THE FOUNDER CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL
Although the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society superficially mentions the name of Charles Taze Russell
today, no in depth look into his embarrassing biography is encouraged. In fact, they deny ever publishing their
biography of him. A copy of which I have before me. It reads "...Pastor Russell, author, lecturer, and minister of
the Gospel, was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., February 16, 1852...he was the son of Joseph L. and Eliza Birney
Russell, both of Scotch-Irish lineage." They will not admit to their human founder but acknowledge only that the
Presbyterian raised Russell was merely the
"organizer” of the Jehovah's Witnesses, which they falsely claim is the oldest religion on earth.
New members will soon find, even if they do not realize, that the doctrines of their new found religion changes
so quickly that Russell himself would be dis fellowshipped today for his anti-organizational and other beliefs.
The many and continuing changes of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doctrine also makes it
impossible to relate, or historically trace their doctrine to that of the Apostle Paul. This automatically would
place their preaching under the curse of Galatians 1:8-9; "But even though we, or an angel from heaven,
should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we
have said before, so I say again now,, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you
received, let him be accursed."
The "higher powers” of the single chapter of Romans 13 has already, according to Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society theological publications, changed three times since Russell first, if ever, read the book! It was first
interpreted to be "human government , then 'Jehovah God and Christ Jesus', only to be changed again in
1962 to 'secular governments'. Many other policy changes also abound and contradict throughout their
history; the cross, communion, 144,000 elect, marriage, vaccination et al. Which of these interpretations match
that of the 'oldest religion' on earth? Which of these stances were preached on by Paul before he wrote to the
Galatians?
Even though they have desperately tried to disassociate the Society's beginnings from the self made, and
never ordained 'Pastor' Russell's early religious shenanigans, there is no way for them to escape the fact that
the history of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society began with the same. They are occasionally called
"Russellites" even today. He had the audacity to call himself the "Angel of Laodecia", but the facts show that
what he claimed and what he was are two different things.
By accidentally coming into a religious meeting where second adventism was being taught by Jonas Wendell,
Russell supposedly reestablished his previously 'wavering' faith. As is still the same squeaking wheel driving
the Society today; Russell concluded that he was living near the end of the gospel age and formed his own
Bible study group beginning in Allegheny (north Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania. Christians should note that our
plan for salvation came out of Jerusalem as per Luke 24:47, not Pennsylvania. Paraphrasing to extremes and
reading into the sacred Scriptures his own ideas he gained quite a following. Knowing no Greek and never
formally trained in theology didn't stop him from attempting to mediate for the multitudes by asserting that his
own book volumes entitled Studies in the Scriptures were a part of the Bible itself, and were to be favored
over the Bible for enlightenment! I do not mean to imply that knowledge of Greek or formal training is
absolutely necessary to reach the Gospel. Actually, all Christians, despite any educational level, are
commanded to ' go and tell' by our Lord at Mark 16: 15 and elsewhere.. But certainly anyone who is attempting
to overthrow an ageless message that has already been carefully scrutinized, taught, and accepted by millions
should have more than just the cursory perception of it as demonstrated by Charles Taze Russell.
His religious views not only got Russell fired from his job but also roused a dedicated clergyman,, Rev. J.J.
Ross, who publicly denounced Russell's theology and credibility, calling his attitudes "anti-biblical, anti-
Christian, and a deplorable perversion of the Gospel of God's dear Son". Russell true to character, quickly
sued Ross but lost. From copies of the trial transcript that are still available today is the proof that Russell was
a perjurer:
Q: Do you know the Greek alphabet? A: Oh yes.
Then after being shown some Greek letters and names by Counselor Staunton and asked to identify them,
Russell could not.
Q; Are you familiar with the Greek language? A: No.
In the same trial, after Russell had claimed 'ordination* superior to other ministers?
Q: Now, you never were ordained by a bishop, clergyman, presbytery, council, or any body of men living?
A: (after a long pause)s I never was.
But being a good orator he kept his following, and at age twenty-five he sold his mens clothier store and
reveled about, preaching and teaching his Arian heresy throughout the land. Albeit unknown to Russell, the
Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Times and other newspaper reporters were secretly following him and networking with
each other in an effort to find out the truth about his already suspect intentions. They found out that during
Russell's worldwide tours he would wire back to the states exaggerated tales about his widespread acceptance
and mission thrust. The newspaper reports, still recorded on microfilm today, said he never spoke in some
places and never even got off his ship in others!
Russell married Maria Frances Ackley and published his first run of 6000 copies o f Zion's Watchtower and
Herald of Christ's Presence in 1879. Most authors write that he married in 1881 but according to the official
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Biography of Pastor Russell (the one they claim they never published), he
was wed in 1879. In the same biography it is stated that the couple "disagreed about the management of his
journal; and a separation followed". But actually Maria dutifully helped him run Zion's Watchtower until she
caught him behind a closed door with a "questionable” woman. She began suing for legal separation in 1906.
Later litigation required Russell to pay $6036 in back alimony and also exposed his bogus 'holding company'
that he alone controlled. Not being financially accountable to anyone allowed Russell to greedily hoard $990 of
the total $1OOO church assets to himself while generously sharing the other $1O with two of his followers! At
that time $10 just happened to be the amount needed to vote for the board of directors who would assist
Russell. However, this lucrative practice was later done away w i t h .
Another of 'Pastor' Russell's money making schemes was hustling his 'miracle wheat' which he claimed would
grow five times as much as any other brand. The Brooklyn Eaqle, again publicly called his bluff and again
Russell sued for $100,000. Upon examination, the government said his dollar a pound wheat was actually "low
in government tests", and Russell again lost the suit.
Russell prophesied that Blacks would become white when the millennium was inaugurated and instructed his
regime not to give much reading material to the colored because their lack of education would insure that "half
of it would be utterly wasted-"
Before proceeding with further Watchtower history consider Deuteronomy 18: 22;
"When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the
thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of
him."
The word 'thing" is singular, therefore one miss makes a false prophet. In the days of Moses false prophets
were meant to be taken and dealt with seriously., Verse 20 said they were to kill them!
A New Testament test for a false prophet is given at Matthew 7; 15-1San
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You
will know them by their fruits..."
Curiously, the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses who come to you are known as other sheep, yet their
murderous blood policy kills like ravenous wolf. It seems possible that our Lord tailor made this verse for the
Watchtower.
For obvious reasons, some religions try to escape this false prophet test by teaching that their fruits are good
works, quantities of membership, and publishing efforts. This is not what is meant by fruits. Clearly, publishing
and membership quantities were not a consideration during the life of Christ. Good works are to some extent
prevalent in all of the worlds religions and so cannot be a basis for determining false prophecy. The fruit of an
orange tree, then, is an orange not a description of an orange. The fruit of an apple tree is an apple; not the
number of apples.. The fruit of a Christian is another Christian. And the fruit of a false prophet is by the same
logic false prophecy. Using cleverly devised arguments, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has, knowing
they will be accused of false prophecy, devoted a section of their field workers manual Reasoning From the
Scriptures to help the door to door going Jehovah's Witness to deal with the accusations. Funny how other
religions are not required to deal with it. In an effort t o avoid the application of the false prophet fruit test, the
Watchtower tries to substitute another meaning into the use of the word "fruits" by saying that they have love,
Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. However, these are the
fruits of the Spirit and not of true or false prophets, There have always been false prophets, atheists, and
humanists the world over who have had these qualities at one time or another. If we cannot apply the above
tests to the Watchtower then we cannot use them at all. In the future any false prophet would be able to
escape using the same flawed argument.
Even though their own publications show that the Watchtower has claimed to be a prophet and made many
false (and some ridiculous) prophecies, they try another defensive argument; the gist of which was predicted
and recorded at Zechariah 13:4a+5a:
"Also it will come about in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies...
but he will say “I am not a prophet'".
Ezekiel 14:10 says that the punishment for following a false prophet is the same as that of the false prophet.
Knowledgeable promulgators of false prophecies become false prophets. At 23: 16, 26; &34, Jeremiah says
they deceive and mislead many, including their own household.
Having said that, Look at some of the Russel1ite-Millennial Dawnist false prophecies of that era concerning the
end times:
1799; beginning time of the end.
1874! "when Jesus was to come, bless the Saints, resurrect Daniel, and burn up the world and all the wicked in
1874 AGAIN!:When the physical return of Jesus failed, Russell teamed with another second adventist named
Nelson Barbour. In an effort to uphold their original formula they devised that the "expectation of Jesus in the
flesh at the second advent was a mistake" but that Jesus really did come invisibly in the "autumn of 1874, and
he appeared to the eyes of faith",, This 'eyes of faith' business is the same footing stuff that the Mormons use
to support their weak foundation when no tangible or scriptural evidence is available.
1914: As the end of everything. John Knight, from Cookeville,Tennessee was a 15 year old Jehovah's Witness
at that time. Appearing on the film Witnesses of Jehovah, he testifies about the 1914 date "We had to change
our views. Just like many times after that we had to change our views". He left the Watchtower and became a
Christian after the 1975 prediction of the Watchtower end times failed.
1914 AGAIN!s When the end didn't come, the Society changed their typeset and said that it really was just the
beginning of the end. Some Witnesses believe that the Society predicted WWI, but I challenge the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society to produce one specific predated publication that accurately predicts such. But even if
they could, we could expect an occasional random "hit” when they generally predict so frequently. Someone
said a stopped clock is right twice a day.
1915: As the end of everything when 1914 completely failed. 1918, 1925, 1940's, 1975; And still implying it
today!
I submit that they change the title of their AWAKE! magazine to AGAIN!
As Russell was writing his book, The Time Is At Hand and spuriously predicting dates and acts, Jesus was
raising up translators to effectively render his words at Luke 21:8 in the NAS:
"See to it that you be not mis led: for many will come in my name saying 'I am He,' and, 'The time is at hand'; do
not go after them".
Determining the original source of supernatural information is a very legitimate question when dealing with
religious groups. Where do they get their information when it is not specifically found in the Bible? Charles
Russell arrived at some of these end time dates based on his study of' pyramidology. He thought that the
Great Pyramid was God's second witness to the earth, after the Bible. Never mind that his measurements of
the pyramid were inaccurate, and in inches, (it just seems to me that God -would have used cubits, or at least
the metric system?), this is how Russell arrived at 1874. William Cetnar observes that God either must have
changed his mind or the measure of the pyramid; "Even though the Egyptians were very careless and left their
pyramids out in the hot sun" some believe that it was Russell, and not the Great Pyramid that warped!
This warping must have caused Russell to give up pyramidology and take up phrenology- the study of head
shape. Because in 1913 he wrote: "The desire to worship is due to the shape of the brain,. How do we know?
Stand a man alongside of a dog. Look at their heads. The one slopes back.... if we could make a dog with the
same head as a man he would think the same as a man". (I wish he would have specified which head sloped
back!).
I certainly would not want this man who divines the shapes of pyramids and heads for supernatural information
shaping my eternal destiny. I wouldn't even want him working in my barber shop. Even though the Witnesses of
that day seriously thought that a 'Greater than Solomon' was here, none of the true prophets of the Bible ever
had to speak like this. If so they would have been rightly subjected to the words of King Achish at 1 Sam. 21:
14—15!
This double talking deceit and false prophecy from Charles Taze Russell was to be the beginning of evermore
changing tunes from the Watchtower symphony,.
In 1903 the Millennial Dawn Students moved their headquarters from Pennsylvania to Brooklyn. After starting
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society by spreading 15—20 million written seed s, the sad and disillusioned
Char1es Taze Russell died aboard a touring train in Texas. His Watchtower Bible and Tract Society biography
quoted Russell as saying that a God who would use his power to create human beings that he knew to be
destined for hell "could be neither-wise, just, nor loving. His standard would be lower than that of many men".
He should have realized that God loves us, enough to allow his only Son to be murdered. He is not willing that
any should perish but created hell for Satan, his angels, and all who make the choice of following them by not
following Jesus. C.T. Russell's spirit departed the earth on All hallows eve, 1916. Where some people prefer a
simple cross or tombstone, a pyramid was placed at Russell's grave site memorializing the man and his true
beliefs.
"JUDGE” RUTHERFORD
Millions now living will never die!
This is the famous speech and book title is the platform from which exploded the presidency of Joseph Franklin
Rutherford (b. 1869-d. 1942) , second president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This spurned the
"Millions" recruiting campaign and began a reign that disciplined the millennial sect into an efficient publishing
machine that surpassed Russell's efforts in half the time.
After meeting with Russell in a Kansas City hotel and becoming intrigued with his teachings,"Big Joe" became
an "ordained" minister in 1905, and the Society's official lawyer in 1907. When Russell died in 1916,
Rutherford took the baton for the Watchtower. Even though Russell had encouraged Him to write about God's
plan from a lawyers point of view, when he preached Russell's funeral, Rutherford only managed to confuse
the theology of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Unlike soul sleep that is prescribed for all other men,
who according to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society are unconscious at death, Rutherford preached that
Russell then stood in God's presence!
He disagreed with the Russellites on many issues, stopping his followers from attending churches and
celebrating Christmas. These contentions, among many others contrary to Russell's teachings later caused a
small exodus of the original “Russellites” who splintered to become known as the "Dawn Bible Students". At
their peak, the Dawn Bible Students numbered about 25,000, sponsored the "Frank and Ernest" radio
program, and circulated the Dawn magazine. Although the Dawn Bible Students still differ greatly with
Christianity, they are known to be much more amiable, cooperative, and unchanging than the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society. But because of his heavy handed rule, the vast majority followed Rutherford,
regardless of policy and theology.One of Rutherford's first deceptions is found in his very nickname "Judge".
He had been a clever lawyer for Russell, but his only experience as a judge consisted of standing in for an
absent Missouri judge on only one occasion. He even claimed to be president of the New York City Bar.
Although there was no New York City Bar for attorneys, Rutherford did attend the alcoholic ones.
Rutherford taught at one time that the Holy Spirit was plural as ministering spirits. Then he began to talk to
these angels(?). In 1917 Rutherford published an edition of The Finished Mystery which contained statements
and ideas that I wish people who are mixed up in the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society today could have on
hand to read. According to Rutherford, the “1600 furlongs” mentioned in Revelation was supposed to be a
distance across the state to the Watchtower headquarters....provided you went by the Hoboken ferry. The
Leviathan monster mentioned in Job was a train according to The Finished Mystery. Other quotes from The
Finished Mystery:
books
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was trying to sneak away from their printed false prophecy.
Nelson Barbour was then identified as the "evil servant" of Mat. 24 and Russell as "that wise and faithful" one.
(In 1927 they flip-flopped on this too. Russell really was not the "servant" as erroneously thought, but that title
belonged to a class.)
Human government was to end.... "even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920".
So far, the wavering truth from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to this point has been that Christ
returned visibly/invisibly somewhere between 1874 to 1918, and that all but those aligned with the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society have/will be shortly destroyed. I have checked a few of the "wholesale" records of that
time and churches have not been destroyed, 1914 was no different than any other year, and I still pay taxes to
a government. Check it out for yourself.
The next apocalyptic year 'the "Judge" rallied the troops to was 1925. The subliminal axiom was: end of the
world, tell the people, sell more Watchtowers. This was made evident when the following was explicitly stated in
Kingdom Ministry of May, 1974, p. 3, "Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to
increase our activity?. ". . Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to
finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend
the short time remaining before the wicked world's end,," This statement was made in an article titled "How are
you using your life?" and printed before the 1975 date of the end of the world set by the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society. Did the watchtower give any of the money back to the people do you think?
The Watchtower has big problems with the Christian view of the Trinity where we worship one God made
known in three separate and distinct personalities. Yet they can overlook that they have historically had many
unique doctrines with multiple separate and distinct personalities.
Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society under Rutherford were The Way to Paradise and Princes
in All The Earth. Quoting just these two books from among many of that age reveals the prevailing theological
circus of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's prophetic fantasy land. Concerning the people who were to
be resurrected from the dead, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society predicted that after the 1925
resurrection people would do and say some of the following:
"Some of them used to be undertakers but since there are no more people dying, they have had to seek some
new occupation " .
"We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham,..
David..,(etc„) mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews".
"you then call up the princes at Jerusalem, state your case, and make your request that your father and
mother might be awakened".
"They wonder what an automobile is".
"some of the older ones will try to blow out the electric light at night, as they used to do with the old tallow
candles".
Whether it was a brilliant imagination, a malicious supernatural inspiration, or an unbaked cortex cookie, no
one can argue that Rutherford really had folks "going" during that time. Whatever the source, it was not from
God; because Titus 1:2 says of "... God, who cannot lie". Rutherford railed the Christian clergy using the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society radio station WBBR (which later became WPOW Christian). Ministers with
honorary D.D. degrees (doctors of divinity) were labeled as "dumb dogs". Door to door phono records
containing sensationalist speeches were used by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Pickets were
arranged and Jehovah's Witnesses were jailed for carrying signs such as "organized religion is a snare and a
racket" outside of Christian churches. Children shoved bananas through the bars to their hungry, jailed
parents. Even Rutherford, in 1918, spent time in the Atlanta penitentiary for violation of the espionage act.
This only fueled his ego as it caused his followers to falsely view him as a hero, just shy of being a martyr for
his faith.
To presumably prove to onlookers that they were serious in their belief that Abraham was coming in 1929,
under the direction of Rutherford, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society built a mansion in San Diego and
deeded it to the prophets from Hebrews 11. They even gave it the name of "Beth Sarim", which is Hebrew for
"house of princes". Part of the deed to it reads:
"Any persons appearing to take possession of said premises, shall first prove and identify themselves to the
proper officers of said Society as the person or persons described in Hebrews Chapter eleven and in this
deed."
It just so happened that Rutherford moved in when no prophets could be found with the proper identification. I
guess he expected them to be carrying passports? Actually it was probably built for Rutherford anyway, but
since that cannot be proven and will not be admitted to, the mansion will just have to stand attesting to the
false prophecy of the Society. Today's Jehovah's Witnesses have not heard of this and generally won't believe
it when you tell them. But proof that Beth Sarim exists is in the fact that "Judge" Rutherford died there of
cancer on Thursday, Jan.3, 1942. In any case, embarrassed by Beth Sarim and the false prophecy it
represented, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society finally sold it to a Christian in 1954. They remain
suspiciously quiet about it.
Also in 1929, the Rutherford pot called the Russell kettle black by denouncing his pyramidology and trying to
find God outside of Scriptures. The only time Rutherford found anything outside the scriptures was when he
was thinking:
In the predecessor of AWAKE!. the GOLDEN AGE of 1931 (p.293-294) called vaccinations a "great evil",
further stating "vaccination has never saved a human life, it does not prevent smallpox". The same publication
of 2/4/31 p.293 condemned receiving vaccinations by stating "Vaccination is a direct violation of the
Everlasting Covenant that God made with Noah after the flood". Then finally outlawing them to JWs in the
4/24/35 p. 471 issue that reads "...as vaccination is a direct injection of animal matter into the bloodstream,
vaccination is a direct violation of the holy law of Jehovah God". Parents would have quacks smear battery
acid on a child to simulate vaccination when required, by law for school. These so called Scripturally inspired
edicts were again flip flopped by the 8/22/65 AWAKE! magazine on page 20, "There can be little doubt that
vaccinations appear to have caused a marked decrease in ... contagious disease. . smallpox . . polio".
Although it is now left up to personal discretion, (unless his has changed today) I still wonder how many were,
to say the least, adversely affected by this single policy? What do you think? How many died from this? Does
the reader believe that God is wishy-washy in such matters ...or is it just the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society?
In trying to separate from the Dawn Student-Russel1ite movement, the "Peoples Pulpit Association" assumed
the name of "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931. Taken from Psalm 83:18 and Isaiah 43; 10-12 they assert "This
name properly distinguishes Jehovah's true Christian worshipers from all others who claim to be Christian
today”. Finally, we can therefore agree that they have separated themselves from Christendom just as they
have intended. But the phrase "true worshipers" certainly does not go into their camp.
In 1932 the book Vindication (Vol. l pp. 338-339) implied admission t o the false prophecy :
"There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning th years
1914, 1918, and 1925... and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would
come to pass on a certain date". (Notice that the operative was "fixing"? ....and as we will continue to show,
they did not quit with the false prophecy).
In 1935 Rutherford closed the two class system of the "anointed class" or the 144,000 (per Rev. 7: 4) who
were to go to heaven and rule with King Jesus over the others left on earth. The lower echelon being called "
Jonadabs/Other sheep/Great crowd" who have in their own words, "no heavenly hope", but wish to "live forever
in paradise on earth". That's why when you witness to the Jehovah's Witnesses you often hear them say...”I
don't want to go to heaven”. Let's see, they say, we're not a part of Christendom and we don't want to go to
heaven”...if ever there were reverse meaning statements that illustrate mind control, these are certainly two.
Saluting the flag was forbidden, and communion was changed so that only those of the "anointed class" were
to partake of the "Lord's Evening Meal". I have a hard time understanding why they take the Lord's Supper at
all if they really believe Jesus came in 1914. For Paul said at 1 Corinthians 11:26 that we are only to proclaim
the gospel in this fashion "until he comes".
Under Rutherford's guidance came the question "should they marry now?". Rutherford replied "no, is the
answer - supported by the scriptures", The Society said that the end was so near that the JWs should wait until
after Armageddon to "marry and rear children". Later in a 1941 reading, the fictional couple "John and Eunice"
decide to "defer" plans for marriage until paradise earth is established. Today, poor "John and Eunice" should
now be well beyond child bearing age... and still waiting. However, most JWs, after seeing the next president
marry, began to get married again themselves. It is interesting how that if they had followed their orders to wait
for Armageddon, there would have been no new JWs born into the WT family. Talk about the Giant that kills
itself! (cf 1 Tim.4:3a)
Other peculiarities attributed to Rutherford are numerous, and some tragic. He told Jehovah's Witnesses not to
fear Hitlers armies, that God would stop the bullets and always insure their safety. This caused many deaths of
JWs who would not take cover during bombing raids. One person wrote "Just they discussed the daily text,
when a bomb killed them and about 30 other prisoners." Many pitifully stood before firing squads thinking that
God would stop the bullets because Rutherford said he would.
Though eccentric, neither Russell or Rutherford were against blood transfusions. Rutherford even seemed to
favor them when he wrote about one woman who survived because she received a transfusion; "...for
transfusion, and today the woman lives and smiles gaily over what happened to her in the busiest 23 minutes
of her life." Later he would be dis fellowshipped for such a stance.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society prophesied that Armageddon was only months away in 1941. Based
on that alone is evidence that none of the Governing Body or Rutherford could have been a true member of
the 144,000 as they pretended. Speaking of this remnant 144,000 of Israel, Zephaniah 3:12—13 and Rev. 14:
4-5 says that they have to be "Humble, not wrongdoers, found without a deceitful tongue, followers of the
Lamb (Jesus), not liars, and blameless". None of these things can hardly be said of the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society and those who have governed it... from any perspective. Only months away from prophesying
the end in 1941 was the death of Rutherford and Nathan Homer Knorr was elected to become the Society's
third president,, Some Christians probably made a thorough investigation and found that 1925 came and the
world remained; others could not find Abraham or anyone who identified properly with Hebrews 11; and
someone even noticed that the reality of Rutherford's entire campaign slogan was sadly, only true in reverse;
Millions now dying would never live!
KNORR
Nathan Horner Knorr, born 1905 at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was baptized into the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society on the 4th of July 1923 while Frederick W. Franz (the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's 4th
President) was visiting the Allentown congregation. Knorr assumed control of the 115,000 member Watchtower
in 1942. Although he was not as charismatic as Russell or Rutherford he probably did more than either of them
to stiffen the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society control over the people. Publishing efforts were maximized,
membership gained, and more people began to die under the iron fisted leadership of Knorr and his stance
against blood transfusions. False prophecy continued to abound to the degree that one would need a
concordance to keep up with it. Over a three year span from May 1940 through April 1943 you could find at
least 44 written accounts of the word "Armageddon" threatening a falsely prophesied impending doom. Here
are just three examples from that period;
In February 1943 Knorr established the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society missionary training school called
Gilead at South Lansing, New York. As of 1985 this school turned out about 80 classes or about 6000
missionaries from its five month course. Some of these students were most likely trained to use and believe the
1943 edition of The Truth Shall Make You Free. On page 285 of this book the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society so called God's prophet on earth wrote that man would never "by airplanes or rockets or other means
get above the air envelope which is about our earthly globe in which man breathes". I' m sure the communists
who love to make fun of Christianity were only too happy to dispute this 'truth' with Sputnik on Oct. 4, 1957.
The worst, by far, eyesore to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society ethic was the Watchtower of 12/1/44 p.
362 that first intimated the impending ban on blood transfusions. This policy was at first overlooked by some,
but eventually solidified, and had to be adhered to about 1950. Bleed to death or be dis fellowshipped became
the mandate. This is an outrageous and pitiful policy that has no biblical basis and has put many a JW into a
grave. Christianity proposes. False religions have to impose.
Even the mistranslated New World Translation knows better at Mark 7:15 "There is nothing from outside a man
that passes into him that can defile him, but the things that issue forth out of a man are the things that defile a
man". I believe Jesus was speaking of defiling things such as lies, false prophecies, perjury, blasphemy,
heresies and the like. At this point does any particular organization come to mind?
What about Mrs. Huczko who wrote to the Watchtower to see if it was okay for her poodle to have a blood
transfusion? The WTBTS replied "To use blood for transfusion purposes, even in the case of an animal, would
not be proper....to a pet that is under the jurisdiction of a Christian". "You must keep your animals under
control" was the reply when she asked what would happen if her dog ate a cat or mouse without draining the
blood! Surely someone overlooked James 1:5 and forgot to pray for wisdom. Here we have a dog that makes
his living from eating blood. Without even quoting scripture can we just say “ridiculous”?
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society reached 100 countries and exceeded 50 million preaching hours for
the first time in 1949. But in 1950 that milestone might have been gravely surpassed by the concoction of the
first New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures (New Testament only). Jehovah's Witnesses were
constantly embarrassed when they carried the American Standard Version and tried to claim the name
Jehovah which they couldn't produce from it, so they finally perverted and assembled both testaments together
into a complete Bible that reflected their views in 1961. The New World Translation is not just a slip or an
accident here and there but is truly scholastic dishonesty. It is easily proven that the mis translators have
changed the meanings of God's word on purpose. Those responsible for the mistranslation were: Nathan
Knorr, Fred Franz, Albert Schroeder, George Gangas, and Milton Henschel. None of them had college except
for Franz. None knew Hebrew. None knew biblical Koine Greek. Franz had studied non-biblical Greek for two
years. Hardly enough to even be fluent. I studied Spanish for two years in school and barely remember how to
count, much less translate accurately. I don't propose that men need this kind of knowledge to serve God
correctly, but anyone trying to overturn a Gospel that has been preached, scrutinized, and accepted by
millions for hundreds of years should at least be grounded in fundamental principles of biblical languages,
translation, and interpretation, unless of course they are trying to deceive. It is curious that their Bible is
changed only where their doctrine is involved, don't you think? It is especially contorted where the deity of
Jesus is concerned. 54 million of the New World Translations in 16 languages has effectively and shamefully
helped the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society install their false gospel into many hearts of the unwary.
The Watchtower has been known to reach their "truth" sometimes by less than Godly means. In 1952 Knorr
told members of the Editorial department who had differing opinions, "Brothers, you can argue all you want
about it, but when it gets off the sixth floor it is the truth". The sixth floor was where the presses were. In effect,
Knorr was saying that once the matter was printed that they had better be in agreement as to what their
rendition of God's word was....right or wrong.
Many interesting inside stories comes from the book Questions for Jehovah's Witnesses Who Love The Truth
by William Cetnar, a former Bethelite who was a WTBTS officer just under the governing body. He was privy to
years of wheelings and dealings inside the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society before quiting and converting
to Christianity. On pages 65-66 he tells of Anton Koerber who was disfellowshipped under Rutherford and tried
to get back into the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society but wasn't accepted until he bought Knorr a Cadillac.
He was immediately restored to Circuit Servant and made the chairman of the international convention at
Yankee Stadium. Koerber had also tried to bribe Russell's faithful, and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
competitive splinter group "The Dawn" by offering them a $2000 check to restructure their group to match that
of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. "The Dawn" refused his offer. The comment was made that the evil
slave had refused his bribe but the so called faithful and wise one had accepted it!
The same book on page 73 tells of a Charlie De Wilda, known as the best book binder at Bethel and often
praised by Knorr as an example of how much work could be done. Charlie, like all other Bethelites, was not
allowed to marry if he wanted to remain at Bethel. But in 1953 Knorr himself married the Bethel sister Audrey
Mock. Charlie confronted Knorr and accused him of breaking his own rule and said Knorr ought to resign.
Charlie said "You preach more about love than anyone I know, but practice it the least"! He was punished, and
after four decades of faithful service the old man's life was made so miserable at Bethel that he was forced to
leave. He began to beg for survival money from his former friends at Bethel until Knorr wrote to the local
congregations and ordered them not to give him any money. Charlie De Wilda died on a. park bench.
Again, Cetnar relates an incident about a Thailand girl who came to work for the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society but because of language barriers and pressure, she had a breakdown. Knorr decided to send her
back to Thailand the cheapest way, by ship. The girl explained that her spells might cause her to jump
overboard if she were on a ship and begged to be sent home by airplane, or at least to have someone
accompany her. Knorr refused her requests as being too expensive. Sure enough, when the ship passed
Hawaii, the girl had a seizure and fell overboard. The ship searched but couldn't find her. She was gone. The
news got back to Bethel through two men who were shocked and outraged at the insensitivity of Knorr. When
Knorr learned of the leak he was angry at the two men and removed them from their positions. This attitude did
not surprise those who knew Knorr. He constantly reflected it in quotes like the fol1owing concerning
Christendom:
"We must hate in the truest sense, which is to regard with extreme and active aversion, to consider as
loathsome, odious, filthy, to detest"., (WT 9/1 / 52)
Even this hate rhetoric is Watchtower Bible and Tract Society double talk as today they claim to be Jehovah's
Christian Witnesses themselves! The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society must have a New World Dictionary
on hand that redefines words for them also because Websters defines Christendom as the "entire body of
Christians".
The 3/15/54 WT removed the title of "Faithful and discreet slave" from Russell, flip flopped again, and applied
it to the entire organization. How could this religion be the same as the one that Paul preached (cf Galatians l:
8-9) when it changes so regularly? If they believe as the Apostle Paul did they should be able to trace some
lineage back to him. But the fact is, they cannot even get back to Wesley, Calvin, Luther, or any of the early
church Fathers because the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society theology started with C.T. Russell, who they
have asserted was "the greatest servant... since the Apostle Paul"! (The Pastors Divine Ordination p. 387).
Today they try to distance themselves from him. Not only can't they stay aligned with God, they can't even stay
aligned with their own doctrines and founders.
A full page Watchtower article (Feb. 15, 1956 p., 110-111) rightly exposed Johannes Greber as a self
professed spirit medium, condemned the use of spiritualism, and described how Johannes Greber used the
spirit world to help him in his translation of the Greek Scriptures. It would appear that the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society would not condone his translation nor seek his support. After all, he was a Spirit Medium. Not so!
As a matter of fact, knowing he was a medium, they quoted him for favorable support in many of their
publications until they got caught in 1980. In their New World Translation they sought the spirit world at the
following places:
Mt. 27:52— 53 to deny the resurrection.
medium. In addition to the above, the New World Translation is remarkably similar to Grebers version of
Hebrews 1:8 also. In a 1983 letter, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society denied even knowing the address
where an inquiring rank and file JW could obtain a copy of Johannes Greber's New Testament ....but in front of
me as I write is a copy of a 1980 letter from the Watchtower that was sent to his very foundation and
addressed:
Johannes Greber Memorial Foundation
139 Hillside Ave
Teaneck, N J 07666
This is a letter from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society acknowledging receipt of Greber's New
Testament, and his book Communication With The Spirit World, a n d
requesting additional copies! So how could they not know his address in 1983?
In a certified letter to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society I asked them to explain how they could go to a
spirit medium for support when the Bible clearly condemns such practice. Of course they did not send a hard
copy reply, but two Elders did appear one day at my house with a copy of my letter in their briefcase.... trying
to save face for the Watchtower. They said "The Bible quotes Satan doesn't it""? I replied "Yes, but only to
show his nature, never for support". "What-about the demon possessed woman supporting Paul at Acts 16:16
-17"? If you read the next verse you'll find that Paul put a stop to it and cast out the demon". I asked them if
they had read pages 463—463 of their same book (Make Sure of All Things 1965) that they had quoted
Greber in. There is quoted some of the folowing Scriptures against spiritism 1 Tim.4:1, Deut.18:10-12, Gal.
5s13-21, Rev. 21s 8, Lev., 20:6. Also on page 103 where they quote Col.3:9a "Do not be lying to one
another". And Isaiah 8:19—20. They changed the subject, "Do you believe in the Trinity"? This is how it goes
when you talk to the Jehovah's Witnesses....pin them down and they chase rabbits. Condemn the messenger.
Redefine words. Another thing I have noticed while researching this group is that they never personally sign
their books so you can challenge the author.
In 1957, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society began to push the idea that Jehovah was the Father and the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society organization was to be recognized as the "Mother" if one was to walk in the
light. In an attempt to sustain their authority as the "Mother", the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society began to
quote and read into many passages that obviously are only dealing with physical family relationships. This is
the heart of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society plan of salvation; align under the umbrella of the "Mother"
organization for eternal life. You align by working for the Watchtower.
But Jesus wants you to align with him. "Come unto me all ye that are burdened and heavy laden and I (not the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) will give you rest".
As with most sects where men try to play the role of God, lie and ridiculii abound. Doublethink and cover ups
must occur to conceal spiritual corruption from those who are honestly looking for the truth. When possible,
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society prevents members from associating with governments unless it is to
their advantage,. Unknown to most Jehovah's Witnesses, they have a history of covertly and dishonestly
challenging the sovereignty of world governments. The brother of the fourth Watchtower President, Raymond
Franz, after quitting the Watchtower because of it's dishonesty, tells where in Malawi Jehovah's Witnesses
were told in the 60's that they could not buy a 35 cent government ID card that would have allowed them safe
passage out of the country during a perilous time. Hundreds ended up persecuted, raped,, or killed. At about
the same time in Mexico, young JW men were told that it was okay to purchase falsified government cards that
showed where they had already served their military time. No surprise. Under the direction of Knorr the 6/1/60
Watchtower p.352 blatantly encourages "hiding the truth from God's enemies". Lying is an abomination to God
under any circumstance. Double mindedness is also rebuked, James I:8, 4:8. If God is running this
organization as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society claims, he sure is breaking a lot of his own rules!
A 1959 Watchtower p p. 40-41 again identifies the Jehovah's Witnesses as being "God's prophet to the
nations" for today. But they must have meant for just that one day only because they tried out that prophet
again in 1966 and again he failed. "According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from
man's creation will end in 1975..." the seventh millennium to "begin in the fall of 1975 C.E." and the "reign of
Jesus Christ,..to run parallel with the seventh millennium...". (Life
Everlasting in the Freedom of the Sons of God, pp.'29-30). In 1929 the same "prophet" said that the end of the
same "six thousand years of human history" was mathematically shown to be 1972. Which one was truly the
end? Even through 1968 Knorr kept to 1975 for the end time. The 8/15/68 Watchtower p. 494 headliner reads
"Why are you looking forward to 1975?" then on p. 499,"it may involve a difference of weeks or months, not
years". Has there been years since 1975? Some Jehovah's Witnesses will say that they didn't believe it but
that doesn't negate the fact that it was prophesied. If they didn't believe it then why didn't they dare tell their
leaders? Some of the Kingdom Halls even had a thermometer-like apparatus on the wall to help them count
down to the 1975 date! Somebody was believing it because many Jehovah's Witnesses were selling their
homes, dropping out of school, postponing medical needs, having children, and other time sensitive plans that
seriously affect families.
When the JW says that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has never claimed to be a prophet, or that the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is just a "prophet in a sense" remind them that according to the Bible there
is no such thing as a "prophet in a sense" but only true or false ones. Then show these statements to them:
1. (Under Oath in a Court Trials Fred W. Franz-For-Defts-Direct) Question: And who became the editor (of the
Watchtower) when this was discontinued? Answer (from Franz): Jehovah God.
2. 1971 The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah pp.58~60 Jehovah's Witnesses are called "...the modern
counterpart of the prophet Ezekiel".
3. 1972 The Watchtower (4/1/72 p. 197) "So,, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of
dangers and declare things to come?,, . . These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this
prophet? Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses". (I sincerely believe that God has a. sense
of humor. Did you. notice the date that the Lord had them print that statement on?)
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society beats around the bush more today but despite the record, their self
claimed prophetic gift is still implied to the extent that no JW will deny (to the Society at least) that they are the
one "Channel of Communication" that God has given to the earth today, (see the 1988 Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society's book Revelation, it's Grand Climax at Hand p.16 for one such confirmation)
Christians should note that documented false Prophets (profiteers?) have been using similarly manufactured
chronologies and quadratic Bible formulas (Daniel/Matthew 24 + % 1000 * Revelat ion= end times etc,.) since
at least 900 A.D. A good rule of thumb is that anyone who guesses at a date might be a little foolish, but
anyone who prophesies a specific date is a liar. Otherwise Jesus would be... because He plainly said we would
not know the "day nor the hour" of his return but to just "be ye also ready" (Mt. 24 ff). As per Psalm 118:8 "It is
better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man". I personally like what Jerry Vines said "We need to
get our heads out of the clouds of prophecy and back down to the earthly task of winning souls". Then
everyone will be ready for the return of Jesus and whatever it brings and whenever it occurs.
It is of course forgotten but truly amazing when the Watchtower condemned the entire aggregate of its own
false prophets by finally correctly accusing: others who have in times past "...predicted the end of the 'world,
even announcing a specific date... the end did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying." (AWAKE 10 /
8 / 68 p. 63). Can we say “amen”? Even a stopped clock can be right twice a day!
Furthermore, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has based their entire chronology and wrote in their
books that the downfall of Jerusalem was 607 B.C. which at one time was accepted by all. However, the Lord
overturned their entire scheme by revealing through later archeology that the true date of the Jerusalem
downfall was 587 B.C.. Carl Olaf Johnson, a previous Watchtower Bible and Tract Society chronologist and
author of The Gentile Times Reconsidered, researched the available data, and found 587 B.C. to be the true
date of the downfall of Jerusalem. This date was accepted and held by all but the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society. Since 587 B.C. is 20 years later than 607 B.C. then according to their own formulas Jesus really didn't
come in 1914 but must have arrived in 1934. And the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society channel of God's
communication didn't even know it! They obviously could not change all of the chronology pages in all their
books, so they just did the only thing they were good at when attacked by a fact.....they disfellowshipped
Johnson.
Nevertheless, in other ways 1968 was a good year for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Their little
unsigned book The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life was released and has since sold over over 106 million
copies in 116 languages? a 1982 Guineas world record. Likewise 1969 was a good year for Satan and the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because in 1917 the Devil was identified as "Abbadon" of Rev.9. Then in
1969 they said that "Abbadon" was Jesus. If the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is truly inspired then
these revelations would mean that Jesus is Satan! A view which Satan would relish but is certainly a stench in
the nostrils of true Christians. In any
case, it is apparent that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has another Jesus from the one mentioned in
Scripture (as per 2 Cor. 11:4). The Jesus I know is neither the Angel Michael or the fallen Angel Lucifer. Jesus,
God in the flesh, created both of them (John 1:3) and thus could not be them.
The Kingdom Interlinear Translation was published in 1969. KIT as it is known, is one of the best witnessing
tools to use with a JW because it shows the accurate Westcott and Hort Greek text beside of the mutilated
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society English. Following is a three step example of this corrupt ion:
(l) Look in the Foreward on page 10 they write "To each major word we have assigned one meaning and have
held to that meaning as far as the context permitted".
(2) then look in Matthew 2:11 (and other places where the deity of Jesus is concerned) notice they translate
the Greek word proskuneo as "did obeisance to" in an effort to portray the Magi as simply saluting Jesus in
place of worshiping him.
(3)Yet where the same Greek word is used toward the Father, they correctly translate proskuneo as
"worshipped" . (Rev. 7:11 and others). Is this honest in light of the statement in their Forward at number 1 )?
They also change the name of Lord to Jehovah when it suits them....but leave it the same when Jesus is called
Lord....Philippians 2:11 for example. That would read if they were honest “Jesus is Jehovah”! For some reason
they just can't have that.
Also at this time came the now extinct book Aid to Bible Understanding which was similar to other topical Bible
encyclopedias except that it was wrong and extremely biased with Watchtower Bible and Tract Society views.
They had to replace it with the 2 volume Insight on the Scriptures because of the mistaken chronology and
extant quotes of Johannes Greber in the "Aid" book. This Watchtower Bible and Tract Society minuet looks like
progress to the participant but is pure cover up to the observer. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has
been known to systematically and covertly destroy their errant books that become too revealing. At one point
the Watchtower actually wrote to the Kingdom Halls asking members to send in their old books under the guise
of building a library. Information control is the first rule of dominance. Christianity convinces. Cults control.
The year 1975 also brought the last explicit false "end time" prediction that brought about a large exodus
from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. In contrast their 1975 yearbook said “Jehovah's Servants”
have enjoyed spiritual enlightenment and direction”.then to contrast again, Mans salvation out of a World
Distress at Hand on p.235 it says “Spiritually speaking, Christendom is a 'harlot' ”.
In contrast the same book admits the Watchtower was wrong at predicting the return
o f Christ in 1874 ( p . 287') ,
In contrast the 1974 Yearbook admits they were wrong in the 1914
prediction (p.76).
In contrast they admit they 'were wrong about 1925 in the 1975 Yearbook
(p.145-146).
In contrast they admit they were even wrong about the 1975 prediction in
the 1980 Yearbook (p.30-313).
They admit but they never learn.
How many “contrasts” must one need? How many times must someone murder before he is called a murderer?
How many times must a man steal before he can be charged with it? How many times did Pete Rose get caught
gambling before they through him out of baseball? Shouldn't we be more diligent with our religion than we are
with our sports and remove any false prophet on the first occurrence as per Deut.18:20-22?
Nevertheless, no one wanted to throw out the whole game of baseball because one player got caught
gambling. The same principles should apply when we are seeking God. Just because the Jim Bakers,
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society societies, Joseph Smiths, Popes, Guru's, and other men are wrong does
not mean we should lose our individual eternity over their error. There is a practical and honest God that does
not change his mind....and we can know him through Jesus. A god that changes his mind or that does not
know the future can say “Okay, it's your turn in hell”.
There is no true God because some so called Holy men have cheated us is a lie that the Devil does not even
have to tell. Believe in the true God as plainly found in the Bible and the truth will set you free.
The Watchtower has stated "Jehovah's Witnesses today comprise the collective channel of communication”
(5/15/55) and "the remaining one right religion is that of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is not conceited for us to say
that"(2/15/55). These are two bold statements in light of the information. What does the reader think?
June 8, 1977 saw 2.25 million members enslaved by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and Nathan Knorr
to his permanent home.
FRANZ
Fred W. Franz, the fourth president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, had the primary task of dealing
with confusion that generated a major exodus. After the collapse of the 1975 end time prediction, a quarter of
a million people left or were disfellowshipped from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
Born in 1833 in Covington, Kentucky, he was educated at the University of Cincinnati from 1911 to 1914. He
did not graduate but elected to join the Russellites in 1913. He studied some Greek, but not biblical (Koine)
Greek. He claimed he was familiar with Hebrew, but when later asked in court to demonstrate that by
translating a primer verse (Gen.2:4) into Hebrew his reply was "No. I wouldn't attempt to do that." He also
prevaricated that he had been offered a Cecil Rhodes Scholarship for the privilege of going to Cambridge. He
said, "I took an examination for that in the University of Ohio." The reader can write the Rhodes Scholarship
Trust at Wesleyan University, Middleton, Conn. 06457, and find that they have never heard of him. Besides,
no one has ever received a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Cambridge. Some Jehovah's Witnesses have been
dis fellowshipped for lying. Should Mr. Franz have been? No, he was made President. Should we believe Franz
when he also said under oath, "Well, we believe that the angels of God are used in directing Jehovah's
Witnesses?" Or should we believe Franz at another courtroom appearance where he said that "Jehovah God"
was the editor of the Watchtower ?
It is no wonder that Jehovah's Witnesses have to attempt to excuse so many of their past falsehoods with new
ones by saying that they receive "new light". This is their idea that the truth can progressively change like the
brighter and brighter light noted at Proverbs 4:18. But even C.T.Russell himself knew that "new light never
extinguished old light." Besides, the brighter light business of Proverbs 4:18 only applies to the just. Holy and
honest men like maybe Isaiah, who would normally tell the truth, JWs should re-ad the next verse to get the
complete context; "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble". In other words,
the liars headlights go out! Doublethink is present here again; they tell you that the truth can change but will
disfellowship you. for saying that they might be wrong in the present.....or that someone else might have the
truth. The fact is that truth does not change, and it is not God that is telling lies (Tit.1:2). A God that can lie can
be the Devil tomorrow./ No matter how much the truth is argued over and debated, Franz said that "If it is
published, it is accepted". But if publishing makes truth then we are certainly in for a ride with the National
Enquirer
Publishing is the bread and butter for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Some Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society books are turned out daily in stacks higher than the Empire State Building. The JW at your door
will tell you that the price you pay for their publications will just cover the cost of printing because that is what
he is really led to believe. But the actual cost to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society for the $2.50
publication that they sell you is about $1.40 and about 4 cents each per magazine. Look at the percentage of
revenue that is brought in from literature sales;
British Branch Office (1985)
Total from donations and legacies in pounds 470,200
Total from magazines and literature sales 4,303,030
Net Wort h 4,773,230 in pounds from one office
It looks like their "just covering the costs" literature is bringing home a large percent of the British bacon!
Of course there is nothing wrong with selling for profit, or sustaining an organization by relying on door to door
sales. But there is something dishonest about suggesting that there is no profit in the publishing while at the
same time bringing in revenues of at least huge sums per week from magazine sale alone! Jehovah's
Witnesses frown at tithing, and because most Christian churches pass the plate, "donations" to the Kingdom
Halls are put in the "contribution box" that you can trip over on your way out.
An average of about 5 weekly hours are given to the "Service Meeting" and the "Theocratic Ministry School"
where Jehovah's Witnesses are taught the bottom line of convince and sell. Not to sell (publish/preach) is not
to remain on the rolls. Assemblies are held tri-annually to reveal new truth from Brooklyn and to see new
publications. Any JW who does not believe that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society sends their preachers
out for the love of money should just try to convince the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to live off of
contributions for awhile. Tell the Governing Body that you know the message by heart and that you will spend
more hours going door to door speaking the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society message but refuse to sell
their literature. See what happens to your Watchtower Bible and Tract Society "salvation'!
Bethel alone stocks about 2500 workers to support the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
publishing/preaching. Deceit has never paid well. Prior to 1990 all the workers supposedly lived on the same
meager salary of $30 per month, plus room and board. Yet somehow the presidents drive Cadillacs, travel
extensively, have their own meat lockers, and have acquired other luxuries and privileges that seem to be
beyond the reach of the other Bethelites. Actually then, I should have inserted the word (other) in the above
sentence like the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society erroneously does at Col.1:16ff in their New World
Translation. Then the sentence would read: "All the (other) workers supposedly live on the same meager
salary of $30 per month...".
Publishers are expected to visit 10 hours monthly; Auxiliary Pioneers 60 hours; Regular Pioneers 90. Some of
the special missionaries that- produce 140+ hours get an allowance to help with expenses. Even though they
rarely meet their goals, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society knows that visitation works. Here is a logistical
area where Christendom could learn from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Let me rephrase that. We
should learn from our Lord at what is called the Great Commission in Mat.28:24. The difference being that a
Christian's motivation is love and not a "have to" mandate. Christians need to understand, apply, and note the
following figures produced from the progressive principle of visitation as commanded by our Lord:
In 1983 there were estimated 634,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States who visit about 700 homes
per baptism. 104 million work hours spent. A monument-to their zeal and commitment is the fact that they had
35,303 baptisms which equates to about 1 baptism per 18 members. (Remarkably, many of these were
proselyted out of the truth and into a false gospel because they did not know where to find their doctrinal
truths. 3 out of 4 cult members are ex evangelicals). Southern Baptists baptized 394,606 but it took about 36
members (twice as many) to produce 1 baptism. Either half of
the Southern Baptists were not witnessing or we were not presenting the truth in an acceptable way.
Worldwide the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society stats are even more impressive: 1 baptism per 11.4
members. Membership went from 106,000 World War II to about 4 million today. (If Christendom had this same
annual percent of increase we would have evangelized the world by now ! )
In 1987 they reported 739,019,286 hours of visitation and 230,843 baptisms worldwide. By the same 1983
statistics they visited 161 million homes! The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society start more Bible studies than
all of the other denominations combined.
All of the cults are fiercely taking their oiless lamps throughout the world; Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism went from
one man at the close of WWII to seven million members in Japan alone. In 1987 it was the fastest growing
religion on the west coast. Mormonism has doubled since 1965; they have 36,132 missionaries and expect, as
do the Muslims, to replace Judaism as the third largest religious group in the country. Their membership is now
6.72 million and sociologists think they will expand to 60 million in the next century. More people in the United
States have taken Silva Mind control, a single branch of the New Age Movement, than are even in the
Mormons! It is time for more Christians to trim their lamps like the wise virgins and let their light shine, as they
seem to be starting to do. The Bridegroom cometh!
Following the heartaches that the 1975 exodus brought to Mr.Franz and the Devil, even more trouble began.
Witnesses began to find the truth by having secret and honest Bible studies on their own. They found that
yesterday's Watchtower Bible and Tract Society dogmas became today's heresies,, They were not receiving
"new light" but as David Henke so aptly put it "somebody is playing, with the light switch!" The 10/1/80
Watchtower on p.28-29 states that Jehovah's Witnesses have a "different gospel ... unique, established in the
heavens in 1914.". The Apostle Paul condemned any future religion at Galatians Is 8-9. Who does the reader
think it best to believe, the Apostle Paul or the Watchtower'?
Karl Kline of the Governing body told the whole family "You have a tendency towards apostasy, get a hobby
and keep yourself busy to keep your mind off of it. Stay away from deep Bible study to determine the meanings
of the Scriptures.". Scripture was rejected by the Governing body in relation to study, guidance, or true
application. It was used only to support their views. Franz said regarding the simple message of the Gospel,
"Baby food is not the message of the hour todayl". This was echoed by the Watchtower (8/15/81 p. 28-29):
"they say-that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But
strangely, through such "Bible reading" they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that
commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..."
The Governing Body began a witch hunt: calling names, assassinating characters at the Bethel breakfast
table, spying, and threatening, enforcing to the "T" the 1177 rules and regs in the Branch Organization
Procedure book, many were disfellowshipped for the smallest infraction or challenge to the Society. But many
left on their own when they found the truth. As always, the ageless words of Jesus applied so aptly: "and ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." .
Even Freddies nephew Raymond Franz was disfel1owshipped for challenging the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society chronologies. Officially it was for eating with an ex-JW). Some 38,000 members were disfellowshipped
in one year for drunkenness, homosexuality, wife swapping, and drug abuse. Jehovah's Witnesses were
realizing that they were actually no better than the other people they were condemning. For further proof of
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society turmoil around 1979-81 sees Christianitv Today 12/12/80; Time
2/22/82; Newsweek 7/20/31; or call the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society at (718) 625-3600 for an
interesting "no comment"! The sad irony throughout the entire era of WTBTS half truths is that their "Truth"
book was selling to millions who trusted their eternal lives t o the Watchtower.
Their popular training book You Can Live Forever in Parad ise on Earth was published in 1982 in 86
languages selling 38,000,000 copies. According to their membership of about 4 million, it appears that many
are purchasing and reading it, but many are not “buying” it.
In 1383 the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society published the pamphlet Schoo1 and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Page 3 states "THE REASON FOR THIS BROCHURE", and then goes on to say "To promote .under standing
and cooperation between Jehovah's Witnesses and school authorities. Yet they are actually removing
cooperation with the school authorities by not allowing their children to participate in such things as flag
saluting, anthems, voting, holidays, celebrations, sports, dances, school clubs, extra-curricular activities, and
on and on. Removing their own children from school interaction and emotionally traumatizing the whole class is
bad enough, but to give a detailed tract to the teachers that says the Bible teaches these things is deceptively
witnessing to the teacher and stigmatizes religion to the rest of the class. They quote verses out of context and
try to make wholesome events appear immoral by twisting Scripture. For example, on page 16 they warn the
teacher:
"Witness youths do not mix in school politics, either by accepting an elective office or by voting others into
office. So if either nominated for or elected to an office, they tactfully decline. In this way they follow the
example of Jesus who withdrew when the people wanted to make him king. -John 6:15. "
Jesus, being "King eternal" (.1 Tim. Is 17), was already "King of Kings" (Rev .19; IS). This passage in its
cultural context shows that the crowd was trying to force (not elect) Jesus to lead a revolt against the Roman
government . Jesus submitted to government sovereignty as he taught us to do (Rom. 13) , and was simply
refusing to become a violent political revolutionist at that time. Both of these concepts being foreign to the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Since God said he would write his laws in our hearts and minds (Heb.8:
10), let me just ask the reader; does it seem wrong for a. young student to be elected as class president when
even the Governing Body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society elects their president?
The point is that school authorities should note that this clever little pamphlet is a witnessing aid for the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society propaganda and should adopt their own guidelines for teachers to follow
so that they do not have to read this distortion of Bible texts.
Before leaving page 3 of this booklet I also noticed the statement "They (JWs) are noted for their obedience to
governmental authorities." Nothing could be further from the truth. Any historical flashlight would show that JWs
have always opposed military service, flag saluting, voting, -and generally regard governments with contempt.
As mentioned earlier, the anti-government decisions from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society caused the
deaths of those in Malawi. They are constantly being expelled from foreign .countries for regular disturbances.
The At1anta Constitution recently (6/13/89) ran an article where Ghana expelled JW missionaries for
"disturbing public order and threatening Ghana's sovereignty". Kingdom Halls were ordered closed and of
course "A spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses was not available for comment".
Any JW who questions these practices will be told as they were in the 1/15/83 Watchtower p. 27;
"If we get to thinking that we know better than the organization, we should ask ourselves, 'Where did we learn
Bible truth in the first place? Would we know the way of the truth if it had not been for God's organization?
Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization? No, we cannot ." But the rest of us
certainly can. And by the way...we learn Biblical truth from the Bible.In today's vernacular we might say....
duh! ,
Going on from there we find that 1984 brought the Latest-revision of the New World Translation which is a
shade smoother than the last, but still full of deceit.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society characteristically out of context, cites Mt.23;6 to assert that they do
not make a separation of clergy and laity. Despite the fact that the Bible teaches special church offices and
Apostolic priviledges (1 Tim, Titus), claim that "Christ Jesus did not make such a separation". Then at the other
side of the same mouth comes the authoritative rule that accepts no challenges to their Governing Body,
Elders, Circuit Servants, and Overseers! Why do they need these distinctive titles if they are not "separated"
from the regular congregation in some fashion? Who does the disfellowshipping if one does not have authority
over another ? Not to mention pay and privilege differences.
Due to increasing lawsuits, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society finally had to quit publically slandering and
disfel1owshipping when members decided they wanted out. Threats of lawsuits became so frequent that the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society notified the Kingdom Halls that if they wanted support from the Society to
fight the suit they were to drop everything and notify headquarters when the first mention of a suit was
received. There is still a public shunning and a private stigma applied, especially to those who convert to
Christendom. For some reason these people who convert are despised more than any others. The JW who
thinks that hell by choice isn't fair should consider his disfel1owshipping. Is it fair to dishonor someone who
simply changes his religion on an equal plane with a murderer? What about the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society belief in annihilation at death? Is it fair for someone who is a Christian to get the same punishment
(annihilation) as, say, Hitler? No, not if fairness is to be considered. Once you Join the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society you should k now that they give you no honorable way out. You should look around at all of the
other Jehovah's Witnesses that might become your friends and say to yourself; If I ever change my mind about
my beliefs I will have to give up all of my JW f riendships....and yes, you will.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society even pressures members not to attend funeral rites or processions of
deceased from any other church. Display of emotion is discouraged and attendance denied even if the
deceased is close family,, If your Christian sister dies you would probably only be allowed to serve food to the
family at the funeral home and cry in your closet. They sometimes route others away from paying respects to
deceased JWs or following in the funeral procession, if any. Generally they try to hurry up funeral services that
leaves the observer with a cold feeling.
Figures and statistics are difficult to get from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because they refuse to
dialog with most other religions. In 1985 they claimed that 7,792,109 people representing 49,716
congregations in 200 lands attended the Lord's evening meal in 1985. But today, membership in the United
States alone is estimated to be approaching 7 million. Their annual growth rate is approximately %4.... 6 are
going in the front door per minute and 3 out the back.
Reasoning From The Scriptures and a revised Kinqdom Interlinear Translat ion of 800,000 copies were both
printed in 1985. The brown "Reasoning" book is about hip pocket size and kept close to the witnessing JWs
heart to aid him with pre-programmed answers when challenged with the truth. If you ask a difficult question
and the JW goes for his briefcase, this is the book he is going for. It is packed with out of context and half
quotes, doublethink,, and misrepresentation. An example from page 137:
"If Someone (a Christian) says- 'My minister said that the Jehovah's Witnesses are false prophets '
then you can say 'may I show you how the Bible describes false prophets?' (then use one of the points
outlined on pages 132-136)'....and ...."(If householder refers to some claimed "predictions" that did not come
to pass, use material on page 134. and from the bottom of page 135 to the top of 137,)"
Notice how they said 'May I show you how the Bible describes', but really pointed to further statements found in
another place in the same book! Furthermore, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society must be expecting to
be called false prophets because why else would they address it? Evangelical religions never have to defend
against such. True Christendom as a body has never been false prophets!
Then on page 136:
"Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets. They have made mistakes. Like the Apostles of -
Jesus Christ they have at times had some wrong expectations.—Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6. "
The first sentence is a blatant lie. See the KNORR section of this report to find documented proof where they
have indeed claimed to be prophets. On checking the above verses you will find that the Apostles were
inquiring about the Kingdom in Acts 1:6 and only expecting it to come in Luke 19:11. In any case, expectation
is quite different from saying, in effect, 'Jehovah has told us that the Kingdom is coming in October of 1975'!
Also note that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society loves to quote Christian sources in a majority of their
publications to make it appear that scholarly Christians support their views and that Christendom itself is
confused. When the source is checked however, it turns out that they were either quoted out of context, or
they were not even on the side of Christendom to begin with. Whenever you see the three dots “...” from the
Watchtower, it is a sure sign of a misquote...not the significant phrase as they would have you believe. Another
trick is to set up a "straw man". This is where they incorrectly state a Christian perspective and then refute it.
This, to the reader, makes the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society look so knowledgeable by being able to
refute the 'ignorant' Christian view, and helps to stigmatize Christendom for future reference. The 1985 KIT is
a little slicker than the last but the constant revisions and deletions will never be able to overthrow the truth of
God's word. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society book Make Sure of All Things was revised three times to
try to make it "sure" before they finally had to throw it out. All of their printing, full of errors, is their own worst
enemy as well as their bread and butter. Knowing where their crooked revisions are found creates an excellent
witnessing tool available to the Christian, enabling him to point up the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
dishonesty from their own print without necessarily having to make negative comments about the Society,
which is more dear to the JW heart than Mother. Make no mistake, the WTBTS is continually improving their
image to unwary prospects. If they are not exposed now, it will certainly be harder and harder for our
descendants to do so. Then one day they will have the same notoriety as Catholicism, as a world religion
rather than a cult. Already like the Mormons, it is harder and harder to refute them in other languages because
most of their lies have been printed and revoked in english. One such modern example of this is the new
WTBTS practice of implying end time dates instead of clearly spelling them out. This prevents them from
having to explain the failure at a later date. Just enough is given to subconsciously suggest the coming end.
Thus playing on the Jehovah's Witnesses concern for his fellow man and quickly driving him door to door for
an upsurge in magazine sales. Anyone who doesn't believe that date setting is the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society "carrot" should consider the following statement among others made prior to the 1975 end time dates
'
"Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to increase our activity?....new peaks in
pioneers...brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old
system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to
spend the short time remaining before the wicked worlds end." Kingdom Ministry, May 1974.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society hasn't paid any restitution or felt any sadness for these folks because
they are still suggesting the same tactics today. For instance, what conclusions could a JW draw from the
following?
The 10/1&15/85 Watchtower headlines refered to the UN international year of peace, The caption of the UN
photo read "Peace and Security". Then they immediately quoted their New World Translation at 1 Thess 5:3,
"Whenever it is that they are saying "Peace and Security" then sudden destruction is to be upon them..."
4/8/88 AWAKE! page 4,"...before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away." Then on page 14,
"The Hebrews...reckon 75 years as one generation..." The Witness mentally does a 1914+75=1983.
OR simply 5/15/83 Watchtower headline "End of Crime Near"
These subliminal suggestions build a fire under the JW and they rush door to door and even house to house
doing "service" at an alarming yearly rate. 1987 saw 210 lands reached with 3.2 million (436,173 full time)
"preachers" who instigated 3,005,048 Bible studies, 3/4 billion dollars of work was given to the Society from
785 million manhours worldwide in 1983, 243 million in the United States, according to the 1/1/89 Watchtower;
p. 7,,
One of the last big training manuals to roll off of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society press is the 1988
book, Revelation-It' s Grand Climax at Hand, with a first first printing of 3 million copies. Following in the format
of it's same attractive predecessor, You Can Live Forever in Paradise On Earth, it is full of twisted scripture
and programmed questions for the new trainee. Also established in January of 1988 was a department to find,
deal with, and inform approximately 5000 doctors who would cooperate with the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society blood policy. Of course, as their school policy brochures took a false gospel to the teachers; so goes it
to the doctors.
1989 brought another potentially devastating Watchtower Bible and Tract Society publication enti1led Should
You Believe in the Trinity. There is about one misrepresentation for every page of this 32 page booklet.
Robert Bowman Jr. has written a thorough refutation of it in his book Why You Should Believe in the Trinity: An
Answer to the Jehovah's Witnesses (Baker 1989). He says in the magazine Forward "Misrepresentations of
theologians and scholars is not new to the JWs, but in this booklet it has become an art. ...The booklet even
tries to argue that Tertullian who gave us the expression 'three persons in one God,' did not believe in the
Trinity!"
Of all of the millennial sects from the 1800's only the Jehovah's Witnesses still act like the end is here. It is
simply an astounding and continuing phenomenon that this regrettable cult has been able to deceive so
thoroughly, and yet still exist despite the cover-ups,
polity revisions (at least 148 from 1917 to 192S alone?!), and folklore. I firmly believe that any honest and
sane person who knew these things about the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, especially before joining,
would not trust their eternal destiny to such an organization. Personally, even if my theology was the same as
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's, I would get away from this dishonest organization that so aptly fits
Proverbs 6:16ff and start my own !
Along with the 13.5 million bi-monthly Watchtowers (the #1 selling religious magazine) and 11.25 million bi-
monthly AWAKE! magazines propagating heresies, the intra-arganizational publication Our Kingdom Ministry
(Dec,1988) pretty much summed up the fact that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society rationale is not
pointing to Jesus as the way (John14:6), but states;
"Let us then take the lead in directing attentive students to Jehovah's organization and join Jehovah in saying
'This is the way'"
<<BACK TO ARTICLES <HOME>
Although the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society superficially mentions the name of Charles Taze Russell
today, no in depth look into his embarrassing biography is encouraged. In fact, they deny ever publishing their
biography of him. A copy of which I have before me. It reads "...Pastor Russell, author, lecturer, and minister of
the Gospel, was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., February 16, 1852...he was the son of Joseph L. and Eliza Birney
Russell, both of Scotch-Irish lineage." They will not admit to their human founder but acknowledge only that the
Presbyterian raised Russell was merely the
"organizer” of the Jehovah's Witnesses, which they falsely claim is the oldest religion on earth.
New members will soon find, even if they do not realize, that the doctrines of their new found religion changes
so quickly that Russell himself would be dis fellowshipped today for his anti-organizational and other beliefs.
The many and continuing changes of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society doctrine also makes it
impossible to relate, or historically trace their doctrine to that of the Apostle Paul. This automatically would
place their preaching under the curse of Galatians 1:8-9; "But even though we, or an angel from heaven,
should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we
have said before, so I say again now,, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you
received, let him be accursed."
The "higher powers” of the single chapter of Romans 13 has already, according to Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society theological publications, changed three times since Russell first, if ever, read the book! It was first
interpreted to be "human government , then 'Jehovah God and Christ Jesus', only to be changed again in
1962 to 'secular governments'. Many other policy changes also abound and contradict throughout their
history; the cross, communion, 144,000 elect, marriage, vaccination et al. Which of these interpretations match
that of the 'oldest religion' on earth? Which of these stances were preached on by Paul before he wrote to the
Galatians?
Even though they have desperately tried to disassociate the Society's beginnings from the self made, and
never ordained 'Pastor' Russell's early religious shenanigans, there is no way for them to escape the fact that
the history of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society began with the same. They are occasionally called
"Russellites" even today. He had the audacity to call himself the "Angel of Laodecia", but the facts show that
what he claimed and what he was are two different things.
By accidentally coming into a religious meeting where second adventism was being taught by Jonas Wendell,
Russell supposedly reestablished his previously 'wavering' faith. As is still the same squeaking wheel driving
the Society today; Russell concluded that he was living near the end of the gospel age and formed his own
Bible study group beginning in Allegheny (north Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania. Christians should note that our
plan for salvation came out of Jerusalem as per Luke 24:47, not Pennsylvania. Paraphrasing to extremes and
reading into the sacred Scriptures his own ideas he gained quite a following. Knowing no Greek and never
formally trained in theology didn't stop him from attempting to mediate for the multitudes by asserting that his
own book volumes entitled Studies in the Scriptures were a part of the Bible itself, and were to be favored
over the Bible for enlightenment! I do not mean to imply that knowledge of Greek or formal training is
absolutely necessary to reach the Gospel. Actually, all Christians, despite any educational level, are
commanded to ' go and tell' by our Lord at Mark 16: 15 and elsewhere.. But certainly anyone who is attempting
to overthrow an ageless message that has already been carefully scrutinized, taught, and accepted by millions
should have more than just the cursory perception of it as demonstrated by Charles Taze Russell.
His religious views not only got Russell fired from his job but also roused a dedicated clergyman,, Rev. J.J.
Ross, who publicly denounced Russell's theology and credibility, calling his attitudes "anti-biblical, anti-
Christian, and a deplorable perversion of the Gospel of God's dear Son". Russell true to character, quickly
sued Ross but lost. From copies of the trial transcript that are still available today is the proof that Russell was
a perjurer:
Q: Do you know the Greek alphabet? A: Oh yes.
Then after being shown some Greek letters and names by Counselor Staunton and asked to identify them,
Russell could not.
Q; Are you familiar with the Greek language? A: No.
In the same trial, after Russell had claimed 'ordination* superior to other ministers?
Q: Now, you never were ordained by a bishop, clergyman, presbytery, council, or any body of men living?
A: (after a long pause)s I never was.
But being a good orator he kept his following, and at age twenty-five he sold his mens clothier store and
reveled about, preaching and teaching his Arian heresy throughout the land. Albeit unknown to Russell, the
Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Times and other newspaper reporters were secretly following him and networking with
each other in an effort to find out the truth about his already suspect intentions. They found out that during
Russell's worldwide tours he would wire back to the states exaggerated tales about his widespread acceptance
and mission thrust. The newspaper reports, still recorded on microfilm today, said he never spoke in some
places and never even got off his ship in others!
Russell married Maria Frances Ackley and published his first run of 6000 copies o f Zion's Watchtower and
Herald of Christ's Presence in 1879. Most authors write that he married in 1881 but according to the official
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Biography of Pastor Russell (the one they claim they never published), he
was wed in 1879. In the same biography it is stated that the couple "disagreed about the management of his
journal; and a separation followed". But actually Maria dutifully helped him run Zion's Watchtower until she
caught him behind a closed door with a "questionable” woman. She began suing for legal separation in 1906.
Later litigation required Russell to pay $6036 in back alimony and also exposed his bogus 'holding company'
that he alone controlled. Not being financially accountable to anyone allowed Russell to greedily hoard $990 of
the total $1OOO church assets to himself while generously sharing the other $1O with two of his followers! At
that time $10 just happened to be the amount needed to vote for the board of directors who would assist
Russell. However, this lucrative practice was later done away w i t h .
Another of 'Pastor' Russell's money making schemes was hustling his 'miracle wheat' which he claimed would
grow five times as much as any other brand. The Brooklyn Eaqle, again publicly called his bluff and again
Russell sued for $100,000. Upon examination, the government said his dollar a pound wheat was actually "low
in government tests", and Russell again lost the suit.
Russell prophesied that Blacks would become white when the millennium was inaugurated and instructed his
regime not to give much reading material to the colored because their lack of education would insure that "half
of it would be utterly wasted-"
Before proceeding with further Watchtower history consider Deuteronomy 18: 22;
"When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the
thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of
him."
The word 'thing" is singular, therefore one miss makes a false prophet. In the days of Moses false prophets
were meant to be taken and dealt with seriously., Verse 20 said they were to kill them!
A New Testament test for a false prophet is given at Matthew 7; 15-1San
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You
will know them by their fruits..."
Curiously, the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses who come to you are known as other sheep, yet their
murderous blood policy kills like ravenous wolf. It seems possible that our Lord tailor made this verse for the
Watchtower.
For obvious reasons, some religions try to escape this false prophet test by teaching that their fruits are good
works, quantities of membership, and publishing efforts. This is not what is meant by fruits. Clearly, publishing
and membership quantities were not a consideration during the life of Christ. Good works are to some extent
prevalent in all of the worlds religions and so cannot be a basis for determining false prophecy. The fruit of an
orange tree, then, is an orange not a description of an orange. The fruit of an apple tree is an apple; not the
number of apples.. The fruit of a Christian is another Christian. And the fruit of a false prophet is by the same
logic false prophecy. Using cleverly devised arguments, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has, knowing
they will be accused of false prophecy, devoted a section of their field workers manual Reasoning From the
Scriptures to help the door to door going Jehovah's Witness to deal with the accusations. Funny how other
religions are not required to deal with it. In an effort t o avoid the application of the false prophet fruit test, the
Watchtower tries to substitute another meaning into the use of the word "fruits" by saying that they have love,
Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. However, these are the
fruits of the Spirit and not of true or false prophets, There have always been false prophets, atheists, and
humanists the world over who have had these qualities at one time or another. If we cannot apply the above
tests to the Watchtower then we cannot use them at all. In the future any false prophet would be able to
escape using the same flawed argument.
Even though their own publications show that the Watchtower has claimed to be a prophet and made many
false (and some ridiculous) prophecies, they try another defensive argument; the gist of which was predicted
and recorded at Zechariah 13:4a+5a:
"Also it will come about in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies...
but he will say “I am not a prophet'".
Ezekiel 14:10 says that the punishment for following a false prophet is the same as that of the false prophet.
Knowledgeable promulgators of false prophecies become false prophets. At 23: 16, 26; &34, Jeremiah says
they deceive and mislead many, including their own household.
Having said that, Look at some of the Russel1ite-Millennial Dawnist false prophecies of that era concerning the
end times:
1799; beginning time of the end.
1874! "when Jesus was to come, bless the Saints, resurrect Daniel, and burn up the world and all the wicked in
1874 AGAIN!:When the physical return of Jesus failed, Russell teamed with another second adventist named
Nelson Barbour. In an effort to uphold their original formula they devised that the "expectation of Jesus in the
flesh at the second advent was a mistake" but that Jesus really did come invisibly in the "autumn of 1874, and
he appeared to the eyes of faith",, This 'eyes of faith' business is the same footing stuff that the Mormons use
to support their weak foundation when no tangible or scriptural evidence is available.
1914: As the end of everything. John Knight, from Cookeville,Tennessee was a 15 year old Jehovah's Witness
at that time. Appearing on the film Witnesses of Jehovah, he testifies about the 1914 date "We had to change
our views. Just like many times after that we had to change our views". He left the Watchtower and became a
Christian after the 1975 prediction of the Watchtower end times failed.
1914 AGAIN!s When the end didn't come, the Society changed their typeset and said that it really was just the
beginning of the end. Some Witnesses believe that the Society predicted WWI, but I challenge the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society to produce one specific predated publication that accurately predicts such. But even if
they could, we could expect an occasional random "hit” when they generally predict so frequently. Someone
said a stopped clock is right twice a day.
1915: As the end of everything when 1914 completely failed. 1918, 1925, 1940's, 1975; And still implying it
today!
I submit that they change the title of their AWAKE! magazine to AGAIN!
As Russell was writing his book, The Time Is At Hand and spuriously predicting dates and acts, Jesus was
raising up translators to effectively render his words at Luke 21:8 in the NAS:
"See to it that you be not mis led: for many will come in my name saying 'I am He,' and, 'The time is at hand'; do
not go after them".
Determining the original source of supernatural information is a very legitimate question when dealing with
religious groups. Where do they get their information when it is not specifically found in the Bible? Charles
Russell arrived at some of these end time dates based on his study of' pyramidology. He thought that the
Great Pyramid was God's second witness to the earth, after the Bible. Never mind that his measurements of
the pyramid were inaccurate, and in inches, (it just seems to me that God -would have used cubits, or at least
the metric system?), this is how Russell arrived at 1874. William Cetnar observes that God either must have
changed his mind or the measure of the pyramid; "Even though the Egyptians were very careless and left their
pyramids out in the hot sun" some believe that it was Russell, and not the Great Pyramid that warped!
This warping must have caused Russell to give up pyramidology and take up phrenology- the study of head
shape. Because in 1913 he wrote: "The desire to worship is due to the shape of the brain,. How do we know?
Stand a man alongside of a dog. Look at their heads. The one slopes back.... if we could make a dog with the
same head as a man he would think the same as a man". (I wish he would have specified which head sloped
back!).
I certainly would not want this man who divines the shapes of pyramids and heads for supernatural information
shaping my eternal destiny. I wouldn't even want him working in my barber shop. Even though the Witnesses of
that day seriously thought that a 'Greater than Solomon' was here, none of the true prophets of the Bible ever
had to speak like this. If so they would have been rightly subjected to the words of King Achish at 1 Sam. 21:
14—15!
This double talking deceit and false prophecy from Charles Taze Russell was to be the beginning of evermore
changing tunes from the Watchtower symphony,.
In 1903 the Millennial Dawn Students moved their headquarters from Pennsylvania to Brooklyn. After starting
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society by spreading 15—20 million written seed s, the sad and disillusioned
Char1es Taze Russell died aboard a touring train in Texas. His Watchtower Bible and Tract Society biography
quoted Russell as saying that a God who would use his power to create human beings that he knew to be
destined for hell "could be neither-wise, just, nor loving. His standard would be lower than that of many men".
He should have realized that God loves us, enough to allow his only Son to be murdered. He is not willing that
any should perish but created hell for Satan, his angels, and all who make the choice of following them by not
following Jesus. C.T. Russell's spirit departed the earth on All hallows eve, 1916. Where some people prefer a
simple cross or tombstone, a pyramid was placed at Russell's grave site memorializing the man and his true
beliefs.
"JUDGE” RUTHERFORD
Millions now living will never die!
This is the famous speech and book title is the platform from which exploded the presidency of Joseph Franklin
Rutherford (b. 1869-d. 1942) , second president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This spurned the
"Millions" recruiting campaign and began a reign that disciplined the millennial sect into an efficient publishing
machine that surpassed Russell's efforts in half the time.
After meeting with Russell in a Kansas City hotel and becoming intrigued with his teachings,"Big Joe" became
an "ordained" minister in 1905, and the Society's official lawyer in 1907. When Russell died in 1916,
Rutherford took the baton for the Watchtower. Even though Russell had encouraged Him to write about God's
plan from a lawyers point of view, when he preached Russell's funeral, Rutherford only managed to confuse
the theology of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Unlike soul sleep that is prescribed for all other men,
who according to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society are unconscious at death, Rutherford preached that
Russell then stood in God's presence!
He disagreed with the Russellites on many issues, stopping his followers from attending churches and
celebrating Christmas. These contentions, among many others contrary to Russell's teachings later caused a
small exodus of the original “Russellites” who splintered to become known as the "Dawn Bible Students". At
their peak, the Dawn Bible Students numbered about 25,000, sponsored the "Frank and Ernest" radio
program, and circulated the Dawn magazine. Although the Dawn Bible Students still differ greatly with
Christianity, they are known to be much more amiable, cooperative, and unchanging than the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society. But because of his heavy handed rule, the vast majority followed Rutherford,
regardless of policy and theology.One of Rutherford's first deceptions is found in his very nickname "Judge".
He had been a clever lawyer for Russell, but his only experience as a judge consisted of standing in for an
absent Missouri judge on only one occasion. He even claimed to be president of the New York City Bar.
Although there was no New York City Bar for attorneys, Rutherford did attend the alcoholic ones.
Rutherford taught at one time that the Holy Spirit was plural as ministering spirits. Then he began to talk to
these angels(?). In 1917 Rutherford published an edition of The Finished Mystery which contained statements
and ideas that I wish people who are mixed up in the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society today could have on
hand to read. According to Rutherford, the “1600 furlongs” mentioned in Revelation was supposed to be a
distance across the state to the Watchtower headquarters....provided you went by the Hoboken ferry. The
Leviathan monster mentioned in Job was a train according to The Finished Mystery. Other quotes from The
Finished Mystery:
- "In the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale, and church members by the millions, it
shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the
downfall of "Christianity".
books
- "in the year 1918, when God begins to destroy the churches,.."
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was trying to sneak away from their printed false prophecy.
Nelson Barbour was then identified as the "evil servant" of Mat. 24 and Russell as "that wise and faithful" one.
(In 1927 they flip-flopped on this too. Russell really was not the "servant" as erroneously thought, but that title
belonged to a class.)
Human government was to end.... "even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920".
So far, the wavering truth from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to this point has been that Christ
returned visibly/invisibly somewhere between 1874 to 1918, and that all but those aligned with the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society have/will be shortly destroyed. I have checked a few of the "wholesale" records of that
time and churches have not been destroyed, 1914 was no different than any other year, and I still pay taxes to
a government. Check it out for yourself.
The next apocalyptic year 'the "Judge" rallied the troops to was 1925. The subliminal axiom was: end of the
world, tell the people, sell more Watchtowers. This was made evident when the following was explicitly stated in
Kingdom Ministry of May, 1974, p. 3, "Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to
increase our activity?. ". . Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to
finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend
the short time remaining before the wicked world's end,," This statement was made in an article titled "How are
you using your life?" and printed before the 1975 date of the end of the world set by the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society. Did the watchtower give any of the money back to the people do you think?
The Watchtower has big problems with the Christian view of the Trinity where we worship one God made
known in three separate and distinct personalities. Yet they can overlook that they have historically had many
unique doctrines with multiple separate and distinct personalities.
Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society under Rutherford were The Way to Paradise and Princes
in All The Earth. Quoting just these two books from among many of that age reveals the prevailing theological
circus of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's prophetic fantasy land. Concerning the people who were to
be resurrected from the dead, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society predicted that after the 1925
resurrection people would do and say some of the following:
"Some of them used to be undertakers but since there are no more people dying, they have had to seek some
new occupation " .
"We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham,..
David..,(etc„) mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews".
"you then call up the princes at Jerusalem, state your case, and make your request that your father and
mother might be awakened".
"They wonder what an automobile is".
"some of the older ones will try to blow out the electric light at night, as they used to do with the old tallow
candles".
Whether it was a brilliant imagination, a malicious supernatural inspiration, or an unbaked cortex cookie, no
one can argue that Rutherford really had folks "going" during that time. Whatever the source, it was not from
God; because Titus 1:2 says of "... God, who cannot lie". Rutherford railed the Christian clergy using the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society radio station WBBR (which later became WPOW Christian). Ministers with
honorary D.D. degrees (doctors of divinity) were labeled as "dumb dogs". Door to door phono records
containing sensationalist speeches were used by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Pickets were
arranged and Jehovah's Witnesses were jailed for carrying signs such as "organized religion is a snare and a
racket" outside of Christian churches. Children shoved bananas through the bars to their hungry, jailed
parents. Even Rutherford, in 1918, spent time in the Atlanta penitentiary for violation of the espionage act.
This only fueled his ego as it caused his followers to falsely view him as a hero, just shy of being a martyr for
his faith.
To presumably prove to onlookers that they were serious in their belief that Abraham was coming in 1929,
under the direction of Rutherford, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society built a mansion in San Diego and
deeded it to the prophets from Hebrews 11. They even gave it the name of "Beth Sarim", which is Hebrew for
"house of princes". Part of the deed to it reads:
"Any persons appearing to take possession of said premises, shall first prove and identify themselves to the
proper officers of said Society as the person or persons described in Hebrews Chapter eleven and in this
deed."
It just so happened that Rutherford moved in when no prophets could be found with the proper identification. I
guess he expected them to be carrying passports? Actually it was probably built for Rutherford anyway, but
since that cannot be proven and will not be admitted to, the mansion will just have to stand attesting to the
false prophecy of the Society. Today's Jehovah's Witnesses have not heard of this and generally won't believe
it when you tell them. But proof that Beth Sarim exists is in the fact that "Judge" Rutherford died there of
cancer on Thursday, Jan.3, 1942. In any case, embarrassed by Beth Sarim and the false prophecy it
represented, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society finally sold it to a Christian in 1954. They remain
suspiciously quiet about it.
Also in 1929, the Rutherford pot called the Russell kettle black by denouncing his pyramidology and trying to
find God outside of Scriptures. The only time Rutherford found anything outside the scriptures was when he
was thinking:
In the predecessor of AWAKE!. the GOLDEN AGE of 1931 (p.293-294) called vaccinations a "great evil",
further stating "vaccination has never saved a human life, it does not prevent smallpox". The same publication
of 2/4/31 p.293 condemned receiving vaccinations by stating "Vaccination is a direct violation of the
Everlasting Covenant that God made with Noah after the flood". Then finally outlawing them to JWs in the
4/24/35 p. 471 issue that reads "...as vaccination is a direct injection of animal matter into the bloodstream,
vaccination is a direct violation of the holy law of Jehovah God". Parents would have quacks smear battery
acid on a child to simulate vaccination when required, by law for school. These so called Scripturally inspired
edicts were again flip flopped by the 8/22/65 AWAKE! magazine on page 20, "There can be little doubt that
vaccinations appear to have caused a marked decrease in ... contagious disease. . smallpox . . polio".
Although it is now left up to personal discretion, (unless his has changed today) I still wonder how many were,
to say the least, adversely affected by this single policy? What do you think? How many died from this? Does
the reader believe that God is wishy-washy in such matters ...or is it just the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society?
In trying to separate from the Dawn Student-Russel1ite movement, the "Peoples Pulpit Association" assumed
the name of "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931. Taken from Psalm 83:18 and Isaiah 43; 10-12 they assert "This
name properly distinguishes Jehovah's true Christian worshipers from all others who claim to be Christian
today”. Finally, we can therefore agree that they have separated themselves from Christendom just as they
have intended. But the phrase "true worshipers" certainly does not go into their camp.
In 1932 the book Vindication (Vol. l pp. 338-339) implied admission t o the false prophecy :
"There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning th years
1914, 1918, and 1925... and they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would
come to pass on a certain date". (Notice that the operative was "fixing"? ....and as we will continue to show,
they did not quit with the false prophecy).
In 1935 Rutherford closed the two class system of the "anointed class" or the 144,000 (per Rev. 7: 4) who
were to go to heaven and rule with King Jesus over the others left on earth. The lower echelon being called "
Jonadabs/Other sheep/Great crowd" who have in their own words, "no heavenly hope", but wish to "live forever
in paradise on earth". That's why when you witness to the Jehovah's Witnesses you often hear them say...”I
don't want to go to heaven”. Let's see, they say, we're not a part of Christendom and we don't want to go to
heaven”...if ever there were reverse meaning statements that illustrate mind control, these are certainly two.
Saluting the flag was forbidden, and communion was changed so that only those of the "anointed class" were
to partake of the "Lord's Evening Meal". I have a hard time understanding why they take the Lord's Supper at
all if they really believe Jesus came in 1914. For Paul said at 1 Corinthians 11:26 that we are only to proclaim
the gospel in this fashion "until he comes".
Under Rutherford's guidance came the question "should they marry now?". Rutherford replied "no, is the
answer - supported by the scriptures", The Society said that the end was so near that the JWs should wait until
after Armageddon to "marry and rear children". Later in a 1941 reading, the fictional couple "John and Eunice"
decide to "defer" plans for marriage until paradise earth is established. Today, poor "John and Eunice" should
now be well beyond child bearing age... and still waiting. However, most JWs, after seeing the next president
marry, began to get married again themselves. It is interesting how that if they had followed their orders to wait
for Armageddon, there would have been no new JWs born into the WT family. Talk about the Giant that kills
itself! (cf 1 Tim.4:3a)
Other peculiarities attributed to Rutherford are numerous, and some tragic. He told Jehovah's Witnesses not to
fear Hitlers armies, that God would stop the bullets and always insure their safety. This caused many deaths of
JWs who would not take cover during bombing raids. One person wrote "Just they discussed the daily text,
when a bomb killed them and about 30 other prisoners." Many pitifully stood before firing squads thinking that
God would stop the bullets because Rutherford said he would.
Though eccentric, neither Russell or Rutherford were against blood transfusions. Rutherford even seemed to
favor them when he wrote about one woman who survived because she received a transfusion; "...for
transfusion, and today the woman lives and smiles gaily over what happened to her in the busiest 23 minutes
of her life." Later he would be dis fellowshipped for such a stance.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society prophesied that Armageddon was only months away in 1941. Based
on that alone is evidence that none of the Governing Body or Rutherford could have been a true member of
the 144,000 as they pretended. Speaking of this remnant 144,000 of Israel, Zephaniah 3:12—13 and Rev. 14:
4-5 says that they have to be "Humble, not wrongdoers, found without a deceitful tongue, followers of the
Lamb (Jesus), not liars, and blameless". None of these things can hardly be said of the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society and those who have governed it... from any perspective. Only months away from prophesying
the end in 1941 was the death of Rutherford and Nathan Homer Knorr was elected to become the Society's
third president,, Some Christians probably made a thorough investigation and found that 1925 came and the
world remained; others could not find Abraham or anyone who identified properly with Hebrews 11; and
someone even noticed that the reality of Rutherford's entire campaign slogan was sadly, only true in reverse;
Millions now dying would never live!
KNORR
Nathan Horner Knorr, born 1905 at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was baptized into the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society on the 4th of July 1923 while Frederick W. Franz (the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's 4th
President) was visiting the Allentown congregation. Knorr assumed control of the 115,000 member Watchtower
in 1942. Although he was not as charismatic as Russell or Rutherford he probably did more than either of them
to stiffen the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society control over the people. Publishing efforts were maximized,
membership gained, and more people began to die under the iron fisted leadership of Knorr and his stance
against blood transfusions. False prophecy continued to abound to the degree that one would need a
concordance to keep up with it. Over a three year span from May 1940 through April 1943 you could find at
least 44 written accounts of the word "Armageddon" threatening a falsely prophesied impending doom. Here
are just three examples from that period;
- "Armageddon is just ahead..." (The Messenger 9/40, p.6) "...the remaining months before Armageddon"
(The Watchtower 9/15/41 p.288)
"Now with Armageddon immediately before us,„." (The Watchtower 5/1/42 p.139)
- 1931: "Armageddon is at hand..." (Vindication p.147) 1946: (In just a quick five minute perusal of the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society book Let God Be True, this investigator found a sample of three
such references, undoubtedly among many others.); "...before the destruction of this world at the
coming war of Armageddon", p.201; "The disaster of Armageddon....is at the door" ... p.205; "Satan is
now grouping his forces for the war of Armageddon.».the coming war of Armageddon.", p.259.
1950: "The march is on! Where'? To the field of Armageddon..,," (This Means Everlasting Life p.311)
In February 1943 Knorr established the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society missionary training school called
Gilead at South Lansing, New York. As of 1985 this school turned out about 80 classes or about 6000
missionaries from its five month course. Some of these students were most likely trained to use and believe the
1943 edition of The Truth Shall Make You Free. On page 285 of this book the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society so called God's prophet on earth wrote that man would never "by airplanes or rockets or other means
get above the air envelope which is about our earthly globe in which man breathes". I' m sure the communists
who love to make fun of Christianity were only too happy to dispute this 'truth' with Sputnik on Oct. 4, 1957.
The worst, by far, eyesore to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society ethic was the Watchtower of 12/1/44 p.
362 that first intimated the impending ban on blood transfusions. This policy was at first overlooked by some,
but eventually solidified, and had to be adhered to about 1950. Bleed to death or be dis fellowshipped became
the mandate. This is an outrageous and pitiful policy that has no biblical basis and has put many a JW into a
grave. Christianity proposes. False religions have to impose.
Even the mistranslated New World Translation knows better at Mark 7:15 "There is nothing from outside a man
that passes into him that can defile him, but the things that issue forth out of a man are the things that defile a
man". I believe Jesus was speaking of defiling things such as lies, false prophecies, perjury, blasphemy,
heresies and the like. At this point does any particular organization come to mind?
What about Mrs. Huczko who wrote to the Watchtower to see if it was okay for her poodle to have a blood
transfusion? The WTBTS replied "To use blood for transfusion purposes, even in the case of an animal, would
not be proper....to a pet that is under the jurisdiction of a Christian". "You must keep your animals under
control" was the reply when she asked what would happen if her dog ate a cat or mouse without draining the
blood! Surely someone overlooked James 1:5 and forgot to pray for wisdom. Here we have a dog that makes
his living from eating blood. Without even quoting scripture can we just say “ridiculous”?
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society reached 100 countries and exceeded 50 million preaching hours for
the first time in 1949. But in 1950 that milestone might have been gravely surpassed by the concoction of the
first New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures (New Testament only). Jehovah's Witnesses were
constantly embarrassed when they carried the American Standard Version and tried to claim the name
Jehovah which they couldn't produce from it, so they finally perverted and assembled both testaments together
into a complete Bible that reflected their views in 1961. The New World Translation is not just a slip or an
accident here and there but is truly scholastic dishonesty. It is easily proven that the mis translators have
changed the meanings of God's word on purpose. Those responsible for the mistranslation were: Nathan
Knorr, Fred Franz, Albert Schroeder, George Gangas, and Milton Henschel. None of them had college except
for Franz. None knew Hebrew. None knew biblical Koine Greek. Franz had studied non-biblical Greek for two
years. Hardly enough to even be fluent. I studied Spanish for two years in school and barely remember how to
count, much less translate accurately. I don't propose that men need this kind of knowledge to serve God
correctly, but anyone trying to overturn a Gospel that has been preached, scrutinized, and accepted by
millions for hundreds of years should at least be grounded in fundamental principles of biblical languages,
translation, and interpretation, unless of course they are trying to deceive. It is curious that their Bible is
changed only where their doctrine is involved, don't you think? It is especially contorted where the deity of
Jesus is concerned. 54 million of the New World Translations in 16 languages has effectively and shamefully
helped the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society install their false gospel into many hearts of the unwary.
The Watchtower has been known to reach their "truth" sometimes by less than Godly means. In 1952 Knorr
told members of the Editorial department who had differing opinions, "Brothers, you can argue all you want
about it, but when it gets off the sixth floor it is the truth". The sixth floor was where the presses were. In effect,
Knorr was saying that once the matter was printed that they had better be in agreement as to what their
rendition of God's word was....right or wrong.
Many interesting inside stories comes from the book Questions for Jehovah's Witnesses Who Love The Truth
by William Cetnar, a former Bethelite who was a WTBTS officer just under the governing body. He was privy to
years of wheelings and dealings inside the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society before quiting and converting
to Christianity. On pages 65-66 he tells of Anton Koerber who was disfellowshipped under Rutherford and tried
to get back into the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society but wasn't accepted until he bought Knorr a Cadillac.
He was immediately restored to Circuit Servant and made the chairman of the international convention at
Yankee Stadium. Koerber had also tried to bribe Russell's faithful, and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
competitive splinter group "The Dawn" by offering them a $2000 check to restructure their group to match that
of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. "The Dawn" refused his offer. The comment was made that the evil
slave had refused his bribe but the so called faithful and wise one had accepted it!
The same book on page 73 tells of a Charlie De Wilda, known as the best book binder at Bethel and often
praised by Knorr as an example of how much work could be done. Charlie, like all other Bethelites, was not
allowed to marry if he wanted to remain at Bethel. But in 1953 Knorr himself married the Bethel sister Audrey
Mock. Charlie confronted Knorr and accused him of breaking his own rule and said Knorr ought to resign.
Charlie said "You preach more about love than anyone I know, but practice it the least"! He was punished, and
after four decades of faithful service the old man's life was made so miserable at Bethel that he was forced to
leave. He began to beg for survival money from his former friends at Bethel until Knorr wrote to the local
congregations and ordered them not to give him any money. Charlie De Wilda died on a. park bench.
Again, Cetnar relates an incident about a Thailand girl who came to work for the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society but because of language barriers and pressure, she had a breakdown. Knorr decided to send her
back to Thailand the cheapest way, by ship. The girl explained that her spells might cause her to jump
overboard if she were on a ship and begged to be sent home by airplane, or at least to have someone
accompany her. Knorr refused her requests as being too expensive. Sure enough, when the ship passed
Hawaii, the girl had a seizure and fell overboard. The ship searched but couldn't find her. She was gone. The
news got back to Bethel through two men who were shocked and outraged at the insensitivity of Knorr. When
Knorr learned of the leak he was angry at the two men and removed them from their positions. This attitude did
not surprise those who knew Knorr. He constantly reflected it in quotes like the fol1owing concerning
Christendom:
"We must hate in the truest sense, which is to regard with extreme and active aversion, to consider as
loathsome, odious, filthy, to detest"., (WT 9/1 / 52)
Even this hate rhetoric is Watchtower Bible and Tract Society double talk as today they claim to be Jehovah's
Christian Witnesses themselves! The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society must have a New World Dictionary
on hand that redefines words for them also because Websters defines Christendom as the "entire body of
Christians".
The 3/15/54 WT removed the title of "Faithful and discreet slave" from Russell, flip flopped again, and applied
it to the entire organization. How could this religion be the same as the one that Paul preached (cf Galatians l:
8-9) when it changes so regularly? If they believe as the Apostle Paul did they should be able to trace some
lineage back to him. But the fact is, they cannot even get back to Wesley, Calvin, Luther, or any of the early
church Fathers because the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society theology started with C.T. Russell, who they
have asserted was "the greatest servant... since the Apostle Paul"! (The Pastors Divine Ordination p. 387).
Today they try to distance themselves from him. Not only can't they stay aligned with God, they can't even stay
aligned with their own doctrines and founders.
A full page Watchtower article (Feb. 15, 1956 p., 110-111) rightly exposed Johannes Greber as a self
professed spirit medium, condemned the use of spiritualism, and described how Johannes Greber used the
spirit world to help him in his translation of the Greek Scriptures. It would appear that the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society would not condone his translation nor seek his support. After all, he was a Spirit Medium. Not so!
As a matter of fact, knowing he was a medium, they quoted him for favorable support in many of their
publications until they got caught in 1980. In their New World Translation they sought the spirit world at the
following places:
- 1. The Watchtower, (9/1/1962) p. 554 uses Greber ' s Jn. l:l.
2. Make Sure of All Things (1965) p . 489 trying to support their New World Translation John l:l "a god"
heresy they say, "Based on the Oldest Manuscripts (a translation from German into English and oldest
manuscript? Ha!) 1937, by Johannes Greber".
3. Aid to Bible Understanding (1969) p. 1669 quotes Greber for support of their New World Translation
John. l:l "a god". They say "by a former Roman Catholic priest". Also at page 1134 and his rendering of
Mt. 27:52, 53.
4. The Word- Who is He? p. 5 John 1:1 support again.
Mt. 27:52— 53 to deny the resurrection.
- 6. The Watchtower (4/15/76) p. 231 same as above.,
medium. In addition to the above, the New World Translation is remarkably similar to Grebers version of
Hebrews 1:8 also. In a 1983 letter, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society denied even knowing the address
where an inquiring rank and file JW could obtain a copy of Johannes Greber's New Testament ....but in front of
me as I write is a copy of a 1980 letter from the Watchtower that was sent to his very foundation and
addressed:
Johannes Greber Memorial Foundation
139 Hillside Ave
Teaneck, N J 07666
This is a letter from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society acknowledging receipt of Greber's New
Testament, and his book Communication With The Spirit World, a n d
requesting additional copies! So how could they not know his address in 1983?
In a certified letter to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society I asked them to explain how they could go to a
spirit medium for support when the Bible clearly condemns such practice. Of course they did not send a hard
copy reply, but two Elders did appear one day at my house with a copy of my letter in their briefcase.... trying
to save face for the Watchtower. They said "The Bible quotes Satan doesn't it""? I replied "Yes, but only to
show his nature, never for support". "What-about the demon possessed woman supporting Paul at Acts 16:16
-17"? If you read the next verse you'll find that Paul put a stop to it and cast out the demon". I asked them if
they had read pages 463—463 of their same book (Make Sure of All Things 1965) that they had quoted
Greber in. There is quoted some of the folowing Scriptures against spiritism 1 Tim.4:1, Deut.18:10-12, Gal.
5s13-21, Rev. 21s 8, Lev., 20:6. Also on page 103 where they quote Col.3:9a "Do not be lying to one
another". And Isaiah 8:19—20. They changed the subject, "Do you believe in the Trinity"? This is how it goes
when you talk to the Jehovah's Witnesses....pin them down and they chase rabbits. Condemn the messenger.
Redefine words. Another thing I have noticed while researching this group is that they never personally sign
their books so you can challenge the author.
In 1957, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society began to push the idea that Jehovah was the Father and the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society organization was to be recognized as the "Mother" if one was to walk in the
light. In an attempt to sustain their authority as the "Mother", the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society began to
quote and read into many passages that obviously are only dealing with physical family relationships. This is
the heart of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society plan of salvation; align under the umbrella of the "Mother"
organization for eternal life. You align by working for the Watchtower.
But Jesus wants you to align with him. "Come unto me all ye that are burdened and heavy laden and I (not the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) will give you rest".
As with most sects where men try to play the role of God, lie and ridiculii abound. Doublethink and cover ups
must occur to conceal spiritual corruption from those who are honestly looking for the truth. When possible,
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society prevents members from associating with governments unless it is to
their advantage,. Unknown to most Jehovah's Witnesses, they have a history of covertly and dishonestly
challenging the sovereignty of world governments. The brother of the fourth Watchtower President, Raymond
Franz, after quitting the Watchtower because of it's dishonesty, tells where in Malawi Jehovah's Witnesses
were told in the 60's that they could not buy a 35 cent government ID card that would have allowed them safe
passage out of the country during a perilous time. Hundreds ended up persecuted, raped,, or killed. At about
the same time in Mexico, young JW men were told that it was okay to purchase falsified government cards that
showed where they had already served their military time. No surprise. Under the direction of Knorr the 6/1/60
Watchtower p.352 blatantly encourages "hiding the truth from God's enemies". Lying is an abomination to God
under any circumstance. Double mindedness is also rebuked, James I:8, 4:8. If God is running this
organization as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society claims, he sure is breaking a lot of his own rules!
A 1959 Watchtower p p. 40-41 again identifies the Jehovah's Witnesses as being "God's prophet to the
nations" for today. But they must have meant for just that one day only because they tried out that prophet
again in 1966 and again he failed. "According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from
man's creation will end in 1975..." the seventh millennium to "begin in the fall of 1975 C.E." and the "reign of
Jesus Christ,..to run parallel with the seventh millennium...". (Life
Everlasting in the Freedom of the Sons of God, pp.'29-30). In 1929 the same "prophet" said that the end of the
same "six thousand years of human history" was mathematically shown to be 1972. Which one was truly the
end? Even through 1968 Knorr kept to 1975 for the end time. The 8/15/68 Watchtower p. 494 headliner reads
"Why are you looking forward to 1975?" then on p. 499,"it may involve a difference of weeks or months, not
years". Has there been years since 1975? Some Jehovah's Witnesses will say that they didn't believe it but
that doesn't negate the fact that it was prophesied. If they didn't believe it then why didn't they dare tell their
leaders? Some of the Kingdom Halls even had a thermometer-like apparatus on the wall to help them count
down to the 1975 date! Somebody was believing it because many Jehovah's Witnesses were selling their
homes, dropping out of school, postponing medical needs, having children, and other time sensitive plans that
seriously affect families.
When the JW says that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has never claimed to be a prophet, or that the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is just a "prophet in a sense" remind them that according to the Bible there
is no such thing as a "prophet in a sense" but only true or false ones. Then show these statements to them:
1. (Under Oath in a Court Trials Fred W. Franz-For-Defts-Direct) Question: And who became the editor (of the
Watchtower) when this was discontinued? Answer (from Franz): Jehovah God.
2. 1971 The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah pp.58~60 Jehovah's Witnesses are called "...the modern
counterpart of the prophet Ezekiel".
3. 1972 The Watchtower (4/1/72 p. 197) "So,, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of
dangers and declare things to come?,, . . These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this
prophet? Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian Witnesses". (I sincerely believe that God has a. sense
of humor. Did you. notice the date that the Lord had them print that statement on?)
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society beats around the bush more today but despite the record, their self
claimed prophetic gift is still implied to the extent that no JW will deny (to the Society at least) that they are the
one "Channel of Communication" that God has given to the earth today, (see the 1988 Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society's book Revelation, it's Grand Climax at Hand p.16 for one such confirmation)
Christians should note that documented false Prophets (profiteers?) have been using similarly manufactured
chronologies and quadratic Bible formulas (Daniel/Matthew 24 + % 1000 * Revelat ion= end times etc,.) since
at least 900 A.D. A good rule of thumb is that anyone who guesses at a date might be a little foolish, but
anyone who prophesies a specific date is a liar. Otherwise Jesus would be... because He plainly said we would
not know the "day nor the hour" of his return but to just "be ye also ready" (Mt. 24 ff). As per Psalm 118:8 "It is
better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man". I personally like what Jerry Vines said "We need to
get our heads out of the clouds of prophecy and back down to the earthly task of winning souls". Then
everyone will be ready for the return of Jesus and whatever it brings and whenever it occurs.
It is of course forgotten but truly amazing when the Watchtower condemned the entire aggregate of its own
false prophets by finally correctly accusing: others who have in times past "...predicted the end of the 'world,
even announcing a specific date... the end did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying." (AWAKE 10 /
8 / 68 p. 63). Can we say “amen”? Even a stopped clock can be right twice a day!
Furthermore, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has based their entire chronology and wrote in their
books that the downfall of Jerusalem was 607 B.C. which at one time was accepted by all. However, the Lord
overturned their entire scheme by revealing through later archeology that the true date of the Jerusalem
downfall was 587 B.C.. Carl Olaf Johnson, a previous Watchtower Bible and Tract Society chronologist and
author of The Gentile Times Reconsidered, researched the available data, and found 587 B.C. to be the true
date of the downfall of Jerusalem. This date was accepted and held by all but the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society. Since 587 B.C. is 20 years later than 607 B.C. then according to their own formulas Jesus really didn't
come in 1914 but must have arrived in 1934. And the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society channel of God's
communication didn't even know it! They obviously could not change all of the chronology pages in all their
books, so they just did the only thing they were good at when attacked by a fact.....they disfellowshipped
Johnson.
Nevertheless, in other ways 1968 was a good year for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Their little
unsigned book The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life was released and has since sold over over 106 million
copies in 116 languages? a 1982 Guineas world record. Likewise 1969 was a good year for Satan and the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because in 1917 the Devil was identified as "Abbadon" of Rev.9. Then in
1969 they said that "Abbadon" was Jesus. If the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is truly inspired then
these revelations would mean that Jesus is Satan! A view which Satan would relish but is certainly a stench in
the nostrils of true Christians. In any
case, it is apparent that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has another Jesus from the one mentioned in
Scripture (as per 2 Cor. 11:4). The Jesus I know is neither the Angel Michael or the fallen Angel Lucifer. Jesus,
God in the flesh, created both of them (John 1:3) and thus could not be them.
The Kingdom Interlinear Translation was published in 1969. KIT as it is known, is one of the best witnessing
tools to use with a JW because it shows the accurate Westcott and Hort Greek text beside of the mutilated
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society English. Following is a three step example of this corrupt ion:
(l) Look in the Foreward on page 10 they write "To each major word we have assigned one meaning and have
held to that meaning as far as the context permitted".
(2) then look in Matthew 2:11 (and other places where the deity of Jesus is concerned) notice they translate
the Greek word proskuneo as "did obeisance to" in an effort to portray the Magi as simply saluting Jesus in
place of worshiping him.
(3)Yet where the same Greek word is used toward the Father, they correctly translate proskuneo as
"worshipped" . (Rev. 7:11 and others). Is this honest in light of the statement in their Forward at number 1 )?
They also change the name of Lord to Jehovah when it suits them....but leave it the same when Jesus is called
Lord....Philippians 2:11 for example. That would read if they were honest “Jesus is Jehovah”! For some reason
they just can't have that.
Also at this time came the now extinct book Aid to Bible Understanding which was similar to other topical Bible
encyclopedias except that it was wrong and extremely biased with Watchtower Bible and Tract Society views.
They had to replace it with the 2 volume Insight on the Scriptures because of the mistaken chronology and
extant quotes of Johannes Greber in the "Aid" book. This Watchtower Bible and Tract Society minuet looks like
progress to the participant but is pure cover up to the observer. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has
been known to systematically and covertly destroy their errant books that become too revealing. At one point
the Watchtower actually wrote to the Kingdom Halls asking members to send in their old books under the guise
of building a library. Information control is the first rule of dominance. Christianity convinces. Cults control.
The year 1975 also brought the last explicit false "end time" prediction that brought about a large exodus
from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. In contrast their 1975 yearbook said “Jehovah's Servants”
have enjoyed spiritual enlightenment and direction”.then to contrast again, Mans salvation out of a World
Distress at Hand on p.235 it says “Spiritually speaking, Christendom is a 'harlot' ”.
In contrast the same book admits the Watchtower was wrong at predicting the return
o f Christ in 1874 ( p . 287') ,
In contrast the 1974 Yearbook admits they were wrong in the 1914
prediction (p.76).
In contrast they admit they 'were wrong about 1925 in the 1975 Yearbook
(p.145-146).
In contrast they admit they were even wrong about the 1975 prediction in
the 1980 Yearbook (p.30-313).
They admit but they never learn.
How many “contrasts” must one need? How many times must someone murder before he is called a murderer?
How many times must a man steal before he can be charged with it? How many times did Pete Rose get caught
gambling before they through him out of baseball? Shouldn't we be more diligent with our religion than we are
with our sports and remove any false prophet on the first occurrence as per Deut.18:20-22?
Nevertheless, no one wanted to throw out the whole game of baseball because one player got caught
gambling. The same principles should apply when we are seeking God. Just because the Jim Bakers,
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society societies, Joseph Smiths, Popes, Guru's, and other men are wrong does
not mean we should lose our individual eternity over their error. There is a practical and honest God that does
not change his mind....and we can know him through Jesus. A god that changes his mind or that does not
know the future can say “Okay, it's your turn in hell”.
There is no true God because some so called Holy men have cheated us is a lie that the Devil does not even
have to tell. Believe in the true God as plainly found in the Bible and the truth will set you free.
The Watchtower has stated "Jehovah's Witnesses today comprise the collective channel of communication”
(5/15/55) and "the remaining one right religion is that of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is not conceited for us to say
that"(2/15/55). These are two bold statements in light of the information. What does the reader think?
June 8, 1977 saw 2.25 million members enslaved by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and Nathan Knorr
to his permanent home.
FRANZ
Fred W. Franz, the fourth president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, had the primary task of dealing
with confusion that generated a major exodus. After the collapse of the 1975 end time prediction, a quarter of
a million people left or were disfellowshipped from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
Born in 1833 in Covington, Kentucky, he was educated at the University of Cincinnati from 1911 to 1914. He
did not graduate but elected to join the Russellites in 1913. He studied some Greek, but not biblical (Koine)
Greek. He claimed he was familiar with Hebrew, but when later asked in court to demonstrate that by
translating a primer verse (Gen.2:4) into Hebrew his reply was "No. I wouldn't attempt to do that." He also
prevaricated that he had been offered a Cecil Rhodes Scholarship for the privilege of going to Cambridge. He
said, "I took an examination for that in the University of Ohio." The reader can write the Rhodes Scholarship
Trust at Wesleyan University, Middleton, Conn. 06457, and find that they have never heard of him. Besides,
no one has ever received a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Cambridge. Some Jehovah's Witnesses have been
dis fellowshipped for lying. Should Mr. Franz have been? No, he was made President. Should we believe Franz
when he also said under oath, "Well, we believe that the angels of God are used in directing Jehovah's
Witnesses?" Or should we believe Franz at another courtroom appearance where he said that "Jehovah God"
was the editor of the Watchtower ?
It is no wonder that Jehovah's Witnesses have to attempt to excuse so many of their past falsehoods with new
ones by saying that they receive "new light". This is their idea that the truth can progressively change like the
brighter and brighter light noted at Proverbs 4:18. But even C.T.Russell himself knew that "new light never
extinguished old light." Besides, the brighter light business of Proverbs 4:18 only applies to the just. Holy and
honest men like maybe Isaiah, who would normally tell the truth, JWs should re-ad the next verse to get the
complete context; "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble". In other words,
the liars headlights go out! Doublethink is present here again; they tell you that the truth can change but will
disfellowship you. for saying that they might be wrong in the present.....or that someone else might have the
truth. The fact is that truth does not change, and it is not God that is telling lies (Tit.1:2). A God that can lie can
be the Devil tomorrow./ No matter how much the truth is argued over and debated, Franz said that "If it is
published, it is accepted". But if publishing makes truth then we are certainly in for a ride with the National
Enquirer
Publishing is the bread and butter for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Some Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society books are turned out daily in stacks higher than the Empire State Building. The JW at your door
will tell you that the price you pay for their publications will just cover the cost of printing because that is what
he is really led to believe. But the actual cost to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society for the $2.50
publication that they sell you is about $1.40 and about 4 cents each per magazine. Look at the percentage of
revenue that is brought in from literature sales;
British Branch Office (1985)
Total from donations and legacies in pounds 470,200
Total from magazines and literature sales 4,303,030
Net Wort h 4,773,230 in pounds from one office
It looks like their "just covering the costs" literature is bringing home a large percent of the British bacon!
Of course there is nothing wrong with selling for profit, or sustaining an organization by relying on door to door
sales. But there is something dishonest about suggesting that there is no profit in the publishing while at the
same time bringing in revenues of at least huge sums per week from magazine sale alone! Jehovah's
Witnesses frown at tithing, and because most Christian churches pass the plate, "donations" to the Kingdom
Halls are put in the "contribution box" that you can trip over on your way out.
An average of about 5 weekly hours are given to the "Service Meeting" and the "Theocratic Ministry School"
where Jehovah's Witnesses are taught the bottom line of convince and sell. Not to sell (publish/preach) is not
to remain on the rolls. Assemblies are held tri-annually to reveal new truth from Brooklyn and to see new
publications. Any JW who does not believe that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society sends their preachers
out for the love of money should just try to convince the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to live off of
contributions for awhile. Tell the Governing Body that you know the message by heart and that you will spend
more hours going door to door speaking the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society message but refuse to sell
their literature. See what happens to your Watchtower Bible and Tract Society "salvation'!
Bethel alone stocks about 2500 workers to support the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
publishing/preaching. Deceit has never paid well. Prior to 1990 all the workers supposedly lived on the same
meager salary of $30 per month, plus room and board. Yet somehow the presidents drive Cadillacs, travel
extensively, have their own meat lockers, and have acquired other luxuries and privileges that seem to be
beyond the reach of the other Bethelites. Actually then, I should have inserted the word (other) in the above
sentence like the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society erroneously does at Col.1:16ff in their New World
Translation. Then the sentence would read: "All the (other) workers supposedly live on the same meager
salary of $30 per month...".
Publishers are expected to visit 10 hours monthly; Auxiliary Pioneers 60 hours; Regular Pioneers 90. Some of
the special missionaries that- produce 140+ hours get an allowance to help with expenses. Even though they
rarely meet their goals, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society knows that visitation works. Here is a logistical
area where Christendom could learn from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Let me rephrase that. We
should learn from our Lord at what is called the Great Commission in Mat.28:24. The difference being that a
Christian's motivation is love and not a "have to" mandate. Christians need to understand, apply, and note the
following figures produced from the progressive principle of visitation as commanded by our Lord:
In 1983 there were estimated 634,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States who visit about 700 homes
per baptism. 104 million work hours spent. A monument-to their zeal and commitment is the fact that they had
35,303 baptisms which equates to about 1 baptism per 18 members. (Remarkably, many of these were
proselyted out of the truth and into a false gospel because they did not know where to find their doctrinal
truths. 3 out of 4 cult members are ex evangelicals). Southern Baptists baptized 394,606 but it took about 36
members (twice as many) to produce 1 baptism. Either half of
the Southern Baptists were not witnessing or we were not presenting the truth in an acceptable way.
Worldwide the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society stats are even more impressive: 1 baptism per 11.4
members. Membership went from 106,000 World War II to about 4 million today. (If Christendom had this same
annual percent of increase we would have evangelized the world by now ! )
In 1987 they reported 739,019,286 hours of visitation and 230,843 baptisms worldwide. By the same 1983
statistics they visited 161 million homes! The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society start more Bible studies than
all of the other denominations combined.
All of the cults are fiercely taking their oiless lamps throughout the world; Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism went from
one man at the close of WWII to seven million members in Japan alone. In 1987 it was the fastest growing
religion on the west coast. Mormonism has doubled since 1965; they have 36,132 missionaries and expect, as
do the Muslims, to replace Judaism as the third largest religious group in the country. Their membership is now
6.72 million and sociologists think they will expand to 60 million in the next century. More people in the United
States have taken Silva Mind control, a single branch of the New Age Movement, than are even in the
Mormons! It is time for more Christians to trim their lamps like the wise virgins and let their light shine, as they
seem to be starting to do. The Bridegroom cometh!
Following the heartaches that the 1975 exodus brought to Mr.Franz and the Devil, even more trouble began.
Witnesses began to find the truth by having secret and honest Bible studies on their own. They found that
yesterday's Watchtower Bible and Tract Society dogmas became today's heresies,, They were not receiving
"new light" but as David Henke so aptly put it "somebody is playing, with the light switch!" The 10/1/80
Watchtower on p.28-29 states that Jehovah's Witnesses have a "different gospel ... unique, established in the
heavens in 1914.". The Apostle Paul condemned any future religion at Galatians Is 8-9. Who does the reader
think it best to believe, the Apostle Paul or the Watchtower'?
Karl Kline of the Governing body told the whole family "You have a tendency towards apostasy, get a hobby
and keep yourself busy to keep your mind off of it. Stay away from deep Bible study to determine the meanings
of the Scriptures.". Scripture was rejected by the Governing body in relation to study, guidance, or true
application. It was used only to support their views. Franz said regarding the simple message of the Gospel,
"Baby food is not the message of the hour todayl". This was echoed by the Watchtower (8/15/81 p. 28-29):
"they say-that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But
strangely, through such "Bible reading" they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that
commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..."
The Governing Body began a witch hunt: calling names, assassinating characters at the Bethel breakfast
table, spying, and threatening, enforcing to the "T" the 1177 rules and regs in the Branch Organization
Procedure book, many were disfellowshipped for the smallest infraction or challenge to the Society. But many
left on their own when they found the truth. As always, the ageless words of Jesus applied so aptly: "and ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." .
Even Freddies nephew Raymond Franz was disfel1owshipped for challenging the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society chronologies. Officially it was for eating with an ex-JW). Some 38,000 members were disfellowshipped
in one year for drunkenness, homosexuality, wife swapping, and drug abuse. Jehovah's Witnesses were
realizing that they were actually no better than the other people they were condemning. For further proof of
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society turmoil around 1979-81 sees Christianitv Today 12/12/80; Time
2/22/82; Newsweek 7/20/31; or call the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society at (718) 625-3600 for an
interesting "no comment"! The sad irony throughout the entire era of WTBTS half truths is that their "Truth"
book was selling to millions who trusted their eternal lives t o the Watchtower.
Their popular training book You Can Live Forever in Parad ise on Earth was published in 1982 in 86
languages selling 38,000,000 copies. According to their membership of about 4 million, it appears that many
are purchasing and reading it, but many are not “buying” it.
In 1383 the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society published the pamphlet Schoo1 and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Page 3 states "THE REASON FOR THIS BROCHURE", and then goes on to say "To promote .under standing
and cooperation between Jehovah's Witnesses and school authorities. Yet they are actually removing
cooperation with the school authorities by not allowing their children to participate in such things as flag
saluting, anthems, voting, holidays, celebrations, sports, dances, school clubs, extra-curricular activities, and
on and on. Removing their own children from school interaction and emotionally traumatizing the whole class is
bad enough, but to give a detailed tract to the teachers that says the Bible teaches these things is deceptively
witnessing to the teacher and stigmatizes religion to the rest of the class. They quote verses out of context and
try to make wholesome events appear immoral by twisting Scripture. For example, on page 16 they warn the
teacher:
"Witness youths do not mix in school politics, either by accepting an elective office or by voting others into
office. So if either nominated for or elected to an office, they tactfully decline. In this way they follow the
example of Jesus who withdrew when the people wanted to make him king. -John 6:15. "
Jesus, being "King eternal" (.1 Tim. Is 17), was already "King of Kings" (Rev .19; IS). This passage in its
cultural context shows that the crowd was trying to force (not elect) Jesus to lead a revolt against the Roman
government . Jesus submitted to government sovereignty as he taught us to do (Rom. 13) , and was simply
refusing to become a violent political revolutionist at that time. Both of these concepts being foreign to the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Since God said he would write his laws in our hearts and minds (Heb.8:
10), let me just ask the reader; does it seem wrong for a. young student to be elected as class president when
even the Governing Body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society elects their president?
The point is that school authorities should note that this clever little pamphlet is a witnessing aid for the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society propaganda and should adopt their own guidelines for teachers to follow
so that they do not have to read this distortion of Bible texts.
Before leaving page 3 of this booklet I also noticed the statement "They (JWs) are noted for their obedience to
governmental authorities." Nothing could be further from the truth. Any historical flashlight would show that JWs
have always opposed military service, flag saluting, voting, -and generally regard governments with contempt.
As mentioned earlier, the anti-government decisions from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society caused the
deaths of those in Malawi. They are constantly being expelled from foreign .countries for regular disturbances.
The At1anta Constitution recently (6/13/89) ran an article where Ghana expelled JW missionaries for
"disturbing public order and threatening Ghana's sovereignty". Kingdom Halls were ordered closed and of
course "A spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses was not available for comment".
Any JW who questions these practices will be told as they were in the 1/15/83 Watchtower p. 27;
"If we get to thinking that we know better than the organization, we should ask ourselves, 'Where did we learn
Bible truth in the first place? Would we know the way of the truth if it had not been for God's organization?
Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization? No, we cannot ." But the rest of us
certainly can. And by the way...we learn Biblical truth from the Bible.In today's vernacular we might say....
duh! ,
Going on from there we find that 1984 brought the Latest-revision of the New World Translation which is a
shade smoother than the last, but still full of deceit.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society characteristically out of context, cites Mt.23;6 to assert that they do
not make a separation of clergy and laity. Despite the fact that the Bible teaches special church offices and
Apostolic priviledges (1 Tim, Titus), claim that "Christ Jesus did not make such a separation". Then at the other
side of the same mouth comes the authoritative rule that accepts no challenges to their Governing Body,
Elders, Circuit Servants, and Overseers! Why do they need these distinctive titles if they are not "separated"
from the regular congregation in some fashion? Who does the disfellowshipping if one does not have authority
over another ? Not to mention pay and privilege differences.
Due to increasing lawsuits, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society finally had to quit publically slandering and
disfel1owshipping when members decided they wanted out. Threats of lawsuits became so frequent that the
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society notified the Kingdom Halls that if they wanted support from the Society to
fight the suit they were to drop everything and notify headquarters when the first mention of a suit was
received. There is still a public shunning and a private stigma applied, especially to those who convert to
Christendom. For some reason these people who convert are despised more than any others. The JW who
thinks that hell by choice isn't fair should consider his disfel1owshipping. Is it fair to dishonor someone who
simply changes his religion on an equal plane with a murderer? What about the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society belief in annihilation at death? Is it fair for someone who is a Christian to get the same punishment
(annihilation) as, say, Hitler? No, not if fairness is to be considered. Once you Join the Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society you should k now that they give you no honorable way out. You should look around at all of the
other Jehovah's Witnesses that might become your friends and say to yourself; If I ever change my mind about
my beliefs I will have to give up all of my JW f riendships....and yes, you will.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society even pressures members not to attend funeral rites or processions of
deceased from any other church. Display of emotion is discouraged and attendance denied even if the
deceased is close family,, If your Christian sister dies you would probably only be allowed to serve food to the
family at the funeral home and cry in your closet. They sometimes route others away from paying respects to
deceased JWs or following in the funeral procession, if any. Generally they try to hurry up funeral services that
leaves the observer with a cold feeling.
Figures and statistics are difficult to get from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society because they refuse to
dialog with most other religions. In 1985 they claimed that 7,792,109 people representing 49,716
congregations in 200 lands attended the Lord's evening meal in 1985. But today, membership in the United
States alone is estimated to be approaching 7 million. Their annual growth rate is approximately %4.... 6 are
going in the front door per minute and 3 out the back.
Reasoning From The Scriptures and a revised Kinqdom Interlinear Translat ion of 800,000 copies were both
printed in 1985. The brown "Reasoning" book is about hip pocket size and kept close to the witnessing JWs
heart to aid him with pre-programmed answers when challenged with the truth. If you ask a difficult question
and the JW goes for his briefcase, this is the book he is going for. It is packed with out of context and half
quotes, doublethink,, and misrepresentation. An example from page 137:
"If Someone (a Christian) says- 'My minister said that the Jehovah's Witnesses are false prophets '
then you can say 'may I show you how the Bible describes false prophets?' (then use one of the points
outlined on pages 132-136)'....and ...."(If householder refers to some claimed "predictions" that did not come
to pass, use material on page 134. and from the bottom of page 135 to the top of 137,)"
Notice how they said 'May I show you how the Bible describes', but really pointed to further statements found in
another place in the same book! Furthermore, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society must be expecting to
be called false prophets because why else would they address it? Evangelical religions never have to defend
against such. True Christendom as a body has never been false prophets!
Then on page 136:
"Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets. They have made mistakes. Like the Apostles of -
Jesus Christ they have at times had some wrong expectations.—Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6. "
The first sentence is a blatant lie. See the KNORR section of this report to find documented proof where they
have indeed claimed to be prophets. On checking the above verses you will find that the Apostles were
inquiring about the Kingdom in Acts 1:6 and only expecting it to come in Luke 19:11. In any case, expectation
is quite different from saying, in effect, 'Jehovah has told us that the Kingdom is coming in October of 1975'!
Also note that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society loves to quote Christian sources in a majority of their
publications to make it appear that scholarly Christians support their views and that Christendom itself is
confused. When the source is checked however, it turns out that they were either quoted out of context, or
they were not even on the side of Christendom to begin with. Whenever you see the three dots “...” from the
Watchtower, it is a sure sign of a misquote...not the significant phrase as they would have you believe. Another
trick is to set up a "straw man". This is where they incorrectly state a Christian perspective and then refute it.
This, to the reader, makes the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society look so knowledgeable by being able to
refute the 'ignorant' Christian view, and helps to stigmatize Christendom for future reference. The 1985 KIT is
a little slicker than the last but the constant revisions and deletions will never be able to overthrow the truth of
God's word. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society book Make Sure of All Things was revised three times to
try to make it "sure" before they finally had to throw it out. All of their printing, full of errors, is their own worst
enemy as well as their bread and butter. Knowing where their crooked revisions are found creates an excellent
witnessing tool available to the Christian, enabling him to point up the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
dishonesty from their own print without necessarily having to make negative comments about the Society,
which is more dear to the JW heart than Mother. Make no mistake, the WTBTS is continually improving their
image to unwary prospects. If they are not exposed now, it will certainly be harder and harder for our
descendants to do so. Then one day they will have the same notoriety as Catholicism, as a world religion
rather than a cult. Already like the Mormons, it is harder and harder to refute them in other languages because
most of their lies have been printed and revoked in english. One such modern example of this is the new
WTBTS practice of implying end time dates instead of clearly spelling them out. This prevents them from
having to explain the failure at a later date. Just enough is given to subconsciously suggest the coming end.
Thus playing on the Jehovah's Witnesses concern for his fellow man and quickly driving him door to door for
an upsurge in magazine sales. Anyone who doesn't believe that date setting is the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society "carrot" should consider the following statement among others made prior to the 1975 end time dates
'
"Yes, the end of this system is so very near! Is that not reason to increase our activity?....new peaks in
pioneers...brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old
system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to
spend the short time remaining before the wicked worlds end." Kingdom Ministry, May 1974.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society hasn't paid any restitution or felt any sadness for these folks because
they are still suggesting the same tactics today. For instance, what conclusions could a JW draw from the
following?
The 10/1&15/85 Watchtower headlines refered to the UN international year of peace, The caption of the UN
photo read "Peace and Security". Then they immediately quoted their New World Translation at 1 Thess 5:3,
"Whenever it is that they are saying "Peace and Security" then sudden destruction is to be upon them..."
4/8/88 AWAKE! page 4,"...before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away." Then on page 14,
"The Hebrews...reckon 75 years as one generation..." The Witness mentally does a 1914+75=1983.
OR simply 5/15/83 Watchtower headline "End of Crime Near"
These subliminal suggestions build a fire under the JW and they rush door to door and even house to house
doing "service" at an alarming yearly rate. 1987 saw 210 lands reached with 3.2 million (436,173 full time)
"preachers" who instigated 3,005,048 Bible studies, 3/4 billion dollars of work was given to the Society from
785 million manhours worldwide in 1983, 243 million in the United States, according to the 1/1/89 Watchtower;
p. 7,,
One of the last big training manuals to roll off of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society press is the 1988
book, Revelation-It' s Grand Climax at Hand, with a first first printing of 3 million copies. Following in the format
of it's same attractive predecessor, You Can Live Forever in Paradise On Earth, it is full of twisted scripture
and programmed questions for the new trainee. Also established in January of 1988 was a department to find,
deal with, and inform approximately 5000 doctors who would cooperate with the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society blood policy. Of course, as their school policy brochures took a false gospel to the teachers; so goes it
to the doctors.
1989 brought another potentially devastating Watchtower Bible and Tract Society publication enti1led Should
You Believe in the Trinity. There is about one misrepresentation for every page of this 32 page booklet.
Robert Bowman Jr. has written a thorough refutation of it in his book Why You Should Believe in the Trinity: An
Answer to the Jehovah's Witnesses (Baker 1989). He says in the magazine Forward "Misrepresentations of
theologians and scholars is not new to the JWs, but in this booklet it has become an art. ...The booklet even
tries to argue that Tertullian who gave us the expression 'three persons in one God,' did not believe in the
Trinity!"
Of all of the millennial sects from the 1800's only the Jehovah's Witnesses still act like the end is here. It is
simply an astounding and continuing phenomenon that this regrettable cult has been able to deceive so
thoroughly, and yet still exist despite the cover-ups,
polity revisions (at least 148 from 1917 to 192S alone?!), and folklore. I firmly believe that any honest and
sane person who knew these things about the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, especially before joining,
would not trust their eternal destiny to such an organization. Personally, even if my theology was the same as
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's, I would get away from this dishonest organization that so aptly fits
Proverbs 6:16ff and start my own !
Along with the 13.5 million bi-monthly Watchtowers (the #1 selling religious magazine) and 11.25 million bi-
monthly AWAKE! magazines propagating heresies, the intra-arganizational publication Our Kingdom Ministry
(Dec,1988) pretty much summed up the fact that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society rationale is not
pointing to Jesus as the way (John14:6), but states;
"Let us then take the lead in directing attentive students to Jehovah's organization and join Jehovah in saying
'This is the way'"
<<BACK TO ARTICLES <HOME>
Watchtower headquarters as seen from the
Brooklyn Bridge, New York (photo 10/6/06)
Brooklyn Bridge, New York (photo 10/6/06)