It was the earlier WTS dates that really gave me a "wake up"call. I was shocked to learn that the WTS had believed and preached for many years earlier, that Jesus came in 1874 and the first resurrection began in 1878! As well as the fact that they had also closed the "heavenly hope, or "door" at an earlier date as well! (1881) ( They taught these things for years, while they claimed to be teaching the "truth" and that they were used by God as His mouthpiece" or "channel"! ) I reasoned that if they were so wrong before, while claiming to be God's channel and providing His food on His table, then what proof or guarantee can they furnish to us that they are correct on their latest dates and all of their teachings today? It then hit me that there was a reason why they no longer published anything Russell, or Rutherford wrote in the past, and why they didn't include any of the older publications and Zion Watchtowers, Golden Age and other earlier Watchtowers, books, Awakes, written before 1955 in the first Watchtower CD, (or any other) and it isn't soley because the "light get's brigter and brighter, either, I realized that there is allot they are trying to hide from us about their past teachings, and this is why the old literature is hard to obtain and why they don't want us to see old dates, WTS quotes, and literature. They claim that the various Bible student groups were dissolved or disappeared. (which is also not true, for I discovered that they haven't disappeared at all. ) The Bible Students have kept all of C.T. Russell's writings, (Watchtowers, books, etc) and some also have copies of the 7th volume of "studies of the Scriptures" titled; The Finished Mystery, (written in 1917) which was not written by Russell, but by the two men who Rutherford used to write it when he deliberately went totally against Russell's will and testament. The Revelation book praised that book, but anyone who reads any of it can see that it is full of non-sense, and God would never have provided it as "food" for His table. So allot of the literature is available through the Bible Students. I have an address where a person can order a CD which has all of Russell's work on it, if anyone is interested, please e-mail me and I will share the address. There is a Dawn Bible student lady who lives not very far from me, and I had her check in her own personal copy of "The Finished Mystery" the page where Woodworth (one of the men who wrote that book) spoke about how all Christians will have to battle against demons, and his description of how the demons take over the mind was just too vivid, unless he was a man who spoke from own experience. Yes, the quote I read that was taken from that book is all there, word for word, that I found at the Woodworth link I am sharing with you. So if you share this info with a JW or anyone else, I confirm that it is true that Woodworth who helped to write that book did indeed, speak as if he himself had demon problems. What is said at this link is definitely confirmed. (see http://www.premier1.net/~raines/woodworth.html )
Just before I came across the old dates, etc., I had just read something in one of the Watchtowers, or other publication that said something that gave the impression that they (WTS) had always believed, and looked forward to Jesus' return in 1914. I then began to take notice how the Society writes in a way to give the impression of certain things, by either omission, or twisting the truth by skillful manipulation of words in a paragraph or sentence that conveys something that actually is not true. For instance, when they say that they have "always looked forward to 1914", a JW mind is thinking that they mean that they had always looked forward to Christ's return. ( because the WTS has taught us that he came in 1914, and no longer continue to teach that Armageddon was coming in that year.) The real truth, is that they had always looked forward to that year, not because they preached that Jesus was coming then, (because at that time, they believed that he had already returned in 1874) but that Armageddon was to come at that year. So you see, by use of omission, (not specifying just why they looked forward to that year) they are telling the truth, but at the same time lying, because they were trying to give a different impression, opposite from the truth. Of course, many of you here at this forum already are aware of this.
Just sharing,
Lovingkindness
(yes, I can remember those long, torturous 8 day assemblies where we had to sit in the sun and rain, on hard bleachers, from morning until dark during my childhood years. My parents died of old age as well as other long time JW friends of ours who patiently waited for Armageddon or the end of the 1914 generation. Goes to show how we should have taken our own advice we gave to others when we shared the Scriptures that warned us NOT TO PUT OUR TRUST IN MEN but to put our trust in God. God's own Son warned us not to try to know the "times and seasons" but to "keep ready" for it will come at a time we will not expect. ( why weren't we listeining to this?) As we all know, the WTS has even told us to ignore what Jesus said about this. ( Acts 1:7)
(Luke 12:40 ... Psalms 146:3,5 ... Psalms 118:8 ... Proverbs 3:5-6 ... Proverbs 2:1-13)
