Analyzing The Watchtower’s View Of Apostasy

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Mark

Because of my love for Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW’s), it’s easy for me to maintain a positive tone and show kindness toward them on this blog. Also, I do not promote blogs or websites which slander, show maliciousness, bitterness or have an ax to grind – so to speak – with JW’s or the Watchtower organization. Even so, while keeping things positive and trying to help JW’s, I cannot overlook things which I believe must be addressed, even though it may seem negative to some. I must take an honest and open approach in the articles I write, yet show love and kindness while not watering down or avoiding what may seem to be controversial to a loyal JW. I always prayerfully consider these things before I write on this blog or speak to others about the organization.

I have spent a lot of time praying and thinking about this particular article before posting it on this site. My goal is to be honest yet not gloss over the facts. Please do not mistake my candor as anger or bitterness. I write these things in Christian love.

That being said, I would like to share a few thoughts with you regarding the July 15, 2011 Watchtower study article which begins on page 15. The article is entitled, “Will You Heed Jehovah’s Clear Warnings?” This was the Watchtower study topic for Sunday 9/11/2011 which focused on apostasy and apostates.

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Did The 10 Commandments Exist Before Sinai?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Mark

What do you think? Did the Ten Commandments exist before Sinai? Over the years as a Jehovah’s Witness I asked this question many times. I asked not only publishers, both brothers and sisters, but also many “mature” brothers in the organization which included elders throughout our circuit and district, 5 circuit overseers and several substitute circuit overseers. The answer I always received was, “No.” Then they would usually go on to explain that the Ten Commandments did not exist until Moses brought them down from Mount Sinai.

Let’s take just a few moments to examine this subject while keeping in mind that there are many more points that can be made in this regard. Is it true that the Ten Commandments came about some 2500 years after Adam was created as the Watchtower teaches? To answer this question we must consider what the Apostle Paul states in Romans 4:15b,

 “Where there is no law, neither is there any transgression.” (New World Translation, NWT)

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Will Adam and Eve Be Resurrected?

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Mark

Will Adam and Eve Be Resurrected?

This is an interesting question to ask a Jehovah’s Witness (JW). The line of reasoning used by the Watchtower Society is as follows: Since Adam and Eve sinned in perfection they have no chance of being resurrected. The Watchtower 1/15/1960 page 53 third paragraph says,

“Since the supreme Judge never makes a mistake, there is no need for him to take under review any judgment that he has passed. His judgments are final. That means the people who perished in the flood of Noah’s day will never be resurrected to stand trial again. The same is true with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Adam and Eve. All had their judgment day before the great Judge of the universe and all were sentenced to destruction. They will never have a conscious existence again. ”

While the Watchtower has changed it’s view several times regarding those of Sodom and Gomorrah being resurrected, all of my life I have heard the above reasoning about Adam and Eve not being resurrected and it always seemed to make sense to me.  I also have to agree that Jehovah does not make mistakes in judgment. However, as I have continued to read and study the Bible my understanding has changed a bit regarding Adam and Eve. Is it true that there is no hope for them and that they will not be resurrected? Is it possible that they cannot be forgiven? Please consider the following;

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Posted in Adam & Eve, Resurrection, Understanding the Bible | 3 Comments

Is The Watchtower Organization God’s Channel Of Truth?

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Mark

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Incorporated is the publishing agency owned and operated by the Jehovah’s Witness (JW) organization. They publish Bibles, books, tracts and brochures. They also publish the Watchtower and Awake magazines. JW’s are taught that the Watchtower (Both the organization and the magazine) is God’s means of interpreting the Bible and making it understandable for people. JW’s are also taught that the Watchtower is Jehovah God’s sole “channel” of truth and that it has been from the time of it’s first being published in 1879. This is not only what the organization teaches but this is what the vast majority of JW’s sincerely believe. However, it’s interesting what an honest examination of past Watchtower teachings will reveal. One must look at the history of the organization to really gain an understanding as to whether or not the Watchtower is or ever was, “God‘s channel of truth.”

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What Does the Bible Really Teach? (Part 1)

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Mark

Since the year 1943 Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW’s) have had a methodical way of teaching non-JW’s about what they believe. The method used is to invite one to a “Bible” study, then introduce them to a book published by the Watchtower organization. These books are usually very well written. Much thought goes into how they are worded, how questions are asked and how the questions should be answered. The method of study is to read a paragraph from the book, then read the question at the bottom of the page corresponding to the paragraph. At this point the student should find the answer within the paragraph that was just read and repeat either word for word, or in his/her own words, what the paragraph is saying. It is the responsibility of the JW conducting the study to make sure that the answer given agrees completely with what the Watchtower is teaching at the time of the study.

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Posted in Organization, Understanding the Bible, Watchtower | 1 Comment

My Letter to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Mark

10/4/2006

Dear Brothers,

I am writing this letter after much prayer, Bible study and consideration of what Jehovah requires of us as Christians. I ask that you please consider this letter prayerfully and read the cited and quoted scriptures in their context. This subject has weighed very heavily on me for many years. In confidence, I have spoken to several elders and circuit overseers about this subject only to receive no satisfying answer. I have read every publication on this subject that is on the Watchtower CD ROM. I must tell you that at present I am inactive. However, my love for Jehovah and doing His will is stronger than ever before in my life.

My concern is regarding the 10 Commandments of Jehovah God. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, if we were to unrepentantly break 9 of the 10 Commandments we would rightfully be disfellowshiped. The question I have is, why do we as Jehovah’s Witnesses keep only 9 of the 10 Commandments? Again, please prayerfully consider the following before answering. Continue reading →

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Is Jesus’ Return Visible or Invisible?

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mark

The Watchtower has used many printed pages defending the doctrine that Jesus’ return is invisible, but can find only a few scriptures that seem to support this doctrine and only by the misapplication of scripture. However, when reading the Watchtower publications one can find much human reasoning to try to support Jesus’ invisible return, even quoting Sir Isaac Newton as an authority on this subject and perhaps the father of the teaching. (See Watchtower July 15 1906 page 229 and Kingdom Proclaimers book chapter 5 page 46 footnote)

Let’s take a moment to look at the evidence. In Matthew 24:30 Jesus said,

 “And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

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Can You Understand The Bible?

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Mark

In this article we will analyze passages from the Watchtower publication, “What Does the Bible Really Teach” (Teach book). I will follow the Teach book quotes with quotes from the Watchtower magazine. Please take notice as to whether there is any contradiction between the Teach book and the Watchtower magazine, while keeping in mind that both were published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

Bible Teach book Pages 8-9 paragraphs 3 – 5:
3 “Think about the question on the cover of this book, the questions raised in the preface, or those at the beginning of this chapter. These are some of the most important questions you can ask. Yet, many people have given up trying to find the answers. Why? Does the Bible have the answers? Some feel that its answers are too hard to understand. Others worry that asking questions could lead to shame or embarrassment. And some decide that such questions are best left to religious leaders and teachers. What about you?

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Blood Transfusions, Are They Wrong?

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Mark

The Watchtower Society’s requirement that Jehovah’s Witnesses must refuse to accept blood transfusions dates back to 1945. Misinterpreting the Old Testament prohibition against eating animal blood as a routine food item, the Watchtower Society began teaching that receiving a blood transfusion was “eating human blood”. The Watchtower teaches Jehovah’s Witnesses to believe that receiving an infusion of human blood into their body’s circulatory system is the exact same thing as eating or ingesting blood into their body’s digestive system. Please notice the following statements.

The Watchtower, July 1, 1951 p-414 said, “A patient in the hospital maybe fed through the mouth, through the nose, or through the veins. When sugar solutions are given intravenously it is called intravenous feeding. So the hospital’s own terminology recognizes as feeding the process of putting nutrition into one’s system via the veins. Hence the attendant administering the transfusion is feeding the patient through the veins, and the patient receiving it is eating through his veins.”

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Posted in Blood transfusions, The blood issue | 3 Comments