WELCOME TO FREEDOM BEACON MINISTRIES

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT CHARLES T. RUSSELL

CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL
(February 16, 1852 - October 31, 1916)

RUSSELL’S ADVENTIST INFLUENCES:

William Miller (1782-1849)--American Baptist preacher. Followers called "Millerites". Began Adventist movement in 1830s. David Koresh (Waco, TX) also influenced by Millerite doctrine.

Jonas Wendell (1815-1873)--Adventist preacher, taught 1874 date of Christ’s return.

Nelson H. Barbour (1824-1908, NY)--Millerite Adventist taught that the rapture would occur in April, 1878. Paired up with Russell 1876-1881. Influenced Russell by teaching an invisible return of Christ. Split over differences after failed prophecy of Christ’s return in 1844 and debate over Christ’s ransom.

SOME STRANGE TEACHINGS OF C. T. RUSSELL

Pyramidology--John Taylor & Chas. Piazzi Smyth--early pyramidologists who made calculations based on the architecture of the Pyramid at Gaza. These theories were integrated into the prophecies of Russell, later denounced by his successor, Joseph F. Rutherford.

God was said to reside upon and rule from the star Alcyone, within the star cluster Pleiades, which is part of the Small Dipper.

Truth: "A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God. . . . Accept
truth wherever you find it, no matter what it contradicts" (WT 7/1879, pp. 8-9).
Lying to people you consider to be God’s enemies is justifiable as theocratic "war strategy". (WT 6/1/1960, p. 352).

Phrenology--Russell believed that a person’s desire to worship God is based on the shape of his brain.

TERMS USED BY C. T. RUSSELL WITH OCCULT ROOTS

"Millennial Dawn" (title later changed to, "Studies in the Scriptures")--A series of 6 volumes published by Russell in 1886.

"Golden Age" magazine published by Russell in 1919. Later renamed "Consolation" (1937), and then "Awake!" (1946).

* Both terms reflect the influence of "The (Hermetic Order of) the Golden Dawn"--magical/religious movement, who’s most renowned member was Aleister Crowley*, world’s most famous occultist.

"Watchtower"--The "Guardians of the Watchtower" were the spirits of the 4 elements used in Enochian ceremonial magic. These elements are invoked during ritual as protectors & advisors.

"New World" Translation--as in "New World" Order??? Incidentally, The "Golden Age" is said to be the obsolete term for New World Order.

* FURTHER NOTES ON ALEISTER CROWLEY (1875-1947)--Famous English occultist who also claimed to be a Freemason. Crowley was an influential member in several occult organizations beside the Golden Dawn. He is the best known occultist in the world and is responsible for bringing into the mainstream much of what has become the western occult movement. He was often referred to as the "wickedest man in the world". He shared membership in the Golden Dawn with famous Irish occult writer William Butler Yeats, who was also a good friend of Charles Taze Russell. It is apparent, therefore that Russell and Crowley travelled in the same circles and must have known one another.

BELIEF IN "ANGELIC MESSENGERS" HAS OCCULTIC ROOTS

ENOCHIAN MAGIC--" . . . based on the 16th century writings of Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelly, who claimed that their information was delivered to them directly by an angel." Later, it was rediscovered and integrated into the Golden Dawn and brought into the arena of modern occultism by Aleister Crowley. (Wikipedia.org)

The writings of both Joseph Smith, Mormon founder, and Russell were said to have also come about through angelic messengers. "Angels hear the instructions and then pass it on to the remnant; they have been doing so since 1919", Russell said. (Vindication, V. 3, p.250)

Furthermore, for many years the JWs have used Johannes Gerber’s translation of the Scriptures, even though it was well known that Gerber claimed that spirits "helped him in his translation" (WT 2/15/1956, pp. 110-11). As late as 1976, Gerber was still being cited in WTS books and articles--long after his spiritistic practices came to light. In fact, it was not revealed, and Gerber was not renounced by the WTS, until a Watchtower article in 1983. (April 1, p. 31)

BELIEF THAT CHRIST IS MICHAEL THE ARCH-ANGEL IS ALSO A BELIEF HELD BY FOLLOWERS OF SATANISM:

In his book, "Satan, Prince of This World", William Guy Carr gives us a glimpse into the teachings and practices inherent in the Satanic Black Mass. He says, "Adepts are taught that Satan is the eldest son of God (Adonay) and the brother of St. Michael. The Luciferian dogma teaches that St. Michael, the archangel is one and the same celestial being as Jesus Christ and states that God (Adonay) sent St. Michael to earth in the form of Jesus Christ in order that he could halt the Luciferian conspiracy on this earth. . ." The WTS, too, has taught from the beginning that Jesus was Michael the Arch-angel, before he was sent to earth by Jehovah.

Another ritual that is part of the Satanic Black Mass is the rejection of Christ's body and blood (his atoning work on the cross). The host is passed around as it is in the Christian Communion observance, but no one partakes, therefore showing their rejection. At the Jehovah's Witnesses' annual "Memorial" of Christ's death, the ritual is the same: the host is passed but no one partakes. The WT teaches that only the 144,000 with the heavenly hope are allowed to partake. As it is believed that there are very few of this class left upon the earth, it is not uncommon for the host to be passed through the entire congregation with no one partaking of it, the same as in the Black Mass.

USE OF WINGED SUN DISK EGYPTIAN OCCULT SYMBOL

The "Holy Order of the Winged Disk" is an old magical organization dedicated to hermetic, Cabalistic, Rosicrucian and other occult practices. The symbol originated in Egypt and supposedly demonstrates that there is a seed of truth in every tradition. Obviously, Russell subscribed to this belief, as his teachings involved a blend of mysticism, occult, Adventism, Millenialism, and even Luciferianism. The WT asssembly hall in New York City displays this symbol prominately in its architecture on the face of the building. The building is still in use today.

Double-click images to view larger.

by Vince T.

In reply to Aaron Lundstrom's letter to the editor [found at http://newsblaze.com/story/20081212133443zzzz.nb/topstory.html] and titled, "The Role of Accurate Knowledge in Faith", Mr. Lundstrom makes this statement about the leaders of Jehovah's Witnesses:

1973 "Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book." (Watchtower; July 1, 1973, pp. 402.)

Please check out this link:

THE NEW WORLD TRANSLATION

(WATCHTOWER SOCIETY BIBLE TRANSLATION)

Readability:                Although this is not the first Bible to be printed by the Watchtower Society (they also once published a Greek Septuagint and a Greek Interlinear Translation), the 1961 New World Translation (NWT) was the first to contain both the Old and the New Testaments. Note that no reputable Bible scholar supports the NWT as accurate in its renderings of key Christian concepts, especially in its attempts to strip Jesus of His deity (e.g. John 1:1; Col. 1:15-18) and the Holy Spirit of His personhood (see notes on back). In fact, in addressing the NWT’s attempts to support the Watchtower Society’s preconceived, heretical theology, Dr. William Barclay concluded that it was a “deliberate distortion of truth” and that “it is abundantly clear that a sect which can translate the New Testament like that is intellectually dishonest.”¹

Reference Support

Material:                    Rather than pointing to reputable scholars for support, the Watchtower Society has historically pointed to the sympathetic renderings in the translation by Johannes Greber—a Catholic priest turned spirit medium who re-translated the Bible after receiving his interpretations from spirit entities! In fact, the WTS continued to cite Greber’s support some 30 years after his spiritistic practices were revealed, until his history was exposed by individuals outside of the organization. They also deceptively claimed that Greek scholar, Bruce Metzger, agreed with their heretical rendering of John 1:1 (where the Word is rendered as “a god”). However, Metzger’s comments were taken completely out of context, causing him to subsequently state that such a rendition “is not justifiable” and “entirely in accord with the Arian theology of the sect.” ²

Number of

Translators:                Five former members of the Watchtower Society, none of whom were Hebrew or Greek scholars, despite the Watchtower’s claims. Their identities were kept anonymous (supposedly under the pretense of humility), but some former members of the Watchtower Society later exposed their identities. They were: Nathan Knorr (then president of the WTS), Frederick W. Franz (Knorr’s successor), Albert D. Schroeder, George Gangas, and Milton G. Henschel (who also later became president of the WTS). None had a college education except for Franz, who never completed even an undergraduate degree, nor did he major in either Greek or Hebrew. When challenged about their lack of credentials as translators, the WTS stated that “the particulars of their university or other educational training are not the important thing”.³

Translation

Philosophy/Format:    The NWT has traditionally been claimed, by Jehovah’s Witnesses, to be a word-for-word rendering (as opposed to a “thought-for-thought” rendering) of the KJV, except that the archaic English of the KJV has been modernized. However, even if it were not for its erroneous and even heretical renderings (despite WTS claims to be free of sectarian bias), the KJV is based on the Textus Receptus, while the NWT is primarily based upon The New Testament in the Original Greek by Westcott & Hort (which was based on the Codex Vaticanus)—completely different manuscripts!

Notes:      

• The word “other” is inserted into the text of Colossians 1:15-18, in several instances, to make it appear that Jesus is—not before ALL creation (as Creator), but only before all OTHER creation (once He was created by God the Father).
• The name “Jehovah”—a man-made term based on a modern translation of the Hebrew Yahoveh--is forced throughout the NWT’s Greek New Testament. Such an interjection is completely unreasonable since it mixes two languages together. This has been done in an effort to separate the OT Yahweh from Jesus Christ as LORD in the NT--again stripping Jesus of His Deity.
• The Hebrew word "ruach" (wind or spirit) is translated in the NWT as "active force". This is done to strip the Holy Spirit of His personhood and, thus, His status as the third personage of the Godhead. From there (and in combination with their attempts to likewise strip Jesus of His Deity), it is a rather easy progression to disclaim the Trinity doctrine.
• The Greek word Parousia (which speaks of Jesus’ Second Coming) is translated as "presence", in order to justify the WTS’s teaching that Jesus’ return was in 1914 and that He is now ruling the earth as an unseen “presence”.
• The words "sheol," "hades," "gehenna," and "tartarus," mostly translated as "hell" in other translations, are left in the NWT in their original Hebrew and Greek forms. This is done in order to justify the WTS’s rejection of Hell, since each term can be given an entirely different interpretation.
• The Hebrew word ne'phesh, and the Greek word ψυχή psykhē, are both translated as "soul" in the NWT in order to support the WTS’s stance that the soul is merely the person himself (not the immaterial part of the person which survives after death). The WTS teaches that death is the end of all conscious existence (or, “soul sleep”), until the time when all people will be resurrected to judgment--to receive either the reward of life forever on paradise earth or to return to the unconscious state of death.
• The Greek words kosmos and aion, typically translated as “world” and “age”, respectively, are rendered as "system of things" in the NWT.  This is done to justify their Paradise Earth doctrine that states that the world will not be destroyed in Armageddon--only this wicked “system of things” will be done away with so that the earth can be restored to the paradise-like conditions of Eden.
• Where other translations translate the Greek word ekklesia as "church", the NWT uses the word "congregation". The two terms do not equate, since any group can be a “congregation”, but only the church is called to be the bride of Christ.
• The Greek word staurós, rendered as "cross" in almost all New Testament translations, is rendered as “torture stake” in the NWT. The WTS claims that "staurós" refers to a single upright post with no crossbeam. It may be a matter of semantics, but the Jehovah’s Witnesses belabor the point in order to draw a line of separation between themselves and the whole of Christendom.

Sources:

• ¹ Rhodes R, The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions, The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response, Zondervan, 2001, p. 94
• ²  Metzger, Bruce M, The New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, The Bible Translator 15/3 (July 1964), pp. 150-153.
• ³ The Watchtower magazine, December 15, 1974, p. 768

Recommended reading:

• Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, by Ron Rhodes
• Kingdom of the Cults, by Dr. Walter Martin (NOTE: More information about the NWT and its “translators” can be found on pp.122-124).

Candy Gwen Pouliot, for Freedom Beacon Ministries, 7/10/08

1) Speaks in Jehovah's name…

2) The things that would come to pass...

3) Thereby promoting true worship which is in harmony with God's Word.

1) Be God's only mouthpiece for today;

2) Have revelations from God;

3) Be the sole group with understanding of

the Bible;

4) Be God’s only Spirit-directed

organization.

Some quotes from their own literature:

"It is of importance to every individual on earth to identify the group that Jehovah

has commissioned as His servant' or messenger." Watchtower, March 15, 1972

"Who is this prophet? . . . not one man, but a body of men and women... known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses." Watchtower, April 1, 1972

"...the time must come, and that shortly, when those making up Christendom will know that really a 'prophet' of Jehovah was among them." The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah, p. 70

"...Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force ... To it alone God's sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book."

"God by his holy spirit" has directly "revealed" things to its "early Bible students ... far in advance." Watchtower. July 1, 1973

HOW CAN WE TELL A FALSE PROPHET FROM A TRUE PROPHET?

Jesus warned about false prophets in Matthew 7:15, 16, saying: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them".

The Society itself concurs, saying: "A 'prophet' claims to have inspired information for the direction of others. A 'false prophet' would mislead others, to turn them away from God and toward false worship." Watchtower, June 15, 1974, p.381

Regarding the "fruit" of such ones, the Society further says that God "will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets."

In addition, the Society says: "The best method of proof is to put a prophecy to the test of time and circumstance. The Bible invites such a test... the Bible ...establishes the rules for testing a prophecy at Deuteronomy 18:20-22."

The Watchtower’s use of Deuteronomy 18 is correct. It does, indeed, give us the criteria for judging the authenticity of someone who claims to be a prophet. It says: "But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death." You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."

The Society has, in fact, invited us to examine its prophecy track record, stating: "Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a 'prophet' of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can

be done is to review the record. What does it show?" Watchtower, April 1, 1972

The record shows that, from its earliest beginnings, the organization has predicted specific time frames for the end of the world and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In fact, founder, Charles Taze Russell, began to predict these events as early as 1874. Here are just a few of the major dates that have been set by the Watch Tower Society:

1914: ". . . the 'Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already

Commenced."

The Time is at Hand, 1908 ed, p.101

1925: "...Since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other faithful ones of old ... we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal

representatives of the new order of things on earth."

"Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilees."

NOTE: The WTS was so convinced that this would occur in 1925, they bought a mansion in San Diego, California, which they called Beth Sarim (meaning, House of the Princes), for the purpose of housing the resurrected patriarchs! After this prophecy failed, then President, Joseph Rutherford resided there until his death. Thereafter, the property was quietly sold. Most JWs today have no idea about this debacle!

1975: "According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975." Life Everlasting, p.28

"Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end."

When these events did not transpire, the Society deflected criticism without ever bailing on its false prophecies. Then, it simply spurred adherents to go on.

Regarding 1925, they said: "With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time, God will accomplish his purposes concerning his own people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year that they would fail to joyfully do what the Lord would have them to do." Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1925, p.3

"It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated the thought that 1925 should see an end of the work, and that therefore it would be needless for them to do more."

In spite of its failures, the Society continued to imply that certain years were scheduled for Armageddon and that it would only be "months away": "Receiving the sift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but

the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon."

Oddly enough, the Society admits that such activities, when practiced by others, amount to false prophesying:

"True, there have been those in times past

who predicted an 'end to the world,' even announcing a specific date. Some have gathered groups of people with them and fled to the hills or withdrawn into their houses waiting for the end. Yet, nothing happened. The 'end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? . . . Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them." Awake, Oct. 8, 1968, p.23

Furthermore, they have said: "False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are. They will try to avoid . . . being pronounced spiritually dead by Jehovah's loyal worshipers."

In spite of this evidence to the contrary, the Society now teaches its followers that it never claimed to be an inspired prophet!

Contact: Freedom_Beacon@yahoo.com

Watchtower FALSE DOCTRINES

WT: Jehovah is God’s true name. Superstitious Jewish Scribes removed it from the Bible, but our New World Translation faithfully restored it to the OT & inserted it in the NT where it made sense to do so. Using Jehovah’s name is essential to salvation (Rom. 10:13 NWT).

TRUTH: OT Scribes used the Hebrew consonants YHVH. Later these were combined with the vowels from "Adonai" (Lord). The result was "Yahovah", later translated "Jehovah"—A Man-Made Term! As the word has Hebrew origins, it cannot be forced into the Greek NT. In all of the Greek manuscripts we have, "Kurios" (Lord) or "Theos" (God) is used—Never Jehovah—not even when quoting the OT!

* NOTE: It is not the use of the name itself that is problematic, but how the WT uses it to skew theology!

WT: The word "Trinity" is not found in Scripture. The doctrine is incomprehens-ible, deceptive & confusing. It is pagan in origin and could only have originated with Satan, so as to reproach God and turn men away from Him. Trinitarians are polytheists and their God is a 3-headed freakish monster, difficult to love and worship.

TRUTH: The concept is throughout the Bible. We are baptized in the name of all three persons (Mt. 28:19). Jesus used God’s name "I AM" and the Pharisees sought to stone Him for blasphemy. (Jn. 8:57-59 cp. Ex. 3:13, 14). Only God has the power to forgive sin. Jesus often healed by forgiving sin. (1 Jn. 1:9; Mk. 2:5-7). Jesus is the creator and the Alpha & Omega (Heb. 1:2, 3; Col. 1: 16, 17; Jn. 1:1; cp Rev. 1:8 with Rev. 2:8). Jesus is Eternal Father, Mighty God, Lord (Isa. 9: 6, 7; cp.10:21; Titus 2:13; Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 3:12; Phil. 2:11)

WT: The Holy Spirit is not a person. He is not God and is not equal to God. It is God’s "active force"—akin to electricity or wind--by which He accomplishes His will. It came upon Jesus at His baptism and enabled Him to do miracles.

TRUTH: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He has a mind (Eph 1:17; 1 Cor 2:11; Rom 8:27), a will (1 Cor. 12:11; Acts 16:6), & is able to be grieved (Eph. 4:30). He performs the actions of a person:

--As a Teacher (JN 14:26; 15:26)

--As a Counselor (JN 16:7, 8)

--He can be lied to (Acts 5: 3, 4)

--He lives (1 Cor. 3:16)

--He fellowships (2 Cor. 13: 14; Rom. 8:14)

Scripture speaks of us as having God, Christ, AND the Holy Spirit ALL within us. (Cp. Eph. 2:22; 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 3:17)

He also intercedes in prayer for us, just as Jesus does (Rom.8:26 cp Heb. 7:25)

Jesus is a created being, thus making Him a ‘son’ of God. He is the highest ranking angel: the arch-angel, Michael. He is and always has been submissive to the father--they are in no way equal. He was not an incarnation of God, but merely a perfect man. (NOTE: The WT claims that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not equal to God in an attempt to destroy the Trinity doctrine.)

TRUTH:

* Heb. 1:5— "To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son’?"

* Dan. 10:13 indicates that there is a class of arch-angels and Michael is one of them.

* Phil. 2: 5-11 Jesus divested himself of His glory to take on the cloak of humanity. (ASK: Does v. 9-11 mean that His name is above Jehovah’s name, or that He’s Deity?)

* Col. 1:15-20--Jesus is before ALL things. (NOTE: The NWT inserts the word "other" 5 times in this passage: "all other things") to strip Him of His role as the Creator.

v. 19—the fullness of God dwelled in Him. * NOTE: "Firstborn" (v 15) means supremacy or pre-eminence (in v. 19).

WT: Jesus died when His spirit went out of Him, but since He didn’t return to heaven right then (Lk. 23:46), He obviously stayed in the grave until He was raised 3 days later. (NOTE: To the WT, this also proves that Jesus was merely a mortal man.)

Jesus was resurrected as a spirit because flesh & blood cannot inherit the kingdom (1 Cor. 15:50).

Jesus took on and discarded physical bodies so that he could appear to His disciples and show His wounds to Thomas. That’s why His disciples thought He was a ghost and did not recognize Him.

TRUTH: There is a difference between a spirit (like God) and a spiritual (glorified, resurrected) body:

A spirit does not eat as the risen Christ did (Lk. 24:36-43). A spirit does not have hands and feet, or flesh and bone, as the risen Christ did (Lk. 24: 39, 40)

The disciples did not think they’d seen an apparition. They just couldn’t believe their eyes (v 40)--they knew He said He would rise, but apparently required physical evidence to fully believe it.

The context reveals that the disciples’ eyes were kept from recognizing Him (veiled).

WT: Man is a soul (a living being)—He does not have a soul. Body + Life force (breath) = Soul (1 Pet. 3:20; Gen. 9:5; Josh. 11:11). People die and return to dust just like animals do (Gen. 3:19). That we don’t die is Satan’s lie (Gen. 3:4). The dead are conscious of nothing (Eccl. 9: 5, 6). This is true of both righteous and unrighteous dead, until the resurrection on judgment day. The dead are merely "asleep" (unconscious), until they are resurrected (1 Thess. 4:13-17)

TRUTH: The Hebrew word for soul (Nephesh) is used in a variety of ways: A living person; man’s immaterial nature (Gen 35:18 KJV); the "inner man" (seat of emotions (Dt. 28:65; Job 30:25; 3:20; Ps. 13:2; 6:3; 42:6; 43:5; 86: 4; Gen. 42:21; 2 Kings 4:27).

In context with the rest of Scripture, we know that man does have an immaterial nature: Mt. 10:28; Rev. 6:9, 10 (Heb. Nephesh = Gk Psuche). Lk. 23:46—in context, Pneuma (translated as "spirit") can only mean soul. Since Jesus was not raised for 3 days, His human soul must have gone to the father (cp Acts 7:59; see also: Lk. 20:38; Phil.1:21-23).

Gen. 3:19 refers to physical, bodily death: the body was formed from the dust while the spirit/soul/life force came from God. The punishment for sin was aging, the failing of their physical bodies, and death. Satan is the one who denied that God would make good on this pronouncement.

* Eccl. 9:5, 6 is from the standpoint of carnal man who does not know God. From that standpoint, everything is vanity (futile), which is the premise of Ecclesiastes.

* "Sleep" applies to body only. The soul does not pass into a state of unconscious-ness. It is also a fallacy to say that sleep is a state of unconsciousness.

WT: In the aftermath of Armageddon, surviving JWs will work to clean up the earth and will restore it to the garden-like conditions of Eden. All JWs living there will gradually be restored to a state of perfection like Adam and Eve enjoyed. From heaven, the 144,000 will reign over the "Great Crowd" who will live forever on the earth. If anyone sins, they will be killed immediately.

TRUTH:

* The context of Mt. 6:10 refers to things Jesus was asking for His disciples right then.

* Ps. 37: 9, 11, 29—The Heb word Eres, in this context, refers to the land of Judea which God had given Israel as an enduring inheritance. The Hebrew word for "forever" (‘ad), in the OT, is often used to indicate that a promise would endure for generations.

* Ps. 115:16—In context, God had given the earth to all men to rule over (cp. Ps. 8:6-8; Gen. 1:28). All who are born again look forward to living with Christ in heaven (Jn.12:26).

WT: Salvation may be obtained if one clings to and unquestioningly obeys the organization and remains active in service to it—a works-based gospel. Jas. 2:26 says that faith without works is dead. Therefore, you will die if you do not do works. Phil. 2:12 says we must "work out" our salvation.

TRUTH:

* Eph. 2:8, 9—Salvation is by Grace alone (cp Titus 3:5; Gal. 2:16). Human righteous-ness is as "filthy rags" before God (Isa. 64:6). Salvation comes only by believing in Christ (Acts 16: 30, 31; JN 3:15; 5:24; 11:25; 20:31), not in man or an organization.

* Jas. 2:26 is not speaking of salvation. James is pointing out that works are evidence that our faith is truly alive.

* Phil. 2:12—In context: the church at Philippi had real problems in Paul’s absence. Paul was urging them to work hard to preserve the unity of the congregation.

* Read all Scriptures in CONTEXT.

* Use the KJV

* Don’t let the JW control the conversation

* Watch for circular reasoning and topic

hopping.

* Witness in a spirit of love

* Define all terms

* Know WHY you believe what you believe

Contact: Freedom_Beacon@yahoo.com

NOTE: I did not compile the following information, but it is wonderful. One of FBM’s members found this at the link below. Someone has gone to a great deal of work to compile this wonderful expose of the WTS. I have added some highlighting, italics, and headings, in order to make info. and sources easier to locate.

WT publications compared with the Bible:

http://blueletterbible.org/study/cults/exposejw/chap1.html

WHAT IS A PROPHET?

1. Is the Society* a true prophet of God?
1A. How does the Society define "true prophet?"

The three essentials given through Moses were:
1) ...Speak in Jehovah's name...
2) The things foretold would come to pass...
3) His prophesying must promote true worship being in harmony with God's Word and the prophets."

Aid to Bible Understanding, p. 1,348
1B. How does the Society test the true prophet's message?

"The best method of proof is to put a prophecy to the test of time and circumstance. The Bible invites such a test ... the Bible ...establishes the rules for testing a prophecy at Deuteronomy 18:20-22."

Watchtower, March 1, 1965
1C. Does the Society believe that a true prophet exists today?
Yes. In fact, the Society says, "It is of importance to every individual on earth to identify the group that Jehovah has commissioned as His servant' or messenger." Watchtower, March 15, 1972

1D. Does the Society believe that a true modern prophet would have the same authority as the Old Testament prophets?
Yes. Society members are told that there existed such a group and then they were asked to look for it-"...any group on whom Jehovah would be willing to bestow the commission to speak as a 'prophet' in His name, as was done toward Ezekiel..." Watchtower, March 15, 1972

1E. Does the Society claim to be the present day true prophet?
Yes. "Who is this prophet? ...not one man, but a body of men and women... known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses." Watchtower, April 1, 1972

1F. Where does the Society/Prophet claim to get its direction?
"Jehovah's Witnesses today make their declaration of the good news of the kingdom under angelic direction and support." In other words, angels tell the Society what to say and do. Watchtower, April 1, 1972

1G. Does the Society desire and expect Christendom to treat the Society as a prophet of God?
Yes. The Society fully anticipates this: "...regardless of how Christendom views or regards this group of anointed witnesses of Jehovah, the time must come, and that shortly, when those making up Christendom will know that really a 'prophet' of Jehovah was among them." The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah, p. 70

1H. What role does the Society claim for a prophet in these days?
What should a prophet be doing? The Society spells this out in three ways:
1. "The modern-day counterpart of Ezekiel"
2. "Do the will of Jehovah"
3. "Serve as the mouthpiece and active agent of Jehovah"
The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah, p. 58

1I. Does the Society claim that it has been prophesying for God today?
Yes. "The facts substantiate that the remnant of Christ's anointed disciples (the Society [see context]) have been doing that prophesying to all nations." They claim God's Spiritis "poured out" on them. They ask: "Why argue about it?" Holy Spirit—The Force Behind the Coming New Order!, p.148

1J. Does the Society claim that prophesying and preaching are the same ministry?
No. The Society claims that their members have been "preaching and prophesying from house to house and city to city...", thus clearly distinguishing between the two ministries. Both preaching and prophesying are regular activities of the Society. Holy Spirit—The Force Behind the Coming New Order!, p. 150

1K. Does the Society/Prophet claim any special knowledge concerning the Bible?
Yes. The Society published a six-volume work entitled Scripture Studies which it described as "the Bible in an arranged form." It amounted to a running commentary on the Bible. The Society claims that if someone were to "ignore" the Scripture Studies "and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years...within two years he goes into darkness." The Society further claims that if a student "had merely read Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." Watchtower, 1910, p.298

1L. Does the Society believe that it is the only organization that has God's Spirit or can understand the Bible?
Yes. It has made this clear when it said, "...Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force ... To it alone God's sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book." Furthermore, it claims that "God by his holy spirit" has directly "revealed" things to its "early Bible students ... far in advance."
Watchtower. July 1, 1973

1M. Has the Society ever prophesied concerning the future and had that prophecy fail the test of "Time and circumstance" (see 1B. above)?
Yes. In fact there are many such "failed" prophecies (see False Prophecy Fact Sheet). Keep in mind, as you study these prophecies that the Society . . .
1) Claims to be God's one and only prophet today
2) Claims to have revelations from God
3) Claims to be the only group that understands the Bible
4) Claims to be the only Spirit-empowered organization on earth today.

2. Has the Society made false prophecies?
2A. Does the Society claim to be a true prophet of God, and does it ask that we examine its prophecy record?
Yes. The Society states this explicitly when it says: "So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help ... and to declare things to come?
These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? ...This 'prophet' was not one man, but was a body of men and women...known... as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses..." It should be noted that even from its earliest beginnings the Society considered itself to be a true prophet of God. The Society does not expect others to just trust that it is a true prophet: "Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a 'prophet' of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?" Watchtower, April 1, 1972

1914

2B. Has the Society predicted that 1914 A.D. would mark the end of earthly rulership?
Yes. The Society made such a prediction in 1908: " ..the 'Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced" (i.e., it began before 1908). The Time is at Hand, 1908 ed, p.101
1874
2C. Has the Society declared that the earthly arrival of King Jesus took place in October, 1874?
Yes. "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present since October, 1874, A.D." Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. IV, p.621

2D. Has the Society declared that the Millennium—the 1,000-year reign of Christ—began in 1873?
Yes. "The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great thousand-year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that great Seventh Day, the thousand years of Christ's reign, began in 1873." The Time is at Hand, 1916 ed., p.ii

1925

2E. Has the Society predicted that the visible, physical return to earth of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would take place in 1925?
Yes. "...Since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other faithful ones of old ... we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p.89

2F. How certain, in the minds of the Society, was the 1925 resurrection date?
As certain as any date could be. This is evident by various statements including the following:
1) "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel." Watchtower, Sept 1, 1922, p.262
2) "Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilees."
Watchtower, April 1, 1923, p.106

2G. When 1925 arrived did the Society begin to back down on its prophecies about the significance of that year?
Yes. "The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time, God will accomplish his purposes concerning his own people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year that they would fail to joyfully do what the Lord would have them to do." Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1925, p.3

2H. As the year 1925 progressed, did the Society indicate even more doubt about 1925 being the resurrection year—the year the new order begins?
Yes. Rather than suggest that a mistake was made or that God changed His mind, the Society subtly began to back down even further: Typical of this erosion process is the following:

"It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated the thought that 1925 should see an end of the work, and that therefore it would be needless for them to do more." Watchtower, 1925, p.262

2I. Was there disappointment among the Society members because of the failures concerning the predicted dates?
Yes. Most definitely and so much so that public admissions were printed: "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918 and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time." Vindication, Vol. I, p.338

2J. Did the Society attempt to deflect criticism by clinging to the dates even though the prophecies concerning them went unfulfilled?
Yes. Basically the Society clung to the position that the dates were valid in spite of the lack of fulfillment: "Later the faithful learned that those dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures . . . " Vindication, Vol. I, p. 338-339

2K. Did the Society indicate that as a result of disappointments it had decided to quit setting dates?
Yes. They seemed ready to give up the practice of fixing dates: "...they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass." Vindication, Vol. I, p. 339

2L. Did the Society, nevertheless, continue to imply that certain times and years were scheduled for Armageddon?
Yes. This was done with great care but the implication was always clear: Armageddon was only "months away," that is, less than a year. A typical example of the subtlety of these suggestions is seen in the following report: "Receiving the sift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon."
Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1942, p.288

2M. Does the Society admit that such prior date setting activities amounted to false prophesying?
Yes. In its own literature it reveals its attitude toward such activities: "True, there have been those in times past who predicted an 'end to the world,' even announcing a specific date. Some have gathered groups of people with them and fled to the hills or withdrawn into their houses waiting for the end. Yet, nothing happened. The 'end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing?

"Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them." Awake, Oct. 8, 1968, p.23

1975

2N. Has the Society concluded its date-setting activities or has it prophesied other dates such as 1975?
It continues submitting new dates. A classic example is an entire article devoted to a prophecy concerning the year, 1975. This was calculated to be the year of the end of this present age. Its title: "Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?" Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p.494

2O. Has the Society confirmed the 1975 date as accurate?
Yes. "According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E." Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God, p.28

2P. What did the Society members believe about the 1975 date? Would it be the end of the present system of things?
Yes. According to Erroll Burton, spokesman for the Paradise Valley Unit of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Arizona, the 1975 date would mean "'A change in the political system of things,' when 'all presently existing influences must be eliminated. After 6,000 years of the deterioration of mankind, there will be 1,000 years of refining mankind...' 'At the end of that period, man will be perfect, as Adam and Eve were before the fall.'"

The Society clearly has instructed its followers that 1975 represents "...the end of the world as we have known it," and it predicts that the "...thousand-year reign of Christ will begin." The Arizona Republic (newspaper), Aug. 24, 1969

2Q. Did the Society members begin to get rid of their possessions and make special sacrifices in order to prepare for 1975? Did the Society condone this activity?
Yes. In various ways this information was reported and evaluated. The Society's attitude is revealed in the following: "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end." Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, p.3

3. Has the Society admitted to and covered up false prophecies?
3A. First, does the Society believe that a false prophet could. Exist today, and, does it believe that such a prophet could be an organization rather than just an individual?
Yes. It has gone into some detail in describing the false prophet's activities and purpose: "Similarly, the 'false prophet' is not a person, but is a system or an organization. A 'prophet' claims to have inspired information for the direction of others. A 'false prophet' would mislead others, to turn them away from God and toward
false worship." Watchtower, June 15, 1974, p.381

3B. Does the Society believe that God will reveal false prophets? If so, how will he do this?
Yes. The Society expects God to uncover the true character of false prophets. He "will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets." Paradise Restored to Mankind, pp. 353-354

3C. How does the Society anticipate false prophets to react to exposure?
"False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are. They will try to avoid . . . being pronounced spiritually dead by Jehovah's loyal worshipers." Paradise Restored to Mankind, p. 354

3D. Has the Society admitted to making false prophecies?
Yes. They admitted to looking "forward to 1914 with joyful expectation. When that time came and passed there was much disappointment." In other words, their predicted date concerning the end of the age had come and gone without fulfillment (see II.B. above). They became the subject of criticism "because they had said so much about 1914, and what would come to pass, and their 'prophecies' had not been fulfilled."

Here we have an example of the Society stating categorically that it had delivered a prophecy that time and circumstance demonstrated to be false. Light, (A Society publication), Book I, p.194

3E. Is the admission of making false prophecies an isolated item, or has a Society leader—under oath in court—ever admitted that the Society made such prophecies?
H.C. Covington, the then Vice President of the Society was on the witness stand in Scotland in 1954. When asked if the Society had "promulgated (i.e., set forth or taught publically) a false prophecy," Covington said "I agree to that." He was then asked if this false prophecy "had to be accepted by Jehovah's Witnesses," to which he replied, "That is correct." Walsh vs. Clyde, Scotland, Nov. 1954, pp. 340-343

3F. Has the Society tried to reverse itself (on its well-established claim to be a true prophet) since its 1975 prophecy failure?
Yes. The Society now teaches that "Jehovah's Witnesses as modern-day Christians are working hard to get this good news preached to every individual. They do not claim infallibility or perfection. Neither are they inspired prophets."

This is an amazing reversal! For almost 100 years the Society has claimed to be a "true prophet of God" and now they reveal that they are not inspired-leaving us to conclude that their many prophecies have not come from God. Watchtower, May 15, 1976, p.297

4. Has the Society altered any of its chronological calculations over the years?
[Note: We must realize that the society has placed a tremendous amount of emphasis on chronology during the century of its existence. Precise calculations of the dates of certain events—especially of those related to the beginnings of mankind—have been the basis for many of the Society's predictions. The creation date of Adam and the creation date of Eve have been the subject of particular attention because they relate—according to past Society literature—to the calculation of the beginning of the Millennium, or 1,000-year reign of Christ.]

4A. According to the Society, is the creation date of Eve important for calculating the date of the Millennium?
Yes. The exact date of Eve's creation was the beginning of God's "rest day" because (logically) Eve was God's last creation. Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1975, p.519

4B. Does the Society know when Eve was created?
No. According to the Society, the biblical record "shows a time lapse between the creation of Adam and that of his wife, Eve." Why was there a time lapse? What, for example, was going on? "During that time, God had Adam name the animals? Whether that period amounted to weeks or months or years we do not know?" No date can be established— even approximately—for Eve's creation date? Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1975, p.579

4C. Has the Society ever given a date for Eve's creation?
Yes. "According to reliable Bible chronology, Adam and Eve were created in 4026 B.C.E" Awake, Oct. 8, 1968, p.14

4D. Has the Society been able to predict a date for Eve's creation in spite of the reports of Adam's activities before her creation? On what basis do they do this?
Yes. The Society reasoned that ". . .it is logical that He (God) would create Eve soon after Adam, perhaps just a few weeks or months later in the same year, 4026 B.C.E." Watchtower, May 1, 1968, p.271

4E. Has the Society tried to explain the obvious contradiction between an unknown creation date and a 4026 B.C.E. creation date for Eve in its authoritative Bible study aid?
No. The study aid only confirms the impossible: it says that Society knows Eve's creation date!

1. At 130 years Eve gave birth to Seth.
Aid to Bible Understanding (1969), p.533

2. Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born?
Aid to Bible Understanding (1969), p.333

[Note: Before the 1975 prediction date of Christ's return, the society authoritatively supports a specific creation date for Eve. Aterwords they conveniently back down on their calculation.]

5. Has the society distorted the record of any of its past activities?
BETH SARIM

[Note: Beth-Sarim, which means "House of Princes" in the Hebrew language, was a handsome estate built in San Diego in 1930 by the Watchtower Society. Its history is variously represented by the Society.]

5A. What was the purpose of the construction of Beth-Sarim?
Beth-Sarim was, according to a recent Society yearbook, built as a home for one of the Society's presidents: "...a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for Brother Rutherford's use." 1975 Yearbook, p.194

5B. Did the Society, at an earlier date, give an entirely different purpose for constructing Beth-Sarim?
Yes. "...the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today ... who believe that faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth." Salvation, p.311

5C. Did the Society actually believe that certain resurrected Old Testament saints would come back and live in Beth-Sarim?
Yes. "...those faithful men of old may be expected back from the dead any day now...in this expectation the house was built... it is now held in trust for the occupancy of those princes on their return." The New World, p.104

5D. Does the deed to the Beth-Sarim property reveal the Society's original purpose for the estate?
Yes. While it is true that Rutherford was to have "exclusive possession" of the house during his lifetime, it was also true that that possession was to be relinquished upon the soon anticipated arrival of "David," "Joseph," "Samuel," etc. to the earth "for the express purpose of being used by those who are servants of Jehovah
God."

Page iii of the deed indicates other Society members could equally make use of the property "until the same be taken possession of by David or some of the other men herein named [from Hebrews chapter eleven] and this property and premises being dedicated to Jehovah and the use of his kingdom it shall be used as such forever."

It is interesting to note that the Society later sold the house. Deed to Beth-Sarim, Dec. 24, 1929

6. Has the Society distorted or misquoted various reference sources in an attempt to support its position on the Trinity?

6A. Did the Society misquote and misrepresent well-known Greek scholars H. E. Dana and J. R. Mantey?
Yes. The Society quotes Dana and Mantey out of context by asserting that their grammar (A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament) supports the translation "the word was a god" at John 1:1. Kingdom Interlinear, p. 1158

In a letter to the Society authored by Mantey himself we read: "...Because you have been quoting me out of context, I...request you not to quote the Manual Grammar... again, which you have been quoting for 24 years." He also asked them to "publicly and immediately apologize" for their misrepresentation. Mantey Letter, p.3

Why was Mantey so disturbed? His conclusion (found both in his Grammar and his letter) is that John 1:1 should be translated either "the word was deity" or "the word was God," not "the word was a god." Mantey estimates the evidence "to be 99% against" the Society's translation. Mantey Letter, p. 2

[Note: A word about John 1:1 is appropriate here. In this passage an important principle of Greek grammar is evident which has been a source of confusion for English readers.

Note first the order of the Greek words as seen in the Greek text (consult The Emphatic Diaglott or The Kingdom Interlinear, both Society publications):

KAI THEOS ÊN HO LOGOS And God Was The Word

In Greek there is no written indefinite article ("A" or "AN")—just the definite article ("the"). The indefinite article is often implied before a noun even though nothing is actually written down to tell the reader it is there. But this is not always the case. The word theos standing alone without the definite article might be translated "a god" if it were not for another principle of grammar. That principle is discussed in Mantey's letter to the Society. Mantey Letter, p.1, 2

And what does that principle mean? E. C. Colwell discovered that when a predicate noun (in this case theos) is in the nominative case (that is, in the same case as the subject of the sentence—the subject being logos) and is placed before the verb (instead of after the verb as is usually the case), it has no article—even when it is needed. In fact, Colwell also discovered that it is indefinite (i.e., with "a" or "an") only when the context demands it. (see Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. LII (1933) pp. 12-21 from which Mantey quotes.)

Harner (see Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. XCII (1973)) went on to discover that in 53 passages in John's Gospel, the Apostle John used this type of word arrangement to "express the nature of [the] character of the subject." Thus Mantey is right when he suggests the translation "the word was diety" or "the word was God" which stresses nature.

The translation "a god" inserts an indefinite article that is unwarranted by either grammar or context. The translation "a god" makes Jesus another God, makes John the Apostle a polytheist, and makes a mockery of Deuteronomy 32:39 which reads "there is no other god with me"—that would make Jesus a god against the Father!"]

6B. Did the Society quote the famous Bible translator Westcott out of context?
Yes. The Society gives the impression that Westcott supports the concept that John 1:1 should be translated "the Word was a god" (note the small "g"). Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1975, p.63

But as can be seen, Westcott holds to an entirely different view based on the grammar:The Word was God "...simply affirms the true deity of the Word." He held to the triunity of God, not the polytheism of "the word was a god." The Gospel According to St. John, p.3

[Note: A consultation with virtually any commentary on John 1:1 or any Koine Greek grammar on the use of the article in the New Testament will lead to the same conclusion reached by Westcott: The statement "simply affirms the true deity of the Word."]

6C. Did the Society misrepresent the New Catholic Encyclopedia on its position concerning the trinity?
Yes. The Society suggests that the New Catholic Encylopedia denies the historic trinity: It teaches that ..this doctrine was unknown to the Hebrew prophets and Christian apostles ... it also admits that the doctrine must be dated as from about three hundred and fifty years after the death of Jesus Christ." The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, p. 22

A simple reading of page 306 of the New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. XIV, will demonstrate that both conclusions by the Society were erroneous. Clearly, Paul and the Gospels taught the triunity of God and the Catholics hold to this belief. New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. XIV, p. 306

6D. Does the Bible actually teach the doctrine of the trinity—a doctrine the Society strongly denies?
Yes. The trinity is the only explanation for the relationship given in Scripture between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity & THE NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST

7. Does the Society deny the Biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is worthy of worship?
7A. Does the Society teach that Jesus rejects worship?
Yes. "Do not erroneously conclude that Christians are to worship Christ; that is not what he taught."
Watchtower, July 15, 1959, p.421

7B. Does the Bible reveal the worship of Christ as an appropriate and acceptable activity?
Yes. No one is rebuked for worshipping Christ in Scripture.

7C. Does the Society attempt to cover up the worship of Christ in Scripture in order to deny this teaching?
Yes. The word proskuneo is translated as worship (when used with reference to Jehovah) 22 times in the Society's New World Translation. The same word when used with reference to Christ is translated "obedience," "reverence," and "homage." The Bible clearly teaches the worship of Jesus, but the Society in an effort to obscure this fact has avoided the ususal and normal translation of proskuneo.

7D. Has the Society ever contradicted its position by encouraging Jesus worship?
Yes. "Christ (is) to be worshipped as a glorious spirit, victorious over death on the torture stake."
Make Sure of All Things, p. 85

8. Is the name "Jehovah" actually the name of God?
8A. Does the Society believe that "Jehovah" is the name of God? Yes. They have used it for more than 50 years and state categorically that it is "a translation of God's name, in Hebrew YHWH." Make Sure of All Things, 1953, p.188

8B. God's name?
No. They hold that "there is no such name as Jehovah." The name of God as it appears in Scripture is without appropriate vowels so, "no Hebrew can pronounce it today."

8C. Where did the mistranslation "Jehovah" come from?
"'Jehovah' is generally held to have been the invention of Pope Leo X's confessor, Peter Galatin." Letter, Michael Esses

The Jewish Encyclopedia, p. 88
"'Jehovah' is a mispronunciation... almost entirely disregarded by the Jews ... of the Hebrew 'YHWH' the... name of God... this pronunciation is grammatically impossible; it arose through pronouncing the vowels...of 'Adonay' (the Lord) ...with the consonants of ' YHWH. "

The Jewish Encyclopedia, p. 87
8D. Is there any basis for the Society using "Jehovah" as the name
for God?
No. "The pronunciation Jehovah has no authority at all and appeared only in late medieval times; it is an attempt to vocalize the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) usinq the vowels written under it by the scribes, which vowels however were never intended to be combined with the four consonants of this word."

Grant and Rowley, Dictionary of the Bible, p. 334
8E. If "Jehovah" is incorrect and not the name of God, what is the correct name?
It is Yahweh. "That the pronunciation in ancient times was Yahweh is concluded from transcriptions in the early Christian fathers." Grant and Rowley, Dictionary of the Bible, p. 334

9. Has the Society altered the Scriptures to suit its own particular needs?
9A. Where has the Society altered the text?
Take any Greek text or modern translation and compare it with the New World Translation (a Society publication) at:

John 1:1 (Note the added "a")

Colossians 1:15, 17 (Note the inserted "other")

Colossians 2:9 (Note the change from "deity" to "divine quality")

Titus 2:13 (Note the change from "God our Savior" to "God and our
Savior")

Revelation 3:14 (Note how "of" is changed to "by")

These are just a few examples of the alterations.

9B. To what can we attribute the mistranslations by the Society?
In court and under oath F. W. Franz, current president of the Society and one of the admitted translators of the New World Translation, lied about his ability to translate Scripture. He admitted he could not translate "a Bible verse." Lack of integrity and preparation, along with a marked theological bias has led to a number of outrageous errors in translation. Walsh vs. Clyde, Scotland, Nov., 1954

10. Does the Society err in its teaching about the cross of Christ?
10A. According to the Society, how did Jesus die?
The Society claims that Jesus was impaled on an upright, single-pieced "torture stake." Kngdom Interlinear, pp. 1,155, 1,156

10B. How does the Society support its claim that Jesus died on "torture stake" instead of a "cross"?
The Society quotes 16th century writer Justus Lipsius in his De Cruce Liber Primus. Kngdom Interlinear, p. 102 & 103

10C. What does Justus Lipsius say is the method of Christ's death?
While it is true the Lipsius pictures the death of a man on a tree, e points out rather emphatically and in considerable detail that his was not the way Jesus died. In fact, he even includes a picture o Christ's death on the cross a few pages later. Reading from his ext we find: "In the Lord's cross there were four pieces of wood, the upright beam, the cross-bar, a tree trunk (piece of wood) placed blow, and the title (inscription) placed above." The Society has completely misrepresented Lipsius' drawing and findings. De Cruce Liber Primus, p. 19, 46, 47

1OD. Does the Bible teach that Jesus died on a cross?
Yes, without any doubt. Consult the Bible at John 20:25; 21:18, 19, att. 27:37, Mark 15:27, etc.

11. Has the Society ever altered its publications without notice to suit its changing prophecies?
Yes. Quietly the Society shifts its position when an embarrassing pophecy is made and then remains unfulfilled. For example, a crucial change was made in the 1923 version of Studies in Scriptures in order to bring it into line with the Society's changing prophecies. The earlier version has: "...the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest..."

The 1923 version has: "...must take place very soon after 1914 is manifest..." Studies in Scriptures

12. Given the strange twists and contradictions of the Society over the years, is there any relationship between the Society and mental illness?
Yes, unfortunately. Members of the Society, according to an Australian study are "three times more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia and nearly four times more likely from paranoid schizophrenia than the rest of the population at risk."

Why? Either the Society "tends to attract an excess of pre-psychotic individuals who may then break down, or else being a Jehovah's Witness is itself a stress which may precipitate a psychosis. Possibly both of these factors may operate together." John Spencer, The Mental Health of Jehovah's Witnesses

13. If Jehovah's Witnesses are not the truth, then what is? The truth is found in the Bible and not in the Watchtower Society (as has already been demonstrated.) Two steps must be taken: First, Jesus Christ must be given rightful Lordship in our life. Second, the Society member must break his ties with the Watchtower Society

Response to "Anonymous" Reader