https://youtu.be/I4UtTjJ7Eus?si=0B-fzPQM8axb_d3p
In its latest April 2025 Watchtower Study Article 17 and paragraph 12 the Watchtower promotes 2 dangerous lies that will cost your life if you are a believing Christian during the time of the End, so I'm considering today the first lie in the first part of the paragraph, but first let's read the paragraph itself:
"Today, Jehovah promises to provide us with spiritual protection. He will never allow Satan to corrupt true worship. (John 17:15) And when ‘the great tribulation’ strikes, we can have absolute confidence that Jehovah will fulfill his promise to safeguard his people not only spiritually but also physically.—Rev. 7:9, 14.” (Watchtower Study Article 17, April 2025, Paragraph 12)
So two claims here: First that Jehovah will never allow Satan to corrupt true worship, and second that when ‘the great tribulation’ strikes, we can have absolute confidence that Jehovah will fulfill his promise to safeguard his people not only spiritually but also physically. So let's consider the first claim:
At first glance, this statement from the Watchtower might sound comforting, even inspiring. However, upon closer examination, it reveals itself to be riddled with theological errors and dangerous misconceptions. The claims in this paragraph misrepresent biblical teachings, misapply scripture, and ultimately lull sincere Christians into a false sense of security. Let’s take a closer look at these claim and weigh it against what the Bible actually teaches.
The reference to John 17:15 is a prime example of taking scripture out of context. The verse states: *“I do not ask that you(=Jehovah)take them(=my disciples)out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one” (New World Translation). In this passage, Jesus is praying for his disciples on the night of his betrayal. His prayer is not some prophetic guarantee of perpetual protection for a specific group of Christians, nor is it a promise that a religious organization like the Watchtower will remain immune to spiritual corruption. Rather, it is a heartfelt plea for God to preserve His followers in their faith while they live in a hostile and sinful world. The emphasis is on spiritual endurance, not on physical safety or the preservation of an institutionalized “true worship” like the Watchtower will have you believe.
What the Watchtower fails to acknowledge is that this prayer is part of a broader context in which Jesus speaks of the challenges and persecution His followers will face. There is no basis for interpreting John 17:15 as a promise of immunity from apostasy or Satanic influence for any particular group. Unlike the Watchtower's claim the Bible consistently warns about the exact opposite that the Church itself will face serious corruption and falling away in the time of the end. This is what Scripture calls the “great apostasy.”
The Apostle Paul makes this crystal clear in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4: *“Let no one lead you astray in any way, because it will not come(=the End) unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness(=the Antichrist) gets revealed, the son of destruction. He stands in opposition and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, publicly showing himself to be a god.”* Paul’s words here outline a sobering truth: before the return of Christ, there will be a massive falling away from true Christian faith. This is not a minor event but a significant and devastating turning point, one that is tied directly to the rise of the Antichrist.
The term "apostasy" is not just a generic word for error or unbelief. It is a specific theological term that refers to a departure from the faith by those who were once part of it. In other words, it applies to Christians who abandon true worship and embrace deception. This concept is central to Paul’s warning in Thessalonians, and it stands in direct contradiction to the Watchtower’s claim that true worship will never be corrupted.
Adding to this, 1 Peter 4:17 also declares: “For it is the appointed time for judgment to start with the house of God(=the Christian Church).” This verse underscores that God’s judgment begins with His own people. Far from guaranteeing protection from apostasy, the Bible teaches that Christians themselves will be tested and sifted in the last days. This is a critical point that the Watchtower ignores in favor of its comforting but false assurances.
Instead of preparing its followers for the spiritual challenges to come, the Watchtower promotes the idea that Jehovah’s Witnesses will be spiritually and physically safeguarded during the “great tribulation.” This narrative is not only unbiblical but also dangerously misleading. By creating a false sense of security, the organization prevents its members from heeding the Bible’s warnings and equipping themselves for the trials ahead.
The reality is that the “great apostasy” will be a global crisis within Christianity, culminating in the enforcement of the Antichrist as a false messiah. As Paul explains in 2 Thessalonians 2, the Antichrist will exalt himself above all that is worshiped and will even position himself as God within the “temple of God.” While interpretations of the “temple” vary, many scholars agree that it represents the Christian Church. This means that the Antichrist’s influence will infiltrate Christianity itself, leading many believers astray. The Watchtower’s claim that Satan will never corrupt “true worship” directly contradicts this prophecy. In fact, the arrogance of such claims could make them a prime candidate for falling prey to the very deception they deny.
This deceptive narrative is further exposed when we consider passages like 2 Timothy 4:3-4, which warns: “For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled. They will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to false stories.” The Watchtower’s promises of protection and special status as God’s chosen people seem to fit this description of “false stories” that cater to human desires for certainty and exclusivity.
The Bible’s warnings about deception in the last days are consistent and clear. Jesus Himself cautioned in Matthew 24:4: “Look out that nobody misleads you.”This is not a call to relax in false assurances but a command to remain vigilant and discerning. The Watchtower’s narrative does the opposite, encouraging complacency by convincing its followers that they are exempt from the spiritual dangers that Scripture so plainly warns against.
When we step back and examine the broader biblical picture, it becomes evident that the Watchtower’s claims are not only misguided but also spiritually dangerous. The Bible warns of a great apostasy, a time when Christians will abandon true faith and be led astray by deception. This will occur within the Church itself, not outside of it, and it will coincide with the rise of the Antichrist. The idea that any religious organization, including the Watchtower, will escape this reality is nothing more than wishful thinking.
The truth is that this event will test the faith of all Christians before even the great tribulation begins. It will not be a time of guaranteed protection for a select group but a period of spiritual refinement and judgment. The Bible calls us to prepare for this reality by grounding ourselves in Scripture, developing discernment, and remaining steadfast in our faith. False assurances, like those promoted by the Watchtower, only serve to blind believers to the challenges ahead.
In the end, the Watchtower’s claims are, to borrow a phrase, “for the birds.” They offer a comforting illusion that is entirely at odds with the teachings of Scripture. When the great apostasy and the judgment of the house of God arrives, it will not be membership in a particular organization that saves you. Salvation will come only through a personal and unwavering faith in Christ and a commitment to the truth of God’s Word. Anything less is a dangerous delusion.
