I thought I would share the following
DOCTRINAL COMPARISON CHART
BIBLE STUDENTS RANSOM: Featured doctrine of the ransom for all, with the entire human race to receive the benefits. Salvation not limited to present life nor are unbelievers limited to faith in the ransom NOW to be resurrected. RESTITUTION: Doctrine of restitution of all things, the theme song of the Bible, the hope of the entire world. All will come forth in the resurrection in order to receive full knowledge and opportunity. All final judgment for world reserved for Millennial Judgment Day. PURPOSE OF WITNESSING: Activity in Lord's service based solely on love, not fear. Second death not highlighted. Purpose of spreading gospel is the calling out from the world of the members of the heavenly class, not a dividing work to result in life or death to the hearer. REWARDS: Two salvations - a heavenly for the faithful followers of Jesus who during the Gospel Age are persecuted for his sake; and an earthly for the remainder of mankind who do not come into harmony with God until the Millennial Age. Life in heaven is the only calling of the present. The Great multitude is in heavenly temple. CHURCH ORGANIZATION: Elders and deacons elected by the brethren of the individual Ecclesias to positions of service. The Lord's will expressed by his people. Individual responsibility to prove all doctrines and practices from the Bible. KINGDOM RULE: Kingdom rule not to be set up in the earth until the entire heavenly class is glorified. Will be manifest to all by resurrection of ancient worthies, who will assume control. TIME FEATURES: The Divine purpose has many prophetic time features. The Biblical accounts of chronology are precise and flawless. It is an accurate assist to the watchers that they might know. These clearly establish seven millennia that are related to the prophetic record. PRESENCE: Christ's second advent. One of the unique harvest features of present truth is the invisible presence of Christ. This relates to Jesus' own words as well as many prophecies. Those activities during the harvest or ending time are in his charge. Failure to discern this feature puts one in the position creating a kingdom now. ISRAEL: In God's program, the Jew is special. Whoever blesses Israel, God will bless. They are still His people. The Bible is filled with many Israeli promises. Bible truth points to holy Israel and Ancients as dispensers of Gods blessings to Gentiles. | JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES RANSOM: Ransom restricted to exclude Adam and many others by introducing idea of various judgment periods in which many are judged now and will not come forth in the resurrection. RESTITUTION: Restitution minimized to such an extent that earth needs to be populated by Armageddon survivors. Of the many presently alive, only those who now serve Jehovah faithfully will come forth in the resurrection. Work of the future judgment day minimized. PURPOSE OF WITNESSING: Fear of second death stressed for those who do not strictly obey "the society" and fear of Armageddon for those who hear the message now and do not respond. Salvation gained only by being part of the New World society. REWARDS: Newly interested ones must suffer for righteousness' sake but are not eligible for the heavenly calling. Life on earth promised as reward for present faithfulness. "Other sheep" class now being gathered. From 1935 onward, the Great Company is a special class now being selected for the earth CHURCH ORGANIZATION: Servants appointed by headquarters in Brooklyn, accepted as from Jehovah. "Theocraic rule" introduced. Doctrines and practices taught by "the society" must be accepted without question from the Governing body KINGDOM RULE: "The society" regarded as Jehovah's organization, ruling with Kingdom authority now even though remnant of the heavenly class is still in the flesh. TIME FEATURES: The Society has had many failed expectations among which are 1925 and 1975. More recently the 70 years desolation has been questioned relative to 1914. There is little confidence in chronology anymore as there is no date. PRESENCE: Relative to the lack of definition of any form of chronology is a lack of confidence in the invisible return of Christ. They had once inaccurately believed the return of Christ to be 1914 prior to establishing his kingdom in the earth (Deliverance, 1925). It is an enigma for which they have no answers and leads to the nominal "coming again." ISRAEL: Jehovah's Witnesses having believed in fleshly Israel until 1931, have ever since wrongfully misappropriated to themselves, God's promises to His chosen people, fleshly Israel. To the contrary, St. Paul makes this crystal clear in Romans 11. |