The Watchtower taught to worship Jesus until 1954, afterwards they changed their beliefs saying to worship Jesus Christ was idolatrous. Now The Jehovah Witness religion is in reality a polytheistic religion claiming Jesus is not God but a god.
Most Jehovah Witnesses are ignorant of the history of the Watchtower and what they taught. Charles Taze Russell taught the worship of Jesus Christ in the initial Watchtower Charter’s. In the 1950’s and onward worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ became viewed as idolatry.
First, we have to understand what Paul meant here by worship. He used the Greek word pro·sky·neʹo. Unger’s Bible Dictionary says that this word literally means to ‘kiss the hand of someone in token of reverence or to do homage.’ An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, by W. E. Vine, says that this word “denotes an act of reverence, whether paid to man . . . or to God.” In Bible times pro·sky·neʹo often included literally bowing down before someone of high stature.
Is It Proper to Worship Jesus? Awake! April 8, 2000
προσκυνέωproskynéō, pros-koo-neh’-o; from G4314 and a probable derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):—worship.
to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence
among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence
in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication
used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank
to the Jewish high priests
to God
to Christ
to heavenly beings
to demons
The Watchtower changed the word “worship” which all bibles use in order to show Jesus Christ is to be worshipped as God, and replaced it with “obeisance” in the verses which speaks about Christ deity.
Here are Watchtower quotes which prove they used to teach to worship Jesus Christ as God.
Russell’s understanding of who the Lord Jesus Christ is was incorrect because he thought Jesus was God the Father. That aside Russell did teach Jesus was to be worshipped. When Russell died the new president Joseph Franklin Rutherford continued teaching the same.
In the 1950’s, the Watchtower organisation changed their teaching on Jesus to correspond with their manipulated the New World Translation. In opposition to other scholarly translations, the Jehovah Witness “bible” translates the word proskuneō as obeisance rather than worship when pertaining to Jesus Christ. Every other occurrence, in the New World Translation translates the word proskuneō as worship.
With all the flip flops in doctrine we can clearly see that the Watchtower is not being used by God in anyway. We have verse upon verse which proves the Lord Jesus is to be worshipped as God.
Watchtower 1979 Apr 1 p.31 (Questions From Readers)
Dear Jehovah Witness did you know the Watchtower teaches that Jesus Christ is not you mediator? Does this come as a shock to you? It should. The Watchtower says that only the ‘anointed class’ have Jesus as their mediator.
For Christians the beliefs of the Jehovah Witnesses (JW) are strange. Most Christians are unaware of the JW’s beliefs thereby it makes it difficult for believers in Christ who are not familiar with the Watchtower teachings to reach JW’s.
Jehovah Witnesses have their own bible (NWT) which has been manipulated in order for it to fit their doctrines. And they are indoctrinated to view scriptures through Watchtower goggles. Lastly, if you’re not part of the JW’s they won’t believe anything you have to say from the bible. Jehovah Witnesses only believe what they are told the bible means through the governing body.
This obstacle is hard to overcome but it’s not impossible. In order to reach a JW for Christ we must first realise that the Watchtower and JW are two distinct entities. The only way to break through is to prove to the JW the contradictions in Watchtower theology. We will look into one of those contradiction today which is the subject of Jesus Christ as mediator.
2 Classes of Christians?
Jehovah Witnesses believe in a 2 class system, the first class consist of spirit anointed Christians starting from the day of Pentecost (33 AD). These Christians ‘the little flock’ make up the 144,000 found in the book of Revelation chapter 7 according to Watchtower.
JW’s are taught only the 144,000 are anointed and ‘have a heavenly hope’ and will reign with Christ as kings and priest. The doctrine of the 144,000 anointed class did not come from their founder C.T. Russell. Russell taught all the members of the Watchtower are anointed, and the 144,000 who were Spiritual Israel had ‘one hope’ a heavenly hope.
The early teachings of Watchtower was that all Jehovah’s Witnesses go to heaven. There was no paradise earth teaching, nor two destinations for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Russell died in 1916 then Joseph Rutherford became the new president. It was under Rutherford’s leadership that many teachings began to change, one being the teaching of the 144,000.
Russell taught only 144,000 of Jehovah Witnesses would survive armageddon as the accepted view, this created a problem when people began joining the Watchtower and membership increased.
The question now became how is a Jehovah Witness (‘the other sheep’) saved when not part of the 144,000 ‘anointed class’? Well, Rutherford knew that if the ‘door was shut’ in 1934. This would be a major problem as no one else could be added to the anointed class deterring individuals from joining.
The Watchtower introduced the teaching of ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’. Any Jehovah’s Witness who wanted to survive armageddon would be required to follow the ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’ better known now as the governing body.
Here are a few of the outlandish quotes the Watchtower has put out in their own literature claiming to be the only channel in which a person can have salvation.
Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.24 Simplified English Edition
As you can see the Watchtower made it so that any Jehovah Witness who is not part of the 144,000 ‘anointed class’ is then considered as the ‘great crowd’. Therefore those of the ‘great crowd’ must align themselves and obey the governing body in order to have salvation. The Watchtower has inserted themselves in the place of Christ. It really is a blasphemous doctrine when you understand what they believe.
What Does The Bible Teach?
Since the very beginning all Christians are one fold (flock), the Lord Jesus spoke on this in the Gospel of John it’s know as the chapter on the Good Shepherd. The background is the Lord was talking with the Jewish people explaining that Christ was the Shepherd of the sheep and that all His sheep hear His voice.
The Lord Jesus was telling the people not to listen to a strangers voice, and if anyone tried to enter into the fold without going through Christ would be a thief and robber. The Jewish people in this parable are the ‘little flock’, but Christ didn’t stop there He also said there were ‘other sheep’ He needed to bring with Him.
This was in reference to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and they also would be joined to the ‘little flock’ and the 2 would become one fold.
Jesus Christ never said there would be a 2 class system of Christians one being ‘anointed’ and the others not. In fact the New Testament says we have one hope.
Most importantly all Christians must be born again meaning they would be ‘anointed’ having the Holy Spirit inside them. We’re reminded of when Nicodemus came to the Lord Jesus at night.
No exceptions a Christian must be born again. Paul the apostle spoke about this in Romans chapter 8 showing the distinctions between the saved and unsaved.
Who Really Have a Heavenly Calling? (Watchtower 1991 March 15)
This is a huge problem for the Jehovah Witness as they have no assurance of salvation, Romans 8:9-11 says you don’t belong to God if you don’t have the Holy Spirit. If Jesus Christ is not your mediator that means you’re still dead in your sins! Christ said the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will be inside believers (John 14:17).
The Watchtower through the 144,000 teaching has literally made a kingdom of slaves for the organization. This is why you’ll see JW’s putting in so much time standing next to carts and going door to door. For the Jehovah Witness they need to work to insure their salvation.
The Bible says that we cannot earn our salvation (Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5). If you’re a Jehovah’s Witness reading this first we’d like to say welcome, we understand that you’re talking a huge risk in reading an ‘apostate’ site and this could land you in trouble with your congregation.
More importantly we are pleased that you’re looking into this for yourself to find the facts which Watchtower organization doesn’t want you to know. To find the real Truth which is the Jesus Christ of the Bible. Do not allow the 8 men who consist of the governing body to control your thinking.
And to our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to reach out to those stuck in the Watchtower. Don’t view the Jehovah’s Witness as the enemy they are just deceived and think they’re doing the will of God. We encourage you to share the Gospel of Christ with them and focus the conversation on showing how the Watchtower is wrong.
Whatsoever Things Are True 