Watchtower, Power and Authority by Gary Busselman
New Light? The Great Tribulation
A Letter to the President of the Watchtower Society
Should the living consult the DEAD?
One of the most difficult persons to minister to is a family member who calls himself (or herself) a Jehovah's Witness. But why is it so much more difficult to minister to a family member than it is to minister to a non-family member? First, you usually know the family member intimately. This isn't someone who you've just met on the street. Second, a good or bad relationship may already exist with this family member. You know them and they-for better or for worse-know you. And finally, because much more is at stake. If this loved one remains a JW, your family may never be as close or intimate as God intended for families to be. In fact, having a family member who is a JW could even divide your family.
So what's the best approach to take with a loved one who is a JW? For starters, there is no approach that is guaranteed to work. There are, however, certain approaches that usually work better than others. But before we examine some of these "good" approaches, let's look at some of the approaches frequently used by people when trying to minister to their JW loved ones.
· Doctrinal Approach: This is frequently one of first approaches we take with our loved one. We gather volumes of doctrinal information. We collect several different Bibles to "prove" their bible is inaccurate. And we collate and staple all of this information so that our loved one can read it during their spare time. With so much information at their disposal, we assume there's no way they could possibly continue believing what the Watchtower Society teaches...right?
Problem: The person taking this approach assumes their loved one will read the information they have gathered. What the person doesn't realize is that their loved one has been taught to believe that anyone who would present such type of "proof" could only be from the devil. Also, this is basically the same approach Jehovah's Witnesses try to take, but in reverse.
· The Shifting Foundation Approach: This frequently used approach attempts to expose the Watchtower Society's "secrets" and lies. The goal is to get your loved one to start questioning or doubting the Watchtower Society's authority in his life. How could they possibly follow the teachings of an organization that has knowingly lied to its followers and changed its teachings on so many issues?
Problem: Don't forget, when you talk to JWs about the Watchtower Society, you're basically talking about their mother...and most people get very offended when you speak badly of their mother. You're also assuming they will read the information you have gathered. But remember that they have been told that this type of information is basically "spiritual pornography."
So, can either of the two approaches mentioned above be used effectively? The answer to this question depends primarily on where the JW is at with regard to their experience in the religion. And herein lies the basic problem with these two approaches (and many others). Most people simply assume that all their JW loved one needs is more factual information, and that he or she will be able to process this information in a normal, objective manner. The truth, however, is that the JW usually won't be able to process the information until one of the following events occurs:
· The JW has become disillusioned by what he or she has seen or experienced within the organization (i.e., disfellowshiping, public reproof, lack of love among other JWs, etc.)
· The JW is tired of having to live up to unrealistic (and oppressive) standards placed upon him by the Watchtower Society.
· The JW has looked around and seen real Christians who appear to have something much better to offer, something that the JW does not have.
Prior to a JW experiencing one of these events, (and even after they have experienced one of these events) it is wise to avoid the temptation to "dump" a pile of information on them. In the meantime, there are several things you can do that may help your loved one come to the point where they begin thinking for themselves and will listen to what you have to say:
· Above all, pray that the Lord would open your loved one's eyes and allow you the opportunity to share truth with him. Since only God can bring him to the point where he will begin to seriously question what the Watchtower Society is teaching, it's imperative that you continually pray for him.
· Learn to simply love your JW family member because God has put him in your life. See him as a person and not a JW.
· Spend time with him just being a friend. A JW needs to understand that you're interested in him as a person, and not in your ability to convert him.
· Learn to ask leading questions that will cause the JW to use his own mind to draw conclusions-even if the question isn't related to spiritual issues. If given the opportunity to ask a question about a spiritual issue, be sure not to answer your own question (unless asked to do so). Even then, don't preach!
· Remember that more is caught than taught. In other words, it's important that your life be an example of the Lord you proclaim. Fewer things will render you as ineffective as saying one thing and living your life another way.
As you follow some of the approaches above, remember that one of the primary goals is to get your loved one to think for himself. Once your loved one can begin processing information correctly, he will often begin asking you questions, which will allow you to share some of the information you have gathered. But remember not to get in a hurry. It's okay if they don't understand or accept the truth all at once. There is no rush. Continue to pray, continue loving your family member, continue to be there when questions arise, and enjoy watching the Lord bring your loved one to Him.
(For more information on witnessing to your family, please see the excellent information on Randy Waters' web site at www.freeminds.org.)
The November 1, 1999 issue of THE WATCHTOWER contains a question from a reader on page 28. The reader asks the question: "How do Jehovah's Witnesses view voting?" Most of the remainder of the article attempts to show the reader why Jehovah's Witnesses do not take part in voting on political issues. Then the article states, "In view of the Scriptural principles outlined above, in many lands Jehovah's Witnesses make a personal decision not to vote in political elections, and their freedom to make that decision is supported by the law of the land." This statement begs the question: Do Jehovah's Witnesses refrain from voting in elections because it is an individual's "personal decision," or is it because they will be disfellowshiped if they do vote? The truth is that Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States are prohibited from exercising their right to vote.
The article continues by posing another situation to the reader. "What, though, if the law requires citizens to vote? In such a case, each Witness is responsible to make a conscientious, Bible-based decision about how to handle the situation. If someone decides to go to the polling booth, that is his decision." In other words, when a government requires that its citizens vote, then it is completely up to the individual to determine if he will do so. In such situations, the article states, "People should recognize, though that in matter of individual conscience such as this, each Christian has to make his own decision before Jehovah God."
It's sad that this article had yet to be published before thousands of loyal Jehovah's Witnesses were persecuted and even killed in Malawi because they wouldn't do something as simple as carry a government-mandated political card. Now, just 20 years later, JWs facing similar situations in the world are told that it's okay to even vote if they their government requires them to do so.
Jehovah's Witnesses applaud themselves for meeting at Kingdom Halls and not churches. They are proud of their short construction periods for building these Kingdom Halls. Asked if they ever go into churches for any reason (weddings, funerals, etc.) The answer is an emphatic NO!
JW's are not even allowed to work on churches as means of employment, whether it be roofing, painting, brick work, or other similar construction-type jobs.
They would never consider referring to their Kingdom Halls as churches, and certainly neither would the Watchtower Society. Yet, in the September 22, 1984 edition of Awake! Magazine (page12) an article titled "A Taste of Paradise Building" states:
"Jehovah's Witnesses are known for constructing churches in 48 hours. But this weekend they outdid themselves. For the first time, the Jehovah's Witnesses constructed two Kingdom Hall churches with a connecting apartment in 48 hours..."
A traveling overseer in south Florida (Homestead area) goes on to tell the reporter:
"There is an added thrust to build these Kingdom Hall churches since our Cuban brothers were cast out in the Mariel boat lift... "
We would suggest that the Watchtower Society watch their language lest the rest of us might be led to believe that the Society builds churches, too-the common term for the buildings where in the congregation (people called out by God) meet on a regular basis.
"Never in Jehovah's Name: claims the Watchtower Society in the march 22, 1990 edition of Awake! magazine. And then again, the reassurance in the 1995 edition of "Qualified to Be Ministers" book on page 56 which says:
"We shall not be suspicious, but the Bible says `believe all things...all thins that the Watchtower says'."
So, with this advice, let us consider the facts. The Awake! Article mentioned above states that they never did say that "these are the words of Jehovah" in any of their speculations of the prophetic dates given for time to time. However, this same issue and page of this publication says:
"This magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a secure and peaceful new world before the generation tat sew the events of 1914 pass away."
The July 15, 1960 Watchtower magazine claims (page 439) "channeling" directly from God's throne:
"Organizationally the faithful and discreet slave class since 1919 has been channeling an ever increasing flow of Biblical publications by the millions that contain the waters of truth" featuring Jehovah's will as emanating from God's throne in heaven."
Leaving no doubt as to the validity of this statement, the May 15, 1984 edition of the Watchtower magazine says on page 6:
"Jehovah's prophetic word through Jesus Christ is this generation(of 1914) will by no means pass away until all occur (Luke 21:32) and Jehovah, who is the source of inspired and unfailing prophecy, will bring about the fulfillment of His Son's words in a relative short period of time."
Some may wonder why this prophecy meant so much to Jehovah's Witnesses, especially those who had labored in the Watchtower Organization for so long and clung to the hope of still being alive through it all The Watchtower magazine of January 1, 1978 (page 31) explains:
"...when it comes to the application in our time, "the generation" logically would not apply to babies born during World War I. |It applies to Christ's followers and others who were able to observe that war and other things tat have occurred in fulfillment of Jesus composite sign. Some of such persons will by no means pass sway until all of what Christ prophesied occurs, including the end of the present wicked system."
The conclusion could only be that the Watchtower Society did use Jehovah's name as the source of prophecies which were "channeled" from he heavenly throne to His people on earth and there was solid reason to hope and believe that "the generation" of 1914 would still be alive at the end of the world. Such hope was dashed away with the flick of a pen, or more accurately, a s single issue of the Watchtower magazine. The November 1, 1995 edition says now that the hope of 1914 as the last generation was taken away and replaced with a vague reference that "generation" is just a contemporary people of a certain time. Believe all things?-only what the Bible says, not the WT Society!
The August 15, 1996 Watchtower magazine has come up with more "new light" pertaining to the Great Tribulation in the article titled "Will You Be Saved When God Acts?" Please allow us to summarize:
Old Light: After Babylon the Great falls, it is too late for anyone to come into the New World society.
New Light: People will indeed still be able to join the Watchtower Society after the fall of Babylon because Jesus is going to cut short and then resume those days. Babylon to Jehovah's Witnesses represents all religions of the world, especially Christendom. It will be politics that "turns" on these religions and destroys them all (except JWs).
After people see that all religions except the Watchtower Organization are destroyed, they will come running to it for their salvation. After this short period of time, the Great Tribulation will resume. No matter where JWs live in the world, they will not be in the "danger zone, at risk of being killed." Jesus will then return during this time of the Great Tribulation (the last part) and rescue the JWs and they alone will be left of all the world's population.
Where does the Watchtower Society come up with all this? The article explains that back in Jewish history (66 AD) the Roman army under Gallus, surrounded Jerusalem and was about to conquer her when, without explanation, he withdrew. It was not until 70 AD the Romans under Titus came and again surrounded and conquered her. It was during this short period of time the Jews were able to leave Jerusalem before the final blow. Bringing this up to date, the Watchtower explains Jesus was referring to the Great Tribulation yet to come when he said in Matthew 24:22:
"Unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short." (New World Translation)
Jesus, however, never inferred a resumption of "those days" before he comes. To the contrary in Matthew 24:29,30 he states:
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (New World Translation)
Clearly Jesus promised to "cut short" or shorten those days of tribulation, and not resume them before coming to earth again.
Now, if this "new light" is too new for even JWs to understand, they can always refer back to page 18, paragraph 13 which says "So Jesus could have been saying..." The Watchtower did not really say for sure!
A dear friend of New Light Ministries, whose wife and son are active JWs, told us his wife and son were recently discussing this same Watchtower article, shaking their heads in wonderment. We quote their son:
"Well Mom, let's face it-this is just too confusing for you and me. Maybe when we study this issue in the Kingdom Hall in September they will be able to explain what this "new light" means!"
The following letter to the president of the Watchtower Society, Milton G. Henschel, from one of our readers is partially reproduced below. It wonderfully expresses our thoughts as well on a recent AWAKE! magazine article.
Dear Mr. Henschel:
I am writing to you regarding the February 8, 1996 issue of the AWAKE! magazine. The second article in the magazine is titled; "To Trust or Not to Trust." I will begin by quoting a portion of the second paragraph on page 5: "Someone who trusts too much may be gullible and, as a result, easily deceived and manipulated." This depicts me. My parents became JWs in 1950 when I was five. They told me to put ALL MY TRUST in the Watchtower Organization because "Jehovah is using the WT Society and its Faithful and Discreet Slave to provide the truth to all mankind."
I listened to the Circuit Servants when they made their rounds telling me that Armageddon was imminent. I would never graduate from high school before the New World would be established. I trusted them.
I graduated, married, and became a father. Then the WT Society told me about the coming expectations that would occur in 1975! The New System no longer was years away but rather it was a matter of months before the Tribulation would begin! I was thrilled when that information was first presented at an assembly! I trusted the Society, because Jehovah was directing them!
1985 brought more changes to my life. My oldest daughters graduated, and began to attend college even though it was discouraged by the Elders. This brings me back to the the AWAKE! article. The writer talks about the "blind" trust exercised by Conan Doyle when he believed two young girls had "played with fairies in the garden of their home in Cottingley, England." Quoting the fourth paragraph of page 5: "Can you see the trap that Conan Doyle fell into? He blindly trusted the story purely because he wanted it to be true...We can be fooled simply because our perceptions are dulled by habit, and we look at things through half-closed eyes. Sometimes we accept a thing as true because it is something we want to be true." The fifth paragraph on page 5 says: "Of course, you might think that this is an extreme example and that Conan Doyle was more foolish than you would ever be. But it is not just the gullible who are in danger of being deceived. Many careful and normally cautious people have been fooled and deceived by seemingly trustworthy people." This is very true! I had great trust in the Watchtower Society, yet I was also being deceived in a way that consequently brought much heartbreak into my life.
Quoting page 6, paragraph six; "The Bible encourages us to test out what people say rather than just blindly accept everything we hear...no one who is genuine will take offense if we check out his credentials." This is good advise! I began a systematic study of the Scriptures in 1985 without the fetters of the WT Society. I knew that I could "trust God" and He would guide me through the Bible.
In 1986, my wife, one daughter, and myself disassociated from the WT Organization after discussing WT doctrine with the elders. I told them about my research in to the WT chronology teachings. I told them that I could no longer support their 1914 teachings, due to inconsistencies in when the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. I also told them that time was running out on the WT's affirmation that this 1914 generation would not pass away before the end would come.
Why did I do this? Because I began to trust God and no longer blindly trusted the WT Society. It was not reliable, whereas the Bible was. Now, the WT Society has changed its explanation of what is a "generation." They have also changed their doctrine regarding the judging by Jesus. Yet the elders have not returned to my home to tell me that I was within my rights by questioning the validity of the Society's teaching about the "time of the end." I doubt they will do so.
Owing to our leaving the WT Society, its shunning doctrine took its toll on our lives. My wife's entire family has not talked to us since 1986. Several members of my family have not spoken to us since then either. Except for two JW relatives, none of the rest even acknowledged the marriages of our daughters, and the births of our three beautiful grandchildren. All because we no longer blindly trusted the WT Society and its doctrines.
I retired a few months ago. Yet, I was taught that I would never even graduate from high school before the New World would be here. Somehow, paragraph 5 of the article seems to fit very appropriately here: "Only a very naive, inexperienced person is going to trust blindly every word he hears." I am no longer naive, nor inexperienced. I am no longer "easily deceived and manipulated." What really surprises me is the WT Society's publication of the "To Trust or Not To Trust" article in the first place. You know you require total, unequivocal, unquestioning "trust" by JWs in your Organization. The very fact that I was shunned for disagreeing with some of your teachings prove that fact. JWs are required to "blindly trust" the Faithful & Discreet Slave.
Perhaps someday you will also see the error of your shunning doctrine. But it will be too late for us. Our family relationships are already destroyed, without any hope of ever being re-established. Our JW relatives do not even love us enough to acknowledge the existence of their great grandchildren (our grandchildren) yet they claim a strong love of Jehovah and HIS ORGANIZATION. This great hurt and sadness caused by the shunning doctrine can never be healed. Sadly, this has also occurred to thousands of other honest persons who left the WT movement when their consciences would no longer allow them to continue to "blindly trust" the Organization.
Sincerely yours,
Tyrone A. Scharrer
(Contact Mr. Scharrer over E-mail: scharrer@cris.com)
If a person would ask this question to a Jehovah's Witness the answer would be an emphatic "NO" yet is this what's being taught from the Watchtower headquarters? Is there an exception for the Watchtower organization? According to Watchtower publications there must be.
Going back to the publication "The Finished Mystery" which was published after the first Watchtower president's death, and was a gathering of his writings, the society claimed . .
"Though Pastor Russell has passed beyond the veil he is still managing every feature of the harvest work".
It also states that by the Lord's arrangement he is supervising the work yet to be done . . (Pages 144 & 256).
The July 15, 1960 WT pg.38 speaking of the information from heaven to earth as "channeling" says . . . "the slave class serves as the channel of communication from heaven to earth . . . organizationally the discreet slave class since 1919 has been channeling flow of biblical publications . . . that contain waters of truth . . . as emanating from God's throne in heaven".
More recently the Society's "REVELATION, It's Grand Climax" book on page 25 openly states . . "the anointed ones already in heaven may be involved in communicating of divine truths today . . "
There are many more statements made through the Watchtower pages about the dead Jehovah's Witnesses in heaven teaching "TRUTHS" to the organization here on earth today. They call such communication from the dead as "channeling" and this term is well known by the "NEW AGE" religion. They also have communication with the dead . . "spirits" etc.
Remember Deuteronomy 18: 10-12 . . "There shall not be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord . . . "
The Apostle Paul gave some good advice to follow in 2 Cor. 6:17&18 . . "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
"Millions now living will never die." Rutherford made this statement first during a public talk back in the 1920s. He even wrote a book with the same title a few years later. Referring to this statement, the January 1, 1997 Watchtower magazine states, "this may have reflected overoptimism at that time. But today that statement can be made with full confidence...the end of the system is very very near."
Today this statement can be made with full confidence? A statement like this would obviously lead one to believe that millions alive today-this generation-will never die. However, since the Society has redefined the word "generation" (effective with the November 1, 1995 Watchtower), it can't actually use the term. Instead, it continues to hint-in the strongest possible sense-that individuals who are alive today will live to see Armageddon. For example, consider this quote from the March 1, 1997 Watchtower. The article entitled "Time is Running Out" refers to present-day ridiculers who say "Even if Jesus is present, he will not execute judgment in my day." The article then comments on these ridiculers. "How wrong they are. If they do not die from other causes in the meantime, the fear inspiring day of Jehovah will definitely overtake them, just as the cataclysmic flood brought an end to a wicked generation in Noah's day," the article states. "Present-day" people will "definitely" be overtaken?
Again and again the Society refers to this generation without actually using the word. And to avoid being destroyed in this generation, JWs around the world keep working hard for their salvation, hoping they have done enough and taken in enough knowledge to prevent Jehovah from destroying them at Armageddon. Meanwhile, Jesus urges them to turn to him alone for salvation-not to the teachings of an organization. "You are searching the Scriptures, because you think that by means of them you will have everlasting life; and these are the very ones that bear witness about me. And yet you do not want to come to me that you may have life."-John 5:39,40
In an article in the July 1, 1996 Watchtower, entitled "Jehovah's Great Spiritual Temple" we read the following statement about Jesus. The article comments, "At the time of Jesus' baptism, God's heavenly abode was anointed, or set apart...the man Jesus Christ was born again as a spiritual son of God." But was Jesus really anointed and born again at the time of His baptism? Let's compare this teaching with Scripture to determine whether the Society's doctrine agrees with the Bible.
Luke 2:11 says, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." The angel called Jesus the "Christ," a term that literally comes from the word "anointed." Therefore, according to Scripture, Jesus was anointed from birth, not 30 years later at His baptism.
But what about Jesus being born again as "a" son of God? In John 3, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, was trusting in his physical descent from Abraham to get him into the Messiah's kingdom. But Jesus wasted no time in getting to the point with Nicodemus. "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." The only way Nicodemus, or anyone, would ever see God's kingdom was to experience a spiritual rebirth, which Jesus points out only comes by believing in Him (John 3:16,17). Jesus, on the other hand, had been conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born as the Son of God. (Unlike the statement from the Watchtower article, which refers to Him as "a" Son of God, the Bible always refers to Him as "the" Son of God.) Furthermore, Jesus was sinless. In other words, Jesus had no need to be born again. Jesus came to provide redemption (Luke 19:10, 1 Timothy 2:5,6), not to be redeemed. And since Jesus possessed life within himself (John 5:26), he had no need to receive it from anyone else.
The February 8, 1996 Awake! has two leading articles focusing on the topic of trust. The primary themes emphasized throughout the articles include being careful about who we trust, and testing what others say by the Word of God. Unfortunately, few JWs heed the advice of the article.
One of the articles, entitled "To Trust or Not to Trust", makes the following statement: "Someone who trusts too much may be gullible and as a result, easily deceived and manipulated."
This is an amazingly brazen statement for the Watchtower Society to make, especially since those individuals who trust the Society and read its literature are the very same individuals this statement is referring to.
The article continues by stating, "This is not destructive cynicism. It is a realistic reminder of the need for caution. Only a naive and inexperienced person is going to trust blindly every word he hears." Another statement provides some excellent advice for JWs. It states, "The bible encourages us to test out what people say rather than just blindly accept everything we hear...No one who is genuine will take offense if we check his credentials."
What wonderful advice! The Society insists that JWs should be able to test the credentials of anyone who provides them with instruction. If that individual-or organization-is genuine, they should be more than willing to allow JWs to test their credentials.
This advice from the Society forces us to ask an important question: Will the Society also encourage JWs to test its own credentials? Not hardly. JWs are forbidden to test or even question the credentials of the Society or its doctrines. The only "credentials" JWs are allowed to examine are those provided in its own publications, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, a book published by the Watchtower Society that tells JWs only what the Society wants them to know.
So, why won't the Society allow itself to be put to this test of genuineness? The answer is obvious: because the truth about their past and the present is more than enough to prove they are anything but genuine.
For more than 50 years, from 1895 until 1953, the Watchtower Society taught that Jehovah lived in on the star Alcyone in the solar system of Pleiades. (For exact quotes, see Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 3, (pp. 327-328), Reconciliation (p. 14), and The Golden Age (p. 540). Then, in the Nov. 15, 1953 issue of THE WATCHTOWER, the Society revealed "new light" and renounced this longtime belief of the Society.
On a more recent note, the Society has also changed its 60-year-old doctrines surrounding the meaning of "this generation" (see the Nov. 1, 1995 issue of THE WATCHTOWER). This only leaves one wondering how long it will be before the Society changes its teaching regarding the year 1914, blood transfusions, celebrating birthdays, or even how one receives eternal life.
