WHEN a Jehovah's Witness speaks of the resurrection, you would at first be forgiven in thinking that they went along with the teaching of mainstream Christianity; i.e. that Jesus' body was physically raised from the dead.
Indeed, when it comes to the subject of the resurrection it says;
"The religious leaders could not stop God's Son from coming out of the tomb... There can be no doubt that Christ was raised from the dead..."
You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, 1982, page 169
But, does this mean Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a physical resurrection?
No. Instead they believe that Jesus' body was not raised from the dead, and say in the same publication;
"Having given up his flesh for the life of the world, Christ could never take it again and become a man once more."
Yet is this truly a resurrection?
If that which has died is not raised from the dead, but instead something different is raised, is this a resurrection or creation?
The Kingdom is at Hand, 1944, p. 259.
The Watch Tower Society teaches that Jesus' earthly body was disposed of by God's power, while Jesus was raised as a "spirit person" and "materialised" in different bodies, to His disciples, shortly after His death.
It is clear, then, that the Watch Tower Society does not teach the resurrection of Jesus but instead teaches His annihilation, and this brand new spirit creature, who did not die for us, took His place. This spirit creature is the Jesus of the Watch Tower, but not the Jesus of the Bible!
Let us not forget the words of the Apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians 15:14;
"If Christ has not risen then our preaching is in vain and your faith is devoid of truth and is fruitless - without effect, empty, imaginary and unfounded."
