How many times does Jesus arrive?

Since Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus Christ has come into his Kingdom, how can that be compatible with celebrating the memorial in view of 1st Corinthians 11:26: "For as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.”


The Watchtower explains that by saying that Christ has numerous “arrivals.” The Watchtower teaches that Jesus arrived in 1914 and that he will also arrive again at Armageddon. However, their teaching does not stand up to scrutiny.

For example, consider the Watchtower’s teaching regarding the faithful slave. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that shortly after Christ arrived in 1914 he came to God’s spiritual house for judgment. It is believed that Jesus initiated the foretold judgment upon the house of God sometime in 1918 and that he thereafter appointed an approved slave class “over all of his belongings.”

But according to Jesus, the slaves who are ultimately judged to have been faithful to their original appointment to feed their fellow slaves are not appointed over all of their master’s belongings until the master arrives. Jesus spoke of the faithful slave on two separate occasions. The most frequently quoted is in the context of the sign of the conclusion in the 24th chapter of Matthew. However, Jesus also spoke of the faithful slave in the 12th chapter of Luke. He did so in explanation to Peter’s question in response to another parable Jesus had just uttered.

At Luke 12:37-40 Jesus urged his disciples to stay awake in anticipation of his unannounced arrival, saying: “Happy are those slaves whom the master on arriving finds watching! Truly I say to you, He will gird himself and make them recline at the table and will come alongside and minister to them. And if he arrives in the second watch, even if in the third, and finds them thus, happy are they! But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have kept watching and not have let his house be broken into. You also, keep ready, because at an hour that you do not think likely the Son of man is coming.”

The Watchtower applies the parable above to the future arrival of Jesus, which is obviously correct. However, Jesus went on to explain who the illustration applied to, saying: “Who really is the faithful steward, the discreet one, whom his master will appoint over his body of attendants to keep giving them their measure of food supplies at the proper time? Happy is that slave, if his master on arriving finds him doing so! I tell you truthfully, He will appoint him over all his belongings. But if ever that slave should say in his heart, ‘My master delays coming,’ and should start to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day that he is not expecting him and in an hour that he does not know, and he will punish him with the greatest severity and assign him a part with the unfaithful ones.”

Please notice that Jesus again referred to his surprise arrival. Only in the enlarged explanation Jesus indicated that some of his slaves would not be expecting his sudden arrival and would consequently be adversely judged for their negligence. The Watchtower, though, insists that Jesus has already arrived to judge his slaves – way back in 1918. But how can that be? How reasonable is it that Jesus intended to teach his disciples to anticipate two separate arrivals? It is not reasonable at all! The fact that the master will arrive at a time the unfaithful slave is not expecting harmonizes with the previous illustration regarding Christ’s coming “at and hour you do not think likely.”

The truth is there are not two arrivals. There is only one. The fact that the Watchtower teaches that Christ has already arrived is surely the reason Christ will come at an hour his disciples do not think likely and at an hour the evil slave is not expecting.

Additional reading: When does Jesus Come?

-

The Watchtower as a UN-approved NGO

Why has e-watchman devoted a considerable amount of time and effort to make a case against the Watchtower’s former registration as an NGO with the United Nations? In a circular letter dated November 1, 2001, the Watchtower stated the following concerning its disassociation with the U.N.:

“...the Criteria for Association of NGOs—at least in their latest version—contain language that we cannot subscribe to. When we realized this, we immediately withdrew our registration…”

It appears that they were not aware of the “latest” version for association of NGOs. After which, they withdrew their registration, being “grateful that this matter was brought to [their] attention.” In what way have “opposers” attempted to “discredit” the Watchtower in this regard as stated in this circular letter? Since the Watchtower operates under a cloak of theocracy, Jehovah’s Witnesses will likely leave this matter in God’s hand. Has this matter been satisfactorily resolved in the minds of Jehovah's Witnesses, so that they bear no community guilt before God?


The Watchtower is lying.

The Criteria of Association of NGOs has always been the same. Apparently there was some minor rewording of the application, but according to the UN’s Department of Public Information (DPI) approved NGOs enter into a partnership with the United Nations. According to the UN the present working arrangement has been in place since 1968. Here is a quote from the DPI website addressing this point:

“In 1968, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), by resolution 1297 (XLIV) of 27 May, called on DPI to associate NGOs, bearing in mind the letter and spirit of its resolution 1296 (XLIV) of 23 May 1968, which stated that an NGO “...shall undertake to support the work of the UN and to promote knowledge of its principles and activities, in accordance with its own aims and purposes and the nature and scope of its competence and activities.”

When the story of the Watchtower’s involvement with the UN first broke in October of 2001, the UN headquarters was inundated with inquiries from Jehovah’s Witnesses. The DPI received so many emails and calls that they posted their official response on their website in which they clearly stated that the Watchtower agreed to support the United Nations in accord with the established criteria. (Click here and navigate to the link that says Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. PDF file)

Interestingly, the letter also states that it is the UN’s policy to keep all correspondence between the UN and their associate NGOs confidential, which is a backhanded sort of way of stating that there was an ongoing interchange between the UN and the Watchtower.

Indeed, it is the obligation of all NGOs to keep the UN apprised of the progress of their particular information campaign in behalf of the DPI. Did the Watchtower comply with the DPI’s requirement to conduct an effective information campaign and to inform the UN of it? Undoubtedly it did, otherwise they probably would have been disqualified for serving as an NGO.

E-watchman has painstakingly documented the extent to which Bethel went to comply with the requirements of the DPI, which involved using the Watchtower and Awake magazines to inform the public and present in a positive light the UN's many agencies and programs. (See articles Strange Bedfellows, Plumbing the Depths of the Watchtower’s Prostitution, and The Watchtower and the UN: What is the Truth? )

The UN’s human rights website even lists the November 22nd, 1998, Awake Magazine, which was written specifically to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights. Evidently the Watchtower sent the UN a copy of that particular issue as proof of their compliance with the requirements for NGOs. (The Watchtower apparently was initially oblivious to the power of the Internet)

Does the mere fact that the Watchtower withdrew its NGO membership after it was exposed mean that all is well now? Take the case of a husband and wife relationship: What if one mate committed adultery over a long period of time and refused to admit it but merely secretly broke off the adulterous affair? Would that make everything right? Doesn’t the innocent mate deserve to know the truth?

In order to be resolved of guilt the Watchtower must first admit its guilt. It has not done so yet. The Watchtower's brief mention of their NGO affair in their letter to the branches merely blamed the UN for supposedly changing the wording of the NGO application -- leaving one the impression that all the Watchtower had to do to become an NGO was sign an application. The Watchtower’s response has actually added more guilt to their already considerable guilt of spiritual prostitution.

In fact, the Watchtower has never publicly admitted it was ever an NGO. It has only done so in private correspondence. To this day the vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses have no inkling of the affair. The comparative few who have heard of it are duped into imagining that it was something entirely fabricated by boogiemen apostates and opposers. Millions of publishers and hundreds of thousands of pioneers have no idea they were betrayed by the Watchtower and used like dumb pack-mules to disseminate subtle UN propaganda to the public.

From Jehovah's standpoint, until the Watchtower comes clean and admits that it knowingly and willingly engaged in a collaborative partnership with the United Nations there can be no forgiveness.



Link to additional article http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/ngo-un/rest-un/2001/1030j.htm

-

-

Sheep and goats

In view of Jesus words at John 10:25-31, how can it be that 'sheep' can be found to be 'goats', if nothing can remove the sheep from Jesus' hand? Doesn't this imply eternal security for a true believer? Otherwise the terms 'sheep' and 'goats' are a contradiction in terms. If a sheep could be taken from Jesus' hand, what does the sheep become? A goat? It seems that Jesus was teaching 2 distinct groups: believers and unbelievers and that we can put great assurance that we can never lose our salvation by being plucked out of the hand of our Shepherd. Only 'sheep' can hear Jesus. The goats never CAN. John 8:43, 47 Otherwise, we must conclude that sheep can become goats by being unfaithful. Yet, that would mean that Jesus indeed can 'lose' his sheep and they can be 'plucked out of his hand'.


In the 10th chapter of John Jesus discussed his role as Jehovah’s good Shepherd. Contrasting himself to the hired men who do not really care for the sheep and fail to protect them, which results in the sheep being scattered and assaulted by wolves, Jesus stated the following: “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father. I and the Father are one.”

In stating the above, Jesus indicated that he could never be overpowered or outsmarted by any sort of predator so that he might become an ineffectual shepherd -- like the hired men. However, that is not to say that Jesus’ followers cannot become unfaithful or allow themselves to be stumbled. Jesus himself says in Revelation that he will vomit lukewarm Christians out of his mouth as unpalatable. Numerous parables also indicate that Jesus will adversely judge those whom he deems to be wicked and sluggish slaves. It is not as though an enemy snatches them out of Christ’s hand though. Christ himself rejects those whom he judges to be unfaithful to their calling.

What about the king of the north and south?

What light can you shed on the WTBS explanation in the Pay attention book of Daniel 11:20; proving that the Anglo-American world power switched from being the King ofthe South to the king of the North?


I am not sure I understand your question. But the Watchtower does not teach that the Anglo-American king switched from being the king of the south to become the king of the north. The Society teaches that the Anglo-American dual world power has always been the king of the south and the modern king of the north has been Germany and the USSR. The Society offers no suggestions on who the king of the north might be at the present moment and they discourage Jehovah’s Witnesses from even thinking about it or discussing the issue.

E-watchman has presented the case for the British Empire filling the role of the king of the north with the United States as the king of the south. In order to understand how that works we should first dispel the myth that the British Empire no longer exists, then we must come to appreciate that even though Great Britain and America are allies, they are also rivals. The intent of the imperial system is to befriend its enemies in order to beguile and subvert them, which is exactly what has happened. The goal of the London-centered financier oligarchy is to ultimately destroy the United States once and for all, at least the constitutional republic.

It is from that standpoint that e-watchman has interpreted the prophecy of the rivalry between the king of the north and south. (See essay: The King of the North Conspires for World Domination)

What about tattoos?

I have been an active Jehovah’s Witness for over 20 years, and have seen more and more changing attitudes in the last few years. (Sex, underage drinking, divorce) It seems to me that a new age of Witnesses is appearing in the United Kingdom. What I mean by this is, for example: the issue of tattoos is now viewed in many halls as acceptable. Why, 4 elders in my own hall have them, as do many sisters and young ones. I have used many scriptures, like Leviticus 19:28 and Romans 12:12, and research on the origin of tattoos to show how God must feel about them; but have been told that because the Watchtower has not told us it is wrong to get them and is a conscience matter, to keep quiet. Now more and more young ones are getting them as those taking the lead wont speak out against them, but bizarrely enough, a local needs talk was given about how women wearing trousers offend Jehovah. Where do you stand on the issue of tattoos brother Watchman?


The Watchtower has written enough about tattoos to provide anyone who wishes sufficient guidance.

The fact that significant numbers of Jehovah’s Witnesses are ignoring the Watchtower’s counsel and embracing a degrading worldly fashion such as tattooing is symptomatic of the coming “increasing of lawlessness.”

Interestingly, tattoos used to be a means of marking a slave, and even though modern men and women who may choose to get themselves tattooed typically feel that they are expressing thier freedom, in reality they are branding in their flesh an indelible mark that signifies they are mere slaves of fashion of this world.

-

Going back to meetings

Regardless of fault, how does being "disfellowshipped" from the WBTS position you in our stream of time?


It is unclear to me exactly what you are asking. But being disfellowshipped for telling the truth is something akin to be thrown from the synagogue in the first century. Jesus said that in the last days true Christians would be beaten in the synagogues. No doubt it is something that more and more of Jehovah’s Witnesses will experience going forward; especially when things go terribly wrong and the Watchtower has no answers.



I'm sure we have all been over this time and again but…what are your thoughts on returning to the meetings? I am disassociated and wondering what really is the right thing to do – stay away and wait on Jehovah, or begin attending again. I am having a hard time with the thought of re-attending as so much they are teaching is wrong. And I do not want them to get the impression that I thought I was wrong if I start attending again.

Being disassociated is a difficult situation to be in because basically you are considered to be in a disfellowshipped state, and going back would require you to be reinstated. And in order to be reinstated you would have to reassure the elders that you believe in everything the Watchtower teaches.

Of course, you can simply go to meetings and be shunned as a disfellowshipped person, and just sit and listen to the meeting and get up and leave. But in order to be viewed as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses again you would essentially have to pledge your allegiance to the Watchtower Society. If you are wiling to do that then you should go back. Either way though, waiting on Jehovah is the best course of action.

_

Why does e-watchman apply judgment prophecies to the anointed?

Since anointed members have already been declared righteous through the sin atoning sacrifice of Jesus, why does e-watchman apply prophecies of judgment against ancient Jerusalem to the holy spirit anointed priesthood that are currently serving in a spiritual sense in the holy compartment of the sanctuary while still on earth? --See Romans 4:24 through 5: 2, 9


It is not merely so-called Old Testament prophecies directed against ancient Judah and Jerusalem that have a bearing upon these matters. The very foundation of Christianity is based upon the principal of a future judgment day at the revelation of Christ. Not to be overlooked is the fact that the apostle Peter indicated that judgment begins first with the house of God. The Watchtower also recognizes that to be true. Unfortunately, though, the Society has convinced Jehovah’s Witnesses that God’s judgments have already occurred; having taken place back in 1918. That is why a large portion of the work presented on e-watchman is intended to overturn that strongly entrenched “operation of error.” For example, see the essay: The Harvest

CLICK HERE for e-watchman mailbag archive

__

Has the Governing Body always been this way?

My question is this, at Matthew 24:45-51, in the discussion about who the faithful and discrete slave will be ... and not be, was there a point in time prior to now when the Governing Body would "entertain" thoughts and ideas from other members of the "little flock" who were not on the GB or at Bethel that went contrary to the accepted "dogma" without them going berserk and disfellowshipping some and labeling them with the apostate tag? Is this a relatively new phenomenon?, or have they always shown this attitude, because it appears in the scripture mentioned above that there would be a line of delineation when they would no longer accept anything from outside their ranks and would treat other members of the "little flock" who dared question them with the severest of measures. Is the line of delineation 1975, or their adulterous relationship with the U.N. or some combination?

As individuals I am sure most members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses are of the finest sort of men. On a personal note: About 25 years ago I had the privilege of working in the field service on two different occasions with visiting members of the Governing Body. I was deeply impressed with their lowliness of mind and unpretentiousness. Also, in my experience more recently, I used to write to various members of the GB with numerous research papers. Although my research may not have been well received I did not experience any sort of reprimand or reprisals. (The more recent open letters accusing the GB of apostasy are another matter.)

We need to keep in mind that Jesus will judge everyone as individuals – including Governing Body brothers. After all, that’s the point of Jesus’ illustration concerning the faithful and evil slave. Both slaves have an appointment from the master of the house and both slaves will be judged as to their faithfulness in the discharge of their duties. Upon the master’s coming the faithful slave is appointed over all his masters’ belongings while the evil slave is put out of the house entirely.

On the other hand, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society Corporation are not individuals. They are institutions. And as such, organizations have a character and an accountability of their own that supersedes the individuals that comprise it. Perhaps there are individuals on the Governing Body who are inclined toward a more reasonable stance on some issues or they may favor discarding certain teachings, but if so, they would probably find themselves more or less powerless to affect the body as a whole.

In many respects the institutions of the GB and the WT are comparable to the Pharisees and the religious institutions of Judah during the time of Christ. But even though Jesus condemned the institutions and organization as a whole many individuals of the Pharisees and the temple priests actually became followers of Jesus.

So, we have to be careful not to condemn or judge individuals. We wisely leave all judging to Jehovah’s appointed Judge – Jesus. But, we know from the prophecies that the organization that presently bears the name of Jehovah will be destroyed. Afterwards a new organization comes into existence comprised of individuals who will have been judged faithful to God.

Will there be another world war?

E-watchman seems to advocate the view that there will be a third world war. However, the Watchtower does not seem to share that view. It reported that a third world war would render the earth uninhabitable. To support this idea, they quote Bible verses relating to the permanency of the earth, as found in Psalm 37:29, Ecclesiastes 1:4 and Revelation 11:18. Why then does e-watchman promote the view that there will be a third world war? If that is the case, how do we account for the great crowd that comes out of the great tribulation as shown in Revelation? Given the indiscriminate destructive power of nuclear armaments, wouldn’t the use of WMP preclude the survival of the great crowd?


Ironically, the Watchtower recognizes that the nuclear threat is very real. For example, the Society’s website has an article that was originally published in 1999, which describes the nuclear threat as a “Damoclean sword” hanging over mankind. It points out that during the Cold War the military doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) convinced the Superpowers that a nuclear war was un-winnable for either side because all would be destroyed. It also makes mention of the threat terrorists with WMD pose.

However, the whole concept of nuclear war has subtly changed in recent years. No longer is the use of nuclear weapons thought of in terms of mutual destruction. Under the Bush administration the United States has abandoned its long-held policy of using atomic weapons only in defense or retaliation and has adopted a new policy of preemptive nuclear warfare. Why the change?

Three years ago BBC reported that the United States was determined to build a new generation of nuclear weapons; a smaller, less destructive weapon designed to penetrate and destroy underground bunkers and which also could be used as a tactical weapon on the battlefield.

Apparently that new class of weaponry is now operational; evidenced by the fact that in recent weeks the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) has been readied for an immediate nuclear strike against Iran. What is perhaps most unsettling is the fact that the new generation of mini-nukes have been classified by the military as conventional weaponry and do not have to have executive authorization before being deployed. Battlefield commanders have been empowered to use such weapons at their own discretion.

Nuclear war is no longer unthinkable because it is no longer even thought of as nuclear war!

Not only is a nuclear strike against Iran said to be imminent, as if to raise the stakes, North Korea has stated: "Dark clouds of a nuclear war are hanging low over the Korean Peninsula."

So, it would appear that the scene of the world is rapidly changing – growing more ominous by the day.

Apparently the Watchtower is no longer watching.

The reason the Watchtower’s watchmen have fallen asleep at their posts is because they believe that most of the prophecies have already been fulfilled. They don’t know what to watch for! They are expecting the UN to suddenly destroy organized religion. That’s not going to happen given the world’s present political arrangement. Other things must come first.

Take the prophecy of Joel as an example of the Society’s intractable blindness. That vital prophecy foretells that the earth is going to be ravaged by an irresistible insect-like military force. As a result of the locust attack Joel foretells that the sun will turn dark and the moon will turn to blood, etc.

That foreboding apocalyptic terminology, which Jesus also invoked when he foretold that mankind would become faint with fright because of the roaring of the sea and fearful sights in the heavens, seems to be describing a large scale nuclear war and the effect it will have upon the world. It will cause such distress to God’s people that they will cry out to Jehovah for relief. God responds by destroying the invading military force.

Inexplicably, the Watchtower claims that Jehovah’s Witnesses are the symbolic locusts that are plaguing the world and afflicting God’s people! (For an alternative explanation of Joel see the essay: Day of the Locust Attack)

Many other examples could be cited, but the Watchtower’s interpretation of Joel is one of Bethel’s most absurd teachings, and as such, it illustrates why they are blind and unable to discern the significance of present developments and what they portend for the future.

But, be assured that Jehovah will not allow men or demons to destroy the earth or make it uninhabitable. The meek will inherit the earth.

But in view of the fact that the prophecies indicate that a great calamity lies in the future, and it is also clearly evident that the nations are being manipulated towards a ruinous world war using the newly developed mini-nukes, perhaps we can better understand why Revelation promises that God will “bring to ruin those ruining the earth” and wipe the tears from the faces of those who ultimately do inherit the earth.

An Islamic king of the north?

In watching the goings on of the world, the thought occurred to me that the King of the North may now just be the Nation of Muslim. I am not talking about a bordered nation or state, but just a population from wherever they may be. When observing them recently they seem to be gaining in their aggressive nature and it seems the Bible prophecy states that 'He' would rise up from the sunrise, which could just mean every where. I lack the clarity for this that I have seen from your writing, but could this thought be a possibility for our time, seems nothing else is fitting?

The “goings on of the world” are not always as they appear. What is taking place throughout the Muslim world is in reality a carefully orchestrated act of provocation in order to polarize peoples and nations against each other and incite war. Who is behind such a thing?

If you recall, in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq a few years ago the nations of Europe did not support the Anglo-American military adventure. This time it seems that the powers-that-be are taking steps to ensure the support of otherwise reluctant nations for the next phase of war against Syria and Iran. This is being done by inciting Muslims to outrage by various means; likely employing agent provocateurs to advance the neo-con agenda.

The goal is, of course, to ultimately establish control over Iran’s massive oil fields. LaRouche’s EIR reports that the London-centered financier oligarchy is in the final stages of detonating the blow-out of the financial system; all the while preparing to scuttle the doomed financial markets themselves in order to seize control of raw materials; abolish the American republic and establish a fascist dictatorship over the world.

This is exactly in accord with what the prophecies foretold concerning the king of the north and king of fierce countenance; namely, that he will use deception and act with success in order to bring ruination upon the mighty ones and rule over the hidden treasures of gold, etc.

See essays on king of the north and the king of fierce countenance

Here is a link sent in by a reader with additional information on tried and true subterfuge tactics that may possibly be employed now to ignite nuclear war.

See e-watchman Blog post on the Clash of Civilizations

The Myth of the Fall of Babylon the Great

When you first produced commentaries and essays about the scriptures in particular about the Watchtower and Jehovah’s Witnesses, you gave me the impression that you believed the Watchtower, or at least the group that call themselves Jehovah's Witnesses was God’s earthly organization. Indeed, you said that they, as god’s people, were in line for Judgment and they were at present blind this. However your latest commentary about Babylon the Great (when you discuss other groups who were active at the same time of the bible students who also rejected the League of Nations) appears to indicate that your opinion is changing. Do you still hold to the modern day congregation being Gods slave or not?

My belief that the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses has served Jehovah’s purpose has not changed. Perhaps you misunderstood the commentary on The Myth of the Fall of Babylon the Great – or maybe it was unclear.

An oft-overlooked yet crucial aspect of the command to “get out of her my people” is the simple fact that the command is issued to those whom God calls “my people.” That means that God recognizes the captives of Babylon as his people before they come out of her – just as the Jews were God’s people before they went into captivity.

The Watchtower presently teaches that Babylon the Great fell in 1919. Does that mean that the International Bible Students were part of Babylon the Great before 1919? Not according to the Watchtower. The Society teaches that God’s people went into spiritual captivity for the brief duration of 1916-1919 only. As you are undoubtedly aware, that is when the Watchtower headquarters went through an intense period of turmoil –culminating in the incarceration of J.F. Rutherford and seven other Watchtower officials.Presumably, before 1916 the International Bible Students were not in Babylon the Great.

(In actuality, the Watchtower originally published that Babylon the Great was the Catholic Church and that it fell in 1808-9 when Napoleon had Pope Pius VII arrested and the Vatican was occupied by Napoleon’s army for approximately 10 years. Apparently, though, in 1900 the Watchtower revised their view of Babylon the Great to encompass all of Christendom and it was said to have fallen in 1874, which is the year that Jesus' parousia was originally thought to have begun. The view that Babylon the Great fell in 1919 was not adopted until some time later – probably after 1925, which is when the Society first formulated the doctrine that Christ’s presence began in 1914 -- not 1874. Interestingly, that means that the International Bible Students did not even realize the angel had sounded the call to “get out of her my people” until more than six years after they supposedly had already gotten out of her! – proving that every myth has an untidy element to it that cannot be reconciled with reality.)

The point is, our misunderstanding of what getting out of Babylon means prevents us from considering any alternative interpretation. My purpose is to tear down and uproot the numerous falsities with which Jehovah’s Witnesses have been saddled; in order to prepare the minds of a few to anticipate what the Watchtower does not expect – a future captivity to Babylon the Great.

Macabees, Removal of the name of Jehovah and Rahab

In the Daniel book regarding the king of the north and south it talks about the Maccabees and how significant it was that Judas Maccabee restored the temple for "Jehovah" and establish Hanukkah. If this was a victory for Jehovah and so significant in biblehistory, then why don't JW's recognize it for what its worth?

Since the extra-biblical incident is mentioned in the Watchtower Society’s commentary on Daniel it is apparent that Jehovah’s Witnesses do recognize it as genuine Jewish history.

_

Dear Sir, I have no doubt in my mind that Jehovah is God's personal name, and I know it appears almost 7,000 times in the Old Testament, now my question is. Being that God's personal name is so important, why would he allow his holy name to be removed from the new testament, no doubt Jesus called him Jehovah, but in the oldest copies of the Greek scriptures we have his name had already been removed, why would he allow that?

Not only did he allow his name to be removed from the oldest copies of the Greek Scriptures, but he continues to allow modern translators to remove his name from the entire Bible. Jesus once said that there is nothing that is carefully hidden except for the purpose of revealing. In a sense God has allowed his name to be hidden. However, Jehovah has also seen to it that his name be restored to the Scriptures and its significance revealed to those who want to know the truth, which is the work Jehovah’s Witnesses have accomplished in recent decades. And who knows, perhaps at some point ancient New Testament scrolls might be unearthed that contain the divine name.

_

How do we reconcile what Ezra told the people to do with their foreign wives with the fact that Rahab (the Canaanite) was a part of Jesus family line? They brought it out at our meeting that Ezra told them to do this because of keeping the lines to the Messiah pure.

Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute, is specifically named as an outstanding example of faith. Even though she was not in any way connected to the Israelites, she put her faith and trust in the God of the Israelites. In effect, she converted –becoming a proselyte. And as such she was entitled to be recognized as having an equal standing in the nation, which included marital rights. Same situation with Ruth, the Moabitess; she also converted to the worship of Jehovah and became an ancestress of Jesus.

The situation that arose in Ezra’s day was different. Evidently it had become a common practice for Hebrew men to marry foreign women, which was a flagrant violation of the Mosaic Law. And there is no indication that those foreign women became Jewish proselytes before they became wives to Jewish husbands, as was the case with Rahab and Ruth.

Should elders warn unsuspecting parents of predators?

I was at the assembly last weekend, where the stress was on how we dress and higher education. Is it only me, or does the Society go into places where they do not belong? What happened to the verse in acts 5:29: “We do not wish to add further burdens to you, but only these necessary things”? We live in the Third World and getting any job without an education is an absolute no-no. There aren’t any part-time jobs like in Europe and the U.S., where bros can support themselves and families. Why add the burden of guilt with such articles?

No, you are not the only one who feels that the Watchtower has over-stepped its bounds and has placed unnecessary burdens upon Jehovah’s Witnesses. Sadly, the Society has become Pharisaic in many ways. The only solution is God’s kingdom.

Do you not think that parents in the congregation have a right to know when there is a pedophile in the congregation, instead of just being reassured that elders will keep an eye on them? I used to be an interested person but will never set foot in a kingdom hall again. My daughter was abused for months by someone we met there.

Yes. Absolutely. Elders are morally responsible to make sure that children are protected from sexual predators in the congregations. Unfortunately, following the directions of the Watchtower’s Legal Department, as elders are sternly instructed to do, has not helped them protect the children in the congregations. Just the opposite, in fact. The Society’s policies have actually served to shield thousands of child sexual predators from arrest and exposure.

Clarification on the presence of Christ

I am seeking clarification about the presence. You state in your book "the Bible does indeed teach that Christ's arrival initiates the period of his being present among his chosen ones....."

What do you believe to be the purpose and duration of the time period of the presence? Is the analogy used by Christ with regard to the "days of Noah" relevant to this period of time? What do you believe the scripture to indicate when it says “and THEN THEY will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory"?

The future presence of Christ can best be understood in relation to Christ’s presence among his disciples after his resurrection. That is when Jesus made his presence known among his disciples, including his women disciples, in order to prepare them to receive the holy spirit and embark on a new and intensified ministry.

On one occasion when Christ appeared to the apostles he said to them: “O senseless ones and slow in heart to believe on all the things the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” Christ’s rather blunt rebuke of the apostles for their slowness to grasp the meaning of the prophecies is especially applicable to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses today and the organization in general. So much of what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe and preach concerning prophecy is simply nonsense and the vast majority are too senseless and slow of heart to believe anything other than the nonsense they have been taught. So, the presence of Christ will serve as a powerful rebuke to Christ’s anointed disciples and disabuse them of the powerful delusion they have been laboring under; imagining that Christ’s presence began in 1914.

But after Jesus’ terse rebuke of his apostles, Luke 24:27 went on to say: “And commencing at Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures.”

Something similar will take place during the actual parousia; during the time of the end, when the prophecies are unsealed and the chosen ones begin to shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Paul referred to the occasion when Christians will see Christ face-to-face with out having to look into a dull metal mirror. The purpose for their being miraculously enlightened is in order that a powerful final witness may be given to the world by the kings of God’s kingdom – and then the end will come. And there are numerous prophecies that indicate that a great outpouring of holy spirit will take place during the same interval, which will empower the faithful in an extrodinary way; quite beyond our present ability to conceive.

The presence itself coincides with the time of the end; which is an interval expressed in the Scriptures in various ways amounting to a three and one half year period.

As for Christ’s presence being just like “the days of Noah,” some may understand Jesus’ comparison to mean that the presence will span some 120 years, which might be described as the “days of Noah.” However, the basic intent of the comparison seems to be to make the point that Christ’s presence commences in such a manner so as to catch the world unawares, just as the Flood did in Noah’s day.

As for everyone seeing the Son of man coming upon the clouds, we should not suppose that everyone will literally see Jesus. Jesus himself clearly stated at John 14:19: “A little longer and the world will behold me no more, but you will behold me, because I live and you will live.”

If the world will behold Jesus "no more" that would preclude non-believers from literally seeing the glorified Son of man. Jesus’ words concerning the son of man being beheld coming in the clouds simply means that the world will be made to know that Jesus is controlling the world and bringing upon it Jehovah’s judgments.

ARE YOU AN APOSTATE?

I've been hearing from the friends that I should avoid your sites because you're an "apostate." What IS an apostate, because it seems like the Society defines it differently from what I can find in the Bible itself? Also, how do you defend against these charges that that is what you are?

Basically, the term “apostate” is applied to those who not only abandon their faith, but it also is applied to any of Jehovah’s Witneses who may happen to disagree with certain teachings and policies of the Watchtower Society.

This means that if any of Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Society’s specious 1914 doctrine, for instance, they are subject to being labeled as an apostate.

A question from the readers in the April 1st, 1986, Watchtower asked why Jehovah’s Witnesses can be disfellowshipped for apostasy even if they still believe in God and the Bible. The Watchtower’s answer included the following statement:

“Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do such beliefs include? ...That 1914 marked the end of the Gentile Times and the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the heavens, as well as the time for Christ’s foretold presence.”

Think of the implications of the Watchtower’s policy. There was a time when the Watchtower taught that Jesus Christ returned invisibly in 1874. Obviously, Jehovah’s Witnesses no longer believe that, and fortunately the Watchtower did not impose disfellowshipping upon any Bible Students back then who may not have believed that Christ’s presence began in 1874. But just think if they had. How many people have been heartlessly made to bear the stigma of being apostates? How many lives would have been ruined because they had been cut off from family and friends?

Considering that the Watchtower demands that Jehovah’s Witnesses accept all of the Watchtower’s teachings without question, even those that can be Scripturally proven to be false, or at least open to serious question, the charge of being an apostate for not believing and teaching mere organizational dogma is not a label I accept for myself.

Has the Devil already been cast down from heaven?

I follow you and agree with your views on 1914. Witnesses believe that Jesus cleared the heavens of Satan and his demons at the time of his enthronement. It is a false paradigm to conclude that 'since the world has completely changed since 1914' that, therefore, is proof that they are correct in their reasoning. What I would like to know is: Do Satan and his demons still have access to the heavens or have they been cast down to the vicinity of the earth?


The casting down of Satan and his demons coincides with the kingdom of God coming to power. Revelation 12:10-12 describes it this way:

“Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to YOU, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.”

According to the span of verses above, Satan and his demons reside in heaven up until the kingdom commences its reign, which then sets into motion a series of events; the first of which is the expulsion of the demonic horde from heaven. That is why the scripture says “now have come to pass…the kingdom”

So, yes, Satan resides in heaven up to that very moment. He apparently has some face-to-face interaction with Jehovah’s righteous angels up until the final all-out war erupts between the two opposed spirit armies. That is why they rejoice after he is finally evicted. However, that does not necessarily mean that Satan has continual access to Jehovah up until his ouster.

According to the book of Job there are specific occasions when all the sons of God assemble before Jehovah. During the days of Job Satan used those assemblies as an occasion for challenging Jehovah before all the angelic audience. That certainly gives us the impression that even the angels do not always have constant access to Jehovah himself. Also, the fact that Jehovah challeneged Satan, saying: 'where do you come from?' implies that Satan had sort of barged in on the assembly uninvited.

So, even though Satan and the demons are not thrown from heaven until the establishment of the kingdom, that does not necessarily mean that they could come and go as they pleased. From Jehovah’s standpoint, and the standpoint of the loyal sons of God, the demons are disfellowshipped – put out of the family of the loyal sons of God. So, any interaction between the two hostile camps is strictly in opposition to each other – as is indicated in the book of Daniel, where Gabriel describes his being opposed by the demonic overlord of Persia for three weeks.

The greater question is: have Satan and the demons been thrown down already or is that event still in the future? The implications of a future casting down cannot be understated.

So, to answer that question we must reason honestly upon the facts at hand. Foremost of which is the fact that Revelation reveals that immediately after Satan’s ouster from heaven he persecutes God’s woman upon the earth for 1,260 days. That time period is also connected to several other crucial developments; one of which is the sudden death stroke of the seventh head of the wild beast. After the beast revives it then wars against God’s servants for 42 months – the same as Satan wars against God’s woman in the wilderness for 1,260 days (42 months).

It should be apparent, then, that the death stroke upon the seven-headed wild beast is a direct result of the wound inflicted upon the satanic seven-headed fiery dragon in heaven as a result of the warfare waged against it by Michael and his angels.

The Watchtower has ascribed that prophetic period of time to the First World War. But the question must be asked: what proof is there that the Anglo-American dyad suffered anything remotely analogous to what is described in the 13th chapter of Revelation? Frankly, there is none. (For a fuller discussion of the topic see the essay: The Last Hour and the 8th King)

While it is true that some historians say that WWI swept away an old order, for example the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires dissolved as a result of WWI and the Russian Revolution swept the Czarist monarchy off the throne; still, it is simply not in the realm of reality to suggest that the leading governments of Satan’s world collapsed or were even threatened with collapse as a result of WWI.

That being the case, it should be evident that Satan has not been thrown down yet. The death-stroke and subsequent revival of Satan’s political beast is an unprecedented and unique event that marks the beginning of Satan’s short period of time. (42 months) We may be sure that it will far exceed the disaster known as the First World War.

An ancient Hebrew prophecy also connects Satan’s ouster from heaven with the overthrow of an earthly kingdom – the kingdom of Tyre. Oddly, the Watchtower has never made the connection. (For a discussion of the significance of this vital prophecy see the concluding segment of the chapter entitled London and the Devil’s throne.)


_

What is Spiritual Paradise?

The idea of a “Spiritual Paradise” as expounded by the Watchtower is by no means a declaration that Jehovah’s Witnesses are actually living in a predator-free environment. This condition is yet future and will exist under Christ’s Kingdom. --Isaiah 11:6-9; 35:8-10; Revelation 21:3-4.

So what exactly do Jehovah Witnesses mean by “spiritual paradise?” It simply means that to the extent that people study God’s Word and apply its counsel, they would “taste and see that Jehovah is good.” Psalm 34 seems to confirm this concept.

This Psalm, as in many others, indicates the good effect that God’s Word can have on people’s lives, a theme that is pervasive throughout the Scriptures. So it is not at all a farfetched idea for Jehovah's Witnesses to claim that they are living in a spiritual paradise, as we daily strive to put the Bible’s message into practical use as a congregation, although we may fail individually from time to time in upholding God’s righteous requirements…

…Although e-watchman has made a good case against the Watchtower's 1914 dogma and apparent misapplication of prophecies surrounding that date, is it really truthful, as determined by e-watchman, that the Watchtower’s position of spiritual paradise is also part of an “operation of error?”

The Watchtower actually does claim that Jehovah’s Witnesses reside in a predator-free spiritual paradise. The October 15th, 2004, Watchtower makes that very claim. Here is an excerpt from that publication:

“Think, too, of the changes in traits as sincere ones of all backgrounds have striven to understand and apply God’s Word. Basically, they have worked to put away animalistic traits that used to characterize them. Perhaps you have done that with significant results, and so have your spiritual brothers and sisters. (Colossians 3:8-14) Hence, as you associate with a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you are with people who have become more peaceable and pleasant. No, they are not yet perfect, but they could hardly be described as ferocious lions or rapacious wild beasts. (Isaiah 35:9) What does this pacific spiritual fellowship indicate? Clearly, we enjoy a spiritual condition that we rightly call a spiritual paradise."

The paragraph above cites Isaiah 35:9 and asserts that the prophecy has been fulfilled since 1914. That verse reads:

“And there will certainly come to be a highway there, even a way; and the Way of Holiness it will be called. The unclean one will not pass over it. And it will be for the one walking on the way, and no foolish ones will wander about on it. No lion will prove to be there, and the rapacious sort of wild beasts will not come up on it. None will be found there; and the repurchased ones must walk there. And the very ones redeemed by Jehovah will return and certainly come to Zion with a joyful cry; and rejoicing to time indefinite will be upon their head. To exultation and rejoicing they will attain, and grief and sighing must flee away.”

While it is true that many people within Jehovah’s Witnesses have made radical personality transformations; that in itself is not what constitutes spiritual paradise. The condition foretold in Isaiah is characterized by the complete absence of immoral and predatory persons of all types. Unless, of course, we accuse God of lying when he promises that none of those sorts of persons will be found among the repurchased ones on the highway of holiness, it has to be admitted that as fine a many of Jehovah’s Witnesses are, there are many more who are not.

E-watchman has not been untruthful in this regard. The Watchtower has been. They are fully aware of the fact that tens of thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses are disfellowshipped every year for practicing all sorts of uncleanness. Jehovah says that no unclean person will travel on the symbolic highway of holiness. Otherwise, how could it be considered holy?

Countless young people live double lives and are never found out. Isn't that foolish? Jehovah says that no foolish person will wander about on the highway of holiness.

And thousands of children have been sexually abused by Jehovah’s Witnesses, while many of the abusers are shielded from being exposed by the Society’s child abuse policies and continue to lurk within congregations. Jehovah says that no ferocious beast will menace his redeemed ones. Yet, the Watchtower insists that none of Jehovah’s Witnesses can be described as rapacious wild beasts. What a lie that is!

Clearly, the Watchtower's spiritual paradise is a fraud. The increasing of lawlessness soon to overtake the organization will show that to be the case beyond any further denials.

For a fuller discussion of the Society’s faux spiritual paradise see the commentary What is Spiritual Paradise?



_

1914 and the "operation of error"

I'm afraid I'm not at all convinced that the 1914 doctrine is specifically THE 'operation of error' that 2 Thess 2 talks about. 2 Thess 2 9: "But the lawless one’s presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents 10 and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved. 11 So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness."

Just letting the context interpret itself, I believe that any "powerful work and lying signs and portents and...unrighteous deception..." broadly constitutes 'an operation of error' that Satan has and will use to lead people away from the truth. When Paul says 'the lie' in verse 11 he is using it in a general, all-encompassing way to describe anything that would be one of the things he enumerates in verses 9 and 10. So I don't think the apostle Paul was making a specific 'time capsule' type prophecy that has found singular fulfillment in the 1914 teaching. The 1914 creed of JW's and all the wrong interpretations that revolve around acceptance of that belief are simply one kind of operation of error that has misled true Christians.



The context of the prophecy concerning the man of lawlessness had to do with Paul’s warning not to put faith in any sort of announcement to the effect that that the presence of Christ had already begun.

Paul specifically warned Christians not to believe even an “inspired expression” or any sort of verbal or written message, as though it came from the apostles, if it proclaimed that the day of Jehovah was here.

Paul was emphatic: The presence of Christ will not take place until the apostasy comes, first. Then, when the apostasy takes place Christ will expose the man of lawlessness within the spiritual temple of God as an immediate prelude to destroying him completely.

The question ought to be raised though: How does this wicked man of lawlessness infiltrate Christ’s congregation to the extent of actually influencing and controlling it?

Amazingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses have disregarded the apostle’s sage advice. We have absolutely believed the Watchtower’s “inspired expressions” concerning the 7 times and all of that rigmarole.

Through countless “verbal messages” delivered at conventions, assemblies and meetings and through the “written messages” printed by the Watchtower, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been seduced into believing that the awe-inspiring day of Jehovah began in 1914. The Society even has convinced the multitudes under her influence that Jehovah became king in 1914.

There is no question but that Jehovah’s Witnesses assume that the 1914 doctrine is unassailable—constituting it a powerful operation of error. But it is not just a bland doctrinal matter. The very authority of the Watchtower Society is inextricably tied to 1914. It is resolutely taught that Christ judged all religions in 1918 and gave his irrevocable approval to the Watchtower Society. Although they did not exist at the time, the modern institution of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses claims to have been appointed over all the master’s belongings in 1918-19. That gives them tremendous authority over the organization.

In practice it is essentially no different than the Catholic doctrine of Papal infallibility—except perhaps that it is even more cleverly packaged because it is seemingly backed by the authority of the Scriptures. The teaching that Christ has already judged and appointed the faithful slave over all his belongings has created the conditions that make it virtually impossible for any publisher to successfully question the Governing Body without them experiencing swift reprisals from the elders; who, themselves are trained to defend the organization above all else.

This teaching has allowed a man of lawlessness to operate under a cloak of righteousness.

I know from first hand experience. About a year ago when I was arguing my case before a judicial tribunal the one thing that the elders kept bringing back up over and over again is that since Christ appointed the slave over all the master’s belongings already anyone who questioned any of the slave’s doings is questioning Christ himself. In effect, the Watchtower has been given a blank check to spend as it pleases and the elders sign off on that check over and over again. No questions are ever asked by the loyal rank and file. That mindset blinds otherwise morally upright and spiritual men into overlooking all sorts of evil, such as the Watchtower atrocious mishandling of child abuse and Bethel’s spiritually adulterous NGO affair. No doubt the Society’s lawlessness in these matters is due to the influence of the man of lawlessness, who himself derives his ecclesiastical authority from the artfully contrived 1914 doctrine.

It must be pointed out that these things are not excusable as mere imperfections. The Society condemns Christendom for all sorts of similar sins yet excuses itself for practicing the very same things. That is not attributable to a false step or mere imperfection. It is gross hypocrisy and lawlessness – and it is tolerated only because of the authority the WT has acquired for itself due to the carefully-crafted myth that they are privy to Christ having secretly returned in 1914 in order to put them in charge of everything.

Given the fact that the Society's 1914 doctrine is in direct opposition to Paul's warning not to believe such seemingly inspired expressions -- no matter their source -- it is reasonable to conclude that the apostasy itself is rooted in the false announcement heralding that the presence of Christ has begun.

Please recall, too, that Jesus also specifially warned his followers that his presence would be preceded by those who falsely announced: "The due time has approached."

Yet, in spite of all the foregoing the Watchtower considers the 1914 teaching to be one of the absolute essentials of faith. No one can even be baptized who does not accept the teaching and baptized JWs who reject it are marginalized and even disfellowsipped. Contrary to the NGO affair or the policies of child abuse, which many JW's are not even aware of, the fact that a gross falsehood such as 1914 is included as an article of faith constitues a powerful operation of error that goes forth to those who otherwise know the truth.

Reasoning on the matter further: Jehovah’s Witnesses have been thoroughly convinced that Christ’s invisible presence began in 1914 – not only because of the chronological calculations – but even more convincingly, because of the perceived fulfillment of the biblical sign. While the Society’s Gentile times dogma was, of course, skillfully crafted by very clever men, the events that took place in 1914-1919 could not have been staged by mere men. The fact that the Watchtower’s prophetic expectations seem to have been confirmed by the profound and far-reaching events that erupted in 1914 underscores the influence of the Devil in performing powerful works and lying signs in order to convince the anointed that Christ has already come.

The man of lawlessness is made to appear as a brilliant oracle of God; who foresaw 1914 and all the details of prophecy decades before they unfolded. The true test will come when Christ actually arrives and denounces the organization that has given lodgment to the man of lawlessness. That is when each one’s love of the truth will be put to the fires of test. Sadly, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses will undoubtedly cling to the then-discredited Watchtower and refuse to accept Christ.

The 1,260 and 1,335 days of Daniel's prophecy

I have enjoyed your essays. I think the leaders of the organization have misled the congregations on the book of Daniel. Would you tell me: what is your understanding of verses 7, 11 and 12 of Daniel chapter 12? Do you think that each count of days run concurrently with the events during the tribulation?

The entire span of verses in the concluding chapter of Daniel read as follows:

“The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, ‘It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.’

I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, ‘My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?’ He replied, ‘Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.’” (NIV)

The Watchtower applies this portion of the prophecy of Daniel to insignificant events of the past century. For example, the Paying Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy commentary says that the 1,335 days were fulfilled in May of 1926 with the release of the book Deliverance. Showing the absurdity of such a notion, those International Bible Students who were supposedly pronounced “happy” to have received Rutherford’s published insights back then have all long since died and the book that supposedly made them happy has even been discarded by the Watchtower and is not considered to have any particular spiritual value for Jehovah’s Witnesses living at this present time. And obviously, those International Bible Students back then did not experience their hoped for deliverance.

It should be clear to honest reasoning persons that the Society’s prophetic interpretations are a work of fiction. Worse, Bethel is not at all disposed to discard such nonsense.

Be that as it is, the time values revealed in Daniel have to do with “the end of the wonderful things.” What are the wonderful things the angel was referring to? The wonderful things have to do with the revelation of Christ in glory. That is what the prophecy of Daniel is all about. Consider, for example, how the prophecy in the 11th chapter of Daniel concludes with the king of the north coming all the way to his end and there being no helper for him because of Michael’s superiority. Certainly the outworking of the final details of that prophecy must be considered “the end of the wonderful things.” Surely no sane person would conclude that Christ’s kingdom has already vanquished the Devil’s political system.

Nevertheless, in spite of what commonsense dictates, the Society uses its ecclesiastical authority to persuade, yes, to demand, that Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the wonderful things came to an end back in 1926. How ridiculous!

The desolation of the holy place, which is a sub-theme what runs throughout the prophecy of Daniel, as well as virtually all other prophecies, takes place during the period Christ referred to as the appointed times of the nations. When discussing the destruction of the holy place, which takes place during the conclusion of the system of things (time of the end), Jesus referred the discerning reader to the book of Daniel. It is, therefore apparent that the 1,290 and 1,335 days have to do with the duration of the appointed times of the nations – or the Gentile times as they are sometimes called.

Elsewhere, in the 11th chapter of Revelation specifically, it is revealed that the appointed times for the nations to trample Jehovah’s spiritual temple amount to 42 months – or 1,260 days.

What accounts for the differing periods of time? At this point it is impossible to definitively determine. After all, the book of Daniel is officially sealed up until the time of the end.

One possibility, though, is that the 30 days and 45 days beyond the 1,260 days represent a period of restoration following the 1,260 days during which the holy place is destined to lay desolate.

Perhaps it is an interval during which time there are no holy ones left on the earth, but before the last king is totally annihilated.

It is worth noting that Jesus' earthly ministry lasted approximately 3 & 1/2 years; which is the same as 42 months and 1,260 days. There may also be some chronological significance to the last days of Christ’s life on earth; beginning with the week before his death; when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem and undertook a surprise inspection of Jehovah’s temple; including the post resurrection period of 40 days; when he appeared to his disciples before his ascension; concluding some days after the outpouring of Pentecost, which was a full 50 days from the day of Jesus’ death on the Passover; when the apostles were finally thoroughly infused with God’s spirit before the Jewish rulers – giving evidence that the kingdom of Christ was fully empowered.

That precise time period is unknowable since the record does not state exactly how long it was after Pentecost when the apostles stood before the Jewish high court. But it most certainly is an equivalent period approximating the 75 days beyond the 1,260 (42 month) period.

About e-watchman

Question for e-watchman: Your interpretation of Bible prophecy is straightforward and by all accounts unassailable. I find it peculiar that you began to publish your findings in 2002, when your research goes back much further; ten years to be exact, as you mentioned for some of your essays. What was it that kept you from publishing your findings earlier? Was it merely a case of first presenting them to the governing body? When did you see the need to become a watchman for the Watchtower and Jehovah’s witnesses, and what gave rise to the impetus behind your work, shortly before you began publication other than the need to prepare us for the “twist and turns” that will confound us in the future time of trouble?

Given the times of trouble peculiar to the 20th century, what more could Jehovah’s witnesses learn in terms of our faith and reliance on Jehovah in times of distress? Couldn’t any attempt to discredit the Watchtower on so many issues create more confusion, further aggravating our blindness? After all, didn’t the Watchtower reject your findings when you “dutifully” first presented to them?

Having once been what some call a zealous “Society man,” I was initially bound by a deep sense of organizational loyalty to wait on the Watchtower to get it right. So, for five or six years I wrote to various Governing Body members and to the Writing Department — assuming they would be quick to see the truth and publish it. Looking back, I was very naïve.

But those were the formative years for me; when I was reading the prophets over and over and rethinking everything and learning how to use a computer and write semi-coherently. My loyalty to Jehovah was also being tested by various personal trials and petty persecutions by the elders. Through all of that there was a growing awareness that Jehovah was preparing me for something unorthodox.

Just to clarify things though, my earliest research centered mostly on the prophecies dealing with political entities like the king of fierce countenance, the king of the north, the modern king of Tyre, the vision of Habakkuk, and so forth. But I was still laboring under the assumption that the Society’s 1914 doctrine was true up until early 2002. Since so many of the Society’s prophetic interpretations are centered upon that date the realization that Christ had not become king in 1914 changed everything for me; I realized that Jehovah’s Witnesses were burdened with a strongly-entrenched, institutionalized operation of error.

2002 was definitely the tipping point for me. Not only the falsity of the 1914 doctrine, but the Watchtower’s response to the NGO affair and the publicity surrounding the child abuse scandal made me realize that the Society had been thoroughly leavened with corruption. I came to understand that Jehovah had caused a deep sleep to overtake those who should be wide awake and their somnolence allowed the man of lawlessness to operate within the organization. At that point I began to appreciate how so many of the prophecies applied to a future judgment of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

It became apparent to me that Jehovah opened my eyes to these things for a reason. I was obligated to sound the alarm, even as Psalms 119:13 says: “With my lips I have declared all the judicial decisions of your mouth.”

So, following the pattern of the ancient prophets and watchmen who originally announced Jehovah’s judgments, I began to publish as e-watchman in September of 2002.

Although there are many faithless persons who wish to expose the Watchtower for their own personal reasons, I have come to appreciate that it is Jehovah’s purpose to publicly discredit the organization. The reason is because the Society has presented itself as the all-seeing oracle of God and has subtly promoted an insidious form of organizational idolatry among Jehovah’s Witnesses – to the diminishment of Jehovah’s glory. Their humiliation is inevitable.

By my making these issues public, not only is a record established charting the depth of the Society’s error, but it forces the Watchtower’s leadership to demonstrate the lengths to which they will go to whitewash over these matters – thus, adding to their guilt before God. That is how it worked in ancient times. The error was one matter, but it was how the priests, princes and kings responded to the messages of the prophets that ultimately determined their fate.

As for the charge that I am adding to the confusion, that is a natural reaction. After all, our overturning the Trinity, for example, often causes believers in that doctrine to go through a period of mental confusion – assuming they make the effort to reason upon the issues.

The fact is, anytime our long-held beliefs are challenged by the facts it initially creates in the mind a discomforting condition of confusion and uncertainty. The state of confusion presents a test of our faith and the depth of our love of truth. A faith based on falsehoods and blind allegiance to men is an untested faith. Resolving these troubling issues in a positive way, based upon the Scriptures, results in deepening our faith and trust in God and our love for him.


Jehovah's witnesses believe that Jesus was enthroned as king in 1914. I know that date does not hold water at all. Was Jesus given the kingship after his death and resurrection; when he appeared to the eleven apostles and said at Mathew 28:18 "All authority has been given me in heaven and on earth."?

All authority was given to Jesus following his resurrection, but that does not mean that he began to exercise that authority immediately. The Psalm says that Jesus was invited to sit at Jehovah’s right hand until a specified time when he would begin to rule over his enemies.