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November 2017 Armageddon Project Update

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Greetings to all!  Next week in the United States is the start of the holiday season with Thanksgiving.  For those who reside in Pennsylvania as I do, the unofficial holiday starts the following Monday-the start of rifle deer season (yes I’ll be in the woods).  Prior to that though, I wanted to just give a quick update regarding this Armageddon project. 

When I started this project last November, I knew it would take some time.  I thought I could get it finished up by the end of summer however, “time ran out.”  All quotes have pretty much been added that I have been able to find (I did stop at 2015 for the time being).  I’m in the midst of doing final edits which is the only tedious part (spot checking/citing everything).  Concurrently, I’ve been compiling the numbers which is going pretty good.  The days of Charles T. Russell went pretty easily since there wasn’t much in terms of quotes used.  I believe this is due what started as a “breakaway” group attracting people from various mainstream Christian denominations. 

The usage of the term “Armageddon” really skyrocketed under the days of "Judge" Joseph Rutherford.  I believe this is due to needing to have an “identity” along with having a sufficient number of people under the organization’s umbrella.  Thanks to Rutherford, the word “Armageddon” is now an integral part of the organization’s “DNA.” 

I’m currently working the year 1944 under the administration of Nathan Knorr.  When I’m done with this era, I’ll start releasing material sequentially one year a week with a publication a day (possibly I’ll break it up depending on length since some take up in excess of 50 pages). 

As I’ve worked through, this quote would apply: Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  April 15, 2010 p. 10 

 

How you may ask?  If you believe everything the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society puts out, you’ll have to believe that Jehovah wanted the word “Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16) to become the centerpiece of the Bible’s message since the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has mentioned it so much. 

When Charles T. Russell came along, Jehovah didn’t want him to be the “vessel” that promoted Armageddon.  It looks like Russell was to merely lay the foundation and the Watchtower’s holy spirit wanted Judge Rutherford to be the one responsible promoting Armageddon for Jehovah.  Not included on the spreadsheet is the 1978 Watchtower that only has Armageddon mentioned only three times which either Jehovah didn’t want to be the focus or holy spirit “realized” 1975 was a failure and shouldn’t have been the focus for the year.    

So with that, here’s a Rutherford focused (some Nathan Knorr sprinkled in) “teaser” spreadsheet (at the end) with some numbers for you to look at.  Each issue mentioned has a total number of quotes.  This spreadsheet serves as a summary for 1080 quotes.  When I get everything done, I’ll do a statistical breakdown from totals down to the eras of leaders of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society organization.  As always, if you have any comments either positive or negative, feel free to reach out to me at watchtowerofjehovahswitness@mail.com. 

 

 

Rutherford Knorr teaser spreadsheet

The First Resurrection According to the Watchtower

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As I’m sure you know, the Watchtower has an affinity with dates.  Often, dates are most associated with the arrival of Armageddon for those who are not in the organization.  The date 1914 had a special significance given that is when, according to Watchtower theology, Jesus was enthroned as king even though he had all authority established post resurrection as is stated in Matthew 28:18 (New World Translation)-Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.”  That was the year 33 A.D. With that information in mind, we are going to turn our sights to another dated prediction, that of the First Resurrection. 

 

The First Resurrection is nothing more than raising up from the dead of believers (partial agreement with the mainstream Christian viewpoint).  As you know, nothing with the Watchtower is ever that easy to figure out.  Based on the information I present from Watchtower Bible and Tract Society quotes, it is apparent that the organization’s first resurrection is for those who are of the anointed class.  Being of the anointed as you may or may not know, gives special privileges and this one is no different either.  This is a holdover in terms of eligibility from the days of Pastor Charles Taze Russell.  Let’s begin: 

We start just after the first year when the Watchtower started getting printed (1879) to find our first quote:

We have no hesitation in saying that it is indispensable, and that no one will have a part in the "little flock" or be of "The bride, the Lamb's wife" who has not been baptized. Further, we have scriptural proof that all who are baptized shall be saved, that all such shall be in the "first resurrection.”

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  September 1880 p. 132

 

Here we already have a bit of an irony between the Bible and what Pastor Russell espoused.  However, remember, he taught (and the Bible Students still believe) is that only 144,000 people would be eligible for salvation.  To the present day Jehovah’s Witness who would see this, since it says “all who are baptized shall be saved” would mean that those who are of the Great Crowd should be eligible but again remember the Great Crowd didn’t exist until 1935. 

 

We shall now present what we adduce from the types and prophetic points as seeming to indicate the translation of the saints and closing of the door to the high calling by 1881.

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. January 1881 Reprints p. 180

 

So here we go from having scriptural proof to the early organization making a prophetic statement.  Put yourself back in that timeframe during 1881.  You read this in January, get baptized to be saved and 11 months later, you are no longer here on earth.  The verse Matthew 24:13 (NWT) But the one who has endured to the end will be saved. Comes to mind.  Who couldn’t this present system of things for less than a year then be translated into heaven?  When you’d read this, you’d want to tell everyone you know since you have a very short time since you want them to go as well.  It would be a short period of time that you would have to make it.  From the viewpoint of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, you can quickly gain new readers. 

 

The WATCH TOWER never claimed that the body of Christ will be changed to spiritual beings during this year.  There is such a change due sometime.  We have not attempted to say when, but have repeatedly said that it would not take place before the fall of 1881.

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  May 1881 Reprints p. 224

 

Here we have the organization making a bit of a backtrack already.  It only takes four months for the organization to backtrack and state something completely different.  The question is why did the Watchtower Society print in essence what is a retraction?  Could it have been that people were talking so much about it and possibly receiving negative correspondence that they had to make this statement?  The quote from January made a very big buzz.  I’m assuming people didn’t keep much material around for months on end.  So perhaps that’s why the Society figured it could get away with printing this.  Let’s read on though.

 

And since the resurrection of the Church must occur some time during this “end” or “harvest” period (Rev. 11:18), we hold that it is a most reasonable inference, and one in perfect harmony with all the Lord’s plan, that in the spring of 1878 all the holy apostles and other “overcomers” of the Gospel age who slept in Jesus were raised spirit beings, like unto their Lord and Master.

Studies in the Scriptures III-Thy Kingdom Come. 1891 p. 234

 

Just a mere ten years later, the Watchtower goes back to “old light” yet again.  First we had the statement of being 1881, then it goes to “never,” here we change the date and move the time from 1881 to 1878.  Then we go from the fall to spring.  Perhaps Russell was figuring “life” begins in spring so what better way then to just simply get translated then into a spirit being and go to heaven. 

 

We will jump ahead to the 1990s. 

 

Another amazing happening during Christ’s presence is the start of the heavenly resurrection. The apostle Paul indicated that those anointed Christians long asleep in their graves would be the first to be made alive and live with Christ Jesus in the spirit realm. Evidence has been presented over the years to show that this appears to have happened from 1918 onward.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  May 1, 1993 p. 13

 

So now we have yet another date change.  First it was 1881.  Then we had to back up to 1881.  Then that was not good enough.  We had to discard the theology of Russell by selecting the year of 1918. 

At this point, it may be helpful to consider what might be viewed as a Bible parallel. Jesus Christ was anointed as the future King of God’s Kingdom in the fall of 29 C.E. Three and a half years later, in the spring of 33 C.E., he was resurrected as a mighty spirit person. Could it, then, be reasoned that since Jesus was enthroned in the fall of 1914, the resurrection of his faithful anointed followers began three and a half years later, in the spring of 1918? That is an interesting possibility. Although this cannot be directly confirmed in the Bible, it is not out of harmony with other scriptures that indicate that the first resurrection got under way soon after Christ’s presence began.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 2007 p. 28

 

So here we are, the concept of the resurrection takes on two more twists.  We go not just from some time in 1918 but we go to a specific season.  We are going to then add in that the resurrection was no longer a definitive act of a one time event, it is now just an event where it is gradual.  Let’s compare this to the bible. 

 

We need to start with Revelation 20:4-6 which is where this is coming from.  The New World Translation renders these verses this way: And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. Yes, I saw the souls of those executed for the witness they gave about Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had not worshipped the wild beast or its image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for 1,000 years. 5  (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6  Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.

 

What we have is a period of time that would be in the future.  Here are the conditions for those in the first resurrection:

  1. Executed or become a martyr for Jesus and the Father.
  2. Did not worship the wild beast, image, or receive the mark.
  3. Came to life to rule.
  4. They are kings. 

Now given that the Watchtower has said in 2007 that it started in 1918, how many Witnesses are executed for Jesus and speaking about God?  Look at the 2016 Yearbook and the countries where the Witnesses aren’t, they are the places most likely to be executed for those who are considered under the “umbrella” of Christianity.  This would include the countries in the Middle East, North Korea, and China.  Contrast that with where Witnesses are.  How many die for the Watchtower cause? 

Ironically, the Watchtower Society’s anointed die without the majority most likely not being executed.  Do they meet this criteria?  What is the wild beast, image, or receive this mark?    Given that the wild beast, image, and mark are unknown how is it possible for them to meet this criteria?  Also, it says "kings."  Within the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, there are women to be of the anointed.  If they are, why does the bible not say "queens" in addition to kings?  

 

Next, the Bible doesn’t delineate between the anointed and great crowd in these verses.  Biblically speaking, anyone who is in the organization should be eligible.  This in contrast to the organization that says just a few are to be in the first resurrection.  The bigger concern is if you are of the first resurrection, you must be in the second resurrection. 

 

Lastly, John says he saw the souls.  These were to be the ones resurrected.  It is implying a one time act.  The organization implies a gradual resurrection.  Which is going to be the correct one?  The bible which is saying one resurrection or the organization that says a gradual resurrection that started in 1918 and has been occurring for the past 98 years? 

 

As always, I suggest that you simply place the organization’s material down and simply come to Jesus.  Place down the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society material and read the Bible alone.

Is Jehovah’s Channel of Communication Inspired or Not?

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The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society says that it doesn’t have tacking or going back and forth with it’s doctrines.  The “new light” that this organization claims to have, does not apply here.  I would like to spend time having a look at is this organization inspired or not?  Inspiration in it’s most basic definition means that Jehovah is the one communicating.  The organization is merely transmitting what has come from Jehovah.  With that in mind, let’s see what the organization has said over the years starting in the days of Charles T. Russell:

We have not the gift of prophecy, and could not tell you in what form nor from what quarter the testing would come, for our adversary, the devil, is sure to bring the test from an unexpected quarter.

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. January 1883 Reprints p. 425

 

This is good, they are openly stating they don’t have the ability to prophesy. 

Nor would we have our writings reverenced or regarded as infallible, or on a par with the holy Scriptures.  The most we claim or have ever claimed for our teaching is that they are what we believe to be harmonious interpretations of the divine Word, in harmony with the spirit of the truth. 

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. December 15, 1896 Reprints p. 2080 

 

Looking at fallibility, this again is good, however, it’s a slightly self serving belief that everything is in harmony with the bible. 

 

Nevertheless, we are far from claiming any direct or plenary inspiration. We believe, however, that there are many ways in which the Lord can guide those who are anxious to serve him, without directly inspiring or in any manner interfering with their free agency.

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. July 15, 1899 Reprints p. 2506 

 

Again, this is good they are not claiming any inspiration yet the Lord can interact. 


Suppose that our chronological calculations (never set forth as infallible) should prove to be fallible and in error. Our conclusion would merely be that the error could not be very great.

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  January 1, 1911 p. 4737

 

The Watch Tower Bible and Tract is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the Lord has used it as his channel through with to make known the glad tidings to many thousands. 

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  January 15, 1917 Reprints p. 6033

 

Notice we have a shift from the days of Russell to the early days of Joseph Rutherford.  Whatever organization was used by the Lord prior to 1879 when the Watchtower was formed was rejected for this one. 

 

Whereas the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, since its establishment, has been the only organization used by the Lord to feed and direct his people on the earth and thus aided them in finding the treasures to be had from his Word; its various activities through these many years have enabled many people to know Jehovah, and likewise today the people of God are being taught by him through this arrangement;

The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  July 15, 1932 p. 223

 

Prior to this organization being formed, how were the people directly fed?

 

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.

Yearbook. 1939 p. 85

 

So what we have is the bible that isn’t good enough to use has been supplemented or in this case supplanted by the magazine.  Remember this time period saw predominately the use of the King James Version of the Bible.  Reading that alone is a no no…. 

 

Christ Jesus has caused the understanding of the prophetic dramas and pictures to be clear and set forth in the Watchtower publications.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 15, 1942 p. 376

 

Since the organization teaches that angels are messengers, that means Watchtower Jesus is taking the message from Jehovah and letting the people know.  We also have shifted from Joseph Rutherford to Nathan Knorr.

 

The food that the Lord’s “sheep” feed upon and that their feeders must serve to them is the spiritual food provided by the great Life-giver, Jehovah.  He gives it through his Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus.  Jehovah himself is the great “shepherd and Bishop of your Souls.”  He sees to it that it is the right food, in due season, and that it is served through his approved visible organization.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. June 1, 1943 p. 166

 

Proof that this organization was approved?  The right food (doctrinal stances) in due season has changed at various times as well.

This pouring out of God’s spirit upon the flesh of all his faithful anointed witnesses does not mean those now serving as Jehovah's witnesses are inspired. It does not mean that the writings in this magazine, The Watchtower, are inspired and infallible and without mistakes.  It does not mean that the president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is inspired and infallible, although enemies falsely charge us with believing so.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  May 15, 1947 p. 157

 

So we are going back to the old light.  Notice also how blame is laid at those outside the organization and not the very pages of the publications printed by the organization itself.

 

So Jehovah’s visible organization under Christ is a channel for bringing the divine interpretation of his Word to his devoted people. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. July 15, 1950 p. 214

 

Going back now the organization is inspired yet again. 

 

Hence the purpose of this magazine is to keep sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, on world happenings that may fulfill prophecies, and on religious news generally. Sometimes it will tear down religious falsehoods, that Bible truth may be built up in their stead. Such two-way work is Scripturally commanded, and is beneficial for all persons of right heart condition. (Jer. 1:10; Heb. 12:5-13) However, The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic. It invites careful and critical examination of its contents in the light of the Scriptures. Its purpose is to aid others to know Jehovah and his purposes toward mankind, and to announce Christ’s established kingdom as our only hope.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. August 15, 1950 p. 263

 

What happened that the organization is no longer inspired?  What happens if you as an active Jehovah’s Witness performs a careful and critical examination of its contents and reports this to other members of the kingdom hall?  Would this or would it not result in a judicial committee meeting?    

How does Jehovah’s spirit help the “faithful and discreet slave” arrive at the truth of a matter? The Society does not claim infallibility or inspiration. How much is dependent upon the written Word? How can we be sure that this is the organization Jehovah is using when some things are published and later changed?—C. P., United States.

In regard to how the truth is brought forth through Jehovah’s organization, please note that if the Watch Tower Society were infallible there would be no need for future correction of viewpoints held; but because it is not infallible and has never claimed to be, from time to time corrections are necessary.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  October 15, 1954 p. 638

 

So we are back to having an uninspired organization….

 

The “slave” then became responsible not only for ministering to the needs of the anointed body members but also for taking on the responsibility of preaching the good news of the established Kingdom to people of all nations. (Matt. 24:14) Such is true not by their determination of it, but because God himself has so directed. “God has set the members in the body, each one of them, just as he pleased,” is the way it is pictured in 1 Corinthians 12:18 (NW). It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the “slave” as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. June 15, 1957 p. 370

 

The slave is to be regarded as being an equal with Jehovah.  Does this mean that the organization is greater than the angel Michael? 

 

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.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  January 15, 1959 p. 40, 41

 

Plain facts?  What would these plain facts actually be?   

 

The evidence of the holy spirit in the quality and content of the writings published by the Watchtower Society should be the thing that satisfies, that convinces, together with a comparison of these things with the inspired Word of God, the Holy Scriptures.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  October 1, 1959 p. 607-608

 

So this organization speaks of it’s material first then the word of God. 

 

Abundant spiritual food and amazing details as to the doing of God’s will have been flowing through this unique channel actually as a miraculous evidence of the operation of the holy spirit. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. July 15, 1960 p. 439

 

Inspired prophesying today would be superfluous. The prophecies written in the Bible being complete as a guide to the congregation today, nothing needs to be added. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Rev. 22:18, 19) Accordingly, since God’s Word provides a perfect guide, there is no need to have the gift of discernment of prophecies in a miraculous sense, for there are no inspired prophets now authorized by God. Those things that “come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet,” or from others who speak so-called “inspired expressions” are quickly evaluated and proved false by means of the spirit-inspired Word of God.—Rev. 16:13, 14; 1 John 4:1.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  August 15, 1971 p. 504

 

However, Jehovah did not let the people of Christendom, as led by the clergy, go without being warned that the League was a counterfeit substitute for the real kingdom of God. He had a “prophet” to warn them. 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 that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. They are still proclaiming a warning, and have been joined and assisted in their commissioned work by hundreds of thousands of persons who have listened to their message with belief.

Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a “prophet” of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.    April 1, 1972 p. 197

 

What does the record show?  How often has the organization been right? 

 

For nearly 60 years now the Jeremiah class have faithfully spoken forth Jehovah’s Word. Of its own self that Word has not burned up the combustible organizations of Christendom; nor has it smashed to pieces the mountain like system of things. Yet the divine Word as proclaimed by the Jeremiah class is not a failure. When, at Jehovah’s due time, in the “great tribulation,” that spoken Word is carried out by him, then his own question will be answered affirmatively: “‘Is not my word correspondingly like a fire,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘and like a forge hammer that smashes the crag?’” (Jer. 23:25) So let us keep faith in that Word.  Unlike the clergy class, those of the Jeremiah class have been sent by Jehovah to speak in his name.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  September 1, 1979, p. 29

True, the brothers preparing these publications are not infallible. Their writings are not inspired as are those of Paul and the other Bible writers. (2 Tim. 3:16) And so, at times, it has been necessary, as understanding became clearer, to correct views. (Prov. 4:18)

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  February 15, 1981 p. 19

 

So does correcting the view mean going back and forth? 

 

All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the “greatly diversified wisdom of God” can become known only through Jehovah’s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  October 1, 1994 p. 8

 

How much wisdom from the organization? 

 

This is just a quick trip down memory road.  This organization has been intent on not being sure if it’s inspired or not.  Currently the organization says that it is not.  However, when it claims to be spirited directed, isn’t that pretty much the same.  There is pretty much one constant and that's the bible.  Again, I don't recommend the New World Translation since it has had numerous changes, however looking at that is better than reading what the organization has printed.