Jehovah's Witnesses and Apostates

tfjw

Jehovah's Witnesses basically define the term "apostate" as someone who was once a member of the "Organization" (a Jehovah's Witness) but no longer follows the teachings, rules, regulations and practices. The Society gives their official definition in the following manner: "Apostasy is abandoning or deserting the worship and service of God, actually a rebellion against Jehovah God. Some apostates profess to know and serve God but reject teachings or requirements set out in his Word. Others claim to believe the Bible but reject Jehovah’s organization." (Reasoning from the Scriptures, page 34).

Jehovah's Witnesses are not permitted to speak to or associate in any manner with those whom they refer to as apostates. This includes their own children, grandchildren, parents, etc.

The Watchtower Society says that "Satan has long used apostates in his efforts to seduce God's servants. (Matthew 13:36-39) Apostates may claim to worship Jehovah and to believe the Bible, but they reject the visible part of his organization. Some even return to the God-dishonoring doctrines of 'Babylon the Great,' the world empire of false religion. (Revelation 17:5; 2 Peter 2:19-22)." (Watchtower magazine, 2/15/04, "Guard Against Deception)

Jehovah's Witnesses are lead to believe that those whom they refer to as apostates are evil and lead by Satan the devil and have nothing but hatred for the Organization. In the same issue of the Watchtower magazine as quoted above, it describes apostates as resorting "to distortions, half-truths, and outright falsehoods... Such malicious opposers would tell what is not true with the intent to deceive others. The apostle Peter warned about apostates who would use 'counterfeit words,' spread 'deceptive teachings,' and 'twist the Scriptures' to their own ends."

The Society tells its members, Jehovah's Witnesses, to avoid apostates "by steering clear of their reasonings - whether in person, in printed form, or on the Internet." (ibid)

Next, this same article jumps to the obvious question that an "apostate" would ask: Haven't the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses changed over time and isn't their proof that such changes within the various publications are "distortions, half-truths, and outright falsehoods"? The article answers this with typical Watchtower rhetoric by saying, "we love the organization... we recognize that our knowledge of God’s purpose is not perfect; our understanding has undergone adjustments over the years. Loyal Christians are content to wait on Jehovah for all such refinements."

So, if the teachings have changed (or have been "adjusted" according to the "current" understanding of the Watchtower's governing body), does this mean that Jehovah was giving the Governing Body falsehoods in the past? The article continues by saying, "we will not abandon the organization that God is pleased to use, for we see the clear evidence of his blessing upon it." Does this mean that Jehovah is blessing the organization because it flip-flops on various doctrines? One year a particular doctrine is stated in one way, and another year it is changed completely. One example of this is the issue of the "superior authorities." The Watchtower Society has changed its mind several times concerning the identity of the "superior authorities" as is shown in their own literature.

Let's look at a few doctrines where the Society has changed its mind numerous times:

Originally the Society taught that the "superior authorities" mentioned in Romans 13:1 refer to the secular governments of the world; however, in 1929 this was viewed as a false doctrine and thus changed. With the revised teaching, these superior authorities became God and Christ. (Jehovah's Witnessesin the Divine Purpose, page 91)

Years later the Society changed this doctrine again and said that Romans 13:1 refers to the secular governments. (Watchtower, May 15, 1980, page 4; see also Watchtower magazine November 15, 1962).

In 1908 the Society said that "the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time" (Thy Kingdom Come, Studies in the Scriptures volume 3, page 228)

In the 1937 edition of the same book, the Society said, "the deliverance of the saints will take place some time after 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place thereafter."

In the 1904 edition of the same book, the Society says that "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;" and in the 1910 edition it says, "the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation." Why this change? Did the light get brighter? Did Jehovah change his mind? Or was there an error in the chronology on the part of the Society? But if there was an error, does this mean they were not being used by Jehovah as his "mouthpiece"? Or did Jehovah provide them with false information? Was the Society spreading darkness instead of light? Is there such a thing as "false light"?

"But those references are old and Jehovah's Witnesses no longer use those books", you might say.

Let's look at a few modern references.

In the 1982 edition of the "Live Forever" book, which was the central book used in Bible studies with new comers and those expressing a desire for baptism into the Organization, it says that the men of Sodom and Gomorrah WILL be resurrected (see page 179 of the 1982 edition); however, in the 1989 edition (same page) it says that the men of Sodom and Gomorrah will NOT be resurrected. The exact quote is: "Yes, for their excessive immorality the people of Sodom and of the surrounding cities suffered a destruction from which they will apparently never be resurrected."

If you were one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1982 and you stated that you believed the men of Sodom and Gomorrah would not be resurrected, you would be going against the official teaching of the Watchtower Society and you would be labeled as an apostate and face disfellowshipping. But if you stated, in 1989, that the men of Sodom and Gomorrah would be resurrected, you would face being disfellowshipped. Did Jehovah change his mind on this doctrine too?

Jehovah's Witnesses are known for making prophecies, even in modern times. For example, in the January 1, 1989 Watchtower magazine, page 12 (printed BEFORE the bound volume edition), it said that the apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. "He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century." Completed in the 20th century? We are now living in the 21st century! However, in the bound volume for the 1989 Watchtower magazines and on the Watchtower Library CD-ROM, this was changed to say "He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our day." This was clearly a prophecy but it got changed, but it is still a prophecy none the less. Was Jehovah guiding the writers of this particular article in order to alert faithful Jehovah's Witnesses that the witnessing work "would be completed in our 20th century"? Jehovah does not lie and he does not make mistakes. These are mistakes and fallacies of men and it was quickly covered over in the reprinted and electronic versions of the literature. You can verify this yourself by obtaining an original copy of the January 1, 1989 Watchtower and compare it with the revised bound volume and the CD-ROM.

What about other prophecies?

For a while, Jehovah's Witnesses were very interested in the year 1925 and claimed that the prophets of old would be resurrected that year! Here's the proof:

The Watchtower magazine, May 15, 1922 edition says: "We have no doubt whatever in regard to the chronology relating to the dates of .. 1925.. What further evidence do we need? Using this same measuring line .. it is an easy matter to locate 1925, probably in the fall, for the beginning of the anti typical jubilee. There can be no more question about 1925 than there was about 1914."

"We understand that the jubilee type began to count in 1575 B.C.; and the 3,500 year period embracing the type must end in 1925.. It follows, then, that the year 1925 will mark the beginning of the restoration of all things lost by Adam's disobedience." (Watchtower, November 1, 1922)

The Golden Age magazine, which is now called "Awake!", says: "We cannot be blamed for presenting from the Scriptures such evidence as they afford which leads us to believe that a certain event will take place at a given time. Some times the Lord has let His people looking for the right thing at the wrong time, and more frequently they have looked for the wrong things at the right time. But all the enemies of the cause of present truth in the earth are fervently hoping that the Bible students will not be so successful in 1925 in looking for the right thing at the right time as they were in 1914. If they are, however, it will be the other fellow that will have to do the explaining, and not we." (Golden Age, February 13, 1924).

The book Millions Now Living Will Never Die, published in 1925, on page 110, it says that the resurrection of the "Ancient Worthies" is expected, "about April 1, 1925."

The September 1, 1922 edition of the Watchtower magazine says, that the "date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914."

The April 1, 1923 edition of the Watchtower says, "Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge."

The January 1, 1925 edition of the Watchtower magazine says, "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 this year."

Now we are in the 21st century - several years past 1925. Were the prophets resurrected as the Society claimed they would be? "Shun empty speeches that violate what is holy; for they will advance to more and more ungodliness, and their word will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of that number. These very men have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they are subverting the faith of some." (2 Tim. 2:16-18, NWT).

Are these teachings "distortions, half-truths, and outright falsehoods"? (wt 2/15/04). If you answer by saying "Yes, these are false", then you have to agree that the Watchtower Society is not being used by Jehovah. How could Jehovah make such statements? Did Jehovah actually say, "1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures"? Definitely settled? By the Scriptures? Where? By Whom? Is this teaching from Jehovah?

The anointed leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses "expected that the year 1925 would see the fulfillment of marvelous Bible prophecies. They surmised that at that time the earthly resurrection would begin, bringing back faithful men of old, such as Abraham, David, and Daniel." (Awake! June 22, 1995, page 9).

The Watchtower Society taught Jehovah's Witnesses that they should "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 11." (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 88-90).

These false teachings, misconceptions and distortions were not from Jehovah. You might say, "We don't believe those things anymore. We have corrected our thoughts on those dates." Perhaps they are no longer believed, but do you wish to remain with an organization that has consistently stated that their teachings are "definitely settled by the Scriptures" and are from the mouth of Jehovah himself when those same doctrines later are found out to be "mistakes?" Is this faithfulness to Jehovah or faithfulness to an organization that has a record of making numerous mistakes in which they attribute to God?

What about doctrines concerning the worship of Christ? Many newer Jehovah's Witnesses are not familiar with the fact that the Watchtower Society said that Christ, the Son of God, is to be worshiped.

In the 1961 edition of the New World Translation, Hebrews 1:6 is rendered as: "But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: 'And let all God's angels worship him.'"

However, in the 1971 edition it says, "But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: 'And let all God's angels do obeisance to him.'"

Perhaps the Watchtower Society believes the Word of God has errors in it so they felt the need to correct it according to "present" or "current" truth. They have admitted this on at least two separate occasions:

"That it contains some mistakes is freely admitted. Even the Bible contains some."

"As every one knows, there are mistakes in the Bible." (See April 1, 1920 and April 15, 1928 Watchtower magazines).

When the Society instructs Jehovah's Witnesses to guard against apostates, they are demanding that Witnesses not read their literature or associate with them in any manner whatsoever. It could even mean disfellowshipping from the congregation.

However, the quotes above are directly from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and by their own publications, it proves that such teachings are false. However, even though there are countless errors found within the pages of older and newer publications, Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that "the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society" is "the one and only channel which the Lord has used in dispensing his truth continually since the beginning of the harvest period" (Watchtower, April 1, 1919, page 6414); "The Watchtower is the channel which Jehovah, our God, is using at this time to in the faithful remnant who are keeping the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Watchtower, August 1, 1930, page 239); "The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or any set of men, nor is it published according to the whims of men. No man's opinion is expressed in the Watchtower." (Watchtower, November 1, 1931, page 327); "The facts prove that he uses the Watchtower publications to bring these truth to attention of his remnant" (Watchtower, November 1, 1933, page 296); "Jehovah God has lovingly provided a visible organization under Christ-the "faithful and discreet slave.... We should have confidence in the channel God is using. At the Brooklyn headquarters from which the Bible publications of Jehovah's Witnesses emanate... We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the 'faithful and discreet slave' organization." (Watchtower, February 15, 1981, pages 17-19).

Do these "mistakes" published and taught worldwide by the "faithful and discreet slave" sound like they are from Jehovah? Did Jehovah make a mistake in providing this information to his sole visible organization on earth? Is the Watchtower Society a reliable source for learning truth from the voice of Jehovah? Is the Society a faithful mouthpiece of Jehovah?

The Watchtower Society desires that all Jehovah's Witnesses think alike on all doctrines, personal lifestyle choices and practices. C.T. Russell, the original editor of the Watchtower magazine said, "The endeavor to compel all men to think alike on all subjects, culminated in the great apostasy and the development of the great Papal system...There is no organization today clothed with such divine authority to imperiously command mankind. There is no organization doing this today; though we are well aware that many of them in theory claim that they ought to be permitted to do so." He also said, "In view of these facts and also of the nature of the harvest work, and the additional fact that each one so gathered is expected to enter into the harvest work as a reaper, and will do so to the extent of his ability and opportunity, it is plain that the forming of a visible organization of such gathered out ones would be out of harmony with the spirit of the divine plan." "Beware of 'organization' It is wholly unnecessary." (Watchtower, September 1, 1893, pages 1572-1573; Watchtower, December 1, 1894, page 1743; Watchtower, September 15, 1895, page 1866).

Often times the Watchtower Society will say that their past misunderstandings of certain doctrines was because the "light" that Jehovah gave them was not as bright as it is today. They base this primarily on the passage in Proverbs 4:18: "But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established." (New World Translation)

But notice what verse 19 from the same translation says: "The way of the wicked ones is like the gloom; they have not known at what they keep stumbling."

In fact, let's look at that in a little more context:

"Into the path of the wicked ones do not enter, and do not walk straight on into the way of the bad ones. Shun it, do not pass along by it; turn aside from it, and pass along. For they do not sleep unless they do badness, and their sleep has been snatched away unless they cause someone to stumble. For they have fed themselves with the bread of wickedness, and the wine of acts of violence is what they drink. 18 But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established. The way of the wicked ones is like the gloom; they have not known at what they keep stumbling." (Proverbs 4:14-19)

The problem with using this passage to justify constantly changing doctrines, doctrinal flip flops multiple times, failed prophetic statements, etc., is that if it was true light to begin with, there would have been no mistakes or failed prophecies and blunders. To change one's mind back and forth might mean there is a more serious problem at hand. Perhaps Jehovah's Witnesses should carefully read what the original founder of the Watch Tower Society said concerning "new light":

"New light never extinguishes older light but adds to it. ...So it is with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another." (Watchtower, May 1881, page 188).

Jehovah's people are supposed to "abhor what is wicked" and "cling to what is good." (Romans 12:9). If a person's faith is strong in God and His Word, that person should be able to distinguish between that which is true and that which is false. Has the "faithful and discreet slave" been consistent in providing the truth to Jehovah's Witnesses, or have those doctrines consistently changed or shown to be false? The record of Jehovah's Witnesses is available in their own publications -- past and present.

"The senseless one himself will speak mere senselessness, and his very heart will work at what is hurtful, to work at apostasy and to speak against Jehovah what is wayward, to cause the soul of the hungry one to go empty, and he causes even the thirsty one to go without drink itself." (Isa. 32:6, New World Translation).

- Stephen

Carlos_Helms

Excellent post, Stephen.

This is something I've considered many times over the years. I've been out of the organization for about 18 years. Early on, in moments of weakness, I considered returning. I was never DF'd - nor did I DA. Theoretically, I could walk right back in, pick up a song-book, and carry on like it was 1990. Then, the reality would sink in: I AM AN APOSTATE. Not really; but by watchtower definition, I am more dangerous than a man-eating shark at a feeding frenzy.

By watchtower definition, it has apostasized from itself countless times over the last century and a quarter. One generation apostasizes from the previous. Even leadership regularly apostasizes from itself. There are times when watchtower leaders, over the course of a lifetime, apostasize and re-apostasize-back several times. Does it make sense that such a confused leadership authoritatively defines what it means to be apostate? My guess is that very few R&F JWs ever actually "rebel against God." The vast majority simply walk away from a self-described moral and spiritual compass that is, at best, unreliable and confusing. The value of regularly subjecting oneself to the futility of ever-changing points-of-reference is tenuous in a spiritual quest. Even in the sport of orienteering, there is at least one visible, reliable benchmark. All people really want is the peace that comes from being spiritually grounded, a concept foreign to watchtower leadership.

A foundation in Jesus Christ is solid; but cheap building materials purchased at K-Mart won't produce the kind of structure identifiable by the seeker as plumb, square and true.

The watchtower's definition of "apostasy" is self-serving. It is designed to scare folks into conformity under penalty of spiritual death. It serves the interests of a corporation to have captive customers who actually FEAR buying elsewhere. It amounts to a form of patriotism where regular oaths of allegiance to a self-serving "cause" ensure a perpetual source of funding for an incorporated "beast." I can't say it for a certainty (I don't know God's definition of apostasy); but if I had to venture a guess, I'd say that the watchtower society's leadership is either unconscious - or their strict adherence to "the traditions of men" (which Jesus said invalidates the commandments of God) is about as apostate as one can get.

Peace,
Carlos

WTWizard

That is what keeps people going back to the boasting sessions. Each time something changes, people are supposed to change their beliefs accordingly. Look what has happened to the Generation lately--twice in 15 years!

tfjw

The Society knows that the "apostates" are the most dangerous group to them because it's the "apostates" that expose them. "Apostates" are the best witnesses against the Society because they know the inside of the tower better than the new ones coming into the organization.

BluesBrother

Excellent post - Stephen...are you really over 70 years ? You certainly speak as one of us "Senior" ones with many years of Borg service behind you..

For example, in the January 1, 1989 Watchtower magazine, page 12 (printed BEFORE the bound volume edition), it said that the apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. "He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century."

I have an anecdote about this magazine. In the very early 1990's I was conducting a group study at the home of a keen young M/S (KYMS) and a sweet old sister (SOS) raised this very point , that "how comforting it was to know" etc....... We could not recall it, KYMS looked it up in a bound volume and it said different. SOS was insistent that her magazine said so. KYMS got his car and took her home to collect it and bring it back . We compared them and everybody, especially SOS was shocked that the bound volume was not a true copy of the magazine .

KYMS wrote to The Society and was told that they had realised the fact and wished to correct it ...We all felt a bit cheated , but at that time we all kept going in the faith.

Eyes Open

Thank you tfjw - tagged for later.

sparrow

bookmark - thx

tfjw

Excellent post - Stephen...are you really over 70 years ? You certainly speak as one of us "Senior" ones with many years of Borg service behind you..

Yep, I'm that old. I was raised in the organization. My grandparents were among the early adventist type Bible students who knew Russell. I stepped away as one of the "anointed christians".

civicsi00

Excellent post. All of the information you presented was concise and logical...everything that is anti-Watchtower.

I'm sad because there are still so many people stuck inside that religion, be it for family, social network, or have no where else to go, not realizing that Jesus could be right there with them.

Apostates are the greatest enemy of the Watchtower and they know it. The Watchtower uses more vile, relentless words against them than anyone else.

Vanderhoven7

Build up to 1925

"Year 1917 – First signs of 1925 teachings Although the real campaign of 1925 began in 1918, as the Watchtower Society itself documents, first publications on the expectations for this significant year, began to show up in 1917 year: No doubt Satan believed the Millennial Kingdom was due to be set up in 1915; and no doubt, also, he knew that seven years prior to the time of the setting up of that kingdom the restraints upon the evil spirits would be lifted.

Be that as it may, there is evidence that the establishment of the Kingdom in Palestine will probably be in 1925, ten years later than we once calculated. The 70 jubilees, reckoned as 50 years each, expire October, 1925. (B186.) Gen. 15:1-16:3, read connectedly, indicates that Abraham's vision as to when he would receive the Kingdom was not granted until ten years after the Covenant was made, or 2035 B. C. The ages of the animals offered aggregated eleven years, which, applied prophetically, on the scale of a year for a day, equal 3960 years, the length of time from the date of the visions to A.D. 1925. (Z.'07-79).

It seems conclusive that the hour of Nominal Zion's travail is fixed for the Passover of 1918. (See Rev. 3:14.) That will be 7 years prior to 1925. At that time there is every reason to believe the fallen angels will invade the minds of many of the Nominal Church people, driving them to exceedingly unwise conduct and leading to their destruction at the hands of the enraged masses, who will later be dragged to the same fate. The great war now raging is most certainly the work of evil spirits, and the Kaiser is not the only clever ruler who has been deceived by evil spirits, as history will sometime show. — Lu. 12:56. (The Finished Mystery 1917 p. 128). This coincides well with the thought previously expressed (Rev. 7:3) that all phases of Babylon will not be disposed of until about ten and a half years from the fall of 1914. (The Finished Mystery 1917 p. 178). (...) and we therefore expect three and a half years of proscription of the Truth, from the spring of 1918 to the fall of 1921. This will 19 give the Great Company splendid opportunities for martyrdom and allow another three and a half years, to the spring of 1925, for the world to think the matter over, by which time, doubtless, they will be quite ready to listen to the voice that speaketh from Heaven. – Heb. 12:19. (The Finished Mystery 1917 p. 177).

This vision of the prophet Ezekiel depicts the established theocratic Kingdom of God on earth, civil and religious, spiritual and earthly. While the Temple is an architectural possibility, as shown in the accompanying illustrations, (and may be erected at Jerusalem), it, in its various parts, surroundings, rites and worshippers, is a type and symbol of “better things to come,” after the wars, revolutions and anarchy of the period from 1914 to 1925 have passed. (The Finished Mystery 1917 p. 569). There will be no slip-up. (...) As he began his sojourn in the land in the year 2,045 B.C., it follows that the 3,960 years begin to count from 2,035 B.C. 2,035 plus 1,925 equals 3,960. Accordingly Abraham should enter upon the actual possession of his promised inheritance in the year 1925 A.D. (The Watchtower October 15, 1917 p. 6157, reprints)."

Jehovah's Witnesses and Apostates

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