The Watchtower constantly stresses the importance of spreading “the Kingdom message.”

There is no doubt that Jesus spoke a great deal of the Kingdom of God.

But was his message the same “Kingdom message” as that of the Watchtower?

The Watchtower’s Kingdom message focuses on end times prophecy

Since its inception, the Watchtower has proclaimed that Jesus has already returned invisibly (first they said it happened in 1874; later they changed it to 1914).

On page 9 of a booklet entitled “Doing God’s Will,” the Watchtower said this:

Soon after World War I, it was clearly seen that God’s Kingdom by Christ Jesus had been established in the heavens in 1914. So Jesus’ words could now have their complete fulfillment: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited world for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”

They continue to proclaim that Armageddon and Christ’s millennial reign on earth are imminent:
“God’s Kingdom will soon remove all governments of this world, and it itself will replace all of them. (Daniel 2:44). Then God’s Kingdom will usher in an earthly paradise.” (What Does the Bible Really Teach?, p. 33)

For example, in a chapter entitled “What Is God’s Kingdom?” (What Does the Bible Really Teach?, pp. 76-85), the Watchtower asks questions such as these:

  • From where will God’s Kingdom rule?
  • Who will rule with Jesus?
  • How many will rule with Jesus, and when did God start to choose them?
  • Why is it a loving arrangement for Jesus and the 144,000 to rule over mankind?
  • What will God’s Kingdom do?
  • What has happened because Satan has been cast down to the earth?

 First century misconceptions

Many of Jesus’ hearers—including many of his disciples—also were keenly interested in the end times.

Many of them expected God’s Kingdom rule over the earth to be imminent.

Matthew 20:19-21: “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’”

The Emmaus disciples admitted to having their hopes dashed when Jesus was crucified: “… we were hoping his was the one who was to come and set Israel free.” (Luke 24:21, Phillips translation)

Acts 1:6: “So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’”

Jesus’ focus

There’s no doubt that the Bible does contain prophecy about what God’s Kingdom will be and do in the end times.

But what was Jesus’ focus?

Was it about what would happen in the end times?

No, he focused on the here and now and on the spiritual—on the need for hearts transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Luke 17:20-21: “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, [Jesus] answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There!” for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’”

Matthew 10:7: “As you go, preach, saying: ‘The Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’”

Matthew 12:28: “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Matthew 18:3-4: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 6:33: “… seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Acts 1:6-8: “So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’”

The Watchtower gospel

The Watchtower believes it is fulfilling prophecy by preaching “the good news of the Kingdom” throughout the world.

But is its “good news”—its gospel—the same as the one proclaimed in the New Testament?

Does it accurately describe what Jesus died to give us and what we must do to receive it?

That’s what we’ll be examining in the next set of posts.