When I first studied with Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1972, I was shocked when they told me that only a small percentage of Christians will ever go to heaven and that all others will live on a paradise earth.

Specifically, the Watchtower teaches that the battle of Armageddon is just around the corner, and only those whom Jehovah deems worthy will survive that battle. Those worthy survivors will join those deemed worthy of resurrection in living in a near-paradise conditions during Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth.

This provides you with an opportunity to discuss with the Witnesses their feelings about their status during Armageddon and the coming millennial kingdom.

You can ask Witnesses some inquisitive, stone-in-the-shoe questions such as:

  • How confident are you that you would survive Armageddon if it began today?
  • How do you know where you stand in that regard?

Your questions will put the Witnesses on the horns of a dilemma.

Because the Watchtower teaches a works salvation system, Witnesses are never sure where they stand with God.

If they tell you they are confident about their prospects of everlasting life, they will appear arrogant and boastful.

But if they tell you they are not confident about the future, you will probably be wondering why you should listen to them.

They have come to bring you “the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom,” but if you know that they have serious doubts about their future, why should you believe your chances would be better?

Most likely they will tell you that they have devoted their lives to Jehovah, and they believe they are on the road to life.

However, they will warn you that Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 that we need to endure to the end in order to be saved and that Romans 12:3 tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.

In that way, they can come across as both confident and humble.

Nevertheless, although they may be reluctant to admit it to you, many Witnesses live in terror of Armageddon, fearing that Jehovah might not consider them worthy to survive it or to enter the millennial kingdom.

With regard to Jehovah’s Witnesses’ future, the Watchtower has commented:

Does this mean that obedient worshippers of the true God should be afraid of the astonishing events that will take place at Armageddon? By no means, for God’s servants on earth will not take part in this conflict. Moreover, they will be protected by Jehovah. Still, true worshippers will be awestruck by the fear-inspiring display of God’s power.[1]

Given that statement, why are so many Jehovah’s Witnesses afraid that God might destroy them along with his enemies?

I’ve previously posted about this in “Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Fear of Armageddon.”

The key is in the phrases “obedient worshippers” and “true worshippers.”

Remember that the Watchtower teaches that works are essential for our salvation.

This gives you the opportunity to ask some stone-in-the-shoe questions:

  • Just how “obedient” is obedient enough?
  • Just how “true” does our worship need to be?

The Watchtower study book, What Does the Bible Really Teach?” states, “The power of Jesus’ sacrifice will be applied so that faithful humans will no longer get sick and die. Instead, under Kingdom rule they will be able to live forever.”[2]

The key word in that sentence is “faithful.”

You can ask the stone-in-the-shoe question:

  • None of us is perfect. Just how faithful will people need to be in order to obtain and keep this blessing?

You can also ask the Witnesses to explain just how much of a paradise the millennial kingdom will be by asking:

  • Will sickness and death be nonexistent in the millennial kingdom?

You can ask one of the Witnesses to read aloud Isaiah 65:20: “No more will there be an infant from that place who lives but a few days, Nor an old man who fails to live out his days. For anyone who dies at a hundred will be considered a mere boy, And the sinner will be cursed, even though he is a hundred years of age.”

You can comment:

  • That sounds like there will be quite a bit of death and sin there, doesn’t it?
  • So in what sense will the millennial kingdom really be a paradise?

You can also remind them of what the “Bible Teach” study book says on page 215: “However, not all will be willing to conform to God’s will…These wicked ones will be put to death permanently during Judgment Day.”[3]

Ask:

  • How do you know if you will be considered sufficiently obedient to avoid that terrible fate?

Summary

The goal of these stone-in-the-shoe questions and comments is to help Jehovah’s Witnesses see that the Watchtower’s works-oriented salvation system inevitably will leave them uncertain as to where they stand and fearful that they might be destroyed along with the wicked.

Be praying silently that they will see that God’s real plan of salvation must be far better and far more secure.

[1] Awake!, “The Bible’s Viewpoint: Should You Fear Armageddon?,” 7/8/05, p. 13

[2] What Does the Bible Really Teach?, p. 84

[3] What Does the Bible Really Teach?, p. 215

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