DO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES BELIEVE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO WILL BE SAVED, AND THAT THEIR ORGANIZATION IS THE ONLY TRUE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION ON EARTH?
Look at the World's Finest "Theocratic Warfare Strategy" in action:
Quotes from a reporter's Interview with J.R. Brown on June 30th, 2006 (taken from SilentLambs.org):
(Reporter's Question): So that there's no currently any understanding that says that only Jehovah's Witnesses are, in other words, chosen or the only ones who would survive an apocalyptic doomsday scenario?
(J.R. Brown's Reply): We feel that's entirely up to God. But we do know that if a person isn't in line with God's way of living and thinking, then he runs a serious risk there. Even as the people in the time of Noah did, those who finally didn't line up with what God's prophet was stating then, and that was Noah, they didn't survive. They were lost in the Flood. So likewise in our day and time; we feel that people who are not living according to what is stated there. And everybody can read God's Word, the Bible. And it's up to them whether they choose to apply it or not. But they will be judged not by us but by God. We can point out his standard, we can read it and show it to them. He's the Judge, we can't read hearts.
[...] (J.R. Brown Speaking to the Reporter): We have blessing. See because we changed terminology. Do we feel that we have God's blessing? Yes. That means we have his favor and guidance. If you say, "Are we inspired," then we think of someone like Moses, like Isaiah, like Jeremiah, they wrote, they were inspired. They said that they were "borne along by Spirit". They were allowed by God as a human writer, used their words or their methods of putting the message down, but the authorship of that message in the Bible, both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, we feel is from God.
(Reporter's Question): Does God speak through other religions? Does God call other people to him using other religions or is it only through the Jehovah's Witness organization?
(J.R. Brown's Reply): No, no. It's not true of us today. Because none of us today are inspired. We don't feel that there's anyone in our organization that is inspired, or anybody else's. We feel what's inspired is already written down. That's why we read and study that. So while we feel that our careful study of the Scriptures has enabled us to arrive at many truths and we progressively clear up things, we're not getting perfect every time, but we feel that anything that deviates from that is not the truth and would not have God's backing, and our message will point that out to others. So that's where maybe you are looking for what we understand to be a distinction because we base clearly what we say, what we preach, on the Bible literally or however they want to say it.
(Reporter's Question): So would you consider other fundamentalist religions to do the same. In other words, are there other religions that are blessed by God, or is it just the one?
(J.R. Brown's Reply): We feel that the truth is only one thing. Now here's how we would arrive at our conclusion. We look at what they say, what do they do, do their actions show they are living up to this? We use the same example that Jesus uses in Scripture. He says, "Each tree is known by its fruit. If it's producing rotten fruit, then the tree is obviously no good -- it's rotten."
[...] (Reporter's Question): Okay so bottom line, are members of other faiths accepted by God? Or do they need to be a member of the Jehovah's Witness church in order to have God's blessing?
(J.R. Brown's Reply): Okay, we keep going round and round and coming back to the same thing.
(Reporter's Question): I think I'm using a little bit of different terminology than you are. And I guess the question is, This individual who perpetrated these crimes does not implicate the organization as being responsible of these crimes, which I would agree with --
(J.R. Brown's Reply): Yeah, if we knew of it and did nothing about it, but tried to hide him or transfer him say down to Puerto Rico, or something like that, then we would be guilty as an organization because the Bible is clear that you should remove what is bad from your midst.
(Reporter's Question): I absolutely agree with that portion of that synopsis. What I'm not understanding is for a situation like this to go on at the highest levels of a religious headquarters would indicate that that religion in fact isn't any different from any other religion professing to be God's true followers.
(J.R. Brown's Reply): If you're talking about imperfection, we're all the same, we're all imperfect. You're going to find bad in any organization. In ours, we disfellowship -- and that is the sort of ecclesiastical term we describe someone who is put out. In a year's time there are probably 50 to 60,000 around the world who are disfellowshipped. Now [at] last figure, about half or more of them repent and change and come back. But when we go house to house we will study and teach whoever is interested, and if they want to make the changes and start coming to meetings, they can be baptized. But everyone does not lives up to their calling. We're not saying that --
[...] (J.R. Brown Speaking to the Reporter): Now all of this is not saying that we do it perfectly, but we're trying to do just what was done here, what's bad is there, we want to purge ourselves of the bad. Why? Because if we don't do it, God is going to hold us responsible. A little bit of leaven or yeast can ferment a whole lump, and if you allow bad to deliberately stay there, then it's going to ferment and it's going to spread and others are going to be contaminated by it.
[...] (Reporter's Question): Some of the terminology is different, I say "inspired", I say "tomato," you say "tomahto". I still don't know if I have a good understanding of whether or not Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they are the only true religion, or whether other practicers of fundamental Christianity are also accepted by God.
(J.R. Brown's Reply): So I gave that really in a modern sense, if you asked me personally, and if you said, "John Brown, do you believe you have the truth as one of Jehovah's Witnesses?", I am going to unequivocably say "Yes, I do".
(Reporter's Question): But the organization itself doesn't take that position?
(J.R. Brown's Reply): Well, what we have to watch is that we don't get into an area of judging people, judging their hearts, because that's what God does. Now if I see a person on this block or neighborhood that's living wrong or out of harmony with what God says in his Word, maybe I know they are a thief or an abuser of alcohol or drugs or something, that's evident, I need to try to help that person because if I don't help him, he's not going to be able to gain a relationship with God, that's kind of clear cut, but --
(Reporter's Question): But what's not clear cut are others that are not necessarily engaging in those types of illicit behaviors. So they don't need to be saved by theology?
(J.R. Brown's Reply): Yeah, so it gets a little more difficult, but we are still told in Scripture there, "Present to them the good news of God's kingdom," and see their reaction to it. So you have to be more than a good person, remember the man who came up to Jesus and said what do I have to do to get everlasting life, and Jesus said, "Obey the law, honor your father and mother, don't steal," and the man said, "But I'm doing all those things, I've done all those things from my youth up," and Jesus looked at him and said, "Then come be my follower", in other words, by that he meant, "Okay, you're doing good, a good man, now follow me and proclaim this message to others, be a minister, be a preacher of it, let others know about it." And it ended up very sadly because it said that the man went away grieved because he was holding many possessions, in other words, he was rich, he wanted to keep that space where he was, and Jesus said, "You know, you can get rid of that, or put it elsewhere, and you can be a follower, you can come right along with me." So we kind of feel that way too. You have to be a good person, you have to be living right. That's half of it. The other half is that you have to have righteous works, you have to do things for Christ, you have to be devoted to helping people not only with their physical, temporal needs, you have to be attuned to helping them with their spiritual needs, because he said those with spiritual needs needed to have them satisfied, and that is by drinking in the figurative waters of truth. Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." And that's what we feel we have. And you said, do we have the truth? Yes, we'll have it perfectly, because if you look over the years we've made adjustments and changes as we found out better. And that's really in harmony with the Scriptures, "the light of truth gets brighter and brighter," more and more progressive. So we're not adverse to say, "Okay we didn't have this exactly right, we're moving on, we see now it means this," there's nothing wrong with that.
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Now, once again, let's look at the actual Watchtower Publications, and see if what "Honest John" said is true or not -- you be the judge:
DO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES BELIEVE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO WILL BE SAVED, AND THAT THEIR ORGANIZATION IS THE ONLY TRUE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION ON EARTH?
"The Watchtower" Magazine, September 1, 1989, Page 19:
"Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil. (Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4) They will make up the "flesh" that Jesus Christ said would be saved through the worst tribulation of all human history. As it was in the days of Noah, said Jesus, so it would be in the day when He would be revealed. Inside the ark that took many years of organized effort to complete, only eight human souls survived the global Deluge. They survived as a united family group. (Matthew 24:22, 37-39; Luke 17:26-30) Noah’s wife corresponds to the bride of Christ, and his sons and daughters-in-law to Jesus’ present-day "other sheep," who have grown into an increasing great crowd, the final proportions of which we do not now know. (John 10:16) For survival into the Millennium under the Greater Noah, Jesus Christ, they have to remain organized with the anointed remnant, "the chosen ones" on account of whom the days of the "great tribulation" will be cut short.—Matthew 24:21, 22."
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Quote from the Official Watchtower Society Media Website -- http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htm
Do you believe that you are the only ones who will be saved?
No. Many millions who have lived in centuries past and who were not Jehovah's Witnesses will come back in a resurrection and have an opportunity for life. Many now living may yet take a stand for truth and righteousness before God's time of judgment, and they will gain salvation. Moreover, Jesus said that we should not be judging one another. Humans look at the outward appearance; God looks at the heart. He sees accurately and judges mercifully. God has committed judgment into Jesus' hands, not ours.—Matthew 7:1-5; John 5:22, 27.
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, February 15, 1983, Page 12:
"Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it."
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"You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth" Book (Published in 1982 and 1989), Page 190:
"It is only logical that there would be one true religion. [...] The Bible says that actually there is only "one faith." (Ephesians 4:5) Who, then, are the ones who form the body of true worshipers today? We do not hesitate to say that they are Jehovah’s Witnesses."
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"You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth" Book (Published in 1982 and 1989), Page 255:
"Really, there are but two choices. Christ compared it to the choice of either one of two roads. One road, he said, is "broad and spacious." On it travelers are permitted freedom to please themselves. The other road, however, is "cramped." [...] Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God’s new system. There is only one. There was just the one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization—God’s visible organization—that will survive the fast-approaching "great tribulation." It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:21) You must be part of Jehovah’s organization, doing God’s will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life.—Psalm 133:1-3."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, November 1, 1991, Page 31:
"Clearly, those who desire to serve God can only turn to the one organization that enjoys Jehovah’s spirit and blessing."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, January 1, 1983, Page 27:
"today Jehovah is using only one organization."
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"Our Kingdom Ministry", April 1999 Issue, Page 3:
"It is clear to us that Jehovah is using just one organization. We are privileged to serve loyally with it, supporting "the faithful and discreet slave" in giving the Kingdom witness before the end comes."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, January 15, 1988, Page 22:
"It is good to remember that Jehovah has always worked through one organization only. In our day, "the faithful and discreet slave" is dispensing spiritual food "at the proper time." Note that this slave was to be ‘found doing so when the Master arrived.’ (Matthew 24:45-47) Really, who today realizes that the Master has already arrived? And who is busy with the work indicated? Only those associated with Jehovah’s organization of Christian witnesses!"
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"Our Kingdom Ministry", October 1989 Issue, Page 5:
"God Uses Just One Organization at a Time"
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, March 15, 1986, Pages 19-20:
"The evidence is clear that Jehovah has used and is continuing to use his one organization, with "the faithful and discreet slave" taking the lead. Hence, we feel like Peter, who said: "Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life."—John 6:68. Only in the spiritual paradise, among Jehovah’s Witnesses, can we find the self-sacrificing love Jesus said would identify his true disciples. (John 13:34, 35) By their bad fruits, false prophets are exposed for what they really are. But Jesus indicated that the good trees would be identified by their fine fruits. (Matthew 7:15-20) And what fine fruitage we have in the spiritual paradise! Amazing increases are taking place in practically every country. Over 3,000,000 happy subjects of God’s Kingdom around the globe are living proof that Jehovah has a people on the earth. 17 Because they are taught by God, Jehovah’s Witnesses really produce the fruits of Christianity in their lives. (Isaiah 54:13) Only Jehovah’s people have completely broken free from Babylonish superstitions. Only they have an organization that completely abides by what God’s Word has to say on sexual immorality, abortions, drunkenness, stealing, idolatry, racial prejudice, and other worldly pursuits and practices. And they alone are the ones obeying the command to preach the good news of Jehovah’s Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) God’s own Word unquestionably points to Jehovah’s Witnesses as the one organized people that have his blessing!"
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, August 15, 1981, Page 28:
"It has required our giving proper recognition to the one organization that Jehovah is using in the earth today, and this by our associating with the "faithful and discreet slave." It has required meekness, in our "carefully examining" God’s Word with the aid of that ‘slave’s’ publications, in order to fortify our faith.—Matt. 24:45; Acts 17:11."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, September 1, 1975, Pages 530-531:
"There are some who are always asking questions that have no Scriptural answers, and, when elders or others in the congregation cannot answer their questions, they begin to doubt the fulfillment of prophecies or even to doubt that Jehovah is using his organization today. How can we help such weak ones? Certainly we can encourage them to recognize the value of the congregation, can we not? See how Jehovah is using his organization today to get the good news preached! This is the work Jesus said must be done, and what other organization is there doing it? (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20) Jesus also said that there would be a "faithful and discreet slave" class that would supply spiritual food to God’s people, and today Jehovah’s people are the only ones well fed spiritually, because of association with this "slave." (Matt. 24:45, 46) Through it we have come into close association with Jehovah, his Son and his people on the earth. Where could we turn if we would leave God’s organization today? There is nowhere else! (John 6:66-69) This is the one organization he is using, and, if we ourselves are convinced of this, we should be able to assist others who are weak in faith."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, July 1, 1974, Page 413:
"In a world of bitter rivalries, with each contentious faction fighting for its own individual interests, one organization stands out as different, the genuine followers of Jesus, Jehovah’s Christian witnesses."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, June 1, 1965, Page 336:
"It is quite well known that there is only one organization of people today that has been immovably established despite persecution and ‘set as a praise’ for Jehovah’s name. More than thirty years ago they were given a name that was based on Jehovah’s Word, namely, Jehovah’s witnesses."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, April 1, 1953, Pages 214-215:
"It is not a difficult task to recognize and identify God’s visible organization, for there are not many, not even a few, there is only one organization that is pursuing the above-outlined course, namely, Jehovah’s witnesses. Inseparably associated with this widely known organization is its legal servant and governing agency, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Only Jehovah’s witnesses and their associates are bearing the fruits of the Kingdom by public proclamation. (Heb. 13:15) They alone are heralding forth the good news that God’s kingdom under Christ is man’s only hope. No other group, body, association, society, or organization is proclaiming that God’s kingdom is actually established in the heavens, and that shortly now this heavenly government will transform earth into a glorious paradise with wickedness and violence replaced with perfection and peace. What a high and lofty privilege, to be engaged in a work like this! What a great and singular honor to be associated with Jehovah’s organization, doing the work approved by God!"
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, July 1, 1950, Page 203:
"It is true that there is only one organization on earth today that is "announcing the kingdom of God as the hope of mankind", and that organization is Jehovah’s faithful and wise servant associated with the Watchtower Bible Society."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, January 1, 1991, Page 28:
"A family of three—a husband and wife who were unbaptized publishers and their little boy—were visited and given a big box of milk, some bread, drinking water, and money. When they were told that Jehovah’s Witnesses had made this arrangement, the husband said: "I was in the Evangelical Church for 11 years and was very active. But for these 15 years of war in Lebanon, they never thought to do something like this for their members." He continued: "This is really God’s only organization." The husband and his wife were baptized at an assembly in May 1990."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, July 1, 1973, Page 402:
"How very much true Christians appreciate associating with the only organization on earth that understands the "deep things of God"! Direction by God’s spirit enables Jehovah’s servants to have divine light in a world of spiritual darkness."
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"The Watchtower" Magazine, June 1, 1985, Page 20:
"To turn away from Jehovah and his organization, to spurn the direction of "the faithful and discreet slave," and to rely simply on personal Bible reading and interpretation is to become like a solitary tree in a parched land."