JWFacts makes it simple to determine if Jehovah's Witnesses have "the truth"

^{- Facts About Jehovah's Witnesses}

This is a condensed version of jwfacts.com

Since its 1879 inception, the Watchtower has preached that "the End" is near, to culminate in billions of humans being killed at God's war of Armageddon. It was originally specifically predicted to occur in 1914, then 1925 and now "shortly". Only Jehovah's Witnesses will survive Armageddon, after which they will live forever on this earth.

It is common for leaders of fundamentalist religions to claim they alone teach truth and hence only their followers are worthy of salvation. This site makes it as simple as possible to determine if Jehovah's Witnesses have the “truth” by concentrating on three areas:

With a history of significant errors and changes, is God directing the Watchtower Society?
Is the Watchtower honest when quoting secular sources and presenting its history?
Are current Watchtower doctrine and practices justified Biblically?

Conducting unbiased evaluation of whether your own religion is truth is exceedingly difficult and the following articles are recommended as a first step in putting relevant issues in perspective.

The Pew report identifies that Jehovah's Witnesses have the highest turnover of any religion, which can be validated looking at Watchtower statistics. Key issues instrumental in members leaving in recent years have been:

Over half a million Witnesses have been disfellowshipped in the last ten years alone. The most damaging aspect of Watchtower lore is that when a person no longer accepts the teachings as truth and are disfellowshipped, they are to be shunned by Witness friends and family. As a result, many have been estranged from family for decades.

If you are a Jehovah's Witness and feel guilty researching the Organization outside of Watchtower publications, the Watchtower May 1 1958 p.261 stated;

“Keep checking to see whether the things you believe are in keeping with God's Word. But the question is, Are you willing to put your religion through such a test? There is nothing to fear, because if you have the right religion you can only be reassured by the examination. And if what you believe is not in keeping with the Bible, then you should welcome the truth, because it leads to light and life."

If people of other faiths are encouraged to examine their religion, every honest hearted Jehovah's Witness should be prepared to do the same.

I was raised a Witness with both parents in full time service and spent over 7 years as a Pioneer and Bethelite. Yet two things always bothered me:

If Holy Spirit directs the Organization why do the doctrines change?
How can Jehovah destroy 6 billion people when many will never hear his name?

The Watchtower uses "the light gets brighter" to explain that the Bible predicts minor clarifications of truth. However, looking through this site will quite simply prove that the changes have been significant. Russell's Studies in the Scriptures shows that the religion Russell started has very little resemblance to the Witnesses today. Early Watchtower teachings on Pyramids and use of Freemason symbols are discussed in Da Vinci Code. There are also over 20 wrong dates, many that were part of Watchtower doctrine for over 50 years. Until the 1950's, Jehovah's Witnesses were told they must worship and pray to Jesus. Since 1954, to do so has been a disfellowshipping offence. Measured against current Watchtower truth, all early Witnesses and Bible Students were involved in false worship. "F&D Slave" shows that there has never been a line of Jehovah's Witnesses that even remotely believe current Watchtower truth. When a significant doctrine has changed back and forth, or been introduced and then renounced, a person must ask "Can I believe that God directed the Organization to make such mistakes?"

Underpinning the Watchtower Society is the doctrine that Jesus heavenly rule commenced 1914. 1914 contains original Watchtower quotes showing that prior to 1914 the Watchtower claimed that Jesus rule commenced 1874 and predicted that in 1914 Armageddon would destroy all religion, all government and that the dead would be resurrected on to earth. It is startling to see what the Watchtower now claims it said prior to 1914. Truth corresponds to ascertainable fact and if the Watchtower promotes falsehoods it is not Truth.

Being a Jehovah's Witness has benefited lives, as following Christian standards on morality and love can be beneficial. There is no attempt here to point the finger at any individual, as in general Jehovah's Witnesses sincerely believe they are doing what is right. However, issues such as the dangerous and inconsistent stance on blood, and the extreme practice of shunning even family members, possibly for life, are issues that require careful consideration. Before following such life altering practices a person deserves access to information in order to make an informed decision as to whether the Governing Body is directed by Holy Spirit and should be followed without question.

A question that requires serious consideration is - what entitles this Organization to claim to be the only 'Truth', God's only visible Organization and the only means of salvation when:

Holy Spirit does not direct appointment of Jehovah's Witness elders - as shown by elders being appointed whilst committing gross wrongdoing, and
Holy Spirit does not direct Watchtower doctrine - as shown by the introduction of numerous wrong doctrine, such as Russell's teaching that the earthly resurrection would occur 1914 and Rutherford's teaching that the earthly resurrection would be 1925

The single most important concept for a Jehovah's Witness to realise is that in no way are they unique; neither in doctrinal beliefs, displays of love or techniques of control, and I feel the most important section of this site is to learn the techniques of Fear and Mind Control, and also to understand that there are many religions that are very similar to Jehovah's Witnesses.

Proving that the Organization is not directed by Jehovah took me many years because of fear; fear of change, fear of my own motives and fear of researching outside of the Watchtower. I ended up researching and writing hundreds of pages of information before I was content that I was not 'misled by Satan'. I hope that this site can help make that process far quicker and easier for others. I now understand that I suffered what is commonly referred to as cognitive dissonance. In order to understand that the way you may be thinking, feeling and justifying is common to members of many similar organizations I recommend reading When Prophecies Fail.

To come to the realization that Jehovah's Witnesses do not represent truth is devastating. To realize that your whole life, all friendships and possibly even your relationship with God may be affected has extreme emotional effects. However, I can assure you that being realistic about truth and the Watchtower Society is worth it. Many Witnesses do not want to know about these things, using the thought stopping question "Where else would I go?" This mis-statement indicates over reliance on the Organization, encouraged by the Watchtower (w75 9/1 p. 531 "Where could we turn if we would leave God's organization today? There is nowhere else! (John 6:66-69)") What Peter actually said to Jesus at John 6:68 was "Lord, whom shall we go away to?" The first step is to understand the truth about the Watchtower Society and the difference between following Jesus and following a self promoted organization.

The majority of quotations on this site are from the Watchtower Library CD (2004). Images are Property of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Inc. This site complies with Fair Usage Laws.