To most of us, the word “Christendom” means “the entire body of Christians worldwide” or perhaps “the part of the world where Christianity is most common.”

But to Jehovah’s Witnesses, it means the doomed world of false Christianity which professes to be Christian but doesn’t follow the teachings and practices of the Watchtower.

Consider this passage of Scripture:

2 Thessalonians 2:3-8: “Let no one lead you astray in any way, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. He stands in opposition and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, publicly showing himself to be a god. Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I used to tell you these things?And now you know what is acting as a restraint, so that he will be revealed in his own due time. True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who is right now acting as a restraint is out of the way. Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence.” (Watchtower translation)

Most Christian pastors consider the “man of lawlessness” to be the antichrist. (See, for example, Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, Volume 2, p. 197)

Yet the Watchtower considers him to be the clergy of Christendom!

GOD’S Word foretold the coming of a “man of lawlessness.” It also foretold that this lawless element would be ‘done away with and brought to nothing’ by God’s heavenly Executioner, Christ Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8) As the preceding articles have shown, that man of lawlessness is the clergy of Christendom. Long ago they abandoned the truths of God’s Word and adopted pagan teachings, such as the Trinity, hellfire, and immortality of the soul. In addition, they produced works contrary to God’s laws. Like those Paul warned Titus against, “they publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works, because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved for good work of any sort.”—Titus 1:16.

The time for God to execute his judgment against the man of lawlessness is fast approaching. Soon, as Jesus foretold, “there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.” (Matthew 24:21) That unprecedented time of trouble will begin with the execution of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, which includes the religions of Christendom. The political elements “will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire.” (Revelation 17:16) The great tribulation will end with the destruction of the remainder of Satan’s world at Armageddon, “the war of the great day of God the Almighty.”—Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:11-21 (The Watchtower, “Exposing the “Man of Lawlessness,” 2/1/90, pp. 20-21, boldface added)

The Watchtower gave Christendom a very similar warning over 100 years ago: “…in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of ‘Christianity’” (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 485).

Ironically, the fact that its prophecy didn’t come to pass in 1918 hasn’t deterred the Watchtower from warning Christendom about false prophets:

 Jesus said: “Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them.” False prophets would produce “worthless fruit.” (Matthew 7:15-17) An evidence of the clergy’s bad fruitage is their enormous bloodguilt. For centuries they have supported crusades, inquisitions, and wars that have shed the blood of millions. They have prayed for and blessed both sides in wars in which members of their own religions have killed one another. In contrast, the apostle Paul was able to state: “I am clean from the blood of all men.” (Acts 20:26) The clergy are not. To such ones God declares: “Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening; with bloodshed your very hands have become filled.”—Isaiah 1:15. (The Watchtower, “Exposing the “Man of Lawlessness,” 2/1/90, pp. 20-21, boldface added)

Jehovah’s Witnesses’ message to you and me is succinctly stated in Revelation 18:4: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and . . . receive part of her plagues.” (Watchtower translation)

The challenge

It is difficult to reason with people who think that Jesus is about to destroy you and your church if you don’t accept their teachings and join their organization.

Indeed, some of them come across as being glad this is about to happen, much as you would be glad to have a cancer successfully excised from your body.

In view of this, it would be easy simply to close the door in their faces and tell them good riddance.

Unfortunately, many Christians do just that.

But what would Jesus have us do?

Pray first for a heart of compassion for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

I encourage you to study my blog posts and my book for ideas on how to get through to them with the message of the real Jesus and the real gospel.

Most of all, pray for the Holy Spirit to get through to them, whether through your efforts or through the efforts of other Christians.