Reshaping History – How the Watchtower controls their image by editing their own past

gods-kingdom-rulesWhen Watchtower’s new ‘history’ book was released this summer it was said to have been released because their old one had too many pages. “God’s Kingdom Rules!” was presented as a slimmer, and therefore more translatable, volume than its predecessor.

I’ve recently had a chance to go through it, and I firmly believe its purpose is much more complex than we have been led to believe.

A key difference between Watchtower’s old and new history book is that the new version is meant to be studied at weekly meetings. The older Proclaimers book was merely a personal reference volume, and had no questions and answers for the paragraphs.

As a study book, each Jehovah’s Witness will soon be expected to study a lesson from the new history book and attend the requisite Q&A book group each week. Throughout and after this very long process, Jehovah’s Witnesses will be well-armed with its fallacies and fabrications.

“God’s Kingdom Rules!” is a carefully crafted whitewash of Watchtower history that cunningly converts past bitter defeats into glorious victories. The book is spectacularly Orwellian.

Rearranging history

The volume opens by attempting to thrill the reader into imagining they are someone from 1914 sitting in the room when Charles Taze Russell announces the “end of the Gentile times.”

Only the perspective of an ardent believer in Pastor Russell is given. What the book fails to mention is that many of Russell’s followers were disillusioned by the lackluster results of his predictions.

As with Harold Camping in 2011, Russell’s 1914 end of the world prophecy was a failure. Both cases left behind followers that either believed in what was cooked up next, or cut their losses and moved on.

Rather than being recognized as an abysmal and embarrassing theological failure, Russell’s failed prediction has been re-shaped as the triumphant herald of the end of an age. In quite dramatic fashion, the moment is portrayed as an exciting historical event rather than the depressing disappointment it truly was.

Only a few pages later do you find Watchtower’s new and improved embarrassment: the “overlapping generations” doctrine, designed to explain Matthew 24:34.

Over the past century, Watchtower has been forced to evolve. They have transitioned from setting hard apocalyptic dates to using the generation who witnessed the “events” of 1914 as an apocalyptic barometer.

Since this original generation have all died off, the doctrine has gone through some strenuous changes. The current contortion can be found in question and answer form very early into the book. It spuriously claims that two generations can actually be considered as one.

George Orwell, author of the legendary novel 1984, spoke about theocratic entities changing their history in this way:

“A totalitarian state is in effect a theocracy, and its ruling caste, in order to keep its position, has to be thought of as infallible. But since, in practice, no one is infallible, it is frequently necessary to rearrange past events in order to show that this or that mistake was not made, or that this or that imaginary triumph actually happened.”

The organization that controls Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world through its “ruling caste,” the Governing Body, is claimed to be infallible. Logically, it simply cannot err while continuing to claim a perfect status. However, being an entity established by humans, it does fail. When this happens, a “rearrangement” of the past is called for, which is exactly what the God’s Kingdom Rules! book accomplishes.

The beginning of the book somewhat desperately tries to convince the reader that God’s plan has been progressively revealed. This “new light” strategy is a perfect way to covertly accomplish what Orwell was talking about. It allows for a future restructuring of past events which are then portrayed as the progressive understanding of “God’s will.”

It’s a “get out of jail free card,” to borrow a Monopoly metaphor.

Jehovah’s Witnesses – conquerors of the courtroom?

Section 4 of the book, entitled “Kingdom Conquests – Legally Establishing the Good News,” sparked a special interest for me. It paints the Watchtower as under direct attack from Satan through the world’s legal systems and its citizens. Irwin Zalkin, who is currently battling in court against the Watchtower, had this to say about their practices:

“These guys will deny and deny, they are belligerent, they are arrogant, they treat victims as adversaries. This is not an organization that is ready to accept the reality of what they have been doing.” (Source: U-T San Diego)

Section 4 of the book attests to the accuracy of Zalkin’s observations. The language clearly indicates that Watchtower sees opponents in the courtroom as agents of the devil.

The book again attempts to alter Watchtower’s history by awarding the organization with the image of “conquerors” of the courtroom. Countless court documents over many decades paint a picture very similar to the words Zalkin used: arrogant and belligerent. Yet, within Watchtower’s new “history” book, they are portrayed as the valiant conquerors who vanquished the dragon.

The book cultivates this image by ignoring the negative and focusing on the positive. Granted, Watchtower has been involved in many landmark victories throughout the 20th century. They’ve even received attention from the outside world for their efforts to protect their freedom to propagate an unpopular message.

For instance, Joel Engardio, civil liberties advocate and creator of the documentary “Knocking,” had this to say about Watchtower in the courtroom:

“There have been nearly 50 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court involving Jehovah’s Witnesses that involved the issue of constitutional rights… We have to thank Jehovah’s Witnesses for being on the forefront of protecting everyone’s freedoms.”

Engardio is talking about giving credit where credit is due, as I understand it. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t want any of the credit. This is clearly spelled out on page 156:

Why have Jehovah’s people won so many landmark legal victories? We have no political influence. Yet, in country after country and court after court, fair-minded judges have protected us from the onslaught of tenacious opposers and, in the process, have set precedents in constitutional law. Without a doubt, Christ has backed our efforts to gain those victories. (Read Revelation 6:2) Why do we fight such legal battles? Our intent is not to reform the legal system. Rather, our goal is to ensure that we can continue to serve our King, Jesus Christ, without hindrance.

They never intended to give the legal system a helping hand. Clearly, they do not concern themselves with the rights of others. Rather, their sole concern has always been running their doomsday propaganda machine without hindrance.

If they took an ounce of credit for any of the constitutional precedents they have helped introduce, they would be part of what they preach as being doomed. Within their theology the legal systems of the world, including their written laws, are merely things to be used until Armageddon comes and they are all destroyed.

Do we really owe them a debt of gratitude as Engardio claims? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses really team players in the battle for freedom?

Democracy on the chopping block

Unfortunately, Engardio isn’t the only one who buys into Watchtower’s side of the story. He, as well as people who see Jehovah’s Witnesses as brave defenders of freedom, need to take a good look at pages 26 and 27 of their new book. It shows the structure of the kingdom they predict will destroy the world’s governments and take their place. Atop this structure is the heavenly person who has allegedly been directing the Watchtower since 1914. This is what they have to say about their ruler:

“Enthroned in 1914, Jesus Christ is a powerful, just, wise and merciful King who is humble before Jehovah God. (Isa. 9:6, 7; 11: 1-3) Unlike imperfect human rulers, he cannot be corrupted, nor is he hampered by fractious congresses and parliaments or self-seeking lobbyists and special interests groups.”

As a religion founded in the United States of America, a system of checks and balances made the Witnesses possible in the first place. Before the advent of representative democracy, the world was mostly ruled by a slew of dictators who wielded absolute power.

In a world of dictators there was no freedom of religion, and an outfit like Watchtower could never have been conceived. They relied on these systems in order to even get off the ground, yet they make the claim that, in the future, humanity will revert back to the old ways with an established monarchy.

Watchtower has had many opportunities over the past 100 years to show that their organization is different, but they have completely failed in this endeavor. They have been plagued with scandals, cover-ups, false prophecies, and have shown utter disregard for the sanctity of life itself.

According to Watchtower’s record, any monarchy setup by them would undoubtedly be exactly the same as every other failed dictatorship that has ever existed. There is no reason to believe otherwise.

All they can do is desperately attempt to alter their past and misrepresent themselves to everyone as something they are not. Fortunately, we now live in a world that is interconnected through technologies such as the internet. It is now much more difficult to get away with changing your own past in the manner to which Watchtower has become accustomed.

People simply have more access to information than ever before. And knowledge is power.

 

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Further reading…

200 thoughts on “Reshaping History – How the Watchtower controls their image by editing their own past

  • January 11, 2015 at 12:25 am
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    My Reference earlier to the ISAIAH’S PROPHECY (Part1) book published in 2000 on Page 253 paragraph 21 quotes Isaiah ch.23v15 which JEHOVAH says Tyre will be forgotten 70 YEARS but and VERY CONVENIENT the GB explain the 70 years is not literal but ONLY 50 YEARS!!!!! So if we use that logic then why can’t Jerusalems desolation of 70 years not be literal BUT 50 YEARS so from 587bc when Archaeologists say Jerusalem was destroyed to 537bc would be 50 years!!! Hallelujah!! Problem Solved . BUT the GB Can’t & WILL NOT Say this because IF 607 bc ISN’T TRUE then 7 times of 2520 years from 587bc would bring us to 1934 c.e which would mean the F&D Slave couldn’t have been appointed in 1919!!!! BIG BIG Problem!!! Then all other Prophecies are Wrong like Last Days would have to begin in 1934 & then The GENERATION INTERPRETATIONS are wrong !! The longer the YEARS go by it is going to get extremely Embarrassing for the GB !!!!What NEW LIGHT will we GET ???? IF it Gets any Lighter I will need to Get STRONGER SUNGLASSES!!!

    • January 16, 2016 at 11:27 am
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      @pickled – well, back up one sec. This obsession with 1914 needs further deliberation. You see, prior to 1914, the end was slated for 1884, then 1874, then 1844. All dates derive from William Miller’s failed 1844 predictions which predicated the beginning of the “last days” starting in 1799. In fact, until 1914 failure, the Bible Students held that the last days began in 1799 and only kept adjusting “the end” date up through 1914, just like their “adventist cousins” who were throwing up predictions.

      Even after 1914 failure, we get Rutherford projecting 1922, and 1925, as “end dates”. And, there was some speculation once Knorr ascended that the end of WW2 would be “it”–1944-ish. Later, based on the spike in JW active counts in 1954-55, some speculated that 40 years past 1914 would be “it”. Then, came 1967–a silent projection, that wasn’t published–and based on Sputnik launch (“fearful signs in heavens”??). Then, came the penultimate 1975 “most fitting date”–sell your house, pack your bags, drop out of school, let’s go meet Jesus! Nothing.

      And, now 1975+40 = 2015 and the “Return” brochure. Frothing at the mouth JW’s truly believed the end was right ahead, no longer around the corner. And,–?

      • January 16, 2016 at 6:52 pm
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        *1957 for Sputnik; 1967 was another rumor due to Israeli conflict.

  • January 11, 2015 at 2:32 am
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    @Bret “make sense of this: Jesus/master goes away 1914, but yet is still here and King, head of cong. and directing preaching yet somehow went away and doesn’t know if the Slave is doing the assigned work while being gone but somehow still here! And will appoint the slave over all his belongings if he finds him doing so, even though he is directing their work..Confused yet?”

    That question is genius!! I copied and pasted it and printed it out. Best question I have seen a very long time. Can anybody explain it? I don’t think so……

  • January 11, 2015 at 4:03 pm
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    In the Watchtower study today at the Kingdom Hall which was about being HOLY as JEHOVAH is Holy so we should not DONATE BLOOD as it should be poured out onto the ground ,But JWs can accept BLOOD FRACTIONS such as Factor 8 for haemophiliacs which can save a JW life. BUT How does a JW get a blood fraction.ONLY from some WORLDLY PERSON who has Donated Blood . So worldly people can save JW lives but JWs can’t donate blood to extract a blood fraction from to save one of their own families lives!!!! AND THIS IS the LIGHT getting LIGHTER!!’ In the 1960s a JW would be disfellowshipped for taking a Blood Fraction but today you won’t be??? I look around the Hall at meetings & sad to say these brothers & sisters are being manipulated for their time,money & energy!! Many are not well educated & so are easily mind manipulated !! Quite upsetting really .All for a multi billion publishing empire which is expanding its property portfolio!!

    • July 14, 2015 at 6:12 pm
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      And don’t forget between 1916 (when the procedure was perfected) and 1945 there was no prohibition on either giving or receiving blood! Why not?!!

  • January 11, 2015 at 4:43 pm
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    I watched the latest jw broadcasting today with Anthony Morris the 3rd talking at great length about college education. I don’t get it. Weren’t we always taught that we wouldn’t be perfect until the end of the thousand years? Then why on earth did he say that nobody has to go to school to be a doctor since after Armageddon, we’d have perfect health and no need for doctors???? Since when would JW’s be perfect as soon as Armageddon was over??? Is he that stupid or are the Witnesses that stupid that listen to that crap???

  • January 11, 2015 at 5:01 pm
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    Even with perfect health, no one will ever fall off a horse and break an arm? No one will ever fall off a ladder while painting a house? Mabye we can float to the ground like angels. Who knows.

    But what I do know is, if we don’t need doctors, we won’t need nurses either (someone else already said that). And the WT says it’s OK to study for nursing. What hypocrites.

  • January 11, 2015 at 5:26 pm
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    I would love to comment about this book but I can’t bring myself to even look at another piece of propaganda by this mob.

    Anonymous, I see lots of comments about jw.org tv evangelisers but I’m just not able to suffer through it as I have been detoxing from it all in the past few months. That’s why I like to read other peoples commentary on it. It saves me the frustration.

  • January 12, 2015 at 2:02 am
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    @Grace, it was hard for me too. All I could see through the whole thing was hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy. It was painful to watch. I also can’t comment on that book because I hate every word coming off the press from the Watchtower. Like Jill Chandler said on her last video, it isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on and on that last jw broadcasting, they had a segment on the printing plants and all the “volunteers” working at those Bethel plants and that’s all I could think of. That crap that those people are working so hard to distribute to the public, isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

  • January 12, 2015 at 7:58 am
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    Perhaps the Jehovah’s witnesses could learn from the phase, freedom of speech. R.I.P. for France.

  • January 12, 2015 at 9:19 am
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    @Grace, I understand the need for the ” Detoxing” process,
    we’ve all had to go through it. But with the help of others who
    have made it through, and all the info, that’s now available I’m
    sure it won’t be too long before your mind is free from the
    effects of all the poisonous rubbish that the w,t, has injected
    into it.

    I left in 1982, after 25 years, which was 7 years after the 1975
    debacle, and it took another 25 years to get completely free.
    I was filled with doubts, and guilt, and even considered going
    back. It’s probably the same fluctuations that a drug addict has.

    The Internet, which wasn’t easily available in the 80s , implanted
    fresh, and critical thinking , and provided. access to sites like this
    with other people’s experiences similar to mine, and set me free.

    As James States in the conclusion to his article, “Knowledge is
    power”. That’s why oligarchies like the w.t, try to restrict it
    knowledge is a threat to their control, wealth, and position.

    Best wishes.

  • January 12, 2015 at 9:24 am
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    @Grace, yes I understand, I’ve watched it in 3 parts. Twice I really had to stop watching because it became intolerable. I could comment on so many things which are deceiving and/or silly, some make me so angry and some are laughable at the same time. We should also leave some things for Cedars to comment on ;-) Haha! (At least I didn’t see a “review” up yet).

  • January 12, 2015 at 10:15 am
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    @ Ted

    I was first exposed to WT in the 80’s. They had a slick sales pitch: paradise earth, resurrection of dead loved ones, etc.

    If I had known, back in the 80’s, that the WT’s claim to be the faithful and discreet slave is false, I would not have been ensnared by that slick sales pitch. Thankfully by now though, the Internet has changed the game.

    I still hope for a paradise earth. I hope to see dead loved ones again. But I don’t trust the WT to lead me. It’s all in the Bible. That’s enough for me.

  • January 12, 2015 at 12:14 pm
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    @found tobelies,
    That is a very heart warming and reassuring thought, thanks for the comment.
    Though I can often see the humorous side to the Watchtowers flip flops, authoritarian attitude and false teachings, I too feel a strong sense of nausea when I see their slick presentations and realize what’s behind it. I can no longer stomach it.

  • January 12, 2015 at 2:33 pm
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    Continuing from my above comment, thanks to the writers & supporters of this website I feel free & safe to regurgitate my 20yr experience with them.

    It’s liberating to know that it wasn’t just me all along that felt these feelings of low self worth & never feeling adequate or measuring up. I’m sure that their subtle use of loaded language in the publications are designed to keep you feeling unworthy. Being humble is one thing but being reminded that you’re a good for nothing slave dependant on the words of mere men doesn’t contribute to anything but to be a slave for the master…the gb.

  • January 12, 2015 at 3:16 pm
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    @ Grace

    The WT is an idol. Like Aaron’s golden calf of Exodus 32. The people wanted something they could see, to worship. Made them feel goooood, like the way Jim Carrey says “goooood” in Bruce Almighty. Funny movie.

    The WT idol is something people can see. But it’s yet another variation of false worship, which the WT so often decries.

  • January 12, 2015 at 3:42 pm
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    You’re right foundtobelies,

    I realised that when we had our last 3 shepherding visits from 6 different elders. I had many doubts over things that were what I thought was ‘beyond what is written’ & I was going through stages of disillusionment, so when I would ask them something their reply would be “but the faithful slave say this”. I got so frustrated with the last elder that said it that I said to him, can’t you think for yourselves? (I felt sorry for him afterwards) After that though, I think that they put us on the stay away we’re dangerous list as witnesses seem to pretend they don’t see us now when we pass each other at shopping centres etc.

    I always thought that the faithful slave were meant to be there as our guide not our dictators. I thought that we were meant to use our own discretion not be empty headed with our reasoning. I thought that we were meant to have free will not be prisoners of mens ideologies but it seems like it was never the case. The wt speaks with a folk tongue…just had another purge.

  • January 12, 2015 at 3:42 pm
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    @Grace. You are so right the Watchtower is LOADED with making all witnesses feel they are not doing enough…increasing GUILT & MENTAL BURNOUT.Only a Publisher..then be an Auxiliary Pioneer… But you could reachhhh out & be a Regular Pioneer or go and Serve where the Need is Great or go to Bethel or learn a new Language or be a Special Pioneer…TITLES..TITLES !! Where in the Bible are these Titles & then you might have to work & Bring up perfect children who should be baptised by age of 16 There is this constant TREADMILL with the DANGLING CARROT of Paradise Earth for the Perfect Exhausted ones & Armageddon is SO NEAR!! 1914,1915,1918,1925,1942,1975,in the 20th century (generation 70 or 80 years) the constant disappointment of WHEN WHEN WHEN!!! & HOW MUCH MORE NEW LIGHT??

  • January 12, 2015 at 3:53 pm
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    @Grace. If we were all TOLD the HISTORY of the Organisation from 1879 till now and allowed to read ALL the OLD LITERATURE including The Finished MYSTERYBOOK & Millions Now Living will never Die … BEFORE we GOT Baptised then I guarantee you hardly any would . This is clever mind control technique not giving everyone all the FACTS before making a decision Then once Baptised JWS are too frightened too speak out for FEAR of losing friends & family…. Classic CULT CONTROL!!

  • January 12, 2015 at 4:09 pm
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    @Grace. Regarding your shepherding visits about the F&D Slave say this & this & this!! Well ask the Elders when JESUS chose this Organisation in 1919 as the ONLY Organisation to be providing food at the proper time ..Ask them how can that be so because in1919 the F&D Slave in 1919 didn’t know who the Flipping Hell who they were!! In the Finished Mystery Book it states RUSSELL was The Faithful Steward !! This didn’t change until 1927 then the F&D Slave were 144000 Anointed Christians from 33c.e until now! Then 2013 they were just 7 MEN at World HEADQUARTERS at BROOKLYN.If the F&D Slave are so confused who they WHY SHOULD JESUS APPOINT THEM & WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE ANYTHING THEY SAY!!! My Pet FAITHFUL & DISCREET HAMSTER has a better success rate of prophesying than they do!!

  • January 12, 2015 at 4:25 pm
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    @ Grace

    They either can’t, or won’t, think for themselves. Their idol is their god. And when I say the WT is an idol, I’m not talking about the little picture of a tower. I mean the organization itself, and their claim to be the faithful and discreet slave. That is their idol.

    Claiming to be “the faithful and discreet slave” is insidious: “causing harm in a way that is gradual or not easily noticed” (merriam-webster).

    It’s a lie, but hard to notice. And they use it all the time! Just as you experienced.

  • January 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm
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    Yes, the party line is “it’s a more translatable version” but astute individuals note the previous volume’s long-range predictions pretty much were proven false after 1975, and extremely so after the fall of Communist Russia–half of the projected “King of North/South” rivalry gone, and the projected “winner”. So, cut out all the crap and you’re left with a slimmer version. Just like the Book of Daniel, Jeremiah and all those other glossier versions books from the hey-days past. And, yes, GB v3.0 hasn’t geared up the moving projection machine to add new fluff to fill up 600+ pages [yep, no channeling the spirit of Freddy or Jesus whispers….]

  • January 12, 2015 at 5:06 pm
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    @ Pickled brain

    Asking the elders to justify or explain “the faithful and discreet slave” does no good. You can’t reason with those people. It will only arouse their suspicion. They will think you are apostate, or at least dangerous, as Grace said.

    For those who want to stay in the org to keep friends and family, I advise keeping a low profile, staying below the elders radar.

    Personally, that’s not a concern for me, so I’ve simply faded. Once upon a time, I played the WT game, and wrote my former church a letter of withdrawal. That’s what the WT told me to do.

    But now, I no longer dance to WT music. I will NOT write a letter of DA, nor will I tell them what I know. I don’t owe them any explanations, and I will certainly NOT give them the satisfaction of DF’ing me. When they stop by and ask questions, I give bland answers that don’t reveal my true intent. I answer the door, but I do NOT invite them in.

  • January 12, 2015 at 5:49 pm
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    Found tobelies,

    I’m in a two way juggle at the moment with the decision of DA’ing or fading into oblivion. I’ve left that decision for a time when I’m not angry. I just wish that I had’ve done what you said Pickled Brain & researched this cult before I gave my heart & soul over to it. I went to the library when I was just studying 20years ago & found Crisis of Conscience & didn’t read it because my study conductor told me that Ray Franz was a disgruntled liar that wanted his own leadership. Boy I wished I had listened to my conscience back then.

  • January 12, 2015 at 6:23 pm
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    @ Grace

    You’ve already done the hard thing: seeing the WT for what it is.

    The rest is personal choice, to DA or not. But keep in mind, you don’t owe anything to hypocrites and liars. Not even an explanation.

    The WT leadership are hypocrites. And leaders can only keep followers who approve of their leadership. If there are sincere and well meaning JWs, as people sometimes say, it’s THEIR responsibility to do their own research. You don’t owe them anything either.

  • January 13, 2015 at 9:57 am
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    The ENTIRE “Legal” system is founded on Canon Law, which is Ecclesiastical Law based in the Vatican. The Pope is the Supreme Judge of the Legal System, upon which the entire Banking Industry operates. By supporting Anything “Legal”, you are Supporting the Vatican Cult of Saturn and accepting the Pope of Rome as the Supreme Authority. ALL Judges, Attorneys and BAR members are under the “Legal” Authority of the Vatican and the Pope of Rome, which supports the unLawful and Criminal Banking Industry. Your “Soul” is Legally OWNED by the Vatican Cult of Saturn (Satans Urn) and Your “Vessel” or Body is Legally OWNED by the Crown Bankers in Baby London or “Babylon”. This is accomplished by the Legal Name Fraud, where your Body and Soul (Sole Print) is sold into Bonded Debt Slavery when You are born via Your Live Certificate of Birth, which is used as a Legal Financial Instrument to be bought and sold on the World Financial Markets for Profit and Gain by the Church and the State. Your “Legal Name” and associated identifying Numbers are what is identified in Scripture as the “Mark of the Beast”. Read Revelations 13:17.

  • January 20, 2015 at 9:24 am
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    Thank you James for this article. Well written and to the point. I would like to add one of my observations to the discussion. I have been a JW most of my life and am now in my forties. I remember the Proclaimers book coming out. This book is nothing like it. When it was initially released at the district convention I received one. By chance the first page I flipped to, believe it or not, was pages 28 and 29. On these pages it has “important” dates leading up to the birth of the “kingdom”. On page 29, under the date 1914, it relates how C.T. Russell announced to the Bethel family that “the Gentile times have ended.” Then it states: “according to one sister in attendance, he added “So we know not what awaits us.”

    I cannot believe they put that quote of the sister in. Having been raised all my life as a JW I have never heard that before. It was always presented as C.T. Russell having unshakable faith, and therefore supporting the 1914 generations prophecy. Now that that prophecy has been discarded, in favor of the new overlapping generations teaching, they try to carefully distance themselves from the bold words of Russell.

    How is it I never heard that sisters quote until now? What total B.S.! For me it was a real eye-opener. Thanks again for a great article.

  • January 21, 2015 at 4:25 pm
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    Im gonna apologize in advance, cuz non of what i have to say is on the subject…i just had to tell y’all.
    Went to a one day assembly, 4,500 and something in attendance……….wait for it……wait for it…….drum rolllll

    3 people got baptized

  • January 21, 2015 at 5:37 pm
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    As crazy as it may sound I think I have an answer. There was a watchtower study article around 1991 that addressed this subject. It stated that it would be logical after the great tribulation for faithful individuals to be healed of their maladies. Maladies such as being in a wheelchair, infirmities, or disease. The reason given was that everyone would be needed to rebuild the new world. Of course it is all made up. They were simply dangling a spiritual carrot in front of these poor sick people.

  • January 21, 2015 at 6:19 pm
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    @brandnew, I’m having a chuckle here reading your comment.

  • January 21, 2015 at 7:58 pm
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    Just sayin, ….ya know , where is all the donated money for building projects going?
    Its not like the jw population is growing, matter of fact…they are selling alot of realestate lately….downsizing..
    Just sayin….

  • January 21, 2015 at 8:11 pm
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    Oh and on page 103-104 on that gods kingdom rules book, its talkin bout how jw’s dont wear the cross and crown lapel pin cuz its ,#1 pagan #2 idol worhip……
    This assembly i just went to……….just about everywhere you looked…..bright blue lapel pins, with the JW.ORG …idol…i mean logo…yeah…logo… yes im being sarky….
    Sarcastic…..

  • January 21, 2015 at 10:14 pm
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    Yeah the lapel pin thing makes me want to yell at them like the scene from Zoolander …have you people taken a crazy pill! It’s the same look!!!

  • January 21, 2015 at 10:41 pm
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    @Grace ,
    10 – 4 on that…..maybe they should google” knights- templar: images” and see what symbols show up……then they will know who founded the WBTS…

  • January 27, 2015 at 6:36 pm
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    Does this historical rewriting seem at all familiar? Oh, yeah, this sounds like a “Retcon” (Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in the continuity of a fictional work.”).

    Isn’t this what Hollywood does when they have a crappy franchise and want to squeeze more money out of it?

    Yep. Sounds about right.

  • February 4, 2015 at 10:26 am
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    “…that cunningly converts past bitter defeats into glorious victories.”

    Trust me, it ain’t that cunning.

  • February 6, 2015 at 3:23 am
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    @grace,yes the descision to fade or bail is s hard one,something Ime toying with as well,would I be more useful as an elder that could advise from a better basis than GB vomit?
    Or do I get out and then lead from outside ?
    I’ve always been a teacher of something and I would really like to teach real truth of the Bible,this descision is definitly a matter of prayer and faith to go or stay.

  • May 6, 2016 at 7:50 am
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    Comment on the May 2016 UN video, since the online comment form doesn’t work and there’s no UN video page on this website!

    I enjoyed the UN video.
    I researched it at the time.

    WT have a hard time explaining the g98 11/22 article ‘A long job finished’.
    This was a UN requirement for all NGO’s to publicise an article in praise of the UN. If the WT were not mandated by contract to support the UN goals according the the NGO terms, they would in no way publish such articles.
    WT were just one of many NGO’s at the time who were obliged to promote this – the internet shows many such articles from various organisations at this time.

    It would be an interesting exercise to locate all WT UN articles to see how WT tip-toed around having to advertise the UN in a positive way while trying to deceive the readers into thinking the UN was still evil.

    One such example is w95 10/1 Fifty Years Of Frustrated Efforts which says in part “Yet, despite the frustrations, at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, many seem to have renewed optimism and are hoping for a fresh start. Although acknowledging the shortcomings of the United Nations, Ambassador Albright echoed the sentiments of many when she said: “We have to stop talking about where we’ve been, and we need to talk about where we’re going.”
    Positive indeed. No wonder the following questions ask in such a cryptic way so as not to alarm UN observers (who again mandated the printing of supportive articles) “Yes, where is the world going? Will there ever be a world without war? If so, what role will the United Nations play in it? Moreover, if you are God-fearing, you should ask, ‘What role will God play in it?”

    References:
    http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/sites/50years/
    http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/sites/50years/5.htm

    https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AyM4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA578&lpg=PA578&dq=united+nations+fifty+years+ago&source=bl&ots=z-9GwNKeBl&sig=niGesxWGf8GSjDF-kWpHdbN98lc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi14OqAyMXMAhUBnBQKHellA54Q6AEIKjAC#v=onepage&q=united%20nations%20fifty%20years%20ago&f=false

    http://www.uia.org/archive/ingos-un which says in part
    “From the UN point of view,
    3) NGOs can be major channels for dissemination of information to their members, thus helping to fill the knowledge gap left by the inadequate coverage given by the media to UN developments;
    4) NGOs can build support for UN programs by carrying out educational activities directed at the wider public (the promotion of various “days” proclaimed by UN agencies e.g., World Food Day – is one example) or by raising funds (e.g., for UNICEF);”

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