Conclusion of WHY DO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES NOT GO TO WAR?

The above principles governing love are not mere theory to Jehovah's Witnesses. As an example, examine their course of action during World War II, 1939-1945.  In the United States, more than 4,3000 Witnesses of Jehovah were incarcerated in federal prison for refusing to perform military service. In Britain, upwards of 1, 500, including  more than 300 women,were imprisoned for declining to perform  war duties. In Nazi Germany, upwards of 270 Witnesses were executed by State order for their refusal to take up arms. Under the Nazi regime, more than 10,000 Witnesses were incarcerated, either in prisons or in concentration camps. Witnesses in Japan suffered terribly as well. Any individual who lost their loved ones on the battlefields of World War II -or any subsequent war for that matter -can rest assured that not a single one of Jehovah's Witnesses was responsible for such deaths.

The view of Jehovah's Witnesses toward war is eloquently expressed  in the final words of Wolfgang Kusserow. In 1942 the Nazis beheaded this 20-year-old German because he refused to go to war.  (Isaiah 2:4)  He stated before the military tribunal:  "I was brought up  as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, according to God's Word contained in the Scriptures. The greatest and most holy law he gave mankind is: "You shall love your God above all else and your neighbor as yourself.' Other commandments read:  "you must not kill.' Did our Creator have all this written down for the trees?" -Mark 12:29-30; Exodus 20:13. 

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only Jehovah, the almighty God, will bring permanent peace to the earth.  they look to him to fulfill his promise that he will make" wars to cease to the extremity of the earth." -Psalm 46:9. 

Next time:Tel Arad BEARS SILENT WITNESS

From the Watchtower magazine, 2008