Question for Blondie

RichieRich

Blondie,

Recently, my book study has been having some serious issues fitting their minds around the changes in the Daniel's Prophecy book. I spoke of the existance of a list, containing all the changes in the Daniel book. I have the list, and have it pasted in my book, so I can be prepared for the evenings when these changes come up.

The last issue that came up at the book study had this old sister just pissed. And she kept talking and asking how they change the contents of the book without redoing copyrights, and printing dates. I said that because they've only changed a few words, they haven't altered enough to require any changes to the copyrights, etc. I don't know how true that was.

Then, she said she wondered what else they had changed. I suggested that some things that go into the WT CDROM might be altered for the sake of new light. Then, she asked if I could show her an occurance of this.

So, Blondie or someone else, please show me a situation where the original Watchtower and the WT CD differ. I would even settle for a difference between a magazine and a bound volume. Have any other books been secretly updated like the Daniel book was???

I appreciate your response. And I am posting this instead of just PMing you because someone else might know too.

Thank you,

RR, of the "study so hard you fall asleep at book study" class

jgnat

The classic is this one,

A similar seldom-noticed change occurred back in 1989 when they reprinted the Jan. 1, 1989 Watchtower in book form ("bound volumes"). On page 12 in the magazine it had said that "He [the apostle Paul] was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in the 20th century," but by the end of the year when the bound volumes were completed, that sentence was changed to "...would be completed in our day," inadvertently revealing their own insecurity about being in that "special generation." Apparently the WT Society was no longer confident that Armageddon would occur in the 20th century after all.

http://www.freeminds.org/history/new1914.htm

Super_Becka

Ooo, this should be a good thread, it's something I've been thinking about a lot, too, so I'm very interested in what other posters will have to say about this.

Again, the whole "changing what was printed" bit reminds me of Orwell's "1984" - change past publications to suit current thinking or to fool believers into thinking that you were right all along. Classy, really classy.

I'm looking forward to whatever examples you guys can come up with!!

-Becka :)

AuldSoul

Not sure if you would have it, but the change in the 1989 January 1 WT is pretty significant:

Original quote from the article "The Hand of Jehovah Was With Them" reads, "The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century."

In the Bound Volume and on the CD-ROM, it reads, "The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our day."

You might get more info from this article: http://www.watchman.org/jw/watchtower2000.htm#1

I think the Truth book changes were INCREDIBLY damning, and rarely mentioned.

{edited} Okay, so jgnat got that one already for you. Here is the Truth book change:

Page 9 from Truth book (<--- PDF of original 1968 version)

Also, as reported back in 1960, a former United States Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, declared that our time is "a period of unequaled instability, tmequaled violence." And he warned: "I know enough of what is going on to assure you that, in fifteen years from today, this world is going to be too dangerous to live in."

From Page 9 of the later version (post-1975), the version on the CD-ROM...

Also, as reported back in 1960, a former United States Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, declared that our time is “a period of unequaled instability, unequaled violence.” Based on what he knew was then going on in the world, it was his conclusion that soon “this world is going to be too dangerous to live in.”

The portion that changed is highlighted. The older version quotes him as saying that in 1960 + 15 years the world would be unlivable. What does 1,960 + 15 equal? 1975. I wonder why they changed what he said...

Richie, PM an address and I will send you a copy of the 1968 Truth book, if your mom doesn't have a 1968 version stashed somewhere (please check that first), so you can hold it right beside the CD-ROM for yourself.

Respectfully,
AuldSoul

loosie

Richie,

Can you please post the list of changes in the Daniel book? This is the first I have heard of this.

jgnat

One I stumbled upon, but perhaps the WTBTS did change editions, is the difference in Study Three - Measuring Events in the Stream of Time, from "All Scripture is Inspired of God and Benificial", 1983 edition, to the one they use today. The 1983 edition goes in to great detail on the maths on how we find 607. Basically if we count backwards and forwards we get the same date. What they fail to mention is the uncertainty of the starting point.

The newer edition skips all the math.

blondie

Hey, Richie, you got your answer I hope.

I would be interested in those changes too. I have an old Daniel book.

I would think comparing those changes with the current book (hard copy and CD) should be a great deal of evidence and it is current not that the 1989 difference isn't a good one.

This is just something I think I remember hearing. (I was inactive in 1989, my first time, this is my second). Some brother told me that they announced the "update" from the platform re the 1989 update. Did anyone hear that in 1989?

I also know that the WTS has made adjustments to the NWT which came out in total in 1960. 1961, 1970, 1984, all had updates but the WTS did not detail them.

Have a good time with your apostafest.

Blondie

TD

Auld Soul pointed this out, but actual full-page scans can be helpful too.

As it appeared in the magazine:

As it appeared in the bound volume:

Saoirse

The Watchtower Quotes website has a section that lists several instances where the WT has reedited the content of their publications.

Here's the link http://www.reexamine.org/quotes/mini_tru.htm

Here is an instance where the WT changed what was printed between the magazine and the bound volume and WT CD.

The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century." (w89 1/1 12 "The Hand of Jehovah Was With Them" [as originally published in the Watchtower magazine]).

"The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our day." (w89 1/1 12 "The Hand of Jehovah Was With Them" [as it appears in Watchtower bound volumes & CD-ROMs])

RichieRich

Thanks for all your help guys.

I was hoping to have something newer than 89. But if I can dig up an original article, I've got the bound volume.

As far as the Daniel Book changes go, there were at least 2 threads on this board regarding them, but I cannnot find them with the search.

Ive got my list written on an indew card thats in my book,but i don't have my book.

Heres the one difference I remember.

Turn to page 101. The first line says "in over a thousand years", then, in the new book, it says " in over a hundred years".

There are several opther changes but this one is the only one i can remmeber.

hope it helps...

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