Question #1

The WTS claims it uses the Bible as its "supreme authority". Where in the Bible does anyone count their time in preaching on a slip of paper and are assigned record cards of activity, determining this as a "gauge to their spirituality"? Where in the Bible are Pioneers, Auxiliary Pioneers, District Overseers, Circuit Overseers, Bethelites, and Kingdom Halls? Source of 65 questions

Considering that all Christian denominations today practice things that would have been foreign to the 1st Century Christians, this question is a case of nit-picking and fault-finding in the way Jehovah's Witnesses operate on an organizational level rather than a search for truth. To illustrate the point, 1st Century Christians didn't even possess personal copies of the Scriptures, which at that time were contained in dozens of unwieldy individual scrolls and letters that were copied and circulated among the congregations.  Also, the early Christians met in private homes and in public places. There were no churches, no cathedrals, and no kingdom halls. As proof of that, consider Paul's greeting at Colossians 4:15 to a woman named "Nympha and to the congregation at her house."  Incidentally, besides meeting at kingdom halls, Jehovah's Witnesses also used to regularly meet in small groups in private homes—like the early Christians. As for the organizational structure of the early Christian church, at Ephesians 4:11 Paul wrote that God provided the congregations with various gifts in the form of men; "some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers." While all Christians are called upon to make a public declaration of their faith, some early Christians were outstanding preachers. Phillip, for example, was called "the evangelizer." The so-called pioneers among Jehovah's Witnesses are also referred to as full-time evangelizers because they spend a significant amount of time in their ministry. Circuit overseers and district overseers today are following the pattern of the apostle Paul and Barnabas, in that the apostle and his companions traveled in a circuit, visiting and revisiting brothers and congregations and writing letters of encouragement and instruction. For that matter, Mark 6:6 reports that Jesus also "went round about to the villages in a circuit, teaching." One function of our modern CO (Circuit Overseer) is when he makes his semi-annual visit to each congregation; he not only teaches, but discusses the spiritual qualifications of any prospective elders in consideration of appointing them to an office. At Titus 1:5, Paul instructed Titus to do that very thing on the Island of Crete. It reads: "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might correct the things that were defective and might make appointments of older men in city after city, as I gave you orders." Jehovah's Witnesses have in many respects copied the model and methods of the original Christians. The actual organizationally-assigned names of various positions of responsibility may not be found in the record preserved in the Greek Scriptures, but the positions of responsibility can be found therein. The naming is merely a convention, exercised by all denominations.

Question #2

To what was Jesus referring to by the term "this temple" in John 2:18-19? In John 2:21 John clearly states that when Jesus used the term "this temple", he was referring to his body. If what the WTS teaches about Jesus' body after his death is correct, then how do you explain these verses?

The problem is, those who tend to think in fleshly, physical terms cannot comprehend true spiritual things. It is apparent with this question and the many to follow that the questioner thinks as a non-spiritual person. But suffice to say, Jesus was speaking in spiritual terms, that the Jews and even his own apostles could not at first understand. Most people think of a temple in terms of a physical structure where some type of formal worship or sacrifice is carried out. In Jesus' day, the temple of God was the stone-and-mortar edifice located in Jerusalem. Jesus originally spoke those words to the Jews to give them pause to reconsider how God expected to be worshipped from that point on. Jesus foretold that the Jewish temple was going to be razed to the ground, with not a stone left upon a stone. The Christian congregation was going to replace the Jewish nation as God's organization. But, instead of having a physical temple, Christ and his anointed followers constitute a spiritual temple for God to inhabit by spirit, and Jesus, as the head of that organization, is called the chief cornerstone of the "building." Furthermore, Jesus' fleshly body was going to be sacrificed to God, as if on a temple altar. And after his resurrection, Jesus became the high priest, ministering on the basis of his own sacrifice. That is why Jesus referred to the temple of his body. Here are a few relevant verses that indicate the spiritual nature of God's temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: "Do you not know that you people are God's temple, and that the spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you people are." 1 Corinthians 6:19: "What! Do you not know that the body of you people is the temple of the holy spirit within you, which you have from God?" 2 Corinthians 6:16: "For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: "I shall reside among them and walk among them, and I shall be their God, and they will be my people." Ephesians 2:20-22: "While Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. In union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for Jehovah. In union with him you, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit."

Question #3

If the Holy Spirit is God's impersonal "active force", why does he speak directly and refer to himself as "I" and "me" in Acts 13:2?

The verse in question reads: As they were publicly ministering to Jehovah and fasting, the holy spirit said: "Of all persons set Barnabas and Saul apart for me for the work to which I have called them." The holy spirit, while not an individual person, is not really impersonal either. Seeing that it comes from God and speaks for him, it is appropriate to personify the spirit of God, which the Bible writers did at times. We should remember that the original Christian congregation was endowed with many gifts of the spirit that we do not possess today. One of the gifts of the spirit was that individuals would speak in tongues. When that phenomenon occurred, it was the spirit speaking to them for God. So, apparently the verse is intended to show that the holy spirit made some sort of obvious manifestation when it spoke to them on that occasion. Under those conditions, it is understandable why they would simply say, "the holy spirit said."  However, it would be unwise to then make the leap to a conclusion that the holy spirit is an actual heavenly person like God and Christ. In the context of blaspheming the holy spirit, Jesus once referred to it as "God's finger." If the holy spirit were an equal part of God in the mysterious Trinity, it would not be appropriate to refer to him as God's finger, would it?

Question #4

Col 1:16, in talking about Jesus, says that"... All [other] things have been created through him and FOR HIM". If Jesus were Michael the Archangel at the time of creation, would an angel have created all things for himself? Isaiah 43:7 says God created "everyone ... for my OWN glory ..."

If we want to dissect and analyze prepositional phrases, we ought to also consider what it means that "all things were created through him." The dictionary definition of through in that context indicates that Christ was not the originator of the creative process, but that the Creator merely used the pre-human Jesus as the agency by which he accomplished his good purpose. Because Jehovah used his firstborn son in such a marvelous way, apparently saying to him: "Let us make man in our image," the creatively-empowered Word of God was the intended beneficiary of the joy of sharing in the very Creation. That God extended such an honor to his son does not mean that the Son has somehow robbed the Father of any glory. On the contrary, the fact that the Supreme Being of the universe shared the joy of creation with his son only brings more Glory to God because of his large-heartedness.  The simple truth is that Jehovah could have easily created all things without employing his heavenly son, but the Son could not have undertaken creation without the help of the Father. That's why Jesus never referred to himself as the Creator. Even when quoting the Genesis account of Creation, at Matthew 19:4, Jesus did not take any credit for creating Adam and Eve; even though he was no doubt the one to whom Jehovah was speaking to when he said, "Let us make man in our image." Instead of using that opportunity to reveal his part in Creation, Jesus humbly referred to God as the one who yoked Adam and Eve together.  Again, as confirmed by God's Word, Jehovah's Witnesses teach the truth about Jesus Christ.

Question #5

The WTS claims that Ezekiel's prophecy of the Jews returning to their land is fulfilled in their organization. Ezek 36:24, 28 says "and I will take you out of the nations and collect you together out of all the lands and bring you in upon your own soil" 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." If this is fulfilled in the Watchtower organization, then how are they returning to the land of CANAAN as promised to the forefathers? Ps 105:8-11

The human mind works in such a way, that it can best grasp complex and abstract ideas if it has a pattern to relate to. Without going into the intricacies of the prophecies themselves, it can be said that the prophecies directed towards ancient Israel establish examples and patterns for the Christian organization of spiritual Israel during the time of God's final judgment. Paul referred to that principle when he wrote to Christians saying: "Now these things went on befalling them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have arrived."  Paul was also inspired to explain how all the features of the primitive tabernacle worship and temple arrangement were merely "a typical representation and shadow of the heavenly things."  The 36th chapter of Ezekiel is one of many prophecies dealing with the regathering and restoration of the Jewish nation. Israel was in a covenant relationship with Jehovah and that relationship was nearly severed because of the Jews' idolatry and immorality. Jehovah punished them by throwing them out of the land he had given them; but later, he reclaimed them as his people. Actually though, according to Paul, the real seed of Abraham is the anointed Christian congregation. And following the pattern of the prophecies pertaining to its ancient counterpart, the modern Israel of God is similarly disciplined by God; scattered during a time of tribulation. But as Jesus said, eventually God's chosen ones will be gathered from the four corners of the earth. Even so, instead of inheriting a literal land of Canaan, Isaiah used the expression "new heavens" and "new earth" to describe the restored Jewish homeland. Bible students, of course, recognize that the apostles Peter and John also specifically referred to a new heavens and new earth, which faithful Christians are to inherit at the end of this present old heavens and old earthly system of things.

Question #6

Consider also what is said concerning those who fulfill this prophecy. Ezek 36:22 says, "Therefore, say to the house of Israel, this is what the sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: 'not for your sakes I am doing it, 0 house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have PROFANED among the nations where you have come in." 

Since the WTS claims that it is spiritual Israel and fulfils these prophecies in Ezekiel, how do Jehovah's Witnesses believe they have profaned God's name among the nations?

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The Watchtower can hardly be expected to announce Jehovah's condemnatory judgment upon itself. In the original setting of prophecy Ezekiel was appointed by God as a watchman to the house of Israel. In modern times I have assumed the role of a watchman in announcing Jehovah's judgments upon the only organization that can profane the name of God among the nations.  

 

Question #7

Since the WTS prohibits the use of blood transfusions, why does it permit the infusion of albumin, clotting factors, and gamma globulins, all of which are derived from human blood? Since Acts 15:29 clearly refers to the old Jewish law of not EATING blood (Gen 9:4, Lev 3:17, Deut 12:16), and since the WTS has changed its teachings so many times on major issues like organ transplantation, the definition of "generation", the year of Armageddon, etc, etc, and simply calls these changes "New Light", how can you be sure they won't some day change their teachings on blood transfusions and refer to the change as "New Light" also?

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When blood transfusions came in to use after WWII it was a pretty straightforward procedure. However, over the years numerous therapies and medicines have been developed that use blood fractions. So, it is not that the Watchtower has changed its policy, but rather, Jehovah's Witnesses are continually confronted with new situations and challenges. And because Jehovah's Witnesses look to the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society for guidance on these matters the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses has issued its guidelines, basically ruling that using blood derivatives ought to be left up to the individual to decide. In other words, it is a personal matter. I doubt that will ever change.

Question #8

Does Prov 4:18 really justify an organization replacing doctrines and failed prophecies with new doctrines and prophecies, or does it simply contrast the benefit to the "righteous" of obeying a wise father (Prov 4:10-19)? False teachings can be called "false words" and Prov 13:5 says, "A false word is what the righteous hates..." When the WTS changes a teaching to something that is totally different, is it like a light that is getting brighter and brighter or more like having one false light (word) completely turned off and a totally different light turned on? Do you think the WTS would be critical of any other organization that changed its teachings as many times on as many different issues over the last 100 years as the WTS has?

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The Watchtower has not changed any doctrines since its inception. Jehovah's Witnesses basically believe and teach the same things as did the original Bible Students. Prophecy, however, is another matter. The topic of "new light" is considered in this article - Is the Light Brighter for Jehovah's Witnesses? 

Question #9

Regarding Jesus' return to earth, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that it occurred in l914 as an invisible return. That event is described in Zechariah 14:4, which states, "... and his feet will actually stand in that day upon the mountain of the olive trees which is in front of Jerusalem on the east." If Jesus has no body and if his return was invisible, how do you explain this verse?

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The context concerns the war of Armageddon. Besides, Bible prophecy is not meant to be taken literally. The Jerusalem that is destined to be attacked is not the literal city. The Christian writers make it plain that "Jerusalem" symbolizes the heavenly kingdom. So, those who are due to come under attack are the anointed sons of the kingdom - not the nuclear armed Zionists that happen to reside in the same place as the original Jews.

Furthermore, we may be certain that those who do not understand the most basic and elemental doctrines cannot possibly hope to understand the deep and hidden things of prophecy.

Question #10

Paul said, "... for as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives." (1Cor 11:26). If Christ arrived in 1914, why do Jehovah's Witnesses continue to partake of the bread and wine? Shouldn't they have stopped in 1914?

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This is one of the few intelligent questions of the 65. The issues related to Jehovah's Witnesses attachment to 1914 are the subjects taken up by e-watchman

Question #11

Since the WTS claims "apostolic succession", can it trace its roots all the way back to Christ (Mt 16:18)? If so, who was it that "passed the torch of God's spirit" to C. T. Russell when he founded the organization? What was the name of this individual or individuals?

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The Watchtower does not claim any such "apostolic succession." That is a Catholic doctrine. The truth is, after the apostles died off Christianity lapsed into apostasy and what passed for Christianity was hijacked by Constantine and further infused with the leaven of paganism. The early Bible Students associated with the Watchtower was a movement to restore the original teachings of the apostles. 

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Question #12

The NWT translates Jn 1:1 as "... and the Word was WITH God, and the word was a god." How can the Word (Jesus) be "a god' if God says in Deut 32:39, "See now that I -- I am he, and there are NO gods together with me..."?

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Jehovah is called the God of gods, so obviously there are other gods. Jehovah, though, is called the only true God; and those words came straight from the mouth of Jesus. And Jesus ought to know. 

As regards the statement that there are no gods with him, the Word was with him. Jehovah was stating that the gods of the nations were not with him. The coming of Christ was a sacred secret and the identity of the Messiah was not revealed until after Jesus was baptized. Then it was revealed that Jesus was the son of Jehovah and was the firstborn of all creation, the one to whom Jehovah spoke to during creation, saying: "Let us make man in our image." Obviously, someone was with God.

Question #13

The WTS teaches that the 144,000 of Rev 7:4 is to be taken literally. If chapter 7 of Revelation is to be taken literally, where then does the Bible say that the 144,000 will come from? See Rev 7: 5-8.

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Revelation 5:9-10 states: "And they sing a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”

So, those who are to become rulers in the kingdom of God are taken from all nations and peoples. Revelation 7:5-8, however, presents the rulers of the kingdom as coming from the 12 tribes of Israel. This, though, is not to be understood as physical Israel. Those who are literate in the Scriptures know that Christianity long ago replaced Israel as God's nation. In fact, Jesus pointedly told the Jews that the kingdom of God was being taken from them and given to a nation producing its fruit.  That "nation" is what Paul called "the Israel of God" - the Christian congregation. It is from that congregation that 144,000 are taken. 

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Question #14

Since the WTS currently rejects most of the teachings of its founder, Charles Taze Russell (who was president of the organization from 1879-1916), and since they also reject "judge" Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who succeeded Russell as president from 1916-1942, how can you be sure that in 25 more years, the WTS won't reject the current president, Milton Henschel (1992-present), as they did Russell and Rutherford? What kind of confidence can you have in an organization that rejected its founder and first two presidents for the first 63 years of its existence - over 50% of the time they have existed?!

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Jehovah's Witnesses have not rejected "most of the teachings of its Founder";quite the contrary. The basic doctrinal teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses are for the most part unchanged since 1879. 

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Question #15

If there is no conscious awareness after death, how could the "spirits in prison", who lived during the time of Noah, be preached to by Christ after His death (I Pet 3:18-20) and how could the good news be "declared even unto the dead" (I Pet 4:5-6)?

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A comparison of I Peter 3:18-20 with Jude 6 indicates that the spirits in prison are the demons. Jude describes them this way: "And the angels that did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place he has reserved with eternal bonds under dense darkness for the judgment of the great day."

Whereas Peter describes them as spirits in prison Jude says they are angels under eternal bonds.  Clearly, they are not disembodied souls of humans, as the uninformed questioner imagines. The wicked angels are under restraint from re-materializing as men, as they had done before the Flood. Jesus preached to the incarcerated spirits after his resurrection, in that, Jesus triumphed over the Devil and the demons in their attempt to cause him to sin against God or deviate from his sacrificial course. Jesus' very presence in the heavens as a spirit served notice upon them that Satan's boast that he could turn all men away from God had failed and their doom was sealed. 

As for 1 Peter 4:5-6, the questioner does not understand the basic spiritual language of the Scriptures. A home Bible study with Jehovah's Witnesses clarifies many of this passages for those who are rightly disposed to accept the truth. 

For example, Jesus once told a man who hesitated to become his follower so he could wait for his aged father to die, to "let the dead bury their dead." How could the dead bury the dead? Likely the questioner would explain it in terms of shovel-wielding zombies, or something equally absurd; but the simple truth is, that, Jesus was saying that if a person was not born spiritually they were dead, at least in God's eyes. 

And that is also how 1 Peter 4:4-6 is to be understood. The context concerns those who are engaging in worldly pursuits, also called dead works. The good news was preached to those who are practicing dead works and who are themselves considered as good as dead, that they might abandon a deathly state and come alive in Christ.

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Question #16

Since the WTS has received "new light" regarding the 1914 generation, and completely changed their views on this, does this mean that all the former Witnesses who were disfellowshipped years ago for the same view the organization is now teaching will automatically be accepted back into fellowship again? Were these ex-Witnesses in fact disfellowshipped for what is now taught as "the Truth"?

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Up until 1995 the Watchtower taught that the generation that was alive in 1914 was the generation Jesus spoke of that would not pass away before the kingdom took over the world. The lifespan of a generation was considered to be 70-80 years. Obviously, 1995 was the 81st year. It was really new light, but the fact that the Watchtower was forced to redefine what Jesus meant by "this generation." 

But no one was disfellowshipped because of not believing what the Watchtower originally stated. 

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