Some religions tolerate immorality; others are filled with doctrinal error Guilty of sin, Jas. 2:10...

Some religions tolerate immorality; others are filled with doctrinal error

•Guilty of sin, Jas. 2:10•Enemies of the cross, Phil. 3:1-3, 18

We need to prepare•Not deceived, Eph. 4:13, 14•Answer error, 1 Pet. 3:15

Traced to Adventist movement of 1800s led by William Miller - failed prophecy

•One group: correct time, wrong event•Other group: wrong time & event

Founder: Charles Taze Russell•Born in Presbyterian household•Contacted Miller’s followers at 16•Renewed faith & study•Began Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence in 1879•Formally organized in 1881

Joseph Franklin Rutherford•Baptist background•Encountered JWs in 1894; joined 1906•Became legal counsel, 1907•Became president, 1916•Turned Society from Bible study & growth to selling materials

Highlights•1920, Millions Now Living Will Never Die•1922, Watchtower official text of study•1929, Mansion bought in San Diego, CA•1931, Name adopted•1938, Society began appointing all responsible positions in congregations

Organized like many denominations•Board of directors•Branch servant•District servant•Circuit servant

Organized like many denominations•Congregation•Congregational servant•Pioneers•Kingdom publisher

“Jehovah created this earth so that humans could enjoy living on it forever”

•Only 144,000 will go to heaven•Artistic drawings of children playing w/ lions

“Jehovah created this earth so that humans could enjoy living on it forever”

•Only 144,000 will go to heaven•Artistic drawings of children playing w/ lions•You and a rat have same hope of eternity•“Materialism”

The Bible says all saved will go to heaven•No set number, Jn. 3:16; Rev. 22:17•144,000 symbolic, Rev. 7:1-8•Inheritance in heaven, not earth,1 Pet. 1:3-5; Mt. 6:19-21•Earth to be destroyed, 2 Pt. 3:10-12;Heb. 1:10-12

JWs do not believe in hell•Believe hell is the grave•Punishment of wicked is not to exist•Belief in eternal torment dishonors God

JWs do not believe in hell•Would a loving God torment people forever?

-Would a loving God allow sinto run rampant on earth?-Would a loving God let a child die?-Would a loving God annihilate people forever and exclude them from“paradise earth”?

Hell is real•As real as heaven,Mt. 18:9; 25:46; Rom. 6:23•Place of punishment,Mk. 9:42-48; Rev. 21:8

Some religions tolerate immorality; others are filled with doctrinal error

•Guilty of sin, Jas. 2:10•Enemies of the cross, Phil. 3:1-3, 18

We need to prepare•Not deceived, Eph. 4:13, 14•Answer error, 1 Pet. 3:15