Since age 3 I was taught the WatchTower was the TRUTH and that we were IN THE TRUTH. For thirty years I worked and studied to try to make it plain to myself so I could teach others. We were taught NOT to make inquiries of special literature used by the WT editors (Various writers and editors just write what they are told) which they used as source material, some more objectively than others. Since they quote from, say, The Catholic Encyclopedia etc. then "lets go to the library and look stuff up." I was told "The FD&S has provided all we need", "Don't waste your time." - All such directives are to be considered commands. It wasn't the fear of God that was appealed to in Me (others say what I am about to) it was the fear of the Demons. It was taught that Demons inhabit the Churches and even reading their literature is an "invitation for the Demons" to influence, to attack us, or even that "one would be brought under the control of the Demons."
That means Demon Possession.
I have mocked that as - believing that Demons would "jump out of the page and into one's brain." If you are reading John F. MacArthur, who sounds like a co-editor of the WT, then one could be led to believe that hate is God-ordained. The WT promotes hatred, too many ways to describe, but look up what happened circa 1979 when Top editors, contributors, lead men in other countries and a GB member discovered and wanted factual data published and taught about the 1914 date being WRONG. Jerusalem was destroyed, in the final attack of several in 586 B.C.E. We read in the official WT pubs that they were "pure hatred" and that we were to hate them (with righteous hatred). They had facts, the kind of indisputable facts an experienced researcher could collect and prepare into a coherent thesis.
OUCHY. 1914 is the foundation of WT teaching. WW1 in 1914, Jesus advent (return) which later was re-explained as invisibly present (para see-yah), the inspection of the Churches (no proof that happened in any especially unique way) and finally the choosing Of The Most Glorious WTBTS and The IBSA in 1919. With Daniel's ... prophecies used to give dates. (which didn't add up as others have said here.) No objective proof of their choosing. No Shekinah light, no tongues -as if of fire, no glowing face halos, no miracles = like all the prophets had. Those sorts of evidences were taught to be of the Devil in our modern age. "Angel of light" deceptions.
What is the evidence the WT claims? "Truth." That they have the TRUTH, teach the TRUTH, are THE TRUTH, are in THE TRUTH.... And only absolutely perfect knowledge of that [Watchtower teaching] gets one saved. But during the 1980's we were told and reinforced NOT to use literature more than 5 (Five) years old. (Those old "Letters from Jehavah" would just confuse us with old light I supposed.) We are commanded - Not to do our own research, Not to take courses in Comparative Religion, Not not to use the Internet for research, except WT dot org, and now I've heard don't use the Internet. WHY not?
We would get "confused", one would get "Demon possessed", one would "suffer spiritual ruin". We will get kiLLeD at Armagedin and the birds will eat us.
Yup. I am not making this up, just presenting it in my own tones.
All that WT learning " is too weak to save", the "invisible presence of Jesus" who they don't defend as doing anything with his Kingly power, the powerful Spirit Of God which they tell us only they have, or The Love Of God (toward Us) protects us. None of it is more powerful than words on a page or a demon.
I think one must read entirely the 1st Letter of John. "4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." Note the context, test the spirits, discern who are false-prophets, and who have the spirit of anti-Christ. (That the WT adds Songs to their official Song-Book and decreases references to Jesus, the Christ does not make them appear PRO-Christ.)
The WT even claims that nothing in the Bible applies to us, It is addressed to the "Anointed". Just the 144,000 left-overs who were alive in 1914 and old enough to understand ... or just alive in 1914 ... or read about 1914 with enthusiasm ... or what, I don't know. Anyone born in 1914 is 99 years old. Psalm 90 makes 80 years old special, generations were considered to be 40 years, or 50. (52 years is more supportable.) I think the latest WT thought is to add 120 years to 1914 like Noah was told his time until the flood was limited to. Is that a "Generation?
So. What now? Do we have nothing?
The word of God says about HIS word in Isaiah 55
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (All quotes NKJV)
It shall prosper.
IT, by itself, SHALL, without any ones help, PROSPER with absolute accomplishment.
Only two things are explicitly stated as necessary to be saved. In the letter of Apostle Paul to The Roman believers, Chapter 10 we are told:
9 (FIRST) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and (SECONDLY) believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (THAT IS IT. WHAT CAN ADD TO THE BLOOD OF JESUS?) 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
"The same Lord is rich to all who call upon HIM" No distinction is made about the person. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Works can't earn salvation, studying literature can't save, putting on "the new personality", "practicing the Fruits of the Spirit" all of which are Watchtower directives taken out of Biblical context or are re-arranged, mis-translated thoughts sounding biblical. A fruit tree has no choice on what its fruit shall be. Therefore, one can't practice to have "the Fruitage of The Spirit" taught in Galatians 5. Even Faith is called a "Gift". Not a taken, are a practice, or acted out. Performing Works - Watchtower required type of works, doesn't produce or cause faith.
What we are depends on having God's Spirit for ourselves, directly within us. If we could work for salvation then why did Jesus die to pay our penalty for our sins? If we must have works to be saved, where is the list of works explicitly stated? Wouldn't this become having faith in our own works? That our own works can and will save us? That we have the right list of works and do them correctly?
The Faith that we get from God is in his sacrifice of his Son. The response from our spirit, being with God's Spirit is Love, charity. The specific text of Matthew 25:31 - 45, James 1:27 and 2:15,16 both describe CHARITY - feeding, housing, giving medical attention, providing food aid to other people without distinction. The Watchtower specifically calls charity "painting the deck on a sinking ship." And the WTBTS says they don't get involved in food aid as it makes "rice Christians." They actually mock the "only faith in Jesus can save" doctrine which is explicitly stated. Jesus fed thousands and said failure to feed others would get one condemned - (Mt 25). The WT commands NOT TO. Does anyone else see the contradiction of Jesus teachings and those of the Apostles?
Watchtower teaching will set you up for condemnation not salvation.
Luke 23 has this report, "39 Then one of the [two] criminals who were hanged [with Jesus] blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
That evil-doer repented, called Jesus "Lord" and recognized Jesus authority to save him, AND must have BELIEVED that the Resurrection of Jesus was certain ( like Romans 10:9 says) before it happened (Hebrews 11:1).
THAT IS IT, THAT IS ALL OF WHAT GETS US SAVED.
There is no "road to salvation" Watchtower-ishly. The Watchtowers teachings lie about God's Goodness and desire to save everyone by Grace which means Charity and Charity is given freely. The WT contradicts the teachings on salvation so thoroughly and blasphemously they can't be teaching anything of "TRUTH" but devilish lies. The Devil knows the Scriptures, he undertstands Scripture as he can discern the prophecies about the Christ therein BUT twisted the application into contradiction. Worship of the devil, or God, involves who one gives "Exclusive Devotion" to.
Who does the Watchtower demand exclusive devotion to? Themselves. Their ideology, teachings, elder's commands....
"Test the spirits"
Whew, that was a lot of words.
