"Crossing Euphrates"

Hi everyone,

According to research shown below by Doug Mason, the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization is based upon the principle of "Theocratic Rule," meaning: Rule By God Almighty. It is not based upon a "Democratic Rule" [rule by people, majority rule] principle. No, but it must be a "Theocratic" Rule.

Jehovah is thus, taught to be the "Great Theocrat" by the Watchtower Society, as we know. Which means, Jehovah is always taught to be "ruling" the Jehovah's Witnesses as an organization. It is taught the organization is "ruled" from the top down, not from the bottom up. It also means, Jehovah, and only He, must always CHOOSE WHO IS IN CHARGE of His Visible Organization upon earth today. No one else can do this, since it is HE, who is the "Great Theocrat" and must always make such an important decision. Therefore we would have to say, not even other existing "Governing Body" members themselves can do this for Him, but it is He that must rightfully do this, through his Son Jesus Christ, in behalf of His Visible Organization upon earth today. Isn't that so?

Therefore, the following questions can properly be raised:

• 1) What proof do we have today, to know the fact that Jehovah Himself actually "APPOINTED" these men [Governing Body members] to be the chief "rulers" among Jehovah's Witnesses today?
  
  2) Do they themselves [Governing Body and even Watchtower Society Headquarters Staff] offer any such proof of this Divine Appointment? Have they done so in the past?
  
  3) Accordingly, do they offer something that would show, incontrovertible and indisputable evidence and proof, that they are the "chosen" human vessels from this earth, that Jehovah and Jesus are using today to govern other humans, since there ever came to be a "governing body" among modern day Jehovah's Witnesses? Is there such "evidence" of this today, for all to see?

Doug Mason's research shows below, the whole idea of a "Theocratic Rule" started under the administration of JF Rutherford back in 1938, and that this expression "governing body" was first "coined" and proliferated in the publications starting in the year of 1944. It did not exist before that time, and was foreign to the lips of Jehovah's Witnesses world wide before that time, as well as the idea foreign to previous WTBTS Presidents CT Russell and JF Rutherford. These men knew nothing nor said nothing, about a "governing body" that must rule the "Lord's People" or the "brethren in Christ" either in the first century, or even since the organization was founded in our modern times.

Please note: The information found below was researched and written by Doug Mason.

See link: http://www.jwstudies.com/Updated_chapte ... n_Paul.pdf

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The pattern revived after 1900 years

The Governing Body [GB] says that the original Christian congregation operated under a Governing Body but this organized structure, along with its authority, was lost when the last Apostle died. However, according to the GB, all has not been lost, because after 1900 years, Jesus has followed the pattern he set with his original Apostolic congregation. This means that once again Jehovah and Jesus have their single channel of communication and instruction working on their behalf on Earth. True to the pattern he set in the first century, Jesus would once again feed many through the hands of a few. [3]

You will be amazed at the number of parallels that exist between God’s servants of the first century and his people today. You will see that these parallels involve not only the work we do but also the way we are organized to do that work. Reflecting on these similarities will no doubt fortify your belief that Jehovah God is continuing to direct the earthly part of his organization. [4]

Like the first-century Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses today are directed by a Governing Body of dedicated, spirit-anointed men. [5]

The WTS was instituted with independent, local, democratic rule

The Watch Tower Society was instituted as a democracy by Charles Russell. Hence there was no need for the Watch Tower Society [WTS] to have a Governing Body exercising top-down control. In December, 1884, there was organized and incorporated in accord with the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, U. S. A., what was then called “Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society” but was from and after 1896 called “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society”. … However, the Theocratic principle of rule and organization was not clearly discerned back there, and a more or less democratic organization and operation of companies of consecrated Christians was permitted and practiced. [6]

Congregations were operating independent, local democratic rule

The congregations were operating, independently and democratically. This was not compatible with Theocratic rule.

The guiding counsel as to overseers and other servants was not written to any congregation of Christians. It was addressed to Titus and Timothy. Both these men represented and acted for the apostle Paul, and the apostle was one of the governing body.

Because congregations have overlooked this fact, they have fallen to the idea of independent local democratic rule of a congregation over its own affairs and have elected so-called “elders”, “deacons,” “bishops,” etc., to office by vote of all members of the congregation. This is contrary to Theocratic rule. Such rule takes note of a visible governing body. … The Theocratic organization is not ruled from any or all congregations upward as the source of power and authority. [7]

From democracy to theocracy

In 1938, Rutherford turned the organization on its head, saying that it was now a Theocracy. In the June 1 and 15, 1938, issues of The Watchtower appeared a serial article on “Organization”. Therein the Lord flashed forth the compelling truth that the organization of Jehovah’s anointed servants is Theocratic and is ruled in contrary fashion to either plutocracy or democracy. It is not ruled upward from the people, rich or poor, but is ruled from the top down; and Jehovah God is at the top. Not democratic voting by congregations, but God makes the appointments of his servants within his Theocratic organization; and this he does by Christ Jesus the Head and through his visible governing body. [8]

Theocratic structure, including the Governing Body, created in 1944

Rutherford died in 1942 and was succeeded by Nathan Knorr. He was interested in organizational matters. Knorr was a business manager and he left Frederick Franz to explain the organization’s changes in terms of Scripture.

Within two years of Rutherford’s death, Knorr instituted sweeping organizational changes, including the formation of the Governing Body. These structural changes are described in the 15 October 1944 and 1 November 1944 issues of The Watchtower magazine.

Baptized Christians known today as Jehovah’s witnesses have a governing body, as specifically noted from the year 1944 onward. [9]

It is of note that when Charles Taze Russell, co-founder of the Watch Tower Society and its second President, wrote of the meeting described in Acts 15, he employed the term commonly used by other Christian churches: “Apostolic Council”[10], and not “Governing Body”. “Organized”, “Organization”, “Theocratic”, and “Governing Body.”

The WTS introduced Knorr’s theocratic structure in the October and November 1944 issues of its Watchtower magazine. One page of the 15 October 1944 Watch Tower magazine and eleven pages of the 1 November 1944 issue use the words “organize” and “organization” 73 times; the words “theocratic” and “theocracy” 91 times; and the expression “governing body” 47 times. Theocratic means organized, administered and ruled by God. [11]

To be organized for the final work in these latter days there must likewise be a governing body under Christ. [12]

References

[3] The Watchtower, July 15 2013, page 19

[4] “Bearing Thorough Witness” about God’s Kingdom, page 2

[5] “Bearing Thorough Witness” about God’s Kingdom, page 110

[6] The Watchtower, 1 November 1944, page 331, “The Theocratic Alignment Today”

[7] The Watchtower, 1 November 1944, page 328, “Governing Body”

[8] The Watchtower, 1 November 1944, page 332, “The Theocratic Alignment Today”

[9] The Watchtower, 15 December 1971, page 757

[10] Zion’s Watch Tower, 15 November 1892, pages 349-350

[11] The Watchtower, 1 November 1944, page 323, “Organized for Final Work”.

[12] The Watchtower, 15 October 1944, page 315, “Theocratic Organization in Action”.

[13] The Watchtower, 1 November 1944, page 333, “The Theocratic Alignment Today”


***

Hi all

I am providing below, two (2) things for your perusal, so that you can properly analyze...as time permits this most important topic. (Please keep in mind this information I am providing, has been fully available on the net, to any who simply has the mindset to inquire and/or investigate the shady "activities" of the Watchtower Society. In other words, it just takes a "Beroean" attitude, that's all.) Therefore I say to all, the following information presented below is indeed, a very serious matter with many long-range implications included for the rank and file Jehovah's Witness to consider, as a true "Beroean" servant of Jehovah (Acts 17:11).

I am providing below:

• 1) A Transcript of a certain, curious public talk, given [September 7th, 1975] by then Vice President, Frederick Franz, that was clearly sanctioned also by then President Nathan Knorr, since he "chaired" this special meeting before all of the Bethel Family, including the 9 other members of the existing "governing body" of that time. There were over 2,000 present for this meeting. Nathan Knorr himself that "chaired" the program, and was the one that INTRODUCED Fred Franz to give this "special" talk to the brothers & sisters. [It will be his voice, at the beginning of the audio tape, that you will hear.]
  
  2) A Youtube video of Vice President Fred Franz, giving the very same talk mentioned above, the actual AUDIO of this same said bible talk and presentation to the Gilead Graduating Class...of that year, discussing among other things, whether there existed a "governing body" actually in the first century, that was Divinely Instituted by the Head of the Congregation Himself...Jesus Christ!

A Little Background on this situation before you consider the "proofs" presented:

Unbeknowst to the thousands attending this particular Gilead Graduation, a big fight was brewing behind the scenes, between N. Knorr & F. Franz against the 9 remaining members of the existing "governing body," lead by younger Raymond V. Franz. But of course, nobody in the audience or at Bethel for that matter, really knew anything about it. But, it was going on, and no one in the whole organization knew of it at that time. But that epoch battle, was indeed being fought, raged even, right before their very eyes!!! It was a scriptural battle, with monumental consequences to be felt, years later, by all within the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses world wide.

These "facts" (of yesteryear) are today present on the net, and available for any inquiring Jehovah's Witness to examine for him or herself in the privacy of his/her own home, or even in some instances, at their place of work, as true "Beroeans." (Acts 17:11) And because of this "evidence" being easy to get to, I believe personally, if these "facts" somehow became common knowledge among the brothers & sisters today, especially with all of the "elder" changes going into effect as of September 1st, 2014 and all ... well this could mean real trouble for Watchtower Society Headquarters Staff & Company, that is when rank & file "brothers" & "sisters" should hear the whole story about how the "governing body of that time, became THE POWERFUL "GOVERNING BODY" of our time, as far as power goes! *:-O surprise

So I believe these certain "proofs" which when presented, absolutely show the then President & Vice President was in a "tug-of-war" with 9 members of the not-yet-empowered "governing body," who, under R. Franz' leadership, wanted to make a major "takeover" [of power] of the entire organization, largely due to his researching pertinent topics for the "Aid To Bible Understanding" Book [released 1971].

Accordingly, these two (2) powerful men, admittedly the most powerful men in the whole organization at that time, namely Knorr & F. Franz, did greatly opposed this idea of a NEWLY EMPOWERED "governing body," as it had only been largely a "figurehead" group that merely "rubber stamped" all major decisions by Knorr & F. Franz before now, and that for some 30 years, since 1945. These two (2) men, stood against them to empower this group of "untested," "untried" men, as was perceived.

Indeed, we must remember, apparently, it was these two (2) men, who THOUGHT UP THE WHOLE IDEA of a "governing body," back in 1944. (In 1944, Fred Franz was the "mainstay" and head of the writing department, and was greatly was relied upon by N. Knorr on all...all scriptural matters, as to what should go into the publications, after JF Rutherford's death in 1942. Since then, F. Franz was appointed Vice President shortly afterwards, in 1945, to replace Hayden Covington as Vice President.)

See link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_William_Franz

So in short, what ensues in the fall of 1975 after this 9 member G.B. take over attempt, this 4-year long attempt battle, to take over power, culminated in this particular scriptural presentation by F. Franz, about the supposed "Governing Body" Concept, as shown in Acts 15th chapter as actually NOT ... NOT HAVING SCRIPTURAL VALIDITY, and further how back in the first century actually, in those days, there was NO GOVERNING BODY AT ALL at that time, giving orders to the flock, in the first century, as had been reported and written about 4 years earlier, in the 1971 issues of the Watchtower magazine. [Of course, all must read between the lines on that point, after you hear his talk and read the transcript.]

Now, try to keep in mind, the "governing body" concept itself, was actually in the beginning stages during those day, it was still new to many, as far as power goes in the organization. And also please remember that this whole idea of a "governing body" was actually CREATED by Fr. Franz & Knorr themselves back in October 1944, when the words "governing body" first appeared in the publications. No one had ever heard of this expression: "governing Body," before October 1944...please keep that fact in mind. However, with the permission of Knorr & Franz in 1944, the term "governing body" is given prominent attention in the publications as it appears some 47 times, that's 47 times in the October 15th, 1944 & November 1st, 1944 issues of the Watchtower Magazine ALONE, to really "introduce" the entire idea of a "governing body" to the brothers and sisters, back during that time. Which means, as of the year of 2014, it would be the completion of some 70 years exactly, since that fateful year of 1944, when that decision was made to push the wicked, man-made idea of a so-called "governing body" among Jehovah's Witnesses. (See Revelation 18:2.) Please keep those facts in mind, when you listen to Franz's & Knorr's presentation of facts in the mid-1970s Gilead Graduation.

(For more information on the unscripturalness of the "Governing Body" Arrangement of Jehovah's Witnesses, please the article: The "Governing Body" Arrangement -- Is It Scriptural?)

See Link to video & audio of actual F. Franz' Talk at Gilead Graduation:




Link of actual transcript of this particular talk to the Gilead Class of the Fall of 1975:

http://gwest59.tripod.com/ChristIsLord/id46.html


Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. *:-? thinking

Esoteric


***

Hi all,

Okay, just as a recap...

let's connect-the-dots here, so that all will understand.

The "governing body," even the very expression itself, is a MADE UP, ["artfully contrived" 2 Peter 1:16 NWT] CONCOCTED term, done so by Nathan Knorr & Frederick Franz as amply demonstrated and shown in the October 15th, 1944 and November 1st, 1944 issues of the Watchtower magazine. This term ('governing body") appears within the pages of these two particular magazines, amazingly, some 47 times. This was a first, the use of this term back in 1944. This is a plain fact, for all to see and investigate if they wanted to know. (See Deuteronomy 13:14.)

Over the years, this new term ("governing body") then begins to take on greater and greater meaning among all Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide. But between the years of 1971-1975, it begins to take on really extraordinatary meaning among all Jehovah's Witnesses. In fact we learn, new "life" [power] has been breathed into this arrangement, for all Jehovah's Witnesses world wide.

NEXT STRATEGIC MOVE:

In addition we must be reminded, all the while the Watchtower Society also employs another term called the "Faithful & Discrete Slave" drawn from Matt. 24:45-47. This term they have used many many times in their publications and all Jehovah's Witnesses are very familiar with it. This "Faithful & Discreet Slave" arrangement, which supposedly gave a few thousand of "anointed" Jehovah's Witnesses the illusion and false idea that all congregation authority was predicated upon this "holy" group of individuals scattered within all congregations around the world. The "Faithful & Discreet Slave" Arrangement was supposed to give the scriptural basis for all congregational authority and biblical basis for leadership of the organization itself. This F&D platform, predates 1944 and goes back to the early days of CT Russell. This term has been in common use of all Jehovah's Witnesses for many many years now.

But next, we learn a new development.

The July 15th, 2013 Watchtower magazine article "Who Really Is The Faithful & Discreet Slave?" tells us the startling "new light" and revelation. It states the following in paragraphs 8-10 under the subheading:

WHO IS THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE?

8 The faithful slave must be made up of anointed Christians on earth. Such ones are called “a royal priesthood” and have been commissioned to “ ‘declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called [them] out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet. 2:9) It is only fitting that members of that “royal priesthood” have a direct share in teaching fellow believers the truth.—Mal. 2:7; Rev. 12:17.

9 Do all anointed ones on earth make up the faithful slave? No. The reality is that not all anointed ones have a role in dispensing spiritual food to fellow believers worldwide. Among the wheat are anointed brothers who may serve as ministerial servants or elders in their local congregation. They teach from house to house and in their congregation, and they loyally support the direction from headquarters. But they do not have a part in dispensing spiritual food to the worldwide brotherhood. Also among the anointed are humble sisters, who would never try to assume the role of teachers in the congregation.—1 Cor. 11:3; 14:34.

10 Who, then, is the faithful and discreet slave? In keeping with Jesus’ pattern of feeding many through the hands of a few, that slave is made up of a small group of anointedbrothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food during Christ’spresence. Throughout the last days, the anointed brothers who make up the faithful slave have served together at headquarters. In recent decades, that slave has been closely identified with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Note, however, that the word “slave” in Jesus’ illustration is singular, indicating that this is a composite slave. The decisions of the Governing Body are thus made collectively.

End of quote.

So then if we learn, the "governing body" term and arrangement is a farce, a fake, a made-up NONscriptural arrangement itself, then how can this fake arrangement NOW become the "Faithful & Discreet Slave" that Jesus spoke of? And especially is view of the fact that this same Watchtower magazine went on to show that even first century christians, and the apostles themselves who raised the dead and did other fantastic miracles from God Almighty, did not themselves even qualify to become this powerful figure we call the "Faithful & Discreet Slave" that supposedly "governs" the christian congregation?

How can this be?

...any thoughts?

LL

Good point LL!

So then if we know for a fact,

(a) the term "governing body" is a made-up term (by N. Knorr & F. Franz) taken from the October 15th, 1944 and November 1st, 1944 Watchtower magazines (used some 47 times in them in its first mention).

See link for details: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchto ... _tQUvldV6A

(b) This fact now must be COMPOUNDED with the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses have been trying to figure out exactly who pictures the "Faithful & Discreet Slave" [Matt. 24:45-47] ever since back during Charles Russell days, and still can't get it ...

(c) and now recently (since July 15th, 2013 Watchtower issue) we learn the "holy spirit" has finally led them to the ridiculous conclusion that the...

fake"governing body" = Faithful & Discreet Slave???

...does not this show the whole "dog & pony show" teaching and all of the "hoopla" about who leads Jehovah's Witnesses is a NONscriptural JOKE?

Isn't that fact, now quite evident?

Isn't this clear proof, the JW Organization is NOT led by "holy spirit" ... and it is very easy for anyone, and that's anyone, to prove it?

Esoteric