What about The Gentile Times?

Some witness friends of mine have asked me to reconsider the gentile times prophesy, as interpreted by the watchtower organization. I have re-examined their interpretation and have also re-examined your essay "Was 1914 the end of the Gentile times?"I would appreciate your view on the chronological interpretation of Daniel with regard to the 2,520 days relating to years and hence starting in 607 bce and ending in 1914.You mention chronology at the beginning of your essay and then refer to PYRAMIDOLOGY as a basis for CT Russell’s interpretations. What do you mean?I need the answers to these questions so that I can defend my position.Many thanks



The Gentile times essay makes the case that the so-called Gentile times, that is, the interval God has allowed for the nations to trample “Jerusalem,” has nothing to do with the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BCE, or whenever it was supposed to have occurred. It is therefore pointless to argue pro or con whether Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem in 607. It makes for historic trivia but it is irrelevant in terms of Christ’s prophecy.

If common sense prevailed instead of dogma, it would become apparent that Jesus was foretelling a future trampling of the holy place, not a trampling that had occurred five centuries before.

According to numerous related prophecies, the appointed times that Jesus referred to in the 21st chapter of Luke has to do with the trampling of the holy ones during the tribulation. In the first century the Romans fulfilled the prophecy when they razed the temple. In the grander fulfillment the 8th king will trample on God’s spiritual temple for a specified interval. The 11th chapter of Revelation indicates that the appointed times for the beast to lay waste to God’s holy place amounts to 42 months.

As for the pyramidology, Russell was captivated by the idea that pyramids had built-in chronological values that supposedly held divine secrets. It was believed that the measurements of interior passageways represented years – an inch for a year instead of a day for a year. By such means Russell calculated that 1914 would be the year the world would end. In reality using pyramidology to divine the future amounts to spiritistic divination. After Russell’s death the Watchtower junked pyramidology but kept 1914 as the year that Christ’s parousia began. (Russell taught that Christ’s presence began in 1874.)

E-watchman maintains that the 1914 doctrine is the foretold operation of error promoted by Satan through means of powerful works and lying signs and every unrighteous deception. The fact that 1914 has is roots in the demonistic art of divination is one aspect of an unrighteous deception. World War One and the outbreak of the Spanish Flu in 1918 were very powerful signs intended to convince Jehovah's people that Christ had begun ruling.

The 1914 doctrine has been used as cover for a man of lawlessness within the organization. By using prophecy to convince Jehovah's Witnesses that Christ came in 1918 to remove an evil slave from the midst of the organization and that he appointed a faithful slave over all of his belongings, the Watchtower has cloaked itself in infallability and placed all evil and apostasy outside the Governing Body. That's why Jehovah's Witnesses are incredulous when presented with the evidence of the Watchtower's corruption and apostasy. The general reaction is 'Oh, the Watchtower could never do that. Jehovah wouldn't allow it.'

The 1914 doctrine and all that goes with it has been instrumental in enabling a man of lawlessness to lead the organization into apostasy without anyone questioning it.

For more on the man of lawlessness see the essay entitled Mystery of the Antichrist

Christendom or Jehovah's Witnesses?

For many years the Watchtower has taught apostate Judah and her condemnatory judgment from Jehovah is a representation of Christendom. The nation of Judah was in a covenant with Jehovah, likewise could not Christendom also be viewed as being in a covenant with Jehovah, although now apostatized, since her origins are from first century Christianity, when true Christianity was being practiced, in a covenant with Jehovah, during the time of the Apostles? Is it correct to use the spiritual decay of Judah and Israel prior to Jehovah's judgment as a precursor of what is to happen to Jehovah's earthly organization? Is not the prophetic pattern for Christendom?



All of the prophets and Psalms point to the coming of Christ – either to his coming as a man in the first century, or to his coming again in the power of his kingdom. In both settings of his coming, however, Jesus comes first as a judge to a nation of people who are in a covenant with Jehovah.

In the first instance of his coming, Jesus inspected the Jewish temple and nation as a whole and found them to be lacking. The second time Christ appears, as Paul worded it, follows the same pattern but is in connection with his spiritual nation – those who are in a covenant with Jehovah by virtue of having been anointed.

The prophecy of Malachi foretells:

“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he must clear up a way before me. And suddenly there will come to His temple the true Lord, whom you people are seeking, and the messenger of the covenant in whom you are delighting. Look! He will certainly come,” Jehovah of armies has said.

“But who will be putting up with the day of his coming, and who will be the one standing when he appears? For he will be like the fire of a refiner and like the lye of laundrymen. And he must sit as a refiner and cleanser of silver and must cleanse the sons of Levi; and he must clarify them like gold and like silver, and they will certainly become to Jehovah people presenting a gift offering in righteousness. And the gift offering of Judah and of Jerusalem will actually be gratifying to Jehovah, as in the days of long ago and as in the years of antiquity.

“And I will come near to you people for the judgment, and I will become a speedy witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against those swearing falsely, and against those acting fraudulently with the wages of a wage worker, with the widow and with the fatherless boy, and those turning away the alien resident, while they have not feared me,” Jehovah of armies has said.

“For I am Jehovah; I have not changed. And you are sons of Jacob; you have not come to your finish. From the days of your forefathers you have turned aside from my regulations and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” Jehovah of armies has said.

The Messenger of the covenant is none other than Jesus Christ – he being the mediator of the new covenant. Just as in the first century, Jesus is dispatched by Jehovah to make an inspection of an organization which Jehovah himself recognizes as belonging to him. Christ’s inspection of the Jewish system ultimately resulted in it being cast off and destroyed. So, too, when Christ comes to judge his Father’s spiritual temple he comes with the fire of a refiner and the lye of a laundryman in order to subject God’s people to a fiery purge.

The Watchtower recognizes that the prophecy of Malachi applies to Christ’s congregation and not Christendom; however, they have formulated an extensive mythology in order to convince Jehovah’s Witnesses that Jesus came to the temple way back in 1918. It is necessary for the Watchtower Society to invent an alternative realty so that it might continue to present itself as the gleaming city on the hill – a sinless spiritual paradise. Placing the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy of the coming of the Messenger of the covenant to a future point in time would be an admission that all is not as it should be in the organization – and hence in need of Christ’s fiery correction for having left off the fear of Jehovah.

But since Christ’s second coming to his Father’s temple follows the pattern established by his first coming, we ought to look to Jesus’ own teachings for confirmation as to the timing of his inspection.

In Jesus’ prophecy concerning his presence he foretold that the holy place and Jerusalem would be destroyed by a disgusting thing. In the first century the holy place was the Jewish temple, which was indeed destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. However, as we know, Jesus prophecy had a much farther-reaching application – one pertaining to Jesus’ second appearance.

The question then arises: What is the modern holy place that is destined to be destroyed and trampled on? The Watchtower says the holy place represents Christendom and the “Jerusalem” that is to be trampled on during a time allotted to the nations represents God’s kingdom – which began to be trampled on thousands of years ago, when Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem and deposed the Judean king.
(For a discussion of the true meaning of the Gentile Times)

But if the Watchtower’s interpretation is correct, why did Jesus tell his followers to flee when they first caught sight of the disgusting thing standing in a holy place? According to the Watchtower, Jehovah’s Witnesses have gotten out of Christendom and Babylon the Great back in 1919; so if the holy place of Jesus’ prophecy represents Christendom, why would true Christians need to flee out of it during the hour of Christ’s “meting out justice” – as it says at Luke 21:22?

(For a more in depth discussion of the modern holy place, see the essay entitled: Let the Reader Use Discernment)

If the Psalms and the prophets all relate to Christ, and since only a small portion of the Psalms and prophecies were fulfilled upon Jesus’ first coming, it is apparent that a significant portion of the Hebrew Scriptures point to Christ’s second appearance. Revelation confirms that.

Since virtually all the prophets relate, not just to Jehovah’s judgment against unfaithful Israel and Judah, but more especially to the subsequent restoration of a repentant, forgiven remnant – following the administering of God’s discipline – we may be sure that the same pattern applies in the finale of things.

But the problem with the Watchtower’s prophetic exegesis is that it has the order of the pattern completely reversed. On the one hand the Society claims that the holy place symbolizes unholy Christendom, but other prophecies pertaining to the desolation of the holy place are interpreted to apply to the Watchtower in 1918-19 and during the Second World War.

But, really, what evidence is there that any organization representing a spiritual Israel suffered anything remotely analogous to the destruction and spiritual exile Judah suffered in the 5th century B.C.E?

The Society claims that the International Bible Students fit the pattern of prophecy when Joseph Rutherford and seven other officers of the Watchtower spent seven or eight months in prison. But is that reasonable? In the ancient pattern Jerusalem and Jehovah’s temple were completely destroyed. How can any sensible person claim that the government’s censoring of a couple of pages of the Finished Mystery book compares with the complete desolation of Jerusalem?

Frankly, the Society’s prophetic interpretations tied to 1918-19 are patently nonsensical.

Since there are many, many prophecies that point to the ultimate desolation of Christ’s congregation during the great tribulation, the only sensible and scriptural interpretation of these many intertwined prophecies is that the holy place that is foretold to be trampled by a disgusting thing relates to those whom Jehovah recognizes as belonging to himself.

For example, Isaiah 43:25-28 states: “I—I am the One that is wiping out your transgressions for my own sake, and your sins I shall not remember. Remind me; let us put ourselves on judgment together; tell your own account of it in order that you may be in the right. Your own father, the first one, has sinned, and your own spokesmen have transgressed against me. So I shall profane the princes of the holy place, and I will give Jacob over as a man devoted to destruction and Israel over to words of abuse.”

The 43rd chapter of Isaiah is the basis for our calling ourselves Jehovah’s Witnesses; and the overall context appears to be Jehovah delivering a soliloquy, but which, in fact, is Jehovah speaking to his exiled sons as if by means of a message in a time capsule, during the time of Christ’s second appearance.

So, now, in regards to the span of verses cited above, if the princes of the holy place who are given over to destruction during the judgment symbolizes Christendom, how can we reconcile the fact that Jehovah ultimately wipes out all their sins and transgressions? (Jehovah is merciful but will by no means grant an exemption from punishment to even his own sons)

The Society’s commentary (or lack there of) on these verses of Isaiah is a study in interpretive flimflamery. (See Isaiah’s Prophecy Vol II, page 59) Of course, the Watchtower has insulated itself from accountability for its own teachings and it is not permissible for Jehovah’s Witnesses to critically discuss such things in the congregation. Any of Jehovah’s Witnesses who openly question such things are marginalized as opposers and apostates.

So, that is why the organization is saddled with numerous contradictions and absurdities, such as discussed here.

Was Jesus talking about his followers @ Mt 24:9-14

Was Jesus talking specifically about his own followers at Matthew 24:9-14?




The span of verses in question reads:

“Then people will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name. Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”

Jesus’ prophecy originally forecasted events that were fulfilled in a general way in the first century — but only in a general way. However, it does establish a pattern of how events will ultimately unfold in the finale.

As you likely are aware, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that all the essential elements of Jesus’ prophecy have already been realized over the course of the past century. Has there been an increasing of criminal lawlessness in recent decades? Without a doubt.

How about persecution? Certainly Jehovah’s Witnesses have been objects of hatred in the world too. Untold numbers of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been imprisoned and even put to death by the Nazis and Soviet communists; and we continue to be persecuted by officials in various lands — particularly the Islamic nations of the former USSR.

Also, it is easy to point to clerics and cultists in Christendom as the false prophets who have arisen to mislead the masses. As far as the good news of the kingdom being preached throughout the earth, Jehovah’s Witnesses have also undeniably spearheaded a remarkable world-wide kingdom witnessing campaign in hundreds of languages.

Certainly these developments, beginning with the critical turning point in 1914, have thoroughly convinced Jehovah’s Witnesses that — except for the outbreak of the great tribulation — the words of Christ have already come to pass.

However, upon closer examination, there are compelling reasons to believe that these events have not fulfilled the prophecy as the Watchtower Society presently imagines.

Take the matter of the foretold increasing of lawlessness and the cooling off of the love of the greater number. "Lawlessness," as it is used in the Scriptures, does not necessarily relate to criminal activity; but, rather, to apostasy and hypocrisy. For example, Jesus said that he would tell all religious hypocrites who spoke falsely in his name to “get away from me you workers of lawlessness.” Then there is the “man of lawlessness,” whom Paul wrote about, who promotes apostasy among Christians and even sits down in Jehovah’s temple, pretending to be God.

As for the cooling off, that must pertain to Jehovah’s people as well. Consider the fact that Jesus rebuked some of the anointed Ephesian Christians in his letter to them in Revelation for leaving the love they had at first. As all of Jehovah’s Witnesses know, Jesus’ letters to the seven congregations really apply to Christ’s anointed followers in the Lord’s day. It shows that some anointed Christian allow their love for God to grow cold. So, it is evident that the increasing of lawlessness and hypocrisy, along with a cooling off of love for God, takes place among Jehovah’s Witnesses and not Christendom, as we presently imagine. (For a more thoroughly discussion of this aspect of the sign of Jesus’ presence see the essay entitled: A Closer Look at 1914)

In order to better understand Jesus’ prophecy it is well that we consider the same prophecy as it was recorded by Mark and Luke. Although the essentials are the same, there a few unique details in each Gospel account that differ from each other. Let’s consider an aspect of both accounts in Mark and Luke that is omitted by Matthew, which foretell that Christ’s witnesses will be persecuted in their synagogues and hauled before judges and even kings and that brothers and family members will have Christ’s chosen ones put to death.

Here is where it is important to take note of the first century pattern and the fact that Jesus did not originally set his disciples strictly apart from the Jews. Even after his anointing as the Messiah Jesus went to the temple and even attended services in local synagogues and no doubt his apostles and male disciples did so too. In fact, Jesus even announced his anointing in front of a congregation in his local synagogue — for which he was immediately persecuted.

However, after Jesus was resurrected all of that changed. Prior to Jesus’ death the disciples had been instructed to go out preaching saying “the kingdom of God has drawn near.” But after Jesus' ascension to heaven and the outpouring of the holy spirit ten days later, the apostles and disciples began preaching a slightly different message. They no longer announced that the kingdom was near, but instead they bore witness to Christ’s resurrection and that the kingdom was here — “here” as the newly formed congregation of God with Christ as the King of a spiritual kingdom. The Jewish institution that Jehovah had used and that Christ recognized and supported had suddenly become irrelevant.

It was the continued witnessing to Jesus’ resurrection that aroused the hatred and animosity of the Jewish establishment, who were the very ones who had had killed Christ. The apostles were hauled before the high court and ordered to stop preaching. Peter was imprisoned for a brief time. Afterwards, a great persecution arose. During that first wave of persecution the apostle James was killed, also Stephen. The book of Acts reports that all of the disciples living in Jerusalem were scattered. No doubt that meant that they also were thrown out of the synagogues and ostracized from their non-believing family members and from the Jewish community and the religion they were accustomed to. Later, Paul was hauled before governors and kings. But since all of the original Christians were Jewish and they did not at first renounce Judaism when they became believers, the “brothers” who persecuted them were their own Jewish country men. After congregations sprang up outside of Palestine the Jews also took to persecuting Jewish believers.

What does the first century pattern establish for us? Anointed Christians today among Jehovah’s Witnesses are in a similar position relative to the Lord’s parousia as were the apostles before Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then, as now, the apostles and 70 whom Jesus sent out to preach did not fully grasp how Jehovah’s purposes were going to work out. Although they were charged with announcing that the kingdom had drawn near the apostles were laboring under the fallacy that Jesus was going to become an earthly king and re-establish the kingdom of David in Jerusalem right then and there. They could not comprehend what Jesus was saying when he spoke of his death and resurrection. (See essay: Who is Blind as the Servant of Jehovah?) The Watchtower's "invisible presence" doctrine has similarly deluded Jehovah's Witnesses into believing that the kingdom is already here.

Nevertheless, in spite of the apostles' ignorance, Jesus told them that they would not complete the circuit of Israel until the son of man arrived. So, in that respect they fully accomplished their ministry and then the resurrected son of man arrived. But before that, when Jesus was arrested and executed, all of the apostles and disciples were stumbled. But when Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection, he first rebuked them for being slow of heart to believe, but then he fully opened up their minds to understand the prophecies as they related to Christ. The transformation of the apostles was astounding.

Jesus’ numerous supernatural appearances before his disciples immediately following his resurrection, including his last manifestation before Paul as the glorified king of God’s kingdom, establishes a pattern to be fulfilled during Christ’s parousia. Just as those apostles were originally entrusted with a preaching work, even though they were in a state of ignorance that was not remedied until after Jesus appeared to them from the spirit realm, so too, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been preaching about God’s kingdom in a similar state of ignorance and disbelief that will not be dispelled until the actual revelation of Christ. (See Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy Blog)

Just as Jesus literally appeared before his disciples after his resurrection, we should not suppose that the manifestation and revelation of Jesus Christ in glory will be anything less.

The “invisible presence” doctrine adopted by C.T. Russell is a fraud, a hoax, which has allowed the Watchtower to convince Jehovah’s Witnesses that the glorious day of the Lord’s presence has already begun. The Society has effectively rendered the manifestation of Christ into a non-event. Jehovah, of course, has allowed an operation of error of this nature in order to set the stage for a final decisive test to be imposed that will separate the true for the false.

Just imagine if Jesus returned today and he revealed himself in some miraculous manner to his chosen ones! What a shock that would be to those who were convinced that Jesus has already been invisibly present since 1914!

But just as the resurrected Jesus only appeared to those within the Jewish system who had already proven themselves to be his disciples, in the same way the presence of Christ will only become manifest to his approved chosen ones within the Watchtower Society. At that point the Watchtower Society will have served its purpose, just as Jerusalem and the Jewish system had in the first century. That will inevitably set the stage for the true sons of God being persecuted and reviled by those who are organizationally bound to the Society's 1914 operation of error.

In view of the fact that the Watchtower is hard-set and determined to disfellowship every Witness who rejects or even questions the 1914 dogma, it seems inevitable that those who eventually are compelled by the spirit to bear witness to the genuine presence of Christ will be thrown from the synagogues (kingdom halls). During the confusion of war and global pandemic the Society’s hardline loyalists stand posed to act as false prophets and persecutors of Christ’s chosen brothers. Add the pressures brought on by dictatorial tyranny and a police state, it is not hard to envision a scenario where congregational brothers and family members betray Christ’s followers to authorities.

Such a development would bring about the circumstances, whereby, Jesus’ chosen and sealed brothers would find themselves in prison, sickly and on the street without a home—naked and hungry. It should be recognized that at present no such conditions exist among those even professing to be anointed. The implosion of the Watchtower Society at Christ’s presence would set the stage for the judgment of the sheep and the goats.

Jehovah's Witnesses and Blood Transfusions

I'm becoming confused with the debate on blood. I always understood the issue to be a moral one and more about Jesus sacrifice. All the standards that I have based my life on are being eroded away. “Abstain from,” is being interpreted as meaning just abstain from eating blood as food. But does the Bible really forbid the use of blood for medical purposes?

If it was a mistake for Jehovah’s Witnesses who lost their lives because of refusing blood, was it also a mistake for those who took bullets for others in the concentration camps and gave up their lives? Has it all been for nothing?


Most likely the reason this issue has come up in your mind at this time is due to the recent publication of an essay critical of the Watchtower’s policy on blood. (Excerpts of the essay were posted on e-jehovahs-witnesses.com)

It is well to keep in mind that there are usually always two sides to every issue. And on an issue as controversial as the Watchtower’s blood policy, there are sure to be many critics. As Christians, though, our task is to tune out the cacophony of controversy as best we can and determine what Jehovah’s will in the matter is.

It is worth noting that the author of the recently published essay lost her mother, who happened to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses; supposedly, because she refused a blood transfusion. I say “supposedly” because we don’t know the circumstances surrounding her death.

At any rate, the author obviously is not an unbiased observer. Furthermore, Baylor University is the largest Baptist university in the United States and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston obviously trains student doctors in the use of blood. So, let’s not lose sight of the obvious personal point of reference of the author of the essay.

The essay, entitled "Jehovah's Witnesses, Blood Transfusions, and the Tort of Misrepresentation," critically examines the brochure “How Can Blood Save Your Life?” And, among other things, she accuses the Watchtower of overstating the risks of blood transfusions. But is that really true? Have the risks been overstated to terrify Jehovah’s Witnesses? That is merely the essayist’s opinion and not a fact of law. One can alternatively argue that the blood industry and the medical establishment have consistently understated the risks of blood transfusions. For example Pulmonary News Dot Com points out some of the inherent risks. Back in the 1980’s thousands of people were given transfusions that were contaminated with HIV.

The National Academies’ website states: “In the early 1980s, more than half of the 16,000 hemophiliacs in the United States and more than 12,000 blood transfusion patients were infected with HIV through contaminated blood. Some of them unknowingly gave the virus to their spouses, partners, and newborn children.”

There is no doubt that the numbers of persons who have died from transfusion related complications far outweighs the numbers of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have died for lack of blood. The truth is that blood screening techniques are only effective for known pathogens. There is always the risk of newly emerging diseases infecting the blood supply before they can be identified. And in some parts of the world blood is not screened because of the expense in doing so.

Uninformed persons may be of the impression that the Watchtower has callously stood by while thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses die on the operating tables because of refusing blood transfusions. Nothing could be further from the truth. Besides the fact that the numbers of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have died is most likely grossly overstated; the truth is, to their credit, the Watchtower has single-handedly changed the way that many in the medical establishment view the matter of blood transfusions.

Instead of constant confrontations between doctors and patients, there is now a greater willingness on the part of medical professionals to accommodate and cooperate with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

This has come about because the Watchtower Society has trained hundreds of elders around the world to serve on Hospital Liaison Committees in order to educate the medical community regarding our views on blood. The result has been that doctors are much more open to alternative therapies that are not objectionable to Jehovah’s Witnesses. There are even surgical facilities devoted to bloodless medicine. For example, Motts Children’s Hospital, which is connected with Michigan University, practices bloodless surgery. The hospital even credits the HCL of Jehovah’s Witnesses for their cooperation. Here is a quote from their website:

“C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, in cooperation with the local Hospital Liaison Committee of Jehovah’s Witnesses, will provide training and on-site education for physicians, nurses, and affiliates in their offices and the hospital to ensure smooth operation of this program and its affiliates. Mott Hospital can provide speakers for continuing education programs relevant to the treatment of bloodless medicine and surgery patients as well as community education programs.”

But as all of Jehovah’s Witnesses should know, our refusal to take blood transfusions is not because of any perceived medical risks from doing so. Just the opposite, in fact. We are willing to take the risk of not accepting blood transfusions in order not to violate God’s law.

Can any lawyer, doctor, or self-styled Bible expert assure us that “abstaining from blood” does not include blood transfusions? Of course not. Each Christian, therefore, must make every effort to know what God’s will is in this matter. As Paul said: 'Go on perceiving what the will of God is.'

If some of Jehovah's Witnesses view the blood issue as a conscience matter, we still have to follow the dictates of our own conscience, not someone else's conscience. And even if, due to legal pressures, the Watchtower were to drop the prohibition on blood, that would not absolve Christians from the obligation of individually obeying God’s word either.

How important than to "make sure of all things," as the apostle admonished.

For more information see No Blood Dot Org



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Murder? Yahweh? Book of Enoch? & Ray Franz?

If many parts of Ezekiel foretell the coming collapse of the WT and the calamity from judgment, how do the accounts of Jehovah saying that there is much bloodshed and murdering come into play? I do not see where theWT is guilty of such, please clarify. You have pointed out how they are guilty of idolatry, prostitution and other faithless acts, but how does bloodshed fit in the picture?


From a human point of view, murder is solely the willful, usually violent, act of taking another’s life. However, from Jehovah’s exalted perspective murder involves more than that.

For example, Jesus stated that anyone who remains wrathful with his brother is a murderer. Another aspect of murder is what is called bloodguilt. Bloodguilt may be incurred by simply doing nothing. For instance, Jehovah told Ezekiel that if he saw the executioner’s sword coming upon the city and failed to warn the unwary, then he would also be judged adversely.

Also, according to Jesus, there will be an accounting from everyone who stumbles one of Jehovah’s sheep. That’s because stumbling another causes them to lose faith and potentially lose out on life.

So, it is apparent that from Jehovah’s standpoint murder can involve more than directly killing another person.


Why do the JW's use the word Jehovah when there is no letter in the Hebrew or the Greek and since most now know that the name of the Father is Yahweh. I personally use Yahsha for His Son's name since it means Yah's Saviour. But I do not claim to be any kind of authority in the matter. I only looked at the Hebrew words seeing how the messiah was Jewish and not Greek or from any other culture. I grew up believing in the name of Jesus but always wondered what His Hebrew name was, so I started to study and came to understand that His name was not Jesus, or Iesus. I also don’t think that his name is Yahshua because the “shua” means to cry out, or wealth, or to have riches. Let me know what you think please.


The reason YHWH is spelled with a “J” is because that is the accepted method of English translation. Remember: We speak and write English—not Hebrew. True, the NWT transliterates a few Hebrew words; one that readily comes to mind is Sheol. But since it is not possible to transliterate YHWH anyway, "Jehovah" is as good a translation as any.

Also, keep in mind that God’s name is spelled and pronounced differently in every language according to customs and accepted rules of translation.

The fact is, all proper Hebrew names that are spelled with a “Y” are translated using a “J.” Common names like the Jerusalem, or Jeremiah, are two examples. There are dozens of other names spelled thusly—God’s name is merely one of many that uses a "J" in place of a "Y."

As for “Yahweh” being the correct pronunciation in Hebrew, that is not necessarily the case. Although no one can say for certain how the name was originally pronounced, we can be fairly confident that it was pronounced using three syllables-not two as in Yah-weh. And it seems reasonable to assume, at least to me, that the middle syllable had an “O” vowel sound.

Many proper Hebrew names were evidently derived from the first two syllables of God’s personal name. For instance, Jeho-seba, Jeho-ram, Jeho-shaphat, Jeho-ushua (Jesus), Jeho-zabad, Jeho-nadab, Jeho-nathan (John), Jeho-shabeth; and others besides these. All of those names have the first part of God's personal name as a prefix.

Ye-ho-wah might be the closest to the original Hebrew pronunciation; but again, no one can say with certainty. But since Jehovah has long been recognized as a legitimate and credible English approximation of the name of God, there should not be any valid objection to its continued use by Jehovah's Witnesses.


My back ground is I was born into the religion and now disfellowshipped .I am on a quest for knowledge and have found the keys of Enoch and the Urantia book where now time is a factor, what do you think about these non religiousorganization and the books.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. And Jehovah is the source or true knowledge. Jesus said of himself that he is “the way, the truth and the light.” Conversely, the apostle Paul warned Christians not to be taken in by “falsely called knowledge.” If we look to the Bible as our guide it will lead us in the right way. No other book can compare to the Bible.


As part of my current research into the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, I recently came across your site which I find very interesting. The question I would like to ask is this: I recently acquired, and read, Crisis of Conscience by Ray Franz. Have you read it, and if so, what is your response to it?

I have read Ray Franz. I really don’t have a response to any specific aspect of his work, except to say, regrettably, that large numbers of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have read his writings have had their faith totally destroyed. Perhaps that is not his intent, but it is an inescapable fact nonetheless.

Some of Jehovah’s Witnesses, understandably, put me in the same camp as Ray Franz. I totally reject that accusation—or whatever you prefer to call it. My approach and intent is exactly the opposite as his. For example, in your question you stated that your research into the Watchtower led you to read Crisis of Conscience. And it can be fairly said, as an insider from the highest level of the Society, Ray Franz certainly delivered the goods on the Watchtower. But honestly, does knowing about the Watchtower’s errors and hypocrisy strengthen our faith or weaken it? The answer is obvious.

However, my work is not merely about exposing Watchtower errors—far from it. That has already been done by Franz and many others. For example, I did not bring the Watchtower’s duplicitous NGO affair to light; nor did I have anything to do with exposing the child abuse scandal. (Neither did Franz for that matter) Neither was I the first to point out the fallacies of 1914. My unique point of reference has always been the Bible—specifically, the prophecies. And in that regard I have endeavored to allow Jehovah himself to speak to these troubling issues from the pages of the prophets.

True, since God himself addresses many of the wrong attitudes and errors that afflict his organization, it is a necessary evil to connect God’s rebuke to specific errors, but unlike Mr. Franz, my primary purpose is not merely to expose error and falsehood; instead, it is to announce Jehovah’s coming judgment to as large a segment of the Watchtower establishment and the worldwide community of Jehovah’s Witnesses as my resources allow, in order that their faith might be in Jehovah and not in a fallible organization.

The Steward

Watchman, undoubtedly for many bible readers the parable about the rich man and his steward is the hardest to understand of all of Jesus Christ's parables and it's also the least mentioned. The explanation the Society gives is somewhat unclear, at least to me it is, but perhaps some of your other readers could also benefit from a clearer explanation and maybe how the parable could apply to our lives. I look forward to your answer.

Considering that the steward is judged according to the discharge of his duties in connection with his master’s house, Jesus’ illustration, which is recorded at Luke 16:1-8, has all the elements applicable to the judgment of the so-called faithful slave at the return of Christ. Except in this instance, the slave is judged to be unrighteous in some undisclosed matter. So, realizing he is about to be put out of the house, the slave shrewdly uses his authority to makes friends for himself by means of his master’s unrighteous riches.

Previously, in the 12th chapter of Luke, Jesus sternly charged his disciples to stay awake and expectant of his thief-like return. The master’s return would result in judgment for the entire household of stewards. All of the stewards are judged to be negligent to some degree—even those who are ultimately judged to be faithful and discreet and who are subsequent to that final judgment appointed over all their master’s belongings. Describing the punishment of both the faithful and unfaithful slave, Jesus said:

“Then that slave that understood the will of his master but did not get ready or do in line with his will will be beaten with many strokes. But the one that did not understand and so did things deserving of strokes will be beaten with few. Indeed, everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him; and the one whom people put in charge of much, they will demand more than usual of him.”

It would appear, then, that the slave who is beaten with a few strokes parallels the slave who, although unfaithful in some aspect of his stewardship, nonetheless, wins his master’s favor by his discretion in the use of the unrighteous riches entrusted to him.

A related prophecy in the 22nd chapter of Isaiah sheds light upon Jesus’ numerous illustrations regarding the judgment upon the house of God. Isaiah’s prophecy pertains to the removal of an unfaithful servant and appointment of a faithful servant. It reads: "This is what the Sovereign Lord, Jehovah of armies, has said:"

“Go, enter in to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the house, ‘What is there of interest to you here, and who is there of interest to you here, that you have hewed out for yourself here a burial place?’ On a height he is hewing out his burial place; in a crag he is cutting out a residence for himself. ‘Look! Jehovah is hurling you down with violent hurling, O able-bodied man, and grasping you forcibly. Without fail he will wrap you up tightly, like a ball for a wide land. There you will die, and there the chariots of your glory will be the dishonor of the house of your master. And I will push you away from your position; and from your official standing one will tear you down.

And it must occur in that day that I will call my servant, namely, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah. And I will clothe him with your robe, and your sash I shall firmly bind about him, and your dominion I shall give into his hand; and he must become a father to the inhabitant of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will put the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, and he must open without anyone’s shutting, and he must shut without anyone’s opening. And I will drive him in as a peg in a lasting place, and he must become as a throne of glory to the house of his father.”

In the literal fulfillment Shebna and Eliakim were actual persons who lived during the time of King Hezekiah. However, it should be apparent by the terminology used that it has prophetic significance related to Christ. Notice, for example, it says that Eliakim is entrusted with “the key of the house of David” and that he will be empowered to open doors no one can shut and shut doors no one else can open. This is nearly exactly what Revelation 3:7 states concerning the glorified Christ Jesus. That verse reads as follows: “These are the things he says who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens so that no one will shut, and shuts so that no one opens…”

Furthermore, Eliakim is given a throne and all the glory of his father’s house. That clearly applies to Jesus Christ as well.

Interestingly, the October 1st, 1981, Watchtower discussed the 22nd chapter of Isaiah. It identified Shebna as the clergy and Eliakim as the faithful and discreet slave, who were supposedly appointed over all of the master’s belongings in 1919. However, if that were true it would mean that Jehovah appointed the clergy to an official position over God’s people. After all, at verse 19 Jehovah told Shebna “And I will push you away from your position; and from your official standing…” So, it is apparent that Shebna had an official standing before God, one which God himself recognized.

The Watchtower Society inserts themselves into the place of Christ in the prophecy. Ironically, in that respect they resemble Shebna, of whom Jehovah judged adversely for the very reason that he had misused his position to hew out a special residence and a burial place for himself. This most fittingly applies to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses as an institution, who have used the Scriptures in such a way so as to appoint themselves over all the master’s belongings and secure a place for themselves as the supreme authorities of all things biblical. And with that authority that have also carved out for themselves seemingly permanent residences at Bethel—assuring that they will have honored burial places.

Returning to the illustration of Christ in question, the failure of the unrighteous riches is part of Jehovah’s judgment upon the house of God. That is apparent from James 5:1-3. We may expect, then, that the judgment of Jehovah will destroy the Watchtower as an institution and those who have used their positions of authority for personal gain will find themselves on the street, as it were—weeping and gnashing their teeth--as the unfaithful slave in many of Christ's illustrations. In fact, the prelude to the prophecy in Isaiah calls for a time of weeping and mourning in the 12th verse.

However, individuals within the organization may be judged worthy of overseeing all their master’s belongings based upon their own faithfulness as individuals. The faithful slaves’ appointment over all the master’s belongings relates to their ruling as kings with Christ (Eliakim). This in keeping with the fact that the discreet slave is put out of his master's house but is received into "everlasting dwelling places" (obviously in heaven).

Beth Sarim

The Watchtower Society had two properties which were purchased for the Prophets of old to occupy when they returned to the earth. One was Beth Sarim ~ House of Princes and the other Beth Shan ~ House of Security. Interestingly, both of these houses were sold. Do they no longer believe that the prophets of old are coming back? Also, as the deeds where put in these prophets name, for them to go and make a claim ~ WHO? ~ Had the right to sell them. I have copies of both the deeds.

Jehovah’s Witnesses still believe in the future earthly resurrection. But as for the legal matters concerning the sale of those properties I suppose you should ask the Society’s Legal Department.

The truth is, the Beth Sarim mansion, which was located in beautiful San Diego over-looking Mission Valley, was the luxurious winter house for Judge Rutherford. The story is Rutherford had gotten ill and suffered permanent lung damage from his brief incarceration in the Atlanta penitentiary in 1918; and consequently, supposedly, he could not endure the cold winters of New York.

So, it is not like the Beth Sarim sat empty awaiting the resurrection to deliver the rightful occupants to Beth Sarim. Apparently the Watchtower’s 2nd president was more than happy to "house sit" until the “ancient worthies” were resurrected to claim the deed to their property.


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Will he really find the faith on the earth?

At Luke 18:8, Jesus asks the question "...will he really find the faith on the earth?" However, the NWT is the only Bible translation which inserts "the" into this scripture, yet without using the typical brackets that are utilized when words are inserted for clarity by the NWT translators--and even though the expression "the faith" is not in the original Greek nor appears in any interlinear translations. Does it not seem that the expression "the faith" being used here instead of "faith" is intended to point directly to the ideas conveyed by the Watchtower's teaching of having been appointed in 1919? What might be an explanation for saying Jesus will be looking for "the faith" and not that he will be looking for "faith" on the earth at his return? Finally, can you elaborate on what Jesus will be looking for at his return when he uses the expression "the faith" or "faith" (depending on your determination as to the NWT's handling of Jesus' words), and how we personally can be found by him in this regard?


Actually, the expression “the faith” is used in numerous places in the Greek Scriptures, and not only in the New World Translation but in others as well. For example, Acts 6:7 reads: “Consequently the word of God went on growing, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying in Jerusalem very much; and a great crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith.” The King James and the NIV as well as other versions I checked all say “the faith” in that particular verse.

1 Corinthians 16:13 also refers to “the faith.” It reads: “Stay awake, stand firm in the faith, carry on as men, grow mighty.” The aforementioned translations also use the same expression.

I am not in a position to say why the Watchtower did not put brackets around [the] at Luke 18:8, but it seems that the NWT is justified in using the term “the faith” since it is used elsewhere in the Bible to denote a specific faith.

As for the import of Jesus words, here is the immediate context of Luke 18:8: “Certainly, then, shall not God cause justice to be done for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, even though he is long-suffering toward them? I tell you, He will cause justice to be done to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man arrives, will he really find the faith on the earth?”

Jesus was discussing his return and judgment day. In the previous verses Jesus foretold of a great separation work that would take place, where one will be taken along and the other abandoned. There are reasons, too numerous to cite here, leading to the conclusion that the separation Jesus was taking about will take place among Christians—sifting out the faithful from the unfaithful. The chosen ones, mentioned in the verse under consideration, are those who pass the test, which Revelation 3:10 refers to as a test that is coming upon the entire world.

In verses 9-13 Jesus followed up his comment about “the faith” with an illustration of two men with contrasting attitudes. One man, a Pharisee, prayed to himself boasting of his assumed righteousness because of his following organizational rituals. The other man, a despised tax collector, begged God to have mercy on him because he was a sinner. Jesus concluded the illustration, saying: “I tell you, this man went down to his home proved more righteous than that man; because everyone that exalts himself will be humiliated, but he that humbles himself will be exalted.”

Since the self-exalted have not been humbled and the lowly have not been exalted, and since the context of Jesus’ illustration has to do with the arrival of the Son of man, it would appear that “the faith” Jesus referred to has to do with each one’s faith in God, as opposed to trusting in an organization or in ourselves.

Like the Pharisee of Jesus’ illustration, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses may be inclined to trust in their own righteousness based upon adherence to organizational works. But during the hour of test it will not matter how long one has served at Bethel or how many hours a publisher has spent in field service. That’s because the organization is going to be shattered.

In view of the unquestioning trust (bordering on idolatry) that so many place in the organization, it is not entirely clear whether Jehovah's Witnesses have the sort of faith that can survive the collapse of the Watchtower. That is what will be determined when the Son of man arrives and initiates the judgment upon the house of God.

No doubt that is why Jesus posed the somewhat discomforting question: “When the Son of man arrives, will he really find the faith on the earth?”

What about a rebuilt temple on Mount Moriah?

Since the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E., has there been any attempt made to rebuild the temple at Mount Moriah. Is there any evidence today of any future temple building project at this site? If such a project becomes a reality in the future, what should this indicate to true Christians?


While it is true that millions of evangelicals believe it, the notion that Bible prophecy foretells that the Jews will return to Palestine and that another temple will be built as a prelude to Christ’s return is not supported by the Scriptures. Although highly unlikely, it is possible that some sort of temple might one day be constructed on or near the present site of the Islamic Dome of the Rock, but if so it will have nothing to do with Bible prophecy. If anything it is a satanic deception.

How do we know that the prophecies do not apply to a physical temple? For one thing, Jesus indicated that Jerusalem and its temple were being completely phased out as the center for Jehovah’s worship, when he said the following to the Samaritan woman at the well: “The hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you people worship the Father.”

Rather than worship in a stone and mortar temple, Christ instituted a spiritual temple. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews explains how the Jewish temple merely foreshadowed much greater spiritual realities having to do with Christ. That being the case, what purpose could possibly be served by recreating yet another earthly temple?

The belief that another temple must be built on the site of the former one is a key teaching of what is known as Christian Zionism.

Will Adam & Eve be resurrected?

The Watchtower teaches that Christ ransom sacrifice does not apply to Adam and Eve since they were created perfect. If the ransom does not apply to them, then why didn’t God destroy them the very day they sinned? Did God use them merely to populate the earth, so that some among Adam’s offspring would benefit from the ransom? Given the circumstances and the pressures under which Adam found himself, he may not have had in mind the long term consequences of his action. At the time, all he saw was his companion Eve as there were no other humans on earth yet. Also, he could have felt responsible for Eve’s action, seeing the manner in which Eve was created and brought to him; the two becoming one flesh in terms of complementing each other. So, does the teaching that Christ’s ransom sacrifice is inapplicable to Adam and Eve biblically sound?

Adam and Eve were sentenced and evicted from the Garden of Eden and prevented from eating from the Tree of Life on the very day they sinned. Although they continued living on the outside of Eden for hundreds of years they eventually died, as God said they would. And from Jehovah’s lofty vantage point—where a thousand years are as one day—they did indeed die on the very day of their eating the forbidden fruit.

As for “pressures” that Adam may have felt Jehovah did not accept Adam’s lame excuse that he disobeyed because of the woman whom God had given him. Adam was the head. He was responsible. He was obligated to obey God regardless of all else.

The Bible says that sin entered the world through one man—not through the woman—even though Eve sinned first and led her husband into rebellion against God. Interestingly, centuries later the Law of Jehovah stipulated that a woman’s father or husband was the final arbiter of all vows engaged in by his daughters or wives. In other words, a woman’s spiritual relationship with God was mediated to a limited extend by the head of the family. Here is part of the Law as recorded in the 30th chapter of Numbers: “But if her husband on the day of hearing it forbids her, he has also annulled her vow that was upon her or the thoughtless promise of her lips that she bound upon her soul, and Jehovah will forgive her.”

Of course, Adam and Eve were not under the Mosaic legal system, however, this provision of the Law reveals Jehovah’s legal mind on the matter of headship. Since Adam was Eve’s head it is quite possible that if he would have resisted the temptation to join his wife in eating the forbidden fruit he could have annulled Eve’s thoughtless act and Jehovah may have forgiven her. That makes Adam’s failure to adhere to God’s law all the more reprehensible and tragic. It also helps us to appreciate why Paul said that sin entered the world through the man.

As for the ransom applying to Adam and Eve the Mosaic Law also sheds light upon that question as well. The 35th chapter of Numbers outlines the provision for cities of refuge for unintentional manslayers. However, the Law stipulated that a willful murderer was to be put to death without fail. There was no refuge for him. Likewise, the Law required that the negligent owner of a goring bull, who knew that the bull was dangerous but did nothing and someone was fatally gored as a consequence, was to be put to death. He could not pay any sort of monetary ransom for his neglect.

That legal principle certainly applies to Adam. By his neglect to obey the command of God he became a willful murderer of the then unborn. He sold not only himself into slavery to sin and death but also the billions of his unborn offspring. Just as the willful murderer could not pay any ransom or find refuge in the city of refuge, so too Adam had to pay the price for his willful disobedience. In accord with the Law, which was a shadow of the reality of Christ, Jesus’ ransom must only apply to those who were unwillingly sold into death and who are unintentional sinners—not to Adam and Eve who had the choice of life and death, but who chose sin and death.

Will the "victims" of Armageddon be resurrected?

The WTS teaches that the billions of victims of the Armageddon battle will not be resurrected, because they will have been sent to Gehenna, and not to Sheol. What is your viewpoint on this?


The Bible does not depict those who will be put to death during the war of Armageddon as “victims.” Armageddon is the culmination of Jehovah’s judgment against Satan’s world. It will be preceded by a series of cataclysmic events which will serve to put the world on notice that God’s kingdom has begun ruling. Those events will also be accompanied by a new phase of preaching by Jehovah’s Witnesses—specifically those who will at that time be recognized by Jehovah as the sons of the kingdom. Their presence on earth will be the means by which God holds the nations of the world accountable to him based upon the treatment meted out upon the sons of the kingdom. Those who fail to respond appropriately will demonstrate that they refuse to submit to God’s sovereignty, and will hence forfeit life—indefinitely.