In May 2024 The Watchtower said 'We have said that for such individuals as those in Sodom and Gomorrah, there is no hope of a future resurrection' but that the organisation 'cannot say for sure' that none will be resurrected, and the NWT study note on Luke 10:12 now says 'at least some' may be.
Claim ID claim-doctrine-sodom-2024-cannot-sayConcerns May 2024Explicit statement
The organisation’s position or later explanation: 'further prayerful study has raised the question, Can we really say that with certainty?' (w24.05 par. 5).
May 2024 · pp.2-7 · par. 5 (p. 3); par. 8 (p. 3); par. 15 (p. 6) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“We have said that for such individuals as those in Sodom and Gomorrah, there is no hope of a future resurrection. But further prayerful study has raised the question, Can we really say that with certainty? … Can we say for certain, then, that none of them will rise in the “resurrection of . . . the unrighteous”? No, we cannot say for sure!”
Par. 15 adds that Jesus' words about Sodom on Judgment Day were not hyperbole: 'it seems that Jesus meant what he said.'
15 March 2024 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
“We were thrilled to learn that individuals who died in the Flood of Noah's day, in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and even some who might repent during the great tribulation could benefit from Jehovah's mercy.”
Opening lines, recalling the 2023 annual meeting programme.
Provenance and verification note for JW Broadcasting — 2024 Governing Body Update #2, 2024 Governing Body Update #2 — opening recap of the 2023 annual meeting
“1988 … no resurrection for dead in Sodom and Gomorrah: w88 6/1 30-31 … 1996 … civilian service in lieu of military service: yb97 16; w96 5/1 19-20 … 2024 … help for ones removed from the congregation: w24.08 27-28”
The organisation's own dated list of adjusted beliefs, with references; also lists 1929/1962 'superior authorities', 1927/2013 'faithful and discreet slave', 1995 and 2008-2010 'this generation', 2024 Sodom and great-tribulation entries. No lines match 'transplant', 'vaccin' or 'beard'.
A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-doctrine-sodom-2024-cannot-say/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.