AWAKEN ISSUE #6 JEHOVAH GOD INFORMS THE FOLLOWERS OF THE WATCH TOWER TO JOIN IN AND CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS DAY ASWELL AS INFORMING THEM OF SUITABLE GIFTS. ZION'S WATCH TOWER, Dec. 15, 1903, pg. 457: "This review is perhaps as appropriate a lesson for the closing Sunday of the year as any, especially when we remember that all of these glories and blessings and priviledges are ours because of the great redemption work accomplished by him whose entrance upon the work is celebrated by Christmas day. Although we cannot agree that this is the proper day for celebrating the birth of dear Redemeer, but must insist that it was about October first, nevertheless, since he did not intimate his desire that we should celebrate his birthday it is quite immaterial upon what day that event, of so great importance to all, is celebrated. Upon this day, so generally celebrated, we may properly enough join with all whose hearts are in the attitude of love and appreciation toward God and toward the Saviour. The habit of giving little remembrances one to another at this time of year seems to us specially appropriate." ZION'S WATCH TOWER, Dec. 01, 1904, pg. 364 : "Even though Christmas is not the real anniversary of our Lord's birth, but more properly the annunciation day or the date of his human begetting (Luke 1:28), nevertheless, since the celebration of our Lord's birth is not a matter of divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to quibble perticularily about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate - "Christmas day."" ZION'S WATCH TOWER, Nov. 15, 1907, pg. 351: " "SCRIPTURE STUDIES" AS CHRISTMAS GIFTS Dear Friends :- It might interest you to know that we are already offering the books for "Christmas gifts." We find that many secure their Christmas presents several months ahead, and that this month is the one in which many are very please to secure "such a beautiful, appropri- ate, and above all such a reasonable [in price] gift !" Often we can get orders for several sets in one home, in view of the fact that the books make such splendid gifts. Today we got more than one order on this ac- count. We mention this because we think it might help wonderfully during the next six weeks in securing orders from people who would perhaps not buy for their own use. We say "Many are taking them for gifts, and it is of course a compliment to a friend's in- telligence to give him a book, especially a work of this kind, and you get the entire three for only 98 cents!"" THE WATCH TOWER, Jan. 15, 1919, pg. 32 : " A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE To THE DEAR FRIENDS EVERYWHERE:- Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied unto you! Am taking advantage of an opportunity to dictate this note to extend to all the dear friends throughout the United Sates and Canada my heartfelt thanks for the great love bestowed upon us and manifested in the numerous Christmas presents which I and my associates have received, as well as cards, letters and messages of love. May the Lord bless you one and all ! I am unable to write you personally, and so am asking that this general message be given you. I am overwhelmed by you expressions of love, dear brethren. May the Lord re- ward you richly ! Your brother and servant by his grace. J. F. RUTHERFORD." NOTE - J.F. Rutherford was the President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, when the above letter was printed in the pages of The Watch Tower. THE WATCH TOWER, Dec. 15, 1926, pg. 371: "Students of the Scriptures also know that the birth of the babe Jesus did not take place in December; yet because of the general belief upon this point by most people, it seems to be an appropriate time to speak the truth concerning his birth and the purpose thereof. The Scriptural testimony, supported by extranous facts, shows that the birth of Jesus occured approximately October 1st. The event is so important that it is always appropriate to call it to the minds of the people, regradless of the date." 1975 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, page 147 & 148: "Yes, in those early days, dedicated Christians commemorated birthdays. Well then, why not celebrate the supposed brithday of Jesus ? This they also did for many years. In Pastor Russell's day, Christmas was celebrated at the old Bible house in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Ora Sullivan Wakefield recalls that Brother Russell gave members of the Bible House family five- or ten-dollar gold peices at Christmas. Mabel P. M. Philbrick remarks: "A custom that certainly would not be carried on today was the celebration of Christmas with a Christmas tree in the Bethel dining room. Brother Russell's usual 'Good morning, all' was changed to 'Merry Christmas, all.'"" THE WATCH TOWER, 01/15/1917, p 22: "Following the election Brother Rutherford, addressing the the meeting, said in part:..."The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the Lord has used it as his channel through which to make known the glad tidings...". 1939 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, P 85: "It should be expected that the Lord would have a means of communicating to his people on the earth, and he has clearly shown that the magazine called The Watch Tower is used for that purpose." -------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK KING'S COUNTY CLERKS'S COURT RECORD, 1940, vol. II, p 795: Fred W. Franz on the witness stand: "Q. Who subsequently becamse the Editor of the magazine, the main editor of the "Watch Tower" magazine ? A. In 1931, October 15th, as I recall, the "Watch Tower" discontinued publishing the names of any editorial committee on the second page. THE COURT: He asked you who became the editor. THE WITNESS: And it said -- THE COURT: Who became the editor ? Q. Who became the editor when this was discontinued ? A. Jehovah God." Fred W. Franz later became the President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and remains in that position to this day. So we see that Jehovah God is the editor of the Watch Tower. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Olin R. Moyle, v F.W.Franz, et al. Libel suit testimony, May 10th to May 27th, 1943, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division: Fred W. Franz on the witness stand, sections 2596 & 2597 - "Q. At any rate, Jehovah God is now the editor of the paper, is that right ? A. He is today the editor of the paper. Q. How long has he been editor of the paper ? A. Since its inception he has been guiding it. Q. Even before 1931 ? A. Yes, sir." Nathan Homer Knorr on the witness stand, at the same Olin Myle trial, sections 4420 & 4421 : "Q. But you don't make any mention in the fore part of your Watch Tower that "We are not infallible and subject to correction and may make mistakes" ? A. We have never claimed infallibility. Q. But you don't make any such statement, that you are subject to correction, in your Watch Tower papers do you ? A. Not that I recall. Q. In fact, it is set forth directly as God's Word, isn't it ? A. Yes, as His Word. Q. Without any qualification whatsoever ? A. That is right.". NOTE - that at the time of the above trial, Mr. Nathan H. Knorr was already the President of the Watch Tower Society. ------------------------------------------------------------------- So we see that Mr Fred W. Franz, the present president of the Watch Tower, stated under oath in a court of law that Jehovah God was the editor of The Watch Tower since it's inception. So we see that Mr. Nathan H. Knorr, while he was president of the Watch Tower, stated under oath in a court of law that The Watch Tower is set forth directly as God's Word. So we see that from the time of its organization until now God has used The Watch Tower as his channel through which to make known the glad tidings. If one is to believe the Watch Tower, then one must believe that Jehovah God has made errors. It seems that it was Jehovah God's fault for editing the Watch Tower incorrectly. It seems that it was Jehovah God who misguided The Watch Tower since The Watch Tower is set forth directly as God's word. It seems that Jehovah God made mistaken tidings known to The Watch Tower since it is Jehovah God's channel through which tidings are made known. If Jehovah God was not wrong then why do Jehovah's Witnesses no longer celebrate Christmas ? Surely, Jehovah God would not have informed his followers via The Watch Tower to do something which was wrong! Surely, Jehovah God knew history and knew the background about Decemeber 25th. Why did Jehovah God tell the readers of the Watch Tower that : " Upon this day, so generally celebrated, we may properly enough join with all whose hearts are in the attitude of love and appreciation toward God and toward the Saviour." ? Why did Jehovah God tell the readers of the Watch Tower that : "it is not necessary for us to quibble perticularily about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate - "Christmas day." ? Why did Jehovah God encourage readers of the Watch Tower to give Watch Tower publications as Christmas gifts ? Why did Jehovah God tell the readers of the Watch Tower that the giving of gifts was appropriate : " The habit of giving little remembrances one to another at this time of year seems to us specially appropriate." ? Could it be that Jehovah God was not then or ever the editor of any Watch Tower publication ? Could it be that The Watch Tower is not set forth directly as God's word ? Could it be that Jehovah God does not use the Watch Tower society as God's channel for anykind of communications ? Could it be that both Mr Franz and Mr Knorr had LIED about Jehovah God's direction of the Watch Tower organization, while under oath ? If Jehovah God is not editing the Watch Tower, then it must be edited by normal humans ? If Jehovah God's ideas are not directly being printed in the Watch Tower, then it must be normal human ideas which are being presented as coming from Jehovah God ? If Jehovah God is not using the Watch Tower as his only channel of communications, then for whom is the Watch Tower channelling ? I'll now quote from the Watchtower book called MAN'S SALVATION OUT OF WORLD DISTRESS AT HAND!, see page 136: "Furthermore, the remnant of spiritual Israel had for decades, yes, since the year 1876, been looking forward to the ending of the Times of the Gentiles in the autumn of 1914. They were expressing God's Messianic kingdom to be fully established in the heavens by then and also for the remnant of spiritual Israel to be glorified with Jesus Christ in the heavenly kingdom at that time. All understanding of the Holy scriptures was slanted in that direction or adjusted to that idea. And when the year 1941 ended amid the flames of World War I and the remnant of spiritual Israel found themselves still here on earth, then they were inclined to think that they would be glorified in the year 1918, three and a half years after the end of the Gentile Times." NOTE: the book from which this quote was taken was printed in 1975. The fact is stated clearly by the Watchtower that these spiritual Israelites "SLANTED" their understanding of the Holy Scriptures or they "ADJUSTED" the Holy Scriptures to that idea. The title Spiritual Israelites is just another name for followers of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Is that any way for GOD's only channel of communication and GOD's prophet to behave ? This is clear evidence that the Watchtower SLANTED and ADJUSTED the Holy Scriptures to their own ideas. If they did it in the past, how are you to know that they have stopped doing such things ? Quoting again from "1975 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES", pg. 146: "God's people had to adjust their thinking about 1925, for instance. Expectations of restoration and blessing were attached to it because they felt that that year would mark then end of seventy jubilees of fifty years each since the Israelites had entered Canaan. (Lev. 25:1-12) A.D. Schroeder states : "It was thought that then the remenant of Christ's anointed followers would go to heaven to be part of the Kingdom and that the faithful men of old, such as Abraham, David and others would be resurrected as princes to take over the government of the earth as part of God's kingdom." The year 1925 came and went. Jesus' anointed followers were still on earth as a class. The faithful men of old times - Abraham, David and others - had not been resurrected to become princes in the earth. (Ps. 45:16) So, as Anna MacDonald recalls: "1925 was a sad year for many brothers. Some of them were stumbled; their hopes were dashed. They had hoped to see some of the 'ancient worthies' [men of old like Abraham] resurrected. Instead of its being considered a 'probability,' they read into it that it was a 'certainty,' and some prepared for their own loved ones with expectancy of their resurrection." So the Watch Tower uses someone's quote to wash itself of all responsibility for the failed 1925 prophecy. Let's see what was actually written in the Watch Tower publications. Let's see if the Watch Tower implied a 'probability' or implied 'certainty'. From the Watch Tower's book "MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE", 1920, pg. 89 & 90: "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter eleven, to the condition of human perfection." From the Watch Tower's book "MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE", 1920, pg. 97 : "Based upon the arguement hereforth 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, it is reasonable to conclude that that millions of people now on earth will be still on the earth in 1925. Then, based upon the promises set forth in the divine Word, we must reach the positive and indistputable conclusion that millions now living will never die." THE WATCH TOWER, April 01, 1923, pg. 106: "Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures, marking then end of the typical jubilees." THE WATCH TOWER, April 01, 1923, pg. 106: "As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had (so far as the Scriptures reveal) upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge." THE WATCH TOWER, July 15, 1924, pg. 211 : "The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914;" ALL the words used did indicate 'certainty' and not 'probability', as one can see from reading the above. Was the Watch Tower trying to mislead people about what Jehovah God had told Watch Tower followers during the early 1920s ? It is clear, that Jehovah God directed the Watch Tower's followers with FALSE information regading 1925 ! How could Jehovah God have done such a thing ? Remember that Jehovah God is the editor at the Watch Tower. Either that or this is another case of false teachings which originated in humans but were presented as being from Jehovah God. In either case, is this the type of religious organization with which one would want to be involved with ? You can decide for yourself, but the facts speak for themselves ! -------------- end of issue #6 --------------- Please share the info found in these issues of AWAKEN with other members of the faith to which you belong. Consider using this info within publications issued to members of your faith. One example is to use this info within Church bulletins. People need to become informed about the Watch Tower and it's teachings. Why ? Jehovah's Witnesses go door to door preaching whatever the Watch Tower has told them to preach. They are trained weekly to respond to any and all objections to their preaching. They are told by the Watch Tower that the Watch Tower is the only TRUTH and that the Watch Tower is the only TRUE religion. They are told by the Watch Tower that all other faiths, teach false teachings because all other faiths are agents of SATAN. They have no qualms attacking any and all aspects your belief system, when they come on their un-asked for visits. They are trained to SELL you on the Watch Tower's teachings, just as they themselves had been SOLD. By becoming informed about the Watch Tower, one will be better prepared to decide whether one should get invloved with this group. Copyright (c) 1991 by Vince Banial, Toronto Ontario Canada. This material cannot be incorporated into any book without the empress and written permission of Vince Banial. This file may be freely uploaded to any BBS, as long as it remains unchanged.