An Open Letter to the Watchtower Society
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 12:38PM 
The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
This is an open letter to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society. Please print a copy and sent it to any number of departments at Brooklyn Bethel or any of the other 100 branch offices of the Watchtower Society around the world. Most of the branch overseers read English.
Bethel has occasionally produced articles counseling Jehovah’s Witnesses on the need for them to be quick to apologize when they may cause offense. But what about the Watchtower? Has it ever apologized? Personally, I’m fairly familiar with everything the Watchtower has published over the years and I am not aware of any instance in which the Society has ever apologized for anything.
Of course, the Watchtower Society is comprised of many men. And no doubt, as individuals you likely have apologized to others on occasion. But as for the individuals who write and speak for the Watchtower organization itself, that is another matter entirely. And this is truly unfortunate, because from God’s standpoint, Jehovah judges his organization as if it were a single person. Does not Jehovah refer to his nation as "Jacob" and "Israel"? Does not Christ have a congregation, his body? Is not the Watchtower viewed by Jehovah’s Witnesses as the very manifestation of the faithful and discreet slave? (singular) And more than that, the Watchtower expects Jehovah’s Witnesses to show unwavering loyalty and obedience to everything the so-called slave class utters.
So, while the Watchtower frequently counsels Jehovah’s Witnesses on the need for them to be quick about apologizing to others, in order to keep the peace; sadly, the Slave of Christ has never followed his own counsel.
When one does not practice what they preach – be they individuals or an institution like the Watchtower – that is called hypocrisy.
You men who write and speak for the Watchtower Society; likely you may feel there is nothing over which Bethel ought to apologize. But what about the thousands of children who have been sexually abused and molested by men who were themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses?
(It is here acknowledged that a Watchtower spokesman once expressed regret for the victims, and he declared that Jehovah’s Witnesses abhor the scourge of child abuse, but that is not good enough. The reason it is not good enough is because the Watchtower has never publicly acknowledged that it has played any part or has been negligent in any way in regards to the many children who have been harmed.)
And yet privately the Watchtower has paid out millions of dollars in recent months to abuse victims in order to keep the plaintiffs out of court. Of course, the payment of an out-of-court settlement is not the same as an admission of guilt, not legally anyway; but everyone knows that it is a tacit admission. If the Watchtower was not at fault, if the abused plaintiffs had no case against the Society, why would Bethel allow itself to be shaken down that way? Why would the Watchtower’s attorneys timidly hand over millions of dollars of donated funds from hard-working Jehovah’s Witnesses if the lawyers of the plaintiffs had no case and were merely extorting money from the Society? Why not go to court and depend on Jehovah for victory? The answer is obvious. The plaintiffs had a winnable case. Like any corporation, the Watchtower took the most expedient path to dismiss the cases against it.
So, why not sincerely and publicly apologize to the victims of abuse and the entire brotherhood under your domain? The Governing Body and the Legal Department well know their guilt. And thousands of elders who have sat in on judicial cases and had dealings with the Watchtower’s legal team in times past also know quite well that in many instances Bethel gave direct orders to elders forbidding them to contact the police in order to report that a crime had been committed against a child in their congregation. Children and their parents were at times even threatened with judicial action if they even attempted to expose pedophiles in the congregations.
Jehovah and Christ liken their people to sheep. They are precious to them. Jesus gave his life for his Father’s sheep. Jesus said it is not a desirable thing with his Father for even one of the sheep to be lost. But how many tender, lamblike child abuse victims have been skinned and lost because of the way the elders and Bethel have mishandled their cases?
If even one child has been stumbled and turned their back on God because of mistreatment at the hands of abusers and lack of support and protection on the part of their elders and the Governing Body, would that not be one child too many?
WHY THE WATCHTOWER OUGHT TO APOLOGIZE
The Watchtower Society published an article in 2002, which has also been published on your website entitled: Why Should I Apologize? Here is an excerpt of the article:
When we find out that someone was offended by what we said or did, we may feel that the person is being unreasonable or too sensitive. Yet, Jesus Christ advised his disciples: "If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and you there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go away; first make your peace with your brother, and then, when you have come back, offer up your gift."—Matthew 5:23, 24.
For example, a brother may feel that you have sinned against him. In such a situation, Jesus says that you are to go and "make your peace with your brother," whether you feel you have done him wrong or not. According to the Greek text, the word Jesus here used 'denotes mutual concession after mutual hostility.' (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words) Indeed, when two humans are at odds, there may be a measure of blame on both sides, since both are imperfect and prone to err. This usually calls for mutual concessions.
According to the Watchtower’s own advice, even if the accused is innocent the Christian thing to do is to apologize – for the sake of the offended. Certainly, there are many who accuse the Watchtower of many evil things. It seems that a "concession" on your part could go a long way towards making peace. But an apology can do more than merely make peace. An apology coming from the Watchtower could potentially be life saving to untold thousands among the stumbled. There is no question about it, if the Watchtower’s spokesmen were to come clean, so to speak, and humbly and sincerely make a confession of their double-dealings and hypocrisy, it could be like a breath of fresh air for many who have been sickened by your dealings.
Commendably, the Society has expressed interest in those who have been disfellowshipped; and some years back Bethel initiated a program, whereby, once a year the elders are to call upon those in their territories who may be disfellowshipped, to see if perhaps they could be assisted to take steps to come back to the congregation. As an elder back in the late 80’s, I participated in that program and called on a disfellowshipped man in our territory and made a few follow-up visits; he began coming back to meetings and was eventually reinstated. That was very gratifying for me personally.
The Watchtower has the opportunity to extend their healing hand to many thousands of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses who have left in disgust or who have been disfellowshipped for disagreeing with the Organization on various things, and many others who have simply left off studying because of so many stumbling blocks. If a simple article expressing the faithful slave’s deepest apology for having stumbled so many could restore the faith of at least a few who have fallen away, would it not be unconscionable for the Watchtower not to offer a few words of sincere regret and apology?
Assuredly, Jehovah will judge you accordingly.
Robert King
Reader Comments (36)
I doubt that the Society would ever offer an apology, their legal department wouldn't allow it. Even if they did apologize, how empty those words would be unless they took steps to right the wrongs. Are they going to look up all the abuse victims and tell them that they were wrong for silencing them? I highly doubt it.
It makes me sick to think of all the pedophiles that have been protected, and how the victims were victimized a second time by the elders in the congregation. These men have gone to great lengths to hide the skeletons in the closet. In order for anyone to offer an apology there would need to be a feeling of remorse over their course of action, correct?
Those in the ivory tower feel no regret or remorse, they are very cold-hearted individuals from what I've seen. Can't even be bothered to respond when a sheep asks for help. They way they handle the situation is to either deflect attention away from themselves, pass the buck by putting the blame on someone else, or they just ignore the situation and hope you go away.
The interesting outcome is how Jehovah and Jesus provide comfort through other avenues, since the shepherds in charge are too busy protecting themselves from liability to care for the sheep.
Thanks for the fine article, Watchman. It's good "food for thought".
As for the WTBS apologizing for anything I also find that extremely unlikely.
I noticed that the WT article: “Why Should I apologize”(2002) also quotes a clear basic teaching from Jesus Christ's Sermon on the Mount:
"If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and you there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go away; first make your peace with your brother, and then, when you have come back, offer up your gift."—Matt. 5:23,24
Why haven't the leadership of the WTBS humbled themselves in this regard and obeyed this clear command from Jesus Christ?
Jesus words couldn't have been more clear. Could they? Jehovah the God of peace demands(through His Son) that before we go out and offer our Christian “gift”(sacrifice of praise or otherwise). We must “first” do what we can to “make your peace your brother” who “may have something against” us.
How important is this making peace? Can't we just do God's will without all this “peace stuff”?
Peace. Is this not a fruit of God's Spirit? (The 3rd one mentioned in fact). How can we accomplish God's Will without it? If we are not at peace (at least) with our fellow worshipers, how do we know we truly (even) have God's Spirit? Indeed, if we're not (fully)at peace with our brothers (already) in the congregation, what are we doing knocking on strangers doors and building things in the name of the Kingdom anyway? Are we trying to bring more persons into the congregation for us to (potentially) not be at peace with?
If someone [in the congregation] has something against us” are we to simply ignore them as we busy ourselves with the Kingdom Building work or the evangelizing work and imagine it to be acceptable “sacred service”?
If we reason this way. Do we really (even) understand the thinking of Jehovah God and that of His Son?
But what if we have a pressing “bible study” to conduct or an urgent “ Kingdom building project”?
Can't all the peace making wait? Why can't we just put it off until we're finished? Won't Jehovah God lovingly understand?
Please note Jesus clear instruction on this matter:
He commanded us (and this would be applicable even if only "one" brother had “something against us”) to: “leave your gift there in front of the altar”. Yeah that's right! Until we try to make peace with our brothers. Freeze! Just leave it! (For now) Put it down! Just step away from the book bag or building tools! (They're still be there when we're ready for 'em) Our priorities may be far too twisted for us to be trying to preach or build anything at this time.... How could we even think about things like that when we're not at peace with the brothers! But our Lord tells how we can remedy the situation so we can resume to offer our humble “gifts” to our Loving Heavenly Father.
How?......
….. first make your peace with your brother,” - Matt. 5:24 (I sure hope we understand what the word: FIRST means ...)
(Will This not involve heartfelt communication? And I would not a sincere apology be a fine start to making peace with our brother? Though putting forth efforts to 'clear the air' with our brothers may be challenging at times the good news is .. )
“then,[and only then] when you have come back,” _ Matt 5:24 (now that we've talked, listened and [likely] apologized we can now we can pick up our “tools'” be it for building or preaching and) “offer up [our] gift."
The question is?
Why haven't the high command at the WTBS humbled themselves by obeying Jesus Christ in this matter?
If the WTBS has documented evidence (via letters and other communication) that not one but thousands (if not many times that amount) have “something against” them. And they've NOT obediently obeyed Jesus simple and clear command to “first make your peace with your brother”,(by giving a long overdue but sincere apology) ......
Is there any (scriptural) reason to believe that of their (overt acts) of “sacred service” could in any way be acceptable to Jehovah the God of Peace or his Son Jesus Christ The Prince of Peace?
(((((__ Q __)))))
In our imperfect human society under the misleading influence of the devil many sad and horrible things do happen. Secular laws at best protect society to a certain extent. They provide a measure of stability so that people can go on with their lives with some sense of security. Unfortunately, the system is riddle with corruption. As a result criminals escape punishment even for the worst of crimes.
However, we should not think that Jehovah has turned a deaf ear to our plight. There lies the hope of a better world for mankind. Better, because God’s long-range view of things will make for the complete eradication of the problems facing mankind. We can be certain that once God’s kingdom supercedes the kingdoms of this world, the human race will be free from corruption.
Concerning the world to come, God says:
Isaiah 11:9
They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.
Good Article and it makes sense! IF only people had meaningful and positive dialog FROM and with the Governing Body members and others in a leadership position, most problems could be handled to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. But no, there is only SILENCE when a letter is written and sent to the WTB&TS.
What a crying shame or should I say SHAM by the leadership of the society? Are we not judged by our actions (or in most cases 'in action') and our fruits?
Oh well, I will continue to try and keep a positive attitude but that does not prevent me from venting concerns and other matters out in the open --just to keep "all things" clear and objective!!
KIM
October 10, 2007
Dear Member of the Legislature and Friends:
This letter is to ask for your help for the many constituents in our country who are being affected unjustly by electronic weapons torture and covert harassment groups. Serious privacy rights violations and physical injuries have been caused by the activities of these groups and their use of so-called non-lethal weapons on men, women, and even children.
I am asking you to play a role in helping these victims and also stopping the massive movement in the use of Verichip and RFID technologies in tracking Americans.
Long before Verichip was known we were testing these devices on Americans, many without their knowledge or consent. With the new revelations of the cancer risk besides the privacy and human rights problems with the use of Verichip and RF signals, I am asking for your help in stopping these abuses and aiding those already affected. Your attendance is therefore requested at a conference call regarding these issues on Monday, October 29, at 11 am EST. After a period of brief presentations, we will have a discussion of these issues with the intent of creating a way forward toward solutions. Here is the call-in information:
TIME/DAY: Monday, October 29, 11 am EST
CALL-IN NUMBER: 1-605-475-8590
ROOM NUMBER: 5888200
To R.S.V.P or for questions, please call: 1-817-269-0301
Sincerely,
Rep. Jim Guest
District Office: 660-535-6664
Capitol Office: 573-751-0246
Does The so called GB put people into torture programs if they want to.............. YES
I went through the 1975 issue and resigned as an elder in 1978 because I felt the Governing Body was not acknowledging or apologizing for building false expectations about 1975.
I wrote them two long letters at that time trying to explain why I felt this way. But they remained silent in their literature and did not respond to my letters until after the finally officially said something in the March 15, 1980 Watchtower.
Two months later I received their answer to my 1978 letters. They said, “We regret that YOU FEEL that the information (about 1975) should have been said earlier. – Letter dated May 14, 1980
What I was hoping for was for them to say that THEY FELT that they should have said something earlier.
I didn’t get any sense of an apology from them for either what they had done or for waiting so long to say something about it.
Robert, you said, “I am not aware of any instance in which the Society has ever apologized for anything.”
The above would seem to be another example of them not doing so.
Don Cameron
don cameron, you seem to twist the words of the letter. from what i read the regret that you feel the apology did not come quick enough (in which case you admit they apologized, and then also followed up with a personal letter), you make it seem like they referenced the 1975 claim. looks deceptive to me!
i think apologizing is a good thing, but demanding an apology reminds me of the screaming kid on the corner of the street demanding a refund for this ice cream because it didn't taste as good as he wanted it to.
that kid has some serious self-reflection ahead of him in life ......
Thank you All for helping me to see , after searching thru the articles , and the comments I can see that there seems to be a deleting of certain comments , not mine , but it seems that the watchtower doctrine of Theocratic warfare is alive and well , so I do not want to stumble anyone away from the Bible so just delete mine also. You can tear me down if you want , thats ok go for it , I will not bother anyone with a comment from this site anymore.
The only comments I have deleted were the psychotic rants of a poster named Watcher
OK , Maybe I am reading to much into it, my bad, at any rate Its a heavy responsibility to even make a public comment so I think I should mostly just read.
Watchman said: "The only comments I have deleted were the psychotic rants of a poster named Watcher"
Watchman,
Apparently, you are not listening. Did you know that gifts given can be taken away? Continue on with your fine work. Perhaps more people will be spared.
:)
It's a good, thought provoking letter. However It only mentions those stumbled by the societies lack of action, ( or rather, It's takeing the wrong action ) with regards to child abuse within various congregations. It fails to address the NGO scandle that stumbled, what? hundreds or maybe even thousands of the faitful right out of the organization. Stumbling others Is a very serious offence. As you know, Jesus said It would be more barealble in the judgement for Sodom then for one who stumbled one of Jehovhas sheep. Oweing to the fact that what you say Is true, that Is that the judgment starts with Gods household first, you my have to resign yourselve to the logical conclussion that these men are beyound forgiveness. Thats not to say they still don't have direction from Jehovah. King Saul lost Jehovahs favor, yet for his own name sake, and for the sake Of Isreal, Jehovah gave Saul time to repent. It isn't so much that they cain't be forgiven as it it more likely that they can not be moved to repentence, their in, makeing themselves to be beyound forgiveness. WHatever happens as far as your letter writting campange, in the end, we must all wait on Jehovah, and not fall into the trap of judgeing others. Take Davids example when he was being pusued unjustly by King Saul, wait on Jehovah, and do not lift you hand against them, for they have set themselves, not in the set Of Moses as the Pharasee's did, but rather have sat down on Thrones next to the master himself and have began to rule on the pretext that they have been found faithful. If we know of this, then you can be cetain that Jehovah dose as well. Wait on Jehovah and you will see justice, even the stumbled shall be regathered at the time when Jehovah judges his worshippers. Read Ezekiel, chapter 34 plz.
Thank you "walkingman" I have been struggling with a decision and your comment gave me a new perspective in the matter.
I think we have to accept the rather disingenuous apology in the March 15, 1980 Watchtower pages 17& 18, with regard to raising expectations regarding 1975. However the first reaction of the society after the 1975 failure was to blame ordinary witnesses for deceiving themselves basing their expectations on their own understanding based on wrong premises. Watchtower July 15, 1976, page 441 para 15. So the society initially accepted no responsibility despite publishing much material between 1966 and 1975 claiming 1975 was the end of 6000 years of human history and the probability that this would be immediately followed by Christ's milliennial reign over all the earth.
The Tyranny Of JW
Greetings.
I saw 2 comments on Youtube by a poster yesterday, ( I will paste and copy) which said this:
“Ok I have a question for you. Do you think God should apologize for the Bible and those who do thier best to adhere to it?
ok and I have another quesition for you.. Do you think that God should apologize for the Bible and for those who dont adhere to it and fall short and sin?”
My point is that the poster is making some sense here as this is how I understand things.
The Watchtower & Bible Tract Society did its best to protect the interests of Jehovah God, when discovering that child abusers were in its midst. It directed the congregations thru the elders to do Gods will no matter what, not thinking out of the box in as much as there is no way that 2 people can witness a child hood abuse attack.
It also hoped I am sure, that the perpetrators would repent and change their ways, hoping for the best but it didn’t happen like that. Some did, but others took advantage of their positions and went on to abuse for years in some instances. Jehovah and his organization cannot be held responsible for unrepentant wrong doers who infiltrate the congregations stealthily. They can expel them, but then if they are seen as genuinely repentant and return to re-offend, who is responsible for that?
Talks would have been given in the congregations as they are today, as ‘Special Needs’ talks to alert the congregations as to the negative influences within but as to alerting the congregation publicly that there was an abuser in their midst, and naming him or her, it would have had a negative effect, even though it would seem this would be the rational thing to do. The abuser would not then be given the chance to repent, but would be ostracised and shunned and never forgiven, by the congregation as is the requirement when someone shows or purports to have repented and turned around.
The laws of the land then make it obligatory for anyone to report such abuse to the authorities and Ceasar took over and started to play its role by implementing laws that all members of the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses now and all religious organizations, have to abide by. So you could say that God did come to the rescue of his organization, by allowing Ceasar to implement these laws to protect the vulnerable the world over.
On the subject of apologies I concur with the poster on Youtube. The WTBS as God's instrument, used here on earth to tell the Good news of the Kingdom and dispense spiritual food at this time of the end, cannot be held responsible for the actions of its members and even if the payouts were seen to be tacit admissions, they were not. I think that this was done to pacify and placate the respondents. The WTBS did its level best to protect the organization by not bringing to light its most awful sinners within, allowing them time to repent and turn around. This is what the Bible requires and it is a very loving thing and shows great trust in Jehovah and also shows me that ultimately, Jehovah is the one who will bring anyone who does not do his will, to account. That then, the sinners choose to re-offend is not the fault of the Watchtower, we all have a responsibility to obey Jehovah’s laws, if we don’t, on our own heads be it.
My 2 cents worth!
God's Word explains that if prophecy is made in God's Name to others and the prophecy does not come true. God's Word says this prophet did not come from God. In fact it says the prophet will die. If the Watchtower has claimed to speak for God and what they have printed does not come true, then they have to answer for their error. If they made a habit of wrong prophecy misleading many, then this makes their wrong more reprehensible.
I do recall one apology where a man of professional nature was quoted (misquoted) and the man himself wrote in and an apology was printed to correct his words as he stated them. I recall my place of residence during those years (1982-1998) when I read it.
Our hearts go out to the Child abuse victims. Their individual accounts of what happened to them while in the care of the Watchtower Organization needs to be told so all can learn. They were the victims. Damaged from a young age. Unable to
take out of their minds the hurt a victim of abuse feels. What makes their situation more hurtful is when compensation is
finally offered to them, it is said a gag order was part of the offer. If this is true. Freedom of speech has been brought. This
quality of freedom to speak given to all by Jehovah. Who of his servants would ever think of offering money to take away
another persons freedom to speak. What ever is done outside the teachings of Christ can not be hidden. Christ died for all,
especially for the abused.
To Whom it May concern ::
If you want to know the EXTENT of the WTB&TS 's SIN against Holy Spirit, there's a sister called Barbara Anderson
she writes for Randy Watters @ "Freeminds.org" and also has her own website ::::: she was invited into the "writing dept" at Brooklyn H.Q. after her husband, Joe & her were in Bethel for 10yrs)) this was around 1991 to do research
for the new "Proclaimers Book". It was during this research, that Barbara discovered in the deep chasims of those
buildings, hidden Libraries, and desks, with letters dating back to C.T. Russells time........
It goes without saying, that the "Proclaimers Book" (history of the WT society) is not the WHOLE TRUTH, and when
you access the books written by our dear 'Christ-like brother Raymond Franz' who passed away in June 2010, after being disfellowshipped for 'aposty' in 1980 along with the Registrar of Gilead & many prominent & faithful bros & sisters (all
thrown out into the street, with no where to go ) sorry that should be "apostasy" above line.....tho havent read his books
"Crises of Conscience" was at the Library a few years back & myself browsed thru it (shocking expose of the B-Org)
Many thousands of Christ's Bros & sisters, have been dismissed, disfellowshipped & have disassociated themselves, after speaking out , about the abominations that have gone on for decades, from RUTHERFORD's time, & even when
evidence shows that Russell was a "Freemason" even willing to be buried under a 'pyramid' standing in the foreground,
of the Pennsylvannia Freemason Temple (picture on youtube, the pyramid has the illuminati 'eye' on top)
Child abuse, was taking place in the organisation since the 70's, & Barbara has an accurate "profile" on one of Satan's
Chief Agents who infiltrated the Gov. Body & became "the Boss" of the H.Q. at Brooklyn, but more seriously as Head Chieftain of the SERVICE & TEACHING Committees, became the 'ruler' of every Branch Overseer, every Dist.O'seer every
Circuit O'seer with dire to fatal consequences for over 7,000,000 God-loving witnesses of Jehovah.....he passed away inJune, 2010..........a co-incidence ???? maybe not ......................Raymond Franz could have saved millions of worthy
subjects of Gods Kingdom, but Satan had him thrown out...............Go figure... but do some research into the B-org, whilst the INTERNET IS STILL AVAILABLE TO US,,,,,,,,,,cheers
Watchman, As has already been said, the Governing Body cannot apologize, it would open them up to lawsuits individually and collectively. We live in a very litigious society, those who have not sued the Society, probably would if the Society or its representatives apologized. I have first hand knowledge of abuse locally and one case was handled in a good way, the family was directed to report to the authorities but chose not to do so. In the other situation years later where an ex bethelite was involved, the brothers helped him and the wife and daughter were left on their own. They said he was sorry and they supported him. The sister and her child left and it took years for her to return to the meetings. She even remarried but asked her new husband to keep his apartment until her daughter became an adult. They were truly traumatized. I was involved in giving support to these families. I truly understand how you feel.
I have been one of Jehovah's Witnesses for more than 20 years. Jehovah has been good to me. I got baptized in my homeland of Jamaica. I came to the United States to live permanently about 7 years ago. I love living here but my spiritual life has suffered greatly as a direct result of living here. I thought because the United States is the HOME of the Watch Tower and Bible Tract, it would have been easier to serve Jehovah here. Big mistake.
I have not been able to connect with any congregation that truly welcomes me. In my country, when a newcomer walks into one of our meetings, he or she is acknowledged, welcome and truly made to feel appreciated. Not so in the United States. I do not know why there is a double standard. Recently i visited the Holbrook congregation in Massachusetts because it is the nearest to where I live. The sisters and brothers, especially the sisters, they look right over my head searching for friends that had not yet arrived, without even saying "Hi" to me. When their friends walk in, they would rush to greet them and hug and kiss them and start long conversations. Holbrook is not the only congregation I have received this attitude from. I sat there all alone feeling like I was in the wrong place. When it was almost time for the meeting to begin, I went to the service desk and ask for a copy of the Watch Tower that contained the study article for that morning. The brother at the desk looked at me from head to toe and did not answer me for a good five minutes. He finally turned around, located one from the shelves, popped it on the counter in front of me and said "please return it after the meeting, it is the only one we have got left". I found that to be very strange since there was only about twenty five people in the Kingdom Hall at the time. How much magazine did he receive?
In Jamaica, whenever we have a new person attending the meetings, they do not even have to ask for a copy of the study article. The sisters would offer up their own in a flash and share magazine with another sister. I often wondered how it was that I would be at work and start a conversation in the lunch room, about Jevovah and Jehovah's Witnesses and no one, I mean no one, had a clue what I was taliking about. They have never heard of the Witnesses. This is United States of America, the HOME of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. In Jamaica, everyone has been acquainted with a Witness at some point or another. They might not be agreeable to what is being said but they have heard about us.
I want to invite one woman I met at work to one of the meetings but how can I when I am scared of going myself?
I have not gone back to the congregation in question. Instead I stay home and read the New World Translation and any old copy of Watch Tower I can lay my hands on.
I seem to remember some years ago, The Watch Tower had brought out an article warning the brothers about forming themselves into "cliques" or "batches" and to widen out instead. The Watch Tower might need to do this again to benefit the brothers in the United States.
I am not trying to criticize the Witnesses. I write this message so that the Governing Body might be aware of what is going on. As for me, I will always be one of Jehovah's Witnesses because Jevovah has been good to me and I personally know him as my creator. Also I am sure there are other Witnesses out there from other Countries or other territories who have been treated likewise. I don't think mine is an isolated case.
2010 Nov 28 - I am confused by today's WatchTower study which seems to imply that we should refrain from the deep things of Satan on the internet. I am still looking for where in the scripture it says these deep things are all on the internet, are there not deep things of Jehovah on the internet, is the re no deep things of Jehovah at watchtower.com? I am also wondering how it is all these deep things of Satan (outside the watchtower.com website) are all on the internet. Before the internet (and even now) are there no deep things of Satan in the NYC library, or in the United Nations library. IT woudl seem to me that Jehovah has gathered all things to the internet as he has to TV, all things bad to one side, and all things good to the otherside. The internet allows us to see priceless treasures of words in documents that churches have locked up for millenia, at the same time that it allows all the bad to gather to be wiped out by Jehovah in a single month or day. Only on the internet can you find and see the actual proof that our history stems down from sons of Noah aside from those who would have us say the Genesis scripture is enough.... while they publish in their magazines their sources beyond the BIble from worldly libraries, Christendom or not. Jesus said to listen to the Pharisees to learn but don't do as they do, while here it seems we have those who say don't listen to the Pharisees at all because that is OUR JOB to go to NYC libraries and United Nations libraries to decide what you should be fed (the same milk we fed you 30 years ago because we decided new ones can't handle the meat the rest of you need). As for the resources of the internet, how are they any different than the 100,000 quotes of worldy books that the average WT book will quote. Are these deep things of Satan, and if not, what kind of Christ says that it is Satan when you listen to Pharisees but not Satan when we listen and pass on their quotes... bad quotes to condemn these Pharisees, and good quotes when we wish to say see this is a truth. For example. the Watchtower in 100 years still publishes the shared belief with Christendom that the Christ Mass Saturnalia comes from Roman solstice. An absolute lie since the date of Christ Mass was given the Egyptian date Koyak 25 whose Dec 25 date falls only in 1498 BC and 38 BC. Though Dec 25 didnt exist in 1498 BC and did in 38 BC, the (Gregorian Dec 20) solstice of 38 BC falls on Dec 22 not 25. In fact the Greek or Persian Dec 25 (Greg.Dec 20) solstice is the 6th century BC for Cyrus in 560bc as 1460 years after Noah, and 522bc as a seasonal 1507 years after Nahor. The existence of a Genesis Christ Mass day as a date (or day and hour) to pick Christ is totally fabricated by incompetent Christendom scholars thatr WT likes to quote, selling to you these simple things of Satan, because dep things of Jehovah can be called deep of Satan. I thought it was only Catholicism who fell back on the "its a mystery" excuse. Yes Catholicsim wants you to believe with faith the simple trinity MYSTERY because understanding how Jesus represents the father is too deep.... are we now declaring anything deep as from Satan so that we keep people from meat, saying there is no deep things of Jehovah?
Even Jesus HUMBLY said they would call him a doctor hypocrite saying Physician heal thyself before you heal us. Someone at the WT isnt learning this. Judas handled the money then, legall he handles the money again, and he killed Jesus then, and will kill the LAMB again.
Clarification: Typo skip... Genesis Christmas is ignored by those who fabricate the solstice Saturnalia connection. Would you beleive Romans who say Saturnalia is solstice, if these same Romans were also saying that Jews worship the devil, the goat-demon, of Satyr on Saturday sabbath. I dont; so if youre a true christian of Jehovah then why do you beleive the false solstice Saturnalia.
The Greek name Koyak (778bc) for the Egyptian month comes from the Dec 25 date in 1498bc and earlier due to 1498bc not being solstice either. 1498bc Koyak 25 on Dec 25 (=Greg.Dec 12 not the Greg.Dec 20 solstice) just as 38bc Koyak 25 on Dec 25 (=Greg.Dec 23 not the Greg.Dec 20 solstice) and yet this Koyak 25 Christmas is found in 12th dynasty Egypt (1943-1730bc) during Abraham. Note the solstice on Greg.Dec 20 is still Dec 20 for 284ad when Julian Dec 20 = Greg.Dec 20, and Julian Dec 25 = Greg.Dec 25. So even though Persian solstice 560-522bc is Dec 25 on the solstice (Greg.Dec 20), this proves its origina for 25th on solstice, but not its origin for being an Egyptian 25th before these years.
First of all I think we need to remember what the bible says about religion. Read the bible and forget about false religions. ask Jehovah for help, love, faith, knowledge etc. I was also a JW but I have realized that they are just another organized religious group.
"just another organized religious group" ? What was Jesus, that's what he was too. What was Noah, that's what he was too. So it doesnt take away from the fact that if you wish to be on Noah's ark, not your own ark, and with the Christian group in Jerusalem not your own group. You do what it requires. You need to go back where Jacob's sons murder and cause him heartache, and today's GB says its Tamar's fault and so excuses these sons where Moses & Jacob did not excuse them. Even Jesus said if you don't need me as savior, then so be it. We go to those who can answer our questions unless we ourselves have those answers. I agree, we read what Jesus said and of everyone in the world if we decide every answer he had was a good one, then we follow. Does the GB have every answer? When they dont have the answer, or they have an answer they publish and it still isnt the answer, do they disfellowship all people who do not accept that answer. I think many JWs have learned to be faithful and discreet not mouthing off how they disagree with those answers. They ride the ark without disagreeing. After all on the other side of the Red Sea and after the Flood (like Ham) you can choose your thoughts and words and have outcome then after Armageddon instead of forcing your outcome now before it. Be wise. If you dont build your own ark, obey the master of the ark you ride. Dont bite the hand that feeds you, even if some of the food you know is spoiled.
Prophecy is fulfilled when the church is followed by enemies as Jesus was trying to force him to apologize. Though Jesus did not sin, so did not apologize. It is still a parallel fulfilled that the sinning church then like Jesus does not apologize.
The Elders are NOT qualified to deal w/ child molesters as any fool knows that these child molesters can NOT and WILL Not change just short of a MIricle.. It's KNOWN FACT..
So how can an ELder or Elders help such a poor ecxuse of a human? They need to keep thier noses more in thier BIBLES rather w/ child molesters and protecting them by saying how much they want to help them..
Turning them over to the POLICE would be BIBLICAL and the right thing to do, but why would they do that? they don't want the Public to really know just how many are there... Now do they?
There are many who have been disfellowsipped from the Watchtower Society for apostacy.
They can not agree with the many errors of this society. Well documented in the societies own printed publications and distributed worldwide to the public. 1914. 1925. 1975. The publications printed looking forward to 1914. 1925. 1975.
The expectations proved to be wrong. So all the buildup to the expectations of these dates proved to be presumptuous
writings. Many were baptized believing what was recommended in print. Many left because of these errors.
When the word apostacy comes up the Watchtower Organization needs to take resposibility for their own apostacy to Christs teaching in what they have printed, starting way back in 1879 to the present day. Many think they should have a feeling of guilt when they disfellowship their members knowing full well their publication bear witness to their own apostacy to the instruction of Christ. Their writings show they have opposed Christs instructions many times.
The fact remains the BIble itself says that those who survive Armageddon must go thru the fire. This doesnt mean the physical fire of Armageddon that will exist, nor its physical Flood that will also return (though it wont cover mountains, and the claim that God promises "not to" will drown many), but mentally the fire goes beyond the world attacking family JWs -- right in the congregation the firwe exists of brother burning brother, and elders do saide with favored brothers and do say to the victim that they are the Salem withc who needs to be burned. Yes, chosen David gets threatened by king Saul, and high-priest Eli calls Hannah a drunk, and Israel says to Samson youre a long haired pagan marrying a Philistine. Those greatest in the congregation may be true victims because the fire will burn those who discover and invent the means of salvation. If you dont like the ark and Noah demands you wear a suit & tie, then get off it. There were indeed other arks that were not survivable whether a log that a drowner grabbed, a raft, a small boat, their floating roof to their house. And the mountains were not as high as the ocean is deep so that in baptizing the mountains they did all go under. Seeing reality is an individual responsibility. I was there, the congregation did respond to my accepting the GBs direction that Eve was created after the 6000-year marker of Adam. She is the 7th day, not Adam. Yet because the congregations think Adam would have been screwing monkeys if he doesnt get a woman, they refused to see a possibility of more than 2 years and said i was without faith for saying so. Yes the halls hid their own sin, it wasnt the WT nor GB. Adam is 4025bc as the 1956WT says at my birth, and 1975 is 6000, all world calendars prove it (including pagan descending form Noahs children). The wicked are those Christians who think we must use Jewish calendars. And yes Noahs 360-day calendar created by wicked angels before the Flood when Adam was 390 does end year 6000 as 1913 May 17 to 1914 May 12. And Mayan shift of 20 days ends theirs on June 1 which happens to be the birth of the IBSA. because Satan attacked the NYC-Peoples Pulpit as the male child of the Mother Pennsylvania WatchTower, the global British child of the 1763ad Proclamation of Free religion purchased by Jehovah protected the IBSA male child from losing its active reign as future king. In essence the IBSA was baby Jesus snatched away from king Herod's slaughter. The IBSA grew up to be queen Esther in 1971, she was attacked in 1976, have fulfilled my role for Ezra 1983 & Nehemiah's 12 years from 1996-2008. I now await the 365-day calendar, which for 4 years has been on the 40 days of Noah every Dec 10 to Jan 19 as was the 40 days of Jesus Easter Sunday Apr 5 to May 15 in 33ad. It is not about Lots wife not being uphill where it is safer; it is about Lot & daughters not going downhill to help her up the hill while bitching. Are you so loving to go help her and die with her? Show me what your world will do on that day.
Examples of congregation apostacy that NOTHING is done about. 25 years ago the Sunday WatchTower study paragraph was answered by both an elder and his wife claiming the paragraph words said that people who survive Armageddon won't have children, and so this is nice because it is not fair to all the ressurrected. More recent a month ago Tamar and Shechem were spoken of and a sister said it was rape (Shechem raped Tamar against her will). Nothing in scripture indicating this. Yet last weeks WatchTower on Sunday said that conductors are not to be using the podium to be the all-knowing Lecturer leaving no time for audience comments, their turn to teach their opinions, and it also implie that comments are not to be publicly corrected. Yet when not corrected you get these people who say that survivors won't have children, and ancient sisters are raped, its only the current ones who are whores. This Sunday's study said specifically that children should not lie to parents when given rules because it is like a debt to a bank in which you lose your credit if not paid back with trust. Well the brother raised his hand when they asked what does a bank do and instead of saying remove your credit, he said they arrest you and throw you in prison. Well I dont see that in USA law much less in that WatchTower paragraph, but it then explains why JWs arrest and beat and imprison their children when Halls say different than the WatchTower paragraph and no one HUMILIATES THEM from the podium like they ought to. (From the Kenosha congregation)
And regarding one paragraph published a week ago saying that when Jesus appeared after death to them, he didnt beat them saying see how you deserted me. True, but they also continued to point to the other apostle saying this one deserted the Christ not I, and scripture also says they argued whether it was better to live for Christ or die for Christ.... well how do you die for him unless its because of your big mouth defending Christ, and how do you morally live for him if it is not by hushing and tucking tail like they did at his death. Yet they continue with who is better and who is not by who should talk and who should keep silent all in the name of proper conduct or finger-pointing apostacy. Do not teh ones turning in their brothers do so by being Christian and refusing to lie?
i really love to be living in these times and see how the devil works , just dig for the truth and the truth will set u free.
i cant look back to my days as a political revolutionary in south africa into a witness today .But judas was once a disciple of christ if u feel illtreated in the congregation wait for Jehovah ,he will do justice in his time but He is no push over
A TRUE Witness will never be, touch one and see. satan love to cause friction be part of it and perish.
Families are made up of a Dad, a Mum and the Children. Children are guided by scriptural principles.
Dad and Mum must live up to these principles. Because children act on what they see by example.
If the Dad never said he was sorry, the family would think. Why? T he Mother and the Children say
they are sorry when they make a mistake or an error in judgement. But Dad never says he is sorry.
All the Family sees his errors, his errors in judgement. And because he has not said he is sorry he
has undermined his freedom of speech with his family. The Bible says pride goes before a fall.
Would it not be better to say you are sorry. And try and retain the families respect.
It may mean going back and recalling all your errors in judgement. Admitting your errors.
Saying you are sorry for stumbling others. For giving wrong information to others. Who
made life changes based on your wrong information. It takes honesty to say you are sorry.
Organizations can give the appearance of being clinically clean, never openly admitting their errors
in judgement. Much like the Dad in the family. The scriptures say openly confess your sins to one another.
An Organizations prints and distributes its judgements. Many see with the passing of time these
judgements have proved to be wrong. Now would be the right time to say sorry.
.
Now would be the right time for them to tell us where we are in light of Bible Prophecy. What is really going on???
How deep are we into the time of the end of this system as we know it??? Tell us about Revelation Chapter 6 and Matthew chapter 25. Let's talk about fullfillment of Bible Prophecy. Is this exposure of the Society along with the Catholic Priests a notification of something??If so What?? How can we survive the Lord's Day, that is what I want to know.
Rosie that is easy. Here goes in an attempt to be brief. The Christ returns and gathers church. That doesnt mean Jesus. Noah gathered his family into the ark. So too Jesus gathers into the ark, but people mistake his return as being HIM since he hasnt died. They think that what was Jesus and apostles turns into a church that sleeps and then awakes. That is only the half of it. Because the church is bride & wife, people look at it as still Jesus and church followers to survive. But in reality when it says all will see again because he will be the same as he was the first time, it means that the church-bride is the christ. When she is gather, she is the christ, she will have surviving children of armageddon because she will do as Jesus did and leave earth the same way he did in trial and death and a rapture from death. In this way all have seen this christ, yet all deny the christ as before, all reject the preaching christ, all kill the preaching christ. And when they find fault with this church-christ it is because it is the "followers", the new apostles, the new elders, the great crowd who is doing the wrong, not the christ church. They say see these people are sinners and taxcollectors and whores, because it is true not all have changed like they ought. It is also because the church-christ is ruled with a Judas at the table. And you will hate the church-christ and kill it as the Lamb you reject as the Lamb. But it will be your Judas who is still in THAT TRUE church whom you people will gladly accept his lead to her to betray with a kiss. REMEMBER guilt with those who sin, if Jesus didnt heal a Roman soldiers ear, then it would have been a sin of Jesus himself to be leading a party who attacks or kills Roman government soldiers. This is the same with members of a church who do wrong and the Leader gets the blame. Shall we kill Noah before the Flood since we can see that his sons Ham & Canaan will be a perverts acfter the Flood. By all means lets not allow a survival? If these JWs have wives that die in a pillar of salt might they not have sex with their daughters? That would be Satan speaking this way.
So the sign is the Lamb will be slaughtered and you will hear from her children that she is appearing for 40 days before another asteroid strikes as it did before. When it did it brought down 40 feet of rain in 40 days and the land went under water for 2 miles for 5 months because all mountains were shorter than 2 miles when the 1-mile Mohoravic Discontinuity layer went into meltdown and flowed in a tsunami of lava magma out under the rising ocean floor dropping all land, and then back to the land raising it while it dropped the oceans. Oceans are not deeper, but land is now higher, the mountains will not go under. God's promise is correct, it will not rain 40 days because the water is gone. And nor will it destroy the whole earth because mountains will stay above. BUT when the Pacific Ocean is struck, the water and steam will be thrown above the air to return a water canopy that will restore plant life over all the earth like a jungle in a single year after this Flood. So not only head to the mountains against martial law, but follow the ones who are one church. Because the law will forbid them, but they live when all others die. But go to the mountains yourself alone and face the hunger of all animals. The hour is here. It will be before 2012. Yes go search and youll see i said this in 1997, and in 2008 & 2009 &2010. But the 365-day calendar matches the winter December 40 days of Noahs Flood & the April 40 day resurrection of Jesus only for these 4 years between leap days. I take that as an omen it is still now though my 2-year potential span has failed. If i am right i truly believe Satan would have me killed for successfully waking the bride up to the fact that SHE is now the return of THE LAMB. The are two Christs in Noahs Flood (Noah versus teh last king fromm heaven Xisuthros which means Christos); when Noah died on Dec 24 of 2021bc then Xisuthros the spirit said he was Noah in a seance in Babel for 40 days. Xisuthros ruled Noah's city for 180 years before the Flood, his spirit has ruled Britain and the USA the past 10 years too. Jehovah only pushes his holy spirit onto these kings when Satan & Xisuthros gets Britain & the US to ignore their 1763 Proclamation that all religion be free to find Jehovah in all global British lands. That license was granted 1914 June 1 in Britain and is legal in the USA. Kill that Lamb, and all nations will face the Creator's power in His Court immediately, in 40 days, that is 10-day tribulation (Revelation of Apocalyse), and an hour rule by the beast (a month is a 12th of a year as an hour is 12th of a day) whether this be 10+30 or 30+10.