The Strand Study Bible

PSALMS

866

PSALMS

existence for the dead until the time of their bodily resurrection. 1 Jehovah’s Witnesses are not only taught to believe that there is no Hell, but they are also taught to believe that Heaven was filled by 1935 and that everyone else has to settle for a “Garden-of-Eden-like-paradise” here on earth. They are non-Trinitarians, who are taught that CHRIST was merely a manifestation of Michael the archangel in human form and that the HOLY SPIRIT is neither God nor a person, but an “active force.” Because Jehovah’s Witnesses are indoctrinated to believe that they cannot see the divine plan by merely studying the Bible by itself (they are taught to “reason” first with the aid of Russell’s volumes, called Studies in the Scripture ), they believe it is more profitable to examine Russell’s work than the Scriptures. Russellism, therefore, is a system of thought calculated to appeal to the religious pride of the uneducated among the unconverted. The problem with Russell’s theology is that it contradicts itself. Take for example this word ( cut off ). Jehovah’s Witnesses say that the word means “annihilation.” However, this very same word ( karath ) is used in Daniel 9:26, when speaking of the MESSIAH . When asking a Jehovah’s Witness whether Christ ceased to exist when He was cut off at Calvary, their answer is always the same “Absolutely not!” They freely admit that He died on the ‘torture stake’ and went to Heaven. However, if both words are the same, and Psalm 37:9 means “annihilation,” then Daniel 9:26 must mean “annihilation” as well. Seriously, how can the phrase “ cut off ” mean one thing in Psalm 37:9 and another thing in Daniel 9:26? Either the word means “obliteration” or it means “physical death,” but it cannot mean both. NOTE - Scripture does not teach what Buddhism , Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses call “annihilation” (cessation of life). Scripture teaches eternal judgment ( Dan 12:2 ) from which there is no appeal ( Heb 6:2 d ). There is no such thing as “ceasing to exist.” All, whom God has ever given life, live forever. Common sense reminds us, that it would be illogical on God’s part to create something with a free will only to annihilate it because it made a bad choice. A person can disobey God -either knowingly or unknowingly - but he cannot disappoint God. A god who can be disappointed is a god who loves conditionally - a god who loves us when we perform well, and then withdraws his love if we perform badly. The truth of God’s love is that His love is unconditional. He loves us at all times with an infinite, overwhelming, merciful, gracious, passionate love. Seeing man was made in the image of God, it would be an injustice to the nature of God to annihilate a creation with His image. For those of a free will who choose self-righteousness over CHRIST’S righteousness, there is incarceration (Hell), not annihilation ( II Thess 1:9 ).

1 Reed, David A. Jehovah’s Witnesses Answered , Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 1986. Print.