Do you speak to your family and close friends in the congregation about your differing views from the Watchtower teachings? How do they respond to this? Do they agree with what you say, or do some keep their distance? Those I have spoken to have in turn spoken to others and now I have no friends in the congregation. They have not even lovingly tried to correct my thinking as the scriptures indicate. Few speak to me and when they do it is only to say hello. No one visits me and I am never asked to the brother's homes. Has anyone else had this happen to them? How can I continue with no spiritual or social fellowship with either family or friends? Where are all the fathers and mothers and brothers the scriptures say that I should have by taking a stand for the truth?

When the interpretations of the slave class have proved to be incorrect any adjustments made, [while perhaps causing some concern for some individuals], have been accepted by the sheep. The sheep still accept what the slave teaches even though all the predictions relating to specific dates have already failed. There are no teachings now linked to future dates. Why should anything be different in the future when other teachings are proved wrong?

Jehovah's Witnesses who follow the directives of the slave class, because that is what they are told true Christians must do, can never find out the truth about watchtower teachings because they would never read the information on this site. Those who do stumble across this site and who read some of what is written would, in the majority of cases, follow the advice of the slave and treat the information as apostate. If we do not speak out how will they ever know the "Truth".

"Never" is a pretty long time, as the saying goes. Jesus said that there is nothing carefully hidden that will not be brought to light---eventually. After all, Jesus should know, he referred to himself as "the way, the truth, and the life." So, during the judgment phase, Jesus will make the truth known. Paul foretold that very thing too, but he also advised us not to make premature judgments based upon partial knowledge. He wrote: "Hence do not judge anything before the due time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring the secret things of darkness to light and make the counsels of the heart manifest, and then each one will have his praise come to him from God."

The purpose of e-Watchman is not to re-educate Jehovah's Witnesses, but rather: to call attention to Jehovah's coming judgments.

If speaking the Truth could be a stumbling block to those "in the truth" then not speaking the truth could be an even greater stumbling block. Why speak the truth at all? Jesus commanded all his disciples to teach others the truth. How would you feel if your best friend with held information essential for your safety because you might not like what you hear e.g. perhaps you have developed a bad driving habit that is eventually sure to result in an accident. The "Truth" may not always be easy to take but it does save lives.

You say that because most of Jehovah's Witnesses do not have issues with what they believe and they trust the Watchtower to be truthful, we should not tell them about the errors. How does that mesh with scripture? Do we have to compromise our conscience to be acceptable to the Creator? I think not. If our blind brother is following a blind guide toward a pit do we pretend everything is ok and do nothing? Doesn't that make us as guilty as the blind guide or perhaps more so since we see the pit? The question becomes; where does our loyalty lie, with God or man. Do we stand for righteousness or cower beneath the thumb of the Watchtower?

Merely pointing out errors doesn't necessarily impart what is truthful. That is a common fallacy, especially on the internet. When Jehovah's Witnesses preach to others, we do not merely find fault with their beliefs or lack of; instead we give them something to believe in. If your intent is to save Jehovah's Witnesses from the Watchtower, what hope do you offer them? We should not assume that merely knowing about certain Watchtower scandals and errors means that we are necessarily enlightened. Jesus commended the faithful ones in Thyatira "who did not get to know the deep things of Satan." Satan knows every error and misstep that Jehovah's people have ever made. And that's why he is called "the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them night and day." His accusations are not made-up lies. He has got "the goods" on all of us, as the saying goes, and he tries to incite Jehovah to destroy us for our folly. When it comes to our faith, the Devil slyly seeks to exploit our errors and wrong ideas through those who would pose as light-bearers. But, while Watchtower critics are a dime-a-dozen, so-to-speak, none of them have any real answers for those who want a reason to continue to have faith in Jehovah God and in his purposes towards his people.

In the 50th Psalm Jehovah issues a scathing rebuke to those of his people who presume to teach others his regulations, but who, among other things, give away the faults of their brothers and are partners with thieves and adulterers. Verse 21 says: "You imagined that I would positively become like you. I am going to reprove you, and I will set things in order before your eyes."

Jesus also spoke of those who would imagine that they were performing a sacred service by murdering his children. So, it is possible for some to become so deluded that they imagine that they are serving Jehovah by advertising the Society's shortcomings, when in Jehovah's judgment such ones are merely scandal-mongers and fault-finders and working as partners with our many enemies to subvert our faith.

In your essay "We have concluded a covenant with death" you seem to suggest that the Watchtower and those who cling to it are to be destroyed by Jehovah and that Jehovah will then refine a remnant. Do you mean to suggest that the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses will lose their lives because of their loyalty to those who control the Watchtower Society?

There are enormous and unexpected tests of faith that lay ahead for all of Jehovah's Witnesses. I would not at all discount the possibility that a sizable number of Jehovah's Witnesses, perhaps a majority, might not pass the test. We have a modern example of what can occur during a time of confusion if we look at what occurred back in 1916 through 1919 period. After Charles Russell's death, a wave of persecution and confusion overtook the organization. There was a power struggle among some prominent individuals at Bethel who ambitiously sought to gain control of the organization. When the dust finally settled and the Society was reorganized in 1919, fully one-half of the Bible Students had fallen away during the period of upheaval and tumult. Presumably those several thousands that fell away were even anointed ones.

Should we imagine that such a thing could never happen again only on a much larger scale? In the 10th chapter of 1st Corinthians, Paul wrote about the Israelites whom Jehovah led out of Egypt, saying: "Nevertheless, on most of them God did not express his approval, for they were laid low in the wilderness." Paul went on to apply that lesson to Christians and encouraged us to heed their tragic warning example when once we are faced with the fiery trials that come with the end of the system of things.

Is it possible that the apostate elements, which were able to gain control of the congregations by the end of the first century, are as active today?

What do you think of Greg Stafford's new book?

In the two study books on Isaiah, the slave class interpret the prophecies that originally applied to God's covenant people, Israel, not only to Spiritual Israel but also to Christendom. Should not all the prophecies apply to only those who Jehovah considers to be his covenant people? If this is in fact the case then can Jehovah's Witnesses expect to receive the judgements mentioned in Isaiah that the slave class attribute to Christendom?

The Watchtower has the tendency to apply all the negative counsel of God to Christendom, while applying all of the positive aspects to Jehovah's Witnesses. That is unreasonable, though, because the very same prophecies that speak of God's judgments against the Israel of God also foretell that God will restore and heal those whom he chastises, a remnant at least. Of course, the Watchtower does apply certain negative prophecies to us, but they are always in the past; relegated to the 1916-1919 period. That, too, is unreasonable because the prophecies that speak of God's judgments against his spiritual nation are set in the context of a worldwide calamity that brings all nations into judgment. Obviously, that could not have been the period of the First World War.

Interestingly, Isaiah the 27th and 29th chapters describe God's prophets and visionaries as being spiritually intoxicated to the point of not being able to read or properly interpret the scroll of Isaiah. Elsewhere, in numerous places in Isaiah, Jehovah speaks of the deaf and blind among his people as finally seeing the light and hearing the truth. Since it is Jehovah's doing that he has concealed matters from his own people, until such time as the judgment actually commences; it explains why the Watchtower has gotten those prophecies so wrong. By applying them to Christendom, or to a period in our past, the Watchtower has unwittingly been used by Jehovah to conceal the truth from us, rather than reveal it; which, paradoxically, is in fulfillment of the prophecies.

In your Essay 'My Own Idol Has Done Them', you argue that there is practically an idolatrous emphasis placed on the Watchtower... We are no longer really known for our using the bible skillfully, but rather as 'those pesky people trying to sell their magazines again'. In the past we learned and used lovely bible sermons to witness to people. Now we seem to have become 'peddlers of the word' as Paul said in 2 Cor 2:17. Our ministry seems to becoming reduced to a magazine sales type work. Do you think this could be evidence of an unbalanced emphasis and almost idolatrous importance bestowed on The Watchtower & Awake?

There are contradictory crosscurrents in the organization. On the one hand, the Society emphasizes placing literature as the most important thing, and at the same time we are encouraged to make better use of the Bible. It is hard to do both. And frankly, it is just easier to hand out literature than it is to engage someone in a meaningful Bible discussion. So, individual publishers are inclined to take the easy path in the ministry. But, the bottom line is that anything that detracts from the Bible and the message of the kingdom is not good. Personally, I wonder why the Society even publishes and employs Jehovah's ministers to deliver the Awake magazine, when most of that publication has nothing whatsoever to do with the kingdom message. I wonder if Jehovah is pleased with the fact that his ministers have been directed to use their time and energy distributing something akin to Reader's Digest.

The irony is that the Watchtower is intended to draw attention to the Bible, but if it is over-emphasized, it may have the unintended opposite affect. At a convention a few years back, an experience was read about a woman who was studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. Her teacher asked her what the most important book was and she responded that it was her Bible study aid. The study conductor tried to correct her, noting that the right answer is the Bible. However, the woman replied: 'No, I have always had the Bible and I could never understand it. This little book is the most important because it helped me to understand the Bible.' The woman, of course, could be excused for her comment. The Society repeated that experience to show how much people appreciate our literature, but in a way it subtly denigrates the Bible by placing Watchtower literature on an equal footing with Jehovah's Word. That is indicative of a mind set that has developed in the organization.

Of concern is the fact that because Watchtower literature is so heavily emphasized, that in the event that the Society is no longer able to publish in the future, as seems likely, it would pose a potentially devastating blow to the faith of those who place undo importance on the Watchtower Society.

Whilst I respect your being anonymous, what are your credentials for dispensing your, admittedly, reasonable and thought provoking answers and essays. How long have you been studying and what makes you feel that you have the right answers that you assert so boldly? Do you consider yourself to be one of the Anointed?

Amongst the witnesses there is an amount of - for want of a better word - glee at the assumed destruction of all but JW's. In fact the off hand way that people are dismissed by JW's as Armageddon fodder borders on the distasteful in not down right unchristian. Not only that but any who leave the congregation are dismissed with 'Oh, they had a bad heart condition' or 'Oh well, if-they-don't-want-Jehovah,' or some other smug self-satisfied comment and no more of them is thought or mentioned again. I speak from experience of sitting and just listening to the members of the congregation talking to one another. Now, bearing in mind that the bible says that the minds of the unbelievers has been blinded so that the light of the glorious good news does not shine through, what justice is there in their being destroyed at Armageddon if it is not their fault? Because all who die (assumedly) before Armageddon will be resurrected after, and if you died just one day before also, resurrection. So where is the justice in saying that all but JW's will survive - and lets be honest, that is what most think despite assertions to the contrary. Surely, all should survive with just the governments falling so that all may be placed on an equal footing with the light shining brightly to all now that the menace of Satan had been removed?

First, no one should be gleeful at the prospect of the death of anyone. Jesus once sternly rebuked his apostles who asked him if they ought to call fire to come down out of heaven to scorch some Jewish settlements that rebuffed Jesus. Yet, Jesus himself pronounced doom upon his disbelieving countrymen. The Scripture says that Jehovah does not take delight in the death of wicked persons. Furthermore, Jehovah's prophet says 'woe to those craving the day of Jehovah.' But, that is not to say that the wicked are not at some point going to be exterminated.

What you are apparently unaware of is that Jehovah's judgment upon each individual is largely determined by what people do during judgment day. Have you read the essay entitled Judgment day and the Last Hour of the 8th King? Of course, what we do now will have a great bearing upon how we react during the critical last hour. Those who have taken the time to build their faith and confidence in Jehovah will be the only ones really equipped to pass the tests that lay ahead. Those who have neglected to do so will find that they are unprepared to face the fiery trials foretold in prophecy.

The sad fact of the matter is that most people couldn't care less about doing things God's way. The world is full of selfishness, violence and immorality. And while Satan is the promoter of such things, he finds many willing subjects who love the present system of things and who are eager to please their father. The 9th chapter of Revelation records in advance that even during the judgment, men would "not repent of their murders nor of their spiritistic practices nor of their fornication nor of their thefts."

When it come to God's war of Armageddon, though, we should not imagine that Jehovah just instantly obliterates an unsuspecting world with no extraordinary provocation. God's Word foretells the critical circumstances that lead up to his judgment. Once the world is faced with the terrifying phenomenon of its own collapse, people will be desperate for any sort of solution. Unfortunately, when people are terrified they usually make very poor decisions. During that period, too, a demonically-driven flood of persecution is going to sweep the planet. Habakkuk 3:14 speaks of the glee of those who seek to annihilate Jehovah's anointed ones. It reads: "With his own rods you (Jehovah) pierced the head of his warriors when they moved tempestuously to scatter me. Their high glee was as of those bent on devouring an afflicted one in a place of concealment."

So, during that time Jehovah will be fully justified in bringing destruction upon a world that seeks to devour his people and no one will have any basis for questioning why Jehovah does so.

Why was Jesus called the Ruler of the Kings of the earth in John's introduction in Revelation chapter 1 if he was as you suggest only the King of those who accepted him as Ruler of the Christian Congregation? Note that these words were used before the revelation commenced and John, in vision, found himself "in the Lord's Day."

The Watchtower constantly urges us to follow the counsel of the "slave" and not doubt. When Christ comes to inspect his "slaves", if the "slave" that turns out to be "wicked" has the controlling influence in the organization, [as they seem to be the ones who beat their fellow slaves who do not fall into line with their interpretations] will we all receive the same judgement, i.e. death, if we continue to follow the counsel given to us by that slave?

At some point the organization and the world itself, will be polarized to the extreme of being divided into two opposing camps composed of the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. Up until that time, the evil slave and the faithful slave share the same household, but during the judgment they will come to a permanent and decisive parting of the ways, along with each one's respective followers.

The 26th chapter of Isaiah seems to speak of that situation where it describes those who are shown favor by God but who "will act unjustly" and fail to "see the eminence of Jehovah." Verse 13 goes on to say: "O Jehovah God, other masters besides you have acted as owners of us. By you only shall we make mention of your name." Since those who presume to act as owners of Jehovah's chosen ones are mentioned in connection with those who had themselves been shown favor by God, but who were ultimately revealed to be wicked; failing to discern the eminence of Jehovah, those would-be-owners must be the evil slaves of Christ's illustrations.

The 16th verse indicates that this takes place during a critical time of hardship that Jehovah uses to discipline his loyal ones. It reads: "O Jehovah, during distress they have turned their attention to you; they have poured out a whisper of prayer when they had your discipline."

So, yes, it is possible that the Society might be completely subverted by the evil ones during the days to come. That's why there is simply no substitute for our knowing our God and having our complete faith and trust in Jehovah and Christ.

In a recent conversation with an elder who has been a witness for some 50 years, he was asked what he thought would happen if the WTBTS were shut down completely. He remarked that as the Governing Body and the Overseer and Elder arrangement was totally separate from the Watchtower that essentially nothing would change. There are sufficient existing study materials to continue without any real problems. The work can continue "underground" worldwide if necessary as has been proved in Eastern Europe for many years. The closure or collapse of the Watchtower would be viewed as a test by Jehovah to see who would remain faithful to those who control it. Any attempt by individuals or groups to suggest that the teachings may require adjustment would still be met by the same result; namely, being branded as apostate and disfellowshipped. If Jehovah sent a messenger to the GB with the purpose of correcting the errors in their teachings would they listen to such a one? If they cannot or will not accept the truth for what it is, namely, "The Word of God" as presented to them now why should they listen in the future? Even if Jehovah were to use a member of the GB would the others listen? Many of Jehovah's prophets were totally ignored and some were persecuted and killed. Jehovah's Witnesses view the GB as Jehovah's spokesman and are willing to follow wherever they lead. It would seem then, that in the future, when Jehovah disciplines his people in order to correct their wrong teachings they will see this as a test from Jehovah to see if they will hold fast to those same teachings.

You have well described the dilemma that will soon confront us. Jesus used an illustration on several occasions, regarding the inadvisability of putting new wine in old wineskins, in order to help us understand how change comes about in God's household. At Luke 5:39 Jesus added: "No one that has drunk old wine wants new; for he says, "The old is nice.""

Jesus' comment points up the natural resistance that many of God's people have toward any major doctrinal change. For a certainty, there is great reluctance on the part of most of Jehovah's Witnesses to even consider the possibility that major changes may be in the offing. Yet, what happens when it becomes obvious that the vintaged old wine that we think "is nice," and have become accustomed to drinking, turns to vinegar? For example, what about the very real possibility of World War Three erupting with the use of WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction), and the earth being swept by food shortages and pestilence, perhaps as a result of biological warfare? What if these future horrors dwarf the events of 1914-1919? Will we cling to the idea that WWI marked the beginning of Christ's parousia? Instead of false religion going down, what if the Watchtower is put out of business instead? Will we cling to such discredited teachings then? Of what value will past issues of the Watchtower be then? If we try to fit new ideas into our own outmoded interpretations of prophecy during the oncoming period, the result will be similar to putting new wine into old wineskins, which, as Jesus said, would result in disaster.

We shouldn't, though, discount the operation of Jehovah's spirit. Since it is his organization, as we say, he must certainly possess the means to powerfully set things in order. Actually, if the prophecies are to be understood properly, they indicate that there is nothing less than a second Pentecostal-like outpouring of God's spirit; no, not another anointing, as in 33 CE, but an empowering, enlightening spirit from Jehovah that at this moment is beyond belief. At some point Jehovah's "righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." We shouldn't imagine that we have ever witnessed anything like that yet or that such a miraculous phenomenon will go unnoticed.