Włodzimierz Bednarski Szymon Matusiak Ever-changing teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses The most important changes in the doctrine of the Watchtower Society in the years 1879-2015 Gdańsk 2016 Translation: Jarosław Romanowski, Szymon Matusiak Copyright © Włodzimierz Bednarski and Szymon Matusiak 2016, expanded edition This book is not for sale. Contact: [email protected] Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1. Bible ..................................................................................................................................... 8 The Bible and the spiritualist J. Greber............................................................................................... 8 Studying books equals the Bible study? ............................................................................................. 9 Chapter 2. Teaching about God and the Holy Spirit ........................................................................ 12 Who and what is God and does He stay on the Pleiades? ................................................................. 12 The Trinity ........................................................................................................................................ 15 The Holy Spirit ................................................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 3. Teaching about Christ ...................................................................................................... 22 Jesus Christ ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Worship of Jesus and prayer to Him ................................................................................................. 28 Ransom and mediation of Jesus ........................................................................................................ 32 The Resurrection of Christ - what happened with the body of Jesus? ............................................... 33 Chapter 4. Teaching about angels and satan .................................................................................... 35 Archangels and fallen angels ............................................................................................................ 35 Satan ................................................................................................................................................. 37 Chapter 5. Teaching about man ......................................................................................................... 50 Immortal soul .................................................................................................................................... 50 Heart ................................................................................................................................................. 57 Chapter 6. Teaching about salvation ................................................................................................. 58 Earthly class i.e. “other sheep” ......................................................................................................... 58 Number of folds ................................................................................................................................ 62 Heaven and heavenly classes ............................................................................................................ 63 Resurrection of man .......................................................................................................................... 74 Chapter 7. The organization and its practices .................................................................................. 85 “The faithful and discreet servant” and biblical titles of C.T. Russell and anointed ones ................. 85 Organization as the “ark” and “mother” ......................................................................................... 103 Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses ........................................................................................ 106 The Elijah and Elisha Classes ......................................................................................................... 110 Coordinator and elders in congregations and branch committees ................................................... 112 Changes in the names of organizations and journals ...................................................................... 117 Images, illustrations, portraits and logo of The Watchtower ........................................................... 119 Who was and who is a Jehovah’s Witness? .................................................................................... 124 “Dedication to God” or “consecration”? ......................................................................................... 131 Baptism........................................................................................................................................... 132 Memorial and love feasts ................................................................................................................ 137 Service meetings ............................................................................................................................. 141 Kingdom Halls ................................................................................................................................ 142 Singing songs, songbooks and saying the Lord’s Prayer ................................................................ 145 Morals of Jehovah’s Witnesses ....................................................................................................... 149 Polygamy, celibacy and childlessness ............................................................................................. 153 Character development ................................................................................................................... 156 The entrance to God’s rest .............................................................................................................. 158 3 Beard and clothes ........................................................................................................................... 158 Disfellowshiping and prayer for the disfellowshiped ...................................................................... 161 Preaching and using radio and phonographs .................................................................................. 167 Pioneers and preaching for hours .................................................................................................... 174 Jehovah’s Witnesses and medicine ................................................................................................. 177 Chapter 8. Christianity, its traditions and holidays ....................................................................... 184 Babylon the Great ........................................................................................................................... 184 “The Man of Sin” ........................................................................................................................... 189 Mary and the birth pangs ................................................................................................................ 191 Brothers of Jesus ............................................................................................................................. 192 The keys of Peter and his presence in Rome ................................................................................... 192 The saints of the Old and New Testaments ..................................................................................... 195 The cross and the upright stake ...................................................................................................... 197 Sunday ............................................................................................................................................ 202 Easter .............................................................................................................................................. 204 Christmas ........................................................................................................................................ 205 Chapter 9. The attitude towards the state, “the world” and Israel ............................................... 216 Flag, patriotism and demonstrations ............................................................................................... 216 Military and alternative service ...................................................................................................... 222 Superior authorities......................................................................................................................... 227 Voting ............................................................................................................................................. 230 Carrying weapons and the use of violence ...................................................................................... 232 Tobacco, drugs and gambling ......................................................................................................... 235 Secondary and higher education ....................................................................................................