Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed the Bible to Fit Their Beliefs? Part 2

The article quoted in my title is here at JW.ORG. JW speak is in BLUE.

Two questions in the WT article, are asked and answered. Question #1, “Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed the Bible to Fit their Beliefs?” had three (3) Examples. In Part 1 here, I looked at  Example #1. In Part 2, I will look at Example #2.

WT Example #2. “What we believe: There is no eternal torment in a fiery hell.” They go on to quote three (3) verses, Romans 6:23 and Ezekiel 18:4 and 20. The WT tactic used in this example is to only quote verses that support their doctrine and ignore those that don’t. If the WT had considered the numerous scriptures which I reference below, they would have to change their doctrine to align with ALL of scripture.

The conventional wisdom of today and taught by The Watch Tower states that a loving God would not condemn people to an eternal hell where they would be tormented day and night forever. According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible clearly and explicitly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked unbelieving are sent after death. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). The just punishment for that sin is death (Romans 6:23). Since  all of our sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4), and since God is an infinite and eternal Being, the punishment for sin, death, must also be infinite and eternal. Hell is this infinite and eternal death which we have earned because of our sin.

Consider these verses the WT fails to take into consideration. The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout Scripture as “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41) “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12), “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2), a place where “the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44-49), a place of “torment” and “fire” (Luke 16;23-24), “everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place where “the smoke of torment rises forever and ever” (Revelation 14:10-11), and a “lake of burning sulfur” where the wicked are “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

More verses the WT fails to take into consideration. The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never ending as the bliss of the righteous in heaven. Jesus Himself indicates that punishment in hell is just as everlasting as life in heaven (Matthew 25:46). The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. Those in hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God (Psalm 76:10). Those who are in hell will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame (Deuteronomy 32:3-5). Yes, hell is real. Yes, hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate.

Just a few more verses the WT fails to take into consideration.

"Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 7).

“These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever,”(Jude 12-13)

“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:11)

“And His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:12)

"And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire." (Mark 9:43)

Thanks to Got Questions here for help on this blog. I highly recommend Got Questions for any religious related questions.

Question to Answer: Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed/Ignored the Bible to Fit their Beliefs?

"Have Jehovah’s Witnesses Changed the Bible to Fit Their Beliefs? Part 3" is  here.

A related blog, "Is the WT Bible (The New World Translation) Reliable" is here.