J.R. and Kassy – Ephesians 2 Interview

God bless!

Neil

The Watchtower and Prophecy

Show Notes:

• Intro
• “Bashing” disclaimer, Honest investigation is necessary
• Examining the Prophecies of the Watchtower
  • Failed Prophecy
    • Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (NWT) – “‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die.  And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?”  when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.’”
    • 1914
      • Where the Watchtower stands today:
        • “Just as Jesus predicted, his “presence” as heavenly King has been marked by dramatic world developments—war, famine, earthquakes, pestilences. (Matthew 24:3-8; Luke 21:11) Such developments bear powerful testimony to the fact that 1914 indeed marked the birth of God’s heavenly Kingdom and the beginning of “the last days” of this present wicked system of things.—2 Timothy 3:1-5.” (http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/appendix_10.htm)
      • What has the watchtower said about 1914 in the past?
        • “…the battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already condemned.”  - The Time is at Hand, 1889, p. 101
          • Here it says it will end 1914
          • So if the battle of the great day of God Almighty ENDED in 1914 and the world is still fallen, did God lose the battle?
        • “…the battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1915 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already condemned.” – The Time is at Hand, 1917 edition, p101
          • Note here it says 1915 A.D.
          • False Prophecy – MANY rulers remained in power from 1913-1915.  Just one example being Woodrow Wilson the 28th president of the U.S.  We only need one example to prove it false.
          • Rewriting of the facts with the date change
    • 1925
      • We again see failed prophecies associated with the date 1925
        • “Based upon the argument heretofore set forth, then, that the old order of things, the old world, is ending and is therefore passing away, and that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction” – Millions Now Living Will Never Die – 1920, p. 97
        • The “worthies of old” in this referrs to the following individuals: “Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. … Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, and those other men of old come forth in the glory of their better resurrection” – The Way to Paradise (1924) pp.224,226
          • The use of the word “shall” is important as it is used in this context with certainty.
        • “Question: Have the ancient worthies returned? Answer: Certainly they have not returned. No one has seen them, and it would be foolish to make such an announcement. It was stated in the “Millions” book that we might reasonably expect them to return shortly after 1925, but this was merely an expressed opinion; besides it is still shortly after 1925. There is no good reason why we should expect the ancient worthies to return until the church is complete and the work of the church on earth is done.” – Watchtower 1926 p.196
          • We have an admission from the Watchtower in an official publication that the “Worthies of Old” have NOT returned.
          • The Watchtower says that this was merely an expressed opinion
            • IF the Watchtower is “God’s channel of truth” as it describes itself, why did they give false information?
              • Possible Objection: “The Light is getting brighter”
                • That would give us a more detailed picture, not change the picture altogether.
                • Deer in headlights
            • IF the opinion of the HEAD of God’s channel of truth (In the case above J.F. Rutheford, since he was the author of Millions Now Living Will Never Die) is not trustworthy, how can anyone else in the organization be seen as trustworthy?
            • Should ALL statements then in Watchtower publications then be merely seen as opinion?  If so, why should it be given the authority to interpret scripture for the rest of the people in it?
            • (http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1925.php)
    • 1975
      • The latest failed prophecy of the Watchtower occurred in 1975
        • (Play Stay Alive to 1975 Sound clip)
          • Why would the Watchtower encourage people to stay alive to 1975, but not longer?
            • This is a clear allusion to the idea that 1975 would mark the return of Jesus
          • “If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the “last days” in 1914, Jesus foretold: “This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.”-Matt. 24:34. Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!” –  Awake! 1969 May 22 p.15
            • This was 37 years ago. “Growing old”
          • Many other quotes that point to a 1975 return date found Here: (http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1975.php)
          • The aftermath
            • Growth rates from 1970-1975 were 37%
            • Growth rates from 1975-1980 were only 2%
              • 35% DROP in growth rate from one five year period to another.
              • If 1975 was not held as Christ’s return, then why the dramatic growth right before, and why the mass exodus afterward?
              • Church comparison: Five months, your 100 person congregation adds 37 people.
              • The next five months your church only adds a net gain of three people
              • How many members LEFT?

• Gospel tract Break
  • Mike Stockwell Interview
• Newletter Break
  • LaCrosse season possible slowing of shows (one every other week)
  • Outro

Jehovah’s Witnesses and God – KTC 3

God bless…and please email me with any questions or comments: KneeltoChrist@gmail.com

Neil

Edit:  Show notes below:

• God the Father (Jehovah)
  • What the Bible writers did make abundantly clear is that God is one Person—a unique, unpartitioned Being who has no equal: “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else. With the exception of me there is no God.” (Isaiah 45:5) “You, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”—Psalm 83:18. (http://www.watchtower.org/e/ti/article_05.htm)
  • “The Bible teaches that Jehovah is the loving Creator of the universe” (http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/article_01.htm)
    • In contrast to the following passages:
      • Colossians 1:16-17 (NWT) “because by means of him (Speaking of Jesus) all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist,”
        • Word “Other” (Heteros in the Greek) appears four times with the word not appearing in the Greek a single time
        • Notice that is says that JESUS created everything other than Jehovah in this passage
      • Nehemiah 9:6 – (NWT) “You are Jehovah alone; you yourself have made the heavens, [even] the heaven of the heavens, and all their army, the earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that is in them; and you are preserving all of them alive; and the army of the heavens are bowing down to you.”
        • Now in this passage is says JEHOVAH made the heavens and the earth.  A CLEAR contradiction…one that is only resolved by a trinitarian point of view.
  • God’s personal name is Jehovah (http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/article_01.htm)
    • No problem with the name Jehovah when the manuscript evidence calls for it’s use
    • “no ancient Greek manuscript that we possess today of the books from Matthew to Revelation contains God’s name (Jehovah) in full.” (http://www.watchtower.org/e/na/article_06.htm)
    • The name of God is consistently “Kurios” (Lord) throughout the New Testament manuscripts. (http://ponderingchrist.blogspot.com/2011/01/jehovah-in-new-testament.html)
• Jesus
  • Not God almighty, but a “Mighty God” (http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050422/article_03.htm)
    • John 20:28
    • John 8:24
    • John 8:58
    • John 1:1
    • Romans 9:5
      • Most of these passages are butchered in the NWT
  • The use of the word “god”
    • True God vs. False God (http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050422/article_02.htm)
  • Actually Michael the Archangel
    • (Awake! 2/8/02; p. 16). The WT admits, “there is no statement in the Bible that categorically identifies Michael the archangel as Jesus…” but they close the article with, “Yet, the Scriptures point to the resurrected Jesus Christ as the chief of all angels – Michael the archangel.”

      • Hebrews 1:10-13 – “And: “You at [the] beginning, O Lord, laid the foundations of the earth itself, and the heavens are [the] works of your hands. They themselves will perish, but you yourself are to remain continually; and just like an outer garment they will all grow old, and you will wrap them up just as a cloak, as an outer garment; and they will be changed, but you are the same, and your years will never run out.  But with reference to which one of the angels has he ever said: “Sit at my right hand, until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet”? (http://www.soundwitness.org/jw/who_is_jesus_1.htm)

      • Psalm 102:25 – (NWT) “Long ago you (Speaking of Jehovah) laid the foundations of the earth itself, And the heavens are the work of your hands.”

      • Another contradiction that not only shows that Jesus is God, but also states that Jesus is higher than angels.
      • Hebrews 1:10-13 is a CRITICAL passage in witnessing to JW’s.
  • Died on a torture stake, not a cross (http://www.watchtower.org/e/200604a/article_01.htm)
    • John 20:25 talks about NAILS through his wrists
    • Matthew 27:37 talks about the plaque being above his HEAD not his HANDS
    • Taught as a cross as late as 1929 by Joseph Rutherford book “Life” pg 216
      • Recommended resource: (http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/cross-or-stake.php)
  • Resurrection was spiritual, not physical
    • The Watchtower organization says that Jesus did not rise from the dead in the same body he died in (You Can Live Forever on Paradise Earth, p. 143-44) (http://carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses-and-resurrection-jesus)
      • Luke 24:36-43 (NWT) “While they were speaking of these things he himself stood in their midst [[and said to them: “May YOU have peace.”]] But because they were terrified, and had become frightened, they were imagining they beheld a spirit. So he said to them: “Why are YOU troubled, and why is it doubts come up in YOUR hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; feel me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as YOU behold that I have.” [[And as he said this he showed them his hands and his feet.]] But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and were wondering, he said to them: “Do YOU have something there to eat?” And they handed him a piece of broiled fish; and he took it and ate it before their eyes.”
        • A clear establishment that it was a physical resurrection
      • John 20:27-29 (NWT): “Next he said to Thomas: “Put your finger here, and see my hands, and take your hand and stick it into my side, and stop being unbelieving but become believing.”  In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.”
        • If it is NOT the same body, why did have the same wounds?
• Holy spirit
  • “The Scriptures make clear that the holy spirit is a force that God uses to accomplish his will.” (http://www.watchtower.org/e/20091001/article_02.htm)
    • Throughout the scripture, the Holy Spirit is put on the same level as Jesus and the Father (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 5:3-4, 1 Corinthians 3:16)
    • The scriptures give attributes to the Holy Spirit that can only be given to a PERSON
      • Loves: Romans 15:30 (NWT) – “Now I exhort YOU, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the spirit, that YOU exert yourselves with me in prayers to God for me…”
      • Speaks: Acts 13:2 (NWT) – “As they were publicly ministering to Jehovah and fasting, the holy spirit said: “Of all persons set Bar´na·bas and Saul apart for me for the work to which I have called them.” (http://carm.org/holy-spirit)
      • Can gravity say something?  Can gravity love something?

KTC 2 Belief System Analysis Guidelines and Josh Page Interview

In this episode, I discuss my strategy of having an “Unbreakable Foundation” for my Christian world view and I also interview James Boccardo, author of Unsilenced: How to Voice the Gospel.

Thanks again!  God bless you,

Kneel

Kneel to Christ Podcast Episode 1

Kneel to Christ podcast Intro

This is the introduction to my Podcast series.  Just a short little bit about what the podcast will be.

God bless!

Kneel