Some Watchtower Doctrine to Be Noted
                              by David Powell

When the Watchtower states something as unequivocally from God they lose the
right to then state that there was a misunderstanding of prophecy.  When the
prophets of old stated a word from God it always happened.  If they stated
something as being from God and it did not happen then they were put to death
as a false prophet.  No man is perfect but God's word is.  If it is used
falsely then that person is a false prophet.  Study the history of the
Watchtower closely and see just how far it was from God in the beginning and
still is today.

Watchtower Doctrine:

   1.  The Watchtower Society claims to be the only organization upon
       earth guided by God's Holy Spirit, and the only organization capable
       of understanding the meaning of the Holy Scriptures.
       (The Watchtower, July 1, 1973, page 402)

   2.  They claim: "That the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, is God's
       sole collective channel, for the flow of biblical truth to men on
       earth in these last days."
       (The Watchtower, July 15, 1960, page 439)

   3.  The Jehovah's Witness is taught: "That they must adhere absolutely to
       the decisions and scriptural understandings of the Society because God
       has given it this authority over his people."
       (The Watchtower, May 1st, 1972, page 272)

   4.  In order to gain Eternal Life, the Jehovah's witness is told that
       certain things are necessary - as follows:
   a.  They should study the bible diligently, but only through Watchtower
       publications.
   b.  They should attend all five meetings each week.
   c.  They should devote as many hours as possible to the ministry work.
   d.  They should only associate with other Jehovah's Witnesses.
   e.  They should be baptized. They are then told: "That all of these
       things, and more, must accompany faith, because the earning of the
       reward of eternal life, requires 'hard work'."

   (The Watchtower, Aug.  15, 1972, pages 491 through 497.) (Please Note:
Nowhere does the bible speak of Eternal Life as a reward but rather as a
Gift.  [Romans 6:23: "The gift of God..."])

   5. To them, and them alone, the bible is not a sealed book.
      (The Watchtower, July 1, 1973.)

   6.  The year 1975 would mark the end of six thousand years of rebellion
       against God.
       (The Awake, January 8, 1968, page 19.)

   7.  1975 will mark the end of 6000 years of human history since Adam's
       creation.
       (The Watchtower, Aug.  15, 1968, page 494.)

   8. In A.D. 1914, The Kingdom of God was to be set up in the earth.
      (The Watchtower, 1880, page 82.)

   9.  "In A.D. 1914, the Kingdom of God will be firmly established in earth
       on the ruins of present institutions..." also "He whose right it is
       to take dominion, will then be present as 'Earth's New Ruler'."
       (The Time is at Hand, pages 76-78)

   I have included the date, page and location of each, thereby avoiding any
possible refutation by Watchtower members.

   The Watchtower's Attitude Towards The Bible

   W.T.  May 1, 1957, page 273 stated:

   "Jehovah God has provided His holy written word for all mankind and it
contains all the information that is needed for men in taking a course
leading to life.  But God has not arranged for that word to speak
independently, or to shine forth life giving truths by itself.  His word
says, "Light is sown for the righteous" (Psalm 97:11).  It is through his
organization that God provides this light that the prophet says is the
teaching or law of the mother.  If we walk in the light of truth, we must
recognize not only Jehovah God as our father, but his organization as our
mother."

   W.T.  Oct. 1, 1967, page 587 stated:

   "Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian
congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how
sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible.  For this
reason the Bible cannot be proper understood without  Jehovah's visible
organization in mind."

   W.T.  Sept. 15, 1910, page 298 stated:

   "Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan
in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the
"Scripture Studies" (Russell's writings) aside, even after he has used them,
after he has read them for ten years...if he then lays them aside and ignores
them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten
years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness."

In the Scriptures it states. 2 Tim 2:15; "Study to show thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth."

We do not need an organization such as the Watchtower to tell us what the
Bible says.  All we need to do is read it for ourselves and allow the Holy
Spirit to give us understanding!