple ‘Hello’ could be the first step that leads to a conversation and even friendship with one who is disfellowshipped… Do we obediently avoid that first step?” Watchtower, September 15, 1981, p. 22
“Loyal Christians do not associate with anyone who was disfellowshipped or who has disassociated himself from the congregation.” Watchtower, April 15, 2012, p. 12

Even greeting a disfellowshipped person is discouraged and this internal manual used by elders reinforces the practice of shunning.

“Disfellowshipped and disassociated ones are shunned by those who wish to have a good relationship with Jehovah.” Shepherd the Flock of God (Elders’ Manual, 2019, p. 111)

Leaving the organisation is equated with leaving God

“Such ones wilfully abandoning the Christian congregation thereby become part of the antichrist. A Christian must hate (in the biblical sense) those who have become haters of Jehovah.” Watchtower, October 1, 1993, p. 19

2. They teach that there are eternal consequences for leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses:

“We must hate in the truest sense, which is to regard with extreme and active enmity, those who have left the organisation. For there is no place in God’s new world for them.” Watchtower, November 15, 1952, p. 703

Bullying those who leave or threaten to leave is considered acceptable if it keeps them in the organisation as salvation is dependent on remaining in the organisation.

“If we were to leave Jehovah’s organisation, there would be nowhere else to go for salvation.” Watchtower, July 15, 1961, p. 420
“Disfellowshipped ones are cut off from eternal life unless they repent.” Watchtower, August 15, 1981, p. 28

Less known to the general public, until November 2023 their adherents had been required for the past century to make regular reports to their congregation’s leaders on how many hours they put into such ministry. Those hourly reports were a key metric for a congregation’s spiritual vitality and a factor in deciding who rose to leadership. Former adherents tell of pressure to meet these quotas and guilt when they didn’t.

The Watchtower claims to have a monopoly on teaching the truth

“There is nowhere else to turn for true spiritual food and the words of eternal life.” Watchtower, September 15, 2011, p. 16

In contrast Jesus taught that the truth was to be found in him and in the Word of God.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

When Jesus stood before Pilate facing crucifixion he said,

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37

Jesus’ very mission is to reveal truth to the world, and those who seek truth will recognise His voice. Jesus does not just teach truth—He is the truth. This means that knowing Him personally is the key to knowing ultimate reality and salvation.

God’s truth is found in God’s Word (Scripture). It is only through Scripture that we can know the mind of God. We are made holy, sanctified, following Jesus his prophets and apostles:

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”John 17:17

This means the Scriptures are the ultimate standard for truth.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Jesus affirms that it is God’s Word that feeds us and sustains life, so highlighting its authority.

It is the truth that sets people free. So often being members of a cult is very restrictive as its rules have to be kept. In contrast a Christian is committed to living for a person, the Lord Jesus and it is in this relationship with him, as in a close marriage relationship, that there is great freedom

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

The Bible teaches that leaving Jesus from being the focus of our lives will result in our having to face eternity without God whereas the Watchtower organisation teaches that leaving them means losing the opportunity for eternal life.

This why any person even considering joining this sect should investigate closely whether what they teach is really what the Bible teaches.

True Christians will be enthusiastic about their Lord and will talk about Jesus and the salvation he gives to his people. here are many Bible teaching churches whose members demonstrate this zeal and love for God.

Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

Summary of the Watchtower Organisation’s errors

The Watchtower organisation is guilty of serious doctrinal errors, spiritual control, and harmful practices.

1. False Prophecies and Doctrinal Changes

The Watchtower has repeatedly predicted false dates for the end of the world, including:

1874 – Jesus’ supposed invisible return.
1914 – The beginning of Christ’s reign (originally expected to be the end of the world).
1925 – Predicted the resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to rule the earth.
1975 – Implied the end of the world would come.

The Bible warns against false prophets:

“When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken.” (Deuteronomy 18:22)

The Watchtower has changed its teachings many times, proving it is not divinely led.

2. Twisting the Biblical text to fit their doctrines

They do not translate the Greek and Hebrew texts faithfully, but alter them to fit Watchtower doctrine. Examples of this include:

John 1:1 – Instead of “the Word was God,” they add “the Word was a god” to deny Jesus’ deity.
Colossians 1:16-17 – They insert “other” into the text to make Jesus a created being.
Isaiah 9:6 – They deny that Jesus is called “Mighty God” in the fullest sense.
Revelation 22:18-19 warns against adding or taking away from God’s Word.

3. Spiritual Abuse and Control

The Watchtower enforces strict control over its members. If members leave or question the organisation, they are cut off from family and friends. All Bible interpretation must come from Watchtower publications, independent Bible Study is not encouraged. Members must obey the Governing Body as God’s channel, questioning of the leadership is not permitted.

In contrast the Bible encourages testing all teachings (Acts 17:11, 1 John 4:1). True Christian fellowship is based on faith in Christ, not submission to a human organisation (Colossians 2:8).

4. Unbiblical Teachings About Salvation

The Watchtower teaches that only 144,000 will be in heaven—all others have an earthly hope. Salvation is by works (e.g. door-to-door preaching, loyalty to the organisation). Jesus is not a mediator for all people, only for the 144,000.

In contrast the Bible says that salvation is by grace alone, through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Romans 10:9 says that anyone who confesses Jesus as Lord and believes in Him will be saved. 1 Timothy 2:5 teaches that Jesus is the one mediator for all believers, not just a select group.

5. Deadly Blood Transfusion Ban

Jehovah’s Witnesses are told to refuse blood transfusions, even in emergencies and many have died unnecessarily because of this rule.

The Bible’s command to abstain from blood (Acts 15:29) refers to dietary practices, not medical treatment. Jesus prioritised saving life over legalism (Matthew 12:11-12). The Watchtower has inconsistently changed its medical policies in the past (e.g. allowing vaccines and organ transplants).

6. Denying the true nature of Jesus and the Trinity

This is possibly the most serious of the Watchtowers errors. Without Jesus bein Jehovah the focus of the faith completely changes. The apostles worshipped and adored Jesus because of who he is and what he had done to win salvation for us. If he is not God he could not have taken responsibility for our sins through his death on the cross. He rose to prove his claim to be ‘one with the Father.

The Watchtower leads people away from biblical Christianity and keeps them in fear and deception. True salvation is only found in Jesus Christ, not in any human organisation (John 14:6, Romans 10:9).

Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

The Watchtower and blood transfusions

The Watchtower organisation teaches that its members must refuse blood transfusions, even in life-threatening situations. This belief is based on their interpretation of biblical passages that they believe prohibit the consumption or transfusion of blood. Below are the key reasons for this doctrine:

“But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.” Genesis 9:4

The Watchtower interprets this as a universal command to avoid consuming blood in any form but note the word used is ‘eat’

“If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” Leviticus 17:10-11

This became one way that the Jews were to be identified as God’s people. Blood is holy because it is only by blood that people can be put right with God. When the Christian church started and the question of Jewish laws were discussed it was decided that when people are in christ rules do not apply as there is a higher standard, what pleases Jesus. However they still wanted God’s people to abstain from eating blood as this showed a willingness to try and please Jewish people amongst whom the Christians lived.

“For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” Acts 15:28-29

The Watchtower argues that the phrase “abstain from blood” means avoiding not only eating blood but also receiving it via transfusion. The Watchtower’s official publications state:

“We do not donate or store our blood for transfusion, nor do we accept transfusions of whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma.” Watchtower, June 15, 2004, p. 22
“A faithful Christian does not try to find ways around God’s commands regarding blood just to save his own life.” Awake! October 2000, p. 11

They consider refusing blood a test of loyalty to God, even in medical emergencies.. If a Jehovah’s Witness willingly accepts a blood transfusion, they are considered to have violated God’s law. The consequences may include disfellowshipping (exclusion from the congregation), social ostracism, even from family members and being told that they have displeased God and risk losing eternal life.

“If someone willingly accepts a blood transfusion, knowing that it violates God’s law, he may no longer be viewed as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Watchtower, June 15, 2004, p. 23

What is strange is that they allow intravenous infusions of certain blood fractions (components derived from blood), including albumin, clotting factors (e.g. for haemophiliacs) and immunoglobulins (antibodies, such as in vaccines). They also permit organ transplants which is inconsistent as organs contain blood, and transplants involve foreign tissue, just like transfusions. If transfusing blood is “eating” blood, then wouldn’t a kidney transplant be “eating” a kidney?

Many medical and biblical scholars criticise the Watchtower’s stance on the grounds that the Bible does not mention blood transfusions, only dietary blood consumption. The early church did not apply Acts 15:29 to medical procedures. Blood transfusions do not involve “eating” blood, and modern science distinguishes transfusion from digestion.

What is most concerning is that thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses have died refusing blood when safe medical alternatives did not exist transfusions, thinking this was being godly. Jehovah’s Witnesses who accept blood transfusions are shunned and disfellowshipped, losing contact with family and friends. Parents have let their children die rather than accept a blood transfusion. Many ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses later realise they were misled by a man-made rule that cost lives and social disharmony.

God values life over legalism. Jesus said:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Nowhere does Scripture teach that people should die by denying life-saving medical treatment. The Watchtower’s doctrine is based on misinterpretation and causes unnecessary suffering. Jehovah’s Witnesses deserve to know the truth that accepting a blood transfusion is not a sin and does not separate them from God.

Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

Who are the 144,000?

“Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.” Revelation 7:4

Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that the 144,000 mentioned twice in the book of Revelation are a literal number of individuals who will be resurrected to heavenly life to rule with Christ. These are some excerpts from their publications that elaborate on this belief:

1. “Who Goes to Heaven?” -

“The Bible indicates that 144,000 people will be resurrected to heavenly life. (Revelation 7:4) In the vision recorded at Revelation 14:1-3, the apostle John saw ‘the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000.’ In this vision, ‘the Lamb’ represents the resurrected Jesus. (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19) ‘Mount Zion’ represents the exalted position of Jesus and the 144,000 who rule with him in the heavens.” ‘Who goes to heaven?’ JW.org

2. “Questions From Readers” -

“The phrase ‘those who were sealed’ refers to a group of individuals who are chosen from among mankind to rule with Christ in heaven over the coming Paradise earth. (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22; Revelation 5:9, 10; 20:6) Their number, 144,000, is understood literally for several reasons.” Watchtower On-line Library JW.org

3. Who Go to Heaven, and Why? –

“As we have seen, his Son, Jesus Christ, is the main ruler in this government, and 144,000 persons will be taken from among humankind to rule in heaven with him.” JW.org

4. The Reason Why a ‘Little Flock’ Goes to Heaven –

“So the 144,000 are persons who die on earth as humans and are resurrected to heavenly life as spirit creatures, as Jesus was.” JW.org

These excerpts illustrate the Watchtower Society’s teaching that the 144,000 is a literal number of individuals selected to reign with Christ in heaven, while other faithful believers, referred to as the “great crowd,” are expected to live forever on a paradise earth. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the 144,000 are a special class of Christians who will go to heaven and rule with Christ. They claim that the 144,000 are the only ones “born again” and have a heavenly hope. All other Jehovah’s Witnesses (the “great crowd”) have an earthly hope, they will live forever on a paradise earth but cannot go to heaven. The 144,000 were chosen, beginning at Pentecost (AD 33) and their number was filled by 1935. Only these 144,000 are in the New Covenant and have Jesus as their mediator. Only the 144,000 can take the Lord’s Supper so most Jehovah’s Witnesses are forbidden from partaking.

The Reasons why the Wattower are wrong

1. The 144,000 in Revelation are Israelites, Not a Special Class of Christians

Jehovah’s Witnesses ignore the clear biblical context of Revelation 7:4-8, which states that the 144,000 come from the 12 tribes of Israel, 12,000 from each of the named tribes:

“I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed . . .” Revelation 7:4

Each tribe is named specifically, showing this group is not symbolic of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but Jewish believers. They are not the only people in heaven. This passage continues:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9

Nowhere does the Bible say the 144,000 are the only ones who go to heaven. Instead, all believers in Christ are promised eternal life with Him:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

Paul writes to all in Philippi, and all elsewhere, who acknowledge that Jesus is Jehovah:

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21

John says of all who serve the Lord Jesus:

“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:3-5

2. The “Great Crowd” Is in Heaven, Not Just on Earth

Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that the “great crowd” will only live on earth, but the Bible describes them standing before God’s throne, which is in heaven:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10

God and Jesus, the Lamb are worshipped equally. The great multitude (great crowd) includes all redeemed believers—not just an “earthly class.”

3. All Christians Are “Born Again” and Have Jesus as Their Mediator

Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that most of their members are “born again” and claim that Jesus is only the mediator for the 144,000.

“Likewise, the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members.” “The Desire for Peace and Security Worldwide,” 1986, p. 10

However, the Bible teaches that all true believers are born again and that Jesus is the mediator for all:

“There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” ( John 1:12

The bible teaches that Jesus is the mediator for all believers—not just a small group.

4. The Lord’s Supper Is for All Believers, Not Just a Select Few

Jehovah’s Witnesses forbid most of their members from partaking in the Lord’s Supper, saying it is only for the 144,000. However, Jesus commanded all His followers to take communion:

“Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19)
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

All Christians are called to partake in the Lord’s Supper to align themselves as servants of the Lord Jesus who died to take responsibility for their sin, this sign not just for a limited group.

Jehovah’s Witnesses distort Scripture to divide believers into two classes, denying most of them the full promises of salvation in Christ. This is totally against what Scripture teaches. Peter addresses his first letter in this way:

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:1-5

The elect are all those God has chosen to believe in and obey the Lord Jesus. All such people have received God’s grace and therefore can experience the security of knowing God’s peace whatever happens to us. We can be sure that we will receive our inheritance in heaven.

So the 144,000 in Revelation are Israelites, not Jehovah’s Witnesses. The great crowd is also in heaven, not just on earth. All believers are born again and have Jesus as their mediator and therefore all Christians are invited to take part in the Lord’s Supper.

The Watchtower’s false teaching keeps millions of people from the true gospel—which offers eternal life in heaven, a guarantee to all who trust in Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

Why do the Jehovah’s Witnesses not encourage people to study early church history?

Ignatius was an early bishop of Antioch who was martyred in Rome, being devoured by wild beasts. He lived around 35–110 AD and was a disciple of Peter, Paul and John. His letter to the Ephesians, Ignatius begins:

“Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which is at Ephesus, in Asia, deservedly most happy, being blessed in the greatness and fulness of God the Father, and predestinated before the beginning of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory, being united and elected through the true passion by the will of the Father, and Jesus Christ, our God: Abundant happiness through Jesus Christ, and His undefiled grace.”

Then in chapter 1 of this letter to the Ephesians he wrote.

“Being the followers of God, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of God, ye have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to you.

In chapter 7:

“There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first possible and then impossible,— even Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In Chapter 18 Ignatius wrote:

“For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Ghost. He was born and baptized, that by His passion He might purify the water.

His other letters are similarly full of the Jesus Christ as Lord. There is no doubt that the early church recognised that Jesus was part of the Godhead as was the Holy Spirit.

In chapter 8 of his letter to Polycarp he writes,

“I pray for your happiness for ever in our God, Jesus Christ, by whom continue ye in the unity and under the protection of God.”

In 230 AD a villa was constructed with a beautiful mosaic. This mosaic has at its centre two fish, an early Christian synbol

The Greek word for “fish” (ΙΧΘΥΣ - Ichthys) was used as an acronym summarising core Christian beliefs:

• Ι (Iēsous) → Jesus

• Χ (Christos) → Christ

• Θ (Theou) → God’s

• Υ (Huios) → Son

• Σ (Sōtēr) → Saviour

This translates to “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Saviour.”

What is even more significant is that the mosaic has an inscription which reads ‘Jesus is God’. This was what early Christians accepted and was confirmed a hundred years later at the Council of Nicea (325AD)

Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

The Holy Spirit is a person and part of Jehovah

These are some of the biblical arguments that show that the Holy Spirit is very much part of the godhead and yet is treated as a separate person

1. Jeremiah looked forward to the day when there would be a new covenant with each of God’s people

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”Jeremiah 31:33-34

Yet when this passage is quoted in the New Testament it is the Holy Spirit who is speaking. The Watchtower teaches that the Spirit is a force but a force cannot speak, speech requires a mind:

“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:15-17

It is clear that the apostles regarded the Holy Spirit to be part of Jehovah. The Spirit is described as ‘he’. And this is obvious in the Greek. The question must be asked why the New World translation changes this to ‘it’. It can only be because the Watchtower authorities do not like the doctrine that the Holy Spirit is a person.

2. The last words of King David

The last words of famous people are often interesting,

“These are the last words of David: “The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God . . . 2 Samuel 23:1-3

Again, how can the Spirit of God speak if he is not a person. In verse 3 it is the God of Israel speaking whereas in verse 2 it is the Spirit. The Spirit is God.

3. Peter’s evidence

Peter refers to the Holy Spirit as a person and not as a force. Referring to the Old Testament prophets he said:

“. . . trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.” 1 Peter 1:11

The Watchtower translation omits ‘of Christ’ even though this is in the Greek! Presumably because this does not fit with their theology. Their translation reads:

“what season the spirit within them was indicating concerning Christ.” 1Peter 1:11 NWT

This can only be described as a fraudulent deliberate mistranslation!

4. Stephen’s evidence

In Stephen’s final speech to the Sanhedrin, before he was stoned, he refers to the three persons of the Trinity:

“The Most High does not live in houses . . .” Acts 7:48
“You always resist the Holy Spirit. Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute?” Acts 7:52

The Spirit reveals himself as the invisible voice of God.

“”And now you have betrayed and murdered him . . .” Acts 7:52

Stephen regards all three persons as being Jehovah. As he was dying he does not address the ‘Most High’ but the one he worships and adores, his Lord, the he recognised to be Jehovah, come into his world in the flesh:

“Lord Jesus: receive my spirit.” Acts 7:59

These last words of Stephen are quoted from Psalm 31. But the wording is changed, Stephen also prays to the Lord, Jehovah, but calls him by the name Jesus. The psalm reads:

“Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” Psalm 31:5

Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that Jesus cannot be God because God is one and emphasise that this is taught in the New Testament as well as the Old. For example,

“God is one.” Galatians 3:20

However even in this passage ‘one’ can refer to a corporate unity. This paragraph goes on to say:

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

5. Paul’s evidence

Paul prays to the three persons in the Trinity and he addresses them as distinct people:

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV

Note how the New World Translation has changed this. The article before the Holy Spirit has been dropped although it is there in the Greek, capital letters are not used for him and the word for fellowship changed:

“The undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the sharing in the holy spirit be with all of you.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 NWT

This must have been done to demean the Holy Spirit.

6. Jesus evidence

Jesus would have the final word on this. Jesus told his disciples:

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” John 16:13-15

Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as a person. He calls him ‘he’ eight times and describes what he will do, He will ‘guide’, ‘speak’, ‘hear’ and ‘tell’- all characteristics of a person. The Holy Spirit always points people to Jesus as Jehovah. Consequently to reject him is to reject Jesus and the only sin that will not be forgiven is to reject their status and rule.

7. Paul repeatedly spoke about Christians being obedient to Jesus, where his Spirit is in the driving-seat of our lives

“And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:9-10

Again the Watchtower demeans Christ and treats him as a man with the highest standards and the Holy Spirit is demeaned to being a force. Verse 9 literally talks about God’s Spirit being ‘in you’ but when, in the next verse instead of saying ‘Christ in you’ they have added ‘in union with’. This can hardly be a honest mistake. Paul says the Spirit ‘gives life’ because he gives us Jehovah’s righteousness. The Spirit can only give us ‘life’ this because he also is Jehovah.

“But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this person does not belong to him.   But if Christ is in union with you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. “if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if Christ is in union with you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:9-10 NWT

Jesus taught:

“Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:28-29

Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

Who is Jehovah?

Solid lines represent oneness, the dotted lines distinctiveness

Jehovah is the one true God who created and controls the universe. We all agree on that. However the Scriptures also clearly teach that Jesus is divine. The above diagram illustrates what the Bible teaches, that the Father is Jehovah, the Son is Jehovah and the Holy Spirit is Jehovah. Yet at the same time the three are distinct persons. Both aspects of the godhead are clearly taught in the Bible. The following passages confirm that the three are distinct.

The Bible does not seem to be troubled by what we in the west would call ‘tight logic’. We are understanding a little more about this as we try to reconcile Newtonian physics with Quantum physics. We know both are true yet it is very hard to reconcile them.

When Moses approached the burning bush, when exiled in the land of Midian, we read

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.” Exodus 3:2

Yet two verses later we read:

“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them” Exodus 2:4-8

So this angel was actually the Lord.

Jesus prayed just before his arrest and crucifixion:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:17-18

Paul talked about Jesus being a separate person from the Father:

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,” Colossians 1:3

Peter said in his Pentecost sermon:

““Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” Acts 2:22

Once this double nature of Jesus is understood ninety per cent of the objections to the deity of Jesus disappear.,

Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

Who is Jesus?

John’s gospel begins with a very clear message:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

There is no doubt what the original text means, Jesus is the very substance of God. This is confirmed a little later

“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John 1:18

The Watchtower has deliberately mistranslated this verse so as to demean the status of Jesus. Tehy have decided that Jesus is not God so had to change the meaning of the translation. For them Jesus is only ‘a god’ who was created by God, who ‘explains’ God but does not embody him. So their translation reads:

“No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained Him.” John 1:18 NWT

Jesus, however had no doubt who he was. The prime reason the Jewish authorities wanted to kill Jesus was because of whom he claimed to be:

“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defence Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5:16-18

Jesus then continued to explain what he meant by this claim, he equates himself with the Father:

““Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the deadand gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.” John 5:19-23

This is a serious warning from Jesus. If the Watchtower and their followers refuse to honour the son as they do Jehovah they have not crossed into eternal life which can only be found through belief in and following the Lord Jesus. Jesus continues to emphasise this

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24

John made this very clear when he wrote:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36

In one conflict with the Jewish leaders Jesus Jesus emphasised this dual nature he had:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

This really annoyed the Jews who wanted to stone him there and then:

“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:33

Jesus answered them by confirming that he was a man who was also God

“Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” John 10:36-38

Jesus had no doubt that he and his heavenly Father were one.

Here are some more Biblical evidence that the Son of God is fully human yet of the same substance of God.:

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:11

Stephen ended his speech to the furious Sanhedrin, it was the last talk he ever gave;

“Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55-56

He was saying that Jesus was equal to God. The religious were furious.

“At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:54-59

Stephen prayed to Jesus as his Lord, as Jehovah.

1. Who will be the sun in eternity?

The prophet Isaiah said around 700BC in his vision of eternity:

“The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” Isaiah 60:19

John, the apostle, also explained why there would be no temple or any need for sun and moon in eternity

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 20:22-23

Jesus will again have an equal role as the Lord God Almighty on paradise earth because both are Jehovah.

2. Who is the first and last, the alpha and the omega?

Isaiah says this phrase was first used by Jehovah:

““This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6

This means that Jehovah existed before all things and will always be. Only God can make this claim. However the apostle John uses this idea repeatedly in his book of Revelation:

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” Revelation 1:17

Who is he describing? It is clearly God, the ‘I am’, but look further:

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18

He was dead but is now alive – that can only be Jesus. It is Jesus who holds the keys of eternal life, it is he who holds our eternal fate. As God’s disciples pass on the message about who Jesus is and the need to follow him, so we pass on the message of salvation:

“Jesus says to his disciples, ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven’". Matthew 16:19

3. Who formed the earth?

The Bible is clear that the world was created by Jehovah alone

“I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself,”Isaiah 44:24

Genesis chapter 1 makes it clear that the universe was formed by the ‘word of God’. ‘God said’ is the phrase that introduces every stage of the creation and is repeated nine times. Psalm 102 is addressed to Jehovah and worships him as our creator:

“In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” Psalm 102:25

In the New Testament this verse is quoted in Hebrews 1, where it is clearly stated that Jesus is not only much superior to angels but that he is also our creator:

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3

Jesus is our creator, the exact representation of God who was able to sit down next to Jehovah. That means he is his equal. The Son sits in the throne of the King of kings, of God:

“But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptreof your kingdom. . . . In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” Hebrews 1:8-10

The whole of the book of Hebrews is about why Jesus must be worshipped.

That Jesus is the God who created the world is repeated by other apostles:

“Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” 1 Corinthians 8:6

The Father and Jesus are placed together as our creator. This is repeated in another letter,

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:15-16

The Watchtower teaches that Jesus was created by God—specifically, that he is the archangel Michael. Jehovah's Witnesses insist that Jesus is the first of the created beings of God. In the Greek New Testament the word for ‘firstborn’ in the New Testament is ‘prototokos’ (πρωτότοκος) which is derived from the Greek words "protos" (first) and "tokos" (born). What is not realised is that in the Bible, ‘firstborn’ often signifies a position of authority or leadership, and neednot refer to the literal first child born.

Jesus cannot be both the creator of everything, which is clearly taught in the Bible and at the same time be created. Paul’s letter to the Colossians makes this clear:

“And He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Colossians 1:15-21

The phrase ‘the firstborn from the dead’ cannot be that he was the first person to raised as Jesus himself had raised three people from the dead. Firstborn means ‘ has authority’ as the previous phrases imply:

“He is before all things . . . He is also head of the body. . . ”

Paul makes his meaning of ‘firstborn’ even clearer in the next phrase,

“ . . . so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything”.

The ‘firstborn’ is often used as a title of authority. An example of this is seen in Psalm 89 which talks about King David:

“I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.
The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries.
My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted.
I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers.
He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Saviour.’
And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.”
Psalm 89:20-27

4. Whose glory did Isaiah see?

When Isaiah was called by Jehovah to be his prophet he was given a vivid experience of Jehovah in all his glory sitting on his throne:

“I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ . . .

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go and tell this people:

‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Isaiah 6:1-3, 8-10

When John wrote his gospel he recognises that Jesus is the Jehovah Isaiah saw.

“Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfil the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

This was a prophecy from Isaiah 53:1. John then continues to use Isaiah’s vision of Jehovah in Isaiah 6 but then says that it was Jesus Isaiah saw in glory:

“For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.” John 12:37-42

There is no doubt that John recognised Jesus to be Jehovah.

At the end of the book of Acts Paul has a discussion with local Jewish leaders about Jesus and he quotes this description of the call of Isaiah. Note who he attributes this quote to:

“They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ Acts 28:26-27

The Holy Spirit is said to be saying what Jehovah said. This was not a mistake, it is saying that the Spirit is Jehovah.

There is another clue in the Isaiah passage. Jehovah says, ‘Who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8) There is a plurality within Jehovah. Jehovah is the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025 Bernard Palmer 31/01/2025

Questions Jehovah’s Witnesses should ask

1. Ostracism (Shunning) of Former Members

“Apostates are ‘mentally diseased,’ and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. Jehovah, the Great Physician, tells us to avoid all contact with them.” Watchtower, April 15, 1988, p. 27

This encourages total avoidance of those who leave or criticise the organisation.

“A simple ‘Hello’ could be the first step that leads to a conversation and even friendship with one who is disfellowshipped… Do we obediently avoid that first step?” Watchtower, September 15, 1981, p. 22
“Loyal Christians do not associate with anyone who was disfellowshipped or who has disassociated himself from the congregation.” Watchtower, April 15, 2012, p. 12

Even greeting a disfellowshipped person is discouraged and this internal manual used by elders reinforces the practice of shunning.

“Disfellowshipped and disassociated ones are shunned by those who wish to have a good relationship with Jehovah.” Shepherd the Flock of God (Elders’ Manual, 2019, p. 111)

Leaving the organisation is equated with leaving God

“Such ones wilfully abandoning the Christian congregation thereby become part of the antichrist. A Christian must hate (in the biblical sense) those who have become haters of Jehovah.” Watchtower, October 1, 1993, p. 19

They teach that there are eternal consequences for leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses:

“We must hate in the truest sense, which is to regard with extreme and active enmity, those who have left the organisation. For there is no place in God’s new world for them.” Watchtower, November 15, 1952, p. 703

Bullying those who leave or threaten to leave is considered acceptable if it keeps them in the organisation as salvation is dependent on remaining in the organisation.

“If we were to leave Jehovah’s organisation, there would be nowhere else to go for salvation.” Watchtower, July 15, 1961, p. 420
“Disfellowshipped ones are cut off from eternal life unless they repent.” Watchtower, August 15, 1981, p. 28

Less known to the general public, until November 2023 their adherents had been required, for the past century, to make regular reports to their congregation’s leaders on how many hours they put into evangelism. Those hourly reports were a key metric for a congregation’s spiritual vitality and a factor in deciding who rose to leadership. Former adherents tell of pressure to meet these quotas and guilt when they didn’t.

The Watchtower claims to have a monopoly on teaching the truth

“There is nowhere else to turn for true spiritual food and the words of eternal life.” Watchtower, September 15, 2011, p. 16

In contrast Jesus taught that the truth was to be found in him and in the Word of God.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

When Jesus stood before Pilate facing crucifixion he said,

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37

God’s truth is found in God’s Word (Scripture).

It is only through Scripture that we can know the mind of God. We are made holy, sanctified, following Jesus his prophets and apostles:

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”John 17:17

This means the Scriptures are the ultimate standard for truth.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Jesus affirms that it is God’s Word that feeds us and sustains life, so highlighting its authority.

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

This why any person even considering joining this sect should investigate closely whether what they teach is really what the Bible teaches.

True Christians will be enthusiastic about their Lord and will talk about Jesus and the salvation he gives to his people. There are many Bible teaching churches whose members demonstrate this zeal and love for God.