Seven More Signs the Watch Tower is a Cult!

#1. A Cult Is Dishonest From The Beginning.

Cults always lie to new members about their true intentions, either through outright untruths or withholding and/or distorting vital information so it appears more tantalizing at first.

The WT’s FIRST LIE is imprinted on every piece of literature they handout—A FREE HOME BIBLE STUDY. You might think you’re getting a Free Home Bible Study, but when the JW returns for the “Free Study,” you find out you will be studying a WT book, from Cover-to-Cover about the Bible. This “sales tactic” is often referred to as “Bait & Switch.” The book the WT is currently switching to is: “What Does the Bible Really Teach (WDTBRT).”

After you read a page in the WT book, you answer several questions located at the bottom of each page, which requires you to re-read significant portions of the page. Little scripture is read in this kind of study. For example, in WDTBRT Chapter 1 page 1 has 0 Bible verses read or referenced. Page 2 has 1 Bible verse read from Matthew and one reference from Proverbs. Reading verses in context, to get their actual meaning,  is scrupulously avoided.

You don’t realize that the immediate goal, of the JW, is to get you to believe that “the WT and only the WT, teaches what the Bible Really Means by what it says,” AND to get you to request a 2^nd “Bible Study” that will eventually lead to your Baptism as a JW.

#2. Cults Take Minor Issues and Make Them
Major Issues.

EXAMPLE #1. HOLIDAYS.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate most holidays or events that honor people who aren't Jesus. That includes birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and Halloween. They also don't celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter in the belief that these customs have pagan origins. HOWEVER, virtually everything, as far as weddings are concerned, is of pagan origin and embraced by JW’s: the ritualistic cutting of the cake (ancient Rome), throwing of rice (ancient Rome), the ring (ancient Egypt), placement of the ring (ancient Greece) the honeymoon (Babylonians). The argument “Pagan Origin” is not consistently used by the WT. It is used when he helps to isolate JW’s from non-JW friends and relatives.

EXAMPLE #2. BIRTHDAYS. Because the Bible makes no reference to the birthday celebration of any believer, Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays. The two instances that are mentioned in the Scriptures, one for the Pharaoh of Egypt and one for Herod Antipas, are presented in a negative light. HOWEVER, Matthew 2:11, “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” ALSO, Job 1:4 “His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.” FINALLY, Romans 14:5, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”

EXAMPLE #3. FACIAL HAIR. Social identification pressure is a form of undue influence or control. The WT doesn’t specifically forbid beards, but it does use social identification pressure through statements against beards and showing beards in unacceptable circumstances. FOR EXAMPLE; “… there was a remarkable transformation in the lad. He shaved off his beard, cut his hair, and stopped using drugs.” Watchtower, September 15, 1989, p. 32.  AND “For men, a neat personal appearance may include being clean-shaven.” Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education (2001) p. 133. ALSO, In WDTBRT, in drawings or pictures, the only beards shown (on page 123) were of two gang members sporting beards, tattoos and caring weapons.

#3. A True Church Fosters a Climate where Church Leaders are Accountable to Church Members. In a Cult, Leaders Demand Mindless Obedience.

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

 

“It should be expected that the Lord would have a means of communicating to his people on the earth, and he has clearly shown that the magazine called The Watchtower is used for that purpose.” 1939 Yearbook,” pg. 85

 

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

 

“We should meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization and wait for further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable to us and proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though they were worth more than the slave's provision of spiritual food. Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord's visible organization and not be so foolish as to put against Jehovah's channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings." The Watchtower, Feb. 1, 1952, pgs. 79-80

#4. A True Church Fosters a Loyalty to the Word of God, Whereas a Cult Fosters a Loyalty to

 “The Organization.”

The Purpose of the “Free Bible Studies” is to induce people to become Loyal Supporters of the Organization. “Bible students need to get acquainted with the organization of the “one flock” Jesus spoke about at John 10:16. They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation. (Rev.7:9, 10,15). “Therefore,we should start directing our Bible students to the organization as soon as a Bible study is established.” Kingdom Ministry, Nov. 1990, page 1.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught to view all religious affiliation as ultimately a matter of trusting in one’s religion for salvation. “Similarly, it is wise to examine religion carefully. If you belong to a religious organization, you are, in effect, putting your spiritual life in its hands. This includes your prospects for salvation.” “Why Question Religion?” Watchtower, July 1, 2013, pg. 3.

A WT proof text for the claim that the Bible cannot be understood apart from the organization comes in the Book of Acts 8:26-31 (Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.) Here is how the Watchtower recently explained this proof text in “Are You Receiving ‘Food at the Proper Time’?” Watchtower, Aug. 15, 2014, pg. 4.”

“For a person to develop strong faith, he needs to do more than read the Bible. He must understand what he reads and apply what he learns. (James. 1:22-25) An Ethiopian Eunuch in the first century appreciated that fact. He was looking at God’s Word when the evangelizer Philip asked him: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” The Eunuch replied: “Really, how could I ever do so unless someone guided me?” (Acts 8:26-31) Philip responded by helping the Eunuch gain an accurate knowledge of God’s Word. The Eunuch was so moved by what he learned that he got baptized. (Acts 8:32-38) Similarly, our Bible-based publications have helped us gain an accurate knowledge of the truth.”

HOWEVER, in context, the Ethiopian was reading the Old Testament passage about the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Luke tells us this and specifically quotes Isaiah 53:7-8 (Acts 8:32-33). Isaiah’s prophecy did not, of course, give the name of the Servant but was a prophetic picture of what he would do hundreds of years later. What the Ethiopian needed was to know who Jesus was and how Jesus had fulfilled the redemptive promise revealed in Isaiah. As Luke tells us, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:35).

We do indeed need some “publications” in order to have an accurate knowledge of the truth, but the publications that we need are THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. In particular, we need the books of the New Testament in order to know how Jesus fulfilled the prophetic and redemptive expectations of the Old Testament. Everything we need to know about Jesus and how he fulfilled the Isaiah prophecies—everything that Philip might have told the Ethiopian that we would also need to know—is found in the New Testament. “The good news about Jesus” is the dominant theme of the New Testament writings.

Far from supporting the Watchtower’s claim that we need to believe and support a religious organization in order to be saved, Luke’s account of the Ethiopian nicely illustrates why no such “organization” is needed. Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian; he did not preach an organization. He did not “direct” the man “to the organization” as soon as he began his “Bible study” with him, as the Watchtower Society instructs its followers to do. Philip baptized the Ethiopian and sent him on his way (Acts 8:38-39).

#5. Cults Isolate its Members.

“While some worldly persons today have certain admirable characteristics, it must be remembered that one who is not a worshiper of Jehovah cannot be said to be good company.” Watchtower, 2/1/74, p.93. =======================>

Because the cult considers itself the ultimate authority on truth, it can’t imagine anybody leaving it with their integrity intact. Thus, it has to perpetuate a false narrative that former members were deceived, immoral, or lazy.

 

If former members speak out, they are dismissed as bitter, angry, dishonest or evil. Cults often impose some kind of shunning to shame former members and prevent them from infecting other members with the truth. The charge is often, “conduct unbecoming a Christian.”

Criticism of “The Organization” is forbidden. People who contradict the group are viewed as persecutors and are often given labels like “apostate.”  Members are discouraged from consuming any material that is critical of the group.

 

Life beyond the group is discouraged. This includes required or encouraged cutting of ties with family and friends (unless, of course, those people are already members of the group). New members may be required to change jobs and adjust other social engagements since the required time commitment, as a JW, dominates most or all of their time.

 

"There is to be no partnership, no fellowship, no portion, no sharing with unbelievers. Watchtower, 2-15-60, pg. 112. ===================>

#6. Cults Insist the End of the World is Near.

 

EXAMPLE #1. Watch Tower Prophecy of 1914, “The Destruction of Christendom and the End of Human Rulership”

Charles T. Russell, President of the WT Organization, wrote a series of books, "Studies in Scriptures." In that series he specifically PROPHECIED that October 1914 would be the "full end of the times of the Gentiles" and thus the "farthest limit of  the rule of imperfect men." (Times of the Gentiles. Studies in the Scriptures. 2. Allegheny, PA: Tower Publishing Co. pages 76, 77).  ===================>

Russell further states that it as "an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished at the end of A.D. 1914." (The Times of the Gentiles. Studies in Scriptures. 2 Allegheny, PA. Tower Publishing Co. page 99.)  ==========>

Russell further states “. . . with the end of A.D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call Christendom, will have passed away, as already shown from prophecy. (The Work of Harvest.  Studies in Scriptures. 3 Allegheny, PA. Tower Publishing Co. pages 153. ================>

EXAMPLE #2. Prophecy of 1975--Armageddon Promised!

"Just think, brothers, there are only about ninety months left before 6,000 years of man’s existence on earth is completed. (Kingdom Ministry, March 1968, p. 4). ================>

“According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man’s creation will end in 1975,” ("Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, 1966 page 29)  ===================>

#7. Cults distort Holy Scripture. They Teach a Different Jesus, a Different Way of Salvation and they Publish their Own Bible.

The WT Jesus is just “a god” not the “Almighty God” worshiped by Jews of Jesus’ day. The Apostle Thomas disagrees with the WT Jesus because he said in John 20:28, when he handled and viewed the print of the nails in Jesus’ hands and the print of the sword in Jesus’ side, “The Lord of me and The God of me.”

 

The WT Salvation is based on “Good Works” (Taking in knowledge, leading a clean moral life, being a member of the WTBTS and going door-to-door.) The Salvation of the Bible: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Scholars opinion of the New World Translation: 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.”

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), pgs. 136-137.

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