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Salvation Only For Jehovah's Witnesses
Watchtower teaches that Jehovah's Witnesses alone will survive Armageddon, with potentially billions dying at Armageddon. This is because only Jehovah's Witnesses worship the true God, Jehovah and have his backing.
"Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil." Watchtower 1989 Sep 1 p.19
"In fact, with God's day of judgment so near today, all the world should 'keep silent before the Sovereign Lord Jehovah' and hear what he says through the "little flock" of Jesus' anointed followers and their companions, his "other sheep." (Luke 12:32; John 10:16) Annihilation awaits all who will not listen and who thereby set themselves against rule by God's Kingdom." Watchtower 2001 Feb 15 p. 14
I always struggled with this concept as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. The only reason I was a Witness was due to being fortunate enough to have been raised one from infancy. Even in primary school I questioned why I would survive Armageddon whilst my classmates would die, when I was just doing what my parents told me to do, and they were doing as directed by their parents.
What sort of God could kill billions of people? When I discussed this with my father, who was a Circuit Overseer at the time, he said that Jehovah can read hearts and will save the righteous, regardless of their religion. I was certain that was not what Watchtower taught, and the official doctrine is that only Jehovah's Witnesses who are actively preaching when Armageddon arrives will be saved. The subsequent research I did to clarify Watchtower's offical stance forms the basis of this article.
This article is divided into the following sections:
- Historical development, showing when Watchtower introduced the concept of narrow salvation
- Watchtower quotes that only Jehovah's Witnesses will survive Armageddon
- Why this teaching is unfair and illogical
- Watchtower images of Armageddon
A constant flow of subtle concepts and direct Watchtower quotes indicate salvation at Armageddon is dependant on being an active Jehovah's Witness, associating with the Watchtower Organization.
"In effect, Jesus also conveys Jehovah’s voice to us as he directs the congregation through “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) We need to take this guidance and direction seriously, for our everlasting life depends on our obedience." Watchtower 2014 Aug 15 p.21
"During the final period of the ancient world that perished in the Flood, Noah was a faithful preacher of righteousness. (2 Peter 2:5) In these last days of the present system of things, Jehovah's people are making known God's righteous standards and are declaring good news about the possibility of surviving into the new world. (2 Peter 3:9-13) Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah's universal organization." Watchtower 2006 May 15 p.22 "Are You Prepared for Survival?"
"Is it presumptuous of Jehovah's Witnesses to point out that they alone have God's backing? Actually, no more so than when the Israelites in Egypt claimed to have God's backing in spite of the Egyptians' belief, or when the first-century Christians claimed to have God's backing to the exclusion of Jewish religionists." Watchtower 2001 Jun 1 p.16
"Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it." Watchtower 1983 Feb 15 p.12
Their way of worship is said to be the only one acceptable when God searches for the few deserving of everlasting life.
"The Bible does not agree with the modern view that there are many acceptable ways to worship God. Ephesians 4:5 says there is "one Lord, one faith." Jesus stated: "Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it. ... Because Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible, their faith in the Bible itself as God's Word gives them the conviction that what they have is indeed the truth. So their position is not egotistical..." Reasoning from the Scriptures pp.203-204
The millions that have died in war are said to pale in comparison to the number that will die at Armageddon.
"Yes, blood will run deep under the hand of God's executional forces. The 69 million deaths of two world wars will pale in comparison to those slain in God's war of Armageddon." Watchtower 1985 Feb 1 pp.3-4 Armageddon - From a God of Love?
Watchtower goes as far as to state that there are billions in line for destruction.
"There are billions of people who do not know Jehovah. Many of them in ignorance practice things that God's Word shows to be wicked. If they persist in this course, they will be among those who perish during the great tribulation." Watchtower 1993 Oct 1 p.19
The October 2022 Video made mention of billions dying. In a teaching part regarding conducting a bible study, the student raised the concern; "So "God is love," but he's going to kill billions." Whilst the scene was to demonstrate not talking too much during a bible study, the statement of billions being killed was neither denied or answered.
The billions slaughtered at Armageddon will not get a resurrection; theirs is said to be an everlasting destruction.
"Yes, the destruction of the gross sinners in those cities was eternal, as will be the destruction of the wicked at the end of the present system of things." Watchtower 1990 Apr 15 p.20
"The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those that are destroyed then." Kingdom Ministry 1968 Mar p.4
Rarely does the Watchtower make such audacious statements; rather the destruction of non-witnesses is conveyed (with unwavering regularity) by means of a number of more subtle concepts. The quotes that follow identify the preposterous claim that following the Bible is not enough for salvation, neither are belief in Jesus Ransom or living a moral life. Only submission to Jehovah's Watchtower Organization results in life. All Christians are considered members of Christendom and in line for destruction.
Watchtower Development
Imagine for a second that Watchtower is not the true religion. As a Jehovah's Witness, do you think it would be fair that God is going to destroy you, because circumstances led you to being involved with the wrong religion?
Would a loving God be planning to devote billions of people to a violent and everlasting death? A God that is willing to slaughter 7 billion people is certainly not the God Russell described when starting the Bible Students. Russell left the Presbyterians because he could not believe in the injustice of a God willing to destroy the majority of humankind.
"We reasoned that, if Christ's coming was to end probation and bring irrevocable ruin upon ninety-nine in a hundred of mankind, then it could scarcely be considered desirable, neither could we pray with a proper spirit, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come quickly!"" SUPPLEMENT TO Zion's Watch Tower, And "Herald of Christ's Presence." July 1, 1879
Similarly, Russell could neither accept the salvation of only Adventists.
"Russell wrote: "We felt greatly grieved at the error of Second Adventists, who were expecting Christ in the flesh, and teaching that the world and all in it except Second Adventists would be burned up."" Proclaimers p.45
Under Russell, Watchtower used to teach that irrespective of religion, most people would survive Armageddon. His understanding on 'future probation' was that the masses of humanity would survive Armageddon and be educated on earth by Christ in the 1000-year reign, before receiving judgment. The resurrection was for all who have died, Adam included. Yet the religion he founded now claims even more than "ninety nine of a hundred will be destroyed." Globally there is only one Witness for every 1,000 people on earth. Therefore, on current statistics the Watchtower teaching is not that 99 out of 100 will be ruined, but rather Jehovah will eternally destroy 99.9 out of 100.
It was during the leadership of Rutherford that this genocidal doctrine evolved, with the teachings of 'irrevocable ruin' and 'judgement periods' introduced, concepts Russell tried to avoid. In the Watchtower 1923 pp.310-311, it was shown that clergy would not be saved. In 1930, pp.275-281 Rutherford introduced that people who disagreed with him, apostates, would be in line for everlasting destruction. The Watchtower 1939 p.170 claimed those from prior judgement periods, such as Sodom and Gomorrah would not be in line for a resurrection; neither would Adam and Eve, Solomon or the Scribes and Pharisees.
In 1941, when discussing the importance of being baptised, it was stated that everlasting life is dependant on being a "witness for Jehovah God."
"Therefore it follows that every person that receives the approval of Almighty God, and that receives from him life everlasting, must be a witness for Jehovah God." Consolation 1941 Sep 17 p.12
Later leaders have not attempted to soften the hard-line stance of Rutherford. Under the leadership of the third President, Nathan Knorr, it was published that 99.9% would die, a far cry from Russell's ideology that was critical of such elitist and manipulative assertions by religious leaders.
"As for humans upon earth, on the side of Jehovah will be all those fully dedicated to him and who are faithfully following Jesus Christ; compared with earth's billions these are indeed few. ... On Satan's side will be all the rest of mankind, more than 99.9 percent ..." Watchtower 1958 Oct 15 p.614
Jehovah's Witnesses as still told that leaving the organization will result in everlasting death.
"... to leave Jehovah's organization ... we would lose not only the privilege of doing God's will but also the hope of life in God's new world." Watchtower 2016 Jun study ed p.26
Witnesses are expected to rejoice the destruction of mankind at Armageddon.
"In the near future this generation will see the foretold “great tribulation” that will bring an end to this present wicked system. (Matt. 24:21) At that time none of Jehovah’s faithful servants, the only ones surviving, will mourn over the destruction of the wicked. To the contrary, they will rejoice, even as Moses and his people rejoiced at the destruction of Pharaoh and his army." Watchtower 1977 Jun 1 p.345
The Watchtower predicts that billions will die at Armageddon. If laid side by side, the corpses would reach the moon 7 times … and growing.
In 1986, anyone disagreeing that God will destroy millions (or more accurately billions) was classed an opposer.
"Some opposers [are] entertaining ideas that God is so merciful that he surely will not cause the death of so many millions of people during the "great tribulation." Watchtower 1986 Mar 15 p.19
The Watchtower feels it necessary to clarify that many would not flock to the organization with the start of the Great Tribulation.
"Any person who wants to survive into God's righteous new order urgently needs to come into a right relationship with Jehovah and His earthly organization now. ... Why is there such an urgency about coming to Jehovah's true worship now? Could not a sincere person wait until he actually sees Jehovah's executional judgments beginning, and then quickly come over to His side? While that might sound appealing to some, would there then be enough time to build the right relationship with Jehovah? The evidence from the Scriptures answers, No." Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 page 16, page 17
"The Watchtower of August 15, 1996, said: "In the final part of the tribulation, 'flesh' that has fled to Jehovah's side will be saved." Is that suggesting that after the first phase of the great tribulation, many new ones will come over to God's side? That was not the point being made.
As to whether any new ones may be able to learn the truth and come over to God's side after the great tribulation begins, note Jesus' words recorded at Matthew 24:29-31. After the outbreak of the tribulation, the sign of the Son of man will appear. Jesus said that all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves and lament. He did not say anything about people waking up to the situation, repenting, taking God's side, and becoming true disciples. Similarly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, the Son of man appears and judicially separates people on the basis of what they had done or not done in the past. Jesus said nothing about people who long displayed goatlike attributes suddenly turning around and becoming like sheep. He comes to judge on the basis of what people had already proved to be.-Matthew 25:31-46." Watchtower 1997 Feb 15 p.29
As part of their indoctrination, children are fed with graphic depictions of the slaughter they are led to believe God will shortly bestow upon fellow humans. This includes illustrations within books specially developed for Jehovah's Witness children. The following image of people running from Jesus' arrows, their faces distorted by absolute horror and fear, is from page 243 of the 2003 children's book, Learn from the Great Teacher.
Notice in the following two articles the way a Witness is to deal with the question "Do Jehovah's witnesses believe that only they will be saved?" Stating that only Jehovah's Witnesses will be saved is to be avoided. It is recommended to say NO; even though the explanation given shows the answer is yes. After reading the whole paragraph, it is clear what is meant.
"Do they believe that they are the only ones who will be saved? No. Millions that have lived in centuries past and who were not Jehovah's Witnesses will come back in a resurrection and have an opportunity for life. Many now living may yet take a stand for truth and righteousness before the "great tribulation," and they will gain salvation." Jehovah's Witnesses, Who are they? What do they believe? (2002) p.29
"Do Jehovah's witnesses believe that only they will be saved?
Jehovah's witnesses believe that many will be saved who are not now Jehovah's witnesses. But with regard to the coming "great tribulation," and being saved through that conflict, the Bible shows that people must now turn to God and take their stand on his side if they wish protection from Him. Jesus said: "Just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. . . . they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be." (Matt. 24:21, 37-39) Noah and his family, however, were saved through the Flood, because they served Jehovah God. All the others were destroyed. Jesus said that is what will happen at the coming "great tribulation," and this Jehovah's witnesses believe." Watchtower 1970 Apr 15 p.247
It needs to be noted that some individual Witnesses have internalised that salvation is not the exclusive domain of Jehovah's Witnesses. My father, a circuit overseer, was one of these. Others salve their conscience and sense of justice by saying that many will flock to God's Organization just before the end. The following quotes show that the Watchtower does not support such ideas, but distinctly teaches only its followers will be saved.
Quotes and Watchtower Reasoning
Association with Jehovah's Organization
The first line of reasoning is that you need to be associating with Jehovah's Organization. In order to identify which organization that is, the following quote makes clear the organization producing Watchtower literature is "Jehovah's organization."
"In Jehovah's organisation it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and energy in research, for there are brothers in the organisation who are assigned to that very thing, to help you who do not have so much time for this, these preparing the good material in The Watchtower and other publications of the Society." Watchtower 1967 Jun 1 p.338
Worshipping "Jehovah," and association with Jehovah's organization - the Watch Tower Society - is presented as essential for salvation.
"An even greater mistake would be to allow the faults of others to stumble us and cause us to leave Jehovah's organisation. Were that to happen, we would lose not only the privilege of doing God's will but also the hope of life in God's new world." Watchtower 2016 Jun study ed pp.26,27
"At that time, the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not." Watchtower 2013 Nov 15 p.20
"If we stop actively supporting Jehovah's work, then we start following Satan. There is no middle ground." Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.18
"But Jehovah's servants already belong to the only organization that will survive the end of this wicked system of things." Watchtower 2007 Dec 15 p.14
"But if we were to draw away from Jehovah's organization, there would be no place else to go for salvation and true joy." Watchtower 1993 Sep 15 p.22
"Direct Interest Progressively on Bible Studies: The primary purpose of a Bible study is to teach the truth of God's Word. It should also build in the student an appreciation for Jehovah's organization and make him aware of the vital need to become part of it. ... The weekly Bible study should include instruction that will help students appreciate the organization and take advantage of provisions for their salvation. Take a few minutes each week to relate or describe something about the organization and how it functions. You can find helpful talking points in the November 1, 1984, Watchtower. The brochures Jehovah's Witnesses in the Twentieth Century and Jehovah's Witnesses Unitedly Doing God's Will Worldwide discuss major facets of the organization and how they may benefit us. Arranging for Bible students to view the video Jehovah's Witnesses The Organization Behind the Name will let them see for themselves what it is accomplishing." Kingdom Ministry 1993 Apr p.3
"They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah's organization is essential to their salvation." Kingdom Ministry 1990 Nov p.1
"Only Christian witnesses of Jehovah who successfully pass this test will survive and come forth like fire-refined gold for God's use in his precious new order." Watchtower 1975 Dec 15 p.753
"At this stage of the affairs of man, it is absolutely impossible for anyone, professed Christian or otherwise, to stand independently of the one organisation that is bearing witness worldwide to Jehovah, his goodness and supremacy in accord with the 145th Psalm and, in fact, in accord with all the Scriptures." Yearbook 1982 p.259
"And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovah's organization for salvation, the time no doubt will come when the message takes on a harder tone, like a "great war cry."" Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 p.21
"No matter where we may live on earth, God’s Word continues to serve as a light to our path and a lamp to our roadway as to our conduct and beliefs. (Ps. 119:105) But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his "faithful and discreet slave", made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do." Watchtower 1981 Dec 1 p.27
"This great crowd is part of the only truly united multinational organization on earth today. They do not cry out that they owe salvation to the holy spirit, for they are not servants of a trinitarian god. In some 200 geographical territories around the earth, they are at one in calling upon the name of Jehovah as they speak the one pure language of truth. (Zephaniah 3:9) Properly, they publicly acknowledge that their salvation comes from Jehovah, the God of salvation, through Jesus Christ, His Chief Agent of salvation.-Psalm 3:8; Hebrews 2:10. Modern technology has helped to make the loud voice of the united great crowd sound even louder. No other religious group on earth has need of publishing Bible study aids in more than 200 languages, since no other group is interested in reaching all peoples of earth with one united message." Revelation pp.122-123
To be considered one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and part of the Organization requires reporting as an active publisher.
"As this spiritual warfare advanced, those serving with Jehovah's organization were refreshed by continuing flashes of Bible understanding, and their numbers grew until, in 1938, as many as 50,769 reported Kingdom service during an international testimony period." Watchtower 1984 Jan 1 p.11
The requirement of being a "publisher" to be counted as one of Jehovah's Witnesses is shown in legal documents, such as outlined in the following UK document from Nov 2020 regarding voting for congregation bylaws.
The related "Articles of Association And Bylaws" is even clearer that to be considered a congregation member requires one to "report ministerial activity to the Congregation."
Memorial attendance or regular meeting attendance is not enough to quality as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
"Moreover, the attendance at the Memorial of Jesus Christ's death last year indicates that some ten million people who are not Witnesses of Jehovah were sufficiently interested in the good news to attend this important commemoration." Kingdom Ministry 2008 Feb p.6
Through the use of very specific statistics, Watchtower leaves no doubt that you are only considered a Jehovah's Witness, part of Jehovah's Organization and in line for salvation if you report your preaching to Watchtower and attend their Kingdom Halls. The following figure of seven million is based on the 2007 publisher number. Likewise, the 69,000 congregations was the number of Jehovah's Witness congregations in 1993.
"Those who will form the nucleus of the "new earth", a new earthly society of rightly disposed people, are being gathered during these last days. They are already nearly seven million strong, in at least 235 lands and in some 100,000 congregations. These millions have been learning the righteous and just ways of Jehovah, and as a result, worldwide they enjoy a unity that is cemented by Christian love. Their unity is the most pronounced and enduring in the history of the world, a unity exceeding anything experienced by Satan's subjects." Watchtower 2007 Aug 15 p.26
"Today the Christian congregation is God's "house," '"a pillar and support of the truth." (I Ti. 3:15) All the provisions for salvation are made available through this channel. For that reason, "to it all the nations must stream" if they desire to enjoy the blessings promised under God's Kingdom rule. - Isa. 2:2.
This "house comprises more than 69,000 congregations in 229 lands. ... It is urgent that people reach out to "draw close to God" by drawing closer to his organization." Kingdom Ministry 1993 Apr p.3
Children
Children are considered to share in the sins of their parents, so babies will die at Armageddon if their parents are considered unworthy of salvation.
"What will happen to young children at Armageddon? The Bible does not directly answer that question, and we are not the judges. However, the Bible does show that God views the young children of true Christians as "holy." (1 Cor. 7:14) It also reveals that in times past when God destroyed the wicked he likewise destroyed their little ones." Reasoning from the Scriptures pp.47-48
"Children are affected by the course of their parents, and parents are warned that their iniquity is visited on their offspring unto the third and fourth generation. (Ex. 20:5, 6) Parents are commanded to instruct their children in God's way, and if in these last days parents refuse to heed the divine instruction and warning they bring destruction upon themselves and their small children at Armageddon. (Deut. 6:6, 7; Eph. 6:4) According to justice God can leave such children dead, for, as Ezekiel showed, all die in their iniquity." Watchtower 1950 Nov 15 p.463
"By all the evidences this system of things is hastening to its final confrontation with the God of justice at Armageddon. Parents and children who fail to gain the "mark on their foreheads," that is, an adequate appreciation of God's moral standard, are sure to suffer. Parents will be held accountable for their children, and children will suffer for the failure of their parents." Watchtower 1968 Feb 1 pp.83-84
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses really believe Jehovah will overseer the murder of innocent children at Armageddon? Following is a comment received by a friend of mine, after asking his parents to meet their grandchildren.
"I'm going to tell you the truth, you know how much I love little babies, but your Dad and I are not interested in getting to know your children AT ALL. We don't want to get to know them only to have to watch Jehovah God destroy them soon at Armageddon. That would just break our hearts. You know what you need to do if you want them to survive."
This is a comment I have seen many times, and is the raw truth of what Jehovah's Witnesses believe, even if they will say otherwise when questioned by the public.
Preaching
Previous quotes showed that preaching is required to be considered a Jehovah's Witness. Watchtower has stated even more directly that preaching is a requirement for salvation.
"Twelve Reasons for Preaching
1. It helps save lives. …
7. It is a requirement for our own salvation."
Kingdom Ministry 2012 Jun p.1 (US Edition)
"Giving this witness concerning God's kingdom to all the nations before the world's end comes at Armageddon is part of our being witnesses of Jehovah. ... Only the preachers of God's kingdom can expect to be protected during the end of this world and to live through Armageddon into the new world." From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained (1958) p.249
Association with 144,000
Salvation comes from association with and following the "little flock", "the remnant of the 144,000", "the Anointed", "Spiritual Israelites", the "faithful and discreet slave," or more importantly these days, "the Governing Body." These terms only refer to the small number of Jehovah's Witnesses that partake of the emblems at the annual Memorial.
But the prophet Daniel foretold that during the time of the end, “those having insight,” the anointed remnant, would be “bringing the many to righteousness.” (Read Daniel 12:3.) By their preaching and teaching work, they have brought millions of “other sheep” into a righteous standing before Jehovah. Watchtower 2016 Jul p.23
"He describes the sheep as “righteous” because they recognize that Christ has a group of anointed brothers still on earth, and the sheep loyally support the anointed during these critical last days. ... The illustration of the sheep and the goats shows that the anointed would have help. Therefore, one of the primary ways that those judged to be sheep show kindness to Christ’s brothers is by supporting them in the preaching work." Watchtower 2015 Mar 15 p.27
"Although the ever-growing great crowd do not have the heavenly hope, they are proud to be associated with those who do. They have attached themselves to the Israel of God. By doing this, they are included among those whom Jehovah calls “my people.”" Watchtower 2010 Mar 15 p.28
"That faithful slave is the channel through which Jesus is feeding his true followers in this time of the end. It is vital that we recognize the faithful slave. Our spiritual health and our relationship with God depend on this channel." Watchtower 2013 Jul 15 p.20
"We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval." Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.24 Simplified English Edition
"There would be "a great crowd" out of all nations who would not experience death but would have the prospect of living forever on earth. Are you among them?... The great crowd support the small number of those with heavenly hopes, who take the lead in the preaching work." Worship the Only True God (2002) pp.120,122
"But what must they do to survive the violent destruction of Satan's old world and enter the promised new world under the Greater Joshua, Jesus Christ? (2 Peter 3:13) They must keep in line with the organizational arrangements of the nucleus of Jehovah's visible organization, the anointed remnant." Watchtower 1989 Sep 1 p.15
"So the visible congregation of God's people has something to do with the provision of salvation today. Indeed, it has an important place in that provision. Every congregation forms a small part of God's people. We cannot remain outside the organization of God's people, separated from it, if we want to have Jehovah's protection. Jehovah's spirit and his angels all tend to a bringing together in unity of thought, aim and action. So there is a vital connection between Jehovah's protection in the antitypical city of refuge and His visible congregation of spiritual Israelites, supervised by the faithful and discreet slave." Watchtower 1967 Aug 15 p.499
Those in Babylon will be Destroyed
Anyone part of any other religion, including Christendom, is part of Babylon the Great, and will not survive but "share in her plagues."
"That is not all there is to God's judgment against Babylon the Great. Her final destruction is soon to come. (Revelation 18:21) With good reason, the Bible urges people everywhere: "Get out of her [Babylon the Great] . . . if you do not want to share with her in her sins." (Revelation 18:4, 5) How do we get out of Babylon the Great? This involves more than just severing any ties with false religion. Babylonish influence is present in many popular celebrations and customs, in the world's permissive attitude toward sex, in the promoting of entertainment involving spiritism, and much more. To keep on the watch, it is vital that both in our actions and in the desires of our heart, we give evidence that we are truly separate from Babylon the Great in every way." Watchtower 2005 Oct 1 p.24
"Still, Jehovah will not destroy at random. Some humans will be saved. "You went forth for the salvation of your people, to save your anointed one," says Habakkuk 3:13. Yes, Jehovah will save his faithful anointed servants. The destruction of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, will then be complete. Today, however, the nations are trying to wipe out pure worship. Soon, Jehovah's servants will be attacked by the forces of Gog of Magog." Watchtower 2000 Feb 1 p.22
"The narrow door to salvation stands open to all. But the "many" do not like to struggle to enter. What are some factors about going through the narrow door that require vigorous exertion? A person must first gain accurate knowledge of Bible truth, and get to know Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. (John 17:3) This means casting aside the traditions and practices of worldly religions, including those of Christendom. It requires doing God's will, as Jesus did it while here on earth. (1 Peter 2:21) As a dedicated, baptized Christian, one must also avoid the materialism, the immorality, and the uncleanness of the world." Watchtower 1986 Jan 15 p.12
"without question the execution of divine judgment upon apostate Christendom and the rest of Satan's world is imminent." Watchtower 1984 Oct 1 p.11
"Let us recognize that Christendom is doomed, along with all the rest of Babylon the Great. She has refused to repent of her religiously immoral or adulterous course of action, her friendship with this world. (Jas. 4:4) She is like the rest of the ungodly world, even after Jehovah's Christian witnesses have plainly declared God's impending judgment to her." Watchtower 1975 Dec 15 p.755
Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! p.233
Goats will be destroyed
Watchtower makes a clear distinction between two groups at Armageddon, the "other sheep" and the "goats." Watchtower 2022 Sep p.17 defines the other sheep "Current worshippers of Jehovah who have an earthly hope."
"The second group consists of the great crowd of other sheep. Are their names now written in the book of life? Yes. ... The third group comprises the goats, who will be destroyed at Armageddon. ... Clearly, they will not be resurrected." Watchtower 2022 Sep p.16
"The Devil is not on Jesus' side, and so the goatlike people who do nothing helpful to the reigning King Jesus Christ are against him and are on the Devil's side. There is no neutral side in the time of Christ's presence or parousia. They are cursed, just as Satan the Devil and his demon angels are. Hence, they deserve an everlasting future like that of the Devil and his angels." God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years has Approached p.286
"Similarly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, the Son of man appears and judicially separates people on the basis of what they had done or not done in the past. Jesus said nothing about people who long displayed goatlike attributes suddenly turning around and becoming like sheep. He comes to judge on the basis of what people had already proved to be." Watchtower 1997 Feb 15 p.29
Noah's Ark Represents Organization
The Watchtower teaches that just over 4,000 years ago there was a global flood, covering the top of every mountain with water. All human and animal life died, except for those within the ark. Noah's salvation in the ark represents baptism as part of Jehovah's organization and being part of Jehovah's organisation today is as critical for survival as it was to be in the ark in Noah's day.
"Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God's new system. There is only one. There was just one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization- God's visible organization - that will survive the fast-approaching "great tribulation." It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal … You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life." You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth p.255
“Just as Noah was preserved through the Flood, loyal baptized ones will be preserved when the present wicked world meets its end. (Mark 13: 10; Rev. 7:9, 10) This makes dedication and baptism very important. A person who needlessly delays getting baptized endangers his prospects for everlasting life.” Watchtower 2018 Mar p.3
"This "one baptism" applies to all who become true Christians. At baptism they become Christian Witnesses of Jehovah, God's ordained ministers.-Ephesians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 6:3, 4 Such baptism has great saving value in the eyes of God. For instance, after mentioning Noah's constructing of the ark, in which he and his family were preserved through the Flood, the apostle Peter wrote: "That which corresponds to this is also now saving you, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."" (1 Peter 3:21) Worship the only true God pp.115-116
"Of this historical preview of Armageddon, the Bible says: "For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be." (Matthew 24:37-39) So the circumstances relating to the end of our world order at Armageddon will be similar to those associated with the ancient Deluge. They will be:
(1) The planet Earth and its animal life will survive;
(2) the significance of our times is missed by most people through preoccupation with the normal processes of life;
(3) the majority of mankind take no note of the divine warning of Armageddon; (4) hence the majority of mankind will be destroyed at Armageddon; and
(5) only a small minority of mankind will find favour with God and survive the "war of the great day of God the Almighty."" From Kurukshetra to Armageddon - and Your Survival pp.17-19
"To ensure their salvation, Noah and his family needed to exercise faith. This meant following instructions and the leadings of God's holy spirit. During the great tribulation, it will be just as imperative that we follow the leadings of the holy spirit and obey Jehovah's instructions through his organization." Watchtower 1991 Sep 15 p.17
You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth p.192
Should you fear that Noah's flood proves the majority of people will die at Armageddon? As discussed at The Flood of Noah, there was never a global flood, something proven by many lines of evidence. Watchtower's interpretation of a global flood is incorrect, and then used to scare people into joining that organization. When Peter discusses the Flood as representing baptism, he certainly didn't specify as a Jehovah's Witness, but rather as a follower of Jesus.
Word Jehovah Required
Worshipping specifically Jehovah God and using the word Jehovah is essential for salvation.
"Really, our survival involves being devoted to Jehovah God and learning about the kind of conduct and deeds that please him. (Zephaniah 2:3) Rather than following the majority today and ignoring the clear signals that we are living in such important times, we need to “keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah.” Jehovah’s Witnesses can show you from the Bible how you can be a survivor of this upcoming day." Watchtower 2015 May 1 p.8
"Today, events just as terrifying lie ahead, when this whole world system of things will be destroyed at Jehovah's hand. Still, escape is possible. The prophecy goes on to say: "It must occur that everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe;… (Joel 2:32) Jehovah's Witnesses are truly grateful to know Jehovah's name, and they have complete trust that he will save them when they call on him." Watchtower 1998 May 1 p.19
This may appear logical when reading New World Translation Scriptural citations, but on becoming aware that the word Jehovah never appeared in the New Testament and has been falsely added into the New World Translation, this reasoning can be seen to be false.
Armageddon
Armageddon is described as Jehovah's war with the world of mankind, in which billions will die, with Jehovah's Witnesses alone surviving.
Watchtower 2017 Jun p.16
The 2017 Watchtower image above says "A Great Crowd" will survive Armageddon. The Great Crowd refers to Jehovah's Witnesses alone. For instance, the Watchtower 2008 January study edition article "Counted Worthy to Be Guided to Fountains of Waters of Life" goes into great detail that makes clear this Great Crowd are part of the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses.
The Watchtower 2012 February article "The Truth About Armageddon" says on page 7 that "The War of Armageddon results in the saving of millions of lives." Page 6 disingenuously says "The attack will result in the death of millions of people when God defeats the invaders." If millions will be saved, it would be honest to confess their teaching that billions, not millions, will die.
Whilst modern articles present the doctrine in the more positive light of the millions that survive, older issues were quite open in presenting the resultant conclusion that there will be billions that die.
"Why should not blood run deep and far with over two billion [the world population in 1955] dead?.... With the members of this generation that will not pass away before Armageddon breaks out numbering now two billion five hundred million and with only the remnant and a larger group of "other sheep" inside the Greater Noah's "ark" surviving, the death toll of the "war of the great day of God the Almighty" will be appallingly all-surpassing, too many for the Armageddon survivors to bury. Come on, birds and beasts! Have your fill then from the human corpses in retribution for the wanton slaughter of animal and birdlife of which the human race has been guilty!" You May Survive Armageddon Into God's New World 1955 pp.341-342
"Yes, today, with Armageddon staring us in the face, we must keep in mind the sobering thought that millions, even billions, of lives may shortly come to a swift and decisive end, putting their onetime owners beyond the reach of any expression of love on our part." Watchtower 1965 Apr 1 p. 212
"What this means to us today is that those now living in this time of judgment and who fail for one reason or another to take a stand for Jehovah, and are therefore slain by him at the battle of Armageddon, will not be retained in his memory for a resurrection. That this group will include the majority of humans now living on earth is shown by Jeremiah 25:33: "The slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung..." Watchtower 1951 Jul 15 p.446
Watchtower 2014 Feb 15 (simplified) p.8
Considering that Jehovah's Witnesses are probably the religion best know for using the fear of Armageddon to motivate its members, it is ironic that the 2012 Watchtower opens by saying "Although the word appears only once in the Bible, the term is repeated often by the news media and by religious leaders. ... the truth about Armageddon can free you from needless fear ..." (Watchtower 2012 Feb 1 p.3) This is the very edition that goes on the say that the only survivors of Armageddon will be the millions that belong to the brotherhood of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Should people live in fear of Armageddon? Consider what this horrific doctrine is based on. Armageddon is only mentioned once in the Bible at Revelation 16:16. In this vision, Armageddon is described as a war at the literal place of Megiddo. It is with great imagination that Watchtower leaders have expanded this to be a global war between God and mankind where billions die, leaving behind a smattering of Watchtower followers. This has come a long way from Watchtower's original teaching that Armageddon started in 1874 as a period of social upheaval. (See Zion's Watch Tower 1892 Jan 15 p.23)If you consider the great variance that this religion has been able to describe this one particular Scripture with, it should not credence should be given to their current interpretation.
Is This Doctrine Fair?
Jesus was born in the Middle East, where Christianity was founded. Watchtower on the other hand is an American religion, founded in America, headquartered in America, with a predominantly white male Governing Body. Its depictions of Armageddon include American solders, as identified by their camouflage and M16 assault rifles.
Watchtower 2019 Oct cover
There are 12 classical world religions and over 34,000 Christian sects [1]. Religious leaders commonly say that salvation requires following their particular God. Extremist groups go even further and insist that belonging to their particular sect is a requirement for salvation. Is this a fair conclusion?
The religion a person belongs to is overwhelmingly connected to the situation of one's birth.
"What religion a man shall have is a historical accident, quite as much as what language he shall speak." George Santayana 'Life of Reason' - Volume 'Reason in Religion' p.5
"Isn't it a remarkable coincidence that almost everyone has the same religion as their parents? And it always just happens to be the right religion." — Richard Dawkins
If you are a Watchtower follower, imagine for a second that Jehovah's Witnesses do not represent the true religion. Do you think it fair that God is going to destroy you for being part of the wrong religion? As the Watchtower discourages active examination of other beliefs, would it be fair that you will shortly die for not finding the correct one?
Is the teenage Jehovah's Witness in the United States of America that listens to immoral "pop" music more righteous than the Baptist missionary in Indonesia? Should the Nepalese monk, isolated from the world and Bible be destroyed for living the life of abstinence that he truly believed and was indoctrinated to understand was the way to achieve oneness with God?
An experience from a Jehovah's Witness sent to China to engage in Watchtower's Missionary service highlights just how unsound it is to think people of other cultures are worthy of destruction.
“Sooner or later, in our study sessions, my students and I would get to the section in the book with the chapter on Armageddon—with its two-page centerfold illustration of fire falling from the sky and people dying, reeling into the gaping earth. As I began to explain these things, in a new tongue, in a new place, I started to hear what I was saying, for the first time: “So because you were born here, and I was born into my world, God’s going to kill you and your family and friends and associates, but not me. Because you were educated differently, in a different culture, and therefore have a different explanation for life, for spirituality, for goodness, for meaning, you will die, and I will live. This is because I was taught, week in, week out, from the time I was five, that this all made perfect sense. And you were not.” (Open book to Armageddon centerfold.)
I started to feel embarrassed.”
For the rest of Amber Scorah's experience see
believermag.com (Feb 2013)
When a religion teaches absolute truth, it may make sense anyone not believing this truth is worshipping falsehood. Anyone not worshipping Jehovah is worshipping Satan, and so deserves destruction. This would only be fair if this truth was consistent and accessible. If truth is easy to understand and God attracts his sheep, there is no excuse not to follow it. The flaw in this reasoning is that no Organization teaches absolute truth. Jehovah's Witnesses certainly do not teach it. In its short 140 year history, Watchtower has changed its teachings so substantially that they have no right to claim a unique ability to understand truth. It is illogical to state God gave Russell the many wrong teachings that the Watchtower later had to reject.
In Bible times, God indicated whom he was using through powerful signs. He spoke directly to Abraham and provided powerful miracles through Moses. First century Christians witnessed God personally speaking in approval of his son and watched Jesus heal the sick and raise the dead. The apostles and other Christians continued to display such powerful works. Jehovah's Witnesses have never produced a powerful sign of any kind to assist identify their Organization as approved today.
The problem with saying salvation is dependant on belonging to a single, small organization is reality proves that the Watchtower is not accessible to a large portion of the world. Much of the world does not even have access to the Bible.
The following map shows that over half the world is not Christian, and by and large the chance of being a Jehovah's Witnesses is dependant on living in a country that was conquered or converted by Christianity over the last 2,000 years.
Courtesy of mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.html
Being a Witness is predominantly contingent on where one is born and billions of people will never hear of the name Jehovah or Jesus. Living within the following countries - Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Mali, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Thailand and Turkey are around 3 billion people, nearly half the global population. Yet the 2006 Watchtower Service Report showed that combined these have less than 40,000 Witnesses, not even 1 for every 70,000 people. These countries represent many religious (Muslim, Atheist, Buddhist and Hindu) and ethnic (African, Indian, Asian and European) backgrounds, showing that no particular group is genetically disposed to be "goat-like". In Pakistan and Bangladesh virtually all will be destroyed, the ratio of Witnesses to 'worldly people' is less than 1:1,000,000. In 2006, there was not a single Witness in Afghanistan. Is it fair for people who have never even heard of Jehovah to be destroyed at Armageddon?
Courtesy of www.jwsurvey.org
The 2011 Publisher report lists countries where Witnesses are banned under the category "30 Other Lands". Highlighted in red, these make up 16% of the earth's land surface, and account for 1.9 billion people, or 27% of the earth's population. Despite the size of this group, there were only 24,483 Jehovah's Witness publishers across these countries combined, which is less than 1 in every 77,000 people.
People of other religions are as devoted as Jehovah's Witnesses. "Kumbh Mela" is a Hindu pilgrimage to bathe in a sacred river, attended by 100 million people in 2013. By far the majority of these will never hear about Jesus, let alone Jehovah's Witnesses.
Even in Christian countries, it is illogical for God to destroy people for understanding the Bible in a manner that differs to that described by the Watchtower. A person reading the Bible without the aid of a Watchtower will never arrive at current Watchtower truth.
"Where did we learn Bible truth in the first place? Would we know the way of the truth if it had not been for guidance from the organization? Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization?" No, we cannot!" Watchtower 1983 Jan 15 p.27
Orientation day in hell - Southpark
Random Protestant: Hey, wait a minute; I was a complete and devout Protestant. I thought we got into Heaven?
Hell Orientation Director: Yes, well, I'm afraid you were wrong.
Random Jehovah's Witness: I was a practicing Jehovah's Witness.
Hell Orientation Director: You picked the wrong religion as well.
Random Orientation Attendee: Well, who was right? Who got into Heaven?
Hell Orientation Director: I'm afraid it was the MORMONS. Mormons were the correct answer.
Orientation Attendees: (collective groan)
At what point does it sound insane for a religion to say that only their followers deserve salvation? Does it sound crazy (or conceited) that the 11 followers of Mrs. Marian Keech's flying UFO cult, the Seekers, believed that aliens would destroy all but themselves? How about the Watchtower indicating that God will save 7 million people and destroy over 7 billion? Would it even be logical to believe that a religion such as Catholicism, with 1 billion members, is the only acceptable one, if it means God would be required to destroy 6 billion people? To believe God would only find people of a single religion acceptable, regardless of size, does not seem fair.
Only a small percentage of people convert to other religions and there is no single destination for converters. Their choice is the one they stumble upon at just the right moment in time, a matter of time and unforeseen circumstance. A 2001 ARIS survey shows that 84% of American adults retain the one religion for life. Of the 16% that leave, the largest group leave all religion. "Some groups such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses appear to attract a large number of converts (in-switchers), but also nearly as large a number of apostates (out-switchers)." (See 2001 ARIS surveypage 24)
Jehovah's Witnesses reported over 2 billion hours preaching in 2017, yet members increased by little over 100,000, of which many were likely raised within that religion. Changing a person from the religion of their upbringing is no easy task.
On September 11th 2001, people watched in horror as the twin towers in New York collapsed, killing several thousand people over a disagreement of religious ideologies. Yet this is inconsequential when compared to the destruction Jehovah is expected to mete upon humankind, billions of which have never seen a Bible. If the senseless death of a few thousand people offends a person's sense of justice, how much more so should the global slaughter described by Watchtower and eagerly awaited by Jehovah's Witnesses?
Paradoxically, Armageddon will result in the eternal destruction of billions of "evildoers" that do not worship Jehovah, yet lead to the resurrection of billions of evildoers that did not worship Jehovah. The majority of both groups have never even heard of Jehovah, so what exactly is the difference between the two, what makes one group less deserving of life than the other? There is no overwhelming difference, other than an organisation's attempt to grow its own membership.
With illogical conceit, members of many religions believe they alone belong to the only true faith. Do these members believe that, endowed with luck they stumbled upon - or were born into - the Truth? Do they possess a more intelligent or perceptive mind? Is their heart condition so superior to all others that God and his angels directed them to the only true religion? The root of such reasoning lies with the pride of religious leaders that prey on the gullibility of naive followers; followers who are content to accept that there are many routes to salvation if so told, but just as willing to believe that they alone deserve salvation.
Jehovah's Witnesses are a classic example of this. Under Russell they believed that God would allow all to survive into Armageddon, but then when Rutherford introduced that most would die they blindly accepted what he said instead. Jehovah's Witnesses continue to go along with this offensive teaching, because the primary concern of people is their own salvation.
The following 30Mb MP4 video contains a 10 minute recording of a 2007 talk by Bethel Speaker Ciro Aulicino that graphically describes the massacre that Witnesses look forward to. Click here if your browser does not support the video tag.
Watchtower Images of Armageddon
Watchtower illustrations depicting the death of "worldly people" at Armageddon.
Watchtower May 1 2015 cover
Watchtower 2015 May 1 p.4
Watchtower 2012 Sep 15 (study edition) p.5
Watchtower 2010 Sep 15
Watchtower 2010 Aug 1 Cover
Watchtower 2001 Feb 15 p.16
Watchtower 1997 Sep 1
Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! p.127
Does God Really Care About Us?
Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! p.52
Does God Really Care About Us? (1992) p.22
Survive the End of the World
Enjoy life on Earth Forever (1982) p.28
From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained p.209
Footnote
[1] David B. Barrett, et al., "World Christian Encyclopedia : A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World," Oxford University Press, (2001).
Barrett lists 19 major world religions, subdivided into 270 large religious groups. He has currently identified 34,000 separate groups amongst Christianity alone. He notes what he terms as "distinct religions have risen from 1,000 in 1900 to 10,500 today, with the likelihood to increase to 15,000 in a quarter-century.
For lists of thousands of religions see:
The 12 Classical world religions are:
- Baha'i
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Confucianism
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Jainism
- Judaism
- Shinto
- Sikhism
- Taoism
- Zoroastrianism
Ukrainian translation of this article.
Originally published June 2005, last update July 2023.
Paul Grundy 2005 - 2024