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Public note

Observations

The last few posts on this blog by Sidgi and myself, did not contain any material regarding the WTBTS other than reference to their part in our lives and the lives of others. The focus of our individual monographs in brief, touched on searching for the true God and forsaking man made institutions that claim to be Gods organization on earth today.

If you are regularly surf the internet looking for WTBTS material and info, Im sure you will find a plethora of sites dealing with the wrongness of the treatment people received, and the falseness of the message the GB deal out to the congregations. This site has many articles that explain clearly the diversity of their writings with the truth of the bibles message.

In the more than 14 years that I have been working on the internet, Ive seen JW sites become ex JW sites and the members move around the different chat forums that spring up. The names are familiar to me from years ago. I see VERY FEW who actually have moved on from the pain of the association with JWS and sought out the real God.

Yes, I see many who became unbelievers, atheists, and humanists. Ive seen a few become “born again ” christians and a few who no longer are around due to suicide.

I do not see many, I do not actually see few who seek out the true God.

The bottom line is: when does the hurt stop? When does the individual let go and accept that the WTBTS is yet another organization designed and operated by men without direction from God?  When does a person decide to ask God for help and seek him out?

If you are ex JW, accept that the WTBTS lied to you about its role in Gods plan and in your life. Let it go. Dont have any lingering doubts about its validity. Ther is none.

I learned many valuable things from the organization. How to study, how to pray, how to view this world, that God has a name and its not Jesus, there is no place of eternal torment, etc. The trade off was my expected allegiance to the FDS. It didnt happen precisely because I applied the training I had in study, and found I wasnt able to follow the man made requirements.

Im alone. I have no congregation, no body of people on whom I can converse with regarding the Bible as it has explained itself to me via hard personal study. The ups and downs of life affect me as it does millions of Americans daily. I feel no special bond or communication channels with God when I pray.

So what does life after the WTBTS actually comprise of? Well, The Bible gives clear instruction to seek out God and in doing so he will draw close to us. That means study, reflection, molding our lives into the manner in which the Bible gives direction. It means walking in faith, doing certain things not because we feel directed by the Holy Spirit to do so, but rather because it is the RIGHT thing to do as God desires. I cant say with certainty when I ever felt compelled to take a course of action by Gods personal intervention in my life, but I can say retrospectively, things worked out for the best in certain situations BECAUSE I faithfully attempted to do what I knew was the God approved course of action.

So. If we are in the days of Jesus presence occurring soon, isnt it time that you looked passed the hurt and the pain and sought out the face of your creator?

A Letter received.

I want to thank you ever much you have make my faith stronger. The more I read your negative express of Jehovah Witnesses….The more I know they are God’s chose people. You have devote so much time to the witnesses, which is great you are promoting Jehovah Name and allow people to want to know more about us. So thank you. Only God’s truth can do that, with his back. If they did it to Jesus, we are just following in his foot steps. So, thank again for Announcing Jehovah’s name and his people.

Norma

Dear Norma,

Thank you for taking the time to offer a comment regarding the content of this website. We always appreciate it when people take the time to respond.

The staff of the CFM have a long history of association with the WTBTS. From the late 50’s on. From youth up and through some turbulent times. Some of us served in official capacities within the WTBTS organisation, and some of us spent may many hours a year in the preaching work in the USA and beyond.

So what makes a God fearing, truth believing individual leave the religion of their childhood and choice?

It was the answer to prayer Norma. The eternal request to our great creator, “please let me walk in accurate knowledge and truth and serve you the best I can”.

Investigation over a period of time, of which you will find many of the findings here, indicated that the history of Jehovahs Witnesses, not to mention the changing teachings, were marred by controversy and concealed truth from the outset.

An overview. The WTBTS have indicated through their writings, many times that there always has been a group of people or individuals that have had a special position and mission from Jehovah through the “anointing” as one of Christs brothers holding the heavenly hope. In the 1800s. the special position was, according to WTBTS, fulfilled in Charles Taze Russell. In the present age, the WTBTS hold that the “remnant of the Anointed” fill that position. Do you see any difference from the Catholic supposition of Apostolic succession?

If our God is a God of unchanging purpose and direction, why did Russell get so many basic things wrong? Why did he not understand the truths of important issues? Moving on to Rutherford, why did he hijack the WTBTS if it was Gods organisation? why is it that none of his books and writings are used today? Why did the other officials of the WTBTS ship him out to California to live in Beth Sarim? Could it have been his womanizing and alcoholism? What about the whole “return of the worthies” issue ? Moving on to Knorr, why was the emphasis placed on property purchasing and financial expansion? Why is it that dates have have been promoted and then discarded with the blame being put on the rank and file for being too date conscious?

I repeat, Jehovah God is a God of unchanging purpose. He certainly would not give contradictory information or place an organization ABOVE Jesus on earth or in heaven. The arrogation of the “governing body” into that position is an affront to the message of the Holy scriptures and a sure fire indication of the falseness of their claim.

The ONLY accurate conclusion after reading the history of the WTBTS and comparing it to the words of the Bible is this. Russell et al, for what ever reasons, were individuals who sought a lifetime of biblical involvement, but had NO SPECIAL DIRECTIVE from the creator. The WTBTS is a man made organization with an internal mandate that promotes the false notion of divine appointment. They are not and never were appointed by the creator to be his spokesperson on earth. NO one has been appointed.

Your faith needs to be in the Creator. Not man.

Principle or self deception?

Another month almost over. For the majority of the month of May, Ive been in a state of reminiscing. Thinking of parents, siblings, friends, events and how much my life has changed over the past few years.

Things have definitely changed. Over six million people would find my thinking and direction in conflict with their purpose in life. Strange, we read the same Bible, we believe broadly the same thing, except, I am no longer a member of the Jehovahs Witnesses and do not subscribe to the “mother organization, faithful and discreet slave, or anointed of God syndrome”.

Why not? well, in the main, I see no scriptural reasoning or proof APART from the writings of the WT to concur with the concepts presented. Reading the Bible and doing independent research makes for the existence of alternative conclusions to the rigid viewpoint of the WTBTS in regard to their self determined rulership issues. There are benefits to proclaiming oneself as appointed of God, namely, leading a huge financial empire and having control over people. Power is the ultimate thrill.

The Organization of Jehovahs Witnesses and the oversight of the WatchTower Bible and Tract Society, has no basis in Biblical History or prophecy. Its a formulated lie. A good one because I believed in it for the longest time.

I will outline further in due course.

The year is Flying by…

Can you be true to God and yet hide the Facts?

“When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning. They may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning? If you are among those seeking to be faithful to God, the issues these questions raise are vital for you today. Why? Because God’s servants in every period of history have had to face up to the challenge these issues present. They have had to expose falsehood and wrongdoing and warn people of dangers and deception—not just in a general way, but in a specific way, in the interest of pure worship. It would have been far easier to keep silent or say only what people wanted to hear. But faithfulness to God and love of neighbor moved them to speak. They realized that ‘better is a revealed reproof than a concealed love.’” (Watchtower, January 15, 1974)

Observations and Reflections

This last two weeks Ive been a little hesitant to write or find articles to put on the various blogs. For whatever reason, there has been a dulling of the enthusiasm, a lethargy of the spirit maybe and definitely a little sadness in reflecting on the realities of my Christian understanding.

In 1974, I recall as a teenager, sitting on a hill overlooking the sea for several hours just talking to God in prayer. I distinctly remember telling him that I was having great difficulty in accepting that Jesus’ presence had begun in 1914. In reading the scriptures at that time, it seemed to me that a greater calamity and a stronger understanding of that fact would be in evidence than a world war. While that might seem a strange thing to say, because the reality of a war is a very scary and disgusting thing, it did not involve God per se and not all of mankind was involved. In any event, my teenage mind did not accept the event.

To this day, I have never accepted that the second coming of Christ has occurred yet. Events and scriptural fulfillment allied to his presence are not in evidence.

I was reading an article by Robert King, a disfellowshipped ex JW elder. professed anointed of God, and self styled Watchman over the doings of the WTBTS. Mr King and I differ in viewpoint regarding the importance of the WTBTS in Christian history, and in the validity of those who claim to be of the “heavenly class”. I have read nearly all of Mr Kings writings, and having done so, my opinion as stated above has not changed.

I would like to paste and copy the latest comments from Mr King here regarding the second coming of Christ for your reading pleasure. Take from it what you will. Moving on from my obvious disagreement regarding the WTBTS and their role in Gods plan, I found it to be a thought provoking article.

www.e-watchman.coman

As regular readers of e-watchman are aware, not only is it my unwavering conviction that Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society have heretofore played a vital role in the outworking of Jehovah’s grand purpose, but I also stand convinced that the present system of things is poised to implode in the immediate future – commensurate with the authentic arrival of Jesus Christ and the actual ouster of Satan and his demons from Jehovah’s heavens. Even though no mortal knows the precise day and hour when the Son of man will make his thief-like presence manifest, thereby plunging the world into a brief period of unimaginable chaos, the conditions are undeniably overripe for a calamity of apocalyptic proportions to suddenly overtake the present wicked system of things.

While Jehovah’s Witnesses are also in a general state of expectation of the beginning of the globe-rocking great tribulation, the Devil is in the details – as the saying aptly goes.

The Watchtower Society has for a certainty published reams of interpretation touching upon nearly every prophecy in the Bible. And as most of Jehovah’s Witnesses know, much of it has been interpreted to have already been fulfilled generations ago, in 1914. Most other aspects of prophecy are expected to be realized when Christendom is suddenly destroyed – along with all other religions of the world that comprise Revelation’s Babylon the Great – at the outbreak of the great tribulation.

Essentially, the Watchtower teaches that the only significant portion of prophecy yet to be fulfilled is the execution of the symbolic harlot of Babylon by the eighth king; and, of course, the final war at the symbolic battlefield called Armageddon. So, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to anticipate that prophecy will next be fulfilled when the great tribulation suddenly erupts and the United Nations unexpectedly turns upon and completely destroys all organized religion throughout the world.

While there is no reason for any person of faith to doubt that Jehovah God possesses the power and wisdom to skillfully maneuver the human and demonic rulers of the world to accomplish his word – doing so as easily as a grand chess master deploys pawns, bishops and knights on a checkered board – still, it ought to be apparent that the U.N. does not presently possess the capability of carrying out God’s mandate. And there is no indication that the United Nations is even disposed to launch a global, anti-religion program any time soon. It is, in fact, laughable to suppose that such a thing could ever happen under the current political system. Or are we to imagine that the armies, militias and patriotic citizens of all the nations will idly stand-by while their communities are invaded by foreigners and their cherished religious institutions are ravaged by blue-helmeted “peace keepers”? The notion that such a thing could happen without a radical change in the present political, social and economic system is absurd in the extreme.

But, while the Watchtower’s expectations may seem implausible or even preposterous at the moment, it is wise not to scoff at Jehovah’s judgments.

Just as Jehovah commandeered the formidable military machines of both Babylon and Assyria in ancient times in order to administer his punishing judgments against his people and the surrounding nations, through his prophetic word the same God who once used an earthly king to “wreck all the earth” (Isaiah 13:5) has publicized his intentions to use a modern political agency to punish the nations on a global scale.

But it is only reasonable to suppose that before ever Jehovah’s judgments are carried out in the future, first the pre-appointed imperial executioner must acquire the necessary powers to carry out his assigned task. At present, though, the United Nations is aptly described as a “paper tiger.” So, how can it possibly come about that an eighth king will acquire the “teeth” to devour the international religious harlot so that the word of God might be accomplished?

That is a question thinking Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as the leadership of the organization are urged to seriously ponder.

Simply put, given the limitations imposed by the Watchtower’s prophetic outlook, the expectations cultivated among Jehovah’s Witnesses by the leadership of the organization are presently out of the realm of reality. According to the totality of prophecy, before ever the eighth king can acquire the capability of carrying out Jehovah’s awesome judgments completely, first the nation-state system in its present form must be eliminated and the sovereignty currently exercised by individual nations must ultimately be subjected to the authority of a single world government. How else is it conceivable that all the kings of the earth will tremble in fear of the eighth king? (Revelation 18:9-10)

For a certainty, the conspiracy to subvert and destroy the republican form of government has been the long-range goal of the London-centered Empire and the driving force of history for many decades. And at this late stage it appears that the conspiracy to eradicate the American-system is now entering into the end-game phase.

But the suggestion that the nations of the world must first experience a catastrophic crash – preceded into the maelstrom by the Anglo-American superpower – is generally met with a mute and vacant gaze among Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The conundrum confronting the anointed augur of Bethel is that there is simply no allowance in his prophetic exegesis for any sort of tectonic tumult that will give rise to a genocidal global government. After all, according to the organizational oracle, the world was thrown into a permanent tumultuous state back in 1914 – supposedly in fulfillment of the second Psalm – and both the seventh and eighth kings have since then ascended out of the symbolic abyss, albeit on different occasions.

This brings us to the crucial question of whether the prophetic interpretations espoused by the Watchtower are reliable. And if they are not, to what degree are they in error and what affect will that error have upon the many millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have unreservedly placed their faith in the trustworthiness of the Society’s interpretations? Unquestionably, not only is the Watchtower’s credibility at stake, but also the faith of millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and interested persons. Suffice it to say, if the future does not unfold in the way the Watchtower Society has confidently lain out then there will be dire consequences for both the organization and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

As already stated, over the years the Watchtower has published volumes of commentary on Bible prophecy. And since coming online in September of 2002, e-watchman has also published a considerable amount of information – so much so that it might present a challenge for new readers to plow through the entire body of published work. Because some people may not have the time, energy or interest to research these matters in depth, I thought it might be helpful to present a more concise synopsis comparing what the Watchtower teaches with what e-watchman has published to date regarding the outworking of important prophecies, and what may lay before us on the road ahead.

THE APPOINTED TIMES AND THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST

Watchtower: The centerpiece of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ belief and gospel message is that Jesus Christ began ruling as king over the world in 1914. It is also believed Satan and the demons were hurled down from heaven to the earth in that year. The beginning of the First World War in 1914 has convinced millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses that the Watchtower’s interpretations are legitimate.

The Watchtower also claims that the prophetic period Christ referred to in the 21st chapter of Luke as the “appointed times of the nations” ended in 1914. Supposedly the appointed times for the nations to trample that which is symbolized by Jerusalem spanned a period of two and a-half millennia and the expiration of that period in 1914 ushered in the rule of God’s kingdom.

E-watchman: The presence of Christ has not begun yet. Nor have Satan and his wicked angels been cast down to the earth in anger yet. The chronology connected to the “appointed times of the nations” has been misapplied.

While there is no question that some features of the sign of Christ’s presence appear to have been fulfilled with the outbreak of the Great War and the horrific Spanish Flu of 1918, there are other aspects of the sign that are not in evidence. And as the Watchtower itself has stated, the sign of Christ’s presence is like a human fingerprint: unless all of the features of the sign are in evidence it is not a perfect match. For example, in the same context as Jesus foretold that there would be wars, pestilences and food shortages, he also prophesied that Christians would be betrayed and hated by brothers and even family members to the point of even being put to death. Although no religious community has been persecuted to the same extent as have Jehovah’s Witnesses, still, excepting the Nazi Holocaust, it is relatively rare that any are put to death. (Other aspects of the features of Christ’s presence are discussed in the essay: A Closer Look at 1914)

Although the Watchtower has stated that no future developments could more precisely fit the prophetic pattern then what has already taken place that is simply not true. That mindset betrays a lack of vision. The reality is, the world presently stands on the brink of a global war involving nuclear weapons. (Will there be a Third World War?) The relentlessly mutating Avian virus, not to mention man-made biological weaponry, poses a threat that far exceeds the carnage of the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. And with the prices of basic commodities like wheat, rice, corn and soy beginning to soar, global hyperinflation could easily ignite and create foot shortages, especially among the poor. (See e-watchman Blog for commentaries on current events and links to relevant articles.)

One of the most prominent features of the multi-faceted sign of the parousia centers on Christ’s repeated warnings to the chosen ones to be on guard against the many false messiahs and pseudo prophets who would be heralding that the day had already arrived and that Christ was present. Paul also forewarned Christians not to be taken in by seemingly inspired messages announcing that Jehovah’s day had already commenced. So, while the Watchtower contends that anyone who rejects their interpretation is ridiculing the very presence of Christ, in truth, the Watchtower’s message – announcing that Jehovah’s kingdom came to power in 1914 and that Christ has been invisibly present for nearly a century – fits the profile Paul described. (E-watchman writings on the topic: Do You Believe the Lie? and The Mystery of the Anti-Christ)

Rather than commencing another multi-generational period during which time Christians are faced with the same trials and temptations as those who came before them, the actual presence of Christ is the end of our faith. Parousia literally means “coming alongside,” and it signifies the miraculous manifestation of Christ to Jehovah’s chosen ones. In fact, the Scriptures make no distinction between the presence of Christ, the manifestation of Christ, the revelation of Christ and the day of Jehovah. (See essay: The Visible Presence of Christ)

On the matter of calculating the year 1914: Without having been previously indoctrinated with the Society’s seven times chronology it is highly unlikely that any reader of the 21st chapter of Luke would independently come to the conclusion that the appointed times began with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in the fifth century, B.C.E. The context of Jesus’ prophecy regarding the allotted times for Jerusalem to be trampled upon by the nations was in relation to the future desolation of the holy place by a disgusting thing.

In the 11th chapter of Revelation the holy city and the courtyard of God’s spiritual temple are said to have been given to the nations to trample underfoot for a period of 42 months – in other words, it is an appointed time for the nations to trample “Jerusalem.” In view of the fact that the context of Christ’s prophecy had to do with the desolation of Jerusalem and the trampling of the holy place during the great tribulation the only legitimate, scriptural interpretation for the value of the appointed times is 42 months. (See essay: Was 1914 the End of the Gentile Times?)

THE TIME OF THE END AND THE CONCLUSION OF THE SYSTEM

Watchtower: The time of the end and the conclusion of the system of things began in 1914.

E-watchman: The time of the end and the conclusion have not begun yet.

Jesus used the expression translated as “the conclusion of a system of things” on several occasions. In the 13th chapter of Matthew it is used in connection with a symbolic harvest. In fact, Jesus stated: “The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels.” According to the illustration the harvest is accomplished when the angels are sent forth to remove the weeds from among the standing wheat and “collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace.”

According to the Watchtower the angels only play a minor role in the harvest by directing the ministry of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Although it is not taught overtly, the underlying assumption is that the harvest is brought about by the Watchtower Society itself. That’s because the Society teaches that the harvest is accomplished through the ordinary means of evangelization. When new converts are made they are said to have been harvested out from among Christendom’s weed-like imitation Christians. However, that is the exact reverse of what Jesus indicated would take place during the harvest. According to Jesus, first the weeds are separated from the wheat, then the weeds are burned in the furnace and the wheat-like sons of the kingdom shine as brightly as the sun in Jehovah’s kingdom. Surely, the sons of the kingdom shining as brightly as the sun is no ordinary occurrence. Not even the apostles were said to have shone like the sun. Yet they witnessed Christ do so during the transfiguration. (See essay: The Revelation of Christ and the Two Witnesses)

The folly of the Watchtower’s interpretation is evident by reason of the fact that the end result of the harvest brings about the complete removal of all stumbling blocks as well as lawless persons from Christ’s kingdom. But following the Watchtower’s teaching to its absurd conclusion we would have to conclude that Christendom is Christ’s kingdom and that it now has been cleansed by Jehovah’s angels. (See essay: The Harvest) Obviously, though, that is not what the Watchtower teaches in regard to the meaning of Jesus’ illustration. Bethel would never admit to being the source of stumbling blocks or that lawless persons proliferate within the organization and hierarchy. Jehovah’s Witnesses are supposedly living in “spiritual paradise,” which according to prophecy, will be an organization completely devoid of predatory individuals – a condition Jesus said would be brought about by the physical removal of lawless persons. (See commentary: What is spiritual paradise?)

Related to the events of the time of the end and the harvest is the judgment upon the house of God. The Watchtower claims that Christ already appeared as the refiner and laundryman back in 1918. (See commentary: A Faithful Slave Passes the Test) However, the prophecies indicate that God’s house will be infected with apostasy up until the actual day of Jehovah commences. (See essay: The Apostasy Comes First)

WHEN IS THE GREAT TRIBULATION?

Watchtower: For over a half century following 1914 the Society taught that the First World War marked the beginning of the great tribulation but that it was “cut short” in 1918. It was not until the 1970’s that the Watchtower first published that the beginning of the great tribulation was a future event. However, the Grand Climax commentary on Revelation, which is the current material of the congregation book studies, continues to teach that the great tribulation began back during WWI – well, sort of.

E-watchman: The stealthy arrival of Christ will segue into the great tribulation.

In a discussion of the opening of the sixth seal, which signifies the earth-jolting collapse of the present system of things – symbolized throughout prophecy by the obscuring of heavenly luminaries and the crash of earthly mountain-like institutions – the Society’s commentary rightly observes that the seven seals are all unsealed “within the same timeframe.”

So, the Watchtower teaches that the seven seals of the Apocalypse began to be unsealed in 1914 and in short order were all unsealed, thereby initiating the events symbolized. However, since it is obvious that the system did not collapse nor have all the citizens of earth become panic stricken – as the prophecies outline – the Society adroitly teaches that the unsealing of the sixth seal merely set off minor tremors as a preliminary to the Big One. How reasonable is it, though, that God’s awesome judgments were unsealed nearly a century ago but still have not been realized yet? What is the point of the unsealing if it does not initiate the actual judgments of God? The Society’s Grand Climax commentary makes Revelation anti-climatic.

And even though the Watchtower now accepts the obvious truth that the world’s greatest time of trouble has not begun yet, the Society’s seers still apply numerous apocalyptic prophecies to the recent past and present – prophecies which use similar symbolism as is employed in the phraseology associated with the opening of the sixth seal. For instance, Haggai 2:6-7, which reads: “For this is what Jehovah of armies has said, ‘Yet once—it is a little while—and I am rocking the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry ground. And I will rock all the nations, and the desirable things of all the nations must come in; and I will fill this house with glory,’ Jehovah of armies has said.”

Surely the rocking of that which is symbolized by the very heavens and the earth is a unique, never-to-be-repeated occurrence. According to the Watchtower, though, Jehovah has been rocking the nations since 1914. But in view of the fact the world has enjoyed an extended period of expanding prosperity and relative stability since the end of the Second World War the Society’s interpretations do not harmonize with reality. If the prophecy were being fulfilled now we would have to conclude that Jehovah’s rocking the heavens and the earth is not that big of a deal.

WHEN IS THE HEAD OF THE BEAST SLAIN AND THEN REVIVED?

Watchtower: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the 13th chapter of Revelation was fulfilled during the First World War. That is when the leading head of Satan’s symbolic seven-headed wild beast is believed to have received a mortal death blow and then, as if by a miracle – recovered.

E-watchman: The death blow has not occurred yet.

Again, the Society’s interpretation of a vital prophecy simply does not match the facts of history. Although many millions of young men were killed in the senseless slaughter of WWI, the respective governments of the participants were not toppled. (Czarist Russia being the exception.)

The error of the Watchtower’s interpretation is apparent due to the fact that the death and revival of the beast initiates judgment day. It is following the resurrection of the beast from the abyss of death that an image of the beast is made, to which all of mankind will be required to pay homage, upon pain of death. Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to believe that the image of the beast first came to life in 1919 in the form of the League of Nations and later that image was resurrected as the United Nations. If that were true, though, it would mean that all persons who have in any way expressed their support or admiration for the League or the UN have already received the indelible 666 mark of the beast.

The Society does indeed teach that judgment day began on two separate occasions: First in 1919 and then again in 1945! Although Revelation clearly teaches that everyone – without exception – who receives the symbolic mark of the beast is doomed to destruction, the Watchtower’s nonsensical teaching diminishes the severity of God’s judgments and makes the Apocalypse commonplace. The Society contradicts its own teaching, in that, the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses has inarguably converted many millions of persons who formally were politically active, many even having served in the military to promote the interests of the wild beast. Apparently they were able to have the mark removed. Obviously, though, no one who worships the beast or its image can afterwards be converted to the worship of Jehovah. That, after all, is the point of the 666 marking. It distinguishes those who worship Jehovah God from those who worship Satan’s idol. It is final and permanent.

By reasoning upon the prophetic scriptures it is evident that the wild beast has not received the apocalyptic sword-stroke. The seeming death of the beast will be something far more terrifying than the First World War. The abyssing of the beast signifies the sudden, catastrophic crash of the Anglo-American world power. See essays: Judgment Day – The Last Hour of the Eighth King, The Death of a God and The Coming Downfall of America)

From the ashes of the world-shattering crash of nations will arise the eighth king – most likely in the form of the United Nations Organization. However, it will not be as the relatively impotent United Nations now. At the present moment the UN stands as a mere bureaucratic shell, waiting for the coming catastrophe to be transformed into a tyrannical world government. The sovereignty now exercised by the nations will then be transferred to that world body so that the eighth king will acquire control over the world’s means of life, as well as the military forces and nuclear arsenals of the nations. (See essays: The Dawning of a New World Order and A King of Fierce Countenance)

According to the prophets the last king will launch a horrific genocidal rampage – reducing the world’s population by a substantial percentage. (See essay: Habakkuk – The Ultimate Final Solution) Only then will the eighth king be empowered to carry out the word of God in annihilating the iniquitous whore of Babylon.

After the beast emerges from the abyss the sons of God will be subjected to persecution for 42 months and ultimately martyrdom. (See essay: Will Christianity Survive the End of the World?) During the initial phase of the upheaval Jehovah’s earthly organization will suffer collapse. (See essay: Joel – Day of the Locust Attack)

“HIS WATCHMEN ARE BLIND – NONE OF THEM HAVE TAKEN NOTE”

As previously stated, and as Jehovah’s Witnesses well know, the Watchtower teaches that most prophecies have already been fulfilled or soon will be with the downfall of Christendom. However, since the calamitous events of September 11, 2001, the scene of this world has changed. Most ominously, the grand champion of freedom and democracy – America – is gradually being transformed into a global tyrant; manifestly intent on triggering the next world war, while the global financial system has been rigged to implode at the first hint of trouble.

So, while the Watchtower Society has led Jehovah’s Witnesses to believe that the great upheaval occurred long ago – during the First World War, and that the image of the beast is now manifest in the docile and impotent United Nations Organization –meanwhile, the leading nation of the world has quietly been brought to stand at the precipice of a yawning abyss that is far more foreboding than the First or Second world wars or the Great Depression.

In view of the aforementioned deficiencies with the Watchtower’s prophetic interpretations, the question is: How could the so-called watchman-class be so blind?

Throughout the prophecy of Isaiah Jehovah speaks to his organization during the finale. One of the most notable features of Jehovah’s pre-recorded judicial decisions is that his people – particularly the leadership – are characterized by their spiritual blindness. How true this is of Jehovah’s Witnesses!

Although possessing the basic foundation of truth, Jehovah’s Witnesses are tragically ignorant of the deeper things of scripture having to do with the unveiling of Jehovah’s future judgments. This is why God will eventually silence his people with the rebuke presented at Isaiah 42:19: “Who is blind, if not my servant, and who is deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as the one rewarded, or blind as the servant of Jehovah?” (See essay: Who is Blind as the Servant of Jehovah?)

The greatest irony is that Isaiah foretold that the very prophets and visionaries among God’s organization would be unable to decipher the prophecy of Isaiah; most notably, Isaiah 29:9-12, which reads: “Linger, you men, and be amazed; blind yourselves, and be blinded. They have become intoxicated, but not with wine; they have moved unsteadily, but not because of intoxicating liquor. For upon you men Jehovah has poured a spirit of deep sleep; and he closes your eyes, the prophets, and he has covered even your heads, the visionaries. And for you men the vision of everything becomes like the words of the book that has been sealed up, which they give to someone knowing the writing, saying: ‘Read this out loud, please,’ and he has to say: ‘I am unable, for it is sealed up’; and the book must be given to someone that does not know writing, somebody saying: ‘Read this out loud, please,’ and he has to say: ‘I do not know writing at all.’”

The context of the prophecy has to do with the fall of Ariel, which is simply another name for Jerusalem, and how he will be crushed so that his voice is muted. The spiritual application of the prophecy clearly applies to that which was represented by ancient Jerusalem and Zion – namely, Christ’s congregation. The desolation of Ariel is what Jesus was referring to when he spoke of the holy place being trampled upon by the disgusting thing. (See essay: What is the Holy Place and the Great Tribulation?)

True to the prophecy the Watchtower’s prophets and visionaries have no insight in the meaning of the prophecy. It is as if they are illiterate. The end result of Jehovah’s judgment will be that the meek ones – although presently blind to God’s future judgments – will be redeemed by the Savior; whereas, the haughty rulers who boast of their great insights will be abashed.

Isaiah continues: “And in that day the deaf ones will certainly hear the words of the book, and out of the gloom and out of the darkness even the eyes of the blind ones will see. And the meek ones will certainly increase their rejoicing in Jehovah himself, and even the poor ones of mankind will be joyful in the Holy One of Israel himself, because the tyrant must reach his end, and the bragger must come to his finish, and all those keeping alert to do harm must be cut off, those bringing a man into sin by his word, and those who lay bait even for the one reproving in the gate, and those who push aside the righteous one with empty arguments.” (Isaiah 29:18-21)

True to form the Society teaches that the deaf ones first had their ears opened in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in 1919. But that simply cannot be true. The prophecy clearly states that the deaf and blind are cured at the same time as the tyrant and the bragger come to their finish – “in that day.”

The context of the 42nd chapter of Isaiah, where the question is posed – “Who is blind as the servant of Jehovah?” – makes it plain that the eyes of the spiritually blind are not opened until such times as Jehovah speaks. And when God speaks it is as if the earth is devastated by the power of his rebuke.

Isaiah 42:13-16 foretells: “Like a mighty man Jehovah himself will go forth. Like a warrior he will awaken zeal. He will shout, yes, he will let out a war cry; over his enemies he will show himself mightier. ‘I have kept quiet for a long time. I continued silent. I kept exercising self-control. Like a woman giving birth I am going to groan, pant, and gasp at the same time. I shall devastate mountains and hills, and all their vegetation I shall dry up. And I will turn rivers into islands, and reedy pools I shall dry up. And I will make the blind ones walk in a way that they have not known; in a roadway that they have not known I shall cause them to tread. I shall turn a dark place before them into light, and rugged terrain into level land. These are the things that I will do for them, and I will not leave them.”

In view of the Society’s gross lack of understanding and perverse blindness as regards Jehovah’s oncoming judgments, Isaiah 56:9-11 applies most aptly to the shepherds of God’s people – the self-proclaimed watchman-class: “His watchmen are blind. None of them have taken note. All of them are speechless dogs; they are not able to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber. They are even dogs strong in soulful desire; they have known no satisfaction. They are also shepherds that have not known how to understand.”

And now what…..

Life sometimes gets in the way. Recently in my life there were decisions made that will change my future, change my hopes and change my direction. I have to take each day as it comes for the moment until Im at a place to make one or two decisions for myself that will be comfortable to live with.

Things seem to happen fast in my life. One minute Im standing, then I find myself flat on my back..just like that. Once over, I would have been devastated and out of action for a considerable time due to the pains and pressures. With the passing of the years and the embracing of a trust and faith in God and his word, Ive been able to withstand what comes in a more balanced way. It still isnt easy, at times I find myself feeling anger towards God for allowing situations and loss and hardship. That passes in due course and I can remind myself that a Christians path is going to be a hard one. Jesus suffered for all of us, he saw the brutal reality of a Godless world and the pain of torture and death was visited upon himself. Jesus experienced life as a Spirit creature with God in the heavens and then took on the earthly flesh to understand us.

We were never promised an easy passage through life. Neither were we promised peace and blessings materially or emotionally. What we have is a helper in the Holy Spirit, the knowledge that God loves us and the ability to talk with him through the mediatorship of Jesus Christ.

For Those of us who serve God, we still lose loved ones through death or differences and sometimes that loss or rejection is hard to bear. However, even in suffering and adversity, God has a way of helping us to bear up, to continue on and find his strength in our own weaknesses. I know that this life is as hard as it ever will be, and that my personal walk with God is littered with loss and tests and hardships. God doesnt cause it, he permits it simply because there is no other way to measure faith except through trials. I dont like the trials and do not rejoice in the pain or suffering. Yet the building of patience, of long suffering and of reliance on God in the absolute losses come from the adversity of life.

I will miss what I thought I had. I will miss the direction I hoped to take, I will hurt for a while. Yet……………. If my God saw fit to allow this situation, I can only assume his strength and blessing and love will allow me to continue on and that in due course, another direction will be apparent and on we go. Even if my situation never changes, I still have the privelege of serving him and being his son.

Thats more than we can ask for.

Questions

Did he have it or not? No really, did he? Im talking about Russell. A man who gave up business for the ministry that he founded… Did he have the Holy Spirit or not? He suffered a lot emotionally and personally during his lifetime, Was it worth it? Was he Gods chosen servant?

The Holy Spirit is Gods personal creative force, his helper and comforter, and revealer for among other things, mankind. His Spirit does the exact bidding of God.

Of late, it would be true to say a growing shoot of cynicism has been taking root in my thinking. It has a lot to do with learning more and more of the deceptive nature of religious leaders and the enforcing of non scriptural obligations on the members. It also has been fueled by an accelerated study of the bible with particular reference to the Greek scriptures.

Things have not been rosy in the life of cfm admin this past few months. Some events have proved to be pretty traumatic and one situation particularly culminated in a total reversal of hope and circumstances which are not easy to deal with. You might ask, what has this do with the question above, and it would be a good question.

The answer to your question would be, everything.

As I said, a lot of bible reading has been done recently, specifically and intensely to find answers to who why where and how in this day and age.

The bible mentions two locations in scripture for mankind, The WTBTS have a formula and a specific number who fall into one of the categories, but….after researching, I fail to see if it is a specific number or symbolic, whether it refers to more than just the apostles or whether……………so in essence I dont know..

Now if I had the aid of the Holy Spirit…would I know?

The Bible is very clear on who Jesus is. Trinitarians express a different view. I have a fair knowledge of Biblical history, and what I dont know I can research….Do I need the Holy Spirit to understand?

The Bible is very clear on what Hell Hades and the grave is….a modicum of Greek and hebrew translation can clear up the exact meaning. Do I need Holy Spirit to understand?

The list of specifics that I looked for, were all answered by the Bible and some research.

What did I find?

A person seeking for the truth, the absolute truth, will really have to dig. A person seeking for the truth will be presented with options and with conflicting verses and with some full stops and dead ends. A person seeking for the truth uncovers NOTHING new, The Bible has been around for a long time, but will look with openness of mind and with a heart set for understanding.

Does he need the Holy Spirit for this?

Im a truth seeker, the admin staff are truth seekers, Russell was a truth seeker. Did Russell speak the truth regarding dates and the use of measurements of an Egyptian Pyramid for biblical confirmation? No he did not.

Logic demands that a person who is given the Holy Spirit would be given the exact and correct understanding of whatever it is that God wanted us to know.

I therefor have to conclude, that Russell had no more Holy Spirit in aiding his understanding than we at C.F.M. do.

I am sure that God is always willing to hear us, willing to receive our prayers and pleas and more than willing to help us to endure or remove obstacles that prohibit us from serving him as best we can. I am convinced that Holy Spirit is used within the boundaries of his time line and purpose. I am sure that it is used to promote truth. I am convinced that in desperate times as individuals we experience the peace that is beyond all understanding with our reliance the one above. A constant and continued history of prophetic failure is a sure indication of not having the Holy Spirit.

We do not promote dates or times or events prophetically. We only know that the Bible seems to indicate that these are troubled times and the collection of events would seem to fit the Bible timeline. But………………….. we dont know.

We are not a Spirit directed ministry. We are people trying to promote Bible truths and in doing so we let God and his Holy Spirit work on individuals hearts to seek the truth. We do his will, but are not specific to his plans, for the very stones would cry out if we didnt do it…

But we do what we know….

Silly us

This morning, Sidgi and i were talking, and he made the comment that the WTBTS gave us as individuals just enough information to convince ourselves of the rightness of any stance taken by the authority of the Watchtower. On reflection, I conclude that Sidgi was correct in his observation.

How so?

Initially, the WTBTS would present their viewpoint and their take on a point or situation, and from then on, we as individuals would follow the line of reasoning given, and perhaps look up the scriptural references quoted, and without further examination of alternate or dissenting views, convince ourselves of the god given insight that the Society had as correct.

Its a beautiful way to have a viewpoint that emanated from a single source and yet have it accepted as a personally researched and self verified understanding.

Sigh.

Damaged goods?

Today, Sidgi and I had a long discussion regarding the effects of belonging to the WTBTS had on each of us. We took different positions on a couple of points so what I write here is my viewpoint.

I made the comment that professional people, lawyers,Drs, Dentists, teachers seem to leave the WTBTS quicker than persons who have not attended a college or had a further education. This was qualified by rider that others left who had the ability to think rationally and make self informed decisions.

You see, when joining the Jehovahs Witnesses, a person gently is taught that the words through the pages of the WatchTower magazine are from the earthly representatives of God on earth (faithful and discrete slave class) and that adherence to their direction is being faithful to God.

For those of us who dared to research independently of the WTBTS, anomolies were found that the Society could or would not answer. In order to protect the core doctrines, individuals such as myself are sidelined and “encouraged” to realign our thinking and get back into the fold. Sadly, my research showed more and more discrepencies than could be handled and in time I departed.

I believe a lot of ex Witnesses suffer from depression and guilt along with the inability to believe in God again. Fortunately for me, I took the view that in leaving, I would continue to seek him and trusted that he would be there for me. For a number of years I have walked this path alone, and to be honest, I dont see the real God taught in churches anywhere, so maybe I have to continue on in solitary faith for the main part.

Do I regret leaving? hmm. I miss “belonging” to a group of believers who adhere to core biblical doctrines. I miss discussions and encouragement. I dont miss the “love” shown that is based on adherence to meeting attendance and field service numbers. I dont miss sacrificing my mentality and abilities to follow direction that I dont agree with. I dont miss living on the edge of my seat waiting for the next thrilling Bethel piece of information and reading about the expansion work and new multi million dollar building going up.

There was enough truth in the message to keep me for years.

Have I been damaged by the WTBTS?

A little. Actually our relationship is irretrievably damaged. NO way we ever will see eye to eye on things. My future is in the words of the Bible and my understanding will have to be based on what he chooses to have me understand. I seem to have negative feelings towards individuals who claim special kinship with God, ie those who claim a heavenly hope, those who believe they have a gift from God or have been chosen by him to preach a message. I read that those days are over. We have the Bible and we live in end times, thats all Im sure about.

We carry on

What to do?

Question from katydid

“…Is it possible to have strong faith in Jehovah and in Jesus Christ and to have a destroyed faith and trust in the Watchtower Society?”

Discussion Board

At first I wanted to be pretty ambivalent in my answer to you. My first reaction was to go the neutral route. ” You must do what your conscience dictates” kind of thing. However, and I believe this to be the absolute truth. it is important that in our mind and heart we hold Jehovah and Jesus as explained through the words of the Bible, above any earthly person or organization.

When the creator formed an alliance with Israel and made a covenant with them to take them as his people, there was no doubt, it was written in the Bible and the ensuing history recorded for all to see. We saw how time after time, the nation was unfaithful to Jehovah’s direction and even finally killed the son of God in their gross disobedience to him. He opened the doors to us gentiles and grafted us on to the tree to make us one nation in order to have his offer of life eternal for ALL mankind stand true.

Move forward in time to the 1800s. C.T. Russell collated information and presented the truth regarding Hell, Trinity, Salvation and a few other gleanings. Intertwined with this, were pyramidology, prophecy failures, false dating, false understanding and a few other things. Move on to Rutherford after Russells demise, and we see attribution to the WTBTS as Gods organization on earth. Who gave them this position? Why, it was Rutherford and the WTBTS legal board.

The Bible does not record a central governing body in apostolic times. A careful reading of scripture will show that each congregation was independent of each other. The formation of Christianity was based on explanations and self determination of truth in each region.

It has been the contention of the CFM admin, based solely on the information presented from research, that the WTBTS post Russell is nothing more than a business. That is not to say that truth is lacking in the basic teachings of Jehovahs Witnesses, it more a statement the the WTBTS is a legal organization geared to printing and money gathering.

Somehow I do not see the Creator of mankind needing a legal corporation to do his will, amass fortunes and misrepresent him from the outset. Our God is a God of truth and the true history of the organization is so far removed from the sanitized version of the Proclaimers book that I am ashamed to admit it.

Faith has to always be in the creator and his son. Period. The admin staff here, do not advocate any religion as being the correct one. Jehovahs Witnesses per se, have very many Bible truths that we agree with. I state specifically, we disagree with:

the holding of the WTBTS as Gods appointed organization on earth.

The premise of the 144000 as mediators between God and man.

Being baptized into an organization.

Having to accept all present doctrine and dates.

The lack of honesty re; disfellowshippings, history, child abuse, dates, political involvement etc.

This site is NOT a WT bashing site. It is a fact presentation site.

We wanted Jehovah’s Witnesses to be everything it should have been. It isnt, and never was.

Discussion Board

Feb 26th

We have a discussion Board for the cfmin site. Recently we changed the role of the Board for the express purpose of using it to discuss doctrine as posted on our futureTruth and cfmin Research Blogs.

For those wanting to discuss a topic of choice in depth, the facility is open to them. We ask for free registration for the reason of stopping spam. We look forward to seeing you.

Reading History

feb 25th 2008

Recently, as can be noted in the comments section on this blog, I was taken to task by a reader for my poor research skills and for allowing the publishing of slanted and biased and innacurate articles regarding C. T. Russell.

Firstly, this is a research blog. Information is presented as and when we get it or unearth it. I am currently sat on thousands of pages of material that will never see the light of day simply because the content cannot be verified or does not concur with our own dating and ratification system.

Now, sometimes in the presentation of facts, an authors own prejudices may surface with antagonism toward the subject or individual or organization that is being written about. We here at CFM made the conscious decision to publish “as is” so as to stimulate academic rebuttal from another source if it is to be found.

I personally have been fascinated to dig deep into the archives and history of the WTBTS via their own writings and from splinter groups who left the WTBTS after the death of C. T. Russell.

My overall impression and conviction to date, is that the WTBTS under the auspices of J. F. Rutherford and thereon, have not told the real truth regarding the organization that became known as Jehovahs Witnesses as to history and motivation behind its existence.

The formation of an elite heavenly class pertaining only to the JWs has made for a confusion and arrogance in using Gods name for business purposes under the guise of Religion.

I am not convinced in anyway shape or form of the sincerity of the governing body.

admin

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Defining Realities.

Attitudes formed by adherence to a Conceptual Hope.

Jehovah’s Witnesses per se, are comprised of individuals who were won over by the simple truths of the Bible explained in such a way as to give tremendous hope and relief for mans painful existence, and gain sake a future in a Paradise ruled over by Jehovah God through his son Jesus Christ.

In accepting what the Bibles message is, the average new JW was gently introduced to the concept of a “faithful and Discrete Slave” (Matt 24:42-47) leading them through the auspices of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s governing body.

The WTBTS teach that Jehovah God through Jesus “chose” the most faithful followers and teachers of God and his purposes on earth (1918). It turned out to be the Bible students under the leadership of J. F. Rutherford who had acquired the Presidents position of the WTBTS by nefarious means. A perusal of this site will indicate what sort of moral character Rutherford had. Sadly, the revisionist history of present day JW information from the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not forthcoming with many of the facts.

So now, the “faithful and discrete slave” duly appointed, started to assume the mantle of Theocratic authority through which Gods word can be administered accurately and without question. Administer they did. Under Rutherford, the WTBTS completely changed the loose knot association of independent congregations formed by C. T. Russell and tied them into the central organization structure even going so far as to appoint the overseers of each congregation through the Brooklyn headquarters.

As time went on, the edicts from the “faithful and discrete slave” through the pages of the Watchtower magazine became the manna from which the faithful fed. Any deviation from currently accepted Society line is met with accusations of spiritual weakness and a progressively firmer nudging back into line with disfellowshipping as the final “punishment” for lack of agreement.

Historically, the WTBTS have changed their views on nearly every doctrine and time frame at least once. As they are “Gods organization” on earth, they have the right to do so, but it entails the average JW the responsibility to keep up and have all the latest books in their library. They are also encouraged to make all 5 meetings a week and attend larger gatherings called assemblies at some considerable cost to themselves. This website outlines many of the changes that occurred, some, several times on the same issue.

Today, sadly and perhaps reprehensibly, the average JW has no knowledge of the truth regarding the WTBTS origins, its doctrinal changes, the appointment structure of the governing body, the hidden agendas, the scandals and the ongoing machinations of a multi billion dollar corporate giant.

This website will not be read by the average JW. The truthful information presented here will never pass before their eyes. They are taught that outsiders or former JWS are liars and apostates giving false information to draw them away from the true source of Gods word. It is ONLY the “faithful and discrete slave” who disseminates truth.

For those who are baptized into the JWs and who are reading this, you know who you are; we are former Jehovah’s Witnesses. We uphold the tenets of the Bible vigorously. We do not subscribe to the trinity or Hell or Once saved always saved doctrines. Our views will 98% match yours. We obviously differ on WHO is the faithful and discrete slave and whether or not Jehovah’s Witnesses are THE channel used by God, and differences regarding who has heavenly hope and who hasn’t. But…according to the WTBTS we are apostate because we don’t accept them as the visible presence of Gods organization on earth.

apostate

1340, “one who forsakes his religion or faith,” from L.L. apostata, from Gk. apostasiaapostenai “to defect,” lit. “to stand off,” from apo- + stenai “to stand.” “defection, desertion, rebellion,” from “away from”

We have never forsaken our religion or faith. We have stood off from an organization from which history is showing to be false to its ideals and stated purpose. An Organization that has LIED shamelessly when it has suited them. An organization that has not upheld the sacred responsibility of representing Gods name when it could have.

Many people have died following the changing edicts of a human organization. They have followed the words of man and not the dictates of their own conscience after studying the Bible for themselves. From refusing military service, to buying a political card, from refusing certain types of employment and from refusing some medical treatments.

Our great God gave us the Bible to study and assimilate truth and work within the bounds of individual conscience so that the service rendered to him is PERSONAL service.

The “Faithful and Discrete Slave” arrogated unto themselves an insertion between us and Jesus to the detriment of truth and worship.

God have mercy on them