Watchtower History

The history of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society compared to the present.

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?

The Watchtower’s Light Bearers

May 1, 2016 By Sean

Who is your light bearer? Is it you? If you are a Jehovah’s Witness, you are taught to believe that your organization alone is the source of light that Jehovah uses. Therefore all others are in darkness. As long as you are in the organization, you are in the light. Therefore you as a member of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, you are a light bearer.

So who is it? Let’s look and see what the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has to say:

Each one of the Lord's servants is represented as a light bearer, and instructed to let his light so shine before men that they, seeing his good works, may glorify the Father in heaven.

Zion’s Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. April 15, 1904 Reprints p. 3354

So we start off pretty good. The organization which was loosely affiliated and bound together by Zion’s Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence focused on glorifying the Father.

He (Peter) was here pointing them to the time when the great Light-bearer, Christ Jesus, should return and make glad their hearts.

The Golden Age. September 22, 1926 p. 821

(Peter “The Rock” inserted)

So it’s not too bad here because the Bible Students as they were still known did precisely what Jesus did.

Both were following the Latin Vulgate translation, which uses Lucifer, meaning “Light Bearer.” Lucifer, however, is not the name of the king of Babylon. Lucifer, as a name, was applied to Satan the Devil by early uninspired religious writers of our Common Era.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. July 1, 1965 p. 406, 407

The many references to Jesus’ ‘coming or being sent forth into the world’ evidently do not refer primarily, if at all, to his human birth but more reasonably apply to his going out among mankind, publicly carrying out his assigned ministry from and after his baptism and anointing, acting as a light bearer to the world of mankind.

Insight on the Scriptures-Volume II. 1988 p. 1208

1992 “Light Bearers” District Convention

Jesus said his followers would be “the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14) In contrast, the world’s spiritual and moral darkness grows greater with each passing day. (Isa. 60:2; Rom. 1:21) Our responsibility as light bearers takes on greater meaning as we approach the end of this system. Recognizing the vital role we play, it is with eager anticipation that we look forward to attending the 1992 “Light Bearers” District Convention.

Kingdom Ministry. May 1992 p. 3

Those not yet pioneering were urged to consider their situation. Perhaps they too could arrange their affairs to let their light shine in the full-time service.

Being a light bearer often involves sacrifices, and this was highlighted in the following talk, “Serving Jehovah With a Self-Sacrificing Spirit.”

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 15, 1993 p. 15, 16

“You Are the Light of the World”

11 At Matthew 5:14, Jesus told his disciples: “You are the light of the world.” They were to follow in his footsteps.

THE STORY OF GEORGE YOUNG AS TOLD BY RUTH YOUNG NICHOLSON

“Why, then, this silence in our pulpits? . . . What kind of men should we be if we kept silent after we had proved these things whereof I write to be true? Let us not keep the people in ignorance, but let us proclaim the truth in no apologetic or hidden manner.”

THESE words were part of Father’s 33-page letter requesting the removal of his name from the church registry. The year was 1913. From that time forward, he embarked on an event-filled life that led him to serve as a light bearer to many nations. (Philippians 2:15)

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. July 1, 2000 p. 22

And as you continue to build good qualities in imitation of your beloved Father, you will be blessed with a great privilege. In a bedarkened world alienated from God, you will be a light bearer. (Matthew 5:1, 2, 14) You will help to spread abroad in the earth some reflections of Jehovah’s glorious personality. What an honor!

Draw Close To Jehovah. 2014. p. 317

So again, we go from an angel being the primary light bearer to the average Jehovah's Witness.

Is there a consistency between the light bearers? Looking at things biblically aside from the changes of the organization made regarding adding characters and words to verses about the diety of Jesus. Let’s consider the words and actions of Jesus. How many of the things pertaining to those two aspects have been changed when it comes to him? To my knowledge, there have been none. Therefore, we have a consistency in the narrative in the bible regarding Jesus.

Let’s look at Lucifer himself. We have consistency with him. Looking at John 8:44 it says the following (New World Translation), You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie.

This verse references “the truth” which in John 14:6 identifies properly with Jesus.

The lies of Satan fall broadly into one of these three categories with these biblical examples:

Temptation: Genesis 3:4-At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die. (New World Translation)

Intimidation: I Peter 5:8-Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. (New World Translation)

Lying: Acts 5:3-But Peter said: “An·a·niʹas, why has Satan emboldened you to lie to the holy spirit and secretly hold back some of the price of the field? (New World Translation)

Let’s see how this is similar to the present day light bearers being the modern Witnesses and see how they compare to the organization.

Is is possible that when a Witness engages a possible householder about life on a “paradise Earth,” are you tempting the person at the prospect of a better life that they can possibly receive at some point in the future?

When it comes to life within the hall itself, have you considered the ties that certain terms are utilized to keep you in “line” as the saying goes? Let’s look at this:

Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do such beliefs include?

That the great issue before humankind is the rightfulness of Jehovah’s sovereignty, which is why he has allowed wickedness so long. (Ezekiel 25:17) That Jesus Christ had a prehuman existence and is subordinate to his heavenly Father. (John 14:28) That there is a “faithful and discreet slave” upon earth today ‘entrusted with all of Jesus’ earthly interests,’ which slave is associated with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Matthew 24:45-47) That 1914 marked the end of the Gentile Times and the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the heavens, as well as the time for Christ’s foretold presence. (Luke 21:7-24; Revelation 11:15–12:10) That only 144,000 Christians will receive the heavenly reward. (Revelation 14:1, 3) That Armageddon, referring to the battle of the great day of God the Almighty, is near. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:11-21) That it will be followed by Christ’s Millennial Reign, which will restore an earth-wide paradise. That the first to enjoy it will be the present “great crowd” of Jesus’ “other sheep.”—John 10:16; Revelation 7:9-17; 21:3, 4.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. April, 1, 1986 p. 31

What happens when you question something publicly? Would there be the “mini inquisition” called the judicial committee happen in short order?

How about the proverbial “intimidation?” I don’t mean the legal term, I’m referring to accounts when a young child has to face their accuser in the midst of a judicial hearing in the “back room.” Have you as a Witness considered the ramifications of spying? I would like to present an account by former Governing Body member Raymond Franz and an account he wrote of In Search of Christian Freedom, pages 380-383:

In the “Cradle of Democracy”

Perhaps nothing illustrates more clearly the extremes to which the zeal to spy out and deal summarily with any disagreement or disaffection can go than what happened in Athens, Greece, the land called “the cradle of democracy.”

In 1986, the branch office of the Watch Tower Society, located in the Athens area, began applying intense pressure on Witnesses who gave any indication of not being in total agreement with organizational teachings and policies. The number of those disfellowshiped evidently reached more than a hundred. In an interest to maintain spirituality, these persons began gathering together for Bible reading and discussion in private homes. The Greek branch office, however, manifested an extreme concern to seek out and take action against any doing so. This in time introduced some remarkable measures and led to a court case described in the Athens newspaper shown on the following page.

On Tuesday, April 6, 1987, a group of about 50 persons gathered at the home of Nick and Eftihia Bozartzis for Bible discussion. From his balcony Nick noticed two men standing across the street watching the individuals entering his home, some of whom had not formally withdrawn from the organization. Recognizing one of the two observers as a Witness, he went down to speak to them, but as soon as he appeared on the street level they literally ran off. Within days, three of those attending the gathering were disfellowshiped by elders in judicial hearings.

On Friday, others normally went to the home of Voula Kalokerinou, a former Witness, but since they planned to gather for the celebration of the Lord’s evening meal on Sunday, their gathering on Friday, April 9, was canceled. That Friday evening, however, Voula noticed a car with five persons inside parked across the road from her house, and the car and its occupants remained there for hours. The next evening the same.

One might think that to assign any sinister motive to such circumstances, viewing them as evidence of “spying” designed to identify “defectors” and supply grounds for judicial action against them, would be the product of imagination, even manifest a degree of paranoia. Later events demonstrated otherwise.

The following Sunday, April 11, a number of persons went to Voula’s home to commemorate the death of God’s Son on behalf of all mankind. She noticed an unfamiliar car parked across the road on one corner and a van parked on the other corner. The rear window of the van was covered over with paper but with a hole cut in the center of the covering material. The occupants of the car crossed over to the van several times, talking with those inside it. Voula asked one of those who had come to her home to find out why the cars were parked there. When he approached the car, those inside quickly drove off. He then went to the rear of the van and looked in through the hole of the material covering the rear win- dow. Inside he saw video camera equipment being used by two Witnesses, an elder named Nikolas Antoniou, and a member of the Athens Watch Tower branch office staff, Dimetre Zerdes. A number of others from Voula’s home came over to the van and a policeman stationed at the nearby Italian Embassy also appeared to find out what the problem was. The Witnesses in the van managed to drive through the surrounding group and drove to a nearby park where they began quickly unloading their video equipment. They were interrupted by the arrival of two police cars and were arrested on charges of invasion of privacy. The video equipment was confiscated. The film in it showed Mrs. Kalokerinou’s home and zoom shots of the front entrance with closeups of all those entering.

Before the district attorney, the two men stated that they were only there to film a relative of Dimetre Zerdes, the Watch Tower branch office member. His cousin, Eftihia Bozartzis, mentioned earlier, had disassociated herself two years before. As a “loyal” Witness, branch office member Dimitre should have had no interest in her, certainly should not have had any reason for wanting to film her secretively two years after her disassociation.

The case eventually came to trial. In his presentation at the close of the trial, the district attorney, Mr. Kontaxis, stated:

I don’t think there is any Christian organization that tells its members to tell lies, but when the defendant and his organization does so, I would want them to accept the responsibility and say, “Yes, we did spy.” And if an organization did such a thing then how can it expect others to follow it? They had and used special equipment with witnesses seeing them filming, and yet the defendant comes along and says he didn’t do it to spy but just to film. All this doesn’t honor either the defendant or the organization to which he belongs.

We are all free to belong to any organization we want, but we are also free to leave that organization and do whatever we want within the bounds of the law. . . . Does a person’s leaving, abandoning this organization give it the right to follow and spy on its members? One is protected by law against cassettes, tape recorders, filming, when such are used to pry into one’s personal life and personality. This comes under CONFIDENTIALITY and is protected by it in such cases, and that includes one’s private convictions. This is very serious. Obviously the defendants were trying to cryptograph the private life of the plaintiffs by using video equipment, and this purposely, not by chance.

The Watch Tower Society, by teaching it is the “ark,” and that one must enter it to be saved, by teaching it is God’s channel, creates tremendous dependency on its members and thus [they] are directed to do everything to threaten and trample all that we call human rights.

In the course of the trial, one of the judges asked the Witness elder, the owner of the van, how long he and the other Witness had been stationed in the van that day. The answer was, six hours. When asked if the windows of the van were clear, the elder said, No, that the back window was covered with paper with a hole in the center through which they had done filming with the video cassette camera. He claimed that all this was solely to film his companion’s relative. The confiscated film showed zoom shots of many persons at the house’s front entrance and on its balcony. But the relative did not appear anywhere on the film. Actually she could not have appeared for the simple reason that she was never at the gathering! The court rendered a guilty verdict in the case.

Ironically, the following year, the Awake! magazine carried an article decrying the intolerance of Greek Orthodox Church officials, expressed in pressuring officials of a sports stadium to cancel their contract with Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were to hold an assembly in the stadium.The article rightly condemned this unjust treatment of “peaceful and lawabiding Christians,” pointing to the Greek constitutional guarantees of freedom of worship and religious conscience, and citing a court ruling that “the freedom of expressing one’s religious beliefs is more especially safeguarded by . . . the Treaty of Rome dated April 11, 1950, ‘on the protection of human rights.’” After saying that “the freedom of the Greek people once again has been trampled on because of the Dark Ages mentality of the clergy,” the article added, “How sad to see such a flouting of democracy in ‘the cradle of democracy.’”

Why would members in “God’s chosen channel of communication” resort to the operation that resembles actions suited for a spy film? Does this count as intimidation?

That also leads into lying. How often are you 100% upfront with not only the Witnesses at the local kingdom hall but completely honest in your dealings with people at the door? Let’s look at the theocratic war strategy from former Witness, Dr. Jerry Bergman: http://www.witforjesus.org/downloads/english/pdfs/jehovahs-witness/spying/bergman-pp29-31.pdf

This extends into the New World Translation itself since those at the top deceive and you deceive. Let’s look at Hebrews 1:8 from the New World Translation and the King James Version.

New World Translation: But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness.

King James Version: But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

This verse is the hardest one for Unitarians (those who believe that Jehovah alone is God) to deal with so to make it easier for the Jehovah’s Witnesses to digest this, they simply rewrite the verse. Since Jehovah is the author of the bible, why would he have allowed a glaring mistake to happen like this and wait until 1950 for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to correct a major flaw like this?

There are many more cases but I will submit to you a title Preparing for Child Custody Cases.

The table of contents contains a list of possible questions for the Witness parent, child, elder, and non-Witness parent involved. It gives instruction on how to answer as well.

Does the Watchtower fit an organization that intimidates? Here’s an article: https://jwvictims.org/2015/11/21/do-jehovahs-witnesses-actually-fit-the-psychological-definition-of-bullies/

So what kind of light bearer are you? Are you one that can just speak like Jesus and not have to change anything or are you the light bearer that has a bible in one hand and various types of publications in another depending on the situation? Will you consider leaving the organization today?

Schisms in the Watchtower Society

April 24, 2016 By Sean

The Watchtower has a claim that they are the restoration of biblical Christianity with the following quote:

From 1879, they have continuously published the Watchtower magazine as a champion of Bible truth.

Good News. 1976. p. 153

I believe that if you have read through the posts that are on this website, you will see this is not the case. The organization that brands itself as being unique and basing everything on the bible is dependent upon other groups both inside and outside Christendom for many things. The organization is dependent upon Christendom for just some of the following items:

Bible Translations: Kingdom Interlinear Translation (Westcott and Hort), Emphatic Diaglott (Christadelphian) King James Version (Church of England) and the American Standard Version (30 Different Denominations), and quoting from various other translations such as: New International Version, Today’s English Version, and other translations through its history.

Selectively using mainstream Christian quotes from various resources throughout Watchtower Literature.

Non-Christendom:

Paganism: Disfellowshipping

Freemasonry: Dependent for terms and items such as the cross and the crown

Occult: Necromancy

I will contend that when one has various ideas taken from various groups and mixing everything together, splits will ensue. Why? There are many different ideas and attempting to integrate them all, it is a recipe in many ways for disaster. That is what I would like to discuss today. To start, I’d like to call attention to a chart from Grace Communion International:

Picture taken from: https://www.gci.org/aboutus/roots

As you can see the Watchtower Society is rooted with William Miller.

Grace Communication International is an organization that was a cult that rejected the teaching of Herbert Armstrong and became an evangelical group in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The Watchtower mentioned Herbert Armstrong with this quote:

Garner Ted Armstrong, well-known television spokesman for the Worldwide Church of God, was recently taken off the air and then excommunicated by his father, Herbert W. Armstrong. The younger Armstrong, who had reportedly been earning $85,000 a year, claimed earlier that the “whole empire is crumbling” due to lavish spending by the leadership, as well as by divisions and fear among the membership.

Awake! September 8, 1979 p. 29

That is an interesting quote and we’ll revisit that later.

Regardless, the chart that I previously mentioned and previously stated speaks of William Miller and when you look at it, you can see how much the Millerite movement broke and went into different directions. The Jehovah’s Witnesses, formerly known as Bible Students have had their splits as well.

When one is going to have a split, there are three major reasons behind it:

Doctrine-a number of individuals no longer believe in one or more of the major teachings

Practice-some sort of “new light”

Personality-There is a conflict with leadership or an individual/group of individuals that leads to a new group forming where the majority of the core doctrines remain with a few changes.

With this in mind, let’s look at some of the various groups that formed from the days of Russell. Some of these groups will still be in existence, others are no longer. The present day Watchtower Bible and Tract Society stresses numbers, some of these organizations do not at all, some are tough to track down if they do not have a presence on the internet. However, if they are not “advertising the king and the kingdom” as Judge Rutherford would say, they are most likely multigenerational families with a very low if not negative growth rate.

Russellite Splinter Groups:

Free Bible Students (1907-1908)—This break started with Paul Johnson “calling out” Charles Taze Russell on the New Covenant and how Russell had changed it. After looking at their beliefs, I saw the following were interesting breaks from things Charles Taze Russell believed (from the What We Believe page):

19. That the parable of the "Faithful and Wise Servant" is not representative of any particular individual but teaches faithful watchfulness of all who are fully devoted to the Lord and awaiting His return.

They still retain the cross and crown logo. One of the sister organizations in Africa is adamant against verse by verse bible study and encourages topical study. The songbook section uses mainstream Christendom songwriters.

No mention of Millennial Dawn/Studies in the Scriptures

http://www.kronline.at/bibelstudien/

Rutherford Splits:

Dawn Bible Students-This is probably the largest group that had the biggest impact. This group had a radio broadcast into the 1980s, produces The Dawn Magazine, still produces radio broadcasts, has a television broadcast in Kenya, resurrected Studies in the Scriptures (except for Volume 7 which they and other groups reject) since the Society stopped printing it in 1927 with the following quote:

Later in the year 1927 any remaining stocks of the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures by Russell and of The Finished Mystery were disposed of among the public.

God’s Kingdom of A Thousand Years Has Approached. 1973 p. 347

Chicago Bible Students-This is possibly one of the larger groups that actually has a bit of a digital presence. There is a mobile app and they produce material from Charles Taze Russell today. They are just outside of Chicago.

Laymen's Home Missionary Movement-Comes up under www.biblestandard.com

They state in the page (Our Work): The LHMM is a worldwide interdenominational, non-sectarian, non-profit-making, unincorporated religious movement, in which many Christian people, especially laymen, of all walks of life, from and apart from various denominations, co-operate voluntarily. There are many chapters in the U.S.A. and abroad. This group says it’s free of any influence but still produces Studies in The Scriptures, the Emphatic Diaglott, and other Charles Taze Russell publications on the Resources page.

Stand Fast Movement (1918)-Rutherford alienated many Bible Students in the Pacific Northwest in the United States/western Canada by promoting the purchase of war bonds in World War I. These groups were going to “stand fast” against this. Their publication was called Old Corn Gems. They disbanded in the 1920s: http://www.biblestudentarchives.com/documents/StandFastHistory.pdf

Berean Bible Institute (Australia 1918): They admit that they formed in 19118. They cooperate with other Bible Student groups throughout the world. On their history page, they state the following: The principal publication, titled "Peoples Paper and Herald of Christ's Kingdom,” was initially a monthly publication but is now published quarterly. It was first published in 1918 and is now published in January, April, July and October each year. The current format comprises 12 pages of A4 size.

Like the Watchtower, it is reducing printing frequency as well. They don’t produce Studies in the Scriptures but do have a DVD available with booklets.

Pastoral Bible Institute https://herald-magazine.com/

Uses the term “epochs” which is associated with Russell. Picture from the About Page shows Russell surrounded by people at a train station. Unlike the Society, they have all material available from the beginning on the website. They still have a radio presence as well in Connecticut, Indiana, and Missouri on Sunday mornings.

Here are some other Bible Student groups:

Associated Bible Students Of Central Ohio http://www.biblestudents.com/

Chinese Bible Students http://www.dawnbible.com/zh/content-zh.htm

Baltimore Bible Students http://www.baltimorebiblestudents.org/

Lithuanian Bible Students http://biblijos-veliava.lt/

Oakland County Bible Students http://www.bibletoday.com/

Nathan Knorr splinter:

Epiphany Bible Students Association (1956)-Openly says they expand on what Russell said. They too have everything present from their beginning. http://epiphanybiblestudents.com/

Present Day:

The True Faith Jehovah's Witnesses Association (1992 in Romania and Ukraine): This is a group that broke away during the Cold War since over Romans 13:1-the “higher powers.” As a result, they only utilize material prior to the 1970s.

Today, the schisms continue. The advent of the internet still shows groups are forming. If you have never heard of Greg Stafford, he was a prominent Jehovah’s Witness back in the 1990s. The difference with him is he was not discouraged from being a Watchtower defender/apologist. Jehovah’s Witnesses Defended: An Answer To Scholars and Critics. Here is one debate with Dr. James White.

However, the problem is that Stafford formally left in 2007. He formed a new group called, “Christian Witnesses of Jah.” The origin of this group is seen on the “About” page with the following: The history of Elihu Books took a sharp turn in 1998-1999, when the Second Edition of Jehovah’s Witnesses Defended was being prepared. It was during this time that Stafford came to realize that some of the Watchtower Society’s teachings were not defensible. Foremost among these for Stafford was the Society’s teaching regarding the use of blood.

Gordon Ritchie jointed the organization in 1993. and immediately started disagreeing with the organization. He feels that the Society is incomplete with the information because there are mathematical codes in the pages of scripture itself.

http://www.truebiblecode.com/

One interesting article response is found on the left hand side, third link down. It is titled: “The Disaster of the July 15th 2013 Watchtower New Understanding of the Parable of the Faithful and Discreet Slave.”

Here’s another group:

www.anointedjw.org

From the FAQ page you will see the following excerpts:

2. Are you active Jehovah’s Witnesses?

None of the 5 partners to this ministry are currently active Jehovah’s Witnesses.

3. Are you apostates?

No. Although we do not agree with certain Watchtower doctrines, we have never apostatized from the Father or the Christ.

7. Are you starting a new religion?

No, we are not forming a new religion. We believe there are enough Christian sects, but not enough spirit-oriented Christians.

10. What is your relation to The Urantia Book?

We are well read in matters concerning the Bible, God, and Jesus. Among the many books in our library is The Urantia Book.

If you are not sure with this publication, here is a summary:

http://www.letusreason.org/Cults17.htm

You can verify this material by going to this page and downloading the Urantia book for yourself. http://www.urantia.org/urantia-book

There are schisms and I’ve covered those that are external. However, looking internally, there are fractures and schisms as well. This is taking place in the age of the internet since it is giving everybody a voice for free or just a few dollars each month. Here is a quote that is not being heeded:

There is no need for any individual, committee, or congregation to prepare a Web page about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some have posted the contents of our publications with all scriptures and references given in full and have even offered copies of convention material on a donation basis. Whether profit is involved or not, the practice of reproducing and distributing publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses in an electronic document is a violation of copyright laws.

Kingdom Ministry. September 2002 p. 8

Here are one website:

Associated Jehovah’s Witnesses on Reform of Blood www.ajwrb.org. From the “FAQ” page:

Q: Why are you anonymous?

A: Questioning the Watchtower Society (WTS) makes us targets. Any WTS member who seriously questions the organization’s policies is considered apostate and will be expelled from our religion and shunned by our community and Jehovah’s Witness (JW) family members.

Q: Are you trying to draw people away from the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

A: No. We are re-affirming their right to remain as members of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and to make their own conscientious decisions about the medical use of blood, without control or sanctions from the Watchtower Organization.

Q: Are you trying to destroy the Watchtower Society or depose of its leaders?

A: No. AJWRB has no agenda to overthrow the WTS or to remove the members of the current Governing Body. Our fight is not against men, but against the policy that prohibits free choice of medical treatment for members of the JW community.

Q: Why are you going against the Watchtower organization?

A: We cannot maintain a morally sitting posture. We are convinced the doctrine is erroneous, and feel a moral responsibility to speak out, and do what we can to prevent unnecessary deaths, especially among minor children.

Q: Why didn’t you just write to the society?

A: We have made many attempts to correspond with Watchtower officials. We have never been offered answers to the baffling questions surrounding this policy. Some HLC members have been told to drop the issue and question no further. A few members were disfellowshiped after asking questions about the blood issue.

Two things that occur more than once with these groups:

Accepting some sources and rejecting others whether it be Watchtower, Christian, occult.

Instances where the new group is the “true” group. The Watchtower “lost” its way.

Will the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society make any attempt to crackdown on this? My personal thought is that they won’t do this because the Society is having enough trouble and is losing the battle against so called apostates very badly. Websites are created on a regular basis about the Society whether it be focused on some aspect of the Society itself or perhaps a personal struggle. There are a number of Youtube channels that are created exposing them. There are informational websites. There are a number of personal experiences whether it be judicial committees or a personal struggle with a doctrine. To combat this, there are a number of social media sites where Witnesses are using it “to build up each other” and to “combat the apostates.” I reiterate it’s a losing effort based on this quote:

Jehovah’s Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition. Only 37% of all those who say they were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses still identify themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

http://www.pewforum.org/files/2013/05/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf

What is possibly resulting is a growing number of people who are there physically yet not “in it” mentally, spiritually, or emotionally. They are compelled to stay possible to keep family and relationships with other people since they are discouraged to not have any association with the world.

Remember I said we would revisit the Herbert Armstrong quote? Here is is again:

Awake! September 8, 1979 p. 29

Would you consider lavish spending to be building in Walkill, New York considering the organization is supposed to be growing yet is downsizing? Is the empire crumbling due to the spending with court settlements, information coming out, and divisions? Is there fear amongst the Jehovah's Witnesses for a variety of things?

Folks, overall, if you're reading this, you have been contributing to the schism as well. However, I suggest you break free from this organization yet join the body of Christ. If you’ve been curious in any way, this is all that you need to do and it’s called the sinner’s prayer:

Pray: this or something similar:

“Thank you Father for sending your son Jesus, to die for my sins. I ask that I would receive him into my heart.” You pray this, mean it and it will be life changing. When you do pray this prayer, you have broken free spiritually from this organization and Jesus now in dwells your heart. From here, I would suggest you break physically and find yourself a good bible believing church. Feel free to contact me and I will be more than happy to help: watchtowerofjehovahswitness@mail.com