Why would someone like Ray Franz have kept it a secret?
Listener
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17
Watchtower & the Illuminati
by skeeter1 ini first heard of the illuminati in, about 1979. a tape of a man named john todd was given to my family.
john todd said he was a defector of this secret society (notice the word, "society").
he did not mention the jehovah's witnesses.
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Listener
Yourmomma I did a little research after reading the article. It is not new that they consider the anointed here on earth to currently be part of the royal priesthood but by their article they are identifying exactly what this means.
Firstly, they explain exactly what the role of a priest is
..."8. A king, of course, rules. But what
does a priest do? Hebrews 5:1 explains:
“Every high priest taken from among
men is appointed in behalf of men over
the things pertaining to God, that he
may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
So a priest appointed by Jehovah represents
sinful people before God by
means of prescribed offerings, pleading
with Him on their behalf. Conversely,
a priest also represents Jehovah before
people, instructing them in divine law.
(Lev. 10:8-11; Mal. 2:7) In these ways, a
divinely appointed priest works to reconcile
people to God...."
So the suggestion would be that without these anointed here on earth we cannot be reconciled to God and they offer sacrifices and plead for us before God. Later on in the article they confirm that the anointed on earth are serving as priests and state their duties as follows
..."Where would those in the new covenant
serve? On earth, where, as a
group, they would serve as a priesthood,
representing Jehovah to people
by ‘declaring abroad his excellencies’
and providing spiritual food. (Matt. 24:
45; 1 Pet. 2:4, 5)..."
So they represent Jehovah and also provide spiritual food. If that is their duties then the other sheep are excluded from this.
The point here is that they make it clear that they (which includes the remnant on earth) are now reconciling people to God and I don't think they have been so specific on this point in the past.
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Got my reply from the UK charities commission...
by oldlightnewshite ingot my reply from the uk charities commission.
i'm not a happy bunny.
basically, they're saying that any crackpot organization can get charitable status as long as they're a religion.
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Listener
Sorry Wobble I wasn't very accurate. They are recognized as a charitable organization but they do not have gift recipient deductibility status. Their charity status does give them some tax breaks but the most beneficial one is gift recipient deductibilily. If they had this status then anyone donating more the $2 to them would be able to claim a tax deduction in their own tax returns for the amount they donated. Oldlightnewshite's last post above pretty much sums up the situation. But if the WTBTS did do real charitable work then they would most likely have gained this gift recipient status.
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Got my reply from the UK charities commission...
by oldlightnewshite ingot my reply from the uk charities commission.
i'm not a happy bunny.
basically, they're saying that any crackpot organization can get charitable status as long as they're a religion.
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Listener
Here's a letter submitted by the WTBTS in Australia requesting charitable status. They were not approved. I think it was written by Vincent Toole (or his office) as it includes his email address. The funny thing is that they were arguing that religion and charity go basically hand in hand. Although not much charity work is specified the claim is that they teach their followers how to look after themselves and are providing charity by doing this.
INQUIRY INTO THE DEFINITION OF CHARITIES AND RELATED ORGANISATIONS
A Submission by
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia
on behalf of
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Australia
February, 2001
Table of Contents
Who Are Jehovah’s Witnesses? ........................................................................................ 4
The Public Ministry ....................................................................................................... 4
The Internal Ministry .................................................................................................... 4
Disaster Relief and Church Construction Program ....................................................... 5
Funding the Society’s Activities ................................................................................... 5
The Purposes and Practice of Christian Religion and “Charity” Are Inseparable ............ 5
Overseas Definitions of Charity ....................................................................................... 7
Issues Regarding Definitions Used in Australia Compared to Other Countries .............. 8
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 8
Who Are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Jehovah’s Witnesses are individual Christians who worship Jehovah, the supreme God of the universe and the Creator of it. ¾ Isaiah 43:10, 12; Psalm 83:18.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia (the “Society”) is a not-for-profit religious organization registered under the New South Wales Companies Act 1961 as a company limited by guarantee. It is the legally registered body that acts on behalf of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Australia. The objects of the Society are set out in the attached Articles and Memorandum of Association.
The primary attributes of the Witnesses and the Society are religious, charitable, educational, and community service oriented. Their activities are based on a love for God and their fellowman and can be divided into two main areas, the public ministry and the internal ministry.
The Public Ministry
The public ministry includes home visitation in the community. The Society produces Bible-based printed material for distribution without charge. These publications include magazines, pamphlets, tracts, and books containing religious and moral discussion based on Bible principles which are designed to uplift mankind. They incorporate up-to-date medical, scientific, social, and educational information that addresses real-life problems. Bible studies are conducted on a regular basis with those in the community who desire to get to understand the Bible and how the principles it contains can assist them in various areas of life, such as within the family. In this way, comfort and hope is provided to many in the community who are suffering distress or pressure. Help is also given to those wanting assistance in areas involving Christian ethics, such as maintaining honest conduct, strengthening marriage bonds and rearing children. Other persons may desire help to stop smoking, abusing drugs, or engaging in physical violence or to improve their moral and, at times, physical cleanness.
The Internal Ministry
The internal ministry involves assistance, training, education, and teaching provided to members of the various congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses by the Society and those it appoints as ministers and elders. This ministry includes regular Bible study and training for the public ministry through educational meetings which form part of the Witnesses’ program of worship; a school for those associating with the congregation to improve their reading, comprehension, and public speaking abilities; and schools for ministers of the congregation and for missionaries. It includes a “shepherding” program to assist those in the congregation who are suffering in any way from illness, unemployment, family problems, or various day-to-day problems which are a part of modern society. In addition, the Society has established a hospital liaison network service to support those who want to avoid blood transfusions by providing the most up-to-date medical information published from around the world to medical practitioners who are willing to accept such assistance in treating Jehovah’s Witnesses. This service has also assisted hospitals in learning about and adopting new and safer treatments that avoid or minimize the well-recognized dangers associated with blood transfusion therapy. In doing so, it has aided the medical profession to be of greater assistance to the general community.
Disaster Relief and Church Construction Program
Supporting the public and internal ministries is the Disaster Relief Fund and the church construction program, both of which are administered by the Society. Contributions received for disaster relief are used in times of major crises including cyclones, floods, fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. No public subscriptions are invited for this fund. Individuals willingly support this work of benevolence with no desire for recognition or reward. (Matthew 6:3) The church construction program is also financed by voluntary contributions of money, materials, and labour, with specialized teams of tradesmen devoting their personal time and resources on a volunteer basis to build or renovate Kingdom Halls (churches) for congregations in need.
Funding the Society’s Activities
Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Society do not carry on any commercial activities to raise funds or obtain support for any of their charitable activities. They rely solely on voluntary contributions which are, for the most part, made by members of the congregations. They believe that they ‘must love their neighbour as themselves’ and therefore have a moral and Scriptural obligation to help their fellowman.
Donations to the Society are not tax-deductible, even when they are made for disaster relief or church building. We believe that more funds would be available if donations of reasonably large amounts “for the advancement of religion” were tax-deductible.
The Purposes and Practice of Christian Religion and “Charity” Are Inseparable
Real charity is both the “purpose” and the “nature” of the activities carried out by a Christian religion if it follows the example of Christ set forth in the Bible. Perhaps the best known Scriptural principle related to charity is recorded at 1 Corinthians 13:13:
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”—King James Version.
This statement was made by an apostle to the early Christian church. However, in modern times, the word “charity” has assumed a related, but more limited, meaning. The Collins English Dictionary, Fourth Australian Edition, defines “charity” as—
“1a the giving of help, money, food, etc., to those in need.… 5 love of one’s fellow men.… from Latin caritas affection, love …”
It is this first definition that is given emphasis today. So charity is usually associated with giving the “poor and needy” support in various forms such as money, food, clothing, or medical aid. It is in this limited sense, then, that “charity” can be separated from the Christian religion or can be isolated within the activities of a church. The fifth meaning given by Collins Dictionary is the meaning behind the Bible verse quoted above, for the word “charity” in that verse is translated from one of the Greek words for love, “agape.” [1] In fact, many modern translations render this Bible verse as follows:
“In a word, there are three things that last forever: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of them all is love.” ¾ The New English Bible. [2]
The meaning of the word “agape” extends beyond the love shown to family, friends, or marriage mate. According to James Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, pp. 75, 76), agape—
“ ¼ is wider, embracing espec. the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety ¼ .”
Therefore, the “charity” of the Christian religion includes, but extends beyond, giving to the poor and needy by means of the provision of money, clothing, food, medical attention, and other material help. It encompasses a general compassion for other people, including a stranger and even an enemy. (Luke 6:27-29) This compassion prompts deliberate acts of goodwill on the part of a Christian toward another. It may, or may not, include assistance to the poor and needy by means of gifts of material possessions, but it is exercised for the good of the other person or a community of persons. It can include providing encouragement, advice, and counsel, giving hope, or showing kindness. For example, a depressed person is often better aided by words of encouragement than by a material gift, and a person in financial difficulties could be more lastingly assisted by guidance in managing their financial affairs than they would be by a temporary boost to their bank account. The person or organization who provides that guidance out of a sense of Christian love is no less a sharer in the chain of charitable actions than the one who freely gives a monetary gift.
It is impossible in these circumstances to divide charitable works from the true practice of religion. [3] An organization established for “the advancement of religion” is, in and of itself, giving both to the individual and to the community. If the church’s primary purpose is to uplift the morals of individuals comprising a community; if it teaches and promotes higher standards; if it assists couples to improve marital relationships; if it helps youths and others to have a purpose in life, to act responsibly, to pay their debts, to live morally, to avoid drugs, to resist smoking, to stop stealing, to avoid lying; and if it teaches people to be peaceable, then surely these charitable purposes and actions directed at preventing the problem rather than at the results of the problem are of great benefit to the community.
The charitable activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in this regard have been recognized by various authorities in different parts of the world. For example, A.I. Antonov, head of the Department of Family Sociology at the Lomonosov Moscow State University, and three other scholars wrote in their expert opinion submitted to the Golovinsky court:
“The literature of the religious association of Jehovah’s Witnesses encourages its readers to strengthen family unity, highly value marriage, family, children, paternity and maternity, accept one’s mutual responsibility as parents, children, and all family members.”—Conclusion on the Results of a Research of Publications of Religious Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Institute of Religion and Law, Moscow, March 1998.
A survey of 126,966 people, conducted in Germany, found that 80 percent of those surveyed felt that their family life had improved because of applying the Bible-based teachings found in the publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses. [4] In addition, an independent survey conducted in France in 1998 found that “98 percent of Jehovah’s Witnesses consider that their faith has led them to a rather harmonious life and to the respect of laws.” [5]
Overseas Definitions of Charity
In harmony with what is set out in the Issues Paper concerning the definition of charity, Lord Macnaghten, in Commissioner for Special Purposes of Income Tax v Pemsel [1891] AC 531, identified the four classes of charity as: (1) the relief of poverty; (2) the advancement of education; (3) the advancement of religion; and (4) other purposes beneficial to the community. The use of the term “other” assumes that “education” and “religion” are beneficial to the community. In general terms, Lord Macnaghten’s four-class characterization of activities considered charitable has been adopted throughout the common law world.
As the Issues Paper also mentions, a charity must provide some public benefit. The publications of the British Charity Commission define “public benefit” as “for the benefit of the community (or a significant section of it).” At paragraph 30 of CC21 Starting and Registering a Charity, the commission states: “There is a general assumption that the advancement of religion is for the public benefit.” [6]
Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal RevenueCode,in addition to the relief of poverty and the advancement of religion, education, or science, includes in its definition of “charity” for tax-exempt status the erection or maintenance of public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burden of government; lessening of neighbourhood tensions; elimination of prejudice and discrimination; defence of human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.
Issues Regarding Definitions Used in Australia Compared to Other Countries
The Society is not an international organization having branches in other countries. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses are worldwide, and a different not-for-profit organization is registered in each country. The structures of these corporations vary according to the laws applying in each country. In some countries, such as the United States of America and New Zealand, donors to our religious organizations are exempt from gift duty and may claim tax deductions for donations made to the church.
In some countries, we are limited by the fact that funds received cannot be distributed to another country, thus preventing an international support arrangement. Although this has, at times, proven to be inconvenient, it has not unduly hampered our work.
Conclusion
It is our submission that the common law definition of charity should be retained in Australia just as it has been in most common law jurisdictions.
[1] See Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, unabridged, which gives the primary meaning of “charity” as “Christian love ¼ love of fellow men.”
[2] See also the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
[3] Except where the benefit has no public element such as the establishment of a closed order whose members are not involved with the community.
[4] The Watchtower, July 1, 1998, p.4.
[5] Survey conducted by SOFRES, ref. MHI-MNV 98-204, October 1998, p.9.
[6] For additional information see web site: www.charity-commission.gov.uk/cc2l.htm
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Victoria, Australia: October 11th hearing. All five cases made it through the court...just!
by AndersonsInfo inthis is a preliminary summary only.
i hope to obtain more details later.. .
all five cases are still within the criminal justice system.
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Listener
Barbara you're heading states
Victoria, Australia" October 11th hearing. All five cases made it through the court ... just
I am wondering what you meant by the 'just'?
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You are all wicked Apostates!!!
by iamwhoiam inthis is nothing new obviously, i'm just using this as a sounding board to see if i'm looking at this thing correctly.
your thoughts are greatly appreciated.. watchtower july 15, 2011 p 15 paragraph 4 under the title "will you heed jehovah's clear warnings?".
4 to elders of the ephesus congregation, paul said: from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things.
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Listener
There has been a lot already written on the article but I missed those two points you have raised IamwhoIam - the footnote and the fact that an apostate is still 'mentally diseased' even if they are not 'infecting others'.
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Victoria, Australia: October 11th hearing. All five cases made it through the court...just!
by AndersonsInfo inthis is a preliminary summary only.
i hope to obtain more details later.. .
all five cases are still within the criminal justice system.
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Listener
Legally this must be very difficult for Steven Unthank to keep on top of as I would think he is probably assisting with the case still. Naming the individual members of the GB and criminally charging them may not amount to much as they are not Australian residents.
The only legal entity for Australia that I can find is
The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of Australia
Registered for GST 1.7.2000 (this is the date of inception of Goods & Services Tax in Australia)
It is an Australian Public Company with it's main business location in NSW postcode 2565
It's Trading Name is Jehovah's Witnesses
It is registered as a charitable institution since 1.7.05 as well as Fringe Benefit Tax Rebate (applicable when paying benefits to employees) and has income tax exemption. However, it does not gift deductible status.
It's Australian Business Number is 42 002 861 225.
I would have thought the Magistrate would have said to charge the directors of this entity.
Thanks for the update Barbara.
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Listener
These two sheep are alone, they must have wandered off to fend for themselves. They found green pastures but one was ravaged by a wolf perhaps. Rather than the story the WTBTS may spin here is a phropesy from the bible -
Ezekial 34: 1-30
"1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
7 "Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
The Lord GOD Will Seek Them Out
11 "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. [ a ] I will feed them in justice.
17 "As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 "Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue [ b ] my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken.
The LORD’s Covenant of Peace
25 "I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. 27 And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. 29 And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. 30 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord GOD."
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Timothy T: The Anointed and Me
by compound complex ini have never had any personal help from a member of the fds apart from what i read in the literature... which was very little because id rather read the bible.
even as a jw, if i had any encouragement it came from the elders or the bible.
they were the ones that did the hard work and cared.
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Listener
I enjoyed what you wrote Compound Complex, it gave me a warm feeling and brought me back to a time when I felt a deep connection to God flowing in the congregation. That was in the 60s and early 70s.
You've made me think, though, and I hope I don't go too off thread. I wonder if the progressive change has been because of their introduction of the other sheep (in the early 30s), Who are they really and more importantly how strong is their connection to God and Jesus? How does this knowledge that they have been taught make them different to those who believe they are annointed? The annointed know they are part of God's Kingdom and are his sons and daughters and that they have been given a free and merciful gift. This is was part of the good news from Jesus and they have been blessed as being recipients. Their relationship with God is real and communicated to them through the bible but also their faith and their feeling of belonging brings them closer to God. Their works and their whole personality reflect this and they have a new personality, one that is closer to goodness. It is real and a demonstration of God's approval.
But what of the great crowd? It is true that there is very little written to them and for them in the bible. How are they supposed to draw close to God when they know they are not part of his kingdom and can only look to that in the far future - more than 1,000 years in fact. All that they can do is be obedient. God's kingdom has been taken away from them, they do not belong to the world but cannot for the time being, belong to God. This state must be reflected in their works and their personality. As time has gone on the larger proportion of the congregation is comprised of the other sheep crowd and this also has to reflect itself in the congregations, that is, they are in limbo.
If the other sheep is nonsense then it would only be logical that God's active force has had less oportunity to make itself visible in the congregations as a whole over the progressing years.
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Nov.15th WT - WT Society Wants & Needs Elders- Not very High Standards
by flipper inas many of us realize- times are hard for the wt society getting men to " reach out " for an elders or ministerial servants position as young men aged ( 18-35 ) are opting out of doing that due to the pressure they are under from the wt society leaders and just that it takes up too much valuable time where men could be earning a living and helping their own families instead of a thankless magazine printing corporation.
in the article " train others to reach out " in this issue it has lots of strange, controlling, yet perplexing statements which i'm sure will confuse jw men who are considering " reaching out ".
in fact, i think this article will discourage more than encourage them from doing so.. on pg.
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Listener
It's easy to gloss over these articles and be left with the feeling that something is seriously wrong in their way of thinking and you hit the nail right on the head when you said "Whatever happened to the alleged " fruitages of the spirit " ? Like developing love, kindness, mildness, self control, etc ?". This is and should be their main ambition and the elders should be looking at ways to cultivate them. The elders should be identifying these signs in any prospective appointment.