Ating suriin ang katotohanan sa samahang “
Saksi ni Jehova” na malamang ay ayaw ipabatid sa atin o sa kanilang mga kaanib.
Mga katotohanang ayaw nilang malaman natin at ng kanilang mga kaanib.
May mga aral sila na pag nalabag ng kanilang kaanib ay humahantong sa pagkakatiwalag nito. At sila ay may tuntunin din na “iwasan” ang mga tiwalag na ito(The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, pp. 25, 29-30) kahit pa malapit mong kamag-anak kahit nanay mo man ito. Ang Watchtower Society ay nag-aatas na may diin sa kanilang mga kaanib na gumanap ayon sa kanilang mga alituntunin. Karagdagan sa pagdalo nila ng limang beses bawat lingo(week) ang mga JW ay nirerequire pa na mag spend pa ng mga ilang oras sa bawat buwan(month) sa pamamahagi ng “Watchtower articles”, pagsasagawa ng “Bible studies”, at pangangalap ng iba’t-ibang usapin sa mga babasahing nilimbag ng Watchtower para matalakay sa kanilang mga pagtitipon. Ang mga kaanib ay pinagbabawalan na magsundalo, sumaludo sa watawat, bawal bomoto sa mga halalang pambayan,magpasalin ng dugo, magdiwang ng kaarawan, pati mga holiday katulad ng Mahal na Araw, at Pasko dahil ito daw ay galling sa pagano,bawal din silang magbasa ng mga babasahin na galling sa iba lalo na at laban at tumutuligsa sa kanila (Watchtower).
Lahat ng pagbabawal na ito ay naglalagay sa mga Saksi ni Jehova na ma-isolate sa karamihan ng mamayan na nagreresulta na ang Watchtower nalang naging buhay ng kaanib na aktibong naglilingkod dito.. Kung ang isang kaanib ay hindi makasunod sa mga alituntunin na binalangkas ng Watchtower siya ay matitiwalag (The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, pp. 25, 29-30). Para sa karamihan ito ay napakasakit na karanasan na nag-iiwan sa kaanib na makaramdam ng hungkag na damdamin at kawalan ng pag-asa. Dahil sa mga polisiyang iyan at sobrang pagkontrol ng organisasyon sa pisikal at espiritwal na buhay ng mga kaanib, kaya marapat at mahalagang ating suriin ng husto ang mga kini-claim ng Watchtower Society, at history ng mga taong involve sa organisasyong ito bago din ninyo isangkot I umanib sa organisasyong ito.
Ika nga sa sinasabi ng babasahin nila:
““We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God’s Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination.” —The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1968, p. 13”
Sad to say mga mambabasa ang sinasabi ng babasahin nilang iyan ay siya namang 180 degrees turn around nila sa kanilang ginagawa, dahil po hindi nila nasusunod yan. Tayo po bilang mambabasa atin pong gawing batayan yang nasa babasahin nilang iyan, simulan natin sa kasaysayan ng kanilang founder, o founder ng Watchtower Society. In 1879, at the age of 27, Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, began publishing Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1852, he was raised a Presbyterian but later joined a liberal Congregational Church because he preferred its views. For 10 years, prior to publishing his Watch Tower articles, Russell studied with a splinter group off of Second Adventists and was greatly influenced by their teachings against the bodily return of Christ and the immortality of the human soul.4. Russell taught and published many doctrines that the current Watch Tower Society totally rejects and engaged in practices regarded by current Jehovah’s Witnesses to be of pagan origin. Siguro po kung kaanib pa nila si C.T.Russell ay ititiwalag nila ito dahil sa pagtuturo nito ng mga doktrinang labag sa kasalukuyang doktrina na ipinatutupad ng Watchtower Society, ilan sa mga ito ay mga sumusunod:
1) Pag gamit ng simbolo ng paganong Dios araw na si Ra bilang pabalat sa kanyang mga aklat (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 1-7)
Nakita ninyo ang winged sungod logo ng Egypt?
2) Pag gamit ng Masonic Knights Templar logo of the Cross and Crown sa kanyang Zion’s Watch Tower.( Jehovah’s Witnesses --Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, 1993, p. 200)
Ikumpara sa masonic Templar logo:
Heto naman ang Freemasonic Logo:
3) Ang pagtuturo na siya ang “Faithful and Wise Servant” ng Mateo 24:45-51 na nagresulta sa karamihan ng kanyang tagasunod na siya ay sambahin (The Watch Tower, April 15, 1904, p. 125; The Divine Plan of the Ages, Studies, vol. 1, 1925ed. Biography, p. 7; 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, p. 88)
4) Ang pagtuturo niya na ““the forming of a visible organization...would be out of harmony with the spirit of the divine plan.” “Beware of ‘organization.’ It is wholly unnecessary.” (Zion’s Watch Tower, December 1, 1894, p. 384; Zion’s Watch Tower, September 15, 1895, p. 216)
May mga aral sila na pag nalabag ng kanilang kaanib ay humahantong sa pagkakatiwalag nito. At sila ay may tuntunin din na “iwasan” ang mga tiwalag na ito(The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, pp. 25, 29-30) kahit pa malapit mong kamag-anak kahit nanay mo man ito. Ang Watchtower Society ay nag-aatas na may diin sa kanilang mga kaanib na gumanap ayon sa kanilang mga alituntunin. Karagdagan sa pagdalo nila ng limang beses bawat lingo(week) ang mga JW ay nirerequire pa na mag spend pa ng mga ilang oras sa bawat buwan(month) sa pamamahagi ng “Watchtower articles”, pagsasagawa ng “Bible studies”, at pangangalap ng iba’t-ibang usapin sa mga babasahing nilimbag ng Watchtower para matalakay sa kanilang mga pagtitipon. Ang mga kaanib ay pinagbabawalan na magsundalo, sumaludo sa watawat, bawal bomoto sa mga halalang pambayan,magpasalin ng dugo, magdiwang ng kaarawan, pati mga holiday katulad ng Mahal na Araw, at Pasko dahil ito daw ay galling sa pagano,bawal din silang magbasa ng mga babasahin na galling sa iba lalo na at laban at tumutuligsa sa kanila (Watchtower).
Lahat ng pagbabawal na ito ay naglalagay sa mga Saksi ni Jehova na ma-isolate sa karamihan ng mamayan na nagreresulta na ang Watchtower nalang naging buhay ng kaanib na aktibong naglilingkod dito.. Kung ang isang kaanib ay hindi makasunod sa mga alituntunin na binalangkas ng Watchtower siya ay matitiwalag (The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, pp. 25, 29-30). Para sa karamihan ito ay napakasakit na karanasan na nag-iiwan sa kaanib na makaramdam ng hungkag na damdamin at kawalan ng pag-asa. Dahil sa mga polisiyang iyan at sobrang pagkontrol ng organisasyon sa pisikal at espiritwal na buhay ng mga kaanib, kaya marapat at mahalagang ating suriin ng husto ang mga kini-claim ng Watchtower Society, at history ng mga taong involve sa organisasyong ito bago din ninyo isangkot I umanib sa organisasyong ito.
Ika nga sa sinasabi ng babasahin nila:
““We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God’s Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination.” —The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1968, p. 13”
Sad to say mga mambabasa ang sinasabi ng babasahin nilang iyan ay siya namang 180 degrees turn around nila sa kanilang ginagawa, dahil po hindi nila nasusunod yan. Tayo po bilang mambabasa atin pong gawing batayan yang nasa babasahin nilang iyan, simulan natin sa kasaysayan ng kanilang founder, o founder ng Watchtower Society. In 1879, at the age of 27, Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, began publishing Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1852, he was raised a Presbyterian but later joined a liberal Congregational Church because he preferred its views. For 10 years, prior to publishing his Watch Tower articles, Russell studied with a splinter group off of Second Adventists and was greatly influenced by their teachings against the bodily return of Christ and the immortality of the human soul.4. Russell taught and published many doctrines that the current Watch Tower Society totally rejects and engaged in practices regarded by current Jehovah’s Witnesses to be of pagan origin. Siguro po kung kaanib pa nila si C.T.Russell ay ititiwalag nila ito dahil sa pagtuturo nito ng mga doktrinang labag sa kasalukuyang doktrina na ipinatutupad ng Watchtower Society, ilan sa mga ito ay mga sumusunod:
1) Pag gamit ng simbolo ng paganong Dios araw na si Ra bilang pabalat sa kanyang mga aklat (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 1-7)
Nakita ninyo ang winged sungod logo ng Egypt?
2) Pag gamit ng Masonic Knights Templar logo of the Cross and Crown sa kanyang Zion’s Watch Tower.( Jehovah’s Witnesses --Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, 1993, p. 200)
Ikumpara sa masonic Templar logo:
Heto naman ang Freemasonic Logo:
3) Ang pagtuturo na siya ang “Faithful and Wise Servant” ng Mateo 24:45-51 na nagresulta sa karamihan ng kanyang tagasunod na siya ay sambahin (The Watch Tower, April 15, 1904, p. 125; The Divine Plan of the Ages, Studies, vol. 1, 1925ed. Biography, p. 7; 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, p. 88)
4) Ang pagtuturo niya na ““the forming of a visible organization...would be out of harmony with the spirit of the divine plan.” “Beware of ‘organization.’ It is wholly unnecessary.” (Zion’s Watch Tower, December 1, 1894, p. 384; Zion’s Watch Tower, September 15, 1895, p. 216)
5) Pagtuturo
niya na ang mga Cristiano: “are divine beings -- hence all such are Gods,
thus we have a family of God....in the resurrection we will rise in our true
character as Gods.( Zion’s Watch Tower, December 1881, pp. 2-3
(Reprints p. 301)
6) Ang pagtuturo niya nito ayon sa kanya:“the whole
body of Christ the ‘Mighty God’...shall share in the work of restoring the
life lost in Adam, and therefore be members of that company which as a whole
will be the Everlasting Father to the restored race.” (Zion’s Watch Tower, November 1881, p. 10
(Reprints p. 298)
7)
Ang pagtuturo niya na ang Panginoong
Jesus ay dapat sambahin at hindi ito
si Michael the archangel.( The Atonement
Between God and Man, (Studies, vol. 5), 1899, 1916ed, p. 85; Watch Tower,
November 1879, p. 4 (Reprints p. 48); The Plan of the Ages, 1891, p. 178)
8)
Pwede magselebra birthday at mga holiday tulad ng Christmas. (Jehovah’s Witnesses--Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, 1993,
p. 201; Zion’s Watch Tower, November 15, 1907, p. 351; Zion’s Watch
Tower, December 1, 1904, p. 364)
Making money out of Christmas
The following picture is from a postcard photo of the Bethel Christmas meal in 1926. Included in the photo are Rutherford, Knorr and Franz.
Making money out of Christmas
The following picture is from a postcard photo of the Bethel Christmas meal in 1926. Included in the photo are Rutherford, Knorr and Franz.
9)
Pagtuturo na: one can join the
military as long as he did “not shoot anybody” (Zion’s
Watch Tower, July 1, 1898, p. 204; Zion’s Watch Tower, August 1,
1898, p. 231)
Baka ganito ang gagawin ng army nila na pinapayagan?
O kaya ganito ang baril nila? Baka ganito ang gagawin ng army nila na pinapayagan?
Ang pag-amin
Noong 1954 Douglas Walsh Trial
sa Scotland, Fred Franz, na siyang Watchtower president mula 1977-1992, ay tinanong tungkol sa pagbabago ng
doktrina ng Samahan. Nandito, kung paano niya sinagot ito:
Q.
So that what is published as the truth today by the Society may have to be admitted to be wrong in a few years?
A. We have to wait and see.
Q. And in the meantime the body of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been following error?
A. They have been following misconstructions on the Scriptures.
Q. Error?
A. Well, error.
— Douglas Walsh Trial, Pursuer’s Proof, 1954, p. 114
THE SCOTTISH TRIAL - 1954
The following testimony excerpts are from the Pursuer's Proof of Douglas Walsh vs The Right Honourable James Latham Clyde,MP, PC, as representing the Minister of Labour and National Service. Copies of the complete transcript or parts thereof may be obtained from the Scottish Records Office, H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland. The numbers following the quotations show the transcript page on which the testimony is found.
HAYDEN C COVINGTON - Former Lawyer for the Watchtower Society
Q. Is it not vital to speak the truth on religious matters?
A. It certainly is.
Q. You have promulgated - forgive the word - false prophecy?
A. We have. I do not think we have promulgated false prophecy, there have been statements that were erroneous, that is the way I put it, and mistaken.
Q. It was promulgated as a matter which must be believed by all members of Jehovah's witnesses that the Lord's Second Coming took place in 1874?
(A short discussion of evidence given by Fred W Franz about 1874 takes place here.)
Q. That was the publication of false prophecy?
A. That was the publication of a false prophecy, it was a false statement or an erroneous statement in fulfillment of a prophecy that was false or erroneous.Q. And that had to be believed by the whole of Jehovah's Witnesses?
A. Yes, because you must understand, we must have unity, we cannot have disunity with a lot of people going every way, an army is supposed to march in step.
Q. Back to the point now, a false prophecy was promulgated? A. I agree to that.Q. It had to be accepted by Jehovah's witnesses?
A. That is correct.Q. If a member of Jehovah's witnesses took the view himself that that prophecy was wrong, and said so, would he be disfellowshipped?
A. Yes, if he said so, and kept on persisting in creating trouble, because if the whole organisation believes one thing, even though it be erroneous, and somebody else starts on his own trying to put his ideas across, then there is a disunity and trouble, there cannot be harmony, there cannot be marching ...... Our purpose is to haveunity. Q. Unity at all costs?
A. Unity at all costs, because we believe and are sure that Jehovah God is using our organisation,the governing body of our organisation, to direct it, even though mistakes are made from time to time. Q. A unity based on an enforced acceptance of false prophecy? A. That is conceded to be true.
Q. And the person who expresses his view, as you say, that it was wrong, and was disfellowshipped, would be in breach of the covenant, if he was baptised?
A. That is correct.Q. And as you said yesterday expressly, would be worthy of death?
A. I think....
Q. Would you say yes or no?
A. I will answer yes, unhesitatingly.Q. Do you call that religion?
A. It certainly is.Q. Do you call that Christianity?
A. I certainly do.
PP. 345-348
********************
FREDERICK W FRANZ (President 1978 - 1999 )
Q. Can you tell me this; are these theological publications and semi-monthly periodicals used for discussion or statements of doctrine?
A. Yes.
Q. Are these statements held to be authoritative?
A. Yes.
Q. Is their acceptance a matter of choice,or is it obligatory on all those who wish to be and remain members of the Society?
A. It is obligatory.
P. 4
********************
Q. Is it for that reason that Jehovah's witnesses accept without question doctrines and Biblical interpretations as expounded by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society through its Directors?
A. Yes.Q. In publications both periodical and in book form?
A. Yes.
P. 25
********************
Q. But I think you have told us already that an acceptance of the beliefs and facts is compulsory? A. Yes.
Q. And there is no possibility of picking and choosing amongst the facts which you will accept, and those which you will reject? It must be taken as a whole?
A. That is right. Each individual must prove it by the scriptures.
Q. Accepting the exposition of the scriptures in the manner you have already explained?
A. That is right.
P. 38
*******************
Q. Am I right that you put what is described as the end of the time of the Gentiles in October, 1914?
A. Yes
Q. Is it not the case that Pastor Russell put that date in 1874?
A. No.Q. Is it not the case that he fixed the date prior to 1914?
A. YesQ. What date did he fix?
A. The end of the Gentile times he fixed as 1914.Q. Did he not fix 1874 as some other crucial date?
A. 1874 used to be understood as the date of Jesus' Second Coming spiritually. Q. Do you say. used to be understood?
A. That is right.Q. That was issued as a fact which was to be accepted by all who were Jehovah's Witnesses?
A. Yes.
Q. But it was a calculation which is no longer accepted by the Board of Directors of the Society?
A. That is correct.Q. So that I am correct, I am just anxious to canvass the position, it became the bounden duty of the witnesses to accept this miscalculation?
A. Yes.
PP. 103-105
********************
Q. So that once again Judge Rutherford preached error?
A. He didn't preach the full round-about truth of the matter.
Q. In that particular, not putting too fine a point on it, he was in error?
A. He was in error.
Q. How was that error corrected?
A. We have had no book given out dealing with that particular phase of the subject.Q. But you haven't stopped publishing the book with that in it?
A. The book still circulates, and is a reference work to show that we believed at that time.
Q. How does one now joining Jehovah's Witnesses,and reading this erroneous view of Judge Rutherford's know that it is now regarded as erroneous?
A. Because he keeps up with the latest expositions and the latest publications in bound book form.
Q. But there is no latest or recent publication of the Society which brings to the notice of the Witnesses that that view held by Judge Rutherford is wrong?
A. The explanations given show that there is a different understanding of the matter to-day.Q. Where upon that particular point does the adherent to the society find any enlightenment?
A. In the publications that he reads.Q. Must he read all of them to arrive at the fact that upon this one point Judge Rutherford was in error?
A. It isn't necessary for him to read that Judge Rutherford is in error on that point. What he is interested in is in the present truth, the up-to-date truth. Q. Yesterday's errors cease to be published do they?
A. Yes, we correct ourselves.Q. But not always expressly?
A. We correct ourselves as it becomes due to make a correction, and if anything is under study we make no statement of it until we are certain.Q. But may one not assume that Judge Rutherford did not publish until he also was certain?
A. He published only when he was convinced, and he withheld publication until he was convinced that he was correct.Q. So that what is published as the truth today by the Society may have to be admitted to be wrong in a few years?
A. We have to wait and see.
Q. And in the meantime, the body of Jehovah's Witnesses have been following error?
A. They have been following a mis-construction of the Scriptures.Q. Error?
A. Well, error.
PP. 112-114
********************
Q. Am I right that it was at one time forecast that in 1925 Abraham and other prophets would come back to earth?
A. They were expected to come back approximately then,Q. But they did not come back?
A. No.Q. It was published, was it not, to the body of Jehovah's witnesses, that that was expected in 1925?
A. Yes.Q. But that was wrong?
A. Yes, and Judge Rutherford admitted it to the Headquarters.
PP.120-121
******************
Q. Therefore, at baptism must he know those books?
A. He must understand the purposes of God which are set forth in those books.Q. Set forth in those books, and set forth in those books as an interpretation of the Bible?
A. These books give and exposition on the whole Scriptures.Q. But an authoritative exposition?
A. They submit the Bible or statements that are therein made, and the individual examines the statement and then the Scriptures to see that the statement is Scripturally supported.
Q. He what?
A. He examines the Scripture to see whether the statement is supported by the Scripture. As the Apostle says: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
NOTE:-Does this imply discarding that which is NOT good if it disagrees with the Scripture. The Prosecutor seems to have been thinking this judging by the following questions put to Franz.
Q. I understand the position to be - do please correct me if I am wrong - that a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses must accept as a true Scripture and interpretation what is given in the books I referred to you?
A. But he does not compulsorily do so, he is given his Christian right of examining the Scriptures to confirm that this is Scripturally sustained.
NOTE:- The following on his "Christian right".
Q. And if he finds that the Scripture is not sustained by the books or vice versa, what is he to do?
A. The Scripture is there in support of the statement, that is why it is put there.Q. What does a man do if he finds disharmony between the Scripture and those books?
A. You will have to find me a man who does find that, then I can answer, or he will answer.
Q. Do you imply that the individual member has the right of reading the books and the Bible and forming his own view as to the proper interpretations of Holy Writ?
A. He comes......
Q. Would you say yes or no, and then qualify?
A. No.......
Q. A witness has no alternative, has he, to accept as authoritative and to be obeyed, instructions in the "Watchtower" or the "Informant" or "Awake!"?
A. He must accept those.
PP. 122-123
********************
Q. Is there any hope of salvation for a man who depends upon his Bible alone when he is in a situation in the world where he cannot get the tracts and publications of your Incorporation?
A. He is dependent on the Bible alone.
Q. Will he be able to interpret it truly?
A. No.
P. 133
********************
Q. I think you did say there was no minimum age for baptism?
A. That is except for infants, and those who are not mentally able to comprehend the meaning of baptism, and its responsibilities.
Q. What is covered by the term "infants'?
A. An infant in arms, baby baptisms with, possibly, a godfather standing in for the child.
Q. But from the age of toddling upwards there is a potential of qualifying for baptism?
A. Yes, under parental instruction.
p.121
May ninong pala ang binyagan sa mga Jehova's Witness, anong talata kaya? lols!
Sa Ating pagpapatuloy......
Napatunayan na naman ang kanilang pagpapaimbabaw dahil kinontra na naman nila ang isinulat nila na ganito ang mababasa:
So that what is published as the truth today by the Society may have to be admitted to be wrong in a few years?
A. We have to wait and see.
Q. And in the meantime the body of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been following error?
A. They have been following misconstructions on the Scriptures.
Q. Error?
A. Well, error.
— Douglas Walsh Trial, Pursuer’s Proof, 1954, p. 114
THE SCOTTISH TRIAL - 1954
The following testimony excerpts are from the Pursuer's Proof of Douglas Walsh vs The Right Honourable James Latham Clyde,MP, PC, as representing the Minister of Labour and National Service. Copies of the complete transcript or parts thereof may be obtained from the Scottish Records Office, H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland. The numbers following the quotations show the transcript page on which the testimony is found.
HAYDEN C COVINGTON - Former Lawyer for the Watchtower Society
Q. Is it not vital to speak the truth on religious matters?
A. It certainly is.
Q. You have promulgated - forgive the word - false prophecy?
A. We have. I do not think we have promulgated false prophecy, there have been statements that were erroneous, that is the way I put it, and mistaken.
Q. It was promulgated as a matter which must be believed by all members of Jehovah's witnesses that the Lord's Second Coming took place in 1874?
(A short discussion of evidence given by Fred W Franz about 1874 takes place here.)
Q. That was the publication of false prophecy?
A. That was the publication of a false prophecy, it was a false statement or an erroneous statement in fulfillment of a prophecy that was false or erroneous.Q. And that had to be believed by the whole of Jehovah's Witnesses?
A. Yes, because you must understand, we must have unity, we cannot have disunity with a lot of people going every way, an army is supposed to march in step.
Q. Back to the point now, a false prophecy was promulgated? A. I agree to that.Q. It had to be accepted by Jehovah's witnesses?
A. That is correct.Q. If a member of Jehovah's witnesses took the view himself that that prophecy was wrong, and said so, would he be disfellowshipped?
A. Yes, if he said so, and kept on persisting in creating trouble, because if the whole organisation believes one thing, even though it be erroneous, and somebody else starts on his own trying to put his ideas across, then there is a disunity and trouble, there cannot be harmony, there cannot be marching ...... Our purpose is to haveunity. Q. Unity at all costs?
A. Unity at all costs, because we believe and are sure that Jehovah God is using our organisation,the governing body of our organisation, to direct it, even though mistakes are made from time to time. Q. A unity based on an enforced acceptance of false prophecy? A. That is conceded to be true.
Q. And the person who expresses his view, as you say, that it was wrong, and was disfellowshipped, would be in breach of the covenant, if he was baptised?
A. That is correct.Q. And as you said yesterday expressly, would be worthy of death?
A. I think....
Q. Would you say yes or no?
A. I will answer yes, unhesitatingly.Q. Do you call that religion?
A. It certainly is.Q. Do you call that Christianity?
A. I certainly do.
PP. 345-348
********************
FREDERICK W FRANZ (President 1978 - 1999 )
Q. Can you tell me this; are these theological publications and semi-monthly periodicals used for discussion or statements of doctrine?
A. Yes.
Q. Are these statements held to be authoritative?
A. Yes.
Q. Is their acceptance a matter of choice,or is it obligatory on all those who wish to be and remain members of the Society?
A. It is obligatory.
P. 4
********************
Q. Is it for that reason that Jehovah's witnesses accept without question doctrines and Biblical interpretations as expounded by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society through its Directors?
A. Yes.Q. In publications both periodical and in book form?
A. Yes.
P. 25
********************
Q. But I think you have told us already that an acceptance of the beliefs and facts is compulsory? A. Yes.
Q. And there is no possibility of picking and choosing amongst the facts which you will accept, and those which you will reject? It must be taken as a whole?
A. That is right. Each individual must prove it by the scriptures.
Q. Accepting the exposition of the scriptures in the manner you have already explained?
A. That is right.
P. 38
*******************
Q. Am I right that you put what is described as the end of the time of the Gentiles in October, 1914?
A. Yes
Q. Is it not the case that Pastor Russell put that date in 1874?
A. No.Q. Is it not the case that he fixed the date prior to 1914?
A. YesQ. What date did he fix?
A. The end of the Gentile times he fixed as 1914.Q. Did he not fix 1874 as some other crucial date?
A. 1874 used to be understood as the date of Jesus' Second Coming spiritually. Q. Do you say. used to be understood?
A. That is right.Q. That was issued as a fact which was to be accepted by all who were Jehovah's Witnesses?
A. Yes.
Q. But it was a calculation which is no longer accepted by the Board of Directors of the Society?
A. That is correct.Q. So that I am correct, I am just anxious to canvass the position, it became the bounden duty of the witnesses to accept this miscalculation?
A. Yes.
PP. 103-105
********************
Q. So that once again Judge Rutherford preached error?
A. He didn't preach the full round-about truth of the matter.
Q. In that particular, not putting too fine a point on it, he was in error?
A. He was in error.
Q. How was that error corrected?
A. We have had no book given out dealing with that particular phase of the subject.Q. But you haven't stopped publishing the book with that in it?
A. The book still circulates, and is a reference work to show that we believed at that time.
Q. How does one now joining Jehovah's Witnesses,and reading this erroneous view of Judge Rutherford's know that it is now regarded as erroneous?
A. Because he keeps up with the latest expositions and the latest publications in bound book form.
Q. But there is no latest or recent publication of the Society which brings to the notice of the Witnesses that that view held by Judge Rutherford is wrong?
A. The explanations given show that there is a different understanding of the matter to-day.Q. Where upon that particular point does the adherent to the society find any enlightenment?
A. In the publications that he reads.Q. Must he read all of them to arrive at the fact that upon this one point Judge Rutherford was in error?
A. It isn't necessary for him to read that Judge Rutherford is in error on that point. What he is interested in is in the present truth, the up-to-date truth. Q. Yesterday's errors cease to be published do they?
A. Yes, we correct ourselves.Q. But not always expressly?
A. We correct ourselves as it becomes due to make a correction, and if anything is under study we make no statement of it until we are certain.Q. But may one not assume that Judge Rutherford did not publish until he also was certain?
A. He published only when he was convinced, and he withheld publication until he was convinced that he was correct.Q. So that what is published as the truth today by the Society may have to be admitted to be wrong in a few years?
A. We have to wait and see.
Q. And in the meantime, the body of Jehovah's Witnesses have been following error?
A. They have been following a mis-construction of the Scriptures.Q. Error?
A. Well, error.
PP. 112-114
********************
Q. Am I right that it was at one time forecast that in 1925 Abraham and other prophets would come back to earth?
A. They were expected to come back approximately then,Q. But they did not come back?
A. No.Q. It was published, was it not, to the body of Jehovah's witnesses, that that was expected in 1925?
A. Yes.Q. But that was wrong?
A. Yes, and Judge Rutherford admitted it to the Headquarters.
PP.120-121
******************
Q. Therefore, at baptism must he know those books?
A. He must understand the purposes of God which are set forth in those books.Q. Set forth in those books, and set forth in those books as an interpretation of the Bible?
A. These books give and exposition on the whole Scriptures.Q. But an authoritative exposition?
A. They submit the Bible or statements that are therein made, and the individual examines the statement and then the Scriptures to see that the statement is Scripturally supported.
Q. He what?
A. He examines the Scripture to see whether the statement is supported by the Scripture. As the Apostle says: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
NOTE:-Does this imply discarding that which is NOT good if it disagrees with the Scripture. The Prosecutor seems to have been thinking this judging by the following questions put to Franz.
Q. I understand the position to be - do please correct me if I am wrong - that a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses must accept as a true Scripture and interpretation what is given in the books I referred to you?
A. But he does not compulsorily do so, he is given his Christian right of examining the Scriptures to confirm that this is Scripturally sustained.
NOTE:- The following on his "Christian right".
Q. And if he finds that the Scripture is not sustained by the books or vice versa, what is he to do?
A. The Scripture is there in support of the statement, that is why it is put there.Q. What does a man do if he finds disharmony between the Scripture and those books?
A. You will have to find me a man who does find that, then I can answer, or he will answer.
Q. Do you imply that the individual member has the right of reading the books and the Bible and forming his own view as to the proper interpretations of Holy Writ?
A. He comes......
Q. Would you say yes or no, and then qualify?
A. No.......
Q. A witness has no alternative, has he, to accept as authoritative and to be obeyed, instructions in the "Watchtower" or the "Informant" or "Awake!"?
A. He must accept those.
PP. 122-123
********************
Q. Is there any hope of salvation for a man who depends upon his Bible alone when he is in a situation in the world where he cannot get the tracts and publications of your Incorporation?
A. He is dependent on the Bible alone.
Q. Will he be able to interpret it truly?
A. No.
P. 133
********************
Q. I think you did say there was no minimum age for baptism?
A. That is except for infants, and those who are not mentally able to comprehend the meaning of baptism, and its responsibilities.
Q. What is covered by the term "infants'?
A. An infant in arms, baby baptisms with, possibly, a godfather standing in for the child.
Q. But from the age of toddling upwards there is a potential of qualifying for baptism?
A. Yes, under parental instruction.
p.121
May ninong pala ang binyagan sa mga Jehova's Witness, anong talata kaya? lols!
Sa Ating pagpapatuloy......
| In 1954 in Scotland the Jehovah's Witnesses sued the Ministries of Labour and National Services. This was a test case brought by the Society to set a precedent for future Witnesses. The complete record of this trial is available to anyone for the price of the microfilm (details at the end of this article). It is the invaluable testimony given by the leaders of the Society. They make admissions in court that they have not made anywhere else Those who testified for the Society were Fred Franz, the Vice-President; H.C.Covington, the head legal counsel of the Society at that time; Grant Suiter, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society; A.R.Hughes, the British Branch Servant; and D. Walsh, the Congregation Servant who brought the suit. Just a few quotations appear in this article, those covering interesting statements. They speak for themselves. During the trial Fred Franz, Vice-President of the Society, gave the following answers:
A. No. Q. Only by the publications can he have a right understanding of the Scriptures? A. That is right. Q. Is that not arrogance? A. No. Q. Is it not vital to speak the truth on religious matters?Mr. Fred Franz also gave the following testimony:
A. In the publication that he reads. Q. Must he read them all to arrive at the fact that upon this one point Judge Rutherford was in error? A. It isn't necessary for him to read that Judge Rutherford is in error on that point. What he is interested in is the present truth. The up-to-date truth. Q.Yesterday's errors cease to be published today, do they? A. Yes, we correct ourselves. Q. But not always expressly? A. We correct ourselves as it becomes due to make a correction, and if anything is under study we make no statement of it until we are certain. Q. But one may not assume that Judge Rutherford did not publish until he also was certain? A. He published only when convinced, and he withheld publication until he was convinced he was correct. Q. So that what is published as the truth today by the Society may have to be admitted to be wrong in a few years? A. We have to wait and see. Nakupo mga readers wait and see daw oh! Ingat po kayo kasi baka magaya kayo sa kanilang kasamahan na namatay na, at namatay sila na may taglay na maling aral o doktrina isang halimbawa nga ay si Charles Taze Rusell na kauna-unahang Presidente ng Watch Tower. Alamin ang katotohanan sa aral nila at kasaysayan ng doktrina nila at pagpapatupad nito. Gawin ninyong batayan sa kanilang doktrina ang pagtuturo ni apostol Pablo na ganito: Ganito ang ipinagagawa ni Apostol Pablo sa kaniyang kamanggagawang si Timoteo:
“Mula kay Pablo, apostol ni Cristo Jesus ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos na ating Tagapagligtas at ni Cristo Jesus na ating pag-asa- Kay Timoteo na tunay kong anak sa pananampalataya: Sumaiyo nawa ang pagpapala, habag, at kapayapaan buhat sa Diyos Ama at kay Cristo Jesus na ating Panginoon. Gaya ng pamanhik ko sa iyo nang ako'y papunta sa Macedonia, ibig kong manatili ka sa Efeso sapagkat may ilang tao roong nagtuturo ng maling aral. Iutos mong sila'y tumigil sa ginagawa nilang iyon. Pagsabihan mo rin sila na huwag nang pag-aksayahan ng panahon ang mga alamat at di matapus-tapos na talaan ng mga angkan. Ito'y pinagmumulan lamang ng mga pagtatalo at hindi makatutulong sa ikatutupad ng panukala ng Diyos, panukalang nalalaman ng tao sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya. Ang layunin ng tagubiling ito ay pabukalin ang pag-ibig buhat sa pusong dalisay, malinis na budhi, at tapat na pananampalataya.” (I Timoteo 1:1-5 MB)
Ano pa ang sinabi ni Pablo? "Sapagka't ang aming iniaaral ay hindi sa kamalian, ni sa karumihan, ni sa pagdaraya."(1Tes.2:3 ADB) Kabaligtaran naman ng pagtuturo ng mga Jehova's Witness na "wait and see" daw. Dios na mahabagin, maawa po kayo sainyong mga kaluluwa kung ipagkakatiwala ninyo sa samahang iyan ang inyong kaligtasan. |
Napatunayan na naman ang kanilang pagpapaimbabaw dahil kinontra na naman nila ang isinulat nila na ganito ang mababasa:
“Satan attempted to use his
influence in a subtle way, and in this
he was successful. How so? By insinuation and falsehood. He put forth error,
under cover of a lie, as a substitute for truth. In other words, he put
darkness for light.” —The Watchtower, May 15, 1976, p. 304
“If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one
human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or
six years ago would be regarded as darkness now: But with God there is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any
knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth
never can contradict a former truth. ‘New light’ never extinguished
older ‘light,’ but adds to it.... So is it with the light of truth;
the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another.” — Zion’s
Watch Tower, February 1881, p. 3
Umamin po sila na error nga ang kanilang doktrina at nakikita natin na nagkokontradiksyon ito sa mga nauna na nilang doktrina at sapol na sapol po sila sa sarili nilang babasahin.
Ang pagsisinungaling:
Umamin po sila na error nga ang kanilang doktrina at nakikita natin na nagkokontradiksyon ito sa mga nauna na nilang doktrina at sapol na sapol po sila sa sarili nilang babasahin.
Ang pagsisinungaling:
Noong 1950
ang Watchtower Society ay nagsalin ng sarili nilang Biblia ang New World Translation.
Sinabi sa lahat ng Saksi ni Jehova na ang salin na ito ay pinaka-accurate,
hindi bias na salin(talaga lang ha!). Ang claim pa ng Watchtower Society na ang
the New World Translation Committee ay binubuo ng mga dalubhasa at highly trained Greek scholars na ginawa
ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya na “ihatid ang kaisipan at pahayag ng Dios” as
accurately as possible(New World Translation, 1984, p. 5).
Samantala kung tayo lang ay mapagsuri at alamin natin ang kredensyal nitong mga
tagapagsalin nila, matutuklasan natin na ang Watchtower Society ay hindi
ibibigay sayo ang impormasyon, sasabihin nila sayo na nais ng “committee” na sila ay anonymous para daw ang
lahat ng kapurihan at karangalanng pagkakasalin ay mapunta sa Dios.
Sa biglang tingin, para ngang napaka noble at kahanga-hanga ang katuwirang ito, pero sandali lang….teka,teka, teka, sandali lang, iyan nga ba ang talagang totoong dahilan kung bakit di nila masabi o maipakilala ang mga nagsalin? Sa patuloy na pagsisiyasat ay may lumabas na katotohanan, nalaman kung sino ang nagsalin ng New World Translation ang mga katibayan ang magpapatunay na sila ay HINDI mga kwalipikado para sa gawaing pagsasalin. Ang LIMA sa anim na member ng Watchtower Governing Body na nasa “Translation Committee” ay walang pormal na pagsasanay o anupaman sa “Biblical Languages”. Ang ISA sa LIMA ay si Fred Franz, opo! Tama po kayo ang dating member ng Governing Body at naging Watchtower president mula 1977-1992. Sinabi niya noon na siya ay nakapag aral, heto po ang kanyang pahayag under oath sa “Douglas Walsh Trial”
Sa biglang tingin, para ngang napaka noble at kahanga-hanga ang katuwirang ito, pero sandali lang….teka,teka, teka, sandali lang, iyan nga ba ang talagang totoong dahilan kung bakit di nila masabi o maipakilala ang mga nagsalin? Sa patuloy na pagsisiyasat ay may lumabas na katotohanan, nalaman kung sino ang nagsalin ng New World Translation ang mga katibayan ang magpapatunay na sila ay HINDI mga kwalipikado para sa gawaing pagsasalin. Ang LIMA sa anim na member ng Watchtower Governing Body na nasa “Translation Committee” ay walang pormal na pagsasanay o anupaman sa “Biblical Languages”. Ang ISA sa LIMA ay si Fred Franz, opo! Tama po kayo ang dating member ng Governing Body at naging Watchtower president mula 1977-1992. Sinabi niya noon na siya ay nakapag aral, heto po ang kanyang pahayag under oath sa “Douglas Walsh Trial”
Tuesday,
23rd November, 1954:
Frederick William Franz, Examined:
Frederick William Franz, Examined:
Q. Have you also made yourself familiar with Hebrew?
A. Yes....
Q. So that you have a substantial linguistic apparatus at your command?
A. Yes, for use in my biblical work.
Q. I think you are able to read and follow the Bible in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French?
A. Yes.
Q. It is the case, is it not, that in 1950 there was prepared and issued what is called the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures?
A. Yes....
Q. I think that it was your duty, was it not, before the issue of that New World Translation by your Society to check that translation for accuracy?
A. That is true.
Q. In light of your studies and in light of your knowledge?
A. That is true.
Q. And did you do so?
A. I did so....
Q. And was it your duty on behalf of the Society to check the translation into English from the original Hebrew of that first volume of the Old Testament Scriptures?
A. Yes....
Q. In so far as translation of the Bible itself is undertaken, are you responsible for that?
A. I have been authorised to examine a translation and determine its accuracy and recommend its acceptance in the form in which it is submitted.
Q. Are the translators members of the Editorial Committee?
A. That is a question which I, as a member of the Board of Directors, am not authorised to disclose....
Q. When did you go to the University?....
Q. Did you graduate?
A. No, I did not....
Q. Had you done any Hebrew in the course of your University work?
A. No, I had not, but in the course of my editorial work, my special research work for the president of the Society, I found it was very necessary to have knowledge of Hebrew, and so I undertook a personal study of that.
A. Yes....
Q. So that you have a substantial linguistic apparatus at your command?
A. Yes, for use in my biblical work.
Q. I think you are able to read and follow the Bible in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French?
A. Yes.
Q. It is the case, is it not, that in 1950 there was prepared and issued what is called the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures?
A. Yes....
Q. I think that it was your duty, was it not, before the issue of that New World Translation by your Society to check that translation for accuracy?
A. That is true.
Q. In light of your studies and in light of your knowledge?
A. That is true.
Q. And did you do so?
A. I did so....
Q. And was it your duty on behalf of the Society to check the translation into English from the original Hebrew of that first volume of the Old Testament Scriptures?
A. Yes....
Q. In so far as translation of the Bible itself is undertaken, are you responsible for that?
A. I have been authorised to examine a translation and determine its accuracy and recommend its acceptance in the form in which it is submitted.
Q. Are the translators members of the Editorial Committee?
A. That is a question which I, as a member of the Board of Directors, am not authorised to disclose....
Q. When did you go to the University?....
Q. Did you graduate?
A. No, I did not....
Q. Had you done any Hebrew in the course of your University work?
A. No, I had not, but in the course of my editorial work, my special research work for the president of the Society, I found it was very necessary to have knowledge of Hebrew, and so I undertook a personal study of that.
ADJOURNED
Wednesday,
24th November, 1954:
Frederick William Franz, Cross Continued:
Frederick William Franz, Cross Continued:
Q. You, yourself, read and speak Hebrew, do you?
A. I do not speak Hebrew.
Q. You do not?
A. No.
Q. Can you, yourself, translate that into Hebrew?
A. Which?
Q. That fourth verse of the Second Chapter of Genesis?
A. You mean here?
Q. Yes?
A. No, I won’t attempt to do that.
— Douglas Walsh Trial, Pursuer’s Proof, 1954, pp. 7-9, 88, 91-92, 102-103 Marami pa kayong mababasa dito....
Ang pagpapaliwanag ng Hebrew ay hindi nakayang gawin ni Franz nung panahon na iyon ay isang bagay na kahit na first or second year Hebrew student kayang-kayang gawin ng walang kahirap-hirap. Tagapagsalin hindi kayang basahin ang ipinababasang Hebrew para Makita ng tao na may kakayahan nga siyang magsalin ng Hebrew to English. Katulad lang yan ng isang doctor na hindi kayang ipakitang may kakayahan nga siyang manggamot. Kayo po ba ipagkakatiwala po ba ninyo sa isang doctor na tumatangging ipakita ang kanyang kredensyal? Yet, this is what many Jehovah’s Witnesses are doing when it comes to vital Bible truth.
Ang pag- amin na sila ay may propeta
A. I do not speak Hebrew.
Q. You do not?
A. No.
Q. Can you, yourself, translate that into Hebrew?
A. Which?
Q. That fourth verse of the Second Chapter of Genesis?
A. You mean here?
Q. Yes?
A. No, I won’t attempt to do that.
— Douglas Walsh Trial, Pursuer’s Proof, 1954, pp. 7-9, 88, 91-92, 102-103 Marami pa kayong mababasa dito....
Ang pagpapaliwanag ng Hebrew ay hindi nakayang gawin ni Franz nung panahon na iyon ay isang bagay na kahit na first or second year Hebrew student kayang-kayang gawin ng walang kahirap-hirap. Tagapagsalin hindi kayang basahin ang ipinababasang Hebrew para Makita ng tao na may kakayahan nga siyang magsalin ng Hebrew to English. Katulad lang yan ng isang doctor na hindi kayang ipakitang may kakayahan nga siyang manggamot. Kayo po ba ipagkakatiwala po ba ninyo sa isang doctor na tumatangging ipakita ang kanyang kredensyal? Yet, this is what many Jehovah’s Witnesses are doing when it comes to vital Bible truth.
Ang pag- amin na sila ay may propeta
“So, does Jehovah have a prophet to
help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These
questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet?...This
‘prophet’ was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small
group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as
International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian
witnesses....Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a ‘prophet’
of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done
is to review the record. What does it show?” —The Watchtower,
April 1, 1972, p. 197
Ang ilan sa hula ng propeta ng mga Saksi ni Jehova:
1914: “...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, 1886, p. 101
Ang ilan sa hula ng propeta ng mga Saksi ni Jehova:
1914: “...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, 1886, p. 101
- 1915:
“...the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14), which will
end in A.D. 1915, with the complete overthrow of earth’s present
rulership, is already commenced.” —The Time Is At Hand, 1915
edition, p. 101
- 1918:
“Also, 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.’ ” —The Finished Mystery, 1917, p. 485
- 1925:
“...1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of
old....based upon the promises set forth in the divine Word, we
must reach the positive and indisputable conclusion that millions
now living will never die.” —Millions Now Living Will Never Die,
1920, p. 97
- 1940’s: “It would therefore appear that there is no reasonable
or Scriptural injunction to bring children into the world immediately
before Armageddon, where we now are.” —The Watchtower, November
1, 1938, p. 324
- 1975: “Reports
are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to
finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer
service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining
before the wicked world’s end.” —Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, p.
3
Pero
sa maraming tao na pamilyar sa kasaysayan ng panghuhula ng Watchtower ng
katapusan ng mundo, simula pa noong unang Watchtower nung 1879, sa magkakaibang
petsa : 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925, 1940’s, 1975. Nangangahulugan daw ba ito na ang
WTS ay bulaang propeta? Suriin natin kung ano ang sinasabi ng WTS kung ano daw
ang bulang propeta:
“Individuals and organizations proclaiming messages that they attribute to a super human source but that do not originate with the true God and are not in harmony with his revealed will.” —Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, 1989, p. 132”
“Individuals and organizations proclaiming messages that they attribute to a super human source but that do not originate with the true God and are not in harmony with his revealed will.” —Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, 1989, p. 132”
Tingnan natin ang Deuteronomy
18:20-22
“But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And you may say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”
“But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And you may say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”
Under the section, “Have not
Jehovah’s Witnesses made errors in their teachings?” on page 136 of the
Society’s Reasoning from the Scriptures book, they state:
“Jehovah’s Witnesses do not claim to
be inspired prophets.
They have made mistakes.”
They have made mistakes.”
Typically, the Watchtower Society promotes itself as God’s prophet by the very act of prophesying. But on a few occasions it has even come right out and ascribed to itself the title “prophet.” Before presenting the material on the sect’s false prophecies, you will need to be sure that the Jehovah’s Witness understands that the organization actually does identify itself as God’s “prophet.” This is because the organization also asserts that it is not a prophet.
Isn’t that a contradiction? Yes, but it is typical of cultic reasoning. In this connection, the Witnesses have learned to practice double-think, the mental gymnastics described in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, where people are forced by a totalitarian state, “ … To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which canceled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them … ” (Nineteen Eighty-Four, New American Library, 1981, p. 32).
Double-think enables Witnesses to believe with all their heart that the Society is God’s prophet, and yet when confronted with the charge of “false prophesying” to deny that the organization ever claimed to be a prophet. Thus in a discussion aimed at teaching JWs how to defend themselves “If someone says—’My minister said that Jehovah’s Witnesses are the false prophets,’” the Watchtower book Reasoning from the Scriptures offers the answer, “Jehovah’s Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets” (1985, pp. 136, 137). Tinuturu-an silang magsinungaling,
Yet, during the late 1970s and throughout 1980, each issue of their principal magazine featured this assertion as part of its masthead: “A WATCHTOWER enables a person to look far into the distance and announce to others what is seen. Likewise, this magazine, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses, aids the reader to see what the future holds” (The Watchtower, 1/1/80, p. 2). By definition, one who tells what the future holds is, of course, a prophet.
A few years earlier a similar statement regularly appeared in the masthead, but it was qualified like this:
“Ever since ‘The Watchtower’ began to be published in July of 1879 it has looked ahead into the future.… No, ‘The Watchtower’ is no inspired prophet, but it follows and explains a Book of prophecy the predictions in which have proved to be unerring and unfailing till now. ‘The Watchtower’ is therefore under safe guidance. It may be read with confidence, for its statements may be checked against the prophetic Book” (The Watchtower, 1/1/69, p. 2).
Totoo nga kaya na hindi nag ke-claim
ang Governing body na sila ay mga “inspired” prophet? Suriin po natin ang mga
pahayag nila sa ibat-ibang Watchtower publications:
1)“What is here meant by the word
‘inspired’? It means that God, the Creator of
heaven and earth, moved these men by his spirit or invisible empowering
force, putting into their minds what they should write down as his ‘word,’ or
message, for mankind.” —Good News, 1976, p. 14
2)“The Source of all true prophecy
is Jehovah God. He transmits it by means of his holy spirit or,
occasionally, by spirit-directed angelic messengers.” —Insight on the
Scriptures, vol. 2, 1988, p. 691
3)“Consider, too, the fact that
Jehovah’s organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God’s holy
spirit or active force.... That same holy spirit and angelic direction
still affect the preaching activities of Christian ministers.” —The
Watchtower, July 1, 1973, pp. 402, 405
4)“These angels are invisible to human eyes and are there to carry out the orders of the Lord. Not doubt they first hear the instruction which the Lord issues to his remnant and then these invisible messengers pass such instruction on to the remnant. The facts show that the angels of the Lord with him at his temple have been thus rendering service unto the remnant since 1919.” —Vindication III, 1932, p. 250
4)“These angels are invisible to human eyes and are there to carry out the orders of the Lord. Not doubt they first hear the instruction which the Lord issues to his remnant and then these invisible messengers pass such instruction on to the remnant. The facts show that the angels of the Lord with him at his temple have been thus rendering service unto the remnant since 1919.” —Vindication III, 1932, p. 250
5) “There Ezekiel is definitely told
that he is henceforth to serve as a prophet. He is commissioned to speak in
the divine name.... He was thus, in an outstanding way, made a witness of
Jehovah. Not alone were the inspired words of Ezekiel prophetic, but he himself
was a prophetic figure in his action....Who is Ezekiel’s present-day
counterpart, whose message and conduct correspond with that of that ancient
prophet of Jehovah?… So it is with the modern-day counterpart of Ezekiel: it
is, not one person’s body, but a composite body, made up of many members....
were commissioned to serve as the mouthpiece and active agent of
Jehovah....Why, though, are all these facts of history brought to our
attention? It is to show the fulfillment of prophecy. Jehovah has found and
commissioned his modern-day ‘Ezekiel.’ ” —“The Nations Shall Know THAT I
AM JEHOVAH —How?”, 1971, pp. 56, 58-59, 66
6) “The scroll was doubtless
delivered to Ezekiel by the hand of one of the cherubs in the vision. This
would indicate that Jehovah’s witnesses today make their declaration of the
good news of the Kingdom under angelic direction and support. (Rev. 14:6,7;
Matt. 25:31, 32) And since no word or work of Jehovah can fail, for he is
God Almighty, the nations will see the fulfillment of what these witnesses say
as directed from heaven. Yes, the time must come shortly that the nations
will have to know that really a ‘prophet’ of Jehovah was among them.” —The
Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p. 200
:
Hayan po maliwanag nating nabasa ang mga pahayag nila na SILA ang “modern day Ezekiel” (Iyon nga lang bulaan) bagamat nakita natin na nagsisinungaling po sila sa pagsasabi nila sa unahan na: “do not claim to be inspired prophets,” ipinapahayag naman ito ng kanilang mga gawa at ibang sinulat pambola sa kanilang kaanib na hindi nagsusuri at bow lang bow. Nakita po natin na inihambing pa nila ang sarili nila kay Ezekiel na tinatanggap daw ang impormasyon mula sa Dios sa pamamagitan ng mga anghel at espiritu Santo. (Sinong anghel kaya ito?
Ito kaya ang anghel na nasa bote ng Ginebra San miguel?). Sila daw ang nagsisilbing bunganga ng Dios na nagsasalita ng pinakasalita ng Dios.
Pansinin ang mga sinabi nila:
Hayan po maliwanag nating nabasa ang mga pahayag nila na SILA ang “modern day Ezekiel” (Iyon nga lang bulaan) bagamat nakita natin na nagsisinungaling po sila sa pagsasabi nila sa unahan na: “do not claim to be inspired prophets,” ipinapahayag naman ito ng kanilang mga gawa at ibang sinulat pambola sa kanilang kaanib na hindi nagsusuri at bow lang bow. Nakita po natin na inihambing pa nila ang sarili nila kay Ezekiel na tinatanggap daw ang impormasyon mula sa Dios sa pamamagitan ng mga anghel at espiritu Santo. (Sinong anghel kaya ito?
Ito kaya ang anghel na nasa bote ng Ginebra San miguel?). Sila daw ang nagsisilbing bunganga ng Dios na nagsasalita ng pinakasalita ng Dios.
Pansinin ang mga sinabi nila:
“The interpretation of
prophecy, therefore, is not from man, but is from Jehovah; and Jehovah
causes events to come to pass in fulfillment of the prophecy in due time.”—The
Watchtower, May 1, 1938. p. 143
“He merely uses the ‘servant’ class
to publish the interpretation after the Supreme Court by Christ Jesus reveals
it.” —The Watchtower, July 1,
1943, p. 203
“This is not giving any credit to
the magazine’s publishers, but is due to
the great Author of the Bible with its truths and prophecies, and who
now interprets its prophecies. He it is that makes possible the material that
is published in the columns of this magazine....” —The Watchtower,
April 15, 1943, p. 127
“We see no reason for changing the
figures — nor could we change them if we would. They are, we believe,
God’s dates, not ours. But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date
for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.” —Zion’s
Watch Tower, July 15, 1894, p. 226
Kapaimbabawan po at palusot ,
certainly po ang tao ay nagkakamali katulad din ng mga disipulo ni Cristo,pero
hindi po sila nanghula ng katapusan ng mundo at sabihin na iyon ay mula mismo
sa Dios. Katunayan tinanong pa nga nila si Cristo(Mateo 24:3) Tandaan din po
natin na nung inihula ng Watch Tower Society ang katapusan ng mundo sinabi nila
yan sa kanilang mga kaanib na ang mga hula at petsa ay “petsa ng Dios” (were
“God’s dates, not ours.” ) Ayon sa kanila, ipinahahayag nila ang hulang iyon sa
Pangalan ni Jehova.
Ayon naman sa panuntunan ng biblia para subukin ang isang propeta na sinabi ng Deuter.18:18-22 at sa Society’s Reasoning book, sa anong kategorya daw nababagay ang Watch Tower Society Sila po ba ay totoong propeta o bulaang propeta? Agree kaba sa sinasabi ng Watchtower Society’s statement sa May 15, 1930 p. 156 issue ng The Watchtower na nagsasabi ng ganito:
“once a person discovers a “false prophet” the “people should no longer trust them as safe guides”?
O hayan mga mambabasa wag daw ninyo silang pagtiwalaan dahil sila ay hindi ligtas na taga-akay. Tama po yan kasi mali-mali ang kanilang doktrina.
Maliwanag po ang lahat, wag na po kayong mag tengang kawali sa mga babala na nabasa ninyo, ibukas ninyo ang inyong mata at pang-unawa, hindi pa po huli ang lahat. Inanyayahan po namin kayo na magsuri sa Iglesia ni Cristo. Magpunta lang po kayo sa pinakamalapit na kapilya o gusaling sambahan ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa inyo-inyong lugar.
Wag po ninyong ipagkamali na sinisiraan ko ang Saksi ni Jehovah, ang ginagawa ko lang po ay suriin at ihambing sa mga pangyayari at sa biblia ang kanilang mga sinasabi at ginagawa, base sa mga nakalap nating info mula sa history at sa kanilang mga babasahin.Higit sa pagtugon sa paanyaya ng mga kaanib nila, ginagawa natin ang pagsusuri sa kanilang mga doktrina at maging sa ibang relihiyon sapagkat ito ay utos sa mga Cristiano na nakasulat sa Biblia o sa Banal na Kasulatan:
“Mga minamahal, huwag kayong magsipaniwala sa bawa't espiritu, kundi inyong subukin ang mga espiritu, kung sila'y sa Dios: sapagka't maraming nagsilitaw na mga bulaang propeta sa sanglibutan.” (I Juan 4:1)
Sa salin ng The Living Bible sa talatang ito ay ganito ang sinasabi:
“Dearly loved friends, don't always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around.” (I Juan 4:1 TLB)
Ang sinisiyasat ng Iglesia Ni Cristo sa Jehova's Witness at sa ibang relihiyon ay ang kanilang mga aral. Hindi nagpaparatang o gumagawa ang Iglesia Ni Cristo ng mga malilisyoso at mga walang batayan akusasyon. Hindi namin kailanman tinuligsa ang kanilang pagkatao o karakter, at hindi kailanman gumawa ng pag-atakeng personal (“personal attack”). ANG TOTOO AY SILA ANG GUMAGAWA NITO LABAN SA AMIN.
Ang sinisiyasat namin ay ang kanilang aral o doktrina. Kung anuman ang kanilang ginawang anomalya o kasalanan, hindi iyon ang aming inihahayag kundi ang kamalian ng kanilang mga aral.
Ang totoo, ang ihayag ang kamalian upang ang tao ay makarating sa katotohanan ay sinasang-ayunan at siyang isinagawa ng mga apostol at ng mga minsitro sa Iglesia Ni Cristo noong unang siglo. Ganito ang ipinagagawa ni Apostol Pablo sa kaniyang kamanggagawang si Timoteo:
“Mula kay Pablo, apostol ni Cristo Jesus ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos na ating Tagapagligtas at ni Cristo Jesus na ating pag-asa- Kay Timoteo na tunay kong anak sa pananampalataya: Sumaiyo nawa ang pagpapala, habag, at kapayapaan buhat sa Diyos Ama at kay Cristo Jesus na ating Panginoon. Gaya ng pamanhik ko sa iyo nang ako'y papunta sa Macedonia, ibig kong manatili ka sa Efeso sapagkat may ilang tao roong nagtuturo ng maling aral. Iutos mong sila'y tumigil sa ginagawa nilang iyon. Pagsabihan mo rin sila na huwag nang pag-aksayahan ng panahon ang mga alamat at di matapus-tapos na talaan ng mga angkan. Ito'y pinagmumulan lamang ng mga pagtatalo at hindi makatutulong sa ikatutupad ng panukala ng Diyos, panukalang nalalaman ng tao sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya. Ang layunin ng tagubiling ito ay pabukalin ang pag-ibig buhat sa pusong dalisay, malinis na budhi, at tapat na pananampalataya.” (I Timoteo 1:1-5 MB)
Ang utos ni Apostol Pablo sa kaniyang kamanggagawang si Timoteo ay patigilin ang mga nagtuturo ng mga maling aral. Ito ba ay paninira, pagbatikos, panunuligsa at masamang gawa? Ang sabi ni Apostol Pablo, “Ang layunin ng tagubiling ito pabukalin ang pag-ibig buhat sa pusong dalisay, malinis na budhi at tapat na pananampalataya.”
Ang ihayag ang kamalian upang ang tao ay makarating sa katotohanan ay hindi paninira, pagtuligsa, pambabatikos lamang kundi sa katotohanan ay pagmamalasakit at pag-ibig kaya mabuting gawa. Ang itago ang kamalian at kasinungalingan at magalit sa mga taong naghahayag ng kamalian at katotohanan ang pandaraya, marumi at masamang gawa.
Kung paano pabubulaanan ang mga maling aral at gawa ay itinuro rin ni Apostol Pablo kay Timoeteo:
“Mula pa sa pagkabata, alam mo nang ang Banal na Kasulatan ay nagtuturo ng daan ng kaligtasan sa pamamagitan ng pananalig kay Cristo Jesus. Lahat ng kasulata'y kinasihan ng Diyos at magagamit sa pagtuturo ng katotohanan, sa pagpapabulaan sa maling aral. sa pagtutuwid sa likong gawain, at sa pag-akay sa matuwid na pamumuhay. Sa gayon,ang lingkod ng Diyos ay magiging handa sa lahat ng mabubuting gawain.” (II Timoteo 3:15-17 MB)
Ang Banal na Kasulatan na kinasihan ng Diyos ang dapat gamitin sa pagtuturo ng katotohanan at sa pagpapabulaan sa maling aral. Hindi ba’t ganito nga ang ginagawa ng Iglesia Ni Cristo.
Hindi naman salita lamang kami ng salita at walang ipinakikitang batayan na gayun nga ang kanilang aral o itinuturo. Binabasa namin ang mga babasahin at ikinukumpara namin sa nakasulat sa Biblia.
“...behold, now is ‘THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,’ behold, now is ‘THE DAY OF SALVATION’.” —2 Corinthians 6:2
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