TIPS FOR DEALING WITH WATCHTOWER FOLLOWERS
--A. Ralph Johnson
WATCH TOWER HISTORY
Charles Taze Russell born February 16, 1852 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the controlling organization behind the “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” His father owned a chain of men’s clothing stores that financed his beginning. He had no formal training as a minister. Around 1870 he became involved with the Second Adventists. This was a splinter group that resulted from the movement started by William Miller, a Baptist minister, also with no formal training, who thought he had discovered scriptural evidence that Christ would return March, 1843. When that failed, the date was changed to March, 1844. When that also failed, Mr. Miller confessed that he was mistaken and left the movement. He died in 1849.
Russell himself indicated he was indebted to Miller. He said that the “Miller movement” was the beginning of the right understanding of Daniel’s visions[1] and that the Lord was in it.
After Miller’s failures, many of those who followed him continued to set other dates. The largest group of these became the Seventh-Day Adventists. They attempted to solve the problem of “The Great Disappointment” as a “mistake,” not in the date but in the place to which Christ was to come. Instead of earth, they decided he went to cleanse his sanctuary in heaven. Ellen G. White, who ultimately gained control, did not set a date but did claim Christ would come within a few months, and later that it would be in the lifetime of some of them.
The Second Adventists ultimately set 1874 as the date for Christ’s return. When He did not appear, Nelson H. Barbour, in his paper, The Herald of the Morning, proposed the solution that Jesus had come invisibly. [2] Russell accepted that solution and they did some publishing together for a while, but they soon had a falling out. Russell continued to develop his own system, which over several years he published in six volumes called “Studies In The Scriptures” or “Millennial Dawn.”
Russell taught that Christ came invisibly in 1874[3] and from then to 1914 He was gathering his people. According to this scheme, 1914 was to be the end of the “Times of the Gentiles,” with the last member being glorified.[4] By then, all nations and Christendom were to be destroyed.[5] When it did not happen,[6] he reset the date to 1915.[7] Again, his prediction failed. He died on Halloween in 1916 on a train.
After Russell died, there was a power struggle and “Judge” Rutherfod, the legal counsel for the organization, succeeded in taking control. This resulted in a split. One group became known as International Bible Students. Rutherford’s group eventually took the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in 1931.
After Russell’s death a seventh volume, called “The Finished Mystery,” was compiled from Russell’s writings. The date for God to “destroy the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions” was reset to 1918.[8] This also failed.
Rutherford continued maintaining that Christ came in 1874 (Prophecy 1929, p.65 and Harp of God 1940, p.240). In 1932 he changed the date of Jesus’ presence from 1874 to 1914, originally given as the date for the end of this present system. "The prophecy of the Bible, fully supported by the physical facts in fulfilment thereof, shows that the second coming of Christ dates from the fall of the year 1914." --WHAT IS TRUTH (phamplet), p.48
In the year 1943 the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society published the book, "The Truth Shall Make You Free." in which they later said they removed a 100 year error, thus changing the time of Jesus’ coming from, 1874 C.E. to 1914.
--God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached, 1973, pp. 209, 210
In 1920 Rutherford wrote a booklet, “The World Has Ended, Millions Now Living Will Never Die,” in which he set 1925 as the date for the resurrection of the faithful men of old mentioned in Hebrews, chapter 11.[9] It failed [10] and in 1929 he built a mansion called, Beth-Sarim (House of the Princes”), in San Diego, California,[11] “…to provide tangible proof that there are those on earth today who fully believe...that the faithful men of old will soon be resurrected by the Lord, be back on earth, and take charge of the visible affairs of earth. The title to Beth-Sarim is vested in the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY in trust, to be used by the president of the Society and his assistants for the present, and thereafter to be for ever at the disposal of the aforementioned princes on the earth.” In spite of this, it was eventually sold.
From then on they shied away from setting specific dates. However, they continued to say that the end would only be within a “few months.” [12] and therefore people should not marry have children.
One final specific date set was 1975, over which they whipped up excitement that the Millennium was about to begin.[13] When that failed, many became disillusioned with reliability of their claims. Although they were directly responsible for pumping up the expectations of their followers, they blamed the brothers as jumping to unwarranted conclusions. However, the problem they never answered was how the millennium could begin without Armageddon and their long promised paradise of a thousand years.
They also had the problem of their oft-repeated claims that the New World must begin within the lives of the generation of 1914. So, they have come full circle. Just as they were forced to change the date of Christ’s coming to 1914 because the generation limitations had passed, now for the same reason they have had to revise their interpretation concerning the meaning of “this generation” to allow more time.
WATCHTOWER TEACHINGS
Reduced to its simplest expression, the Watchtower system can be summed up in the word, “dependent.” Everything is focused on making their followers totally dependent on the central organization.
They prohibit “independent thinking.”[29] From the very beginning the student is taught to rely totally on their books and publications. They have “book studies” rather than Bible studies. They are told they cannot understand the Bible except through Watchtower organization.[30] The student is very early taught that all others are deceived by Satan. They are taught that the “Remnant of 144,000” as represented by the Watchtower governing body, is God’s “prophet class” [31] guided by angels “in the minutest detail.”[32] They are taught that they are “slaves.” They are not permitted to have friends outside the Watchtower (“worldly associations”), even of close regular associations with family members. If they persistently disagree with the Watchtower they are cut off from all of their family and friends. This slavish dependence explains why they seem unshaken, no matter what they are showed in the Bible.
Thus, to get someone out of the Watchtower system, it is absolutely necessary to break this dependency on the organization. They somehow must come to realize that the Watchtower is not reliable.
Various things may accomplish this.
1. Bad experiences with Watchtower authoritarianism.
When people call me I talk frankly about the hurt they cause to families and their “three-men-in-a-back-room-justice.” It is very effective.
2. They may be shaken loose by some key scripture that conflicts with what they have been taught.
They are not all just clones of teaching of their leadership. The scriptures are still able to cast down every high thing that exalts itself against God (2Cor. 10:5).
3. Show that they have repeatedly given false prophecy about the time of the coming of Jesus and the coming of Armageddon.
This is one of the most effective methods of revealing the Governing Body is unreliable, and not guided by God. Showing photocopies of things they have written is powerful. It takes away their claim that the material is “apostate.”
4. Show the absurdity that God would spend 1400 years preparing the Bible to guide his people into “all truth” (John 16:13) but make it so it could not be understood without “spirit anointed” leaders to explain it.
Worse yet, according to them, no “anointed class” leaders were provided for 2000 years until the Watchtower came along. Since then, their failed predictions required repeated changes of dates and interpretations. –Not very reliable “prophets.”
5. Show their many changes in teachings over the years.
a. They have changed back and forth four times concerning whether Sodom will be resurrected.[33] The original position in 1879 was that Sodom would be raised.[34] In June of 1952 they changed this to, No.[35] In 1965 this was reversed to, Yes.[36] In June of 1988 it was changed back to, No.[37]
b. They have changed back and forth several times as to whether the “powers” in Romans 13 refer to earthly governments.[38]
c. They used to prohibit vaccinations or receiving transplanted body parts. Now it is acceptable.
There have been many other such changes.
6. Show them the nonsense of intrusive and petty prohibitions and regulations that are not in the Bible. Keeping birthdays, participating in organized sports, participating in school clubs, having one’s own blood returned to save a life, wearing beards etc. have no scriptural basis for objection whatsoever.
7. The continual “wear and tear” of being required to go door-to-door, fill out reports, reading literature, participating in endless meetings etc. takes its toll and many begin questioning the scriptural basis.
9. The lack of anything for the children and constant picking at them that drives them away causes disillusionment. They provide little special activities and have no separate classes for children at their services.
10. Some become disillusioned by the isolation from family and friends by the rules and issues that separate people.
11. Some leave when faced with demands that they give up their life, the life of a loved one, or the life of a child for inconsistent and arbitrary Watchtower teachings against blood transfusions.
Whatever begins to raise questions as to the reliability of those in leadership may become a crack in Watchtower wall.
The problem is that Witnesses often begin making these breaks out of human necessity, but fail to understand that there is a scriptural basis for leaving. They get out of the Watchtower but fail to get the Watchtower out of them.
Without knowing that the problems come from violations of Scripture, they are torn by fear and guilt and after leaving they will not go to churches where they can get help. I have seen them come into a church building and suddenly burst into tears and run out. People outside cannot understand what they are struggling with and have difficulty communicating. They may seem to have it all behind them but when they marry and have children they get a desperate urge to get back in so that their children will not be destroyed at Armageddon. To be truly free, the Witness needs to go through the process of removing the tangle of unscriptural guilt and fear from his thinking.
The following are some general guidelines for studying with Witnesses. They are not intended as absolutes. Different situations may require adjustments. However, they contain a number of simple but effective tools to break down their support system.
To be effective, you need time and preparation. Show interest. Ask questions. Don’t argue and don’t act too eager to get a study going. Be willing to take their literature but decline to give them a “contribution.” Tell them that you have your own faith but would be willing to listen to what they believe at another time. Ask how you can get more information. If they offer to come back, set up an appointment.
Getting their phone number begins giving you control over the timing of the studies and changes of plans. Better yet, it makes it possible for you to contact them and talk individually without another Witness playing watchdog. You can call and ask questions, even if they give some excuse for not coming back. Likewise, their address permits you to send information directly without the knowledge of others --even after the study ends.
Witnesses like to control the topic, usually starting with the Trinity. That is because few people have a good understanding on this subject. It is pretty hard to draw a picture of God. God says, “to what will you liken me?” Like a fungus that grows in darkness, Witnesses can only make progress where there is ignorance. They are trained to be like a smart coon being chased by a dog. He will often swim out into deep water and if the dog follows he gets him in over his head and drowns him. You need to be prepared to deal with the subject of the Trinity but it is not necessarily the best subject to start discussing.
If they insist on discussing the Trinity, ask them what a “trinity” is? They will say it is three gods in one. That is a “triad,” not a “trinity.” A trinity is three persons in one godhead (Mat. 28:19; Col. 2:9).
Take them to Matt. 28:19. Ask how many “names” are mentioned.
Note that it says, “name” (singular). Then ask how many persons are listed in that one name. They will say two because they deny that the Holy Spirit is a person.
If you wish, you may go on to show that the Holy Spirit is a person. That subject is excellent because there are many good scriptures and on this Witnesses are usually poorly prepared. (Matt. 28:19; John 16:7-14; 14:26; 15:26-27; Acts 13:2; 5:3; Rom. 8:26-27; 1Cor. 12:11; Gal. 5:17, 18; Eph. 4:30; 1Tim. 4:1; 1Pet. 1:11; Heb. 10:15)
To respond to their claim that Jesus is not a part of the trinity, begin as stated above, showing that there are three in one. Then go to Genesis 1:26. “God” (Hebrew: “Elohim”) is plural. It says, “let US make man in OUR image.” We are in the image of a plural Godhead (Col. 2:9). Compare this with 1Thes 5:23. We have a triune nature – the image of God, --body, soul and spirit. We sense this as we struggle between our flesh, mind and spirit. Paul spoke of this struggle in Romans 7: 15-25.
Then bring out the Biblical teaching that we should “worship” Jesus (Hebrews 1:6), and the statement in John 1:1 where He is called “God.” When they try to claim it means, “a god” ask to read it in their Greek interlinear. The interlinear Greek has no “a” and furthermore, the word, “the” is omitted in the Greek before God in verses 6, 12, 13, 18 of the same chapter.
The resurrection of Christ is another good subject. Tell them that you understand that the Watchtower denies the resurrection. They will deny this (They are taught that “resurrection” means to be created from the memory of God). Go to John 2:19, 21 and show that Jesus raised his body that was destroyed. Follow this with scriptures where Jesus showed them his resurrected body (Luke 24:39; John 20:20-29). They will try to argue that Jesus would not “take back his ransom.” Go to Mark 10:45 to show that his life (Greek: psuche–“soul”) is the ransom and that John 10:17 shows he took it again. As Abraham told the rich man, “If they will not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they hear someone who goes to them from the dead.”
To aid in finding scriptures, make chain references in the margins of your Bible. Post-it notes may be used with scriptures and comments. This method is similar to the references in the columns of their Bible.
Beware of their “bait and switch” tactics in which they tell you that they will have a “Bible study” with you but in fact they switch you to studying their books. Remember, they would not study your book, so why should you study theirs?
Their books take passages out of context and put them into a different setting with clever words that twist what is being said. This supports them and gives them considerable advantage. Their books are written with the classic brainwashing tactic of reading a paragraph and then answering a question. This goes on endlessly until the ideas become so implanted that the prospect begins to think that what they say is true. They do not believe you can understand the Bible without their books.[39] Pastor Russell even called his writings, “The Bible in an arranged Form” [40]
Tell them that you would be willing to read their publications on your own but you consider the Bible to be the primary book to be studied.
If they push studying from a book, suggest that one week the study should be from a book they choose, and the next from one of your choice. Then come with just your Bible and one for each of them to read!
If they offer you a book, accept it but do not contribute anything. They tell the tax people their literature is free. So be it. Don’t support what you do not believe in.
One way to respond is to offer some reading material in trade. If they will read yours, you will read theirs. To keep them from throwing the material away without reading it, make it a loan on the basis that when the two of you get together next you can exchange questions about what you read.
Another of their bait-and-switch tactics is to agree to a Bible study but substitute their Bible perversion as a version.
Their “Bible” has been greatly corrupted. For example, wherever the Bible says that Jesus is to be “worshipped,” (Heb. 1:6) they have arbitrarily changed the word to “do obeisance.” When the Bible says that Jesus “was God” they translate it, “was a god” (John 1:1)
This helps to recall and review what was said, perhaps with someone else. It also makes them a little nervous about making unfounded statements. Your need to remember for later study is ample reason.
Do not play “Lone Ranger” against the Watchtower. They are experts at trapping dumb sheep isolated from the shepherds. Be sure you have knowledgeable resources for information and materials. It is good to have help from someone who is experienced and to have access to someone with a good library of Watchtower materials. They do so and it is fair for you to do the same.
Their “buddy system” is to give them an advantage, both psychologically and in knowledge resources. It makes it easy for them to switch and bring in someone with more experience. It allows one person to be looking things up while the other is keeping you occupied. Two on one is Watchtower fun.
Sometimes you may be able to get a study with one person rather than two. This really puts a crimp in their support system. It allows you to communicate with the Witness without them being watch-dogged by a second Witness. One of the most powerful controls upon their people is that the second Witness is required to report any sign of weakness to their leaders.
Generally the best you can get is to have someone who is experienced present with you. Tell them that you will bring a friend. That is fair since they have someone with them. What is fair for one side is fair for both.
Be cautious about any circumstances where one man and one woman study alone. Be sure the circumstances are such that no question can be raised.
When facing difficult questions, they will often bring someone with more experience. Of course, they would not permit themselves to be switched off from you to study with someone more capable on your side. Insist on playing by the same rules. Once the study is started, refuse to study with anyone else.
For situations where a relative or friend, is at stake, it is important not to be shunted onto a sidetrack. For example, if a husband starts asking questions, the Witnesses will often have the wife pressure him to study with others without her present. Decline to do so. Tell the person urging the study that you want to know what they think, not what somebody else thinks. They can talk to the Witness leaders and bring the information to you.
If they insist, respond with a bargain that one other Witness may be involved and the person wanting you to study must be present. Any time the friend or relative is not there, call it off until they are there.
When possible, another alternative is for the non-witness to study with a Witness on condition that the person wanting them to study must study with a non-witness. Fair is fair.
Ask “May we open with prayer? They will decline.
Ask them if they are against prayer.
Ask, “May I ask why you do not wish to open with prayer?”
Ask, “Don’t you pray to Jehovah God?” Point out that we accept Jehovah as God (Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18).
Invite them to pray in the name of Jesus (Col. 3:17; Eph. 5:20; 1Cor. 1:2; Ph’p 2:10; Acts 4:10).
If they decline to pray in the name of Jesus, ask about Stephen praying to Jesus (Acts 7:59-60; 2Cor 12:8-9; Rev. 5:8-9, 13-14).
Ask them to pray for you. If they decline, ask them if Jesus did not teach us that we are to pray for our enemies (Mat. 5:44).
Pressing for prayer that God’s will to be done is important to opening their heart to God and to His answering (Luke 11:9-10; James 1:5; 5:14; Rom. 10:1; Acts 16:14; John 7:17).
Those who do not love the truth will have their hearts darkened (2Thes. 2:10; Isa. 6:10)
Whenever the going gets tough, the Witness usually gets going –as quickly and as far away from the difficulty as he can. They jump from passage to passage, leading you out through the brush on a game of “Catch-Me-If-You-Can.” This diverts the issue and prevents them from having to confront facts.
Do not permit them to jump around or push you into something. Press that you need your questions answered before going on to something else.
One thing that can help in this is to use a note pad to organize your thoughts and control discussion. Whenever they want to jump, write their question down and tell them you will get to that after your questions about the immediate passage. If you do temporarily divert to something else, make a note of the question under discussion to which you will return. Do not permit them to continue to lead you farther and farther away from familiar territory. If they bring up something that you are not prepared to answer, write it down and tell them you will check on it for the next study.
Don’t leave the impression you have all of the answers or that you are tense or in a hurry. They back away from discussions with people who are well informed. Listen a lot. Be a researcher. Check on things and return with well-documented information concerning questions raised previously and with more questions to make them have to dig. Photocopies of their own literature are excellent.
Take the position of the Bereans (Acts 17:10-11). Because there are many false teachers in the world you must “search the Scriptures to see if these things are so.” The Bereans were commended because they wouldn’t just take someone’s word. They even challenged Paul, a teacher with great authority.
Ask questions to bring out facts rather than making assertions. Provide evidence and firmly press for sound answers, not just Watchtower explanations. Do not be argumentative. Avoid flat contradictions. Instead, say, “I heard” or “I read” or “Isn’t this so?”
Instead of flatly contradicting them, when they take a position that is obviously weak, such as their denial that the body of Jesus was raised (John 2:19), show by your expression that it doesn’t make sense and restate their answer in your words, expressing the difficulty.
For example, questions about John 2:19 might go something like this: “Are you saying that Jesus did not raise his body that was destroyed? “Why would it say he would if he did not?” “Do you mean that when Jesus showed them his hands and feet and said, ‘Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself’ (Luke 24:39), that what he showed them was not the real one?” “Are you saying that when Jesus showed them the holes in his hands and side that he misled them? “Honestly, doesn’t it sound like he raised what they destroyed?”
Follow questions up at the next study with photocopies of evidence. Say, “I have a problem with this,” or “I do not understand how this can be true.” If you represent it as a problem which for you must be solved, they will want to help you solve it. In doing so, they will have to think for themselves to find the answers. Say, “This doesn’t sound reasonable.” Ask if they are really sure. Question how they can know it is true. Say, “Let me think that over and get back to you.” Instead of rolling out the heavy artillery, just keep poking holes in their claims.
Remember that you really have the advantage. The Watchtower must keep their people from being exposed to truth. It is not necessary to get them to agree. Don’t try to force them. Just keep filling them up with facts and Scripture. They have the problem of keeping their people convinced that they cannot trust what Bible says. They are taught to cover up their difficulties and jump to other scriptures where they hope you will not be prepared, or just get away from the problem, that in time the answer may come. You must get the Word to them and let the Holy Spirit convict them. Pray. Pray. Pray. God is greater than the Watchtower.
Show that you know what you are talking about. Produce your evidence up front with all of the power you can muster, and blow them away.
Remember that the Witness is only a victim. Avoid saying, “YOU teach this” unless you are addressing one of them before someone you are trying to reach. Refer to the Watchtower in the third person. Say, “The WATCHTOWER teaches.” Make a direct attack only to protect a third person.
Reading the Word faces them squarely with what God is saying rather than the twisted interpretations given by Watchtower writers. Get them to know the scriptural context rather than the Watchtower artificial settings. It confuses their plan, slows them down, and gives you opportunity to ask questions that open up the true context. Compare what your Bible says with theirs. Raise questions about the basis of the changes they have made.
This provides opportunity to get prepared and develop a relationship with the host. It also makes it difficult for the Witnesses to remain and exert influence without being answered.
19. Do your homework in advance. Be prepared.
Study up on what they believe. Know the scriptures they will use and what their books say –especially their Bible and Greek interlinear. Listen carefully. Know where they are going and get there before they do in order to control the subject and the direction it is to take.
The passage tells of a dream of Nebuchadnezzar of a great tree is cut down and bound with a band until “seven times” pass over. The passage is clearly divided into three parts.
a. The dream (Daniel 4:1-18)
b. Daniel’s inspired interpretation (Daniel 4:19-28)
c. The fulfillment. (Daniel 4:29-37)
It says nothing about 1874 or 1918. Their claim is based on their explanation that “seven times” means seven years. Each day of those years is supposed to represent a year. Seven times 360 days would represent 2,520 years.
It says nothing about the point from which the count was to begin. They arbitrarily decided it must be from the destruction of Jerusalem.
They set the beginning as 606 BC, falsely believing this to be the date of the last king of Judah and the destruction of the city. Subtracting 606 from 2,520 gives the date, 1914. Actually, the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the kingdom was about 586 BC. One of the best resources of information concerning the historical dating is “The Gentile Times Reconsidered” (Commentary Press, 1998), Third Edition, by Carl Olof Jonsson, a former Jehovah’s Witness elder, who after researching the historical background, left the organization.
Have them read the chapter while you keep probing for their basis for the dates is very disconcerting. Daniel is very clear as to the meaning and the fulfillment.
Most importantly, this opens up to examination the reliability of the Watchtower, which is the key issue. It exposes to question Watchtower claims that they are God’s “prophet,” directed “in the minutest detail.”[41]
They never did get to their “trinity” issue. The next week I brought photocopies from their own books about their “prophet” claims. They had no answer for the evidence. One of the men started to deny it but the other stopped him, telling him that what I presented was true. They left with a possible return next week. They never did.
WHERE TO GET INFORMATION
a. Refutation of Preparing for Child Custody Cases
b. The Watchtower Files
e-mail: jwbooks@juno.com
The above three men were all Jehovah’s Witnesses.
There are many other excellent books available. I would especially recommend Apostles of Denial, by Edmond Gruss, which gives an excellent general survey of the subject. The book has now been updated and expanded.
4. There are also some excellent websites to get information.
http://www.eskimo.com/~jcw/index.html
http://www.holyscriptures.com/
We have a large library of Watchtower materials which consist of most of their books and many works exposing their errors. We can also put people into contact with many other sources. I have worked in Jehovah’s Witness ministry for many years. I have appeared on television and radio programs and presented materials on public access channels. I have made presentations to churches and have spoken on ex-JW programs around the Northwest and in Canada. For many years I was involved in picketing their annual gatherings at the Tacoma Dome in Washington.
For further information contact Ralph Johnson at (206)244-7984
Write: 11435 10th Ave S., Seattle, WA 98168
E-mail <aralphj@msn.com>
[1] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 3, (Thy Kingdom Come -1910), p.86
[2] Pastor Russell’s Autobiography, p.14-16, printed in Vol. 1 of Studies In The Scriptures, from 1923 to 1927, found also in “What Pastor Russell said, 1985, vol. 7, p.3, 4.
[3] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 3, (Thy Kingdom Come, 1908), p.306
[4] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 3, (Thy Kingdom Come, 1908), p.306
[5] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 2, (The Time is at Hand, 1910), p.77; p.101 (changed to 1915 after 1912 edition).
[6] Light, book 1, 1930, p.194
[7] Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2 (The Time is at Hand, editions after 1912) p. 101
[8] Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 7 (The Finished Mystery, 1917) p. 485
[9] Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, (booklet) pp.88, 89, 90.
[10] Yearbook 1980, p62
[11] Salvation, 1939, pp. 311, 312). See also, Watch Tower, Sept. 1, 1922, p.263. Also, Vindication Vol. I, 1931, p.146.
[12] Children, 1941, pp.312, 313. Also, The Watchtower, 1938, Vol. LIX, #21, p.323.
[13] The Approaching Peace of a Thousand Years, 1969, pp. 26-27
[14] Watch Tower, Sept. 15, 1910, p.298-299; Oct 1, 1967, p.587; Dec. 1, 1990, p. 19
[15] Watch Tower, April 1, 1972, p. 197-200 “They Shall know that a Prophet was among them”
[16] 1941 Yearbook, Daily Texts and Comments, Sept. 19.
[17] This Means Everlasting Life, 1950, p.221
[18] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 3, 1908, “Thy Kingdom Come” p.306 –Pastor Russell
[19] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 3, 1908, “Thy Kingdom Come” p.306 –Pastor Russell
[20] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 2, 1910, “The Time is at Hand”, p.77, 101
See also, LIGHT, Book 1, p.194; Compare the book, Vindication, 1931, p.146
[21] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 2, 1913, “The Time is at Hand”, p.101
[22] Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 7, 1917, “The Finished Mystery”, p.485. Compare the book, Vindication, 1931, p.146
[23] Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, p.88-90;
The Watch Tower, September 1, 1922, p.262;
Compare 1980 Yearbook, p.62 and the book, Vindication, 1931, p.146
[24] Watchtower, 4/1/1979, p. 31, “Questions from Readers.”
[25] Watchtower, 1/15/1983, pp.22, 27
[26] Harp of God, 1927, p.169-170. Compare Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, p.129 and, Things In Which It is Impossible to Lie, p.354.
[27] Let God Be True (Green book), p.88, (Title of chapter VIII)
[28] This Means Everlasting Life, 1950, p.260-263.
[29] Watchtower, 1/15/1983, pp.22, 27
[30] Watchtower, 10/1/1967, p.587; 12/19/1990, p.19
[31] Watchtower 4/1/1972, p.197; p.200
[32] 1941 Yearbook, Daily Texts and Comments reading for September 19, quoted from Watchtower, 1/1/41
[33] (“He loves them, He loves them not, He loves them…”)
[35] From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, 1958, p.236. Sodom will not be resurrected.
[36] Watchtower, 3/1/1965, p.139. Sodom will be resurrected.
[37] Watchtower, 6/1/1988, p.30. Sodom will not be resurrected
[38] Scripture Studies, Vol. 1, 1886, p.250, 266. The “powers” were governments.
Riches, p.219 The “Higher powers do not refer to the governments of earth (see also: Make Sure, 1953, p.369)
“Babylon The Great Has Fallen,” 1963, p.458. The political authorities of this world continue to be the “higher powers”
[39] Watchtower, 10/1/1967, p.587; 12/1/1990, p.19
[40] Watchtower, 9/15/1910, [4685] (298-299)
[41] 1941 Yearbook, Daily Texts and Comments reading for September 19, quoted from Watchtower, 1/1/41