What is Your Favorite WT Lie? (page 7)

Earnest

Vanderhoven7 : It’s not clear why the writers of the 1993 Watchtower lied, but there is it in black and white.

Didn't ya know. Nothing before 1919 counts.

Yes, but remember the Watchtower magazine consistently reported the parousia occurred in1874 and Christ's enthronement in 1878 right up to the 1930s. Further, when Armageddon didn't happen in 1914 or 1918, the F&DS, appointed in 1919, proclaimed that 1925 would see Armageddon and the start of the general resurrection. Why in 1926 you would be able to call Abraham in Jerusalem and ask that granny be raised if you built an extension onto your home for her.

ukpimo

1975. And down to this day we see factions. Some elders say it wasn't pushed by the Organization, others say it was. Some say their congregation was always talking about it, others say theirs didn't mention it with as much zeal. Despite this, assemblies and conventions in the lead up to 1975 strongly suggested 1975 was a significant year and even during these programs the Society praised witnesses who retired early to pioneer and sold their homes to eventually end up still pioneering and in this same old system nearly 50 years later!

blondie

Seabreeze, "I agree when in person. But for posting online, I think documented quote snippets are very effective, and make people more comfortable cut and pasting the data." That is exactly what I have been doing on JWN for years, hanging them with the WTS with their own words I"m sorry if I seemed to say that should be done in person. Sometimes, depending on the circumstances, I have copied a few to the point comments by the WTS with the source given, and give to them and ask how they would explain this kindly with a wondering tone of voice, invite them to look it up on the Watchtower Online Library. As in person, I agree, that it is not as effective. That is why I have done it on JWN and other ex-jw sites, in writing giving the source. (thought you knew that about my posting on JWN :) Blondie

nicolaou

You guys will strain out the Watchtowers gnats but swallow the Bible's camels. Hysterical.

Try plucking the rafters out of your own eyes.

TTWSYF

When a foundation is built on a lie, everything else that sits upon it is corrupted.

Biggest WTS lie is that THEY are an authority on the Bible. How did they get this authority? They only say that they are an authority. Nothing but words.

ttwsyf

Sea Breeze

Duly noted Blondie.

Vanderhoven7

Yes that they have the keys of the kingdom ad of 1919.

Dug this up on line a while ago.

The Watchtower claims the Slave has been given all authority.

"The facts of modern history show that in the year 1919 [Jesus] revived these much afflicted disciples and gathered them together in a united body. Then he appointed them as his “slave” class “over all his belongings,” that is, over all his royal interests at the earth." Watchtower 1971 Dec 15 p.750

This is not what was intended by the Scriptures. The Bible states that the appointment over all the belongings is made after the master arrives.

Matthew 24:46,47 "Happy is that slave if his master on arriving (erchomai) finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings."

The master has not yet arrived, as the memorial is to cease on his arrival, and so the Slave has not been appointed over all the belongings.

1 Corinthians 11:26 "For as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives (erchomai)."

The leaders have prematurely seized control for themselves, and consolidated that control. The 2012 version of the doctrine leaves Christians uncared for between 33 CE and 1919 CE, and elevates the exclusivity and importance of Governing Body. This is in contrast to the parable, which indicates that at this time the elders are to be shepherds of the congregation.

One would expect that the definition for one of Jehovah's Witnesses to be a person that worships Jehovah. However, the defining concept to being a Jehovah's Witness is not worship of Jehovah, but rather following the "faithful and discreet slave." In a judicial committee, the foremost question is not whether a Witness believes the Bible or worships Jehovah, but whether they believe God is using the Watchtower Faithful and Discreet Slave in our day. If a person believes in the Bible and Jehovah, they will still be disfellowshipped as an apostate if they openly confess that the Watchtower leaders do not represent Jehovah's slave.

Ultimate Axiom

It's long Sea Breeze, and somewhat repetitious but here's over 70 years worth.

Reference #1

1953. Watchtower, August 15, pages 492-493.

For decades before World War I God had been preparing a people ... To them he uncovered the teachings of his Word ... He roused them to the realization that the time for the oft-prayed-for Kingdom to be fully established was getting close. Long in advance he even disclosed to them by his Word that the time for the Kingdom to assume power in heaven and in earth was A.D. 1914.

The Truth

The Watchtower did not teach that 1914 was the time for the Kingdom to assume power in heaven until 1922, four years after WWI ended. Prior to WWI Bible Students were taught that the Kingdom was established in heaven in 1878 and it would assume power on earth in 1914, destroying all Gentile powers.

Reference #2

1953. Watchtower, September 15, page 561.

For decades before A.D. 1914 Jehovah’s witnesses had been preaching the full establishment of God’s kingdom by Christ at the end of the “appointed times of the nations” in that year.

The Truth

The expression “the full establishment” meant something quite different in the decades before 1914. Back then it meant that the kingdom (already set up in 1878) would take over the earth, destroying the Gentile powers, and thus be “fully established” everywhere.

Reference #3

1954. Watchtower, June 15, page 370.

Why, then, do the nations not realize and accept the approach of this climax of judgment? It is because they have not heeded the world-wide advertising of Christ’s return and his second presence. Since long before World War I Jehovah’s witnesses pointed to 1914 as the time for this great event to occur.

The Truth

All Watchtower publications prior to WWI declared that Christ’s return and his second presence began in 1874. It was not until 1933, fifteen years after WW1 ended, that the Watchtower declared that Christ’s return and his second presence took place in 1914.

Reference #4

1958. Your Will Be Done On Earth, page 268.

from 1877 onward, Jehovah’s dedicated people … were openly declaring … that the Gentile Times or “appointed times of the nations” would end in 1914. In that year the kingdom of God was to be fully established in the heavens”

The Truth

Neither of these two statements is erroneous in itself. But in putting them together it implies that from 1877 ‘Jehovah’s dedicated people’ not only declared that the Gentile Times would end in 1914, but also ‘the kingdom of God was to be fully established in the heavens’ in that year as well, which is not the case.

Reference #5

1959. Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose, pages 35 and 36.

One Sunday morning Russell was invited to deliver a sermon in one of the churches in a certain city in Pennsylvania. He spoke at their morning service about the blessings of the Kingdom … Everyone was thrilled with this news and wanted to hear more. In fact, some in the audience were from the other church in the city and … they influenced both ministers to ask Russell to give another talk that same night to an audience made up of members of both churches. ... At the evening meeting Russell determined that now, since they had evidenced their interest in Christ’s return and in the blessings that would accompany his presence, it was necessary for him to go deeper into this matter and talk to them about the time that these things would take place. This he did, pointing to 1914.

The Truth

Not for one moment in his entire life did Russell point to 1914 as the year of Christ’s return and when his second presence would begin. Russell taught that Christ returned invisibly in 1874, and was crowed in heaven in 1878, and these teachings continued well the Rutherford era. It was 17 years after Russell was dead before the Watchtower assigned Christ’s return to 1914.

Reference #6

1966. Watchtower, February 15, page 103.

For over thirty years before that date … Jehovah’s witnesses have pointed to the year 1914 as the time for the end of “the appointed times of the nations” and the time in which Christ would begin his Kingdom rule.

The Truth

The first part is true that for over thirty years before 1914 Jehovah’s witnesses pointed to the year 1914 as the time for the end of “the appointed times of the nations”, but it is not true with regard to the time in which Christ would begin his Kingdom rule. It was eight years after 1914 before Jehovah’s witnesses pointed to 1914 for this event.

Reference #7

1968. Awake! October 8, page 12.

the publishers of this magazine called attention to the year 1914 as far back as 1879, pointing out that disastrous conditions would begin then.

The Truth

This is simply not true, in 1879 the Watchtower believed that 1914 would see the end of the “time of trouble”.

Reference #8

1972. Awake! October 8, , page 15.

As far back as 1879, the publishers of this magazine pointed to the year 1914 as a marked year in Bible prophecy, as the starting point of what the Bible calls the “time of the end.” … the “appointed times of the nations,” … concluded in the year 1914, and God’s people on earth were able to calculate the date even before it came … his worshipers on earth realized that the “last days” foretold in God’s Word had indeed begun.

The Truth

From 1879 until 1929 the Watchtower pointed to 1799 as the starting point of the “time of the end” or the beginning of the “last days”. It was half a century later (in 1929) before the Watchtower assigned this event to 1914.

Reference#9

1972. Paradise Restored to Mankind by Theocracy, page 369.

For more than three decades the nations had been notified that those “appointed times of the [Gentile] nations” would terminate in the fall of 1914 C.E. … the anointed remnant of spiritual Israelites, who, as International Bible Students, were pointing to the Bible’s time schedule and declaring that the “times of the Gentiles” would end in 1914, to usher in an unprecedented “time of trouble” upon all the nations.

The Truth

This is simply not true, in the decades before 1914 the Watchtower declared that the “time of trouble” would end in 1914 when the Gentile nations lease of power would expire.

Reference #10

1975. Man’s Salvation Out of World Distress at Hand, page 136.

the remnant of spiritual Israel had for decades, yes, since the year 1876, been looking forward to the ending of the Times of the Gentiles in the autumn of 1914. They were expecting God’s Messianic kingdom to be fully established in the heavens by then and also for the remnant of spiritual Israel to be glorified with Jesus Christ in the heavenly kingdom at that time.

The Truth

It is technically true that in 1876 the remnant of spiritual Israel were expecting God’s Messianic kingdom to be fully established in the heavens by 1914, because they expected it to be set up in heaven in 1878. But after 1878 this statement isn’t even technically correct, it is simply wrong.

Reference #11

1975. Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 37.

CT Russell wrote an article entitled “Gentile Times: When Do They End?” It was published in the Bible Examiner of October 1876, and therein Russell said: “The seven times will end in A.D. 1914.” … True to such calculations, 1914 did mark the end of those times and the birth of God’s kingdom in heaven with Christ Jesus as king. Just think of it! Jehovah granted his people that knowledge nearly four decades before those times expired.

The Truth

It was not until 1922 that Jehovah’s people were granted the knowledge that the birth of God’s kingdom in heaven with Christ Jesus as king took place in 1914, 8 years after the Gentile Times expired. Prior to 1922 Jehovah’s people believed that God’s kingdom was set up with Christ Jesus as king in 1878.

Reference #12

1975. Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 72.

For years God’s people had pointed forward to 1914 as the year that would mark the end of the Gentile Times. Their expectations did not lead to disappointment. On July 28, 1914, World War I erupted, and as time marched on toward October 1 more and more nations and empires got involved.

The Truth

Bible Students expected the exact opposite for 1914. They expected the “Time of Trouble” to end, with God’s Kingdom taking over the earth and putting an end to all wars etc.

Reference #13

1988. Watchtower, May 1, 1988, page 22.

At the back of our house in Tojo-cho, Osaka, there was a house with a sign: “Osaka Branch of the International Bible Students Association”. Assuming it to be a Christian group, I visited the house. “Do you believe in the Second Advent of the Lord?” I asked the young man who came to the door. “Christ’s Second Advent was realized in 1914,” he answered. In astonishment, I told him that was impossible. “You should read this book,” he said, handing me The Harp of God.”

The Truth

The Harp of God goes to great lengths to explain that the Second Advent of the Lord was realised in 1874. It would be more than a decade after the publication of The Harp of God before the Watchtower assigned this event to 1914.

Reference #14

1990. Watchtower, September 1, page 11.

After the war ended in 1918, there was no work available in England, so I rejoined the army and went off to India as part of the peacetime garrison. In May 1920 the malaria flared up again, and I was sent up into the hills to recuperate. There I read all the books I could get my hands on, including the Bible. Reading the Scriptures intensified my interest in the Lord’s return. Months later, down in Kanpur, I started a Bible study group, hoping to learn more about the Lord’s return. It was there that I met Fredrick James, a former British soldier who was now a zealous Bible Student. He explained to me that Jesus had been present since 1914, invisible to man. This was the most thrilling news I had ever heard.

The Truth

This report is technically correct, but misleading, for while the Watchtower of 1920 taught that Christ’s presence began in 1874, it therefore follows that he had also been present since 1914. In 1920 Fredrick James would have taught that Jesus had been present, invisible to man since 1874, forty years before 1914.

Reference #15

1998. Watchtower, September 15, page 15.

Similarly, a prophecy providentially caused sincere 19th-century Bible students to be in expectation. By linking the “seven times” of Daniel 4:25 with “the times of the Gentiles,” they anticipated that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914.

The Truth

19th-century bible students did not expect that Christ would receive Kingdom power in 1914. For over two decades into the 20th century Bible students were taught that Christ received it in 1878.

Reference #16

2012. Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, pages 100-101.

The Bible Students were anxious to see what would happen in 1914. The book The Time Is at Hand (the second volume of the Millennial Dawn series) explained that the times of the Gentiles would end in 1914 and would be marked by trouble and anarchy, after which God’s Kingdom would begin to take control. … one evening in July 1914, Karl Kristiansen was playing in the Skien city orchestra. During the intermission he said to some of the people around him: “In a few weeks, something is going to happen. First there will be war, then revolution, then anarchy, and then God’s Kingdom will come.” When World War I broke out shortly after that, people came to Karl and wanted to know more.

The Truth

It is true that the book The Time Is at Hand did explain that 1914 would be “be marked by trouble and anarchy, after which God’s Kingdom would begin to take control”. But that is only half the story, for this narrative has been deliberately designed to make it appear consistent with current Watchtower teaching. In truth, the ‘trouble and anarchy’ were foretold as preludes to Armageddon and they had been predicted to start well before 1914. By July of 1914, Mr Kristiansen had been expecting these things to occur ‘in a few weeks’ for several years, because the trouble and anarchy were due to end in 1914. And when Mr Kristiansen said that ‘then God’s Kingdom will come’ he meant that it would come to earth because it had already been set up in heaven.

Reference #17

2013. Watchtower, February 15, 2013, page 18.

Decades before 1914, Jehovah’s worshippers declared to the nations that the end of “the appointed times of the nations” would come in that year and that the world would enter into an unequaled period of trouble.

The Truth

This is simply not true, in the decades before 1914 the Watchtower believed that 1914 would see an end to the “time of trouble”.

Reference #18

2014. God’s Kingdom Rules, pages 15 and 23.

As early as the 1870’s, they pointed to 1914 as the year when those seven times would end. Although our brothers of that era did not yet grasp the full significance of that marked year, they proclaimed what they knew far and wide.Though the Watch Tower had rightly pointed to 1914 as the year when the Gentile Times would end, the brothers did not yet understand what would take place in that year.

The Truth

They knew only too well what they expected of 1914. The fact is that all of their expectations failed to materialise. They did “fully grasp” and “understand”, they were just completely wrong.

Reference #19

2014. God’s Kingdom Rules, Page 22.

Long before 1914, the Bible Students said that a time of trouble would begin in that marked year. But even they could not have imagined how accurate that prediction would turn out to be.

The Truth

The truth is completely the opposite. Before 1914 Russell predicted that the time of trouble would end in 1914. And nothing he predicted for 1914 bears the slightest resemblance to WWI.

blondie

Ultimate Axion, (smile) I think you missed some. The question could be how many things are the WTS still teaching that are the same as in the beginning. Some of those were before my time and my family's time, it took a careful look at the WTS history to find some of those gems. Thanks for sharing.

What is Your Favorite WT Lie?

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