What is the Watchtower? Why do Kingdom Halls think it is important to go over a session during the services?
Watchtower
by Stephanie Twist 3 Replies latest watchtower bible
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OneEyedJoe
It's a magazine published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the corporation that heads the JW organization. They feel that it's important to study because the cult says so. It's more complicated than that, but that's what it boils down to. -
OnTheWayOut
The Watchtower is the primary literature from the rulers of Jehovah's Witnesses. According to the rulers, "The Watchtower shows us the significance of world events in the light of Bible prophecies. It comforts people with the good news of God’s Kingdom and promotes faith in Jesus Christ." They also say "The purpose of The Watchtower is to explain Bible teachings—and particularly what the Scriptures say about God’s Kingdom." In reality, the magazine explains the Bible in a way that suits the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses and uses excerpts from the Bible to say whatever they want to print in the magazines.
It is the main way that they change and announce their doctrines to people. Once a new doctrine is printed and studied at the Kingdom Halls, all of Jehovah's Witnesses are supposed to accept the change without question. The same article is covered via Question & Answer by every congregation every weekend. No congregation does what it wants, but always follows an approved study schedule from the rulers. The half-hour talk that precedes the study of the magazine will be different at each Kingdom Hall, but the talk is still from a Watchtower-Corporation-Approved outline.
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Vidiot
The loyal rank and file have become so dependent on the WT magazine that they probably wouldn't know what to do without it.