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OBEDIENT
SLAVESTHE "FAITHFULL AND WISE SERVANT"...
Jehovah Witnesses' history started in 1881, when the American merchant Charles Taze Russell founded a private company (The Watchtower p. 197). In 1884, the "Zion Watch Tower Tract Society" was founded; in 1896 it was renamed to "Bible and Tract Watchtower Society", while in 1955 it took its current name: "Watchtower of Pennsylvania Bible and Tract Society". Russell's followers, who were called "Bible Students", considered his six-volume Millennial down series (now called "Studies in the Scripture"), more important than the Holy Scripture (3, p.13). In these books, the "Watchtower Society" was presented to the reader as a commercial enterprise, that represents a fund (3, p. 14). But in 1938, the next Watchtower president J. Rutherford turned the limited company to theocracy, obliging "Bible Students" to replace Scripture study and prayer with the spread of the "Watchtower" printed matter from door to door (a task named "work"), because this was supposed to be "Jehovah's pure worship", and to sign a statement which included the following words: "We, the group of God's people... acknowledge that God's order is pure theocracy... ant that the "Society" is the Lord's visible representative on earth".
The WT Society is controlled by a handful of men known as the Governing Body, who are all of the "anointed class". These members believe that they alone are anointed of the Holy Spirit, and God communicates directly through them to lead His organization today. According to their interpretation of Matthew 24:45, these anointed ones are supposedly commissioned by Jehovah to dispense "spiritual nourishment at the right time" (Watchtower, 1 December 1981, p. 27). Thus, all authority flows from the anointed class (in effect the Governing Body) down to the great crowd. The "Governing Body", based "at the central offices... at Brooklyn, New York", consists of 10 "anointed Christians", who supposedly are spiritual brothers of Jesus Christ, and who are "ruled in a theocratic way"... (You can live forever in Paradise on Earth, p. 195). In this way, the publications of this American Company - which, according to its statutes, must have from 300 to 500 shareholders, all from Northern America - have spread worldwide, thanks to the people who consider Watchtower Society as the Jehovah's government!
Behold!
Christ as a killer with a scythe!
WATCHTOWER SOCIETY TEACHINGS
Most WT. Society teachings are constantly changing, so we can groupWTS teachings to changed and unchanged. To date, the following teachings remain unchanged:
Watchtower Society is the "Faithful and Wise Servant" who "in due season" gives "spiritual food" to God's servants (You can live... p. 193) and constitutes the "John class", i.e. it is analogous to St. John the Theologian! "Jehovah's Witnesses believe that this parable (of the faithful and wise servant) pertains to the one true congregation of Jesus Christ's anointed followers. Beginning with Pentecost, 33 A.D., and continuing through the 19 centuries since then, this servant-like congregation has been feeding its members spiritually, doing so faithfully and wisely. Especially as the identity of this 'servant' becomes clear at the time of Christ's return or presence. The 'slave' is identifiable by 'his' watchfulness and by the fact that 'he' faithfully and wisely provides spiritual food as needed to all in the Christian congregation. Indeed, this 'servant,' or spirit anointed congregation, is the one approved channel representing God's Kingdom on earth in the 'time of the end.' (Da. 12:4) Jehovah Witnesses understand that the 'servant' is comprised of all anointed Christians as a group on earth at any given time during the 19 centuries since Pentecost. Accordingly, the 'domestics' are these followers of Christ as individuals." (Watchtower, 1 March 1981 p. 24)
"How is this divine will to be made known and brought to attention of the worthy multitudes of men of good will toward Jehovah? ...The facts show that during this time and up to the present hour the "slave" class has served as God's sole collective channel of communication from heaven to earth for the flow of Biblical truth to men on earth... Thus organizationally the "wise servant" class since 1919 has been channeling an ever-increasing flow of Biblical publications by the millions that contain the "waters of life" featuring Jehovah's will as emanating from God's throne in heaven." (WT 07/15/60 p. 439)
- "Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization? No, we cannot," (Watchtower 1/15/83, p. 27).
- Satan is in fact the invisible ruler of all nations! (You can live..., p. 17). "Satan's world is this organized human society outside the God's visible organization", that is to say, outside the Watchtower Society (You can live..., Greek ed., p. 209).
- Patriotism is the spirit of Satan (The finished Mystery, 1923, p. 309). Flags, national anthems etc. also come from Satan.
- Watchtower Society doesn't believe in the Holy Trinity but in the Father only; it also claims that whoever does not use the name "Jehovah" for the Father, will suffer his flesh being worn away and his body being melt away! (From paradise lost to Paradise regained, Greek ed. p. 209). Yet, there is no word such as "Jehovah". This word is a mistaken translation of "Tetragrammaton", which is the set of consonants of the phrase "I am that I am". Between 500-1000 A.D., Jew scholars combined these consonants with the vowels of the word "Adonai" (another name of God in the Hebrew language), and found the forgotten correct translation, which is "Yahweh". WT. S. admits that "Yahweh" is technically more correct. They defend their usage by saying "Jehovah" is more commonly used by people (it's right because the majority of people do it wrong! See "Watchtower", 1.11.1960).
- Until 1953 Watchtower claimed that the constellation of the Pleiades is the place of the eternal throne of God! (See WT 5/15/1895 and 12/1/1896, The New Creation, 1904, p.618, J. F. Rutherford, Reconciliation, 1928, pp. 14). They even believed that God wore clothes (The Golden Age, Sept. 8, 1926, p. 777). Today WT Society teaches that God exists in an imperishable, spiritual "body" with eyes, ears, arms, legs and the like (Make Sure Of All Things, Hold Fast To What Is Fine, Greek ed., p. 216) and is therefore confined to a particular location and cannot be in more than one "place" at a time. This means that they still believe he exists in some kind of space and time. While Christians know God is Infinite, Eternal, Omniscient, Ubiquitous and Omnipotent, WT Society claims He is situated in Heaven, from where He can send His active force, (they mean the Holy Spirit), and do whatever He wants even if He is... far away. (You can live..., p. 37)
- The Holy Spirit is considered to be God's impersonal "active force" in spite of the fact that Christ reveals that it has a name ("in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit") and that in many Scripture quotations the Holy Spirit invites people, prays, talks, sends people somewhere etc. (See Acts 13:2, 10:19-20 and elsewhere), as only a person would do.
- Watchtower Society claims that "Satan's first lie was that sin would not bring death…the teaching that man has an immortal soul tends to further Satan's lie." (You can live..., p. 88,89, Happiness: how to find it, pp. 171). Consequently, the existence of Saints and their intervention in our lives is considered as another Satan's lie. “The word 'soul' used in the Bible refers to a person or an animal or to the life that a person or an animal enjoys.” "Because the soul is simply life of a being, the soul ceases to exist after death." (What Happens to Us When We Die?, p. 20, 22. )
- According to Watchtower Society, Devil claimed that man can be self-governed successfully, without God's help, and that he (Devil) could estrange from God all Adam and Eve's descendants. God did not destroy Satan, but yielded power to him for 6,000 years, a period during which He would prove to the angels that Satan's claim is a lie. This is the renowned "vexed question" (You can live..., p. 20).
- Always according to Watchtower Society, Christ came on Earth to prove that Satan's claim is a lie and to vindicate Jehovah. This is Jehovah's prime aim: not the salvation of mankind, but the vindication of His own name, the vindication of His sovereignty (Proclaimers of the kingdom, p. 167) Society no longer speaks of Jehovah's name as being vindicated. Rather, it speaks of his name being sanctified.
- Secondary aim of Christ's sacrifice is to offer us the gift of the eternal (physical) life in God's fair "New Order" (You can live..., pp. 63).
- Watchtower claims that the Son of God, Who in truth has no beginning, has not always existed. The Watchtower's Jesus is not equal to God the Father nor Eternal but is himself a created being. "Thus the scriptures identify the Word (Jesus in his pre-human existence) as God's first creation, his firstborn Son. This son was actually a creature of God" (Aid to Bible Understanding p. 918). The Watchtower's Jesus is also... Satan's brother! In the beginning, says the WT, God had two sons, that were named Word and Lucifer. Though Lucifer was not as favored as the Word was, he was defined with the Word as the morning star (Deliberation- freedom, p. 26, 33). This "Jesus" is equivalent to Adam, the perfect man (You can live..., p. 62, 63). The Society's book titled "Things In Which it is Impossible for God to Lie" teaches: "Not at birth but at thirty years of age Jesus became Christ or `Anointed One'" (p. 211). Jesus never rose bodily from the dead according to Jehovah's Witnesses. In "The Kingdom is at Hand" they explain, "At death he laid aside the human organism in which he ministered as a new creature for three and a half years; and in his resurrection he was no more human. He was raised as a spirit creature" (p. 258). His spirit became the... leader of Jehovah's heavenly government, that was founded in Heaven in 1914!
- Christ and his angels will very soon take action to release the earth from all current worldly governments (You can live..., p. 68)
- Earth vine shall be destroyed... The heavenly troops that follow Jesus in the final war against the establishment of Satan... are those who squeeze the vineyard of Earth... Extermination (of the non-followers of Watchtower Society) will take place. The river of blood... is too deep, it goes up to the horses' bridles... The destruction will be complete... let's wish not to be squeezed together with the vine of Earth when the Jehovah's unfavorable judgment will take place (Revelation, its Grand Climax at Hand, p. 212-215).
- "Surviving will depend on our consciously choosing a true religion" (that is to say, the religion of the Watchtower, which initially claimed that religions come from Satan), "because all other religions will be perished" (and their followers too!) ("Awake!", 22-12-1958). To survive Armageddon, we must be marked on the forehead by the man who has the registrar's stamp, i.e. the Watchtower Society (Watchtower, 15-4-198, p. 17). Additionally:
2. We must stay alert with our service and our financial contributions to Watchtower Society, because Jehovah has done so much for us through this assembly... We must contribute from our money and from our time to spread the worldwide work of preaching people. Let's give generously from our money income and from our time (Watchtower, 15-10-1960). "Life insurance contracts, registered and other shares, debentures, interest-bearing bonds of the Greek state, bank bonds, inheritances and other assets" are acceptable (Watchtower, 1.11.1997).
3. We must show "deep respect and wholehearted obedience" to the "Society, since it is controlled by the God's holy spirit" (Watchtower, 15.10.1960). "Doing what the organization says, means doing what He (Jehovah) says. Resistance to the Organization means resistance to Him. (Watchtower,1.8.1959).
- According to the Society, there are two resurrections: a) One for those of the 144.000 who had died, which allegedly took place on 1918. After 1918, the anointed who die as humans on the earth, are supposedly raised to serve as kings and priests in the heavenly Kingdom of Jehovah under Jesus, to continue serving and living there forever. b) One for the great crowd after Armageddon. The great crowd have no hope of heaven, but instead have an earthly hope. They will be resurrected after Armageddon; they will then be given a soul, or life, that exactly duplicates their personality in a new body. (What Happens to Us When We Die? p. 26-28). They will be tested, living for 1000 years on earth under Jehovah's government, (Jesus and the 144.000 who will rule from heaven). They will be working and getting married, but someday Jehovah will stop them from bearing children, to avoid overpopulation! "According to the Scriptures Satan is to be bound for a thousand years, that he may deceive the nations no more. (`Rev. 20:3`) After the thousand years shall have ended, Satan shall be loosed for a short period to test mankind. Then he will be destroyed in the Second Death, together with all who are in harmony with him." (Studies in the Scripture vol.4) Those who won't follow him, will live forever on a paradise earth.
- WT Society rejects all sacraments. About Holy Communion it teaches that bread and wine are symbols, that can be used only by the 144.000 who have heavenly hope, while the great crowd just watches.
- The honorary worship of the Saints and of Virgin Mary the Birthgiver of God is characterized as idolatry.
- The three wise men were leaded to Bethlehem by Devil! They would cooperate with Herod to kill Christ! (The harp of God, p. 101, 104).
The
angels abandon their earthly families...
The Watchtower Society claims that is "God's sole collective channel of communication from heaven to earth for the flow of Biblical truth to men on earth ..." (Watchtower, 07/15/60 pg. 439), and that "Jehovah never makes mistakes... he is consistent, credible and true in his word (Watchtower 195, p.327). But the doctrinal flip flops of the WT Society show that either God does not give right information to his channel, or this channel is used by someone else - according to the Society, Satan himself!
Some of the Watchtower's changeable teachings are the following:
THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD - THE SECOND COMING (They prefer the term "presence")
1st INTERPRETATION: The "second presence" happened invisibly in 1874. (Studies on the Scriptures vol. 2 p. 277). "The time of the Lord's second presence dates from 1874...From 1874 forward is the latter part of the period of 'the time of the end'. From 1874 is the time of the Lord's second presence... It was in the year 1874, the date of our Lord's second presence..." (The Harp of God, 1928 ed., pp. 236, 239-40). In 1878 "Jehovah" and Christ established the Kingdom in heaven, cleaning the sanctuary and those who died in Christ were resurrected. (Studies on the Scriptures vol. 3, ed. 1920, p. 348)
Initially the organization taught the "battle of the Great Day of God Almighty" (Armageddon) would end in 1914. Every kingdom of the world would be overthrown in 1914 which was "God's date" not for the beginning but "for the end" of the time of trouble." ..."We consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished by the end of A.D. 1914" (Watchtower founder, Charles Taze Russell, The Time is at Hand, p. 99). The 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced" (Ibid., p. 101). World War I, rather than Armageddon, broke out in 1914. The Society had already begun to modify their prediction. They taught that 1914 was not the end, but the beginning of Armageddon. World War I was supposed to be the beginning of the Battle of Armageddon. That battle was to end shortly after 1914 with the utter destruction of professing Christianity, and the inauguration of Christ's millennial reign. The Watchtower first suggested this would be accomplished in 1915, but later predictions delayed it to 1918.
"The present great war in Europe [World War I] is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures" (Pastor Russell's Sermons, p. 67).
2nd INTERPRETATION: "...In the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity'" (The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 485).
"The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel. Viewing the present situation in Europe, one wonders how it will be possible to hold back the explosion much longer; and that even before 1925 the great crisis will be reached and probably passed" (Watch Tower, 1 September 1922, p. 262).
"The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would be presumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume just what the Lord is going to do during that year" (Watch Tower, 15 July 1924, p. 211).
"As we have heretofore stated, the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized. Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection" (Salvation, p. 89-90).
On 1.1.1925 Rutherford said that the kingdom was not established in 1878, but in 1914, and that would be spread on Earth when the generation of people living in 1914 will go. The cleansing of the sanctuary and the resurrection of ancient persons deserving it was also transferred to 1918. "...Christ Jesus has been present since 1914 and witness has been given of the signs that prove it, but the veil will not lift from the sightless 'eyes of understanding' of humanity's majority till his power is revealed in Armageddon's fury" (Watchtower, 15 January 1950, p. 22).
"Also, the Bible said that all these things would happen upon the generation that was alive in 1914... After drawing attention to the many things that have marked the period from 1914 onward, Jesus said: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things [including the end of this system] occur.' (Matthew 24:34, 14) Which generation did Jesus mean? He meant the generation of people who were living in 1914. Those persons yet remaining of that generation are now very old. However, some of them will still be alive to see the end of this wicked system. So of this we can be certain: Shortly now there will be a sudden end to all wickedness and wicked people at Armageddon... Some of the generation living in 1914 will see the end of the system of things and survive it" (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, p.154).
For decades the Watchtower claimed that knocking on doors and making converts was "separating the sheep from the goats" judgment foretold by Christ (Matthew 25:31-46). When 1914 failed to bring Armageddon as originally announced, the Watchtower had slowly reinterpreted their prediction claiming that 1914 was the year that Jesus "sat down in judgment" in heaven. Since 1914, the Watchtower had supposedly been helping Jesus with that judgment by "separating the sheep from the goats." The "sheep" were those who became Jehovah's Witnesses and supported the Watchtower while the "goats would be destroyed because they fail to help Christ's anointed 'brothers' in their service to God" (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, p. 183). The Armageddon was transferred in 1975.
3rd INTERPRETATION: During an assembly at Rizoupolis, Athens, Greece in 1975, the Watchtower's delegates stated they never announced dates. Later on, the blame about the dates was put on the... Watchtower editors (who are controlled by the Society).
4th INTERPRETATION. According to the Watchtower of 15.10.1995, "1914 generation" means the evil and adulterous generation that exists in every era; no one knows when the Second Coming will take place and no one should be concerned with dates!
Finally, the Society has abandoned all attempts to measure the 1914 generation by the life span of its "survivors." According to the latest "light," 1914 still started "the last generation" that will end in Armageddon. But the 1914 generation now consists of all "the peoples of earth who see the sign" of Christ's 1914 presence but fail to repent (Watchtower, 1 November 1995, p. 19). In Watchtower dogma, this "sign" is a "composite" sign made up of many historical events of which virtually all adults alive today would be aware, regardless of when they were born.
"Rather than providing a rule for measuring time, the term 'generation' as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics" (Ibid., p. 17). With such a definition, a "generation" could, functionally, last indefinitely - conveniently protecting the Watchtower against further charges of failed prophecy over its teaching about the 1914 generation surviving till the "end of the system." To maintain a sense of urgency, the Society claims the time period begun in 1914 is "a short period of time" (Ibid., p. 19). How can they say this after defining "generation" so vaguely? It is short, they say, when "compared with the thousands of years of Satan's rulership" (Ibid.). "Eager to see the end of this evil system, Jehovah's people have at times speculated about the time when the 'great tribulation' would break out, even tying this to calculations of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. However we 'bring a heart of wisdom in' not by speculating about how many years or days make up a generation. Is anything to be gained, then, by looking for dates or by speculating about the literal lifetime of a 'generation'? Far from it!... Therefore, in the final fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy today, 'this generation' apparently refers to the peoples of earth who see the sign of Christ's presence but fail to mend their ways... Does our more precise viewpoint on 'this generation' mean that Armageddon is further away than we had thought? Not at all" (Watchtower, 1 November 1995, pp. 17, 19-20).
THE HIGHER POWERS (or "supreme - superior authorities")
1st INTERPRETATION. The Society's position on the identity of the "higher powers" in Hebrews 13 has switched from human government in 1886 (Studies in the Scripture vol. 1 p. 302) to...
(2ND INTERPRETATION) ...Jehovah and Jesus in 1929. The first interpretation is now called 'perversion of the Scriptures'! Human government is now regarded as a part of Satan's visible organization (The truth shall make you free). Satan deceived people, persuading them that the 'beast' (the human government) is the 'higher powers'. ('Light'). Thus, until 1929, Watchtower Society was a channel of... Satan!
3RD INTERPRETATION: In 1962 the Society switched back to the original position, by explaining the 'satanic teaching' in 'Studies in the Scripture' vol. 1 in the following way: human government is the 'higher powers' of Hebrews 13. "...Paul passes on to his discussion of the "superior authorities," and thus has his sightsfocused on, not what is inside the congregation, but what is outside it. So the "superior authorities" have their setting logically in the world outside the congregation" (The "faithful and discreet slave"...) (Watchtower '62 11/15 p.683)
WHO IS MICHAEL?
1ST INTERPRETATION: In 'Studies in the Scripture' Vol.3 p. 63, (Thy Kingdom Come), we read that Michael... is a name that is given to our great Redeemer, Christ. Scripture proves that the Son and Word of God is not an angel (see Hebrews 1:5) but that error is not enough for the Watchtower Society:
2ND INTERPRETATION: "His (Jesus') position is contrasted with men and angels, as He is Lord of both, having 'all power in heaven and earth'. Hence it is said, 'Let all of the angels of God worship him' [that must included Michael, the chief angel, hence Michael is not the Son of God] and the reason is, because he has 'by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.'" (C.T. Russell, Watchtower Nov. 1879, bracketed comment in the original)
3rd INTERPRETATION: In his book "The Completed Mystery", (1917) Rutherford says Michael is the Pope, referring to Studies in the Scripture vol.3, p.63 - while in the referred passage Russell says Michael is Christ. (Moreover, in 'Studies in the Scripture' vol.2, p.407, Russell says that papacy is the Antichrist, the man of sin).
4TH INTERPRETATION: Some years later, in the book "Aid to Bible Understanding", under the heading Michael, Watchtower states, "Scriptural evidence indicated that the name Michael applied to God's Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return. Michael is the only one said to be the 'archangel,' meaning 'chief angel' or 'principle angel'" (p. 1152). WT Society also teaches that this archangel was transformed into a human at Bethlehem and was named Jesus but he was not yet the Christ. "Not at birth but at thirty years of age Jesus became Christ or 'Anointed One'" (Things In Which it is Impossible for God to Lie p. 211).
SHOULD CHRIST BE WORSHIPPED? (Heb. 1:6)
1ST INTERPRETATION: Worshipping Jesus Christ is a duty of the believers (Zion's Watchtower, English ed. 15.7.1898). "His position is contrasted with men and angels, as he is Lord of both, having 'all power in heaven and earth'. Hence it is said, 'Let all of the angels of God worship him' [that must included Michael, the chief angel, hence Michael is not the Son of God] and the reason is, because he has 'by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.'" (C.T. Russell, Watchtower Nov. 1879, bracketed comment in the original)
2ND INTERPRETATION: Christians should not worship Christ. This is not what He taught. (Watchtower, 15.7.1959).
3RD INTERPRETATION: In the 1970 revised edition of NWT (New World Translation, the Watchtower's version of the Bible) we read that Christ must be worshipped! "But when He again brings his First-born into the inhabited earth, he says: 'And let all God's angels worship him' Hebrews 1:6." (New World Translation, 1950, 1961, 1970 editions)
4TH (!) INTERPRETATION: Later on we read that Christ must not be worshipped! [The NWT revised 1971 (and 1984) edition was changed to read, "do obeisance to" rather than "worship".]
BLOOD TRANSFUSION
1ST INTERPRETATION: Blood transfusion from human to human, for prevention of death, is a little sacrifice on behalf of our fellowman. If Christ gave his soul - his life on behalf of the mankind, don't we owe to spare on behalf of our fellowman a part of our life energy, which is in our blood? (Watchtower, English ed., 15.4.1909).
2ND INTERPRETATION: Blood transfusion “may result in the immediate and very temporary prolongation of life, but at the cost of eternal life for a dedicated Christian” (Blood, Medicine, and the Law of God, p. 55). "Bible says we should stay away from blood (of the animals that were sacrificed to pagan gods)... staying away from blood means you must not put blood into your body" (!) (You can live forever..., p.216). "...blood transfusions may damage the individual's personality... The blood in any person is in reality the person himself... Transfusing blood, then, may amount to transfusing tainted personality traits. How great the danger may become if the blood is taken from... criminals and other derelicts." (WT 5.15.62 p.302). "Moral insanity, sexual perversions, inferiority complexes, petty crimes - these often follow in the wake of blood transfusions" (WT 9.15.61, pp.563-564).
ZIONISM
1ST INTERPRETATION: It is supposed that "pastor Russell, a modern counterpart of the ancient
prophet Ezekiel, was sent to the Jews that were under the captivity of Christendom, the Mystical Babylon, which shall be destroyed, to make known to them that the word of God pointed out
2) the gathering of all Jews of all ages, from the captivity of death - from the grave - to live in the earthly phase of God's kingdom (The finished mystery p. 698). "While the trouble and distress of this day of the Lord will be first and specially upon Christendom, and eventually upon all nations, the final blast, we are informed by the Prophet Ezekiel (38:8-12), will be upon the people of Israel regathered in Palestine. The prophet seems to indicate a much larger gathering Israel to Palestine within this harvest period than has yet taken place." (The battle of Armageddon, Studies in the Scripture vol.4) "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with Daniel and all the holy prophets, will be "made perfect" - awakened from death to perfect manhood, after the Gospel Church has been glorified (Heb. 11:40); and they will constitute the "princes in all the earth" (Psa. 45:16), the earthly and visible representatives of the Christ, the spiritual, invisible ruler. To Abraham as well as to his seed the land of promise was given for an everlasting possession; and he must receive it in the future, for as yet he has never possessed a foot of it. [Acts 7:5] (the restoration of Israel, studies in the Scripture vol. 3)
2ND INTERPRETATION: Later on the line changed: " The gathering of lots of native or aboriginal 'Orthodox' Jews to a so-called 'Holy Land' (Palestine) with the slogan of 'Zionism'... came from the spirit of Jehovah's prime enemy, that is to say Satan's, who has deceived all the world" (WT, 1.10.1955) as well as... Jehovah's channel.
THE... PYRAMID OF GIZEH
The connection between the top of the Grand Gallery and the spaces above the King's Chamber still represents the spiritual presence of our Lord in the Harvest of this Age, beginning with 1874." (Studies in the Scripture vol.3, Thy Kingdom come) "Isaiah, as above quoted, testifies of an altar and pillar in the land of Egypt, which "shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt."" (Ibid., p. 315) "...if we measure backward down the "First Ascending Passage" to its junction with the "Entrance Passage," we shall have a fixed date to mark upon the downward passage. This measure is 1542 inches, and indicates the year B.C. 1542, as the date at that point. Then measuring down the "Entrance Passage" from that point, to find the distance to the entrance of the "Pit," representing the great trouble and destruction with which this age is to close, when evil will be overthrown from power, we find it to be 3457 inches, symbolizing 3457 years from the above date, B.C. 1542. This calculation shows A.D. 1915 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble; for 1542 years B.C. plus 1915 years A.D. equals 3457 years. Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation--no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will be noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the Bible testimony on this subject, as shown by the "Parallel Dispensations" in Scripture Studies, Vol. II, Chap. VII." (!) (Ibid., p. 342)
2ND INTERPRETATION: Yet in the "Light", vol. 2, p. 302, (Greek ed.) Rutherford states that no one should say that a heap of stones in the land of Egypt is a witness of God.
THE ICONS
Watchtower Society claims that icons are idols and forbids icon worship. However, WT initially taught that God allows us to simply honour them. (Watchtower 1.2.81, Greek ed.)
THE CROSS
LATEST INTERPRETATION: WT Society teaches for years that Christ did not die on a cross, which is considered to be a symbol of apostate Christianity. Instead, they believe that, "On Nissan 14 of the year 33 C.E. Jesus' enemies put him to death on a torture stake [a single upright pole]" (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, p. 51). By this method only one nail would have been used to secure Jesus' hands. In the NWT the word "cross" has been replaced by the term "torture stake". The WT Society has published pictures depicting such a "torture stake" (Awake, 1 April 1974, p. 14)
INITIAL INTERPRETATION: 1927 Picture of Christ on a cross. (Creation; 1927; 2,175,000 ed.; pp. 265, 336)
1928 Picture of Christ on a cross. (The Harp of God; 1921; 1928 ed.; p. 113)
1929 "Jesus was crucified upon the cross; but it is a well-known fact that, contrary to the custom in respect to the victims of crucifixion, not one bone of his body was broken." (Life; 1929; 1,000,000 ed.; p. 216) In the same book (p. 198) there is a picture of Christ carrying a cross.
However, until 1932, Witnesses wore crosses. In the "Laodicean messenger", C.T. Russell asked his followers to be "soldiers of the cross", while the WT Society printed matter depicted a cross which is used as an emblem of Knights Templar Masonic order!
DOES JEHOVAH HAVE A PROPHET?
1ST INTERPRETATION: 'It should be expected that the Lord would have a means of communicating to his people on the earth, and he has clearly shown that the magazine called The Watchtower is used for that purpose.' (1939 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p 85)
'Whom has God actually used as his prophet? By the historical facts of the case Christendom is beaten back in defeat. Jehovah's witnesses are deeply grateful today that the plain facts show that God has been pleased to use them.' (Watchtower 01.15.1959, p. 40, 41)
'So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is the prophet? ...This 'prophet' was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at the time as International Bible Students. Today they are know as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses'. (Watchtower forward 1/4/1972: 'The Watchtower is it God's Prophet?')
During the late 1970s and throughout 1980, each issue of the Watchtower cover featured this statement: 'A WATCHTOWER enables a person to look far into the distance and announce to others what is seen. Likewise, this magazine, published by Jehovah's Witnesses, aids the reader to see what the future holds'. Now, as we know, by definition one who tells what the future holds is, of course, a prophet.
'You will be interested to learn that God has on earth a people, all of whom are prophets, or witnesses for God. In fact they are known throughout the world as Jehovah's Witnesses.' (Awake! 8.6.1986, p. 9).
'Consider too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone in all the earth is directed by God's holy spirit or active force.' (The Watchtower of July 1st, 1973, p. 402)
2ND INTERPRETATION: "Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets. They have made mistakes. Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, they have at times had some wrong expectations... (Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6)... It is true that the Witnesses have made mistakes in their understanding of what would occur at the end of certain time periods..." (Reasoning From The Scriptures p. 136).
"Jehovah's Witnesses, in their eagerness for Jesus' second coming, have suggested dates that turned out to be incorrect. Because of this, some have called them false prophets. Never in these instances, however, did they presume to originate predictions 'in the name of Jehovah.' Never did they say,
'These are the words of Jehovah.'" (Awake!, 22 March 1993, p. 4).
Christ
and the two malefactors hanged on stakes!
PUT THE BLAME ON THE HOLY SPIRIT!
"Since Watchtower Society is not infallible, and never claimed so (- but, isn't it the sole channel through which the biblical truth flows?), from time to time there is a need to make corrections. If Jehovah's spirit acted in the same way that acted to the authors of the Holy Scripture, ... then there wouldn't exist... a need for future corrections... But since today the spirit doesn't function in the same way, some corrections are made from time to time". This means that the... Holy Spirit is responsible for the mistakes of the Society. "No other organization showed such flexibility in changing its views", WT Society boasts! "In Proverbs 4:18 we read: "But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established," (New World Translation). While the light is still dim, the general shaping of an object may be visible, but its details are not always distinguishable. As the light increases, these details can be distinguished in greater clarity so a corrected view may be established". (So these are views, not prophecies?) When there is greater clarity and understanding, new truth is discerned and something that once seemed quite logic, may need revision." (Watchtower, Sep. 15, 1957, Greek ed.) In this issue WT Society hides that:
2. Light reveals the details of objects, but doesn't change their primary outlines.
3. Light does not make our "views" change twice or more times, which would make it identical with old views of... darkness!
4. The truth of God was delivered "once to the Saints" (Jud. 3) and is unchangeable, as God Himself is. Changeable teachings are "human teachings and warrants" (Math. 15:10)
"If you put the frog directly into the hot water, he will jump out, but if you warm the water little by little, the frog gets boiled without even noticing it". According to this pattern, WT Society entraps its victims gradually by the following methods:
2. By using "Love bombing": JWs act in pre-fabricated sympathy and kindness, which the organization calls war fraud. In this way, many people who look for love and tenderness start to depend on them emotionally.
3. By using accusation against the teachings and the ministers of the Orthodox Church. In that manner, the way for the praise of the organization opens up.
4. By declaration of the organization as the only genuine representative of God. This legalizes every deed, teaching and request from the part of the organization. "Jehovah has established a very definite channel of communication through which he deals with his people... It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the "slave" as we would to the voice of God ... " WT 06.15.57 p. 370)
5. By naming followers "the sole genuine Christians", i.e. by using flattery.
6. By supporting antagonism among members in the Watchtower proselytizing work, which primarily involves distributing Watchtower literature. The status of the individual member in a Kingdom Hall is measured according to activity in distributing literature, with individuals referred to as "publishers" (e.g., see Keep Watch Over Yourselves and to all the flock, pp. 98–99). Publishers must "be determined to exert ourselves physically, using our energies and strength in the evangelizing work…[God's] service would be whole-souled. Those whose strength and circumstances permit them to do more need not discontinue their activity just because others cannot stay out longer" (Ibid., p. 51). Literature distribution is tracked by the Society through a detailed monthly time report submitted by each Witness (Publisher Record card). These reports are so important to the Society that even notices of expiring magazine subscriptions are submitted to the leaders of local congregations for immediate action (Ibid., p. 61) Each "brother" is evaluated and appraised in the organization in relation to this detailed monthly time report. (7, pp.19, 20; 9, p.15)
This policy is followed by spiritual terrorism and mind control:
7. By considering the world outside the organization, and whoever disagrees with the organization, as demonized. As a result, the follower turns a deaf ear to those who try to awaken him, considering they are motivated by Satan.
8. By considering critical
thought, which is called independent thinking, as dangerous: "Yet there
are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments
before, and so they argue: 'This shows that we have to make up our own
mind what to believe.' This is independent thinking! Why is it so dangerous?
Such thinking is evidence of pride. And the Bible says: 'Pride is before
a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.' (Prov. 16:18) If we get
to think that we know better than the organization, we should ask ourselves:
'Where did we learn the Bible truth in the first place? Would we know the
way of truth if it had not been for the guidance from the organization?
Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization? No,
we cannot.'"(Watchtower 1.15.83, p. 27)
'The truths we are to publish
are the ones provided through the wise-servant organization, not some personal
opinions contrary to what the servant has provided as timely food. We should
meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization and wait for further
clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable
to us and proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though
they were worth more than the servant's provision of spiritual food. Theocratic
ones will appreciate the Lord's visible organization and not be so foolish
as to pit against Jehovah's reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings"
(Ibid, 2/1/52 pp. 79-80). Any doubts about the qualities of the Society
are considered to be anything from a "tendency of imperfect people" to
demonic influence (or even possession)!
9. By promoting the dilemma "holy organization or world of Satan": In this way, the follower who wants to escape from the organization is afraid of the "outside world". Here are only a few indicative articles from the 1976 Awake! magazine: "Increase in suicide rates", "Beating between husbands and wives", "When you will are stopped by a criminal" (!), "The greatest unemployment rates worldwide", "Murderers and murders", "Divorce", "Political terrorism", "School crime rates increase", "Contemporary hunger", "Stealing: a flourishing industry", "Violence in schools: robbery, rape, murder", "Young criminals and thieves", "Deaths of firemen, miners, policemen" and the like, accompanied by terrifying pictures, contrasting directly with the joyful pictures of "Jehovah's New Order" (7, p.29).
10. By developing to the members anguish and guilt: Watchtower calls each of its followers to "save God", i.e. to prove that God is True and Satan is a liar, by using all means that are at his/her disposal: by studying the four magazines which are published each month, by preparing for the 5 weekly congregations in which (s)he must take part, by spending at least 10 hours a month for the "field service", by directing at least one Home Bible Study, by participating in congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions, by fulfilling other duties (!) and by sustaining a "worldly occupation", which provides for the Jehovah's Witness family (all other activities are done without pay). The followers do not manage to make it, so they become full of anguish and guilt before Jehovah, Who tolerates them despite their incompetence ...
11. By causing a lack of spare time: The numerous obligations don't permit thinking and research (9, p.15).
12. By having the superiors in hierarchy exert direct pressure (while these are in turn pressed by their own superiors), when the performance is low.
13. By constantly reminding Armageddon...
God punishes all people who are not JWs!
APOSTATES
ARE CURSED!
When a JW expresses disagreement with the Watchtower about an issue, or has done something "immoral", (- celebration of false religious holidays, like Christmas or our birthday, fornication, lying, stealing, blasphemy, and alcohol or drug abuse, use of tobacco, are examples of "disfellowshipping offenses" -) and does not repent, he is brought to a theocratic judicial committee. Judicial hearings have no audience, but have victims because many of the accused have suffered stroke or heart attack. The action taken when a judicial committee puts an unrepentant ("wrongdoer") out of the congregation, is called "disfellowshipping" or "excommunication". When "baptized" members of the congregation state that they no longer want to be Jehovah's Witnesses, this is not called "disfellowshipping", but "disassociation". Watchtower Society claims that those who "disassociated" have rebelled against and abandoned the true worship of Jehovah, and threatens that willing association with true apostates, whether in person, by reading their literature, or engaging in electronic debate across the Internet, is itself apostate behavior, and therefore may cause disfellowshipment. "Those who become apostates... leave their name cursed and are rejected to take their place with the hypocrites, who will be finally executed at Armageddon (!). Their death does not cause sorrow among the society of the God's new world, for they are cursed because of their hypocrisy, apostasy and disobedience to be isolated from every kind of future life." (New Heaven and New Earth, Greek ed.).
The "apostates" are slandered; contact with them is forbidden - this has even caused suicides (See 4, p.19). Quite often the "apostates" charge their former "brothers" with secret watching, vexation, and even murder attempts... (See 7, p. 24, 26). This is not strange at all, since in the book "Survival" (Greek ed., p. 24,26), the insidious assassination of Sissara by Gael, while he was asleep, is considered as a good example! "Apostates" frequently know too much, as did William Schnell, a 20 yr. old Bible Student who translated the conversation among the head of the Watchtower Society Joseph Rutherford, and Robert Martin, C.C. Binkley, Paul Balzareit, the heads of the German branch of I.B.S.A., at the Hotel Magdeburger Hof, three days before the Magdeburg, Germany Convention of International Bible Students in May, 1925. Their conversation was about their plans on how to handle the repercussions from their prophecy which they knew beforehand was false. Robert Martin said, "I propose we go completely in the mass production of books and printed matter and FORCE all brethren who will let themselves be impressed into witnessing with books. Occupy them and they will forget failures and soon we can use these disappointments like a jilted lover who has been left at the door by his bride-to-be and who finds quickly another lover. (See Schnell, William. The converted Jehovah's Witness Expositor, Special Issue - ca. 1971 - Dunedin, FL., p. 1, and No 6, p.185).
WHOSE SLAVE IS THE "SLAVE"?
C.T. Russell used many Masonic terms, like "Great Architect of the Universe", "Golden Age" and "Jehovah", - a term that only JWs and masons prefer from "Yahweh" (See 6, pp. 35, 39, 41) -. He also used Masonic symbols like the tower (watchtower), the Mason Knights Templar emblem, the winged-sun-disk (which is used by the 330 masons!), and the pyramid. He was even buried under a pyramid (see 6, p.134). He felt blacks are inferior to white: for many years, blacks were not allowed to attend regular conventions, but were furnished with their own (See 6, p. 38, 72). Russell's Zionism was Masonic as well, since he had not Hebrew origin, as some people think, and his followers' "Bible Studies" frequently took place at Masonic temples and halls (See 6, pp. 106-107). He had stated he approached women like a jelly-fish, while he was accused for sexually annoying his female employees. That's why his wife divorced him. J. Rutherford, a jurist who called himself a judge because he once replaced an actual judge (See 3, p. 14), stated he was receiving messages channeled to him by angels of God, who lived in the star Alcyone in the Pleiades star group (The Golden Age, Aug. 15, 1925 p. 755). Russell wrote about this "god" in Watchtower 15/5/1895 and 1/12/1896. Fred Franz, the next Watchtower president, made such statements as well. Let's see some of the information provided by "God's angels":
B. Vaccinations are an "unnatural pollution of human blood". "Of all the inventions that have been foisted upon mankind for their defilement the most subtly devilish is that of vaccination". (Golden Age 2/4/31, p.295)
C. Page 294 states, "Vaccination has never saved a human life. It does not prevent smallpox". (May the reader bear in mind this is passed off as God's word transmitted via angels.)
D. Page 293 goes on, "Quite likely there is some connection between the violation of human blood and the spread of demonism. Acts 15:28,29... plainly suggests that much of the looseness of our day along sexual lines maybe traceable to easy and continued violation of the divine commands to keep human and animal blood apart from each other".
E. Page 291 then calls the inoculation of human blood with animal blood the creation of "hybrids". (See 6, p.165).
The 7 identifying beliefs of the New Age Religion are:
2. Christ is not Almighty God, but a good teacher,
3. Jesus is but one of many Christs,
4. Sin and evil does not exist,
5. Man should seek instruction from the spirit world,
6. All religious teachings are of merit, except Christianity which views itself as absolute truth and is singled out for destruction,
7. Man can be a god.
In the Watchtower Magazine (Sept. 1, 1984, p.26) the Society denies the rumors of Satanists being on the artist staff. But the subliminal images in their literature, shows the allegations are well-founded.
Concerning the "predicted" years, funnily enough in 1914 the secret Societies set about the World War I, in 1926 they launched the Hindu Krishnamurti as the new... Christ, and in 1975 they publicized the project of the "New Age" movement. Is it simply coincidence?
At
the Brooklyn printing factories, obedient slaves work for a small salary,
or even for no salary at all.
GIFTS FROM WATCHTOWER
In Dr. Jerry Bergman's book "The mental Health of Jehovah's Witnesses", we see that psychological studies have indicated a widespread pattern of the following behaviors.
· The Watchtower Society and its hierarchy have little understanding of Mental Health. Some of the advice Witness elders give could have come out of the Middle Ages.
· JWs are demon oriented. Anything evil they do tends to be attributed to demons: "The devil made me do it." They see Satan as having power to control people at will like pawns. In practice, God seems to have very little practical power compared to the power they attribute to Satan. This may seem to some at first glance like Christianity - it isn't. If I as a Christian walk into - say a pagan temple, I know the idols are nothing and that my God is stronger than them and able to protect me. I would not run and hide like the Witnesses. They live their lives in fear of demons.
· JWitnesses blame their own problems on outsiders. Satan is one of their favorite scapegoats. They rationalize reality away. Since everyone outside of their organization belongs to Satan, Satan wants to keep them happy, and keep them where they are. The flip side is that Satan is trying to make everyone on the inside of the Watchtower Society miserable. This view contradicts the official published view that they are the happiest people in the world, but it is a necessary rationalization for Witnesses who can't overlook the obvious unhappiness and demonic influences pervading the organization.
· Those people who can practice the defense mechanisms of denial, rationalization, or projection are more likely to remain JWs.
· Problems not understood are attributed to demons.
· Lack of organizational zeal or loyalty is attributed to demons.
· Mental illness and thoughts of suicide is attributed to demons. (See 6, pp. 60-62).
"We were always so demon-oriented that I developed a tremendous fear of them. And when I became sick, depressed, and suicidal, I would desperately search the house for an object that could be demonized. I once removed a picture of a little girl that I had in my guest room because the girl had too "piercing" eyes. I had my master bathroom decorated in Indian style at the time, and on the wall there was a picture of a dancing Indian. I decided he must be an Indian god of some sort, so out he went. One night I awoke terrified, and got an obsession that all of the herbs from the health food store were drugs of some sort. I threw them all away, along with aspirin, Tums, cough syrup, and you name it. My whole medicine cabinet got tossed in the trash". (See 6, p.161).
OTHER TRICKS
The Watchtower Society orders its followers to demand from those who make references to extracts from the Watchtower literature (and reveal the contradictions) photocopies of this literature. When such copies are available, Witnesses demand the original issues. If the original issues are also presented, Witnesses argue that these publications are forged by the "evil servant", the apostates! (See 3, p.38). Many old editions have been withdrawn, so that the truth may be suppressed.
Obedient
slaves in action...
HOW SHOULD WE FACE THEM?
It is painful for a Christian to deal with people who have yielded their precious freedom and stifled the divine gift of logic. Since a wrong attitude towards the victims of Watchtower may trap them even more, we must remember that:
2. If we learn the specific reasons that led someone to the Watchtower Society, we will be able to help him/her more effectively.
3. When we talk with them we must always differentiate between them and the Society, not identify them with WT. So we should not say "You say that..." or "You believe that...", because this way of speaking lines them up along with the Watchtower to a war against us. It's better to say "Watchtower believes that...". If we insult the WT Society, they will side with it more fanatically. We should expose its quality calmly and objectively, so that they can draw conclusions by themselves.
4. We must not underestimate their intelligence - "You are a fool to tangle up with the JWs" etc. The entanglement in totalitarian cults is not caused by foolishness.
5. There is no use in repeating our arguments again and again. Explaining something once or twice is enough for them to keep it in their mind, and examine it later.
6. We must not have offensive behaviour and use insulting characterizations (wolves, snakes etc.). JWs will think they are persecuted for the sake of truth, while others will consider us fanatics and them suffering unfairness.
7. We need to be well informed, not to give faith in unconfirmed rumors (that JWs trample icons which they put under the carpets during their congregations etc.), or to inaccurate accusations (that they sold themselves to WT Society for money etc.). JWs are not paid from Watchtower Society, they pay it. Furthermore, they are not Zionists or Masons. Watchtower now says that Masonry and Zionism are satanic organizations.
8. We must talk to them with gentleness, love and respect, even if they insult us. Christ was crucified for us, as well as for them. Quite often, the soul responds to our real interest, waking from the deception.
9. We must not praise them for not smoking, etc., because thus they think they are in a right way and have an advantage over us.
10. Assistance in such subjects
offers the Anti-heretic Department of the Archdiocese of Greece
(Tel. +30-1-7219161) and PEG
-"The Panhellenic Parents' Union for the Protection of Family and Person"
(Tel. +30-1-6549860).
Very useful information
on cults, mind-control, etc. are offered by FACTNet
International.
Bibliography
2) Revelation, its Great Climax at Hand (WT Society pub. both Greek and English edition)
3) Under the facade of the WT, by Fr. Antonios Alevisopoulos
4) Confrontation of heresy and cults, by Fr. Antonios Alevisopoulos, Dialogos pub.
5) JWs and Zionism, by Christos Vakipoulos (an ex-JW)
6) The Watchtower and the Masons, by Fritz Springmeier
7) Grievous Wolves, by Fr. Polycarpos Giannaros, Holy Monastery of Paraclete pub.
8) Fire, by Fr. Ignatios Capnissis, Orthodoxos Kypseli pub.
9) Dialogos magazine, vol.10
