Category: Salvation (page 10 of 12)

Establishing Their Own Righteousness During the Millennium

1000 yearsThe Great Crowd must attain perfection during the millennial kingdom

According to the Watchtower, members of the great crowd must try to prove worthy of everlasting life by attaining perfection during the millennial kingdom.

If they prove worthy at the conclusion of this “old system,” they will enter the millennial kingdom on earth, either by surviving Armageddon or by being resurrected (re-created) from the dead in physical bodies. They will start with a clean slate. Their past sins will not be held against them.[1]
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Establishing Their Own Righteousness in This Life

Literature cartIn Romans 10:1-3, Paul reveals something regarding his fellow Israelites which I believe applies equally to Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Brothers,” Paul says, “my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

In saying that these Israelites “did not know the righteousness that comes from God,” Paul is not stating that they lacked knowledge of God’s righteous standards. The scribes and Pharisees were experts in God’s law. Nor is he saying that they had replaced God’s righteous standards with their own. In fact, he acknowledges that they were “zealous for God.”

So what did they do wrong? They tried to establish their own righteousness. But isn’t that a good thing, trying to be righteous, trying to prove to God that you will maintain your integrity and follow his laws? Isn’t that what Jehovah’s Witnesses think is necessary in order to obtain everlasting life? Continue reading

All Christians Are in the New Covenant

Bread and wineBecause of the Watchtower teaching that only the anointed 144,000 are in the new covenant, at their annual Memorial service (their version of communion) only those who profess to be in this special class are allowed to partake of the bread and wine. Others are encouraged to attend, but they are required to pass the bread and wine by. This includes all Jehovah’s Witnesses who are in the great crowd, because the Watchtower says that the new covenant in Christ’s blood is not for them.

With regard to this practice, I recommend that you draw the Witnesses’ attention to the following Scriptures. Ask them to read them out loud. Continue reading

God Has Only One Flock, Not Two

Flock of sheepThe Watchtower teaches a two-class salvation system. It says there’s a “little flock” (Luke 12:32) of 144,000 anointed Christians who will be resurrected in spirit form and rule with Jesus from heaven. These are the ones who are “born again.” Then there’s the great crowd of “other sheep.” They don’t need to be born again. They will never go to heaven but instead will live forever in paradise on earth.

One way to challenge this dogma is to ask the Witnesses about Scripture passages which show that Jesus’ invitation and promises are for everyone who will receive him, not just a select group of 144,000. Tell them you would like to look at them together so they can give their response to them. Continue reading

Challenging the Watchtower’s Two-Class Salvation System: Are There Really FOUR Classes?

FoursMost Jehovah’s Witnesses are unaware that the Watchtower used to teach as truth a 4-class salvation system – two classes on earth and two classes in heaven. Under this system, the Watchtower taught that both the 144,000 and the “great crowd” would be in heaven. Continue reading

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