Despre Martorii lui Iehova, de ascultat urmatoarea predica:
http://www.fiti-oameni.ro/predici/vladimir-pustan/martorii-lui-iehova/
Vladimir PUSTAN – despre martori
aprilie 1, 2016Cum au ajuns iehovistii in Romania?
ianuarie 18, 2010Gasim urmatoarea informatie pe saitul „oradereligie.uv.ro”:
Se datorează unui ardelean pe nume Ion Sima, plecat în America din dorinta de a se îmbogăti. Ajuns în Pensylvania, în schimbul ajutorului este “reevanghelizat” de iehovisti si trimis înapoi în România pentru a câstiga prozeliti(1920). Evident că nu i-au lipsit la întoarcere mijloacele materiale deosebite, pentru a-i convinge pe cei slabi în credintă. Din Ion-crestinul, acum si-a luat titulatura de John-profetul sau profetul-lider.
Din fericire, Sima se trezeste la timp si părăseste gruparea(1927), demascând faptul că secta iehovistă este străină de preocupările religioase, interesul material primează la întemeietorii grupării, este răzbunătoare, are planuri anarhice s.a. Prin acestea a demostrat fără dubiu, pericolul moral si social pe care îl reprezintă secta pentru orice societate.
Cititi tot articolul aici.
Joel B. Groat: despre „martorii lui Iehova”
ianuarie 18, 2010Martorii lui Iehova. Aproape toata lumea s-a confruntat cu prozelitismul lor agresiv din usa-n usa! Organizatia pe care acestia o reprezinta, cunoscuta sub numele de Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (W.T.B. & T.S.), este renumita pentru accentul pe care-l pune asupra profetiilor vremii sfîrsitului, însa de mai multe ori profetind gresit sfîrsitul lumii. In acelasi timp, Organizatia Turnului de Veghere exercita un control sever asupra Martorilor lui Iehova si le interzice acestora participarea la activitati sociale cum ar fi sarbatorirea zilelor de nastere, a Craciunului, a Pastelui, sau a Zilei Mamei, sau le interzice salutul drapelului national, votatul, serviciul militar, sau transfuziile de sînge. Prin aceste restrictii Organizatia Turnului de Veghere creeaza un zid de izolare a Martorilor fata de restul societatii.
Trecutul istoric
Organizatia Turnului de Veghere si Societatea Tractatului pretinde cu îndrazneala sa fie singura organizatie pe care Dumnezeu o foloseste în zilele noastre pentru a învata adevarul Lui si a vorbi în Numele Lui. [1] Conform Organizatiei Turnului de Veghere toti ne-Martorii lui Iehova vor fi distrusi la Armaghedon, un eveniment al judecatii divine cu a carui iminenta ameninta tot timpul. Societatea Turnului de Veghere tipareste saptamînal peste 15 milioane de copii ale revistelor ei în 120 de limbi iar peste 5 milioane de Martori ai lui Iehova (cunoscuti sub numele de „pionieri/vestitori”) îi raspîndesc doctrinele în 230 de tari. In cele ce urmeaza vom reda cîteva lucruri elementare pe care fiecare om ar trebui sa le cunoasca despre trecutul si crezurile Martorilor lui Iehova.
Cititi continuarea articolului si concluziile sale aici:
http://www.razboiulnevazut.org/articol/85/Despre-Martorii-lui-Iehova
Intrebare pentru martori – necromantia
noiembrie 5, 2009Daca in Vechiul Testament evreii credeau ca mortii inceteaza sa mai existe in mod constient, atunci de ce a mai fost nevoie ca Dumnezeu sa le interzica practicarea necromantiei (chemarea mortilor)? De ce ar mai incerca cineva sa intre in contact cu mortii, daca considera ca mortii nu au existenta constienta?
Intrebarea este luata de pe acest sait.
Raspunsurile aici.
O carte scrisa de un fost martor[5]
iulie 27, 2009Urmeaza marturia personala a autorilor.
[Grieshaber, Erich and Jean Grieshaber. „III. Personal Testimony,” Exposé of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Blue Letter Bible. 1 Sep 2002. 27 Jul 2009.
http://blueletterbible.org/study/cults/expose/chap3.cfm]
„This is the religion for me!”
The true and personal account of Erich and Jean Grieshaber and their life as members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses
„This is the religion for me,” I thought. „It’s one that teaches a way of life for the kind of world we live in today.”
Our First Encounter with the Jehovah’s Witnesses
It all began when our neighbor, Thelma, introduced my wife, Jean and myself to her friends, Ed and Dolores. We enjoyed our first encounter with them because we were immediately attracted to the excitement and serious involvement they had in their faith. Ed and Dolores belonged to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
During that evening of our first meeting, our interest in their faith grew rapidly, especially when they began to explain how the earth would soon be transformed into a paradise. For several hours they were able to page through the Bible, demonstrating how there would come a time in the very near future when there would be no more wars, suffering, hatred, selfishness, crime, or violence. Instead, there would be perfect peace and security on the earth. My wife and I were fascinated by the idea that an earthly paradise was so close at hand!
I can still clearly recall the tremendous impression that the first meeting made on me. Two passages, that came up during the discussion, kept coming up in my mind again and again:
„And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” —Psalm 37:10, 11 NWT
. . . And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.'”
” And the one seated on the throne said; ‘Look! I am making all things new.’ Also, he says; ‘Write, because these words are faithful and true.’ ” —Revelation 21:4, 5 NWT
I had been raised as a Baptist and had continued in that faith with my wife and five children. However, in all those years, I had never considered applying any of these scriptures to myself or my family. I had begun to wonder if there were other important truths concerning the future of my family somewhere in the Bible.
That first night Ed and Dolores had also explained how this coming change would affect every person on the face of the earth, including all of my family. With a serious tone in her voice, Dolores told us that if we loved life and wanted to live, we should hasten to take in accurate knowledge of God, His purposes and requirements. Then she pointed to Zephaniah 2:3 in her Bible:
„…Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the Earth, who have practiced his own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you may be concealed in the day of Jehovah’s anger.” —NWT
I became very concerned. It was clear that my wife and I did not know enough about God or what the Bible had to say about the coming paradise on Earth – or even how our family could have a place in it. How were we to discover these things? It was then that Ed and Dolores made what seemed to be a very gracious offer: They would come to our home for a weekly Bible study.
Learning About Our Faith
I had always attended church, and both my wife and I felt that we were Christians. So, to us, attending the Kingdom Hall and studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses was an opportunity to give us a deeper understanding of our own beliefs.
During our Bible studies we were introduced to literature of the Watchtower Society, the organization behind the Witnesses. This gave me an opportunity to compare and re-examine my religion. I discovered many differences. I first learned that Jesus was only an angel and a created being. He was not God and should not be worshipped; only Jehovah God is worthy of worship. I also discovered that there was no Hell and that only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses can go to Heaven – all other Witnesses will live on a perfect Earth after the Battle of Armageddon.
Little did we realize that we were listening to false doctrines and that the repeated exposure to them, which we were receiving in the Bible study, would soon quiet our apprehensions and questions and give these doctrines the ring of truth.
Soon we found ourselves attending meetings five times each week and our family was studying regularly from the Watchtower Society Literature. At first, all of these activities became something of a burden to us: A habit that had many responsibilities, some of which were rather boring and repetitious. But, I felt that there must be a good reason for all the work we were required to do and soon I learned not to question what was asked of my family or myself. I even discontinued verifying in my own Bible each of the scriptures being taught to me and began to use the Watchtower Society’s New World Translation. (The Society challenged the King James Bible as being a translation that was both outdated and inaccurate. Ironically, we later learned that the Society’s version was considerably less accurate than the King James Version.)
The Society Plants the Seeds of Doubt
As we progressed in our studies, we were, introduced to the Society’s doctrine concerning blood transfusions. We were taught to completely reject the idea of accepting a blood transfusion of any kind either for ourselves or our children. I asked why this was so and was informed that, according to Acts 15:28, 29, we were all to abstain from eating blood. I was puzzled. „Don’t you eat meat?” I asked. „Yes,” was the teacher’s reply, „But only if it is properly drained.”
The next day I called the State Agriculture Department and was informed that it was almost impossible to drain all the blood from any kind of meat and that it could not be completely removed through the cooking process. When I shared this information with the acting overseer of the Kingdom Hall (who was the Watchtower Society’s chief representative at the local level and presiding officer of the congregation) he could not give me an answer. A special letter was then written to the Society’s officer in New York City.
A month had passed when the overseer read to me the Society’s reply: I was told that it was my choice if I wanted to eat meat, but I could not take a blood transfusion. I was then informed that, because of my questioning, I had raised doubts in the brother’s minds so no one in the Kingdom Hall was allowed to study with me until I had demonstrated a change in attitude. This was a very serious form of discipline. It meant, to state it simply, that I was in serious trouble with the organization.
I later discovered that the Society used some form of this strategy regularly to discourage challenges to its teachings. We had been taught that God’s earthly organization, The Watchtower Society, was crucial to our receiving eternal life. If we became separated from the Society, our future in Paradise was in serious doubt. By inserting the fear into my mind of being rejected by the organization (i.e. disfellowshipped), the Society had forced me to put away any doubts that I might have had and motivated me to accept the teachings of the Society without question. It was a very effective strategy; I no longer openly questioned what I was being taught.
The Responsibilities of a Jehovah’s Witness Family
My wife continued to study with the Society and was soon baptized—a very important step of commitment to any Jehovah’s Witness. I continued to attend the many meetings and within a year I too was baptized.
Life in our home began to change dramatically. Gradually we did away with what the Society called „pagan holidays”: Christmas and Easter. These two celebrations contained all kinds of pagan symbols and elements that made them objectionable to God. Birthday celebrations were also forbidden because they gave special honor to someone (the one celebrating the birthday) – and we had been taught that it was not right that any one person receive any kind of special honor.
The loss of birthdays was particularly hard for the children to accept; birthdays had been traditionally a very personal and intimate time in our home. But we had been taught that this was in the child’s best interest. We wanted nothing to stand between our family and Paradise.
Our son could not be on the football team as there was a chance that games or practices might be held on a meeting night. Our daughters had to drop off of the swimming team because of the competitive nature of the sport. None of our children were able to vote or run for any school offices because we had learned that such activity was part of the world and the world was serving false gods. They could not belong to clubs and such as the Girls Scouts because these organizations practiced competitive activities and gave special awards.
We also trained our children not to salute the flag or stand for the national anthem. Patriotic songs were also forbidden; all such activity was of the world. The Society taught that when we did such things we were actually practicing the worship of false gods. Our oldest daughter, Cindy, (who was then 14 years old) was publicly persecuted by her teacher and her classmates for not participating in the national anthem. We had been prepared for such incidents; the Society had told us to expect persecution—and persecution came.
Gradually we retreated from the day-to-day world, in which we felt alien and isolated, and became almost completely involved in our work with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
A Total Commitment for the Coming Paradise
Our day-to-day lives now focused on regular door-to-door service and Bible studies with receptive contacts. I sincerely pitied the ones who would not respond to the message, for we had been taught that all but the Jehovah’s Witnesses would be destroyed. All other „religious” people were merely worshipping Satan, the Devil—even those that belonged to religious organizations that take the name of Christ and profess to accept Him as their Lord. We had also been taught that „…faith, if it does not have works, is dead…” (James 2:17, NWT) and it was only the followers of God’s earthly organization (the Society) that were doing a work that counted in the world.
As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I was expecting my salvation to come through the Watchtower Society. I had been taught that in order to obtain everlasting life, my family and I had to remain on „The Ark” which we believed to be the Society. This was not any easy task. We had to work very hard to prove ourselves faithful: Accurate records had to be kept concerning our hours of service, the books and magazines we placed, and the progress of our Bible studies. Our spiritual health depended on how much time we put into this service.
I gave up any thought of finishing college, because now we had begun to live on a day-to-day basis—Armageddon would soon be here. During one of the assemblies held in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, in 1971, it was explained that the time was so close that the click of the clock before the alarm rings had already sounded. Needless to say, we were excited!
The year 1973 was full of excitement for us because we knew that October 1, 1974, was the beginning of the six thousand years of mankind’s existence on Earth, and it was at this time that Jesus would take his peaceful rule over the Earth. In anticipation of this event „The Friends” (as Witnesses often call themselves) began selling their homes, campers, and motorcycles. A number of our acquaintances in the organization gave up good paying jobs, and took on more flexible occupations such as janitorial work in order to have more time available for service.
One of our friends,who had moved to a more remote area, wrote and asked to stay with us, in order to „ride out Armageddon” with our congregation. They remained a month, and then found an apartment in the area. Two other families that had moved to where the need for service was greater, came back to our congregation to await Armageddon.
To help in the work, my wife became a full-time pioneer, which consisted of one hundred hours a month of service conducting Bible studies and going door to door with the Kingdom message. Since I had to work full time to support our large family, I was able to put in only two months of such service. The sacrifice was great, but we decided as a family to each share in the Kingdom work by assuming as many responsibilities as possible in order to provide a way for my wife to put in the one hundred hours of service.
The Challenge of a Lifetime
During the twelve months starting in the summer of 1973, three events took place which jarred me from a passive acceptance of all that I was learning and teaching through the Watchtower Society.
First, an article came out in the Watchtower telling all of us who smoked that we had a few months in which to quit or be disfellowshipped. This same threat applied to those who worked for a tobacco firm, from the growing to the selling of it. I was stunned by the news! I had smoked for a long time, but the Society had never complained nor had they instructed the smokers to quit. I was angered at what seemed to me to be a harsh and arbitrary decision, but after careful consideration, I felt that in the interest of my health it would be best to stop smoking.
It struck me, however, that there would be those brothers who would find it difficult to stop and would find themselves kicked out of the Society and thus excluded from the Kingdom of Jehovah. I wondered what habit would be next: Fingernail biting? Overeating? Alcoholic beverages? I felt the harness supplied by the Society tightening around me; every facet of my life was being controlled and I was becoming more and more aware of it everyday.
The second incident occurred early in 1974: Jean’s father died. This was a terrible blow because we knew his fate—he was not a member of the Society. The Society specifically frowned on any participation in funeral rites that were led by any religious organization other than the Watchtower Society. No good Jehovah’s Witness allowed himself to be contaminated by „Babylon the Great” (i.e., the system of „false religion”), no matter what the circumstances might be—even at the funeral of one’s own father. Any display of emotion was discouraged. The only acceptable activity open to Jean was the preparation of the meals of the bereaved family. This she gladly did.
As I watched Jean during those days I grew concerned over how cold and unfeeling we had become, and over how the intolerance of the Society had reached so deeply into our minds and emotions.
The third incident began when I put on extra weight, which began to accumulate after I did away with the cigarettes. I tried many diets but to little avail. I would manage to lose a few pounds only to gain it back again. I thought perhaps exercise might help,so I began to visit different gyms in hopes of finding a place that would meet my needs without roping me into a long-term contract.
One day one of my friends at work, Dick, approached me with an invitation to visit the gym he attended. He described it as well-equipped and it was priced on a monthly basis. I gladly accepted his offer. When we arrived at the gym I was in for a real shock; there were Jesus stickers and posters all over the place! In the center of one of the rooms stood a barrel, „The Gospel Barrel”, containing all kinds of Christian literature. To the average Christian, this would have made a positive impression, but in my Watchtower Society mind, I was repulsed. I was convinced that any kind of literature like this was of Satan the Devil.
My desire to lose weight had become so great that I decided to take advantage of the facilities at the gym. But I vowed not to discuss religion with anyone. After several visits, I came to appreciate what the exercise was doing for me, and having my friend Dick along with me upon occasion gave me a little extra incentive. One day I noticed Dick speaking with another man and, picking up pieces of their conversation from across the room, I was surprised to hear that they were talking about me. After a few minutes the other man walked over to me and inquired if I was a Jehovah’s Witness. I told him that I was and we both took turns explaining our beliefs. At the close of the conversation he handed me a card bearing the name of a friend of his who had left the Watchtower Society and he encouraged me to call him soon. I politely took the card but I had no intention of using it.
Weeks passed, but several things about that brief conversation at the gym kept coming back to me. Why, for instance, had this friend of the fellow I spoke with left the Watchtower Society? Perhaps he had committed some act which got him disfellowshiped; it was hard to believe that anyone would just leave the Society! The little card with the phone number on it kept resurfacing on my desk from time to time and it too reminded me of that conversation at the gym.
Finally, it occurred to me that I really had an obligation to help this „brother” if indeed he had left the Society voluntarily. I decided to call him. If it turned out that he had been disfellowshipped I could just hang up on him (for we had been taught that such people were of the Devil). If not, perhaps I could rescue him. I located the card again, which by now was soiled and stained. The number was barely visible.
„Bill Cetnar speaking.”
„Have you been disfellowshipped?” I asked.
„What’s your name?” he replied.
„I would rather not say.”
At that moment there was a loud „click” at the other end and I knew that he had hung up on me. I became very irritated and immediately called him back.
„Why did you hang up on me?” I asked.
„I would rather not speak to anonymous callers. Now what’s your name?” I hesitated for a moment and then said, „Call me Erich.”
„Read the April 1, 1972, Watchtower article entitled, ‘They Shall Know a Prophet is Among Them’, identify the prophet, then memorize Deuteronomy 18:21 and 22. When you have finished, call me back.” He hung up once again.
I was more than a little surprised by his instructions. He was asking me to read the Society’s own literature! (The Watchtower is a bi-weekly magazine which contains the Society’s viewpoint concerning religion and current events.) I immediately began to search for the article, which turned out to be quite a task since we were in the process of moving and I had to look through boxes and boxes of books in order to find it.
I studied the article with care and discovered, much to my surprise, that we Jehovah’s witnesses, claimed to be prophets of God. We received our information directly from the angels and this supply of information had been coming from the very beginnings of the Watchtower Society when it was known as International Bible Students.
I then turned to Deuteronomy 18:21 and 22.
„…How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?’ When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.” (NWT)
Had the society made any false predictions during the one hundred years of its existence? I wondered.
A Truly Non-Prophet Organization
When I returned a call to Bill, he shared with me that he had put together a list of the various predictions made by the Society over the years, and he invited me over to his office to look at them and judge for myself. At his office I made a number of important discoveries that changed my life. I was completely unaware that the Society had first predicted the year 1874 as the year of the Lord’s Second Coming. I had been taught that Jesus had returned invisibly in 1914.
Bill pointed to the 1889 publication The Time is at Hand. On page 15, the Society claimed „…That the information, in the above (this) volume, consists of a plan so deep that it cannot be of human origin.” After claiming divine authorship, I discovered that this volume (on page 101) also made a prediction:
„…The kingdom of God is already begun,…it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878 and…the ‘Battle of the Great Day of God Almightly’ (Rev. 16:14) which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of Earth’s present rulership, is already commenced.” (The underlining is mine.)
The 1915 edition was printed with the same text as the 1889 edition with one major difference: the „A.D. 1914” date was changed to „A.D. 1915.” The Book continued to be printed in subsequent years in its complete form, with just the dates changed, first to 1915, then to 1918, and finally to 1925. It was not until after 1925 that the date for the Second Coming of Christ was changed back to 1914—the date I had been given by the Society.
My intelligence was insulted further when I read from a Society publication Thy Kingdom Come, (1901 edition) the method used to discover the various predicted dates. On page 342 I found the following:
„Then measuring down the ‘Entrance Passage’ (of the Great Pyramid)… we find it to be 3416 inches symbolizing 3416 years from the above date, B.C. 1542. This calculation shows A.D. 1874 as marking the beginning of the period of trouble…Thus the pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation—no, nor ever shall be afterward.”
The 1907 edition makes the same claim, but changes the inches from 3,416 to 3,457—without any explanation as to how the same distance could have two different measurements—thus moving the date to 1914. Not only did this obvious discrepancy bother me, but I was absolutely amazed that anyone who claimed to follow Jehovah would use an obscure measurement on a pagan monument as a basis for determining biblical chronology!
As it turned out, measuring the Great Pyramid of Egypt was not the only peculiarity of the Society’s prophecies. In the 1920 publication, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, I discovered the following prediction:
„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 Chapter 11, to the condition of human perfection.” (p.89)
The Society apparently had a great deal of faith in the literal return of these „princes” because it commissioned Beth-Sarim to be built. The explanation which appeared in the Society publication Salvation clearly describes its purpose:
„At San Diego, California, there is a small piece of land on which, in the year 1929, there was built a house which is called and known as Beth-Sarim. The Hebrew words Beth Sarim means „House of the Princes”; and the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there might be some tangible proof that there are those on Earth today who fully might believe God and Christ Jesus and in His kingdom,and who believe that the faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on Earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of Earth . . .Those faithful men of old may be expected back from the dead any day now.” (p.311)
I discovered, after examining the appropriate records from San Diego, that the Society had attempted to deed the house to David of Old Testament fame. The house still stands in San Diego, although it no longer belongs to the Society. The explanation for all this amounts to a convenient rewrite of history. The 1975 yearbook of the Jehovah’s Witnesses states: „In time, a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for Brother Rutherford’s use.”
Bill continued to show me other predictions, errors, and rewrites of history by the Society. As the incriminating evidence began to mount, I paused a moment to look at what the Bible might have to say about these things. I found the answer in Matthew, Chapter 7:
„Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they?…A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit…Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those (men).” (NWT)
I compared these verses with the prophecies that Bill had shown me and with a statement from the April 1, 1972, Watchtower article: „This ‘prophet’ was not one man, but a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ…known as Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses.”
The Watchtower Society was a false prophet according to their own literature! There was only one course of action open to me, and that was to get my family and myself out of the organization.
For the first time in years I began to study the Bible on my own; I wanted to see if there were other areas in which the Society, had led me astray. I soon discovered that the three main doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses were each incorrect. First, Jesus Christ is more than a mere angel; He has all the attributes of Jehovah. Second, hell—contrary to what I had been taught—does exist. Third, heaven is not limited to 144,00 Jehovah’s Witnesses. Heaven is open to all who believe. The comparison between the Society and the Pharisees became unavoidable at this point. Jesus said, „… Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men, for you do not enter in yourselves; nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (NASB)
The Society had proven to be just like the Pharisees in one other aspect as I reflected upon them: „Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25, NIV) On the outside of the cup the Witnesses looked very „good”, they did not smoke (any longer), the men wore their hair short, the women were forbidden to wear long dresses to meetings and services, they all seemed very industrious and sincere. Yet, on the inside of the cup there was no genuine love, little in the way of meaningful emotions, no real peace, no certain hope.
The Society and Thought Control
I began to reflect long and hard on how I had fallen for a false prophet. I was angry and bitter over the way in which my family and I had been manipulated. How could I have been so blind? I allowed the Society to place blindfolds on me. The October 1, 1967, Watchtower describes this process:
„…The Bible is an organizational book, and belongs to the Christian congregations as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah’s visible organization (the Watchtower Society) in mind.”
As with the political dictatorships and religious cults throughout the centuries the freedom of thought, speech, and written word had to be prevented because truth, revealed through such freedoms, destroys the fears and oppression that keep such organizations in existence.
These fears the Society used included subtle but devastating peer pressure, the possibility of losing one’s place in the kingdom, and the fear of demon possession. These fears were carefully employed to keep the Jehovah’s Witnesses from reading any literature written by another religious organization, or singing any songs written by Christianity, or participating in any religious related functions conducted by another religion—including family funerals.
As a substitute for these activities the Watchtower Society created a world of „truth” of its own. Millions of publications rolled off the presses each day covering all sorts of subjects, carefully injected with the Watchtower perspective. Any other literature was subtly condemned or forbidden outright. Society Leader A.S. Schroeder, in a recent assembly, put it this way: „Don’t spend thirty hours reading books…We will read them and print the information in the Watchtower and Awake!, so you can read it in thirty minutes.” Convenient?, yes, but this predigested format also made it „convenient” to leave out information that would embarrass the Society. Whenever any printed book became obsolete because of changes in doctrine, interpretation, or dates—which has been frequent—the Society tells its followers not to read them. A few years ago, Society headquarters wrote to each Kingdom Hall, asking their members to send in their older books under the pretense of building a library.
The Society carefully indoctrinated each of its members through five meetings a week and numerous special assemblies. They isolated them from other sources of information by forbidding them to read other literature or speak with those who have left the organization. This isolation is then intensified by restrictions regarding both prayer (Witnesses, when praying in groups, could pray only with other Witnesses) and discussions with religious leaders and teachers of other religions. Suggestions of possible demon possession and the threat of having to go through Armageddon were sufficient to convince many to stay away from anything that was not approved.
The Society also used another effective tactic suggested by Karl Marx: „The first step in the science of revolution is the art of confusing the public with words that have a pleasant meaning.” The Society’s most popular words include „truth”, „paradise”, „theocracy”, and „Christendom”. By using and re-using those words they are able to create a very positive impression even though they are not able to offer the content of any of them.
The Watchtower Society attacks its rivals and highlights their faults. It frequently uses rhetorical questions, such as „Has Christendom stopped war?” It then challenges Christendom to do what it knows cannot be done by anyone—including the Society. As part of this attempt to elevate the Society at the expense of others, it consistently associates its opposition with things its hoped-for followers do not favor, and identifies itself with the things that are likely to be favored by its followers or its audience. The latter approach often sounds like the following:
„God is going to bring about world peace based on the principles of equality, and justice for all people. By becoming part of his Theocratic organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses you can be included in this plan.”
Who would not want to be a part of world peace?! But, of course, the Society is unable to state just how or when such a promise will be realized—anymore than any political organization can make such a promise. Even without these all important specifics, hundreds of publications are turned out by the Society headquarters in New York on these subjects.
Through the use of fears of demon possession and Armageddon, through ghostly promises of paradise, and through literature indoctrination, the Society has been able to assemble a formidable army of 2 1/2 million puppets. This army is now gaining recruits at a rate of 15% each year. These people after only six months of Bible study will spend their lives selling literature and going door to door taking on virtually any challenges. The members of this army do all this with confidence because they have been taught to believe that they are a part of God’s Theocratic organization and everyone else is worshipping Satan the Devil.
I know, because this is what my wife and I believed and did for five years.
The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life
After discussing the facts with my wife, we decided to write a letter of resignation to the Society. We knew that this had to be done before we could enter another church, or contact anyone with what we had discovered. If we shared the information about the false prophecies with anyone we would be immediately disfellowshipped. If we were disfellowshipped, no Jehovah’s Witness could speak with us again and these were the very people with whom we wished to share our discoveries. At the end of our letter of resignation we included a note which has prevented our being disfellowshipped:
This letter is to inform you of our resignation from your organization and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The reason for this letter is that we have been warned by Jesus that there would be false prophets. Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses claim to be that prophet. The Scriptures also tell us how to check out one who presumes to be a prophet of God. In checking what you said as a prophet we have found that your prophecies have not come true. Hence, we feel that your organization is a false prophet and we do not want to associate with it. To refresh your memory, enclosed is a list of prophesies the Watchtower Society has made that have not come true.
We want to note that we are resigning from your organization and if you institute disfellowshipping action against us, we will turn the matter over to our attorney for defamation of character.
| (signed) | (signed) |
| Erich Grieshaber | Jean Grieshaber |
During the next few months Bill and his wife, Joan, became an important part of our lives. It was only through their loving kindness and patience that we were able to make such a smooth transition.
They have dedicated the last thirteen years to helping others like my wife and myself learn the real truth. If it were not for their hard work and love for other Jehovah’s Witnesses, much of the material that helped us would not be available today. We were convinced that the Watchtower Society was wrong: now I felt the need to find the real truth, for I still loved God with my whole heart and soul.
I had to relearn what I knew about Jesus Christ, because my Watchtower training had taught me that He was Michael, The Archangel. I discovered that this teaching directly conflicts with John 8:58, where Jesus states, „Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (ego eimi in Greek). This same ego eimi was stated by God, the Father, in Exodus 3:14, „…I AM has sent me to you.”
Bill put together the following chart, showing Scriptural proof that Jesus is Yahweh (the God of the Old Testament). This proof really helped my wife and myself:
| Jesus | -„THERE IS ONE GOD”- | Yahweh |
| John 1:3 Col. 1:12-27 Heb. 1:8-12 |
CREATOR | Job 33:4 Isa. 40:28 Gen. 1:1 |
| Rev. 1:17 Rev. 2:8 Rev. 22:13 |
FIRST AND LAST | Isa. 41:4 Isa. 43:10 Isa. 44:6 Isa. 48:12 |
| John 8:24, 58 John 13:19 John 18:5 |
I AM (ego eimi) |
Ex. 3:14 Isa. 43:10 Deut.32:39 |
| II Tim 4:1 II Cor.5:10 Rom. 14:10 |
JUDGE | Gen. 18:25 Joel 3:12 |
| Matt. 2:1-6 Luke 23:3 John 19:21 |
KING | Jer. 10:10 Isa. 44:6-8 Ps. 47 |
| John 8:12 Luke 2:32 John 1:9 |
LIGHT | Ps. 27:1 Isa. 60:20 |
| I Cor.10:4 I Pet. 2:6-8 |
ROCK | Deut.32:4 II Sam.22:32 Isa. 17:10 |
| John 4:42 Acts 4:12 Acts 20:28 I John 4:14 |
SAVIOR | Isa. 43:3 Isa. 45:21-23 Ps. 106:21 |
| John 10:1 Heb. 13:20 I Pet. 5:4 |
SHEPHERD | Ps. 23 Ps. 100 Isa. 40:11 |
As a Jehovah’s Witness, I had never gone through the six Scriptural steps to salvation. If you are a Jehovah’s Witness, I hope you will go through these with me now:
1. ACKNOWLEDGE: Romans 3:23, and Luke 18:13. You must all acknowledge, in the light of God’s Word, that you are a sinner.
2. REPENT: Luke 13:3 3 and Acts 3:19. You must see the awfulness of sin and then repent of it.
3. CONFESS: I John 1:9 9 and Romans 10:10. The Lord awaits your admission of guilt.
4. FORSAKE: Isaiah 55:7. Sorrow for sin is not enough in itself. We must want to be done with it once and for all.
5. BELIEVE: John 3:16, Romans 10:9 9 and Mark 16:16. Believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
6. RECEIVE: John 1:11, 12. Christ must be received personally into the heart by faith, if the experience of the New Birth is to be yours.
Make your eternal decision—as I did—right now: „I am convinced by God’s Word that I am a lost sinner; I believe that Jesus Christ died for sinners and shed His blood to put away my sins. I NOW receive Him as my personal Lord and Saviour and will by His help, confess Him before men.”
The Lord has continued to bless us as we have been busy with His work. I have seen many Witnesses leave the organization and become followers of Jesus Christ.
These new converts have been zealous in the Lord’s work for they realize that there are two and one half million lost souls following the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
The Society has not, nor can it, hurt Christianity, but it has hurt its followers. These followers are very sincere people who only want to do right. They will profit much by your love and courageous declaration of the truth.
The Society’s twisting of the Scriptures to fit their own doctrines have made their followers miss the mark, bringing death to themselves and their innocent followers (Matt. 7:26).
I have dedicated my life to help anyone who wants to know the truth about this diabolical organization. I will forever be thankful to those who saved me from this „ravenous wolf” described by the Lord in Matthew 7:15.
O carte scrisa de un fost martor[4]
iulie 27, 2009Mai jos aveti un link la pagina de Documentatie a cartii pe care am redat-o aici in episoada. Este in limba engleza. In Documentatie, dupa cum veti vedea, se poate vizualiza fiecare referinta la brosurile MI. Aceste brosuri au fost scanate si imediat cititorul poate sa verifice ceea ce acestea spun. Mai mult chiar, autorul a facut insemnari pe brosurile cu pricina, astfel incat cititorul se va duce direct la miezul problemei precizate.
Pentru aceasta mergeti aici
[Grieshaber, Erich and Jean Grieshaber. „II. Documentation,” Exposé of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Blue Letter Bible. 1 Sep 2002. 27 Jul 2009.
http://blueletterbible.org/study/cults/expose/chap2.cfm]
O carte scrisa de un fost martor [3]
iulie 7, 2009[Grieshaber, Erich and Jean Grieshaber. „I. Guide to Documentation,” Exposé of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Blue Letter Bible. 1 Sep 2002. 7 Jul 2009.
http://blueletterbible.org/study/cults/expose/chap1.cfm] – Guide to Documentation
On the following pages will be found an outline of key claims and beliefs of the Watchtower Society. Under each topic heading appears certain questions and explanations that will lead the student into examining that issue for himself. The outline format has been selected in order to save time and provide a rapid reference system.
1. Is the Society* a true prophet of God?
- 1A. How does the Society define „true prophet?”The three essentials given through Moses were:
1) …Speak in Jehovah’s name…
2) The things foretold would come to pass…
3) His prophesying must promote true worship being in harmony with God’s Word and the prophets.”
- 1B. How does the Society test the true prophet’s message?„The best method of proof is to put a prophecy to the test of time and circumstance. The Bible invites such a test…the Bible…establishes the rules for testing a prophecy at Deuteronomy 18:20-22.”
- 1C. Does the Society believe that a true prophet exists today?Yes. In fact, the Society says, „It is of importance to every individual on earth to identify the group that Jehovah has commissioned as His servant’ or messenger.”
- 1D. Does the Society believe that a true modern prophet would have the same authority as the Old Testament prophets?Yes. Society members are told that there existed such a group and then they were asked to look for it-„…any group on whom Jehovah would be willing to bestow the commission to speak as a ‘prophet’ in His name, as was done toward Ezekiel…”
- 1E. Does the Society claim to be the present day true prophet?Yes. „Who is this prophet? …not one man, but a body of men and women…known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses.”
- 1F. Where does the Society/Prophet claim to get its direction?„Jehovah’s Witnesses today make their declaration of the good news of the kingdom under angelic direction and support.” In other words, angels tell the Society what to say and do.
- 1G. Does the Society desire and expect Christendom to treat the Society as a prophet of God?Yes. The Society fully anticipates this: „…regardless of how Christendom views or regards this group of anointed witnesses of Jehovah, the time must come, and that shortly, when those making up Christendom will know that really a ‘prophet’ of Jehovah was among them.”
- 1H. What role does the Society claim for a prophet in these days? What should a prophet be doing?The Society spells this out in three ways:
1. „The modern-day counterpart of Ezekiel”
2. „Do the will of Jehovah”
3. „Serve as the mouthpiece and active agent of Jehovah”
- 1I. Does the Society claim that it has been prophesying for God today?Yes. „The facts substantiate that the remnant of Christ’s anointed disciples (the Society [see context]) have been doing that prophesying to all nations.” They claim God’s Spiritis „poured out” on them. They ask: „Why argue about it?”
- 1J. Does the Society claim that prophesying and preaching are the same ministry?No. The Society claims that their members have been „preaching and prophesying from house to house and city to city…”, thus clearly distinguishing between the two ministries. Both preaching and prophesying are regular activities of the Society.
- 1K. Does the Society/Prophet claim any special knowledge concerning the Bible?Yes. The Society published a six-volume work entitled Scripture Studies which it described as „the Bible in an arranged form.” It amounted to a running commentary on the Bible. The Society claims that if someone were to „ignore” the Scripture Studies „and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years…within two years he goes into darkness.” The Society further claims that if a student „had merely read Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures.”
- 1L. Does the Society believe that it is the only organization that has God’s Spirit or can understand the Bible?Yes. It has made this clear when it said, „…Jehovah’s organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God’s holy spirit or active force … To it alone God’s sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book.” Furthermore, it claims that „God by his holy spirit” has directly „revealed” things to its „early Bible students…far in advance.”
- 1M. Has the Society ever prophesied concerning the future and had that prophecy fail the test of „Time and circumstance” (see 1B. above)?Yes. In fact there are many such „failed” prophecies (see False Prophecy Fact Sheet). Keep in mind, as you study these prophecies that the Society…
1) Claims to be God’s one and only prophet today
2) Claims to have revelations from God
3) Claims to be the only group that understands the Bible
4) Claims to be the only Spirit-empowered organization on earth today.
2. Has the Society made false prophecies?
- 2A. Does the Society claim to be a true prophet of God, and does it ask that we examine its prophecy record?Yes. The Society states this explicitly when it says: „So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help…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…known…as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses…” It should be noted that even from its earliest beginnings the Society considered itself to be a true prophet of God. The Society does not expect others to just trust that it is a true prophet: „Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a ‘prophet’ of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record. What does it show?”
- 2B. Has the Society predicted that 1914 A.D. would mark the end of earthly rulership?Yes. The Society made such a prediction in 1908: ” ..the ‘Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced” (i.e., it began before 1908).
- 2C. Has the Society declared that the earthly arrival of King Jesus took place in October, 1874?Yes. „Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present since October, 1874, A.D.”
- 2D. Has the Society declared that the Millennium—the 1,000-year reign of Christ—began in 1873?Yes. „The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great thousand-year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that great Seventh Day, the thousand years of Christ’s reign, began in 1873.”
- 2E. Has the Society predicted that the visible, physical return to earth of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would take place in 1925?Yes. „…Since other Scriptures definitely fix the fact there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other faithful ones of old…we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth.”
- 2F. How certain, in the minds of the Society, was the 1925 resurrection date?As certain as any date could be. This is evident by various statements including the following:
1) „The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures because it is fixed by the law God gave to Israel.”
Watchtower, Sept 1, 1922, p.262
2) „Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking the end of the typical jubilees.”
- 2G. When 1925 arrived did the Society begin to back down on its prophecies about the significance of that year?Yes. „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 the year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time, God will accomplish his purposes concerning his own people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire during this year that they would fail to joyfully do what the Lord would have them to do.”
- 2H. As the year 1925 progressed, did the Society indicate even more doubt about 1925 being the resurrection year—the year the new order begins?Yes. Rather than suggest that a mistake was made or that God changed His mind, the Society subtly began to back down even further: Typical of this erosion process is the following:
„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 of the work, and that therefore it would be needless for them to do more.”
- 2I. Was there disappointment among the Society members because of the failures concerning the predicted dates?Yes. Most definitely and so much so that public admissions were printed: „There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918 and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time.”
- 2J. Did the Society attempt to deflect criticism by clinging to the dates even though the prophecies concerning them went unfulfilled?Yes. Basically the Society clung to the position that the dates were valid in spite of the lack of fulfillment: „Later the faithful learned that those dates were definitely fixed in the Scriptures . . . ”
- 2K. Did the Society indicate that as a result of disappointments it had decided to quit setting dates?Yes. They seemed ready to give up the practice of fixing dates: „…they also learned to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on a certain date, but to rely (and they do rely) upon the Word of God as to the events that must come to pass.”
- 2L. Did the Society, nevertheless, continue to imply that certain times and years were scheduled for Armageddon?Yes. This was done with great care but the implication was always clear: Armageddon was only „months away,” that is, less than a year. A typical example of the subtlety of these suggestions is seen in the following report: „Receiving the sift, 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.”
- 2M. Does the Society admit that such prior date setting activities amounted to false prophesying?Yes. In its own literature it reveals its attitude toward such activities: „True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world,’ even announcing a specific date. Some have gathered groups of people with them and fled to the hills or withdrawn into their houses waiting for the end. Yet, nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing?
„Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God’s truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them.”
- 2N. Has the Society concluded its date-setting activities or has it prophesied other dates such as 1975?It continues submitting new dates. A classic example is an entire article devoted to a prophecy concerning the year, 1975. This was calculated to be the year of the end of this present age. Its title: „Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?”
- 2O. Has the Society confirmed the 1975 date as accurate?Yes. „According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man’s creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E.”
- 2P. What did the Society members believe about the 1975 date? Would it be the end of the present system of things?Yes. According to Erroll Burton, spokesman for the Paradise Valley Unit of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Arizona, the 1975 date would mean „‘A change in the political system of things,’ when ‘all presently existing influences must be eliminated. After 6,000 years of the deterioration of mankind, there will be 1,000 years of refining mankind…’ ‘At the end of that period, man will be perfect, as Adam and Eve were before the fall.'”
The Society clearly has instructed its followers that 1975 represents „…the end of the world as we have known it,” and it predicts that the „…thousand-year reign of Christ will begin.”
- 2Q. Did the Society members begin to get rid of their possessions and make special sacrifices in order to prepare for 1975? Did the Society condone this activity?Yes. In various ways this information was reported and evaluated. The Society’s attitude is revealed in the following: „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.”
3. Has the Society admitted to and covered up false prophecies?
- 3A. First, does the Society believe that a false prophet could. exist today, and, does it believe that such a prophet coud be an organization rather than just an individual?Yes. It has gone into some detail in describing the false prophet’s activities and purpose: „Similarly, the ‘false prophet’ is not a person, but is a system or an organization. A ‘prophet’ claims to have inspired information for the direction of others. A ‘false prophet’ would mislead others, to turn them away from God and toward false worship.”
- 3B. Does the Society believe that God will reveal false prophets? If so, how will he do this?Yes. The Society expects God to uncover the true character of false prophets. He „will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets.”
- 3C. How does the Society anticipate false prophets to react to exposure?„False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are. They will try to avoid…being pronounced spiritually dead by Jehovah’s loyal worshipers.”
- 3D. Has the Society admitted to making false prophecies?Yes. They admitted to looking „forward to 1914 with joyful expectation. When that time came and passed there was much disappointment.” In other words, their predicted date concerning the end of the age had come and gone without fulfillment (see II.B. above). They became the subject of criticism „because they had said so much about 1914, and what would come to pass, and their ‘prophecies‘ had not been fulfilled.”
Here we have an example of the Society stating categorically that it had delivered a prophecy that time and circumstance demonstrated to be false.
- 3E. Is the admission of making false prophecies an isolated item, or has a Society leader—under oath in court—ever admitted that the Society made such prophecies?H.C. Covington, the then Vice President of the Society was on the witness stand in Scotland in 1954. When asked if the Society had „promulgated (i.e., set forth or taught publically) a false prophecy,” Covington said „I agree to that.” He was then asked if this false prophecy „had to be accepted by Jehovah’s Witnesses,” to which he replied, „That is correct.”
- 3F. Has the Society tried to reverse itself (on its well-established claim to be a true prophet) since its 1975 prophecy failure?Yes. The Society now teaches that „Jehovah’s Witnesses as modern-day Christians are working hard to get this good news preached to every individual. They do not claim infallibility or perfection. Neither are they inspired prophets.”
This is an amazing reversal! For almost 100 years the Society has claimed to be a „true prophet of God” and now they reveal that they are not inspired-leaving us to conclude that their many prophecies have not come from God.
4. Has the Society altered any of its chronological calculations over the years?
- [Note: We must realize that the society has placed a tremendous amount of emphasis on chronology during the century of its existence. Precise calculations of the dates of certain events—especially of those related to the beginnings of mankind—have been the basis for many of the Society’s predictions. The creation date of Adam and the creation date of Eve have been the subject of particular attention because they relate—according to past Society literature—to the calculation of the beginning of the Millennium, or 1,000-year reign of Christ.]
- 4A. According to the Society, is the creation date of Eve important for calculating the date of the Millennium?Yes. The exact date of Eve’s creation was the beginning of God’s „rest day” because (logically) Eve was God’s last creation.
- 4B. Does the Society know when Eve was created?No. According to the Society, the biblical record „shows a time lapse between the creation of Adam and that of his wife, Eve.” Why was there a time lapse? What, for example, was going on? „During that time, God had Adam name the animals? Whether that period amounted to weeks or months or years we do not know?” No date can be established—even approximately—for Eve’s creation date?
- 4C. Has the Society ever given a date for Eve’s creation?Yes. „According to reliable Bible chronology, Adam and Eve were created in 4026 B.C.E”
- 4D. Has the Society been able to predict a date for Eve’s creation in spite of the reports of Adam’s activities before her creation? On what basis do they do this?Yes. The Society reasoned that „. . .it is logical that He (God) would create Eve soon after Adam, perhaps just a few weeks or months later in the same year, 4026 B.C.E.”
- 4E. Has the Society tried to explain the obvious contradiction between an unknown creation date and a 4026 B.C.E. creation date for Eve in its authoritative Bible study aid?No. The study aid only confirms the impossible: it says that Society knows Eve’s creation date!
1. At 130 years Eve gave birth to Seth.
Aid to Bible Understanding (1969), p.533
2. Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born?
- [Note: Before the 1975 prediction date of Christ’s return, the society authoritatively supports a specific creation date for Eve. Afterwords they conveniently back down on their calculation.]
5. Has the society distorted the record of any of its past activities?
- [Note: Beth-Sarim, which means „House of Princes” in the Hebrew language, was a handsome estate built in San Diego in 1930 by the Watchtower Society. Its history is variously represented by the Society.]
- 5A. What was the purpose of the construction of Beth-Sarim?Beth-Sarim was, according to a recent Society yearbook, built as a home for one of the Society’s presidents: „…a direct contribution was made for the purpose of constructing a house in San Diego for Brother Rutherford’s use.”
- 5B. Did the Society, at an earlier date, give an entirely different purpose for constructing Beth-Sarim?Yes. „…the purpose of acquiring that property and building the house was that there might be some tangible proof that there are those on earth today…who believe that faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth.”
- 5C. Did the Society actually believe that certain resurrected Old Testament saints would come back and live in Beth-Sarim?Yes. „…those faithful men of old may be expected back from the dead any day now…in this expectation the house was built…it is now held in trust for the occupancy of those princes on their return.”
- 5D. Does the deed to the Beth-Sarim property reveal the Society’s original purpose for the estate?Yes. While it is true that Rutherford was to have „exclusive possession” of the house during his lifetime, it was also true that that possession was to be relinquished upon the soon anticipated arrival of „David,” „Joseph,” „Samuel,” etc. to the earth „for the express purpose of being used by those who are servants of Jehovah God.”
Page iii of the deed indicates other Society members could equally make use of the property „until the same be taken possession of by David or some of the other men herein named [from Hebrews chapter eleven] and this property and premises being dedicated to Jehovah and the use of his kingdom it shall be used as such forever.”
It is interesting to note that the Society later sold the house.
6. Has the Society distorted or misquoted various reference sources in an attempt to support its position on the Trinity?
- 6A. Did the Society misquote and misrepresent well-known Greek scholars H. E. Dana and J. R. Mantey?Yes. The Society quotes Dana and Mantey out of context by asserting that their grammar (A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament) supports the translation „the word was a god” at John 1:1.
In a letter to the Society authored by Mantey himself we read: „…Because you have been quoting me out of context, I…request you not to quote the Manual Grammar…again, which you have been quoting for 24 years.” He also asked them to „publicly and immediately apologize” for their misrepresentation.
Why was Mantey so disturbed? His conclusion (found both in his Grammar and his letter) is that John 1:1 should be translated either „the word was deity” or „the word was God,” not „the word was a god.” Mantey estimates the evidence „to be 99% against” the Society’s translation.
- [Note: A word about John 1:1 is appropriate here. In this passage an important principle of Greek grammar is evident which has been a source of confusion for English readers.
- Note first the order of the Greek words as seen in the Greek text (consult The Emphatic Diaglott or The Kingdom Interlinear, both Society publications):
- KAI THEOS ÊN HO LOGOS
- And God Was The Word
- In Greek there is no written indefinite article („A” or „AN”)—just the definite article („the”). The indefinite article is often implied before a noun even though nothing is actually written down to tell the reader it is there. But this is not always the case. The word theos standing alone without the definite article might be translated „a god” if it were not for another principle of grammar. That principle is discussed in Mantey’s letter to the Society.
- And what does that principle mean? E. C. Colwell discovered that when a predicate noun (in this case theos) is in the nominative case (that is, in the same case as the subject of the sentence—the subject being logos) and is placed before the verb (instead of after the verb as is usually the case), it has no article—even when it is needed. In fact, Colwell also discovered that it is indefinite (i.e., with „a” or „an”) only when the context demands it. (see Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. LII (1933) pp. 12-21 from which Mantey quotes.)
- Harner (see Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. XCII (1973)) went on to discover that in 53 passages in John’s Gospel, the Apostle John used this type of word arrangement to „express the nature of [the] character of the subject.” Thus Mantey is right when he suggests the translation „the word was diety” or „the word was God” which stresses nature.
- The translation „a god” inserts an indefinite article that is unwarranted by either grammar or context. The translation „a god” makes Jesus another God, makes John the Apostle a polytheist, and makes a mockery of Deuteronomy 32:39 which reads „there is no other god with me”—that would make Jesus a god against the Father!”]
- 6B. Did the Society quote the famous Bible translator Westcott out of context?Yes. The Society gives the impression that Westcott supports the concept that John 1:1 should be translated „the Word was a god” (note the small „g”).
Watchtower, Jan. 15, 1975, p.63
But as can be seen, Westcott holds to an entirely different view based on the grammar:The Word was God „…simply affirms the true deity of the Word.” He held to the triunity of God, not the polytheism of „the word was a god.”
- [Note: A consultation with virtually any commentary on John 1:1 or any Koine Greek grammar on the use of the article in the New Testament will lead to the same conclusion reached by Westcott: The statement „simply affirms the true deity of the Word.”]
- 6C. Did the Society misrepresent the New Catholic Encyclopedia on its position concerning the trinity?Yes. The Society suggests that the New Catholic Encylopedia denies the historic trinity: It teaches that…this doctrine was unknown to the Hebrew prophets and Christian apostles…it also admits that the doctrine must be dated as from about three hundred and fifty years after the death of Jesus Christ.”
The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, p. 22
A simple reading of page 306 of the New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. XIV, will demonstrate that both conclusions by the Society were erroneous. Clearly, Paul and the Gospels taught the triunity of God and the Catholics hold to this belief.
- 6D. Does the Bible actually teach the doctrine of the trinity—a doctrine the Society strongly denies?Yes. The trinity is the only explanation for the relationship given in Scripture between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
7. Does the Society deny the Biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is worthy of worship?
- 7A. Does the Society teach that Jesus rejects worship?Yes. „Do not erroneously conclude that Christians are to worship Christ; that is not what he taught.”
- 7B. Does the Bible reveal the worship of Christ as an appropriate and acceptable activity?Yes. No one is rebuked for worshipping Christ in Scripture.
- 7C. Does the Society attempt to cover up the worship of Christ in Scripture in order to deny this teaching?Yes. The word proskuneo is translated as worship (when used with reference to Jehovah) 22 times in the Society’s New World Translation. The same word when used with reference to Christ is translated „obedience,” „reverence,” and „homage.” The Bible clearly teaches the worship of Jesus, but the Society in an effort to obscure this fact has avoided the ususal and normal translation of proskuneo.
- 7D. Has the Society ever contradicted its position by encouraging Jesus worship?Yes. „Christ (is) to be worshipped as a glorious spirit, victorious over death on the torture stake.”
8. Is the name „Jehovah” actually the name of God?
- 8A. Does the Society believe that „Jehovah” is the name of God?Yes. They have used it for more than 50 years and state categorically that it is „a translation of God’s name, in Hebrew YHWH.”
- 8B. God’s name?No. They hold that „there is no such name as Jehovah.” The name of God as it appears in Scripture is without appropriate vowels so, „no Hebrew can pronounce it today.”
- 8C. Where did the mistranslation „Jehovah” come from?„‘Jehovah’ is generally held to have been the invention of Pope Leo X’s confessor, Peter Galatin.”
The Jewish Encyclopedia, p. 88
„‘Jehovah’ is a mispronunciation…almost entirely disregarded by the Jews…of the Hebrew ‘YHWH’ the…name of God…this pronunciation is grammatically impossible; it arose through pronouncing the vowels…of ‘Adonay’ (the Lord)…with the consonants of ‘ YHWH. ”
- 8D. Is there any basis for the Society using „Jehovah” as the name for God?No. „The pronunciation Jehovah has no authority at all and appeared only in late medieval times; it is an attempt to vocalize the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) usinq the vowels written under it by the scribes, which vowels however were never intended to be combined with the four consonants of this word.”
- 8E. If „Jehovah” is incorrect and not the name of God, what is the correct name?It is Yahweh. „That the pronunciation in ancient times was Yahweh is concluded from transcriptions in the early Christian fathers.”
9. Has the Society altered the Scriptures to suit its own particular needs?
- 9A. Where has the Society altered the text?Take any Greek text or modern translation and compare it with the New World Translation (a Society publication) at:
John 1:1 (Note the added „a”)
Colossians 1:15, 17 (Note the inserted „other”)
Colossians 2:9 (Note the change from „deity” to „divine quality”)
Titus 2:13 (Note the change from „God our Savior” to „God and our Savior”)
Revelation 3:14 (Note how „of” is changed to „by”)
These are just a few examples of the alterations.
- 9B. To what can we attribute the mistranslations by the Society?In court and under oath F. W. Franz, current president of the Society and one of the admitted translators of the New World Translation, lied about his ability to translate Scripture. He admitted he could not translate „a Bible verse.” Lack of integrity and preparation, along with a marked theological bias has led to a number of outrageous errors in translation.
10. Does the Society err in its teaching about the cross of Christ?
- 10A. According to the Society, how did Jesus die?The Society claims that Jesus was impaled on an upright, single-pieced „torture stake.”
- 10B. How does the Society support its claim that Jesus died on a „torture stake” instead of a „cross”?The Society quotes 16th century writer Justus Lipsius in his De Cruce Liber Primus.
- 10C. What does Justus Lipsius say is the method of Christ’s death?While it is true the Lipsius pictures the death of a man on a tree, he points out rather emphatically and in considerable detail that this was not the way Jesus died. In fact, he even includes a picture of Christ’s death on the cross a few pages later. Reading from his text we find: „In the Lord’s cross there were four pieces of wood, the upright beam, the cross-bar, a tree trunk (piece of wood) placed below, and the title (inscription) placed above.” The Society has completely misrepresented Lipsius’ drawing and findings.
- 1OD. Does the Bible teach that Jesus died on a cross?Yes, without any doubt. Consult the Bible at John 20:25; 21:18-19, Matt. 27:37, Mark 15:27, etc.
11. Has the Society ever altered its publications without notice to suit its changing prophecies?
- Yes. Quietly the Society shifts its position when an embarrassing prophecy is made and then remains unfulfilled. For example, a crucial change was made in the 1923 version of Studies in Scriptures in order to bring it into line with the Society’s changing prophecies. The earlier version has:”…the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest…”
- The 1923 version has:”…must take place very soon after 1914 is manifest…”
12. Given the strange twists and contradictions of the Society over the years, is there any relationship between the Society and mental illness?
- Yes, unfortunately. Members of the Society, according to an Australian study are „three times more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia and nearly four times more likely from paranoid schizophrenia than the rest of the population at risk.”
- Why? Either the Society „tends to attract an excess of pre-psychotic individuals who may then break down, or else being a Jehovah’s Witness is itself a stress which may precipitate a psychosis. Possibly both of these factors may operate together.”John Spencer, The Mental Health of Jehovah’s Witnesses
13. If Jehovah’s Witnesses are not the truth, then what is?
- The truth is found in the Bible and not in the Watchtower Society (as has already been demonstrated.) Two steps must be taken:
- First, Jesus Christ must be given rightful Lordship in our life.For instructions, CLICK HERE
- Second, the Society member must break his ties with the Watchtower Society, as has the author of this ExposéResignation Letter
*For purposes of clarification and brevity, the name, „Watchtower Society” has been shortened to „Society” throughout this outline.
Confruntari – Traducerea sau Parafrazarea Lumii Noi
iulie 7, 2009Deschid aici o provocare pe subiect. Voi completa articolul corespunzator in timp ce vom discuta. Invit martorii lui Iehova la o confruntare buna si corectiva pe acest subiect concret. Gigi, poti participa si tu, evident.
Comentatorii care nu sunt martori ai lui Iehova, in sensul denumirii religiei cu pricina sunt invitati sa participe si ei, daca doresc.
Intrebarea de inceput este: „Este versiunea MI a Bibliei o traducere sau o parafrazare?
[2] Introducere – articol tradus
iulie 3, 2009Articolul de mai jos este traducerea partii numita „Introducere” a cartii pe care o postez in episoade. Fiecare articol apare in limba engleza si apoi tradus in limba romana. Pentru cei care intelegeti engleza, cititi originalul. Numarul din titlu corespunde numarului din titlul articolul in engleza. Probabil ca fiecare articol tradus va fi imediat urmatorul articol public celui dupa care este tradus.
––––––––––––––––
Aceasta lucrare este conceputa pentru a-i ajuta pe MI sinceri sa recunoasca(deosebeasca) adevarul despre STV:
- Pretentiile ei ca este profetul lui Dumnezeu astazi
- Profetiile ei nu s-au implinit
- Actiunile de acoperire a dovezile pentru acunderea profetiilor false
- Responsabilitatea MI sinceri inaintea lui Dumnezeu
STV pretinde:
- Ramasita unsilor este constituita de profetii zilelor noastre, precum Ezechiel, primindu-si informatiile de la ingeri.
In VT, profetii erau instruiti, atentionati, avertizati, au primit promisiuni si au fost respinsi. Datorita pozitiei STV, trebuie sa ii testam profetia in acelasi fel in care profetii VT au fost testati.
Deuteronom 18:20-22 / Matei 7:15-20
In verificarea a ceea ce STV profeteste, gasim ca se incadreaza in categoria unui profet mincinos. Profetii mincinosi sunt condamnati in Scripturi si noua ni se spune sa fugim de ei.
- 1Regi 13 — condamanti la moarte
- Eze 14:10 — pedeapsa pentru profet si cei ce-l asculta este aceeasi
- Ap 19:20, 20:10 — aruncati in Lacul(Iazul) de Foc
- Ier 23:16, 26, 34 — Pedepseste omul si casa lui
- Tef 3:1-4 — Lumina profetilor si tradarea
- Zah 13:1-7 — A spune ca nu esti profet
Toate dovezile citate au fost luate din publicatiile TV, cu exceptia celor mentionate altfel. Traducerile Bibliei folosite sunt Versiunea King James si Noua Traducere Standard.
Publicatiile Turnului de Veghere folosite
- Traducerea Lumii Noi
- Aid to Bible Understanding
- Watchtower
- Make Sure of All Things
- Awake
- Kingdom Interlinear, etc.
Un cuvant catre MI:
In The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life (Adevarul care conduce spre viata vesnica), STV invata ca este adecvat pentru un MI sa examineze credintele religioase si credintele exprimate de altii. Aceasta are o baza foarte practica: adevarul in ultima instanta se va revela pe sine si va dainui. De aceea nimeni nu are vreun motiv de a se teme de vreo informatie proaspata despre ceea ce cineva crede; daca este calea adevarata, adevarul va face doar sa o confirme – daca nu este calea adevarata, adevarul nu va putea confirma decat ca este o minciuna.
Cerem oricarui MI sincer sa-si examineze informatiile detinute, pe care le au din paginile literaturii STV. Unele dintre activitatile si crezurile admise de Societate s-ar putea sa vina ca o surpriza pentru dvs. Totusi, ele merita sa fie examinate si cercetate. Considerati urmatoarele:
- Societatea pretinde ca este profetul uns de Dumnezeu pentru zilele noastre.
- Conducerea Societatii afirma ca informatia profetica primita vine direct de la ingeri.
- Totusi, ei au facut multe profetii care nu s-au implinit in timpul (data) specificat.
- In loc de a se da o noua revelatie sau profetie care sa explice actiunile lui Dumnezeu (asa cum vedem in Cartea Iona), ei au actionat atent si deliberat in ideea de a-si acoperi (ascunde) profetiile false.
- Acest fapt nu s-a petrecut odata, ci de mai multe ori in decursul anilor.
- Aceasta practica teribila a fost considerata atat de periculoasa de catre Iehova si Isus, incat ei au spus unele dintre cele mai teribile judecati impotriva celor astfel implicati (vezi Deuteronom 18:20-22; Matei 7:15-20; Apocalipsa 19:20; 20:10).
Acestea nu sunt pretentii pline de ura si senzationale, ci chestiuni care au fost ridicate de multi MI cu dorinta de a cerceta si preocupati. Asa cum Scriptura invata:
„Verificati daca sunteti in credinta, nu incetati sa va dovediti faptul ca inca sunteti” (2 Cor. 13: 5, parafrazare in l. romana), si „Nu credeti orice vi se comunica cu titlul de inspiratie, – in acest caz literatura Societatii – ci testati insemnatatea acestora pentru a vedea daca sunt de la Dumnezeu, deoarece multi profeti mincinosi au iesit in lume.” (1 Ioan 4: 1, parafrazare in l. romana).
Un cuvant catre cei care nu sunt MI:
Crestinul are o responsabilitate unica atunci cand are de-a face cu aceia care pretind ca sunt crestini, dar in schimb urmeaza caile intunericului:
„… Nu luati parte deloc la lucrarile neroditoare ale intunericului, ci mai degraba osanditi-le…” (Efeseni 5: 11)
Scopul acestei carti este in a va ajuta pe dvs, cititorul, sa intelegeti complexitatea si caracterul inselator a unuia dintre purtatorii roadelor intunericului, religia Martorii lui Iehova. Atunci cand veti fi in stare sa intelegeti slabiciunile si erorile in care acestia au devenit robi, veti fi echipati pentru a incepe lucrarea de ajutorare a cunoscutilor MI, rude, prieteni sau vizitatori, pentru a fi eliberati din inchisoarea lor intunecoasa.
Exposé este un cuvant in limba franceza, care inseamna „darea in vileag a ceva discreditabil” si este vorba de sensul in care il folosim aici. In urmatoarele cateva pagini veti fi introdus:
- 1. Listei de erori din sistemul de credinte al MI
- 2. Un Exposé care confirma credintele lor (documentat) si,
- 3. Deseori, o scurta explicatie asupra naturii si/sau pericolului acestei invataturi
Expose-ul ar trebui citit integral, preferabil, din cel mult doua abordari. Dupa ce ati devenit familiar cu contextul, veti fi in stare sa prezentati MI erorile si inconsistentele religiei lor. Daca vreun martor al lui Iehova pune la indoiala validitatea Expose-ului, sunteti invitat sa deschideti impreuna cu el paginile cu documentatie pentru citatele corespunzatoare. In sectiunea cu documentatii, au fost adaugate foarte multe pagini din literatura MI.
Un lucru trebuie spus in acest moment despre tehnica. Scopul nostru este in folosirea unei unelte precum Expose-ul pentru a-i castiga pe oameni la Isus Cristos scotandu-i din intuneric – scopul nostru nu este neaparat sa castigam un argumnet. Prezentarea noastra in mod ferm a adevarului, trebuie mereu insotita de compasiune.
Este speranta noastra sincera ca veti putea folosi aceste pagini si sa examinati pretantiile Societatii discutate in Expose. Va rugam sa cititi studiul si sa examinati documentatia. Autorii si editorii acestei lucrari ar fi foarte interesati in a coresponda cu dvs. in ce priveste orice corectie sau completare pe care puteti sa o faceti.
Fie ca Duhul lui Dumnezeu sa fie cu dvs in timpul studiului.
Martorii mincinosi ai lui Iehova 