In 1947 the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists featured a clock on the cover of its magazine which came to be known as the “Doomsday Clock.” While World War II had ended, the threat of global nuclear warfare had just begun. Tension between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated in 1949 when the Soviets detonated a bomb in central Asia, causing international concern. The Bulletin Scientists moved the symbolic minute hand from seven minutes to midnight to 3 minutes before midnight, indicating just how close they felt the world was to a possible nuclear holocaust.
Throughout the years the minute hand has ticked back and forth with world events as scientists have monitored the arms buildup of the superpowers. In time, the “Doomsday Clock” became linked with the term “doomsday cult.”
Cover of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, February 1958
1975
By the year 1975, Jehovah’s Witnesses began to take notice of this clock, publishing its time on a regular basis in an effort to highlight the urgency of the “last days”. This timing was no coincidence, as Watchtower vice-president Frederick Franz had predicted back in 1966 that 1975 would mark the end of 6000 years of mankind’s existence, kicking off the 1000 year reign of Christ. This would mean that 1975 would also bring about God’s personal doomsday, Armageddon.
“Life Everlasting” book prediction of 1975 as the likely onset of Armageddon
The Doomsday Clock seemed to add weight to these predictions.
The Awake! magazine of February 8, 1975 stated:
ON AUGUST 25, 1974, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its front-cover “doomsday clock” three minutes closer to midnight. These scientists thus signaled their fear that the threat of nuclear holocaust recently grew by that much, bringing the clock to nine minutes before midnight.
However, those who are aware of the clock’s history know that, since 1947 when the atomic scientists started it ticking, their clock has moved eight times, but in both directions.
Many people believe that the course of history is very similar to that “doomsday clock.” They say that crises come and crises go but somehow mankind always muddles through. Their outlook is just what a discerning prophet 1,900 years ago said it would be: “Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.”—2 Pet. 3:4
On the one hand, Witnesses were frightened by the impending doom and ominous nature of the nuclear threat, while simultaneously being told that the vacillation of the clock’s hands proves that mankind is deceived into thinking that the end of the world was not imminent.
The year 1975 came and went without major incident, and this disappointment was devastating to many Jehovah’s Witnesses, causing a radical drop in membership and financial ruin for many who had pinned their hopes on this date.
Amazingly, the Watchtower’s Governing Body brushed aside this theocratic defeat and went right back to disseminating messages of doom for all of the word’s governments, all religions (except JWs), and any person not associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses.
On June 8, 1981, the Awake! magazine excitedly announced that the Doomsday Clock had moved closer to the midnight hour:
BACK IN 1947, atomic scientists concerned about nuclear war invented a “doomsday clock” to dramatize their fears. The clock has since become the best known symbol of the publication “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.” Should the hands of the clock reach midnight, it will mean that nuclear war has begun.
Recently the position of the hands was set ahead—from seven minutes before midnight to only four minutes to that hour. Quite a jump! The hands have been moved only 10 times in 33 years.
Why do the scientists think the world is now getting closer to nuclear war? Because of the failure of the SALT II arms treaty and because of each side’s stated willingness to fight a “limited” nuclear war.
1984
By 1984, Jehovah’s Witnesses were inundated with articles and books which declared that Armageddon was imminent, citing its infamous “generations” teaching along with fear of global nuclear war. The March 22 1984 Awake! announced:
The “doomsday clock,” a feature of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, was advanced another minute last January to three minutes before midnight… The “Bulletin Clock” has been advanced and set back through the years to indicate the intensity of “the threat of nuclear doomsday hovering over humanity.” The present move to three minutes before midnight is the closest in 30 years
The summer of 1984 saw the release of the book “Survival into a New Earth,” generating even more anticipation that the end was extremely close, and once again the clock was mentioned.
Survival into a New Earth, Published in 1984
The final chapter was titled The Countdown Nears its Zero Hour! Note the recycled words from the 1981 Awake!:
If you were one of Jehovah’s Witnesses back in 1984, no doubt chills ran up and down your spine as you read those words. There was no misunderstanding – we were living in the very LAST part of the LAST days, and every Witness knew that the end was imminent. Fred Franz was the living embodiment of the 1914 Generation teaching, using the last few years of his life in a last-gasp attempt to convince millions of Witnesses that Armageddon would arrive before his contemporaries died.
The Survival Book reinforces the “Generation” doctrine
By the end of 1984, the Watchtower organization had taken ownership of their own doomsday timepiece, capitalizing on this concept by featuring a countdown clock on the cover of the October 22nd Awake! Were they trading on the fear of an imminent nuclear conflict? Judge for yourself:
PROMINENT people in all parts of the world are, indeed, coming to the conclusion that time is running out. The forces that constantly push the nations toward the brink of nuclear war register in their minds like screaming alarm sirens. The danger of global economic collapse and the many forms of deadly environmental pollution add to their uneasiness. They sense that time is running out not just for a few nations but for the entire world. Why? Because none of them can come up with solutions that really work.
Their greatest concern is the threat of nuclear war. Earlier this year, in harmony with the advice of 47 scientists, including 18 Nobel prize winners, the monthly Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its “doomsday clock” forward one minute—to three minutes before midnight. The clock represents how close they believe the world is to a nuclear conflagration. “It is an expression of alarm,” they state. The “doomsday clock” is now the nearest it has been to midnight in 30 years!
October 22, 1984 Awake Magazine features its own Doomsday Clock
1995
Unfortunately for the Watchtower organization and loyal Jehovah’s Witnesses, the clock wound down, expiring in yet another embarrassing end-of-times failed prediction. Fred Franz finally passed away in 1992, leaving behind a mountain of Biblical interpretations which would take years for the organization to unravel. Just 3 years after his death, the 1995 Watchtower discarded the previous “Generation” teaching and replaced it with with what they called a more “precise” doctrine.
November 1, 1995 Watchtower discards previous generation teaching, claims to have “precise” viewpoint
This 1995 Watchtower article reveals a key contradiction which has plagued the Witness organization since its origin. “Jehovah has revealed to us…” the things which “must shortly take place”, yet Jehovah’s Witnesses have somehow misinterpreted God’s personal revelations dozens of times. Is it really plausible that the Almighty would personally communicate sacred secrets to one religious organization, yet do so inaccurately every time?
Using language such as “terminal ruination”, “critical” and “urgency”, the Governing Body has continued to wield fear as a tool to steer the lives of millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Doomsday Clock is still mentioned repeatedly in Watchtower and Awake! articles.
Witnesses – Doomsday Prophets?
It is a fallacy and a deception to proclaim that Jehovah’s Witnesses are not doomsday prophets. By most definitions, “doomsday” represents destruction and death, which is EXACTLY what Witnesses preach. However, in an effort to draw individuals into the religion and minimize the damaging portions of the doctrine, the organization describes the very controversial topic of Armageddon and doomsday in a highly conflicting manner. In the May 1st 2015 Watchtower, the organization addressed this topic on page 7:
DOOMSDAY PROPHETS? Jehovah’s Witnesses are not doomsday prophets. They have been sharing a positive message about the future for over one hundred years. For example, their 1958 convention talk, “God’s Kingdom Rules—Is the World’s End Near?” explained that“God’s kingdom comes, not to destroy this earth, but to destroy Satan’s world. God’s kingdom comes, not to burn up this earth, but to bring to pass God’s will here on earth as well
as in heaven. For that reason the earth is worth preserving as God’s creation; and God will preserve it for all eternity.”
The clever strategy mentioned above has been used for decades to divert attention away from the massive decimation of human life by declaring that the Earth will be secure forever and will never face annihilation. Does the declaration of the Earth’s preservation absolve Jehovah’s Witnesses of the title “Doomsday Prophets”? Hardly.
In the very same 2015 Watchtower, it is later revealed that there WILL be significant loss of life:
The Bible informs us that the end will involve destruction:
“There will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now . . . In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved.” (Matthew 24:21,22) But God promises us that many humans will survive: “The world is passing away . . . , but the one who does the will of God remains forever.”…
The context shows that “all these things” that are to be dissolved include the ruling elements of this corrupt world and all those who choose such rulership rather than God’s.
Rather than following the majority today and ignoring the clear signals that we are living in such important times, we need to “keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah.” Jehovah’s Witnesses can show you from the Bible how you can be a survivor of this upcoming day
(bold added by editor)
The claim that “many” will survive Armageddon belies the actual JW teaching that MOST will be destroyed – billions of humans eliminated at God’s hand. The implication is clear – unless you are in close association with Jehovah’s Witnesses come judgment day, you will die.
Coming to grips with this conflict is a matter most Witnesses seldom discuss. When they do talk about Armageddon, the official Watchtower policy is often replaced with a more palatable line, something like “Well, Jehovah can read the heart of the individual, and HE makes the final judgment…”
As of January 2016, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists continues to place its clock at 3 minutes before midnight, right back where it was in 1984. Jehovah’s Witnesses will no doubt continue to exploit the rational fears of their members, and exchange this fear for an Apocalypse where they find themselves on the safe side of the fence.
On a personal level, the Watchtower’s emphasis on mankind’s impending doom deeply impacted my life. I was baptized in 1984 while attending high school, completely immersed in the belief that all of the collective “signs” pointed to the imminent day of God’s anger, Armageddon. Looking back on it, I didn’t know any better, just as the kids 10 years older than me were taken in by the 1975 prediction.
Perhaps the most important reason I was finally able to escape nearly 40 years later was my reflection on the repeating cycles I observed over my lifetime inside the organization. It went something like this:
PREDICT – FAIL – CHANGE DOCTRINE – REPEAT
Not only did I see these repeating patterns for more than 40 years, the real wake-up call was understanding how the latest doctrines were being injected into the minds of the next generation at younger and younger ages. I watched so many teens raise their hands at the Kingdom Hall and recite the current doctrine during the Watchtower Study, believing that they are devouring “spiritual meat”, when in fact so much of what they currently believe is likely to end up in the growing landfill with all of the discarded Watchtower publications.
Watchtower teachings come with an expiration date
Reflecting on the Watchtower’s use of the Doomsday Clock along with other end-of-the-world predictions might seem academic, but if you are still one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, understanding and escaping the undue influence of this organization might just give you back your life. Check the clock – you still have time.
Mark O'Donnell is a former Jehovah's Witness turned whistleblower after discovering the disturbing child abuse epidemic within the religion. His story, along with the revelation of a secret database of child molesters were featured in the March 2019 online issue of the Atlantic Magazine:
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/03/the-secret-jehovahs-witness-database-of-child-molesters/584311/
O'Donnell continues to investigate allegations of child abuse within the Witness organization, and works with law enforcement, attorneys, and survivors of abuse, writing about his findings on jwsurvey.org and other outlets.
Tony morris gave a talk about armagedon .describing the fate of those who do not respond to the message as ending up bodies burnt and split open like charred hot dogs. Aparantly he gave this talk to an audiance imcluding children . I know my feelings on this disgusting talk .and thes “kindly ” men are gods annointed .!!
I dont kmow how to do link. However it is on u tube under .getting to know you anthony morris 111 part 12 hot dog. I hope that will get you there .worth a listen.
Ah he was referring to his time as a medic in Vietnam seeing people burnt… hmmm this graphic picture should be shown to the minions when they start posting stupid fb pictures of a smiling Tony Blair taking a selfie in front of a blast which says ‘Me at Armageddon’.
We all know the identities of the con men who are directing the Watchtower doomsday cult. Now that the Governing Body members have come out of hiding, I have attempted to analyze their motives.
These three men are on power trips, getting off on the unquestioned loyalty of their cult followers. These men have mastered the art of lying with a straight face and they know that nearly everything they teach is false:
Gerrit Lösch
David H. Splane
Samuel Herd
This man probably believes he is really an anointed faithful slave. Like other Governing Body members, he will always lie to protect the Watchtower:
Geoffrey Jackson
These two men are seriously deluded. They may actually believe their bizarre hallucinations are divinely inspired:
M. Stephen Lett
Anthony Morris III
This new guy knows the whole Governing Body thing is a farce, but is flattered that he was chosen to rule with the big boys:
From a person of faith what the Bible has to say about these cult leaders.
Deutoronomy 18:20-22
20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord DOES NOT take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has NOT spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so DO NOT be alarmed.
Proverbs 30:5,6
5 “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do NOT ADD to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a LIAR.
1 Corinthians 4:6
6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “DO NOT go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.
This cult is what happens when people inclined to seek Christ kick Gods word to a side in order to read these Cult leaders fabrications on Gods will.
Robert 67, thank you for this comment, Deuteronomy 18:20-22 is even more damming when read from the NWT, especially verse 22. Geoffrey Jackson got one thing right at the ARC, they are presumptuous!
Once again they condem themselves through their own words and actions. By their fruits you shall know them.
@Robert67. Hi Robert good points you make. Just wondering are you still actively attending meetings and answering at the meetings etc. Has anyone been questioning you as to your points of view or do you keep them to yourself most of the time?
Seems lie the Witch-hunts of the WT are getting stronger these days. I speak with a few that are fading and they tell me the WT keeps coming don harder and harder on any “outside” the Box thinking. The thought police are always watching.
How much longer so you think you can do this for?
I admire you for your perseverance.
I am in a new city and have been openly dropping truth bombs at meeting. Example “I am so glad for this new light and now the fact that Moses, David and Elijah have not been resurected to lead us into the Great tribulation as Rutherford predicted time and time again makes more sence.” “This new construction project is truly a blessing I’m just so conserned for friends, since the area turned out to be a toxic waste dump and we’ve all heard of the cancerous effects of many of these chemicals.” My favorite is openly damning all those worldly false prophets that tell us the world is ending now and nothing happens, I then quote Deutoronomy 18:20-23 and Proverbs 30:5,6 “Trully Jehovah is proving them lying false prophets as predicted for the last days and all this new light is shining right on them.”
You’d be surprised the mix of reactions as I look around the hall when I comment this stuff everything from “did you know that?” “Is that true?” To just affirmative nodding of the head or the “I know what you are” look.
You do have Guts. I know from my experience depending how outspoken you get you will soon be hauled before the Brown Shirts and interrogated for sure.There will always be some who don’t care but the majority will run to an Elder to report you and say you are going apostate or Crazy or Both. They will give you warnings and censor you. It is just a matter of time if you are outspoken. Since I read your comments and I know you are fading but do you go out in FS also even though you do not believe it? When I faded I could no longer go in FS bc I did not believe it anymore and did not want to try to convince people of something I myself did not believe. That is just my way of dealing with it. I know that is not for everyone. Keep me/us informed of how things are going.
Its hard keeping a doomsday cult going after the date of departure. I’am 50 years ago and my parents in the late 70’s, they are near their own end time and the sight of their old age and declining health forced my Brothers and Sisters to wake up and realize that they had been lied to. They have walked away from the JW’s all in the last 2 years leaving me (the Black sheep who walked away at 17 without being baptized) to take care of my folks. The folks are sad and lost and a little crazy. I hate this cult that in the end I can never seem to be rid of.
I’m sorry that you’re going through that. I hate hearing experiences like yours but they serve as a reminder to us. Waking up from the indoctrination comes with a price. I’m sure you don’t regret seeing things clearly, nor do I. That extra useless appendage we were carrying called Watchtower was a stumbling block to joy.
The organization Is an insidious parasite that leaves remains of itself in our pysche. Taking care of your aged parents is a noble thing. It’s good that they have a caretaker who isn’t burdened down with meetings and field service and elders hounding you for your time.
I’ll will never let the witnesses forget the abuse heaped upon us and them to perpetuate man made doctrines. The end is around the corner my hairy yellow @$$.
I have some aged witness relatives as well. Some who are in their 80’s still believe the old promise that “millions now living will never die.” They actually tell me the end is right around the corner and they are going to see it, but I won’t unless I return to the organization. What a way to spend your few remaining years with your family. I imagine it will come as a great shock to them when they actually die (not to sound cold hearted).
Have them check their Math. If they’re only in their 80’s, they sure don’t fit into the category of those who were alive when that promise was made (1918). In fact, there aren’t many that do. Math can be tricky.
@A4
These specific relatives were born and raised in the religion. So they were exposed to the “millions” teaching while very young, born just a handful of years after it was issued. Little do they realize that by holding on to an outdated teaching – i.e. not keeping up with new light/present truth – they are technically apostates.
+1 Brent. You just have to battle on mate and deal with it. Easier said then done, but definitely worth while. In your case the sad part is that your parents have lost two of their kids who have woken up, and you would think at their age, it’s all too much to expect them to change their own faith.
One thing for sure is that you can bask in the daily fulfillment of knowing you broke free of mind capture at a young age, and the benefits of that is ongoing.
I wish you well.
Thank you for those thoughtful words. My folks put their cult above their own children, still I don’t have the heart to tell they the truth about the truth, that it is a fraud. They, the WT benefits from stock in U.S. defense company’s (2.2 Billion) and signs on to the U.N. 3 weeks after the the fall of the U.S.S.R. No King of the North? http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/386043103
The child sex abuses, If my folks knew of this I bet they would drop dead. So in order for them to maintain their faith, they must remain ignorant of the truth about the truth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdOjjfuEn7U
@Brent. I know the feeling Brent. I have friends and family in the same situation. The influence of the Cult plays havoc on may for may years. My JW fanatic wife likes to claim that they are that way bc their conscience bothers them bc they know this is the truth! I tell her NO! They are mentally damaged by all the propaganda the WY threw at them and their family for decades and then people realize the WT is a lying and has been lying to them knowingly for decades and they feel hurt and that they wasted BIG parts of their lives. Look at the majority of JW’s I tell her. Many are depressed, unhappy, dysfunctional and not reasonable. If this is the Spiritual paradise get me out od it Quickly!
I have a non JW firend and we talk about this stuff a lot and he tells me that abuse mentally,physically, or psychologically can take years to go away and sometimes it never does go away 100%. We need to learn to adjust.
In my observations, many stay in just for the social aspect and friendships – ever changing doctrine may irritate them but not enough to abandon the social club and routine.
The society relies on learned behavior patterns to try and keep people in. After all if you were born in it this is all you really know. No different then someone who grows up in a abusive family and repeats that cycle again in their own family. Children learn what they live and if right or wrong it’s considered “Normal” to them.
That’s exactly how it happened with me. I stayed in about 5 years longer than I should have (meaning 5 years after I lost all interest). Eventually I had to come to grips with the reality that the only reason I was still going to meetings and out in service was because that’s what I had been doing all my life. It was a bitter pill to swallow at the time, but I’m soooo glad I got out.
@Rob. Ever-changing doctrine did bother me. In my Youth of 18-20 years old it was important for me to study doctrine and “PROOVE” we had the truth. As the ever changing doctrine happened every few years or every few months I became perplexed at the nonsense doctrines that kept popping up . Doctrine was always important and foremost to me. Trinity, Soul, Hell fire, etc. My JW Wife says the WT has never changed the basics? Really. Not true at all. Those are the only 2 -3 doctrines that have pretty much remained the same and the WT did not originate them. They came from other religions. SDA’s 2nd Adventist, and others.WT is a fraud.
We as JW’s were “forced” to believe them. If we did not we came under the scrutiny of the thought Police and would be DF’d.
That’s exactly what I was like from ages 18-20’s. “At MTS they told us ” if you don’t read EVERY Watchtower your are not in present truth”.
I took that deadly seriously and criticised any who were slow to read the latest mags. You have this tunnel vision that keeps logic out. A self imposed macular degeneration that doesn’t allow you to think “wait, how often does truth need to change?”
I never liked the social club part of being a JW. It was the same old pot lucks and same old conversations and the same recycled people. I remember showing up to a pot luck with a case of beer (2 missing) lol, and an elders wife said “your not having a beer are you”? We could never act ourselves..I left that party early.
I agree. As a JW we were forced to associate with the socially inept who would not fit in otherwise, except that you were told you had to love them as they were your brothers and sisters, even if they seemed really off. Some of them were creepy (a few did turn out to be child molesters), others had terrible hygiene, and others were just really unpleasant, unhappy people. I am so much happier not being forced to associate with those types. Now I can choose associates based on their character, their moral sense, and their reasonableness, instead of the mere coincidence that we happen to belong to the same creepy cult.
Most assuredly true. I remember many who desperately needed to be on medication and couple that with therapy. There were a couple of young guys I was concerned with. I suggested to the mother that a psychiatrist or other behavioral therapist be contacted for her boys. Of course she rejected and said “all they need is the association from you brothers, don’t leave them out”.
Serving as an elder I strongly recommended they get some help. The other elders didn’t agree.
So the 18 year old who read at a 2nd grade level was stuck in the 9th grade in high school was eventually pulled out to be home schooled. An abysmal failure. The twenty one year old was chasing after a 13 year old girl in the hall. What great help to these fine young men ” good association” was.
Some other facets to the doomsday addiction is that this places enormous mental stress on children and adults, not only because high-strung individuals desperate to prove their “loyalty” and “devotion” (maybe thinking it affords a better placement at the table of the Lord?) throw all material aspirations and plans a long-term life to the wind, but because repeated Watchtower magazines adjust the “doomsday” and accordingly issue in a new “nuclear first-strike (pre-emptive)” drill as though this year is IT, the stress factor is enormous for the uninitiated.
The Watchtower is an interesting group dynamic, because from verbal talks, you will hear leadership hedge with statements like, “We don’t know what the upcoming year will bring forth, but the Watchtower is planning to expand its efforts to preach in far-off lands.” While in printed matter, it praised those who threw off long-term plans and went “whole hog” for the short-term, “Jesus is coming, pack your go-bag and be ready!”
And, I can empathize with those who have watched relatives, whom we were promised “now living, will never die (no “may” to it)” age, wither and succumb to the normal atrophy of living organisms. However, I feel my mind is opened to the possibility that on a spiritual plane, if God is communicating with individuals–humans, I am open to the concept that humans misinterpret a message or view of the Divine. Which opens up that I must be willing to listen to all sides of those spiritual interpretations PLUS my own quiet inner-voice of God, so that I am aware of the course He (or She) is plotting for my feet. This moves me far away from swearing allegiance to any ONE organization and into a mode of spiritual sojourner–a Soujourner Truth–finding that which accommodates for that moment in time for which it is right and needed message.
One week, perhaps the right message is in a Watchtower, the next day, perhaps it is available from Osteen or Buddhism. I may have a core belief structure, but the insights and edification may come through different paths, different journeys–nomadic spiritual journeys.
Based on this concept, the Christian relies on the core Scriptures which state that faith and belief in Christ leads to Eternal Life, whether tomorrow or at the end of life’s journey, so that para-beliefs on the imminent “last days” is moot, because whether it is tomorrow or 20 years or life ends, the Christian is ready, regardless.
The Watchtower attempts to prep individuals for this eternity, yet the pounding drum-beat of “last days” and its arcane twistings to wedge Scripture into this model of the “last days” drowns this out for those who are not willing to research and dig deep. If you are one of those who believes that Watchtower promises, literature and Watchtower-led Scripture reading rituals = Salvation, then disappointment and heartbreak are sure to ensue because this is putting Creature (belief in a Creation, or human enterprise) over the Creator.
References: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219146/
“The isolation that is often experienced at sensitive military bases and the boredom that accompanies many tasks tend to induce stress and may degrade job performance. The nature of service life in general has also been thought to encourage drug use.”
“In a prolonged nuclear alert, with missile crews working double shifts, bomber crews working on sustained airborne alerts, and submarine crews working beyond their regulated limit, the likelihood of error would surely increase (Morrison, D. 1983. Weapons wired for war. Nuclear Times.).”
The Witnesses make many claims in their attempt to convert you to their faith. They profess to have the only true Christian church, to be the only true representatives of God, to have the only correct Biblical teaching, and to be the only true announcers of Jehovah’s coming kingdom.
If they are the only true church and are the only true voice of God’s Word, then what they say should prove to be true and especially in prophecy. When it comes to predicting the future, the Watchtower organization fails miserably. Following are some of the false predictions made over the years by the Watchtower organization. If you present these to a JW, he will probably say something like, “Those are taken out of context,” or “They didn’t claim to be the prophet of God,” or “The light is getting brighter, and we are understanding Bible prophecy better now,” etc. Make a copy of these false prophecies, found in the appendix, and give it to them to check. They are right out of the Witnesses’ literature.
Remember Deut. 18:22, “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” If someone makes a false prophecy and they have claimed to be a prophet of God, then they are false prophets and are not to be listened to. Do the Witnesses claim to be the prophet of God? Yes, they do.
In 1972 the Jehovah’s Witness Watchtower claimed to be the prophet of God.
IDENTIFYING THE “PROPHET”–“So does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? . . . This “prophet” was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses . . . Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a ‘prophet’ of God. It is another thing to prove it,” (Watchtower, Apr. 1, 1972, p. 197). (See Deut. 18:21).
1897 “Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874,” (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 4, p. 621).
1899 ” . . . the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced,” (The Time Is at Hand, 1908 edition, p. 101).
1916 “The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ’s Reign, began in 1873,” (The Time Is at Hand, forward, p. ii).
1918 “Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection,” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89).
1922 “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914,” (Watchtower, Sept. 1, 1922, p. 262).
1923 “Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge,” (Watchtower, Apr. 1, 1923, p. 106).
1925 “The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year,” (Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1925, p. 3).
1925 “It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated, the thought that 1925 should see an end to the work,” (Watchtower, Sept., 1925, p. 262).
1926 “Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything,” (Watchtower, p. 232).
1931 “There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time . . . and they also learned to quit fixing dates,” (Vindication, p. 338).
1941 “Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord’s provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon,” (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1941, p. 288).
1968 “True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world’, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? . . . Missing from such people were God’s truths and evidence that he was using and guiding them,” (Awake, Oct. 8, 1968).
1968 “Why are you looking forward to 1975?” (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p. 494).
A JW might say that the organization is still learning. If that is so, then how can they trust what they are taught now by the Watchtower? Will what they are being taught now change also?
A true prophet of God won’t err in prophesying. Only a false prophet does. The Jehovah’s Witness organization, that claims to be a prophet of God, is really a false prophet. Jesus warned us by saying, “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect–if that were possible” (Matt. 24:24).
When trying to show information about past failed prophecies, often in light of scriptural references, the JW slogan changes from “Advertise, Advertise, Advertise” to “Rationalize, Rationalize, Rationalize.”
Love your hard work in researching this info.
Also, enjoyed the video that you posted on the last Friday column – I had watched it before when I was first waking up, but it was good to see it again.
Even though the Watchtower denies that they put dates on when Armaghedon will arrive, they put out little snipets of teasers like:
In early 2014 in the Kingdom Ministry they were talking about the Memorial and said something to the effect that the memorial was to be held on a certain date and then added “Will this be our last?”
Then there was all the speculation amongst the rank and file that since 2014 was 100 years from 1914 that something big would happen in October 2104 and I cant help believing that the speculation started in Brooklyn.
In my opinion, this doomsday religion does have a shelf life but somehow they keep reinventing the wheel and there are always individuals who are looking for this type of escapism.
I agree! However, it is not wrong if those who are still in are feeling happy for whatever reason: 1. social friends and connections; 2. escapism, as you put it; 3. inner calm, if you happen to be in a congregation made up of individuals who enrich your life. 4.(in my case, also practising Spanish in the group I “serve”-they have never reappointed me for statistical reason: hours!! Not that I care) What I object is religious blindness and taking all the words printed to the WT literature as if they were from the Bible. In my family study (thank God no children, I would instill higher education in the family study!) I try to instill to my wife (very much into the indoctrination) that reading the Bible comes first and that the printed comments in the publications may change with time…well, last week she said: “..be careful I believe you are reading staff you should not!….(she is right! I just finished for the third time “Crisis of conscience, and read many other books out there)” So, there you have it. I am in, because I believe in Jehovah God and the Bible, I have always had this spiritual inner feeling since I was a catholic child, then a JW, but I feel I cannot do more than what I am doing with my wife and my friends in the congregation, which I love: give the occasional comments about court cases, the ARC, the UK articles that keep on cropping up about abuse and try to steer conversations with young ones about studying and learning to do something in life etc. I understand that many are in congregations made up of very difficult individuals and that some live in isolated areas where it is difficult to move to another one, I live in a densely populated area with several congregations so, if need be, I can move to others.
I enjoy the article and remember the doomsday clock very well since I was baptised in ’82!! I am happy for me and sad for those who cannot see the brainwashing going on and that rely on men rather than Jehovah. I understand that this site is also full with those who left the WT and no longer believe in God and I respect them as I expect to be respected as an individual. My comments are not intended to indoctrinate anyone, simply giving you my perspective from where I stand and live. I enjoyed the article and send greetings to you all (also df’ed ones!). Bye from UK.
@James
It sounds like you are awake as a JW. Your mind and faith are your own and you don’t allow the leadership to have undue influence in your life (to the extent possible). Based on your comment, you certainly have not abandoned your powers of perception.
Based on your comment and those of others, I think there is a minority (albeit a growing minority) of rational JWs who do not blindly accept whatever new light is thrown their way, but rather test every inspired expression. It is my hope that you can inspire other members to embrace a similar outlook.
James – I’m also in the UK (Midlands). I was baptised in 1984.
I can appreciate your comments that you ‘believe in Jehovah God and the Bible’ and that you are happy to stay ‘in’. It is brave of you to attempt to steer certain ones in the right direction, i.e. education and changing WT doctrines. I and my husband were in a similar position when we still attended meetings. The problem I see is that you will start to be watched and your comments noted by the powers that be. If your wife is discreet she may not mention her thoughts to others, if she does however, the gossip trail will start and you will probably be taken into the back room for counselling!
You may also be wise to take note of other Bible translations besides the ‘Silver Sword’ which has been manipulated by the WT to suit their own agenda. (You may realise this already). Research on the origins of the name ‘Jehovah’ (not from WT lit) may also be enlightening.
Personally, I could not keep going along with the bull…., the meetings were an endurance, and once I knew the real truth about the truth, I stopped attending and have since disassociated.
The Governing Body will probably announce new light stating that because the days of Noah were 120 years, the last days will also be 120 years. This would make 2034 the new doomsday date. This is really the only play they have left and it ties in well with their asinine overlapping generation doctrine.
A great point ScotWm. I have thought this for many years.
In the December 15 2003 Watchtower the seed was sown for this belief which went largely unnoticed by the majority of Dubs (although I was delighted to see that Raymond Franz spotted it in the revision of COC).
They made reference in the article of the 120 years in Noah’s day them made the comment “What about us? We are some 90 years from the beginning of the last days in 1914 (this was 2003 remmber) ”
I remember very clearly sitting doing the maths….2034
This will be as you say the only play they have left. Yes it fits the overlapping generation fiasco and gives them a bit more time to play with.
I actually considered this 120 years idea back in the 1980’s around the time I was baptized. I dismissed it, of course, because I was fully indoctrinated with the “this generation (singular) would not pass away” teaching. I dismiss it now because, among other things, I realize that the starting point, 1914, is completely erroneous and based on incorrect historical assumption and poorly formulated scriptural exegesis.
The only problem with the 2034 date is that it is 18 years away. This date won’t create the sense of urgency needed to generate the big baptism and financial contribution numbers that the Watchtower claims to need now.
The one billion dollar plus sale of the Brooklyn complex combined with the potential profits from the sale of other Watchtower properties should be enough to keep the organization solvent for the foreseeable future.
The biggest threat to Watchtower solvency is the multitude of child abuse lawsuits that are sure to come. Watchtower leaders have admitted under oath to the Royal Commission and other courts that they are permissive toward pedophiles. This irrefutable evidence will be used by lawyers to gain large child abuse judgments against the Watchtower.
Even 18 years out, it is another carrot to dangle in front of the rank and file. True, it won’t generate enough immediate urgency to save the org from all the issues it is facing.
Part of the issue for the org is that the GB half believe (some members more so) the twisted babble they produce. So they don’t have a big, long term viewpoint. Just hold it together until Armageddon. Their lack of farsighted vision may convince them that they have nothing to fear.
If they decide to promote 2034 as a “likely” Armageddon date, I predict that this will only become a prominent point in the propaganda in the second half of the twenties. Until then, 2034 is too far away to create any sense of urgency; it could even create some complancency if the JW start to feel that Armageddon is many years away. (And we can’t have that!)
Compare 1975. They started pushing that date only in 1966, with the publication of “Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God”. So around 2025 I expect Watchtower publications to become ever more fascinated with the idea that the “last days” in Noah’s time were 120 years, constantly bringing up this point, though maybe leaving the implications as an exercise for the reader. Thus the Governing Body will maintain deniability in 2035. “Oh, WE never said …” blah-blah-blah.
H.K. Fauskanger says: “…around 2025 I expect Watchtower publications to become ever more fascinated with the idea that the “last days” in Noah’s time were 120 years…”
That will tie in well with self-appointed, self-anointed Governing Body member David Splane’s explanation about the “contemporaries” of Fred Franz. December 22, 1992, the day Franz died and went to heaven, is the cutoff date for Governing Body eligibility.
Stretching out the last days for 120 years demonstrates the amazing flexibility of the generation that “will by no means pass away until all these things happen.”
And to think just how stupid people are to buy into this Garbage.
Haven’t these people been indoctrinated enough already?
Get a life and “Return to reality”
Nice presentation of information.
@Sirius,
My father, who is 90, a JW for 65 years, has been storing a huge amount of can goods for the friends at Armageddon. Still lives( now all alone)in his huge house with a great basement. That’s because he can hold meetings down there when the clock strikes 12.
He just keeps repeating another ridiculous phrase about how god is speeding up time. Yeah? The fact that he is nearing his end time must sadly make him wish/ believe the actual dimension of time is altered. I won’t argue the point with him. He can’t get out. It would probably blow his mind.
I enjoyed the article, it went well with the previous article. BTW, I used to have night mares all the time about running to safety as god drops the fire bombs on my city. No more!!
Ive been in all my life, so the clock has been a part of my life, doom and all that goes with it. You know i’m tired, tired of being on high alert. It has been a constant state of , Now folks, urgent blah bloo*y blah. When jc said it would come as a thief that is true because if it does come i don’t really care anymore. The wolves have cried wolf too many times to take them seriously. My go bag food went out of date for my family and my kids grew out of the damn clothes I put in who do I send the bill to for the spoiled food, the clothes went to charity and probably did some good. I don’t know what to preach, there is no credibility in the silver sword or the sermon. You cannot I repeat CANNOT keep going to the same people year after year trotting out doom and expect them to take you seriously no wonder there are no bible studies just the kids and the mentally ill who have no time concept just fear, so dooms day can come any old time. My anthem now is Two minutes to midnight by Iron Maiden waving my JW.Org blue banner (joking folks).In this deathdealing poisonous cult there is no good news just grey fog into the distance. Think i’m feeling jaded and disappointed and the whole crazy gig and having been with it too long.I think I must conclude that I would rather go into oblivion than wait for Armageddon or spend eternity with Hebrew speaking , piano playing window cleaners. Jehovahs witnesses have spoiled it all, they ruined our little young lives as innocent children. They stole our youth and now dangle us in front of the doomsday clock. the few heaven bound must be laughing all the way to the bank. ruthlee
@Ruthlee,
I feel for you and your frustration. Believe me, I was there . I was so angry, disappointed, jaded. I was in from birth. Baptized in 1072, always expecting the end, but it did not come. Enough is enough. Someone here once said leave for health reasons. I did. When you know something is wrong, it will tear you up inside to try and make it right. Leave it go. I officially quit 2 years ago. It is most wonderful. I noted your point Ruthlee anout going to preach this same old message to people in your territory. I see this one sister in my old congregation, who is so old and crippled hobbling to doors. It is PATHETIC to see. She has literally been to the same doors for 50 years. She may drop dead on someones door step. And be hailed a faithful witness. Don’t let the past dictate your future. It belongs to you Ruthlee!! Be happy to be free.
I only knew a couple tunes by them. I was more into Black Sabbath, Ozzy, and Metallica. You know, all that Satanic music that was forbidden for us young JWs.
@Dblaron42
Absolutely:
“Master of puppets I’m pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can’t see a thing
Just call my name, ‘cause I’ll hear you scream
Master”
…”spend eternity with Hebrew speaking , piano playing window cleaners…” this is dead brilliant comment!, I lough hehehe!!
I am a long life learner and love academic learning just for the sake of it, so at the age of 32 I decided to go to piano lessons and I do spend 1 hour every day at it: occasionally I play in front of fellows of my congregation and inevitably they say that they wait for the new world to do it. Obviously I am not appointable for statistical reasons, I do no pioneer and they must think that I should do more in the ORG. I simply reply that Jehovah has given us ability to enjoy life with our brain and music is one of the nice things we have, so I do it now that I am able rather than dreaming of a future that has not come yet, and speculating or daydreaming about learning the piano: do it now!! I feel sorry for you sister, nice rant and keep your chin up.
@Ruthlee. I know our feeling Ruthlee. I to was baptized in early 70’s but I was not raised a JW. I came in around 20 years old. Even then there were things that bothered me on the 1914 teaching although I would put it out of my mind. Mostly the thing that bothered me was that Jesus supposedly came that year but yet he was still coming in the future ( kind of? ) and that he came “INVISBLY”. When I would read the bible it just did not make sense. I could nor discuss this with my 110% JW wife. She would put her hands over her ears and say Don’t discuss this with me..you need to talk with an Elder! As time went on I did not know what to preach at the doors anymore bc the doctrine kept changing over and over.It became SO CONFUSING OF A DOCTRINE. I would go to the same doors for years and see folks and see family pass away yet we were here saying 15-25 years ago the end is SO close! Telling people we are right. Don’t go to college. don’t learn, don’t buy a home, bc if you do you are not showing faith in the Kingdom etc and promoting materialism. Yes, in my area buying a home instead of renting was considered having a lack of faith in the 1970’s and even early 80’s.
When I was in my 20’s in the 70’s there was a elderly SUPER active sister who was probably born around 1895-1900 or so and she had been a JW for
Most all her life. Told us some wild stories about Rutherford and how she would sell books and magazines in the depression just to have food to eat. She traded books for food and chickens on farms in Northern California. Even left her baby at home with relatives to go Preach during the depression bc the end was imminent and Rutherford told her to do that and God would take care of her baby.
One Brother in the early 1980’s said after working with her for months in Field service that he did not want to end up Like Sister Wagner and be 90 years old and just waiting for Armageddon and have your whole life slip by! He left the JW’s shortly after that and everyone was shocked and he was about 30 years old at the time.
She died in 1989 at about 90 years old and he died last year at about 63 years old.Her life was wasted serving Rutherford and was a bad example of a Mother neglecting her child. At least the young brother enjoyed his life and lived normally and did not live in fear. He was right. He did not want to end up selling magazines for the Borg.
SO many have given their life to what the WT tells them to do. Now they are being told some whacko Idea about overlapping generations and the F&D Slave is only 7 men that run the show now. Another flip flop Idea. How could anyone preach that at the doors?
I woke up nearly 3 yrs ago? along a few others from our congregation.
we had not spoken or discussed anything which is all the more remarkable.
however it was the identity of the fds which alarm belled my brain and so began an earnest endeavour to research in to the past. .how with armagedddon only weeks away is the true identity of the fds coming to light somehow triggered a rebellious streak of apostate reading ( thank you Mr Franz. .should have read it 25 yrs ago)
glad to say another friend with 30 yrs under their belt has had their eyes opened and it’s only a matter of time before she’s totally free.
but let’s be positive everybody reading this:
we have escaped…we are living ..and hopefully we are now enjoying life more than before…
whilst it would be very easy to feel bitter over 26 yrs of wasted life I met some lovely people and simply say
” that was then this is now”
don’t waste the remainder of your days in a negative state of mind…by all means educate and help those who are on the edge, doing so in a way that they reach the right conclusion..
but….enjoy the journey. .smell the coffee..and breathe the fresh air!!
after all its Friday night and you could have been 2hrs into a pointless wt study …preparing answers for Sunday…
now we really are enjoying ” the glorious FREEDOM as sons of ????
Oh, but wait…..don’t go now…why we have some new items to offer like JW broadcasting and infomercials of people welcoming back dead relatives and friends, how about cartoons, sappy movies showing how a family solved all their problems by having a regular family study nite…Don’t lull yourself into a happy state, no, the angels holding back the destructive winds are almost ready to let’ em loose…quit your job, sell your house, send us your moneys (kingdom interests ) and move to a 3 world country and pioneer. Nows the time…….
Haha, I love your moniker, I have an empty briefcase in my home office now. I use it as a door stop!
Recently threw out half my suits, along with about 30 shirts and ties. What a waste of money.
I also had a Watchtower literature burning day last year when I officially “undedicated” myself. I emptied my meeting and witnessing bags (hadn’t used them for a while) and burnt the lot. It was very cathartic. :)
My thoughts exactly .ive been in since 65 most family in and wife.am fading out. And tell em i cant do many meetings as i get stessed and panic attacks . It seem to be working they are leaving me alone. And im mentaly out and free.
@ redundant briefcase.
Great thought RB. Even though I have been out ( Faded ) over 20 years now the WT still effects us. My wife is still a super JW and NUT case Pioneer. She ignores the evidence and only says “we are the only ones” preaching the Kingdom throughout the earth. Therefore we have to have the truth!
She speaks a few languages so she thinks when she runs into somebody who speaks one of foreign languages on the streets it is from Jehovah and they sent them to her? I cannot have an open forum with her about the bible or religion if in ANY WAY I bring up the fake prophecies of the JW’s. When I was an Elder she use d to get upset with me if I did not pioneer when I was on vacation!
It has been a rough ride. JW’s the religion of no fun.
The threat of nuclear war is what caused me to start attending meetings at the age of 16. As a teenager in the Reagan years, it just didn’t seem that the world could end any other way. I was really scared, and the Witnesses were the only ones who seemed to paint a different picture of the future (glossing over the carnage of Armageddon of course). It wasn’t until years later that I realized how they had manipulated my fear to get me to join up. I left the church in 2001 and haven’t looked back.
When I look back on the last years of the Cold War, the fear, hopelessness and conviction that the world was going to be annihilated in nuclear war seems like a dream. But my husband and I recently watched a Cold War television documentary and the footage of the Persching missiles and DEFCON flashing on the screen brought us both out in chills. When you are a young person with that kind of fear, it’s easy for groups like Watchtower to get a hold on you before you know it. In my opinion, that’s what makes these groups dangerous.
Has anyone else heard that the watchtower claimed this year, 2016, as the last year to celebrate the memorial? Something along the lines that the world is at its end. My mom mentioned it in passing?
It was noted that this could be the last Memorial for some of us; eager minds want to twist it into a projection of another prediction. Balanced thinkers view as stating the obvious, everyone has a 50-50 chance of living to another Memorial or not, and no one can say with certainty they will see another one.
A load of sentiment from a bunch that claims to have no sentiment.
I have not heard that, however, at the 2015 memorial there were 15,177 partakers according to the yearbook. That number has been going up each year. No doubt that is raising questions and in turn causing alarm at HQ. If the memorial were no longer celebrated and no count taken they could avoid the obvious questions this rising number generates.
I messed up trying to post my comment. It thinks it is a duplicate when it actually didn’t show up… Let’s try again…I have not heard that, however, at the 2015 memorial there were 15,177 partakers according to the yearbook. That number has been going up each year. No doubt that is raising questions and in turn causing alarm at HQ. If the memorial were no longer celebrated and no count taken they could avoid the obvious questions this rising number generates.
Just proves their constituents r getting crazier & crazier. “Yeah, I too am gonna float up to Heaven to live with the Sky God, & be a King (or Queen), 1 of the Supreme Overlords.” lmfao
Another take on that: Perhaps some of these folks r “stuck”, remaining in, due to fear of shunning. So they think, “OK, let me make the most of it while sticking it to the org at the same time.” Just a theory, but funny (& clever 4 them) if true.
@WS. Oh that is bc many came from Christendom and were taught everyone goes to heaven. Also, some have emotional and possible mental
issues? How about the WT having mental issues and they just freaking got the whole thing wrong!
That is where the problem lies. Te WT is wrong. Now, that explains everything. The light is brighter now. I see said the blind man.
I just want to add my voice in appreciation for this article. The quality of articles on this site is outstanding, and the Friday Column has been a very worthwhile initiative. Thank you all, and keep up the good work.
Great article. I recall living near several USAFB during the peaking periods of “Cold War” and “Space War” and while “duck and cover” had long been debunked, there were still the civil air defense siren drills and schools highlighting “Fallout Shelter” signs. Later when I visited the premier “Cold War” USAF base–it’s museum to the “Cold War”, sent chills down my spine. It was similar to visits to the Holocaust museums and sites–ghostly reminders of an horrendous era.
Fear. Uncertainty. and Doubt. Fear of the looming nuke wars. Uncertainty of what the future would bring and which of the many nuclear holders would push the button first, or if Jehovah would set one off “accidentally” to get the ball, or mushroom cloud as it were, rolling. Doubt, about whether you were in the right bunker of Salvation–“Examining Your Religion”.
Even though we’ve parted company with those days and some who are locked in the grip of that group, one sunny day, we’ll meet again… [yes, a long way for one insert…]
During WWII an unexploded bomb that landed in a residential area and failed to explode was called a f.u.d. d.u.d The fear this caused was concidered apart of psychological warfare. f.u.d. stands for fear, uncertainty, and doubt. d.u.d. stands for doubt, uncertainty and the threat of death because they never knew if the bomb would explode unexpectedly. Tony Morris likes to say things to shock people because he is a f.u.d. d.u.d. The doomsday clock is used the same way. But he talks out of both sides of his mouth. I read an article where he says soldiers who he served with in vietnam will be resurected then he says something stupid about hotdogs. He is lecherous. He loves to shock people. The G.B. creates all sorts of uphaevel and then looks at you like what’s the matter with you? if you react. I don’t believe the G.B.
Great article John Redwood. I loved the “Predict-Fail-Change Doctrine-Repeat. As if it were instructions on the back of a shampoo bottle (rinse and repeat). I was baptized a couple years after you, but I recall all the changing doctrines. I remember sitting with my JW family and trying to decipher how old the generation of 1914 was and how much longer they could possibly live. When I think of the time wasted on such useless drivel! And I remember sitting through those horribly boring book studies from the Survival book.
Liked how you tied the article back to the clock in your conclusion.
Great article, and brought back memories as a young pup – this fear instill from doomsday prophets the Watchtower Corporation.
To bad this religion is not an original – its only a meme of the past.
A history of misquotes and man-made by laws from the 7 men of ‘shameless, heartless and money beggers’. Taking away ice cream money and their savings from the children.
Every hard-liner JWs should be asking themselves, ‘why is the Watchtower Corporation discontinuing over 30 books never to be printed’, why?
Also, if you use jworg & online library, and research the founder CT Russell and J.Rutherford, you only get 3 videos with limited info, the online library has their names listed with limited book symbols no longer available from the Watchtower Corporation, so how in the world are you ‘to be proud of your jw history’?
Is the doomsday clock really moved forward? Or is the Watchtower Corporation really ashamed and not proud of their history?
It’s true or its not?
Now let’s compare Satan’s “true Corporations”, who can say ‘we are proud of our history’. For example,
Favorite staffing.com ‘Our history is what makes us special’.
Or how about,
Luxinternational.com ‘as a privately owned company based in Switzerland we are proud of our history and of our founder’.
Many will like this one,
Barfield.com ‘a proud history of pet health care since 1955’.
How about,
Swiftenergy.com ‘proud past and bright future’.
And my favorite – this really resonates with the true meaning of – a proud history and heritage.
Stanley Black&Decker, ‘Freddy Stanley, Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker, for more than 175 years we’ve been proud to continue their legacies and proud to carry their names forward’.
Imagine that, the alleged gods religion (jws) can’t say what Satan’s wordly ” true Corporations” can say. We are proud of our heritage and history.
It’s true or its not.
The doomsday clock for the Watchtower Corporation, has been moved forward 2 minutes before midnight.
@minion – love those cartoon twinkies.. but, I’ve noticed this pendulum swing back and forth with the Watchtower over the years. Some years they’re proud and “out loud” regarding their history and heritage with Russell–then, under the guise of “too much creature worship” the pendulum swings back and they’re mute and distancing from Russell and even Rutherford and his Christmas-at-Bethel days.
But, what else can I expect from a house built on sands instead of apostolic “rock”-hard succession?
Jehovah’s Witnesses like to think they’re saving people & working for their neighbors. But that’s the easy part. What they fail to recognize is their responsibility to themselves. How can u liberate someone if u r a slave? How can u enlighten ur neighbor if u r in darkness?
After I started researching the Society and it’s involvement with the United Nations in 2014, and found out that the Society was lying about 607 and all the other lies about the real history of the Organization, it still took many months of being scared and thinking “what if the Society is right about Armageddon?” I was so indoctrinated with the fear of Armageddon.
I remember lots of Sunday talks when they’d bring up about the clock and how close the world was to nuclear destruction but God was going to have to step in to save it because He wouldn’t let his creation be destroyed that way by man.
Every time there would be some terrible thing in the news, it was evidence that God was going to have to step in and how it “just couldn’t get any worse” and God was going to have to step in to save the earth and so on. Everyone still looks for the “cry of peace and security” around here and how the U.N. is going to turn on religions.
Once when there was a case where a parent had killed their child, my cousin (a Witness) made the comment that we needed the new world because “there was no natural affection between family members anymore”. Even then, I couldn’t help but say to her that “not everyone in the world had no natural affection anymore”. But that is the first thing that comes to Witnesses minds when they hear anything bad that happened, is that “everything” is so bad that God has to step in and save the earth from total destruction.
When I first got involved in the 60’s, “it just couldn’t get any worse” and when the 1975 prediction was popular, a person wasn’t even allowed to suggest that Armageddon wasn’t going to happen then.
I remember being shot down as “having no faith in God’s promises” if I didn’t believe it but what I said then and believed was that “Abraham asked God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there was just ten people in that city who were good” and so why would God destroy the earth when there were so many coming into the “truth” at that time? It didn’t make any sense to me then, that why would God destroy all mankind if so many were coming into the truth?
My thinking was that the whole world would come into the “truth” and there would be more and more and before long, the whole world of mankind would be converted to JW’s and God wouldn’t have to destroy it. That was my thinking because there were so many that were coming into the Society at that time. I thought it would mushroom.
What I didn’t hear about was all that left because Armageddon didn’t come in 1975. That was never talked about and if a person had brought it up, you would have been shot down as having no “faith” in God then.
JW’s are so eagerly awaiting Armageddon and see imaginary signs of the end everywhere, because they live unfulfilling lives. They haven’t invested in the here and now. When uneducated and cleaning windows all day, the end of the world seems like something to look forward to. However, when I sit in my beautiful garden and watch my kids play, I can’t help but think that this world is a pretty nice place to live in! I’ll pour myself another glass of wine and hope Armageddon does not come for another hundred years!!! Lol
@KI
Great point. They waste their entire lives wishing for a future that never comes. They sscrifice their present happiness because of false promises.
Actually all those times around dreaming of paradise and calculating yet another number to believe in we were not keeping our eyes on the panda prize. It was a distraction wether Parousia, telos, 607, 1914, generation, nodding virgins, other sheep or any other noncy prediction that stopped us living and sliding us into inertia. KI you are so right on a good day in the garden with god’s own nectar in a glass nothing is better or finer . Hotdogs on the bbq anyone?Tara dont forget Living after midnight by Judas Priest probably should be our aposty anthem. Really this org is numbers obsessed no matter where you look the devil is in the detail. ruthlee
They do what they know and do not loose anything! Their followers pay the price and the religion reaches its goals:
*** w04 2/15 p. 4 Is Religion at the Root of Mankind’s Problems? ***
“WHEN religion is not encouraging strife it is acting as a drug which numbs the human conscience and fills the human brain with escapist fantasies. . . . [It] causes human beings to be narrow, superstitious, full of hatred and fear.”
Being the “Root of Mankind’s Problems” is the sole objectives of religion.
I read with interest the comments on this website. Some have a very narrow view of some witnesses who devote their lives to a certain profession. I was raised as a witness, but now I am moving away from this faith very slowly and carefully. I paid attention in school, I wanted to go on to higher learning, my parents wanted me to pay attention to a higher power, a tough battle ensued. I worked as a computer operator for a number of years until I was married, from then until now I have been in the cleaning business for 40 years. I have been to a number of schools to stay ahead of changes in the industry. I am not an uneducated window cleaner, but I have cleaned hundreds of windows, and toilets, and floors, and carpets, and on and on. I never did once think that the doomsday clock was going to strike at midnight, or that the end was coming tomorrow. I was a very balanced witness. I provided jobs for up to 15 people at a time, and for a number of years made a lot of money. Now that I am in my senior years I still have a very balanced view of life. I still read and listen with interest to people that are smarter than me. I enjoy being with those people who have positive outlooks on life. I am a recovering alcoholic with 16 years of sobriety which gives me another reason for a positive outlook. I say to some of you, find a reason in your heart to have some humility and compassion for those that are still witnesses even if they are misguided, never look down on their professions, those hard working individuals might be providing themselves and their families what they need to survive. Remember even if the doomsday clock is still ticking toward midnight you have time to do good toward others.
@A Patient Man
Never should my comments be construed to wish any harm or ill will on the rank and file. They are just as duped as i was at one time. Indeed I have family members still in who I want to wake up to TTAT. Sometimes I am frustrated with their lack of perception and that may show through in my comments.
My criticism is to the leadership that perpetuates a system that denies people’s basic human rights to choose the best path for them. Even being a so-called ‘mindless window washer’ might be someone’s calling and if that’s what they want to do with their life, more power to them. Hell, be the best G-damned window washer you can be. But I have seen so many who are forced to dismiss other paths that that they would really like to pursue all because of a bunch of BS from the GB. That’s what I speak out against.
U might be missing the point. I don’t think anyone here looks down on window washers. God knows I’ve done my share of “menial labor”. As far as I’m concerned, any occupation that provides a legitimate product or service is a noble profession. The point of all the “window-washer” talk is to highlight the fact that many of these individuals are elders, overseers, GB members, big-shot pioneers, whatever, without having any qualifications or credentials backing up their positions of “authority” over others, telling others how to live their lives! Not that ANYONE has that right!! But they’re not even REAL ministers, or sociologists, or psychologists, political scientists, whatever. Not that those credentials necessarily mean anything. There are a lot of highly-educated stupid people. Most of our Social Engineers don’t have the brains to be a window washer or anything else for that matter. The point is, if I’m not going to put all my faith in someone with a Ph.D. in Sociology, Psychology, Theology, or Political Science, why would I put all my faith in a window washer?
I don’t care if you hold a squeegee, mop, paint brush or a degree! If you are acting and saying you are better than me and will live forever and I will be destroyed because I choose not to believe the ever changing doctrines, that’s is where I have a problem The point in my opinion is the majority are not misguided they are elitist.
I agree with Patient Man; some of the most stellar and stalwart leaders of industry started with humble businesses and vocations. Lacking a degree does not equate to being “uneducated” because many individuals go beyond a curriculum’s agenda by reading authors and scholars on many subjects, giving them a broader view than some college students who metriculate enough to “get by” and land a job, or a “career”.
Also, I am reminded as furious and frustrated as I feel with the bOrg and relatives, I need patience; I am learning patience. I recall when I was deeply involved I used the same cult indoctrinated tactics of “thought-stop” (as WS reminds) and other parrot phrases. And, as many times as I see the GB blamed for this or that, I am reminded that one of the icons of dissent was a GB member.
It’s what we were, so relish your freedom but patience for those who haven’t come to enlightenment, yet.
Absolutely. U don’t need a piece of paper to tell u u’re intelligent.
— & most folks with those pieces of paper are skilled in ONE thing, & not even very good at that – as u stated, just doing enuff to “get by”.
They’ve got people at Bethel scouring the press
and media for any stories to ramp up the paranoia.
One story I remember coming up to 75 was that
the Worlds bird population was increasing. Many
other animals were either dying or hunted to the
point of extinction , but the birds were flourishing.
No inference was made or needed. The paranoia
filled in the blanks.
A W,T article at the time, said communists failed
to brainwash the bros, because a ploy used by
the commies was, To highlight the flaws and
injustices in the World. The article then pointed
out that on that score JWs could beat the
interrogator at his own game.
An obvious conclusion, though definitely not
intended is . When it comes to brainwashing
The Borg beats the commies hands down.
And let’s not forget all the hype about the “emergency rucksacks” a few years back due to impending disasters that were sure to come! Fortunately this seems to have died the death. I wonder who started THAT campaign?!
You mean all that jw’s survivalist equipment I bought is not going to get me thru ARMAGETTON, me and my Mormon neighbor have been stockpiling food.
Freeze dried eggs …anyone?
Mine is in the back of the car… Think the food will have perished, the clothes won’t fit but at least I have a spare set of knickers and a tooth brush if I break down.
@Average Je. That is funny. I also stored canned food and freeze dried etc. After 15 years I had to throw it all out bc it was so old! I need canned food for the “overlapping” generation now! Average Joe? Are you still attending meetings and going through
the motions? Are you still an Elder? Has anyone caught on yet. I am impressed that you can still do that.
@Average Joe? Tell me about the Go-bags?
I missed all of that despite my JW wife going to all meetings. Never heard much at all until I read it on this site. Was the WT telling the R&F to do that or just JW’s themselves? How Big was it.Any articles on it in the WT magazine. Or did they push the idea and then say it is a conscience matter? lol
Ok this happened last night and I was so angry and annoyed I couldn’t even come on here to rant. Facebook…. a ‘sister’ posts a picture of Tony Blair taking a selfie with what looks like a huge oil refinery blast behind him… smoke, fireballs…. total destruction. You get the imagery right? The caption reads…. ME AT ARMAGEDDON. I nearly posted yup, there go billions of people dead and you post a self righteous picture of yourself. I was so trucking mad. These people only think of themselves. So done with it all. Off out for a massage now in the place right opposite the home where they will be having field service. I hope they see me. 9:15 appointment, 9:30 field service. They will just be arriving.
Don’t be too mad at her – her fantasy world is all she has.
Relax and Enjoy your massage.
Massage makes me think of my one friend who would always get massages…with happy endings: he’s an elder now! Then there were may friends who would go to strip clubs after the convention in whatever city we happened to be holding it in. I always wondered if they wore their badge cards. You know you were supposed to advertise the convention. Strippers need God too. But I digress, getting off topic.
My massage was very therapeutic… :) I noticed the coffee shop parking lots were full on my way home. Its a tad chilly here in BC this am. I guess they went for break early.
Sorry, can’t resist:
Did they go to those strip joints to see the “governing body”?
Was that elder exercising his “rod of discipline”?
Hey, if Jesus hung out with prostitutes,……..?
Jehovah’s Witnesses can make fun of a Global massacre like “Armageddon” because they r so detached from reality. It’s like playing a video game, or watching footage of Drone strikes on CNN. No concept of the reality of the situation.
It’s pretty barmy to think that the GB teach that the 144000 comprise of men AND women – being that the female of the species are considered inferior and generally less suitable for leading others. So.. try this for a head scratcher. The annointed men and women get to keep their respective gender despite being turned into spirit beings . However.. they will lose sexuality along with their physicality – in an enviroment consisting of an entirely male angel underclass who the annointed will rule over with Jesus. But the annointed ones who were female on Earth won’t be allowed to do do any talks from the platform in heaven, and they won’t be allowed to get involved in judicial matters.. and if they want to talk to God they’ll have to get the spiritual equivalent of a teatowel to wear on their non-physical non-existent heads.. or borrow a scarf from someone.
Or.. upon entry to heaven, the prejudice against women no longer applies and they do get to be Kings and Queens for 1000 years before Jesus says ‘Thanks you guys (and Girls) job done. Now off back to Earth and try to be Human again. We have 144000 vacancies available as Gardeners reserved for you which won’t be weird considering you’ve been spiritual royalty for a millennium. Also.. you Queens, we’ve set you up with some husbands who you are not allowed to leave for all of eternity. Remember to be submissive now. Feel free to choose your head scarf on the way out as a token of our gratitude.
OR, Women are not at all allowed to be annointed and the GB are all having a sneaky giggle about it everytime they meet a ‘sister’ who claims to be of the heavenly class. ‘What’s that sister? YES of course YOU will be allowed to rule over the men in heaven – but in the meantime – no… I’m afraid you can’t do the Sunday public talk this week because … well… you are a.. a…a feeeeeeeeeemale. Now please stick this teatowel on your head and say a prayer because I have to leave and there is a baptised brother in the room who despite being only 15 years old still outranks you’.
Seriously – my older brother has disowned his disfellowshipped daughter for this nonsense. It’s painful.
…and sick.
But on the lighter side, maybe upon entry to Heaven, the ladies will have that extra 10% of their brain added on, which they currently lack according to Watchtower, rendering them finally equal to the guys – no spiritual tea towels required!!! lmfao
I want to explain what I really mean by J.W.s want to be dumb and gullible. My brother and I had an argument. His daughter confessed to adultery. She had an affair with her married boss. Her boss left his wife, she left her husband. Three years later they married. My brother is trying to force everyone to believe she and her husband only had sex one time during the time they were seeing each other. I don’t agree because the other man was married at the time and his wife called to ask her to stay away from her husband. My brother got mad, mad, mad, mad because I don’t agree with him. He is believing what he wants to believe to make everything alright in his mind. He is being dumb and gullible. JWs believe what they want to in order to make things alright in their own minds. The lastest thing that happened is I had to call C.P.S. on my brother’s daughter because she gives her ten month old baby to much alcohol to drink. She gives the baby beer from the beer bottle and then right afterwards she gives him red wine to drink. We had an argument about it. She made fun of me to my face, afterwards I went home and I called C.P.S. They think I called CPS because of the adultery issue. That isn’t why I called. Mario is the name of the case worker. He went to her older son’s elementary school and interviewed him and it was confirmed. The end result is she had to promise to no longer give alcohol to the kids because it is illegal where I live.
Thank you John for your article.
Well researched and written!
Without reading all the comments below which are many I dare to add mine.
If the child is born we do already know that one day he/ she will die.This is inevitable consequences of “phenomena call life” on universal scale.Everything has its own time.And this will go on until time when the “supreme force of this universe” will decide to change it. So everybody knows that baby will die just nobody knows when.
So if we will apply same logic to the existence of our world or human kind we can identify our self with views of many “elite intellectuals and minds of this world” which predicts or expect the same conclusion of things.
Which is the death/end of this “word,structure or system as we know”. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/28/stephen-hawking-humanity-1000-years_n_7160870.html
The point is that the current trends are not sustainable or even not reversible or unstoppable so the predictable and logical conclusion is the before mention end.
The point which I want to make is that even WT made it’s prediction somewhere within these imaginary boundaries of “end game” which would be not extraordinary of its own.They were not first or last to do so.Simply put they kind believed that the “baby will die one day .”
The problem in WT case started when they tried to predict the “when” day will come and this failed prediction make them “false prophets”. On top of that they implemented “mind enforcement policies of their ideas” which makes them cult a like or simply put a cult.And the result at best just affected life of millions at worst ruined life of millions…. life like yours or my.
Non of this changes the fact the the time is running.
The clock is still there and time is still clinking. Generations are gone with the time and generations are still on the way.How many or if any ?
The “grand time keeper knows the answer.” I do not.
Anyhow best wishes to you John and all who maintaining and participating for this web.
peace
just thinking how relaxing it is NOT TO have to get up at 6am on a Sunday morning to finish the wt!.. ( with experience you realise that as long as there is plenty of underlining with different colours and the odd scripture written at 45 degrees , then that is more than sufficient to have convinced brother Dobber that you’re a keen student….
I digress ..sorry cedars.. slap my wrist..but humour is essential on Sunday mornings now as one plans a CONSTRUCTIVE day.
I was just glancing down the comments when I came across the rise in memorial partakers…..got me thinking perhaps we could accelerate this thought of How would the GB explain it , if the number exceeded 144000.
WE’LL. ..just throwing it out there but how about all who are on this website plus all your friends etc..turn up this march/ April at local KH….don’t go having had dinner…enjoy some bread ..little sip of wine…then 6 months later read about yourself with a new light explanation of how 222000 partook this year!!
funny though!!
I’m thinking of going, like making a “comeback”, then chugging the whole glass of wine & cramming all the bread on the plate into my face, then running out screaming, “I’m anointed! I’m anointed!”
– Then go home & wait for the men in the white suits to show up. lol
I’ll send u the bill.
No extra charge for doing a couple of laps around the hall before I run out, giving people the finger & yelling, “F*** you – I’m anointed!!!”
Tara – Don’t be intimidated into going through any ‘guilt’ you may feel. I guess we’ve all been there!
We did some research on the Memorial last year and found out that JWs always celebrate it on the Jewish Passover evening. Jesus, however, celebrated the ‘evening meal’ with his disciples the night before ‘Passover’, so the date JWs use has been incorrect for years. The whole thing has been meaningless, and as for pushing away the emblems, that’s a whole new ball game for discussion!
Oh ruthlee I feel so much the same….my experience is so much like yours…I have had a bit of love bombing this week with various visitors and phone calls wanting to encourage me back to the thing I am desperately trying to fade from… their love always has an agenda and it is the underlying message of judgement I cant stand…I have come close to writing a letter but seeing my spouse off to the meeting this morning looking so heartbroken that I was not going as well just made me feel I have to fade not flee…but oh what a desperate situation they put you in…I literally detest the lies and hypocrisy and the life I have wasted…I would love to not feel bitter…but Im afraid that the loss of life potential has meant call me Mara…which means bitterness…I hope you understand what Im trying to say ruthlee.
@idontknoewhattodo
“seeing my spouse off to the meeting this morning looking so heartbroken that I was not going as well”
Keep in mind all the lies that they are told about those who leave: people only leave the organization because they are materialistic, want the things of the world, want to have immoral sex, etc. No one ever leaves because their conscience no longer lets them believe the lies anymore.
My wife had much of the same reaction as you describe when I first started fading. Based on the watchtower lies she assumed that I was going to leave her (or already was cheating, etc.). After some time she realized this was not the case and more or less accepted things. There is still tension from time to time. I find she gets more upset that I won’t go to JW social gatherings rather than meetings.
But my point is hang in there. It will eventually get easier.
Thanks Idontknowwhattodo it’s a funny ol’ life.My hubby has the renewed energy to get involved in the foreign field so I see less and less of him. That’s ok but sad, also he is running out of excuses for me I can only be ill and in pain for so long I just don’t want involvement and want to fade .Had a nosy bro phone me last week at 10’45pm to find out where I was. it is not genuine no matter what they say. I know what you mean by Mara. I think I would go down the letter route but the devastation to my hubby would be too much and that causes me so much grief. It is only when you really realise how imprisoned and entrenched we are that the repercussions upon our family finally sink in. I would top myself this time if it wasn’t for the fact I have family that I love I just hate this life . That just goes to show it is a doomsday cult because i’m going nowhere fast and if the cong I attend knew how I really feel they would chuck me out anyway so its a lose lose situation. The conclusion of the matter is watchtower has won in the end because people like us who have such grim days are collateral damage and they don’t give a flying f**k for us . That is why Cedars and the writers and contributors to this site do so much healing to my broken soul. The humour and witty banter and the progressive way of untangling WT rubbish doctrine counteracts my dark dog days and frittered away life. One last point for today. I did say to hubby actually if your god was listening to the clowns of Brooklyn then the big A would have come along by now he and they would not be so powerless to have prevaricated for so long it is just not logical. my thought anyway. thanks idkwtd. ruthlee
@Idon’tknowwhattodo? Can you ahev a open discussion with your mate? Will he listen to you or will he just freak out at what you are saying and close his ears? I know the feeling. My wife has been going to meetings for over 20 years without me. She is used to it but we could never have an open discussion. She screams and freaks out if I DARE say anything negative about the religion. It is a war zone to discuss. I am serious. She totally freaks out and screams and yells.I think it is better for you to fade than write a letter.
My husband is the lovliest person in the world until someone challenges held beliefs and information from the organization… his lovely handsome and kibd face changes and he sneers and curles his lip at me if I proffess doubts…so I dont go there…I just have a feeling that after 35 years of marriage he knows and is scared to open that door… all my children have left home… they are all jws… I dont think I could cope with them shunning me…my husband loves me very much and wouldnt leave me but it would change things irrevocably between us… I choose to just mention the odd little thing now and again … he hates it so we just live with the proverbial elephant in the room… like ruthlee I just hste this hand I have been dealt and cannot believe how duped I have been for the majority of my 57 years…I love reading ruthlee’s posts…they describe my life as well as hers… my husband would be stunned if he saw all the ARC sittings…but I dont think he ever would…he would disintigrate… Thats why ultimately…I dont know what to do.
I have come to the conclusion that some need to hold on to the belief because of fear of death. I think that it’s hard to face the ultimate truth about life for some people. So having a fantasy about life after death or not dying at all is something that keeps a person from sinking into depression. At least that’s what I went through when we lost our daughter. The reality that she was dead without another option was too much for me to bear at the time.
The other thing that I’ve noticed about those that are trying to draw us back in, is that they’re doing it for selfish reasons. I just think that they need us there to confirm their faith(fantasy). I suppose it falls under the groupthink thing, the numbers validate. Because if you dare walk away, it triggers their doubts so they want you to be their to support their fantasy not because they truly believe that they are saving you.
Otherwise they wouldn’t shun people like us, they would still be visiting & just being normal towards us but we become a threat to them even if we don’t say anything because their protecting their own fantasy.
I often remind myself of the fact that if I were ever stupid enough to go back, things would just go back to the same old same old. The love bombing when they first see me, then that would wear off & the judgement would start, then the pressure to perform. Yuck!
It’s an unhealthy religion thats why so many people in it are sick & depressed.
What if the GB were to link the start of the gentile times to 70AD instead of to 607 BC? – 70AD being the second destruction of the temple (607 BC is the WT’s erroneous date for the first destruction of the temple).
After all, Jesus did say: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near… and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled’ (Luke 21:20, 24). This seems to make 70AD a possible starting point for the gentile times although Jerusalem was being trampled on by gentiles since the destruction of the first temple in 586/587 BC.
Then if we do the math according to WT calculus by adding 2520 years to 70AD instead of to 607BC, that takes us to 2590AD instead of 1914AD. Voila! New date for Christ’s Second coming and Armageddon!
Tony morris gave a talk about armagedon .describing the fate of those who do not respond to the message as ending up bodies burnt and split open like charred hot dogs. Aparantly he gave this talk to an audiance imcluding children . I know my feelings on this disgusting talk .and thes “kindly ” men are gods annointed .!!
I have heard this mentioned a few times.. is there a link to it Johnshipl?
I dont kmow how to do link. However it is on u tube under .getting to know you anthony morris 111 part 12 hot dog. I hope that will get you there .worth a listen.
Ah he was referring to his time as a medic in Vietnam seeing people burnt… hmmm this graphic picture should be shown to the minions when they start posting stupid fb pictures of a smiling Tony Blair taking a selfie in front of a blast which says ‘Me at Armageddon’.
We all know the identities of the con men who are directing the Watchtower doomsday cult. Now that the Governing Body members have come out of hiding, I have attempted to analyze their motives.
These three men are on power trips, getting off on the unquestioned loyalty of their cult followers. These men have mastered the art of lying with a straight face and they know that nearly everything they teach is false:
Gerrit Lösch
David H. Splane
Samuel Herd
This man probably believes he is really an anointed faithful slave. Like other Governing Body members, he will always lie to protect the Watchtower:
Geoffrey Jackson
These two men are seriously deluded. They may actually believe their bizarre hallucinations are divinely inspired:
M. Stephen Lett
Anthony Morris III
This new guy knows the whole Governing Body thing is a farce, but is flattered that he was chosen to rule with the big boys:
Mark Sanderson
From a person of faith what the Bible has to say about these cult leaders.
Deutoronomy 18:20-22
20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord DOES NOT take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has NOT spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so DO NOT be alarmed.
Proverbs 30:5,6
5 “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do NOT ADD to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a LIAR.
1 Corinthians 4:6
6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “DO NOT go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.
This cult is what happens when people inclined to seek Christ kick Gods word to a side in order to read these Cult leaders fabrications on Gods will.
Robert 67, thank you for this comment, Deuteronomy 18:20-22 is even more damming when read from the NWT, especially verse 22. Geoffrey Jackson got one thing right at the ARC, they are presumptuous!
Once again they condem themselves through their own words and actions. By their fruits you shall know them.
Great points, thanks for sharing these scriptures.
@Robert67. Hi Robert good points you make. Just wondering are you still actively attending meetings and answering at the meetings etc. Has anyone been questioning you as to your points of view or do you keep them to yourself most of the time?
Seems lie the Witch-hunts of the WT are getting stronger these days. I speak with a few that are fading and they tell me the WT keeps coming don harder and harder on any “outside” the Box thinking. The thought police are always watching.
How much longer so you think you can do this for?
I admire you for your perseverance.
I am in a new city and have been openly dropping truth bombs at meeting. Example “I am so glad for this new light and now the fact that Moses, David and Elijah have not been resurected to lead us into the Great tribulation as Rutherford predicted time and time again makes more sence.” “This new construction project is truly a blessing I’m just so conserned for friends, since the area turned out to be a toxic waste dump and we’ve all heard of the cancerous effects of many of these chemicals.” My favorite is openly damning all those worldly false prophets that tell us the world is ending now and nothing happens, I then quote Deutoronomy 18:20-23 and Proverbs 30:5,6 “Trully Jehovah is proving them lying false prophets as predicted for the last days and all this new light is shining right on them.”
You’d be surprised the mix of reactions as I look around the hall when I comment this stuff everything from “did you know that?” “Is that true?” To just affirmative nodding of the head or the “I know what you are” look.
@Robert67
You do have Guts. I know from my experience depending how outspoken you get you will soon be hauled before the Brown Shirts and interrogated for sure.There will always be some who don’t care but the majority will run to an Elder to report you and say you are going apostate or Crazy or Both. They will give you warnings and censor you. It is just a matter of time if you are outspoken. Since I read your comments and I know you are fading but do you go out in FS also even though you do not believe it? When I faded I could no longer go in FS bc I did not believe it anymore and did not want to try to convince people of something I myself did not believe. That is just my way of dealing with it. I know that is not for everyone. Keep me/us informed of how things are going.
If these were Old Testament days, the WT Prophets would have been stoned. No 2 ways about it.
Nothing wrong with being stoned….. oh…… wrong stoned…… nvm.
Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah….
Its hard keeping a doomsday cult going after the date of departure. I’am 50 years ago and my parents in the late 70’s, they are near their own end time and the sight of their old age and declining health forced my Brothers and Sisters to wake up and realize that they had been lied to. They have walked away from the JW’s all in the last 2 years leaving me (the Black sheep who walked away at 17 without being baptized) to take care of my folks. The folks are sad and lost and a little crazy. I hate this cult that in the end I can never seem to be rid of.
I’m sorry that you’re going through that. I hate hearing experiences like yours but they serve as a reminder to us. Waking up from the indoctrination comes with a price. I’m sure you don’t regret seeing things clearly, nor do I. That extra useless appendage we were carrying called Watchtower was a stumbling block to joy.
The organization Is an insidious parasite that leaves remains of itself in our pysche. Taking care of your aged parents is a noble thing. It’s good that they have a caretaker who isn’t burdened down with meetings and field service and elders hounding you for your time.
I’ll will never let the witnesses forget the abuse heaped upon us and them to perpetuate man made doctrines. The end is around the corner my hairy yellow @$$.
Thanks, I do drive them to the Kingdom Hall, I love them anyway but they still think I am wrong. Good point about not having to go in Field Service.
I have some aged witness relatives as well. Some who are in their 80’s still believe the old promise that “millions now living will never die.” They actually tell me the end is right around the corner and they are going to see it, but I won’t unless I return to the organization. What a way to spend your few remaining years with your family. I imagine it will come as a great shock to them when they actually die (not to sound cold hearted).
WS
Sounds like they don’t have much faith in the “overlapping generation” thing. It would mean they could very well be gone before the “end” arrives!
Have them check their Math. If they’re only in their 80’s, they sure don’t fit into the category of those who were alive when that promise was made (1918). In fact, there aren’t many that do. Math can be tricky.
@A4
These specific relatives were born and raised in the religion. So they were exposed to the “millions” teaching while very young, born just a handful of years after it was issued. Little do they realize that by holding on to an outdated teaching – i.e. not keeping up with new light/present truth – they are technically apostates.
WS
Ha!
+1 Brent. You just have to battle on mate and deal with it. Easier said then done, but definitely worth while. In your case the sad part is that your parents have lost two of their kids who have woken up, and you would think at their age, it’s all too much to expect them to change their own faith.
One thing for sure is that you can bask in the daily fulfillment of knowing you broke free of mind capture at a young age, and the benefits of that is ongoing.
I wish you well.
Thank you for those thoughtful words. My folks put their cult above their own children, still I don’t have the heart to tell they the truth about the truth, that it is a fraud. They, the WT benefits from stock in U.S. defense company’s (2.2 Billion) and signs on to the U.N. 3 weeks after the the fall of the U.S.S.R. No King of the North? http://nccsweb.urban.org/communityplatform/nccs/organization/profile/id/386043103
The child sex abuses, If my folks knew of this I bet they would drop dead. So in order for them to maintain their faith, they must remain ignorant of the truth about the truth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdOjjfuEn7U
@Brent. I know the feeling Brent. I have friends and family in the same situation. The influence of the Cult plays havoc on may for may years. My JW fanatic wife likes to claim that they are that way bc their conscience bothers them bc they know this is the truth! I tell her NO! They are mentally damaged by all the propaganda the WY threw at them and their family for decades and then people realize the WT is a lying and has been lying to them knowingly for decades and they feel hurt and that they wasted BIG parts of their lives. Look at the majority of JW’s I tell her. Many are depressed, unhappy, dysfunctional and not reasonable. If this is the Spiritual paradise get me out od it Quickly!
I have a non JW firend and we talk about this stuff a lot and he tells me that abuse mentally,physically, or psychologically can take years to go away and sometimes it never does go away 100%. We need to learn to adjust.
40 years?? Well John Redwood, I suppose it does take some persons a little longer to recognize patterns… :-)
Your comment is a contradiction to your screen name. :)
In my observations, many stay in just for the social aspect and friendships – ever changing doctrine may irritate them but not enough to abandon the social club and routine.
The society relies on learned behavior patterns to try and keep people in. After all if you were born in it this is all you really know. No different then someone who grows up in a abusive family and repeats that cycle again in their own family. Children learn what they live and if right or wrong it’s considered “Normal” to them.
That’s exactly how it happened with me. I stayed in about 5 years longer than I should have (meaning 5 years after I lost all interest). Eventually I had to come to grips with the reality that the only reason I was still going to meetings and out in service was because that’s what I had been doing all my life. It was a bitter pill to swallow at the time, but I’m soooo glad I got out.
@Rob. Ever-changing doctrine did bother me. In my Youth of 18-20 years old it was important for me to study doctrine and “PROOVE” we had the truth. As the ever changing doctrine happened every few years or every few months I became perplexed at the nonsense doctrines that kept popping up . Doctrine was always important and foremost to me. Trinity, Soul, Hell fire, etc. My JW Wife says the WT has never changed the basics? Really. Not true at all. Those are the only 2 -3 doctrines that have pretty much remained the same and the WT did not originate them. They came from other religions. SDA’s 2nd Adventist, and others.WT is a fraud.
We as JW’s were “forced” to believe them. If we did not we came under the scrutiny of the thought Police and would be DF’d.
That’s exactly what I was like from ages 18-20’s. “At MTS they told us ” if you don’t read EVERY Watchtower your are not in present truth”.
I took that deadly seriously and criticised any who were slow to read the latest mags. You have this tunnel vision that keeps logic out. A self imposed macular degeneration that doesn’t allow you to think “wait, how often does truth need to change?”
Rob
I never liked the social club part of being a JW. It was the same old pot lucks and same old conversations and the same recycled people. I remember showing up to a pot luck with a case of beer (2 missing) lol, and an elders wife said “your not having a beer are you”? We could never act ourselves..I left that party early.
I agree. As a JW we were forced to associate with the socially inept who would not fit in otherwise, except that you were told you had to love them as they were your brothers and sisters, even if they seemed really off. Some of them were creepy (a few did turn out to be child molesters), others had terrible hygiene, and others were just really unpleasant, unhappy people. I am so much happier not being forced to associate with those types. Now I can choose associates based on their character, their moral sense, and their reasonableness, instead of the mere coincidence that we happen to belong to the same creepy cult.
WS
Most assuredly true. I remember many who desperately needed to be on medication and couple that with therapy. There were a couple of young guys I was concerned with. I suggested to the mother that a psychiatrist or other behavioral therapist be contacted for her boys. Of course she rejected and said “all they need is the association from you brothers, don’t leave them out”.
Serving as an elder I strongly recommended they get some help. The other elders didn’t agree.
So the 18 year old who read at a 2nd grade level was stuck in the 9th grade in high school was eventually pulled out to be home schooled. An abysmal failure. The twenty one year old was chasing after a 13 year old girl in the hall. What great help to these fine young men ” good association” was.
Some other facets to the doomsday addiction is that this places enormous mental stress on children and adults, not only because high-strung individuals desperate to prove their “loyalty” and “devotion” (maybe thinking it affords a better placement at the table of the Lord?) throw all material aspirations and plans a long-term life to the wind, but because repeated Watchtower magazines adjust the “doomsday” and accordingly issue in a new “nuclear first-strike (pre-emptive)” drill as though this year is IT, the stress factor is enormous for the uninitiated.
The Watchtower is an interesting group dynamic, because from verbal talks, you will hear leadership hedge with statements like, “We don’t know what the upcoming year will bring forth, but the Watchtower is planning to expand its efforts to preach in far-off lands.” While in printed matter, it praised those who threw off long-term plans and went “whole hog” for the short-term, “Jesus is coming, pack your go-bag and be ready!”
And, I can empathize with those who have watched relatives, whom we were promised “now living, will never die (no “may” to it)” age, wither and succumb to the normal atrophy of living organisms. However, I feel my mind is opened to the possibility that on a spiritual plane, if God is communicating with individuals–humans, I am open to the concept that humans misinterpret a message or view of the Divine. Which opens up that I must be willing to listen to all sides of those spiritual interpretations PLUS my own quiet inner-voice of God, so that I am aware of the course He (or She) is plotting for my feet. This moves me far away from swearing allegiance to any ONE organization and into a mode of spiritual sojourner–a Soujourner Truth–finding that which accommodates for that moment in time for which it is right and needed message.
One week, perhaps the right message is in a Watchtower, the next day, perhaps it is available from Osteen or Buddhism. I may have a core belief structure, but the insights and edification may come through different paths, different journeys–nomadic spiritual journeys.
Based on this concept, the Christian relies on the core Scriptures which state that faith and belief in Christ leads to Eternal Life, whether tomorrow or at the end of life’s journey, so that para-beliefs on the imminent “last days” is moot, because whether it is tomorrow or 20 years or life ends, the Christian is ready, regardless.
The Watchtower attempts to prep individuals for this eternity, yet the pounding drum-beat of “last days” and its arcane twistings to wedge Scripture into this model of the “last days” drowns this out for those who are not willing to research and dig deep. If you are one of those who believes that Watchtower promises, literature and Watchtower-led Scripture reading rituals = Salvation, then disappointment and heartbreak are sure to ensue because this is putting Creature (belief in a Creation, or human enterprise) over the Creator.
References:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219146/
“The isolation that is often experienced at sensitive military bases and the boredom that accompanies many tasks tend to induce stress and may degrade job performance. The nature of service life in general has also been thought to encourage drug use.”
“In a prolonged nuclear alert, with missile crews working double shifts, bomber crews working on sustained airborne alerts, and submarine crews working beyond their regulated limit, the likelihood of error would surely increase (Morrison, D. 1983. Weapons wired for war. Nuclear Times.).”
From Carm
The Witnesses make many claims in their attempt to convert you to their faith. They profess to have the only true Christian church, to be the only true representatives of God, to have the only correct Biblical teaching, and to be the only true announcers of Jehovah’s coming kingdom.
If they are the only true church and are the only true voice of God’s Word, then what they say should prove to be true and especially in prophecy. When it comes to predicting the future, the Watchtower organization fails miserably. Following are some of the false predictions made over the years by the Watchtower organization. If you present these to a JW, he will probably say something like, “Those are taken out of context,” or “They didn’t claim to be the prophet of God,” or “The light is getting brighter, and we are understanding Bible prophecy better now,” etc. Make a copy of these false prophecies, found in the appendix, and give it to them to check. They are right out of the Witnesses’ literature.
Remember Deut. 18:22, “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” If someone makes a false prophecy and they have claimed to be a prophet of God, then they are false prophets and are not to be listened to. Do the Witnesses claim to be the prophet of God? Yes, they do.
In 1972 the Jehovah’s Witness Watchtower claimed to be the prophet of God.
IDENTIFYING THE “PROPHET”–“So does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? . . . This “prophet” was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses . . . Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a ‘prophet’ of God. It is another thing to prove it,” (Watchtower, Apr. 1, 1972, p. 197). (See Deut. 18:21).
1897 “Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874,” (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 4, p. 621).
1899 ” . . . the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced,” (The Time Is at Hand, 1908 edition, p. 101).
1916 “The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ’s Reign, began in 1873,” (The Time Is at Hand, forward, p. ii).
1918 “Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection,” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89).
1922 “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914,” (Watchtower, Sept. 1, 1922, p. 262).
1923 “Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge,” (Watchtower, Apr. 1, 1923, p. 106).
1925 “The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year,” (Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1925, p. 3).
1925 “It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated, the thought that 1925 should see an end to the work,” (Watchtower, Sept., 1925, p. 262).
1926 “Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything,” (Watchtower, p. 232).
1931 “There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time . . . and they also learned to quit fixing dates,” (Vindication, p. 338).
1941 “Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord’s provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon,” (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1941, p. 288).
1968 “True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world’, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? . . . Missing from such people were God’s truths and evidence that he was using and guiding them,” (Awake, Oct. 8, 1968).
1968 “Why are you looking forward to 1975?” (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p. 494).
A JW might say that the organization is still learning. If that is so, then how can they trust what they are taught now by the Watchtower? Will what they are being taught now change also?
A true prophet of God won’t err in prophesying. Only a false prophet does. The Jehovah’s Witness organization, that claims to be a prophet of God, is really a false prophet. Jesus warned us by saying, “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect–if that were possible” (Matt. 24:24).
When trying to show information about past failed prophecies, often in light of scriptural references, the JW slogan changes from “Advertise, Advertise, Advertise” to “Rationalize, Rationalize, Rationalize.”
WS
Love your hard work in researching this info.
Also, enjoyed the video that you posted on the last Friday column – I had watched it before when I was first waking up, but it was good to see it again.
Even though the Watchtower denies that they put dates on when Armaghedon will arrive, they put out little snipets of teasers like:
In early 2014 in the Kingdom Ministry they were talking about the Memorial and said something to the effect that the memorial was to be held on a certain date and then added “Will this be our last?”
Then there was all the speculation amongst the rank and file that since 2014 was 100 years from 1914 that something big would happen in October 2104 and I cant help believing that the speculation started in Brooklyn.
In my opinion, this doomsday religion does have a shelf life but somehow they keep reinventing the wheel and there are always individuals who are looking for this type of escapism.
I agree! However, it is not wrong if those who are still in are feeling happy for whatever reason: 1. social friends and connections; 2. escapism, as you put it; 3. inner calm, if you happen to be in a congregation made up of individuals who enrich your life. 4.(in my case, also practising Spanish in the group I “serve”-they have never reappointed me for statistical reason: hours!! Not that I care) What I object is religious blindness and taking all the words printed to the WT literature as if they were from the Bible. In my family study (thank God no children, I would instill higher education in the family study!) I try to instill to my wife (very much into the indoctrination) that reading the Bible comes first and that the printed comments in the publications may change with time…well, last week she said: “..be careful I believe you are reading staff you should not!….(she is right! I just finished for the third time “Crisis of conscience, and read many other books out there)” So, there you have it. I am in, because I believe in Jehovah God and the Bible, I have always had this spiritual inner feeling since I was a catholic child, then a JW, but I feel I cannot do more than what I am doing with my wife and my friends in the congregation, which I love: give the occasional comments about court cases, the ARC, the UK articles that keep on cropping up about abuse and try to steer conversations with young ones about studying and learning to do something in life etc. I understand that many are in congregations made up of very difficult individuals and that some live in isolated areas where it is difficult to move to another one, I live in a densely populated area with several congregations so, if need be, I can move to others.
I enjoy the article and remember the doomsday clock very well since I was baptised in ’82!! I am happy for me and sad for those who cannot see the brainwashing going on and that rely on men rather than Jehovah. I understand that this site is also full with those who left the WT and no longer believe in God and I respect them as I expect to be respected as an individual. My comments are not intended to indoctrinate anyone, simply giving you my perspective from where I stand and live. I enjoyed the article and send greetings to you all (also df’ed ones!). Bye from UK.
@James
It sounds like you are awake as a JW. Your mind and faith are your own and you don’t allow the leadership to have undue influence in your life (to the extent possible). Based on your comment, you certainly have not abandoned your powers of perception.
Based on your comment and those of others, I think there is a minority (albeit a growing minority) of rational JWs who do not blindly accept whatever new light is thrown their way, but rather test every inspired expression. It is my hope that you can inspire other members to embrace a similar outlook.
WS
James – I’m also in the UK (Midlands). I was baptised in 1984.
I can appreciate your comments that you ‘believe in Jehovah God and the Bible’ and that you are happy to stay ‘in’. It is brave of you to attempt to steer certain ones in the right direction, i.e. education and changing WT doctrines. I and my husband were in a similar position when we still attended meetings. The problem I see is that you will start to be watched and your comments noted by the powers that be. If your wife is discreet she may not mention her thoughts to others, if she does however, the gossip trail will start and you will probably be taken into the back room for counselling!
You may also be wise to take note of other Bible translations besides the ‘Silver Sword’ which has been manipulated by the WT to suit their own agenda. (You may realise this already). Research on the origins of the name ‘Jehovah’ (not from WT lit) may also be enlightening.
Personally, I could not keep going along with the bull…., the meetings were an endurance, and once I knew the real truth about the truth, I stopped attending and have since disassociated.
The Governing Body will probably announce new light stating that because the days of Noah were 120 years, the last days will also be 120 years. This would make 2034 the new doomsday date. This is really the only play they have left and it ties in well with their asinine overlapping generation doctrine.
A great point ScotWm. I have thought this for many years.
In the December 15 2003 Watchtower the seed was sown for this belief which went largely unnoticed by the majority of Dubs (although I was delighted to see that Raymond Franz spotted it in the revision of COC).
They made reference in the article of the 120 years in Noah’s day them made the comment “What about us? We are some 90 years from the beginning of the last days in 1914 (this was 2003 remmber) ”
I remember very clearly sitting doing the maths….2034
This will be as you say the only play they have left. Yes it fits the overlapping generation fiasco and gives them a bit more time to play with.
I actually considered this 120 years idea back in the 1980’s around the time I was baptized. I dismissed it, of course, because I was fully indoctrinated with the “this generation (singular) would not pass away” teaching. I dismiss it now because, among other things, I realize that the starting point, 1914, is completely erroneous and based on incorrect historical assumption and poorly formulated scriptural exegesis.
WS
The only problem with the 2034 date is that it is 18 years away. This date won’t create the sense of urgency needed to generate the big baptism and financial contribution numbers that the Watchtower claims to need now.
The one billion dollar plus sale of the Brooklyn complex combined with the potential profits from the sale of other Watchtower properties should be enough to keep the organization solvent for the foreseeable future.
The biggest threat to Watchtower solvency is the multitude of child abuse lawsuits that are sure to come. Watchtower leaders have admitted under oath to the Royal Commission and other courts that they are permissive toward pedophiles. This irrefutable evidence will be used by lawyers to gain large child abuse judgments against the Watchtower.
Even 18 years out, it is another carrot to dangle in front of the rank and file. True, it won’t generate enough immediate urgency to save the org from all the issues it is facing.
Part of the issue for the org is that the GB half believe (some members more so) the twisted babble they produce. So they don’t have a big, long term viewpoint. Just hold it together until Armageddon. Their lack of farsighted vision may convince them that they have nothing to fear.
WS
If they decide to promote 2034 as a “likely” Armageddon date, I predict that this will only become a prominent point in the propaganda in the second half of the twenties. Until then, 2034 is too far away to create any sense of urgency; it could even create some complancency if the JW start to feel that Armageddon is many years away. (And we can’t have that!)
Compare 1975. They started pushing that date only in 1966, with the publication of “Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God”. So around 2025 I expect Watchtower publications to become ever more fascinated with the idea that the “last days” in Noah’s time were 120 years, constantly bringing up this point, though maybe leaving the implications as an exercise for the reader. Thus the Governing Body will maintain deniability in 2035. “Oh, WE never said …” blah-blah-blah.
H.K. Fauskanger says: “…around 2025 I expect Watchtower publications to become ever more fascinated with the idea that the “last days” in Noah’s time were 120 years…”
That will tie in well with self-appointed, self-anointed Governing Body member David Splane’s explanation about the “contemporaries” of Fred Franz. December 22, 1992, the day Franz died and went to heaven, is the cutoff date for Governing Body eligibility.
Stretching out the last days for 120 years demonstrates the amazing flexibility of the generation that “will by no means pass away until all these things happen.”
And to think just how stupid people are to buy into this Garbage.
Haven’t these people been indoctrinated enough already?
Get a life and “Return to reality”
Nice presentation of information.
Well, my advice. Since the end is near, board up the windows, start storing cans of Tuna and bottled water… grab a rifle and a helmet./sarcastic
BTW, great article
IMHO
dogstar
@Sirius,
My father, who is 90, a JW for 65 years, has been storing a huge amount of can goods for the friends at Armageddon. Still lives( now all alone)in his huge house with a great basement. That’s because he can hold meetings down there when the clock strikes 12.
He just keeps repeating another ridiculous phrase about how god is speeding up time. Yeah? The fact that he is nearing his end time must sadly make him wish/ believe the actual dimension of time is altered. I won’t argue the point with him. He can’t get out. It would probably blow his mind.
I enjoyed the article, it went well with the previous article. BTW, I used to have night mares all the time about running to safety as god drops the fire bombs on my city. No more!!
Ur dad might be interested in Einstein’s Theory of Relativity – RE Time Dilation.
Ive been in all my life, so the clock has been a part of my life, doom and all that goes with it. You know i’m tired, tired of being on high alert. It has been a constant state of , Now folks, urgent blah bloo*y blah. When jc said it would come as a thief that is true because if it does come i don’t really care anymore. The wolves have cried wolf too many times to take them seriously. My go bag food went out of date for my family and my kids grew out of the damn clothes I put in who do I send the bill to for the spoiled food, the clothes went to charity and probably did some good. I don’t know what to preach, there is no credibility in the silver sword or the sermon. You cannot I repeat CANNOT keep going to the same people year after year trotting out doom and expect them to take you seriously no wonder there are no bible studies just the kids and the mentally ill who have no time concept just fear, so dooms day can come any old time. My anthem now is Two minutes to midnight by Iron Maiden waving my JW.Org blue banner (joking folks).In this deathdealing poisonous cult there is no good news just grey fog into the distance. Think i’m feeling jaded and disappointed and the whole crazy gig and having been with it too long.I think I must conclude that I would rather go into oblivion than wait for Armageddon or spend eternity with Hebrew speaking , piano playing window cleaners. Jehovahs witnesses have spoiled it all, they ruined our little young lives as innocent children. They stole our youth and now dangle us in front of the doomsday clock. the few heaven bound must be laughing all the way to the bank. ruthlee
@Ruthlee,
I feel for you and your frustration. Believe me, I was there . I was so angry, disappointed, jaded. I was in from birth. Baptized in 1072, always expecting the end, but it did not come. Enough is enough. Someone here once said leave for health reasons. I did. When you know something is wrong, it will tear you up inside to try and make it right. Leave it go. I officially quit 2 years ago. It is most wonderful. I noted your point Ruthlee anout going to preach this same old message to people in your territory. I see this one sister in my old congregation, who is so old and crippled hobbling to doors. It is PATHETIC to see. She has literally been to the same doors for 50 years. She may drop dead on someones door step. And be hailed a faithful witness. Don’t let the past dictate your future. It belongs to you Ruthlee!! Be happy to be free.
@peggy, holy old age mistake….
That year is 1972.. wew
Thanks Peggy just need a friendly voice I think it all got to me this week cheers ruthlee
I like Iron Maiden.
I only knew a couple tunes by them. I was more into Black Sabbath, Ozzy, and Metallica. You know, all that Satanic music that was forbidden for us young JWs.
WS
I have a sneaking suspicion u’re an apostate.
@A4
You flatter me! LOL
WS
GB= Masters of Puppets…. Promised only lies….
@Dblaron42
Absolutely:
“Master of puppets I’m pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can’t see a thing
Just call my name, ‘cause I’ll hear you scream
Master”
Want a good laugh? Check this vid out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kdOfUcEyWqk
WS
Too funny. Obey the Muppetmaster! LOL Nice guitar solo too. Loved Animal on the drums!!
…”spend eternity with Hebrew speaking , piano playing window cleaners…” this is dead brilliant comment!, I lough hehehe!!
I am a long life learner and love academic learning just for the sake of it, so at the age of 32 I decided to go to piano lessons and I do spend 1 hour every day at it: occasionally I play in front of fellows of my congregation and inevitably they say that they wait for the new world to do it. Obviously I am not appointable for statistical reasons, I do no pioneer and they must think that I should do more in the ORG. I simply reply that Jehovah has given us ability to enjoy life with our brain and music is one of the nice things we have, so I do it now that I am able rather than dreaming of a future that has not come yet, and speculating or daydreaming about learning the piano: do it now!! I feel sorry for you sister, nice rant and keep your chin up.
@Ruthlee. I know our feeling Ruthlee. I to was baptized in early 70’s but I was not raised a JW. I came in around 20 years old. Even then there were things that bothered me on the 1914 teaching although I would put it out of my mind. Mostly the thing that bothered me was that Jesus supposedly came that year but yet he was still coming in the future ( kind of? ) and that he came “INVISBLY”. When I would read the bible it just did not make sense. I could nor discuss this with my 110% JW wife. She would put her hands over her ears and say Don’t discuss this with me..you need to talk with an Elder! As time went on I did not know what to preach at the doors anymore bc the doctrine kept changing over and over.It became SO CONFUSING OF A DOCTRINE. I would go to the same doors for years and see folks and see family pass away yet we were here saying 15-25 years ago the end is SO close! Telling people we are right. Don’t go to college. don’t learn, don’t buy a home, bc if you do you are not showing faith in the Kingdom etc and promoting materialism. Yes, in my area buying a home instead of renting was considered having a lack of faith in the 1970’s and even early 80’s.
When I was in my 20’s in the 70’s there was a elderly SUPER active sister who was probably born around 1895-1900 or so and she had been a JW for
Most all her life. Told us some wild stories about Rutherford and how she would sell books and magazines in the depression just to have food to eat. She traded books for food and chickens on farms in Northern California. Even left her baby at home with relatives to go Preach during the depression bc the end was imminent and Rutherford told her to do that and God would take care of her baby.
One Brother in the early 1980’s said after working with her for months in Field service that he did not want to end up Like Sister Wagner and be 90 years old and just waiting for Armageddon and have your whole life slip by! He left the JW’s shortly after that and everyone was shocked and he was about 30 years old at the time.
She died in 1989 at about 90 years old and he died last year at about 63 years old.Her life was wasted serving Rutherford and was a bad example of a Mother neglecting her child. At least the young brother enjoyed his life and lived normally and did not live in fear. He was right. He did not want to end up selling magazines for the Borg.
SO many have given their life to what the WT tells them to do. Now they are being told some whacko Idea about overlapping generations and the F&D Slave is only 7 men that run the show now. Another flip flop Idea. How could anyone preach that at the doors?
I woke up nearly 3 yrs ago? along a few others from our congregation.
we had not spoken or discussed anything which is all the more remarkable.
however it was the identity of the fds which alarm belled my brain and so began an earnest endeavour to research in to the past. .how with armagedddon only weeks away is the true identity of the fds coming to light somehow triggered a rebellious streak of apostate reading ( thank you Mr Franz. .should have read it 25 yrs ago)
glad to say another friend with 30 yrs under their belt has had their eyes opened and it’s only a matter of time before she’s totally free.
but let’s be positive everybody reading this:
we have escaped…we are living ..and hopefully we are now enjoying life more than before…
whilst it would be very easy to feel bitter over 26 yrs of wasted life I met some lovely people and simply say
” that was then this is now”
don’t waste the remainder of your days in a negative state of mind…by all means educate and help those who are on the edge, doing so in a way that they reach the right conclusion..
but….enjoy the journey. .smell the coffee..and breathe the fresh air!!
after all its Friday night and you could have been 2hrs into a pointless wt study …preparing answers for Sunday…
now we really are enjoying ” the glorious FREEDOM as sons of ????
Oh, but wait…..don’t go now…why we have some new items to offer like JW broadcasting and infomercials of people welcoming back dead relatives and friends, how about cartoons, sappy movies showing how a family solved all their problems by having a regular family study nite…Don’t lull yourself into a happy state, no, the angels holding back the destructive winds are almost ready to let’ em loose…quit your job, sell your house, send us your moneys (kingdom interests ) and move to a 3 world country and pioneer. Nows the time…….
Haha, I love your moniker, I have an empty briefcase in my home office now. I use it as a door stop!
Recently threw out half my suits, along with about 30 shirts and ties. What a waste of money.
I also had a Watchtower literature burning day last year when I officially “undedicated” myself. I emptied my meeting and witnessing bags (hadn’t used them for a while) and burnt the lot. It was very cathartic. :)
That must’ve been FUN!!!
I kept my old literature. Saving a fortune on toilet paper.
I keep my old literature as evidence against the “inner party” since they want to rewrite their own history.
(My choice of words is obviously influenced by the fact that I am currently rereading 1984).
WS
Long live the Brotherhood / Resistance / 5th Column!
what a hero! ruthlee teehee
My thoughts exactly .ive been in since 65 most family in and wife.am fading out. And tell em i cant do many meetings as i get stessed and panic attacks . It seem to be working they are leaving me alone. And im mentaly out and free.
@ redundant briefcase.
Great thought RB. Even though I have been out ( Faded ) over 20 years now the WT still effects us. My wife is still a super JW and NUT case Pioneer. She ignores the evidence and only says “we are the only ones” preaching the Kingdom throughout the earth. Therefore we have to have the truth!
She speaks a few languages so she thinks when she runs into somebody who speaks one of foreign languages on the streets it is from Jehovah and they sent them to her? I cannot have an open forum with her about the bible or religion if in ANY WAY I bring up the fake prophecies of the JW’s. When I was an Elder she use d to get upset with me if I did not pioneer when I was on vacation!
It has been a rough ride. JW’s the religion of no fun.
great!thanks for the info.
The threat of nuclear war is what caused me to start attending meetings at the age of 16. As a teenager in the Reagan years, it just didn’t seem that the world could end any other way. I was really scared, and the Witnesses were the only ones who seemed to paint a different picture of the future (glossing over the carnage of Armageddon of course). It wasn’t until years later that I realized how they had manipulated my fear to get me to join up. I left the church in 2001 and haven’t looked back.
When I look back on the last years of the Cold War, the fear, hopelessness and conviction that the world was going to be annihilated in nuclear war seems like a dream. But my husband and I recently watched a Cold War television documentary and the footage of the Persching missiles and DEFCON flashing on the screen brought us both out in chills. When you are a young person with that kind of fear, it’s easy for groups like Watchtower to get a hold on you before you know it. In my opinion, that’s what makes these groups dangerous.
U would like Hunt for Red October.
Ah Tom Clancy – what a hero.
This is an amazing rundown! Thank you so much John Redwood! The work you put into this is well appreciated!
Has anyone else heard that the watchtower claimed this year, 2016, as the last year to celebrate the memorial? Something along the lines that the world is at its end. My mom mentioned it in passing?
It was noted that this could be the last Memorial for some of us; eager minds want to twist it into a projection of another prediction. Balanced thinkers view as stating the obvious, everyone has a 50-50 chance of living to another Memorial or not, and no one can say with certainty they will see another one.
A load of sentiment from a bunch that claims to have no sentiment.
Hi Roman,
I have not heard that, however, at the 2015 memorial there were 15,177 partakers according to the yearbook. That number has been going up each year. No doubt that is raising questions and in turn causing alarm at HQ. If the memorial were no longer celebrated and no count taken they could avoid the obvious questions this rising number generates.
Regards
Hi Roman,
I messed up trying to post my comment. It thinks it is a duplicate when it actually didn’t show up… Let’s try again…I have not heard that, however, at the 2015 memorial there were 15,177 partakers according to the yearbook. That number has been going up each year. No doubt that is raising questions and in turn causing alarm at HQ. If the memorial were no longer celebrated and no count taken they could avoid the obvious questions this rising number generates.
Regards
Oh dear I did mess up. Sorry for the repeat.
At this rate, how long before the number of partakers exceeds 144,000? Won’t that be a fun one to have to explain!
WS
Just proves their constituents r getting crazier & crazier. “Yeah, I too am gonna float up to Heaven to live with the Sky God, & be a King (or Queen), 1 of the Supreme Overlords.” lmfao
Another take on that: Perhaps some of these folks r “stuck”, remaining in, due to fear of shunning. So they think, “OK, let me make the most of it while sticking it to the org at the same time.” Just a theory, but funny (& clever 4 them) if true.
@WS. Oh that is bc many came from Christendom and were taught everyone goes to heaven. Also, some have emotional and possible mental
issues? How about the WT having mental issues and they just freaking got the whole thing wrong!
That is where the problem lies. Te WT is wrong. Now, that explains everything. The light is brighter now. I see said the blind man.
I just want to add my voice in appreciation for this article. The quality of articles on this site is outstanding, and the Friday Column has been a very worthwhile initiative. Thank you all, and keep up the good work.
This article was excellent John.
Great article. I recall living near several USAFB during the peaking periods of “Cold War” and “Space War” and while “duck and cover” had long been debunked, there were still the civil air defense siren drills and schools highlighting “Fallout Shelter” signs. Later when I visited the premier “Cold War” USAF base–it’s museum to the “Cold War”, sent chills down my spine. It was similar to visits to the Holocaust museums and sites–ghostly reminders of an horrendous era.
Fear. Uncertainty. and Doubt. Fear of the looming nuke wars. Uncertainty of what the future would bring and which of the many nuclear holders would push the button first, or if Jehovah would set one off “accidentally” to get the ball, or mushroom cloud as it were, rolling. Doubt, about whether you were in the right bunker of Salvation–“Examining Your Religion”.
Even though we’ve parted company with those days and some who are locked in the grip of that group, one sunny day, we’ll meet again… [yes, a long way for one insert…]
https://youtu.be/NFkryh6hC-k
ok, two… but who’s counting?
https://youtu.be/LLCF7vPanrY
This article will still not show those in the cult how wrong they are and to get out.
During WWII an unexploded bomb that landed in a residential area and failed to explode was called a f.u.d. d.u.d The fear this caused was concidered apart of psychological warfare. f.u.d. stands for fear, uncertainty, and doubt. d.u.d. stands for doubt, uncertainty and the threat of death because they never knew if the bomb would explode unexpectedly. Tony Morris likes to say things to shock people because he is a f.u.d. d.u.d. The doomsday clock is used the same way. But he talks out of both sides of his mouth. I read an article where he says soldiers who he served with in vietnam will be resurected then he says something stupid about hotdogs. He is lecherous. He loves to shock people. The G.B. creates all sorts of uphaevel and then looks at you like what’s the matter with you? if you react. I don’t believe the G.B.
Professional Gaslighters.
Great article John Redwood. I loved the “Predict-Fail-Change Doctrine-Repeat. As if it were instructions on the back of a shampoo bottle (rinse and repeat). I was baptized a couple years after you, but I recall all the changing doctrines. I remember sitting with my JW family and trying to decipher how old the generation of 1914 was and how much longer they could possibly live. When I think of the time wasted on such useless drivel! And I remember sitting through those horribly boring book studies from the Survival book.
Liked how you tied the article back to the clock in your conclusion.
WS
Great article.
Classic example of Watchtower Doublespeak – “We preach Doomsday, but we’re not a Doomsday Cult.”
JR,
Great article, and brought back memories as a young pup – this fear instill from doomsday prophets the Watchtower Corporation.
To bad this religion is not an original – its only a meme of the past.
A history of misquotes and man-made by laws from the 7 men of ‘shameless, heartless and money beggers’. Taking away ice cream money and their savings from the children.
Every hard-liner JWs should be asking themselves, ‘why is the Watchtower Corporation discontinuing over 30 books never to be printed’, why?
Also, if you use jworg & online library, and research the founder CT Russell and J.Rutherford, you only get 3 videos with limited info, the online library has their names listed with limited book symbols no longer available from the Watchtower Corporation, so how in the world are you ‘to be proud of your jw history’?
Is the doomsday clock really moved forward? Or is the Watchtower Corporation really ashamed and not proud of their history?
It’s true or its not?
Now let’s compare Satan’s “true Corporations”, who can say ‘we are proud of our history’. For example,
Favorite staffing.com ‘Our history is what makes us special’.
Or how about,
Luxinternational.com ‘as a privately owned company based in Switzerland we are proud of our history and of our founder’.
Many will like this one,
Barfield.com ‘a proud history of pet health care since 1955’.
How about,
Swiftenergy.com ‘proud past and bright future’.
And my favorite – this really resonates with the true meaning of – a proud history and heritage.
Stanley Black&Decker, ‘Freddy Stanley, Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker, for more than 175 years we’ve been proud to continue their legacies and proud to carry their names forward’.
Imagine that, the alleged gods religion (jws) can’t say what Satan’s wordly ” true Corporations” can say. We are proud of our heritage and history.
It’s true or its not.
The doomsday clock for the Watchtower Corporation, has been moved forward 2 minutes before midnight.
Peace out,
@minion – love those cartoon twinkies.. but, I’ve noticed this pendulum swing back and forth with the Watchtower over the years. Some years they’re proud and “out loud” regarding their history and heritage with Russell–then, under the guise of “too much creature worship” the pendulum swings back and they’re mute and distancing from Russell and even Rutherford and his Christmas-at-Bethel days.
But, what else can I expect from a house built on sands instead of apostolic “rock”-hard succession?
Jehovah’s Witnesses like to think they’re saving people & working for their neighbors. But that’s the easy part. What they fail to recognize is their responsibility to themselves. How can u liberate someone if u r a slave? How can u enlighten ur neighbor if u r in darkness?
The blind leading the blind for sure!
After I started researching the Society and it’s involvement with the United Nations in 2014, and found out that the Society was lying about 607 and all the other lies about the real history of the Organization, it still took many months of being scared and thinking “what if the Society is right about Armageddon?” I was so indoctrinated with the fear of Armageddon.
I remember lots of Sunday talks when they’d bring up about the clock and how close the world was to nuclear destruction but God was going to have to step in to save it because He wouldn’t let his creation be destroyed that way by man.
Every time there would be some terrible thing in the news, it was evidence that God was going to have to step in and how it “just couldn’t get any worse” and God was going to have to step in to save the earth and so on. Everyone still looks for the “cry of peace and security” around here and how the U.N. is going to turn on religions.
Once when there was a case where a parent had killed their child, my cousin (a Witness) made the comment that we needed the new world because “there was no natural affection between family members anymore”. Even then, I couldn’t help but say to her that “not everyone in the world had no natural affection anymore”. But that is the first thing that comes to Witnesses minds when they hear anything bad that happened, is that “everything” is so bad that God has to step in and save the earth from total destruction.
When I first got involved in the 60’s, “it just couldn’t get any worse” and when the 1975 prediction was popular, a person wasn’t even allowed to suggest that Armageddon wasn’t going to happen then.
I remember being shot down as “having no faith in God’s promises” if I didn’t believe it but what I said then and believed was that “Abraham asked God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there was just ten people in that city who were good” and so why would God destroy the earth when there were so many coming into the “truth” at that time? It didn’t make any sense to me then, that why would God destroy all mankind if so many were coming into the truth?
My thinking was that the whole world would come into the “truth” and there would be more and more and before long, the whole world of mankind would be converted to JW’s and God wouldn’t have to destroy it. That was my thinking because there were so many that were coming into the Society at that time. I thought it would mushroom.
What I didn’t hear about was all that left because Armageddon didn’t come in 1975. That was never talked about and if a person had brought it up, you would have been shot down as having no “faith” in God then.
@Caroline
“if a person had brought it up, you would have been shot down as having no “faith” in God”
Classic example of cult conditioning using thought stopping techniques.
WS
JW’s are so eagerly awaiting Armageddon and see imaginary signs of the end everywhere, because they live unfulfilling lives. They haven’t invested in the here and now. When uneducated and cleaning windows all day, the end of the world seems like something to look forward to. However, when I sit in my beautiful garden and watch my kids play, I can’t help but think that this world is a pretty nice place to live in! I’ll pour myself another glass of wine and hope Armageddon does not come for another hundred years!!! Lol
@KI
Great point. They waste their entire lives wishing for a future that never comes. They sscrifice their present happiness because of false promises.
WS
Actually all those times around dreaming of paradise and calculating yet another number to believe in we were not keeping our eyes on the panda prize. It was a distraction wether Parousia, telos, 607, 1914, generation, nodding virgins, other sheep or any other noncy prediction that stopped us living and sliding us into inertia. KI you are so right on a good day in the garden with god’s own nectar in a glass nothing is better or finer . Hotdogs on the bbq anyone?Tara dont forget Living after midnight by Judas Priest probably should be our aposty anthem. Really this org is numbers obsessed no matter where you look the devil is in the detail. ruthlee
They love numbers but somehow never get the Math right. lol
They do what they know and do not loose anything! Their followers pay the price and the religion reaches its goals:
*** w04 2/15 p. 4 Is Religion at the Root of Mankind’s Problems? ***
“WHEN religion is not encouraging strife it is acting as a drug which numbs the human conscience and fills the human brain with escapist fantasies. . . . [It] causes human beings to be narrow, superstitious, full of hatred and fear.”
Being the “Root of Mankind’s Problems” is the sole objectives of religion.
Man! Their own quote describes them to a tee! “Hoisted by their own petard”
I read with interest the comments on this website. Some have a very narrow view of some witnesses who devote their lives to a certain profession. I was raised as a witness, but now I am moving away from this faith very slowly and carefully. I paid attention in school, I wanted to go on to higher learning, my parents wanted me to pay attention to a higher power, a tough battle ensued. I worked as a computer operator for a number of years until I was married, from then until now I have been in the cleaning business for 40 years. I have been to a number of schools to stay ahead of changes in the industry. I am not an uneducated window cleaner, but I have cleaned hundreds of windows, and toilets, and floors, and carpets, and on and on. I never did once think that the doomsday clock was going to strike at midnight, or that the end was coming tomorrow. I was a very balanced witness. I provided jobs for up to 15 people at a time, and for a number of years made a lot of money. Now that I am in my senior years I still have a very balanced view of life. I still read and listen with interest to people that are smarter than me. I enjoy being with those people who have positive outlooks on life. I am a recovering alcoholic with 16 years of sobriety which gives me another reason for a positive outlook. I say to some of you, find a reason in your heart to have some humility and compassion for those that are still witnesses even if they are misguided, never look down on their professions, those hard working individuals might be providing themselves and their families what they need to survive. Remember even if the doomsday clock is still ticking toward midnight you have time to do good toward others.
@A Patient Man
Never should my comments be construed to wish any harm or ill will on the rank and file. They are just as duped as i was at one time. Indeed I have family members still in who I want to wake up to TTAT. Sometimes I am frustrated with their lack of perception and that may show through in my comments.
My criticism is to the leadership that perpetuates a system that denies people’s basic human rights to choose the best path for them. Even being a so-called ‘mindless window washer’ might be someone’s calling and if that’s what they want to do with their life, more power to them. Hell, be the best G-damned window washer you can be. But I have seen so many who are forced to dismiss other paths that that they would really like to pursue all because of a bunch of BS from the GB. That’s what I speak out against.
WS
Meant TTATT – lost my last “T”. At least I haven’t lost my mind, I think. LOL
@ A Patient Man
U might be missing the point. I don’t think anyone here looks down on window washers. God knows I’ve done my share of “menial labor”. As far as I’m concerned, any occupation that provides a legitimate product or service is a noble profession. The point of all the “window-washer” talk is to highlight the fact that many of these individuals are elders, overseers, GB members, big-shot pioneers, whatever, without having any qualifications or credentials backing up their positions of “authority” over others, telling others how to live their lives! Not that ANYONE has that right!! But they’re not even REAL ministers, or sociologists, or psychologists, political scientists, whatever. Not that those credentials necessarily mean anything. There are a lot of highly-educated stupid people. Most of our Social Engineers don’t have the brains to be a window washer or anything else for that matter. The point is, if I’m not going to put all my faith in someone with a Ph.D. in Sociology, Psychology, Theology, or Political Science, why would I put all my faith in a window washer?
@ Patient Man
I do feel you have missed the point.
I don’t care if you hold a squeegee, mop, paint brush or a degree! If you are acting and saying you are better than me and will live forever and I will be destroyed because I choose not to believe the ever changing doctrines, that’s is where I have a problem The point in my opinion is the majority are not misguided they are elitist.
I agree with Patient Man; some of the most stellar and stalwart leaders of industry started with humble businesses and vocations. Lacking a degree does not equate to being “uneducated” because many individuals go beyond a curriculum’s agenda by reading authors and scholars on many subjects, giving them a broader view than some college students who metriculate enough to “get by” and land a job, or a “career”.
Also, I am reminded as furious and frustrated as I feel with the bOrg and relatives, I need patience; I am learning patience. I recall when I was deeply involved I used the same cult indoctrinated tactics of “thought-stop” (as WS reminds) and other parrot phrases. And, as many times as I see the GB blamed for this or that, I am reminded that one of the icons of dissent was a GB member.
It’s what we were, so relish your freedom but patience for those who haven’t come to enlightenment, yet.
Absolutely. U don’t need a piece of paper to tell u u’re intelligent.
— & most folks with those pieces of paper are skilled in ONE thing, & not even very good at that – as u stated, just doing enuff to “get by”.
They’ve got people at Bethel scouring the press
and media for any stories to ramp up the paranoia.
One story I remember coming up to 75 was that
the Worlds bird population was increasing. Many
other animals were either dying or hunted to the
point of extinction , but the birds were flourishing.
No inference was made or needed. The paranoia
filled in the blanks.
A W,T article at the time, said communists failed
to brainwash the bros, because a ploy used by
the commies was, To highlight the flaws and
injustices in the World. The article then pointed
out that on that score JWs could beat the
interrogator at his own game.
An obvious conclusion, though definitely not
intended is . When it comes to brainwashing
The Borg beats the commies hands down.
And let’s not forget all the hype about the “emergency rucksacks” a few years back due to impending disasters that were sure to come! Fortunately this seems to have died the death. I wonder who started THAT campaign?!
You mean all that jw’s survivalist equipment I bought is not going to get me thru ARMAGETTON, me and my Mormon neighbor have been stockpiling food.
Freeze dried eggs …anyone?
@POW
I’ll swap you for some water purifying tablets as I’ve already eaten the energy bars!
Mine is in the back of the car… Think the food will have perished, the clothes won’t fit but at least I have a spare set of knickers and a tooth brush if I break down.
Nothing beats a crossbow! lol
@Average Je. That is funny. I also stored canned food and freeze dried etc. After 15 years I had to throw it all out bc it was so old! I need canned food for the “overlapping” generation now! Average Joe? Are you still attending meetings and going through
the motions? Are you still an Elder? Has anyone caught on yet. I am impressed that you can still do that.
@Average Joe? Tell me about the Go-bags?
I missed all of that despite my JW wife going to all meetings. Never heard much at all until I read it on this site. Was the WT telling the R&F to do that or just JW’s themselves? How Big was it.Any articles on it in the WT magazine. Or did they push the idea and then say it is a conscience matter? lol
Ok this happened last night and I was so angry and annoyed I couldn’t even come on here to rant. Facebook…. a ‘sister’ posts a picture of Tony Blair taking a selfie with what looks like a huge oil refinery blast behind him… smoke, fireballs…. total destruction. You get the imagery right? The caption reads…. ME AT ARMAGEDDON. I nearly posted yup, there go billions of people dead and you post a self righteous picture of yourself. I was so trucking mad. These people only think of themselves. So done with it all. Off out for a massage now in the place right opposite the home where they will be having field service. I hope they see me. 9:15 appointment, 9:30 field service. They will just be arriving.
Don’t be too mad at her – her fantasy world is all she has.
Relax and Enjoy your massage.
Massage makes me think of my one friend who would always get massages…with happy endings: he’s an elder now! Then there were may friends who would go to strip clubs after the convention in whatever city we happened to be holding it in. I always wondered if they wore their badge cards. You know you were supposed to advertise the convention. Strippers need God too. But I digress, getting off topic.
WS
My massage was very therapeutic… :) I noticed the coffee shop parking lots were full on my way home. Its a tad chilly here in BC this am. I guess they went for break early.
Oh! I just re read your comment ….. bah ha ha
Sorry, can’t resist:
Did they go to those strip joints to see the “governing body”?
Was that elder exercising his “rod of discipline”?
Hey, if Jesus hung out with prostitutes,……..?
Jehovah’s Witnesses can make fun of a Global massacre like “Armageddon” because they r so detached from reality. It’s like playing a video game, or watching footage of Drone strikes on CNN. No concept of the reality of the situation.
It’s pretty barmy to think that the GB teach that the 144000 comprise of men AND women – being that the female of the species are considered inferior and generally less suitable for leading others. So.. try this for a head scratcher. The annointed men and women get to keep their respective gender despite being turned into spirit beings . However.. they will lose sexuality along with their physicality – in an enviroment consisting of an entirely male angel underclass who the annointed will rule over with Jesus. But the annointed ones who were female on Earth won’t be allowed to do do any talks from the platform in heaven, and they won’t be allowed to get involved in judicial matters.. and if they want to talk to God they’ll have to get the spiritual equivalent of a teatowel to wear on their non-physical non-existent heads.. or borrow a scarf from someone.
Or.. upon entry to heaven, the prejudice against women no longer applies and they do get to be Kings and Queens for 1000 years before Jesus says ‘Thanks you guys (and Girls) job done. Now off back to Earth and try to be Human again. We have 144000 vacancies available as Gardeners reserved for you which won’t be weird considering you’ve been spiritual royalty for a millennium. Also.. you Queens, we’ve set you up with some husbands who you are not allowed to leave for all of eternity. Remember to be submissive now. Feel free to choose your head scarf on the way out as a token of our gratitude.
OR, Women are not at all allowed to be annointed and the GB are all having a sneaky giggle about it everytime they meet a ‘sister’ who claims to be of the heavenly class. ‘What’s that sister? YES of course YOU will be allowed to rule over the men in heaven – but in the meantime – no… I’m afraid you can’t do the Sunday public talk this week because … well… you are a.. a…a feeeeeeeeeemale. Now please stick this teatowel on your head and say a prayer because I have to leave and there is a baptised brother in the room who despite being only 15 years old still outranks you’.
Seriously – my older brother has disowned his disfellowshipped daughter for this nonsense. It’s painful.
…and sick.
But on the lighter side, maybe upon entry to Heaven, the ladies will have that extra 10% of their brain added on, which they currently lack according to Watchtower, rendering them finally equal to the guys – no spiritual tea towels required!!! lmfao
Fear is a convenient tool to use when u’re raping someone’s mind.
How many G.B. members does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They just sit in the dark and demand you accept the light is on and is new.
J.W.s want to be dumb and gullible.
Nice! LOL.
I want to explain what I really mean by J.W.s want to be dumb and gullible. My brother and I had an argument. His daughter confessed to adultery. She had an affair with her married boss. Her boss left his wife, she left her husband. Three years later they married. My brother is trying to force everyone to believe she and her husband only had sex one time during the time they were seeing each other. I don’t agree because the other man was married at the time and his wife called to ask her to stay away from her husband. My brother got mad, mad, mad, mad because I don’t agree with him. He is believing what he wants to believe to make everything alright in his mind. He is being dumb and gullible. JWs believe what they want to in order to make things alright in their own minds. The lastest thing that happened is I had to call C.P.S. on my brother’s daughter because she gives her ten month old baby to much alcohol to drink. She gives the baby beer from the beer bottle and then right afterwards she gives him red wine to drink. We had an argument about it. She made fun of me to my face, afterwards I went home and I called C.P.S. They think I called CPS because of the adultery issue. That isn’t why I called. Mario is the name of the case worker. He went to her older son’s elementary school and interviewed him and it was confirmed. The end result is she had to promise to no longer give alcohol to the kids because it is illegal where I live.
Just know that when you are dealing with JW family members you are dealing with idiots. Be firm and be kind. But be firm at the same time.
Common sense is not very common.
Thank you John for your article.
Well researched and written!
Without reading all the comments below which are many I dare to add mine.
If the child is born we do already know that one day he/ she will die.This is inevitable consequences of “phenomena call life” on universal scale.Everything has its own time.And this will go on until time when the “supreme force of this universe” will decide to change it. So everybody knows that baby will die just nobody knows when.
So if we will apply same logic to the existence of our world or human kind we can identify our self with views of many “elite intellectuals and minds of this world” which predicts or expect the same conclusion of things.
Which is the death/end of this “word,structure or system as we know”.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/28/stephen-hawking-humanity-1000-years_n_7160870.html
The point is that the current trends are not sustainable or even not reversible or unstoppable so the predictable and logical conclusion is the before mention end.
The point which I want to make is that even WT made it’s prediction somewhere within these imaginary boundaries of “end game” which would be not extraordinary of its own.They were not first or last to do so.Simply put they kind believed that the “baby will die one day .”
The problem in WT case started when they tried to predict the “when” day will come and this failed prediction make them “false prophets”. On top of that they implemented “mind enforcement policies of their ideas” which makes them cult a like or simply put a cult.And the result at best just affected life of millions at worst ruined life of millions…. life like yours or my.
Non of this changes the fact the the time is running.
The clock is still there and time is still clinking. Generations are gone with the time and generations are still on the way.How many or if any ?
The “grand time keeper knows the answer.” I do not.
Anyhow best wishes to you John and all who maintaining and participating for this web.
peace
just thinking how relaxing it is NOT TO have to get up at 6am on a Sunday morning to finish the wt!.. ( with experience you realise that as long as there is plenty of underlining with different colours and the odd scripture written at 45 degrees , then that is more than sufficient to have convinced brother Dobber that you’re a keen student….
I digress ..sorry cedars.. slap my wrist..but humour is essential on Sunday mornings now as one plans a CONSTRUCTIVE day.
I was just glancing down the comments when I came across the rise in memorial partakers…..got me thinking perhaps we could accelerate this thought of How would the GB explain it , if the number exceeded 144000.
WE’LL. ..just throwing it out there but how about all who are on this website plus all your friends etc..turn up this march/ April at local KH….don’t go having had dinner…enjoy some bread ..little sip of wine…then 6 months later read about yourself with a new light explanation of how 222000 partook this year!!
funny though!!
I don’t even think I will be going this year.
I’m thinking of going, like making a “comeback”, then chugging the whole glass of wine & cramming all the bread on the plate into my face, then running out screaming, “I’m anointed! I’m anointed!”
– Then go home & wait for the men in the white suits to show up. lol
Bah ha ha now I would pay to see that.
I’ll send u the bill.
No extra charge for doing a couple of laps around the hall before I run out, giving people the finger & yelling, “F*** you – I’m anointed!!!”
Chuckle, chuckle, love it!
This could be the video of the year if you could do it!
Probably men in black suits though??
lol Could start a new genre on YouTube – JW Pranks
Tara – Don’t be intimidated into going through any ‘guilt’ you may feel. I guess we’ve all been there!
We did some research on the Memorial last year and found out that JWs always celebrate it on the Jewish Passover evening. Jesus, however, celebrated the ‘evening meal’ with his disciples the night before ‘Passover’, so the date JWs use has been incorrect for years. The whole thing has been meaningless, and as for pushing away the emblems, that’s a whole new ball game for discussion!
Oh ruthlee I feel so much the same….my experience is so much like yours…I have had a bit of love bombing this week with various visitors and phone calls wanting to encourage me back to the thing I am desperately trying to fade from… their love always has an agenda and it is the underlying message of judgement I cant stand…I have come close to writing a letter but seeing my spouse off to the meeting this morning looking so heartbroken that I was not going as well just made me feel I have to fade not flee…but oh what a desperate situation they put you in…I literally detest the lies and hypocrisy and the life I have wasted…I would love to not feel bitter…but Im afraid that the loss of life potential has meant call me Mara…which means bitterness…I hope you understand what Im trying to say ruthlee.
@idontknoewhattodo
“seeing my spouse off to the meeting this morning looking so heartbroken that I was not going as well”
Keep in mind all the lies that they are told about those who leave: people only leave the organization because they are materialistic, want the things of the world, want to have immoral sex, etc. No one ever leaves because their conscience no longer lets them believe the lies anymore.
My wife had much of the same reaction as you describe when I first started fading. Based on the watchtower lies she assumed that I was going to leave her (or already was cheating, etc.). After some time she realized this was not the case and more or less accepted things. There is still tension from time to time. I find she gets more upset that I won’t go to JW social gatherings rather than meetings.
But my point is hang in there. It will eventually get easier.
WS
Thanks Idontknowwhattodo it’s a funny ol’ life.My hubby has the renewed energy to get involved in the foreign field so I see less and less of him. That’s ok but sad, also he is running out of excuses for me I can only be ill and in pain for so long I just don’t want involvement and want to fade .Had a nosy bro phone me last week at 10’45pm to find out where I was. it is not genuine no matter what they say. I know what you mean by Mara. I think I would go down the letter route but the devastation to my hubby would be too much and that causes me so much grief. It is only when you really realise how imprisoned and entrenched we are that the repercussions upon our family finally sink in. I would top myself this time if it wasn’t for the fact I have family that I love I just hate this life . That just goes to show it is a doomsday cult because i’m going nowhere fast and if the cong I attend knew how I really feel they would chuck me out anyway so its a lose lose situation. The conclusion of the matter is watchtower has won in the end because people like us who have such grim days are collateral damage and they don’t give a flying f**k for us . That is why Cedars and the writers and contributors to this site do so much healing to my broken soul. The humour and witty banter and the progressive way of untangling WT rubbish doctrine counteracts my dark dog days and frittered away life. One last point for today. I did say to hubby actually if your god was listening to the clowns of Brooklyn then the big A would have come along by now he and they would not be so powerless to have prevaricated for so long it is just not logical. my thought anyway. thanks idkwtd. ruthlee
@Idon’tknowwhattodo? Can you ahev a open discussion with your mate? Will he listen to you or will he just freak out at what you are saying and close his ears? I know the feeling. My wife has been going to meetings for over 20 years without me. She is used to it but we could never have an open discussion. She screams and freaks out if I DARE say anything negative about the religion. It is a war zone to discuss. I am serious. She totally freaks out and screams and yells.I think it is better for you to fade than write a letter.
My husband is the lovliest person in the world until someone challenges held beliefs and information from the organization… his lovely handsome and kibd face changes and he sneers and curles his lip at me if I proffess doubts…so I dont go there…I just have a feeling that after 35 years of marriage he knows and is scared to open that door… all my children have left home… they are all jws… I dont think I could cope with them shunning me…my husband loves me very much and wouldnt leave me but it would change things irrevocably between us… I choose to just mention the odd little thing now and again … he hates it so we just live with the proverbial elephant in the room… like ruthlee I just hste this hand I have been dealt and cannot believe how duped I have been for the majority of my 57 years…I love reading ruthlee’s posts…they describe my life as well as hers… my husband would be stunned if he saw all the ARC sittings…but I dont think he ever would…he would disintigrate… Thats why ultimately…I dont know what to do.
I have come to the conclusion that some need to hold on to the belief because of fear of death. I think that it’s hard to face the ultimate truth about life for some people. So having a fantasy about life after death or not dying at all is something that keeps a person from sinking into depression. At least that’s what I went through when we lost our daughter. The reality that she was dead without another option was too much for me to bear at the time.
The other thing that I’ve noticed about those that are trying to draw us back in, is that they’re doing it for selfish reasons. I just think that they need us there to confirm their faith(fantasy). I suppose it falls under the groupthink thing, the numbers validate. Because if you dare walk away, it triggers their doubts so they want you to be their to support their fantasy not because they truly believe that they are saving you.
Otherwise they wouldn’t shun people like us, they would still be visiting & just being normal towards us but we become a threat to them even if we don’t say anything because their protecting their own fantasy.
I often remind myself of the fact that if I were ever stupid enough to go back, things would just go back to the same old same old. The love bombing when they first see me, then that would wear off & the judgement would start, then the pressure to perform. Yuck!
It’s an unhealthy religion thats why so many people in it are sick & depressed.
NEW LIGHT! NEXT DATE FOR ARMAGEDDON!
What if the GB were to link the start of the gentile times to 70AD instead of to 607 BC? – 70AD being the second destruction of the temple (607 BC is the WT’s erroneous date for the first destruction of the temple).
After all, Jesus did say: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near… and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled’ (Luke 21:20, 24). This seems to make 70AD a possible starting point for the gentile times although Jerusalem was being trampled on by gentiles since the destruction of the first temple in 586/587 BC.
Then if we do the math according to WT calculus by adding 2520 years to 70AD instead of to 607BC, that takes us to 2590AD instead of 1914AD. Voila! New date for Christ’s Second coming and Armageddon!
OMG – Can’t wait!!!
– No, literally.
…By then, it will be Planet of the Apes. lol