The public media has been widely reporting on the Watchtower's ongoing child abuse problems for a couple of years now. Also, the NGO scandal is well-publicized on the Internet. So it is not as if these issues are not already in the public domain.

However, it is because of the Watchtower's intransigence and evasiveness in responding to these public allegations that it has become necessary to set before Jehovah's Witnesses (as well as the public, secondarily), Jehovah's intentions to set things straight.

One thing you may be sure of and that is this: If responsible brothers at Bethel would have dealt with these issues in a straightforward way from the beginning, the e-watchman website would not even exist.

Foremost, though, it appears to be Jehovah's Will, as established in scripture, to always herald his intentions beforehand and publicly expose the sins of his people as a prelude to his judgment. That is the biblical pattern laid down by the prophets. For example, Isaiah 58:1-2 says: "Call out full-throated; do not hold back. Raise your voice just like a horn, and tell my people their revolt, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day it was I whom they kept seeking, and it was in the knowledge of my ways that they would express delight, like a nation that carried on righteousness itself and that had not left the very justice of their God, in that they kept asking me for righteous judgments, drawing near to God in whom they had delight…"

Was the telling of God's people their sin done privately in ancient times? By no means! In fact, Jehovah made a public record of Israel's sin, which is contained in the most widely distributed book in history—the Bible!

Although not actually part of prophecy, consider the instance of David's secret adulterous affair with Bathsheba as a pattern of Jehovah's dealings. David, of course, was Jehovah's hand-picked anointed king of Israel and a type of the Messiah. But, did his privileged position before God give him immunity from suffering the consequences of his grievous sin? No way! Even though Jehovah spared David's life, he was exposed to public humiliation as the payment of his secret sin. Jehovah's prophet Nathan told David: "Whereas you yourself acted in secret, I, for my part, shall do this thing in front of all Israel and in front of the sun."

Like David, the Society has also acted in secrecy in the spiritually adulterous NGO affair. Like David, they have deviously tried to cover their tracks. And we may be sure that, like David, they too will fail!

Jesus assured us that there is nothing done in secret that will not eventually become known. And what is whispered in private is to be "preached from the house tops." But even at that, this website, although available on the world-wide-web, is typically only accessed through the search engines, directories, or related links by people who already have an interest in issues related to Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower—call it a specialized public and not the general public.

But the public has a right to know, too. After all, the Watchtower has not only deceived Jehovah's ministers, they have deceived the reading public as well. They have apparently even embarrassed and confused United Nations officials; as some UN personnel, not being that familiar with our beliefs and teachings, evidently had no idea that while serving them as an NGO, the Watchtower also taught the public that the UN is a "disgusting thing" in God's sight and the symbolic scarlet-colored wild beast of prophecy. Truly, as the expression goes, the Watchtower was talking out of both sides of its mouth.

What public reproach the Watchtower has brought upon Jehovah's name! And worst of all, the Watchtower's response to the brothers' inquiries demonstrates that they have no intention of telling the truth in this matter. But, the way the universe works, there are immediate and also long-term consequences for those who have such little regard for the truth.

Think about it: The world is in the mess that it is in now all because of the lies hatched in Eden! Likewise, consider the warning example God provided at the very beginning of Christianity, when two anointed Christians in the 1st century, Ananias and Sapphira by name, dropped dead at Peter's feet because they dared to lie to the brothers and play false with the holy spirit.

It seems unavoidable at this point that the Watchtower's callous disregard for the truth will lead to disaster for the entire organization. Calling attention to that looming fate should not be considered a sin.

The prophecy of Ezekiel establishes the pattern for God's spiritual nation. For example, Ezekiel 36:23 says: '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.'

The reason for God's judgment upon Israel was because his people had profaned his name before the nations.

Obviously, so have Jehovah's Witnesses.

It is Jehovah's purpose to make an example out of his organization by putting it through the smelting furnace of affliction; so that the public is made to know that Jehovah is a living and powerful God who will not allow himself to be blasphemed and demeaned, especially  by those who worship him.

So, if anyone happens to ask about the Watchtower's "spiritual prostitution" in your ministry, tell them that it is one of the reasons why Jehovah's judgments are fast coming upon the world.

Then, you might take your Bible out of your book bag and ask the householder to read along at Isaiah 3:13-14, which reads: "Jehovah is stationing himself to contend and is standing up to pass sentence upon peoples. Jehovah himself will enter into judgment with the elderly ones of his people and its princes."

Reason with the householder and get them to understand that God's Judgment Day has not arrived yet. But, when it does, Jehovah God will deal with the sins of his people—beginning with its leaders!

Then, perhaps take them to Ezekiel 16:41-42, which is symbolic of the judgment to be meted out by the tyrannical 8th king and read them this passage: "And they must bring up against you a congregation and pelt you with stones and slaughter you with their swords. And they must burn your houses with fire and execute in you acts of judgment before the eyes of many women; and I will cause you to cease from being a prostitute, and also no more hire will you give. And I will bring my rage to its rest in you, and my jealousy must turn away from you; and I will stay quiet and I shall no more feel offended."

Then, ask them if they would like to know more about the awesome God of Judgment that we worship and offer them a free home Bible study. Remember: Be positive! (Hopefully, your service partner will not faint and tumble off the porch into the shrubbery.)

The 12 apostles are the foundation stones of a spiritual organization, over which Jesus Christ is the head. That's what Christ's congregation is—an organization. That being the case, the purpose of Christ is to eventually gather Jehovah's worshippers into the one true Christian organization. All of the Hebrew prophecies related to both Christ's first and second coming, indicate that his "coming" takes place in relation to an organization that belongs to God.

So, while we all have to individually have faith in Christ, ultimately he leads us into association with a collective grouping, otherwise described in the Scriptures as his flock; his congregation; his spiritual nation; the association; the brotherhood; or as we say nowadays—Jehovah's organization.

But, we do need to be careful to make a distinction between the Christ's congregation and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Since the time of Charles Russell, anointed members of the body of Christ have been delivered up to the authority of the Watchtower Society, so that the Watchtower Society is now what is thought of as Jehovah's organization. Technically, however, it is not. And at some point in the future the true congregation of Christ and the Watchtower will come to a parting of the ways, in some as-of-yet unforeseeable manner. But, until then, the term "Jehovah's organization" is inseparably associated with the Watchtower, at least in the minds of most of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The recent Watchtower on the F&DS talks about the old times - first century and the like. It then jumps to the modern day ' What about today...etc etc'.

My question is this: Who was the F&DS during the intervening years, say 100 CE to 1879 CE, as Jesus said he would be with them until the end of time. Who 'fed' Russell? From what I understand, the F&DS feed the 'domestics'. So who was the F&DS during these years and who were the domestics? There is no account of Russell being contacted by any F&DS.

Rather than simply vilify Ray Franz, which any JW would do, why don't you try to help those who you say have been 'stumbled' by him by specifically refuting his material. You have highlighted a couple of things he has got wrong, but the truth is there is also much that Franz has written that undeniably has the ring of truth and is very hard to deny or refute. This is why his material has had such an enormous effect on the many who have been 'stumbled' from the organization, not just because he was a former member of the Governing Body.

Rather than simply dismissing his writings out of hand as those of an evil wolf in sheep's clothing, why not go out of your way to help the lost sheep that he has seduced into the 'sect' of Ray Franz, as you put it, by presenting direct refutations of his material, similar to the manner in which you have specifically refuted each of the '101 questions about JW's' book. It would be a huge challenge, but by doing that you would surely be a true beacon of hope to those who have read Franz's material but still feel a longing to return to the organization, rather than you being seen by such ones as merely a harsh castigator of someone who has written much that it seems impossible for these stumbled ones to deny.

Ray Franz may rightly be deemed a wolf in sheep's covering based upon the principle Christ laid down: "By their fruits you will recognize those men."

Please take note of the fact that Jesus did not say 'by their words you will recognize them,' he said "by their fruits." What does that mean?

Well, Peter warned Christians that such men would seek to exploit us with "counterfeit words." Counterfeit words might have the "ring of truth," even as you say Mr. Franz's words have. So, the only reliable method for determining whether one is false or true is by their fruits—their fruits being the results of their words and works. And as demonstrated by the many thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses whom Franz has stumbled, his fruits are demonstrably rotten. The very fact that you have even made such a request in behalf of his victims testifies to the spiritually ruinous nature of his work.

But, as for refuting Franz's material, I have already done that, at least indirectly. Take the 1914 issue, as one example. Franz was not in agreement with the 607 date and the chronology that the Watchtower uses to point to 1914 as the beginning of Jesus' parousia. But, he leaves his reader with no explanation as to how Christ's supposed faithful slave could be so wrong about something so important. The unspoken conclusion that he personally arrived at, and evidently the conclusion he expects his readers to arrive at too, is that Jehovah has nothing to do with the Watchtower.

E-watchman, on the other hand, does not accept 1914 either. However, those who might potentially be stumbled by the Watchtower's errors are instead asked to reason in new ways and look at prophecies in a way that they had not previously considered.

For instance, the essay "Who is Blind as the Servant of Jehovah?" makes the case that the prophecy applies to Jehovah's own anointed servants and not to Christendom, as Jehovah's Witnesses commonly suppose. Our understanding the prophecies on that level empowers Jehovah's Witnesses to surmount the stumbling blocks that the Watchtower and Ray Franz have placed before us.

So, Ray Franz is right: 1914 is wrong. Franz is right: The organization is too controlling. But Franz offers no insight, whatsoever, as to how Jehovah's Witnesses could be so wrong and still serve God's purpose. Franz experienced his own so-called "crisis of conscience" because he did not have the spiritual wherewithal to resolve his own internal conflict of faith. In view of his own failure to surmount the stumbling blocks placed before him, how can he possibly impart anything of value to others?

So, it is really not necessary to consider in detail each individual stumbling block that Ray Franz tripped over and which he now wishes to share with Jehovah's Witnesses. Having a deeper faith and knowledge of God's Word is truly a spiritual panacea—a cure-all.

However, if any reader has specific questions, they can submit them; as many have already done.

*** w84 8/15 p. 26 Insight on the News ***

Although such an arrangement may be approved by many in the world, the Christian rightfully asks whether it is in harmony with God's laws. The Bible, at Leviticus 18:20, is clear on this point when it says: "You must not give your emission as semen to the wife of your associate to become unclean by it." Artificial insemination of a woman by a donor other than her legal husband, makes her guilty of adultery, a sin against God. (Deuteronomy 5:18) The sperm donor and the surrogate woman have not been yoked together by God in matrimony.—Matthew 19:4-6.

It is not a cultural revolution, but rather— cultural degeneration. Cultures and great nations seem to go through cycles of varying lengths, whereby they initially become great civilizations, and after attaining a level of prosperity, then corruption takes over and they go into a period of decline, degeneration, and finally disintegration. Greece and Rome followed that pattern; and now what is called the globally-extended European culture that originated in the Renaissance is in the final phase of its degeneration. 

Obviously, homosexuality has always been around, in ancient and modern times; but in the modern "Christian" culture it has generally been kept "in the closet," as the expression goes. Now, though, the general acceptance of homosexuality as a legitimate "alternative lifestyle" seems more symptomatic of an entire civilization that has gradually become more and more corrupted and bestialized.

That is evident not just in the prevalence of homosexuality, but in many other forms of immorality such as child abuse, pornography, and many other things. For example, a fellow in Germany was just convicted of cannibalizing a willing victim he found on the Internet! How insane is that?

In the United States, the extreme dichotomy of political views and social issues is also indicative of a civilization that is near to tearing apart at the seams. For example, on the one hand there seems to be a growing number of the extremely liberal-minded people and even anarchists. Yet, on the other hand, neo-conservatives and their fundamentalist backers are in the governmental driver's seat. In times past under national emergencies like the Great Depression and World War Two, the nation was able to pull together. However, considering how polarized the nation has now become, it could just as easily pull apart—even as the Bible describes the iron and clay not sticking together.

While the 1st chapter of Romans speaks of homosexuals and lesbians being inflamed with perverted lusts, Paul goes on to indicate that the reason so many give into unnatural passion is not because they do not know better, but because of their being spiritually and mentally corrupt.

That is the real problem. Homosexuality and other forms of immorality are only the outward symptoms of inward corruption. That's why Romans 1:28-32 says: "And just as they did not approve of holding God in accurate knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mental state, to do the things not fitting, filled as they were with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, badness, being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malicious disposition, being whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, self-assuming, inventors of injurious things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, false to agreements, having no natural affection, merciless. Although these know full well the righteous decree of God, that those practicing such things are deserving of death, they not only keep on doing them but also consent with those practicing them."

It is strange that a movie like this has generated so much controversy even before its first showing. But, Jesus has a way of stirring things up it seems—even in his absence. Without doubt, though, the story of Jesus, if properly told, is the most inspiring story that ever has or ever will be told. It transcends all generations and cultures. The death of Christ, in particular, has a way of stirring people's passion for justice and truth—and that is a good thing.

There is so much ignorance in the world. Young people especially have not been taught about Jesus; like previous Sunday school-taught generations were. So, for many people, seeing a movie like this will no doubt have a powerful impact on them and hopefully might move them to take up a serious study of the Bible and life of Christ.

As for the movie being Christendom's propaganda, the Jewish community is certainly upset by the movie; fearing that it may whip up anti-Semitism. (Evidently the movie realistically portrays the fanatical hatred of the Jews and Pharisees towards Jesus. Supposedly, Gibson even bowed to pressure and deleted from the script the scriptural account where the Pharisees told Pilate to let the blood of Jesus be charged to future generations.)

One thing to consider, though, is that Gibson warns sensitive viewers that some scenes are quite graphic. He admits that he wants to shock people with the reality of the brutality that Christ suffered. Perhaps the movie over-does it; that remains to be seen. But, conversely, how many senseless acts of gratuitous violence has the average movie-goer been subjected to otherwise?

There is no question about it, though: the execution of Christ was horrific and was the worst miscarriage of justice in history. It should be disturbing! Words on a page and certainly no Watchtower artist can really convey the full horror and agony that Jesus experienced in his last hours. For example, the 22nd Psalm prophetically likens Jesus' terrifying experience to being surrounded by wild bulls, roaring lions and a pack of dogs. That would be a terrifying experience in itself. Suffice it to say that Jesus did not peacefully die in his sleep.

The real passion of the Christ is all about what Jesus was willing to do to obey God's Will for him. If the movie even comes close to conveying Christ's courage and faith in the face of a torturous death, it might be worth seeing—especially for Jehovah's Witnesses.

The 11th chapter of Revelation and the 7th chapter of Daniel are complimentary, parallel prophecies. It is useful to compare these two prophecies. Most notably, both prophecies contain measured periods, during which time the sons of the kingdom are harassed and trampled underfoot by a beastly kingdom. We already recognize that the time, times and half-a-time (3 ½) foretold in Daniel is the same as the 42 months.

Whereas, Daniel refers to that time period as when the holy ones are continually harassed by the wild beast, according to Revelation that is the period allotted to the nations to trample the sanctuary's outer courtyard and holy city of God. Revelation 11:2 reads: "But as for the courtyard that is outside the temple sanctuary, cast it clear out and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city underfoot for forty-two months." (That is, of course, nearly identical language Jesus used when he said Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations for an appointed time.)

Both prophecies also describe a hot-running war between the beastly king and the sons of the kingdom. Both prophecies depict the beastly king conquering the sons of the kingdom; after which, God intervenes to totally destroy the opposing kingdom at the conclusion of the appointed time. Daniel &:21-22 says: "I kept on beholding when that very horn made war upon the holy ones, and it was prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came and judgment itself was given in favor of the holy ones of the Supreme One, and the definite time arrived that the holy ones took possession of the kingdom itself."

According to Daniel, the war upon the holy ones is initiated when the Son of man is given the kingdom. The interval during which time the beastly king prevails is what Jesus was actually referring to when he said: "and they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled."

So the "gentile times," as they are commonly called by Jehovah's Witnesses, actually applies to the three and a-half year period after Christ receives his kingdom over the world, during which time Satan's beast-like political system is allowed to stay in existence as a competing kingdom.  Some might prefer to call that interval "the changing of the guard." However, at the end of the gentile times the nations are destroyed.

The intent of Satan is to use his earthly political apparatus to destroy the earthly heirs of the Christ's kingdom during his allotted short period of time. In affect, the nations try to extend their allotted "appointed times" and change God's purpose to give the kingdom to the holy ones at the conclusion of that period. That's why we read in Daniel 7:25-26: "And he will speak even words against the Most High, and he will harass continually the holy ones themselves of the Supreme One. And he will intend to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand for a time, and times and half a time. And the Court itself proceeded to sit, and his own rulership they finally took away, in order to annihilate him and to destroy him totally."

According to the verse above, the expiration of the appointed times results in their rulership finally being taken away, and Satan's entire political system is totally annihilated.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to discuss anything in the congregation unless it is taught by the Watchtower. In most congregations even the slightest deviation from the Watchtower script will cause problems. Regrettably, many brothers and sisters have been rebuked and even disfellowshipped for simply daring to question the Watchtower.

The present deplorable condition of the organization is exactly described in prophecy. Isaiah 59:13-15 says: "There have been transgressing and a denying of Jehovah; and there was a moving back from our God, a speaking of oppression and revolt, a conceiving and a muttering of words of falsehood from the very heart. And justice was forced to move back, and righteousness itself kept standing simply far off. For truth has stumbled even in the public square, and what is straightforward is unable to enter. And the truth proves to be missing, and anyone turning away from badness is being despoiled."

As Jehovah accurately describes in the prophecy, "truth proves to be missing" from "the truth"! And because the organization is so controlling "what is straightforward is unable to enter."

Naturally, the Watchtower applies this prophecy to Christendom; but the context plainly indicates that it is directed to an organization that Jehovah recognizes as belonging to himself. That is apparent from the verses following the above, which read:

And Jehovah got to see, and it was bad in his eyes that there was no justice. And when he saw that there was no man, he began to show himself astonished that there was no one interposing. And his arm proceeded to save for him, and his own righteousness was the thing that supported him. Then he put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and the helmet of salvation upon his head. Furthermore, he put on the garments of vengeance as raiment and enwrapped himself with zeal as if a sleeveless coat. In accordance with the dealings he will reward correspondingly, rage to his adversaries, due treatment to his enemies. To the islands he will recompense due treatment. And from the sunset they will begin to fear the name of Jehovah, and from the rising of the sun the glory of him, for he will come in like a distressing river, which the very spirit of Jehovah has driven along.  And to Zion the Repurchaser will certainly come, and to those turning from transgression in Jacob," is the utterance of Jehovah.  And as for me, this is my covenant with them, Jehovah has said.

Ironically, the Watchtower indicts itself by its commentary on this portion of prophecy, where it says: "Since appointed judges are derelict in their duty, Jehovah will intervene in the matter. When he does, he will act in righteousness and with power. There is a similar situation today. We live in a world where many have "come to be past all moral sense." Few believe that Jehovah will ever intervene to eliminate evil from the earth. But Isaiah's prophecy shows that Jehovah closely observes human affairs. He makes judgments, and in his own time, he acts according to those judgments. Are his judgments fair? Isaiah shows that they are."

The only solution to what ails Jehovah's Witnesses is God's future judgments and the elimination of evil from among his people—beginning at the top.

"Just a little while longer…"