Like the Catholic religion, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have written their own Bible to suit their own beliefs, editing out what they don’t agree with, and adding words to change the meaning more to their liking. As an example, John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God.” They added an “a” to make it read “the Word was a god,” seeking to nullify the deity of Christ. Of course, then you would have to ask, just what kind of “god” is Jesus? Since they say he is “a” god, does that mean that Jesus is a false god? Is he the true God? Since all gods that are not the true God are false, they are really accusing Jesus of being a false deity.

They also added the word “Jehovah” to the New Testament 237 times, replacing the word “Lord” whenever it refers to God the Father. They left the word “Lord” alone, however, whenever it refers to Jesus, thereby deceitfully using translating to suit their own doctrines. Also, like the Catholic system, which has its Vatican, the Jehovah Witnesses have a centralized rule in Brooklyn : the “Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.” Whatever doctrines the “Council of Twelve” (the leaders of the religion) hand down, must be immediately accepted by the faithful around the world as God inspired. This is just like the Popes’ decrees to Catholics, and the Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility. Mormonism has a similar setup in Salt Lake City, Utah, with its “prophet” system. Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the deity (Godness) of Christ, and say that Jesus is Michael the angel. The Bible states that Jesus is not an angel. Hebrews 1:5,”For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” The answer, of course, is that he never said it to any angel. Jesus is shown to be God in the Bible. Thomas was speaking to Jesus, and Jesus confirmed Thomas’s words. John 20:28, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” The Jewish rulers understood that Jesus claimed he was God. John 5:18, “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

The Heavenly Father referred to Jesus as God. Hebrews 1:8, “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the bodily resurrection of Christ. They say that it was his spirit that was raised, and we cannot tell what happened to his earthly body. This, in fact, denies that there was a resurrection at all, for the resurrection refers to the body. Luke 24:39, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” John 20:20, “And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the doctrine of the Trinity, teaching that the Holy Spirit is only an “active force,” something like electricity. The Bible amply affirms the truth of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit experiences the emotion of grief, showing him to be a person, since you must have intellect to experience emotion. Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” The Holy Spirit can be lied to as only a person can; you cannot lie to electricity. Acts 5:3, “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”

The Jehovah’s Witnesses detest I John 5:7, even claiming it should not be in the Bible. I John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” The three persons of the Trinity are depicted in the following verse. Luke 3:22, “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” The Old Testament also depicted the Trinity. In the following verse, Jesus is speaking of the Father and Holy Spirit sending him to his ministry on earth. Isaiah 48:16, “Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.” Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the existence of a literal hell, saying that it is merely an allegory for suffering and the grave. The discussion of this topic is somewhat lengthy, so suffice it to say that in every instance hell is mentioned in the Bible, they have developed a loop-hole in order to defeat the real intent of scripture.

The interpretations of parables by Jesus were always literal. In this case, the interpretation says the wicked shall burn in hell.

The Parable:

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.  (Matthew 13:24-30 KJV)

The Literal Interpretation:

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  (Matthew 13:41-42 KJV)

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have tried to discredit the story of the rich man in hell (Luke16:19-31) by claiming it as a parable. It is true that Jesus taught in parables (Matthew 13:34, “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them.”), but the question is not whether the story of the rich man in hell is a parable, rather what the definition of a parable is. The dictionary defines a parable as a “short religious allegory.” The dictionary defines an allegory as a “story used to illustrate a truth.” The dictionary does NOT say that the story, allegory, or parable is not factual. In other words, a parable can be a factual or fabricated story. An example of Jesus using a factual story as a parable (other than the Luke 16 story), is His reference to the account of Jonah. Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whales belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Even the Jehovah’s Witnesses allow that the account of Jonah is true and factual, yet Jesus used it as a parable to illustrate a truth. Therefore, the “parable” of the rich man in hell is not to be discounted as not factual simply because Jesus used it as an illustration of the results of covetousness.

Here are some verses that contradict the belief that there is no hell. Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Revelation 14:11, “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Isaiah 33:14, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that only 144,000 people will enter into heaven. However, in the last 100 years of their existence, they have basically run out of “slots for heaven.” Therefore (according to them), they must settle for a spot in the earthly kingdom. The 144,000 were all Jewish male virgins. Revelation 14:4, “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Compare to Revelation 7. Paul taught that all believers go to heaven immediately after death. II Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Luke 6:23, “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teaching is remarkably similar to that of the Pharisees, which Jesus denounced with the following words: Matthew 23:13, “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” There are other false doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses which would take many pages to address. As with most religions, the people are sincere, but are not encouraged to study the Bible on their own. The leaders fear that the Bible will be detrimental to the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ allegiance to “The Society.” (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society)

One of the pet themes of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is that so-called “Christian” nations go to war with one another, thereby proving that they are not of God. The problem is that the Jehovah’s Witnesses do not understand the distinction between the “church” and civil government. Jesus made it clear that even iniquitous civil government was appointed of God, and that the role of government was to provide a good society. John 19:11, “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” John the Baptist did not tell the soldiers to quit the army, but rather not to forcefully take away anyone’s money. Luke 3:14, “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” We are to be subject to the governmental authorities. Romans 13:1-6, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.” II Peter 2:9-12, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.”