AI: “Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus began his invisible reign as King of God’s Kingdom in heaven in October 1914, marking the start of the “last days,” a pivotal time foretold in Bible prophecy, leading to Armageddon and the establishment of God’s earthly paradise, ending sickness, poverty, and death, with 144,000 (from Revelation 7:4; 14:1-5) anointed ones ruling alongside Christ in heaven, while the majority of faithful followers (the great multitude in Revelation 7:9-17) live forever on the paradise earth. Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) believe they represent God’s true Kingdom on Earth, viewing themselves as its subjects and representatives, actively living by its laws and preaching its message, even though the Kingdom itself is a heavenly government established in 1914 with Jesus as King, meant to replace all human governments. They see themselves as the only ones truly following Christ’s commands and God’s will for this “last day” period, organizing themselves as God’s visible earthly agency. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe those not among the 144,000 (who go to heaven) or the “great multitude” (who live on paradise Earth) will face destruction (annihilation) at Armageddon or are part of those who are simply disobedient and will not survive to see the new world. “The early JW leader Rutherford predicted that a grreat resurrection would occur in 1925 but that didn’t happen. Later publications, particularly in the 1960s, built anticipation for 1975 as the 6,000th anniversary of Adam’s creation, suggesting Armageddon could occur then, leading to widespread excitement and disappointment when it didn’t happen.” Rutherford published a book in 1920 “Millions Now Living Will Never Die”. He was obviously wrong about that also. While 1914 remains central, earlier predictions (like 1925, 1975) were later abandoned as specific end-times markers, though the core belief in 1914’s significance endures as the beginning of Christ’s kingship.”Thus they believe that the “2nd coming” occurred in 1914 but was an invisible coming.” Jehovah’s Witnesses have many other unusual beliefs. “They believe that pledging allegiance or saluting a flag is a form of worship directed toward an object or nation, which the Bible prohibits, reserving worship for God alone.” They believe that taking blood transfusions is a sin, based on their interpretation of Bible verses commanding them to “abstain from blood” (Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10, and Acts 15:28, 29).

There are so many false teaching in all this. In Matthew 4:17 Jesus predicted ““Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (at hand in some translations). Jesus said in Mark 9:1  “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God when it has come with power.” Unless Jesus was a false prophet (which he wasn’t), then Jesus’ kingdom was set up while some of those listening to him speak were still alive. That kingdom was a spiritual kingdom, the church. In John 18:36 Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world”. It was established in Acts 2 in 30 AD (not 1914 AD) when 3,000 were baptized for the remission of sins and became the first church. Thus Paul would say that the Colossian Christians were in that kingdom. Colossians 1:¹³ For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The apostle John said in Revelation 1:5 To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— ⁶ and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” JWs teach that the kingdom did not exist until 1914 and that contradicts all these passages.

JWs see themselves as the only true restored followers of Jesus but Christians in the book of Acts and the New Testament were true followers of Jesus 2,000 years ago and we have had 2,000 years of faithful Christian followers of Jesus since then. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the 144,000 are indeed members of their religion. They take that as a literal number but they don’t take the part in Revelation 14:4 to be literal: ³ And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to learn the song except the 144,000 who had been purchased from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are celibate.” Also the book of Revelation is about things that were going to happen shortly, soon after the time of writing of the book. Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place. ³ Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 22:⁶ And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. ¹⁰ And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. So the 144,000 would be some people from the first century and not future JW members at least 2,000 years later.

JWs teach that Jesus’ 2nd coming was in 1914. But Jesus predicted that his coming back would be within the lifetime of those he was speaking to (Matthew 10:23; 16:27,28; 24:30-34; 26:64). 3 times in Revelation Jesus said “I am coming quickly” (thus an imminent 2nd coming) (Revelation 22:7,12,20). He did not delay that coming. Hebrews 10:37 For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” Many Christians will admit that Jesus said that his 2nd coming was imminent within the generation of those he was speaking to, but then they will say that He delayed his coming. But Hebrews 10:37 refutes any such “delayed coming theory”. The fact that Rutherford made false predictions about Jesus coming back in 1925 and then in 1975 should be enough to tell you that the JWs are based on false prophets. Why should anyone follow their teachings if they have been shown to be false prophets?

Peter told Christians in 1 Peter 2:¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.¹⁷ Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” Yet the JWs dishonor our country and our government by their refusal to say the Pledge of Allegiance or salute the flag. Peter told them to honor the king even though that king was an emperor at that time who claimed to be God and who was part of the Roman Empire that persecuted early Christians

There are so many things false in the teaching of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are encouraged by their leaders to go out knocking on doors, passing out JW literature. So if they knock on your door, show them love but be ready to challenge their teachings with Biblical passages. JWs also teach that Jesus was “a” god, the first thing created by the Father, but not equal to the Father. 2 John warned Christians about those who deny the Deity of Jesus: 2 John ⁷ For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. ⁸ Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. ⁹ Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; ¹¹ for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”
Many JWs leave the JW faith and are shunned or disfellowshipped by their family and church. Be ready to help a JW member who has left that religion.

It should be noted that the JWs were connected with the Great Disappointment of 1844. “Jehovah’s Witnesses are connected to the Great Disappointment of 1844 because their movement, the International Bible Students Association, grew out of the fragmented Millerite movement that was shattered by the failure of William Miller‘s prophecy (that Jesus’ 2nd coming would be in 1843-44), with Jehovah’s Witnesses founder Charles Taze Russell being heavily influenced by other Millerite remnants who sought to reinterpret biblical prophecy after the disappointment, leading to new Adventist-rooted groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses.” In other words they tried to minimize the impact of Miller’s failed predictions by their teachings that Jesus came back in 1914 invisibly, etc, still teaching an imminent 2nd coming just at a later date in 1925 or1975.

I hope this has been beneficial. You might not even know a member of the JWs, but be ready if one comes knocking on your door!