5

A Major Change

The Watchtower knows full well the trap it set for itself. Teaching that the 144,000 was fulfilled in 1935 is no longer working. And others are starting to notice the deception in adding new numbers to the annual Yearbook figures.

In the May 1, 2007 Watchtower magazine, a lame attempt was made to wiggle out of the 72-year-old doctrine:

... “as time has gone by, some Christians baptized after 1935 have had witness borne to them that they have the heavenly hope. (Romans 8:16, 17) Thus it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends.”[1]

The article seems to suggest that these are replacements for those who have fallen away. Yet it creates a back door excuse to adjust the remnant figure that would have decreased to zero as the original 144,000 sealed in 1935 died off. This way, the continued survival of the Watchtower organization could be secured to maintain spiritual control over the companions.

Since 1935, the Watchtower Society has taught its followers that the heavens were closed to any others outside of their 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses. Now this obscure passage in the May 1, 2007 Watchtower effectively cancels, in one moment, this doctrine and blurs the line between the “anointed remnant” and the other companions.

It remains to be seen what new standards will be set in place for any of the companions who claim to be one of Jehovah’s anointed Witnesses. Keep in mind that before this major change, only those Witnesses who came into the organization by 1935 were allowed to take communion because only they had a heavenly hope. And who of these new members of the “anointed remnant” will be allowed into the leadership positions who teach and write official Watchtower material?

Because the Watchtower cannot now set a specific date, as it did for the last 72 years, this opens the door to an indefinite date. No one knows when the number of 144,000 will ever be fulfilled. If these are “replacements,” does this indicate that there are Jehovah’s Witnesses who are still falling away? Apparently so.

Throughout their history, there have been major doctrinal shifts which the Watchtower attributes to “advancing in the light of truth.” This is another case where new understanding is “received” when time exposes a false teaching or false prophetic date. When the Watchtower has made such bold statements and then changed them, it condemns itself:

True, there have been those in time 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 prophesying. Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Missing from such people were God’s truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them.[2]

Finally, the Watchtower addressed the changing of major teachings by stating the following:

It is a serious matter to represent God and Christ in one way, then find that our understanding of the major teachings and fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures was in error, and then after that, to go back to the very doctrines that, by years of study, we had thoroughly determined to be in error. Christians cannot be vacillating —wishy-washy— about such fundamental teachings. What confidence can one put in the sincerity or judgment of such persons?[3]

Earlier, they admitted that things were not perfect in the days of Russell and Rutherford. Now, they are having to admit that they were wrong about the completion of the 144,000. The fact is that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society will forever need to adjust dates and teachings.

They will attribute it to “advancing in the light of truth.” But if the prophecy was false in the first place, any truth that comes along will not be an “advance” but will be an embarrassing contradiction. Their leaders know they can never admit to being inspired as the Bible is inspired.[4]

A major change like the 1935 date reveals again the Watchtower for what it really is: a false prophet not inspired by God. Time will forever be the enemy of such false prophets.

When witnessing to a supposedly “Jehovah’s Witness,” this is their fatal weakness. The Watchtower is not and does not claim to be inspired by God. So we ask why it is necessary to have the “uninspired” Watchtower interpret the “inspired” Bible for you? Why not just read the Bible for yourself?