Watchtower Errors

 

 “But if ever you get from us either tract or paper which you do not find in harmony with the Scriptures, surely let us know wherein it disagrees, and do not circulate it.” (Watchtower Reprints, March 1, 1894, p.1629)

 

In this article we will be using the Authorized King James Version of the Bible. It is the most reliable and accurate translation and Jehovah’s Witnesses also seem to be in agreement.

King James Version the most masterful and perfect Bible  “Doubtless there has never been a more masterful and perfect English publication than the Authorized Version of the Bible.” [King James Version] (Creation; 1927; p. 117)

 

IT IS ALRIGHT TO LIE FOR GOD?

“the Scriptures justify the ‘war strategy’ of hiding true facts from the enemy.” (Watchtower May 15, 1960, page 295)

 

“As a soldier of Christ he is in theocratic warfare and he must exercise caution when dealing with God’s foes. Thus the Scriptures show that for the purpose of protecting the interests of God’s cause, it is proper to hide the truth from God’s enemies.” (Watchtower; 6/1/1960; p. 352)

 

“While malicious lying is definitely condemned in the Bible, this does not mean that a person is under obligation to divulge

truthful information to people who are not entitled to it.”

LYING, According to the Bible

Forbidden.  Leviticus 19:11; Col. 3:9, Hateful to God.  Proverbs 6:16-19, An abomination to God.  Proverbs 12:22, A hindrance to prayer.  Isaiah 59:2-3, The devil, the father of.  John 8:44, The devil excites men to.  1 Kings 22:22; Acts 5:3

 

  • Christians’ View of Lying:

Hate.  Psalm 119:163; Proverbs 13:5, Avoid.  Isaiah 63:8; Zeph. 3:13, Respect not those who practise.  Psalm 40:4, Reject those who practise.  Psalm 101:7, Pray to be preserved from.  Psalm 119:29; Proverbs 30:8

 

RACISM AND CHANGING SKIN COLOR

 “Though, once as black as charcoal, the Rev. Mr. Draper is now white. His people say that his color was changed in answer to prayer.” (Watchtower Reprints, October 1, 1900, p. 2706)

 

 “While it is true that the white race exhibits some qualities of superiority over any other, we are to remember that there are wide differences in the same Caucasian (Semitic and Arvan) family.” (Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1902, p. 3043)

 

 “Suppose a missionary and his wife removed to China; not only would the influence of the climate and soil be manifested upon themselves, but the same would be still more manifested in their children….. We can readily suppose that if so much change occurs in a few years, ten or twenty centuries under similar conditions would turn any white people into regular Chinese, even supposing there were no intermarrying.” (Watchtower Reprints, July 15, 1902, p. 3043)

 

 “Question: Is there anything in the Bible that reveals the origin of the Negro? Answer: It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the Black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, ‘Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren,’ he pictured the future of the Colored race. They have been and are a race of servants, but now in the dawn of the twentieth century, we are all coming to see this matter of service in its true light and to find that the only real joy in life is in serving others; not bossing them. There is no servant in the world as good as a good Colored servant, and the joy that he gets from rendering faithful service is one of the purest joys there is in the world.” (The Golden Age, July 24, 1929, p. 702)

 

  • Scriptures reveal that racial prejudice and partiality are forbidden and that our skin color cannot change.

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Jeremiah 13:23

 

     And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:53

 

    And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Acts 10:28 

 

  BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS

  • The Real Reason Blood Transfusions Are Feared… Sin Transmitted By Blood?

“The blood in any person is in reality the person himself. …poisons due to personal living, eating and drinking habits … The poisons that produce the impulse to commit suicide, murder, or steal are in the blood. Moral insanity, sexual perversions, repression, inferiority complexes, petty crimes – these often follow in the wake of blood transfusion.” (Watchtower, Sept. 1, 1961 page 564) [Remember that Jw’s believe man is monochotomous, wholly physical.]

 

Supposed Reason to avoid blood transfusions, which have nothing to do with transfusions but rather the ingestion of blood and rare uncooked meats… The main reason why blood was forbidden of old was because the Lord had appointed blood for an atonement. This use, being figurative, had its end in Christ, who by his death and blood-shedding caused the sacrifices to cease. Therefore this law is not now in force on believers.

    Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. [27] Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. Le 7:26-27

 

    And whatsoever man … that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. [11] For the life of the flesh is in the blood…”. Lev. 17:10-11

SOUL SLEEP

Do We Have a Conscious life after death?

  • JWs say YES…

“While the glorified members of the Kingdom beyond the vail are doing a work in shaping the current of present events and preparing for the glorious reign, those on this side of the vail have also an important work.” (Thy Kingdom Come; 1891; 1915 ed.; p. 303)

 

“Additionally, such should remember that they themselves, on the other side of the veil, will have still as good an opportunity of watching over the interests of their loved ones as they now have, and a much better opportunity than now to exercise a protecting care over them – a providential guidance in their affairs under divine wisdom, with which they will concur absolutely.” (The New Creation; 1899; 1915 ed.; p. 555-556)

 

“And in response one of the elders said to me: ‘These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?’ …. This suggests that resurrected ones of the 24-elders group may be involved in the communicating of divine truths today.” (Revelation It’s Grand Climax At Hand!; 1988; p. 125)

 

  • Then JWs say NO…

 “So when your soul dies, you die, you cease to have conscious existence. The Bible repeatedly speaks of the soul as dying. But are there not at least some scriptures that could be understood as suggesting the possibility of man’s having an immortal soul? No. ….” (Watchtower, April 15, 1973, p. 231)

 

 “The Scriptural evidence is unmistakably clear that man does not have an immortal soul but is himself a soul.” (Is This Life All There Is?, 1974 ed., p. 5)

 

  • Biblical proof that we do have an eternal soul and are very conscious after death…

Mt. 17:1-5, (Moses and Elijah appeared to the disciples)

Lk 16:19-31 (Lazarus w/ Abraham and the rich man having a conversation w/Abraham)

Lk 20:37-38, (God of the living)

Rev. 6:9-11, (Souls crying and talking to God)

Is. 14:9-11, (the dead asking questions)

I Sam. 28:1-20, (Samuel appearing)

Job 19:26, (in my flesh I shall see God)

I Thes. 5:10, (we should live together with Him)

HEAVEN

When we die will we go to Heaven or earth? Or when Jesus comes back will He take us to Heaven or earth?

  • JWs once taught: “The ‘Lamb’ referred to here is, of course, Jesus Christ; and this ‘Mount Zion’ is not on earth, but in heaven where Jesus is. (John 1:29; Heb. 12:22) (Watchtower, December 15, 1968, p. 765-766)

 

  • Bible: In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2-3 (also see, I Thes. 5:10, “we should live together with Him”)

    For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Cor. 5:1

 

  • JW’s now teach that we will be on earth instead of going to Heaven…. They use…

  “But the meek shall inherit the earth; ..” Ps. 37:11 

 

  “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

 (We shall inherit the earth now, or in this present time there is nothing proving this is in the future)

 

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:10

(this is also speaking of right now or in this present time there is nothing proving this is in the future)

 

    “… that it should not be removed for ever.”  Psalm 104:5

 

    “… like the earth which he hath established for ever.” Psalm 78:69

 

 While these statements are quite true, they are actually speaking more in the lines of being held in place by gravity and God’s hands, which will remain in place until God destroys it……

 

The earth will not exist forever– While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22

      

The earth melts at God’s voice– “he uttered his voice, the earth melted.” Psalm 46:6

 

The earth is burned at His presence–  “the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Nahum 1:5

 

When the Lord Jesus Christ comes He destroys it-        But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, … the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth…”   2 Pet 3:10-13

(a new heaven and earth, not the old one recreated)

 

 Isaiah 65:17, For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

 

HELL A LITERAL PLACE

JWs: “But just what does the Bible say about torment after death? If you have read earlier chapters of this book, you know that many common beliefs about the dead are false. You know, according to the Bible, that no soul or spirit separates from the body at death and continues conscious existence. Hence, there is no Scriptural foundation for the doctrine of eternal torment after death, for nothing survives that can be subjected to literal torment.” (The Truth Shall Set You Free, 1943 ed., p. 90-91)

 

Bible: Proves that we have a living soul that departs at death, the saved to Heaven, the unsaved to an eternal hell.

    And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 9:27

  • The spirit departing…

  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Eccl 12:7

 

 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. [60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60

    “… to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:8 

     “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:22-23  

 

Note: Death is only referred to as sleep. In the resurrection we will have a glorified body just like Jesus;

 

   “… we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 

    Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Philip. 3:21  

  • a literal eternal hell

Mt. 10:28, (soul and body destroyed in hell)

Rev. 14:11, (the smoke of their torment riseth forever)

Mt. 25:30, (weeping and gnashing of teeth)

Mt. 25:41, (everlasting fire) [everlasting means everlasting]

Mk 9:45, (fire that will not be quenched)   

 

CHRISTMAS

  • JWs celebrating Christmas…

 “…especially when we remember … the great redemptive work accomplished by him whose entrance upon the work is celebrated by Christmas day. Although we cannot agree that this is the proper day for celebrating the birth of our dear Redeemer, but must insist that it was about October first, nevertheless since he did not intimate his desire that we should celebrate his birthday it is quite immaterial upon what day that event, of so great importance to all, is celebrated. Upon this day, so generally celebrated, we may properly enough join with all whose hearts are in the attitude of love and appreciation toward God and toward the Savior.” (Watchtower Reprints, December 15, 1903, p. 3290)

 

 “… since the celebration of our Lord’s birth …, it is not necessary for us to quibble particularly about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate – ‘Christmas day’” (Watchtower Reprints, December 1, 1904, p. 3468)

 

“It might interest you to know that we are already offering the books for ‘Christmas gifts.’” (Watchtower Reprints, Nov 15, 1907, p. 4094)

BIRTHDAYS

 “So even though the Bible does not contain a specific prohibition against birthday celebrations, Jehovah’s Witnesses have long noted the Scriptural indications and have not celebrated birthdays. In this, they harmonize with the pattern of the earliest Christians.” (Watchtower, July 15, 1980, p. 31)

 

“The celebration of birthdays is regarded by most people today as merely an innocent custom. But the Bible does not paint a positive picture of this tradition.” (Watchtower, July 15, 1994, p. 25)

 

 “According to The World Book Encyclopedia, ‘the Early Christians did not celebrate [Jesus’] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birthday to be a pagan custom.” The (Watchtower, April 15, 1995, p. 30)

 

 “In time, it was seen that if the most important birth that ever took place could not be celebrated, we should not celebrate any birthday.” (Watchtower, May 15, 1995, p. 19)

 

  • Bible examples:

John the Baptist, “And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.” Lk 1:14 

 

  And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. Luke 1:58

 

Jesus, “Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2

 

    When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11

 

    “… For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour… Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God..” Luke 2:10-20

 

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