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August 2nd , 2005
Every so often, I revisit these pages in an attempt to test my own thinking on the contentious issues that any discussion on the subject of the "cultist" nature of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization may bring about.
To the defense of the Witnesses, I see the validity of some of their criticisms on being singled out for their doctrinal errors and "end of the world" predictions. I, even, agree with them that many Christians and some "fathers" of the early church have committed similar errors in their own predictions. I am, also, prepared to admit that their New World Translation of the Bible may not be the worst in circulation today.
However, this does not excuse them from failing to examine the scriptures in an honest manner and in a logical and scientific fashion. For instance, they start with a certain set of hypotheses/doctrines and then, they go to great lengths to "prove" their truthfulness or validity. So, if something in the scriptures seems to contradict what they believe, they, automatically, suspect some sort of a "conspiracy", "manuscript tampering" and or a mistranslation of the "original" languages.
Therefore, their next task is a relentless search for any source ancient or modern which may give credence to their beliefs. This approach can be very frustrating for the serious scholar who may want to give them the benefit of the doubt [ as he or she ought to ] by further evaluating the sources the Witnesses are quoting from. My point is that many of their references are obscure and of questionable reliability.
In the final analysis, it does not really matter how they err but that they err and in doing so they are ruining the lives and eternal destiny of millions of people. Unlike the various Christian denominations which agree on key doctrinal points like the Trinity, salvation by faith/grace, the bodily/physical resurrection and physical second coming of Christ, etc. etc., the Witnesses have chosen dangerous positions and doctrines which ultimately serve the interests of the demonic rulers of this world!
To the individual Jehovah's Witnesses who are truly searching for the Truth, please pray to Jehovah [ God the Father ] and ask Him to guide you in the name of Jesus to discover the whole truth as you ponder over the following scriptures taken directly from your favorite translation the NWT [1969 Revised edition ].
In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in [the] beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence. John 1:1-3.
So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of undeserved kindness and truth. John 1:14
No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom position with the Father is the one that has explained him. John 1:18
In answer Thomas said to him: "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him: "Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe." John 20: 28-29 [ Emphasis added ]
As you know there is no other god beside Jehovah and yet John tells us that the Word was from the beginning with God [ the Father ] and that he himself was god or a god and not in title only: everything came into existence through him [ or by him as the Greek may mean ]and that includes the angels and Michael the Archangel! PANTA means everything and everyone!
This only-begotten god became flesh, was impaled/crucified and resurrected on the third day and appeared to the disciples in the same body [in its glorified-resurrected state obviously ]. When Thomas called him "My Lord and my God" what did Jesus do? Did he rebuke him for blaspheming? Absolutely NO!!!
Again, John tells us that many did not believe Jesus despite his many miracles because Jehovah had "blinded their eyes and he has made their hearts hard, that they should not see with their eyes and perceive with their hearts and turn around [repent] and I should heal them" John 12:40
Right after that John says that " Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and he spoke about him. John 12:41
But wait a minute! Why did John say that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus? If you go to the Old Testament, Isaiah clearly talks about the glory of Jehovah. You can play with the text all you want but if you are a serious student of the Bible you either have to conclude that John was confused or that Isaiah had actually seen the second person of the Trinity, the Eternal Son of God, in his vision of Jehovah. [See Isaiah 6:1-11 ]
Recently, I came across the following article which I believe proves the
"cultist" nature of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization.
Check it out:
| The following is taken from the in progress
manuscript of the book Letters to an Elder by R. J. Sikorski. It
outlines Robert J. Lofton's defining cult characteristics and how the
Jehovah's Witnesses fit the "mind control" profile. It was written as a
refutation to the February '94 Watchtower article "Cults-What Are
They?."
The Watchtower article, "Cults--What Are They?" presents
encyclopedia and magazine references for the term "cult" and argues that
they cold fit any religious organization. But when a clear definition is
actually stated (I'm referring to the State of Maryland 100th Congress
resolution), there is no clear attempt to prove why Jehovah's Witnesses
don't fit it, or why they don't, in fact, use manipulative, deceptive or
unethical techniques to recruit members or control followers.
The fact is: they do. The manipulative, deceptive and
unethical technique is called "mind control." With the help of psychologists
Robert J. Lofton and Steven Hassan, I'd like to prove how their use of it
classifies Jehovah's Witnesses as a destructive cult.
In his definitive book on the subject, Thought
Reform and the Psychology of Totalism, Lofton outlines the eight basic
elements of mind control, whether they are used
by political, religious or psychological cults. Let's examine them and see
if the Jehovah's Witnesses employ them to gain recruits and maintain
members.
The first is "milieu" or environment control.
Lofton explains that cults control the environment around recruits in a
number of ways. most always using some form of isolation. They can be
physically separated from society or they can be warned to stay away from
media that might provoke critical thinking. Any book, movie, testimony or
ex-members, or anyone critical of the group, in any way, is to be avoided.
Ask yourself: doesn't the Watchtower explicitly say
"avoid independent thinking". Isn't literature critical to Jehovah's
Witnesses something to be avoided? Aren't Jehovah's Witnesses forbidden to
associate with disfellowshipped members?
The second element of mind control is "mystical
manipulation." It is a systematic process planned and managed from above
leadership. God is supposedly ever present in the organization. Leaders
become mediators for God. God centered principles can be put forcibly and
claimed exclusively so the cult and its beliefs become the only true path to
salvation. If one has not seen the light, and is not in the realm of the
cult, one is in the realm of evil.
Doesn't the Watchtower claim to be the Jehovah's one
true prophet? Doesn't it claim Jesus Christ returned invisibly in 1914 to
establish his rule through the Jehovah's Witnesses? Don't Jehovah's
Witnesses claim exclusive doctrine and enforce practices? Aren't they the
only group that will survive Armageddon? Aren't unbelievers in the realm of
Satan?
Lofton cites the "demand for purity" as another
defining element. Such a demand calls for the radical separation of pure
and impure or good and evil within an environment and within oneself. The
world is depicted as black and white, with little room for making personal
decisions. One's conduct is modeled after the ideology of the group as
taught in its literature. People and organizations are pictured as good or
evil depending on their relationship to the group. Universal tendencies of
guilt or shame are used to influence or control individuals, sometimes in a
structured confession process.
Doesn't Watchtower literature say mainstream Christian
religions are controlled by Satan? Isn't the Catholic Church called the
"Whore of Babylon?" Isn't the modern day celebration of Christmas branded
pagan? Aren't JW school children given specific rules for group
participation?
Lofton's fourth element is the "cult of confession."
Serious sins (as defined by the organization) are to be confessed
immediately. Members are to be reported if found behaving contrary. The
confession process has its own structure, usually the context of a small
group. Sins could be caused by identification with one's prior existence.
This tactic allows leaders from within to exercise authority over weaker or
radical members.
Aren't JW transgressors ordered to report to a group
of elders? Hasn't the process been used to reprimand and control? (You don't
have to read Franz's Crisis of Conscience to learn the above happens.
There are many disfellowshipped Witnesses only to busy to testify.)
"Sacred science" is the fifth operating characteristic
of a "mind control cult". The cult's ideology becomes the ultimate moral
vision for the ordering of human existence. The ideology is too "sacred" to
be called into question, and reverence is demanded for the leadership. It
claims absolute truth with no contradictions. Such a system can offer
considerable security for the "searching" or vulnerable.
Doesn't the Watchtower define who goes to heaven and
who doesn't? Aren't the "anointed" the only ones allowed to be members of
the governing body? Aren't the anointed the only ones who can receive the
bread and wine at the Last Supper memorial? Doesn't the Watchtower lay claim
to the absolute truth?
Sixth defining element is called "loading the
language." Functional member vocabulary becomes simplified with the use
of thought terminating clichés, expressions or words designed to end the
controversy or conversation. They become the language of non-thought since
they tend to stop discussion or prevent further consideration. There is
always some simple cliché or slogan to answer a complex issue or difficult
question.
Among Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, don't
expressions like "the truth", the "new system of things", "apostates", and
"worldly" carry with them automatic judgment of outsiders? How often does
"the truth gets brighter" get used to explain away a doctrinal change (even
though the WT claims absolute truth)? Or the terms "worldly" or "pagan" get
used to justify non-participation?
Seventh operating characteristic of mind control is
"doctrine over person." Human experience is subordinated to doctrine, no
matter how profound or contradictory such experience seem to be. The history
of the cult is altered to fit their doctrine of logic. The person is only
valuable in so much as they conform to the role models of the cult. Common
sense perceptions are disregarded if they are hostile to the ideology.
Doesn't the prohibition of blood transfusions in life
threatening circumstances disregard common sense? Couldn't mass persecution
of Malawi Jehovah's Witnesses have been prevented if only they had been
granted permission for proper I.D. Haven't doctrinal truths been altered to
fit history.
Lofton's eighth element of mind control is the
"dispensing of existence." The organization decides who will perish in
the final battle of good over evil. Leaders decide which history books are
accurate and which are biased. Families can be cut off and outsiders
deceived for they are not fit to exist.
JWs make no secret of the fact that only they will
survive the battle of Armageddon, or inherit paradise earth. Even family
members are ostracized if disfellowshipped. Aren't textbooks that don't
support JW doctrine or logic branded apostate, biased, worldly or somehow
under the influence of Satan?
According to Lofton, if any group exercises all eight of
these control elements, they are, in fact a destructive mind control cult.
It doesn't matter how kind, credible, or self-righteous the group or its
members appear to be. Rationalizing with biblical verses, Hassan would
argue, is no excuse for impeding personal choice or violating personal
freedom.
If the Watchtower article reviewed Jehovah's Witnesses in
light of Lofton's criteria it would be hard pressed to deny the use of mind
control or the consequent categorization of the JW organization as a
destructive cult. The examples presented just scratch the surface.
As Hassan explains, mind control may not be a coercive
form of thought reform like brainwashing, but it is still psychologically
damaging. Perhaps the biggest problem is the disruption of a person's
identity. "Under the influence of mind control a person's original identity,
as formed by family education, friendships, and, most importantly, a
person's own free choice, becomes replaced with another identity, often one,
he (or she) would not have chosen for himself (or herself) without the
social pressure of the group."
Mind control practiced by destructive cults is a social
process involving large groups of people. To function, in that social
environment, one must shed his (or her) own identity and adhere to the
identity desired by the group. Even if he (or she) gets along by play-acting
at first, the act eventually becomes real, the totalistic ideology is
internalized and prior belief systems superceded.
Hassan sums up "mind control" with this simple statement:
"The term mind control refers to any system that seeks to
undermine an individual's integrity in making his (or her) own personal
decisions."
There is no justifiable rationalization for the use of
mind control. Ends don't justify the means. There is no excuse for
undermining personal freedom. This country promotes and defends it in its
"Bill of Rights." Even the Bible teaches that our Creator holds personal
freedom so sacred that He will not take glory from any form of worship or
honor unless it is given freely.
As spreaders of the Good News, protecting an individual
freedom in choice of religion is just as much our responsibility as the
execution of God's two greatest commandments.
Rick Sikorski holds a bachelor's and master's degree
from Michigan State University's College of Communications, with a
specialties in mass media advertising and consumer behavior. He's taught at
the University of Washington as well as MSU and has held senior executive
management positions in both advertising and marketing. This father of four
became actively involved in Catholic apologetics and the dynamics of cult
mind control when he lost his wife to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Besides the
book Letters to an Elder, he is currently working on The Jehovah's Witness
Survival Guide for Catholics. |
As I mentioned before , if one is sincere in finding the truth about God, one needs to pray fervently that the true God of the universe will open his/her spiritual eyes and lead one to a higher level of understanding of all wisdom and truth!
From April 15/2003
The article that follows was written a couple of years ago [ in 2001 ] in response to
Jehovah's Witnesses' opposition to my commentaries regarding their religious
organization.
As I am revisiting these pages again, I feel the need to make some
clarifications and possibly some amendments to my way of thinking.
Many people who had the opportunity to get to know me personally, would
probably agree that I have a very strong personality and am prepared to defend
my views to the" bitter end".
Political correctness has no place in my life and as my wife would probably
attest to , I can be a very stubborn individual at times!!!
Therefore, when I tackle certain issues, I may go somewhat overboard with my
decisive and often "vitriolic" style of writing.
This, I admit, may not be as effective of a way to lead people to the
"right" way of thinking and acting. Again, my wonderful wife has
pointed out to me, on many occasions, that while it may have been O.K. for Jesus
to call the Pharisees "vipers", that does not give me the
authority to do the same when I criticize our religious leaders and the
shepherds of the various "cults".
Jesus knew the hearts and minds of these people but I do not know those whom I
criticize.
How are we going to proceed then? I believe that we as Christians have the
responsibility to judge people by their deeds which are in turn indicative of
their moral characters.
Although, I do not know the motives of the people who lead the Jehovah's
Witnesses organization, I can still criticize them for bringing out
"doctrines" and "fables" which ultimately serve the demonic
rulers of this world.
However, my manner of dealing with this subject ought to have been somewhat
tempered by what it says in the scriptures:
1PET 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to
the former lusts in your ignorance:
1PET 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation;
1PET 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
For this, I apologize to all of my readers and especially Heinz and the other
Jehovah's Witnesses.
Today, I look at members of various Christian cults as brothers and sisters
in desperate need to be liberated. I pray to the Father that in due time He will
open up your hearts and minds and lead you to the Truth and the real source of
Life , our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thank God for the Witnesses Again!
In recent weeks, I received some interesting e-mails from a witness who was
offended by my comments in my Thank
God for the Witnesses regarding the validity of the New World
Translation and my perceived errors of witness doctrines and practices.
In a highly eloquent and well researched fashion Heinz proceeded to point out
how Christendom from its early stages of development has corrupted the
infallible word of God and how its churches introduced dogmas and doctrines
which are not biblical.
At the forefront of his attacks came his strong arguments against the concept
of Trinity and the divinity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ which resulted
in some interesting, to say the least, statements by both parties.
When I wrote to him, I believed all along that our correspondence was private
and at a basic level. Certainly, I did not think to create a dissertation to
impress him or the internet public. However, that was not the case with Heinz.
He chose to take parts of my letters and publish them in his web site.
In one of my letters, I had pointed out to Heinz some examples of what other Jehovah's Witnesses critics had to say about them. As a matter of fact, I copied a whole article of someone else and forwarded it to him. Next, I discovered that Heinz was
dissecting this work in his site and without regard for copyright, he had proceeded to make me the author of this article and to give me "credit" for it which I did not deserve.
To this day, despite my previous clarifications to him regarding this error, Heinz continues to present me falsely as the author of that work. Obviously, truth is irrelevant to this zealous witness who is prepared to go to any lengths to defend the errors of his organization!
I was disappointed with his general approach and stated so in my e-mails. In one case in
particular, Heinz was "upset" and critical of my choice of words like
"piss off" which I used even though I knew that it was not necessarily
in good taste. Judge for yourselves the error of my ways and hopefully you'll
find it in your hearts to forgive me for my basic and somewhat "crude
" humanity.
John: In previous letters I asked you to tell me why
Jesus claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath when the Jews knew very well that
the title referred to their covenant God Jehovah. Do you think He was saying
that just to "piss them off"? Jesus also claimed that He is the
Truth and the Life, the Good Shepherd, the living bread, the vine etc, etc
which are clearly attributes of the almighty Jehovah. If He has all of the
characteristics of Jehovah, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords [ Revelation
19:16] is it not possible that He may be equal to Him or be Him ? The name
Jehovah applies to the one and only God who acts in history in the persons of
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Heinz:
It is sad to see a good man like you resort to bad language like
using the vernacular for "urinate" to
make your point.
Here comes my answer to that remark :
It
is unfortunate that my private e-mail to you has been used to promote your cause
by displaying it for all to see in your site. Your "holier than thou"
attitude regarding my use of the verb "piss off" is another indication
that you are following in the footsteps of your spiritual forefathers the
Pharisees. If I recall correctly, they had similar complaints about the
disciples not following etiquette, i.e. not washing their hands before eating
etc.
Well, now that all is out in the open, let us continue with the main points
of our disagreement.
Are Jehovah's Witnesses A cult?
In my correspondence with Heinz, I tried to explain that the reason why I
believe that Jehovah's Witnesses are a "cult" is primarily because
of their attitude that their interpretation of the Bible is the only
correct one and that everyone else's is by default the wrong one.
Even, though, I believe strongly that I have found the Truth and I am prepared
to defend my faith, this does not give me the right to force my beliefs on
anyone . My duty as a Christian is to witness to others through word and
deed and let God take care of everything else.
I believe firmly that unless the Holy Spirit draws you to God, your eyes and
ears to your heart and mind will remain closed. However, because it is God's
will that no-one should perish and that each one of us should have the
opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and thereby achieve everlasting
life, everyone has at some point in their life the chance to answer the knock on
their door. They simply need to respond to the call and open the door to Jesus.
I know that for a long time before I accepted Jesus, I was very unhappy and
had a big void in my heart despite my monetary stability and professional
successes.
I used to tell my wife that my greatest fear was that "one of these days
I will die and I will not know the truth and the purpose of my existence".
Today, I can say with confidence that all fear is gone. The moment I said
"yes" to Jesus all burdens were lifted , my eyes were opened and the
Holy Spirit pointed out to me biblical truths which I never knew that existed.
So, if I appear to be arguing with Heinz and the other witnesses, it is
because of my sincere desire that they ,also, may partake of the life which the
Holy Spirit has in store for us for Jesus' sake.
As I said before, ever since I made my commitment to Christ by accepting him not only in my
heart but also my mind, I started seeing truths in the Bible which I had never
noticed before.
For instance, some of you may be familiar with the meaning of the Greek
word onoma which is usually translated as name. However,
there is another meaning which tends to be very common throughout the
scriptures; this noun, also, signifies authority. So, if one comes in the
name of the king, he or she comes under the authority of the king. Therefore, if
one mistreats the representative of the king, it is as if one did that directly
to the king.
Many times throughout the New Testament we see Jesus telling both his
disciples and his opponents that he comes in the name of his Father. In other
words, he is sent by his Father, he speaks of what his Father tells him and
therefore, those who do not believe in him, they do not believe in the one who
sent him.
In the last commandment to his disciples which is otherwise known as The
Great Commission, Jesus instructed them to go in all the world and make
disciples and to baptize them "in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit". One may paraphrase this to read " under
the authority....". Unfortunately, the witnesses fail to see the meaning of
Jesus' words.
Jesus is talking about one name [ authority ] and not many; three persons and
not two plus a force . Using witness logic, one would be forced to conclude that
the Lord asked us to baptize "in the name of the father and of the
son and of the force". How absurd indeed!
Absurdities, bad translations, out of context quotations and bizarre
and non-scriptural suppositions [ like the one about Jesus not being resurrected
in the body and that somehow God hid it away so that the disciples would have no
doubts about his resurrection ], inaccurate end of the world predictions, false
and arbitrarily reversed doctrines are among some of the key legacies of this
organization.
The Witnesses are unhappy about being called cultist but they fail to see the
validity of the remarks of their critics. They claim to be great proponents of
logic and yet they fail miserably to use it when examining their own ideas and
doctrines.
This is a group whose antennas are definitely pointing in the wrong
direction. They claim to be God's special remnant but they are tuned to the
wrong source. Their God cannot be the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham and
Jacob because that God is the God of Truth [ better yet He is Truth, Jesus is
Truth {whoever has ears, let him hear}], he never changes; he is the same
yesterday, today and forever.
The Almighty, the God who Jesus revealed to us is not a liar who would feed
you one story today and another one tomorrow. The Witnesses Organization is
feeding its members the lies of their spiritual father, the arch enemy of the
human race, Satan.
Examine their literature and discover for yourselves how often they have
changed the tunes of their songs. If God was ever behind that group, he is the
greatest flip flopper that I have ever met!!!
My special thanks go to Heinz and the other witnesses who helped me,
indirectly, over the
years to discover the Truth. Instead of believing their interpretation of the
Bible as presented in their literature, I decided to check out the original
sources and lo and behold under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I was drawn to
the real Jesus and I accepted His cleansing sacrifice. My prayer is that they may get rid of the scales in their
eyes and that they may examine their beliefs in an honest and consistent manner by
asking the Holy Spirit to point the way in the name of Jesus.
What follows is a special "cut and paste" section which may not sit
that well with Heinz. However, my attitude is why tamper with the words of
others when they express the truth so succinctly.
What do the
Jehovah's Witnesses Teach?
- There is one God in one person, Make
Sure of All Things, p 188.
- There is no Trinity, Let God be
True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All Things, p.386.
- The Holy Spirit is a force, not
alive, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp.
406-407.
- The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal
active force, The Watchtower, June 1, 1952,
p. 24.
- Jehovah's first creation was his
'only-begotten Son'. . . was used by Jehovah in
creating all other things", Aid to Bible Understanding, pp.
390-391.
- Jesus was Michael the archangel who
became a man, The Watchtower, May 15,
1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.
- Jesus was only a perfect man, not God
in flesh, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp. 306.
- Jesus did not rise from the dead in
his physical body, Awake! July 22, 1973, p. 4.
- Jesus was raised "not a human
creature, but a spirit." Let God be True, p. 276.
- Jesus did not die on a cross but on a
stake, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985,
pp. 89-90.
- Jesus returned to earth, invisibly,
in 1914, The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 300.
- Jesus' ransom sacrifice did not
include Adam, Let God be True, p. 119.
- Their church is the self-proclaimed
prophet of God, The Watchtower, April 1,
1972, p. 197.
- They claim to be the only channel of
God's truth, The Watchtower, Feb. 15,
1981, p. 19.
- Only their church members will be
saved, The Watchtower, Feb, 15, 1979, p. 30.
- Good works are necessary for
salvation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1,
pp. 150, 152.
- The soul ceases to exist after death,
Let God be True, p. 59, 60, 67.
- There is no hell of fire where the
wicked are punished, Let God be True, p. 79, 80.
- Only 144,000 Jehovah's Witness go to
heaven, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121.
- Blood transfusions are a sin,
Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 72-73.
- The Cross is a pagan symbol and
should not be used, Reasoning from the
Scriptures, 1985, pp. 90-92.
- Salvation is by faith and what you
do, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp.
150,152.
- It is possible to lose your
salvation, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp.
358-359.
- The universe is billions of years
old, Your will Be Done on Earth, p. 43.
- Each of the 6 creative days
of God in Genesis 1, was 7000 years long.
Therefore, Man was created toward the end of 42,000 years of earth's
preparation, Let God be True, p. 168.
- They also refuse to vote, salute the
flag, sing the "Star Spangled Banner," or
celebrate Christmas or birthdays. They are not allowed to serve
in the armed
forces.
{ Above and following information is borrowed from this site: www.carm.org
}
False Prophecies
of the Jehovah's Witnesses
" The
Witnesses make many claims in their attempt to convert you to their faith. They
profess to have the only true Christian church, to be the only true
representatives of God, to have the only correct biblical teaching, and to be
the only true announcers of Jehovah's coming kingdom.
If they are the only true church and are the only
true voice of God's word, then what they say should prove to be true, especially
in prophecy. When it comes to predicting the future, the Watchtower organization
fails miserably. Following are some of the false predictions made over the years
by the Watchtower organization. If you present these to a JW, he will probably
say something like, "Those are taken out of context," or "They
didn't claim to be the prophet of God," or "The light is getting
brighter and we are understanding Bible prophecy better now," etc. Make a
copy of these false prophecies, found in the appendix, and give it to them to
check. They are right out of the Witnesses' literature.
Remember Deut.
18:22, "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not
take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet
has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him." If someone makes a
false prophecy, and they have claimed to be a prophet of God, then they are
false prophets and are not to be listened to.
Do the Witnesses claim to be the prophet of God?
Yes, they do."
" In 1972 the
Jehovah's Witness Watchtower claimed to be the prophet of God.
IDENTIFYING THE "PROPHET"
-- "So does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers
and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in the
affirmative. Who is this prophet?...This "prophet" was not one man,
but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers
of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today
they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses...Of course, it is easy to say
that this group acts as a ‘prophet' of God. It is another thing to prove
it." The
Watchtower, 4/1/72, p. 197. (See Deut. 18:21)
1897 "Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since
October 1874," Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 4, page 621.
1899 "...the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty'
(Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow
of earth's present rulership, is already commenced." The Time Is at
Hand, page 101 (1908 edition).
1916 "The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six
great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th
Day, the 1000 years of Christ's Reign, began in 1873." The Time Is
at Hand, page ii, (forward).
1918 "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark
the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old,
particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of
human perfection." Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89.
1922 "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the
Scriptures than 1914." The Watchtower 9/1/22, page 262.
1923 "Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the
Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base
his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming
deluge." The Watchtower, page 106 4/1/23.
1925 "The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians
have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all
members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this
year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will
accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so
deeply concerned about what may transpire this year." The Watchtower, 1/1/25, page. 3.
1925 "It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into
the minds of the consecrated, the thought that 1925 should see an end to the
work." The Watchtower, Sept, 1925 page 262.
1926 "Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the
Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their
imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder,
they were inclined to throw away everything." The Watchtower, page
232.
1931 "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of
Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925,
which disappointment lasted for a time...and they also learned to quit
fixing dates." Vindication, page 338.
1941 "Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to
them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided
instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before
Armageddon." The Watchtower, 9/15/41, page 288.
1968 "True, there have been those in times past who predicted an
‘end to the world', even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened.
The ‘end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What
was missing?.. Missing from such people were God's truths and evidence that
he was using and guiding them." Awake, 10/8/68.
1968 "Why are you looking forward to 1975?" The Watchtower, 8/15/68, page 494.
" A JW might say that the organization is still
learning. If that is so, then how can they trust what they are taught now by
the Watchtower? Will what they are being taught now change also?
A true prophet of God won't err in prophesying.
Only a false prophet does. The Jehovah's Witness organization, that claims to
be a prophet of God, is really a false prophet. Jesus warned us by saying,
"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs
and miracles to deceive even the elect -- if that were possible" (Matt.
24:24)."
For additional information on the Jehovah's
Witnesses, please check out these links:
Tools for
Witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses
The
Deity of Christ as presented in the Gospel of John
The
History of the JW's
Let the Record Speak For Itself
Singing the Song of the Lamb
Jehovah's Witnesses: Christian or Cult?
John Costouros jcostouros@yahoo.com
Christian Links
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