After watching and commenting on "Faith in Action, Part 1," I felt obligated that I should do the same for Part 2. However, after viewing Part 2, I decided to comment on what the JW's left out and not what they put in.
What they have left out are three (3) huge whiffs which started out as WT publications to encourage the Door-Knockers and show the faithful that the WT produces high quality research documents and ended up being a such a major embarrassment that the WT does not acknowledge their existence.
WHIFF #1. The 1969 Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (KIT). An interlinear Greek Bible allows the average person (who does not understand NT Greek) to see the direct correlation between an English translation and the original God breathed, Holy Spirit Inspired, Greek manuscripts. Download a free PDF copy of the 1969 KIT here.
In 1969, the WT, with great fanfare, released the KIT. With this one publication the WT was hoping to show the world that they were among the intellectual elite and that their followers would have, at their disposal, a tool that could be used to show the world that the doctrines of the WT aligned nicely with the original Greek manuscripts. On page 5 the WT boldly stated that the KIT was for "SINCERE SEEKERS OF ETERNAL, LIFE GIVING TRUTH." Also on page 5, the WT stated that if one read from the left side (the word for word translation of the original Greek) and compare that reading with the NWT rendering of the same verse (which is on the right side of the KIT), the reader could determine if the NWT was accurate.
(Go here to see my explanation of Page 5 of the KIT.)
Many JW's did exactly what the WT suggested: they compared the reading of the Original Greek with the NWT and found that in many key verses the NWT had added or deleted words to the Original Greek to get the Original Greek and the NWT to align. This put the individual JW in a perplexing position. They have been schooled over and over that their beliefs are based solely on the Bible and that the NWT is the most accurate translation in the world. However, by using the KIT, as directed by the WT, one can see that the NWT is not based on the Bible. Thus it cannot be the world's most accurate translation. What is a Witness to do? Believe the Bible or believe the WT. They are drilled that they are to "avoid independent thinking," i.e. their thinking MUST align with WT thinking. If they come to a "fork in the road," where the choice is WT thinking or non-WT thinking, they are NOT to place any thinking above WT thinking. Yet WT beliefs do not align with the Bible, the KIT.
At this juncture many JW's chose the Bible (KIT) and left the organization. The WT soon realized the error they had made in releasing the KIT--but what to do now. Solution: Act as if the '69 KIT had never been printed. If you go to JW.ORG and search for the '69 KIT--YOU WILL NOT FIND IT. It has been scrubbed.You can find the '85 KIT. However, the '85 KIT has been scrubbed of all the incriminating evidence, that the NWT does not align with the Original '69 Kit--go here for that evidence. I have a 2 part series, The Reason the KIT if out of Print, part 1 is here.
WHIFF #2. The Watchtower, April 1, 1972 page 197+. In this article the WT (see below) makes an astounding claim. A claim that was to bolster the reverence and awe, the average Door-Knocker has for the organization, starting with The International Bible Students (name for JW's before they were JW's) all the way to the JW organization of 1972. And what was the claim? In answer to the question (see below), "Does Jehovah has a prophet to warn them of dangers AND to declare things to come?" The WT's answer and claim is that they, Jehovah's Witnesses, are that prophet to declare things to come. The article goes on to make a CHALLENGE. "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. What does it show?"
Many JW's took up that challenge, as did I. And what did the record show. Here are just four (4) WT prophecies that I have blogged about which did not come to pass.
Let the WT's own words condemn the WT.
WHIFF #3. The Prophecy of 1975. Armageddon Promised! If you were a JW in 1975 you undoubtedly heard the
rallying cry of JW's worldwide, "Stay Alive till 75."
Before I get into the 1975 prophecy, you need to understand the control the WT maintains over the faithful. It is total and complete. It allows for no dissension. It allows for no alternate opinions. it is their way or the highway, i.e. you parrot the official WT line or you face disfellowshipping. Consider:
“It is
through the columns of The Watchtower that Jehovah provides direction
and constant Scriptural counsel to his people . . . “The Watchtower, May 1, 1964, p. 277
When Armageddon failed to materialize, the WT blamed the entire fiasco on individual JW's. So we are to believe it It was the Door-Knockers who came up with this failed prophecy. Door-Knockers who must parrot whatever the WT says. Door-Knockers who if they have a thought different that the WT's thoughts should keep those thoughts to themselves and wait for the WT to clarify. Door-Knockers who look to the WT to tell them what the Bible teaches and what the Bible requires of the Door-Knockers.
What they have left out are three (3) huge whiffs which started out as WT publications to encourage the Door-Knockers and show the faithful that the WT produces high quality research documents and ended up being a such a major embarrassment that the WT does not acknowledge their existence.
In 1969, the WT, with great fanfare, released the KIT. With this one publication the WT was hoping to show the world that they were among the intellectual elite and that their followers would have, at their disposal, a tool that could be used to show the world that the doctrines of the WT aligned nicely with the original Greek manuscripts. On page 5 the WT boldly stated that the KIT was for "SINCERE SEEKERS OF ETERNAL, LIFE GIVING TRUTH." Also on page 5, the WT stated that if one read from the left side (the word for word translation of the original Greek) and compare that reading with the NWT rendering of the same verse (which is on the right side of the KIT), the reader could determine if the NWT was accurate.
(Go here to see my explanation of Page 5 of the KIT.)
Many JW's did exactly what the WT suggested: they compared the reading of the Original Greek with the NWT and found that in many key verses the NWT had added or deleted words to the Original Greek to get the Original Greek and the NWT to align. This put the individual JW in a perplexing position. They have been schooled over and over that their beliefs are based solely on the Bible and that the NWT is the most accurate translation in the world. However, by using the KIT, as directed by the WT, one can see that the NWT is not based on the Bible. Thus it cannot be the world's most accurate translation. What is a Witness to do? Believe the Bible or believe the WT. They are drilled that they are to "avoid independent thinking," i.e. their thinking MUST align with WT thinking. If they come to a "fork in the road," where the choice is WT thinking or non-WT thinking, they are NOT to place any thinking above WT thinking. Yet WT beliefs do not align with the Bible, the KIT.
At this juncture many JW's chose the Bible (KIT) and left the organization. The WT soon realized the error they had made in releasing the KIT--but what to do now. Solution: Act as if the '69 KIT had never been printed. If you go to JW.ORG and search for the '69 KIT--YOU WILL NOT FIND IT. It has been scrubbed.You can find the '85 KIT. However, the '85 KIT has been scrubbed of all the incriminating evidence, that the NWT does not align with the Original '69 Kit--go here for that evidence. I have a 2 part series, The Reason the KIT if out of Print, part 1 is here.
Many JW's took up that challenge, as did I. And what did the record show. Here are just four (4) WT prophecies that I have blogged about which did not come to pass.
Let the WT's own words condemn the WT.
"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).
"Their prophecies did not come true. Therefore, they
are false prophets; and the people should no longer trust them as safe
guides," The Watchtower, May 15, 1930 page 156.
Ask today's JW about the WT claim made in 1972 in the
Watchtower article and you will be meet with blank stares. The WT does not
acknowledge this article and does not acknowledge the four prophecies I have
quoted in my blog. It is as if the hand of God has wiped JW land clean of any
reference that it claimed to be a prophet of God” declaring things to come.”
WHIFF #3. The Prophecy of 1975. Armageddon Promised! If you were a JW in 1975 you undoubtedly heard the
rallying cry of JW's worldwide, "Stay Alive till 75."Before I get into the 1975 prophecy, you need to understand the control the WT maintains over the faithful. It is total and complete. It allows for no dissension. It allows for no alternate opinions. it is their way or the highway, i.e. you parrot the official WT line or you face disfellowshipping. Consider:
You must be a JW in good standing to understand the Bible.
“He wants his earthly
servants united, and so he has made understanding the Bible today dependent
upon associating with his organization (WTBTS).” The Watchtower, Nov. 1, 1967, p. 668
"All
who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly
diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel
of communication, the faithful and discreet slave." (The Watchtower,
October 1, 1994, p. 8.)
“Jehovah
caused the Bible to be written in such a way that you need his human channel
(WTBTS) to understand it.” The Watchtower,
Feb. 15, 1981, p. 17
“An
individual must have The Watchtower to understand the Bible.” 1983
Yearbook, p. 21
You must be a JW in good standing to receive everlasting life.
You must be part of
Jehovah’s organization, doing God’s will, in order to receive his blessing of
everlasting life. (You Can Live Forever
in Paradise on Earth, 1982, p. 255).
Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it. The Watchtower, 2/15/1983, pg. 12
If you are a JW in good standing, you will avoid thinking differently than the WT.
If you are a JW in good standing and want to study Bible doctrine proceed thus:
“Avoid
independent thinking . . . questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s
visible organization (WTBTS).” The Watchtower, Jan 15, 1983, p. 22.
If
you are a JW in good standing and disagree with the WT you should:
"meekly go along with the Lord’s theocratic organization and wait for
further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable
to us an proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though
they were worth more than the slave’s provision of spiritual food. Theoretic
ones will appreciate the Lord’s visible organization and not be so foolish as
to put against Jehovah’s channel their how human reasoning and sentiment and
personal feelings.” The Watchtower, February 1, 1952, pages. 79-80
“Heavy research is not necessary. The Watch Tower
In summary: A JW in good standing: (1) the WT's thoughts are their thoughts, (2) if the JW's thoughts are different than the WT's, the JW meekly goes along with the WT's, (3) obtaining Paradise Earth is only possible if the JW follows all WT rules.
When Armageddon failed to materialize, the WT blamed the entire fiasco on individual JW's. So we are to believe it It was the Door-Knockers who came up with this failed prophecy. Door-Knockers who must parrot whatever the WT says. Door-Knockers who if they have a thought different that the WT's thoughts should keep those thoughts to themselves and wait for the WT to clarify. Door-Knockers who look to the WT to tell them what the Bible teaches and what the Bible requires of the Door-Knockers.
However, the Door-Knockers being the obedient ones, said, "Yes! We are at fault. The WT is innocent. We made up, out of whole cloth, this preposterous prophecy that Armageddon would occur in the Fall of 1975. Jehovah is using the WT to dispense meat in due season. They cold not possibly be the source of this failed prophecy."
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