In this video, we’re going to demonstrate from Scripture that the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses is wrong to teach that pre-Christian men and women of faith do not have the same salvation hope as spirit-anointed Christians. In preparing for this video, I was stunned to discover the lengths to which the Governing Body has gone to change what the Bible actually says, as far back as the original 1950 edition of the New World Translation. There was so much information, that I felt it best to divide the topic into two videos.
In this first video, I will share the extensive scriptural evidence supporting the understanding that the faithful ones of old prior to and in the old covenant share the same hope of being adopted as children of God, as do we who are in the new covenant.
The proof we’ll provide in this video will overwhelmingly contradict the Organization’s teaching that pre-Christian faithful ones will only get an earthly resurrection as imperfect sinners that need another 1000 years to become righteous and sinless and gain eternal life even after maintaining integrity to God that few of us will ever face.
The Organization ignores all this evidence—sometimes explaining it away in ridiculous ways, which we’ll show you—and focuses all its attention on Matthew 11:11 where Jesus tells us that John the Baptist is less than the least one in God’s Kingdom. In the next video, we’ll show just how this verse’s true meaning has been ignored and how by cherry-picking this verse and ignoring the context, the Governing Body has sought to support its doctrine, which is crucial—as you’ll see if you watch video 2 in this series—to supporting their teaching regarding an earthly resurrection of the other sheep. But what you’ll find even more shocking is the evidence that the translators of the New World Translation actually mistranslated some key verses to support their doctrine, even showing up in their Kingdom Interlinear.
But before getting into a scriptural discussion, let’s talk about the human cost stemming from “going beyond what is written,” or worse, changing what is written in the Bible. (1 Corinthians 4:6) Let me start by relating a revealing, impromptu discussion that took place recently at a Kingdom hall following a Watchtower Study on the resurrection.
A brother who has woken up to the truth about the Organization’s teachings spoke with an elderly couple in his congregation. They had devoted their life to the Organization, serving as special pioneers and eventually in the circuit work. Our awakened brother asked them a question based on a paragraph in that Watchtower study.
Our brother posed this question to the couple: “What is the point of being righteous when the unrighteous will have the same shot at everlasting life as yourself and your wife, who have devoted your whole life to being righteous?”
Bear in mind that this discussion is happening at the Kingdom Hall after the Watchtower Study with many others still present.
The wife said: “I have devoted my whole life, not having children, because Armageddon is around the corner, and you are telling me that the unrighteous people are going to be resurrected without any self-sacrifice, and they’re going to be having their name written in pencil the same as myself and my husband?”
Our awakened brother then read this paragraph from the Watchtower Study article:
“What about those who practiced vile things before they died? Although their sins were canceled at death, they have not established a record of faithfulness. They do not have their names written in the book of life. Hence, the resurrection of “those who practiced vile things” is the same as the resurrection of “the unrighteous” referred to at Acts 24:15. Theirs will be “a resurrection of judgment.” * The unrighteous will be judged in the sense that they will be evaluated. (Luke 22:30) It will take time to determine whether they are judged worthy of having their names written in the book of life. Only if these unrighteous ones reject their former wicked course of life and dedicate themselves to Jehovah can they have their names written in the book of life.” (w22 Sep. Article 39 par. 16)
“That’s BS!” the sister yelled out loud enough for about a quarter of the congregation to hear. Apparently, this was the first time she had ever realized that after a lifetime of faithful service to the Organization, all that her self-sacrifice had bought her was the same opportunity at salvation that the unrighteous and godless have, since both the righteous and unrighteous as defined by the Governing Body have their names in the book of life written in erasable pencil.
This experience shows the human cost of the enormous and far-reaching ramifications of a doctrine born in the 1930s out of the mind of Joseph Franklin Rutherford.
In the September 1, 1930 issue of The Watchtower on page 263, Rutherford—referring to himself in the third person as “the servant”—claimed to be “in direct communication with Jehovah and [acting] as Jehovah’s instrument.” In that same magazine issue, Rutherford also claimed that the holy spirit was no longer being used to reveal truth, but that angels, and anointed Christians whom he believed to have been resurrected in 1918, were conveying messages from God to him. It was under that conviction that Rutherford came up with the idea that only 144,000 would make up the first resurrection. Since then, the Organization has been trying to find ways to support that doctrine. It was that belief that made the creation of a secondary salvation hope necessary—the hope of the other sheep—because there were just too many Jehovah’s Witnesses to account for if only 144,000 were going to be saved.
For years, they claimed that the 144,000 was all but filled by 1935, though they no longer claim that. According to the Proclaimers book on page 243, in 1935 there were over 39,000 partakers. If there were that many after only 70 years of preaching, how many could there be since the time of Christ? You see the problem? Holding to the line that only 144,000 are anointed is hard to defend over the course of 2,000 years considering how many faithful Christians are shown to have lived just in the first century.
But what if they also have to include the previous 4,000 years of history before Christ? Then that doctrine becomes impossible to maintain! So, one of the ramifications of Rutherford’s teaching has been the need to engineer a doctrine that men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well as all the prophets, do not inherit the Kingdom of God. Of course, a reasonable person might ask why they don’t just admit that they were wrong about 144,000 being a literal number? That would be a natural thing to do were we speaking of men led by God’s holy spirit. God’s holy spirit will move his servants to correct wrong understandings and will guide them to truth. That the members of the current Governing Body continue to defend the false teachings of Rutherford would seem to indicate that a spirit from a different source is at work here, doesn’t it?
Of course, the number of 144,000 taken from the ranks of Israel as described in the Revelation to John at chapter 7 verses 4 thru 8 is symbolic, which I’ve shown to be true from Scripture in my book (Shutting the Door to the Kingdom of God: How Watch Tower Stole Salvation from Jehovah’s Witnesses) as well as on this channel.
So, now, we’ll stay on topic and look at the scriptural evidence that proves that faithful pre-Christian servants of God have the same hope as anointed Christians, which is really the hope for all Christians.
Let’s start with what Jesus revealed on the subject:
“But he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Get away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness! There is where your weeping and the gnashing of your teeth will be, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown outside. Furthermore, people will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the Kingdom of God. And look! there are those last who will be first, and there are those first who will be last.” (Luke 13:27-30 NWT)
Who are the people who will come from the east, west, north, and south? These would be anointed Christians which history has shown include Gentiles as well as Jews. These Christians will recline at the table in the Kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as all the prophets of old. What more proof do we need to show that faithful people who died before Christ share in the same salvation hope? They all enter the Kingdom of God.
By “Kingdom of God” we are not speaking of Watchtower ’s earthly resurrection hope. Here is what the March 15, 1990 issue of The Watchtower has to say about the meaning of Kingdom of God as expressed in this passage of Luke we’ve just read:
“Many” refers to people who begged to be let in after a door was shut and locked. These were “workers of unrighteousness” who did not qualify to be with “Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God.” The “many” had thought they would be first “in the Kingdom of God,” but they actually would be last, evidently meaning that they would not be in it at all.—Luke 13:18-30.
The context shows that Jesus was dealing with entry into God’s heavenly Kingdom. Jewish leaders back then had long enjoyed a privileged position, with access to God’s Word. They felt that they were spiritually rich and were righteous in God’s sight, in contrast with the common people, whom they held in low esteem. (John 9:24-34) Yet, Jesus said that tax collectors and harlots who accepted his message and repented could have God’s approval.—Compare Matthew 21:23-32; Luke 16:14-31.
Common people who became Jesus’ disciples were in line to be accepted as spiritual sons when the heavenly calling did open up at Pentecost 33 C.E. (Hebrews 10:19, 20) Though vast multitudes heard Jesus, those who accepted him and later gained the heavenly hope were few. (w90 3/15 p. 31 “Questions From Readers”)
You might be scratching your head right now, wondering how the Governing Body can say on the one hand that men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with all the prophets don’t have the heavenly hope, while on the other hand, admitting that Luke 13:28 refers to the heavenly hope when speaking of the Kingdom of God. If the Kingdom of God is the heavenly hope and “Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets [are] in the Kingdom of God,” then “Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets” have the heavenly hope. How can they get around that? It’s obvious!
This is where eisegetical Bible study makes a mockery of itself and of all those who have naively trusted in the men teaching them “The Truth.”
The foregoing “Questions From Readers” continues with:
“But the little flock of spirit-begotten humans receiving that reward could be compared to Jacob reclining at a table in heaven with Jehovah (the Greater Abraham) and his Son (pictured by Isaac).” (w90 3/15 p. 31)
Hey, boys, you forgot something. You haven’t accounted for all the prophets. And you’ve run out of antitypes. I know, you can make Jacob represent the Governing Body, and then you have room to have all the prophets represent the rest of the anointed. There you go. All fixed.
The lengths to which they will go to protect their teachings. I mean, I’ve heard and seen many examples of twisting scripture, but here they’re twisting it to the breaking point. I wondered to myself why I didn’t notice this piece of stupid, stupid reasoning back when I was a Witness in 1990. Then I remembered that I’d pretty much stopped reading The Watchtower by then except for the study articles, because they were just so boring and repetitive. There was never anything new to learn.
Do you think that the Jews hearing Jesus’ words would have not taken them literally? Of course, they would have. Those Jews had a salvation hope that involved being in the Kingdom of God. They believed the scripture that promised that the forefathers of the nation of Israel would make it into the Kingdom of God as would the faithful prophets. That Kingdom was promised to them for keeping the covenant that God made with them through Moses:
“And Moses went up to the [true] God, and Jehovah began to call to him out of the mountain, saying: “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and to tell the sons of Israel, ‘YOU yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, that I might carry YOU on wings of eagles and bring YOU to myself. And now if YOU will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then YOU will certainly become my special property out of all [other] peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me. And YOU yourselves will become to me a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the sons of Israel.” (Exodus 19:3-6)
If they kept the covenant, they would have become a holy nation and a Kingdom of priests. Isn’t that what is promised to us in the new covenant that Jesus instituted? So the first covenant promised those keeping it entry into the Kingdom of God to rule as kings and priests. They could have kept that covenant. It wasn’t beyond reach.
“Now this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it beyond your reach. It is not in the heavens, so that you have to say, ‘Who will ascend to the heavens and get it for us, so that we may hear it and observe it?’ Nor is it on the other side of the sea, so that you have to say, ‘Who will cross over to the other side of the sea and get it for us, so that we may hear it and observe it?’ For the word is very near you, in your own mouth and in your own heart, so that you may do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)
You might be wondering, “I thought that no one could keep the law of Moses perfectly.” Not true. Granted, no one could keep the law without sinning, without breaking at least one of the ten commandments, but remember that the law included a provision for forgiveness of sin. If you, as an Israelite, were to sin, you could have your sin wiped clean if you followed the other stipulations of the law involving sacrifices for the expiation of sins.
The nation of Israel didn’t do this and so it broke the covenant, but there were many individuals, like Samuel and Daniel who did keep the covenant and so won the prize. Or are we saying that God would not keep his word with individuals because of the sins of others? That could never happen. Jehovah God is just and keeps his word.
Evidence of his purpose to keep his word to faithful servants is seen in the transfiguration account:
“Truly I say to you that there are some of those standing here who will not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom.” Six days later Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John along and led them up into a lofty mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone as the sun, and his outer garments became brilliant as the light. And look! there appeared to them Moses and E·liʹjah conversing with him.” (Matthew 16:28-17:3)
Jesus said that they would see him coming in the Kingdom of God, and then before the week was out, they saw the transfiguration, Jesus in his Kingdom dialoging with Moses and Elijah. Can there now be any doubt in your mind that Peter, James, and John understood the truth that those faithful men would be in the Kingdom of God?
Again, all this evidence was there to behold, but we all missed it. This demonstrates the power of indoctrination, which turns off our natural critical thinking processes. We must beware of never falling prey to it again.
If you have any doubt that the first covenant was for the same reward as the new covenant, consider what Paul tells the Romans:
“For I have been praying that I myself might be destroyed from The Messiah, for the sake of my brethren and my kinsman, who are in the flesh, Who are the children of Israel, whose was the adoption of children, the glory, The Covenant, The Written Law, the ministry which is in it, The Promises, …” (Romans 9:4 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
The adoption as God’s children was promised to the children of Israel, both collectively and individually. The Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed one of God was implicit in that first covenant.
The key elements indicating that the coming of the Christ was implicit in the Mosaic covenant is evident by comparing Deuteronomy 30:12-14 with Romans 10:5-7. Notice how Paul puts meaning into the words Moses spoke:
“It is not in heaven, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ And it is not beyond the sea, that you should need to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us and proclaim it, that we may obey it?’ But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.” (Deuteronomy 30:12-14 BSB)
Now Paul demonstrates the fulfillment of those words. Reading from Romans: “For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”” (Romans 10:5-7 BSB)
Sea and abyss are sometimes used interchangeably in Scripture since both represent a deep grave.
So, here Moses is telling the Israelites not to worry about the “how” of their salvation, but only to put faith and keep the covenant. God was going to provide the means for their salvation and that means turned out to be Jesus Christ.
“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.” (Hebrews 10:1)
A shadow has no substance, but it does indicate the coming of something with real substance, Jesus Christ our savior. He is the means by which the reward for keeping the first covenant could be applied to those faithful men and women in pre-Christian times.
We have by no means exhausted our evidence for pre-Christian faithful ones having the reward of entering the Kingdom of God. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 11 refers to the faith of countless pre-Christian servants of God and then concludes with:
“And yet all of these, although they received a favorable witness because of their faith, did not obtain the fulfillment of the promise, because God had foreseen something better for us, so that they might not be made perfect apart from us.” (Hebrews 11:39, 40)
The something “better for us” cannot be referring to a better resurrection or a better salvation hope, because both groups, pre-Christian faithful ones and anointed Christians, are made perfect together: “…that they might not be made perfect apart from us.”
Peter helps us to see what the “something better” refers to:
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully, trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” (1 Peter 1:10-12 BSB)
Christians have the fulfillment of the promises. These things were hidden from the prophets, although they earnestly searched into them to get the revelation, but it was not for them to know. The Sacred Secret of this salvation was hidden even from the angels at that time.
Now this is where things start to get interesting. Did you notice the wording from verse 12. Here it is again: the prophets were “trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing…”
Jesus had not yet been born, so how can it be that the spirit of Christ was in them? This relates to a number of similar objections put forward by Witnesses claiming that the prophets and men and women of old are not among the anointed. They will claim that to be among the anointed, a person has to be “born again,” which means they have to be anointed with holy spirit, and they claim that only came about after Jesus was resurrected. They also claim that to be saved, one has to be baptised in the name of the Christ. They assert that the prophets were not born again, not baptized, nor did they partake of the emblems, the bread and wine, all because they died before these facets of Christianity came into existence. Thus, Witnesses are conditioned to believe that such ones would lose out on the reward offered to Christians.
This is where we have to be very careful not to let our human wisdom color our thinking. Who are we to impose rules on what God can and cannot do? This was the failing of the Sadducees who foolishly thought they could craft a question that Jesus couldn’t answer and so would confound him.
They posed a scenario where a woman was married to seven men, who all died and then she died. “To whom would she belong in the resurrection?” they asked. Jesus answered them and in so doing supplied us with two keys to resolving this quandary raised by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In reply Jesus said to them: “You are mistaken, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God; for in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are as angels in heaven. Regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, who said: ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living.” On hearing that, the crowds were astounded at his teaching. (Matthew 22:29-33)
The objections which Jehovah’s Witnesses raise to dismiss the idea that the prophets also gain the Kingdom of God indicate that, like those Sadducees, they do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God.
So, the first key to understanding how all this is possible is to recognize that we are not dealing with the limitations of men, but with the power of God. When we read something in Scripture, we should not question it simply because we can’t figure out how it works. We should just accept it as fact and hope that in time the spirit will answer all our questions.
The second key to understanding how the prophets can be born again, be anointed, and have the spirit of Christ, lies in what Jesus says about the resurrection of the dead. To repeat it, he said:
“Regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, who said: ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living.”” (Matthew 22:31, 32)
Jesus speaks in the present tense, meaning that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive in God’s eyes.
If they are alive to God, then He can anoint them with holy spirit. If they are alive to him, he can adopt them as children and so they can be born again, or “born from above” which is what the Greek word really means.
Jehovah God is eternal. He doesn’t live within the stream of time. He doesn’t live from moment to moment as we do. The limitations of time are nothing to him. To him, those men are alive and can be born again and adopted as his children, with the benefits of inheritance that such an adoption carries.
The benefits of Jesus’ ransom, though paid long after men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob died, can still be applied because God is not limited by time as we are. That is the power of God. So, when the scriptures tell us that pre-Christian Israelites had the hope of “the adoption of sons” (Romans 9:4) we accept it as fact. When the Scriptures tell us that they had “the spirit of Christ” (1 Peter 1:11) we accept it as fact, even though our minds, limited by the constraints of time, cannot understand how that can work.
Well, you’ve seen the proof that faithful men and women of pre-Christian times are going to enter the Kingdom of God along with faithful Christians. It’s pretty clear, isn’t it? Yet, accepting that truth undermines the false belief that only 144,000 get into the Kingdom of God, and that undermines the whole premise for the Other Sheep teaching that creates a secondary, lesser resurrection hope.
How does the Organization get around that? Cherry-picking verses is not enough. It won’t cut it. They’ve had to resort to some more drastic measures. Let’s start with 1 Peter 1:11 that we just read. Every Bible on Biblehub.com renders that verse as “spirit of Christ,” or “Christ’s Spirit,” or “spirit of the Messiah.” The interlinear, and I’m talking the Kingdom Interlinear now, the Organization’s own publication, renders the Greek as the “spirit of Christ.” So, how does the New World Translation stand out from the rest and get around this very inconvenient verse that undermines JW doctrine? They do it by changing what is written.
“They kept on investigating what particular season or what kind of season the spirit in them was indicating concerning Christ…” (1 Peter 1:11a NWT 1950)
That completely changes the sense of the verse, doesn’t it? And it is not supported by the original Greek. You’ll notice I’m taking this reference from the original 1950 version of the New World Translation, because I want to show you where this deception originated. This rewriting of the Bible does not stop with this verse in 1 Peter. It gets much worse as we will see in our next video when we examine the Organization’s sole verse for denying faithful pre-Christian servants entry into God’s Kingdom.
But one last thought before we close. Jehovah made a covenant with the Israelites in which He promised them that if they kept His covenant, He would reward them by making them “a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation” as shown in Exodus 19:6. By denying all pre-Christian servants entry into the Kingdom of God as kings and priests, the Governing Body is effectively blaspheming God. They are stating that Jehovah is not a God of His word, that He does not keep His promises, and that in making the covenant, He was negotiating in bad faith.
Thank you for your attention and support. Please subscribe if you have found this video useful and don’t forget to click the bell icon to be notified when future videos are released.
Archived Comments
We have moved to the Disqus commenting system. To post a new comment, go to the bottom of this page.
Comment by jwc on 2022-12-13 18:27:56
My oh my!! So much to unlearn! Do much to learn! My compass needle is spinning around & around, I hope it stops in the right place.
Thank you Eric, Wendy for this Video - God Bless - 1 John 3:24.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2022-12-14 09:13:41
Thanks, JWC. That's much appreciated. I couldn't do this without Wendy's help.
Comment by Zacheus on 2022-12-13 19:24:50
I will have to go over this massive of work several times me thinks to remember it all, thanks.
Now, in all my time the wt has got itself into trouble being so damned dog-matic about things and then have to do much back-peddling later on. You have revealed yet another example.
That bloody Rutherford was a devil incarnate is what I think. Not a gram of humility or simple faith in his body.Reply by ironsharpensiron on 2022-12-14 01:00:00
I hear you Zacheus. I had to pause the video when when I heard Rutherford’s name just so I could pray for calmness.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2022-12-14 09:13:00
Comment by ironsharpensiron on 2022-12-14 01:52:45
The wife said: “I have devoted my whole life, not having children, because Armageddon is around the corner, and you are telling me that the unrighteous people are going to be resurrected without any self-sacrifice, and they’re going to be having their name written in pencil the same as myself and my husband?”
This reminds me of the parable of The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.
Matthew 20:1-16
But what the organization has done is convince it members to hand over their Denarius and put it their bank for the next 1000 years so they (not us) can earn interest on it.
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2022-12-14 03:58:42
Wow !!! How on earth do you manage to put this all together, Eric ? This is what I would call real spiritual food. But I suppose unlearning things is just that. It is tough stuff to fully digest, but I get the general sense. Needs to be re read to get more into my head. Well done. Very well done.
I have been listing poorly (NWT) translated scriptures (NT only) and you have added another in 1 Peter 1:11 where it should read "Spirit of Christ". Many thanks for that. .
It only goes to prove that those who made the New World Translation were more than happy to make sure that the scriptures were translated in a way to fit in with their overall teachings. Is this different from other churches ? No. But they have some dodgy bits of translation, but JW doctrine is so dangerously off the truth that they have had to change MORE verses to fit. Does the NWT deserve to be called a translation at all ? It should at least come with a warning. A great shame, because a lot of effort went into it, and for many people around the world it may be their only Bible.
I feel very sad at all of this, because now I trust no Organisation to lead me to God. I am having to do it on my own (plus the "spirit of Christ"), and I am not sure I have that ability. I trust God, and Jesus, understand. So much thanks though, Eric, for all your efforts.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2022-12-14 09:17:00
Wait till next week Leonardo. We're going to have a lot of fun with Matthew 11:12.
You may not think you have the ability you need, but remember that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. The Holy Spirit can literally work miracles.
Reply by Ad_Lang on 2022-12-15 07:16:04
Remember that you're watching the work of someone who has been studying and digging for years, with a pre-existing basis.
I find myself in a similar position, perhaps with a useful memory, but pre-existing knowledge from my youth that the Witnesses (an elder and MS) took note of when they studied with me. When studying, I took it further using the book "draw closer to Jehovah", not only looking up all the verses referred to, but also going deep into the references, like 2-3 levels. The pre-2013 NWT was very useful on references. I've also been happy to use a concordance to study on topics by keywords.
What I found is that a good memory and practical methods are very useful, but ultimately we need holy spirit to guide us directly, or indirectly using our brothers. No one gets all the knowledge by themselves, so that no one might boast before God. That is one reason why we can't be Christian on our own. Through this blog I've come to many more accurate conclusions, and hopefully I've been helpful in return either here or elsewhere.
So trust that the Father does give holy spirit to anyone asking, and stick with your brothers (m/f) who seek the truth more than their own comfort. If you're willing to be proven wrong, with good arguments of course, you are in for a bumpy but rewarding ride!
Edit: I've come to the conclusion that there was never an arrangement for any Christian organisation beyond the (local) congregation, which is: the assembly of Christian individuals in person. The only authority above the local congregation is Jesus, and each congregation is made up of 2 or more individuals gathered in Jesus' name (where he will be in their midst, as he said). Of course, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with an organisation supporting congregations, as long as it doesn't attempt to exercise authority over them.Reply by jwc on 2022-12-16 03:40:22
Oh my! I do feel the force of your reasoning about the “local congregation” being accepted as being part of the body of Christ - all other things being equal.
Thank you for sharing.Reply by Ad_Lang on 2022-12-19 07:54:35
My pleasure!
If you were wondering where the idea comes from: I was reading Revelation 1:12-20 with reference to a body on earth that is depicting an overarching hierarchy, like a Governing Body. In these verses, the vision depicts a model of the hierarchy of authority, and here is no such reference indicating any single individual, group or thing standing between the Christ and the congregations.
Note that in the next two chapters, "angel" is used in singular form for each congregation. Regardless of what these stars/angels depict, each one is tied to it's own congregation. Further, the message to each congregation finishes with a statement "let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations". Jesus can use holy spirit to move individuals and as a consequence, whole congregations. With the way to the Father opened to each individual Christian by means of the ransom, there is no need whatsoever for any intermediaries between Jesus and his brothers - in fact, between him and whomever he so choses to motivate and direct by spirit (see for example Hebrews 4:13-16 and 13:20-21).
Two other major points I found in relation to this matter.
Acts 13-14 describes one of Paul's missionary tours. Note who he was sent by and reported back to: it was not a governing body, nor the congregation in Jerusalem or any of the apostles. The local congregation in Antioch was moved by spirit to send him and others, and this is where he reported back.
If you check the beginning of each of the letters of the apostles and Revelation, you will find that they were each sent by an individual without any mention of any body whatsoever. Peter, James and Jude for example, all refer to themselves as nothing more than "a slave", sometimes referring to their own individual assignment. No mention of a special position of authority as part of something like a governing body.
Comment by James Mansoor on 2022-12-14 15:39:18
Good morning Eric and Wendy,
That was, and still is an incredible article, many things for you two.
Hosea 1:10 And the number of the people of Israel will be like the grains of sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said to them, ‘The sons of the living God.’ NWT
Footnote Scriptures, to this verse are Romans 9:25 It is as he says also in Hosea: “Those not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not loved, ‘beloved’; 26 and in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.
2 Corinthians 6:18 “‘And I will become a father to you, and you will become sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah, the Almighty.”
The Scripture in Hosea mentions Unlimited number of the sons of God… So it begs the question, concerning the number of 144000 which is a measured number, and the theology of JW’s.
Am I on the right track here?
Well done Eric and Wendy for an informative and brilliant article.Reply by leaving_quietly on 2022-12-14 21:09:04
I have a personal document I wrote a few years ago called "Why..." This was one of the entries:
Why does the organization teach that the original promise to Abraham about his seed becoming a numerous as the stars of the heavens or as the grains of sand of the sea actually turns out to be only 144,000?Reply by James Mansoor on 2022-12-15 00:24:48
I cannot believe how I missed that, about Abrahams seed becoming as numerous of the stars of the heavens.
I will definitely investigate this and talk about it with some elders in our congregation, and ask them. What do they think?
Many thanks and keep it up.
Reply by jwc on 2022-12-16 03:25:09
Hi xrt469 - I also get frustrated with myself but I now realise that the ambiguity we feel is not in scripture but exist in our own minds.
It’s simply a lack of true understanding on our part.
The experience I am undergoing - of unlearning & learning anew - guided by the Holy Spirit is for me a bumpy ride.
I can see from the thoughts you express, that you too feel the bumps sometimes.
Thank you for sharing.
Your brother in my beloved Christ - 1 John 2:27Reply by Leonardo Josephus on 2022-12-16 07:44:32
The bumpy road is also a narrow road, and few are the ones finding it.
Comment by Meleti Vivlon on 2022-12-14 16:56:05
Quite right, xrt469. The irony is that here you have Witnesses laboring all their lives and all an unrighteous resurrected one has to do is repent and bam, in the book of life in pencil. Of course, there is a material and status component. The righteous Witnesses get first dibs on the surviving wealth and homes in the New World and also get to lord it over the unrighteous, at least at the start. The whole thing is so materialistic.
Reply by jwc on 2022-12-15 11:37:03
I do not think I have a gram of ambition as to what or how Jesus might use me in his Kingdom.
If I get the assignment of labouring for a thousand years cleaning the public laboratory I would be deeply thankful for his mercy.
Comment by jwc on 2022-12-14 23:57:37
The comments of James Mansoor re: Hosea and the promise made to Abraham are very relevant, very helpful and in my opinion only adds to the true mystery / understanding of how the 144,000 (and the Great Crowd) fit into Jehovahs purpose. I feel we have not yet been fully told the truth (like Jesus’ remarks about the 12 Apostles sitting on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel - Matt 19:28). There is much more to learn.
I’m satisfied that the “other sheep” are the gentile anointed believers.
To attempt to argue that the likes of Abraham, Moses & Elijah do not have their names written into God’s book of life permanently, is only a reflection of the GB lack of understanding.
I’ve an idea: why don’t we rewrite this Watchtower article & send it to the GB?
Any helpers?
Comment by Frankie on 2022-12-15 17:58:07
Thank you, Eric, for an excellent biblically-explained article. Topic 144000 is often repeating, but I think it's necessary. The title of your book "Shutting the Door to the Kingdom of God: How Watch Tower Stole Salvation from Jehovah's Witnesses" is very apt. It is necessary to try to open the Door to the Kingdom of God again for our brothers and sisters imprisoned in the Organization. After all, it is about saving them.
I would like to look at 1 Peter 1:11 (ESV):
“Inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.”
I think that the WT changed the meaning of "Spirit of Christ" in its NWT translation, among other things, because the GB did not understand the true meaning of Jesus and His position. Jesus is not some "hey-you, go out there and do this". And He is not an angel, He is the Son.
Jesus knew everything in advance, because "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you" (1 Peter 1:20, ESV). He knew God's plan to correct all things (Genesis 3:15). Jehovah certainly did not hide His plan from Him, because they are in perfect unity (John 17:21).
Jesus was certainly present at all the events that involved the prophets and faithful men of the Old Testament and was certainly not just a passive observer. Jesus' Spirit is also His means of communication by which He informs and directs people (Acts 16:7; Philippians 1:19).
If the spirit of Jesus was present in them, then Jesus directly communicated to them the things that He knew will be to happen - about His suffering and future glory. They didn't have to know who was telling them, but they got the information from Jesus and Peter later told us.
The fact that Jesus was not yet anointed at that time does not play any role. As you said, both Jesus and His Father exist outside of time because they created it (Gen 1:26; Is 45:18; John 1:3, 10). Therefore, they are not bound by concepts like "before", "then" or "now" (e.g. Rev 21:6 - "It is done"; even though those things have not happened for us yet). We cannot imagine such a situation at all, because we are closed in our space-time. I agree that we must take this information exactly as it is written.
We still do not know many things, and if Jehovah wills, we will learn many more things. To each according to what he/she is able to understand and bear. But certainly not everything. That's why we always keep Paul's words in mind: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Cor 13:12, ESV).
Dear Eric, thank you again.
FrankieReply by jwc on 2022-12-16 03:04:37
Hi Frankie - I’m very new to the BP group & I’m still going through the process (painful) of faith adjustment. But I know I’m making progress and reading the comments of my Brothers & Sisters is very helpful - thank you for sharing.
The Brothers and Sisters within the WT.org are very dear to me. I ask all of us to remember that we too were once trapped in their light (darkness) and thought we had salvation as we understood it.
We now have a great advantage; we know what the WT.org teaches AND we are learning with the help of Eric and his Co-workers (Wendy et al) now Scripture is to be properly understood & applied.
But knowledge can be a powerful tool & I always feel it is our love wrapped around the knowledge we share that will win the day - 1 John 4:11
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. I look forward to reading much more from you in the coming weeks.
Your Brother in my beloved Christ - 1 John 5:5Reply by Frankie on 2022-12-16 16:35:30
Hi jwc, thank you for your nice words.
I know very well how painful it is to wake up from a bad WT dream. A programmed mind can only be deprogrammed by our heavenly Father with His Holy Spirit and then Jehovah draws him/her to Jesus Christ (John 6:44; 17:9). But the process is similar to an addict weaning themselves off a drug, because the mind programming techniques used by WT create a strong addiction to people. This waking up sometimes hurts.
But with Jesus Christ by your side, you have nothing to fear. You are His sheep and He is your good shepherd. And our Lord knows His sheep and will not lose any of them, not even you (John 10:27-28).
God bless you, my brother.
Frankie
Reply by ZbigniewJan on 2022-12-18 16:06:04
Hello dear Brother Frankie!!!
How nice to see you and read your thoughts.
I had some doubts about how to understand 1 Peter 1:11 but your thoughts have cleared my understanding. Thank you!
I greatly appreciate the participation of other Brothers in the comments. The words of our Lord are fulfilled: where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with you.
Frankie, may our Lord and our Father support you!!!
Zbigniew
Comment by James Mansoor on 2022-12-16 16:32:52
Good morning brothers and sisters,
I would like you to imagine yourselves in court and the accused is GB of JW’s… The accusation is: Adulterating the word of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4 But we have renounced the shameful, underhanded things, not walking with cunning or adulterating the word of God; but by making the truth manifest, we recommend ourselves to every human conscience in the sight of God.
NWT explanation is:
In the Christian Greek Scriptures, this is the only occurrence of the Greek verb rendered “adulterating.” However, a related noun is rendered “deceit” at Ro 1:29and 1Th 2:3 and “trickery” at 2Co 12:16. The basic idea of the phrase “adulterating the word of God” is that of corrupting, distorting, or falsifying God’s message. It may also include the idea of mixing God’s message with something that is foreign or inferior, such as human philosophies or personal ideas. Paul would not adulterate the word of God by mixing the pure truth of God’s word with the beliefs of those Jews and Greeks whom he was teaching, just to make it more palatable to them. He refused to water the truth down in order to make it more acceptable to a world whose wisdom was foolishness to God.—1Co 1:21; see study note on 2Co 2:17.
The prosecution turns to members of the jury and shows the evidence: John 1:1 “a” does not exist.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Keep testing whether you are in the faith; keep proving what you yourselves are. Or do you not recognize that Jesus Christ is in union with you? Unless you are disapproved.
Does not exist, either you are in Christ or not.
Luke 22:19 Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body, which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me
”means” doesn’t exist, but word “is” does.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors substituting for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us. As substitutes for Christ, we beg: “Become reconciled to God.”
” substituting” doesn’t exist in bible.
So members of the jury do find GB members of JW’s, adulterating the word of God, And if so, do you find them guilty or not guilty?Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2022-12-17 11:57:32
Hi James,
The reason your comment disappears is that it went into the moderation queue, which happens if a comment has two or more hyperlinks.
Sorry for the confusion this caused.
Eric
Reply by Frankie on 2022-12-17 15:32:16
In case of 2 Corinthians 5:20 - guilty of blasphemy!
But I don't judge them because of 2 Corinthians 5:10.
FrankieReply by ironsharpensiron on 2022-12-17 22:24:37
Very True. Also 1 Corinthians 4:4-5
Reply by Ad_Lang on 2022-12-18 08:59:56
I have only found 2 translations that appropriately translate the latter part of John 1:1 with "and God was the Word". Note, the Kingdom Interlinear does get it right, but uses "god", instead of "God". Edit: this word swap makes a significant change in the meaning of the sentence.
Luk 22:19 is a grey area one. If the original says "is", then that word needs to be used, unless there is a clear indication that the word is used in a certain way. In word-for-word translations, the meaning of the message conveyed can sometimes get lost. In the Apostolic Bible Polyglot, the translators worked around the problem of word order by keeping the words in their original place, but numbering groups of words where re-ordering would make the phrase readable in common English.
Good one on the "substitution", where e.g. the World English Bible says "in behalf of". Substitution does indeed hint at more, such as having a measure of authority, but that may just be me. More than that, it would make me feel like more depends on me, and less on the Christ, whereas in reality Jesus will use whatever and whomever he sees fit to get necessary work done.
Comment by James Mansoor on 2022-12-17 05:55:35
Hi Eric,
My comments seem to appear and then disappear “in a blink of an eye”.
Also check your email please.
Many thanks
Comment by ZbigniewJan on 2022-12-18 15:55:56
Hello Eric!!!
Thank you for the series of articles that clarify the understanding of the fundamental Christian teaching regarding the resurrection and the hope of participation in God's Kingdom of Christ. Science explained in this way is logical and easy to understand. Over the years of JW participation, Hebrews 11 and Paul's thought of a better resurrection was the key to confusing the resurrection doctrine.
The only hope for Christians is a big problem for sisters and brothers emerging from the enslavement of the JW organization. Jehovah God must draw to his son John 6:44 for the disciple of Jesus to feel born of the Spirit, to feel like a child of God, to accept that Almighty God has become his Father. I often wonder why the Father is not attracted to all Christians.
I am only aware that we are not able to think according to the same criteria as God. James says if you draw close to God, God will draw close to you James 4:8. So, you have to take the initiative and harass God, and God will respond to such steps.
Eric, your analysis of the Lord's Transfiguration is very accurate
. This vision has always been incompatible for me with JW's teachings about the participants in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Eric, thank you for your work and commitment.
May our Lord and our Father be with you!!!
Your brother in Christ ZbigniewReply by jwc on 2022-12-19 12:05:33
Hi - thank you for sharing your comments.
I am very new to the BP group & enjoying the new experience very much.
Your reference to Hebrews 11 is very helpful thank you.
I share my love of my beloved Christ with you.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2022-12-20 12:56:29
Welcome, JWC.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2022-12-20 12:31:07
Thank you, ZbigniewJan.
Comment by Frankie on 2022-12-18 15:56:31
Hi Eric.
As I have already written to you, your biblical reasoning is excellently supported by a number of biblical verses and, in my opinion, is bullet-proof. I would also mention other words of Paul from Hebrews 11:13-16 related to the heavenly hope of pre-Christian faithful ones and also the logic resulting from the words of Jesus in Matt 22:32, which you stated and which I consider to be key to pre-Christian faithful ones theme.
A. Hebrews 11:40 implies that the perfection of Christians is equivalent to the perfection of pre-Christian faithful ones. That is, if Christians have heavenly hope, then so do the others. Paul's words are proof:
„These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.“ (Hebrews 11:13-16, ESV).
They were strangers on Earth. They were exiles or pilgrims looking for a homeland that is not here. But if it is not on Earth then where is it? That homeland is in the heavens, because they desire heavenly homeland. That is why God prepared a city for them. Is not that city the heavenly Jerusalem? Will they not dwell there with equally perfect Christians?
B. “Regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, who said: ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living.”” (Matthew 22:31, 32)
Very strong verses. If something is bound to happen, it will happen, no matter how long it takes - 10 minutes or 1000 years. If someone is to die, as if he had already died (Matt 8:22 - he who follows Jesus lives). If anyone is to live, they will live even if they die (John 11:25-26).
Jesus quotes Jehovah's words, which do not speak of a conditional life because no condition is mentioned there. But if not conditional life, then eternal life. If God said of the dead pre-Christian faithful ones that they are alive, then they are alive forever regardless of what GB thinks about it.
Frankie
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2022-12-20 11:17:36
Fantastic to see (and read) so many excellent comments on this subject. It goes to show that if we are given something good to chew on (spiritually) and are allowed to express ourselves feely, we all benefit from the well thought out points of view of others who love the Bible.
Vunderbar.
Comment by thegabry on 2023-01-05 06:36:51
Da quello che si capisce leggendo i tuoi post, è evidente che la WTS sbaglia nelle interpretazioni ( ovviamente ,non hanno lo spirito) e TU ti sostituisci a Loro affermando che invece, TU Capisci la Bibbia Meglio di Loro.
Quindi la domanda che ti faccio è questa: Tu hai lo spirito che ti guida a capire la Bibbia?
Come identifichi Te stesso ? Stai Semplicemente creando una nuova Religione?
È abbastanza evidente che La WTS non è guidata da Dio!
Ma TU da chi sei Guidato? Cosa vuoi ottenere?
Io sono 43 anni che sono TdG, e la cosa che ho compreso chiaramente è che fino alla Presenza del Signore , nessuna RELIGIONE è vera!
Ora se tu Affermi che la tua "RELIGIONE" o il tuo modo di capire la Bibbia è vero stai commettendo lo stesso errore della WTS.
Oggi l'unico messaggio che sia VERO è , abbandonare QUALSIASI Religione organizzata e aspettare che Dio metta il sigillo agli eletti , cioè lo Spirito Santo
Che farà in modo che gli Eletti rivelino ogni cosa, insieme ai Due testimoni vestiti di Sacco , che guideranno gli Eletti PROFETIZZANDO!
TU Non hai nessuna Unzione, nè Sigillo, quindi non hai il diritto o l'autorità
di esprimerti come se fossi Ispirato!
L'unica cosa che puoi fare è proporre il TUO punto di vista, aspettando che chi ha l'autorità venga Scelto e Rivelato da DIO!
Spero che il concetto sia Chiaro.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2023-01-05 08:50:12
This is an autotranslation of the comment of yours, thegabry, that I'm responding to:
From what you can tell by reading your posts, it is evident that WTS is wrong in their interpretations ( obviously ,they don't have the spirit) and YOU replace THEM by claiming that instead, YOU understand the Bible better than THEM.
So the question I ask is this : Do YOU have the spirit to guide YOU to understand the Bible ?
How do You identify Yourself ? Are you simply creating a new Religion ?
It is quite evident that WTS is not guided by God!
But who are YOU guided by? What do you want to achieve ?
I have been TdG for 43 years, and the thing I have clearly understood is that until the Presence of the Lord , no RELIGION is true !
Now if you Claim that your "RELIGION" or your way of understanding the Bible is true you are making the same mistake as WTS.
Today the only message that is TRUE is , to abandon ANY organized Religion and wait for God to put the seal on the Elect , i.e., the Holy Spirit Who will cause the Elect to reveal all things, together with the Two Witnesses clothed in Sack , who will lead the Elect PROPHYTIZINGLY!
YOU have no Anointing, no Seal, so you have no right or authority to express yourself as being Inspired!
The only thing you can do is to put forward YOUR point of view, waiting for those in authority to be Chosen and Revealed by GOD!
I hope the concept is Clear.
thegabry, to answer you, I quite agree that all religion is wrong. I'm not sure where you came to the conclusion that I "express myself as being inspired". Can you provide some evidence for that belief of yours? You also seem to be "waiting for those in authority to be chosen and revealed by GOD". Isn't that just setting ourself up for being misled again by men? You need to read the bible for yourself, and pray for the spirit. You don't need anyone to be teaching you.
I write you these things about those who are trying to mislead you. 27 And as for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to be teaching you; but the anointing from him is teaching you about all things and is true and is no lie. Just as it has taught you, remain in union with him. (1 John 2:26, 27)
However, your conclusion that authority only comes upon us at the presence of the lord is an opinion not supported in Scripture.
Consider this: However, to all who did receive him, he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name. 13 And they were born, not from blood or from a fleshly will or from man’s will, but from God. (John 1:12, 13)
Reply by thegabry on 2023-01-06 03:43:51
1 Timothy 1:7 They want to be teachers of law, but they do not understand either the things they are saying or the things they insist on so strongly.
Good By