Armageddon by 2000 AD says "Jehovah"
After the failed prophecy of 1975 JW’s claimed that Armageddon would come before the year 2000.
B. Stett (assisted by B. J. Kotwall)
The Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) teach that the Bible is authored by “Jehovah” and that it predicts Armageddon by/before 2000 AD and this they claim is Jehovah’s own interpretation.
W i t h i n O u r T w e n t i e t h C e n t u r y
Shortly within our twentieth century, the “battle in the day of Jehovah” will begin against the modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom.
The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah - How? 1971 p. 216
To a JW the “battle in the day of Jehovah” is the same as Armageddon. It is the destruction, by the forces of nature, divided humankind, and angels of God, of all non-JW people and property. This implies the death of over 99% of the human race by 2000AD.
W h e n T h i s P r o p h e c y B e g a n
The prophecy of Armageddon by 2000 AD began in 1945 in The Watchtower (February 15 pp. 51-60) in the article The Kingdom Sabbath and Its Lord.
Virtually the same material was repeated in the two editions of Let God Be True (1946; 1952) in the chapter The Sabbath: In Shadow and Reality.
Let’s follow the 1946 reference.
Chapter 7 of Let God Be True (1946) says that each of the seven days of creation was 7,000 years long.
In particular:
Man being created toward the close of the sixth day, he was put on earth toward the end of 42,000 years of earth’s preparation. (p. 155)
God’s “seventh day” of rest continues 7000 years. (p. 165)
Also the 1,000 year reign of Christ (the Millennium) corresponds to the last 1,000 years of the 7,000 years of God’s rest. (pp. 167-169) So when did the 7,000 years of rest begin?
On page 165 it is claimed that the 7,000 year rest, “began applying over 4,000 years before Christ.”
Ignoring the minor question of there being no year “0” it follows that 6,000 years will be completed by or before 6,000 – 4000 = 2000 AD.
Page 166 says that the 1,000 year reign of Christ will start “immediately” after Armageddon. Therefore Armageddon will also have to be over by/before 2000 AD.
C o n n e c t i o n W i t h 1 9 7 5
When Let God Be True was published the JWs believed that Adam was created in 4028 BC. This date is not given in Let God Be True but does appear in The Truth Shall Make You Free (1943 p. 152). In the 1950s the year of Adam’s creation was corrected to 4026 BC.
Adding 6,000 years to 4,026 BC and allowing for there not being a year “0” results in 1975 exactly.
However, the 7,000 year rest started, according to JWs, after Eve was created. But 4,026 BC is the year of Adam’s creation. If, for example, Eve was created two years after Adam then 6,000 years into God’s 7,000 year rest would end in 1977. But Armageddon had to be over before the end of 6,000 years of God’s rest – but we are not told how long before.
Because of these unknowns – how long Eve’s creation delayed after Adam’s and how long before end of 6,000 years from Eve’s creation Armageddon would strike – JWs did not at first predict the world’s end (Armageddon) for 1975 with certainty. A usual phrase and estimate used at conventions was “the mid 1970s.”
Then The Watchtower (1968 May 1 p. 271) and Awake! (1968 October 8 p. 14) announced that Adam and Eve were created in the same year that is in 4,026 BC. This was confirmed in the book Aid To Bible Understanding (1971 p. 538) This removed one of the two uncertainties. From this new information it followed that Armageddon had to be over, and paradise introduced in, or earlier than, 1975.
The Watchtower 1968 May 1 p. 271
Thus, Adam’s naming of the animals and his realizing that he needed a counterpart would have occupied only a brief time after his creation. Since it was also Jehovah’s purpose for man to multiply and fill the earth, it is logical that he would create Eve soon after Adam, perhaps just a few weeks or months later in the same year, 4026 B.C.E. After her creation, God’s rest day, the seventh period, immediately followed.
Therefore, God’s seventh day and the time man has been on earth apparently run parallel. To calculate where man is in the stream of time relative to God’s seventh day of 7,000 years, we need to determine how long a time has elapsed from the year of Adam and Eve’s creation in 4026 B.C.E. From the autumn of that year to the autumn of 1 B.C.E., there would be 4,025 years. From the autumn of 1 B.C.E. to the autumn of 1 C.E. is one year (there was no zero year). From the autumn of 1 C.E. to the autumn of 1967 is a total of 1,966 years. Adding 4,025 and 1 and 1,966, we get 5,992 years from the autumn of 4026 B.C.E. to the autumn of 1967. Thus, eight years remain to account for a full 6,000 years of the seventh day. Eight years from the autumn of 1967 would bring us to the autumn of 1975, fully 6,000 years into God’s seventh day, his rest day.
When the deadline came and all the prophecies failed, it was announced that Adam and Eve were not created in the same year. (The Watchtower 1975 October 1 p. 579)
This however left intact the prediction for, “within our twentieth century”.
O u r O w n T w e n t i e t h – C e n t u r y G e n e r a t i o n
In 1965 The Watchtower had an article titled, Our Own Twentieth-Century Generation and the Resurrection which said in part:
A “great crowd”…will never go to Ha’des or Sheol and need to be resurrected. However, it will not be so with the “goat” class of our twentieth-century generation. At the destruction of Babylon the Great and in the Battle of Armageddon they will be executed with an everlasting punishment and will never be resurrected from the dead, for they will go into the “second death.” Consequently, at the beginning of Christ’s millennial reign, there will be no “goat class” on hand to interfere with that righteous rule.
(1965 March 15 p. 177)
Potentially “Our Own Twentieth-Century Generation” could be “executed” in the twenty-first century. But if that were meant one would expect some mention of the twenty-first-century generation.
Furthermore to a JW of the 1950s to 1980s the phrase “our generation” referred to people old enough to witness with understanding the outbreak of World War I in 1914. “Our generation” and “this generation” therefore meant people born 1900-1905 or earlier. A few references to “this generation” meaning pre-World-War I people are:
-
Awake! 1966 October 8 p. 18
-
Awake! 1968 October 8 pp. 13-14
-
The Watchtower 1969 February 15 p. 101
-
The Watchtower 1974 June 15 p. 359
-
Awake! 1981 July 22 p. 4
A F i r m A n d D e f i n i t e P r o p h e c y
The prophecy of Armageddon in our twentieth century continues as a firm and definite prophecy:
The Watchtower 1984 March 1 pp. 18-19
Some of that “generation” could survive until the end of the century. But there are many indications that “the end” is much closer than that!1989 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses p. 3.
How many will accept the invitation? John’s vision recorded in Revelation 7:9 had to become a reality. He saw “a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands.” With confidence in the vision’s complete fulfillment during the decades of this 20th century the anointed remnant of the bride class have never let up in saying “Come!” Every effort has been made to broadcast the message to all nations.The Watchtower 1989 January 1 p. 12
The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be concluded in our 20th century.
The quotes from the Yearbook and the 1989 Watchtower in effect say the same thing. This is that the JW preaching work, with everyone who will survive Armageddon having become a JW, will be completed in the 20th century. And every JW knows that the end of the preaching work coincides with the eruption of “the great tribulation” and “Armageddon”.
The 1989 Watchtower quote is from the single-issue printing of The Watchtower. In the bound volume reprints the quote was changed to:
He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our day.
Despite this revision, the prophecy of “in our 20th century” remains an official doctrine which we’ll see next:
A r m a g e d d o n N o t F u r t h e r T h a n W e H a d T h o u g h t
The final generation of this world was first clearly linked to 1914 in 1953. That was in the booklet Basis for Belief in a Righteous New World (p.51). An earlier booklet Evolution Versus The New World (1950 p.53) discussed “this generation” in a 1914 context but didn’t clearly link the two ideas together except by implication.
Later there were quotes like:
Even if we presume that youngsters 15 years of age would be perceptive enough to realize the import of what happened in 1914, it would still make the youngest of “this generation” nearly 70 years old today.
Awake! 1968 October 8 p. 13-14
This doctrine and prophecy was taught as “the Creator’s promise”. From January 1982 Awake! magazine had the claim:
Most importantly, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new order before the generation that saw the events of 1914 C.E. passes away.
In 1995 this promise was revised to:
Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things.
Awake! 1995 November 8
In discussing this revision The Watchtower said:
Does our more precise viewpoint on “this generation” mean that Armageddon is further away than we had thought? Not at all!
(1995 November 1 p. 20)
Well, how close had the JWs “thought” and prophesied Armageddon to be? The answer is that people born around 1900 would live to see Armageddon and it would happen “within our twentieth century”.
That only leaves two years from the present – 1998.
A l l J W T e a c h i n g I s F r o m “ J e h o v a h ”
JW leaders claim that their organization is, “the only organization on earth that understands the ‘deep things of God’!” (The Watchtower 1973 July 1 p. 402)
They call their propaganda “true religion” and say of true religion, “its teachings must all be in harmony with God’s word.” (The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life 1968 p. 130)
The official position is well expressed in The Watchtower of 1931:
The Watchtower recognizes the truth as belonging to Jehovah, and not to any creature. The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or set of men. No man’s opinion is expressed in The Watchtower. God feeds his own people, and surely God uses those who love and serve him according to his own will.
(November 1 p. 327)
Furthermore The Watchtower (1943 July 1 p. 202) says: “Jehovah God is therefore the only Supreme Court of interpretation of His inspired word.” The subsequent page adds:
To such remnant of faithful servants of Jehovah God Christ Jesus has entrusted all “his goods”, or earthly interests of the Kingdom. This does not signify that the faithful remnant or society of Jehovah’s anointed witnesses are an earthly tribunal of interpretation, delegated to interpret the Scriptures and its prophecies. No; Christ Jesus the King has not entrusted that office to them. THE SUPREME COURT STILL INTERPRETS, thank God; and Christ Jesus, the Court’s official mouthpiece of interpretation, reserves to himself that office as head of Jehovah’s “faithful and wise servant” class. He merely uses the “servant” class to publish the interpretation after the Supreme Court by Christ Jesus reveals it.
(p. 203)
The “Creator’s promise” regarding the 1914 generation has already been discussed. That “promise” is also “Jehovah’s prophetic word”:
Jehovah’s prophetic word through Christ Jesus is: “This generation [of 1914] will by no means pass away until all things occur.” (Luke 21:32) And Jehovah, who is the source of inspired and unfailing prophecy, will bring about the fulfillment…
The Watchtower 1984 May 15 pp. 6-7
From statements such as these it follows that if Armageddon by 2000 AD fails to occur the “Jehovah” of the JWs will be exposed as a liar.
J W P r o p h e c y T o F a i l A g a i n
JW prophecies are known to have failed for many other dates. These include 1878, 1881, 1906/1907, 1912, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1924, 1925, 1928, 1930s, 1935/1936, 1942, 1940s, 1970s.
Generalizing from this trend of failure the prophecy of “within our twentieth century” should prove to be false.
I have read all of these and whether exJWs or nonJWs or former JWs or even CURRENT JWs who think they defend with trash replies, death eliminates all of you and peace comes forth from the silence.
ALL THIS TALK IS NONSENSE–I WAS A JW FOR 32 YEARS AND FINALLY GOT OUT–I HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THEM THAN THEY KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES–IT IS A CULT AND THEY TRY TO BURY THEIR HISTORY–ANYONE WITH COMMON SENSE CAN GO ON THE INTERNET AND FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT THE JWS..YOU CANT DISGUSS THE BIBLE WITH THEM–FORGET ABOUT IT–JUST SAY HAVE A GOOD DAY–I KNOW–
@neesie
i agree with you total about this sick human being otto he sick in his head or he has addict. there is no normal person who will repeat same things over and over again and again only madd people who do that. he always try to make people reason like him but he never get that he always get the opposite.
@otto marconi
To quote you ‘and remember I DO NOT hate anybody.’ You obviously hate JW’s to say those things. You have hatred in your heart. You contradict your own self silly person.
Also, faggot is a derogatory statement towards homosexuals. Therefore, you have, in your own ignorant way, degraded homosexuals. Plus you repeat the same words over and over and over again. I bet you go to sleep at night yelling those phrases as if you have Tourette’s…LOL LOL. And if you keep using Jehovah’s name in vain like that you’ll be very sorry. I actually do hope you have some sort of mental disorder…maybe you’ll have mercy on you. If not…it’ll be one less disgusting human being to share this beautiful planet with.
CHEERS!
@otto marconi
How did they destroy your family Otto? Or did YOU destroy your family? You seem to hate not only JW’s, but homosexuals, women, men, children (the constant ‘child molester comments are demented). That kind of behavior could disrupt a happy home.
@otto marconi
Sad Bipolar Otto….sad sad little person. You talk tough on the internet. I bet if two JW’s showed up at your door…you’d do like the rest. Say no thank you and shut the door…but wouldn’t say a word…lol
Do you need a hug or something?
@markus
you call me idiot cause i believe in jehavah and jesus. you are an idiot cause you dont believe in them.
idiot markus
cheers
petra
@petra
The real truth is, your God Joe Hover masturbates every time a human being suffers.
He has an orgasm at the smell of burning flesh. The antichrist? HAHAHA what a joke there was never a Christ so how can there be an Antichrist.
Idiot.
Cheers,
Markus
@Rado
you are the antichrist that the bible talks about that is misleading the people with the truth how far do you think you will go dear your days are numbered and you goner die like a might lion get berried like a dog without any hope what will that help you dear.
what helps us as jw is faith in our GOD we are not perfect so that we can do everything right we make a lot of mastakes but faith is samething that we value untill one day when we are perfect to do everything right in our GODS eyes. above our faith we have great love both for god and for your fellow believer. GOD does not look at our mistake if he could only done that no one would ever survive ON HIS ENGER, RANGE, WRAETH. you see there is a big different between doing right and having faith in GODS eyes. that is why the bible say all those who did not put faith in him and those who did not believe will be distroyed. faith in GOD and love is something to be valued not about being perfect in GODS eyes while you are imperfect that will be imposible for now
@ christian
ha that is very surpricing i think in your country poeple mix the believe of the bible with the culture it is not lawfull in GODS eyes to beat a child untill when it bleed in our country you can get arested for that im sory that you have to leave the truth cause of the way you were brought up im very sory for you but JEHOVAH will look at the matter
@otto
it looks like you american got promblem with sex that you can even get aroused infront of the screen but im sory not like that with us african we are tought from chiledhood on about sex you cant have sex just with anybody sex is something to be respected to keep it as a secred between two poeple no wonder you american get pregnat at the age of tweelve how discusting is that i was 28 of age when i get my first baby that time i was 4years married not every body live in the same way you grow up otto that there is nothing else in your mind except sex some time is also health to have a talk with poeple or ague with them which is normal for a human being
@hatter no no dear when i look in the mirror i see a beatfull happy young woman you are the ugly one otto cause you even scared to get married and make kids cause your kids will be ugly little monster you idiot yes i enjoy being a witness and im very proud of being one and i love it everyday i wakeup think about jehovah with a thankfull heart what else can make me happie absulutely nothing in this dirty world
and yes im going to give birth to another jehovadoer issent that goodnews well ejoy yourself dear i hope one day i will be able to pay your ticket to come to africa so that i can see a piece of gabage you are
@tto
i told you that you dont sleep you spent day and night craving for witneses what are you doing at 01:45 am. sitting at the web waiting to talk to somebody at that time of the night. at our side it was 8:45 am. my husbund gone to work im just at home with the kids. and hey im aspecting again i hope this will be a girl.
@markus
hey wena you make me lough it seems like you left the truth very quick that you did not understand it well i have never head of jw claiming to know when the end is coming no body knows not even jesus only the father knows.
@cookie
hi ccokie your word is thoughtfull to say you are right even if we dont know the day or the hour is worth to be upright in God,s yes is the only thing that keep me going from time to time is to please the almight jehovah. are you he or she i used to go to school with a friend name cookie she was a beutfull girl but we havent seen each other after we finish school tweelve yeas ago now you remind me of her tell me where are you in this party of the world.
A friend of mine use to be all messed up on drugs, then he found “Jehovah Witnesses”, now he’s all messed up on Jehovah Witnesses
@cookie
Yes they have claimed to know when the end was coming, many times, and they were wrong on each occasion. You don’t know anything about your own society and as a typical brainwashed individual will argue matters you do not even have a clue about.
Cheers,
Markus
Jehovah’s Witnesses, as an organization, have NEVER claimed to know the day or the hour when the end of this system will come. You have taken statements from y old publications out of context to accomplish your slander ministry. As an individual, I may feel the end is coming in my lifetime but that does not mean it will. It really doesn’t matter if it does or not as long as I live a life that is pleasing to God, I can have confidence that I will be judged worthy by God to receive his promise for mankind. Satan has truly blinded you with hate. How sad.
I know several JW that did sell their houses and quilt their jobs. My parents very good friends were among them. Now my daughter has joined the JW and they tell her there was never a prophesy and she believes them istead of me. I am not upset that she is a wittness, I just don’t understand why they won’t admit they were wrong. It’s alright to be wrong, it’s not alright to lie about it.
hi Fred Hall,
see ya lost another opportunity not to make a laughing-stock of yourself just like all the witlesses slaves of the Filthful and Disgraceful Slavebugger.
salute!
anyway can any one put ME out of my misery about the 1st command laid down by the lord
cannot recall the verses but @ end of ch 1 of genesis god allows both humans to eat EVERY FORM OF FRUIT FROM ANY AND ALL TRESS
then next chaper he changes his mind u no the 1 i mean in ch2 where no more eating of the middle tree is alowed any more why was that pls
OOPS,
you will find there was…
Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, 1966, page 26:
…and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E…
October 8, 1966 Awake!, in the article entitled “How Much Longer Will It Be?”, it says
“Does God’s rest day parallel the time man has been on earth since his creation? Apparently so. From the most reliable investigations of Bible chronology, harmonizing with many accepted dates of secular history, we find that Adam was created in the autumn of the year 4026 B.C.E. Sometime in that year Eve could well have been created, directly after which God’s rest day commenced. In what year, then, would the first 6,000 years of man’s existence and also the first 6,000 years of God’s rest day come to an end? The year 1975. This is worthy of notice, particularly in view of the fact that the “last days” began in 1914, and that the physical facts of our day in fulfillment of prophecy mark this as the last generation of this wicked world.”
The Watchtower, August 15, 1968:
“Do we know that the seventh year from now will conclude the 6,000th year since Adam was created? And if we live to that year 1975, what should we expect to happen?”
There are litterary dozens of other quotes I could show you. Did nobody tell you that some JW even sold their houses and quite their jobs in 1975 in anticipation of Armageddon?
There was no 1975 prophesy.
Cannot = one word
why do JW s keep such wierd records of all they do. Like keeping score on who does what. Cant you just converse simply on the subject of religon without being a number on a scoresheet.Who wants to read about how many or whatever tallies they have printed in their publication every year.
“And no wonder, for Satan himself KEEPS TRANSFORMING himself into an angel of light.” – 2Cor 11:14 NWT
Constant change? New “light”?
I could’nt of said it better myself REL
Notice this:
The official position is well expressed in The Watchtower of 1931:
The Watchtower recognizes the truth as belonging to Jehovah, and not to any creature. The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or set of men. No man’s opinion is expressed in The Watchtower. God feeds his own people, and surely God uses those who love and serve him according to his own will.
(November 1 p. 327)
This way when the you know what hits the fan they can blame GOD.
What I find to be interesting that the faithful and discreet slave was to have been giving them the proper food at the proper time concerning these dates; With the direction of Jehovah and his Holy Spirit. Who got it wrong along the chain of command? When did the light get brighter and brighter concerning the new dates/prophecies?
ISH, since the WBTS teaches that there are only three places that info(truth and non truth) comes from.
These are Jehovah God, Satan of the Flesh. It is in your interest to open your eyes and examine your beliefs to see what is really the truth. Look to what is published in your own books.
According to the WBTS the Awake and the Watchtower are authored by Jehovah God himself, as stated under oath by WBTS Pres Fred Franz in 1943. And has been since its inception with C.T. Russell.
Then every word is the WORD OF GOD! and must be taken so. Because God is not a liar!!!!
This is fact and cannot be denied.
If you find that there are inconsistencies or false truths in them then they are not from God right?
I don’t know about you but if God was telling me what to write down I think I would make sure I got it right!!!
Therefore they must come from Satan or the Flesh.
“It is not a form of religious persecution for anyone to say and to show that another religion is false. It is not religious persecution for an informed person to expose publicly a certain religion as being false, thus allowing persons to see the difference between false religion and true religion.” (Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1963, p. 688)
“Jehovah, the God of the true prophets, will put all false prophets to shame either by not fulfilling the false prediction of such self-assuming prophets or by having His own prophecies fulfilled in a way opposite to that predicted by the false prophets. False prophets will try to hide their reason for feeling shame by denying who they really are.” (Paradise Restored To Mankind By Theocracy, 1972, p. 353, 354)
“But that does not relieve each individual Christian of the responsibility to dig deeper into Gods Word, for the purpose of getting the full depth of the thoughts explained. This involves looking up the scriptures cited. It means reading the footnotes in Watchtower articles, some of which refer the reader to an older publication that provides a fuller explanation of a certain passage or prophecy. It requires digging deeper, putting forth effort to locate that older publication and then studying the pages referred to.” (Watchtower, June 15, 1985, p. 12)
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 I won’t quote this one as I am sure you know it by heart.
THe WBTS has stated in their books that Jehovahs Witnesses are the prophets of God.
I seriously doubt that you have done any relevant research or will be able to because you will NOT be able to access the older publications prior to 1950. These are kept under lock and key because they hold the real truth about the false prophecies made by the WBTS and are only available to Elders and Overseers. Try it.
But don’t get caught using the internet or you will be in big trouble.
“When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning they may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning?” (W.T Jan.15, 1974 pg.35)
Catch you at something Christian? Give me & yourself a break. You do not own these people anything. This religion is totally false in it’s teachings, hypocrisy, ignorance & just plain stupidity. Learn to utilize your individuality again, using your own brain to make decisions & don’t worry about whether they catch you at something or not. Tell them all to get a life (something they will have no clue what you are saying since they are in a cult) and move on with your life. Perhaps you should send them a letter (& to your parents as well) outlining all that is wrong with the religion, point out all their selfish agenda (after all did you think this was the first religion to preach Millenniumism?), their false prophecy, etc, and then tell them in a nice way to get lost.
They’re the ones who need to prove to you & others that they speak the truth, it’s not you having to prove something to them. Ignorance, fanaticism & stupidity do not prove anything other than the mental instability they suffer from. I have tried to reason with some JW’s I encounter and they just plain cannot see anything other than the ‘truth’, as they like to call it. I ask what the heck is truth, and guess what I & everyone else gets as a response? That’s right, the same age old rederick the WTS told them to say. You know, something like: Did not this religion teach us all about the bible? Did you not learn that there is no burning hell? Are we not the ones who have truly shown we are in the last days?
Sound about right?
Consider this, The WTS would have all their rank & file believe that they are the only religion teaching from the bible. This is not only completely false, they don’t even teach the bible correctly. Secondly, the burning hell issue. Nowhere in the bible is the main topic anything to do with a burning hell. Perhaps there might not be such a literal place, however it is a non-issue & holds little validity in the grand scheme of things. The last days is the amusing one. Almost every century since Christ left we have had groups proclaim the end is near, they were all wrong. The WTS uses totally ridiculous methods to ascertain the time-period as well, however it is not questioned by most JW’s, as they cannot dream of confronting an issue (we all know what happens to you then), and believe the WTS is spirit directed. Yes they are spirit directed, by Satan! All their dates have been wrong. Their literature stated dates right from the beginning up till 1975. You’d think they would learn to stop doing such things, but hey that’s okay, they just blame the followers for lacking faith, as they are accustomed to doing once they were questioned by their rank & file. You see to them it’s never the WTS fault, it’s you & other JW’s for a lack of faith. Apparently the WTS does not need to be accountable for their actions. Remember they just constantly reinforce that they are God’s chosen channel. I left this outfit a long time ago, and I couldn’t have been better off. It’s nice to truly experience freedom, this religion always makes it’s followers think that they aren’t doing enough. All of the WTS SOP reveals that they are nothing more than a cult, period. This is why it is so hard for people to leave & to integrate back into society. The WTS with it’s never-ending rederick, ensures this feeling. After all, what life will you have outside of us? Well I’m doing fine and I do not need some earthly organization as a mediator to God, do you think God needs an earthly group to see out his will?
This type of reaction & inability to see the big picture is synonymous with all cult & cult-like religions. They are brainwashed to believe what they think, they have assigned their brain subconsciously over to the doctrines of the Watchtower.
It may take you quite a while to convince them otherwise, however do not give up & certainly do NOT get involved in their religion, whatever you do. I am speaking from personal experience.
Wake up ISHI/Sparky, whatever your name. The WTS is total BS!!!
Everyone above has merely inputted the exact words from the WTS’ own publications. How can you deny that? It has the dates right in the literature. I realize you are extremely naive, however NOW is the time to use your own brain, stop regurgitating the same age old rederick the WTS told you to say. They stated that same crap when I was there, however the elders in the KH I was in did not appreciate me showing them right from the KH’s own library the dates in the literature. Ignorance & naivety will not make you or anyone else right regarding this matter. Don’t shoot the messenger for the sake of the message, even though I personally know that the real truth can hurt once you know it. The WTS isn’t the way, sorry to say.
“Such love was evident at our conventions.From June through December 2003,delegates from more than a hundred lands traveled to 32 international conventions held on six continents.Missionaries,international servants,and Bethelites in foreign service were interviewed at district and international conventions.”
Well now we see how JWs show Christlike love.
Is it feeding the hungry as Jesus said to do?
Is it taking care of the homeless?
Is it taking care of the elderly?
Is it doing anything that Jesus said His followers would be doing?
Is it being Christ like in any way shape or form?
NO IT IS NOT!
Because the WTS has decided that Jesus’ commands that His followers should be doing these things don’t have any bearing on them, they have decided that they would show love by attending conventions.
Yes brothers and sisters. Attending all meetings and selling our books and magazines show our love.
Paraphrasing here.
No. You need not feed that starving person there. Show your love. Offer them the latest magazines.
Yes brothers. That homeless person would sure be uplifted by having the latest books.
Never mind that fatherless child brothers and sisters. They will not be interested in our publications.
And JWs say that the WTS is not a book publishing company camouflaged as a religion?
Oh yes. They are certainly doing a lot of meeting attendance. Attending many many sales meetings.
And going out distributing many books and magazines.
It’s to bad that they are wasting their time with doing this because distributing books and magazines that has constantly changing info in them, IS NOT PREACING CHRIST’S MESSAGE.
And they are NOT doing what Jesus said that His followers would be doing.
So at least we know that the WTS has a different meaning for the word love.
Therefore, the meaning of Love is: ATTENDING ALL MEETINGS.
BILL******From the 1870s, when it was founded, to 1994, the Watchtower Society (WTS) made many predictions about the end of the world, as we know it. The end is to include the War of Armageddon, and the return of Jesus Christ to earth to establish his kingdom. God will conduct a mass genocide during this time, which will involve the deaths of billions of people. Over 99% of the humans on earth at this future time will die. This will be the greatest genocide the world has seen. Jews, Muslims, most Christians, and followers of other religions will be exterminated while WTS believes that are only active members in good standing of the Jehovah’s Witnesses will survive the killing fields.
All of the WTS past prophesies have been wrong. So, keeping on the watch has been a waste of their time.
1914:
Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), the WTS founder, believed that Christ had secretly arrived in the year 1874 and that he would establish the Kingdom of God on Earth in 1914-OCT.
Some specific predictions by Russell:
“And, with the end of A.D. 1914, what God calls Babylon, and what men call Christendom, will have passed away, as is already shown from prophecy.” Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. III, (1897) 2
“…we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished by the end of A.D. 1914″ (1889). 1
“In the coming 26 years, all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved.” Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. II, (1889) 2
However, in 1912, he back-peddled somewhat:
“…he wrote that, while the prophecy remains valid, the power of the Gentiles could end either in October 1914 or in October 1915.”
However, the year 1914 came and passed without the visible appearance of Christ, the massive genocide, and the new Kingdom of God. They decided that 1914 was the year that Jesus invisibly began his rule from heaven.
1915, 1918, & 1920
In 1914-NOV, immediately after Russell’s prophecy had failed, he wrote that the period of transition could run a “good many years.” How convenient.
After Russell’s death in 1916, the WTS rewrote large portions of his Studies in the Scriptures to reflect the new belief that the year 1914 was merely the beginning of the end of Gentile times.
The WTS later delayed the millennium to 1918. 4 A 1917 WTS publication, “The Finished Mystery” stated: “…in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of Christianity.” That year also passed uneventfully.
The WTS introduced the concept that Christ would establish his millennial kingdom on earth “before the generation who saw the events of 1914 passes away.” With many humans achieving a life span of over 90 years, this could place the War of Armageddon at any time between 1914 and the early 21st century.
The next estimate of the Armageddon was set at sometime in 1925.
In 1918, J.E. Rutherford — the WTS’ second president and the author of “Millions now living will never die” — wrote: “…there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and other faithful ones of old … we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth…. 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 11, to the condition of human perfection.” 6
In 1922, Rutherford wrote: “Fulfilled prophecy shows beyond a doubt that (Christ) did appear in 1874. Fulfilled prophecy is otherwise designated the physical facts; and these facts are indisputable….We understand that the jubilee type began to count in 1575 B.C.; and the 3,500 year period embracing the type must end in 1925….It follows, then, that the year 1925 will mark the beginning of the restoration of all things lost by Adam’s disobedience.” 7
In 1923, a Watchtower article predicted: “Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge.” 8
As the year approached, the WTS appeared to back-peddle somewhat:
Watchtower magazine predicted in mid-1924: “The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would be presumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume just what the Lord is going to do during that year.” 9
At the beginning of 1925, a Watchtower article commented: “With great expectations Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be… Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year.” 10
1925 also came and passed uneventfully.
There were some additional predictions:
“Christendom to be overthrown” in 1932. 2
1941-Fall: The world is “…in the remaining months before Armageddon.” 11
1975:
Some Witnesses expected a dramatic event to occur in 1966-JUN (6/66) because the number 666 was referred to as the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13:18. It was in this month that the WTS published “Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God.” It contained a chronological chart which shows that 1975 was the “end of the sixth thousand year day of man’s existence.” 22
They regarded the year 1975 a promising date for the end of the world, based on their original belief that it was the 6,000th anniversary of creation of both Adam and Eve at the Garden of Eden in 4026 BCE. They believe that the world would exist for exactly 1,000 years for each day of the creation week. Their Watchtower or Awake magazines taught that:
“according to reliable Bible chronology Adam was created in the year 4026 BCE, likely in the autumn of the year, at the end of the sixth day of creation.” 12
“According to reliable Bible chronology, Adam and Eve were created in 4026 BCE” 13
“30 Are we to assume from this study that the battle of Armageddon will be all over by the autumn of 1975, and the long-looked-for thousand-year reign of Christ will begin by then? Possibly, but we wait to see how closely the seventh thousand-year period of man’s existence coincides with the sabbathlike thousand-year reign of Christ….Our chronology, however, which is reasonably accurate (but admittedly not infallible), at the best only points to the autumn of 1975 as the end of 6,000 years of man’s existence on earth.” 14
This prophecy was reinforced in their publications, notably Watchtower and Awake, and at their assemblies. The close proximity of the end times encouraged the membership to increase their proselytizing efforts. Membership rose significantly in the years leading up to 1975. Some members sold their possessions, cashed in their insurance policies, etc. in anticipation of the Millennium’s arrival.
This prophecy also failed. Proselytism began to decline. The next two years saw an unprecedented decrease in the total number of publishers. The newly-elected head of the WTS, Frederick Franz and his leadership team had to find an explanation for the error. They appear to have settled on a double-pronged approach:
Recalculating the date: They changed their mind about the computing of the prophecy. They had originally believed that Eve was created in 4026 BCE — the same year as Adam. They revised their thinking by concluding that Eve was created at a later time. Adam must have been alone for some years before God formed his partner/helper out of his rib. The WTS decided that “no one knew exactly how long after Adam’s creation Eve came on the scene. Franz said that it was months—even years. Hence he was able to “stretch” the 1975 date to some indeterminate time in the future. In any case, Franz said that Witnesses would just have to wait, knowing the end is right around the corner.” 15 In 1976, an article in the Watchtower stated that Armageddon will come after the time period corresponding with the interval between Adam’s creation and Eve’s creation. 1
Denial and purge: Following the failed 1975 prophecy, the WTS “leadership embarked upon a five-year period of denial and purge.” 23 The general membership was blamed for misinterpreting the leaders’ interpretation of 1975. The leadership maintained that there never was an explicit prophecy. The membership is highly disciplined and were quickly able to revise their thinking. Large scale disfellowshipping followed. In 1978 alone, nearly 30,000 Witnesses were expelled. Many in the writing committee were dismissed and disfellowshipped during 1980.
A reason for the prophetic failures:
The WTS Governing Body wrote in 1981: “However, it may have seemed to some as though that path has not always gone straight forward. At times explanations given by Jehovah’s visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view. But this has not actually been the case. This might be compared to what is known in navigational circles as ‘tacking.’ By maneuvering the sails the sailors can cause a ship to go from right to left, back and forth, but all the time making progress toward their destination in spite of contrary winds’.”
Will Armageddon happen in our near future?
The WTS had taught that the generation that saw the events of 1914 would experience Armageddon. But the people who were born in 1914 or earlier are now 90 years of age or older. They are rapidly dying out. In 1996-APR, the WTS changed their criteria for Armageddon.
The “yeartext” for 2004, published in the WTS Yearbook is: “Keep on the Watch… Prove Yourselves Ready.” It is a quotation taken from Matthew 24:42-44. This yeartext is accompanied with the following remarks: “Consistently, God’s Word reminds us that Jehovah’s day will arrive with shocking suddenness. Hence, our yeartext for 2004 reflects Jesus’ deep love for his disciples, whom he wants to preserve through ‘the great tribulation.’ (Rev. 7:14 ) How do we remain spiritually watchful and ready? By allowing nothing to distract us from our study of God’s Word and from our privileges of sacred service.” 2
The WatchTowerInformationService.org comments: “Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the only chance for [personal] salvation is to actively preach the end of this world and the Kingdom of God . If they are not busy with their ’sacred service’ when the ‘day of Jehovah’ will arrive with ’shocking suddenness’ they believe that they will die with the wicked ones.” i.e. they will be exterminated, along with all non-Christians, and with the vast majority of Christians who are not members of the WTS. 2
Criticism of the WTS estimates:
The WTS has been criticized by some conservative Christians for attempting to predict a precise date for Armageddon, in an apparent violation of Matthew 24:35-36: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (KJV)
YEP BILL, KEEP ON THE WATCH, WATCHTOWER I MEAN!
To, JC:—An absolutely critical date for the Jehovah’s Witnesses is 1914 AD. It is the date when, according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the time of the Gentiles ended (Watchtower, 5/1/93, page 11) and “Jesus-the heavenly warrior Michael-became King of God’s heavenly Kingdom,” (Watchtower 11/1/93, page 23). To arrive at this date, the Witnesses take the account in Daniel 4 and apply a 360 day year for each of the seven “times” for a total of 2520 years. They add this date to 607 B.C., their date for the fall of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar, and arrive at 1914 A.D., the date when Jesus supposedly returned invisibly in the heavens (The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 300), the “appointed time of the nations” ended (The Time is at Hand, page 79), and the beginning of the end of the world commenced (Watchtower 11/15/50, page 438). Please consider the following quote.
“This marked time began in the year 1914 (A.D.). In that important year the ‘appointed times of the nations,’ 2,520 years long, ran out. If we measure back that many years from 1914 we come to the ancient date of 607 B.C. That year was marked for the overthrow of the earthly “throne of Jehovah” and for the destruction of the throne city of Jerusalem and its sanctuary and for the total desolation of the land of the kingdom of Judah.” (From the Book, “Your Will,” 1958, pp. 309-310, Watchtower CD, emphasis added).
Therefore, the date 607 BC becomes the critical date in question.
Was 607 BC the date when Jerusalem fell? No, it wasn’t. No Bible scholar and no archaeological scholar holds to that date. The correct date is 586 B.C., not 607 B.C. Therefore, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are wrong about 1914 and everything else they attach to that date based on their prophet misunderstanding. Let’s verify further that 607 B.C. is the date used by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society before we establish the counter evidence.
· “The true prophet Jeremiah, not the false prophets, was vindicated when Jerusalem was razed by Babylonian soldiers in 607 B.C.E., the temple destroyed, and the populace either killed or dragged away captive to distant Babylon. The pitiful few that were left in the land fled into Egypt.-Jeremiah 39:6-9; 43:4-7,” (Watchtower 2/1/92, page 4).
· “In 607 B.C.E., Israel was taken into captivity for 70 years,” (Watchtower 4/15/92, page 10).
· “Samaria fell to the Assyrians in 740 B.C.E., and Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed by the Babylonians in 607 B.C.E,” (Watchtower, 11/1/92, page 13).
· “The Babylonians came in 607 B.C.E. and stripped Jerusalem bare. Her people and her wealth were carried off to Babylon. The city was destroyed, the temple was burned, and the land was left desolate.-2 Chronicles 36:17-21,” (Watchtower 10/15/88, page 16).
Following are citations verifying that the correct date for the fall of Jerusalem was not 607 B.C, but 586 B.C.
· According to Encyclopedia.com, the Babylonian captivity, is defined as “the period from the fall of Jerusalem (586 B.C.) to the reconstruction in Palestine of a new Jewish state (after 538 B.C.).”
· “You will recall that the Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, after twice laying siege to Jerusalem, finally captured it in 586 B.C.E. Nebuchadnezzar’s army then pillaged the city, destroying the Temple and sending the inhabitants off to exile in Babylonia.(”Biblical Archaeological Review, Biblical Archaelogical Review).
· “…Nebuchadnezzar promptly invaded his unhappy country and besieged Jerusalem for a year and a half. In 587 Jerusalem fell and numbers of its inhabitants were carried away captive to Babylonia…” (Unger, Merrill, F., Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Moody Press, Chicago, 1966, page 782).
§ Notice that the year 587 is offered instead of 586. There is sometimes a difference of opinion as to which year is the exact one. Nevertheless, it is obvious that 607 B.C. is not even close.
· “586, Jerusalem destroyed and burned (Jer. 52:13f.); people taken captive (52:28-30). (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1982, page 1016)
It is quite clear that the Jehovah’s Witness organization is wrong about the 607 B.C. date upon which they place so much of their end times theology. If they are wrong about such a basic event and have not changed their error to match historical fact, how can they be trusted to represent biblical truth? They cannot.
The fact is that they can not change their date of 1914 because they have so much invested in it. They are forced to retain their 607 BC date even though it is in obvious error. To admit they were wrong is to undermine the whole credibility and truth of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This they cannot do because they are more dedicated to their organization than they are to the truth.
607 B.C.E God’s kingdom of Judah fell.
1914 C.E. Jesus Chirst began to rule as king of God’s heavenly government. October 607 B.C.E.-October, 1 B.C.E =606 YEARS Plue 1, 914 = Seven Gentile Times=2,520 YEARS
In Revelation chapter 12, verses 6 and 14, we learn that 1, 260 days are equal to “a time (that is 1 time) and times that is 2 times and a half a time. That is a total of 3/1/2 times. So a time would be equal to 360 days. Therefore, seven times would be 7 times 360 or 2500 days. Now if we count a day for a year, according to a Bible rule, the seven times equals 2,520 years-Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6.
We have already learned that “the appointed times of the nations,” began in the year 607 B.C.E. So by counting 2, 520 years “these appointed times” ended. Millions of know of the things that happened in 1914. In thta year, World War I began a period of terrible trouble that has continued to our day. This means that Jesus Christ began to rule as king of God’s heavenly government in 1914. And because the Kingdom has already started to rule how timely it is that we pray for it to “come” and wipe Satan’s wicked system of things from the earth!-Matthew 6:10; Daniel 2:44
Yet a person may ask: If Christ has already returned to rule in his Father’s kingdom, why do we not see him?
So God’s rulership, as represented by the “tree,” was cut down in 607 B.C.E. No longer was there a government to represent God’s rulership in the earth. Thus, in 607 B.C.E., a period as “the appointed times of the nations,” or “the times of the gentiles”-Luke 21:24 King James Version. During these “appointed times” God did not have a government to represent his rulership.
What was to happen at the end of these appointed times of the nations? Jehovah was to give the power to rule to the One “who has the legal right.” This One is Jesus Christ. So if we can find out when “the appointed times of the nations end, we will know when Christ begins to rule as king in heaven.
According to Dnaiel chapter four, these “appointed times woulbe be seven times. Daniel shows that there would be seven times during which God’s rulership, as represented by the tree would not be in operation over the earth. Daniel 4:16, 23. How long are these seven time????? If you would like to more I will share………
Be kind to each other-JC
both of you need to reread the Bible’s counsel to marry
only in the Lord.
If you cant agree now, look out when you get married.
We can see your not happy with her.
Listen to God.
THe Bible says “Keep on the Watch” Despite J.W mistakes they always keep on the watch.
Not like many who keep putting Jehovh’s Day off
in their mind.
TO: ISHI who wrote the following books where quotes are taken from? Weren’t they JW or the so called anointed?
1889 “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 commenced.” THE TIME IS AT HAND, p. 101 (1908 edition)
1908 “True it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved.” STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES vol. II, 1908, p.98-99
1914 “The present great war in Europe is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures.” PASTOR RUSSELL’S SERMONS, p. 676
1917″Also in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions …. ” THE FINISHED MYSTERY vol. VIl, 1917, p.485
1918 “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 11, to the condition of human perfection.” MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE, p. 89
1922 “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914.” WT 9/1/22, p. 262
1923 “Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Chrisiian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge.” WT, p. 106, 4/1/23
1931 “There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’ s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time… and they also learned to quit fixing dates.” VINDICATION, p. 338
1941 “Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord’s provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon.” WT 9/15/41, p. 288
1968 “True, there have been those in times past who predicted an “end” to the world, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophasying. Why?. What was missing? Missing from such people were God’s truths and the evidence that He was using and guiding them.” AWAKE 10/8/68 (See Luke 21:8)
1968 “Are we to assume from this study that the ‘battle of Armageddon will be over by the Autumn of 1975 … it may involve only a difference of weeks or months not years.” THE WATCHTOWER, 15/8/68
1968 “WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO 1975?” THE WATCHTOWER 8/15/68, p. 494
My friend, these are only a small sample of the false prophecies of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the legal arm of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Any good Bible student that takes time to study the teachings of the Watchtower over a period of years will find false teachings, false prophesies, contradictions and inconsistencies and cover-ups. Could it be that the Jehovah’s Witness are being deceived, and if it is, then Why?
“If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22)
Ps. the jehovahs witnesses should be smarter and just say: if we said the world would end in 1914 we meant 2014, it was just a miss calculation. Or, well the world did not come to an end because we prayed a lot to our God.,……………..
watchtower society never issued any statement regarding the exact date about the coming of armageddon. such claims were baseless and untrue. the year given by watchtower like 1914 or 1975 were misinterpreted by those who lack knowledge of the truth and blaim their mistakes to watchtower.while we believe that we are now living in the last days as the bible describes as “critical times hard to deal with,” no one is certain when will armageddon comes. only GOD knows. however witnesses believe that it will not be too long since events these days prove bible prophecies about the last days. false accussations against jehovah’s organization pulished by disfellowed members as well as other opostates trying to destroy the org. only proves that satan is working too hard knowing that his time is short to disorganize the congregation. he’s not just using worldy people but also those who are inside the congregation who lacks faith and are easily stumbled by imperfections committed by other witnesses. however we are always been reminded that he that endures to the end will be saved. instead of allowing these people to ruin our faith as witnesses, let us continue to prove ourselves worthy of JEHOVAH’s favor.
the farther , the son , the holy ghost is like an egg ,as one / for we have a soul,sprit,flesh but it as one/ for we have a first ,middle , last name , JEHOVAH JESUS CHRIST but as one /like mind,heart,body
Read in their bible ISAIAH 43:11 / 2 TIMOTHY 1:10,
ISAIAH 45:11,12 / JOHN 1:3
Your parents may have being very strict and had/have their down falls. But, the mistakes done by some of the members of this religion does not affect the pureness of the truthness of their teachings.We must expect such things, Jehovah uses unpefect people to do heavenly supported tasks.
I have been trying to get my JW girlfriend to see the light over the past 1 1/2 years, using a different argument every single day. She will concede the individual points, but she always blanks out on the “big picture”, insisting they must still have “the truth”. At one point, I told her that, if they come up with another false date sometime around 2030-33, i.e. two thousand years from the Crucifixion — or impalement
— then she would have to admit she was wrong. Apparently, there are now hints that, since Noah lived for 120 years before the flood, this is foreshadowing of things to come, so that stretches the window from 1914 to… 2034! I was right on the money, and she still doesn’t believe me!
I was raised by two of the biggest Monsters ever to grace this Religion. My Father was an Elder who would beat us until we bled, while my Mother would sometimes watch and laugh, all for something as minor as smarting off to a teacher!!!! “It could stumble someone, they know you are a Witness!!!! They always had two personalities, one at home and another when they would walk through the door of the K.H. They have always been drunks, and from what I saw growing up, there are many heavy drinkers in this Religion. I was active for 44 years, but now I know that it is just another false religion. They are in “Good Standing”, and since I quit two years ago they are always trying to catch me at something so they can tell the Elders, but that is not going to happen!!!!:)