Scans of the Funeral Discourse Outline.

A letter regarding the death of Brother Russell.

A letter of disassociation written by a former Bethelite.

June 16th, 1994

Dear Friends,

This letter is the most difficult I have ever had to write. It will no doubt disappoint you. Some will prefer to be hurt rather than benefited by what I am about to tell you. Please sit down before you read on.

As I leave Bethel, I am also leaving Jehovah's Witnesses. I did not want to make this decision public. I wanted to leave quietly-simply fade from view. But there is no honorable way to leave the organization. In a day or two I will turn in a letter of disassociation. If I don't I will most certainly be disfellowshipped sooner or later. I've never tried to convert others, but some men will feel they have to warn you. An effort will be made to convince you that I am a bad and bitter person. Though I spent nearly half a century going house to house, you will hear that I left the JW's because I didn't like that work. I will be accused of independent thinking and, worse yet, of associating with apostates. I know this from observing what has happened to others. Despite a lifetime of trying my best to live like a Christian should, my reputation will be blackened by those who make a show of being loyal to the Society. All this because I can no longer conscientiously support the organization, and there is no hope of changing my mind. The organization in effect will be disfellowshiping you and not me because you will not be allowed to speak to me though I have the freedom to talk to anybody. The following is my side of the story.

I have not been influenced by apostates or any other religious group. My decision is based on prayerful study of the Bible and the Watchtower Society's publications. I am convinced that certain beliefs of the Society are contrary to the teachings of the Bible. For example:

Matt. 28:19 says baptism is to be in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but the W(atchtower) 85 6/1 substitutes "spirit directed organization" for "holy spirit".

Luke. 21:34-36 and other scriptures show that we each must be faithful and discreet in caring for what the Master has entrusted to us, but the Society says only "the remnant" as a group are the "slave" of Matt. 24:45-51. - See Matt. 25:13-30 ; Lu. 12:48 ; Lu. 16:10-13 ; 1 Cor. 4:2 ; Heb. 3:12, 1 Pet. 4:10, 11 ; Rev. 16:15

Acts. 3:20-23 shows that Jesus alone is the Greater Moses and God's prophet, but the W(atchtower)82 6/1 and W(atchtower) 9/1 urge an attitude that views the organization as such. This, even though the organization has rarely, if ever, guessed right about a future event!

Acts 10:38 makes it noteworthy that Jesus "went through all the land doing good and healing" the oppressed people, and other religions build hospitals, clinics, old-age homes, etc., for their own if not for others as well. But the Watchtower chooses to use it's millions upon of dollars to build more and more comfortable Bethel homes instead of helping even its own sick, handicapped, and elderly.

Acts 15:20, 29 tells Gentile Christians to "abstain" from blood, and the Watch Tower Society applies this to blood transfusions. But the context clearly shows that the purpose of the recommendation was to avoid creating great offense for Jews. C.T. Russell understood this, saying in the W(atchtower) 09 4/15, on page 117: "The things here recommended were necessary to a preservation of the fellowship of the "body" composed of Jews and Gentiles with their different education and sentiments." Think of the blood guilt resting on the Governing Body if Russell was correct!

Rom. 8:15 and Gal. 4:6 show that those closest to God call him "Father" - even "Daddy" - not "Jehovah". Would a loving child call his his father by his personal name?

Romans 12:3 warns against thinking too highly of oneself, but with no credentials at all, the Watch Tower Society assigns itself the role of God's spokesman and the administrator of all Christ's interests on earth. 2 Cor. 1:21, 24 shows that we belong to Christ and not even the apostles were "masters over our faith", but the Watch Tower Society constantly attempts to impose on our minds what it describes as the "great body of truths" that it has produced. Thus the Society has it's own organizational creed something it condemns in other churches.

Gal. 1:8 states: "Even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed." Not one scripture that speaks of "the good news" has anything to do with an establishment of the Kingdom in 1914 or a new world on this planet. Rather they have to do with the coming of Jesus to the earth, his life, his death as a ransom sacrifice, his resurrection - his victory over kings, sin and death on behalf of all mankind and the authority his Father has given him to free believing humans from the wages of sin. That good news, not 1914, is "the glorious good news about the Christ who is the image of God" that the Watch Tower Society is blind to. - 2 Cor. 4:4

1 Tim. 2:5 says there is "one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus", but the Society says Jesus is not the mediator for those with an earthly hope. Heb. 4:16 says we can "approach with freeness of speech to the throne of undeserved kindness", not because the Watch Tower Society died for us, but because Jesus did.

Hebrews 10:19-22 shows Jesus eliminated the division between a priestly class and a non-priestly class, but the Watch Tower describes the "anointed remnant" as "the priestly class" and "the great crowd" as "spiritual Gentiles". - pm 80:15

In the New World Translation, the Christian Scriptures use the name of Jesus at least 8 times as often as they do Jehovah, but the average Watch Tower publication uses Jehovah at least 30 times as often as Jesus. Other churches are more balanced in this matter, but the Society accuses them of never using Jehovah's name.

The greatest testimony against the Watch Tower Society is it's own literature. The above instances simply skim the surface. The society seems incapable of letting the Scriptures speak for themselves. It must nearly always give a symbolic or "spiritual" meaning to a text.

The Proclaimers book released last year often hides what is related in Jehovah's Witnesses and the Divine Purpose and other publications. Whenever there is something good to report about the organization, the book is quick to tell us. But what about all the bad things that have gone on?

The older book makes a reference to C.T. Russell's account of his troubles with his wife, Maria. I read in the 1906 account in the Watchtower and could not help but feel that Russell was an arrogant and overbearing male who showed no consideration for his wife even when she was very ill and even though he acknowledged that no woman on earth was as devoted to and supportive of her husband as Maria. His defense in his own words of his relationship with other women is weak an suspicious. No wonder the judge and jury wasted no time in granting Sister Russell the divorce she was seeking and that he opposed.

On page 201, the Proclaimers book acknowledges that "For some 35 years, Pastor Russell thought that the Great Pyramid of Gizeh was God's stone witness, corroborating Biblical time periods". What is not stated is that Russell was one of the world's greatest advocates of pyramidology, a spiritistic religion. His writings, diagrams and charts about pyramids are virtually the same as those that appear in any book on pyramidology. These books are usually located in the "Occult" section of any library or bookstore. Even J.F. Rutherford acknowledged that it was Satan who put it into Russell's mind to figure out God's purposes by studying the Pyramid of Gizeh, that the pyramid is "Satan's Bible, and not God's stone witness." (Watchtower 28, 11/15, page 344) Russell was under this influence of the of the Devil from 1881 (2 years after the birth of the Watchtower) until he died in 1916. He was buried in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But first he was embalmed, and then he was placed in a grave that is now marked with a huge tombstone in the form of a pyramid which, curiously, has emblems of the Masonic Lodge engraved upon it. Russell also believed in astrology and the horoscope. And for nearly half of his presidency, Rutherford believed the same. Pyramid worship led Rutherford to believe that millions living in 1920 would never die and that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would return in 1925 and live at Beth-Sarim in San Diego, California.

Not the Bible, but Russell's belief in pyramidology are the basis for his date setting. He said that the last days began in 1799, Christ's presence began in 1874, the heavenly resurrection began in 1878, the heavenly calling ended in 1881, and the end of the world and the resurrection of "the anointed on earth" would take place in 1914. All his prophecies failed, yet the Society still holds to the 1914 date, but with a different application. The Society claims this date is established by Bible chronology that starts with the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BCE. However, not even one scholar agrees with the Society that Jerusalem was destroyed that year. So, in the face of all this scholarly opposition, the Society unashamedly claims its own scholarship is superior. Due to Russell's and Rutherford's practices of spiritism, millions of Jehovah's Witnesses are banking on Armageddon to come with in the next few years. Just as the International Bible Students were deceived by Russell and Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses today are being deceived by the Governing Body.

N.H. Knorr was also addicted to spiritualism. As shown in the g (Awake) 42 5/27, Knorr and the Society went to court over a silly matter having to do with their fanciful belief in "the King of the East, and the Chief King of the Sunrising" calling for Rutherford to be buried at Beth-Sarim at sunrise! Knorr lost the case, but his action postponed Rutherford's burial for three and a half months after he died! And since Fred Franz was a prominent member of the Society during the presidencies of Rutherford and Knorr, I have to conclude that he too was a spiritualist. No wonder his prophecies on the world's end for the mid-1940's and for 1975 did not come true. Nor will his prediction regarding the "generation" of Math. 24:34. Incidentally, though we have often thought of Fred Franz as some sort of amazing Bible and language scholar, in the door to door work I have met rural church pastors and Sunday School teachers who know far more Bible Hebrew and Greek than he did. - Math. 24:23-26, 44.

The Society claims to be a progressive organization, but over the decades it has bounced back and forth on doctrine. The Almighty Ruler of Nations speaks and teaches eternal truths. With Him there is never a variation or a shadow of a turning such as there always is with the Watch Tower Society. - Jas. 1:17

I personally resent the Society's campaign of whitewashing the record of it's presidents. Those who know the true story are being treated as fools. The Proclaimers book on page 693 says Rutherford wrote a letter to Hitler. This is in the context of "facing Nazi oppression". But Rutherford's letter, published in the Watchtower (yearbook) in 1934, praises Hitler for his anti-Anglo/American campaign and his plan to exterminate the Jews! As another example, in the W(atchtower) 94 8/1, page 23, Robert Hatzfeld is quoted as saying regarding Rutherford, "Many of the younger brothers at Bethel were somewhat intimidated by him until they got to know him." Yet, when I was at Brooklyn Bethel, and even before, I saw old timers wince as they spoke of Rutherford's bad language, drinking, and tyrannical ways. He was even sued by ex-Bethelite Olin Moyle on these matters, and Moyle won the case! I was also told that thousands of JW's in Germany died before Hitler's firing squads because Rutherford told them Jehovah would not allow them to die since they were among the "millions now living" who would never die.

Knorr was not much better. All the days at Bethel that I knew him, he was like an aloof businessman who had little regard for others. He ruled Bethel like a stern boss, and almost everybody feared the man. I remember days when he ridiculed and ranted for as much as an hour against those who displeased him and whom he had lined against the dining room wall before the entire Bethel family.

At Bethel in Brooklin and Canada there is little regard for other people's spiritual and emotional problems. Rarely if ever is Mathew 18 applied. If you approach someone with authority, he does little if anything to assist you. Rather, you can expect to be patronized and told simply to "wait on Jehovah". If you return with your problem days or weeks later, you stand a likely chance of being accused of having an obsession of some sort. At Brooklyn headquarters we were advised from the table head to exercise care due to theft going on within the Bethel family. Not just a few cases of marital infidelity, drunkenness and alcoholism, wild parties, and even homosexual practices are among the reasons some are dismissed at Bethel. We smile at the failure of the Catholic Church when we hear about a priest molesting little children. We certainly would not smile if we were told truthfully about the cases of child abuse, wife abuse, divorce, and youth delinquency that can be found in many of our congregations. AND WE ALL CLAIM THAT WE ARE MINISTERS!

The Society has stated that about one percent are disfellowshiped each year and that the majority of cases have to do with immorality. One gets disfellowshiped for not showing repentance, and lack of repentance is indicated by not taking the initiative to come forth and confess. What this means is that one percent of JW's get caught as fornicators, adulterers and homosexuals. How many others are secretly doing these things who do not get caught? It often takes a lot of effort and investigation to discover that someone is engaging in such secret practices. Still, about 40, 000 are found out and thrown out each year! How many other tens of thousands or more have not yet been exposed as the immoral persons that they are? Many other religions place strong emphasis on conduct, including the Adventists, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and the Covenanting Congregations within the United Church of Canada. Of all of them, I think we have the worst record when it comes to blatant dishonesty and immorality.

You don't have to be an elder involved for some time with judicial matters to understand what I'm saying. Still, we boast about what a "clean organization" we are because we disfellowship wrongdoers. But those wrongdoers did their wrong WHILE THEY WERE IN THE ORGANIZATION. To brag that we are a clean organization is like the Pharisee in Jesus' parable who felt very assured of his righteousness by his regularity in the service of fasting and tithing and by his abstaining from certain condemned acts. Though he appeared exemplary on the surface, in reality he was outstanding only by his self praise. - Luke 18:9-14

I believe these problems exist because the Watch Tower Society tries to take the place of Jesus as Head of the congregation. It stands in the way of our having a personal relationship with Him because it wants to be the only "channel", "spokesman", and "watchman" for Jehovah's Witnesses. No human authority can motivate our minds and hearts as well as He who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, no matter how much that human governing authority tries to get its people to acknowledge and adore it rather than Him. In its efforts to hold high the name of Jehovah, the Society has overlooked the scripture that says, "He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." - John 5:23

We hear over and over again that we have "the Truth," that we are God's only organization, and that we are the only people practicing true love. Our experience is so limited because all we know is Jehovah's Witnesses. We are urged to read only the publications of the Society and to use only it's Bible. If one keeps hearing something often enough, he will believe it. Because the Society says the good news is being preached "in all the inhabited earth", we believe it, even though the Society's message is reaching only a very small fraction of the earth's population and very few of them actually know what we stand for. Because the Society says we should preach from house to house, we do it, even though such activity is a nuisance to most householders and turns many against God and the Bible as well as against JW's. Our children are told not to go to college because it will corrupt them, but those who have done the most good for mankind have generally been those who have not been content with a mere surface education. God bestowed beautiful talents within each of us to be developed and used to his glory and praise. But we stay under-educated because the Society keeps us so busy with its constant activities and demands upon our limited time. As individuals and as congregations we should be administered according to the rule of the Word of God, not according to man-made rules in an "Organization" book.

The society has over the years liberally plagiarized from Christendom's commentaries. Still, it would like us to think there is nowhere else to go. Peter said, not to the Watch Tower Society, but to Jesus, "YOU have the sayings of everlasting life!" While preaching and in other ways, I have met members of churches and groups that are teaching "the glorious good news about the Christ." And they won't disfellowship you if your Bible trained conscience can't accept everything they say! THEY ARE LEARNING AND GROWING TOO. Let me know if you want to know who they are. It is my hope and my prayer that this letter will do something to unlock for you the wealth of what is one of the greatest and most dramatic movements the world have ever seen, the triumphant Christian congregation that has Jesus Christ as its Head and not any human governor or governing body of men.

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH, and I will miss associating with you, for I am sure an announcement will be made against me. I am not promoting a sect when I say you should read and study the Bible and let it speak to you for itself. It is God's love letter to you personally, and its message is not intended to be slanted for you by an organization that thinks it loves you more that He does.

Sincerely,

F.J.T.

Bill Bowen's Letter To The Governing Body.

12-20-01

Governing Body

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

25 Columbia Heights

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Dear Brothers,

I am writing to make further appeal to do something that is needed in the interests of the Flock. As spiritual shepherds you brothers have expended yourself for many years with the interest of trying to guide the flock in the way Jesus would approve. As you may recall it was Peter who said, “Therefore, to the older men among YOU I give this exhortation, for I too am an older man with [them] and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, a sharer even of the glory that is to be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God in YOUR care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; neither as lording it over those who are God’s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd has been made manifest, YOU will receive the unfadable crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:1-4) This scripture helps to explain the importance of what it means to shepherd the sheep entrusted to your care. If the sheep are to be cared for, how much more so the little lambs that exists as children in the congregation.

When I wrote my first letter to you around one year ago I was very upset at a problem that presented itself to me in the congregation. As a local shepherd I felt my hands were tied to prevent a child from being molested. How could I be a good “shepherd” and not protect a little lamb that was in danger? I was instructed to “leave it in Jehovah’s hands,” yet would Jehovah wait one day if he knew a child was being hurt? I do not believe so, nor could I wait. As the scripture says in Acts, “Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed YOU overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own [Son]. (Acts 20:27-28) In serving as an elder would I be “paying attention” if I ignored the needs of a child in danger?

My letter had very strong words, I realize, yet I was trying to compel you to see how horrible a danger this was to the flock. I felt you needed to wake up to the clear and present threat to the congregation. Another reason my letter was worded so strongly is being contacted by numerous persons who brought to my attention that their child molestation had for the most part went unreported while they were forced to live as silent lambs. In order to remedy this problem and after conferring with several experts in the field, I offered three suggestions on how to protect children from pedophiles within the congregation:

1. If a child is molested call the police first.
2. No brother or sister who molests children should be allowed privileges in the congregation.
3. No brother or sister who molests children should be allowed to go in the door-to-door ministry.

The purpose of those recommendations was to protect the flock. Each point offered specific safeguards that preserved the high moral standards adhered to by the organization.

The first suggestion, “If a child is molested call the police first,” not only helps the child to have a proper investigation to determine what happened and get proper treatment if needed, but it also puts any child molester on notice that if he or she touched a Witness child they would not be able to hide behind the body of elders, instead they would face the “superior authorities.”(Rom. 13:1) This would also show that Jehovah’s Witnesses differ from many mainstream religions by having a zero tolerance policy when it comes to molested children.

The second suggestion, “No brother or sister who molests children should be allowed privileges in the congregation,” would not only be a deterrent for any would molest but also put the congregation on notice that certain people may need to be watched and not trusted with children, thus protecting the flock to a better degree.

The third suggestion, “No brother or sister who molests children should be allowed to go in the door-to-door ministry,” would let the public know Jehovah’s Witnesses never send child molesters to an unknowing public which in turn gives them confidence the Witness calling at their door is a safe person. This alone protects the image offered to the public of all Jehovah’s Witnesses.

My question is why did you choose to do nothing? What reasoning allowed you to ignore the cries for help documented on the silentlambs website? How many children have been molested in the last year since these suggestions have not been acted upon?

In January 1, 1997 Watchtower, the impression was given that one of these suggestions had been acted upon. The article “Abhor What Is Wicked” indicated child molesters would never have privileges in the congregation, yet the March 14, 1997, letter to “All Bodies Of Elders,” plainly stated persons with a history of child molestation before baptism were “not to be queried” thus opening the possibility of pedophiles continuing to serve in appointed positions. The June 1, 2001 letter to “All Bodies Of Elders” in Britain took matters a step further by stating if “a long period of time” had passed since his last molestation, a man who committed the act of child molestation when he was baptized, could be used as elder again or could continue to serve. What were you thinking? Do you really believe you can tell the flock one thing and have the elders act on hidden directives through BOE letters with the truth not coming out? Brothers this has to end. This is not about one personality or another it is about protecting children, safeguarding the congregation, and not bringing reproach on Jehovah’s name. Psalms 74:18 states, “Remember this: The enemy himself has reproached, O Jehovah, And a senseless people have treated your name with disrespect.” If this problem is ignored, could this bring further reproach on Jehovah’s name, his people and make the Governing Body look like a “senseless people?”

I urge you brothers to hasten and take action immediately. The brothers and sisters will respect and appreciate a decision that protects the interests of the flock. Jesus said, “I am the fine shepherd; the fine shepherd surrenders his soul in behalf of the sheep. The hired man, who is no shepherd and to whom the sheep do not belong as his own, beholds the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and flees—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them— because he is a hired man and does not care for the sheep.” (John 10:10-15) I entreat you to please not act like the hired man and leave the flock, the lambs, exposed to danger. Imitate Jesus who was willing to go beyond the call of duty even giving his life to defend the safety of the flock. Whatever the reason for inaction, now is the time to act, apologize for not preceding sooner, let those wronged know they are loved and will be better protected in the future. The brothers and sisters will revere you more so for showing yourselves to be humble shepherds acting in the interests of Jehovah’s “little sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

Please listen, please take action, please stand up for what is right, please give a voice to the silent lambs and please protect the flock.

Sincerely,

William H. Bowen

A letter sent by JF Rutherford to Olin Moyle.

A letter from the society regarding change in the format of the Watchtower magazine.

The Watchower Society And 1975.

2008 District Convention Drama -

'Do Not Leave The Love You Had At First'

Watchtower 1914 Prophecy.

Silentlambs Press Conference

Having It Both Ways As A Jehovah’s Witness.

From the now defunct site thejehovahswitnesses.com

Increase in JWs evidence of divine blessing
When people are joining the JWs in large numbers, they say it is “evidence of Jehovah’s blessing”. (Watchtower July 1, 2002, p.13, paragraph 17-19)

But … when the numbers are down they claim it’s because “the greater number has cooled off”.

JWs can take blood, but can’t donate any blood
JWs are allowed to take every single component of blood (including the ones that transmit diseases) from other people and the general blood supply.

But … JWs are NOT allowed to donate any blood back to the very system they take blood from!

Kids dying from no blood
They brag about how many JW kids face death because of their stance on blood, including putting the kid’s pictures on the cover of the Awake magazine. (Awake! 1994 May 22 p.2 Youths Who Put God First 3-15)

But … JWs say Satan is persecuting them when they are labeled as child killers. (Watchtower 1998 December 1 p.14 par. 4 Defending Our Faith)

Strong Families
If someone wants to leave the JWs (like me), they are labeled as apostates and shunned - even by family members.(Watchtower 1998 December 1 p.17 Defending Our Faith)

But … JWs say Satan is persecuting them when they are labeled as a religion that breaks up families.(Kingdom Ministry August 2002 pp.3-4)

Interpreting the bible accurately
JWs condemn the Catholic Church as arrogant for saying only the Catholic Church can accurately interpret the bible. (The Watchtower, 7/1/1943, p. 201.)

But … JWs brag that the Watchtower Society is the only one that can accurately interpret the Bible. (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981; The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587)

Pedophiles
JWs condemned the Catholic Church for decades for not owning up to their pedophile problems. (Any “Watching The World” in the 80’s & 90’s)

But … the JWs have never apologized for their pedophile problems. (The Catholics DID apologize!)

Apostate Literature
JWs condemn the Catholic Church for not allowing their followers to read or study with JWs. (Year Book 1988 p.100 Ireland)

But … JWs are instructed to promptly throw away any literature from other “apostate” religions. (Watchtower 1986 March 15 pp.15-20 Allow No Place for the Devil!)

New Light
JWs condemn the Catholic Church’s “new light” doctrine, saying it makes the Catholic Church unreliable. (g70 4/22 p. 8 Changes That Disturb People)

But … JWs excuse for all their false prophecies and flip-flops is “new light”.

 Professor Julius Mantey's Letters to the Watchtower Society.


Dear Sirs:

I have a copy of your letter addressed to Caris in Santa Ana, California,
and I am writing to express my disagreement with statements made in that
letter, as well as in quotations you have made from the Dana-Mantey Greek
Grammar.

(1) Your statement: "their work allows for the rendering found in the
  Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures at John 1:1,"
  There is no statement in our grammar that was ever meant to imply that
  "a god" was a permissible translation in John 1:1.

A. We had no "rule" to argue in support of the trinity.

B. Neither did we state that we did have such intention. We were simply
   delineating the facts inherent in Biblical language.

C. You quotation from p. 148 (3) was a paragraph under the heading: "With
   the subject in a Copulative Sentence." Two examples occur here to
   illustrate that "the article points out the subject in these
   examples." But we made no statement in this paragraph about the
   predicate except that, "as it stands the other persons of the trinity
   may be implied ;in theos." And isn't that the opposite of what your
   translation "a god" infers? You quoted me out of context. On pages
   139 and 140 (VI) in our grammar we stated: "without the article,
   theos signifies divine essence...'theos en ho logos' emphasizes
   Christ's participation in the essence of the divine nature." Our
   interpretation is in agreement with that in NEB and TED: "What God
   was, the Word was"; and with that of Barclay: "The nature of the Word
   was the same as the nature of God," which you quoted in you letter to
   Caris.

(2) Since Colwell's and Harner's article in JBL, especially that of Harner,
  it is neither scholarly nor reasonable to translate John 1:1 "The Word
  was a god." Word-order has made obsolete and incorrect such a rendering.

(3) Your quotation of Colwell's rule is inadequate because it quotes only a
  part of his findings. You did not quote this strong assertion: "A
  predicate nominative which precedes the verb cannot be translated as an
  indefinite or a 'qualitative' noun solely because of the absence of the
  article."

(4) Prof. Harner, Vol 92:1 in JBL, has gone beyond Colwell's research and
 has discovered that anarthrous predicate nouns preceding the verb
 function primarily to express the nature or character of the subject.
 He found this true in 53 passages in the Gospel of John and 8 in the
 Gospel of Mark. Both scholars wrote that when indefiniteness was
 intended that gospel writers regularly placed the predicate noun after
 the verb, and both Colwell and Harner have stated that theos in John
 1:1 is not indefinite and should not be translated "a god." Watchtower
 writers appear to be the only ones advocating such a translation now.
 The evidence appears to be 99% against them.

(5) Your statement in your letter that the sacred text itself should guide
 one and "not just someone's rule book." We agree with you. But our
 study proves that Jehovah's Witnesses do the opposite of that whenever
 the "sacred text" differs with their heretical beliefs. For example the
 translation of kolasis as cutting off when punishment is the only meaning
 cited in the lexicons for it. The mistranslation of ego eimi as "I have
 been" in John 8:58, the addition of "for all time" in Heb. 9:27 when
 nothing in the Greek New Testament support is. The attempt to belittle
 Christ by mistranslating arche tes kriseos "beginning of the creation"
 when he is magnified as the "creator of all things" (John 1:2) and as
 "equal with God" (Phil. 2:6) before he humbled himself and lived a human
 body on earth. Your quotation of "The father is greater than I am, (John
 14:28) to prove that Jesus was not equal to God overlooks the fact stated
 in Phil 2:6-8. When Jesus said that he was still in his voluntary state
 of humiliation. That state ended when he ascended to heaven. Why the
 attempt to deliberately deceive people by mispunctuation by placing a
 comma after "today" in Luke 23:43 when in the Greek, Latin, German and
 all English translations except yours, even in the Greek in you KIT, the
 comma occurs after lego (I say) - "Today you will be with me in
 Paradise." 2 Cor 5:8, "to be out of the body and at home with the Lord."

These passages teach that the redeemed go immediately to heaven after death,
which does not agree with your teachings that death ends all life until the
resurrection. (Ps. 23:6 and Heb 1:10)

The afore mentioned are only a few examples of Watchtower mistranslations and
perversions of Gods Word.

In view of the preceding facts, especially because you have been quoting me
out of context, I herewith request you not to quote the Manual Grammar of
the Greek New Testament again, which you have been doing for 24 years. Also
that you not quote it or me in any of your publications from this time on.
Also that you publicly and immediately apologize in the Watchtower magazine,
since my words had no relevance to the absence of the article before theos
in John 1:1. And please write to Caris and state that you misused and
misquoted my "rule."

On the page before the preface in the grammar are these words: "All rights
reserved - no part of this book may be reproduced in any form without
permission in writing from the publisher."

If you have such permission, please send me a photo-copy of it. If you do
not heed these requests you will suffer the consequences.

Regretfully yours,
Julius R. Mantey

Jim Penton's Letter to Watchtower President Milton G. Henschel.


August 11, 1995

Milton G. Henschel, President
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, New York
U.S.A. 11201
AN OPEN LETTER

Dear Mr. Henschel:


Yesterday I obtained a copy of the August 22 Awake! magazine with its articles on "The Holocaust: Who Spoke Out?". On reading the articles in that issue of Awake!, I was thoroughly shocked and disgusted.

The Watch Tower Society has long attempted a cover-up of the most dishonest sort. While your organization properly censures other religious communities for their compromises with and support of Nazism, it tries to claim that Jehovah's Witnesses, and Jehovah's Witnesses alone, never were guilty of such compromise. Yet history tells a different story. The "Erklärung" or "Declaration" published by the Watch Tower Society at the Berlin Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in June 1933 is, in itself, clear evidence that the Society's president, Judge J. F. Rutherford, as accompanied by N. H. Knorr, manifested anti-Semitism, hostility to Great Britain and the United States, and to the League of Nations. Furthermore, the "Erklärung" clearly states that Jehovah's Witnesses supported the aims of the Third Reich.

In addition to the "Erklärung", there is the evidence of the Society's letter to Hitler sent on or immediately following June 25, 1933, and the public statements made about the Berlin convention by Konrad Franke in lectures throughout Germany some years ago. All of this I have made public in my book Apocalypse Delayed (1985)-which I know has been read at Watch Tower headquarters both from court documents and inside reports-and in the spring 1990 issue of The Christian Quest. So it is impossible for responsible members of your organization not to know the facts. Thus the August 22 Awake! is nothing short of an historical abomination.

I am aware of the feeble attempt of the 1974 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses to exculpate Judge Rutherford and the Watch Tower Society in Brooklyn by claiming that the Society's German branch overseer, Paul Balzereit, "weakened" the "Erklärung". But the "Erklärung" or "Declaration" was published in both the German and English versions of the 1934 Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses as an official statement of the Watch Tower Society. So it is impossible to believe that it was not sanctioned by Rutherford and the man who succeeded him as the Society's president, N. H. Knorr. Therefore, the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses of that time attempted to commit what amounted to spiritual whoredom with the Third Reich in the fashion of the two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah of Ezekiel 23, according to the Society's own teachings.

Although I do not expect an answer from you, nor do I want one, to make certain that you, personally, are aware of the facts, I am sending you the following materials:

(1) A photocopy of the original "Erklärung"

(2) A photocopy of the "Erklärung" as it appeared in the German edition of the 1934 Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses;

(3) A photocopy of the "Declaration" as it appears in the English edition of the 1934 Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses;

(4) A photocopy of the Hitler letter, plus an English translation thereof;

(5) A copy of the Spring 1990 issue of The Christian Quest.


Since I am well aware that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, of which you are a senior member, is carrying on what amounts to a "Big Lie" campaign (1) to make Jehovah's Witnesses appear to be God's faithful and discreet slave class on earth and (2) to discredit other religions, as a former Jehovah's Witness, a professional historian, and as a Christian who believes that God has no need of our lies, I feel forced to expose the facts to the general public. Hence, I am sending copies of this letter, plus the above listed documentation, to both religious and secular publications throughout the United States and Canada. I will, of course, also make them available to persons in other lands so that they may be made known wherever possible.

In closing, Mr. Henschel, I would beg the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, who carry heavy responsibility before God and humankind, to come clean and admit the facts. Hypocrisy and falsifying the historical record are serious sins, as I am sure you are aware.


Sincerely yours,

M. James Penton, PhD
Professor Emeritus

Here is the transcript from a interview with Br JR Brown from Bethel by WNYC.

New York Radio Station WNYC (AM 820 and 93.9 FM) Friday May 10, 2002 10:40 to 11:00 AM

[Radio Host Brian Lehrer's telephone interview with J. R. Brown, Director of the Office of Public Information for Jehovah's Witnesses]

Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. One of the fastest growing religions is the Jehovah's Witnesses. Many people in our area of course have seen Jehovah's Witnesses going door-to-door, or selling the newspaper Watchtower on street corners and we though it would be interesting to find out a little more about who they are, and what they say they are all about. So with me now is J. R. Brown, Director of Public Information for the Jehovah's Witnesses. Mr. Brown, welcome to WNYC

Brown: Thank you, good morning Brian, how are you?

Lehrer: OK, thanks. First, how fast is the religion growing, and where?

Brown: Well, we're growing internationally, that's in, now, 111 branches and 235 lands around the world. We're spending much time helping people with the bible, about 3.2 million hours every day. And so we're gaining in publishers at about 1.7% as to average publishers for the year.

Lehrer: So how many members does that mean you have at this point?

Brown: Now, around the world, now, we have better than 6 million active members. By active we mean someone who actually joins with us in our work of evangelizing, and helping others in their bible study and learning about a Christian way of living.

Lehrer: And from what I've read, your membership was maybe 44,000 in 1928, 6 million, as you say, today; projections are it will double again by 2020. Is most of that taking place in the United States, or what particular other countries?

Brown: No, we're growing very rapidly in countries throughout the Central- and South-America area, the Caribbean and African lands. In other words, our evangelizing work is very intense all around the globe.

Lehrer: I've read that the Witnesses, the Mormons, and the Seventh Day Adventists, all espouse very similar "end of the world" philosophies. Would you put it that way?

Brown: Well, not exactly, because while we do believe that we're in the last days, and that the time is due for God to render his judgment, we put the emphasis on Good News. That what is ahead for mankind is a paradise earth, one in which God's Kingdom, that Christians pray for, will take over the control and government of the earth, and bring blessings to mankind.

Lehrer: What does that mean, that we're in "the last days?" as you put it?

Brown: Well, the bible has spoken about a period of time, just like our own, when conditions would be bad, they would go from bad to worse. All the major news stories now, for the most part, can find some biblical setting, and this constitutes "a sign" that in particular Jesus gave, or the prophets mention certain things. But this was to be evidence that we were living in the last days, or some refer to it as the "end times" but either way it was a time in which God would render his judgment with respects earthly affairs.

Lehrer: So does the Jehovah Witness organization have a position on how many days we have left? Do you have a number?

Brown: No! We do not have a number. That number is not given in the scripture, in fact Jesus said himself just the opposite, that no man knows the day or hour.

Lehrer: So you call it "last days" but this could go on for a few thousand years.

Brown: Well, you see, when you say "last days" that itself implies a short period of time. There are limitations. We feel it is very near, because conditions are falling in line with exactly what the bible said, as well as the behavior of people continues to deteriorate. And all of this constitutes evidence that we are in the "last days".

Lehrer: Of course, if you are growing as fast as the organization appears to be, delaying the end of the world might be in your interest.

Brown: Well, in other words, it's not totally up to us. God is involved, and his judgment. We are to keep working at matters, helping people to get in, but in the final analysis, Jehovah God renders his judgment and he decides who will inherit this everlasting future.

Lehrer: This is WNYC, AM 820 and 93.9 FM. My guest is J. R. Brown, he's the Director of the Office of Public Information for the Jehovah's Witnesses. We invite Jehovah's Witnesses to call up and tell us why you've chosen that particular religion or anyone else with questions, at 212-267-WNYC, 267-9692. What's the door-to-door thing, does that really work?

Brown: Well, that's the way Jesus started his disciples, and it is very effective. Nothing replaces a one-on-one contact with persons. And it is a neighborly expression of our love and how we feel about people. We have something that's good, that helps us in our life, and we want to share it. So we go to our neighbors and make a personal visit.

Lehrer: Um, is there a kind of percentage, you know, like do you expect, the first conversation is not going to do it, but you're planting a seed, and people come back to you in a year, or how would you say it usually works?

Brown: It works both ways. Sometimes people listen to us, and after a period of time, they want more information. Some persons you meet in just the right circumstance, they need something spiritual in their life, they've been looking for it, so they're will to sit down with us and study the bible. And we don't make converts, where on the spot someone decides they will become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. You have to study the bible, and understand its teachings, and embrace them, and then live by these teachings. And then you would qualify to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Lehrer: Let me take a phone call for you. Here is Charles in Ridgewood. You're on WNYC

Caller: Yeah hi, um I was just wondering if you had any statistical, like if you did a statistical analysis of the percentage of minorities that are Jehovah's Witnesses?

Lehrer: In the United States? People of color in the United States?

Caller: In the United Sates, yes.

Brown: We have not done any statistical information on that, because our effort is to embrace all peoples, all languages, all races. And of course in the United States, you have many opportunities to do that. We sponsor foreign language congregations, and this helps people from wherever they come. So we've not tried to make a distinction as to minority population as compared with others.

Lehrer: But you do demographic marketing, as one would think any sophisticated organization would, right? For example, one of my neighbors in my building is a Jehovah's Witness, very nice guy, very thoughtful man, a deep thinker, even, I would say, and he's Dominican, and he goes door-to-door every Sunday, and he concentrates in Spanish-speaking communities in upper Manhattan.

Brown: Yes, and that would be appropriate. In other words, he would be serving the interests of the Spanish-speaking congregation, and that's appropriate. But we haven't tried to make a distinction as to how many Latinos, Hispanics, or black, or white Witnesses there are in any given area, because our message appeals to all people. So in whatever language they speak it, it's going to be the same. So our emphasis is on what unites, rather then what divides.

Lehrer: Frank in Brooklyn, you're on WNYC

Caller: I'd like to ask the caller if he allows his members, or the members of Jehovah's Witnesses, to vote in elections?

Lehrer: For what?

Caller: For Mayor, for City Council, for President, for Congress, for anything.

Brown: We do not form regulations that require other people to live up to what is stated. We teach them the bible. And as far as our allegiance and loyalty to a government, first is God's Kingdom, whether we're here in the United States, whether were in some European or African lands, our allegiance is first to God's government, God's Kingdom, the one that Christians are familiar with in their prayer "thy kingdom come".

Lehrer: But do you discourage voting or other civic participation, in addition to, you know, below that?

Brown: Of course we do not discourage it, because that wouldn't be appropriate. Each one makes up his own mind. And if he's decided that his allegiance is to God's Kingdom and he separates himself from the kingdoms or governments of this world, then he decides, individually, his own conscience at work, as to how he will handle the particular affairs.

Lehrer: Do you think that's common? Do a lot of Jehovah's Witnesses decline to vote?

Brown: Yes.

Lehrer: Because, they think, it doesn't matter what happens in this life? Or what's the reason for that?

Brown: Not at all. Because we feel that you must be the best citizen, in whatever country you live. At the same time we feel you can't serve, really effectively, two masters. We've already decided our allegiance is to God's Kingdom, that's what we preach, and so we feel this is what we are promoting, this is what we are sponsoring, the Good News of God's Kingdom. So we do not intermingle with the politics in any country where we are. But that doesn't reflect indifference. We feel we are endeavoring to be the best possible citizens as far as obeying the laws of the land, whatever they happen to be, because this is a part of Christian teaching.

Lehrer: This is WNYC AM 820 and 93.9 FM. My guest is J. R. Brown, Director of Public Information for the Jehovah's Witnesses. Margareet in Queens, you're on WNYC.

Caller: Good morning, thank you. Mr. Brown, please clarify something for me. In the neighborhood that I live in there's quite a few Jehovah Witnesses in my building, as a matter of fact. They are very lovely people, I have no complaints about them, but my problem is this. Someone had told be a while back that Jehovah Witnesses do not salute any flag. And I feel if you are living in a country that allows you this freedom, that you should — you owe something back.

Lehrer: Same thing? Individual choice on say, reciting the pledge of allegiance in school for a Jehovah Witness child, and many are counseled by their parents not to, that kind of thing?

Brown: Yes, but she makes a very important point. We do love the country where ever we live. But when it comes to pledging allegiance, we feel that that devotion and that worship should go to God alone. Now how we show our love for the country and respect for its authority, is by living up to its laws, paying its taxes, whatever is required, supporting whatever efforts do not interfere with other activities of life, and that's how we show our respect.

Lehrer: So saluting the flag in particular?

Brown: We pledge only allegiance to God first. And if there is some symbol that is use by a state, we respect it, we are not in any way irreverent toward it, you will never see us burning it or tearing it down. But we respect the thing for which it symbolizes.

Lehrer: Is that a problem for Jehovah Witness kids, in say the New York City public schools, which since September 11th, have had a daily pledge of allegiance

Brown: Not really, because most persons know that Jehovah's Witnesses are very respectful of any national symbol. And while others are saluting it, members of Jehovah's Witnesses just quietly observe it, they may even stand while others pledge their allegiance. So it's not that we are against the flag, or the symbol, or anti-government. We show respect for it, but we just do not vocalize allegiance to any symbol. That's not just here, that's in whatever land we live.

Lehrer: Vero in Manhattan, you're on WNYC

Caller: Hi, good morning. I have a question. I recently read that, I think it was in Costa Rica. I know that Jehovah Witnesses don't necessarily believe in blood transfusions, and they just recently had a big issue out in Latin America about that and Costa Rica passed some law that to an extent forces you to have a blood transfusion if you need it to live.

Lehrer: There's an open case in Canada too, I understand, where the Supreme Court is deciding whether to accept a Jehovah's — Jehovah Witness teenager's plea to halt blood transfusions which doctors say is necessary to keep him alive.

Brown: In regard to blood transfusion, we make a personal decision that we will obey God's law on it. It's stated in the bible, in both what is referred to as the Old Testament, and what is referred to as the New Testament. We feel that for ourselves, we will obey God's law, blood is sacred, it represents the life, and the thing that we have in mind is there are alternatives to the use of transfusing whole blood.

Lehrer: So this would be part of the Jehovah Witnesses literal interpretation of the bible, correct?

Brown: We follow the bible and how it is taught. Some of the teachings, of course, involve principles, but the matter of God's law on blood is very specific. Throughout the ages he has always forbidden to take the blood of another, whether someone is to murder another or shed his blood, if meat is to be eaten, it is to be drained of blood, and we look at the same thing applied by not transfusing the blood of another into our body. And so we opt for other alternatives, these exist today, and they can be found in hospitals that cater to our needs in that way.

Lehrer: Charles in Rockland County, you're on WNYC

Caller: Good morning. I was just — I'm going to comment — I'm going to ask a few questions, actually. One question is since 1911, I think it is, Watchtower has made, I'd probably say 7+ prophecies of end of times — exact date, and the speaker actually mentioned before that they know that no man knows the hour, but they actually made, I mean, these are public statements, they are documented and everyone knows them, and they didn't come to pass. They didn't come true. And furthermore, I was concerned, I was just wondering, if they believe Jesus is the Messiah? Thank you.

Lehrer: Thank you. Mr. Brown?

Brown: As to Charles' question, if we believe Jesus is the Messiah, the answer to that is yes, we believe he is now the reigning king, of God's messianic kingdom, which will come in for a thousand-year period, just ahead of us. And it may well be that in the past we've been very anxious to see that occur, and maybe in our eagerness and enthusiasm, some have gotten the impression that we were referring to a specific date, and making direct prophecies that on a certain day and time certain events would occur. And this hasn't been the case as far as determining a particular day, a particular hour, and a particular time. We have enthusiastically, maybe, anticipated it, to come before now, and that's normal. Even the disciples of Jesus, in their enthusiasm and desire to see the Messiah, felt it was going to happen before it did.

Lehrer: We have just a minute left. I wonder how you would explain why in an era dominated by personal choice, where people tend to pick-and-choose the aspects of various religions, that they want to practice, the Jehovah's Witness really commands people to take to whole package, would be becoming more popular.

Brown: Well, the reason is because when people make a study of the bible — and you you have to study it yourself — they see that this is a hope that they want, this is a way of life that benefits them, and that this can give them something that brings enthusiasm to their life, and gives them a zeal to live, not only now the best possible life, but on into the future. We can see now people want spirituality

Lehrer: J. R. Brown is Director of Public Information for the Jehovah's Witnesses. So there you know a little bit more, for those of you who didn't already know, about these folks who might be ringing your doorbell, or handing out Watchtower newspapers on the corner. Thank you very much for coming on today.

Brown: You're very welcome.

Transcript Of Talk Given In 1967 Titled “"Serving With Everlasting Life in View"




"Serving With Everlasting Life in View"

… for whether they be in the more affluent countries of the earth, we'll all still hold on for life, because as long as there is life, we find that there is hope.

If this is true of most persons, how much more true would it be of Jehovah's Witnesses. Because not only do we have the present life to hold onto and to live for, but we hold onto the hope of everlasting life. Because Jesus promised this in Romans the Sixth chapter, that the reward God would give would be everlasting life. So we have a strong desire and instinct to wanna survive and pursue it. And to eventually realize paradisiacal conditions in God's New Order.

But in this run for life, some of us looking forward to a change in this old system and its destruction for many years now, there are some of us who get a little weary. And a little tired. And sometimes we just want to throw our hands up and say 'I just don't know if I can go on any further.'

But, just like a runner when he's running a course, and he gets near to the end, just about the time he thinks he can't go on any further, he realizes 'well there's the goal ahead of [inaudible]' He's come around the last lap, and there it is! Well all of a sudden he just seems to get some reserve power from nowhere, and with a sudden surge of energy, on he goes to break the finish line rope and win the prize.

Well now, as Jehovah's Witnesses, as runners, even though some of us have become a little weary, it almost seems as though Jehovah has provided meat in due season. Because he's held up before all of us, a new goal. A new year. Something to reach out for and it just seems it has given all of us so much more energy and power in this final burst of speed to the finish line. And that's the year 1975.

There's been a lot of talk about the year, in fact even this week some individuals have been wondering, 'well, what does it mean? Do we dare talk about it? Is it something we can discuss among ourselves, even though we may not talk much about it in public? Do we really know what it means?'

Well, we don't have to guess what the year 1975 means if we read the Watchtower. Because the Watchtower has been very explicit as to what the year 1975 means to us. If you wish to write down the page, 262, in the [May 1] 1967 issue of the Watchtower, we read:

What does the year 1975 mean for humankind? The end of 6000 years of human existence, and possibly, [voice raising dramatically] the time when God executes the wicked and starts off a thousand-year reign under his son Jesus Christ.

Unquote. What did it say? The end of 6000 years of human existence and that's all? NO, it gave us a little more to think about there. Did it say for certainty the time when God executes the wicked and starts off a thousand year reign by Jesus Christ? No. But it did give us a glimmer of light. It says [voice rising] possibly, possibly the time when God executes the wicked and starts off the thousand year reign of his son Jesus Christ, [voice returning to normal] 1975.

Doesn't that give you a little bit of excitement about the future? Even if there is the possibility, [voice rising] that's it, when God will bring the battle of Armageddon, and clean this old Earth off? And you'll be ushered right into a paradise Earth for ever more [voice returning to normal]. Never again to be afflicted with this old Satanic system of things. It will be GONE, DOWN. That should excite all of us.

There are the skeptics who say 'well, I'm not going to think about it and not worry about it. I'm not going to pay attention to it.' Well now remember brothers, the faithful and discreet slave is used by Jesus to to what? Jesus says 'to provide meat in due season.' This is meat, and it's come at the right time. And it's in its due season. And it's not wrong to think about it, and to look forward to it.

As far as knowing for sure? Well, we know what we know for sure. We just read it. [voice rising] 'The end of Six Thousand years of human history, and possibly the execution of the wicked and the beginning of the Thousand year reign.' And that should be exciting enough, and talk enough for us.

When you think about it, what a fantastic, short span of time that is. How many of you here were in New York City in 1958? Would you hold up your hands. A great majority of you here. Where has the time gone since then? Just seemed like yesterday that we were there. But [voice rising] do you realize that more time has passed away since that assembly in 1958 where a quarter-of-a-million Jehovah's Witnesses gathered, [voice returns to normal] than what is left to 1975? Hard to imagine, isn't it? Yes, that was nine years ago. It's only eight years to Seventy-Five.

How little time there is left. How much to happen.

We just wait now, with everlasting life in view, and we serve with the future unveiling in front of us. Very soon now we wait for Babylon the Great to be turned upon and severely scathed and destroyed and decimated 'til where there's nothing left of her.

And then the cry 'Peace and Safety. We finally got rid of the old harlot, she's off our back. No more religion to bother us' the nations say. Uh oh. There they are. Rearing there ugly heads up above the dust. Jehovah's Witnesses. Now with a message more fierce than has ever been heard before. Now with a taunt song to the nations. 'You see? We told you Babylon the Great was going down, was going to be destroyed, you said it would never happen, but you did it yourself. Now you're next. Jehovah will destroy you.' You think they're going to like that? That's when they all combine. All the communistic and democratic powers together, with one objective in mind: 'wipe out those people. Then truly we'll be rid of all antagonists and have peace and safety, and we'll have our unified world.'

But when they begin to attack Jehovah's Witnesses, strange things begin to happen. It seems to be calamities are brought by Jehovah God in a fierce and horrifying way, as though they've never seen things of this nature before. Flesh eating plagues are mentioned by Zechariah that will seep this Earth, rot the eyes out of the sockets, and the tongues out of the mouths. [voice raised] They'll run screaming out of their houses with this striking them [voice returning to normal], and yet they'll see Jehovah's Witnesses are untouched. 'How will we get in now? Let me be one of you!' Well, it's too late now.

And then Jehovah God seems to bring the natural forces against this old system. Terror on air, in land, and in the sea. Fratricidal warfare, neighbor against neighbor. Every un-human, inhumane thing that could occur, not only from men, but even from natural forces.

And Armageddon seems to have two phases now. The latest Watchtower brought out, if you've read it, where it says there is such a thing as a just war, Phase One: All united efforts among the nations destroyed, all political organization gone. All that's left are the kings, standing by themselves, without an ally or friend in the world, all super-suspicious of each other, all standing there tense. Phase Two: Jehovah strikes confusion into their hearts, and in a mad fury and flurry then turn on each other, destroying one another. And what is left? Then Jehovah God calls his super-natural angels and the cavalry of Jesus Christ to close in on them, 200 million angels, with all their destructive power, and what a power that's going to be.

One angel, in one night, when the Syrian forces of [inaudible] came against Israel, destroyed 185,000. Let's say the the 200 million angels of Jesus Christ are limited in power and they can only destroy 185,000. [Voice rising] That would give them the potential to destroy 37 trillion persons. [voice returns to normal] There aren't near that many on the Earth. In fact, that's 12, 333 times the number of people even alive. All that power wrapped up in the cavalry of Jesus Christ. And all of that, possibly, has to happen and be finished within the year 1975.

Exciting years ahead of us! And then look beyond that: the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ. Know what that means? All the dead being brought back. Just think of the dear ones you've lost, maybe in the last five or ten years. Don't you look forward to seeing them coming back? Well it won't be long now. Look at what's ahead.

You think you're going to mind having to work with the crops and the land when you find out that your loved ones are going to come back and you have to plant a little extra for them? You think you're going to mind, when you are notified maybe a little in advance, that you need some shelter? As you are going to have to build [inaudible] for your loved ones temporary living quarters for when they come back?

Just think what it's going to be like when the family is notified it's time, and you all gather there, waiting, and you see them rise up out of the dust. Like Isaiah says, "Awake you in the dust, you residents. Come alive." Think you're going to mind seeing that?

That's our future. What a wonderful one. The resurrection is something to stagger the imagination with immensity. When it comes to the number that will be back, we don't know for sure, but some comments have been made by the Society, that could give some idea.

You may want to make note of these references, read them later.

"Things in Which it is Impossible for God to Lie" paragraph 12, page 350: "Billions who died before Jesus, billions who died since will be back."

The latest publication, "Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God" page 393 paragraph 26: "Thousands of millions."

The Watchtower 1964, page 722, paragraph 24, and listen to this: "TENS of billions will be back".

How many are tens of billions? Well at least 20 billion. 'Cause to have tens of billions in the billions, you have to have two sets of ten billion. So at the very minimum figure, lets say even 20 billion coming back. What a fantastic accomplishment that's going to be for our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In fact, there was a tract one time, printed by the Society, called "Millennial Hope Explained" where it mentioned an estimated 20 billion would be back in the resurrection, could be.

This gives you an idea. Fires the imagination. Do you realize what an accomplishment and what an undertaking that's going to be? Why if just 20 billion were brought back from the dead, every day for a thousand years, you'd have to bring back 60,000. Every day, for a thousand years.

Of course, it most likely won't take the whole thousand years, the Society has indicated. We don't know how long the resurrection will take, but that will probably squeeze the number up to where possibly, even more would be coming back.

What a thrilling time we have to live for, my brothers. How much we have to gain, by serving God with everlasting life in view.

But you know that sad part of it? There are going to be some of use here who won't see it, possibly. Wouldn't that be an awful thing, with all that in the future? Some of use here tonight may not live to see it.

Will you? You know there's a way to find out? There's a way to decide, right here and now, whether you'll make it, or whether you will not. Let us see what that is.

Turning to Luke the 13th chapter, we get some information on it. Luke 13, let's begin to read Jesus' words. Luke 13, starting with the 22nd verse. Now Jesus is going village to village, and city to city. In verse 23 it says:

Now a certain man said to him: "Lord, are those who are being saved few?" He said to them: 24 "Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell YOU, will seek to get in but will not be able, 25 when once the householder has got up and locked the door, and YOU start to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Sir, open to us.' But in answer he will say to YOU, 'I do not know where YOU are from.' 26 Then YOU will start saying, 'We ate and drank in front of you, and you taught in our broad ways.' 27 But he will speak and say to YOU, 'I do not know where YOU are from. Get away from me, all YOU workers of unrighteousness!' 28 There is where [YOUR] weeping and the gnashing of [YOUR] teeth will be…

What's Jesus saying here? What do you think he's saying here? Well first of all, those of us here tonight, that do not do what he says in verse 24, "exert yourselves vigorously" will not be able to get in. That's step number one. Exert ourselves vigorously through the narrow door. But then he describes a certain "class" of Christians, in God's organization, who would find themselves in this position. It says: "once the householder has got up and locked the door, [inserted by speaker: then] YOU start to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Sir, open to us.' " Well, who would that refer to? Well as far as closing the door, when does it shut down? The destruction of Babylon the Great, the door will be shut down. And then it says some of us will come and want to get into the Lord's organization then, and then we'll say "Lord, open to us" and Jesus will look out at us and say "I don't even know you."

But then we panic and we say "But we ate and drank in front of you taught us in our broad ways." What's that a desperation attempt to do? It's a desperation attempt to say to Jesus, "Its me! You remember me! I sat in front of you, and you taught us in your broad ways. Remember I came to the Watchtower study once a week? And remember when the Circuit Servant was there, I never missed? And every memorial I came?"

What does he say then? "I'm sorry, I don't know you. I don't recognize you. You didn't love the Lord's people enough to be there all the time. You didn't love my house enough to be there all the time. Now why try to come and show you love me? If you loved me you would have been there. So I don't recognize you as one of my people, get away from me. You had time to work righteousness, now get away from me you worker of lawlessness. You had your opportunity. Stand out there with the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth. Beat your chests." And wouldn't we?

Wouldn't we at that time, if we were left outside, beat our chests, and gnash our teeth, and weep, and say "God, I was so close. What did I fool around for? Why didn't I do something for The Truth when I had the opportunity? Why did I make all those excuses? Why did I try to fool Jehovah God?"

Well now, who will be there of use here tonight? Well the Society has made application of this scripture, pointing out, that those of us among Jehovah's Witnesses that are not regularly associating with his people, without good cause such as being flat on our back, will not be in the New Order. And we're the ones that are going to come around when the doors close and say "I want in now. Sir, open to us!" And Jesus will have to say "I'm sorry, I don't even recognize you."

Now wouldn't that be an awful thing? You see now why the Society implores us year in and year out, the same old thing: "Brothers, get in the flock. Don't let any excuses get in our way. Nothing of any nature."

There's only one thing that's going to count when that time comes, and that's that we are inside. And we hope that all of us here tonight are going to listen to the Society's imploring.

We're going to listen to their agonizing entreaty "Brothers get in" because they know what's coming! And it's coming fast. And don't wait 'till 1975. The door is going to be shut before then.

So? What are we going to do now with our future? Why not be like the little piglet? Every see a piglet born? It's quite an amazing thing. They come out from behind the mother's legs, they're blind, they can't see. They're still attached to their mother's umbilical cord. And somehow they've gotta break free of that umbilical cord, come around the mother's legs, and find the milk. How do they do it? Well watch them sometime. They tug and they pull and they scratch. They fall and they get up. And they jerk and they yank. They fall again and they get up again and they tug and pull some more. And pretty soon they break loose and those little legs, they go 'round the mother's legs, and they come up and they find their reward, their milk.

Now we can do the same. We're going to fall once in a while. We're going to slip. It's going to be hard pulling and hard tugging, but don't give in. Get up, get on our feet, and run! The goal is there: everlasting life! Serve with it in view! Do what Jesus Christ says: serve with everlasting view, as long as Jehovah asks us! Jesus urged "Endurance on your part" and then he says "by enduring, you will acquire your souls."

As one brother put it, "Stay alive to Seventy-Five"

An Excerpt From The Douglas Walsh Trial




Q. Is it not vital to speak the truth on religious matters?

A. It certainly is.

Q. Is there in your view room in a religion for a change of interpretation of Holy Writ from time to time?

A. There is every reason for a change in interpretation as we view it, of the Bible. Our view becomes more clear as we see the prophesy fulfilled by time.

Q. You have promulgated -- forgive the word -- false prophesy?

A. We have -- I do not think we have promulgated false prophesy, there have been statements that were erroneous, that is the way I put it, and mistaken.

Q. Is it a most vital consideration in the present situation of the world to know if the prophesy can be interpreted into terms of fact, when Christ's Second Coming was?

A. That is true, and we have always striven to see that we have the truth before we utter it. We go on the very best information we have but we cannot wait until we get perfect, because if we wait until we get perfect we would never be able to speak.

Q. Let us follow that up just a little. It was promulgated as a matter which must be believed by all members of Jehovah's Witnesses that the Lord's Second Coming took place in 1874?

A. I am not familiar with that. You are speaking on a matter that I know nothing of.

Q. You heard Mr. Franz's evidence?

A. I heard Mr. Franz testify, but I am not familiar with what he said on that, I mean the subject matter of what he was talking about, so I cannot answer any more than you can, having heard what he said.

Q. Leave me out of it?

A. That is the source of my information, what I have heard in court.

Q. You have studied the literature of your movement?

A. Yes, but not all of it. I have not studied the seven volumes of "Studies in the Scriptures," and I have not studied this matter that you are mentioning now of 1874. I am not at all familiar with that.

Q. Assume from me that it was promulgated as authoritative by the Society that Christ's Second Coming was in 1874?

A. Taking that assumption as a fact, it is a hypothetical statement.

Q. That was the publication of false prophesy?

A. That was the publication of a false prophesy, it was a false statement or an erroneous statement in fulfillment of a prophesy that was false or erroneous.

Q. And that had to be believed by the whole of Jehovah's Witnesses?

A. Yes, because you must understand we must have unity, we cannot have disunity with a lot of people going every way, an army is supposed to march in step.

Q. You do not believe in the worldly armies, do you?

A. We believe in the Christian Army of God.

Q. Do you believe in the worldly armies?

A. We have nothing to say about that, we do not preach against them, we merely say that the worldly armies, like the nations of the world today, are a part of Satan's Organization, and we do not take part in them, but we do not say the nations cannot have their armies, we do not preach against warfare, we are merely claiming our exemption from it, that is all.

Q. Back to the point now. A false prophesy was promulgated?

A. I agree that.

Q. It had to be accepted by Jehovah's Witnesses?

A. That is correct.

Q. If a member of Jehovah's Witnesses took the view himself that that prophesy was wrong and said so he would be disfellowshipped?

A. Yes, if he said so and kept persisting in creating trouble, because if the whole organisation believes one thing, even though it be erroneous and somebody else starts on his own trying to put his ideas across then there is disunity and trouble, there cannot be harmony, there cannot be marching. When a change comes it should come from the proper source, the head of the organisation, the governing body, not from the bottom upwards, because everybody would have ideas, and the organisation would disintegrate and go in a thousand different directions. Our purpose is to have unity.

Q. Unity at all costs?

A. Unity at all costs, because we believe and are sure that Jehovah God is using our organisation, the governing body of our organisation to direct it, even though mistakes are made from time to time.

Q. And unity based upon an enforced acceptance of false prophecy?

A. That is conceded to be true.

Q. And the person who expressed his view, as you say, that it was wrong, and was disfellowshipped, would be in breach of the Covenant, if he was baptized?

A. That is correct.

Q. And as you said yesterday expressly, would be worthy of death?

A. I think - - -

Q. Would you say yes or no?

A. I will answer yes, unhesitatingly.

Q. Do you call that religion?

A. It certainly is.

Q. Do you call it Christianity?

A. I certainly do.


Fred Franz, then vice-president of the Society, also answered questions for the attorney for the Ministry of Labour and National Service.


Q. In addition to these regular publications do you prepare and issue a number of theological pamphlets and books from time to time?

A. Yes.

Q. Can you tell me this; are these theological publications and the semi-monthly periodicals used for discussion of statements of doctrine?

A. Yes.

Q. Are these statements of doctrine held to be authoritative within the Society?

A. Yes.

Q. Is their acceptance a matter of choice, or is it obligatory on all those who wish to be and remain members of the Society?

A. It is obligatory.

The British government counsellor later directed attention to certain teachings that the Society had in time rejected, including some involving specific dates. What, he asked, if someone, at the time when such teaching was promulgated, had seen the error in it and had therefore not accepted it? What would the organization's attitude toward such one be? The testimony explains:

Q. Did [Pastor Russell] not fix 1874 as some other crucial date?

A. 1874 used to be understood as the date of Jesus' Second Coming spiritually.

Q. Do you say, used to be understood?

A. That is right.

Q. That was issued as a fact which was to be accepted by all who were Jehovah's Witnesses?

A. Yes.

Q. That is no longer now accepted, is it?

A. No.

Q. But it was a calculation which is no longer accepted by the Board of Directors of the Society?

A. That is correct.

Q. So that am I correct, I am just anxious to canvas the position; it became the bounden duty of the Witnesses to accept this miscalculation?

A. Yes.

Q. So that what is published as the truth today by the Society may have to be admitted to be wrong in a few years?

A. We have to wait and see.

Q. And in the meantime the body of Jehovah's Witnesses have been following error?

A. They have been following misconstructions on the Scriptures.

Q. Error?

A. Well, error.

Again the question as to how great the authority attributed to the Society's publications is came in for discussion. While at one point the vice president says that "one does not compulsorily accept," his testimony thereafter reverts back to the earlier position, as can be seen:

A. These [Watchtower Society] books give an exposition on the whole Scriptures.

Q. But an authoritative exposition?

A. They submit the Bible or the statements that are therein made, and the individual examines the statement and then the Scripture to see that the statement is Scripturally supported.

Q. He what?

A. He examines the Scripture to see whether the statement is supported by the Scripture. As the Apostle says: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good".

Q. I understood the position to be - do please correct me if I am wrong - that a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses must accept as a true Scripture and interpretation what is given in the books I referred you to?

A. But he does not compulsorily do so, he is given his Christian right of examining the Scriptures to confirm that this is Scripturally sustained.

Q. And if he finds that the Scripture is not sustained by the books, or vice versa, what does he do?

A. The Scripture is there in support of the statement, that is why it is put there.

Q. What does a man do if he finds a disharmony between the Scripture and those books?

A. You will have to produce me a man who does find that, then I can answer, or he will answer.

Note Franz's waffling. He is unwilling, even under oath, to admit that present understanding can be in error, even though he just finished testifying that what is published as truth today may be error in a few years.

Q. Did you imply that the individual member has the right of reading the books and the Bible and forming his own view as to the proper interpretation of Holy Writ?

A. He comes - - -

Q. Would you say yes or no, and then qualify?

A. No. Do you want me to qualify now?

Q. Yes, if you wish?

A. The Scripture is there given in support of the statement, and therefore the individual when he looks up the Scripture and thereby verifies the statement, then he comes to the Scriptural view of the matter, Scriptural understanding as it is written in Acts, the seventeenth chapter and the eleventh verse, that the Bereans were more noble than those of Thessalonica in that they received the Word with all readiness, and they searched the Scripture to see whether those things were so, and we instruct to follow that noble course of the Bereans in searching the Scripture to see whether these things were so.

Q. A Witness has no alternative, has he, to accept as authoritative and to be obeyed instructions issued in the "Watchtower" or the "Informant" or "Awake"?

A. He must accept those.

Letter regarding Dateline NBC program invitation.

Here is a copy of a letter sent by Sis CaliHavoc of Paradise Cafe to the Society on August 30, 2006.

August 30, 2006


Dear Brother Lett,

My name is Micah {Last name withheld}. I am ?? years old, and I currently live in ---------. I attend the ---------congregation. I was advised to write to you. I hope that is okay. If it is not, please pass this letter on to someone who can address my concerns.

First of all, I want to ask about the involvement of the Watchtower Society with the Rand Cam Engine Corporation. The SEC has stated that the WTBTS owned 50% of this company for over 16 years. This company is involved with making engines for fighter planes and jets and long-range capable war machines. Please explain to me how this is not a betrayal of neutrality.

http://www.geocities.com/wtgreed/article.htm

Along these same lines, please explain to me why the Society accepted monies from a trust fund from Henrietta M. Riley when those monies came from stock in Philip-Morris, a company which manufactures and distributes cigarettes.

*** g00 10/8 p. 27 Is It Wise to Invest in the Stock Market? ***
By considering the background of a company, an investor can also ensure that his money will not be used to support an unethical enterprise.—See Awake!, February 8, 1962, pages 21-3.

Secondly, I want to discuss the issue of the Watchtower Society being an NGO for the United Nations. Please do not respond that this was only to get a library card. For one thing, you have told us for decades that to join the YMCA just to use the pool would be a betrayal of our neutrality. This is no different. For another thing, it is a well documented fact by the UN that admission to the library did not necessitate joining the DPI as an NGO. And how do you explain that the Watchtower Society unknowingly met all the requirements of an NGO, including re-applying every year? Finally, please explain why Gregory Allen was listed as the WTBTS’ official representative as an NGO for the OSCE Conference as recently as June 9, 2005. http://www.randytv.com/secret/NGOduties.htm This is another betrayal of neutrality, and surely must anger Jehovah. James 4:4

Thirdly, I want to voice my distress over the issue of child molestation that has been covered over or outright ignored due to a denial by the accused or a lack of “two or three witnesses.” This is simply outrageous, and cannot be fathomed. That an organization based on Jesus’ words at John 13:34 to love one another as Christ Jesus loved us can in the same breath deny the cries of these “silent lambs” is appalling and horrifying. As a victim of physical abuse myself, having been “raised in the truth”, I can personally assure you that for a victim to come forward at all is a testament to their strength. To ignore the pleas of these little ones is truly criminal, and all who have had a share in it, to any extent, will, I am sure, answer to Jehovah. Ezek 3:19. James 1:27 tells us to look after orphans and widows. Yet here you are, throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Do you really expect the thousands that have suffered abuse at the hands of fellow Christians to want to have anything to do with this religion?

Also, I would like to understand more about the blood issue. Why is it that it is suddenly okay to accept blood fractions? The Society’s stand on donating blood and storage of blood has not changed, so it would seem that you have a double standard where blood is concerned. We can accept fractions, but not whole blood; we can accept fractions of blood that is donated, yet we ourselves are not allowed to donate blood; and finally, we are allowed to accept fractions of blood that has been stored, but are not allowed to store our own blood-even if it were split apart into fractions- to be used later? I feel the current understanding of the blood issue is quite contrary to the Bible’s teaching. Either we abstain from blood- including fractions, or we do not. It seems a simple matter, yet the Society has caused mass confusion on this subject.

Another subject I would like to explore is that of the New Covenant. At 1 Timothy 2:5,6, Jehovah says that the New Covenant is between him and “men”, and that Jesus gave himself as a ransom sacrifice for “all”. There is no mention of this being just for the Anointed. Jesus Christ is also listed as the Mediator to this covenant, between God and “all” “men”. Luke 22:28-30 is where Jesus makes the covenant with his apostles for a kingdom. This is noteworthy for two reasons: One, it is a separate and distinct covenant made from the one symbolized by the bread and the wine, which happens more than eight verses earlier. Two, Jesus conducted this covenant. It was between him and his apostles (and the rest of the 144,000). Therefore, it cannot be the same covenant that he is a Mediator for, since you cannot be a Mediator for a covenant you are a party to. After seeing this evidence in the Bible itself, it is hard for me to believe that only the anointed are under the New Covenant. It is, instead, quite clear to me that all of faithful Christianity is under the New Covenant, as stated at John 3:16. The covenant for a kingdom is between Jesus and his anointed ones, and is a separate and distinct covenant than the New Covenant- between Jehovah and “all” “men”. Since we are all under the New Covenant, we should all do as Jesus commanded, and “keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

It has also been brought to my attention that too, too often in the magazines, we are told to “thank the faithful and discrete slave”, and yet no mention is made of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Why are we not directed to thank him, to praise him, to pay attention to him, at all? “For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:9-11 Surely, this is more important than the so called faithful and “discrete” slave patting itself on the back, yet again?

Lastly, it has come to my attention that Charles T. Russell was devoutly involved in pyramidology, and arrived at the date of 1914 by measuring the inner chambers of the Great Pyramid.

http://www.afcministry.com/The_Destructi...usalem.htm

This by itself would be troubling enough, but there is more. Several times the Society has changed dates to suit their own devices. The most recent being the debacle of 1975. Even in the last ten years the Society’s own teachings of the “generation” has changed, readjusted as the actual generation that saw 1914 rapidly declined. I have also read that when Ray Franz was a member of the governing body, that 1914 was discussed, to be replaced with 1957- the year that Sputnik went into space. As if Jehovah’s timetable was somehow affected by the doings of us puny mortals.

Since I have been reading the website of e-watchman, produced by a Brother Robert King, I have come to question the date of 1914 as being the date when Christ began to rule in heaven. This is not just because of the way the date was originally decided upon, or by the ever changing dates of significance, but largely because I don’t think Jesus would take a century to start ruling over the earth- which he has quite obviously not done. I feel that the house cleaning, and the subsequent appointment of a faithful and discreet slave is yet future. I fear that the WTBTS will not fare well when he comes to demand an accounting of his belongings.

The above mentioned subjects are only the ones I know about, and the only ones I currently have questions about. As Creator of the Universe, Jehovah will see into our hearts, and will judge accordingly. I am also troubled by the WTBTS’ constant denial of themselves as being under inspection. We are very clearly NOT living in a spiritual paradise, when our leaders betray our neutrality, waver on important issues like blood, cover up abuse and then lie about it, shun those who would try to protect the innocent by warning of lurking pedophiles, leaders who say time and again we are “God’s channel” and outcast any who dare to question the very mortal men in charge, and time and again prove to be false prophets.

Please understand I come to you with these questions because I do not want to cause divisions inside the Christian congregation. Any response would be greatly appreciated, so as to put my mind at ease. Phil. 4:6,7

Most sincerely,

Micah {Last Name Withheld}