IP_SEC, that if I am not mistaken is an early Jim Whitney piece. I have read it and it is good; it is definitely time to read it again. Thanks for the link, I had all but forgotten about that.
bebu, as for the "only Witnesses will survive" citations, generally any time the Society talks about the "mark on the forehead" they are talking about baptism as a JW. Clearly Revelation indicates that only people with this mark will be spared God's wrath--so making it equal to JW baptism is a convenient way of tying the two concepts together. Here are some citations:
*** kl chap. 18 p. 180 par. 21 Make It Your Aim to Serve God Forever ***
21 A dedicated, baptized person faithfully endeavoring to follow Jesus is special to God. Jehovah examines all the billions of human hearts and knows how rare such individuals are. He considers them to be treasures, “desirable things.” (Haggai 2:7) Bible prophecies show that God views such ones as marked to survive the execution of his judgment soon to come upon this wicked system of things. (Ezekiel 9:1-6; Malachi 3:16, 18) Are you “rightly disposed for everlasting life”? (Acts 13:48) Is it your earnest desire to be marked as one serving God? Dedication and baptism are part of that mark, and they are essential for survival.
Note that dedication and baptism are essential for survival?
*** w88 9/15 p. 14 par. 18 Listen—Jehovah’s Watchman Speaks! ***
18 The antitypical ‘man in linen’ is the class of anointed Christians. They go from house to house to put a symbolic mark on those who become part of the “great crowd” of Christ’s “other sheep.” The “mark” is the evidence that such sheep are dedicated, baptized individuals with a Christlike personality. They ‘sigh and groan over detestable things’ done in Christendom, and they have come out of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. (Revelation 18:4, 5) Their “mark” will make it plain to God’s executional forces that they should be spared during the “great tribulation.” They can retain that “mark” by sharing with the anointed ones in marking yet others. So, if you have been ‘marked,’ share zealously in the ‘marking’ work.—Ezekiel 9:8-11.
This last one is some of the equivocation I spoke of earlier. Note that while baptism is required for survival, it does not guarantee it.
*** w89 1/15 p. 20 pars. 20-21 How Baptism Can Save Us ***
20 By our works, we can show that “we belong to Jehovah.” Why, salvation depends on working faithfully as his dedicated slaves! (Romans 6:20-23; 14:7, 8) In ancient times, slaves were often marked on the forehead. By the preaching work today, the antitypical ‘man clothed in linen’—the remnant of Jesus’ anointed followers—is ‘marking’ those who will survive the end of this system. In this work the anointed are assisted by their associates, the “other sheep.” (Ezekiel 9:1-7; John 10:16) And what is the “mark”? It is the evidence that we are dedicated to Jehovah and are Jesus’ baptized disciples who have a Christlike personality.
21 Especially now is it vital that we have the “mark” and retain it, for we are deep into “the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:4) To be saved we must ‘endure to the end’ of our present life or of this system. (Matthew 24:13) Only if we thus remain faithful as witnesses of Jehovah will baptism save us.
