Jehovah's Witness FAQ

Knock! Knock!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Whose there?

Why it is a Jehovah’s Witness—right on time for his divinely scheduled appointment to hear God’s truth? I say a quick prayer as I answer the door, “May I not get in the way of your Word—may the seed fall on fertile soil.”

JW: “Good morning!

He hands me a WT pamphlet and continues—

“I wonder if I could ask you a question? “

He doesn’t wait for an answer but launches into his question.

“Can God lie?”

Me: “It is impossible for God to lie.”

JW: “That’s right.”

He then took me to Titus, and after a bit of looking found the verse he wanted—Titus 1:1-2:

JW: “Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God’s chosen ones and the accurate knowledge of the truth which accords with godly devotion upon the basis of a hope of the everlasting life which God, who cannot lie, promised before times long lasting,”

JW: “Now in Revelation—“

I interrupted my Witness friend and stated:

Me: “Is your point that when we read the Bible we can be confident that what we read is the truth, in contrast to reading something written by man which can contain error.”

JW: “Yes.

I took his pamphlet and turned to the back page.

Me: “I see that you offer a free home Bible study. What book would we be studying if I requested such a study?

With a large smile the JW reaches into his bag and pulls out a small booklet from the WT.

JW: “I have the book you would study right here” and hands me a copy.

Me: “I requested a Bible study. I thought we would study a book from the Old or New Testament. I thought that we would study God’s word, where God cannot lie—but you are going to have me study a man-made book which can contain error.”

JW: “This book is based on the Bible.”

Me: “And does not contain error.”

JW: “That’s right.”

I look at the book’s Table of Contents—find the Chapter on Jesus (Chapter 4)—and have the JW turn to that page. He reads the first paragraph and then reads John 1:1-2:

JW: “In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in [the] beginning with God”

“You see the Word is with God, therefore, he cannot be that God. That is why he is referred to as “a god.” He is not the Almighty God—just a Mighty God and is called such in Isaiah.”

Me: “Where did this “Mighty God” come from?

JW: “He was Jehovah God’s first and greatest creation.”

Me: “Are you familiar with Isaiah 43:10?”

I knew he would be very familiar with this verse since the WT points to this verse as the place where JW’s get their name. However, JW’s read Isaiah 43:10a and skip 43:10b for good reason. I asked the JW to read.

JW: “You are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant whom I have chosen, on order that you may know and have faith in me.”

Me: “Please read the rest of 43:10.”

JW: “and that you may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none.”

Me: “The Bible tells us that there was no God formed before or after the God of the Bible. Therefore, this book (I then hold up the WT booklet) written by men is in direct contradiction to what the Bible states.”

JW: “I am not here to argue. Do you want the book?”

Me: “I am willing to accept your booklet if you will accept my pamphlet.” I turn to get a pamphlet I have on a small desk near the door. I also have a pamphlet for Mormons.

JW: “I do not accept literature.”

I hand back his booklet and off he goes. Again stating, “I don’t want to argue—Good day.”

Me: Silently to myself: “Lord I pray I did not get in the way of your word and may the seed fall on fertile soil.”

O Holy Night!

2011-12-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Multiple-choice question for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Part 1

2011-11-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Who said, “Do not study your Bible, for if you do, you will be in darkness in two years.”

CHOICE A: Was it God? Of course not, because the Bible says, in Deuteronomy 6:5-9, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

God is commanding us to teach ourselves and our children His Word, so that it penetrates our hearts, minds and will—that is, every aspect of who we are. And then, we are to write it down and bind it to all our daily aspects of life.

Also at 2 Timothy 3:14-17, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Paul tells us to heed God’s Word. Here is the call to scrutinize, understand, and then apply Scripture. This passage is not an instruction to give the Bible the occasional “once over.” It is the clear, uncompromising call to continue in our studies constantly and passionately.

CHOICE B: WAS IT THE DEVIL. Could very well be. James 1:21 tells us, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” The devil doesn’t want us to be saved, and to prevent that he would not want us to receive the word (the Bible) which is able to save. So we could easily see the devil saying, “do not study your Bible.”

CHOICE C: THE WATCHTOWER MAGAZINE. Charles Taze Russell, the first President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, wrote a series of books called Study in Scriptures. About these “Studies” the Watchtower states, “Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the 'Scripture Studies' with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (Zion’s Watchtower—later renamed The Watchtower Sep 15, 1910, p. 298.

Let me summarize the above quote, read only the Bible and you will be in error, however, read only the WT studies and you will be in the truth.

Lies are from the pit! The WT lies! Therefore . . .

2011-10-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

While I was doing research on my March, 2011 post, I ran across a WT lie. My handy thesaurus says a lie could also be described as an untruth, falsehood, fib, invention, propaganda, tall tale or exaggeration. After reading this blog, you decide—did the WT lie? and if so WHY?

Let me quote from the WT’s own “Aid to Bible Understanding,” (1971 edition, pg. 1060) under the word LIE. “The opposite of truth. Lying generally involves saying something false to a person who is entitled to know the truth and doing so with the intent to deceive or to injure him or another person.”

The WT talks about the first lie by Satan in the garden and then says, “All other malicious lies uttered since that time have likewise been a reflection of selfishness and wrong desire. Lies have been told to escape deserved punishment, to profit at the expense of others and to gain or maintain certain advantages, material rewards or the praise of men.

Especially serious have been the religious lies, as they have endangered the future life of persons deceived by them.”

From the WT’s own book I would say that a lie is . . . well . . . a lie—a falsehood, an untruth. Why would the WT do such a thing? Again the “Aid” book states correctly—"material rewards and/or the praise of men." Check out for yourselves the holdings of the WTBTS and if you are or were a JW, you know how the elders, overseers, etc. are admired and as my handy thesaurus states, "adored, venerated, revered, exalted, put on a pedestal."

On to the lie.

My March, 2011 post centered on the topic, “Is God the author of the WT?” The WT answer—Yes and No.

First NO.

“We have not the gift of prophecy.” (The Watchtower , January 1883, page 425)

“Nor would we have our writings reverenced or regarded as infallible.” (The Watchtower , December 15, 1896, page 306)

Then YES.

"The Watchtower is a magazine without equal on earth because God is the author." (The Watchtower, April 15, 1943)

“Nothing is interpreted but the interpretation comes from God and is then published.” (The Watchtower, July 1, 1943 pp. 202-203)

"God uses The Watchtower to communicate to his people; IT DOES NOT CONSIST OF MEN’S OPINIONS." (The Watchtower, January 1, 1942, page 5)

The WT even said that if you don’t believe God is the author, don’t read the WT.

“Those who are convinced that The Watchtower is publishing the opinion or expression of a man should not waste time in looking at it at all,” (The Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1942, p. 5)

Now a flip-flop, back to NO.

"True, the brothers preparing these publications are not infallible. Their writings are not inspired as are those of Paul and the other Bible writers." (Watchtower, Feb 15, 1981, page 19)

"The Governing Body consists of a group of anointed Christian men ... They are not inspired of God and hence are not infallible." (Jehovah's Witnesses Unitedly Doing God's Will Worldwide brochure [1986], 26)

"Those who make up the one true Christian organization today do not have angelic revelations or divine inspiration" (Jehova's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom [1993], 708)

Finally,THE BIG LIE. In 1954 the WT said:

"... Because it [Watch Tower Society] is not infallible and has never claimed to be, from time to time corrections are necessary." (Watchtower Oct 15, 1954, 638)

Oops! “never claimed to be.” I guess they just forgot about the teachings of the ‘40’s where they said,”

"The Watchtower is a magazine without equal on earth because God is the author." (The Watchtower, April 15, 1943)

One last quote from the WT:

“It is a serious matter to represent God and Christ in one way, then find that our understanding was in error, and then after that, to go back to the very teachings that, by years of study, we had thoroughly determined to be in error. Christians cannot be vacillating—“wishy-washy”—about such teachings. What confidence can one put in the sincerity or judgment of such persons?” (The Watchtower, May 15, 1976, page 298)

Now you decide, Did the Watchtower lie and Why?

Major in Minors! Part 2

2011-09-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

The Majors

While JW’s spend much time and effort preaching about smoking, Santa Claus and using the name Jehovah, they do not wish to discuss Major doctrines required for salvation. I have asked this JW to comment on the question at John 6:28, “What must we do to do the works God requires?"

How did Jesus answer? Go door-to-door? No, going door-to-door is good but not the works that God requires? Did Jesus say, “have the name Jehovah or Yahweh in the name of your organization?” No again. Did Jesus say, “don’t’ celebrate holidays, refuse blood transfusions, say Santa doesn’t exist. No, No and No. Back to John 6:29, Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

This then (believe in the one he has sent) is very important. Don’t’ do this and nothing else matters since Jesus didn’t give us a second or third or fourth work that God requires.

And what does it mean to “believe in the one he has sent.” At John 5:22-23 Jesus says, “For the father judges no one at all, but he has committed all the judging to the Son, in order that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

What does John 5:23 teach? The WT would have you believe that the word ‘just as’ implies giving some honor but not equal honor—equal honor as that given to the Father.

But if you have a KIT (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures) use it to look up John 5:23. I am using the Purple Covered KIT (checked out at the Local Library.)

Look on the Greek side of John 5:23 and look at the Greek word translated ‘according as.’ It looks like this: kaqwñv Look up this word and its root word kaq in the KIT.

II Cor. 11:12 – “Now what I am doing I will still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found (kaqwñv) equal to us in the office of which they boast.”

The Greek word kaqwñv is translated on the English side of the KIT as equal. At John 5:23, let us put in this alternative meaning. John 5:23 now reads: “in order that all may honor the Son equally as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

Can the WT say that they honor the Son and the Father equally. The WT says the Father is Almighty God. Is the son? Does the WT honor the Son by calling him Almighty? The Father is from everlasting to everlasting. Is the Son? WT doctrine states NO. The father is Almighty, the son only mighty. The father is eternal, the son was created by the father and therefore had a beginning and is not eternal.

Look for root word kaq at Acts 27:25. On the English side it is translated exactly. Look for the root word again at 2 Cor. 3:18, again it is translated exactly. Let us put in this alternative meaning. John 5:23 now reads: “in order that all may honor the Son exactly as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

Does the WT honor the Son exactly the way they honor the Father? If they do not, they are not honoring the Father who sent Jesus and they are violating John 5:23 and John 6:28 for if they believed in the Jesus of the Bible they would honor him exactly as they honor the Father.

No where in the Bible does the word kaqwñv or its root word kaq mean anything other than total equality.

The WT has changed the meaning of John 5:22-23. John tells us to honor the Son “just as”, “equally to,” or “exactly” as we honor the Father. There are no qualifications, no limitations on the honor that is to go to the Son. Name a way that you honor the Father and you should honor the Son exactly the same way. If the Father is worthy of prayer, according to John 5 you need to honor the Son by praying to him. The WT says that the Father is Almighty. If you do not acknowledge that the son is also Almighty, you have violated John 5:23 and thus you are not honoring the Father who sent Jesus. Again, check out kaqwñv and kaq. Look up their meaning as used in the New Testament. They mean “equal” or “exactly” even in the WT’s own KIT.

My last question, are you going to continue to follow a man made organization, or submit to the Word of God.

Major in Minors! Part 1

2011-08-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

The Minors

Over the course of several months I have had an on going conversation (via email) with a JW. He has gone to great lengths to tell me that letting children believe in Santa Claus is a sin, that smoking is worthy of disfellowshipping and shunning, and that neglecting to use the name Jehovah puts you on the side of evildoers. In email after email, he has stated that true Christians will be identified by their stance on these and other what I call “minor” issues. However, if your view is different than the Watchtower's view on these minor issues, you will loose your eternal salvation

According to the WT, only those JW’s in good standing will be saved at the battle of Armaggedon. A JW must follow all the rules set down by the Governing Body—“We serve not only Jehovah God but we are under our 'mother' (the organization). Our 'mother' has the right to make rules and regulations for us... This book, entitled Branch Organization Procedure, contains 28 subjects; and its sub-sections involve regulations and administration. In it there are 1,177 policies and regulations...this is an improved, fine-tuned organization, and we are expected to follow its policies. If there are some who feel that they cannot subject themselves to the rules and regulations now in operation, such ones ought to be leaving and not be involved here in the further progressive work. Some have fallen away from the organization, not from the Bible, saying there is no need for coming under law." (JW Leader Albert Schroeder, May 29, 1980)

“Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. What do such beliefs include? The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses are the sole interpreters of the Bible. That 1914 marked the end of the Gentile Times and the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the heavens, as well as the time for Christ's foretold presence. Only 144,000 will go to heaven. Armageddon is near, followed by the Paradise earth, where the rest of the Witnesses will live." {Watchtower, April 1, 1986 30-1}

Next time: The Majors.

Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans! Part 5

2011-07-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

Romans 10:9– “For if you publicly declare that ‘word in your own mouth,’ that Jesus is Lord and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead you will be saved.” The New World Translation,

If you have copy of the New World Translation (Green Copy) turn to page 1455 in the Appendix. At the bottom of the page talking about Isaiah 1:24 – “the [true] Lord,” the WT states that there are many lords or masters but by putting ‘the’ in front of ‘Lord’ to make ‘the Lord’ limits the application of the title to Jehovah.

In the Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (purple cover) look at Romans 10:9. There is a footnote for Romans 10:9 and when you look at the footnote it tells you that the word for ‘Lord’ is ‘ha Adon’ and then it references five Hebrew translations of the NT where Lord is translated ‘ha Adon.’ Putting this altogether the verse could read,

“For if you publicly declare that ‘word in your own mouth,’ that Jesus is Jehovah and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead you will be saved.”

The WT fully understands the implication of this verse and so to cover itself at the end of the footnote it states, “not Jehovah.” Will a JW see the implications and ask questions, will they do further study on the subject. Not likely. For the WT has drilled into the head of every JW –

“Heavy research is not necessary. The Watch Tower has done it for you. The most beneficial study you can do is to read The Watchtower or Awake! or a new book by the organization.” WT, June 1, 1967, p. 338

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

John 8:58 in the New World Translation – “Jesus said to them: ‘Most truly I say to You, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” This verse is also in my blog, "Presto Change-O! Part 4

In the “Kingdom Interlinear Translation” (Purple Cover) the footnote on this verse states, “I have been is properly rendered in the perfect tense.” The newer KIT (Blue Cover) states that “I have been is properly translated by the perfect indicative.” One really wonders if the WT’s right-hand knows what the left-hand is doing because the 1950 NWT states that John 8:58 was in the “perfect indefinite tense.”

Again look at John 8:58 in the KIT. The words in Greek “ego eimi” are translated "I have been" by the WT. BUT, if you look at John 8:18, 23, 24 and 28 you will see that “ego eimi” is translated, “I am.” WHY?

Bible scholars link John 8:58 and Exodus 3:13-14 where Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

In John 8:58, Jesus took the divine name, I AM, and applied it to himself. The WT could not have their devotees believing the Bible over their false doctrines so the WT ‘translators’ tried to hid the fact.

Presto Change-O! Part 7

2011-06-01T05:46:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:13, “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” New American Standard

And

2 Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ” New American Standard

Real clear! Christ Jesus is our God and our Savior. The WT and their Arian views (see the blog on “How does the Arian heresy relate to the JW view of Jesus.”) cannot possibly let this verse stand. Therefore, Presto Change-O!

Titus 2:13, “while we wait for the happy hope and glorious manifestation of the great God and of [the] Savior of us, Christ Jesus.” The New World Translation.

2 Peter 1:1 “ . . . by the righteousness of our God and [the] Savior Jesus Christ.”The New World Translation

Now both verses appear to be talking about God and a separate Savior, Christ Jesus. Once again the WT has changed the Bible to conform to their doctrine instead of changing their doctrine to conform to the Bible. But all is in harmony in WT land. We will just ignore those Pesky verses in the Bible that warn against adding or subtracting to God’s word.

Deuteronomy 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

Deuteronomy 12:32 “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”

Revelation 22:18-19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.”

Pesky Bible verses that contradict WT doctrine! Part 2

2011-05-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

John 5:23 – “in order that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” New World Translation (the JW Bible)

The WT states, “we honor the Son. He is ‘a god’ and Jehovah’s first and greatest creation. We just don’t worship Jesus.”

What the WT wishes is that this verse were not even in the Bible. I am sure that the powers that be in Brooklyn, looked into their bag of Shenanigans and decided not to change the verse, not to give it an unintelligible meaning but to simply ignore the verse—like it wasn’t even there. The WT finds this easy to do since JW’s will not ask about verses they are not allowed to study

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

The WTBTS would say, “If the WT doesn’t talk about a verse, who is an individual Witnesses to bring it up. Does that Witness know more than the brothers at Brooklyn and especially the ‘governing body?’ Such pride!”

What does John 5:23 really teach? The WT would have you believe that the word ‘just as’ implies giving some honor but not equal honor—equal honor as that given to the Father.

But if you have a KIT (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures) use it to look up John 5:23. I am using the Purple Covered KIT.

Look on the Greek side of John 5:23 and look at the Greek word translated ‘according as.’ It looks like this: kaqwñv We are going to look at this word and its root word kaq as they appear in the KIT.

II Cor. 11:12 – “Now what I am doing I will still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found equal to us in the office of which they boast.”

The Greek word kaqwñv is translated on the English side of the KIT as equal. At John 5:23, let us put in this alternative meaning for kaqwñv. John 5:23 now reads: “in order that all may honor the Son equally as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

Can the WT say that they honor the Son and the Father equally. The WT
says the Father is Almighty God. Is the son? Does the WT honor the Son by
calling him Almighty? The Father is from everlasting to everlasting. Is the
Son? If you are familiar with WT doctrine, the answer to both questions is
NO. The father is Almighty, the son only mighty. The father is eternal, the
son was created by the father and therefore had a beginning and is not
eternal.

Look for root word kaq at Acts 27:25. On the English side (I am still using the WT’s own KIT) it is translated exactly. Look for the root word again at 2 Cor. 3:18, again it is translated exactly.

At John 5:23, let us put in this alternative meaning for kaqwñv. John 5:23 now reads: “in order that all may honor the Son exactly as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

Can the WT say that they honor the Son exactly as they honor the Father? If
they do not, they are no honoring the Father who sent him.

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

2011-04-01T03:58:00.000-07:00

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

'The Question' JW’s refuse to/cannot answer!

2011-03-01T17:09:00.000-08:00

I have recently had several conversations with JW’s via email that eventually gets to the Question JW’s refuse/cannot answer.

It generally starts with me asking this question. “Is the WT a false prophet”? I have written at length about this here and here and here. I usually share this quote made in 1918:

"Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89.

The WT so believed the above prediction that they built a home in San Diego, a home for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. They called the home Beth Sarim (meaning House of Princes)--they picked San Diego because its climate is similar to the climate in Israel .

The Witness then emails me something similar to this.

The WT, the official journal of JWs, has said: “We have not the gift of prophecy.” (January 1883, page 425)

“Nor would we have our writings reverenced or regarded as infallible.” (December 15, 1896, page 306)

The Watchtower has also said that the fact that some have Jehovah’s spirit “does not mean those now serving as Jehovah’s witnesses are inspired. It does not mean that the writings in this magazine The Watchtower are inspired and infallible and without mistakes.” (May 15, 1947, page 157)

“The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic.” (August 15, 1950, page 263)

“The brothers preparing these publications are not infallible. Their writings are not inspired as are those of Paul and the other Bible writers.” (2 Tim. 3:16)

I then respond with the Watchtower’s own words:

"The Watchtower is a magazine without equal on earth because God is the author." (WT 4/15/43)

“Nothing is interpreted but the interpretation comes from God and is then published.” (WT 1943 July 1 pp. 202-203)

"God uses The Watchtower to communicate to his people; IT DOES NOT CONSIST OF MEN’S OPINIONS." (Watchtower 1/1/1942, page 5)

So the WT says “our publications are put together by men and men make mistakes” but the WT also says the WT does NOT consist of men’s opinions, “NOTHING is interpreted by men—the interpretation comes from God—and then it is published.”

I then ask the question that JW’s refuse to/cannot answer?

Who is the author of the Watchtower, Man or God?

The WT’s problem is that they want it both ways. They want their followers to view their writings as coming from God so that those same followers will do whatever the WT asks or demands since who (with eternity in mind) would go against the will of God.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society rests ultimately on the belief that it is omnipotent and infallible.”

But since in reality The WTBTS is not omnipotent or infallible (check out some of their just plain weird teachings from the past here) there is a need for an unwearying, moment-to-moment flexibility in the treatment of facts. The keyword here is blackwhite (I borrowed this word from George Orwell’s book 1984). Like so many Watchtower beliefs, this word has two mutually contradictory meanings. A Witness has the ability to say that black is white. (For example, JW’s believe that the material in the WT is provided by God AND at the same time they believe that the WT is published by men who can make errors). A JW not only can say that black is white when The WTBTS demands this but that JW also has the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know that black is white, and to forget that one has ever believed to the contrary. This demands a continuous alteration of the past, made possible by the system of thought which is known as double think (another Orwellian term).

The typical Witness can receive his/her copy of the WT magazine and view its contents as coming from God. An hour later, that same Witness, can go on the door-to-door service and when confronted with a obvious ‘untruth’ in the Watchtower magazine reply that “the authors are just men and not infallible.” Another hour later that Witnesses is home reading his Watchtower magazine taking in the information coming directly from God since "God uses The Watchtower to communicate to his people; IT DOES NOT CONSIST OF MEN’S OPINIONS." (Watchtower 1/1/1942, page 5) and “Nothing is interpreted but the interpretation comes from God and is then published.” (WT 1943 July 1 pp. 202-203)

Is the WT a false prophet? What does the WT say? Part 3

2011-02-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

What does the WT have to say about all these false prophecies? I have been told “that the organization is still learning.” If that is so, then how can we trust what we are taught now by the Watchtower? Will what we are being taught now change also?

The Bible is clear, a true prophet of God won't err in prophesying (remember Deut. 18:22). Only a false prophet does. Jesus warned us about false prophets by saying, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect -- if that were possible" (Matt. 24:24). How will we know false prophets? By their fruit. What is the fruit of a false prophet—obviously false prophesies.

What is the official WT position on these false prophecies?

(1) The WT has said, “in their human fallibility, they misinterpreted matters.” (Awake, March 22, 1993, pg. 4) However, Deut. 18 does not have exceptions. If their argument is an exception, then in ancient Israel, any false prophet could say the same thing and then stick around to further deceive Israel.

(2) The WT says that they are not false prophets because their intentions were good, “JW’s, in their eagerness for Jesus’ second coming, have suggested dates that turned out to be incorrect.” (Awake, March 22, 1993 pg. 4) So is eagerness an excuse? Check out 1 Sam 13:8-14 and see if God accepted Saul’s eagerness as a valid reason for disobeying the Word of God. Of course God did not, it is not an excuse.

(3) The WT states, “we never said these were the words of God.” But remember The Watchtower, 4/1/72, p. 197, which says, "So does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? . . . This "prophet" was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses.”

Also note this quote. “Those who are convinced that the WT is publishing the opinion or expression of a man should not waste time in looking at it at all. Those who believe that God uses the WT as a means of communicating to his people, or of calling attention to his prophecies, should study the WT.” (The Watchtower, Jan 1, 1942, p.5).

So the WT is telling us that the WT and Awake magazines are communications from God. Once again remember Matt 7:15-16 where Jesus warned us to, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” Again, what would be the fruit of a false prophet? False Prophecies! We will know them by their fruit no matter how much they try to disguise themselves as sheep.

The WT itself condemn False Prophets. Here is what they have to say:

“Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put ALL false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are.” ”Paradise Restored to Mankind By Theocracy,” 1972, Pages 353 & 354

"To know whether one is a true or a false prophet. If he is a true prophet, his message will come to pass exactly as prophesied. If he is a false prophet, his prophecy will fail to come to pass" (WT, 15 May 1930, p. 154).

"This is an important point in studying prophecy, and the student must keep it in mind. The test was provided by Jehovah, and to such test all the prophecies must be subjected. If these prophecies have not been fulfilled, and if all possibility of fulfillment is past, then these prophets are proven false." (Prophecy, p. 22).

“Jehovah God is the grand identifier of his true messengers. He identifies them by making the messages he delivers through them come true. Jehovah is also the great exposer of false messengers. How does he expose them? He frustrates their signs and predictions. In this way he shows that they are self appointed prognosticators, whose messages really spring from their own false reasoning-yes, their foolish, fleshly thinking!" (WT, May 1, 1997 pg.8)

Is the WT a False Prophet? More evidence? Part 2

2011-01-01T08:29:00.000-08:00

The WT 1925 prophecy about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc returning to life is not the only time the WT has prophesied in the name of God. What else does the record show?

1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874," Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4, pg. 621.

The WT now teaches that Christ returned in 1914.

1899 "...the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present ruler ship, is already commenced." The Time Is at Hand, pg. 101 (1908 edition).

If earth’s present ruler ship was not overthrown in 1914, the WT is a false prophet.

1916 "The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ's Reign, began 1873." The in Time Is at Hand, pg. ii, (forward).

1922 "The date 1925 (read about 1925 here) is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914." The Watchtower 9/1/22, page 262.

The WT even says the scriptures back its 1925 prophecies.

1923 "Our thought is that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge." WT, pg. 106 4/1/23.

The Christian in 1923 could be more sure of the WT 1925 prediction than Noah could be sure of the coming flood. The flood came. Were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob living in San Diego in the WT house provided for them? If not, the WT is a false prophet.

1931 "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time...and they also learned to quit fixing dates." Vindication, page 338.

This says that the WT learned to quit fixing dates. What dates? The dates that turned out to be false. That would make the one fixing the dates a false prophet.

1968 "True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world', even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing from such people were God's truths and evidence that he was using and guiding them." Awake, 10/8/68.

Who are “those” who predicted an end to the world? The WT could be put in that group. What were they guilty of? “False prophesying,” according to the Awake.

In part 3 I will look at the WT ‘position’ on their own false prophecies.

Is the WT a False Prophet? What is the evidence? Part 1

2010-12-01T07:47:00.000-08:00

What does the Bible have to say about false prophets? The definitive passage is found in Deuteronomy 18:20-22:

(20) “But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”
(21) "You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?”
(22) "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” New American Standard

The Bible teaches that if someone makes a false prophecy, and they have claimed to be a prophet of God, then they are a false prophet and are not to be listened to. In fact, in Deut. 18:20 false prophets are to die.

Does the WT claim to be the prophet of God? In 1972 they said, "People today can view the creative works. They have at hand the Bible, but it is little read or understood. So does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in theaffirmative. Who is this prophet?...This "prophet" was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses. . . Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a “prophet” of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record." The Watchtower, 4/1/72, p. 197.

A review of the Record:

"Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection."“Millions Now Living Will Never Die,” 1918, pg. 89.

The WT so believed the above prediction that they built a home in San Diego, a home for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. They called the home Beth Sarim (meaning House of Princes)—they picked San Diego because its climate is similar to the climate of Israel.

Did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc return to life in 1925? If NOT, then the WT is a false prophet.

In Part 2, I will look at many more WT false prophecies.

What can we learn from the JW's? Part 2

2010-11-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Third, the zeal the JW’s have for spreading their beliefs is something that should put the church to shame. The Witnesses are going out for the wrong reasons (to earn their salvation or look good in the eyes of the elders) but they are going out. The Witnesses are out there like the letter carrier—in good weather and bad—spreading their false doctrines. But too often the ‘church’ is quiet about their faith. It is sad that many of those who are born again are silent when it comes to spreading their faith whereas the JW’s are enthusiastically peddling their perverted Gospel, preaching another Christ, and leading many down the wide road to destruction.

Fourth, JW’s have a strong sense of urgency in their Witnessing. Many shed tears when their friends and loved ones refuse to become Witnesses. JW’s believe that the Battle of Armageddon is near (they have predicted it many times—See my blogs on “Is the WT a False Prophet) and those that die in it will never be raised—annihilated forever. It is imperative that JW’s witness to these people (especially if they are loved ones) while the opportunity still exists to bring them into “the Truth” (a name the WT has given itself.) Should not Christians feel such a sense of urgency, for the lost of this world? For at the moment of death each person’s eternal destiny will be sealed. And who knows when that hour will come. Who knows when their soul will be required of them?

Lastly, JW’s are willing to endure verbal abuse, physical abuse and ridicule for their beliefs. They are often pointed out and made fun of at work or school. Yet they stand strong and do not compromise their convictions. But what about the body of Christ—the true Christian church of today? Christians have gone too far the other way. We look like the world, sound like the world and act like the world in our desire to be socially acceptable, in our desire to win the approval of our friends and co-workers. We should, like the JW, be willing to endure social pressures and stand up for what we believe.

Paul was willing to be a fool for Christ and endure many hardships for his Lord. We should remember that Jesus was not afraid to stand against the accepted traditions of his day, embodied in the Pharisees. Let us not forget that Luther put his life on the line for what he believed saying, “Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise—so help me God!” How can we make an impression on the world when we look and act like the world? If you work with a Witness, that fact is readily known but how many coworkers of ‘Christians’ know they work with an ambassador to the King of kings.

What can we learn from the JW's? Part 1

2010-10-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

First, we can learn the importance of having strong, definite convictions about matters of faith. If you ask a Witness what he believes, he will gladly tell you. In fact, the Witnesses are famous for coming to your door to tell you what they believe. The JW knows what he believes and can back up those beliefs from his Bible. What he doesn’t know is that some verses in his Bible have been altered and others are never brought to his attention by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who exercise almost total control over all its members. The typical Witness knows what he believes and feels that his beliefs matter for eternity. What the Witness doesn’t realize is that he is an expert on WT doctrine and not Bible doctrine. See my blog, Why do you see JW’s studying their Magazines and Rarely the Bible?

Most ‘Christian’ church members have been exposed to very little systematic Bible teaching. Since they “stand for nothing” they will “fall for anything.” Witnesses meet very little resistance and win many converts when they knock on the average ‘Christian’s’ door.

The challenge to the church is to “preach the word in season and out of season.” It is only through a thorough study of the whole counsel of God that members will be protected from the JW’s. Each church member (young and old) needs to know the scriptures so well that when a false doctrine appears on the horizon it can be identified immediately.

Second, we can learn the importance of knowing Scripture. JW’s can easily quote verses to support their beliefs. The verses they quote are often taken out of context, twisted or simply changed (see my many blogs entitled Presto Change-O or Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans or Pesky Bible Verses that contradict WT Doctrine) and thus a perversion of Scripture. But, how many ‘Christians’ can quote book, chapter and verse to support their beliefs or to refute WT doctrine. Scripture memorization is important not only for evangelism but to defend the faith once handed down to the saints.

Pesky Bible verses that contradict WT doctrine! Part 1

2010-09-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

John 1:3 –“All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.” (KIT)

The WT states that creation came into being in the following manner. God created Jesus, then God gave Jesus the blueprints for creation and Jesus (the master workman) created everything else. Thus Jesus cannot say he created everything because he did not create himself.

However, look at what the Bible says in John 1:3, “all things came into existence through him (Jesus), and without him (Jesus) not even one thing came into existence.” What can the WT do with John 1:3 since it contradicts their doctrine about creation and about Jesus?

First, the WT simply ignores this verse. You might say, “but a JW might come across the verse in reading their Bible.” Not likely. The WT does not allow JW’s to study the Bible alone or in groups without WT study aides. Thus, JW’s will not ask about a verse they are not allowed to study. See my blog, “Why Do You See JW’s Studying Their Watchtower Magazines & Rarely The Bible?”

Second, when the WT talks about John 1:3 they will concentrate on the first part of John 1:3, “All things came into existence through him,” and argue that “all things” does not mean “absolutely all things,” it is talking only about the things that Jesus created. They argue that Jesus created all the things that he created.

However, the Holy Spirit, through John, wanted to make sure that the meaning of John 1:3 was absolutely clear. So, the Holy Spirit tells us in two different ways, first positively that “all things came into existence through Jesus,” then negatively that without Jesus “not even one thing came into existence.” The WT argues long and hard on John 1:3a put remains silent on John 1:3b. Watchtower doctrine teaches that, one thing came into existence without Jesus—that one thing being Jesus Himself—who the WT claims was created by Jehovah God. John 1:3b is clear, even the WT’s own KIT states, “All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.”

The WT’s doctrine that Jehovah created Jesus then Jesus created everything falls apart in light of John 1:3b.

Presto Change-O! Part 6

2010-08-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Revelation 5:10 - "And Thou has made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign UPON the earth.” (NASB) The KIT confirms the accuracy of Rev. 5:10, it says: “and you made them to the God of us kingdom and priests, and they are reigning UPON the earth.”

The problem for the WT is that WT doctrine states that the 144,000 (or the ‘anointed class’) mentioned in Revelation chapters 7 and 14 are to reign OVER the earth IN HEAVEN while the ‘other sheep’ or the ‘earthly class’ lives forever UPON a paradise earth. There is NO WAY, in WT doctrine, that those in heaven are to reign UPON the earth. They are to “rule as kings OVER the earth.”

What is the WT to do? No problem. Just a little slight-of-hand and Presto Change-O! In the NWT, Revelation 5:10 now reads, “ . . . and they are to rule as kings OVER the earth.”

You can see how intellectually dishonest the WT is by looking at Revelation 5:13—on the Greek side of the KIT it reads, “and every creature which is in the heaven and UPON the earth . . . and UPON the sea . . . sitting UPON the throne.” In all three instances UPON is translated on the NWT side as ON, “on the earth . . . and on the sea . . . and sitting on the throne.” However, in Revelation 5:10 the KIT reads, “ . . . and they are reigning UPON the earth,” but on the NWT side (the right side) it reads . . “and they are to rule as kings OVER the earth.” If the WT were consistent, it should read, “and they are to rule as kings on the earth.” But that is contrary to WT doctrine and so instead of bowing to the Bible and changing their doctrine they bow to their doctrine and change the Bible.

Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans! Part 4

2010-07-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

In ‘Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans Part 3’ (here) I looked at the “justification” the WT gives for inserting the word Jehovah in the NT 237 times without any manuscript backing. I then looked at a verse when the WT requirements were met to insert ‘Jehovah,’ but they didn’t make the change. In this blog I will look at an instance when they have no “justification” for the change but make it anyway.

For background, WT doctrine holds that Jesus is created and therefore cannot be God. Isaiah 9:6, is a reference to Jesus (the WT agrees), “ . . . and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, prince of Peace.” The WT says that Jesus is called a ‘Mighty God,’ but Jehovah and only Jehovah is ‘Almighty.’ (Never mind that the WT is now polytheists.) WT doctrine cannot allow for Jesus being called ‘Almighty.’ Now look at Revelation 1:8 –

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says Jehovah God, “the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.” The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (KIT)

Taking a look at the Greek side of the KIT reveals that it says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega is saying Lord.” Well here is an instance where the WT has inserted “Jehovah’ for the word ‘Lord.’ For such an insertion the WT has said that Rev. 1:9 must be a reference to an OT passage that is talking about Jehovah. If you look at a Bible concordance, it will show that there are three references to ‘Alpha and Omega’—Rev. 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13. Not a single verse in the OT refers to ‘Alpha and Omega.’

Why has the WT violated their own rule for inserting ‘Jehovah’ into the NT. Read all of Revelation 1 and you will see that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Almighty. But since WT doctrine holds that Jesus cannot be ‘the Almighty’ they have simply inserted Jehovah at Rev. 1:8. Another instance of the WT changing scriptures to conform to their doctrine, instead of conforming their doctrine to match scripture.

JW’s believe God is the author of Watchtower publications.

2010-06-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

Following is a conversation I had with a JW via email. It started with a CL ad that read: Has the Watchtower split your family? Our family was torn apart by the Jehovah’s Witnesses when we asked the elders a question and then questioned their answer. We have been shunned for the past 30+ years. E-mail us for more information.

I received the following reply 1 day after the CL ad, obviously from a JW:

Do you ENJOY being an apostate?? Being an enemy of god must be really cool...Grow up

In my 1st email I asked: Is God the author of the Watchtower?

The JW replied 1 day later: haha see... if you had truly been "a witness" for all those years. Then you would know, that yes, He is. The information contained in the publications Come from God. As did the bible. You DO beleive in the bible do you not? Cause God didnt actually sit down and pen the information contained in the bible, yet he is the Author. He used imperfect men as his channel, but the information came from him. Same for today.

In my 2^nd email I said: I absolutely believe in the Bible. For example, I believe in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”

I also believe in Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man that he should tell lies,” and Proverbs 6:16-19 showing that God hates a “false tongue.”

Therefore, I would not expect the Bible to contain lies, untruths, falsehoods, etc.

The WT states (as you affirmed), "The Watchtower is a magazine without equal on earth because God is the author." (Watchtower 4/15/43)

"God uses The Watchtower to communicate to his people; it does not consist of men's opinions." (Watchtower 1/1/1942, page 5)

Since the same God authored the Bible and the WT, I would expect the WT to be devoid of lies, untruths, falsehoods, etc. just as the Bible.

I asked: “Is the WT devoid of lies, untruths and falsehoods?”

The JW replied 1 day later: Absolutely.

In my 3^rd email I asked: Is this a lie, an untruth, a falsehood or is it in fact true?

“the ‘ Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced.” The Time is at Hand, 1908, p. 101.

How about this—a lie, an untruth, a falsehood or the truth?

“Vaccination has never saved a human life. It does not prevent smallpox.” The Golden Age, Feb. 4, 1931, p. 294.

Some actual good advice from the Watchtower. "What will guide us in choosing the right religion? The Encyclopoedia Universalis is correct when it highlights the importance of truth. A religion that teaches lies cannot be true" (Watchtower, 1 December 1991, p. 7).

Fourteen days went by and no reply so I asked another question.

In this my 4^th email I first said: You said the same God that authored the Bible also authored the WT. You also said, “Absolutely,” one can expect the WT to be devoid of lies, untruths, falsehoods, etc. just like the Bible.

I then said: The Watchtower said, "FOR OVER A CENTURY, delightful, CORRECT words of TRUTH covering every aspect of life have been presented in the Watctower Society's publications." (Watchtower, Dec. 15, 1990)

I asked: Is the following a lie, an untruth, a falsehood or is it in fact true?

“It has never been proven that a single disease is due to germs.” The Golden Age (now known as Awake!), Jan. 16, 1924, p. 250.

I also asked: Is the following a lie, an untruth, a falsehood or is it in fact true?

"Man on earth can no more get rid of these demonic `heavens' than man can by airplane or rockets or other means get up above the air envelope which is about our earthly globe and in which man breathes." (The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 285).

Another 14 days went by and no reply so I asked another question.

I first said: "The Watchtower is a magazine without equal on earth because God is the author." (Watchtower 4/15/43)

"God uses The Watchtower to communicate to his people; it does not consist of men's opinions." - Watchtower 1/1/1942, page 5

"Those who are convinced that The Watchtower is publishing the opinion or expression of a man should not waste time in looking at it at all, (Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1942, p. 5)

Question #1: Is the following a lie, an untruth, a falsehood or is it in fact true?

"Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89.

"Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put ALL false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are." Paradise Restored to Mankind ByTheocracy, 1972, Pages 353 & 354

It have yet to hear a response.

'Earthly Hope' & 'Heavenly Hope' Part 3-Before the Throne

2010-05-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

In looking at Revelation 14, keep in mind the KEY WORDS "BEFORE THE THRONE."

Rev. 14:1-3 “And I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His name and the name of His father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song BEFORE THE THRONE and before the four living creatures and the elders and no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been purchased from the earth.” (NAS)

Now look at Revelation 7:9-15:

(9) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing BEFORE THE THRONE and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

(10) and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

(11) And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces BEFORE THE THRONE and worshiped God,

(12) saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever Amen."

(13) Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?"

(14) I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

(15) "For this reason, they are BEFORE THE THRONE of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

It is important to note that according to Rev. 14:1-3, the 144,000 are "BEFORE THE THRONE." If the 144,00 are in Heaven (and according to WT doctrine they are indeed in heaven), then there are many others in Heaven as well because that same phrase "BEFORE THE THRONE" is also found in 7:9 and refers to a “great multitude that no man can count,” which is a different group from the 144,000!

Jesus said, "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26, NAS)

Jesus himself taught that wherever He is, ALL his servants “will be also.” Since Jesus is in heaven, then all His servants, whose numbers far exceeds 144,000, “will be also.”

'Earthly Hope' and 'Heavenly Hope'? Part 2-The Little Flock

2010-04-01T23:01:00.000-07:00

Read all of Revelation 7 and you will see that it describes a heavenly scene. The WT, without warrant, divided the Chapter into a heavenly scene and an earthly scene. The ‘little flock’ mentioned in Luke 12:32 was redefined by the WT to mean the remnant (those still alive) of those with a ‘heavenly hope’ (the 144,000 I talked about in ‘Earthly Hope’ and ‘Heavenly Hope’? Part 1); Luke 12:32 reads,"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” (NAS)

Read all of Luke 12 and you will see that the correct context has Jesus speaking to a small gathering of converted, Jewish believers. Jesus also said in John 10:16,"And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold: I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.”(NAS)

Was Jesus speaking of a secondary, earthly class, who would also be saved but remain on a paradise earth and look to the ‘little flock’ for spiritual food as the WT teaches. No, Jesus was speaking of the time when the Kingdom would be opened to the Gentiles. His words were fulfilled and recorded in Acts 11:1-18.

Paul also recorded the fulfillment of Jesus' words in Galatians 3:28-29: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." (NAS).

‘Earthly Hope’ and ‘Heavenly Hope’? Part 1-The 144,000

2010-03-01T06:59:00.000-08:00

In JW soteriology (I love using those big words—this one means salvation doctrine), only 144,000 get to go to heaven (thus the term ‘Heavenly Hope.’) This group is also called the ‘little flock,’ ‘anointed class’ and ‘the 144,000.’ This number started to be filled at Pentecost and at this time only about 8,500 remain alive. (The exact number is hard to pin down. In 2005, there were slightly over 8,500 ‘anointed,’ but that number rose to 10,000 in 2008.) Only these 8,500 or so can take communion (called memorial) and are viewed as an ‘elite’ class. The great task of those with a ‘Heavenly Hope,’ is that of providing ‘spiritual food’ for the “other sheep” (those without a Heavenly Hope who will spend eternity on a Paradise Earth.”) The "other sheep" believe that the Bible was written only for the 144,000. Thus the 144,000 must interpret the Bible for the "other sheep." They do this through the various publications of the Watchtower Organization.

The vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses (those with an “earthly hope,” also called the “earthly class,” or “other sheep”) must look to those with a “Heavenly Hope” to be their "mediator" between them and God.

“All who by reason of faith in Jehovah God and Christ Jesus dedicate themselves to do God’s will and then faithfully carry out their dedication will be rewarded with everlasting live. However, that life will not be the same for all. The Bible plainly shows that some of these, that is, 144,000, will share in heavenly glory with Christ Jesus, while the others will enjoy the blessings of life down here on earth.” “Let God be True,” p. 298.

It took quite a bit of scriptural twisting (See my bloggs on “Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans” and “Presto Change-O”) to come up with this doctrine.

The 144,000 are mentioned in two chapters in the Bible—Revelation 7 and 14. Revelation 7:4 states, “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” Verses 5-8 states that 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel will make up this 144,000.

It appears that the WT may have a problem since the Bible specifically states that the 144,000 will be of Jewish decent. But what appears to be a problem to us is no problem at all for the WT. The WT simply states that the 144,000 (Revelation 4a) is a literal number but Revelation 4b—naming 12,000 each from the twelve tribes—is spiritual. With that kind of exegesis (another big word meaning: to investigate and express the true sense of Scripture) you can make the Bible say anything you want. But, might not a JW question the WT’s exegesis? Not if he/she wants to remain a JW in good standing. A good Witness is to:

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

Revelation 14:4-5 reveals more information about the 144,000, it states: “These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.“ The WT’s 144,000 is made up of both men and women, probably not all virgins and more than likely a few fibbers in the group.

The plain reading of Revelation 7 and 14 shows these obvious conclusions. The 144,000 are literal Jews from the 12 tribes with no Gentiles among them (7:4-8). They are all males (14:4) and virgins (14:4) and truthful (14:5). Of all the facts known about the 144,000, what gives the WT the right to say only the number, 144,000 is literal, and all the other ‘facts’ are figurative.

In the WT’s mind, this is what gives them the right:

“God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life giving truths by itself. It is through his organization (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) God provides this light.” WT, May 1, 1957, p. 274

“Jehovah caused the Bible to be written in such a way that you need his human channel (WTBTS) to understand it.” WT, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 17

Presto Change-O! Part 5

2010-02-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

Look up John 8:58 in the “Kingdom Interlinear Translation.” On the right side, the NWT has rendered the verse – “Jesus said to them: ‘Most truly I say to You, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been.’”

In the “KIT” (Purple Cover) the footnote on this verse states, “I have been” is properly rendered in the perfect tense.” The newer KIT (Blue Cover) states that “I have been is properly translated by the perfect indicative.” One really wonders if the WT’s right-hand knows what the left-hand is doing because the 1950 NWT states that John 8:58 was in the “perfect indefinite tense.”

In the KIT, the words on the Greek side “ego eimi” are translated “I AM.” However, if you look at the right side, the NWT side, the phrase reads, “I have been.” Look at John 8:18, 24 and 28, in each case “ego eimi” on the Greek side is translated “I am,” and on the NWT side it is also translated “I am.” But, as we saw in John 8:58, “ego eimi” on the Greek side is translated “I am” but on the English side—the NWT side—it is, “I have been.” Why the switch?

Bible scholars link John 8:58 and Exodus 3:13-14 where Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM’ has sent me to you.'"

In John 8:58, Jesus took the divine name, I AM, and applied it to himself. The WT could not have their devotees believing the Bible over their false doctrines, so what were they to do. Simple, Presto Change-O! Ego eimi is translated, in the NWT (right side) ‘I have been’ instead of ‘I Am.’ Now there is no link between Jesus and Jehovah—WT problem solved.

The WT to make doubly sure no JW will see the connection between John 8:58 and Exodus 3:13-14 has a footnote in the KIT (Purple Cover.) It reads, “It (ego eimi at John 8:58) is not the same as “ho ohn” meaning “The Being” or “The I Am”) at Exodus 3:14. What the WT doesn’t tell you, is that in Exodus 3:14 the entire phrase is “ego eimi ho ohn,” “I am that I am.” Knowing the entire phrase makes the connection between John 8:58 and Exodus 3:14 quite clear and the WT intellectually dishonest.

Why are JW's not allowed to celebrate b'days and other holidays? Part 3

2010-01-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

What does the Bible allow?

Job did not have a problem with his son’s celebrating ‘their day.’ (Job 1:4,5; 3:1-3). And Abraham had no problem giving a ‘great feast’ for Isaac when he was weaned (Gen 21:8).

What does the WT allow?

The WT allows two people to celebrate their wedding anniversary, i.e. the birth of a marriage. The WT had no problem with celebrating their own 100th anniversary—the birth of their organization. Yet at the same time they disfellowship and condemn to eternal death those who celebrate the anniversary of someone’s birth.

How can one celebrate the birth of an organization but not celebrate the birth of one's spouse or child? Surely if the Watchtower is right, the same God who destroys people forever for celebrating the anniversary of their birth would not think lightly of people who celebrate the anniversary of their wedding or the anniversary of an organization's birth.

What does the WT neglect to mention!

The inconsistency in the Watchtower's rules is highlighted in the marriage celebration. The Watchtower allows wedding rings to be given even though secular sources show that they have a pagan origin. Should they be allowed for Jehovah's Witnesses? Honeymoons are allowed for Jehovah's Witnesses even though they have their origin 4,000 years ago in Babylon with what was then called the "honey month" after the wedding. Perhaps an article will be printed in the future in the Watchtower banning the honeymoon.

Jehovah's Witnesses are allowed to use the names of the days and months of the year that are clearly from pagan sources yet celebrating the anniversary of the first coming of the Savior is a definite no-no. Perhaps the Watchtower is waiting until someone reinvents the calendar before they institute a ban on the present Roman calendar.

Although the Bible says to honor your father and your mother, the Watchtower says you can't honor them on one particular day - Mother's day or Father's day. If you brought them a card wishing them a happy day on that day or brought them a bouquet of flowers on that particular day, you would be subject to being kicked out of the Watchtower Society and subsequently face eternal death for your actions.

Is the Watchtower going beyond what is written in the Bible?

First, if having any pagan roots at all means that one must abstain, we wonder how the Watchtower can use the Julian calendar whose months and days are named after pagan gods? How can they exchange wedding rings at weddings, for this has pagan origins? The Watchtower allows use of many objects that have pagan origins as well as allowing their followers to celebrate wedding anniversaries, which has pagan roots. Yet at the same time they condemn Christmas which has long lost any pagan connections.

Romans 14:5 says, "One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind." The Bible wants us to think and to be convinced in our own minds about issues that are debatable (Rom. 14:1-12).

Second, if true Christians give gifts at other times during the year what is wrong with giving gifts on the day of their birth? Their argument is illogical.

Third, they say that there are only two references to such celebrations but they seem to have overlooked the greatest birthday celebration of all - that of the Lord Jesus Christ. As such, then, if men doing evil things make it wrong to celebrate surely we can argue that the angels rejoicing and the Magi bringing gifts make it right to celebrate. The Bible does not say one thing or another and wholesome celebration is obviously not condemned by the Scriptures.

Why are JW’s not allowed to celebrate b’days and other holidays? Part 2

2009-12-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

The WT’s reasoning for prohibiting birthdays is as follows:

The only two birthday celebrations spoken of in the Bible were held by persons who did not worship Jehovah and killed people on their birthdays. The Pharaoh of Egypt killed his baker (Gen 40:20) and King Herod killed John the Baptist. (Matt 14:6).

However, it should be pointed out that the inspired authors of the Bible were not writing unfavorably about birthdays, they were showing the evil acts of men. As a matter of fact, the Bible does not directly comment about birthdays at all. Thus we should conclude that birthdays, etc. should come under the jurisdiction of Romans 14:4-6 and Colossians 2:16-17.

Romans 14:4-6 "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God."

Colossians 2:16-17 "Therefore no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."

These two verses teach that we have the freedom to celebrated any day or celebrated no special days as long as we are convinced in our own mind about the correctness of our celebrating. We also should not judge one another in celebrating or not celebrating.

What the WT neglects to mention!

There are other celebrations talked about in the Bible but these are overlooked because they do not prove the WT’s point.

Job’s Sons. Job 3:4 says, “His sons used to go and feast in the house of each on his day (birthday) in turn, and they invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them.” (Amplified Bible)

John the Baptist. Luke 1:13-14 says, “But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.’”

Jesus. John 2:10-18. Verses 13 and 14 the angel says, “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’"

What the Bible neglects to mention!

In Exodus 20, (the 10 Commandments) the forbidding of birthdays is not mentioned.

In Proverbs 16, “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him,” Again, birthdays did not make the list. All throughout Leviticus, all the prohibitions, not a single mention about birthdays. In the NT, in Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 5 & 6, Rev. 21 and others—prohibiting celebrating birthdays is nowhere to be found.

One would think that an action (celebrating a birthday) that can result in disfellowshipping and ‘annihilation’ (according to the WT) might deserve a mention somewhere in the Bible.

Why are JW's not allowed to celebrate b'days and other holidays? Part 1

2009-11-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

What are recently baptized JW’s told?

One of the defining traits of JW’s is their refusal to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and other special days like mother’s and father’s day. Therefore, when someone becomes a newly baptized JW they are immediately taught about the “pagan origins” of modern day celebrations. The WT points to each “day's pagan origins” as the reason to not celebrate those special days.

And if a JW does take part in a birthday celebration, that person can be disfellowshipped. And according to JW teachings, a disfellowshipped one will not be saved at Armageddon and until that great battle they will be shunned by all other JW’s.

The official website of the WT explains their position on celebrating holidays:

“Jesus never commanded Christians to celebrate his birth. Rather, he told his disciples to memorialize, or remember, his death. Christmas and its customs come from ancient false religions. The same is true of Easter customs, such as the use of eggs and rabbits. The early Christians did not celebrate Christmas or Easter, nor do true Christians today.”

“The only two birthday celebrations spoken of in the Bible were held by persons who did not worship Jehovah. The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays. The custom of celebrating birthdays comes from ancient false religions. True Christians give gifts and have good times together at other times during the year.”

“JW’s do celebrate one holiday—the “Memorial of Christ’s Death,” which occurs at roughly the same time as Christian Easter and the Jewish Passover. This holiday is acceptable because Christ himself instituted it. The Memorial is the one time during the year in which the Lord’s Supper is observed.”

It would seem that the WT has overlooked Romans 14:4-6, “Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.”

However, it needs to be pointed out that it is the Governing Body that has determined that celebrating holidays is wrong. Individual JW’s are not allowed to read the Bible and come up with this conclusion on their own.

If the Governing Body came out tomorrow and allowed birthdays, JW’s world-wide would not rise up and ask, “but what about what the Bible teaches.” Individual JW’s are told to “meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization and wait for further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable to them and proceed to quibble and mouth their criticisms and opinions as though they were worth more than the slave's provision of spiritual food. Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord's visible organization and not be so foolish as to put against Jehovah's channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings." WT, February 1, 1952, pgs. 79-80.

In Part 2, I will look at the verses they use to support their special day celebration ban and those verses that are relevant but they never mention.

Presto Change-O! Part 4

2009-10-18T07:36:00.000-07:00

Acts 20:28 – “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

What did that say? God purchased the church with His own blood. But wasn’t it Jesus whose blood was shed for the sins of the world? That would make Jesus, God. Totally contrary to WT doctrine. No problem. Presto Change-O!

Acts 20:28 – “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].” New World Translation

Now the verse appears to be talking about God and a separate Savior, Christ Jesus.

But isn’t changing the Word of God serious business? What if a Witness looks into this and asks about the Bible being changed? No problem says the WT. Why?

The JW will be told:

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

JW's and Blood Transfusions Part 2--The Verses they Twist.

2009-10-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

These are the four verses that the WT generally uses to prohibit blood transfusions. I have included more than just the verse(s) quoted by the WT so you can see the context better. Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:12-14, Acts 15:29 and the similar Acts 21:25.

Genesis 9:3-4 (3) "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you: I give all to you as I gave the green plant. (4) Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.” (NAS)

The WT only has their members read verse 4, and as a good JW they only read what they are told. See the blog “Why do you see JW’s studying their WT magazines & rarely the Bible?” for WT quotations on controlling their members.

In Genesis 9 Noah has just survived the flood and God tells Noah, just as I gave the green plants to you to eat, I am now giving you all animal life to eat. Except, you are not to eat the blood. The blood must be removed, ensuring the animal is dead.

Leviticus 17:12-16 (12) "Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'No person among you may eat blood, nor may any alien who sojourns among you eat blood.' (13) "So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. (14) "For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.' (15) "When any person eats an animal which dies or is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or an alien, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean. (16) "But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt." (NAS)

It is easy to see why the WT has their members stop reading after v. 14. Verse 15-16 prescribe the punishment for eating blood or as the WT says, for having a blood transfusion. The punishment. That person must wash their clothes, bath and in the evening they will be clean. Far from the WT telling their people that they will lose their eternal life if they take a blood transfusion.

Acts 15:29 “that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." (NAS)

Acts 21:25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication." (NAS)

It is clear from the context that the instructions were against eating and drinking blood. At this time in history there were many pagan religious practices that involved eating and drinking blood and/or strangling an animal to keep more of its blood in its meat. This is what the Bible speaks against, not blood transfusions.

Americans were in shock when Jim Jones and over 900 of his followers committed suicide in the jungles of Guyana in 1978. But how many JW’s have died one at a time refusing blood transfusions. It is one thing to refuse a transfusion because of medical reasons and quite another to have that decision made for you by the WTBTS.

Why do JW’s not accept Blood Transfusions? Part 1

2009-09-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Witnesses say it is because the Bible prohibits this practice. But that is not the case. The reason is because the WTBTS tells them not to accept transfusions. If the WT came out tomorrow and said JW’s can accept transfusions, do you think individual Witnesses would say, “wait—what about the Biblical prohibition? What you are now teaching is contrary to what the Bible teaches. We will not follow you, we will follow the Bible.” Not going to happen—no way. JW’s are taught to “avoid independent thinking,” they are drilled and drilled some more into thinking that they cannot understand the Bible without the WT telling them what it all means. (See my blog on “Why do you see JW’s studying their magazines and rarely the Bible?”) So if on Monday Witnesses cannot have a transfusion and on Tuesday they can—who are they to question Jehovah’s chosen channel of communication. If this were to happen, you would hear nary a negative peep out of the vast majority of JW’s.

It is interesting that at one point in the history of the WT all the scriptures they now use to refuse blood transfusions were used to refuse vaccinations. But now vaccinations are OK. In the past, the Society rejected the theory that diseases were caused by germs and ridiculed Pasteur for advancing this scientific truth. The founder of the Society, Charles Taze Russell, in “The Finished Mystery,” also taught that appendicitis was caused by fighting worms in the colon. Early Watchtower magazines, 3/15/13 & 1/15/12 stated that Russell believed a person's desire to worship God was due to the shape of their brain. He believed that if a dog's head were shaped like a man's, the dog would think like a man! With this track record, is this the organization you would trust with your life or your child’s life?

Originally the WT prohibition on blood transfusions was total and supposedly Biblically based. The Watchtower has gradually permitted each component of blood to be used, first globulin, then the clotting factors, plasma proteins and finally hemoglobin in June of 2000. The Watchtower still insists that JW’s “abstain from blood,” but what is left to abstain from. And, Governing Body, what are the Biblical bases for allowing blood fractions yet denying whole blood? For more detailed information on this issue see: http://www.ajwrb.org/

Why do JW’s not accept blood transfusions? Part 2 will look at the four verses the JW’s use most often to support their ban on transfusions and what does the Bible really teach on this subject.

Did the TV show 'Jeopardy' endorse the JW Bible?

2009-08-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

Not long ago a Witness wrote to me and said that on a recent episode of “Jeopardy” the answer was “The New World Translation.” The question—“What is the most accurate Bible translation?” This was my reply.

Wow! Did your question take me back. Thirty years ago a JW elder told me that, “Billy Graham said that the 'New World Translation was the most accurate translation.'” Of course this was easy to check. I wrote the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and asked them about the quote. His Ministry said that the “NWT was not an honest translation and that many of the WT doctrines were put into the NWT without any support from the original languages. It was not a translation they could endorse”—far from being the most accurate translation.

Now, you tell me that Jeopardy has put its stamp of approval on the NWT. Fortunately, we have the Internet. I did a Google search and typed in the search window, “every jeopardy question.” When the results came up, I clicked on “Digg - Every Jeopardy Question Ever.” In that search box, I typed in “Bible” and scrolled down the list of questions. On 12-19-97 under Organizations for $400 I saw this question, “The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society is the legal agency of this religious group?” On 9-14-84 under Religion for $200 is this question, “More common name for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society?” Guess what? No question about the most accurate Bible Translation. I tried other categories—“Religion” and “Translation” but found nothing.

Let me know if you find the elusive, “What is the most accurate Bible translation?” This sounds like something that circulated around the organization but nobody bothered to check on its accuracy—or maybe no one dared to check on its accuracy. Going against the organization can be so disfellowshipping.

Is WT doctrine Christian? Part 5-The Trinity!

2009-08-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

Doctrine #5 - The Trinity

The Watchtower’s view of the Trinity.

"Christendom's unchristian doctrine of a Trinity of "God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Ghost" will be rejected by all enlightened mankind as being a blasphemous pagan lie." “Paradise Restored to Mankind - By Theocracy,” p.388.

"Christendom has copied the heathen, pagan nations of Asia in teaching that God is a trinity, three Gods in one Person." WT, 1962 April 15, p.235.

“God-fearing persons who want to know Jehovah and serve him find it a bit difficult to love and worship a complicated, freakish-looking, three-headed God. The clergy who inject such ideas will contradict themselves in the very next breath by stating that God created man in his own image; and certainly no one has ever seen a three-headed human creature." “Let God be True,” 1946, pp. 83-84.

The Bible’s view of the Trinity.

The OT places an emphasizes on the unity of God. It is clear that there is only one God, in contrast to the many false gods of the pagans; yet, there are instances in the Old Testament pointing to the fact that God exists in a plurality of Persons.

One example of this occurs where God is speaking and uses "us" and "our": Genesis 3:22 Genesis 11:7 Isaiah 6:8 and Genesis 1:26-27 which says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness . . .’” This last quote is significant since it speaks of the very nature of God.

In the NT, the Bible presents the Father who is God (John 3:16), the Son who is God (John 1:1, Philippians 2:5-8, Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit who is God (Acts 5:3-4). However, these are not three Gods, but one and the same God.

The Gospel message is clear: God the Father sent His Son to redeem fallen man; The Son willingly came to die for the sins of the world; and the Holy Spirit convicts men of sin, regenerates the heart by the Word of God which He inspired, takes the things of Christ, and shows them unto us who love Him.

Is Watchtower doctrine Christian? Part 4-Monotheism!

2009-07-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

Doctrine #4 - Monotheism!

The Watchtower’s almost Monotheism.

Jer. 32:18 “ . . . and repaying the error of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them, the [true] God, the great One, the mighty One, Jehovah of armies is his name.” “The WT Bible, “The New World Translation.”

Isaiah 10:21 “ A mere remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.”

The WT identifies this Mighty God as Jehovah

Isaiah 9:6 “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; . . . And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

According to the WT this Mighty God is Jesus—different than the Mighty God spoken about in Isaiah 10:21 and Jer. 32:18.

John 1:1 “In [the] beginning the Word was and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.”

Here the WT says “with God” is Jehovah and “a god” is Jesus—an Almighty God and a mighty God.

The Bible on Monotheism.

Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God the LORD is one!”

Isaiah 43:5 “ . . . Besides Me there is no God.”

Isaiah 45:21 “ . . . And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior.”

Isaiah 46:9 “ . . . For I am God and there is no other, I am God, and there is no one like me.”

Is WT doctrine Christian? Part 3--The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus!

2009-07-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

Doctrine #3 - The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Bodily Resurrection Watchtower style.

"...the man Jesus is dead, forever dead..." “The Atonement Between God and Man, Studies in the Scriptures,” Vol. 5, 1899, p. 454.

"...the bodies in which Jesus manifested himself to the disciples after his return to life were not the body in which he was nailed to the tree." “The Kingdom is at Hand,” 1944, p. 259.

“…in his resurrection he ‘became a life-giving spirit.’ That was why for most of the time he was invisible to his faithful apostles… He needs no human body any longer… The human body of flesh, which Jesus Christ laid down forever as a ransom sacrifice, was disposed of by God’s power.”—“Things in Which it is Impossible for God to Lie,” pp. 332, 354

“So the evidence indicates that the Son of God was known as Michael before he came to earth and is known also by that name since his return to heaven where he resides as the glorified spirit Son of God.”—“Reasoning from the Scriptures,” 1985, 1989, p. 218

Bodily Resurrection Biblical style.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

Paul says that “Christ died for our sins.” Paul says that “He was buried.” And that “He was raised.” He who? He Christ. Christ died, Christ was buried and Christ was raised. That is why Paul said,

I Corinthians 15:14, “and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.”

Is Watchtower doctrine Christian? Part 2--Salvation by Grace!

2009-06-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

Doctrine #2 - Salvation by Grace!

Salvation according to the Watchtower.

All these requirements can be found in the WT, Feb. 15, 1983.

1st Requirement. "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."

So you must study and take in knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. This would mean one needs to be involved in WT Bible studies. See my blog on, ”How does someone become a JW? Part 2” here.

2nd Requirement. One must obey God’s laws. You must live a clean, moral life as set out in the Bible.

3rd Requirement. A person needs to be associated with God’s channel. In plain English, you need to be a JW in good standing.

4th Requirement. You must be a “publisher” (actively going door-to-door).

Salvation according to the Bible.

Only through Jesus and His death on the cross are we saved.

2 Cor. 5:21, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In other words, when God looks at Jesus, He sees us and when He looks at us, He sees Jesus. It is nothing that we have done, it is entirely of God.

Eph. 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Is Watchtower doctrine Christian? Part 1--Jesus is God and Man!

2009-06-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

We need to first answer this question; “What are essential Christian doctrines?” They are doctrines that the first century Christians would not deny but would rather enter the Coliseum and face the lions. These doctrines comprise the core of the Christian faith and that to remove any one of them is to make the belief system non-Christian. Any unsaved person (JW, Christian Scientist, Mormon, atheist, agnostic or Muslim), will deny one or more of these essential doctrines. Because these central doctrines define the character of Christianity, a person cannot be saved and deny any one. I believe these doctrines are: (1) Jesus is God and man. (2) Salvation by Grace, (3) the bodily resurrection of Christ, (4) monotheism and (5) the Trinity.

You may not agree that all of these are essential or maybe you feel that I left some out. But if you agree that even one of these doctrines are essential, then WT theology is not Christian because the WT is at odds with all five.

Doctrine #1 – Jesus is God and man!

Jesus of the Watchtower.

Jesus was the first creation of Jehovah. “Let God Be True,” p. 257.

Before coming to earth as a man, Jesus was known in heaven as Michael the archangel. “New Heavens and a New Earth,” pp. 28-30

Jesus of the Bible.

John 1:1, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [14] And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,”

Revelation 1:8, 17-18 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” ... [17] When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Revelation 22:12-13, 16 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.... [16] “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

Note that the titles given to Jesus, “Alpha and the Omega,” “the Beginning and the End,” “the First and the Last,” “the Almighty,” “the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come.” All these titles of Deity, in context are applied specifically to Jesus.

Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans! Part 3

2009-05-15T04:06:00.000-07:00

In the JW Bible, “The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures,” (I am using the purple covered version—the new one is blue) on page 18, the WT states that in the New Testament whenever you see the Greek words “Lord” and “God” and the NT verse is referring to a verse from the Old Testament, the WT is justified in changing Christ and God to Jehovah. I just want to mention that there are over 5,600 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament and there is not a single case of the word Jehovah appearing in any verse. So the Watchtower has changed the NT 237 times with zero manuscript backing. But if you are familiar with this blog, you know that the JW’s have no problem with changing scripture. See Presto Change-O! Parts 1, 2, and 3.

My point in this blog is to look at two verses in the WT Bible, “The New World Translation,” to see the WT violating their own rule.

First, Romans 14:11, “for it is written: ’As I live,’ says Jehovah ‘to me every knee will bend down, and every tongue will make open acknowledgment to God.’” (NWT) If you look on the Greek side you will notice that the word ‘Jehovah’ is not there—what you find is the word ‘Lord.’

In this verse, the WT has changed ‘Lord’ in, “As I live, says the Lord,” to “As I live, says Jehovah,” in keeping with their rule I mentioned above. Romans 14:11 is an obvious reference to Isaiah 45:23, “Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God and there is no other, I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.” NWT

What is very interesting is that Paul makes a second reference to Isaiah 45:23, this time at Philippians 2:10-11. “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.” NWT

The Philippians reference to Isaiah 45:23 is clear—the word ‘Lord’ is there at the end of verse 11, but the WT has not taken out Lord and inserted Jehovah—according to their rule. Why have they ignored their rule and not made this the 238th time they have inserted Jehovah into the NT.

Well, if we make the substitution I think it will be apparent. “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 Jehovah to the glory of God the Father.”

Oh, oh! Jesus is Jehovah. Totally against WT doctrine! Therefore, the WT has ignored their own rule and not made the substitution. Intellectually dishonest to say the least!

Did Jesus die on a Cross or Torture Stake? Part 2

2009-05-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

The important thing is not whether Jesus died on a cross or torture stake but that he did indeed die. And why did He die?

He died for sinners. Have you ever lied, stolen, lusted, coveted, or been angry with someone unjustly? If so, then you have broken the Law of God. God has said, "You shall not steal; You shall not lie; You shall have no other gods before Me; You shall not murder," etc., (Exodus 20). He has given the standard of righteousness, and if you have broken any of God's commandments then you have fallen short of that standard and are under the inevitable judgment of God. When you die, you will face Him on the Day of Judgment and He will punish all sinners.

This is the message from God's word—that Jesus came to die for sinners and to save them from the wrath to come.

Jesus is the One you need. He alone. Not your works (Rom. 3:10; Isaiah 64:6). Not your sincerity. Not your goodness. You have nothing to offer God except your sinfulness. It is only by the love and grace of God, found in Jesus and His sacrifice that you can be delivered from the righteous wrath of God upon all who have broken His law. Jesus saves you from God’s wrath—for God's wrath, on the Day of Judgment, is upon sinners.

On that Day of Judgment God will judge all people for their sins against Him. He will judge all who have lied, stolen, cheated, lusted, dishonored their parents, etc. He will do this because He is holy and righteous. God must punish the sinner. God cannot and will not ignore the person who has broken His righteous law. The Law is a reflection of the character of God. Therefore, to break God's law is to offend God and deny the holiness of His character. He will be vindicated. He will judge.

The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). That means that your sins have caused a separation between you and God (Isaiah 59:2) and the result is death (Rom. 6:23) and wrath (Eph 2:3). The only way to be saved from the wrath of God is to be saved from it by faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1). You must trust in what Jesus did on the cross to forgive you of your sins and not trust anything else, not even your own sincerity or works. It is Jesus and only Jesus who can turn away the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner.

The gospel is that Jesus died for sinners, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4). His death was the sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God (1 John 2:2). This is the only way to be saved; this is why Jesus had to die. Whether he died on a cross or torture stake is of minor importance.

Some Final Thoughts.

The Watchtower says, that the torture stake (cross) “should be viewed with revulsion,” WT, May 15, 1995, p 20. It should be a “hated thing,” (WT, Feb. 15, 1960, p 127) “an abominable thing.” (WT, Nov. 1, 1950, p 427). The WT asks, “if a loved one was killed with a gun, would you wear a gun on a chain around your neck?”

Paul Says, "For there are many, I used to mention them often but now I mention them also with weeping, who are walking as the enemies of the torture stake (cross) of the Christ, and their finish is destruction" . . . (Philippians 3:18-19). NWT

“For the speech about the torture state (cross) is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is God’s power.” I Corinthians 1:18. NWT

“Never may it occur that I should boast, except in the torture stake (cross) of our Lord Jesus Christ" . . . “ Galatians 6:14 NWT

Did Jesus die on a Cross or Torture Stake? Part 1

2009-04-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

What the WT teaches. The WT’s own official web site states, “Jesus did not die on a cross. He died on a pole, or a stake. The Greek word translated "cross" in many Bibles meant just one piece of timber. The symbol of the cross comes from ancient false religions. The cross was not used or worshiped by the early Christians.” The WT shows, in their drawings of the crucifixion, that Christ died on a single pole with His hands above his head held by a single nail.

What is interesting is that until the late 1920’s, Watchtower publications referred to Christ’s death on a cross and showed drawings with Christ on a cross. (See the WT publication “Creation,” pg. 209 in early editions, pg. 265 in later editions.) However, now the WT teaches that Jesus died on a torture stake and not a cross.

What the Bible teaches. John 20:25, Thomas said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails. . .” indicating that there was not a single nail in Jesus’ hands (as the WT shows) but two or more nails as would be needed if a cross was used. For the WT drawings to be Biblically correct, they would need to show two or more nails in Jesus’ hands.

The WT is quick to point to the story of the Magi (wise men) who came to worship the newborn Jesus. They correctly point out that the Bible simply states ‘Magi’ or ‘wise men’ and does not specify a number (three Magi are usually shown because three gifts were given.) They like to tell people they meet in their door-to-door work that “Christendom” has lied to them in showing three Magi and that only the WT is correct in their understanding of the number of Magi. So in their publications they usually show just two Magi. But concerning Christ’s crucifixion, the WT ignores the fact that the Bible specifically says ‘nails.’ When the WT puts just one nail in Jesus’ hands, they are going against the clear teaching of the Bible.

Matt. 27:37 states, “Above His head they placed the written charge against Him.” If Jesus had been nailed to the WT torture stake, with his hands above his head, then the Matthew verse would have probably said, “above His hands they placed the written charge against Him.” But since Matthew said, “above his head,” it would be reasonable to assume that Jesus’ hands were elsewhere—possibly extended out as would be required for crucifixion on a cross.

John 19:17, “And he bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” John states that Jesus was caring His own cross. Remember, Jesus had just been scourged and could not have possibly carried the massive beam shown in the WT drawings. But He could have carried a crosspiece that He would be nailed to and then lifted up to a beam that was permanently placed in the ground.

Part 2 will explore the question, “Why did Jesus have to die?”

Was Charles Taze Russell the founder of the JW's? Part 2

2009-04-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

During Russell’s tenure as President of the WTBTS these other gems were published for public consumption.

1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874," (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 4, p. 621). Oops, didn’t happen. Present day JW’s said this was going to happen in 1914. When that didn’t occur, they said it did happen only it was an invisible return.

1892 "The date of the close of that 'battle' is definitely marked in Scripture as October, 1914. It is already in progress, its beginning dating from October 1874." Watchtower Reprints, 1/15/1892, p 1355. Historians missed this one—The battle of Armegeddon starting in 1874 and ending in 1914.

1899 "...the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty' (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced," (The Time Is at Hand, 1908 edition, p. 101). Unless earth’s’ rulers were completely overthrown in 1914, Russell missed this one, Big Time.

Lastly, here is the quotation of Pastor Russell that supposedly was taken out of context.

“Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the 'Scripture Studies' with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (“Zion’s Watchtower”—later renamed “The Watchtower,” Sep. 15, 1910, p. 298.)

I summarized the article by saying, “If you read nothing but the WT ‘Studies’ you will be in the ‘light’ (truth). If you read only the Bible, you will be in darkness (error).”

What does the WTBTS have to say about the subject, “reading exclusively the Bible and only the Bible as opposed to reading WT publications and only WT publications?”

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." WT, August 15, 1981.

Russell’s own WTBTS (which he started in 1879) echoes Russell’s conclusions, “read the Bible and only the Bible and you will be in darkness (believing in apostate doctrines.)”

Taken out of context? Both the WTBTS and I don’t think so!

Was Charles Taze Russell the founder of the JW's? Part 1

2009-03-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

I received the following comment and instead of putting it under the comment section for that blog I decided to turn it into another blog.

The comment:

“Russell was not the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, nor did he believe in such an organization, nor did he believe in the teachings of that organization. The quote from Russell is out of context. Read some more quotes from Russell concerning the Bible as related to his writings.”

My response:

Russell not the founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses? Judge for yourself. The history of the Jehovah’s Witnesses began with the forming of a group for Bible study in Pittsburgh, (some sources say Allegheny), Pennsylvania by a man, Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) in the early 1870’s. This same man, Charles Taze Russell, formed the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in 1879, which is the legal instrument of the present day Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 1909, he moved the Societies headquarters to Brooklyn, New York—the present day headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

What has changed since the days of Russell? (1) Russell died in 1916. In January of 1917 a new president was elected, Joseph Rutherford. Seven months after his selection 4,000 members of Russell’s group (about 20%), then known as Bible Students or International Bible Students and unhappy with Rutherford as President, split off and are now known under various names. Four such groups split off between 1917 and 1919 with many more occurring between 1919 and the present. It should be noted that two groups (New Covenant Bible Students, and New Covenant Believers) split during Russell’s presidency, unhappy with some of his doctrines.

(2) Russell’s group, the International Bible Students, had their name formally changed by Rutherford in 1931 to Jehovah’s Witnesses.

(3) JW’s are infamous for their many doctrinal changes that have occurred since 1917. I am researching a blog, working title “New Light or No Light,” that will look at the problems the WT has with doctrinal “flip-flops” (for instance: the WT teaches doctrine A, changes to doctrine B, and then changes back to A.)

One tradition that Russell started that has been carried on with great gusto by the WT has been that of predicting future events that do not come to pass.

In 1876, Russell wrote an article that appeared in the October, 1876 issue of the Bible Examiner under the title, “Gentile Times: When do they End?” On page 27 he was writing about Luke 21:24,

[23] Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people;

[24] and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

[25]There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves.

He said that the “Seven Times” will end in AD 1914. However, the anticipated Kingdom of Jehovah did not come. Big surprise! None, zero, zip, nada of the events concerning Jerusalem, mentioned in Luke 21:24 occurred in the predicted year, 1914. The Society then concluded that 1914 was not the end of the “Seven Times” but was to be a turning point in human history. Two years later, Russell died. (Maybe the dejection and depression that God was actually not using him took its toll.)

In Part 2, I will look at some other failed prophecies of Russell plus did I quote him out of context?

Presto Change-O! Part 3

2009-03-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

John 14:14 – “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” New American Standard

Here Jesus is instructing his disciples to direct their prayers to Him and in His name. The clear teaching is that Jesus can be prayed to and we can ask Him to answer our prayers. In the OT the phrase, “call upon the name of the Lord,” is used time and again and means that we can worship, adore, and pray to God. Psalm 116:4 says, “Then I called upon the name of the LORD: ‘O LORD, I beseech Thee, save my life!’” Now look at I Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:” Paul was well versed in Jewish doctrine and knew the significance of Psalm 116:4 and yet he applied that phrase to Jesus. It is clear—prayer can be directed to Jesus.

John 14:14 is a stinging rebuke of WT doctrine that holds that Jesus is a created being and thus not worthy to accept prayer.

The WT solution to this problem is simple—Presto Change-O!

John 14:14 “If you ask anything in my name I will do it.” NWT

The WT has left out one little word – “Me.” Why? Because with the change, it looks like Jesus is just telling His disciples to ask in His name—not to ask Him in His name. The changed verse now neatly fits into WT doctrine. However, John 14:14 in the WT’s own “Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures” states, on the Greek side, “if ever anything you should ask me in the name of me this I shall do.”

Does the WT conform their doctrine to the Bible or change the Bible to conform to their doctrine?

What is wrong with studying the Bible the Watchtower way? Part 3

2009-03-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

From Part 2 it was shown that the WT believes that reading the Bible all by itself causes you to be in darkness. How can you be “in the light” according to the WT?

“the Bible is an organizational book . . . For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization (WTBTS) in mind.” WT, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587

“Jehovah caused the Bible to be written in such a way that you need his human channel (WTBTS) to understand it.” WT, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 17

The WT is saying that a JW cannot understand anything in the Bible without the WT telling him/her what it means. This seems to be exactly what Mr. Russell said in my quote of him in Part 2. The WT says that only the WT can properly interpret the Bible. It is saying that the Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, cannot give a Christian a proper understanding of the Bible even though it is Jesus who opens the mind to understand Scripture (Luke24:45). This effectively prevents the JW from thinking and interpreting the Bible for himself apart from the WT organization's guidance.

Another WT quote:

"Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587.

The WT restricts its followers from looking at the Bible by itself without the guidance of the organization. This is not freedom to think for oneself and it is a sure way for the WT to keep the JW’s intellectually in line with WT teachings.
Another interesting WT quote: "The Vatican belittles Bible study by claiming it is the only organization authorized and qualified to interpret the Bible." The Watchtower, 7/1/1943, p. 201.

The funny thing is—that is exactly what the WT does. It claims to be the only source of true spiritual knowledge.

How should the Bible be studied?

I’ve blogged about the kind of Bible study a JW or an X-JW needs and you can read about it here--"I’ve left the JW’s. Where do I go? Part 2. The Answer! "

What is wrong with studying the Bible the Watchtower way? Part 2

2009-02-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

The WTBTS says that you don’t even need your Bible for a WT type of study. But they have the potential convert use their Bible to give them the false idea that they are indeed studying the Bible—when in fact they are just studying a WT publication. The WT does not want you to study the Bible alone, for if you do, you will not believe their doctrines—you will believe the doctrines of the Bible. Check out this quote:

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." “The Watchtower,” August 15, 1981.

This WT quote says anyone who wants to study the Bible, by themselves or in a small group at home, is like Satan and will believe in apostate doctrine. And what are the apostate doctrines spoken of in the above quote? Would they happen to be the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the physical resurrection of Christ, all things the WT organization denies. So, if you read the Bible by itself, reading it for what it says, without the WT guiding you, you will adopt these doctrines.

The following quote speaks for itself, “Heavy research is not necessary. The Watch Tower has done it for you. The most beneficial study you can do is to read The Watchtower or Awake! or a new book by the organization.” WT, June 1, 1967, p. 338

The WT method for studying the Bible all stems from the founder of the WTBTS, their first president, Charles Taze Russell. He wrote a series called “Studies in Scriptures.” About these “Studies” the Watchtower states;

“Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the 'Scripture Studies' with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (“Zion’s Watchtower”—later renamed “The Watchtower,” Sep. 15, 1910, p. 298.)

Let me summarize this quote: Read ONLY the WT’s books and you will have the truth. Read ONLY the Bible and you will be in error. Obadiah 1:3 comes to mine, "The arrogance of your heart has deceived you.”

What is wrong with studying the Bible the Watchtower way? Part 3 will look at how the WT says one can be “in the light” when studying the Bible.

What is wrong with studying the Bible the WT way? Part 1

2009-02-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

The short answer—You learn Watchtower doctrine not Biblical doctrine.

I received the above question from a young lady who was raised in a Witness home and had “studied the Bible” the WT way her whole life. I wrote back:

In a WT “Bible Study,” you will sit down with a WT book that you will read from cover to cover. Your Bible will be used as a reference book—to look up a verse now and then or maybe just half a verse. As you progress through the WT book, page by page, the WT will tell you what the Bible teaches and then will direct you to read a verse that ‘proves’ what they have just told you. At the bottom of each page are some questions that you answer by re-reading the paragraphs. After you have finished with the WT book, you are very familiar with WT doctrine but not Bible doctrine.

The Books of the Bible, of both the Old and New Testament, were originally written as continuous text, without chapters and verses. The early Christians eventually assigned the text to chapters and verses, to make referencing easier. The Jews found this innovation useful and followed suit in the Hebrew Bible. To properly understand the Bible, one needs to read it as it was written—as continuous text—not broken up into verses and parts of verses. The WT kind of study prevents one from reading the verse in its context. Why is context so important?

First, because a text (verse) taken out of context is a pretext to teach anything—no matter how un-Biblical. I remember this absurd example, but it shows the importance of reading and knowing the context of any Bible verse. If you read part of Matthew 27:5, Luke 10:37 and John 13:27 you get, “Judas hung himself--go and do likewise--whatever you do, do it quickly.” Is that what those verses teach? How would you prove otherwise? Simple. Read each book where each verse is found.

Second, the context of a verse determines its meaning. As an example, what does the word “trunk” mean?—the rear of a car, the long nose of an elephant, a big container for old clothes or part of a tree. The correct meaning of “trunk” will only be known when you know the words around it, for the words around “trunk” give “trunk” its correct meaning. A verse in the Bible is the same. If you pull a single verse out of its context, you will likely not understand its correct meaning. A verse is given meaning only by the verses around it.

What is wrong with studying the Bible the Watchtower way? Part 2--will cover why the WT does not want a potential convert to study only the Bible.

Presto Change-O! Part 2

2009-02-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

Colossians 1:16-17 - “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

The Greek word used for “all things” in Colossians is exactly the same Greek word used in Heb. 3:4 (For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of all things,”) and John 1:3 (Through Him (Jesus) all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.) All these verses are clear proof that Jesus created all things and is, therefore, God.

WT doctrine holds that Jesus did not create all things. The WT says that Jehovah created Jesus and then gave Jesus the “blue prints” to create all other things.

What is the WT to do with Colossians, where scripture tells us—not once or twice but four times—that Jesus created all things?

Simple—Presto Change-O! In Colossians, the WT adds the word “other” four times before the word “things” and so the changed verse reads,

Colossians 1:16-17 “because by means of him all (other) things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, . . . All (other) things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all (other) things and by means of him all (other) things were made to exist.” The New World Translation

With the word “other” added, the verses neatly go along with the WT teaching that Jesus made all things other than himself. However, in the original Greek, the word “other” is not there. Check it out, on the Greek side, in the WT’s own “Kingdom Interlinear Translation.”

Question: Does the WT conform their doctrine to the Bible or change the Bible to conform to their doctrine?

One last verse to confirm that the WT’s doctrine—that Jehovah created Jesus, then Jesus (the master workman) created everything else with “blue prints” from Jehovah—violates scripture.

Isaiah 44:24 reads, “. . . I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And spreading out the earth all alone.” Isaiah is saying quite clearly that Jehovah God created everything, “all alone,” “by Myself.” Apparently the WT wasn’t listening. The WT’s version of creation—the big God, Jehovah and the little god, Jesus working together to form creation—does not even get off the ground because of Isaiah 44:24.

Does the WT follow the teachings of CT Russell on Bible Studies? Part 2

2009-01-14T19:26:00.000-08:00

I ended Part 1 with this question for the JW I was writing to: “The WT says that if reading the Bible all by itself causes you to be in ‘darkness’ (error), then how can you be in the ‘light’ (truth)?”

The WT answer—“read Watchtower publications.” Check out the following quotes:

“the Bible is an organizational book . . . For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization (WTBTS) in mind.” WT, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587

“Jehovah caused the Bible to be written in such a way that you need his human channel (WTBTS) to understand it.” WT, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 17

“An individual must have The Watchtower to understand the Bible.” 1983 Yearbook, p. 21

The WT is saying that a JW cannot understand anything in the Bible without the WT telling him what it means. This seems to be exactly what Mr. Russell said in my original quote of him. The WT says that only the WT can properly interpret the Bible. It is saying that the Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, cannot give a Christian a proper understanding of the Bible even though it is Jesus who opens the mind to understand Scripture (Luke 24:45). This effectively prevents the JW from thinking and interpreting the Bible for himself apart from the WT organization's guidance.

Another WT quote:

"Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." "The Watchtower," Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587.

The WT restricts its followers from looking at the Bible by itself without the guidance of the organization. This is not freedom to think for oneself and it is a sure way for the WT to keep the JW’s intellectually in line with WT teachings.

What if a JW finds something in a WT publication that he/she feels goes against the Bible? Not a problem for the WT. They have it covered with:

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

One of the WT’s favorite targets for criticism is the Catholic Church. They wag their head at the Catholics and say, “The Vatican belittles Bible study by claiming it is the only organization authorized and qualified to interpret the Bible." WT, 7/1/1943, p. 201.

The funny thing is, that is exactly what the WT does. It claims to be the only source of true spiritual knowledge.

When Mr. Russell started the WT religion, his followers were knows as International Bible Students. Now they are Jehovah’s Witnesses. I can see why they changed their name. This last quote would not qualify them as ‘Bible Students.’

“Heavy research is not necessary. The Watch Tower has done it for you. The most beneficial study you can do is to read The Watchtower or Awake! or a new book by the organization.” WT, June 1, 1967, p. 338

The JW wrote back one more time and said, “I would kindly request that you not contact me again.”

We now know what C.T. Russell thinks about studying the Bible. What does the Bible say about studying the Bible?

I John 2:27, “I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

John 14:26, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Does the WT follow the teachings of CT Russell on Bible Studies? Part 1

2009-01-10T21:46:00.000-08:00

The short answer—Absolutely!

I recently corresponded with a JW on the topic, “Do JW’s study the Bible or do they study WT publications?”

Among other things, I sent him the following quote from Charles Taze Russell, the first president and founder of the JW’s. Mr. Russell wrote a series of books called, ‘Studies in Scriptures.’ About these “Studies” the WT states:

“Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the 'Scripture Studies' with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (“Zion’s Watchtower”—later renamed “The Watchtower,” Sep. 15, 1910, p. 298.)

To summarize the above: If you read nothing but the WT ‘Studies’ you will be in the ‘light’ (truth). If you read only the Bible, you will be in 'darkness' (error).

The JW wrote:

“About Mr. Russell’s reference works; I personally don’t know any Witness of Jehovah God who has studied any of his works. Have not even seen the reference work you make reference to. So any debate on that is dead.”

I wrote back:

You may not have nor know anybody who has read Mr. Russell’s works but it seems the WTBTS has read his works or if they haven’t they hold the same exact views. For example, the quote I sent you shows that Mr. Russell believes if you read the Bible by itself you will be in darkness. However, if you read his “Scripture Studies” (a WT publication) you will have the truth. What does the WT say?

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." WT, August 15, 1981.

The above quote is saying you cannot read the Bible by itself or you will be in darkness. Sounds exactly like Mr. Russell.

In addition, the above WT quote is saying if you read the Bible, either alone or in a small group at home, then you are like Satan. Is this freedom of thought? Is this how Christ works in the church?

Also, what are the apostate doctrines spoken of in the above quote? Would that be the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the physical resurrection of Christ, all things the WT organization denies. So, if you read the Bible by itself, reading it for what it says, without the WT guiding you, you will adopt these doctrines. Interesting.

If reading the Bible all by itself causes you to be in darkness, how can you be in the ‘light’ according to the WT?

The answer to this will be in; "Does the WT follow the teachings of CT Russell on Bible Studies? Part 2"

Presto Change-O! Part 1

2009-01-01T11:15:00.000-08:00

John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” New American Standard

But the WT teaches that Jesus was created. He had a beginning. No way can he be God! What is the WT to do with John 1:1? Presto Change-O!

“In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” The New World Translation (See my blog, “Is the JW Bible (The New World Translation) Reliable?”)

What is the WT justification for this change? The WT states that in John 1:1 in the original Greek (look for this in the WT’s “Kingdom Interlinear Translation”) it says, “In beginning was the Word, and the Word was toward the God and god was the Word.” The WT says “the God” refers to the one true God and “god” by itself, without the word “the” in front of it, means “the Word was godlike, divine.” (“Reasoning from the Scriptures,” pg. 212.) Thus the WT says it is justified in translating John 1:1, “and the Word was a god.”

However, look further (in the KIT) to John 1:6, 12, 13, 18. All these verses (on the Greek side) have only the word “god” by itself, without “the” in front of it but in each case the WT has translated the word “god” as being “the God”--the one true God--as you can see by looking at the right side of the page (the NWT side) where they have God, capital “G.” In John 1, God without ‘the’ in front of it occurs five times and four times it is translated, by the WT, as God, and once as ‘a god’ at John 1:1. Why the one exception? Does the WT conform their doctrine to the Bible or change the Bible to conform to their doctrine?

In addition, the Bible is quite clear that there is only 1 true God--all other gods are false Gods (see Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:5, 6, 21). Since the WT states that Jesus is not the true God but “a god” then this Jesus--this “a god”--must be a false God OR if he is not a false god then the WT would be teaching polytheism.

To further justify their John 1:1 translation, the WT points to Isaiah 9:6, "For a child (Jesus) will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace," (NAS) The WT says that it is clear that Jesus is only “a Mighty God,” not “Almighty.”

However, the WT fails to mention that in Isaiah 10:20-21 (NWT) “Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel,” is called “Mighty God.” Also, Jeremiah 32:18 reads, “ . . . the [true] God, the great One, the mighty One, Jehovah of armies being his name.” Why this over sight on the part of the WT? Because pointing out these verses would contradict their point about Isaiah 9:6.

In addition, if you take their statement that “the God” refers to the “One True God” and apply that to John 20:28 (KIT) (see my blog on “Twisted Scripture and other Shenanigans Part 2,”) where Thomas says to the risen Lord, after Thomas has put his fingers in Jesus’ side and seen the nail prints in Jesus’ hands, “the Lord of me and the God of Me,” (Greek Side of the KIT). You have, in effect, Thomas saying to Jesus, you are “the Lord of me and the ‘one true’ God of me.”

Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans-Part 2

2008-12-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

John 20:28, “Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (New American Standard)

“Answered Thomas and he said to Him, ‘The Lord of me and the God of me!’” (the Greek side of "The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures," a publication of the WT.)

The implication of this scripture is not lost on the WT. It shows that Thomas, one of the apostles, is calling Jesus his God. Jews of that day were staunchly monotheistic and here Thomas was calling Jesus his God—the God of the Jews who was Jehovah of the Old Testament.

The WT spin-doctors jumped on this verse and came up with the following:

Explanation #1. When Thomas said, “My Lord,” he was looking at Jesus but when he said, “My God, “ he was looking up to heaven and addressing the Father. ("Jehovah's Witnesses," by Anthony Hoekema, pg. 139)

However, this argument falls flat since the first part of the verse—“Thomas answered and said to Him,” shows clearly that Thomas was talking directly to Jesus and only Jesus.

Explanation #2. When Thomas saw the risen Lord, he was so startled that he exclaimed, “My Lord and My God.” (The WT, October 1, 1962, page 597, and "Reasoning from the Scriptures," page 213.)

However, if Thomas was merely startled and according to the WT wrongly calling Jesus his God, then Jesus would not allow such blasphemy to occur without rebuking Thomas. But in John 20:29 not only does Jesus not rebuke Thomas but he commends him, “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Explanation #3. If Thomas had meant that Jesus was the only true God, Jesus would certainly have reproved him. Since Jesus did not reprove him, Thomas could not have meant this. “What then did Thomas mean when he said to Jesus, “My God?” He meant what the Apostle John meant: that Jesus was the Son of God. John did not say that Jesus was God the Son; he only said that Jesus was the Son of God.” ("The Word—Who is He? According to John," A WT booklet)

However, remember that the Jews of Jesus’ day believed in only one true God. All others were false gods. Therefore, when Thomas said, “my Lord and my God,” he was in effect saying, “my true Lord and my true God.” The WT would have you believe that he was saying, “my false Lord and my false God.”

Since Thomas could not be saying “my false God,” but was saying, “my true God,” it is very telling that Jesus did not rebuke him but said all who believed likewise were blessed.

Explanation #4. "...Thomas said, "my" God and not "the" God." WT, June 1, 1988, page 19.

However, the WT is trying to hide this most damaging of facts, that Thomas referred to Jesus as "ho theos", "the God." Check out the Greek side of the KIT--it is there for all to see. John recorded it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The WT cannot accept Thomas' words and at the same time uphold their Arian view of the nature of Christ (see my Blog “How does the Arian Heresy Relate to the JW’s View of Jesus.”) The WT does not accept the straightforward reading of John 20:28 because it refutes a core WT doctrine - that Jesus Christ is not God. The WT says that Thomas simply could not have meant what he so plainly stated. And once again, WT doctrine wins out over the plain truth of scripture.

One last reading of John 20:28 from the WT’s own KIT - Greek Side – which, by God’s grace, is actually correct.

“Answered Thomas and he said to Him, ‘The Lord of me and the God of me!’”

I have left the JW's. Where do I go? Part 2-The Answer!

2008-12-15T21:25:00.000-08:00

At the end of Part 1, I said that the X-JW needs a heavy dose of the Bible because the Bible is truth, John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” And why is knowing Biblical truth so important? Because as you learn and meditate on Biblical truth, the Holy Spirit will use that knowledge to (1) bring you to salvation. In Romans 10:6-17, Paul directs his hearers to the Word of God as the means whereby Jesus comes and creates faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and that same word will (2) change you little by little, into the likeness of Christ. Romans 12:1-2: ”Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

The X-JW needs to read and study the Bible about Jesus Christ, His teachings and how the apostles instructed the early believers to follow Christ. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’” John 14:6.

The X-JW is used to having the WT tell him what to believe and how to study. For years he has heard:

“Heavy research is not necessary. The Watch Tower has done it for you. The most beneficial study you can do is to read The Watchtower or Awake! or a new book by the organization.” WT, June 1, 1967, p. 338

But what does the Bible teach?

“But without our faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

The Greek word for “seek” means to seek out, search for, investigate, scrutinize, to seek out for one's self. Knowing the meaning of the word shows why translators recorded the meaning as not just “seek out” but to “earnestly” or “diligently seek out.”

The English word “earnestly” means seriously and industriously, the word “diligently” means meticulously and thoroughly.

Remember the word also means “to seek out for one’s self.” This serious, meticulous, and thorough study is one that we undertake for ourselves. This was impossible as a JW. Remember the quote from above. It is so important—here it is again.

“Heavy research is not necessary. The Watch Tower has done it for you. The most beneficial study you can do is to read The Watchtower or Awake! or a new book by the organization.” WT, June 1, 1967, p. 338

Combine that quote with another gem from the WT:

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

The WT says if you are looking for truth, we will tell you what is true and don’t question what we tell you.

The Bible says you must seek him for yourself—you must seek him diligently, industriously, meticulously and thoroughly. (Heb. 11:6)

If you are looking for truth, then you are looking for Jesus. For Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) The WT has hijacked the term “the Truth” and given it to themselves. But the Bible says Jesus is the Truth. The WT says that you must be a JW to find salvation but the Bible tells us, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name (Jesus Christ the Nazarene) under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12)

How can you find out “the truth?” You must earnestly, seriously, industriously and personally seek the truth found in God’s book to man, the Holy Bible.

I've left the JW's. Where do I go? Part 1--Why JW's ask the question?

2008-12-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

Along with the above question an X-JW will usually also ask, “If the WT does not have the truth, who does?” These questions are normal for anyone to ask who suddenly finds themselves free from an organization that has tightly controlled their lives for years. The WT has drilled it into the heads of every JW that only the WTBTS is God’s channel for dispensing truth, the only organization on the narrow path, their only chance for eternal life. In addition, the WT has told each and every JW that they cannot understand even a single verse in the Bible without the WT explaining what it all means. Consider:

“the Bible is an organizational book . . . For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization (WTBTS) in mind.” WT, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587

“He wants his earthly servants united, and so he has made understanding the Bible today dependent upon associating with his organization (WTBTS).” WT, Nov. 1, 1967, p. 668

“Jehovah caused the Bible to be written in such a way that you need his human channel (WTBTS) to understand it.” WT, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 17

“An individual must have The Watchtower to understand the Bible.” 1983 Yearbook, p. 21

So the typical X-JW has been spoon feed “WT Truth” in the guise of Biblical Truth for years (see my blog on “Why do you see JW’s studying their WT magazines & rarely the Bible”) and is now on their own. They are looking for someone or some organization to take the place of the WT and tell them what is “truth.” What they don’t realize is that “truth” is not found in any human organization, it is found in the Bible--well not the WT Bible (see my blog on “Is the JW Bible (The New World Translation) reliable?”). The Bible speaks about truth and where to find it.

However, studying the Bible and only the Bible is often a frightening prospect for a JW. Consider:

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." WT, August 15, 1981.

So an X-JW believes that if he studies the Bible on his own, he is like Satan and the study will lead him into apostate doctrines.

How can this mind set be overcome? Can the wisdom of men dispel this deception? Can clever arguments blot out years of WT indoctrination? The X-JW needs a heavy dose of ‘Biblical truth’ and the best way, in fact a Biblical approved way, is through self-study and asking God’s Spirit to speak to his spirit about what is ‘truth.’

Part 2 will address a Bible study according to the Bible.

How does someone become a JW? Part 2

2008-12-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

In a WT “Bible Study,” you will sit down with a JW and they will select a WT book that you will read from cover to cover. Your Bible will be used as a reference book—to look up a verse now and then or maybe just half a verse. As you progress through the WT book page by page, the WT will tell you what the Bible teaches and then will direct you to read a verse that ‘proves’ what they have just told you. At the bottom of each page are some questions, that you answer by re-reading the paragraphs. How convenient. What they will not allow you or any JW to do is to read the verse in its context—to find out what it really means.

Why is context so important?

First, because a text (verse) taken out of context is a pretext to teach anything—no matter how un-Biblical. I remember this absurd example, but it shows the importance of reading and knowing the context of any Bible verse. If you read part of Matthew 27:5, Luke 10:37 and John 13:27 you get, “Judas hung himself--go and do likewise--whatever you do, do it quickly.” Is that what those verses teach? How would you prove otherwise? Simple. Read the entire chapter where each verse is found.

Second, the context of a verse determines its meaning. As an example, what does the word “trunk” mean?--the rear of a car, the long nose of an elephant, a big container for old clothes or part of a tree. The correct meaning of “trunk” will only be known when you know the words around it, for the words around “trunk” give “trunk” its correct meaning. A verse in the Bible is the same. If you pull a verse out of its context, you will likely not understand its correct meaning. A verse is given meaning only by the verses around it.

Remember, the WTBTS says that you don’t even need your Bible for this kind of study. But I think they have the potential convert use their Bible to give them the false idea that they are indeed studying the Bible—when in fact they are just studying a WT publication. The WT does not want you to study the Bible alone, for if you do, you will not believe their doctrines—you will believe the doctrines of the Bible.

So a person sincerely seeking to do God’s will is unknowingly sidetracked into studying WT doctrine and accepting it as Biblical truth. They soon are discouraged from having non-JW friends and are required to accept and believe what is taught by the WTBTS and are discouraged from independent thinking. Consider:

"We should eat and digest and assimilate what is set before us, without shying away from parts of the food because it may not suit the fancy of our mental taste...We should meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization (WTBTS) and wait for further clarification…" “The Watchtower,” February 1, 1952, pp. 79-80.

This new JW in turn goes door-to-door to have other sincere people seeking God’s will enter into a “Bible” study with them. And so it goes. The vast majority of JW’s are deceived. They were looking to do God’s will, to study and learn what the Bible has to teach but they became experts in WT doctrine and experts in what the WT requires (not the Bible) for salvation.

Back in John 6:29, Jesus answered the crowd, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” Since the JW’s have a different Jesus (see my blog on “What is the JW view of Jesus”), different from the one in scripture, they are not doing the works that God requires. And thus sadly, they did not find the answer to the question they had before they became Witnesses.

How does someone become a JW? Part 1

2008-12-03T19:55:00.000-08:00

The short answer is—someone becomes an expert in WT doctrine and thinks it is what the Bible teaches. This is what happened to my wife and to many other Witnesses that I know.

If you could rewind the life of a typical JW and take them back to before they were a Witness, they would probably say that they were looking to answer the question that the crowd asked of Jesus in John 6:28, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" They were a sincere person looking to do the will of God. Unfortunately, a JW crossed their path and they entered into a Witness “Bible” study. However, they ended up not studying the Bible but studying a WT book and using the Bible as a reference book. The WTBTS doesn’t believe that you even need to use the Bible in such a study. You only need to use their materials—skip the Bible—and you will have the truth. Consider this quote from “The Watchtower Magazine,” August 15, 1981:

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..."

In other words, if you read the Bible alone, you will not arrive at Watchtower doctrines. This is an amazing admission by the Watchtower organization. It is clear; Jehovah's Witnesses do not get their teachings from the Bible, but from Watchtower literature.

This idea about not needing the Bible in a Bible study goes back to the WTBTS’s first president Charles Taze Russell who wrote a series called “Studies in Scriptures.” About these “Studies” the Watchtower states, “Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the 'Scripture Studies' with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (Zion’s Watchtower—later renamed The Watchtower, Sep 15, 1910, p. 298.)

What arrogance! "The arrogance of your heart has decieved you . . ." Obadiah 1:3. The WT says that you cannot know the divine plan without their “Studies in Scriptures”—and they say if you study their ‘Scripture Studies’ and not ONE page of the Bible, you will have the truth, but if you read the BIBLE ALONE you will be in darkness (error).

How does someone become a JW? Part 2 will look at how a typical JW “Bible” study is conducted and why it leads to ‘Watchtower truth’ and not Biblical truth.

Is the JW Bible (The New World Translation) Reliable?

2008-11-26T13:05:00.000-08:00

This question reminded me of a conversation I had with a JW elder. He told me that the Billy Graham Ministries approved of the “New World Translation.” This was a common understanding among JW’s at that time (1980) and was passed along without checking. I wrote to Billy Graham and his Ministry said that, "the NWT was not an honest translation and that many of the WT doctrines were put into the NWT without any support from the original languages."

The Bible was written in the languages of ancient Palestine—Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Therefore, anyone translating the Bible needs to be well versed in those languages. Who were the translators of the NWT? The WT does not reveal the names of these people and points to the New American Standard as a translation that also does not reveal its translators. However, the NAS will send the names of the translators to anyone who asks. The WT refuses to release the names of its translation committee. They claim this is in order that all credit for the work will go to God. However, it is easy to see that by shielding the translators they cannot have their credentials checked.

Well, who did translate the NWT? Raymond V. Franz, a former member of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and nephew of the organization’s late president Fred Franz, spent nine years as a member of its top-secret Governing Body. In his book, “Crisis of Conscience,” Ray names those on the translation committee: George Gangas, Albert Schroeder, Fredrick Franz and Nathan Knorr. Fredrick Franz was self-taught in Hebrew and studied Greek for two years at the University of Cincinnati. None of the other members had any ancient language training. Fred Franz, when asked in a Scotland courtroom if he could translate Genesis 2:4 into Hebrew, replied that he could not. The truth is that Franz was unable to translate Hebrew or Greek. With an unqualified translating committee, the NWT ended up twisting Scripture to make it fit the Society's doctrine. It is not a reliable, unbiased translation. For examples of “Scriptures Twisted by the JW’s” see my blogs on "Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans," and "Presto Change-O."

What do true Bible scholars think of the NWT?

Dr. Bruce M. Metzger, professor of New Testament at Princeton University, calls the NWT "a frightful mistranslation," "Erroneous" and "pernicious" "reprehensible," "If the Jehovah's Witnesses take this translation seriously, they are polytheists."

Dr. William Barclay, a leading Greek scholar, said, "it is abundantly clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually dishonest."

British scholar H.H. Rowley stated, "From beginning to end this volume is a shining example of how the Bible should not be translated."

"Well, as a backdrop, I was disturbed because they (Watchtower) had misquoted me in support of their translation." (These words were excerpted from the tape, "Martin and Julius Mantey on The New World Translation"; Mantey is quoted on pages 1158-1159 of the Kingdom interlinear Translation)

Dr. Julius Mantey, author of “A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament,” calls the NWT "a shocking mistranslation." "Obsolete and incorrect." "It is neither scholarly nor reasonable to translate John 1:1 'The Word was a god.'"

"I have never read any New Testament so badly translated as The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of The Greek Scriptures.... it is a distortion of the New Testament. The translators used what J.B. Rotherham had translated in 1893, in modern speech, and changed the readings in scores of passages to state what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and teach. That is a distortion not a translation." (Julius Mantey, Depth Exploration in The New Testament (N.Y.: Vantage Pres, 1980), pp.136-137)

The translators of the NWT are "diabolical deceivers." (Julius Mantey in discussion with Walter Martin).

Why do you see JW's studying their WT magazines & rarely the Bible?

2008-11-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

The WT emphasizes that studying their material is superior to studying the Bible. The founder and first President, Charles Taze Russell wrote a series called “Studies in Scriptures.” About these “Studies” the Watchtower states,

“Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the 'Scripture Studies' aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the 'Scripture Studies' with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." (Zion’s Watchtower—later renamed The Watchtower Sep. 15, 1910, p. 298.)

To summarize the above: If you read nothing but the WT 'Studies' you will be in the 'light' (truth). If you read only the Bible , you will be in 'darkness' (error).

According to the WT, a JW would be better off spiritually to lay the Bible aside and read WT materials. Check out the following WT quotes. They will show you why you see Witnesses reading the WT and Awake magazines and rarely the Bible.

“With the Bible alone many parts can be seen, but with the aid of the WT publications a much more complete picture of Jehovah’s purposes comes into view.” WT, March 15, 1954, p. 164

“God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life giving truths by itself. It is through his organization (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) God provides this light.” WT, May 1, 1957, p. 274

“The world is full of Bibles . . . Why then do the people not know which way to go? Because they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother (WTBTS), which is light.” WT, May 1, 1957, p. 274

“He wants his earthly servants united, and so he has made understanding the Bible today dependent upon associating with his organization (WTBTS).” WT, Nov. 1, 1967, p. 668

“It is through the columns of The Watchtower that Jehovah provides direction and constant Scriptural counsel to his people . . . “ WT, May 1, 1964, p. 277

“Heavy research is not necessary. The Watch Tower has done it for you. The most beneficial study you can do is to read The Watchtower or Awake! or a new book by the organization.” WT, June 1, 1967, p. 338

“the Bible is an organizational book . . . For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization (WTBTS) in mind.” WT, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587

“Jehovah caused the Bible to be written in such a way that you need his human channel (WTBTS) to understand it.” WT, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 17

“An individual must have The Watchtower to understand the Bible.” 1983 Yearbook, p. 21

“Avoid independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization (WTBTS).” WT, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.

Twisted Scriptures and other Shenanigans! Part 1

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Colossians 1:15 - "And He is the image of the invisidble God, the first-born of all creation." New American Standard

The JW’s teach that Jesus is a created being and not equal to the Father and therefore, cannot be eternal. The WT in the "Aid to Bible Understanding" book states the following about Jesus, “Thus the scriptures identify the Word (this is Jesus before he was made flesh, the prehuman state) as God’s first creation, his firstborn Son. This son was actually a creation of God.” (p. 918). To back their claim that Jesus was created, the WT turns to Col. 1:15, “And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.” The WT equates “firstborn” to mean “first created.” What the WT doesn’t tell you is that there is a Greek word for “first created” that the apostle Paul could have used if he wanted to say that Jesus was “first created,” but since he did not, we need to ask ourselves what did Paul mean by using “firstborn.”

The Bible is best used to define its own words. In Psalm 89:20, 27 it says, "I have found David My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him . . . I also shall make him My first-born." David was the youngest of eight brothers but here is referred to as “first-born.” In what sense is he “first-born.” He was the one whom God selected to be king of Israel. He was the “preeminent one,” selected by God to lead Israel.

Look at Genesis 41:5 where Manasseh is first-born (here it means first in numeric order) and Ephraim is second born. But in Jer. 31:9 God states, “For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My first-born.” How can this be if firstborn means first created? But it makes perfect sense if firstborn means the “preeminent one.”

Lastly, Exodus 4:22, “then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, ‘Israel is My son, My first-born.’” Again, Israel is obviously not the first created among nations but is “preeminent” among the nations in that it was chosen by God to be the channel to produce the Messiah and to be a nation of priests, prophets, and missionaries to the world. God’s intent was for Israel to be a distinct people, a nation of people that pointed others towards God and His promised provision of a Redeemer, Messiah, and Savior.

Firstborn can also be shown to mean “preeminence” in Colossians 1 by simply continuing to read through verse 18. The verses read: “ . . . “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.”

Only the Almighty God, omnipresent and omnipotent can hold all things together. Colossians also says that Christ “is before all things” and “is the beginning.” This shows that Christ is eternal. No ‘angel’ could have such power! No angel is eternal. Only God, creator of the universe, Who came to earth and "became flesh’’ and rose from the dead could be described in such lofty words. Christ alone, as God, deserves worship and praise as given to Him by the angels in heaven. (Heb. 1:6; Luke 4:8).

Therefore, Paul is saying that Christ is the head, the ruler, the creator, the preeminent One over all creation.

How does the Arian Heresy relate to the JW's view of Jesus?

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The basic Jehovah's Witness view of Jesus is a revival of the Arian heresy of the fourth century. Arius (AD 280 to 336) taught that the Son, whom they called the Word, had a beginning, and when the word ‘beget’ is used in reference to the Son, it means 'to make.' Thus, the Son was not of the same essence as the Father and in fact was created by the Father.

The Arians taught that there was a time when God was alone and not yet a Father. Arius taught that Christ had a subordinate, secondary divinity. Any title given to the Son was a courtesy title. Thus Jesus is God in name only.

The Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 firmly put down the Arian heresy. The Nicene Creed, a product of the council, states in part—“We believe . . . in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten from the Father, only-begotten, that is from the substance of the Father . . . begotten not made, of one substance with the Father . . . “

The Council included this statement which was directly aimed at the Arians: “But as for those who say, 'There was when He was not, and before being born He was not, and that He came into existence out of nothing, or who assert that the Son of God is from a different . . . substance, or is created, or is subject to alteration or change—these the universal church anathematizes.'”

(For more information on this topic or any topic concerning the JW’s, I highly recommend, Jehovah’s Witnesses by Anthony Hoekema.)

What is the Jehovah's Witnesses view of Jesus?

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To understand the Watchtower teachings about Jesus you have to keep in mind that the Jesus of the WT has three ‘states;’ a prehuman, a human, and a post human state or more simply put: angel—human—angel.

Prehuman State according to the WT

To answer this question I turned to my copy of a Witness book, “Aid to Bible Understanding" (a 1,700 page book much like a Bible dictionary) and looked up “Michael.” Why would I look up Michael in looking for information about Jesus? Because the WT teaches that Jesus was Jehovah’s first and greatest creation and was Michael, the Archangel. The Aid book further states, “Scriptural evidence indicated that the name Michael applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return.”

Human State according to the WT

They also teach that this archangel was transformed into a human at Bethlehem and was named Jesus but he was not yet the Christ. The Society's book, "Things In Which it is Impossible for God to Lie," teaches, "Not at birth but at thirty years of age Jesus became the Christ or the `Anointed One.'" (p. 211).

Post Human State according to the WT

In "The Kingdom is at Hand" they explain, "At death he laid aside the human organism in which he ministered as a new creature for three and a half years; and in his resurrection he was no more human. He was raised as a spirit creature." (p. 258). Since Jesus was raised a spirit creature, his second return (JW’s prefer second presence) would be as a spirit being, invisible to human eyes and this second presence was predicted to occur in the autumn of 1872, "The Divine plan of the Ages," 1927 ed., p.4. The Society later changed this date and now says this invisible second presence occurred in the year 1914, "The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life," (p. 86).

But what does the Bible teach?

Fully God—not a created being as the WT teaches

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and The Word was God." (John 1:1)

"And Thomas answered (Jesus) and said unto Him, The Lord of me and the God of me." (John 20:28)

"But of the Son he says, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom." (Hebrews 1:8)

"looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our Great God and Savior, Christ Jesus." (Titus 2:13)

Creator of all things—not created as the WT teaches

"All things came into being by Him (Jesus), and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." (John 1:3).

"For by him (Jesus) were all things created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or by Him and for Him." (Colossians 1:16)

Resurrection of the same body—not a spiritual resurrection as the WT teaches

"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." (John 10:17-18).

"But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Luke 24:37-39).

"Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side and be not unbelieving, but believing." (John 20:27).

Second Coming is visible—not invisible as the WT teaches

"and they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11).

"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so. Amen." (Revelation 1:7).

Is Jesus Jehovah?

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Jesus Is Jehovah!
True of Jehovah		True of Jesus
Isaiah 40:28	Creator	John 1:3
Isaiah 45:22, 43:11 Psalm 49:7, 15	Savior	John 4:42 Acts 20:28
1 Samuel 2:6	Raise Dead	John 5:21
Joel 3:12	Judge	John 5:27 Matthew 25:31
Isaiah 60:19-20	Light	John 8:12
Exodus 3:14	I Am	John 8:24, 58, 18:5-6
Psalm 23:1	Shepherd	John 10:11
,Isaiah 42:8, 48:11	Glory of God	John 17:1, 5
Isaiah 41:4, 44:6	First and Last	Revelation 1:17, 2:8
Hosea 13:4	Redeemer	Revelation 5:9
Isaiah 62:5 Hosea 2:16	Bridegroom	Revelation 21:2 Matthew 25:1
Psalm 18:2	Rock	1 Corinthians 10:4
Jeremiah 31:34	Forgiver of Sins	Mark 2:7, 10
Psalm 148:2	Worshiped by Angels	Hebrews 1:6
Throughout the OT	Addressed in Prayer	Acts 7:59
Psalm 148:5	Creator of Angels	Colossians 1:16
Isaiah 45:23	Confessed as Lord	Philipians 2:11
Jeremiah 32:18 Isaiah 10:20-21	Mighty God	Isaiah 9:6

Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!" New American Standard

How can Jehovah and Jesus both be God, since Deuteronomy is clear that there is only one God?

This chart demonstrates that Jesus and the God of the Old Testament are one and the same by showing that the very same titles applied to Jehovah in the Old Testament are applied to Jesus in the New Testament.

Jesus Is Jehovah!
True of Jehovah True of Jesus
Isaiah 40:28 Creator John 1:3
Isaiah 45:22, 43:11
Psalm 49:7, 15 Savior John 4:42
Acts 20:28
1 Samuel 2:6 Raise Dead John 5:21
Joel 3:12 Judge John 5:27
Matthew 25:31
Isaiah 60:19-20 Light John 8:12
Exodus 3:14 I Am John 8:24, 58, 18:5-6
Psalm 23:1 Shepherd John 10:11
,Isaiah 42:8, 48:11 Glory of God John 17:1, 5
Isaiah 41:4, 44:6 First and Last Revelation 1:17, 2:8
Hosea 13:4 Redeemer Revelation 5:9
Isaiah 62:5
Hosea 2:16 Bridegroom Revelation 21:2
Matthew 25:1
Psalm 18:2 Rock 1 Corinthians 10:4
Jeremiah 31:34 Forgiver of Sins Mark 2:7, 10
Psalm 148:2 Worshiped by Angels Hebrews 1:6
Throughout the OT Addressed in Prayer Acts 7:59
Psalm 148:5 Creator of Angels Colossians 1:16
Isaiah 45:23 Confessed as Lord Philipians 2:11
Jeremiah 32:18
Isaiah 10:20-21 Mighty God Isaiah 9:6

Why this Blog?

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This blog grew out of a desire to answer the question, “How can we reach Jehovah’s Witnesses for the Lord?” The typical method of evangelism in the book of Acts, in dealing with both Jews and Gentiles, was to preach the Word of God out of the scriptures. I hope that this blog will help concerned Christians effectively communicate what the Bible has to say on many vital subjects and expose the false doctrines of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.