Is it true that the Watchtower Society once taught:?

Question

- That Christ returned invisibly in 1874? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg. 54, 60, 68

- Against vaccinations? - Golden Age, Feb 4, 1931, pg. 293
Golden Age, Jan 5, 1929, pg. 502

- Against organ transplants? - Watchtower, 11/15/67, pg. 702

- That it was okay to celebrate Christmas and birthdays?

- That Christ was crucified? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg. 68

- That Christ is the almighty of Rev 1:8? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg. 15

- That the pyramid of Gizah was God's witness and was used to predict the year of
Armageddon? - The Finished Mystery, 1917, pg. 60

Since the WTS no longer teaches the above as "the truth", does this mean that the above teachings are false teachings? If so, does this mean that while the WTS taught the above as "truth", that they were really guilty of false teachings? How could the Watchtower Society ever be guilty of false teaching if it is Jehovah's organization and being directed by Jehovah God?

Answer 1

You said it yourself: IF they were receiving information from God, they could not be wrong. They were wrong. Therefore, they were not and are not receiving information from God. Pretty straightforward.

Answer 2

It is really much this way: no human can, or ever could raise a perfect human, only God can; Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23. Jehovah God did raise a perfect human son in Jesus Christ; 1st Peter 2:22. Jesus then gave his life a ransom sacrifice for our sins, something a sinful man could not do. It is in this way that life is a free gift Romans 5:8, and Romans 5:10. However, there is more to do on our part. Jesus Christ said to make disciples; Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Matthew 24:14. Even the Apostles carried out Jesus words to preach the Good News of God's Kingdom, and like the Apostle Paul, those who preached in the 1st Century pummeled their bodies for the Good News: 1st Corinthians 9:19-27. Paul also said that those who practice the things listed in 1st Corinthians 6:9-10 would not inherit God's Kingdom. Verse 11 of the same chapter says that is what some of you were, meaning the Corinthians changed their works to be in harmony with God's will. James says it all at James 2:26 "Indeed, as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead"

Answer 3

Obviously it's true since you quoted the WT publications to prove it.

Yummygood, you are mistaken. Though it may be a honest mistake, you really are mistaken and if you investigate the matter through reading older WT literature, you will learn that you have a wrong understanding of what JW's used to teach.

Pedderin, I noticed that even though Yummygood probably sincerely believes this erroneous information, you didn't hesitate to call her a liar. Obviously you believe that inaccurate information - even when sincerely believed - is a "lie" . How different your attitude is toward the religious lies told by WT leaders, such as "Christ returned invisibly in 1874 mentioned above.

Misplaced mother, as you read Faith on the March, pay special attention to the fact that October 1, 1914 was the DAY anticipated by the Bible Students as the day that they would be going to heaven. How are they any different than all the doomsday groups and other groups that you've seen in your lifetime who publicize a certain day as the day Jesus will return and take them to heaven? When that day passes, could you possibly imagine that those people have a special relationship with God, and he's guiding them? Would you look to them for guidance for the future?

Also, please notice that Russell and his friends "stated their conclusion and would make a record of it". Nothing wrong with that. UNTIL they forgot that "their conclusion" was not one and the same thing as "God's truth".

Answer 4

I'm currently rereading the book "Faith on the March." It was written by A.H. Macmillan in 1957. Anyway, at the age of 18, Charles Taze Russell was starting a bible study group composed of men from several different religions. Someone would ask a question and they would find related scriptures, discuss the harmony of the texts, state their conclusions and make a record of it. When he was 24 in 1875-76, he went to PA to set up some men's furnishing stores. It seems that he was successful in his ventures and used his money to further bible truths.

As far as I know, he never sold miracle wheat. Anyone making a statement like that should quote their source.

None of Jehovah's human instruments have been perfect in the past, so why should this generation be an exception. Sometimes we want to know more than we need to, instead of relying on faith. And as I said before, these men came from several different religions and were taught certain falsehoods from their religions. It took a while for the day to become brighter.

It's unusual to have all the books you list, what are you trying to prove, and what do you have better to replace it?

Answer 5

Separation from the mixture of paganism and Jesus teachings that fostered for thousands of years do not occur over night.

Once JWs realized that the above is unbibical they obeyed Christ by being no part of the world and had the teaching removed. - "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:9, 16; 15:18, 19)

Can it be said for Christendom who prefer to repeat the same mistakes, rather then being spiritual clean? - (John 12:31; 1 John 5:19)

It is one thing to sin. It is quite another thing to continue in that sin. "Shall We Continue In Sin?" asked Paul (Romans 6:1-23)

Answer 6

hasn't this been raised before - Yawn!
Look at the dates you are quoting!!
Jehovah's earthly organisation was formed by anointed brothers who we need to remember were still imperfect.
It was only through their hard dedicated diligent study of the Holy Scriptures that we today are free from man made doctrines such as the trinity,immortal soul,hellfire.
Of course,they made mistakes.But Jehovah God always blessed their efforts.You only have to compare the number of witnesses then to today to see that Jehovah is bestowing his blessing.
Viewing certain matters from a distance in time and with only a little light(spiritual)on th subject often we have had a imcomplete and even an inaccurate,view of things.In such situations we may well have been influenced by other previously held views.But as the light gets brighter and we draw much closer to events,our understanding of the outworking of God's purposes becomes much clearer.Prophecies open up to us as Jehovah's holy spirit sheds light upon them,and as they are fulfilled in world events or in the experiences of God's people.
Has this not been just the way that Jehovah God has dealt with his servants from early times?Indeed it has been!
An angel had told Daniel: "Oh,Daniel,make secret the words and seal up the book,until the time of the end.Many will rove about [in Gods word],and[as a result]the true knowledge will become abundant"(Dan.12:4).In Daniel 12,verse10,it is further stated concerning God's servants:"Many will cleanse themselves and whiten themselves and will be refined.And the wicked ones will certainly act wickedly,and no wicked ones at all will understand;but the ones having insight will understand ."
So in answer to your question No and No.

Answer 7

NO!!!

The Watchtower Society did not teach from the Finished Mystery. That was written by Woodworth and Fisher and published by the People's Pulpit association.

No, The Golden Age was also written by Woodworth but printed on The Watchtower Society's presses but that was not taught.

Jehovah's Witnesses did not teach against organ transplant, only a couple of people who wrote one particular article in the WAtchtower that you referenced.

Why can't anyone make any criticisms against Jehovah's Witnesses that can actually stand the test? In other words, why can't anyone bring a criticism against Jehovah's Witnesses that I can't refute? Is it because you all lack the knowledge and wisdom to do such a thing?

Answer 8

The JW's that deny this , is because they have not researched the history of their religion. Most don't know that their religion has quoted the Catholic Priest Johannes Greber, for over 20 years in support of their teachings..Johannes Greber got his information of his translations from a spirit that talked to a young boy that shook violently as he relayed what the spirit was telling him. That spirit told him the bible was translated wrong...what he told him was the same that the JW's believe and teach about Jesus and God. Its pretty scary to think that a spirit ..wants people to believe what JW's teach..What should that tell them? Most JW's have no idea about this, because they have not looked into their religion..If they don't believe me, just look it up..there is ton's of information about it...Write the organization and ask them..They hate for it to be brought up..but if they are truthful they will tell you , that yes..many years, even knowing that he was in contact with Spirits, they quoted him..

Answer 9

Few fairminded persons of today pretend that the medical texts of 75 or 100 years ago reflect in a meaningful way on healthcare in the 21st century. Similarly, Jehovah's Witnesses of 2007 do not spend much energy researching the religious literature of 75 or 100 years ago.

Perhaps it is of note that in 1918 there were less than four thousand "Jehovah's Witnesses" regularly preaching among the readers of The Watchtower. It seems grossly unfair to expect that such a small band of conscientious bible researchers would have untangled in so few years the enormous mess of paganism tangled by Christendom in the previous 1800 years.

Incidentally, Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended that they are infallible or inspired. Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended that they experience miraculous messages from God or Christ. For more than a century, Jehovah's Witnesses have always presented their suppositions as the result of sincere bible research, rather than as "predictions" or "prophesying".

Interestingly, however, even those Christians who did enjoy direct communication from heaven at times came to wrong conclusions; these wrong conclusions were even communicated "out among the brothers"!

For example, the apostle Peter enjoyed remarkable privileges in the early congregation, but it seems that he was the source of an incorrect teaching about the apostle John that was not formally corrected until several DECADES had passed, and John himself finally wrote his gospel about 98 C.E.

(John 21:21-23) Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what will this man do [that is, the apostle John]?” Jesus said to him: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you? You continue following me.” In consequence, this saying went out among the brothers, that [the apostle John] would not die. However, Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you?”


Jehovah's Witnesses apply the term "prophet" only in a very limited sense to themselves as a religion, not to individuals. The Scriptures indicate that whenever Jehovah purposes to execute judgment upon a people, he always makes arrangement for a 'prophet's work' as a warning. Their self-description as a "prophet" (in this limited sense) does not indicate special inspired knowledge or foreknowledge, but their willingness to perform Christ's assigned warning work in our day leading up to Armageddon.

What group is working harder than Jehovah's Witnesses to preach God's message globally (as Noah did before the Deluge)?

(Amos 3:7) For the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets.

(2 Peter 2:5) Noah, a preacher of righteousness...

(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/e/19990715/article_02.htm

Answer 10

If you're going to criticize the Watchtower Society for teaching false or changing truths, then you should include ALL of today's fundamentalist Xtian sects for teaching false and changing truths. I don't see any one as better - or worse - than any other.

Every fundamentalist sect, whether it is the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons, the Assemblies of God, the Southern Baptists, the Seventh Day Adventists, the Branch Davidians - you name it - all believe they are the keepers of the One Truth. This is one of the earmarks of a cult. Add to that the exclusion of any outside information that might shed light on what actually is happening in the real world and you have a true brewing storm of misinformation and hysterical finger-pointing.

If all of you sects could do us the favor and tear each other apart it will save the rest of us freethinkers a lot of work. Please, don't let us stop you.

Answer 11

You are right on all counts but the cop-out answer that the Watchtower Society will give is that the "light got brighter". But a light getting brighter only illuminates more fully and does not completely contradict what came before it.

I personally remember growing up in the WT in the 80s when they changed their stance on the organ transplants. I remember thinking: "Great! What about all the people who died because they thought they couldn't get one, only to have the doctrine reversed once it was too late for them?" This was one of the big reasons I left when I got out on my own and out from under my parents' domain.