Ignorance Is Bliss

The October 2011 Kingdom Ministry, under the article "Are You Learning All You Can From Jehovah?" poses the following question in paragraph 4:

"Are we encouraging young ones, who are often steered by school teachers and others to pursue the world's higher education, to set spiritual goals instead and pursue the highest education-divine education?"

Note: "...spiritual goals..." = Goals set by the Watch Tower Bible Tract Society that involves their interpretation, application, and perceived implication of biblical verses per their translation of the Bible.

The organization indoctrinates members towards “encouraging” children essentially to follow what the Watchtower says they should have as goals. In effect, do whatever the organization tells you to do.

Nonetheless, this is one of numerous occasions the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses is discouraged from pursuing education. Take another example, from the Awake! May 22, 1969 issue page 15:

"If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: ‘This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.'

Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or right more years to graduate into a specialized career.  But where will this system of things be by that time.  It will be well on the way towards its finish, if not actually gone!"


Over 40 years ago the Watchtower Society claimed young people will never grow old and never fulfill any career 'this system' offers.

Some things never change and ignorance is bliss.  The Watchtower Society still discourages and does not want young ones to pursue education. The organization loves information control, and pursing education aids in breaking that control.

Knowledge is power, and an uneducated people are easier to control. Educate yourself and empower yourself, don't fall prey to a few men running and enforcing their interpretation of a so-called Christian life.

Practicing And Preaching

The July 2009 Awake! magazine on page 29 states the following:

"No one should be forced to worship in a way that he finds unacceptable or be made to choose between his belief and his family."

Jehovah's Witnesses, including their spiritual leaders and publishers who canvass areas with the Watchtower Bible Tract Society’s printed Watchtower and Awake! magazines should be practicing what they preach. Anything less is hypocritical.

Organization Translation

In the Branch Organization manual, February 2003 revised edition, the following is noted regarding Bible translating in chapter 25, page notation 25-5, point 46:

Notice what the Society bolded to stand out in their directives:

It is not necessary for Bible translators to know Hebrew and Greek.

The interesting and sadly obvious reason is if the translator did know the Hebrew and Greek languages, they would come to the realization that there are several places in the New World Translation that have been altered by the Watchtower Society to fit their specific doctrine.

It would be silly to have qualified translators who actually understand the language they are supposed to be ‘translating’, right?

An alternative explanation is they may utilize the faulty and falsely translated English edition of the New World Translation as the basis, instead of referring to the original Hebrew and Greek text.

Additionally, it is a proven fact that the Watchtower Society cited and referred to the Bible translation of Johannes Greber, who had heavy ties and involvement with the occult, in support of their translation of the Bible.  The Watchtower Society would later lie about the facts and try to brush aside the matter.

Furthermore, the Watchtower Society states that the translators do not have to be the ones with the most experience, but only that they are "good" and "both faithful and willing to follow directions closely". It reeks of the organization taking precedent over real truth.

For instance, if a translator was posed with a moral dilemma of either being accurate with the translation or obeying the Watchtower Society's Writing Department's directives, the translator should do what they're told by the Watchtower Society.

The organization always comes first, even above an accurate translation of the Bible.

Remembering Harold Camping

By now it's hard to come across anyone with access to news media that has not heard of Harold Camping and Family Radio Worldwide. His bold prediction of a rapture to occur on May 21, 2011, did not pan out per his eager expectation and prediction. Naturally, he has an excuse - It was invisible.

Nonetheless, this is not the first time Harold Camping made such a prophecy.

Notice these statements:

"After 1925 expect shortly Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.. No doubt many boys and girls who read this book will live to see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, and those other men of old come forth in the glory of their better resurrection, of perfect in mind and body. It will not take long for Christ to appoint them to their post of honor and authority as his earthly representatives. The world and all the present conveniences will seem strange to them at first, but they will soon become accustomed to the new methods. They may have some amusing experiences at first; for they never saw telephones, radios, automobiles, electric lights, aeroplanes, steam engines, and many other things so familiar to us."


Whoops...That was not Harold Camping, but the man God was using to lead his people back in 1924, according to the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. Joseph Rutherford, the Watchtower Society's second president, who at the time was *the* faithful slave, providing spiritual food to God's only channel on the earth. The quote can be found in the publication, "The Way To Paradise" - published in 1924, on pages 224-6.

Remember, in 1924 you were to "expect shortly" after 1925, the ancient prophets and other men of the Bible to be resurrected!

What Harold Camping really proclaimed is the following:

"If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years."


No wait, that was from the Governing Body endorsed mouthpiece of God's faithful and discreet slave class per Jehovah's Witnesses. Not Harold Camping but the leaders of Jehovah's Witnesses in the May 22, 1969 Awake! magazine, page 15 where such prophecy and "good news" was found.

Remember, in 1969 you would never grow old as a young person as the "corrupt system is due to end in a few years"!

This quote, definitely was Harold Camping:

"Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end."


Wow, sorry...It looks like that was the Governing Body mouthpiece of the Faithful and Discreet Slave again. Jehovah's Witnesses spiritual food found in the May 1974 Kingdom Ministry, page 3.

Remember, in 1974 selling your home and property was encouraged and commended because the rest of the days left could be spent preaching "the wicked world's end"!

Finally, we have found another prediction by Harold Camping:

"The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century."


Yikes, that was again the leaders of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Watchtower magazine, this time January 1, 1989 on page 12. That little prophecy was so embarrassingly recent that you need the original magazine to find it. The Watchtower Society changed the quote in their publish Bound Volume and CD-ROM of the Watchtower, where "20th century" was changed to "day"; a very obvious cover up.

Remember, in 2000 or earlier, before January 1, 2001 the preaching work should have ended!

Harold Camping, spiritual leader of Family Radio Worldwide and the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society, spiritual leader of Jehovah's Witnesses…It really is hard to tell the two apart, so very similar. It makes you wonder what the similarities are between their followers as well.

A Matter Of Trust

Taken from the March 15, 2011, Watchtower, pages 12-16, this past Sunday's study article for Jehovah's Witnesses, "Trust In Jehovah As the End Draws Near", does not take long in providing the intellectual dishonesty typically found within the Watchtower Bible Tract Society publications.

Straight out of the gate, in paragraph 1, the following is stated:

"WE LIVE in a world where millions no longer know whom or what to trust, perhaps because they have been hurt or disappointed too many times. What a contrast to Jehovah’s servants! Guided by godly wisdom, they know better than to place their trust in this world or its “nobles.” (Ps. 146:3) Rather, they place their lives and their future in Jehovah’s hands, knowing that he loves them and that he always fulfills his Word. —Rom. 3:4; 8:38, 39."


The section highlighted in red is what we will briefly focus on. The statement: "Guided by godly wisdom, they know better than to place their trust in this world or its “nobles.”". The organization then goes to quote Psalms 146:3 as the supporting scripture to that statement.

Let's take a look at Psalms 146:3 - even taken from the Watchtower Society's version of the Bible, The New World Translation:

"Do not put YOUR trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs."


Indeed, the verse does mention not to put your trust in nobles. However, the Watchtower Society is conveniently avoiding and hypocritically goes against the rest of the verse. A person should also not put their trust "in the son of earthling man". This would include the men making up the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses. As the verse finishes, "to whom no salvation belongs."

Going against the Bible - even their own 'trusted' translation, the Watchtower Bible Tract Society has made these remarks from their ""Bearing Thorough Witness" About God's Kingdom" publication, in chapter 13, on page 103 paragraph 9, under the heading "There Had Occurred No Little Dissension":

"When serious issues arise today, let us imitate the fine example of the believers in Antioch by trusting God’s organization and its Governing Body of anointed Christians, who represent “the faithful and discreet slave.”


Additionally, the February 15, 2009, Watchtower on page 27, in paragraph 11 states:

"Since Jehovah God and Jesus Christ completely trust the faithful and discreet slave, should we not do the same?"


The above is just a couple of many examples, where Jehovah's Witnesses are encouraged, admonished and even informed their very life, their eternal life is dependent upon their trust as well as loyalty to the organization, especially its governing body.  The Watchtower Society is so brazan and haughty that it claims even Jehovah and Jesus completely trust their governing body.

If the Watchtower was being truly honest in its writings and the well understood teachings and principles of Jehovah's Witnesses, paragraph 1 from Sunday's study article would read more like this:

"WE LIVE in a world where millions no longer know whom or what to trust, perhaps because they have been hurt or disappointed too many times. What a contrast to Jehovah’s servants! Guided by godly wisdom as interpreted by the governing body of the Watchtower Bible Tract Society, they know better than to place their trust in this world or its “nobles.” They do trust the men making up the Governing Body though, and refuse to be disobedient. Rather, they place their lives and their future in the organization that claims to be the only one directed by Jehovah’s hands, knowing that he loves them and that he always fulfills his Word."


The above would be a more honest statement to what exactly is instilled into the reasoning and practices of the organization. The article would be more appropriately entitled:

"Trust In Us As The End Draws Near”

Or...

"Trust In The Governing Body As The End Draws Near"

Or even...

"Trust In What The Governing Body Says Comes From Jehovah As the End Draws Near"

Believing the intent or the notion that complete trust in Jehovah and not as the scripture states, "the sons of earthling man" is what the Watchtower Bible Tract Society wants is foolish. They want you to trust them and their governing body. Listen, apply and obey all they say and write...Especially from their prime indoctrinating journal, The Watchtower.

The Generation That Will Not Pass Away

The history of teachings from the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses contain many false prophecies.  What we have below is a sterling example:

 

The Watchtower snapshot cover above has been modified to include the name as well as birth year and death of those whose hope was probably to never die in this so-called "system of things".

The notion of stating the generation will not pass away is reminiscent of Genesis 3:4:

"At this the serpent said to the woman: “YOU positively will not die"".


The verse is similar to the prophecy regarding the genereration alive in 1914 that the Watchtower Society claimed God promised.  That promise was declared inside the Awake! magazine cover all the way through the October 22, 1995 edition.  It was finally changed in the November 8, 1995 issue of the journel:

Quote: "Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away."
 

The Watchtower Society continues to hold carrots out to Jehovah's Witnesses down to this day.  It's a way to control, manipulate, and keep their members in check.

Recognizing And Avoiding

Is it a cult?

The Top Ten Signs the 'Group' You've Joined is Not What it Seems:

• The leader and group are always correct and anything the leader does can be justified.

• Questions, suggestions, or critical inquiry are forbidden.

• Members incessantly scramble with cramped schedules and activities full of largely meaningless work based on the leader's agenda

• Followers are meant to believe that they are never good enough.

• Required dependency upon the leader and group for even the most basic problem-solving.

• Reporting on members for disobedient actions or thoughts is mandated and rewarded.

• Monetary, sexual, or servile labor is expected to gain promotion.

• The 'outside' world -- often including family and friends -- is presented as rife with impending catastrophe, evil, and temptations.

• Recruitment of new members is designed to be purposefully upbeat and vague about the actual operations of the leader and group.

• Former members are shunned and perceived as hostile.
 
 
If curious about what the Watchtower Society tries and often successfully accomplishes, the above sums it up nicely for many of the 7 million members.  Make no mistake about it, the Watchtower Bible Tract Society hits nearly every tick box with scary accuracy.  Knowledge is power and key.
 
Credit and thanks to:

What Is A Cult? Recognizing And Avoiding Unhealthy Groups

Click here to read the entire article.