Author of Crisis of Conscience and In Search of Christian Freedom
RAY FRANZ
Two videos by EXJW Critical Thinker
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An Australian Documentary
It covers certain beliefs of and about Jehovah’s Witnesses, and how some feel about Watchtower guidelines enforced on its members. To view it on YouTube, click here:
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Why Do You Follow Them? Luke 21:8
When Christ said, “For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect,” he was speaking to his anointed church, those he takes to heaven that return to rule the world. Therefore, no Jehovah’s Witness that is part of their Governing Body, or that claims to be anointed, believing Stephen Lett’s statement that, “We are living in the last of the last days, and soon the last day of the last days will be here,” could possibly be part of that church. Especially if Christ does return soon. Why? Because Christ told his true church they will not be expecting his return when that happens. Who will not be expecting it? Christ’s true church will not upon his return.
Christ didn’t just say no one knows that day or hour. He said his true church would not expect it when it happens. As long as Watchtower has existed it has taught that time is right upon all its followers. So could any of those believing followers of Watchtower really be his church? Could any of Watchtower’s believing followers who are alive when Christ does return really be anointed? If so, why did Christ say, “For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” ? Matthew 24:44
When I analyze the Bible I merely look at words that are actually written, giving weight to nothing else. What do the words say? In the same way I read other writings I read the Bible. If you are intelligent enough to understand language, oral and written, then you are capable of understanding the Bible. Unless God does not allow you to.
At best, in support of Watchtower’s statements, and the eventuality of its members, according to Christ’s words possibly some Jehovah’s Witnesses who die before Christ returns might be anointed, taken to heaven in Christ’s church. But the chance of any believers of Watchtower that are alive when Christ returns being part of that church is infinitesimally small. Because Christ said his chosen church will not be expecting his return when it happens.
See Luke 21:8. So why do you teach his return is imminent? And why do you follow those who do, you Jehovah’s Witnesses? Christ specifically told his church not to follow those who teach the end is imminent.
The Only Possible Counter Argument I Could Think of JWs Might Use to Establish Their Position about Luke 21:8
Luke 21:8 reads, “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. “
While never arguing this point with a Jehovah’s Witness let me give the only counter argument I could think of one might use. In the above scripture Christ said many will come in his name claiming they are the Christ. And he went on to say they will claim the end has drawn near. Then Christ said not to follow them.
However, must the people coming in Christ’s name claim to be Christ while making that statement, the end is near, for Christ’s instruction, not to follow them, to be understood? That’s the only defense I’ve reasoned Watchtower has had over its many years while disobeying this command. Watchtower’s defense might be, they are not claiming to be Christ. And yet, isn’t that an ignorant defense for its disobedience? Their defense then would be that I, (Watchtower), will obey half of Christ’s command, but I will go against the latter half of that command. Yet what was the real message of that statement Christ made? Was its primary purpose to warn Christians that others would come claiming to be him? Or was its primary purpose to warn them not to follow Christians claiming the end is near? Or perhaps, should both warnings be given equal weight? And Watchtower’s only possible defense must be that it only had one purpose, not to follow those claiming to be Christ. But what about teaching the end is imminent?
The point Christ was making was primarily about the time period of the end being unknown to Christians, until it actually happens. Whether those coming in his name claimed to be him, or not, while making that statement, was a secondary issue to that overall conversation with those disciples of his on the Mt of Olives. Therefore, the point he made at Luke 21:8 must have been a warning not to follow people coming in his name that make the statement the end is near, against his direction. Notice how in his very next words this idea about the uncertainty of knowing the timing of the end, in the minds of his followers, becomes clearer. “When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” Luke 21:9
Christ’s words at Luke 21:8 direct Christians not to follow those claiming the end is near. Read the second half of Matthew chapter 24 where Christ repeated that idea over and over again, directly saying it, and with many analogies. For more info about this you might check out this article.
Last Days and Return of Christ When?
Winston, the person that made it, got hold of a video Watchtower prepared for one of its assemblies. Winston showed two versions of a portion of that video; how it was originally taped, and how part was edited out afterwards. The point Winston made was that Watchtower edited out a scriptural statement by Christ that contradicts Watchtower theology.
You see Watchtower teaches that the wicked will not receive any type of resurrection. And it teaches that the people Christ said will be resurrected to judgment will receive their chance to live forever, on earth, if they become obedient to God after their resurrection. To be clear Watchtower teaches the judgment these receive is solely based on how they respond to God after they are resurrected, instead of how they responded before they died, as most Christians believe. And again Watchtower teaches grossly wicked people will not receive any type of resurrection at all.
Let’s look at the scripture, and then consider why Watchtower edited it out of a video it already shot for an assembly. This is what was edited out of Watchtower’s video:
John 5:28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29and come out— those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
In the original version of Watchtower’s video that statement was read and elaborated on. However, the New World Translation version was used. The point that all dead people will be resurrected was brought out by the speaker. And isn’t that exactly what Christ said? Yes it is. However, that is not what Watchtower teaches. And so Watchtower edited its original version, removing Christ’s words and the speaker’s statement that all in the [memorial] tombs will receive a resurrection. Those who practiced vile things will be in the same position before God as those who practiced righteous things (according to Watchtower).
Watchtower also Added a Word to Its Bible to Support Its Belief
Watchtower also edited its Bible, by placing the word “memorial” before tombs, at John 5:28. That word should not be there. Check an interlinear; the Greek at John 5:28 just used the single word tombs. By adding “memorial” (tombs) Watchtower is implying that scripture only speaks about dead people God remembers for the purpose of resurrection, but not all dead people.
Another manipulating of the cones by Watchtower. Because Christ did not say only dead people in memorial tombs will be resurrected. Christ said ALL dead in the tombs will be resurrected.
Once Watchtower developed its theology it altered certain Bible texts to fit what it teaches. It conformed some New World Translation texts to fit Watchtower theology, instead of accurate Greek language. In this instance, like in others, it’s apparent this is deliberate. And yet Watchtower teaches it translated the most accurate version of the Bible our modern world has ever seen.
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A Pot Calling the Kettle Black
Please read a correction at bottom of this article.
Borean Pickets YouTube, and beroeans.net, are two websites run by Eric Wilson. There Eric teaches his interpretation of Bible topics. He also teaches against Watchtower’s interpretation of Bible scriptures.
While doing that Eric was tracked down by Jehovah’s Witness elders and disfellowshipped. He was disfellowshipped for no longer believing Watchtower teachings. Jehovah’s Witnesses disfellowship their members to “keep their flock clean”, away from contaminating practices and beliefs held by members who stray away from their beliefs and mandated practices. Once disfellowshipped no other Jehovah’s Witness is allowed to speak to them, except family members who live in their same household. Therefore, the disfellowshipping policy of Watchtower silences disfellowshipped members. Eric argues against Watchtower’s silencing policy. Yet he practices that on his websites.
An Example:
I was carrying on a conversation with a visitor to Eric’s Beroean Pickets YouTube channel. His guest wanted to know my biblical views, which I freely shared. That conversation was then erased by Eric’s assistant, who sent me this message:
Highlighted reply
Beroean Pickets
2 hours ago
I am Vintage, Brother Wilson’s assistant.
Messenger,
I saw in one of your posts this statement:
“But Jesus being God, he is in a completely different position from any human receiving a spiritual body.”
Jesus isn’t God. I am deleting your conversation with Jeff Horn.
Correction:
It appears that brother Vintage took it upon himself to censor me and not Eric. I just became aware of this after a reply from another guest was attached to my comments. Below I list that reply and my response to his other guest. Even though my censoring was cancelled this time, it is likely Eric’s channels censor comments that bring out beliefs that contradict their primary teaching.
You see years back I commented regularly on beroeans.net. While doing so I was told several times not to discuss certain topics with other guests in his comments sections. And while my comments were always respectful, there were two of his regular followers that were quite nasty in their rebuttals to my beliefs.
Yet I received a personal message, delivered to my email, from Eric, stating I must change my tone, or he (Eric) would cancel me from his channel. My response to him (Eric) was that my tone was not his objection, but my ideas were. Therefore, despite Eric over-riding his assistant’s decision regarding the comment I cite in this article, Eric is likely in favor or censoring beliefs that disagree with his primary teachings.
And really, isn’t that a “Pot calling the Kettle Black”? The Pot in this case resembling Eric and both Beroean Pickets channels, and the Kettle resembling the Watchtower society. Because even Watchtower does not censor all dissenting religious beliefs of its members. Watchtower only censors beliefs it feels are contradicting Watchtower’s primary teachings. Apparently Beroean Pickets, and Eric, still do the same, at the time of this posting.
Romana Ježková
1 day agoJesus is God, not the Almighty, but is.
REPLY
A Pot Calling the Kettle Black
However, I now see the need to amend my blog as it appears that brother Vintage did not have authority from Eric to do that. Which is a good thing since Eric preaches against such censorship.
The Bible calls Christ God in several scriptures, that’s true. And so he will be to people who have everlasting life. It is impossible to prove he is not almighty, because scriptures state he is the EXACT representation of the Father. If you believe he is not almighty you don’t accept those Bible scriptures. Also, I believe it is impossible to prove the name Jehovah only represents one individual. How about this, the United States is one nation. Is that one person? Of course not. So the Bible stating there is one Jehovah or one god might mean the same thing. It could but it might not. Yet it’s good to see Eric is not censoring persons with either belief.
While not making any attempt to influence another Christian’s conscience on this subject, I ask: Is it Christian to invest in the stock market? And I implore Christians who find a biblical reason not to, to produce a scripture backing their opinion. Many churches invest in the stock market. Maybe every large denomination does. I know Watchtower does.
Crypto investors are similar to stock market investors, as will be explained in this article. But first you can learn something about what Bitcoin is here: https://youtu.be/ggTfH8mv7Ls . Or you can research Bitcoin elsewhere.
The author of the YouTube article I posted above appears to not fully understand crypto currencies. So I posted the following comment under his article:
What Are Crypto Investors Investing In?
They are investing in projects that use a new type of technology called blockchain. It is a safe method of transfer that eliminates the need for middlemen, like banks, in financial transactions. The technology has other uses also. For instance, it can also securely store and share medical records and educational transcripts.
The creator of Bitcoin invented blockchain (a safe way to purchase on blockchain) technology. But blockchain technology is far bigger and more important than Bitcoin. Bitcoin is merely the asset that first proved blockchain technology has a useful purpose for the masses in our global population. That’s the most important aspect of Bitcoin-what it proved could work. Blockchain technology takes the internet’s usefulness far beyond where it was before that creation. All crypto projects use blockchain.
For this reason people knowledgeable about blockchain invest in crypto projects that serve a useful purpose they hope will last, continuing to serve purposes like lending, selling artwork, paying interest on their investment, gaming, getting a positive return on their investment, or making payments for those investors. Those investors can better be compared to investing in a technology like the internet itself with software programs built on it, than just investing in otherwise useless digital coins for speculative purposes.
We were never allowed to invest in the internet. Yes we can invest in projects, like Google, that are built on the internet. But we can’t invest in the internet itself. But what if you were allowed to invest in the whole internet when it was being created and before it took on mass adoption? That’s the closest thing I can compare crypto investors to. Some projects, described as “layer ones,” could be compared to investing in an internet with projects built on it. The largest project that fits this description is named Ethereum.
I believe everyone who completely understands what crypto offers participates. Because those who totally understand this market know blockchain, in more than one way, has already changed the world. Just as the actual internet did. However, it differs from investing in projects on the net because crypto prices rise and fall in a predictable cycle. As long as Bitcoin controls the market this predictable cycle will continue..
You should research projects like Cardano, Ethereum, Polka Dot, or Avalanche. These projects either have or will have thousands of separate useful projects built on them. And there are other platforms like the ones I named. Crypto investors invest in these platforms and the projects built on them.
Best Time to Get In
While financially it could have been better to invest earlier, the best time could be right now. Why? Because blockchain technology as a useful tool is proven already (in the beginning it wasn’t). And its use is skyrocketing and will grow exponentially for several years. It’s also been proven that the projects that have gained very large adoption, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, increase in value exponentially over the years despite their volatility. That eventually might stop. But it hasn’t stopped yet. As those projects grew so has their return on investment.
Everyone that lost money in Bitcoin only lost it because they cashed in their Bitcoin at the wrong time. To date that’s the only way anyone could have lost money investing in Bitcoin or Ethereum. While other projects are not as big as those two there are a lot of other very good investments in crypto.
Do your research. It is possible to become a millionaire investing in crypto. Many have, and many will continue to do so. The ones that do pick the right projects and invest before the Bitcoin halving, and they take gains before the cycle ends and dips. Then they reinvest those gains back in later, sometime before the next Bitcoin halving. The whole crypto market cycle (bullish/bearish) is affected by the Bitcoin halving. That halving occurs about every 4 years.
My answer to Terri on Watchtower Examination YouTube:
Hi Terri. There’s ignorance about what scriptures say and a lack of applying Christ’s words coming from members in every denomination, not just from Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses do teach to turn to Christ for salvation. And if I’m correct, that’s one of the things you or someone else claimed JWs don’t teach. But they do teach it all the time. It’s one of their main teachings.
According to scripture eventually everyone will honor Christ as his/her personal God. We know that based on scriptures. Even though Witnesses don’t call Christ their God, they really treat him as their God. That’s according to a statement Christ told Satan, to “worship your god and serve him only”. They serve Christ as God just as they serve the Father, despite the verbal designation they attach to him claiming he is God’s Son. Does verbally saying he is not God because he follows the Father keep them from heaven? I don’t know that answer. But I do know it won’t send them to what you view as hell.
Most Christians are more deficient in applying scriptures than JWs are. You don’t see it, because you haven’t confronted thousands of Christians one on one to see what they believe and don’t do. I say that after seeing what Christians did, experiencing it while making thousands of cold calls on people who claim Christianity. Most of them didn’t want to talk about Christ or the Bible. Even though the invitation to do so was right in front of them. Most of them didn’t even want to hear a scripture read to them. How many are like that? The number is in the high 90 percentile.
Bible passages reveal God judges people more by their actions than their professions. If a person claims Christianity, but refuses to discuss his faith, even when invited to privately do so, then what are they really? If they don’t want to even hear a scripture read to them, while they don’t have to say anything at all, then what are they? It’s not for me to judge what happens to them, it’s Christ’s position to judge that. But they’ve proven not to be a zealous Christian, if a real Christian at all. And that’s the behavior of most Christians.
Maybe that’s why the saying just believe in Christ and go to heaven is so popular in Christianity, even though it’s not true. The Devil believes, but he isn’t going to heaven.
Not all saved people go [to] heaven. The JWs are correct about that. And maybe that’s what happens to most or all of the saved JWs, just as they believe, they might remain on earth. But I also know it will happen to a lot of other Christians, maybe most of them. Christ takes people to heaven for one reason, to rule over others-Revelation 5:10. And everyone that’s saved does not do that, which is a flaw in teachings I hear from other denominations.
So applying your reasoning, which I don’t, I would have to believe that all those other Christians teaching that are going to hell fires, because they aren’t teaching a true message. But I know that’s not true. There are people teaching wrong messages that will still be taken.
But while it’s not for me to say, what about the majority of Christians that won’t talk about Christ, even if you invite them to? If you were taking a group to rule with you, would you include them? I wouldn’t. I built and ran a business for 20 years. That included hiring, firing, and teaching people to do a job. I hired the ones I thought would reasonably do it.
Like I did in business those in heaven will have to make judgment calls that affect the lives of other individuals. If a person isn’t willing to talk about Christ openly during their lifetime, I doubt that’s the kind of person Christ wants working with him in that important position. And the thing is, no JW is like the Christians I describe above. Most other Christians are exactly like that. So my opinion is you should have more concern about what happens to people in other denominations than for JWs.
Here is another bit of information to support that point. Check out the comments on any channel that speaks against Watchtower, especially comments coming from the comments section. And then think, did any Jehovah’s Witness ever speak against you, although you are a member of another denomination, in that way? I know the answer, and so do you. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Christ from John 13:35.
This comment I just posted on Watchtower Examination explains why.
Winston you had the Truth book ( a book designed by WT to convert students). But did you ever read the whole book? The Truth book was designed to convince those who study it with a Witness that every other religious group teaches falsehood, and therefore does not have God’s approval. If the book, and the Witness conducting a study are successful in doing that, then there is only one rational course to take for the student. That course, also the second objective of the book, is to follow God’s one true organization (WT).
When Witnesses use the words ‘the Truth’, they are not describing the noun as it is generally understood. For a Witness ‘the Truth’ means the same as the word Christianity meant in the first century. Or the same as Christianity means to members in other denominations today. JWs call it ‘the Truth’ because they are distinguishing their denomination from all other denominations they consider apostate. The word has nothing to do with whether WT always makes correct statements. The fact WT does not always make correct statements is inconsequential to JWs, because nobody does that on earth today. No business, no religion, no government, no news agency. So the fact WT is wrong at times does not effect JWs.
JWs don’t follow WT because they believe it always speaks ‘the truth’ meaning their statements are always factual. JWs follow WT because they believe statements it makes erroneously are not erroneous by design, telling lies while knowing it’s lying. And like the paragraph above already stated JWs are convinced every other religious group is interpreting scripture so incorrectly that they are instead agents of Satan, used to lead people away from God.
Let’s examine that last sentence. Because Paul did write Satan appears as an agent of light and has his own apostles to lead people away from God. Since we know that’s true, let’s look at WT as if it might be a part of that. You said EX-JW Critical Thinkers JT and Lady Cee are two of the best critical thinkers in the ex-JW community. Are they still Christians? JT certainly knows the Bible well enough, having been an elder, to make the logical choice to follow Christ. So did he? Or did he and his wife leave Christ? If they left then it’s mainly their own fault. But the effect WT had on them is probably a contributing factor for pulling away from God.
Teaching people religious groups have the ability to lead people away from God is what the Truth Book, and other JW study material, is designed to accomplish in students, and to reinforce in JWs. And so WT teaches every other religious group contributes to that, but it does not. That’s what makes JWs follow WT. They are taught there is nowhere else to go except Satan’s world. WT’s hold on them has nothing to do with how many errors it makes. We all make errors. And we all sin. That’s why when you bring up errors WT makes to an active JW they usually will not talk about it. Because everyone makes errors. And JWs are convinced WT, with its errors, is a safer place than the World, even when “the World” shares facts.
God often used more than one channel of communication at the same time. Most prophets didn’t work with others to spread messages from God. Most of them worked independently.
Prophets were used while the priesthood also communicated his will. And at the same time the Jewish priesthood and prophets were used, Jewish kings existed. God used some of those kings to spread messages to his people.
Even before there were Jewish kings God raised up leaders, known today as judges, to lead his people. Judges communicated God’s will to his people. The time period of judges also overlapped with the Jewish priesthood.
God even occasionally used people who were not Israelites or even proselytes to communicate messages, as in the case of king Nebuchadnezzar. Once Nebuchadnezzar regained sanity he recognized God for who he is. And Nebuchadnezzar’s statement is recorded in the Bible. Though there is no evidence Nebuchadnezzar became a proselyte.
Must God Use Only One Organization Today?
So why did God use these prophets and kings to communicate messages, after establishing the priesthood to facilitate communications with his people? It’s because God uses whoever and whatever he pleases to accomplish whatever he wants. God is not limited by a human’s belief that he must act a certain way, as Watchtower asserts. Watchtower is emphatically stating God always used one organization of people, and so he must continue to do so. But God does whatever he wants. Had he used one organization, that would not make him do the same thing today.
But in fairness to Watchtower, let’s examine its argument more fully. Watchtower bases its argument on Christians being told to get out of Babylon the Great as the end approaches. And Watchtower teaches Babylon the Great is false religion. So let’s give them that. Do those facts prove God is using only one organization today? What about those ideas would prove that? Nothing.
First, in light of what Christ said in the latter half of Matthew chapter 24 and Luke 21:8 Christians will not know when the end is approaching. Second, telling Christians to get out of false religion does not prove all God’s communications today come filtered through one organization. Those facts just don’t prove that. Plus God didn’t work that way in the past. Even though false religions existed in the past.
So, getting back to Watchtower’s argument that Jehovah only used one organization to communicate in the past, therefore he must do that today. Well, that idea is proven incorrect. But does that mean he cannot filter all his communications through one organization today? No. He can do whatever he wants. But it does mean God is unlikely to do that. Making that even more unlikely is the fact God’s written message spread throughout the world. When God communicated in Old Testament days it hadn’t. Since God used multiple channels of communication while his messages were limited to a small geographic area, why wouldn’t he use multiple channels now that those messages are global?
For More Insight Read:
Why Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Loyal to Watchtower?