Channel C²

Upon opening this page, you will have 25 minutes to answer the following questions concerning the history and doctrine of the Watchtower organization. Answers to the questions are given after the test is completed at the bottom of the page, followed by notes. Any questions or request for further details or clarification on subject matter can be sent e-mail to Daniel Michaels at ‘philoalethinos@yahoo.com.’ You have 25 minutes.

Answer each of the questions True or False

1. The Watchtower uses language that would be highly inappropriate for a group of people who do not claim to be “inspired prophets.”

2. The “other sheep” in John 10:16 refer, not to the gentiles, but to Christians with an earthly hope that are not of the 144,000 anointed class.

3. The Watchtower loyalist of today are the “great crowd” referred to in Revelations chapter 7.

4. The “great crowd” in Revelation 7 are “before the throne” in the sense that they are seen on earth standing before God who is in heaven.

5. The Watchtower organization is set up in authority and structure after the pattern found in the Catholic Church. In many cases the doctrines are the same, only the names have been changed.

6. The WT has always told the truth and has never tried to cover up its history.

7. Rutherford’s “Millions Now Living Will Never Die” talk in 1923 is still taught by the WT organization as a highlighted fulfillment of inspired bible prophecy.

8. The 7 angelic trumpets blast of Revelation all had to do with district conventions in the 1920’s.

9. The Awake magazine stated concerning its pre-1995 doctrine of the “generation” teaching, that those alive in 1914 would see Armageddon, was “God’s promise,” not simply the Watchtowers suggested understanding of the verse.

10. All Christian’s do not need to partake of the blood and the bread at the memorial celebration, but simply to pass the bread and wine passed them without either eating or drinking. Christ words apply only to the 144.000, not to the ‘other sheep.”

11. The word “Jehovah” occurs 237 in the greek text from which the New Word Translation’s Greek Scriptures were translated.

12. The word “rapture” does not occur in the bible. Nor the teaching that Christians will be taken alive by Christ at His return.

Select the correct answer in each of the following statements

13. Today, JW’s are taught that Christ returned invisibly in 1914, however, that teaching did not start in the Organization around the year (1900, 1930, 1960)?

14. The Watchtower, up until around 1930, dogmatically taught that Christ invisible presence began in the year (1799, 1874, 1914).

15. In the year (1994, 1995, 1996) the WT brought “new light” on its teaching on the “generation” teaching to mean, not a literal Generation with a fixed year span, as had been dogmatically asserted for decades, but one that was not “as such, a description of a fixed length of time beginning with a specific date.”

16. Before the January 15, (1921, 1941, 1961) issue of the Watchtower, the WT loyalist was never disfellowshipped for blood transfusions, but after that date, the WT loyalist was to be disfellowshipped for a blood transfusion.

17. With regard to organ transplants, the Watchtower Organization only had positive things to say about it in its early years. Even so, “new light” was shed on this doctrine in a (1957, 1967, 1977) issue of the Watchtower, when it suddenly what was acceptable became a form of human cannibalism, and was not allowed anymore by a Witness who wanted to be in good standing. However, again more ‘new light” was taught by the Watchtower, when divine principles changed again in a (1970, 1980, 1990) issue of the Watchtower, when organ transplants were too be seen as a personal conscience matter, with no longer disciplinary actions from judicial committees.

18. The first person to apply the term ‘Faithful and discreet slave” to Charles Taze Russell was (Jehovah God, Jesus Christ, Mrs. Maria Russell) in the year (33 AD, 1895 AD, 1914AD)

19. In the year (1925, 1927, 1929) President Rutherford built a house in San Diego named ‘Beth-Sarim,’ and he taught that many faithful men in the bible would live there after their resurrection. When this assertion of Rutherford’s also proved to be a false teaching, and that house a monument to false teaching of prophecy, after his death, the Watchtower Society sold the house in the year (1946, 1947, 1948).

Provide the word(s) of phrase needed to complete each of the following statements.

20. The WTBS wants the _______ of “God’s sole means of communication,” but not the ___________.

21. The WBTS still teaches that Christ is only the ________ for 144,000 persons, not all men, as the bible teaches at 1 Timothy 2:5, with no numeric qualification.

22. In Revelation 7, the term “144,000” in verse 4 is seen by the Watchtower to be a ___________ number, while the term “The tribes of Israel,” mentioned in the same verse, is seen to be ________.

23. The WT taught, after 1923, that the “separating of the Sheep and the Goats” was being presently fulfilled by their door to door preaching work; however the Watchtower of 1995 brought “new light” to this by maintaining that it was now to be understood as having a ______ fulfillment.

24. In Revelation chapter 7, John in ____ a.d. has information communicated to him by one of the 24 elders, yet the Watchtower teaches that the 24 elders represent the 144,000, and that none of them were to be resurrected to spiritual life until the year ____ A.D.

25. In the year 1924, the Watchtower magazine still declared the importance of the year 1925 as being a fixed dated of significant biblical prophetic importance, declaring that “the year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of _____.” However, this ‘truth’ is no longer ‘true,’ and few witnesses know the ‘truth’ of what was taught concerning 1925.

26. With regard to the Watchtowers interpretation of the “sheep and the goats” from 1884 to 1923, it was taught that this separation would occur in the future, after the Tribulation. However, in 1923, Rutherford taught “new light,” that the preaching message of the Jehovah’s Witnesses was presently fulfilling the separating work. Rutherford’s teaching however, was recently changed again, when more “new light” in the year ____ stated that it was in fact to have a future, not present, fulfillment.

27. In his book Reconciliation, Watchtower President Rutherford carried on the Society’s teaching that Jehovah lived in the star system of the _______, and this teaching stayed in the organization until the Watchtower of November 15, ____, when it was stated that to believe what the Watchtower formerly taught would be “unwise.”

28. Carl Olof Jonsson was disfellowshipped from the Watchtower organization in the year ____, after he wrote a book entitled _________________________, in which he argues that Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon destroyed the city of Jerusalem in the year ____, not 607 b.c.e., as the Watchtower currently teaches.

29. The Great Pyramid of Giza, used extensively by the Watchtowers first president, called it, “the alter to ______ in the midst of the land of Egypt,” as well as “the Bible in stone.” Even in 1923, the Watchtower said of it, “Jehovah caused the Great Pyramid of Egypt to be builded” among many other positive statements made of it. However, in the year 1929, the Watchtower again reversed itself in doctrine, saying then that the pyramid was in fact built “under the direction of _____ the Devil.”

30. In its desire to control the mind and thinking of the Witness the Watchtower stated in the 8/1 2001 issue that a “mature christian” does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor ______ _____ when it comes to Bible understanding. This teaching by the Watchtower goes against the clear scriptural teaching by the Apostle Paul to “make sure of all things.”

Match the following scriptures to the statements listed below:

Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Galatians 1:8, 9; 1 Peter 4:17; Matthew 23:1-12;

31. Christians today need to be aware of men who set themselves up in positions of authority and want to be called by lofty titles and to be adorned by men, leading to idolatry and veneration of a creature.

32. When a Christian hears a teaching that goes against the Word of God, or teaches as gospel doctrines that the bible does not, a Christians has a biblical obligation to reject that teaching, as well its teacher, who should be viewed as accursed.

33. The bible teaches that the judgment begins with the “house of God.” (Hebrew “bethel”) Those who claim to be ‘the house of God,” set themselves up to have God’s judgment begin with them.

34. A person who claims to be a ‘prophet’ or a divinely appointed group, or God’s sole means of communication, will be held accountable by God to speck the truth and teach according to the Word of God. To teach falsehood in God’s name requires that the person or group who did that to be rejected by Christians, who need to clear out what is evil from their midst.

1. Answer; True

2. Answer; False

3. Answer; False

4. Answer; False

5. Answer; True

6. Answer; False

7. Answer; True

8. Answer; False

9. Answer; True

10. Answer; False

11. Answer: False

12. Answer: False

13. Answer; 1930

14. Answer; 1874

15. Answer; 1995

16; Answer; 1961

17. Answers; Watchtower 1967; Watchtower 1980

18. Answer; Mrs. Maria Russell, 1895 AD

19. Answers; 1929, 1947

20. Answer: Responsibility, accountability

21. Answer: Mediator

22. Answer: Literal, spiritual.

23. Answer; future

24. Answer: 96ad, 1919 ad.

25. Answer: 1914

26. Answer: 1995

27. Answer: Pleiades, 1953

28. Answers; July, 1982: The Gentile times Reconsidered: 587 b.c.e.

29. Answer; Jehovah, Satan

30. Answer; private ideas

31. Answer; Matthew 23:1-12

32. Answer; Galatians 1:8, 9

33. Answer; 1 Peter 4:17

34. Answer; Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Notes to 1.

Although the WT may claim at times to not be inspired, this is spoken only through one side of there mouth. Certainly a group of man who claim not to be inspired by God should not use such language that in fact teaches that they are inspired, as in stating that Jehovah and the Holy Spirit cause to be published the ‘truths’ in the Watchtower publications. Note the misleading language that the WT uses in the following quotations…

*** w57 6/15 p. 370 Overseers of Jehovah’s People ***

. 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.

*** w52 2/1 pp. 79-80 Jehovah’s Theocratic Organization Today ***

. The truths we are to publish are the ones provided through the discreet-slave organization, not some personal opinions contrary to what the slave has provided as timely food. Jehovah and Christ direct and correct the slave as needed, not we as individuals. If we do not see a point at first we should keep trying to grasp it, rather than opposing and rejecting it and presumptuously taking the position that we are more likely to be right than the discreet slave. We should meekly go along with the Lord’s theocratic organization and wait for further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable to us and proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though they were worth more than the slave’s provision of spiritual food. Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord’s visible organization and not be so foolish as to pit against Jehovah’s channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings.

12 Now some may ask, Should we accept as from the Lord and true the food provided through the discreet slave, or should we withhold acceptance until we have proved it for ourselves? If we have gained our present understanding of the Bible by feeding at the table set by the slave, if we have been thereby freed from false doctrines and built up in the clean and undefiled worship of God and given a new world hope, we should have some confidence in the slave’s provisions. After being nourished to our present spiritual strength and maturity, do we suddenly become smarter than our former provider and forsake the enlightening guidance of the organization that mothered us? “Forsake not the law of thy mother.”

*** w60 7/15 p. 439 Staying Awake with the “Faithful and Discreet Slave” ***

The facts show that during this time and up to the present hour the “slave” class has served as God’s sole collective channel for the flow of Biblical truth to men on earth. Just as the early Christian congregation collectively served as the channel of communication from heaven to earth, so in our time. (Eph. 3:10) 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 holy spirit. The present stature of the New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses, numbering nearly a million ministers in 175 lands, gives eloquent testimony that it is not the product of human ingenuity. Rather, it is the product of holy spirit operating theocratically through a tested channel, influencing the lives of dedicated

*** w68 3/15 p. 178 Sanctifying “the Holy One of Israel” ***

And this well typifies the message that Jehovah proclaims through his modern-day channel, “the faithful and discreet slave”—the remnant of his anointed witnesses on earth:

*** w79 9/1 p. 29 The Royal “Shepherd” of Bible Prophecy ***

28 Unlike the clergy class, those of the Jeremiah class have been sent by Jehovah to speak in his name. Nevertheless, the clergy prophets also claim to speak in his name and, hence, to tell the Bible truth. In this way Christendom’s religious leaders really ‘steal’ away the force and effect of the calamitous message proclaimed by the Jeremiah class. True, the Jeremiah class back up their message by quoting the words, “This is what Jehovah has said.”

*** w88 4/1 p. 31 Is Obedience Always Proper? ***

. When our heavenly Father, Jehovah God, speaks, whether through his Word, the Bible, or through his earthly organization, it is all the more important for us to listen and obey, thus proving that we are obedient worshipers who do not ignore the loving reminder: “Did you hear me?”

*** w00 5/1 p. 16 Hear What the Spirit Has to Say ***

What attitude should we have if we are really listening to what the spirit says through the slave class? The apostle Paul answers: “Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive.”

Notes to 2.

That the “other sheep” of John 10, are the gentiles, not a group of people who realized in 1935 that they were not part of the 144,000 after more then 144,000 became WT loyalist. The bible talks about 2 groups, Jew and gentile, all of whom are lead by Christ. The “other sheep” of John 10:16 are spoken of by Christ as “those also I must bring,” when he was clearly going to heaven.

The “other sheep” are also said to be member of the “One Flock,” under the ‘one Shepard.’ Luke 12:32 tells us that this ‘Little Flock’ would be given the kingdom. Interestingly, the Watchtower has the ‘other sheep’ on earth, while those with whom they are ‘one flock’ with, are heavenly class. This despite the clear biblical teaching that the ‘other sheep’ are described by Christ as “those also I must bring.” Clearly, the ‘other sheep’ are the gentile Christians who receive a heavenly reward along with all faithful Christians.

Notes to 3.

The Watchtower organization often called the members of its organization the “Great Crowd” of Revelation 7:9, the context of Rev 7, however, show that the group that John describes as the ‘great crowd’ come ‘out of the great tribulation.’ Since no one yet has lived through the ‘great tribulation,’ it is inappropriate to describe any group of people by this title.

Notes to 4.

The ‘great crowd’ of Revelation 7:9 are seen ‘standing before the throne and before the lamb, dressed in white robes.” They are also seen in the temple, or the ‘divine habitation.’ In addition, they are spoken of as a group that comes out of the great Tribulation. Both a careful study of the context as well as a study of related scriptures clearly identify the ‘great crowd’ as a heavenly class. First, the immediate context The ‘great crowd’ is seen before both the ‘throne’ as well as the ‘lamb,” both of which are in heaven, along with the angels and four living creatures that are seen and spoken of in the context as also being around the throne. Second, they render God service both ‘Day and night,” they no not hunger nor thirst, nor are they effected by the sun or heat, as a human on earth would be. Third, they also are depicted as wearing ‘white robes,’ which are also spoken of by Christ as a reward to the first century chirstians, who were worthy and who conquered, and whom the Watchtower acknowledges as having a heavenly hope. Forth, they are serving God in the ‘temple,’ which is the greek word ‘naos.’ Since the earthly temple was destroyed in 70 .c.e., the temple must be something different. At the time of Johns writing, in Revelation 11:19, the ‘naos’ was seen in heaven,

“And the temple [sanctuary] of God that is in heaven was opened.”

Thus the “naos” or temple sanctuary that the ‘great crowd’ was seen serving ‘day and night’ in is a heavenly one. The NWT, however, translates naos in Revelation 7:15 as “temple,” but in revelation 11:19, it is translated “temple sanctuary,’ in perhaps an attempt to hid the location of the “great crowd.”

Fifth, the phrase “great crowd” occurs three times in Revelation, in 7:9, 19:1, 6. Revelation 19:1 makes it clear when it says, “After these things I heard what was as a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven.”

In addition to the immediate context, other Scriptures can be brought in to help identify the location of the “great crowd.” Since they come out of the ‘great tribulation,’ they can also be identified as likely those Christ mentioned at Matt 24:29-31, who are spoken of as being gathered by Christ after the tribulation, when

1. Christ comes

2. blows a great trumpet

3. gathers his chosen ones

Christ words at Matt 24:29-31 precede his further statements concerning his coming in Matt 24:40, when he talks about taking one man in a field, but abandoning the other, or taking one woman at the mill, and abandoning the other. Such words remind us of the teaching of the “rapture,” spoken of by Paul at 1 thess 4:15-17.

Here also we find the following

1. Christ descends from heaven

2. has God’s Trumpet

3. gathers together the dead in Christ and the surviving

It therefore seems logical to be to believe that the Great Crowd in Revelation 7 are the same group that are taken in Matthew 24 after the tribulation, and that they receive a heavenly life, and that since they are living after the great tribulation, they are changed instantly to heavenly life, as 1 Thess 4 tells us.

Notes to 5.

In what is perhaps one of the oddest paradoxes concerning the authority and organizational hierarchy of the Watchtower is their imitation of their most denounced enemy, the Catholic Church. While a witness will denounce the Catholic faith and structure, many times the witness does not realize that his or her own religion is much closer in form then they would like to believe. Compare the following list which shows that the Watchtower has over time set itself up to imitate the Catholic faith in many respects, only the names have been changed.

Catholic Church Watchtower Organization

The Pope of Rome--- The President of the Watchtower (or recently the Governing Body)

The College of Cardinals--- The Governing Body

The Papal Curia--- The Committee structure of the Governing Body

The Vatican--- The Brooklyn “Bethel” (or the so-called “House of God”)

Archbishops--- District Overseers

Bishops--- Circuit Overseers

Deacons--- Ministerial Servants

Regular Orders--- Pioneers

Catholic laity--- Witness community (publishers)

Excommunication--- Disfellowshiping

Inquisitions--- Judicial Committees

Confession to Priest--- Confession to Elders

Church is the ‘Ark’--- Organization is the ‘Ark’

Church called ‘Mother’--- Organization called ‘Mother’

Loyalty to Church--- Loyalty to organization

Faith in Church--- Faith in organization

Catechisms--- Watchtower publications

Organization idolatrized--- Organization idolatrized

Apostolate succession--- Governing Body member succession

Focus on works--- Focus on works

Both organizations claim to be God’s sole means of communication, and that salvation is not possible without regular, faithful, association and attendance at Church meetings. Both claim to have the only correct teachings, and that they alone understand the bible. Both have claimed to be the modern-day Ark of salvation, and that the organization speaks “in the name of God.”

Both have apostolate succession claims, however with the Society the Governing Body, which claims to have been appointed by Christ in 1919, and which is the mouth piece for the “faithful slave class,” has many times appointed new leaders to serve in that appointed position, although the appointment was by Christ in 1919. Thus they have in fact succeeded in having a form of the Catholic ‘apostolate succession’ doctrine, perhaps without knowing it. Both excommunicate the unfaithful, and both have “apostates.” The Catholic Church has its Catechisms, and the Watchtower organization has the Watchtower publications, which serve as an extra biblical source of doctrine and church policy and commentary on Scripture, and is often studied more, and given more prominence, than the Bible. Both do not encourage independent bible study apart from the organization, and both have not allowed marriage at times. To the witness, a trip to “bethel” is encouraged to see the ‘hub’ of the Organization, to the Catholic, a trip to the Vatican is also encouraged. The Pope and the Governing Body are both seen as the sole spiritual medium through which God communicates new “truths” to the faithful. And while both claim to rely upon the Bible as the source of there understanding, in reality it is the authority structure that dictates Church teachings. This is clearly seen in the Watchtower, as the Witness is constantly barraged with admonishments to “be loyal” to the organization, and have “faith” in the organization. While the “truths” that the Watchtower teaches change over time, the witness loyalty to the organization is only strengthened. Thus the witnesses are really not loyal to the teachings of the Watchtower, but to the authority structure of the Watchtower. If a witness of today were to teach publicly the Watchtower’s “truths” of Russell’s day, or even the many teachings under the “Rutherford era,” they would likely be viewed as apostates, and be disfellowshiped unless they changed with the new teachings.

In reality, the Catholics today are more tolerable then the Watchtower Organization is about its laity’s devotion and loyalty to Church doctrine. For example, the First Vatican Ecumenical Council in 1869, and 1870, declared that when the Pope speaks ‘ex cathedra’ he is infallible, and the faithful must accept all that he says as dogmatically true, or they would be considered as ‘heretical.’ However, in the Watchtower organization, everything written in their publications are to be considered as dogmatically true, and to say otherwise one would be considered ‘apostate,’ and have judicial action taken against him if he were not to teach current ‘truths.’

In both cases the organizations and their publications are reverenced and placed in a position that makes them come close to idolatry. See, for example, the following quote from the Watchtower, which clearly illustrate that the Witness are taught and think that the Watchtower is inspired by God, and that places positively the idolization many have of the Watchtower.

*** w64 9/15 p. 574 Experiencing Jehovah’s Love ***

APPRECIATION FOR THE TRUTH

Not all the persons I have known in the organization have maintained their appreciation for the truth. To illustrate this, I want to mention an experience I had while in the pilgrim service. I was in Philadelphia at the time, and, after I had given a talk, an elective elder who claimed to be a brother came up to me and said: “Brother Riemer, I got my Watchtower this morning. The only reason I read that Watchtower is to find out what you fellows in Brooklyn are trying to put over on us.” That was the spirit of some of the elective elders. They were causing splits in the congregations and in the work.

In contrast to the attitude of these elective elders was that of an elderly couple with whom I stayed on the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia. The brother went down to get the mail before breakfast, and when we had breakfast he said, “Brother Riemer, I got a new Watchtower this morning, and do you know the first thing that Ma and I do when we get that Tower? We kneel down before we take the wrapper off and ask Jehovah to make us worthy to see what the message is that Jehovah has for us. Now, before we take the wrapper off, will you kneel down and pray with us?” How different that elective elder was from this humble couple who appreciated Jehovah’s organization!

Notes to 6.

The Watchtower publications have many times committed doctrinal flip flops on its asserted teachings, ranging from complete contradictions on blood transfusions, vaccinations, alternative military service, organ transplants, the time of Christ presence, Pyramidology, Chirstians heavenly hope, and many other doctrines that the Watchtower organization sent its loyalist out to proclaim. Sometimes, the Watchtower changed several times on the same subject. Also, when claims made in books did not turn out to be true, later printings of that publication were rewritten to match new expectations. The truth about what happened in their history when written by them has often been watered down, so as not to inform the Witness how dogmatically the Watchtower presented its former “Truths.” Witness converts are often told about the dangers of reading so called “apostate” literature, or any literature that is critical of the organization and its teachings. Older publications are often “updated” and this updates are presented as “new light” to the witness community. They are never presented as new teachings to cover over false teachings that witnesses are no longer to teach. When writing about their own history, the Society carefully avoids using terms such as that they made ‘predictions,” or “prophecies.” We are told that Russell never predicted or foretold anything, never claimed to present proof, or established truth, but that they just “thought,” suggested” or “expected” and “earnestly hoped” that this or that “might” happen, but they “were not completely sure.” Thus the Watchtowers predictions are wrapped up in language that completely masks the true nature of the dogmatic assertions that the so-called “God’s sole means of communication” set forth as “truth.

One example, however, that is consistent with the pattern of the Watchtower in covering over its errors, and in the manipulative use of illustrations it uses to change from one teaching to another, is seen in the June 1, 1920 Watchtower, under the heading, “Seventh Volume Corrections,” and has 4 pages of revisions to ‘The Finished Mystery,’ and states…

“We have found the explanations of the Seventh Volume helpful, and are convinced that they contained meat now due to the household of faith, and that this meat came from the Father’s storehouse. However, this food was arranged and placed upon the table by imperfect servants and contains some blemishes which it is the purpose of the following notes to correct.”

Incredibly, the Watchtower has been able to use language like the above throughout it years to explain away its doctrinal flip flops and claims of ‘progressive revelation.’

For a detailed study of the history of the Watchtower religion, written by persons who have first hand knowledge, see Edmond Gruss’s “Jehovah’s Witnesses: Their Claims, Doctrinal Changes and Prophetic Speculation. What does the Record Show?” Additionally, see Greg Stafford’s “Three dissertations on the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Also, see James Penton’s book, “Apocalypse Delayed.”

Notes on 7.

*** ws chap. 6 pp. 49-50 On the Watch During “the Conclusion of the System of Things” ***

Effect of the Lamplight at Midnight

6 In the mid-1930’s, something significant took place. What occurred suggested that the membership of the spiritual bride of Christ had been filled, that there were on earth enough spirit-begotten disciples of the Bridegroom to make up the full number of his heavenly bride.

7 At that time, in 1935, attention began to be called to another class of sheeplike disciples of Jesus. This was the class that had been called to public attention during the first world war. It was on February 24, 1918, that a lecture on the subject “Millions Now Living May Never Die” was delivered to a curious, possibly doubt-filled, audience. At the 1935 convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Washington, D.C., something positive was introduced about gathering these millions of Christ’s “other sheep” into a unified “flock” under Jesus Christ as the “one shepherd.” (John 10:16) The identity of this segment of “other sheep” as foretold in Revelation 7:9-17 was pointed out.

8 The remnant of the “little flock” now came under the obligation of starting off the gathering of this “great crowd” of the “other sheep.” (Luke 12:32) This was because the number of discreet virgins needed to complete Jesus’ bride had now been filled. But such virgins were not taken at once to heaven. They are yet to be admitted into that heavenly festal chamber when they finish their earthly course as integrity-keeping witnesses of their God, Jehovah. Because of their faithful work of enlightenment up to 1935, they were ushered into a special privilege that they had never anticipated before the mid-1930’s.

Also with regard to the fulfillment of Revelation 16:2, the Revelation Book offers the following explanation...

*** re chap. 32 God’s Anger Brought to a Finish ***

[Box on page 221]

“Into the Earth”

The John class has publicized Jehovah’s wrath against “the earth” with statements such as the following:

“After centuries of effort, political parties have proved their inadequacy to meet the present conditions and to solve the distressing problems. Economists and statesmen, studying the question diligently, find that they are able to do nothing.”—Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, page 61.

The 2nd Trumpet blast of Jehovah’s angel was also seen as being “highlighted” by Rutherford’s “Million’s Now Living” talk in 1923, a lecture that falsely predicted that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and other ancient worthies would be resurrected in the year 1925, which teaching was also later changed. The talk, however, is still taught as being of prophetic fulfillment. See the following quote from the Revelation Climax publication.

[*** re chap. 26 God’s Sacred Secret—Its Glorious Climax! ***

[Box on page 173]

Highlights of Jehovah’s Trumpetlike Judgment Proclamations

1. 1922 Cedar Point, Ohio: A challenge to Christendom’s leaders in religion, politics, and big business to justify their failure to bring peace, prosperity, and happiness. Messiah’s Kingdom is the panacea.

2. 1923 Los Angeles, California: The public talk, “All Nations Now Marching to Armageddon, but Millions Now Living Will Never Die,” called on peace-loving “sheep” to abandon the death-dealing sea of humanity.

3. 1924 Columbus, Ohio: Ecclesiastics indicted for self-exaltation and refusal to preach Messiah’s Kingdom. True Christians must preach God’s vengeance and comfort mourning humanity.

4. 1925 Indianapolis, Indiana: A message of hope contrasting the spiritual darkness in Christendom with the bright Kingdom promise of peace, prosperity, health, life, liberty, and eternal happiness.

5. 1926 London, England: A locustlike plaguing of Christendom and its clergy, exposing their rejection of God’s Kingdom, and hailing the birth of that heavenly government.

6. 1927 Toronto, Canada: An invitation, carried as by armies of cavalry, calling on people to forsake ‘organized Christianity’ and give heart allegiance to Jehovah God and to his King and Kingdom.

7. 1928 Detroit, Michigan: A declaration against Satan and for Jehovah, making plain that God’s anointed King, enthroned in 1914, will destroy Satan’s evil organization and emancipate mankind.

Notes to 8.

Although the official teachings of the Society is that the 7 trumpet blast of the book of Revelation were highlighted by talks given by Rutherford in the 1920’s, few witnesses have transcribes of those talks, or the resolutions, invitations, or declarations that those conventions passed, that today are taught dogmatically as fulfillments of inspired prophecy concerning the angelic activity of the 7 trumpet blast of Revelation chapters 8 and 9. Note the following articles which we are told that the seven trumpets were highlighted by talks and resolutions in the 1920’s. the bible, however, shows that these trumpet blast are great woes to the earth, resulting in the a third of the earth being burned up, the sea turning into blood, and celestial phenomenon occurring to the Sun, moon, and the stars. In reading the biblical account of the 7 trumpet blast, one concludes that the activity that results from the trumpets leaves an unforgettable mark upon the earth. However, the Watchtower’s given explanation of its accomplishment has been all but forgotten by all except students of the Watchtower religion. If these resolutions were indeed the fulfillment of bible prophecy, students of Scripture should all have copies of these to be studied. However, the Watchtower simply asserts that they were the fulfillment, without disclosing the details of the information presented in the resolutions. Note the following articles concerning the Trumpets.

*** re chap. 26 p. 172 God’s Sacred Secret—Its Glorious Climax! ***

4 When the sounding of the seven trumpets got under way in 1922, the Bible Students’ convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, featured a talk by the president of the Watch Tower Society, J. F. Rutherford, based on the scripture “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

*** re chap. 26 p. 172 God’s Sacred Secret—Its Glorious Climax! ***

5 The trumpet blast of the seventh angel was reflected in highlights of the Bible Students’ convention in Detroit, Michigan, July 30-August 6, 1928. At that time 107 broadcasting stations were tied in to what The New York Times described as ‘the most extensive and expensive radio hook-up in history.’ The convention enthusiastically adopted a powerful “Declaration Against Satan and for Jehovah,” pointing to the overthrow, at Armageddon, of Satan and his evil organization and the emancipation of all who love righteousness.

*** re chap. 26 God’s Sacred Secret—Its Glorious Climax! ***

Box on page 173]

Highlights of Jehovah’s Trumpetlike Judgment Proclamations

1. 1922 Cedar Point, Ohio: A challenge to Christendom’s leaders in religion, politics, and big business to justify their failure to bring peace, prosperity, and happiness. Messiah’s Kingdom is the panacea.

2. 1923 Los Angeles, California: The public talk, “All Nations Now Marching to Armageddon, but Millions Now Living Will Never Die,” called on peace-loving “sheep” to abandon the death-dealing sea of humanity.

3. 1924 Columbus, Ohio: Ecclesiastics indicted for self-exaltation and refusal to preach Messiah’s Kingdom. True Christians must preach God’s vengeance and comfort mourning humanity.

4. 1925 Indianapolis, Indiana: A message of hope contrasting the spiritual darkness in Christendom with the bright Kingdom promise of peace, prosperity, health, life, liberty, and eternal happiness.

5. 1926 London, England: A locustlike plaguing of Christendom and its clergy, exposing their rejection of God’s Kingdom, and hailing the birth of that heavenly government.

6. 1927 Toronto, Canada: An invitation, carried as by armies of cavalry, calling on people to forsake ‘organized Christianity’ and give heart allegiance to Jehovah God and to his King and Kingdom.

7. 1928 Detroit, Michigan: A declaration against Satan and for Jehovah, making plain that God’s anointed King, enthroned in 1914, will destroy Satan’s evil organization and emancipate mankind.

Notes to 9.

Note the October 22, 1995 issue of the Awake..

“Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.

After ‘new light’ was sent forth from Watchtower headquarters, the 1914 generation no longer was absolutely to see the end. Organizational ‘truth’ again changed, and that which was ‘true’ for decades was no more. The Creator’s promise changed. Now, the Awake read as follows.

“Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things.”

Notes to 10.

The Watchtower religions faulty exegetics of Jesus Christ words concerning the memorial celebration, as well as their 2 class christian system, is one that has mislead millions of people. The text clearly indicates that Jesus wanted his followers to partake of the emblems, the bread and the wine. Even if there were a class of christians who had an earthly hope, the bible does not indicate that those christians should not partake. In fact, Christ words clearly spell out what would result if a person did not “eat of his flesh” at John 6:53-56, which reads…

53 Accordingly 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 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him.

Thus, those who willfully do not do as Christ says, “have no life in yourselves.” Indeed, Christ, after passing the bread, and each person partaking, said, in Luke 22:19, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Thus Christ set the pattern, that he both told christians what to do, and then set an example by showing them. The Watchtower has falsely taught that Christ words, as well as a large part of the greek scriptures, were not written to all men, but only for the 144,000, and that is why the members of the ‘other sheep’ or ‘great crowd’ must not partake. However, since the ‘other sheep’ in John 10:16 are clearly gentiles who Christ brings with him to heaven, ( see remarks in note 2) and since the ‘great crowd’ in Revelation 7 are seen by John in heaven, (see remarks in note 4) the Watchtower has no scriptural bases for its two class division. Therefore, it has no bases for insisting that Christ words to not apply to all men and women who wish to obey Him, and who do the things he tells them, which would included Christ words concerning the partaking in the memorial.

Notes to 11.

There does not exist a single Greek text of the New Testament that contains any form of the divine name. The Watchtower translated the greek words for “God” and “Lord”, (“theos” and “kurios”) into the English as “Jehovah” in 237 instances in the NT. In many of these instances, the context shows that the referent as Lord was to the Lord Jesus Christ, not to the Lord Jehovah, thus the Watchtower as mislead its readers, in altering the Inspired Word of God, a practice which it has many times condemned other of doing. (See for example, the context of Romans 10:8-15, when clearly Paul is talking about Christ as “Lord,” nevertheless, the NWT in verses 13 changes the greek word for “Lord” into the English as “Jehovah,” instead of “Jesus” as the context clearly indicates. Also, 2 Thessalonians 2:1,2, where the context indicates that the “presence of our Lord Jesus,” is equated by Paul in the same sentence as ‘the day of the Lord,” whereas the NWT, translates it, “the day of Jehovah,” thus distorting the meaning of the text. The Watchtower, of course, cannot allow Christ ‘parousias” to be equated as “the day of the Lord” since in WT theology, Christ presence is an extended period of time dating from 1914 (although at one time it dated from 1874!) to the present time, whereas “the day of the Lord” is understood as the battle of Armageddon, which is when Christ ‘coming’ takes place. Thus, contradictory to common logic, Christ is present before his coming, rather then Christ coming, and consequently his presence.

Notes on 12.

“The word “rapture” does not occur in the inspired Scriptures.”

This we are told by one popular Watchtower Publication. One is then left to wonder how a Latin reasoning book would read, and if they would still try to use this misleading form of deceptive argument, and if they would be able to quote a modern Latin bible translation, or if they would completely avoid the subject altogether. Since the word that Christians today use, “rapture” comes from Jerome’s Latin Vulgate translation from the Greek which reads…

deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus

Interestingly, Thayer’s Greek lexicon defines the word, “harpazo” to mean “to seize, carry off by force” and “to seize and carry off speedily, John 6:15; Acts 23:10; used of divine power transferring a person marvelously and swiftly from one place to another, to snatch or catch away” thus causing Jerome in the 4th century to translate “harpazo” into the Latin using the word, “rapiemur” from which we acquire the word “rapture.” Thus the Watchtower is exceedingly misleading and not informative at all concerning the word when it states that it is not in the Bible.

Also we are told by the same Watchtower publication,

Quote

Who are the ones that will be ‘caught up in the clouds,’ as stated at 1 Thessalonians 4:17?

Verse 15 explains that they are faithful ones “who are left until the coming of the Lord,” that is, they are still living at the time of Christ’s coming. Will they ever die? According to Romans 6:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 15:35, 36, 44 (quoted on pages 314, 315), they must die before they can gain heavenly life. But there is no need for them to remain in the death state awaiting Christ’s return. They will instantly be “caught up,” “in the twinkling of an eye,” to be with the Lord.—1 Cor. 15:51, 52, RS; also Revelation 14:13.

End quote

Thus the Watchtower contradicts the sacred secret that Paul informs his readers of at 1 Cor 15:51.52. where he says,

“See, I am giving you the revelation of a secret: we will not all come to the sleep of death, but we will all be changed. In a second, in the shutting of an eye, at the sound of the last horn: for at that sound the dead will come again, free for ever from the power of death, and we will be changed.”

Thus Paul tells us that not all Christians will face death, but will be changed instantly, thus clarifying what he had already written the Thessalonian congregation years earlier about the fact that when Christ does come again, the Trumpet he carries will sound, and the dead will rise, and after that, the living ones, who are surviving, will then be changed.

Why would Paul state so plainly that the dead rise first, and subsequent to that, the living who are surviving? Why the need for a distinction between the living and the dead if the WT is accurate?

If the Watchtower is correct, all Paul had to do is say that the dead would rise, since WT theology does not allow Christians who are living to be changed instantly and be “harpazo” or “raptured” or, as the NWT translates it, “caught away,” unless they die first? The WT quoted above states that according to Romans 6:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 15:35, 36, 44 Christians must die before they can gain heavenly life. However, a comprehensive reading of those text state nothing about a Christian MUST die before he gains eternal life in heaven, in fact, it tells us exactly the opposite! For in 1 Cor 15:51, Paul very clearly informs his readers of exactly the opposite of what the WT states, namely, that not all Christians will die, but that all Christians will be changed when Christ comes and sounds the trumpet.

Notes to 13.

As of 1929, the organization still taught that “the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D.” (see the book ‘Prophecy’ 1929, page 65) The ‘Golden Age’ of 1930, page 503, however, stated that “Jesus has been present since the year 1914.” Thus a new ‘truth’ was set forth as ‘new light.’ As has been the standard for the Watchtower, no apology was given for teaching a false doctrine and misleading many persons.

Notes to 14.

*** w74 8/15 pp. 506-507 No Spiritual “Energy Crisis” for Discreet Ones ***

In 1877, Russell joined Nelson H. Barbour in publishing the book Three Worlds, and the Harvest of This World. It indicated that the end of the Gentile Times in 1914 would be preceded by a forty-year period to open with a three-and-a-half-year harvest beginning in 1874 C.E. According to Bible chronology thereafter adopted, it was understood that 6,000 years of man’s existence on earth ended in 1872, whereas six millenniums of human sin concluded and the seventh millennium began in 1874. Christ’s presence was thought to have begun in October 1874, at the start of the great antitypical Jubilee.—Lev. chap. 25; Rev. 20:4.

From that understanding, it was thought that the “chaste virgin” class began going forth to meet the Bridegroom in 1874. (2 Cor. 11:2) Hence, when C. T. Russell began publishing a new religious magazine in July 1879, it was called “Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.” It was heralding Christ’s presence as having begun in 1874. This invisible presence was expected to continue until the Gentile Times ended in 1914, when the Gentile nations would be destroyed and the remnant of the “chaste virgin” class would be glorified with their Bridegroom in heaven by death and resurrection to live in the spirit. (1 Cor. 15:42-44) Thus would the “discreet virgin” class enter through the door into the wedding.

Also, see the Watchtower March 1, 1922, which states,

“The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the ‘time of the end’ began in 1799; that the Lord’s second presence began in 1874”

Notes to 15.

Although the Watchtower taught dogmatically for decades that Christ would return and Armageddon would occur before the people living in 1914 died off, ‘new light’ was to changed this ‘truth’ in the year 1995. Although many years of dogmatic statements were made that mislead many, including the notion that it was “God’s great will,” the “Creators promise, and even was stated that “Jesus said that the generation that saw 1914 “will by no means pass away until all these things occur,” to list a few. w56 10/15 p. 616 When Will God’s Kingdom Come?

However this was all changed in 1995, when the Watchtower no longer taught that the 1914 countdown for a literal generation was ‘truth.” See the following article in 1995…

*** w95 11/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***

In the second or larger fulfillment, “this generation” would logically also be the contemporaneous people. As the article beginning on page 16 establishes, we need not conclude that Jesus was referring to a set number of years making up a “generation.”

On the contrary, two key things can be said about any time implied by “generation.” (1) A generation of people cannot be viewed as a period having a fixed number of years, as is the case with time designations meaning a set number of years (decade or century). (2) The people of a generation live for a relatively brief period, not one of great length.

Here are few examples of the Watchtowers teaching concerning the validity of the literal generation teaching…

*** w51 7/1 p. 404 Vision of the “Time of the End” ***

The actual meaning of these words is, beyond question, that which takes a “generation” in the ordinary sense, as at Mark 8:12 and Acts 13:36, or for those who are living at the given period. So it was on “this generation” that the accumulated judgments were to fall. (Matt. 23:36) This therefore means that from 1914 a generation shall not pass till all is fulfilled, and amidst a great time of trouble.

*** w51 6/1 p. 335 Why the Bible Is Specially Practical for Our Day ***

Moreover, these things started happening on time, for just as our calendar tells when winter is due so Bible chronology told us that these events were due to start A.D. 1914. The Watchtower has repeatedly published this date with proof of its Scripturalness, the first time being in 1880, thirty-four years in advance. Hence our generation is the generation that will see the start and finish of these things, including Armageddon.

*** w52 9/1 p. 543 Questions from Readers ***

Some persons living A.D. 1914 when the series of foretold events began will also be living when the series ends with Armageddon.

*** w53 2/15 p. 124 When Will God’s Kingdom Come? ***

The generation that began to see these things in 1914 will witness the final accumulated judgments of Jehovah God, though some individuals who are part of this generation may die before the end of this world’s system of things takes place.

*** w54 8/1 p. 478 The Purpose of Your Witnessing ***

. We are now forty years within “this generation,” the generation that witnessed the eventful year 1914, the generation doomed to experience Armageddon.

*** w56 10/15 p. 616 When Will God’s Kingdom Come? ***

This cannot be very far off, for Jesus said that the generation that saw 1914 “will by no means pass away until all these things occur.”—Matt. 24:34, NW.

*** w56 7/15 p. 430 The Divine Interests ***

Finally, in this generation it is God’s great will to prove his sovereign rulership by vindicating his name at Armageddon in destroying every vestige of Satan’s organization visible and invisible.—Rev. 16:16.

*** w57 9/15 p. 568 Healing of the Nations Has Drawn Near ***

the prophecies of God’s Word foretell its end within the generation of men that has been living since 1914.

*** w60 3/1 p. 158 Furthering Reconciliation with Perfect Government ***

Fulfillment of Bible prophecy shows that God’s kingdom has been ruling in the midst of its enemies since 1914. Shortly now, within this generation Jesus assures us, God’s kingdom will make an end of all opposition

Notes to 16.

Prior to 1961, the WT had positive things to say about the issue of Blood transfusions, as seen in the December 25, 1940 issue. Yet in 1948 and after, a hard line was drawn against them, yet persons were not yet disfellowshiped or excommunicated from the congregations. This however, changed when “new light” was sent forth from WT headquarters in the 1/15 1961 issue, seen as follows..

*** w61 1/15 p. 63 Questions from Readers ***

Questions from Readers

• In view of the seriousness of taking blood into the human system by a transfusion, would violation of the Holy Scriptures in this regard subject the dedicated, baptized receiver of blood transfusion to being disfellowshiped from the Christian congregation?

“The inspired Holy Scriptures answer yes.”

Notes on 17.

See the following quotations, which demonstrate but a few of the Watchtowers doctrinal flip flops, with no apology to how they could of went from one side to another on an issue of such importance, no doubt causing terrible hardships for many Watchtower loyalists. One can only wonder how many witnesses lived troubled lives or died from this false teaching. Note the following articles by the Watchtower, from the teaching that the “individual must decide for himself,” in 1961, to the teaching that “Those who submit to such operations are thus living off the flesh of another human. That is cannibalistic,” in the Watchtower of 1967, back again to the 1961 teaching in the 1980 Watchtower, where we are told, “there is no Biblical command pointedly forbidding the taking in of other human tissue,” and that “The congregation judicial committee would not take disciplinary action if someone accepted an organ transplant.” With no apology for their teaching in 1967 that called this action ‘cannibalistic.” This, however, is the pattern seen time after time with the Watchtower religion.

*** w61 8/1 p. 480 Questions from Readers ***

Questions from Readers

• Is there anything in the Bible against giving one’s eyes (after death) to be transplanted to some living person?—L. C., United States.

The question of placing one’s body or parts of one’s body at the disposal of men of science or doctors at one’s death for purposes of scientific experimentation or replacement in others is frowned upon by certain religious bodies. However, it does not seem that any Scriptural principle or law is involved. It therefore is something that each individual must decide for himself. If he is satisfied in his own mind and conscience that this is a proper thing to do, then he can make such provision, and no one else should criticize him for doing so. On the other hand, no one should be criticized for refusing to enter into any such agreement.

*** w67 11/15 p. 702 Questions from Readers ***

When there is a diseased or defective organ, the usual way health is restored is by taking in nutrients. The body uses the food eaten to repair or heal the organ, gradually replacing the cells. When men of science conclude that this normal process will no longer work and they suggest removing the organ and replacing it directly with an organ from another human, this is simply a shortcut. Those who submit to such operations are thus living off the flesh of another human. That is cannibalistic. However, in allowing man to eat animal flesh Jehovah God did not grant permission for humans to try to perpetuate their lives by cannibalistically taking into their bodies human flesh, whether chewed or in the form of whole organs or body parts taken from others.

*** w80 3/15 p. 31 Questions from Readers ***

Questions from Readers

• Should congregation action be taken if a baptized Christian accepts a human organ transplant, such as of a cornea or a kidney?

Regarding the transplantation of human tissue or bone from one human to another, this is a matter for conscientious decision by each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some Christians might feel that taking into their bodies any tissue or body part from another human is cannibalistic. They might hold that the transplanted human material is intended to become part of the recipient’s body to keep him alive and functioning. They might not see it as fundamentally different from consuming flesh through the mouth. Such feelings may arise from considering that God did not make specific provision for man to eat the flesh of his fellowman when he made provision for humans to eat the flesh of animals that had been drained of their life-sustaining blood. They may give consideration also to the way people in Bible times viewed sustaining themselves by taking in human flesh. For example, see the account at 2 Kings 6:24-30; Deuteronomy 28:53-57; Lamentations 2:20 and 4:10. At John 6:48-66, Jesus spoke figuratively of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. On hearing this discussion and not perceiving the spiritual significance of his words, some of his Jewish disciples were shocked and turned from following him. These accounts illustrate how some humans felt about eating human flesh.

Other sincere Christians today may feel that the Bible does not definitely rule out medical transplants of human organs. They may reason that in some cases the human material is not expected to become a permanent part of the recipient’s body. Body cells are said to be replaced about every seven years, and this would be true of any human body parts that would be transplanted. It may be argued, too, that organ transplants are different from cannibalism since the “donor” is not killed to supply food. In some cases persons nearing death actually have willed body parts to be used for transplants. Of course, if a transplant should require taking in another person’s blood, undeniably that would be contrary to God’s command.—Acts 15:19, 20.

Clearly, personal views and conscientious feelings vary on this issue of transplantation. It is well known that the use of human materials for human consumption varies all the way from minor items, such as hormones and corneas, to major organs, such as kidneys and hearts. While the Bible specifically forbids consuming blood, there is no Biblical command pointedly forbidding the taking in of other human tissue. For this reason, each individual faced with making a decision on this matter should carefully and prayerfully weigh matters and then decide conscientiously what he or she could or could not do before God. It is a matter for personal decision. (Gal. 6:5) The congregation judicial committee would not take disciplinary action if someone accepted an organ transplant.

Notes to 18.

For a full treatment of this subject, see James Penton’s book “Apocalypse Delayed” pages 33-42, in which Penton writes an objective account of the marriage, separation, and divorce of the Russells. Interestingly, although Maria said that Russell was the “faithful slave,” after their separation, she came to view him as the “evil slave.” Obviously, in neither case was her biblical exegesis correct.

Notes to 19.

*** jv chap. 7 Advertise the King and the Kingdom! (1919-1941) ***

“House of the Princes”

Brother Rutherford had a severe case of pneumonia after his release from unjust imprisonment in 1919. Thereafter, he had only one good lung. In the 1920’s, under a doctor’s treatment, he went to San Diego, California, and the doctor urged him to spend as much time as possible there. From 1929 on, Brother Rutherford spent the winters working at a San Diego residence he had named Beth-Sarim. Beth-Sarim was built with funds that were a direct contribution for that purpose. The deed, which was published in full in “The Golden Age” of March 19, 1930, conveyed this property to J. F. Rutherford and thereafter to the Watch Tower Society.

Concerning Beth-Sarim, the book “Salvation,” published in 1939, explains: “The Hebrew words ‘Beth Sarim’ mean ‘House of the Princes’; and the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today who fully believe God and Christ Jesus and in His kingdom, and who believe that the faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth.”

A few years after Brother Rutherford’s death, the board of directors of the Watch Tower Society decided to sell Beth-Sarim. Why? “The Watchtower” of December 15, 1947, explained: “It had fully served its purpose and was now only serving as a monument quite expensive to keep; our faith in the return of the men of old time whom the King Christ Jesus will make princes in ALL the earth (not merely in California) is based, not upon that house Beth-Sarim, but upon God’s Word of promise.”

[Footnote]

At the time, it was believed that faithful men of old times, such as Abraham, Joseph, and David, would be resurrected before the end of this system of things and would serve as “princes in all the earth,” in fulfillment of Psalm 45:16. This view was adjusted in 1950, when further study of the Scriptures indicated that those earthly forefathers of Jesus Christ would be resurrected after Armageddon.—See “The Watchtower,” November 1, 1950, pages 414-17.

Notes to 20.

The Society maintains that it alone is the sole means of communication that Jehovah is today using, even making claims such as that persons ought to view what the Watchtower says as coming directly from Jehovah. The Watchtower loyalist is to view all that is said without being critical, but fully excepting all that is written. Witnesses are not ever allowed to have private thoughts that disagree with the Society. And the Watchtower has even claimed to “speak in the name of Jehovah.” Thus, the Society wants to be viewed as having the delegated reasonability from Jehovah as being his spokesperson in modern times. However, the Watchtower, in admitting to its many failed predictions, as well as its doctrinal flip flops and its teaching of false doctrine, also says that it has never claimed to be inspired, and that its many errors are a result of Jehovah using imperfect men. Thus the Watchtower Society makes contradictory statements out of the same month, holding both positions to be true, leading to the Watchtower being seen as having the responsibility to speak in Jehovah’s name, but not the natural accountability that such a claimed position of appointment would imply.

Notes to 21.

Note the Watchtower of 4/1 1979, which states that Christ is in the biblical sense only the mediator for the 144,000 anointed Christians! All other Christians are saved only by “associating” with the 144,000, presently understood by the Watchtower to be the “little flock” Christ spoke of at Luke 12:32.

*** w79 4/1 p. 31 Questions from Readers ***

” So in this strict Biblical sense Jesus is the “mediator” only for anointed Christians.

The new covenant will terminate with the glorification of the remnant who are today in that covenant mediated by Christ. The “great crowd” of “other sheep” that is forming today is not in that new covenant. However, by their associating with the “little flock” of those yet in that covenant they come under benefits that flow from that new covenant.

Notes to 22.

Revelation 7:4 tells us, “And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.” For an interpretation like that of the Watchtower to be true, part of the same sentence written by John must be literal, while the rest of the sentence must be symbolic. If you are going to say that the 144,000 is literal, then you must also be consistent and say that the “12 tribes of Israel” are also literal, especially since John takes the time to list all 12 by name. However, if you are going to say that the “12 tribes of Israel” are symbolic, then you must also say that the number 144,000 is symbolic. We cannot pick and choose to meet our theology; we must be consistent in our biblical hermeneutics.

Notes to 23.

*** w99 5/1 p. 13 “These Things Must Take Place” ***

Judgment Ahead!

19 Note that Matthew 24:29-31 foretells that (1) the Son of man comes, (2) this coming will be with great glory, (3) the angels will be with him, and (4) all the tribes of the earth will see him. Jesus repeats these elements in the parable of the sheep and the goats. (Matthew 25:31-46) Hence, we can conclude that this parable deals with the time, after the opening outbreak of tribulation, when Jesus will come with his angels and sit down on his throne to judge.

(see also notes to 26)

Notes to 24.

See, for example, the commentary on Revelation 7: 13-14 in the ‘Revelation’ book, where John is talking to one of the 24 elders, though the Watchtower teaches that members of the 144,000, who they teach are symbolized by the 24 elders, would not be resurrected until 1919 ad, 1825

years after John talked to the elder.

*** re chap. 20 p. 125 A Multitudinous Great Crowd ***

“And in response one of the elders said to me: ‘These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?’ So right away I said to him: ‘My lord, you are the one that knows.’” (Revelation 7:13, 14a) Yes, that elder could locate the answer and give it to John. This suggests that resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in the communicating of divine truths today. For their part, those of the John class on earth got to learn the identity of the great crowd by closely observing what Jehovah was performing in their midst. They were quick to appreciate the dazzling flash of divine light that emblazoned the theocratic firmament in 1935, at Jehovah’s due time.

Note also how the Revelation book deals with the 144,000 singing before the 24 elders, and the Elders not being able to master the song, but only the 144,000 in Revelation 14:2, 3, which says,

“And they are singing as if a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth.”

Amazingly, the Revelation book tells us that it is really the 144,000 remnant on earth singing to the 144,000 members in heaven.

*** re chap. 29 p. 201 Singing the Triumphal New Song ***

10 How can the 144,000 sing “before” the elders, since the 24 elders are the 144,000 in their glorious heavenly position? Early in the Lord’s day, those “dead in union with Christ” were resurrected as spirit creatures. Thus, faithful anointed Christians who have conquered are now in heaven, symbolically fulfilling functions comparable to those of 24 divisions of priestly elders. They are included in the vision of Jehovah’s heavenly organization. (1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16; 1 Chronicles 24:1-18; Revelation 4:4; 6:11) The remnant of the 144,000 still on earth are therefore singing the new song before, or in the sight of, their resurrected brothers in heaven.

Notes to 25.

See the Watchtower July 15, 1924, page 211

“The year 1925 is a date defiantly and clearly marked in the scriptures, even more clearly than 1914.”

Notes to 26.

Russell’s view was that the ‘sheep and the goats’ were to be separated after the tribulation, in the millennial age. The may 15, 1921 Watchtower confirmed this, by stating that the “judgment of the sheep and the goat will take place during the entire millennium.”

However, at Los Angeles, CA, in 1923, Rutherford gave a discourse entitled, ‘Parable of Sheep and Goats,” in which he contradicted the view of Russell by saying that the parable as applying to the millennium age was difficult to harmonize, and that in fact the parable was then being fulfilled presently by the witness work.

This new light was heralded as “bright light,” and that “Jehovah caused other revelations of truth of appear in due time….In 1923 he caused the first true-to-fact explanation of the parable of the “sheep and goats.” (WT 15 Nov 1943)

In typical Watchtower rhetoric, the witnessed were also told, that “the Lord revealed to his people the meaning of the parable,” and that it came, “not from man, but by the Lord God.” (WT Feb 1, 1938)

Even as far as 1993, the ‘Proclaimers’ book taught the 1923 change by Rutherford, stating..

*** jv chap. 12 pp. 163-164 The Great Crowd to Live in Heaven? Or on Earth? ***

Sheep” at the Right Hand of Christ

“A truly significant step in understanding Jehovah’s purpose centered around Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats, at Matthew 25:31-46. In that parable Jesus said: “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.” As the parable goes on to show, the “sheep” are those who help Christ’s “brothers,” even seeking to bring them relief when they are persecuted and in prison.

It had long been thought that this parable applied during the millennial era, in the time of restitution, and that the final judgment referred to in the parable was the one that would take place at the end of the Millennium. But in 1923, reasons for another view of matters were set forth by J. F. Rutherford, the president of the Watch Tower Society, in an enlightening discourse in Los Angeles, California. This was published later that year in the October 15 issue of The Watch Tower.

When discussing the time that this prophetic parable would be fulfilled, the article showed that Jesus included it as part of his response to a request for ‘the sign of his presence and of the conclusion of the system of things.’ (Matt. 24:3) The article explained why the “brothers” referred to in the parable could not be the Jews of the Gospel age nor humans who show faith during the millennial period of testing and judgment but must be those who are heirs with Christ of the heavenly Kingdom, thus why the parable’s fulfillment must be at a time when some of Christ’s joint heirs are still in the flesh.—Compare Hebrews 2:10, 11.”

Thus Rutherford’s new ‘truth’ was called a “truly significant step in understanding Jehovah’s purpose,” and that it was an “enlightening discourse.”

And in 1995, in the May 15 issue, Rutherford’s 1923 interpretation was heralded as one of Jehovah’s “flashes of light.”

*** w95 5/15 p. 18 Flashes of Light—Great and Small (Part 1) ***

Increasing Flashes of Light

“Particularly since 1919 have Jehovah’s servants been blessed with increasing flashes of light. What a bright flash of light shone at the 1922 Cedar Point convention as J. F. Rutherford, the Watch Tower Society’s second president, drove home the point that the prime obligation of Jehovah’s servants is to “advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom”! The very next year, bright light shone on the parable of the sheep and the goats. It was seen that this prophecy was to be fulfilled in the present Lord’s day, not in the future during the Millennium as previously thought.”

This “flash of light,” that came not by “man, but by the Lord God,” was changed again in 1995, 6 months after the May 15 issue that confirmed it to be an example of “bright light.” In the October 15, 1995 issue, a new ‘truth’ was to be believed by all the faithful, which was the one taught by Russell and the Watchtower post-1923.

This, however, was again changed in the WT of 1995, 10/15 issue, when the pre-1923 teaching again was to be believed by the faithful..

*** w95 10/15 pp. 22-23 How Will You Stand Before the Judgment Seat? ***

22 Does this parable apply when Jesus sat down in kingly power in 1914, as we have long understood? … Yet nothing indicates that at that time, or for that matter since, Jesus sat to judge people of all the nations finally as sheep or goats.

23 If we analyze Jesus’ activity in the parable, we observe him finally judging all the nations. The parable does not show that such judging would continue over an extended period of many years, as if every person dying during these past decades were judged worthy of everlasting death or everlasting life. It seems that the majority who have died in recent decades have gone to mankind’s common grave. (Revelation 6:8; 20:13) The parable, though, depicts the time when Jesus judges the people of “all the nations” who are then alive and facing the execution of his judicial sentence….

24 In other words, the parable points to the future when the Son of man will come in his glory….

25 This means, then, that Jesus’ ‘sitting down on his glorious throne’ for judgment, mentioned at Matthew 25:31, applies to the future point when this powerful King will sit down to pronounce and execute judgment on the nations….

26 Understanding the parable of the sheep and the goats in this way indicates that the rendering of judgment on the sheep and the goats is future. It will take place after “the tribulation” mentioned at Matthew 24:29, 30 breaks out and the Son of man ‘arrives in his glory.’

Thus the ‘truth’ that the Watchtower said had been “demonstrated from the scriptures,” communicated by Jehovah, and ministered in cooperation with the angels since 1923, for over 7 decades, was no longer ‘new light,” but was now a false teaching. Indeed, the Watchtower admitted of its own teaching, “Yet nothing indicates that at that time, or for that matter since, Jesus sat to judge people of all the nations finally as sheep or goats.”

Perhaps the day is coming when the Watchtower will also admit the same of there so-called ‘appointment’ by Christ in 1919, or of Christ so-called ‘invisible presence’ in 1914.

Notes to 27.

See the book reconciliation, page 14, where

Rutherford says, “the Pleiades is the place of the eternal throne of God.”

Also see the Watchtower, November 15, 1953

*** w53 11/15 p. 703 Questions from Readers ***

To just what stars or star groups these names refer we do not know today. Hence it is useless to indulge in unprofitable speculations. Incidentally, Pleiades can no longer be considered the center of the universe and it would be unwise for us to try to fix God’s throne as being at a particular spot in the universe. Were we to think of the Pleiades as his throne we might improperly view with special veneration that cluster of stars.—Deut. 4:19; 2 Chron. 2:6; 6:18.

Notes to 28.

In what is perhaps the most powerful book written against the claims made by the Watchtower Society, Carl Olof Jonsson argues that the city of Jerusalem was in fact destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in the year 587 b.c.e, listing proofs from ancient historians, biblical and secular chronology, astronomical events, and other sources. For his interest and depth of study concerning this subject, and publishing his findings that contradicted the Watchtower, he was disfellowshiped by the organization that claimed to invite “careful and critical examination of its contents in the light of the Scriptures.” w50 8/15 p. 263 Name and Purpose of The Watchtower

Notes to 29.

Interestingly, Russell himself actually predicted a future attack on his understanding and teaching of Jehovah God’s use of the pyramid, saying in 1891, “We thus introduce this ‘Witness’ because the inspiration of its testimony will doubtless be as much disputed as that of the Scriptures, by the prince of darkness, the god of this world, and those whom he blinds.” Rutherford, Russell’s successor, indeed did dispute the ‘Witness’ of the pyramid, saying that studying the pyramid is “diverting the mind away from the Word of God,” and that “the Devil himself superintended the building of the pyramid of Gizeh.” See the Watchtower, 15 Nov. 1928, 339. The Watchtower organization, however, continued to distribute copies of Russell’s works which contained teachings which the organization held for many decades while selling to be ‘schemes of Satan,” and a “monument of demonism,” and “a manifestation of Devil religion.’

Notes on 30.

*** w01 8/1 p. 14 Make Your Advancement Manifest ***

8 First, since “oneness” is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and “the faithful and discreet slave.” By regularly taking in the spiritual food provided “at the proper time”—through Christian publications, meetings, assemblies, and conventions—we can be sure that we maintain “oneness” with fellow Christians in faith and knowledge.—Matthew 24:45.