The "Bait And Switch" Tactics Of The Watchtower Society".

By Drew Sagan

I'll begin with a simple question:What exactly is the process that a person undergoes that convinces them that the Watchtower Society has been chosen by God? (eg. is the "faithful slave" of Matthew 24)

It is by knowing this process that I think we can have a better understanding of the Watchtower Society as a whole. Understanding how they interpret that scripture (or misinterpret) is of no real interest to me and I think is a distraction from the bigger issues.

I provide this simple illustration to prove that the "faithful slave" doctrine really is the only one that matters within the JW religion. Think of a JW coming to your house to "teach" you on a Saturday morning. What does he come there to teach you, and how does he present it? No doubt the goal is to convert you on a number of minor topics such as their view of hellfire, the trinity, paradise, the name Jehovah, etc. But I have a very important question for this JW. Will you stop coming to my house once I agree with you on these topics?. The answer of course is absolutely not! This is because while the individual JW believes that the theological issues previously mentioned are the most important thing to convince people in their territory of, there is actually something even more important to their beliefs that they are not vocalizing to the householder. Something that they see as completely vital to their message, but not center stage for their discussions with the public. What is this teaching?

It is the concept that the Watchtower has been chosen by God to restore his true church, warn mankind of impending doom if they do not follow, and to convert people along the way. (e.g. is the "faithful slave" doctrine) No other Watchtower doctrine is as important as this one.

A very basic Bait and Switch

The technique is simple, almost to simple. Sell people one product, but upon delivery provide a different one. The delivered product may resemble the originally offered product. It may sound like it, look like it, taste like it. But no matter how similar the delivered product appears to be to the originally offered product, they are not the same!

This is essentially what has happened to the millions that have joined the Jehovah's Witnesses. People came to their doors and told them that things like hellfire, the trinity, paradise, immortality of the soul and the name 'Jehovah' were the most important things to know about life. They convince people that once they learned the "truth" about these things (and pretty much only these things) they should come down to the Kingdom hall and learn at their meetings. Why are people encouraged to start coming to the meetings once they begin to agree with what they are taught by Jehovah's Witnesses at their door? It is because of one fundamental rule that dominates:

No individual Jehovah's Witness can ever fully convert a potential member

Think about it. Why are Jehovah's Witnesses always encouraging people who begin to agree with them to come to their meetings? It may seem like an obvious question but I think there is some depth here that is often overlooked. I believe that the Watchtower pushes very hard for this because a member is only fully converted by continuously spending time with Watchtower activities. It is the Watchtower that "finishes" the potential member and gets them ready for full conversion, not any individual. No person converts without having regular participation at Watchtower sponsored activities. It is through the meetings (especially the book study and Watchtower study) that a person learns about the Watchtowers teaching that it has been chosen by God. It also just so happens to be a place where questions are answered, but they are not permitted to be asked.

The reason for this is simple. Looking back on my own entry into the Watchtower I cannot point out a specific time when I personally chose to believe the Watchtower was appointed by God. I remember when I agreed that Jesus wasn't part of a trinity, or that there was no immortal soul, or that paradise was real, or all of those typical things. But I have no personal recollection of when I actually said "i have looked at the evidence and i agree, the Watchtower has been chosen by God". That is because It didn't happen that way.

When it comes to the idea that the Watchtower was chosen by God, I was slowly converted over a long peroid of time THIS IS THE SWITCH. The bait is all the teachings about eternal punishment, the trinity, the name Jehovah, paradise, ect. That is all the bait. You accept them sometimes very quickly and with much excitement. The switch is when over time you come to accept a message that was never told to you at the beginning, namely that the Watchtower has been chosen by God. One of my favorite things about the JWs new "Bible Teach" book used with their Bible studies is how there is no mention of the "faithful slave" doctrine whatsoever in it. They are baiting people!!!

It is vitally important to realize that the individual JW never knows that they have been baited and switched. This is why the cycle works. Individual members never realize that what they joined isn't exactly what they were sold at the beginning. It is not the individual member who is truly being deceitful. It is the Watchtower Society that gives the members almost word for word their method of teaching and I believe it is the leaders themselves who are responsible for the way their message is presented in the public.

The Watchtower society doesn't tell it's members to go door to door and proclaim that their religion has been chosen for a divine mission from God. They know most people would laugh at such a message. Putting their all important message in the background is the only way they have at potentially convincing a person down the road that it is true.

Most people know better. Most people know that the Jehovah's Witnesses are not there "just to talk about the Bible". Remember how often we would say to people in the door to door work "we just want to talk about the Bible". It turns out that the people out there were not as dumb as we thought they were. As a matter of fact, they actually knew more about us better than we did. They knew that we were there for more than just Bible talk, and that is why they shut the door in our face.

With the new changes announced it seems that the Watchtower Society is beginning to lessen the load it gives to its members, most likely because they want to make it easier for a people to be labeled as "spiritually strong". With less magazines to read and less meetings to go to it will be especially easier for men to meet the requirements needed to fill leadership positions.

I think that such things are only a drop in the bucket. The Watchtowers biggest problem is that they aren't being truthful with themselves. Why not just accept their message for what it is and proclaim it to the world? The Mormons have had great success doing so. They come to your door telling you of their prophet, who restored the true church and must be followed. I don't believe the Mormons message, but I respect their candid approach much more so than the Watchtowers "bait and switch" trickery.

So there it is. Some of the things I've been thinking of. It's a ton to read but hopefully it's beneficial to somebody. Your comments are much appreciated.

A Few Commands Of Men.

By A Christian(JWN\JWD)





Jesus spoke about religious leaders who insist that others accept their own personal interpretations of the scriptures. He said that God finds the worship of people who do so to be in vain because they teach "commands of men as doctrines." ( Mt.15:9 ) A "command of men," as opposed to a command of God, is a teaching which men insist that their followers accept, even though it is not clearly stated in scripture. I believe Jehovah's Witnesses teach many such "commands of men" as doctrines. Because they do, I believe their worship of God is "in vain." I have here listed some of Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrines which I believe are clearly "commands of men."

1. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that there are two different "classes" of Christians with two different hopes for the future. They tell us that only a small minority of Christians will rule with Christ in his kingdom, and they say that the vast majority of Christians will be subjects of those kingdom rulers. However, the apostles taught that there was only "one hope" for all Christians. (Eph. 4:4-6) The apostles also forbid anyone to teach differently than they taught. Since Jehovah's Witnessers teach differently than the apostles on the issue of how many hopes there are for Christians, their two hopes/ two classes of Christians teaching is clearly contrary to the teaching of the scriptures. The Watchtower Society's insistence that all Jehovah's Witnesses accept and promote this teaching must then be regarded as a "command of men."

2. The Watchtower Society commands Jehovah's Witnesses not to accept blood transfusions. It is widely understood by all Christian groups except Jehovah's Witnesses that the instructions recorded in Acts 15:29, "Keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication," were written as strong advise to new Gentile Christians as a way they could avoid offending Jewish Christians. We know this by reading the context. Acts 15:19, 20 says, "My decision is not to trouble those of the NATIONS who are turning to God, but to write THEM to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood." It is plain that these words were not written as a binding decree imposed upon Christians. We know this because Paul later said that early Christians were, in fact, free to eat things sacrificed to idols ( one of the things Christians were advised to "abstain from" in Acts 15 ) so long as doing so did not stumble their brothers. (1 Cor. 8:4,7-9) We also know this because Paul said that for Christians, "All things are lawful but all things are not beneficial." (1 Cor. 6:12) Thus, Jehovah's Witnesses ban on blood is not scriptural. It must therefore be regarded as a "command of men."

3. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that crime, wars, contagious disease, earthquakes, famine and the like are signs of Christ's second presence and have been much worse since the year 1914 than in past generations. They teach that this proves that Christ returned in that year. The facts show that this is a misunderstanding of scripture. Read Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 carefully and you will find what Jesus was really saying. His point was that such conditions would exist all the way up to the time of his return and would not be signs of his return at all. He warned his disciples that they should not be worried by such things. He said, "These things must take place but the end will not come right away." (Luke 21:9) He compared the difficult times to come to "birth pains." (Mt. 24:8) For just as a woman must often undergo a long painful period of time before she finally gives birth, so Jesus indicated that our world had much pain to endure before he would finally return. To support their "composite sign of Christ's invisible presence" interpretation of scripture the Watchtower Society has shamelessly played with crime, war, disease and earthquake statistics ever since it first began in an attempt to prove their contentions. The truth is, however, since 1914 none of these problems has gotten worse and most have gotten much better compared to past generations. An objective study of scripture and history clearly shows that the Society's "composite sign" interpretation is not a teaching of scripture. However, the men who run the Watchtower Society command all Jehovah's Witnesses to accept and teach others this misinterpretation of scripture and distortion of history.

4. The name "Jehovah's Witnesses" was taken from God's words to Israel recorded in Isaiah 43:10. For a Christian group to take on such a name clearly conflicts with the teachings of scripture. First, as mentioned, the words spoken by God recorded in Isaiah 43:10 were spoken to the nation of Israel, not to Christians. The Bible tells us that Christians are to be witnesses of Jesus just as the Jews were witnesses of Jehovah. Jesus said, "You will be witnesses of me." (Acts 1:8) And the Bible tells us that it was "by divine providence," by God's own direction, that His people in the post-Jewish age would be known by the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 11:26 NWT) Thus, instructing Christians to identify themselves by the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" clearly conflicts with the teachings of scripture and must be regarded as a command of men and not of God.

5. Insisting that all Jehovah's Witnesses accept and teach others that Christ returned in the year 1914 is certainly a command of men. Jehovah' Witnesses teach that Daniel chapter four indicates that Christ would return 2,520 years after the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the ancient nation of Babylon. They say this destruction took place in the year 607 BCE. However, as all those who have studied this teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses in an unbiased way have discovered, this understanding of Daniel chapter four is in conflict with both scripture and ancient history. Insisting that Jehovah's Witnesses accept and teach others this highly questionable interpretation of scripture must then be regarded as a command of men.

6. The same can be said about Jehovah's Witnesses' teaching that the resurrection of all Christians who died before the year 1918 occurred in 1918. Paul said that those who teach that "the resurrection has already occurred" have "deviated from the truth" and "are subverting the faith." (2 Tim. 2:18) Jehovah's Witnesses teach that "the resurrection has already occurred." Thus, according to the apostle Paul they have "deviated from the truth" and "are subverting the faith." Since the teaching that the resurrection has already occurred clearly conflicts with the scriptures, the Watchtower Society's demand that all Jehovah's Witnesses accept and promote this teaching must be regarded as a "command of men."

7. The teaching that Jesus appointed the men who run the Watchtower Society as his "faithful slave" "over all his belongings" in 1919 is certainly not clearly taught in scripture. Thus, it can only be regarded as a teaching of men, not of God. And the Watchtower Society's insistence that all Jehovah's Witnesses accept and promote this teaching must be regarded as a command of men. Without any clear statement in scripture that Christ ever appointed the leaders of the Watchtower Society to such a position, such claims by the Watchtower Society are extremely presumptuous. And the Bible tells us that God hates presumptuousness. (Isaiah 13:11)

8. The Watchtower Society's use of the name "Jehovah" is not scriptural. They have added the name "Jehovah" many times to the text of the New Testament even though they admit that, "…no early surviving Greek manuscript of the ‘New Testament’ contains the personal name of God." ( The Watchtower March 1, 1991 p. 28 ) The Watchtower Society has said that they believe that the writers of the New Testament used the divine name in their original writings but that their original writings were later corrupted. However this contradicts what the Society itself has said. The Society tells us that, "Jehovah God has seen to it that his Word has been protected not only from mistakes copyists made but also from attempts of others to make additions to it. The Bible itself contains God’s promise that his Word would be kept in a pure form for us today." ( You Can Live For Ever in Paradise on Earth, 1982 p. 53 ) So, the fact is that Jehovah's Witnesses had no business inserting the name Jehovah into the New Testament portions of their New World Translations when that name is not found in any early surviving Greek manuscript of the New Testament. Historians tell us that the personal name of God, as used in the Old Testament, was not used in either its written or spoken form for many years before the time of Christ. Because the Jews were afraid overuse of the divine name might amount to "taking the name of the Lord in vain," they actually forbid its use altogether. The Bible tells us that for Christians the name of Jesus should be promoted above every name. (Phil. 2:9) Jehovah's Witnesses do not do this. Their putting the name Jehovah into the New Testament portions of their New World Translations and promoting that name above every name, rather than the name of Jesus as the Bible says Christians should be doing, and insisting that all Jehovah's Witnesses do the same is clearly a "command of men."

9. Jehovah's Witnesses insist that all their members must regularly engage in their work of preaching and disciple making. However, the Bible says that God gave only "some as evangelists" and only "some as teachers." (Eph. 4:11) Though all true Christians are certainly moved to share their faith with others when the opportunity arises, the teaching that all Christians are required by God to regularly serve as door-to-door preachers contradicts the scriptures and so must also be regarded as a command of men.

10. On this same line of thought, the Watchtower Society's demand that all Jehovah's Witnesses who share their faith with others keep track of their time doing so, and then report that number of hours they do so each month to their congregations is also contrary to the teachings of scripture. Jesus said that those who let others know what good works they are doing already have their reward in full. But he said that those who give in secret will be the ones who are rewarded by their father in heaven. (Mt. 6:1-4) All of Jehovah's Witnesses are required to let their elders know exactly how much time they spend preaching. Jehovah's Witnesses who are "Pioneers" let everyone in their congregations know how many hours they preach just by the act of "Pioneering." The Watchtower Society encourages this kind of "trumpet blowing," contrary to the teachings of Christ. Because they do, the Watchtower Society's telling all Jehovah's Witnesses to report the time they spend preaching is not scriptural and must then be regarded as a command of men.

11. Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to decide for themselves many minor matters which certainly should be left to an individual Christian's conscience. For instance Jehovah's Witnesses are not even allowed to decide for themselves if they will give their mother a card on Mother's Day or celebrate their child's first Birthday. This is not Christianity. It is legalistic Phariseeism. The Bible says that "Where the Spirit of God is there is freedom." ( 2 Cor. 3:17 ) With this verse in mind, since freedom of action, thought and speech to make decisions for themselves in minor matters such as these does not exist among Jehovah's Witnesses, we can only view the many legalistic prohibitions, which the Watchtower Society imposes on Jehovah's Witnesses, as commands of men not commands of God.

12. Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to let any member of the military or police join their religion even though the first Gentile accepted into the Christian congregation was a Roman army officer. Peter baptized Cornelius without ever demanding that he first resign from the military. (Acts 10) The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses treat baptismal candidates differently than Peter did shows that, in this area also, they teach commands of men as doctrine. ( Matt. 15:9 )

13. Jehovah's Witnesses "disfellowship" people for things never mentioned in the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses have been disfellowshipped for using tobacco, for celebrating Christmas, for working for a Christian charitable organization and, more and more often today, simply admitting that they doubt the Watchtower Society's claim that it is God's exclusive channel for truth on the earth. Disfellowshipping and then shunning people for such unbiblical reasons clearly shows that the Watchtower Society's instructions to congregational Elders to disfellowship members for such things are commands of men, not commands of God.

14. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that only they are considered by God to be Christians and that only they have any hope of surviving Armageddon. Some of Jehovah's Witnesses actually deny the Society teaches this. However, as well informed member of Jehovah's Witnesses know, they do. As the Sept. 1, 1989 issue of the Watchtower tells us on page 19, "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the 'great crowd,' as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil." Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently taught that all members of Christendom's Churches, who are still its members when Armageddon strikes, will be executed by God. This amounts to judging and condemning others in the worst way. Who God accepts as Christians and who he will destroy at Armageddon is a judgment that is God's to make, not ours. Jesus commanded his followers to "Stop judging and you will not be judged," and "stop condemning and you will not be condemned." ( Matt. 7:1; Luke 6:37 ) Jehovah's Witnesses' teaching that God only accepts the worship of Jehovah's Witnesses, only considers them to be Christians and that only they "have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system," is not a teaching of Scripture and, in fact, is totally contrary to the teachings of Christ. Thus, the Watchtower Society's instructions to Jehovah's Witnesses that they should accept and promote such judgmental teachings are certainly commands of men and not of God.

15. Jehovah's Witnesses insist that all of its members attend five one hour long meetings every week, as well as various assemblies and conventions throughout the year. If they do not they are considered to be spiritually weak or spiritually sick. Though the Bible encourages Christians to not forsake gathering together, nowhere in the Bible are Christians told that they must attend five meetings a week. Therefore, the Watchtower Society's insistence that all Jehovah's Witnesses do so must also be regarded as a "command of men."

16. The Watchtower Society's teachings on the subject of who will receive a resurrection are clearly corruptions of scripture. Thus their insistence that all Jehovah's Witnesses accept and promote these teachings must be regarded as another "command of men." Jesus said, "A time is coming when ALL who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." (John 5:28,29 NIV) However, the Watchtower Society has long speculated back and forth about who will be resurrected and who won't. For instance, they have said, "The men of Sodom will be resurrected." Then, "No they won't." Then, "Yes they will." Then, "No they won't." And so forth. Such foolishness! Jesus plainly said that everyone who has ever lived and died will receive a resurrection. This has made no sense to the Watchtower Society so they have played with Jesus' words. Their NWT Bible has Jesus saying "all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out." They tell us this should be understood to mean all those who are now remembered by God. They tell us that those in "MEMORIAL tombs" refers to those in God's MEMORY. And they tell us that God forgets evil ones who have died so most of them will not have a resurrection. But to all Christians except Jehovah's Witnesses Jesus' words make perfect sense. For they know that Acts 24:15 confirms Christ's words in John 5:28,29 by telling us that "there will be a resurrection of BOTH the righteous and the wicked." And they know that Romans 14:12 says that "EACH of us will give an account of himself to God." They also know that Hebrews 9:27 tells us that "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." So, even though Christ's clearly stated intentions to resurrect everyone who has ever lived and died make no sense to readers of the Watchtower, they make perfect sense to readers of the Bible. The Bible indicates that God has no intention of letting evil men who spent their whole lives hurting others pass into eternal rest thinking they got away with their evil deeds. The Bible tells us God intends to bring back all wicked ones from their graves to face condemnation for the way they lived their lives. By the way, the Bible also tells us that the "resurrection of the righteous and the wicked" will take place when the thousand year reign of Christ has ended, not all during those thousand years as Jehovah's Witnesses teach. (Rev. 20:5)

As Jesus said, "It is in vain that they keep worshipping" God "because they teach commands of men as doctrines." (Mt.15:9)

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, CREATURE WORSHIP AND ACTIVE PRACTICERS OF IDOLATRY

By Bitter Truth From JWD\JWN.

Jehovah's Witnesses have long practiced idolatry and various forms of "creature worship," now for many years. Although the WTS teaches and has stated many times in their publications that the world in general, by way of such things as "birthday" celebrations, christmas, and other annual events, actually eulogize and extol great glory upon man, the individual himself, and thus, by way of whats known as "creature worship," practice wholesale IDOLATRY!

That's what they teach. However, upon closer examination, we find the JWs do the same thing in reference to the WTS and their leadership. This is a proven fact, that can be easily established for us, in this year now of 2,000.

We recall, JWs are indeed taught and are fully aware of what the Bible teaches about following the "commandments" and "traditions of men," and how the God of the Bible, feels about these things. They quickly point out to members of other religions that the "commandments of men," and the following of the "traditions of man," an an overt act of "idolatry," and "creature worship," since one has overstepped the very Commandment of God's Word, as found in the Bible, and REPLACED it with "man's command," thus rescinding God's Word, the real force of it...thus it becomes a heinous ACT OF IDOLATRY. -- See Matt. 15:9

But, JWs themselves, are often asked to participated in this heinous practice on a "daily basis," everyday in their worship of God...such conduct on a regular basis, practiced year in and year out, and nothing is ever said about. It is "accepted" as a "godly practice", though it is not taught directly in scripture, and even labeled in many instances A REQUIREMENT FOR LIFE, thus forced upon the novice, or newcomer in the organization...the newly baptized disciple for the Jehovah's Witnesses organization.

EXAMPLES:

1. COUNTING TIME. Count all of the literature, books, magazines, hours, return visits, and bible studies each month and make a written record and REPORT it to the Headquarters Staff at Brooklyn Bethel each and every month. Further, each publisher, that's 5-6 million JWs, are REQUIRED TO DO THIS WORLDWIDE! It is a "commandment of men"...pure and simple.

Mark 7:7-9 says:

"It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach as doctrines COMMANDS OF MEN. Letting go the commandment of God, you hold fast the tradition of men." Further, he went on to say to then: Adroiltly you set aside the commandment of God in order to retain Your tradition."

COUNTING & REPORTING TIME and Keeping Records of it, a unique practice of JWs, actually fits this scenio perfectly.

Jesus taught, when it comes to good works, and the giving of "gifts of mercy" -- ...

'take care NOT TO PRACTICE YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN FRONT OF MEN...'

'do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing...'

'do your good works in SECRET, and your heavenly father, who is looking on in secret, will reward you also in SECRET.' -- [Gist] Matt. 6:1-4

This "commandment" of "counting and reporting time, a longstanding practice of Jehovah's Witnesses, is no where to be found in the Bible itself. First century christians did no such things at all. It is a "commandment" of the WTS! A "commandment of men."

Thus, idolatry..."creature worship!"

2. THEOCRATIC STRATEGY/LYING -- The 1914 Teaching:

It has been long taught, by the WTS Headquarters staff, and in the printed publications, that JWs can indeed "lie" or tell total "untruths" to those "who are not deserving" of an honest answer. This has been practiced in courts in the legal system, and is a common practice today, as indicated by the outright duplicity demonstrated in the "Bulgarian/Blood" situation. This is an established fact.

This has been established procedure for many years now, as can be attested to by reviewing information found in the "Aid to Bible Understanding" and "Insight on Scriptures" publications on the subject of a "Lie." A clear definition of it is given, and gives the basis for what is called "theocratic strategy," wherein the WTS will clearly TELL OUTRIGHT UNTRUTHS to the government officials, and persons of high rank within the government, when it conflicts with ideals, goals and aspirations of the WTS. The also teach their membership to do the same when so confronted.

Jesus said all forms of "lying" comes Satan the Devil." -- See John 8:44

Jesus also promised that "all those lying," "LIKING and CARRYING ON A LIE"... will be given over the total destruction of in the "Lake of Fire," which means the "second death." -- See Rev. 21:8, 22:15

PLEASE NOTE: Also, the "carrying on of a lie", as maintained by WTS and Headquarters staff, can also be seen in the constant and persistent teaching of "1914" Doctrine, which unquestionably is an outright ruse, fable, or "artfully contrived false story," -- a bold face "lie," perpetrated by the WTS upon the world for over 120 years, which cannot be proven from the Holy Scriptures of God! -- 2 Peter 1:16

However, first century Christians can NOT be charged as having taught, any such foolish thing. They have no such Gigantic "Lie", false teaching to their credit, that has been perpetrated over such a long period of time, and finally done in such a totally unrepentant manner as by the WTS.

The 1914 CANNOT be substantiated within the Bible, the Bible does not even mention any such "date" associated the kingship of Jesus Christ. It is not taught in Scripture...this is a "man-made" concoction...a "commandment of men."

One cannot be baptized, nor accepted as one of Jehovah's Witnesses even today, unless he ACCEPTS this teaching by the WTS, as coming from God...even today.

..."commandments of men."

3. COLLEGE EDUCATION/HIGHER LEARNING:

The WTS has taught for many years that the attending of college was a BAD THING...and discouraged tens of thousands from attending a university of any sorts, of higher learning, and gaining a college degree.

To attest to the factualness of this occurence, today, almost all of the Circuit, District, Branch Personnel, Missionaries, Governing Body members, present today, who did not have this opportunity before becoming Jehovah's Witnesses, WILL HAVE TO ADMIT WHEN QUESTIONED, that they are thus, in this most pitiful, pitiable, pennyless, deplorable condition today, all because of "man-made" indoctrination heaped upon them by WTS headquarters staff. Yes, ALL ARE WITHOUT COLLEGE EDUCATION to this day because of this "man-made," human reasoning concoction, "commandment of men," that is clearly not taught in the Scriptures, God's Word. A Fact!

Now, it is totally appropriate and proper for a JW to go to college, if he so chooses. But not so, a few years ago. It was a "sin" to go to college, a few years ago, as taught by the WTS.

...a "commandment of men."

Today, we know, the Bible does not teach nor speak on such a matter about attending a university of higher learning.

But yet, over the past many years, the WTS has enforced this "commandment of men," and even insisted upon making this an "unstated rule" by frequently withholding privileges of responsibility to any who pursued a college education, despite their warnings, privileges that could be held within the organization. This is a fact.

All brothers and sisters in Special Services in the organization today, Special Pioneers, Missionaries, Travelling Overseers, Bethel personnel, all KNOW THIS to be a FACT..and can attest to this to be the situation, the situation, since their very lifes, present state of affairs, actually speaks for them!

They are "uneducated" as a group of people, many in their late 50s, 60s, 70s, and above.

Ask them why, they didn't go to college, and see if the "answer" is not unanimously linked to "counsel" from "Mother Bethel.

"Commandments of men,"...idolatry.

4. The Insidous "Doctrine" of 1975, The End and the "Appropriate Time For God to Act," Teaching.

Many JWs are perfectly aware of the 1975 teaching and the detrimental effects this had upon many associated with the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. Long before this year, the WTS began pointing forward to this year as the end of 6,000 years of man's existence and the appropriate closeness of the Millenial reign of Jesus Christ, and the dismantling of human governments upon earth.

Particularly, in the latter years, nearing this year, around 1968, years before, the WTS made an urgent push, using many of the Travelling overseers present today, fully emphasize the nearness of the end, especially with the release of the "Truth" book, which today numbers better than 100 million copies distributed worldwide.

With the release of this particular book, it was told to all JWs that a 6-month Bible study program should be implemented...wherein if any person did not show SUFFICIENT interest in the literature or the study, the Bible Student and His Study, SHOULD BE DROPPED IMMEDIATELY! No need to study any further with the individual...no need to tarry...drop the study...the end was too near.

This is a fact!

Many, began to sell their homes, sell their businesses...because the "commandment of men," the WTS, told them the "time was too short."

The "Kingdom Ministry" once printed an article COMMENDING individuals, who had sold their homes and businesses and "moved to serve where the need was greater" ... all because of sensing the nearness of the end and the year of 1975.

Many of us remember these years. In fact, the "Freedom of the Sons of God" release of the mid 1960's actually pointed out about how "appropriate" it would be, to match and coincide the end of 6,000 years of human existence, as of 1975, with the "Millenial rule" of Jesus Christ, and removal of all human governments! This is fact...a printed fact.

The count for baptimal candidates soared...over 300,000 baptised in one year...just before 1975...bringing the total number JWs to over 2 million by the mid-seventies. Kingdom Halls were swelling up everywhere...particularly in the U.S.

Yes, this man-made teaching had affected the lives of many...because 1975 came and went...and nothing happened.

Many became disgruntled...many left the organization. The WTS claimed it never intimated or taught such a thing for many years after that. They wondered at the lack of faith of those who had left.

Within five years from that fate date, a major break-up at Brooklyn Bethel, with several key members of the Bethel staff, Writing Department, a G.B. member, translator...put out of Bethel and, to a large extent, yes bannished, disfellowshiped because of not giving FULL SUPPORT to the "1975 WTS coverup," that was full swing and practice by that time. A fact.

Some would say,

"No, no, the WTS never actually taught or said anything SPECIFIC about 1975, not directly anyway...the brothers made the whole thing up...we never said the end was coming...they never even INFERRED IT...no, no..."

But, ask yourself, was it in fact, a man-made teaching, or not? And, from where did it originate...who thought up the idea, the WTS or the brothers? Which?

Is this date, this "teaching," in the printed publications, highlighted by the WTS?

Five more years later, the year is now, 1985...

5. The change in the Dedication Questions in the Baptism Ceremonies of all JWs worldwide.

Question #2 used to state:

"On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for redemption have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to Jehovah God, to do his will henceforth as that will is revealed to you through Christ Jesus and through God's Word as His Holy Spirit makes it plain?" (See Wt 1970 pg. 309 par. 20)

New Question #2 (the more improved version)

"Do you understand that your deication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?" (See 6/1/85 Wt. pg. 30 par. 3,4)

In the new improved question, you are no longer directed by (a) Christ Jesus, (b) The Bible and the leadings of the (c) "holy spirit," of God.

So, how are JWs now led...how? Well, JWs can no longer make the claim they are led by Jesus, the Holy spirit and the bible, no, no, because of the change, yes...since the year of 1985, since they are NOW DIRECTED by the "organization," the "spirit-directed organization," WHICH TAKES THE PLACE of (a) Jesus Christ, (b)The Bible and the leadings of the (c) Holy Spirit of God.

Which Questions posed to the baptismal is MORE BIBLE BASED...which? Which one is a "commandment of men," which?

I think you can answer that one.

Well, that's the improvement of the questions in 1985, five years after the "Bethel Breakup", and 10 years after the "1975 teaching," perpetrated by the "spirit-directed organization," Headquartered in Brooklyn New York. That's the change, that's the improvement.

Yes, these are proven "commandments of men," "traditions of men," yes idolatry, "creature worship" all accepted and practiced by JWs, and the WTS. All neatly, swept "under the rug," and dismissed as "never, ever happening at all." They never made any such changes in their "dedication" ceremonies...this never happened, or it is of "little consequence," to them. Yes, they are free from any involvement of "creature worship," idolatry, worship of man, and his traditions.

This is your history, Jehovah's witnesses, your legacy...your voluntary part, in obeying the "commandments of men."

Your part in "creature worship," idolatry. The worship of man/organization over God.