The answer of hell and its origins

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Aunty Jane

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If John 1 says the word was a god doesn’t that make 2 Gods? A God and a god? This makes Jesus a lesser god. I only have one God.
If the thread gets shut down then so be it, scripture should be able to be discussed, not just people's opinion of what scripture says. Censoring the truth doesn't make it go away....as we have seen with C0vid. The more the truth comes out, the more we see that censorship was only to protect the guilty. God gave us free speech....we can agree or disagree.....that is our choice....or it should be.

Look up the word "theos" in Strongs Concordance....its primary definition from the Greek point of view is..."a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities".....that being said, Jesus can be "divine" without being "deity". Calling him "a god" simply means that he is one of many divine beings mentioned in scripture....but the only one called "ho logos".
Satan is even called "theos" in the Bible because he solicited worship for himself among the humans whom he could deceive. (Cor 4:3-4)

Jehovah called the judges in Israel "theos" (gods) because of their divine authority as his representatives.....
"Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32 Jesus replied to them: “I displayed to you many fine works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?” 33 The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy; for you, although being a man, make yourself a god.”[theos] 34 Jesus answered them: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said: “You are gods”’? [theos] 35 If he called ‘gods’ [theos] those against whom the word of God [ho theos] came—and yet the scripture cannot be nullified— 36 do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am God’s [ho theos] Son’? (John 10:31-36) Do you see what a difference one little word makes to translation? Please give it an honest look.

John 1:1 in Greek does not say what the English translation conveys.....
The Greek language had no special word for the singular (though at that time, nameless) God of the Jews....so it identified him with the definite article (the) "ho"....so look for that little word in the Greek here....
"In en the beginning archē was eimi the ho Word logos, and kai the ho Word logos was eimi with pros · ho God theos, and kai the ho Word logos was eimi God theos."

The entire meaning of that one famous verse is rendered invalid unless the definite article is acknowledged.....and when it is, it changes the whole meaning.

Jehovah is "ho theos" and Jesus is "ho logos" but if you look closely, the definite article is missing from the second mention of "theos", which makes "the Word" someone who was "with" THE God ("ho theos") but who was not "ho theos", but simply "theos" (correctly rendered "a god" or "divine one").


"Theos" in Greek does not just mean "God" as we understand it in English. As Strongs describes its primary definition, Jesus can rightly be called "a god". It does not mean that there are two gods, but two "divine mighty ones", only one of which is "ho theos" and he is clearly identified if you have eyes to see.

"Theos" is a word that described all the Greek gods, who were all distinguishable by name......but the God of the Jews had no name to identify him because the Jews had expunged it from their speech on a false premise. The ambiguous title "Lord" was substituted and then confused with the "Lord" Jesus Christ.
And the Greek had no capital letters or punctuation, so the use of capital letters to convey something that was never there, is also fraudulent.

We have to use the whole Bible, not just the parts that seem to agree with what we want to believe.
 

RLT63

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If the thread gets shut down then so be it, scripture should be able to be discussed, not just people's opinion of what scripture says. Censoring the truth doesn't make it go away....as we have seen with C0vid. The more the truth comes out, the more we see that censorship was only to protect the guilty. God gave us free speech....we can agree or disagree.....that is our choice....or it should be.

Look up the word "theos" in Strongs Concordance....its primary definition from the Greek point of view is..."a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities".....that being said, Jesus can be "divine" without being "deity". Calling him "a god" simply means that he is one of many divine beings mentioned in scripture....but the only one called "ho logos".
Satan is even called "theos" in the Bible because he solicited worship for himself among the humans whom he could deceive. (Cor 4:3-4)

Jehovah called the judges in Israel "theos" (gods) because of their divine authority as his representatives.....
"Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32 Jesus replied to them: “I displayed to you many fine works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?” 33 The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy; for you, although being a man, make yourself a god.”[theos] 34 Jesus answered them: “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said: “You are gods”’? [theos] 35 If he called ‘gods’ [theos] those against whom the word of God [ho theos] came—and yet the scripture cannot be nullified— 36 do you say to me whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am God’s [ho theos] Son’? (John 10:31-36) Do you see what a difference one little word makes to translation? Please give it an honest look.

John 1:1 in Greek does not say what the English translation conveys.....
The Greek language had no special word for the singular (though at that time, nameless) God of the Jews....so it identified him with the definite article (the) "ho"....so look for that little word in the Greek here....
"In en the beginning archē was eimi the ho Word logos, and kai the ho Word logos was eimi with pros · ho God theos, and kai the ho Word logos was eimi God theos."

The entire meaning of that one famous verse is rendered invalid unless the definite article is acknowledged.....and when it is, it changes the whole meaning.

Jehovah is "ho theos" and Jesus is "ho logos" but if you look closely, the definite article is missing from the second mention of "theos", which makes "the Word" someone who was "with" THE God ("ho theos") but who was not "ho theos", but simply "theos" (correctly rendered "a god" or "divine one").


"Theos" in Greek does not just mean "God" as we understand it in English. As Strongs describes its primary definition, Jesus can rightly be called "a god". It does not mean that there are two gods, but two "divine mighty ones", only one of which is "ho theos" and he is clearly identified if you have eyes to see.

"Theos" is a word that described all the Greek gods, who were all distinguishable by name......but the God of the Jews had no name to identify him because the Jews had expunged it from their speech on a false premise. The ambiguous title "Lord" was substituted and then confused with the "Lord" Jesus Christ.
And the Greek had no capital letters or punctuation, so the use of capital letters to convey something that was never there, is also fraudulent.

We have to use the whole Bible, not just the parts that seem to agree with what we want to believe.
I’ve seen this explanation and like many of your posts it seems we can only understand the Bible if we have the right secret decoder ring. I have to wonder why God made it so complicated
 
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Aunty Jane

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I’ve seen this explanation and like many of your posts it seems we can only understand the Bible if we have the right secret decoder ring. I have to wonder why God made it so complicated
It wasn't God who made it complicated....it was the "weeds" that Jesus said would spread counterfeit Christianity out into the world....these took God's word and made it mean something it never did...just like the Pharisees did in Jesus day.
 

Aunty Jane

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Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided (+ I and II)
! ← Approved Unto God...
And can you tell me where I might find what you describe here in the divided mess that is Christendom....?

How do you know that you have the “truth rightly divided”?....”approved unto God”? That is an assumption on your part. You can believe it, but believing something doesn’t make anything true.

Is it because the majority of Christendom’s thousands of denominations agree with you on the core issues, but will bicker endlessly on a thousand other things?

How do you all live up to the simple words of the apostle Paul....?
“Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.”
By what stretch of whose imagination does that describe the divided, disunited state of Christendom? Where is the “joy and peace” you speak of?
 

The Learner

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What is the point of even trying to address all that? hmmx1: The last person who tried that on went on "ignore" because they are not interested in our response, just in airing what they believe someone on the internet said about us.....
Do you not wonder why we get that kind of attention? The desperation to expose those terrible JW's....makes me wonder what we ever did to him personally....or you?

Do you not wonder why he cannot contain himself when it comes to discrediting JW's...? Post after post...a bit like yourself only worse. :IDK:
A personal agenda perhaps? This is undoubtedly what they did to Jesus and his disciples because he warned us that it would happen (John 15:18-21).....not because they were JW's, but because they were true Christians....separate from the religious rabble, just like the first Christians were.....and their opposers were those who claimed to worship the same God.....They hated Jesus enough to want him dead.....and sad news from Germany today tells us that some people want us dead too....

So yes, I'll ignore the ignoramus and wait on Jesus to do the judging.....
My agendia is truth and the watchtower does not have it. The NWT is a perversion only for the purpose of supporting watchtower's false doctrines.


So, why does the watchtower's NWT agree with that "translation" by a spiritualist?
 

The Learner

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17 Then God said to the man,
“I commanded you not to eat from that tree.
But you listened to your wife and ate from it.
So I will curse the ground because of you.
You will have to work hard all your life for the food the ground produces.
18 The ground will grow thorns and weeds for you.
And you will have to eat the plants that grow wild in the fields."

What a sad interpretation.....

This is the kind of ignorance I have come to expect of those who can't understand even simple scripture....
It was the ground that was cursed....not the planet. The ground would "grow thorns and thistles" to compete with the grain that Adam had to plant so that the yield would be minimal....from the lush plenty of the fruit trees in the garden, mankind now had to toil on cursed ground to eat bread.

After the cleansing flood of Noah's day, it appears that the curse on the ground was lifted, because in later times the Promised Land was described as "a land flowing with milk and honey"...a land where the spies sent out by Moses, needed to two men to carry back a bunch of grapes. (Numbers 13:23, 26-27; Deut 27:3)
The earth is made up of dirt, ground and water. weeds grow many places as proof.

Romans 8:22
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
 
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RLT63

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And can you tell me where I might find what you describe here in the divided mess that is Christendom....?

How do you know that you have the “truth rightly divided”?....”approved unto God”? That is an assumption on your part. You can believe it, but believing something doesn’t make anything true.

Is it because the majority of Christendom’s thousands of denominations agree with you on the core issues, but will bicker endlessly on a thousand other things?

How do you all live up to the simple words of the apostle Paul....?
“Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.”
By what stretch of whose imagination does that describe the divided, disunited state of Christendom? Where is the “joy and peace” you speak of?
Again you should take your own advice. You only assume that your beliefs are the only ones that are right.
 
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The Learner

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LOL...you want to talk to JW's about persecution? Disagreeing with your beliefs is not persecution. It is a conversation between adults who have differing takes on scripture.....how many of your church members have been arrested and imprisoned for their faith? How many have served long prison sentences with rigged trials and no justice? How many have been beaten and tortured just for speaking about the Bible?
There are many of my brothers right at this moment fighting for their freedom, having had their places of worship shut down and their property confiscated or destroyed. Talk to me about persecution....

You have got to be joking.....the guy posted pages without giving me a chance to answer anything......I'm not interested in wasting time with someone who doesn't want to listen, he just wanted a platform to espouse his own beliefs without taking a breath.

Russell is not our "founder" and quite frankly he is rarely mentioned among us.....our opposers talk about him way more than we do.....he was not a prophet and never claimed to be one. He was was a gifted public speaker who became the spokesman for a group of like-minded individuals who all were keen Bible students. They undertook a deep study of God's word to see if the doctrines espoused by Christendom were actually scriptural.....and found them all to be false adoptions from paganism.

If you want to investigate the doctrines, we can do that as we are allowed but this whole hate campaign is proof of nothing but the power of misinformation. That is what Jesus and his apostles had to deal with too.....how many of the Jews put faith in him? And who were at the forefront of demeaning him? (Matt 7:13-14) More fool those who stuck with the status quo of the prevailing religious instructors.
clearly you did not read the links and posts by me about Christians in our denominations being tortured, killed and impressioned for long periods of time, some until the end of their lives.
 
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The Learner

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From pro-watchtower source:

"Through the use of diplomatic means, publication of articles, special campaigns, and letters addressed to government officials, the world headquarters of the religious organization publicly denounced the Nazi regime and helped support the Jehovah’s Witnesses who, in Germany, were under attack for their beliefs and preaching activity" https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1472&context=master201019
 

The Learner

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Understanding the issue here:

  1. The issue stated by University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Professor and former Jw's, James Penton:
    The Letter from Prof. M. James Penton to the Watchtower President and the AWAKE August 22. 1995. Article Penton refers to in his letter.
  2. Research paper called, Jehovah's Witnesses, Anti-semitism and the Third Reich by Canadian Prof. M. James Penton. University of Lethbridge.
  3. Watchtower leader Erich Frost played ball with the Gestapo! An article in the German Magazine Der Spiegel, July 19 1961, has an interesting article about Jehovah's Witnesses and their history during the war. The rank and file in Jehovah's Witnesses did not compromise that much. But their leaders - that's another story. Eric Frost was present on a convention in Hamburger Stadtpark July 22. 1961, a convention where the Watchtower president Nathan Homer Knorr was present. Frost was the Watchtower leader in Germany, and then Konrad Franke got that position. They were all present, and the story Frost told the audience from 50 countries about his war-record was a flat out lie. According to Der Spiegel Frost had told Gestapo about the Jehovah's Witnesses, and told them all they wanted to know. He was a traitor, nothing more. The proofs is in Haftbuch Nr. 292 des Geheimen Staatspolizeiamtes in Berlin, Diensateile II b 2. The protocol is signed by Frost, on 2, 15, 20, 21, 24, 26 and 29 April 1937. And he sent a lot of the Jehovah's Witnesses to concentration camps. He told Gestapo where they had meetings, where JWs lived, and who the leaders were. Naturally the Watchtower leaders knew this, but instead they let Frost white wash his past on this convention!
 

The Learner

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Translation of a letter of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, German Branch, Wachtturmstraasse 1-19, Magdeburg/Germany:

Dear Reichskanzler,

on June 25, 1933, at the Sporthalle Wilmersdorf in Berlin there was a conference of appx. 5,000 Bible Researchers (Jehovah's Witnesses), representing several millions of Germans who are friends and followers of this movements for many years. Purpose of this conference, which was attended by representatives of all bible students communities of Germany, was to find ways and means to inform the Reichskanzler, as well as other high officials of the German Reich and the governments of its individual countries of the following:

In several parts of the country, actions were taken against a corporation of serious Christian men and women who are standing on the foundation of positive Christianity. Such actions can only described as the persecution of Christians by other Christians, since the accusations - which have led to these actions against us - primarily are of clerical, especially catholic origin and untrue.
 

The Learner

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We are absolutely convinced of the impartiality of the government officials dealing with this situation. Yet we conclude that the contents of our literature and the purpose of our movement are largely misinterpreted due to the accusations which are brought up against us by our religious opposers and which might result in a prejudiced viewpoint. This might also be due to the amount of our literature and the high demand put upon the respective officials.

For this reason the things discussed at the conference were put down as a declaration of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, in order to pro vide you, Mr. Reichskanzler, as well as the high officials of the German Reich and its countries, with a document of the fact that the Bible Re searchers of Germany only have one goal in their work, namely to lead people back to God and to be witnesses of the Name of Jehovah, the most high, the father of our Lord and redeemer Jesus Christ.

We are convinced that you, Mr. Reichskanzler, will not have such activities disturbed. The communities of the Bible Researchers of Germany and their members are generally known as defenders of respect of the Most High and zealous students of the bible. Local police officials will need to testify to the fact that Bible Researchers have to be counted among elements of the country and ist people who are known for their love and support of oder. There sole mission is to draw the hearts of humans to God.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (located in Magdeburg/Germany) is the organizing center of the mission of the Bible Researchers.

The Brooklyn headquarter of the Watchtower Society is pro German in an exemplary way and has been so for many years. For that reason, in 1918, the president of the Society and seven members of the board of directors were sentenced to 80 years in prison, because the president refused to use two of the magazines published in America under his direction for war propaganda against Germany. These two magazines, "The Watchtower" and "Bible Student" were the only magazines in America which refused to engage in anti-German propaganda and for that reason were prohibited and suppressed in America during the war.

In the very same manner, in course of the recent months the board of directors of our Society not only refused to engage in propaganda against Germany, but has even taken a position against it. The enclosed declaration underlines this fact and emphasizes that the people leading in such propaganda (Jewish businessmen and catholics) also are the most rigorous persecutors of the work of our Society and ist board of directors. This and other statements of the declaration are meant to re pudiate the slanderous accusation, that Bible Researchers are supported by the Jews.

The conference of five thousand delegates received the statement of the governor in Magdeburg with great satisfaction, who declared that it can not be proven that there is any relationship between the Bible Researchers and Communists or Marxists, as it was stated by our religious opposers (which means that such a statement is also nothing but slander). A press report in the Magdeburger Tageszeitung, issue 104, dated May 5, 1933, reads as follows:

A declaration of the government concerning the occupation of the Bible Researcher building: The press department of the government issued the following information: "Occupation of the property of the Society of Serious Bible Researchers" in Magdeburg was lifted on April 29, since no material to support the claim of communist activities could be found."

Another report in the Magdeburger Tageszeitung, issue 102, dated May 3, 199, reads:

The office of the Bible Researchers Society informed us that the actions taken against the Watchtower Society and the Bible Researchers Society, were abolished. All property was returned, since a comprehensive search led to the result that nothing can be held against this Society neither as far as political nor as criminal activities are concerned. It was also concluded that both Societies are of an absolutely un-political and strictly religious nature. On request, the government confirmed the correctness of these statements.

The conference of five thousand delegates emphasized that according to this state of affairs it considered it beneath ist dignity to even defend itself against any disparaging accusations of Marxist or even Communist activites. Such disproved slander of our religious opposers undoubtedly carry the sign of religious competition. Their goal is to stifle an honest warner with the ugly means of slander instead of using the word of God.

The conference of five thousand delegates also noted - as is expressed in the declaration - that the Bible Researchers of Germany are fighting for the very same high ethical goals and ideals which also the national government of the German Reich proclaimed respecting the relationship of humans to God, namels: honesty of the created being towards its creator.

The conference came to the conclusion that there are no contradictions when it comes to the relationship between the Bible Researchers of Germany to the national government of the German Reich. To the contrary, referring to the purely religious and unpolitical goals and efforts of the Bible Researchers, it can be said that these are in full agreement with the identical goals of the national government of the German Reich.

Based upon the supposedly strong language of our literature, some of our books were banned. The conference of the five thousand delegates pointed to the fact that the contents of the books which were criticized, only refers to the situation and actions within the Anglo-American world power - especially England - which is responsible for the League of Nations and its contracts and burdons imposed upon Germany. What is written in our literature - no matter whether from a financial or political point of view - is only directed towards the suppressors of the German people and their country, but by no means refers to Germany itself, which is trying hard to fight against the imposed burdens. Therefore the ban imposed upon these books is completely unjustified.

In some parts of the country Bible Researchers are even prohibited to meet for prayer and church service and for many weeks are hoping for a solution of this situation which is stifling their religious lives. The follow ing was expressed about this situation:

We want to continue to live up to the prohibition imposed upon us, for we are confident that Mr. Reichskanzler and the high government officials will lift this ban - which forces tens of thousands of Christian men and women to a martyrdom which can only be compared to that of the first Christians - after they have gained an understanding of the real situation.

Finally, the conference of the five thousand delegates expressed that both Bible Researchers and Watchtower Organization stand for keeping up order and security within the state, as well as furthering the primary high ideals of the national government in the field of religion. The afore mentioned, as well as the enclosed declaration are meant as a brief information directed to both Mr. Reichskanzler as leader of the people and all the other high government officials of the German Reich.

The enclosed declaration was read by the secretary to the five thousand delegates of the conference of the Bible Researchers. It was approved unanimously and it was decided to present one copy each together with this report of the conference to Mr. Reichskanzler and all the other high government officials of the Reich and its countries.

This we want to do herewith and ask that the following request, which is also stated in the declaration, will be received with favour:

Namely that a commission from our midst is given the chance to person ally explain the true situation either to Mr. Reichskanzler himself or to the minister of internal affairs. Alternatively, we ask Mr. Reichskanzler to appoint a commission of men who do not have any religious prejudice against us - men who do not have professional religious interests but are solely interested to comply to the just principles as they were set up by the Reichskanzler himself - to investigate our situation impartially. The principles mentioned, refer to paragraph 24 of the program of the National Socialistic German Party of Workers, which reads:

"We demand the freedom of all religious denominations within the state, as far as they do not endanger the state itself or violate the moral values of the German race.

The party as such represents the viewpoint of positive Christianity without being attached to any particular denomination. It fights against the Jewish-materialistic spirit inside and outside of us and is convinced that any recovery of the German people can only take place from the inside out."

We are fully convinced that, once we have been judged impartially, based firstly upon God's word and secondly upon the above mentioned paragraphs, the national government of Germany will find no reason to prevent us from our church services and missionary activities.

We are looking forward to your kind approval, which we hope to receive soon, and want to assure our highest respect to you, honorable Mr. Reichskanzler.

Yours faithfully

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society Magdeburg
 

The Learner

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Declaration of Facts

"This company of German people, who are peaceable and law-abiding citizens representing many others from every part of Germany, all of whom are earnestly laboring for the highest welfare of the people of this land, being now duly assembled at Berlin this 25th day of June, AD.. 1933, do joyfully declare our complete devotion to Jehovah, the Almighty God, and to his kingdom under Christ Jesus, whose shed blood bought the human race. We declare that the holy Scriptures set forth in the Bible constitute the Word of Jehovah God given to men for their guidance in righteousness, and that the Word of God is the truth, and that it is of greatest importance that man have a knowledge of his relationship to God. We ask to be judged by the standard of the Word of God.

"Christ Jesus is Jehovah God's great Witness to the truth, and as his faithful and devoted followers we are, by His grace, witnesses to the truth. The purpose of this Declaration is that we may present a true and faithful witness before rulers and the people as to the name and purpose of Jehovah God and our relation thereto.

"We are wrongfully charged before the ruling powers of this government and before the people of this nation; and in order that the name of Jehovah God may be exalted in the minds of the people, and that his benevolent purposes be better understood and our position fairly placed before the government, we do respectfully ask the rulers of the nation and the people to give a fair and impartial consideration to the statement of facts here made.
 

The Learner

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"The Scriptures plainly state that the chief opposer of Jehovah God and the greatest enemy of mankind is Satan the Devil whose name is also that of Serpent and Dragon. It is written in the Scriptures that Satan, who has long been the invisible ruler of this world, deceives and blinds the people to the truth in order that the light of and concerning Jehovah God and Christ Jesus may not shine into the minds of men. (2 Corinthians 4: 3,4) Frequently by fraud, subtility [sic]] and deception Satan has induced honest persons to war with each other, in order that he might turn them all away from God and destroy them. Above all things, the people need to know Jehovah God and his gracious provision for their general welfare.

"By the term 'clergy', as used in our literature, reference is made to the class of professed religious teachers, priests and Jesuits who employ improper political means to accomplish their ends and pin forces even with those who deny God and the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the same class to whom Jesus referred as his persecutors. We have no criticism of any honest religious teacher.

"When Jesus went to the Jews to tell them of the truth, it was the Jewish clergy, that is to say, the Pharisees and priests, that violently opposed him and persecuted him and caused him to be charged with all manner of crimes and offenses. They refused to hear the truth, and addressing them Jesus said: "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.' (John 8: 43-45) Although the Pharisees and priests then claimed to represent Jehovah God Jesus told them that they were in fact the representatives of Satan the Devil.

"We have no fight with any persons or religious teachers, but we must call attention to the fact that it is generally those who claim to represent God and Christ Jesus who are in fact our persecutors and who misrepresent us before the governments and nations. As true followers of Christ Jesus we are to expect such opposition, and we mention it here in explanation of why we have been misrepresented before the rulers of this nation. To his faithful followers Jesus said: 'Remember the word I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they [the false religious teachers] have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.' (John 15: 20) Furthermore, Jesus said that this same class of men would cause his true followers to be wrongfully charged before the ruling powers, his language being: 'But take heed to yourselves: for they [false religious teachers] shall deliver you up to councils [police power]; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.' (Mark 13: 9) This explains why Jehovah God now permits his faithful witnesses to be misrepresented and persecuted, namely, that those of a wrong spirit may identify themselves as opponents of God and thus bear witness against themselves. The same materialistic spirit that caused the persecution of Jesus Christ now exists and is back of the persecution of us his faithful followers.
 

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Brighton
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
"It is falsely charged by our enemies that we have received financial support for our work from the Jews. Nothing is farther from the truth. Up to this hour there never has been the slightest bit of money contributed to our work by Jews. We are the faithful followers of Christ Jesus and believe upon Him as the Savior of the world, whereas the Jews entirely reject Jesus Christ and emphatically deny that he is the Savior of the world sent of God for man's good. This of itself should be sufficient proof to show that we receive no support from Jews and that therefore the charges against us are maliciously false and could proceed only from Satan, our great enemy.

"The greatest and most oppressive empire on earth is the Anglo-American empire. By that is meant the British Empire, of which the United States of America forms a part. It has been the commercial Jews of the British-American empire that have built up and carried on Big Business as a means of exploiting and oppressing the peoples of many nations. This fact particularly applies to the cities of London and New York, the stronghold of Big Business. This fact is so manifest in America that there is a proverb concerning the city of New York which says: 'The Jews own it, the Irish Catholics rule it, and the Americans pay the bills.' We have no fight with any of these persons mentioned, but, as the witnesses for Jehovah and in obedience to his commandment set forth in the Scriptures, we are compelled to call attention to the truth concerning the same in order that the people may be enlightened concerning God and his purpose.


Our Literature

"It is said that our books and like literature, when circulated amongst the people, constitute a danger to the peace and safety of the nation. We are certain that this conclusion is due to the fact that our books and other literature have not been carefully examined by the rulers and hence are not properly understood. We respectfully call attention to the fact that these books and other literature were written originally in America and the language therein used has been adapted to the American style of plainness of speech and, when translated into German, the same appears to be harsh. We admit that the same truths might be stated in a less blunt and more pleasing phrase, and yet the language of these books follows closely the language of the Bible.
 

The Learner

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2022
3,968
1,060
113
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Brighton
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
"It should be borne in mind that in the British Empire and in America the common people have suffered and are now suffering greatly because of the misrule of Big Business and conscienceless politicians, which misrule has been and is supported by political religionists, and hence the þ writers of our books or literature have endeavored to employ plain language to convey to the people the proper thought or understanding. The language used, however, is not as strong or emphatic as that used by Jesus Christ in denouncing the oppressors and false teachers of his time.

"The present government of Germany has declared emphatically against Big Business oppressors and in opposition to the wrongful religious influence in the political affairs of the nation. Such is exactly our position; and we further state in our literature the reason for the existence of oppressive Big Business and the wrongful political religious influence, because the Holy Scriptures plainly declare that these oppressive instruments proceed from the Devil, and that the complete relief therefrom is God's kingdom under Christ. It is therefore impossible for our literature or our work to in any wise be a danger or a menace to the peace and safety of the state.

"Our organization is not political in any sense. We only insist on teaching the Word of Jehovah God to the people, and that without hindrance. We do not object or try to hinder anyone's teaching or believing what he desires, but we only ask the freedom to believe and teach what we conceive the bible to teach, and then let the people decide which they wish to believe. "To know Jehovah God and his gracious provision for mankind is of most vital importance to all persons, because God has declared in His Word that where there is no vision or understanding of his Word the people perish. (Proverbs 29: 18) We have devoted our lives and our material substance to the work of enabling the people to gain a vision or understanding of God's Word, and therefore it is impossible for our literature and our work to be a menace to the peace and safety of the nation. Instead of being against the principles advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely for such principles, and point out that Jehovah God through Christ Jesus will bring about the full realization of these principles and will give to the people peace and prosperity and the greatest desire of every honest heart.
 

The Learner

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2022
3,968
1,060
113
67
Brighton
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
"Our organization seeks neither money nor members, but we are a company or organized body of Christian people engaged solely in the benevolent work of teaching the Word of God to the people at the least possible cost to them. Our organization was originally incorporated in the United States of America in 1884 under the name of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE 15r TRACT SOCIETY, and in 1914 incorporated under the laws of Great Britain by the name of the INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION. These are merely the corporate names of our organization for legally carrying forward its work. The Scriptural name by which we are known is 'Jehovah's witnesses'. We are engaged solely in a benevolent work. The purpose of our organization is to aid the people to understand the Bible, which discloses the only possible way for the complete relief and blessing for mankind. Our organization has extended its work throughout the earth. The education, culture and upbuilding of the people must and will come through the agency of God's kingdom concerning which we teach as set forth in the Bible. The salvation of the people depends upon the true knowledge of and obedience to Jehovah God and his righteous ways.

"The people are in great distress and in need of help to understand the reason for their unhappy condition and what is the means of relief. The Scriptures, when understood, make this matter clear. Instead of collecting money from the people and using the same to erect great buildings and to support men in luxury, we print the gospel message of God's kingdom and carry it to the homes of the people that they may, at the least inconvenience to themselves, gain a knowledge of God's purposes concerning them.
 

The Learner

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2022
3,968
1,060
113
67
Brighton
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
"A careful examination of our books and literature will disclose the fact that the very high ideals held and promulgated by the present national government are set forth in and endorsed and strongly emphasized in our publications, and show that Jehovah God will see to it that these high ideals in due time will be attained by all persons who love righteousness and who obey the Most High. Instead, therefore, of our literature and our work's being a menace to the principles of the present government we are the strongest supporters of such high ideals. For this reason Satan, the enemy of all men who desire righteousness, has sought to misrepresent our work and prevent us from carrying it on in this land.

"For many years our organization has put forth an unselfish and persistent effort to do good to the people. Our American brethren have greatly assisted in the work in Germany, and with money freely contributed, and that at a time when all Germany was in dire distress. Now because it appears that Germany may soon be free from oppression and that the people may be lifted up, Satan, the great enemy, puts forth his endeavours to destroy that benevolent work in this land.


League of Nations

"The language in our books or literature concerning the League of Nations has been seized upon as a reason for prohibiting our work and the distribution of our books. Let us remind the government and the people of Germany that it was the League of Nations compact that laid upon the shoulders of the German people the great unjust and unbearable burdens. That League of Nations compact was not brought forth by the friends of Germany. In America at one time the public press announced that 140,000 clergymen had set aside a certain period of time in which a concerted movement was to be made, and which was made, to induce the American people to fully endorse the League of Nations. It was the Federation of Churches in America that issued a manifesto stating that the 'League of Nations is the political expression of God's kingdom on earth', and which by them was substituted in the place and stead of God's kingdom under Christ. It was in America that our organization under the visible leadership of its president pointed out emphatically that the League of Nations is not an institution of Jehovah God, because it is oppressive and unfair. It was that condition, existing at the time, which called forth language that appears in our books concerning the League of Nations and also calling attention to the fact that such League of Nations compact can never bring about the relief and blessing of the people, because such relief and blessing can come by adhering strictly to the principles laid down in God's Word and in the manner which Jehovah has pointed out.
...

"RESOLVED, That copies of this Declaration be respectfully delivered to high officials of the government and that the same be given wide publication to the people, that the name of Jehovah may be further known."