The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is notable for making prophetic statements that fail to come to pass.
From foretelling the resurrection of ancient bible characters into 1920’s San Diego, to predicting 1874 being the start of Christ’s second coming, a close study of Watchtower history throws up many, many instances of failed prophetic dates.
Dates such as 1975.
For a detailed breakdown of the full story, please check this extensively researched article at jwfacts.com, but the basic facts of the case are that Watchtower leadership in the 1960’s decided that Biblical chronology indicated that 1975 would mark 6000 years of human existence. Thus, they felt it would be very fitting if Jehovah God were to bring Armageddon at that time.
This belief was featured and taught in many Watchtower publications and public events, and so once 1976 rolled around without Armageddon taking place, things got a little…awkward.
Whilst Watchtower has indeed since suffered many other instances of prophetic failure, 1975 remains as one of the most enduring and embarrassing instances of the religion’s grand proclamations going unfulfilled.
Now, it appears that one of the videos for the 2017 Regional Convention, entitled “Don’t Give Up,” will address the 1975 teaching. The full video (video 49) can be viewed here on the AvoidJW.org website, and is part of a larger teaching segment with the theme of remaining faithful to the Watchtower organisation despite trials.
However, the video is extremely deceptive in the way it presents the events of the late 60’s and early 70’s to the audience.
In fact, I would go so far as to call it a whitewash.
I’m going to break down line-by-line the statements made in the video about 1975, and place them against statements from Watchtower publications written at the time, so that you can make your own judgement as to how truthful you think this video is being about one of Watchtower’s most infamous failures of prophecy.
1975: Where did the expectation come from?
The video starts discussing the 1975 issue around the 1:43 mark, when the character narrating the video says:
“Back then, some were looking to a certain date as signifying the end of this old system of things.”
Now firstly, it’s interesting that this video refers to “a certain date,” rather than specifically mentioning 1975 as the year. In fact, nowhere in the video is the year or the teaching given by name. This has the effect of muddying the waters; many younger Witnesses will not have heard of this 47 year old teaching and by being vague, Watchtower makes it harder for them to pinpoint and research this incident. However, much more concerning is the phraseology;
“Back then, some were looking to a certain date as signifying the end of this old system of things.”
Who are this “some?” We are never told, but this use of words subtly disassociates the belief from official Watchtower doctrine. It gives the impression that the 1975 expectation was simply the product of a few rogue Witnesses, spreading their own teachings in the backroom of Kingdom halls. But do the facts taken from Watchtower’s own publications support this?
Here is just a handful of the many Watchtower publications at the time which discussed the possibility of a 1975 armageddon date.
“The published timetable resulting from this independent study gives the date of man’s creation as 4026 B.C.E. According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man’s creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E. So six thousand years of man’s existence on earth will soon be up, yes, within this generation. So in not many years within our own generation we are reaching what Jehovah God could view as the seventh day of man’s existence. How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make of this coming seventh period of a thousand years a sabbath period of rest and release, a great Jubilee sabbath for the proclaiming of liberty throughout the earth to all its inhabitants! This would be most timely for mankind. It would also be most fitting on God’s part, for, remember, mankind has yet ahead of it what the last book of the Holy Bible speaks of as the reign of Jesus Christ over earth for a thousand years, the millennial reign of Christ. It would not be by mere chance or accident but would be according to the loving purpose of Jehovah God for the reign of Jesus Christ, the ‘Lord of the Sabbath,’ to run parallel with the seventh millennium of man’s existence.” Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God 1966 pp.26-30
“Does God’s rest day parallel the time man has been on earth since his creation? Apparently so. In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man’s existence and also the first 6,000 years of Gods rest day come to an end? The year 1975. It means that within a relatively few years we will witness the fulfilment of the remaining prophecies that have to do with the “time of the end”.” Awake! 1966 Oct 8 pp.19-20
“Another speaker, F. W. Franz, the Society’s vice-president, forcefully impressed on the audience the urgency of the Christian preaching work.
He stressed that, according to dependable Bible chronology, 6,000 years of human history will end this coming September according to the lunar calendar. This coincides with a time when “the human species [is] about to starve itself to death,” as well as its being faced with poisoning by pollution and destruction by nuclear weapons. Franz added: “There’s no basis for believing that mankind, faced with what it now faces, can exist for the seventh thousand-year period” under the present system of things. Does this mean that we know exactly when God will destroy this old system and establish a new one? Franz showed that we do not, for we do not know how short was the time interval between Adam’s creation and the creation of Eve, at which point God’s rest day of seven thousand years began. (Heb. 4:3, 4)
But, he pointed out, “we should not think that this year of 1975 is of no significance to us,” for the Bible proves that Jehovah is “the greatest chronologist” and “we have the anchor date, 1914, marking the end of the Gentile Times.” So, he continued, “we are filled with anticipation for the near future, for our generation.”—Matt. 24:34.” Watchtower 1975 May 1 p.285“The immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic events, for this old system is nearing its complete end. Within a few years at most the final parts of Bible prophecy relative to these “last days” will undergo fulfilment.”Watchtower 1968 May 1 p.272
And if the publications at the time were dropping very very heavy hints, some of the public talks given by senior Watchtower officials were positively explicit. Take for example the following talk which was given at the 1967 District Convention in Wisconsin, by District Overseer Charles Sunutko. (audio available at jwfacts.com)
“Well now, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, as runners, even though some of us have become a little weary, it almost seems as though Jehovah has provided meat in due season. Because he’s held up before all of us, a new goal. A new year. Something to reach out for and it just seems it has given all of us so much more energy and power in this final burst of speed to the finish line. And that’s the year 1975. Well, we don’t have to guess what the year 1975 means if we read the Watchtower. And don’t wait ’till 1975. The door is going to be shut before then. As one brother put it, “Stay alive to Seventy-Five“”
I could go on and on. Watchtower teaching material at the time was saturated with this. Here is a chart from an October 8th, 1971 Awake that strongly suggests the Millennial Reign of Christ will start on the 6000th year of human history i.e 1975
So as we can see, the Witnesses alive at this time had this expectation because the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society were publishing and preaching teachings that specifically cultivated this expectation.
1975 was not a product of rogue Witnesses; it was official Watchtower doctrine.
1975: Who encouraged Witnesses to sell homes and quit jobs?
The narrator in the video goes on to say:
A few went so far as selling their homes and quitting their jobs.
In the context of the video, this is presented as having been an unwise thing to do. It is indeed true that Witnesses at the time sold homes, quit jobs, delayed surgical operations and so forth because they expected the world to end. I personally know of one Witness family that, in the present day, still suffers a significant financial shortfall because of actions taken back in the 70’s to sell properties and abandon financial investments.
However, what was the Watchtower response at the time to the actions of these Witnesses? Was it to warn against such rashness?
Hardly.
Take for one example an article printed in the Kingdom Ministry of May 1974.
“Yes, since the summer of 1973 there have been new peaks in pioneers every month. Now there are 20,394 regular and special pioneers in the United States, an all-time peak. That is 5,190 more than there were in February 1973! A 34-percent increase! Does that not warm our hearts? 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.” Kingdom MinistryMay 1974 p.3 How Are You Using Your Life?
Far from advising caution, or presenting such activity as rash or unwise, Watchtower actively encouraged such ones to sell up and abandon their jobs, due to the “short time remaining.” In other words, Watchtower in 2017 is frowning upon the conduct of Witnesses who were simply doing what they were encouraged to do by Watchtower in 1974!
1975: Who sounded a scriptural note of caution?
The narrator continues:
I admit, I was ready to see this old system go away too, but something just didn’t seem right. Both at meetings, and in my personal study, I was reminded of what Jesus said: “No man knows the day or hour.”
Again, is this accurate? Were witnesses being reminded at meetings of this scripture, in the context of trying to dispel any premature expectations about 1975? Let’s take a look at one such paragraph, taken from an article which was heavily hinting at a 1975 armageddon date and using Bible chronology to back up this expect
35 One thing is absolutely certain, Bible chronology reinforced with fulfilled Bible prophecy shows that six thousand years of man’s existence will soon be up, yes, within this generation! (Matt. 24:34) This is, therefore, no time to be indifferent and complacent. This is not the time to be toying with the words of Jesus that “concerning that day and hour nobody knows , neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matt. 24:36) To the contrary, it is a time when one should be keenly aware that the end of this system of things is rapidly coming to its violent end. Make no mistake, it is sufficient that the Father himself knows both the “day and hour”! Watchtower 1968 Aug 15 p.494 Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?
We see again that, instead of Watchtower sounding a note of caution that maverick Witnesses failed to heed, quite the opposite is true. Witnesses were being explicitly told at meetings not to use this scripture to raise doubts.
Technically, the brother in this video is going against the council of the Governing Body of his era.
What would have happened to the brother in the video had he voiced these doubts about the 1975 expectations, and used this scripture to support his argument? In a worst case scenario, if he publicly refused to relent, he may have been disfellowshipped for apostasy.
1975: Who took responsibility?
The video’s coverage of 1975 concludes with the narrator saying:
After that year came and went, most of those who had wrong expectations made the needed adjustments.
Again, this use of words infers that the matter was the fault of individual Witnesses “running ahead of Jehovah’s Chariot”, whereas we have seen that all evidence clearly shows these wrong expectations came as a direct result of official Watchtower publications and public talks. The membership figures for 1976 and onward show that many left the religion as a result of this debacle. Others suffered in terms of lost income, property, life opportunities, postponed surgeries and the choice to defer having children.
Did Watchtower make adjustments? Did it ever apologise for what was clearly a huge error of judgement that essentially amounted to false prophesy? Did it ever acknowledge the pain and suffering that these rash predictions, which ran contrary to scriptural advice, had inflicted upon many faithful Witnesses who acted in good faith on what they were told?
Sort of.
Five years later, the following appeared in the Watchtower magazine.
“With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man’s existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. … Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility .” Watchtower 1980 Mar 15 p.17
Now, that might strike you as something of a mealy mouthed, evasive apology, and you’d be correct, but to get even this from an organisation so historically loathe to admit error as Watchtower demonstrates how bad the damage was at the time.
We get a similar apology in the 1993 Proclaimers book, a book which endeavoured to provide a comprehensive history of the Witness movement from the 19th century onwards. Whilst the book is in reality a very sanitised and biased account of the founding and growth of Watchtower, it nonetheless does address the 1975 issue, probably because it simply had no other choice given the large number of Witnesses in the early 90’s who would still have vivid memories of the incident, and would note any conspicuous absence of it from Watchtower’s “official” history book;
“Brother Franz then referred to the many questions that had arisen as to whether the material in the new book meant that by 1975 Armageddon would be finished, and Satan would be bound. He stated, in essence: ‘It could. But we are not saying . All things are possible with God. But we are not saying. And don’t any of you be specific in saying anything that is going to happen between now and 1975. But the big point of it all is this, dear friends: Time is short. Time is running out, no question about that.’ … However, other statements were published on this subject, and some were likely more definite than advisable.” Jehovah’s Witnesses – Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom p.104
Again, not exactly the humble repentance one would hope for, featuring a very selective quote that is clearly not representative of the more hysteria-inducing articles and speeches being given at the time. Yet both these excerpts establish the following fact;
In 1980 and 1993 Watchtower admitted the fault was with them, not the with the rank and file Witnesses.
Yet now, in 2017 that same religious organisation is putting out a video implying the exact opposite.
This video is presented in such as way as to whitewash any responsibility Watchtower had for the debacle, and to denigrate as foolish the faithful Witnesses of the 1970’s who were simply following the teaching and council Watchtower gave them.
1975: Why now?
Why would Watchtower even discuss this topic in a video? Much like the ongoing child abuse scandal, 1975 is a topic that the organisation usually pretends does not even exist, only acknowledging it obliquely when absolutely necessary. So why make it a subject of a convention video that all Witnesses will see, albeit in a whitewashed, victim blaming fashion that even manages to avoid even stating the discredited date?
I can’t be certain but I can think of two possible reasons:
- The video very strongly stresses the idea of not serving God with a date for Armageddon in mind, and focuses on the need not to get discouraged when expected prophecies fail to materialise. Watchtower has recently been struggling to get its absurd “Overlapping Generations” teaching fully accepted by the rank and file. This teaching came in around the time I began to leave the religion and I remember how many of the witnesses I knew were privately uncomfortable with it, admitting it was hard to “prove it from the Bible.” If Watchtower’s repeated attempts to drum the teaching into the Witnesses are anything to go by, this is probably still the case. Some Witnesses may well be unsettled that the New World, once so close at hand, seems to be receding further and further into the distance by the day, and that the teachings being used to pinpoint its arrival appear to getting flimsier and flimsier with every revision. Thus, by referring to the 1975 incident in this way, Watchtower might be trying to condition its followers for further dissapapointments when the overlapping generation teaching is also abandoned, or when another decade rolls past with no New World appearing
- This video may also be an attempt to rewrite the history of 1975 so that Watchtower appears blameless for the mistake. This is possibly due to the fact that, although the number of Witnesses alive during the events of 1975 is shrinking, the newer witnesses are becoming more and more aware of the embarrassment due to discussion in the ranks and also from internet exposure to this infamous incident from “apostate” websites and online comments on youtube, twitter and so forth. So this might be an attempt at damage control; to present an “acceptable version” of the debacle to Witnesses who are hearing the truth from other sources, even if this version clashes with Watchtower’s own previously published version of events.
Whatever the motivation, I think the final word should go to the Bible book of Deuteronomy 18:22, where God is telling the nation of Israel how to view those who speak false prophesy.
“When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word is not fulfilled or does not come true, then Jehovah did not speak that word. The prophet spoke it presumptuously. You should not fear him.’
Sound like a religion you know?
Follow me on twitter @covertfade.
Follow JW Survey on @jwsurveyorg
* Many thanks to Paul Grundy and his website JWfacts.com for the reference material and information presented in this article.
The number of Jehovah’s Witnesses alive and active in the 1970’s and 1980’s is shrinking – many will have died and thousands have since left the organisation, which means very few loyal and obedient Witnesses alive then would ever dare to contradict this “sanitised” version of events. I was a baptised Witness then, and this video is a complete whitewash of the truth.
The Governing Body is desperate to stop the flow of people leaving the organisation and is trying to make out that loyal, faithful and obedient Witnesses (like myself) who utterly believed that the preaching work would be finished before the end of the 20th century were to blame for wrong thinking.
These men are utterly despicable and beyond contempt. Trouble is, there are hardly any Witnesses who would dare to contradict them because they know that they risk being branded as apostates and shunned by their families and every person they know. They are in negative spiritual equity because they have invested so much of their life in this organisation.
The Governing Body punish any person who speaks out against them and this is the hallmark of a cult. But more people are leaving than are coming in, and that is why the almighty Governing Body are reacting this way.But we Witnesses who gave our lives to this organisation back in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s know the truth – and the truth is that the Governing Body are lying about what they said back then. Shame on them!
P.S. Claims were made that the preaching work “would be completed in our 20th century” (Watchtower 1 January 1989 p 12). But then the wording was changed in the annual bound-volume to “after our 20th century.” Also, in the 1st March 1984 Watchtower, it said the “end much closer” than 2000.
Isn’t hindsight wonderful? After nothing happens the Governing Body rewrite the truth.
greytower: “But more people are leaving than are coming in…” In an attempt to show that their cult is growing, when it is in fact shrinking, Watchtower leaders are encouraging younger and younger children of cult members to become baptized. A new 3-minute video entitled ‘Song 056 Make the Truth Your Own’, shows 3 very young children entering baptismal waters after they promise to devote their lives to Watchtower service. These children will continue following the orders of deranged Governing Body members or risk being shunned and losing their friends and family. It looks like infant baptism may follow as the exodus continues.
https://tv.jw.org/#en/mediaitems/LatestVideos/pub-pksjj_56_VIDEO
@Scot Wm – shrinking?? how can it be shrinking when they’re stacking congregations ontop of one another in major cosmopoitan and metropolitan areas? [hint: closure of outlying area Kingdom Halls}
http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/bad-omens-for-watchtower-as-new-yearbook-shows-decreases-for-canada-australia-and-much-of-europe
The 2017 Yearbook is now available on JW.org and the much-anticipated figures in the “Service Year Report” (for 2016) tell the story of an organization that is haemorrhaging members and barely keeping its head above water.
Summary of Decreasing Numbers:
USA – 28,588 baptisms but overall growth of only 2,945 (what happened to the other 25,643?)
Canada – 169 fewer Witnesses than in 2015
Australia – 1,235 baptisms but 64 fewer than in 2015
U.K. – 2,309 baptisms but only 26 more than in 2015 (in spite of 24.8 million hours preaching)
Iceland – Only 1 more publisher for 82,162 hours preaching
Poland – Decrease of 2,071
Hungary – Decrease of 365
Portugal – Decrease of 149
Croatia – Decrease of 108
New Zealand – Decrease of 34
Italy – Decrease of 28
Bosnia & Herzegovina – Decrease of 24
Slovenia – Decrease of 22
Serbia – Decrease of 6
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/2017-yearbook/
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/2017-yearbook/2016-grand-totals/
Percentage of Increase Over 2015: 1.8% THAT is why the Governing Body are starting to beat the servants into submission and increased activity – because more people are leaving the organisation than are coming in.
@greytower,
Even that 1.8% is a play on numbers. There were very unusual increases in countries such as Congo (28,000 in one year???), Malawi (a sudden increase of 8,000) as well as Zambia (10,000 in one year. Really??). Without these skewed figures, the increase would have been below 1%.
Interesting observation, Ricardo. Congo had a 22% increase over 2015 and had 15,259 baptisms. After going through the service report, country by country, it became clear that a lot of places have suffered a decrease in numbers.
@ greytower;
Great coverage of the figures, greytower. Now if the Watchtower can only explain away the increase of Memorial Partakers, which has grown in leaps and bounds over the last 15 years, that would truly be something.
Let us review the non-printed figures (facts) further: Failed doomsday prophecies, no growth despite long hours in field ministry, adherents leaving in droves, no funds coming into the organization, the closing of printing facilities, the closing and consolidation of Kingdom Halls and branch offices, child abuse scandals and pedophile protection cover-ups, settlements made out of court (because the Watchtower can’t win in court), hardening of rules concerning shunning and association; etc.
Do any of the above facts sound like an organization on a meteoric rise or more like a star that has burned itself out?
To Watchtower apologists and others interested in this cult be forewarned; this is just the beginning of the Jehovah’s Witnesses certain demise. The body is sick from its head down. The sickness is terminal and will continue until its ignominious demise as all Adventist movements will. Don’t be fettered to a corpse; start your fade now before its to late!
Yes, Big B, the dramatic increase in Memorial Partakers is a real problem for the Governing Body. In the last decade, the numbers have DOUBLED. There were 9,105 in 2007 and 18,013 in 2016. I’ve asked questions about this and been fobbed off by loyal, faithful and obedient Witnesses with excuses like the numbers don’t mean anything and that doesn’t prove they are all part of the “anointed remnant” with a heavenly hope. Jehovah knows who belong to the 144,000 and many who thought they were anointed later realise they were mistaken. Who do they think they convince?
I have the Memorial Service statistics from 1935 till 2016. The only year they didn’t have stats was in 1937. Believe me, they have never flinched from publishing these stats, even when they should be going down instead of up.
It is noteworthy that in 1935 there were 52,465 partakers. My parents became Witnesses in the 1930’s and were told that heaven was full up – the number of the elect had been sealed. Later on, the GB had to admit they were wrong, but only because over 100 years have passed since Jesus Christ is supposed to have started ruling, invisibly, from heaven, and Armageddon still hasn’t turned up. That’s why they are now focusing on the coming tribulation, forgetting that is the same message my parent’s heard in the 1930’s! They keep churning out the same old stuff, just dressed up a bit, and hope nobody will be able to contradict them and expose their scholastic dishonesty. The fact that the old, incriminating evidence is not on their official web site makes it more difficult for honest and decent Witnesses to get to the truth.
What worries me is that although JW Survey does an excellent job of exposing the organisation and the GB, it really does nothing to help those Witnesses who still have faith in God. This site is biased in favour of atheism and Christians (like myself) are not allowed to say anything to give those poor, disillusioned Witnesses any help to salvage their faith and avoid falling into atheism. That’s why I stopped using this site, because it isn’t giving ex-Witnesses any support. They don’t need to be turned to atheism – they need to turn to Christ Jesus and discover that salvation comes from belonging to Him, not some organisation. They need our prayers and sympathy because they have been deceived.
I fully expect to be censored for saying that, and for that last paragraph to be deleted. Let’s see….
I was 12 in 1975 and remember very well what was said at that time Folks were selling their homes and businesses. It was weird. Then nothing happened. Here it is 2017. I am now 54 years old. Nothing has happened except for Mr Trump becoming the number one Idiot President of all time.
Now, now Robin;
Let’s keep the political bashing down please. We could just as well bash Hillary-Billery who is as crooked as a basket of fish hooks and the philandering cheat she calls a “husband’. However, as a amateur historian, the American nation has survived worse than this (at 65 I’ve lived through a lot worse, personally speaking) and will continue to survive the ineptitude of individuals serving in the office of President. Checks and balances (465 in Congress & the Supreme Court) prevent the disaster that many claim will befall this nation because of a sitting President.
That being said, this site, dealing with the ineptitude and deceptive practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, is not the place or forum for such political bashing. Perhaps a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or commenting on Talk Radio would be of better use for this type of discussion.
i do however, agree with your comments concerning the home and business selling to engage in the full time pioneer work. Such actions were definitely not discouraged, but were encouraged as the article explains in great detail. I was 23 at the time and married for three years to my first wife, who latter along with her family, left the Truth around 1980. I first thoughts were that they were doomed to destruction however, I now realize that they led full and productive lives Watchtower free. In a left-handed way I envy them for their courage to see through the purple haze of indoctrination and make a clean break with this soul-sucking cult. Both my ex-mother and father in law were able to live Watchtower free for over 45 years before passing away in death, and guess what? Armageddon still hasn’t come!
It took me, my wife of thirty years, and my son to fade around 2013 and I have never regretted our decision. The Watchtower’s ten year U.N. involvement, coupled with the ‘Overlapping Generations’ doctrine along with the infamous pedophile protecting two witness rule showed me and my family that this cult is not now or ever inspired or anointed by God’s Holy Spirit. The WTBTS is not “His Earthly Organization” now nor has it ever been such. It is a sham and a hoax; and commits the worst crime ever perpetrated on humanity in that it is a ‘TIME BANDIT’!
My children from my first marriage never were involved other than me taking them to assemblies and to the hall on weekends for parent visitation. Thank God for that.
If the Watchtower told their followers to do something extreme then they would. The brothers trust them without question and view them in a strange light. They’ll admit that are imperfect, but never feel the need for their leaders to apologise. Elders seem to act in exactly the same way. Personally, I think apologising is a sign of strength, not of weakness. To try and backdate history in this way is shameful.
If Watchtower told their people that the earth is flat, you would have over 8 million people who would think the earth is flat. Gullible people believe anything from the talking heads in New York.
Hey, but Doc Obvious, what if we found out that we had all been scammed and the earth really was flat! That would be only 8 million who would still follow the GB …. just a thought.
It can’t be flat otherwise all the cats would have knocked everything off by now.
will they start passing out Kool Aid???????
I put Grape Kool-Aid packets in their contribution boxes at their conventions. They now have a supply of Kool-Aid.
When some members of the Governing Body were getting the “truth” in the 1970’s, it is quite understandable that those members would have no clue what was happening before 1975. This video is an absolute cover up to what the real events transpired prior to 1975.
Watchtower Babble and Tract Society will continue to sidestep the 1975 prophesy that never came true. Secondly, Watchtower will not own their failed prophesy. Thirdly, blaming publishers who put their whole trust in dates and saying that true followers would not be stuck on dates is an example of juvenile deflection.
Anonymous witness: “If the Watchtower told their followers to do something extreme then they would.” The groundwork for having Watchtower cult members willingly follow the most extreme demands of their leaders is already underway. Many Watchtower cult followers and children of cult followers have already died refusing blood transfusions. The current shunning policy deprives former cult members of association with family members and children. Convention demonstrations tell parents to disown their children if they leave the cult. The infamous ‘Bunker Video’ demonstrated how Watchtower cult members must be ready to die for their extremist beliefs. In the end, only the most hardcore, throughly-brainwashed cult members will remain. This will be a group that will do anything the Governing Body demands. Will there be another Jonestown?
WHERE IS THE KOOL AID?
I’m glad that you agree with my comments, Doc Obvious and Scot Wm.
I watched a documentary once that interviewed a few people who escaped Jonestown. They said that most did not willingly drink the Kool-aid but that many were forced to at gunpoint.
I feel like shunning is the gun they hold to our heads. That and a genuine fear of Armageddon and what will happen even if you die ‘unfaithful’ before then. I don’t believe there will ever be an actual ‘drink the kool-aid’ parallel, but isn’t it the same effect with how many people die from choices not their own because of coercion and pressure? Or choices that are their own based on lies, omissions, double standards, false teachings/prophecies and general misinformation.
I think of how many people have died and/or been imprisoned in the name of Christian neutrality when indeed they could have compromised with no consequences to their relationship with God or eternal salvation and how many still might as political winds shift in different countries around the world. It breaks my heart.
And I hate it for anyone, but as I do see religious intolerance building at the same time the governing body is encouraging JWs to develop a persecution complex, I worry that people I know may become martyrs sacrificed on an alter of false teachings.
1975 was VERY real for witnesses to expect ‘the end of this system’ as I remember all too well. One terminally ill member of our cong readily and often spoke of hopes of surviving long enough to see the ‘new system’ and oddly enough it was one of the things to wake me up. It all suddenly seemed ridiculous and I left abruptly 11 months before the Big A was due. How dare they say it wasn’t taught as fact!
Excellent article. Can’t wait to see the video. What a scam!
I was born in ’75…and as my mom recalls it, her mom (also a JW) was upset that my parents decided to have a child in ’75… ‘of ALL the years you guys to have a child!’…is what they were told. ‘how could you?’ they implied… ‘dont you know THIS is the year that it’s all ending’.. silly couple.
Well, I for one I’m glad they did. :)
41 years old now…and if they had ‘waited on Jehovah’ I wouldn’t be here.
@ Candlestick:
Yes, welcome to the world of the living, Candlestick. Glad to have you on board.
How many Jehovah’s Witnesses did just what your parents were implored not to do I would be afraid to count. I know of many who sold franchises in businesses (Snap on Tools, etc.), did not marry or those that did never had children. Those that started families would, like your parents, have been considered faithless.
It’s sad to see those friends today as others, who ignored the Watchtower counsel, are bouncing grandchildren off their knees and taking their multi-generational families on trips to the park or shore. It must kill them inside however, other than adoption, they have missed out on the joys of parenthood and thus, much to their chagrin, grand-parenthood.
Higher education was looked on as a waste of time due to the nearness of the end. Does that reasoning sound familiar?
How many friends lost out on a comfortable retirement selling businesses and live in subsidized living arrangements or in poverty due to selling properties on this false 1975 hope. Does the Watchtower help these friends out financially? Not a chance. If they can give Bethel branch brothers and sisters the ‘boot’ without a thought we know they don’t give a hoot about those lives destroyed over 42 years ago. Oh well (insert “sigh”) we were just encouraging the brethren to prepare for the end (read: mistaken). But you should have known better sheeple.”
However, will the ‘sheeple’ ever wise-up? Will they realize that they are being duped, and badly so? Will they continue in expectation of an event (Armageddon) that they will never see in their lifetime (per Watchtower study edition July, (June?) 2013 chart)? Or will they be content to continue breathing the noxious purple haze of Watchtower indoctrination with heads firmly planted up their own derrières?
Only time will tell however, one thing is for certain; as long as they continue to print their garbage masquerading as ‘Truth’ it will be up to scrutiny and derisive reviews here and elsewhere for the nonsense that it truly is. That the Watchtower can depend on!
@Candlestick: same here. My mother was looked down upon for wanting to have a child so deep in the time of the end – what folly! Here I am 40 years later with a child of my own. Thank God she wanted to be a mother more than she cared about those people and their opinions!
Several of those sisters who judged her later expressed extreme regret that they had not had children while they still could have. Once they realized the end wasn’t imminent, it was too late for them.
1975,oh boy.I started dating my wlfe in 1970,she constantly said she did not want to go through bigA alone.she also wanted a baby girl’.both came about.her sister and her nephew wanted to be together so got married(yup,legal) and lived in our back yard in a tent because they did not want to build a house or plant trees before fall 1975.so yes it was very real.Last year my wife to me to burn all old literature as every thing is now on jw.org.I now have a sizeable library in my storage.,hundreds of hard copy for my reference.
@OntarioNB. So are you still a JW? Seems like yu are not but your wife is? In my case I was barely married and only 22 years old in 75. I was a new JW and my wife was also. She believed everything they said. I was always skeptical! but I was a Super JW. I ad managed to save up $5700 by the time I was 22.
I was a very hard worker on Trucking Docs in the SF Bay AREA. One day I was very proud of myself and I showed my newly wed wife my bank account and she said OH MY GOD! Let’s spend it before Armageddon comes bc the bible says they will throw their money in the streets. Spend it quick before the end comes. Remember $5700 was a small fortune in 1975 and as a 22 year old kid with a baby I thought I was rich. I t was enough for a down payment on a small house back then which is what I did with it. The JW’s frowned on me for buying a house with Armageddon eminent. I showed Lack of fait they said. Well, guess what? I moved from that house years ago and still own it as a rental and produces $$$ every month.
I have rented it many times to JW’s who don’t have a dime bc they sold everything and never got an education. Now I do not want to rent to JW’s anymore bc they always want a discount for being a JW. Can’t do it. MY wide was a BIG 1975er and so were most JW’s I knew back then. I saw the possibility but I never put my hopes in but felt very sorry for those who did and they still suffer today.
Yes, for sure the WT promoted he 1975 theory. They pushed it and believed it.
no,I have never been a jw.they stopped trying when I asked the wrong questions(actually the right questions,I guess)45 years later,I found this site and have prepared myself for the next round which seems to me is increasing.
I know this sounds bizarre, but a sister just last year told me the elder teaching at her husband’s elder class in the U.S. announced to them that the end is so close they should sell as much as they could of their possessions and spend their money for it will not be worth anything very soon! I’m seriously amazed at how history is repeating itself.
I started studying in 1975 and I was encouraged to quit college and get baptized as soon as possible. That was because they were definitely expecting something to happen before the year was up. I heard it everywhere and from the people I studied with. After the year passed, I remember that there was still an expectation because of the idea that we didn’t know how long Adam had existed before the creation of Eve. By the time 1980 rolled around and with the events happening at headquarter with Ray Franz, a lot of the friends I knew were leaving the organization and being labeled apostates. I wish I had gone with them.
OOOH does this not smack of distancing themselves from the hype and hysteria 1975 caused. My dad sold our family home and we never recovered . It lead to a cursed life my being molested and still under the curse of poverty and uncertainty. I would like to claim the value of that modest little house in London at it’s current value back from this lying org. That was my inheritance and I reckon it paid for a tennis court at warwick. They lied and are conniving thieves and we were duped. I am a grand old apostate now with no overlapping generation to explain but still a tad angry with these thieves. My dad was a godfearing man but that is no guarantee of protection from thieves. The org have lost all the oldsters as they are dead but we who grew up in the 60s and 70s have elephant memories and IF IF one day we can claim our inheritance back we will. Cheers all nice to see some new contributors. Ruthlee
Forgive me….but it’s nice to know millions of witnesses now living….will all die ! They have been hoodwinked by this corporate publishing company.Money & Control is their God !
About time this is being discussed.
@ Covert Fade;
This article is well written and reminds me of the bitterness I’ve felt for being deceived along with so many others. Not to many of us who remember this nonsense around anymore and those that do remember the ‘1975 debacle’ are pushing 70 years of age. Most of our parents that raised us in the truth have long passed away. Thanks again for the memories Covert Fade.
It sure is telling that the Watchtower is getting desperate in its assembly messages. From ‘the worst assembly ever’ came the ‘bunker video’s and the poor life of Sergei. So now the message is “Don’t Give Up” this year.
My Question is simple; why shouldn’t the friends give up? What’s the point of staying? It’s a cult filled with losers who cannot make it in the real world so they bitch about how bad this system is but don’t do anything about trying to better themselves through education or improve the lives of others in their community through true charitable works. In other words, help people’s immediate physical needs, like clothing drives, shelters for battered and abused women, soup kitchens, and counseling services. Help the physical needs of individuals first so that spiritual needs can be met latter on. How long can one cold call people, who are not interested in your ‘cure all’ panacea of the Kingdom message using your own time and monies to deliver a doctrine that nobody wants to hear? Not one prophecy the Watchtower has foretold has come true. Since the failure of the 1975 end of the system the Armageddon ‘can’ is kicked totally out of sight. Kicked down the ‘it’s a commin’ highway’ with the ‘over lapping generations’ doctrinal nonsense. How much longer will the friends buy into this nonsense?
Anyone, with any reasoning ability, can see that they (Watchtower) are desperate! They are losing membership by leaps and bounds. If this were an operating room the patient (Watchtower) would be hemorrhaging and in need of a blood transfusion. (However, the Hospital Liaison Committee would prevent that, of course). This great lose of adherents’ means a closing/combining of congregations and a net loss of contributions. Think about this; there is not one thing to keep young people in the organization, not one. The punishment of family shunning is about it.
Some race of endurance! Run with no finish line in sight until you drop dead. No rewards but a nice quiet dirt nap; just like everyone else, believers, heathens, or animals. Yes indeed, all those treasures in heaven that nobody has seen or will be able to acquire unless they actually go there. A perfectly good life totally wasted in a stupid lost cause. Not one damn person living today, as I write this, will live to see Armageddon, period. If anyone believes they will live to see the Great Tribulation culminate in an earth cleansing apocalypse, well they are completely delusional and in need of a psychiatrist. Armageddon and the Paradise Earth (which phrase, by the way, cannot be found anywhere in the Bible) is nothing more than a loser’s myth and a fairy tale! An Adventist scare tactic likened to Christendom’s “Hell-fire and Damnation for eternity” doctrine.
The ending of the Theocratic Ministry School, in and of itself, speaks volumes as the governing body has finally come to realize that the friends are not bright enough to get their own talks together and few elders (lay ministers) are not accomplished enough (read: smart enough) to teach anyone the art of public speaking with nothing more than a rudimentary public education. Besides the friends aren’t preaching door to door anymore, they are just going through the motions delivering (read: selling) magazines and brochures. Anyone that thinks that this religion (cult) will pull out of its nosedive into oblivion is fooling no one but themselves. Oh, there will always be a hardcore bunch of delusional idiots hanging on “waiting for Jehovah to set matters straight”; however the youth will certainly leave this poisonous, life-choking sham calling itself ‘True Christianity”. With the coming of the age of the internet, where Jehovah’s Witnesses and their beliefs can be perused without hindrance, is it any wonder nobody is interested?
To all lovers of Truth reading this be forewarned, Jehovah is abandoning and punishing this organization for its ten year U.N. involvement making itself a part of Babylon the Great. This punishment is just beginning and will only get worse. I predict that before I die, District conventions will be held in smaller venues and will be biennial before being phased out all together.
The handwriting is on the wall! Get out of this ‘whore of Babylon’ now while you still can! So says the angel in mid-heaven (Rev. 14:6); that is, unless you want to suffer its plagues and destruction. Now, if that’s what you desire then stay exactly where you are. Your complacent inaction will be justly rewarded! (Ezekiel 9:5-7).
Russell was right when he said “religion is a snare and racket”. Or was it Rutherford? Whoever it was hit it right on the mark!
It was Rutherford indeed. And he knew very well what he was talking about…
best thing you ever wrote Big B cheers Ruthlee
Everything the Big B writes is spot on, Ruthlee.
Well said Big B
Thankfully we still have folks like you around!
This 1975 teaching robbed me and my family of a future.
My Mother and Father were good people that thought they were doing the right thing by selling everything before 1975 and taking on menial jobs that provided nothing for the future.
The impact of this was Huge! Fast forward to 1990, I had just completed a four year community service sentence for not going to the South African Army (unknown to me, the same time the Mexican “friends” had bribed their way out of Military service with the support of this organisation) when Dad and Mom retired on a very small pension, unable to support themselves.
So there I was in the 90’s, early twenties, no education, no money and a responsibility to house, feed and care for my aged infirm parents. Not a single finger lifted by this organisation to help us out, rather a constant barrage of psychological mind play and the emphasis of the fault being mine in my lack of “Trust in Jehovah”.
After many years of poverty, old clothes, hitchhiking, no holidays, heartache, divorce, shunning and mental anxiety, I have now found a happy place in my life away from these toxic people and the toxic organisation they belong to.
What did I learn from this? – Educate yourself, Provide a future for Family, Focus on Sharing and Happiness and the wonderful learning experiences that life offers everyone.
To the JW.org newbies – If you smell a Rat – it probably is a Rat!
@ Rodger Goode;
“What did I learn from this? – Educate yourself, Provide a future for Family, Focus on Sharing and Happiness and the wonderful learning experiences that life offers everyone”.
Exactly Rodger; well summarized! Life does not begin or end with the soul-sucking, twisted, cult-like organization know as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society aka Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Your life experiences are, unfortunately, not unique among those of us that lived through the 1975 debacle. I only wish that I had left a lot sooner however, I would never have met my current wife of 30 years or had my son now attending university. Also, if I had left before both my parents had passed away in death, I would certainly have lost any hope of receiving my inheritance.
I managed to finish my education at the same university that my son now attends back in 2006. Now that I have retired I still continue my education taking art classes, etc. by auditing them for free! New friends, new things to learn and do; best of all–
I am Watchtower free and loving life!
Thanks again Rodger for sharing your experiences.
Big B
Taking another page from the BITE model and also identifying how controlled and manipulated persons remaining with Watchtower are, this video, if it plays as current plans indicate, will serve as another identifier of the narcissistic cult we participated. As comments above note, it was clearly written, it was clearly spoken and it was clearly reinforced that !975 is IT–the end, which William Miller and many others anticipated as far back as 1843, although popular notes read 1844. “It isn’t the Watchtower’s fault that YOU misread the articles and went off rogue in speculation,” is the implication. “You’re mistaken and your perception is faulty” is what this narcissism implies. Ignore 1975, and let’s get back to business. And, you know, those doubts you have about children being abused, blood transfusions, and shunning? You really can’t trust your own thinking, continues the implications.
Total self-doubt through thought-stopping. The technique in relationships is identified as “gas lighting”. Cult leaders use thought-control. Here the masses are being reminded to squash any doubts or explorative thoughts regarding failed prophecy or other doctrines. Behind this velvet gloved video [because it’s so calmly rendered] is an iron first declaring, “you dare to question?”
Like that philandering partner, you will continue to get whiffs of the other party’s perfume (cologne) yet the significant other continues to tell you, “you’re imagining things”.
Get off “Crazy Train” before you arrive at “Crazytown” or “Angry-town” and its suburbs of “Depression” and “Lost Self-Esteem”.
Excellent article. In 1970 I was theocratic school assistant. I assigned a talk to Jim ….. He didn’t turn up so on the way home his light was on so I called in to see why.
He had papers, bank statements, calculator all over the kitchen table. He told me he was selling his house and going into a rural area cos the end was coming in 75.
I sai Jim what if it doesn’t come in 75 you will have used all your money, no house etc etc.
His reply still rings in my ears… “Brother where is your faith…”
His 3 kids were around 10- 11 – 12 yrs old. So they went bush preached till the money ran out, lived 5 of them in a caravan, little education for the kids, no jobs where they went.
Years later he is renting a house back in the city, family split up, kids disfunctional.
Good one Watchtower, taking advantage of gullible saps…that’s why the borg will suffer… Can’t come soon enough…
Jeff pretty much what my dad did. It blighted my life we ended up on a trash site and I got raped not a nice memory I would have preferred the orange paradise book illustration and ended up in a crack in the earth. When they stand at the window all dolled up in their smart suits I hope I can hear the “let her drop”. Cant wait for the dogs to do their work on this wicked organisation
From the article: “A few went so far as selling their homes and quitting their jobs.” Sell your house and pioneer, for you know the end is near! This long-running Watchtower theme was presented in the Bunker Video from the 2016 convention. Follow the link below and start playing the video at 21:30. A childless couple is shown living a comfortable life, but they decide to sell their house and all of their possessions so that they can live an uncomfortable life. After they move into a camp trailer, the rich spiritual blessings start pouring in. They are now able to devote their lives to Watchtower service.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wNtlDybBVA8
OH yes another thing at the time it was still frowned upon to have children bc “WOE to the woman suckling a baby in those days” pressure NOT to have children. Wow, I am SO glad I was Testorone driven and had 3 children. One was born in 1975!! Only thing is I wanted more Children. Being Italian and Portuguese as we LOVE big families. The WT tried to even put a top to that. How cruel.
Get out of her my People!
Had the Witnesses at my door a couple of weekends ago. I told them that years ago I had studied with them but that I struggled with some theology and that I couldn’t get reasonable answers to my questions. The older man asked me what questions I struggled with. I told him that the destruction of Jerusalem was recognised by all historians in 587 BC, not 607. I said that the whole belief in the 1914 establishment of the Kingdom was based on historical inaccuracies. He said that it doesn’t matter when the kingdom was established, the fact is we’re in the last days. I asked if I could now become a JW and openly not believe in the date of 1914, seeing that “it doesn’t matter”. SILENCE was the reply. I told them about the Australian Royal Commission findings and he said that the Witnesses were praised for their ” best practice” in dealing with child sexual abuse. I told them that they are being lied to. Then we discussed the overlapping generations. I asked them ” how could you swallow that embarrassing re writing of the generation theology. Again SILENCE. They shook my hand as they took their leave. I hope I gave them something to think about. I used to think that a non confrontational discussion was best but now due to my love for these people, being frank and honest is the only way for me in future. God bless all my apostate brothers and sisters.
@Andrew,
You say the elder said that the Witnesses were praised for their ” best practice” in dealing with child sexual abuse. Here in Australia several witnesses have said that to me. I assume you are not in Australia. Where are the witnesses getting this statement from? Is it an urban myth spread by the witnesses, or are the elders being told to spread this lie?
Reminds me of the Ministry of Truth in Orwell’s 1984. It was there that my namesake Winston Smith would rewrite history in order to make the ruling party seen infallible.
WS
@Winston,
In claiming a rewriting of history, you are guilty of old-think and probably thought crime, simply because you have not mastered the art of double-think. However, if you are able to understand how the organization works correctly, and can see that war is peace, love means destruction, ignorance is strength, subjectivity is objectivity and imminent is distant future you will see clearly that any dishonesty on the part of the Governing Body is impossible.
Watch out Ricardo! Big Brother is watching you. :)
@Big B,
I’m waiting for the bullet in the back of the head.
This subject about harmagedon came up while I was visiting with a JW family member. In Revelation chapter 20 verse 4-7 it reads after the 1000 years end the dead will arise and Satan will be released at the same time. That isn’t what JWs teach. She said she would research the subject. Revelation chapter 20: verse 4. It reads: 4. And I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. Yes, I saw the souls* of those executed* for the witness they gave about Jesus and for speaking about God, and those who had not worshipped the wild beast or its image and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand.+ And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ+ for 1,000 years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.
7 Now as soon as the 1,000 years have ended, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and he will go out to mislead those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Maʹgog, to gather them together for the war. The number of these is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they advanced over the whole earth and encircled In Revelation chapter 20: 4-7 it reads after the 1000 years end the dead will arise and Satan will be released at exactly the same time but that isn’t what JWs teach. JWs don’t know there own bible.
The point I’m trying to make is in Revelation chapter 20: 4-7 it reads after the 1000 years end the rest of the dead arise, Satan will be released at exactly the same time. But that isn’t what JWs teach. They don’t know there own bible. Revelation 20:4-9
Hardy, here’s a quote from the Reasoning book explaining their understanding of the ‘rest of the dead’ who come to life.
Who, then, are “the rest of the dead”? They are all those of mankind who died as a result of Adamic sin and those who, though survivors of the great tribulation or those who may be born during the Millennium, need to be relieved of the death-dealing effects of such sin.—Compare Ephesians 2:1.
In what sense do they not “come to life” until the end of the thousand years? This does not mean their resurrection. This ‘coming to life’ involves much more than merely existing as humans. It means attaining to human perfection, free from all effects of Adamic sin. Notice that the reference to this in verse 5 occurs immediately after the preceding verse says that those who will be in heaven “came to life.” In their case it means life free from all effects of sin; they are even specially favored with immortality. (1 Cor. 15:54) For “the rest of the dead,” then, it must mean the fullness of life in human perfection.
Thank you.
I can’t believe that people like the GB that is, could have no shame and be so heartless toward people. God sacrificed his son for mankind, Christ died for mankind but the GB have teachings that destroys and separates friends and families. Teachings such as blood transfusion, shunning of family members and friends because they can think for themselves and avoid higher education. The GB have no respect for their members, the members are treated like mushrooms – keep them in the dark, feed them bull dust and they will grow.
@ Freedom;
“God sacrificed his son for mankind, Christ died for mankind” a Biblical Truth well and simply said.
What the Watchtower (Jehovah’s Witnesses) have done has been to block individuals from the “free gift” of Christ’s sacrifice by saying, “Oh yes, thank you Lord Jesus for your sacrifice. Now we must show our gratitude for the loving sacrifice Jehovah has made possible by working for us, the faithful and discreet slave (WTBTS), pro bono, cold calling others from door to door with our own Gospel message.” That’s exactly what is going on here! They are holding on to YOUR free gift as a ransom (of a ransom) while you work for them in order to receive what’s rightly yours! And yet, even now as we speak, the duped Witnesses don’t see it. Absolutely amazing, isn’t it?
Thus, as you mentioned, the official prohibition of obtaining a higher education. They can’t stand the fact that college education teaches one to do critical thinking and research. Can’t have an educated laity class where the sheep are smarter than the shepherds (Governing Body) can we? Then they (the sheeple) will figure this nonsense out and the Governing Body would have no one to control as the friends would most certainly leave this Orwellian ‘Truth’. Their function of dispensers of doctrine (read: food (crap) at the proper time) would be obsolete, wouldn’t it? Who really needs them to explain anything, really?
Yes the ‘mushroom treatment’ certainly applies here. Keep them in the dark, feed them manure but if their heads get to big (start to question doctrine and procedures) lop their heads off (dis-fellowship/ shun them).
I love the name you came up with, “sheeple” – so true. Big B and to all those that are now free from slavery, may God bless us all. God and Christ certainly did not pay a high price for any of us to be robbed of our life and the joys of life.
I think the writer of this article is correct in his reasoning as to why the Watchtower Society would put out a video that draws attention to an embarrassing period in their history. I think it is the first stage of a softening up process that they hope will defuse the profound disappointment and despair that the rank and file will be feeling when the current overlapping generation Armageddon prophecy is proven to be false.
The trouble is, according to the Apr 15, 2010 Watchtower, this latest Armageddon prophecy is a result of “increasing light” which is direct communication between Jehovah God and His “faithful and discreet slave” – the Governing Body. The Feb 15, 2006 Watchtower tells us that Jehovah’s “increasing light”, “refines” His people, “organizationally, doctrinally and morally.” Therefore, when the 1914 overlapping generation passes away and there is still no sign of Armageddon… well, somebody will then have a lot of ‘splaining to do, won’t they?!
The G.B.’s only possible avenue of escape at that time will be to eat humble pie and admit that they must have somehow misinterpreted this particular “light”. But then they open up a can of worms. If they got this overlapping generation light wrong, how do we know this hasn’t happened before? What about the “increasing light” given in the July 1st 1945 Watchtower that banned blood transfusions? How can they keep a straight face and say, “Well, yes, we got this particular Armageddon ‘light’ wrong but you can all be confident we got all the previous ‘light’, right”!!!
I believe that in the relatively near future the falsity of Witness doctrine will be undeniable to everyone who has a computer or smart phone. The only Armageddon that really IS a-comin’, is a corporate one – for the Watchtower society!
@ John Plummer;
Oh what a tangled web we weave.
When first we practice to deceive. – Sir Walter Scott (Marmion, 1808)
Thus the problems currently being faced by the WTBTS. New Light (understanding) can not be found in practice anywhere in the Bible with this possible caveat. New Light was being given throughout the Hebrew Scriptures as to the identity of the Messiah. Why?
The Messiah’s (the woman’s seed in Genesis 3:15) coming was a ‘state secret’ as to his identity (Jesus/Michael) and his lineage had to be protected from Satan and his minions.
Thus the gradual releasing of information; seed from Abraham, seed from Judah, seed from David’s family, etc. This was gradually done so that as the time drew near for the Messiah to be revealed, his true followers would be able, through geological records and prophecy, to follow him and not a pretender.
That being said, the WTBTS version of New Light is nothing more than another ‘guess’. Why? Because they do not have God’s infallible Holy Spirit and never had it, period. Otherwise there would be no need for adjustments, would they? After all how many “adjustments” are recorded in the Scriptures? Like all Adventist groups, from the Millerites onward, their religious beliefs (doctrines) depend on this one doctrine namely: Jesus is coming or an event (Armageddon is a commin’),
When? Why in 1914 of course. Oops, that was an INVISIBLE presence. Armageddon is definitely coming before the generation that was alive during 1914, uh, 1975 for sure, what I meant was before the end of the 20th Century. Oops, before the overlapping generations expire…..blah, blah, blah.
Yep, just as expected. Just guessing, with peoples lives and futures being based on these ridiculous assumptions. However, this is what Adventism entails; belief in someone or something coming. Without that pernicious hope, Jehovah’s Witnesses are a nothing religion; no holidays, no birthdays, no rewards for doing the great ‘disciple making work’.
“I believe that in the relatively near future the falsity of Witness doctrine will be undeniable to everyone who has a computer or smart phone. The only Armageddon that really IS a-comin’, is a corporate one – for the Watchtower society!”
Amen to that brother!
“If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now;… But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. “New Light” never extinguishes older “light” but adds to it…” Zion’s Watch Tower 1881 Feb pp.3, 188
Is this why it’s now called “increased light”?
Wow I haven’t even viewed the video in question. The link takes you to ALL of the videos of the convention. After sorting through all of the ones I can handle I’ll say this. These videos are just as bad as last year’s if not worse. The guilt tripping and thought control has been ramped up to 1000. The organization is very self aware of the problems they’re having. Their version of addressing these problems is to have JW’s dismiss them. With a healthy dose of “just trust in jah faithless one”.
The “Remember the wife of Lot” video left me speechless. Legitimate concerns and complaints are brushed aside as evidence of a lack of faith. Which is a good thing. Jehovah can’t be relied upon to provide anything. The husband in that video is an idiot who would rather his family starve than be successful. Incredibly frustrating to watch.
@Chiafade
OMG! I have to agree with you on this video series of Remember the wife of Lot…I only got to the second one and I can’t watch anymore! I personally think it is worse than the bunker series from last year! It’s so disturbing to watch.
@Chiafade,
What was disturbing about it? Isn’t it rather extreme to say the father would rather his family starve? They weren’t in need of anything, let alone starving. The father was making enough to support the family. I can’t understand what your beef is with that.
Personally, I had no problem with the videos of Lot’s wife, except that it appears too much like a worldly soap opera; the scene of the mother changing to salt will scare the kids; where is there a whole family coming into the truth anymore?; and why did the daughter who worked at the pharmaceutical company give in so easily to the request to work overtime? I would have told the boss to go to… you know where.
What was so awful for you and Shibboleth? I thought I was going to see something quite extreme. After watching it I thought it was much better than the bunker videos. The bunker videos did not even let us even think negatively.
The only extreme thing I saw was the Korean sister changing into a pillar of salt. The little children in the audience will be screaming and having nightmares.
“Isn’t it rather extreme to say the father would rather his family starve?”
Actually it’s not Ricardo. You haven’t thought it through which is why you didn’t find it offensive. The ramifications of the ideas that permeate this video reach more than just the ones who live comfortably in their first world homes. MANY JW’s in third world countries will be watching this nonsense and conclude exactly what I described. I try not to view these and think about those who live in my cozy circumstances. The father demonstrates JW extremism at the first portion of this disgusting propaganda video.
There’s also a very obvious mixed message right in the interaction the “Lot” character has with his wife where he says “we have enough debt, we don’t need more” a mere MINUTE later when she tells him about the class she’s taking to make more money he says “wait! We didn’t talk about this we’ve never gone without!”. So which one is it? They have zero debt and have plenty? Or they have debt and are in need of money to pay it off? If his wife didn’t push to bring more money home junior “Lot” in the video would’ve happily stayed with the status quo. If the status quo was third world level where would that put them?
These are just some of the not so subtle messages that can be found in this particular video. Its FILLED with propaganda, guilt tripping, and fear mongering. Did we watch the same video? The rational and reasonable people in this JW film are painted as villains. As they all do. Whereas the loyal to the cult swirly eyed JW’s are painted as heros. There’s the mooching brother Williams who lives off of the JWs. A character that the organization is too embarrassed to take to his more true to life conclusion. Instead of making him a raised in the cult always been in full-time service guy. They made him a former big time executive turned full-time moocher. What?!!! This is something that RARELY if ever happens. What DOES happen though is many JW men end up in leadership positions who’ve NEVER had actual life experience. Like Stephen Lett for example.
I’m not going to sit here and point out all of the little details that make this JW production a premier example of thought and behavior control. Maybe John will do something like that in the future. What can I say Ricardo? Watch it again and pay closer attention next time.
@Chiafade,
You do realize that Jesus did not have a full-time job, right? He spent his adult life in complete service to God. So, who are Christians to imitate? Jesus, right? So, what is the ideal that Christians should aim for? Is it not to be like Jesus and use our life in complete service to God?
So, a Christian religion encouraging its members to be more like Jesus. Is it really shocking? If the drama was encouraging Christians to become Hindu ascetics, yes, that would be shocking. But encouraging them to be just like Jesus? Am I missing something here?
Ricardo, let’s get real. Yes, you are right. Jesus did not have a full time job but he did not spend his adult life in full time service to Jehovah. The Bible says he was 30 when he got baptized and started his ministry and the twelve also dropped everything they were doing including supporting their families and went into the full-time work but how did they support themselves? Do yo remember? How did they feed themselves and get health care when they needed to go to the doctor?
According to Luke 8:1-3, the twelve were following Jesus from city to city and there were a bunch of women going along with them and it was those women who were supporting Jesus and the twelve out of their belongings.
How would that work today in today’s society? Those 13 men were traveling from city to city with a bunch of women and it was those women who were supporting Jesus and the twelve. How did those women support those 13 men?
In today’s society, how would a bunch of women support the full-time pioneer men and the circuit overseers etc?
According to the video, that Wilson character left a good paying job to go into the full-time work and the thought was put out there that the guy didn’t have to “work” for a living and was living off the work of others and that is true.
If you want to pioneer and have your children pioneer, that takes a lot of money. The video said that the father had lost some of his clients and they were already in debt and the mom was worried about them all being able to pioneer and that is why she went to work for her uncle. She listened to her mother and went into the real estate business and instead of paying off the debts that they already had, she decided on her own to get a 2nd mortgage on a bigger “apartment” and they all moved into that bigger “apartment”.
Did any of that make any sense to you? It sure did not to me. You don’t “mortgage” apartments. You “mortgage” houses. Nobody is going to give them a 2nd mortgage when they haven’t paid off the first mortgage and you don’t “mortgage” apartments. You mortgage houses.
The people who put those videos together have no idea about the Bible or how the rank and file are supposed to be able to pioneer and have their children pioneer without somebody making a lot of money in a very good-paying job, that is if they want to be able to buy cars for those pioneer children and for themselves, pay for the gas, the insurance, the rent on homes, health insurance, clothes to wear, tires for those cars, repairs for those cars, and on and on. It’s expensive just to survive, let alone, support those full-time pioneers who have left perfectly good jobs to go into the pioneer work and expect somebody who actually does have a good paying job to support those full-time ministers.
All those women who were traveling along with Jesus must have had some means of support to support those men that they were traveling along with. How did those women support themselves along with all those men they were traveling along with?
Where did those women get their means of support? Obviously they weren’t married were they?
Ricardo. I want you to think real hard about my question. How did those women support themselves and Jesus and the twelve men they were going along with? How did single women support themselves in those days? Think about it real hard.
@Caroline,
I have a feeling that ‘window cleaning’ is not the answer you were hoping for.
Ricardo. I don’t think there were a whole lot of windows those women could have been washing in those days but why was it okay for all those men to be traveling with those single women from city to city and why was it okay for those men to be living off those women?
They sound more like pimps to me than ministers. Just saying.
@Caroline,
That would be a brave move, in such a fanatical religiously-charged environment with rabid pharisees examining any little slight against the law to see if the sinner could be stoned to death. Surely, if Jesus and his mates were pimps, the pharisees would be rubbing their hands with glee, given a golden opportunity to get rid of the whole bunch of heretics. Isn’t it funny that there were no accusations of sexual immorality made against Jesus or his group? If there was some impropriety right at the start, it is quite unusual that this behaviour didn’t continue being a feature of early Christianity, as did, say, early Islamic behaviour (and current) which followed the behaviour of its founder who had 8 wives and married one of them at the age of 8.
In contrast, Jesus upheld the godly standard of marriage and divorce, and was noted for his pure standards. When the enemies wanted to trap him, rather than turn to moral issues, they asked him about tax matters and who was their neighbour.
So I think there was the same chance of Jesus et al being pimps as there is of them also being window cleaners.
Ricardo, the only “work” single women could get then was prostitution. How did those women support themselves and those 13 men? That is what Luke says. It isn’t me that is saying that those women supported those men. It’s what the Bible says.
If those men needed to be “supported” by women, then why? Couldn’t Jesus produce food and wine by magic? Why were they ever concerned about taking along bread?
I do think that is how they supported themselves and those 13 men. Prostitution in those days was looked at as just a fine job. Don’t fool yourself. Those men could have as many women as they wanted. They just couldn’t have sex with a woman who “belonged” to another man.
Did any of that really happen? If it did, then you have to wonder how they supported themselves.
If you go to Matthew 13:56 it says:
“And his sisters, are they not all with us? Where, then, did this man (Jesus) get all these things?”
If Jesus didn’t have a place to lay his head, etc. then why did those people ask where Jesus got all his “things”? Just what “things” were they talking about?
Paul said at 1 Cor. 9:14 that “the Lord ordained for those proclaiming the good news to live by means of the good news.” but then he went on to say at 1 Cor. 9:18: “What, then, is my reward? That while declaring the good news I may furnish the good news without cost, to the end that I may not abuse my authority in the good news.”
So, Paul says that Jesus said that “ministers” of the good news deserved to be supported by the good news but Paul didn’t want to be a burden on the congregations, so he worked by making tents.
So, according to what Paul said, there is nothing wrong with having a “paid” minister for a congregation from Jesus’ words but Paul evidently didn’t see it that way. He thought the good news should be free.
@Caroline,
When we make a claim, it would be good if there is solid basis for such a claim. Your claim that these righteous men were indeed pimps has no basis in scripture or in recorded history. I have given you several lines of strong reasoning where your conclusion is faulty.
We can suppose a lot of things about Jesus, with the same process as you have. Some people believe Jesus went to America and talked to the indians. Some have him actually going to India.
If you like, you can say that Jesus went to the moon and met Neil Armstrong there, but told Neil to keep it quiet. There is as much proof as this having happened as there is for your hypothesis.
There must come a time when a certain position, a certain hypothesis, becomes so untenable it must be rejected.
If you wish to believe that Jesus was a pimp, who am I to stop you? But please also be willing, by the same thought process, to accept that Jesus was on the moon feeding carrots to the lunar bunnies when he was rudely interrupted by some guys on a lunar buggy in 1969.
Ricardo, I made no claims that Jesus and the 12 were pimps. I only quoted you Luke 8:1-3 where all those men were traveling with a bunch of women who were supporting those men.
Argue with the Bible, not me but I will ask you again, do you think it was okay for all those women to be traveling with Jesus and the 12 apostles and supporting those men? What makes that okay with you and how did they support those men and why did they have to support those men since Jesus could produce all the fish and wine and bread out of thin air by magic?
Just because the Watchtower Society would condemn such a thing today in the Organization, doesn’t make it a crime 2,000 years ago.
We have no idea what those people did in those days and I am pretty sure, they didn’t condemn prostitution except if it was a priest’s daughter who would have been burned.
If you have any scriptures to the contrary, can you show them to us?
Thanks
@Caroline,
You are very cunning in the way you lay out your argument. No doubt you don’t claim this or that, but you leave an intended impression.
You are no doubt aware that the customs of the Jews 2,000 years ago are very different to today, and the customs of the Watchtower organization are different to everywhere else. To try to compare the two is like grasping the wind.
As for scriptures, as I have said, I have given ample proof. Is there any scriptural proof Jesus was not on the moon in 1969? It gets a little nonsensical when we come up with conclusions based on very little premise. All the same, there is no scriptural or historical basis for belief that Jesus was on the moon. Not that I claim he was.
Likewise, there is no scriptural or historical proof for the premise which you are not claiming.
And if this subject keeps going, it’s going to be hard to understand what each of us is claiming or not claiming. If we were ever claiming anything.
Ricardo, the point of my posts regarding Jesus being “supported” by a bunch of women which is found at your own Bible at Luke 8:1-3 is to make you think about every Bible scripture when you read and not gloss over even one simple scripture like that. How many times did the Society ever point out that scripture to us while we were going to meetings?
I went to meetings for 50 years and I did not learn or think about that scripture until I took classes last winter at my college and it was a class about the Christian Greek Scriptures. Even the professor (a former priest) glossed over that scripture because he is a believer in the Jesus stories.
The Society (JW’s) gloss over that scripture and all the churches gloss over that scripture and to me that scripture demands to be looked at and examined.
I have the Society’s concordance and I can not find even one scripture in the Greek Scriptures that even mention prostitution but I can find tons of scriptures found in the Hebrew scriptures dealing with it and I can find that it seemed to be an acceptable job to be a prostitute, even male prostitute, just not in the “temple”.
If you examine your Bible, you will see that Judah went to a temple prostitute and that was long before the temple had been set up in the wilderness by Moses, so ask yourself, just what kind of religion was Judah involved in? Remember that he wanted his daughter-in-law Tamar burned for adultery. It seems fairly obvious that he was involved in Canaanite religion.
Can you explain Hebrews 12:24 where the N.W.T. says: “and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood.”?
You know nothing about the Bible because you don’t study it, scripture by scripture just like nobody else does either who claim to be “Christian.”
When I first was suspicious that the Society was lying to us was years ago when I saw a sentence in one of the books we were studying and it said that it was Jehovah who gave the Jews the Law covenant and it had to do with the scripture where Jesus said that Moses had given the Israelites an out when it came to divorce because of the “hard heartedness” of the Jews under Moses and I set out to prove the Society was lying.
I knew that it was Moses who had given the Jews the “Law” and I thought it was his father-in-law Jethro who had together with Moses set up those “Laws” and so I set out to prove the Society was lying when it said that it was Jehovah who had given Moses those horrible laws (the Law Covenant).
For many years, I had made excuses for Jehovah to people by telling those who thought that the god of the Hebrew Scriptures was a horrible god by telling them that the Hebrew Scriptures was merely a “history” of the Jews that they had made up to make themselves look as if God was telling them to do all those awful things and none of those things actually did happen but they were made up by the Jews and Jehovah was not really responsible for those scriptures but I was wrong.
It was Jehovah who did give those laws to the Jews. I proved it to myself by taking the book of Exodus apart, scripture by scripture and came up with over 100 pages of notes that proves that there is no way that that story even makes sense but in the meantime but I came to realize that the god of the Jews who gave those laws to Moses to give to the Israelites and he was horrible if he actually did give that law to the Jews and told the Israelites to go into those lands and kill all those people (men, women and little children) for no reason at all except that they lived there first and God had told Abraham that he was going to give that land to the Israelites instead.
I had to prove it to myself that the Society was lying about Jehovah giving the Mosaic law to the Jews but it was Jehovah who is responsible for those laws.
That is why I have no respect for the Hebrew Scriptures and if the Hebrew Scriptures are not factual, then neither can the Greek Scriptures make any sense because the Greek Scriptures depend on the Hebrew Scriptures being true.
What we did, and so do all other “Christian” religions do, is to pick out all the good-sounding scriptures. We didn’t pay attention to the ugly scriptures.
The Bible is man-made. The Christian Greek Scriptures are comforting to people because nobody wants to think about dying and so it goes back to the beginning of the Bible (serpent’s lie to Eve) to tell people why they will die and the Greek Scriptures give the answer to why people die and comfort them with the idea that if they believe in Jesus that they will have an after life where they will be with all their dead loved ones again someday.
Funny thing is though, that that “prophecy” at Genesis 3:15 says nothing about an afterlife. The afterlife thing comes in in the Greek Scriptures. The Hebrews had no thought of going to heaven. The Society is right about that when they say that Jesus was the first person who was supposed to go to heaven, that is if you believe in the Bible being inspired of a god, which I don’t.
The reason I keep bringing this out is that if you cut off the head of the snake (Jehovah), then the rest of the body dies (the Bible) and so does the religion that depends on the Bible being inspired of a perfect and just god and is using the supposedly perfect and inspired Bible to control and manipulate it’s people who are depressed by losing those that they love in death and long to see them again, which everybody does and cling to the Bible as being true and inspired but in realizing that the Bible is not inspired, then the comforting hope of seeing dead loved ones goes away too, which is also depressing, which I feel bad about but I think it’s important to kill the snake which is the one that is destroying all our lives by shunning us that don’t believe anymore. That is my goal in exposing the Bible for what it really is.
It is the head of the snake (Jehovah) that the Watchtower religion embraces by adopting the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses”. Jehovah’s Witnesses make all kinds of excuses for the god of the Jews because they have to because of their name, but even the Jews don’t make excuses for that god anymore but the Jehovah’s Witnesses do because they have to because of their name.
They have to make excuses for what the Isrealites did in the Hebrew Scriptures and they have to make excuses for the “Law” because that is the god that they think they worship but they actually follow the “Christian” god of the Greek Scriptures but think that the “Christian” god and the god of the Hebrews is the same god but if Jesus and Jehovah are one in the same as far as morals go, then neither one deserves any respect as far as I am concerned.
Like I have asked messenger again and again and he refuses to answer is this: Can you think of even one commandment from Jehovah from the “Law:” given to Moses, would you follow today and why because that is your god. It isn’t Jesus. It’s Jehovah.
Something to be aware of when questioning whether one is in a cult – ‘when you ask questions about their history or the group, they are vague in their answers or avoid answering them’. (not answering or postponing it makes it go away.)
Watchtower is being forced more and more to reveal itself as a cult every time they try to halt the waking up of followers. Threats and lies are the tools they use and they work a treat on those of the Sheep who are scared and dependent and have no thoughts of their own and who are not actually seeking truth but constant confirmation that their chosen ‘religion’ is the ‘the one’. Those ones will turn a blind eye to anything and are a gift to the Watchtower cult.
So what would happen if I brought this to my elders saying I looked for these articles and found this?
@concerned25. Don’t do it! There is no point in doing so, you would just get their attention for you mixing up with apostates. Apostates are lying anyway while the GB has never -NEVER- lied. It’s a lost crusade to talk with the elders of such questions..
I’m afraid Tranquillo is right. You’d be painting yourself as a target. The elders are company men. They are the HR department and police for the organization. You would get hounded for a shepherding call and your bringing up an “apostate” article will be brought up at their next elders meeting as a subject for the next local needs talk.
Unless you want to confront them I’d keep flying under the radar if your goal is to simply fade away.
@ Concerned25;
I concur with the others; do not under any circumstances ever, ever paint a target on yourself or give the elders the nails and hammer to crucify you with. Satisfy yourself by doing your own research and once satisfied that you have the correct information, then start your fade.
Do not send any resignation letter as this too will be used against you and you will be immediately shunned. Slowly fade from field service, comments at meeting then the meetings themselves.
Remember, the elders want to shut you up to prevent your knowledge from undermining the ‘faith’ (read: control) of the blinded ‘sheeple’.
Thankyou Covert for your well written article. It all definitely happened, I grew up in that time. I can
remember the quoted publications as if it were yesterday. The impending doom of armageddon
colored every aspect of our lives. As a child I would hope all my pets would be dead before 1975 so
they wouldn’t die violently in the wrath of the great day of Jehovah. I remember hearing brothers
discussing whether to update their cars or if they would last until armageddon. I remember a brother giving a talk in which he told us it would be dishonest to apply for a loan, as we knew for
sure the money would never be repaid. I remember my father showing my grandmother an item
from Watching the World in the Awake, it was about an increase in the numbers of carrion eating
birds, which proved armageddon was coming soon.
Against Watchtower’s advice I married in 1972. When my son was born in 1973, my elder father in
law assured me my baby would never have to attend school in this wicked system.
Imminent destruction continued to affect my everyday life until approx. 1998 , when finally my
exhausted and atrophied brain said, ‘hey, the 1914 generation is all but dead and gone, I think you’ve been lied to’.
So began my slow journey out of the fog.
Jennifer
Jennifer I am on a roll with this topic. I can top your pet anxiety. My mum had my beloved pet cat put down in 1975 because the big A was coming and we would not be able to afford to feed it. I was 10. No scar tissue on my heart from that one!
@Ruthlee, first of all,my deepest condolences on your sexual assault. Cannot imagine your pain. On top of that to have your precious cat put down for some lunatic warning is beyond the pale. I can empathize with that one.
The first point on “some were looking to a certain date … ” reminds me of the case when there are failed prophecies, WT puts always the blame on “some brothers”.
On the matter of some JW’s selling their homes and quitting their jobs, I’ve seen the Kingdom MinistryMay 1974 p.3 thtat extolled those who were doing this. When i see the words of 2017’s convention “A few went so far as selling their homes and quitting their jobs”, I’m shocked and appalled. It’s disgusting what the WT is doing.
I’m glad I won’t attend this year’s convention just as I’ve missed 2015’s and 2016’s.
Another brilliant article Covert.
‘Keep in expectation ….. 1975’. The GB are expert at keeping their followers believing they are on the brink of Armageddon. The ‘go bags’ must stink, they have been at the sheeples doors for around seven years …… Bet a few have been kicked up in the air by now or relegated to the broom cupboard ….. .
Great piece.
Yes if you lived through those times leading up to 75 as a teenager or young adult, it would be fair to say that you would not only clearly recall the intensity of WT commentary, but were almost certainly impacted in a way that initially was thought to be positive [but involved great sacrifice], and then later a loss of confidence resulting from the non events.
This would then place one in a position where some big decisions would need to be made, such as should I leave the WT since I have a serious problem with child baptism, DF and Shunning anyway, but given all of my loved ones and friends are remaining am I able to loose them through DA, or should I just turn around and throw myself into it more fully as a pioneer, or perhaps just back off and `sit on the fence’ and cruise and observe.
I did all of those at various times between 76 and 85 and observed others doing the same.
Thanks for you efforts.
I remember that time very well. My mother started studying in 1964, I was only 10 and in 1968 there were articles and talks gearing everyone up for the end of 6000 yrs of mankind’s existence, hence it was expected that the 7000th yr would start the 1000 yr reign. I was not supposed to graduate high school, hence no further education was planned for me or my siblings. And yes I do remember the “stay alive till ’75” talks throughout the years leading up to 1975. It came and went, but everyone continued to believe it was right around the corner. I think “The little boy who cried wolf” warned one too many times for me!
The hype and euphoria regarding 1975 started about 8 years
before that date and it’s purpose was to to boost a flagging
growth rate. I remember a brother pinning a news clipping
to the KH notice board, it contained a comment from a former
Bethel insider, it claimed the society gets worried if the growth
rate gets below 2% and that their focussing on this date was
a scheme to remedy this.
The scheme worked growth shot up to about 6 or 7%. but
inevitably the elation turned to gloom and apathy, when the
fantastic prediction failed to turn into reality. Many, realising
they’d been lied to, conned, had had enough and left, and
who can blame them?
But! Blame them, is exactly what happened. At an assembly
shortly after 75, it was the character of those who left that
was maligned. The speaker said, “They were opportunists
we don’t want them anyway.” But the undeniable truth is,
the real opportunists, the real carpet baggers were the gov, bod,
I stuck it out for another 7 years after 75. At that time the
control was ramped up, even private thoughts that were
not in complete alignment with the F& DS put you
in Satan’s camp. It was obvious u were getting desperate
and were going nowhere. The light, the truth finally dawned
and I sent in my resignation.
I too knew a brother caught up in the euphoria of 75
who sold his house moved into a caravan with his
family. The inevitable consequences afterwards,
no house, little money, bitter disappointment. Sadly
he died shortly after in his early 50s
One cannot definitely put his death down to the situation
imposed upon him, but neither can it be discounted.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick” Prov,13:12.
The ’89 Watchtower was changed from “20th Century”…to….”Our day”. Now, if that isn’t the epitome of sneaky and deceit I don’t know what is. Remember also that they changed a lot of sentences and paragraphs in the Revelation book when we studied in it for about the 5th time. There was an insert in the Kingdom Ministry that had all the changes if you still had the original first print hard back. These changes were made because 1) nothing had happened yet 2) they were way off and wrong on certain things 3) scriptures used in paragraphs were removed or added.
@Jwnomo
I believe this could be one of the major reasons for electronic printing of the Org’s literature. They are able to make “minor” adjustments to articles that the regular R&F JW will be none the wiser. And as in the book 1984, they can rewrite everything that makes the org look ridiculous and cover their tracks quickly and silently. If you’ve seen the app JW Library, the items that are downloaded have updates pending quite frequently. The video of Hezekiah right after the assembly had an update! And the Government book studied at the hall had an update a few times right after being published…they are catching on that people are scrutinizing the literature and making the adjustments rapidly. Or in other words, covering up the mistakes.
They even made an electronic change in a the new grey Bible since it’s been released!
Short reply because I have got to go to work-just a minute I’m 65 years old why am I still working?? Bad forward planning! Silly me I thought I “will never fulfill a career in this system of things”!!! I am so mad that they can try to distance themselves from this era!!!!
The Botchtower Babble & Tricks Society – Masters of the ol’ Bait & Switch.
Story doesn’t pan out? Change the story!!! Rewrite history!!! Why the **** not? It’s worked so far!
WAKE UP JWs!!!
SAVE YOURSELVES from that manipulative nest of SNAKES.
Take it from a Twisted Sister … You’ll be better off.
Remember, we have nothing to gain by telling you this stuff, except the satisfaction of helping others achieve the freedom, relief, & liberation from all of that crazy, dead-end BS, that we have achieved. Not promising u a perfect life, just a better one.
So many failed predictions, – the end to come in 1914, 1925, 1975
and other dates in between. So many flip flops and doctrinal
changes, –>
Transplants are good, transplants are cannibalism, transplants
are great we recommend them. Higher powers are worldly
rulers, new light , now the powers are JHVH & Jesus, then back
again to the old light which is now new light. The F & DS is all
of the remnant and if you disagree you’re practicing self deception.
Ah! But now you were right to disagree because the slave is not the
remnant, but the gov, bod. So as not to bore you I’ll skip the next
10 chapters.
U the ones who departed after 75 had not been opportunists
they were the wise ones who realised there never was a God
within light years of this organisation. Their own words confirm
It –>
“If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now;… But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. “New Light” never extinguishes older “light” but adds to it…” Zion’s Watch Tower 1881 Feb pp.3,188
Firstly, some Bible dates are more dubious than one might think. Especially, ’40’ in the Bible can mean simply ‘many’ – or it’s rather odd that many Bible Kings ruled for exactly 40 years. no? Now the JWs have also been keen to point out that the ‘6 Days’ of Creation are not exact 24 hour periods, just as one might say ‘In Queen Victoria’s day’. This I think they are correct on. However that means the dates for Exodus, the Flood, Adam, are debateable and may be much earlier than we think. Even the no. 70 in the Bible can mean ‘a complete divinely ordained period’ rather than exactly 7 decades. Maybe the Flood was rather earlier than ca. 4000 BCE?
Now for the modern prohpecy of Armaggeddon. Truly, ‘No man knows the day or hour’. But the JWs did say there were 2 major global events that would be fulfilled before A’gedon, and one that would NOT happen. 1) The cry of Peace and Security’. OK we had a UN Year of Peace and Security back in 1986 but that obviously wan’t the Big One. Then 2) a turning, by all world govts, on ‘Babylon the Great, i.e. false religion. FALSE religion, so not JWs then. In fact the JWs were supposed to be left all alone, then when world govts realise this omission they of course turn on the JWs too, and Jehovah sees this as ‘touching my eyeball, and BANG, its Armaggeddon Time. So odd order of events, you might think that once we had, from a worldy point of view, peace and security, why bohter anatagonising a large section of people by banning all religions? Maybe that ban is to CONSOLIDATE the Peace and Security, we don’t know. And 3) the one that WON’T HAPPEN – China becomes the next world power. Anglo-US is the last world power, acording to Daniel.
So we should have some month’s warning of A’gedon, as you have to publicise w/wide P&S widely, and a ban on religion can be announced, but not implemented, overnight. Oddly, though, the child abuse scandal has put the JWs in a worse light than many mainstream religions, so it’ll be interesting to see how the mainstream religions get banned before the JWs do. Fun and interesting times ahead, inside and outside the K Halls.
I remember them using a scripture that says to the effect “they were not of our sort” for those who abandoned ship after ’75 and they still use it today for those who leave the org…
7. The immediate future is certain to be filled with climactic events, for this old system is nearing its complete end. Within a few years at most the final parts of Bible prophecy relative to these “last days” will undergo fulfillment, resulting in the liberation of surviving mankind into Christ’s glorious 1,000-year reign. What difficult days, but, at the same time, what grand days are just ahead!
8. Does this mean that the year 1975 will bring the battle of Armageddon? No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring. Jesus said: “Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows.Sufficient is it for God’s servants to know for a certainty that, for this system under Satan, time is running out rapidly. How foolish a person would be not to be awake and alert to the limited time remaining, to the earthshaking events soon to take place, and to the need to work out one’s salvation!
Hi all,
So I’ve been doing my own research on this and I’m not trying to start a argument here but can someone help me understand this….The quote in the above article talks about paragraph seven, that paragraph does sound like Armageddon is suppose to be fulfilled in a few years but the next paragraph 8 says different.
Is don’t understand has the article took that part out too make there statement more valid but they haven’t fully quoted the rest of what the Watchtower has printed?
NJ, do you have the details of that article – magazine,date and page? I was an active Witness back then and absolutely everyone was convinced that the millennial kingdom would happen during the last thousand years of Jehovah’s 7,000 year long day of rest. Which meant Armageddon would have to take place first.
Hi greytower,
Its in the Watchtower magazine 1968 May 1 Titled: Making Wise Use of the Remaining Time..Paragraphs 7 & 8.
Oh I see how the Witnesses may have thought the end was coming but that paragraph 8 says Does this mean that the year 1975 will bring the battle of Armageddon? No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring.
So that’s where I have become a bit undecided.
Thanks for the details of that Watchtower article, NJ. Yes, paragraph 8 says “No one can say with certainty what any particular year will bring… Sufficient is it for God’s servants to know for a certainty that, for this system under Satan, time is running out rapidly.” It’s what else they said that should not be overlooked. For example:
“There are only about 90 months left before 6,000 years of man’s existence on earth is completed. Do you remember what we learned at the assemblies last summer? The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out” Kingdom Ministry March 1968 p.4
“The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the “last days” have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God.” Awake! 1968 Oct. 8 p.13
“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.” Kingdom Ministry May 1974 p.3
“The day of Jehovah” and the “end of Christendom” will come in this twentieth century” (The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah. How? Page 200)
There is nothing ambiguous about those remark and the specific references to the expectation that Armageddon was imminent. I was there, NJ. I lived through it all. And now the Governing Body dares to blame the Witnesses for reading too much into what they wrote and said? I guess they reckon that the Witnesses alive then will be too scared to protest or speak out. And since very few people have access to the original printed material, they are probably confident that nobody will be able to challenge their re-write of history. Well, they are wrong.
Thanks for the reply Greytower. Yes, I wish I could find the original copies of the printed material. But I will try find them and continue my research on this topic.
Wait, are you saying the 1,000 yr reign would start at the END, in the last thousand years of the rest day which would be 7,000 yrs from 1975? Meaning there are 6,000 yrs more to go? WHAT!
Just scrap that. Comment, I have no need to figure anything else out. The WT belief system is already so flawed and twisted, no need to seek more info.
Mene mene Tekel Parsin, the finger scribed on the wall. Yes, after 70 years in captivity Babylon ” the impregnable city” fell in all but one night. One thing no one can stop is time. Jehovah promises a ” Great Tribulation ” leading to “Armageddon. Every word of Jehovah comes true. None of you offer hope to anyone. Where will you be on the ” Great and fear inspiring day of Jehovah’s anger” zeph: 1: 15- 2:2. You have your freedom to mock Jehovah. Remember, Jehovah is the one that promises complete destruction. As people say ” where is this promised presence of him” . The days are numbered. I hope you and whatever God’s you put trust in, will save the 500 or so people on this site. I appreciate you telling the world about the ” Good News” that Jesus commanded to preach. I’m sure Jehovah will be proud of you in the ” Great day if his anger”.
@Devin W,
I find your comment hard to understand. I have searched comment after comment, I looked back at the above article, but I could not see anyone mocking Jehovah. Have I missed something?
As a JW and as someone who loves Jehovah and respects him, I am glad that you hope Jehovah will save me. I hope Jehovah saves you, too, Brother Devin.
If anything, I see in the article and in the comments mention made of how our organization has mocked Jehovah by firstly misleading the members with false expectations of 1975, and now covering that over.
Why can’t our organization and Governing Body just take responsibility for what they have done? But just like in the child sexual abuse cases, the GB tries to make it seem they are pure and pearly white and are not at all responsible for the wrong handling.
Devin, if you or I told a lie, would we not expect to get counselled for it by the elders if it had a huge impact on a large number of people?
Why are you complaining that the GB are now found being at fault? Maybe you too do not believe in being responsible.
I suggest you read the Questions from readers in the 1984 22/8 Awake which said that any organization that assumes to be the way of salvation “should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism. All who criticize have the obligation to be truthful in presenting the facts and fair and objective in assessing such.”
I believe the articles and comments have presented facts truthfully and fairly.
So what are you complaining about?
@Devin W
My “Hope” for you and everyone else still part of this organisation is that you have a plan to fund your retirement, look after your wife and family (if you have any), in very much the same way as this organisation looks after its own future by investing in the stock market, buying and selling properties and securing it’s future using higher educated lawyers, civil engineers, doctors and dentists.
I respect your right to have an opinion, I just hope and pray that this is YOUR opinion and not one that has been implanted into your head by continuous mind and thought control.
Last thought, is it refreshing for you to express this opinion in open dialogue, having not had the same opportunity offered to you at JW.org’s site?
Peace be with you Brother!
@Devin W.
I had to respond to your comment on a Great Tribulation. The capital letters suggest a proper noun event. But when you look in the new grey Bible, Matthew 24:21 says: “…there will be great tribulation”. And if you read the connecting scripture at Luke 21:23 it reads: “there will be great distress on the land…” In other words, if you are suggesting a defined event that is called The Great Tribulation will be coming, the Bible definitely does not say that. Oops! Looks like the org changed that one too!
Hi Devin W if you take the time to see what Christians believe then Jesus has it all in hand and those of us who still have faith in Him not brooklyn, warwick or any other hq , know he knows what he is doing and we are not worried. We are certainly not scared of God because he never lies ever! As reguards preaching , the Gospel was about Christ and it is about time the jdubs stopped preaching to Christians and sell everything and go and preach to the muslims and the pagans. 1975 ring any bells.? I have complete confidence in God and none whatsoever in watchtower. If you are a serious preacher then you would sell all and go and preach and not be on this site. I hope I do not offend you but that is my thoughts. RL
Devin
Not truly correct Devin. Many here only hope in this present life, that’s true. However, not all of us have such limited hopes and beliefs, and our expanded hope is clear from our comments on this site.
Hypocritically WT advises all “do not put your trust in men” and yet WT severely sanctions members who don’t place their trust in WT’s every utterance. If that’s a lie voice a contrary opinion to some of WT’s assertions at your meetings. Only WT itself is ALLOWED to do that, which is proof your hope is in WT not in Jehovah, since WT is and has always changed its belief on scriptural interpretation as well as what is proper Christian conduct, while not allowing you to change your belief on either of those without WT’s consent and direction to do so. Who is your god? In who do you trust? The proof is in the pudding.
Interesting that no one else believes or follows WT doctrine but WT and those it DEMANDS allegiance from:
You can vote-now you cannot vote for public office.
You can celebrate a birthday-now you can’t celebrate a birthday.
You can celebrate Christ’s birth-now you cannot celebrate Christ’s birth.
You can where a gun in a job to protect the public-you can’t wear a gun.
You can smoke-you cannot smoke.
You can disagree with WT-YOU CANNOT DISAGREE WITH WT!!!
Choose your own god Devin.
The world according to WT: “We aren’t inspired of God, but we have the God given right to tell you what you can and must do to be accepted by him (God), and we can, do, and will change that prescription for your adherence to our rules and beliefs at our discretion-YOU MUST CONSENT (If you know what’s good for you).”
Very well written and I really enjoyed reading this.
Thank you for all your time and detail spent for the benefit of others in writing the information!
Bizarre that the WTS are bringing up such a denied topic. if they had nothing to do with the 1975 Armageddon campaign why bring it up to the surface in 2017. The arrogance I assume is that the WTS think that the “friends” or “brothers & sisters” don’t own computer’s to read about it? It may actually backfire on them talking about it now. There are a lot people who didn’t live through the end is just around the corner, this generation will not die out before the end shall come of the 1970’s and or 1980’s like some of us. Those people are so clueless to the Jehovah’s Witness cult culture. I can’t believe that people choose this form of religion on purpose (I was unfortunately born into it) happily I became mentally liberated and physically distanced myself from such an unnecessary lifestyle of doom and gloom with sheep like rules. It’s sad that witnesses are so hopeful for the death of their neighbors the same people that they pledged to love.
One of the brain washing techniques WT used to convince us to join it, those of us who were already grown is apparent in this video. Remember how WT always used direct quotes and scathing opinions against its opposition (like the Catholic church). But, as is true in this video, WT NEVER used such tactics when cleaning up its own house. WT never clearly showed us what it did before receiving “new light” on topics. Most of us learned that more recently through the internet. Rather when changing doctrine or its opinions WT soft peddled it or white washed it’s previous positions. We were never really shown the facts. Instead we got an opinion about what happened, about what WT said and did. And who gave us that opinion? WT did. Most any individual or organization when presenting information about itself will do so in a most favorable light. “A house divided against itself will fall.”(Christ) Because of that we never learned the truth. That favorable light from WT also was scattered with deceptions, as is also true in this video. In short, we were tricked. While always changing its course like that WT taught some Bible doctrines that were easily interpreted as Biblically correct, as do all Christian churches, while condemning every other church and its brother. WT gained adherents from people who were Biblically illiterate, as you probably realize from your time spent in field service, or they were born into the religion.
Or, as my friend outandabout would present it, they were born into the cult.