The observance of the Memorial, then and now, is not a public show of righteousness. It is a public declaration of a person's hope and faith in Jesus. The early Christians did not celebrate the Lord's evening meal in private. They came together as congregations. For example, when discussing some problems in the Corinthian congregation in regards to the way they observed the occasion, Paul wrote: "Therefore, when you come together to one place, it is not possible to eat the Lord's evening meal."

There is no scriptural precedent for any Christian to privately partake of the Lord's evening meal apart from a congregational setting.

It is truly staggering just how much Bible prophecy the Watchtower has interpreted as applying to the 1914-1919 period. And what is even more amazing is that they have made a fairly convincing case for so much of it.  However, after years of examining the many prophecies, I am now convinced that the many events that Jehovah's Witnesses have accepted as being the authentic fulfillment of Bible prophecy, indicating that Jesus' presence began in 1914, is actually a delusion!

Paradoxically, it appears as if our acceptance of the 1914 doctrine, and all that goes with it, is the fulfillment of Paul's prophecy concerning the diabolical activities of the Devil.

Concerning the man of lawlessness, Paul wrote at 2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12: "But the lawless one's presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents 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. So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.

Even if we do not believe that Christ arrived in 1914, we must admit that the evidence the Watchtower presents is very convincing. For example, as contrived as the seven times chronology is, the events of 1914 certainly appear to coincide with the sign of Christ's presence. But, examined more closely  the outbreak of the Great war; the setting up of the League of Nations and identifying it as the "disgusting thing" of prophecy; the devastating Spanish Influenza that ravaged the earth—seemingly right on cue; the arrest of the eight Watchtower officials back in 1918 and their seemingly miraculous release from prison, and many other things besides these, may actually constitute part of the "powerful works and lying signs and portents" and "unrighteous deception" that Satan is allowed to perform.

Would Satan do such a thing? Yes, of course. The belief that Jesus arrived in 1914 appears to be an "unrighteous deception" injected into the very congregation of Christ in order to control it from within.

As confusing as that may seem at first glance, please note that Jehovah allows "an operation of error" to go to those who have some knowledge of the truth.  Why can we say that? Because the reason God allows some to believe the lie is "because they did not accept the love of the truth." And as a result they do not really believe the truth. But, reasonably, in order to accept "the love of the truth" a person would have to know at least some of the truth.

We need to realize that much of what the Watchtower teaches is the truth. But, it is almost like two different organizations exist in one—a bi-polar society as it were. That's because there are two different gods at work—Jehovah and the god of this system. Because, on the one hand, the Watchtower presents such wonderful insights into the Bible. The Watchtower is incomparable in many respects and so are Jehovah's Witnesses. But, on the other hand, when it comes to correctly interpreting the prophecies, there is an impenetrable veil that seems to have been pulled over their eyes. It is no exaggeration to say that virtually every Watchtower interpretation of prophecy, as it applies to the modern era, is wrong. The question is, how could Jehovah's Witnesses be so solid doctrinally, and yet be so wrong when it comes to the prophecies?

The only reasonable explanation is that Jehovah has apparently allowed Satan to work his deception upon us with all this 1914 business, so that at the moment of truth, when Christ actually does arrive, it will present a decisive test of our faith. Will we actually trust Jehovah and exercise faith in Christ at the crucial hour, or will we cling to deceptive teachings? At that critical moment we will have to quickly dispel the 1914 delusion and all of its trappings or else blindly follow an organizational man of lawlessness to our doom. (More on this topic in an essay upcoming entitled: "The Apostasy Comes First.")

But, as regards your question concerning the valley of dry bones, please give careful attention to the details of the prophecy? For instance, the very last verse of the 37th chapter of Ezekiel concludes by saying: "And I will conclude with them a covenant of peace; an indefinitely lasting covenant is what there will come to be with them. And I will place them and multiply them and place my sanctuary in the midst of them to time indefinite. And my tabernacle will actually prove to be over them, and I shall certainly become their God, and they themselves will become my people. And the nations will have to know that I, Jehovah, am sanctifying Israel when my sanctuary comes to be in the midst of them to time indefinite."

The spiritual resurrection envisioned by Ezekiel in effect concludes Jehovah's dealings with the anointed house of Israel. At the time of the spiritual renewal Jehovah's purpose in connection his people is accomplished. As a result of God's redeeming his spiritually dead people, the nations are made to know that Jehovah is God. Obviously, the nations were not made to recognize that Jehovah is God back in 1919 when the Bible Students were re-energized.

How can we be sure that the prophecy has a future fulfillment?

Ezekiel 36:22-28 further details how Jehovah redeems and cleanses his repentant people. It reads: Therefore say to the house of Israel, This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: "Not for your sakes am I doing it, O house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have come in.  And I shall certainly sanctify my great name, which was being profaned among the nations, which you profaned in the midst of them; and the nations will have to know that I am Jehovah,' is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, when I am sanctified among you before their eyes. And I will take you out of the nations and collect you together out of all the lands and bring you in upon your soil. And I will sprinkle upon you clean water, and you will become clean; from all your impurities and from all your dungy idols I shall cleanse you.  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I shall put inside you, and I will take away the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And my spirit I shall put inside you, and I will act so that in my regulations you will walk, and my judicial decisions you will keep and actually carry out. And you will certainly dwell in the land that I gave to your forefathers, and you must become my people and I myself shall become your God."

To establish whether or not the prophecy in question has been fulfilled yet, we merely have to ask the question: Have Jehovah's Witnesses profaned the name of Jehovah before the world? The answer is, regrettably, yes—very much so! Without going into detail here, suffice it to say that the Watchtower Society and Jehovah's Witnesses have brought tremendous reproach upon the name of Jehovah. As an inescapable consequence of that, there is a painful day of reckoning looming ahead; when Jehovah must act to clear his name of the reproach we have caused. But, afterwards we are assured that Jehovah will cause a spiritual healing—like no other—for the faithful who endure his disciplining. That is when the dead bones of Ezekiel's vision come to life.

There is an interesting account in the life of David that you might find encouraging. The Amalekites had made a raid on Ziklag and had plundered the city and took captive the women and children. Two of David's wives were even taken as slaves. So, David mustered 600 men and chased after the Amalekites. However, on the chase 200 men tired out and could not go on. So, they stayed behind and guarded the baggage. David and the others continued in pursuit and overtook them and got the captives back and plundered the plunderers. When David and the 400 returned to the camp of the 200 who had stayed behind, some of the good-for-nothing men said that the ones who stayed behind should not get a share of the spoils.

However, David spoke up and said: "You must not do that way, my brothers, with what Jehovah has given us, in that he safeguarded us and gave the marauder band that came against us into our hand. And who will listen to you as to this saying? For as the share of the one that went down into the battle even so will the share of the one that sat by the baggage be. All will have a share together." (You may read the account in 1st Samuel the 30th chapter)

The significance of the account is in the fact that the next verse says: "And it came about from that day forward that he kept it set as a regulation and a judicial decision for Israel down to this day."

Be reminded that Jesus is a Greater David. He too has issued standing regulations and judicial decisions, the same as David did. Like David, Jesus is a great warrior for Jehovah—the greatest in fact. But, as the Commander of Jehovah's army, does Jesus share the attitude that everyone must be a preacher and teacher to get a reward? No, one of the regulations and judicial decisions Jesus established when he was on the earth, which remains to this day, is that "whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I tell you truly, he will by no means lose his reward."

Be assured that Jehovah appreciates anything that we do to help and encourage those whom we recognize as Jesus' disciples.

I just read your two open letters to the WT organization. It caused me to feel deceived and angered; whereas, I had been dismissing all the NGO talk I'd heard. The facts you presented about the search on the software for "God's Kingdom" and the UN in the Awake! magazine was probably the last straw on the camel's back, so to speak.

What I am asking is what is your response to this? Is it going to drive you to leave the organization? I feel a strong self-conflict now, with part of me wanting nothing to do with such a deceptive organization that is using its power abusively as the evil slave is prophesied to, and then the other part of me is feeling the words of John 6:68, knowing that if I did choose to leave the organization, there's nowhere else to go.

Yours is a normal reaction when you realized you were betrayed by someone you trusted. And I agree with your reasoning too, based whom Peter's reasoning: 'Whom shall we go away to?'

Let's face it, the Watchtower's NGO affair and their dishonest response to our inquiry about it is a treacherous act of betrayal. At Malachi 2:10, Jehovah asks the underpriests of Christ a question that has the utmost relevance in our situation: "Is it not one father that all of us have? Is it not one God that has created us? Why is it that we deal treacherously with one another, in profaning the covenant of our forefathers?"

As Jehovah's Witnesses, do we not have one father—Jehovah—whom we recognize as our Creator? In the Christian era the "covenant of our forefathers" is the new covenant and the kingdom covenant that Christ mediated. And according to Jesus, his kingdom is no part of the world. Accordingly, those whom Christ takes into a covenant for a kingdom must be no part of the world. So, for the Watchtower to cut a backroom deal with the United Nations definitely profanes the covenant Jehovah has made with us to represent his kingdom and his kingdom only. It is an act of treachery against all those who have implicitly trusted the Watchtower as a never-failing guide and faithful slave.

But, personally, I have no desire or intention to go anywhere. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses—period. I intend to "put up a hard fight for the faith," as Jude exhorted. And, according to Jude, why was it necessary to put up a hard fight for the faith? He goes on in verse four to say: "My reason is that certain men have slipped in who have long ago been appointed by the Scriptures to this judgment, ungodly men, turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct and proving false to our only Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ."

We should note that loose conduct can mean brazen disrespect for Jehovah's authority. The Insight Volume II says this under Loose Conduct: Acts that reflect a brazen attitude, an attitude betraying disrespect, even contempt for law and authority. The Hebrew word zim·mah´ is rendered "loose conduct" and "loose morals." …The Greek term a·sel´gei·a (loose conduct) may also be rendered "licentiousness; wantonness; shameless conduct; lewdness of conduct." …Neither term is restricted to sexual immorality.

Jude was foretelling that wicked satanic agents would infiltrate Christ's congregation and pose as dangerous "rocks hidden below the water." They would pose as elders and reside in the very midst of the congregation—even as leaders. Jude goes on to say they will be "shepherds who feed themselves without fear." Jude also indicated that such men would menace Christians up until they are driven out of the congregation by Jehovah's angels and then destroyed during the judgment. So, that's what we are dealing with here.

Jude went on to liken these "certain men" to Balaam. Balaam, if you recall, was hired by king Balak to curse Jehovah's people using uncanny power. But, Jehovah would only allow him to say a blessing. However, Balaam knew something about Jehovah. He knew Jehovah was different than the immoral, disgusting, demon-god of the Moabites—Chemosh. Balaam knew that Jehovah required exclusive devotion from his worshippers. So, the mad prophet devised a scheme to lure the Israelites into immorality and adultery so that Jehovah would destroy his own people. The plan worked.

So, Jude's likening the "certain men" to the Balaam-like treacherous dealers in the Christian congregation, is to strongly suggest that the enemy within would similarly, slyly, maneuver Christ's congregation into opposition to Christ. Unquestionably, that's exactly what certain men within the Watchtower establishment have done, both with the shameful and ungodly way they have dealt with the child abuse issue and the NGO affair.

By recognizing that Jehovah's Word sheds light on what is happening and that God and Christ are ultimately in complete control; and by relying on them to safeguard our faith, hopefully we may have the insight and strength necessary to prevent our stumbling.

That's why Jude closed his brief letter with these words: "Now to the one who is able to guard you from stumbling and to set you unblemished in the sight of his glory with great joy, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might and authority for all past eternity and now and into all eternity. Amen."

Ezekiel and other prophets as well, foretell of two different attacks. First, Ezekiel prophesied that Babylon would destroy Judah and Jerusalem, but then God would redeem and restore his people. It is after the restoration when Gog attacks. That's why Jehovah tells Gog: "After many days you will be given attention. In the final part of the years you will come to the land of people brought back from the sword, collected together out of many peoples, onto the mountains of Israel, that have proved to be a constantly devastated place; even a land that has been brought forth from the peoples, where they have dwelt in security, all of them."

Please take note, too, that the vision of the dry bones, as discussed already, occurs immediately before Gog makes his final all-out assault on Jehovah's restored nation.

It is interesting that during the time of the end the king of the north also makes two assaults upon Jehovah's nation. (Gog is said to come from the remotest parts of the north.) For instance verse 41 says: "He will also actually enter into the land of the Decoration, and there will be many lands that will be made to stumble." But then down a few verses it says: "But there will be reports that will disturb him, out of the sunrising and out of the north, and he will certainly go forth in a great rage in order to annihilate and to devote many to destruction. And he will plant his palatial tents between the grand sea and the holy mountain of Decoration; and he will have to come all the way to his end, and there will be no helper for him."

Apparently the first incursion into the "land of the Decoration" compares with the Babylonian invasion of Judah and the Assyrian invasion of Israel. The second mention of the king of the north planting his headquarters in the land of Decoration evidently comes after Jehovah has repurchased his erring nation and compares with the attack of Gog. After the first attack achieves the refining of God's people, and after the angels chase all the faithless, lawless individuals out of the congregation; then, Jehovah miraculously ushers his repentant remnant into spiritual paradise. That's when the great crowd takes shape too. After the purge, on a scale never before seen, Jehovah's Witnesses will issue a world-wide denunciation of the Devil's world. No doubt those are the disturbing reports that goad the king of the north into his final genocidal rampage.

So, Gog makes his attack on Jehovah's people after they are spiritually revived and brought into spiritual paradise. That's why Ezekiel envisioned them "having no disturbance, dwelling in security, all of them dwelling without wall, and they do not have even bar and doors."

Jesus' letters to the seven congregations in Revelation are most encouraging. Even though the letters are addressed to actual congregations that existed in the 1st Century, they are really intended for Christ's anointed followers who would be living immediately prior to Jesus' return. By means of those prophetic letters Jesus demonstrates his ability to peer into the inner-workings of his congregation—even centuries in advance!  Through those seven letters Jesus offers much needed counsel and admonition.

Several congregations were afflicted with very discouraging problems. For instance, one congregation was plagued by an idolatrous faction identified as Jezebel. Two congregations had to deal with the sect of Nicolaus. Jesus also said that some were holding fast to the teaching of Balaam. The Ephesians were confronted with false apostles. Jesus wrote them, saying: "I know your deeds, and your labor and endurance, and that you cannot bear bad men, and that you put those to the test who say they are apostles, but they are not, and you found them liars. You are also showing endurance, and you have borne up for my name's sake and have not grown weary."

These are the very potentially discouraging conditions that we are presently confronted with. Surely, then, the answer to your question is contained in Jesus' counsel to the seven congregations.  So: "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations.'