“JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES”


Valid Or Cultist?

Buff Scott, Jr.
Author - Reformer - Columnist
[With wife Rosita]

If you believe the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses are credible and authoritative, you might wish to consider what follows.

Bogus Claims

Additional cases could be cited, but the above gives you some idea about the credibility of this sect. These are not mere teachings from the rank-and-file membership. Rather, they proceed from the pen of those in authoritative leadership positions—men who are judged to be filled with heavenly wisdom, immersed in celestial knowledge, and spiritually mature. In other words, these teachings came from headquarters. That being the case, these chieftains proved themselves false prophets, thus untrustworthy. But isn’t this the case of all cult leaders?

Why do these cult leaders predict the second, imminent return of Jesus the Messiah so frequently? I’m convinced it is because their sensational announcements incite this cult’s enslaved disciples to work harder and contribute more money to the Watchtower’s empire. Money, power, and control are the gods behind it all—as is the case with every cult.

Earmarks Of This Cult
Like every cult, the Witnesses deny being a cultist movement. However, it bears all of the earmarks of a rigid, brainwashing cult, some of which are:

  • Their proselyting efforts are underhanded and deceptive.
  • They teach that all other churches and religious groups are headed for hell.
  • Their leaders are dictatorial and demanding, either directly or subtly.
  • They resent having their doctrines questioned.
  • They separate themselves from other believers and refuse to accept anyone who will not convert to their theological platform.
  • They claim to have the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
  • Those who leave the group are judged evil, and honest dissidents are disciplined, avoided, and often excommunicated.
  • The leaders insist on strict conformity to the sect’s doctrinal positions.
  • Members are expected to give large amounts of money, energy, and time to nourish the Watchtower’s pregnant coffers.
  • They distort scripture to foster their belief system.
  • They deny God has other children scattered throughout the Christian community and affirm that God’s people are found only within the borders of their own enclosure.

More About This Cult
There are many other cultic symptoms of Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of the most notorious is that they believe they’re the only legitimate interpreters of scripture. But the truth is, they mutilate scripture to bolster their strange doctrines.

Try convincing a Jehovah’s Witness that The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York is a cult that controls his thinking and he will most likely laugh in your face. Rarely can a Witness be deprogrammed to accept reality. I am writing these words and revealing these facts for the benefit of those who are in the process of being influenced by this cult’s door-knockers.

A truth that should be realized is that this religious enterprise is nowhere named in scripture—not even remotely, and it is certain that Jesus and His apostles did not found it. It cannot trace its genesis prior to about 1896.

A Bare Fact
In 1896, a man by the name of Charles T. Russell introduced and founded The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. This seemed to have marked the official founding of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization. You will note that a mere man ushered in this religious party, not Jesus Christ.

Like all sects and cults, as well as denominations of various partisan colors, it claims to be the Messiah’s arrangement and guided by God’s hand. But truth-seekers and independent thinkers know better. A careful investigation reveals it to be a cult of the deepest dye.

Jesus’ Invisible Presence
As noted earlier, this cult teaches that Jesus’ invisible presence began to be observed in 1914, and that He began His kingdom rule of the earth at that time.

What’s wrong with this? It just ain’t according to biblical facts! The apostle Peter very clearly announces in Acts 2:33 that Jesus has been “exalted to the right hand of God.” If Jesus has been exalted or enthroned, and He has, He reigns over the subjects of His kingdom—and has been for 2,000 years.

But again, Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:25 that Jesus “must reign [present tense] until He has put all His enemies under His feet.” It follows, then, that Jesus’ rule or reign was prevalent even in Paul’s day. To confirm that truth, we need only turn to Paul’s letter to the Colossian believers. Here he declares that they had been “rescued from the dominion [kingdom] of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Col. 1:13).

You see, as there cannot be a kingdom without a king, and since the Colossians had been transferred into the Son’s kingdom, reality tells us that Jesus was ruling or reigning over His kingdom when Paul penned his letter. Something of importance might have occurred in 1914, but it was not what the Witnesses affirm. Their testimony does not stand up in Heaven’s Court.

Jesus’ Promise
Did Jesus postpone His promise to the Twelve until 1914? He told them, just before His ascension back into heaven, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the [grace] age” (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus’ invisible presence has been with us in the form of God’s Holy Spirit since the very inception of the grace era, which had its beginning on the first Jewish Pentecost following the ascension of Messiah Jesus, as recorded in Acts 2. Jesus promised the Twelve that He would not leave them comfortless, but that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and lead them into all truth (John 16:13). And Peter says God’s Holy Spirit has been given to all those who obey God (Acts 5:32).

So, what do we have? Jesus’ personal presence, although not visible to the naked eye, has been observed since about A. D. 30-33.

Some History Of This Cult’s Founder
Charles T. Russell, founder of this cult, was implicated in a number of legal battles. On one occasion, he was publicly exposed as a perjurer and charged with immorality by his wife and others. On other occasions, he was involved in and accused of fraudulent business schemes.

Russell died in 1916 and Judge Joseph Rutherford took his place in the Watchtower Society. It was Rutherford who predicted that some of the old princes under the old covenant would be resurrected in 1925 and the then world order would come to an end. In 1929, the Society bought a mansion in California for the purpose of housing these princes—Abraham, Isaac, and others. However, Rutherford lived in the mansion until his death. How convenient!

Rutherford was sentenced to twenty years in a federal penitentiary after he was found guilty of violating the Espionage Act, but served only a year of the sentence. He was charged with not being loyal to his country.

This Sect’s Official Title
“Jehovah’s Witnesses” became the official designation of this cultic movement in 1931, based upon Isaiah 43:10. “You are my witnesses.” The Witnesses have taken a standard declaration and made from it an official, restrictive, sectarian title. All of God’s children are Jehovah’s witnesses, but not all of God's children are Jehovah’s Witnesses. All of God's children are latter day saints, in that we are living in the final era. But not all of God’s children are Latter Day Saints. There’s a difference, and the difference makes all the difference in the world.

Door Knockers
What should we do when the Witnesses come knocking? And they will, sooner or later. Treat them with respect and courtesy, the same way we expect to be treated. These poor brainwashed victims need all the help we can give them. Study with them, but keep their feet to the fire. Don’t let them sidetrack you.

Some years ago, I invited a Witness in to study with me. It was hard, but I finally got him to admit that the only Christians are Jehovah’s Witnesses and that no one can be saved except those associated with the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York (this cult’s headquarters). Then I turned to Luke, chapter 18, and asked him, “What is the difference between your attitude and the attitude of the self-righteous Pharisee, whom Jesus condemned?” I pressed him for an answer. He refused to respond, but quietly picked up his cultist papers and left, never to be seen again.

On still another occasion, two Witnesses dropped by and offered me their literature. I told them if they would accept mine and read it, I would accept and read theirs. They refused and walked off. These brainwashed pawns are not even permitted to read any religious material that conflicts with their cult’s doctrinal platform. It is sad that freedom in Jesus has eluded these misguided disciples of one of our nation’s staunchest cults.

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