The Origin and History #
The origins of the Jehovah’s Witness movement trace back to the late 19th century, specifically to Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916), a man dissatisfied with traditional Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, eternal punishment, and the deity of Jesus Christ. In 1879, Russell founded the Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society, which was officially incorporated in 1884 as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. This organisation became the foundation for what would later be known as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“A visible organisation cannot replace the invisible, Spirit-led Body of Christ.”
The Founding and Failed Prophecies #
Russell’s teachings centred heavily on eschatology—the doctrine of end times. He predicted that Christ’s return would occur invisibly in 1914, ushering in the beginning of God’s Kingdom on earth. However, when these predictions failed to materialise as expected, subsequent leaders reinterpreted these prophecies to preserve organisational credibility (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, ‘Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom’, 1993, p. 135).
After Russell’s death, Joseph Franklin Rutherford assumed leadership. Under Rutherford, the movement’s structure shifted dramatically toward authoritarian control by a central governing body. In 1931, the group adopted the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” referencing Isaiah 43:10:
“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen…” — Isaiah 43:10 (AMP)
However, this text contextually refers to Israel (‘ed’—עֵד in Hebrew, meaning “witness”) and prophetically to Jesus Christ (cf. Revelation 1:5) and His Body, the Church (cf. Acts 1:8)—not to any human organisation. The true New Testament witness is the Church, the living Body of Christ, animated by the Spirit of God, not bound by centralised earthly governance.
A Theological Critique of Organisational Claims #
A serious theological flaw arises in their claim to be God’s sole channel of truth on earth. The New Testament reveals no such exclusive organisation but rather a living Body of believers who are led by the Spirit:
“For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” — Romans 8:14 (AMP)
By contrast, Jehovah’s Witnesses place heavy emphasis on their Governing Body as the singular interpreter of God’s will. This is nowhere supported in apostolic teaching. The early Church operated under the headship of Christ:
“True witness comes by the Spirit’s life within, not by human control.”
“He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead…” — Colossians 1:18 (AMP)
With oversight from multiple elders, no centralised command post in one city.
Prophetic Failures and Their Scriptural Implications #
The Watch Tower Society also bears the weight of failed prophetic claims:
- 1914 — Predicted the end of the world, reinterpreted post-failure.
- 1925 — Claimed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would return bodily; they did not.
- 1975 — Forecasted the start of the millennium; this did not occur.
Such errors conflict sharply with Scripture:
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name which I have not commanded him to speak… that prophet shall die… if the thing does not come true… you shall not be afraid of him.” — Deuteronomy 18:20–22 (AMP)
Doctrinal Errors on the Person of Christ #
Further theological departure appears in their doctrine of Christ. Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Jesus is God eternal, insisting He is a created being—the Archangel Michael (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, ‘Reasoning from the Scriptures’, 1985, p. 218). This contradicts the clear testimony of Scripture:
“In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.” — John 1:1 (AMP)
The Greek word translated as “God” here is Theos (Θεός), not “a god” as rendered falsely in the New World Translation—a rendering unsupported by Greek scholarship (Bruce M. Metzger, ‘The Text of the New Testament’, 1992, p. 136).
“Prophecy that fails exposes the voice of man, not God.”
The Issue of Authoritarian Control #
Their organisational control also heavily discourages independent Bible study or questioning of the Governing Body’s teachings. Members are required to submit to The Watchtower’s interpretations rather than the Spirit of God personally teaching the believer:
“As for you, the anointing [the special gift, the preparation] which you received from Him remains [permanently] in you… you have no need for anyone to teach you…” — 1 John 2:27 (AMP)
Jehovah’s Witnesses vs Biblical Christianity #
| Jehovah’s Witness Teaching | Biblical Teaching | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Christ returned invisibly in 1914 | Christ’s return will be visible and glorious | Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:11 |
| Organisation is God’s sole channel | All believers are temples of the Holy Spirit | 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Peter 2:5 |
| Christ is a created being (Michael) | Christ is eternal, God manifest in flesh | John 1:1; Colossians 2:9 |
| NWT distorts key texts | Accurate translations uphold Christ’s deity | John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8 |
| Authoritarian governing body | Spirit-led plurality of elders, Christ as Head | Acts 14:23; Colossians 1:18 |
All this is only revealed when Christ is in you, when you are moved by the Holy Spirit, when you are dead to the world, Adam and the flesh—but alive in Christ and the Spirit. Man’s systems and structures cannot replace the organic, living reality of the Church—the Body of Christ governed by His life within.
In Christ,
Shaliach.
