Sean, Author at JW Changes

Condemnation: Where Do You Stand According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society?

May 22, 2016 By Sean

This is something that the Watchtower regularly commits to yet it has the tendency to talk out of both sides of it’s mouth. I’m going to address the subject of condemnation. For this, we are going to define it as “strong disapproval.”

I would like to spend some time on the topic of condemnation. Starting with the Bible first, I’m not going to read all of Revelation 2 and 3. However, when you look at the Seven Churches of Asia Minor, they are representative of various gatherings today. Each church was either commended or condemned for something. I’m going to quickly go over these using the New World Translation:

Ephesus: Verse 2 and 3 are commendations

‘I know your deeds, and your labor and endurance, and that you cannot tolerate bad men, and that you put to the test those who say they are apostles, but they are not, and you found them to be liars. You are also showing endurance, and you have persevered for the sake of my name and have not grown weary.

Verse 4-Condemnation Nevertheless, I hold this against you, that you have left the love you had at first.

Smyrna

Commend-verse 9 ‘I know your tribulation and poverty—but you are rich—and the blasphemy by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but they are a synagogue of Satan.

Pergamon

Good verse 13 ‘I know where you are dwelling, that is, where the throne of Satan is; and yet you keep holding fast to my name,+ and you did not deny your faith in me+ even in the days of Anʹti·pas, my faithful witness, who was killed by your side, where Satan is dwelling.

Bad-verse 14 “‘Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, that you have there those adhering to the teaching of Baʹlaam, who taught Baʹlak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

Thyatira

Good verse 19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and ministry and endurance, and that your deeds of late are more than those you did at first.

Condemnation-Verse 20 “‘Nevertheless, I do hold this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezʹe·bel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

Sardis

Commendation-verse “To the angel of the congregation in Sarʹdis write: These are the things that he says who has the seven spirits of God+ and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have the name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Some individuals are pointed out in verse 4: “‘Nevertheless, you do have a few individuals* in Sarʹdis who did not defile their garments, and they will walk with me in white ones,+ because they are worthy.

Philadelphia

Good-verse 8, 10 ‘I know your deeds—look! I have set before you an opened door, which no one can shut. And I know that you have a little power, and you kept my word and did not prove false to my name.

Because you kept the word about my endurance,*+ I will also keep you from the hour of test,+ which is to come upon the entire inhabited earth, to put to the test those dwelling on the earth.

Bad-verse 16

So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.

So you notice there is only one group of believers that had no type of condemnation at all mentioned. The irony here is that there is no indiciation that they would ever be perfect in the least bit.

Let’s contrast that with the organization:

Now the Watchtower is very quick to talk about the good that is has. Here’s one quote: God has produced a spiritual paradise and has brought his people into it. The term “spiritual paradise” may seem abstract, hard to grasp, but such a paradise was foretold, and it really does exist.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 2004 p. 8

The closest the organization ever said anything was not a spiritual paradise was this: Shocking as it is, even some who have been prominent in Jehovah's organization have succumbed to immoral practices, including homosexuality, wife swapping, and child molesting."

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 1986 p.13

Even though the Watchtower loves to condemn earthly government as being under the control of Satan, instead of praying to Jehovah for a divine intervention, they send their army of lawyers to speak on the organization’s behalf. If this organization was truly run by Jehovah, why doesn’t he just simply intervene in a case? When a case is won, the organization is very quick to point it out and insert the information on the official website. I did a simple Google search for “watchtower wins legal ruling” and the third link led to a January 8, 2003 Awake! article titled, “Supreme Court Rules for Freedom of Speech” on the official website. Doing a search for “watchtower loses legal ruling” lead to only Candace Conti being mentioned by various news outlets. The only thing by the organization that was mentioned was, “Russia Bans Official Website of Jehovah’s Witnesses” hosted July 27, 2015.

So here’s an older quote that has the society condemning just a group of local officials:

Consolation condemned San Diego County officials for their refusal to grant a permit for Rutherford's burial at either property, stating "It was not the fate of the bones which they decided, but their own destiny.

San Diego officials line up against New Earth's princes", Consolation. May 27, 1942 p. 6,9

However, one thing has been constant, the organization has reinforced the “us vs. them” mentality and that is where we will focus today.

Christadelphian

If you have a copy of the Emphatic Diaglott, thank a Christadelphian. However, the organization has bitten the hand that helped developed a core doctrine. The organization condemned all Christadelphians with the following quote:

The tenor of the foregoing may cause some to conclude that Christadelphianism is indeed of God. However, as we examine it more closely we find that it contains such gross shortcomings and false doctrines that it simply could not be of God but must be of men.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. August 1, 1962 p. 474

The organization has been against the Catholic Church even though it models the structure much the same way. Here’s the Catholic Church and Watchtower structural comparison:

Catholic Church-Watchtower Society

Pope-Governing Body

Cardinals-Branch Committees

Archbishops-District Overseers

Bishops-Circuit Overseers

Priests-Elders

Deacons-Ministerial Servants

Laity-Publishers

Judge Rutherford was very keen on attacking the Catholic church. Here’s a small sampling from the publication: Judge Rutherford Uncovers the Fifth Column published in 1940.

The Roman Catholic Hierarchy are the chief instrument on earth of the Devil. p. 10

Now the interesting thing is there is a lot of time spent condemning the Catholics. However, this was kind of forgotten since the organization used the Catholic church with a sampling of the following quotes:

The New Catholic Encyclopedia acknowledges: “The date of Christ’s birth is not known. The gospels indicate neither the day nor the month . . . According to the hypothesis suggested by H. Usener . . . and accepted by most scholars today, the birth of Christ was assigned the date of the winter solstice (December 25 in the Julian Calendar, January 6 in the Egyptian), because on this day, as the sun began its return to northern skies, the pagan devotees of Mithra celebrated the dies natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of the invincible sun).

Awake! December 8, 2002 p. 17

“The soul in the O[ld] T[estament] means not a part of man, but the whole man—man as a living being. Similarly, in the N[ew] T[estament] it signifies human life . . . The Bible does not speak of the survival of an immaterial soul.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia.

Is There a Creator Who Cares About You? 1998 p. 168

The New Catholic Encyclopedia revealed that “astrology was used by Pope Julius II [1503-13] to set the day of his coronation and by Paul III [1534-49] to determine the proper hour for every Consistory.”

Awake! July 8, 1994 p. 3

“The Christian concept of a spiritual soul created by God and infused into the body at conception to make man a living whole is the fruit of a long development in Christian philosophy. Only with Origen [died c. 254 C.E.] in the East and St. Augustine [died 430 C.E.] in the West was the soul established as a spiritual substance and a philosophical concept formed of its nature. . . . His [Augustine’s] doctrine . . . owed much (including some shortcomings) to Neoplatonism.”—New Catholic Encyclopedia (1967), Vol. XIII, pp. 452, 454.

Reasoning From the Scriptures. 1985, 1989 ed. p. 379

The commonality between all of these quotes is the organization is freely quoting them. Now if Rutherford said that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is the devil’s chief instrument and by extension the writings are to, why does the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society openly use material from Satan? Notice the graphic below when the search parameter is set. It is possible that it is pulling in articles that just have "new."

Regardless, one must ask the question, if this organization is so bad, evil, and part of Satan’s system, why does this organization have a steadfast reliance upon it?

I wish to spend some more time on one of the organization’s favorite enemies, the League of Nations/United nations by starting to look at some negative quotes:

Babylon The Great Has Fallen! Gods Kingdom Rules (1963) p.577

No, the UN is not a blessing, even though the religious clergy of Christendom and the rabbis of Jewry pray heaven’s blessing upon that organization. It is really “the image of the wild beast,” the visible political, commercial organization of “the god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil. So the UN will soon be destroyed along with that beastly organization.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. September 15, 1984 p.15

However, this organization initially didn’t speak negatively with this quote:

We cannot but admire the high principles embodied in the League of Nations... Truly this is idealistic, and approximates in a small way that which God has foretold that he will bring about after this great time of trouble."

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. February 15, 1919 p. 51

It's also worth nothing the League of Nations preceded the United Nations.

However, what many Witnesses are still not aware of is that the organization was part of the Scarlett Beast for nearly 10 years.

Here’s an article that a journalist used to uncover the association:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/oct/08/religion.world

The organization, as usual gave a half truth as an excuse. It was done to obtain a “library card.” However, here’s the weblink that you can search: http://unbisnet.un.org/

Now, admittedly, it’s been 15 years since this story broke. What you can do as a Witness if you’re curious is simply reach out to the UN and inquire about past procedure if membership was needed for a library card.

Further irony is here when you break out your slightly older you will see this: Two articles that were favorable to the United Nations: Awake! Dec 8, 2000 and April 8, 1998 Awake!

In a similar vein, I just mentioned that a journalist uncovered this. Condemnation goes for the media as well. Let’s look at this:

Satan makes full use of the media to put across this degraded mentality.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. September 1, 1988 p. 16

In the new world, Satan’s propaganda media will have been removed.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. April 1, 1997 p. 17

However, when there’s a need, the organization will employ use of the “Satan’s propaganda media” as the following quote says:

Coordinators’ Committee – The brothers serving on this committee oversee legal matters as well as the use of the media when it is necessary to convey an accurate picture of our beliefs. They also respond to disasters, outbreaks of persecution, and other emergencies affecting our brotherhood anywhere in the world.”

God’s Kingdom Rules! 2014. p. 131

Remember earlier how I called the organization a spiritual paradise? Let’s look again:

Now the Watchtower is very quick to talk about the Good that is has. Here’s one quote: God has produced a spiritual paradise and has brought his people into it. The term “spiritual paradise” may seem abstract, hard to grasp, but such a paradise was foretold, and it really does exist.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. October 15, 2004

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 1986 p.13

So here are some things to keep in mind as a Watchowerite, the organization doesn’t want you to believe anything but what it has to say. They are willing to speak out of both sides of their mouths with what they print. Do you possibly believe they are thinking out of both sides when it comes to dealing with you? Come to the Jesus of the Bible and you will never ever regret it. I’d like to finish up by starting with 1 Peter 2:22 (New World Translation): He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth. Let's contrast that with the organization. How often has it been deceptive to the public? If it's deceptive to the public, do you believe that they would be deceptive towards you? Leave the organization today.

The Watchtower, Jehovah, and Vindication

May 15, 2016 By Sean

Today I would like to explore the topic of vindication from the view point of the Watchtower. The Merriam Webster definition has this word being defined one of two ways:

to show that (someone) should not be blamed for a crime, mistake, etc. : to show that (someone) is not guilty
to show that (someone or something that has been criticized or doubted) is correct, true, or reasonable

Today I will focus on the second one since the Watchtower has tried to prove its teachings fit the second definition of being correct, true, and reasonable. With this in mind, let’s look at this concept in Watchtower literature:

So, in similar attitude of mind, must we wait; for the servant is not above his Lord, and our rejoicing in view of the future will, if we have the mind of Christ, be not only because of our own prospective vindication and glory, but also in prospect of the vindication and glory of God and of our Lord Jesus, and of the prospective everlasting triumph of truth and righteousness.

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. March 1, 1892 Reprints p. 1375

This is a quote that I can’t really argue except that the initial focus is upon self. They should have simply stated God and Jesus. They would need no vindication if that was the case. A question to ask is if they needed vindication, were they possibly being viewed as teaching things that were incorrect or untrue?

And, like his heavenly Father, through it all he was cheered in consideration of that "due time," though then in the far distant future, when his character, and also the Father's character, would be fully vindicated and manifested to every creature in heaven and in earth. And still our blessed Lord Jesus and our adorable heavenly Father await with patience the grand consummation. So, in similar attitude of mind, we must wait; for the servant is not above his Lord, and our rejoicing in view of the future will, if we have the mind of Christ, be not only because of our own prospective vindication and glory, but also in prospect of the vindication and glory of God and of our Lord Jesus, and of the prospective everlasting triumph of truth and righteousness.

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. June 1, 1906 Reprints p. 3784

Here there is getting slightly worse since there is a surety of the Watchtowerites, then known as Bible Students being vindicated, yet it is mentioned in “prospect” of God and Jesus, seemingly make it seem like the outcome is uncertain. Reading on, we are going to slightly transition to Rutherford prior to him taking over the organization:

"AN ECCLESIASTICAL BATTLE" BY

JUDGE J. F. RUTHERFORD.

DEAR MR. COWARD:--

I have to thank you for the copy of the vindication of Pastor Russell, which you were kind enough to send me, and which, I need hardly tell you, I read with interest, having, as you know, been to some extent prejudiced against your leader and his work.

Its perusal cannot fail to increase my interest in his writings, as each point raised by his champion carries conviction with it to any one who enters the jury box with an open mind, as, thanks to your interview, I was prepared to do.

Again thanking you, and with best wishes for yourself and work, I am

Yours faithfully, CHAS. A. SMITH.--West Indies.

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. January 15, 1916 Reprints p. 5842

What is interesting here is that if Russell was truly teaching everything in accordance with what the Bible actually stated, would he have been needed to be vindicated? Again, since the organization was not going to print anything negative at all, why was Russell not vindicated in court with various controversies such as the “miracle wheat” debacle? When we have a shift over to Judge Rutherford, vindicating became even more important.

Prior to the coming of the Lord to his temple in 1918 the consecrated believed that God’s purpose was to save a few in heaven and to restore other obedient ones of mankind on earth. They were blind to the two opposing organizations, and particularly to the fact that the greatest of all doctrines is the vindication of God’s word and name by and through his kingdom.

The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. October 15, 1931 p. 310

This concept went even further from just making a mention of this conceptual word to being the title of a trilogy. These books entitled Vindication (Parts I, II, III) were to expand upon the prophecy by Ezekiel in the book of the Bible containing the same name. It is 47 pages and within the present day New World Translation is 71 pages in length has been expanded to:

Vindication Part I-337 pages

Vindication Part II-339 pages

Vindication Part III-348 pages

Total: 1024 pages

New World Translation: 1618 pages

Comparing the length, those books combined are 63% of the present day New World Translation. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the statements set forth in these books that focused on Ezekiel.

Vindication-Part I:

The year 1922 was manifestly God’s due time to begin to make known his judgments against the nations of Christendom and to pronounce his judgment by and through his anointed people. It was in that same year, to wit, 1922, that the commandment came from the temple of God to his angels to begin the pouring out of the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth, and God’s covenant people in convention assembled at Cedar Point participated in that work.

Vindication-Part I. 1931. p. 55

Can anyone find where in Ezekiel that this prophecy exists? I’m unable to find it.

Particularly from and after 1922 God’s covenant people have assaulted “organized Christianity” with the weapons of truth provided by the Lord, and have continued so to do with zeal and vigor.

Vindication-Part I. 1931. p. 56

The “weapons of truth” that were in use at this time have all been discarded or deemphasized such as the King James Version.

The Prophet Nahum, prophesying concerning the preparation of God’s organization to make assault upon the enemy, says: “He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face.” (Nah. 2: 1)

Vindication-Part I. 1931. p. 98

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has long claimed that it is “God’s organization. When it comes to the assault, why is it that Jehovah has not allowed the Jehovah’s Witnesses to make a significant dent given that the organization is still outnumbered when you look at the size of Christianity?

Vindication-Part II

This prophecy therefore points in time to the period following 1918, when the Lord came to the temple and inaugurated the day of vindication upon “Christendom” so called.

Vindication-Part II. 1932. p. 24

We have yet another time based prophecy pointing to a specific year, can this be validated in Scripture?

Satan, therefore, is the creator of the wicked system of commerce that oppresses humankind, and he has practiced this from the beginning of man.

Vindication-Part II. 1932. p. 95

This is interesting that commerce is an invention of Satan. The present day Watchtower is a massive real estate company. Are they willing to admit that they are part of Satan’s system?

The Lord Jesus, the great Judge at the temple, began his judgment work in 1918, and the latter part of the sixteenth verse shows that because of the condition existing in the house of God judgment was necessary.

Vindication-Part II. 1932. p. 234

Again, mention of 1918 yet I am unable to find it spelled out in the Bible.

“Organized Christianity,” so called, falsely takes the name of Christ and then devours up men and oppresses mankind.

Vindication-Part II. 1932. p. 263

This is a most interesting quote. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society calls itself “God’s organization.” Based upon this statement by Rutherford, this must mean the organization and those who follow it falsely take Christ’s name.

It is the name of Jehovah God that must be vindicated. That is the important issue.

Vindication-Part II. 1932. p. 266

Here we finally have a focus on Jehovah.

Vindication-Part III

Satan is assembling his forces for Armageddon, and these forces are under the immediate command of his field marshal Gog.

Vindication-Part III. 1932. p. 11

This statement is from 1932. How long does Satan need to assemble his forces considering one can fly around the globe in a day or two?

This warning is given by carrying the message of truth to the people and calling upon the people to take their stand upon the side of the Lord or upon the side of the Devil. This was particularly begun on the 26th of July, 1931.

Vindication-Part III. 1932. p. 87, 88

Why did taking a stand have to wait until that particular date?

Since the coming of the Lord to his temple, in 1918, the faithful ones have received the approval of the Lord, evidenced by the robe of righteousness, and have been clothed with the garments of salvation, which identifies them as members of Jehovah’s organization. They have entered into the joy of the Lord and delight to have some part in the vindication of Jehovah’s holy name.

Vindication-Part III. 1932. p. 125, 126

We finally have some focus on the name Jehovah and vindicating His name.

These angels are invisible to human eyes and are there to carry out the orders of the Lord. No doubt they first hear the instruction which the Lord issues to his remnant and then these invisible messengers pass such instruction on to the remnant. The facts show that the angels of the Lord with him at his temple have been thus rendering sacred service unto the remnant since 1919.

Vindication-Part III. 1932. p.250

This is a most interesting statement. Let’s contrast this with Galatians 1:8 (New World Translation)-However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond the good news we declared to you, let him be accursed.

Remember the quote where I said it was the “greatest doctrine?” Let’s see how the Watchtower kicked this out:

Similarly, for a long time, Witnesses spoke of the vindication of Jehovah’s name. But had Satan called Jehovah’s name into question? For that matter, had any of Satan’s agents done so, as if Jehovah did not have a right to that name? No, not at all. It was not the name of Jehovah that was challenged and that needed to be vindicated. That is why the Watch Tower Society’s recent publications do not speak of Jehovah’s name as being vindicated. They speak of Jehovah’s sovereignty as being vindicated and of his name as being sanctified. This is in keeping with what Jesus told us to pray: “Let your name be sanctified.” (Matthew 6:9) Time and again, Jehovah said that he was going to sanctify his name, which the Israelites had not challenged but had profaned.—Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 22; 36:23.

Interestingly, in 1971, the book “The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah”—How? made this distinction: “Jesus Christ fights . . . for the vindication of Jehovah’s universal Sovereignty and for the glorification of Jehovah’s name.” (Pages 364-5) In 1973, God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached said: “The coming ‘great tribulation’ is the time for Almighty God Jehovah to vindicate his universal sovereignty and to sanctify his worthy name.” (Page 409) Then, in 1975, Man’s Salvation Out Of World Distress at Hand! stated: “The greatest event of universal history will then have been accomplished, the vindication of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty and the sanctification of his sacred name.”—Page 281.

How blessed Jehovah’s people are to be basking in all this spiritual light!

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. May 15, 1995 p. 25, 26

So what we have is an organization that had it’s people in spiritual darkness until this statement came out just over 20 years ago. Jehovah’s name as I feel didn’t need to be vindicated as He said in I Corinthians 1:25 (New World Translation) Because a foolish thing of God is wiser than men, and a weak thing of God is stronger than men.

Looking very little at the organization, remember there were two definitions of “vindication?” The first one again said: to show that (someone) should not be blamed for a crime, mistake, etc. : to show that (someone) is not guilty

So that leads in part to how will this organization vindicate it’s name and reputation? I contend it never has completely been clean and open, nor will it. Since it most likely will never do so, will you remain part of this organization that purports itself to be the chosen channel? If not, the first step is to perform the sinner’s prayer.

Once that is done the next practical step is to remove yourself from the local Kingdom Hall and find yourself a good bible believing fellowship. if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Seeing Jehovah

May 8, 2016 By Sean

Today, I would like to cover what should be a simple topic and that is seeing Jehovah. However, as you know, nothing is ever easy when we add in Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Let’s dig right in.

Let’s look at things from Charles Taze Russell’s perspective:

Thus also it will be in the Millennial day, when the complete Christ--the Priest --is revealed; he will be revealed only to those that look for him, and only those shall see him. They will see him, not by physical sight, but as we now see all spiritual things--Jesus, the Father, the prize, etc.--by the eye of faith. Men will not see the Christ by physical sight, for the same reason that they will never see Jehovah; because on a different plane of being-- one spirit, the other flesh. But we (the little flock) shall see him as he is, for we shall be like him.--`1 John 3:2`.

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. September 1890 Reprints p. 1237

However, twenty years later in 1910 we have the proverbial “new light”:

From that same moment he was the Lamb of God slain --his life given up to the doing of the Father's will. We looked at the picture of this given in the book of Revelation. There we saw Jehovah upon his throne with a scroll in his hand, written in the inside and on the outside, and sealed with seven seals. No one had yet been found worthy to execute or even to be made acquainted with the Divine Purposes.

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. July 1, 1910 Reprints p. 4641

So here, the fascination with the book of Revelation comes into play as it often does with this organization that doesn’t have a correct foundational understanding of the first 65 books of the bible, how can they properly understand the last one? Regardless, we have one instance of seeing Jehovah.

Let’s bring it much closer to present day and set conditions as to who won’t be able to see with the following:

Consequently, when those nations will have destroyed Babylon the Great and then threateningly turn against these called, chosen and faithful anointed ones, they will be taking ungodly action against “ambassadors for Christ,” against citizens of God’s city, “the heavenly Jerusalem.” In fighting against these whom they can see in their midst, they will be fighting against the Lamb Jesus Christ, the King of kings, even though they cannot see him nor see Jehovah God.

All Nations Collide. 1971 p. 25

Will all who truly have pure hearts literally see God face to face? No, only those will to whom these ‘beatitudes’ or happinesses have primary application. These are Jesus’ anointed footstep followers, to whom it is written: “Beloved ones, now we are children of God, but as yet it has not been made manifest what we shall be. We do know that whenever he is made manifest we shall be like him, because we shall see him [God] just as he is.” (1 John 3:2) How will this be possible? Because they will possess incorruptible, immortal spirit bodies, being sharers of the divine nature. Concerning them it is written: “For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality.” And again, “He has freely given us the precious and very grand promises, that through these you may become sharers in divine nature.”—1 Cor. 15:53; 2 Pet. 1:4.

Awake! August 22, 1971 p. 28

Do you really believe in Jehovah God?— Is he a real Person to you?—

It is true that we cannot see Jehovah. This is because he is a Spirit. He has a body that is invisible to our eyes. But he is a real Person, and he can see us.

Greatest Teacher. 1971. p. 116-117

So who will see Jehovah?

So here is what we have. The two class system has again shown itself. Only those 144,000 anointed footstep followers are the only ones able to see Jehovah. What happens to the great crowd here? They are completely left out. Also, we have more validation that the Greek Scriptures do not completely apply to you since you are not part of the new covenant. Moving along we will see the following:

NO ONE living now or who has lived on earth in the past has ever seen God with his literal eyes. Jehovah is too glorious for frail humans to endure the sight of him. However, his invisibility should not cause us to cast doubt on his existence, nor does it make it impossible for us to “see” him as a Person with the eyes of faith.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. February 1, 1976 p. 80

Notice how no one has seen God with “literal eyes.” We are going to come back to it later.

A heavenly assembly took place in the latter part of the tenth century before our Common Era. The Israelite prophet Micaiah had a vision of it. Describing it, Micaiah said to two allied kings, Ahab and Jehoshaphat: “Hear the word of Jehovah: I certainly see Jehovah sitting upon his throne and all the army of the heavens standing by him, to his right and to his left. And Jehovah proceeded to say, ‘Who will fool Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And this one began to say something like this, while that one was saying something like that. Finally a spirit came out and stood before Jehovah and said, ‘I myself shall fool him.’”—1 Kings 22:19-21.

Holy Spirit-The Force Behind the Coming New World Order. 1976. p. 23

The pure in heart who accepted Jesus as Messiah and listened to him gained deep insight into God’s personality. By exercising faith in Jesus’ sin-atoning sacrifice they gained forgiveness of sins and a relationship with God and were able to render acceptable worship before his throne. (Eph. 1:7) Seeing God in this sense will reach its pinnacle for spirit-anointed Christians when they get to heaven, for there they will actually see God and Christ.—1 John 3:2; 2 Cor. 1:21, 22.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. March 1, 1978 p. 4, 5

With this quote we have further reinforcement that only the anointed are allowed to see Jehovah. Further, we have to ask yet another question, is there a difference in exercising faith to gain forgiveness between the great crowd and the anointed? If so, what is the scriptural difference in this? However, what we have are those who are in spiritual bodies and perhaps with the Watchtower’s methodology, this is how they can see Jehovah-on the spiritual plane only.

So, too, those called to be joint heirs with Christ in the heavens, in due time, see Jehovah God.—1Jo 3:1-3.

Insight on the Scriptures-Volume I. 1988. p. 801

Yet another case of further reinforcement that seeing Jehovah is reserved for a select group.

So can Jehovah be or not be seen? We get this answer below in the form of a question:

16, 17. (a) Why can we not see Jehovah, and why should that not surprise us? (b) In what sense is Jehovah more real than anything we can see or touch?

Draw Close to Jehovah. 2014. p. 15

Now let’s look at scripture since the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has nothing but Bible based: For this let’s first look back to an account in Genesis.

Afterward, Jehovah appeared to him among the big trees of Mamʹre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing some distance from him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, and he bowed down to the ground. Then he said: “Jehovah, if I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant. Please, let a little water be brought and have your feet washed; then recline under the tree. Seeing that you have come here to your servant, let me bring a piece of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. Then you may go on your way.” At this they said: “All right. You may do as you have spoken.”

Genesis 18:1-5 New World Translation

The person whom Jehovah appeared to is Abraham. What we have here is very interesting. Jehovah appeared as three men. Remember Deuteronomy 6:4 which says, “Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah” (New World Translation). Abraham bowed to all three and collectively addressed them all at the same time. Let’s contrast this with the earlier statement:

NO ONE living now or who has lived on earth in the past has ever seen God with his literal eyes.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. February 1, 1976

So which is correct, the statement within the Watchtower magazine or the New World Translation? Let’s read on a bit and let’s reiterate from Isaiah 6:1:

In the year that King Uz·ziʹah died, I saw Jehovah sitting on a lofty and elevated throne, and the skirts of his robe filled the temple.

New World Translation

We have here is a vision that Isaiah had. Regardless, let’s look at what the words of Jesus are found in John 1:18:

No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained Him.

New World Translation

So now we are left in a conundrum. The Watchtower under Russell said you couldn’t, yet in Knorr’s era it was reported you could. Biblically speaking, Jehovah appeared, was seen, and yet Abraham lived. Then Jesus himself said no one has seen the Father at any time.

So we are left with this, who was seen? If one could not have seen the Father, the next logical person would be Jesus. Being one who fully believes that Jesus is fully God yet also fully man who did these people see? It was called a Christophany-a visible manifestation of a pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. This is part of what is considered to be a theophany as defined here. That is the most logical conclusion. If you want to know more, feel free to contact me at watchtowerofjehovahswitness@mail.com on this website.

Wrapping everything up, what will you go with? The Watchtower has said various things at various points within its history. Ultimately, according to the Watchtower Society quotes above, you have the best chance of seeing Jehovah if and only if you are of the anointed even though there have been times where you haven’t been able to. Or you can listen to the bible. What will you decide?