Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Archives - Page 4 of 9

Chapter 8: What Is God’s Kingdom? Part III

April 1, 2017 By Sean

Hello! I trust whomever you are (feel free to write me at watchtowerofjehovahswitness@mail.com) that things are going well. I’d like to start by actually talking about the outdoors. Since I do hunt, there are “sacred” days in Pennsylvania. The commonwealth’s unofficial “holiday” is the start of buck season (first Monday after Thanksgiving). The second is in the spring with opening day of trout. Last weekend was “Mentored Youth Trout Day.” This allows each child to get paired with an adult. They are allowed to take two trout home as well which they did.

April’s 1st (today) was the official opening day in my area. What lessened the sting was a few days of rain making the waters muddy. However, I still yearned to go out (I admit I went out after starting this write up and almost had one but came home empty handed). First up, were my Jehovah’s Witness friends.

Before addressing them, I do wish to publicly acknowledge my oldest child. She wanted to make chocolate chip cookies. She specifically had the elder and the custodian’s husband in mind.

So just a few minutes after our set time, they rolled up. One of the first things I mentioned is that today is the opening day of trout. The elder made mention that when he grew up, he went fishing a lot. So much so that he hates it now. He also told me how he’s been “going” on a trip with his brother for the past three or four years. He did say his wife wanted to know when it’s going to happen. He pretty much said to the custodian’s husband and myself, “never.”

This lead into the proverbial fishing stories. He said that as a youth he’d go fishing in the Chesapeake and crabbing in the mud back in the 1960s prior to limits getting set. He loved the food yet he didn’t want to get the work in to get the food. Myself, I went fishing as a youth too. I told them that I asked mom why we went so much. She said that’s pretty much the only way we ate at times. Looking back 30 years, God is good since neither my brother or I went to bed hungry once. The custodian’s life has centered on cars and he always focused on that. However, he did contribute by talking about sea serpents in Japan and how these 70 year old women would grab them out of the water. So we explained to him how they are very poisonous yet docile. We then talked about neighborhoods, people, and how it can influence how people act. At this time, the cookies were out and my daughter served them. They seemed to be genuinely thankful and appreciated the “proper food at the proper time” (a play on the “spiritual food” delivered).

With that 20 minute of chit chat over, we moved into the material. I wish to warn you in advance, the “meat” of this may be a tad tough to follow as there’s zigging and zagging.

Starting with paragraphs 18 and 19, it starts to deal with one of the most important events in Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doctrine-Armageddon (I’m still working through the project I mentioned a few weeks back).

My question was centered on the “final conflict.” The booklet says this is it, however, I wanted to get insight on Revelation 20:7-10. The New World Translation renders it this way:

7 Now as soon as the 1,000 years have ended, Satan will be released from his prison,

8 and he will go out to mislead those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Maʹgog, to gather them together for the war. The number of these is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they advanced over the whole earth and encircled the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down out of heaven and consumed them.

10 And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

While reading I did place emphasis on the latter part of verse 10 with eternal torment.

At this point the elder excused himself to the bathroom and the custodian’s husband said they had a work day at the kingdom hall. He had to attend to the plumbing to make sure the drains and traps were are properly. The elder who works with computers was doing work associated with the networks. I surmise this may somehow deal with the organization's official website since there’s a log in link at the upper right hand corner of the main page. The custodian’s husband who is not tech savvy said he doesn’t have an account.

The elder came back and tried to answer me. He said one MUST get into the other prophecies associated with these verses. He said essentially, we have to start in Revelation 16:1. I worked at defining the word “earth” in this verse from my Strong’s Dictionary at the back of my New American Standard Bible.

This led him into saying the organization doesn’t do word for word translation due to Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic due to those words not translating into the English properly. He’s saying they want to go with the concept. (Side note, the New World Translation does lean towards a paraphrase even though it’s a non-recognized translation. (This chart helps to explain bible translation philosophy and the New American Standard Bible is a fine word for word translation). He read into Zephaniah for a few minutes and talked about this. Jumping back, he asked about who was to be killed relating to worship of the beast. He tried to equate this to the sheep and the goats (this has changed over the years with the Watchtower as to who they were). He was then leafing through Revelation talking very briefly about Babylon the Great and I just took over because my Bible has the subheadings in each chapter which the New World Translation does not.

He was then saying that those who survive Armageddon get to live for 1,000 years. He then explained how during the 1,000 years there’s a gradual resurrection. I let him roll with it even though Hebrews 9:27 is extremely clear (New World Translation), And just as it is reserved for men to die once for all time, but after this to receive a judgment. He then proceeded to tie this into chapter 20 by referencing those who did not receive the mark of the beast. This is limited to the 144,000. Again, side note here, there are women I’ve heard who claim to be of the anointed. There are no instances where the Old Testament mentions a woman serving as a priest. They led and prophesied (Miriam, Deborah, Esther, Huldah, and Ataliah) but NEVER once was one mentioned as a priest. The 144,000 are priests and co-rulers according to Watchtower theology. So I asked the clarifying question so I could understand the organization’s thought process… The booklet calls Armageddon the final conflict which is for human governments. Revelation 20 is a final test for those who didn’t have to go through Armageddon. Once this is done, according to Watchtower theology is when Satan is annihilated (Revelation 20:10 must now reference an unconscious torment). What took about 10 minutes he said, “a lot of research” goes into this and brings many prophecies in as well from Daniel. A further study would ‘take a while.’” He then talked about how the book is to merely be “a guide.” The custodian’s husband then quipped that if you don’t know, just “put it on the shelf and come back to it later.” Personally speaking, that’s an unacceptable answer but that shows you how they think as the elder agreed with that summation. He said he hopes it helps some and he would be willing to “do more research” on that subject.

The custodian’s husband then pipes in saying, “the Revelation (Grand Climax at Hand) book really goes into this. We studied this twice.” The elder then says he thinks there’s changes coming down the pike and they are going to revise the book again. It was released in 1988 and has some changes in 2006 (click here and to see the changes from Avoid JW.org). I told them I was able to purchase this for a penny on Amazon. They looked surprised and I told them I had to spend that to get free shipping on an order. He said that he can get me ANY of that literature. He isn’t paying attention as this November 2015 announcement (from JW Survey) said they are discarding a lot of material to include Revelation-It’s Grand Climax is At Hand: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vppig0g8rjgdscc/Monthlyannouncement201511-E.pdf?dl=0

The elder said the Revelation-It’s Grand Climax is At Hand book has had “enhancements” which have necessitated a change. The custodian’s husband said “things are accelerating”and the elder then quipped, “Jehovah reveals so we can understand better.” I asked if the book was available on the website. They said, it’s not and all have the same red cover. I performed a simple Google search and the 2006 printing is uploaded on JW Survey. This one has a blue cover to boot. I was told that since 2006, many things in that book are starting to happen right now. There was a mention by me of The Finished Mystery. I did tell them that I did download a copy since it’s considered public domain. The elder essentially said, “that’s fine and present material updates what was printed then. Current material at times references it. The only publication that hasn’t been updated is the bible.” I pushed back very gently referencing specifically Colossians 1 with the brackets. I explained that the 1984 New World Translation had brackets so readers would know a word was inserted. The 2013 version has no brackets so the reader assumes the word appeared in the original Greek. I told them in the JW Library App the word “other” does not appear at all. The elder then said the original writers didn’t use “a,” “an,” or “the” in the original Greek and my mind went to John 1:1 where the “a” is added in front of God.

This led him into zagging about bible translation techniques and how the New World Translation is translated and that everything is open and nothing is hidden at all (the Society still hasn’t released the translation committee member names). We took a look at the Appendix regarding how the bible came to us in the present day. I went along with this when the elder bought up the Dead Sea Scrolls. He apologized for getting off the major topic but it’s something we always do in some way. He then talked about everything is in the open and how they don’t wish to mislead anyone (if the Society was open, sites like JW Leaks wouldn’t exist).

With this we moved to the next paragraph after this 40 minute rabbit trail.

So in paragraph 20 I asked my question, “why is it at Armageddon those people are destroyed forever when chapter seven mentions that all will get a second chance resurrection? Through history people have committed the actions mentioned in the paragraph. So let’s say for example sake, we have people who died five years ago. They live and let’s say Armageddon is today, what happens?” The elder asked my thoughts and I wanted him to clarify. Cue the puzzled look on the custodian’s face. This is essentially because there’s an obvious contradiction. They sat silently for a few moments and the custodian’s husband said, “I can tell you what we believe.” He went quiet. The elder asked me to ask the question again. The elder tried to tie in 2 Peter 2:4-7 which the New World Translation renders:

4 Certainly God did not refrain from punishing the angels who sinned, but threw them into Tarʹta·rus, putting them in chains of dense darkness to be reserved for judgment.

5 And he did not refrain from punishing an ancient world, but kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a flood upon a world of ungodly people.

6 And by reducing the cities of Sodʹom and Go·morʹrah to ashes, he condemned them, setting a pattern for ungodly people of things to come.

7 And he rescued righteous Lot, who was greatly distressed by the brazen conduct of the lawless people—

He wanted to know what it paralleled so I answered. I was able to tie this into the “sheep and goats” that was mentioned earlier. The elder said that what “solidified” it was verse nine. So I took him back out of the bible and into the publication. The elder zagged and asked about judgement in the bible to see what happened. I told him eternal destruction. He replied about the angels and how Armageddon is a day of judgment. He then attempted to answer by talking about Pharaoh and how he knew he wasn’t greater than Jehovah. He then said that everyone is warned at all times by some sort of messenger. He talked about the judgment of disobedience in relation to the children of Israel for serving Baal yet Peter is a different judgment. After he tried to explain, I asked what the difference was and even the custodian’s husband said, “why the second chance (seems to me like he understood where I was coming from the organization’s standpoint)?” I said that it seems like Jehovah is partial. Chapter seven folks have a second chance yet Armageddon does not. The reply was, “they experienced death not due to their action.”

I asked then how does Revelation 20 fit into this. The elder said, “you want to jump ahead” to which he started laughing some. He brings in Revelation 16 and 20. So I talked about the Great White Throne and tried to sum up saying:

Armageddon is the First Judgment

Great White Throne is to be considered the final judgment.

The elder essentially said, “there’s a lot more that goes into this and I don’t want to confuse you.” I was told that the final war was not over at this point and he deflected by saying, “it takes more research to tie everything together when you get the people who were before Armageddon. In the end what happens is death is cast into the lake of fire.”

The elder was going for the annihilation but I wasn’t giving him space by talking about how we covered Hades a long time ago. He suggested doing another study later on regarding this. He pretty much finished by saying, “Armageddon in Revelation is deep. We can’t cover this in one hour.” He suggested I read the Revelation-Grand Climax at Hand! to get a better explanation. The custodian’s husband commended me for being studious to which I said I only did only to be eligible for sports. At that we wrapped things up. We are set to meet April 15th.

Please continue to pray.

Observations:

I again find it remarkable that they are willing to try and zag away from a topic when they don’t feel comfortable or possibly prepared.
They suggest studying more when an answer is not readily obtainable. I’ve heard this is a common JW tactic.
They are comfortable at times with just “shelving” a topic and leaving it unanswered. This is a clear contradiction. If they headed the words of 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 they’d shelve things a lot less. It says (New World Translation): 16 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, or reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.
They can essentially contradict themselves in the course of five minutes with no problems at all.
They still keep coming. My guess is they will consider it a major “victory” if they can get me to convert. I thought more about this. I work as an engineer for the federal government. It would be better for me to quit that and go door to door preaching “their” gospel. After five years of them coming off and on, I’d be a major coup.

Extra:

I didn’t want to go back and change last week’s meeting notes after submitting so I will add them here. The elder was proudly said the the organization is fully transitioning to an online presence. From the Watchtower standpoint, this is a great business decision. Technology is destroying the need for the Watchtower printing machine. Also, this will make things slightly harder to track in terms of changes as the Society can make an “adjustment” and it’ll be harder to detect. From the individual Witness standpoint, they are all having to purchase mobile devices. Since they tend to be lower on the socio-economic scale as Pew reports, this is an extra financial burden.

There was no really good place to fit this into the narrative but I had to include this information about Revelation and how the organization has written on it. As an Adventist offshoot, they’ve carried on this tradition of focusing on the last book of the Bible. Now, they if the don’t understand or properly interrupt the first 65 books, what makes them right with the last one?

This article on Huffington Post gives a general overview critique of the Revelation-Grand Climax At Hand! book

Books with hyperlinks are those that I’ve read and have highlighted since they pertain to the biblical book of Revelation. These highlights are things worth comparing to the current Revelation-Grand Climax at Hand! book:

The Finished Mystery-1917

Revelation-1918

Light: Volume I-1930

Light: Volume II-1930

Babylon the Great Has Fallen! God's Kingdom Rules!-1963

Then Is Finished the Mystery of God-1969

Here’s the short of the long. They have to keep publishing since the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society hasn’t gotten it right from the beginning.

Ecclesiastes 12:12 (New World Translation)-As for anything besides these, my son, be warned: To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion to them is wearisome to the flesh.

Chapter 7: Real hope for Your Loved One Who Have Died-Part II

February 4, 2017 By Sean

Today was the first day that my friends and myself were able to meet in the past three weeks. Both sides have had respective engagements that prevented us from “studying” What Does the Bible Really Teach?

Before we really get into this, I’ve noticed that only the elder will come as the “lead” and he substitutes if sick with a “brother from the hall” who perhaps he has confidence in that can answer my questions sufficiently.

As is the norm, they like to interact with the kids by saying hello when they first walk in. Both are grandparents so they relate as their grandkids ages overlap with my kids. They had just started The Good Dinosaur movie so the elder asked if I saw it to which I replied, “I haven’t.” One of my kids then says, “Grandma and Pappy have it.” So this bought some laughter with us.

We were to supposed to start on paragraph 21 on page 73, however, they said it was paragraph 17 which is fine as the 21st paragraph was going to be the sticking point and major contention. The section is under, “All those in the Memorial Tombs.” One thing that is related to this that’s been “forgotten” is from Johannes Greber which says the following:

The translation by Johannes Greber (1937) of these verses reads as follows: “Tombs were laid open, and many bodies of those were tossed upright. In this posture they projected from the graves and were seen by many who passed by the place on their way back to the city.” Aid to Bible Understanding. 1971 p. 1134

What happened in 1983 is the organization stopped using him after being caught knowing he was involved in spiritism.

They asked if I had read the Appendix pages 212-213 that deal with the Sheol and Hades to which I hadn’t done yet. We covered paragraph 18 and I just instinctively used the name of Rahab from a sermon I once heard. Chatting a bit about that, she was most likely according to the writer of Hebrews and supported by phrases in the Bible, a young woman. They seemed intrigued so I went on and talked a little further. I asked if they’d be interested to hear more and surprisingly, they said they were. So I said, I’d email them the message to them. Hopefully, they’ll actually listen as it’s a fascinating message.

Paragraph 19 on page 72 says the following, “What about all the people who did not serve or obey Jehovah because they never knew about him?” The paragraph goes on to say that every body will get a chance to hit the “reset” button. Essentially, the Watchtower teaches-if you don't accept the message this time, you can do it again when the resurrection happens. This is again a direct contradiction of Romans 1:20 but we’ll let go.

The question I asked was this, “What about those who purposely chose to not serve or obey after hearing the message of truth?” The custodian’s husband simply stared at me. Not in anger mind you but as one who never heard a question like this before. This was so different since it goes against their “second chance theology.”

Essentially what then happened is the elder said, “well all judgment is done by Jehovah (all judgment given to the Son in John 5:22) and I can’t place myself in that position.” While he explained, I looked at the custodian’s husband and he couldn’t really “shake” the question I had asked. The elder eventually said, “well, the organization can’t have every little thing written down and answered in the paragraph. It’s in Jehovah’s hands”

They did their best to tie it in with paragraph 20. Here’s the counter (read I Peter 4:5) and I didn’t want to fight this one as I focused on the next paragraph which is where we will focus our attention.

The paragraph on page 73 says the following, “The Bible also refers to another kind of resurrection, one to life as a spirit creature in heaven. Only one example of this type of resurrection is recorded in the Bible, that of Jesus Christ.” I allowed them to go through paragraph 22. At this point, once we answered the questions, I asked this question, “Why does the organization not cover all the verses about Jesus and the resurrection?” They both just kind of looked at me. Side note-the organization teaches them some verses on a particular topic, but not all. I said, you may know where I’m going but let’s take a look at John 2:18-21 (I bought this passage up previously).

John 2:18-21 says the following from the New World Translation:

18 Therefore, in response the Jews said to him: “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?”

19 Jesus replied to them: “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

20 The Jews then said: “This temple was built in 46 years, and will you raise it up in three days?”

21 But he was talking about the temple of his body.

22 When, though, he was raised up from the dead, his disciples recalled that he used to say this, and they believed the scripture and what Jesus had spoken.

The other direct account follows:

Luke 24:36-45 (New World Translation):

36 While they were speaking of these things, he himself stood in their midst and said to them: “May you have peace.”

37 But because they were terrified and frightened, they imagined that they were seeing a spirit.

38 So he said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why have doubts come up in your hearts?

39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.”

40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

41 But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and amazement, he said to them: “Do you have something there to eat?”

42 So they handed him a piece of broiled fish,

43 and he took it and ate it before their eyes.

44 He then said to them: “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all the things written about me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and Psalms must be fulfilled.”

45 Then he opened up their minds fully to grasp the meaning of the Scriptures,

The last time these verses were brought forth raised a significant negative reaction. However, this time it lead to a very, very good productive discussion even though at one point I was asked, “what translation are you using?” The New American Standard Bible was my response (there’s virtually no difference here with the verses in the New World Translation).

So they pretty much asked me to explain how this can possibly fit with I Peter 3:18 which says in part, “He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” At this point of our relationship and “Bible study,” we can all be a little more frank with each other (and there’s been a good number of times when we laugh) so I literally said, “the organization is teaching you to see that 'being made alive in the spirit is the same thing as being ‘made into’ a spirit.'” Surprisingly, this wasn’t argued and they allowed me to continue. The purpose was two fold here:

Demonstrate that the organization is engaged in eisegisis (reading something that isn’t there)
Flatly contradict what was said/they believe with the following statement in the paragraph:
1. Jesus was alive again as a mighty spirit person! What Does the Bible Really Teach? 2005, 2014 revision p. 74

I was asked by the elder, “would you please explain how a spirit can have a physical body?” He excused himself to the bathroom. So for this I again went back to John 2. Here’s the question/statement used with the custodian’s husband, “There are two types of prophets, true prophets and false ones.” We both agreed that Jesus was a true prophet. I said, "Jesus predicted He was going to raise himself back with his physical body."

The significance of that is this (I didn't openly speak these):

I placed the custodian's husband in a conundrum: Place his belief in the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society or place his belief in the Bible (for these verses, I'd say the New World Translation applies)-either way they plainly contradict one another. Which one would "win?" The inspired Word of God or a manmade organization?
If Jesus didn’t come back to life with the same physical body, He would be a liar. Jesus obviously never lied.
To know He would rise on the third day would mean He was conscious which again goes against the belief of "soul sleep" that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society "preaches."
God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24, 3:15, 13:30). Jesus raised himself. Therefore, Jesus is fully God as Colossians 2:9 says (except in the New World Translation)

I then explained how our bodies are made alive because of the blood that pumps through it (the elder had come back by now). I contrasted that with “being made alive in the spirit.” I went back into Luke 24 at this point. For our context, I started with the account of “The Road to Emmaus” (Luke 24:13-35). Then I was able to really take the time to explain what happened in verses 36-43:

36: Jesus appeared to them as they were most likely in a closed room. They agreed this was the case.

37: They thought they saw a spirit.

38: Jesus affirms that He is NOT a spirit.

39: Spirits are not physically handled. Jesus commands them to touch him.

41-43: Further affirmation that he is NOT a spirit as He asks for food.

They brought in how sometimes a spirit can manifest itself physically. They tried tying this directly to Jesus. However, I gently reminded them that Jesus said he was NOT a spirit using Jesus' own words.

I explained that the physical body “powered” by blood has it’s limitations. The body “made alive in the spirit” is capable of more even though it resides in the physical body. The body made alive by the spirit has some extra capabilities. At this point, I heard something MAJOR-the custodian’s husband OPENLY admitted that Jesus was raised with a physical body.

This led to them asking a little about “what is the spirit within a person?” This was a question that I wasn’t expecting. If you’re not a Witness, they are there to “teach” and you are what they call the “study” so you are to learn. Taking the time to talk with them about this book and bringing the verses under the guidance of the Holy Spirit has allowed me to build “capital” and today they felt comfortable enough in our relationship that they can now ask me a question so they understand more what I believe. Side note-I saw a presentation that Witnesses believe that Christians don't really appreciate the Bible. If that's the case, these sessions we've spent with one another has been steadily eroding this notion.

I openly stated, “I know at times we see different things in the Scriptures. I want to take the time to ensure you understand where I’m coming from. I want to make sure we aren't talking past one another.” (This happens all too often when discussing the Trinity). They gave an unspoken agreement and I was able to talk about the following verses:

2 Corinthians 4:16 (New World Translation) Therefore, we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (New World Translation) And all of us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors the glory of Jehovah, are transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, exactly as it is done by Jehovah the Spirit.

Romans 8:10 (New World Translation) But if Christ is in union with you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. [Note: The New World Translation adds the word “union”]

To give them the floor I asked for them to quickly explain I Thessalonians 4:15-17. The elder quickly shied away from this as this in part is a “proof texts” that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. They further said that these verses are “not easily covered.” I let them go and simply reinforced “that those alive shall be changed.” At this point, the elder asked me, “Can flesh go into heaven?” I said, “I know where you’re going, flesh and blood cannot inherit” and laughed a little bit and they did as well as he tried to "get" me. I then took them back to I Corinthians 15:51, 52 emphasizing the word “changed.” I was able to briefly explain with our blood that would be considered “perishable" and being “imperishable” is alive in the Spirit. The elder and the custodian’s husband both looked like he was “processing” what I said.

The custodian's husband then spoke what he was thinking, "we have an inner person to go along with the physical." I said, "yes."

Time was quickly finishing up as I said I had to get a flat tire fixed but the elder said, “well you know, you're a lot like me, you need to investigate everything. The main point is this: Jesus died for us, accept him and follow his commands then it’s alright.” Again, I didn’t wish to belabor any point as he had previously demonstrated he didn't "investigate" these passages which are absolutely crucial and essential to the Christian faith.

Observing their facial expressions they were processing everything said along with seeds being planted along the way.

We set our next appointment as I looked at the elder’s field service card of his appointments. I am not sure of how any of his other studies are going (about 12 on his paper) but I can only hope and pray that there’s at least one person who might be asking him similar questions within his “territory” to make him question more things for investigation.

Some last items and I’ll be done:

We spend pretty much spent better part of two hours on 2.5 pages. Since they unconsciously elevate Bible “aids” to the Bible itself, they keep coming so long as we talk. I'll openly admit, it's been an exercise in patience since the "Bible study." However, patience and persistence has "paid off" as they are now comfortable enough to questions not related to the material.
We broke with smiles and handshakes. Keeping cordial is absolutely key as they “study” with me.
These guys and their spouses are great friends (they lived with the other as a house was being done). They spend a lot of time with one another, hopefully they are more candid and will be asking questions amongst themselves.
The custodian’s husband verbally and openly broke with the organization’s belief regarding the resurrection (however briefly but PRAISE God) by openly stating to me, “Jesus was raised in a physical body.” Significant because that Watchtower veil was lifted at a core belief and said in front of me and I'm not in "Jehovah’s organization."

I’ll keep praying and ask you to pray that things will keep progressing.

The First Resurrection According to the Watchtower

May 29, 2016 By Sean

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:

Executed or become a martyr for Jesus and the Father.
Did not worship the wild beast, image, or receive the mark.
Came to life to rule.
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.