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The Watchtower Society’s Worship That Jehovah Approves

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Last week was Easter which has been called Resurrection Sunday by some.  The organization is quick to point out that every other religion is based in paganism.  The organization says they are the only one that is right. 

Today, I would like to examine and look at Chapter 15 of the What Does the Bible Really Teach Book? entitled, “Worship that God Approves.” 

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-teach/how-to-worship-god-true-worshippers/

 

Before getting into the article, this chapter looks to keep the individual interested and establish further faith into the organization.  This article works to keep people from looking at outside resources and ultimately utilizes circular reasoning to establish itself as “the truth.” 

Typically when I do these sections, I start with the past and come back to the present.  Today, I’m going to do it a little backwards by starting in the present (information from the chapter) then going back to the past. 

 

The opening questions for this chapter are:

Are all religions pleasing to God?

How can we identify the true religion?

 

Regarding religion, Judge Rutherford gives the answer in the lecture "Religion is a Snare and a Racket,” published in 1939. 

 

The Jehovah’s Witnesses that heard this lecture in 1939 were instructed that religion originated from Satan. 

 

Next point, religion is organized and it does say under Satan.  Being under an organized religion, does this now mean that by a prior leader’s admission that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is under the influence of Satan?  Have you considered that the organization that takes time to deride “Christendom” for using non-biblical terms does the same thing with titles and offices of those within the organization.  Here's some examples:

Governing Body

Branch offices numbering nearly 100 divided into zones

Traveling overseers (overseer is from Greek term episkopos)

Titles such as circuit, district, group preceding overseer

Territory-The area a kingdom hall is responsible for

Coordinator of the Body of Elders-Assigns the duties and maintains finances

Watchtower Study Conductor-Leads the weekly study of the magazine

 

Moving on in the chapter, it says, “If we worship him in the right way, we will be happy and will avoid many problems in life.” What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 144

 

Currently, the organization teaches that Jehovah alone is to receive worship.  However, let’s look at this:

 

Truly these words fittingly apply to our beloved Brother and Pastor!

Russell, thou hast, by the Lord been crowned a king; and through the everlasting ages thy name shall be known amongst the people, and thy enemies shall come and worship at thy feet.

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. December 1, 1916 Reprints p. 6015

 

It didn’t go just for the founder.  Creature worship was applied to Jesus Christ who eventually was associated with Michael the Archangel with the following:

 

It is this great One, who has been thus highly exalted and honored by Jehovah, whom we delight to honor and to worship and to serve, as one with the Heavenly Father, in word, in work, in purpose and in spirit.

Studies in the Scriptures V-The At-one-ment Between God and Men. 1899, 1916 ed. p. 85

 

A more recent quote:

Christ to be worshipped as a glorious spirit, victorious over death on the torture stake.

Make Sure of All Things. 1953 p. 85

 

I wonder why a publication like this is no longer available?

 

It was changed with the following:

Consequently, since the Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is not a Trinitarian co-person with God the Father, but is a distinct person, the Son of God, the answer to the above question must be that no distinct worship is to be rendered to Jesus Christ now glorified in heaven.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 1954 p. 31

 

The organization didn’t waste any time by issuing this proclamation in the first issue of the The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom in January of 1954.

 

Reverent adoration should be expressed only to God. To render worship to anyone or anything else would be a form of idolatry, which is condemned in both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. Accordingly, true Christians do well to direct their worship only to Jehovah God, the Almighty.

Awake! April 8, 2000 p.26, 27


So in short, the organization from 1879 until the quote I presented in 1954 shows the organization was engaged in idolatrous, irreverent adoration for 75 years.  Those during that time frame were to be condemned.  If they were condemned, how was it that this organization was approved by Jehovah in 1919 for teaching “truth?” 

 

The next paragraph says, “How can you know the right way to worship Jehovah? You do not have to study and compare the teachings of all the many religions. You need only learn what the Bible really teaches about true worship.”  What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 144

 

Therefore, those under the authority of this organization were engaged in true worship since the organization implores members to not look at the bible.  When they do, the New World Translation is purposely mistranslated.  Searching for the word “worship” in the New World Translation, it uses that word.  When Jesus is the subject, the word is now transformed to be “obeisance.” I usually recommend reading the Kingdom Interlinear Translation (1969, 1985 ed.) in the JW Library App but it’s rewritten there as well.  Interestingly, Satan can receive worship, yet Jesus who is higher then Satan in the universe receives the lesser honor. 

 

The one point from the third paragraph says: “To have God’s approval, therefore, we must learn what God requires of us and do it. Jesus called those who do not do God’s will ‘workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)” What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 145

 

Interestingly the 22nd verse of Matthew 7:22 says, Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ (New World Translation).  Prophecy is an aspect that the organization doesn’t write off anymore yet tries to put a positive spin on.  Regardless, when was the last time the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society ever prophesied something that actually came to pass?

 

Paragraph four contains the following statement: “True religion leads to everlasting life. False religion leads to destruction.”  What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 145 

I’d like to look at the biblical standard for true religion as contained in James 1:27.  It says (New World Translation): “The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.”

 

If you’re a Witness reading this, how many widows that you came across within the organization that were taken care of by the society based in Brooklyn, New York?  This would be something as simple as getting the elderly out to the meetings up to financial assistance if they needed it.  Given that the organization has multiple funding streams, how much do they use to take care of their own?  Also, the hot topic is child sex abuse and the organization.  Hypothetically, should all cases but one be proven false, that is still one single spot.  One spot is one too many as written in Jehovah’s Word.    

 

“Every good tree produces fine fruit” (Matthew 7:16, 17) What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 146.

 

In other words, those who practice the true religion would be recognized by their beliefs and their conduct. Although they are not perfect and they make mistakes, true worshippers as a group seek to do God’s will.  This fifth paragraph is interesting and is a way the organization excuses past beliefs.  Even if they aren’t perfect, why doesn’t this organization give all members free access to past material?  Could it be that giving free access to past material would show the present day Jehovah’s Witnesses how much this man made religion is like the foolish man who built his house on the sand as described in Matthew 7:24-27?

 

The next paragraph says: “God’s servants base their teachings on the Bible” What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 146 

 

How often have you stopped to consider much of what you learn is not from the bible alone but based on pages from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society publications?  It can be just a random statement as I read above or something specifically mentioned in the “Questions from Readers” section of the Watchtower magazine.  A fair question worth asking is how much time reading the Bible compared to Society material do you read?    

 

They believe that the Bible is God’s Word, and they base their teachings firmly on what it says.  Here’s just one example of going “beyond what is written:”  Blood transfusions.  The scriptures the organization cites for support should be prophetic since the first blood transfusion didn’t occur until the 17th century according to this story: History of Blood Transfusions.

Of course, genuine love means more than not killing others. True Christians unselfishly use their time, energy, and resources to help and encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:24, 25) They help one another in times of distress, and they deal honestly with others.  What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 149

 

They now don't want to agree with killing.  However, there was indirect support for the "war machine" with the following:

 

Some members of the Brooklyn Tabernacle congregation had previously purchased Liberty Bonds.

The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence.  May  15, 1918 p. 153

 

This time period was World War I.  Jesus would have known this when he was inspecting all world religions. 

 

They believe in some ways they are dealing honestly even though they can engage in what is called theocratic warfare.  Here is a relatively recent reference of where it can be defined:

 

She was not a liar. Rather, she was using theocratic war strategy, hiding the truth by action and word for the sake of the ministry. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. May 1, 1957 p. 285

 

True Christians accept Jesus Christ as God’s means of salvation. The Bible says: “There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.” (Acts 4:12) What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 149

 

This is interesting given that the organization said this:

No doubt, before the “great tribulation” is finished, we will see the greatest witness to God’s name and kingdom in the history of this world. And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation, the time no doubt will come when the message takes on a harder tone, like a “great war cry.”

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  November 15, 1981 p. 21

 

So which should you as a Witness believe?  Should you place your faith in the organization or Jesus?  If the organization is right, there was no one who would be considered to have been in a saved condition from the death of John in the year 96 until 1879 when the organization was founded by Charles Taze Russell. 

 

And while God’s true worshippers are neutral regarding politics, they are law-abiding.  What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 149

 

This is an interesting statement.  Perhaps you have heard of the Amish.  The Amish still maintain their simplistic ways.  They are further “no part of the world” in that they don’t pay taxes, nor embrace much in the way of technology.  They are also law abiding too.  Regarding this, it looks like the Amish in comparison to those within the organization are further removed from the world.  Even though they do not run for office, there is one early believer listed in Romans 16:31-Erastus: the city steward or treasurer depending on your translation.   

 

Jesus’ true followers preach that God’s Kingdom is  mankind’s only hope. Jesus foretold: “This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)  What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 150-151

 

They haven’t fully stated that Watchtower Jesus took kingdom power in 1914.  If they did, how would that be within the bible?   This is a great contrast since we have the following statement: Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the “flesh” that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  September 1, 1989 p. 19

 

This is saying as long as one is part of the organization they have a hope.  This is a caveat that isn’t spoken of much. 

Also, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is not in every inhabited country.  North Korea and the Middle Eastern countries are conspicuously absent when you look at the Yearbook.  The organization is still not fulfilling the biblical requirement. 

 

Of all the religious groups on earth, which one meets all these requirements?’ The facts clearly show that it is Jehovah’s Witnesses.—Read Isaiah 43:10-12.  What Does the Bible Teach?  2005, 2014 ed. p. 151

 

Based upon the circular reasoning contained within this chapter, they fit their own standard.

 

Since ancient Babylonian worship spread throughout the earth, modern-day Babylon the Great can properly be identified as the world empire of false religion.

 

This is what groups do, encourage the “us vs. them” mentality.  We have that here.  Look at this statement form the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons): My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right--and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt…”

Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 5-6

 

Revisiting "Bible based" teachings, here are some statements I’d like to read that were used at one point or another in the organization:

According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man’s creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E.

Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God. 1966 p. 28

 

And there was war in heaven-between the ecclesiastical powers, Pagan Rome and Papal Rome. Michael-“who as God,” the Pope. 

The Finished Mystery. 1917 p. 188

 

The Holy Scriptures show that the term “morning stars” refers to two mighty creatures of heaven, namely, Michael (the Logos) and Lucifer. These two mighty creatures were brothers; both sons of God.

The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  March 1, 1932 p. 76

 

The beast that THEN ascendeth out of the [bottomless pit] ABYSS.—The government without a foundation; revolutionary France during the "Reign of Terror."

The Finished Mystery.  1917 p. 174

 

What Jehovah has in store for these “sons of God” who became disobedient, the Scriptures do not reveal, but if at Armageddon any of them do take a positive and unequivocal stand on the side of Jehovah and gladly leave it to Jehovah where to place them, they may be recovered and return to some place in his organization.

Angels. 1934 p. 43

 

The Elijah work ended in 1918. Any attempt to carry on the Elijah work thereafter would be an attempt to revive a dead thing, and hence out of harmony with the Lord.

The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. May 15, 1933 p. 154

 

Was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.—The number of the Great Company –will apparently exceed one hundred millions. Num. 4:46-48 and Ex. 28:1 indicate but one priest to each 2,860 Levites, which would make the number of the Great Company approximate 411,840,000.—T118, 119; Dan. 7:10.

The Finished Mystery. 1917 p. 103

 

Furthermore, since Christ Jesus is the Head or Husband to his church when he appears at the temple of Jehovah for judgment, and gathers his own to himself, there would be no necessity for a substitute for Christ Jesus, such as the holy spirit; therefore the office of the holy spirit as an advocate, comforter and helper would cease. The angels of Christ Jesus forming his retinue of servants at the temple, invisible indeed to man, are given charge over members of the temple company yet on the earth. “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”-Ps. 91:11.

Preservation. 1932 p. 202, 203

 

Contrast the Holy Spirit being taken away with the words of Jesus Christ in John 14:16, 17 (New World Translation)-And I will request the Father and he will give YOU another helper to be with YOU forever, the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither beholds it nor knows it.  You know it, because it remains with YOU and is in YOU.

 

Picture of C.T. Russell’s gravestone saying he is the Laodecian Messenger.

Proclaimer’s of God’s Kingdom. 1993. p. 64

 

What, then, can we deduce from the fact that one of the 24 elders identifies the great crowd to John?  It seems that the resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in communicating of divine truths today. 

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

 

The organization proclaims to be the only one engaged in “Worship that God Approves.”  However, I submit to you that based upon the statements within its history, the past proves otherwise.  If we allow the practices in the past to determine the future, it is highly improbable that this organization will engage in worship that God approves any time soon.  As always, I ask that you place down that uninspired man made material and read the Bible alone. 

The Watchtower Bible Tract Society and the Memorial

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Last week, those under the authority of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society participated in the annual memorial to commemorate Christ’s death.  I’d like to cover this today. 

 

Some background information on the memorial from the Watchtower point of view if you are unfamiliar with their doctrinal teachings.  The Watchtower has a two class system.  One group is the 144,000, also known as the anointed.  The great crowd is the other.  Without breaking it down too much, the 144,000 as the Watchtower teaches it are destined for heaven and the great crowd is to live on a paradise Earth in the future even though the bible explicitly states otherwise.  (Read Revelation 19:1 and Revelation 14:1-5).  This separation is further delineated since the Greek Scriptures/New Testament is written specifically for the anointed.  This is reinforced with the following:

 

Special attention was being given to making up the government that would rule mankind for 1,000 years, and nearly all the inspired letters in the Christian Greek Scriptures are primarily directed to this group of Kingdom heirs—“the holy ones,” “partakers of the heavenly calling.”

United in Worship of the Only True God.  1983. p. 111

 

With that in mind, I would like to take a few moments to look and see how did the memorial come to be.

This video clip speaks as to how Charles Taze Russell was influenced (pay attention when George Storrs is mentioned):

29:00-31:35

 

 

So what we have is instead of relying solely on God’s word, young Russell as was stated in the clip went to those who were not part of “God’s channel” for instruction. Ironically this went into the memorial itself. 

 

Now I’d like to quickly cover all of the verses that I can use to pertain to the memorial:

Galatians 3:27, 28 (New World Translation)-For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in union with Christ Jesus.

 

This verse speaks of breaking down the barriers that had existed at this point.  There is one common baptism (that doesn’t even follow the baptismal formula in the bible) and that’s where the similarity stops. 

 

I Corinthians 12:22-25 (New World Translation)-On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary, 23  and the parts of the body that we think to be less honorable we surround with greater honor, so our unseemly parts are treated with greater modesty, 24  whereas our attractive parts do not need anything. Nevertheless, God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that had a lack, 25  so that there should be no division in the body, but its members should have mutual concern for one another.

 

This speaks of the body of Christ.  One body, many parts, all are necessary to function yet some at times are more prominent than others.  Those that aren’t as honorable we surround with greater honor.  

 

Verses specifically about the memorial:

Matthew 26:26-29 (New World Translation)-As they continued eating, Jesus took a loaf, and after saying a blessing, he broke it, and giving it to the disciples, he said: “Take, eat. This means my body.” 27  And taking a cup, he offered thanks and gave it to them, saying: “Drink out of it, all of you, 28  for this means my ‘blood+ of the covenant,’+ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins. 29  But I say to you: I will by no means drink again any of this product of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the Kingdom of my Father.”

 

John 6:53-58 (New World Translation)-So Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day; 55  for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him. 57  Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58  This is the bread that came down from heaven. It is not as when your forefathers ate and yet died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

 

Now what we have is an organization that prohibits the majority from partaking.  Hence you can go door to door thinking you will earn your salvation yet you have no life-Jesus said it not me.

 

Acts 2:46 (New World Translation)-And day after day they were in constant attendance in the temple with a united purpose, and they took their meals in different homes and shared their food with great rejoicing and sincerity of heart,

 

The organization says to only do it once a year yet there is no explicit verse to agree with this.  There are some groups that do this weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly like the organization. 

 

Imagine you’re invited over to someone’s house for dinner, yet eat nothing.  What kind of sense does that make?  Well that’s exactly what the Governing Body expects out of you.  Rationale is:

 

Since sharing in the bread and wine passed during the Memorial involves all of this, it would obviously be inappropriate for those having an earthly hope to partake. Were they to partake of the emblems, it would signify something that is not true with respect to them. Thus, they do not partake, though they do attend the Memorial as respectful observers.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  February 15, 2006 p.24

 

However, we have a problem since in the past the Watchtower said this:

However, the time came when the number partaking began to decrease. What did this indicate? It indicated that the number of those called to the heavenly kingdom, namely 144,000, had come to completion and more were dying off than being added.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  June 15, 1966 p. 374

 

Notice how the number had been completed.  The number peaked at: 52,465 in 1935 as stated in Proclaimer’s of God’s Kingdom (1993) on page 717.

 

The number was to continually decrease.  There were a few years where it actually spiked up.  However, the Watchtower had to change this teaching with the following quote and it starts to get messy:

On the other hand, as time has gone by, some Christians baptized after 1935 have had witness borne to them that they have the heavenly hope. (Romans 8:16, 17) Thus, it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends.

How should a person be viewed who has determined in his heart that he is now anointed and begins to partake of the emblems at the Memorial? He should not be judged. The matter is between him and Jehovah. 

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. May 1, 2007 p.31

 

So in short the statements pertaining to the Judge Rutherford era  were discarded.  However in this instance, the old teaching wasn’t completely dead with the following:

While the number of anointed ones on the earth has decreased over the decades, the number of the other sheep has increased. When those who have an earthly hope share in the witness work, serving if possible as full-time evangelizers, they support the spirit-anointed ones in fulfilling the disciple-making assignment.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  February 15, 2009 p. 27-28

 

Now with this in mind, I’d like to cover the anointed numbers.  These numbers are for the previous year:

8,850

Yearbook.  1992 p. 33

8,683

Yearbook.  1993 p. 33

8,693

Yearbook.  1994 p.33

8,617

Yearbook.  1995 p. 33

8,645

Yearbook.  1996 p. 33

8,757

Yearbook.  1997 p. 33

8,795

Yearbook.  1998 p. 31

8,756

Yearbook.  1999 p. 31

8,755

Yearbook.  2000 p. 31

8,661

Yearbook.  2001 p. 31

8,730

Yearbook.  2002 p. 31

8,760

Yearbook.  2003 p. 31

8,565

Yearbook.  2004 p. 31

8,570

Yearbook.  2005 p. 31

8,524

Yearbook.  2006 p. 31

 

Special note the number was supposed to be decreasing, notice the trend upward....

 

8,758

Yearbook.  2007 p. 31

9,105

Yearbook.  2008 p. 31

9,986

Yearbook.  2009 p. 31

10,857

Yearbook.  2010 p. 31

11,202

Yearbook.  2011 p. 51

11,824

Yearbook.  2012 p. 55

12,604

Yearbook.  2013 p. 178

13,204

Yearbook.  2014 p. 176

14,121

Yearbook.  2015 p. 176

 

How does the organization account for the increasing number?  There are two explanations:

 

This is the number of baptized individuals who partake of the emblems at the Memorial worldwide. Does this total represent the number of anointed ones on earth? Not necessarily. A number of factors — including past religious beliefs or even mental or emotional imbalance — might cause some to assume mistakenly that they have the heavenly calling. We thus have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  August 15, 2011 p.22

 

Notice though how the organization is laying blame at the feet of the members.  Again, the organization takes no responsibility.  However this assumption does’t hold any water since the anointed partakers is increasing at a greater rate than the general population of those within the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  This means long standing Witnesses who have been in the organization for some time have started rejecting this doctrine and elect to now partake.

 

 

The other explanation came out just a few months ago:

WHAT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF THOSE PARTAKING AT THE MEMORIAL? In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of those partaking at the Memorial of Christ’s death. That trend contrasts with the decrease in the number of partakers that we saw for many decades. Should this increase trouble us? No. Let us consider some key factors to keep in mind. “Jehovah knows those who belong to him.” (2 Tim. 2:19) Those taking the count at the Memorial cannot judge who truly have the heavenly hope. The number of partakers includes those who mistakenly think that they are anointed. Some who at one point started to partake of the emblems later stopped. Others may have mental or emotional problems that lead them to believe that they will rule with Christ in heaven. Therefore,the number of partakers does not accurately indicate the number of anointed ones left on earth."

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  February 2016 Study Edition 2016 p.25-26

 

So what we have from this quote is the organization now shouldn’t worry about the partakers even though the organization said in 1966 that the number finalized.  This is also a reversal because the number of truly anointed was a line of evidence:

 

Sixth, the number of genuine anointed disciples of Christ is dwindling, though some will evidently still be on earth when the great tribulation begins. Most of the remnant are quite elderly, and over the years the number of those who are truly anointed has been getting smaller.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  January 15, 2000 p. 13

 

So with the number increasing, should the Watchtower officially push back the great tribulation?

 

So this organization that says the is yet again giving conflicting view points on yet another simple Bible teaching.  Jesus said to partake yet this organization implores the majority to not do so.  Who will you follow?  Jesus’ words in the Bible which haven’t changed or the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society that has changed in less than 100 years continually?  Again, will you consider placing the Watchtower literature down and reading the Bible alone? 

The Watchtower Society and Dates

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Watchtower and Setting Dates

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has had a foundational problem with dates.  This is not something new.  Dates are in two categories: secular and spiritual.  Since the Watchtower can draw some roots from the Adventist movement, the influence can be traced to William Miller, the Baptist farmer.  Focus on the opening portion.

 

 

The Seventh Day Adventists were mentioned as well.  They are religious “cousins” to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  Here’s just one date that I will use from their doctrinal structure established by Ellen G. White: 1844.

 

At the time appointed for the judgment –the close of the 2300 days, in 1844–began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass Its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are judged 'out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The Great Controversy. 1858, 1950 ed. p. 486

 

The dates quickly became part of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s identity.  These dates, once explicitly mentioned, have today been replaced by periods of time.  However, the foundations of this organization is deeply rooted with utilization of a specific year being written.    

What are the roots of the present day interpretation of 1914?  What was originally supposed to happen?  During the days of Russell, the Great Pyramid known as God’s Stone Witness was an influence early on with this quote:

In the passages of the great pyramid of Gizeh the agreement of one or two measurements with present truth chronology might be accidental, but the correspondency of dozens of measurements proves the same God designed both pyramid and plan and at the same time proves the correctness of the chronology.

The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. June 15, 1922 p.187

 

Notice the date is post inspection, hence Watchtower Jesus found approval.  The Great Pyramid was designed by Jehovah.  Since Jehovah designed it, one would figure it would last.  However, it didn’t.  Here’s a repudiation of what God designed:

 

Those who have devoted themselves to the pyramid have failed to see some of the the most important things that God has revealed for the benefit of his church. The mind of such was turned away from Jehovah and his Word.

The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. November 15, 1928 p.344

 

Let no one today add to his prophecy by saying that a pile of stone in the land of Egypt constitutes God's witness. God has made known that Satan’s organization and all who support it shall soon be destroyed in Armageddon.

Light-Vol. II. 1930 p.286

 

This was reiterated on page 201 of Proclaimer’s of God’s Kingdom (1993) with the following:

There are two ironies here is that the organization according to those who run it were selected as teaching the truth, yet something that was so prominently wrong was taught and believed as being right until the last two months of 1928.

The second irony is that this teaching, so prominent yet addressed in the 1993 history book was completely left out of the 2014 slimmed down history book:

 

Snip20160313_1

 

This was replaced by stringing together a series of verses to arrive at 1914.  This video will explain from 2:11-3:30: 

 

 

So what we have is the society involved in jumping from one passage to another.  Only portions of verses are used. These verses are not connected in any way to one another.  If they were connected, the cross references in the middle would point from one verse to another. 

Both ways to get to 1914, have a common problem: The Fall of Jerusalem. 

 

Looking back at the video from 3:35-4:08, The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only organization on earth that recognizes 607 BC.  However, this was not always the case.  This was originally 606 BC.  Here is one quote:

(We would not say that it was not 605 or 607, but that as nearly as we can tell it was the year 606 B.C.) Then we reasoned that if 606 B.C. was the time when God took away the typical kingdom, no doubt He had at that time the purpose of giving some lease of power to the Gentile nations; and we looked to see what history and the Bible had to say upon the subject.

The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. November 1, 1914 p. 323

 

Obviously a change but here you go:

Babylonian armies destroyed Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E., and Jews from Judah were indeed deported to Babylon.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. May 15, 2012 p. 18

 

Looking a little closer, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society reportedly relies on inspired Bible chronology rather than uninspired secular chronology.  This is where Watchtower is speaking out of both sides of its mouth.  The Bible itself contains absolutely no explicit historical dates.  However, using historical sources combined with biblical events it is possible to date certain passages of scriptures.  Insight on the Scriptures quotes a secular book for the fall of Babylon which it agrees with (537 BC).  However, when it comes to the date of 587 as being the accepted fall of Jerusalem, secular sources are completely ignored. 

I’ve looked at a book entitled “Gentile Times Reconsidered” which exhaustively covers the fall as 587 BC. 

 

Earlier I spoke about what was originally mentioned about 1914.  Here’s the quotes:

 

The date of the close of that "battle" is definitely marked in Scripture as October 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October, 1874. 

Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.  January 15, 1892 p. 23

 

So in short, we were supposed to have today, as you well know, that is the time Watchtower Jesus came back. 

When it comes to the resurrection of those mentioned in Hebrews 11, we see the following:

 

The chief thing to be restored is the human race to life; and since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact that there will be a resurrection Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth.

Millions Now Living Will Never Die.  1920 p. 88

 

Last I checked, I do believe that they haven’t come back to rule anything. 

 

The next are just two quotes:

The Bible contains the only clear record of the origin of the human race, and traces that record from father to son for over two thousand years, then by reliable statistics to the year of the world 3,592, which it calls the “First year of Cyrus, king of Persia.”  This particular year is known in secular history as 536 B. C.

The Way To Paradise. 1925 p. 19

 

The prophet Daniel, described by God’s angel as a “very desirable man,” lived a long life of faithful service. (Daniel 10:11, 19) His integrity to Jehovah remained intact from his exile in 617 B.C.E. until his death some time after he received a vision in 536 B.C.E., the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia. (Daniel 1:1; 10:1)

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  May 1, 2005 p. 12

 

The first quote said 536 was his first year.  The second said it was his third year. 

 

Obviously there are a myriad of other dates that the organization has used.  Here is a small sampling:

 

The following period of 1,335 days would therefore end in the month of May, 1926.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. May 1, 1960 p. 282

 

While the 2,300 days ran their course during World War II, which began in 1939, the offering of “the constant feature” at God’s sanctuary was severely restricted because of persecution. In 1938 the Watch Tower Society had 39 branches supervising the work of the Witnesses worldwide, but by 1943 there were only 21. Increases in the number of Kingdom proclaimers were also small during that period.

As we have noted, during the closing months of World War II, Jehovah’s Witnesses reaffirmed their determination to magnify God’s rulership by serving him as a theocratic organization. It was with this objective that the rearrangement of their work and governing structure was initiated in 1944. In fact, The Watchtower of October 15, 1944, contained an article entitled “Organized for Final Work.” It and other service-oriented articles of the same period indicated that the 2,300 days had ended and that “the holy place” was again in its “right condition.”

Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy! 1999 p. 178, 179

 

How long must the “final work” last?

 

This would leave only seven more years from the autumn of 1968 to complete 6,000 full years of human history.
Awake! October 8, 1968 p. 14

 

Seven more years plus 1968 would equal 1975.  Before the 7,000 year, the Watchtower dictates that Armageddon must occur. 

 

Adam was created in 4026 B.C.E., which means that six thousand years of human history end about the fall of 1975 C.E.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. July 15, 1967 p. 446

 

Again, we have another inference that Armageddon was to occur in 1975. 

 

Why Awake! is Published Awake! is for the enlightenment of the entire family. It shows how to cope with today’s problems. It reports the news, tells about people in many lands, examines religion and science. But it does more. It probes beneath the surface and points to the real meaning behind current events, yet it always stays politically neutral and does not exalt one race above another. Most important this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.

Awake! October 22, 1995

 

The following Awake! removed the reference to 1914 the following issue.  Here we are in the 102nd year since an individual was born in 1914.  Since there are not many left, I can give the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society a little bit of wiggle room.  However, if we use past statements as a predictor of future success, I can say with nearly 100% certainty they will be wrong yet again. 

 

The Elijah work ended in 1918. Any attempt to carry on the Elijah work thereafter would be an attempt to revive a dead thing, and hence out of harmony with the Lord.
The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. May 15, 1933 p. 154

 

How dead is it?  Out of harmony with the Lord?

 

Malachi’s prophecy showed that this great Elijah work would be done before “the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah.”  That day concludes with the rapidly approaching war of the great day of God the Almighty, at Armageddon.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.  May 1, 2002 p. 22

 

So by statements from the Rutherford era, the present day Watchtower Society is “out of harmony.”

 

Brother Jaracz pointed out the following: “In 1919 there was the fall of Babylon the Great; in 1922 the thrilling exhortation to ‘advertise the King and the Kingdom,’ to preach the established Kingdom worldwide; in 1935 God’s people learned the significance of the ‘great crowd’ at Revelation 7:9; in 1943 they saw Gilead School begin sending out missionaries to the ends of the earth; today, in 1989, you graduates have the privilege of telling good things to people in your assignments who are eager to hear.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. December 1, 1989 p. 22, 23

 

Can the Watchtower provide proof the fall? 

 

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 Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. May 1881 Reprints p. 224

 

So what happened?

 

Logically, the calling of the little flock would draw to a close when the number was nearing completion, and the evidence is that the general gathering of these specially blessed ones ended in 1935.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. February 15, 1995 p. 19

 

Biblical proof of this event happening?

 

He was laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. January 1, 1989 p. 12

 

This is the original print version.  It has been altered in the bound volume and CD-Rom.

 

If the work was to be completed, why is it still going on in 2016? 

 

So I trust that you have a greater appreciation for the dates used by the organization.  As I said earlier, the bible doesn’t have any specific date mentioned.  The bible places no importance on it, yet this organization does.  My final request is one that’s common, put down the uninspired Watchtower material and read the Word of God alone.