To all overseers of Jehovah’s Witnesses: October 17, 2026
As you surely know, as of September 2026, the Governing Body has unceremoniously scrapped its decades-long ban on transfusions of blood components. Now, Jehovah’s Witnesses may not only freely take all previously prohibited components, such as plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets, but also donate blood components.
To appear to maintain their regard for the sanctity of blood, the Governing Body has assured the flock that whole blood transfusions are still banned. However, over the years, the medical establishment has used less and less whole blood in transfusion procedures. Now, only about 1% of transfusions involve whole blood. So, the prohibition on whole blood is irrelevant and obviously intended for show, to give the appearance that the Watchtower is upholding the sanctity of blood. But are they really?
According to the accompanying chart of blood components, plasma and red cells make up virtually 100% of blood, with white cells and platelets being less than 1%. That means a person may be transfused with plasma and red cells and, essentially, 99.9% of whole blood, and yet, according to the Governing Body, this does not constitute a blood transfusion or violate the sanctity of blood. The same applies to donating plasma and red cells.
So, under the Watchtower’s new policy, you may, in good conscience, receive, sell, or donate virtually all of what belongs to Jehovah God, as long as you do it piecemeal.
Geoffrey Jackson claimed this casual policy change stems from the Governing Body’s need to adhere to the apostolic injunction not to go beyond the things that are written. But wait, doesn’t that mean that, for many years, the Governing Body went beyond what is written by imposing a ban on blood components? Since that is undeniably true, shouldn’t there at least be some acknowledgment that the Watchtower’s leadership was wrong? Can any honestly reasoning Christian accept that the Watchtower was right when they presumably went beyond what was written by banning blood components, and now they are right in not going beyond what was written by lifting the prohibition?
We are not talking about some trivial adjustment in an obscure teaching. It is not like the Governing Body allowing you to clink glasses or wear a beard or even take blood fractions. The Watchtower’s blood policy is widely known by outsiders, especially the medical community. It is a matter of life and death. More than a few of Jehovah’s Witnesses have died because they faithfully abided by the Watchtower’s policy when they went beyond what was written. And many others have been disfellowshipped for doing what is now permissible.
Obviously, the Scriptures do not speak of blood components. But what is the principle? Is it not that blood belongs to Jehovah, including all of its components? The question is: Did the Watchtower’s previous policy on blood components really go beyond what is written, or has the Governing Body apostatized by disregarding the sanctity of blood? It is my firm conviction it is the latter. In fact, since the first edition of Jehovah Has Become King was published in 2005, I have pointed out that the apostasy that must immediately precede the parousia, and the revealing of an apostate man of lawlessness, will take place among the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses. And now the apostasy has begun.
We have been forewarned. Jude likened wicked men who seek to mislead us to rocks lurking below the waterline. They are shepherds who feed themselves and share in the love feasts of unsuspecting brothers and sisters. Do you grasp the significance of this prophecy? The real apostates are not ex-JWs who may stand outside a convention with a bullhorn. They are like the superfine apostles who presided over the Corinthian congregation but who were false apostles and deceitful workers who merely disguised themselves as anointed Christians. Apparently, they were Greek orators; in other words, they gave good talks. And the brothers and sisters were oblivious to the evil among them.
It is beyond the scope of this brief bulletin to consider all of the relevant prophecies. As elders and teachers, you surely know you will receive a heavier judgment. And from all indications, the judgment of the house of God is about to begin. I hope this latest shocking development will give you more incentive to consider the contents of the book now in your possession.
Robert King
