A Critical Analysis of the Doctrines of the Watchtower Society

Why Make It simple When It's So Simple to Make It Complicated?

This page will attempt to list the major doctrines of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, with a critical analysis of each of their doctrinal stands. The first section is devoted to the Watchtower's denials of historical, evangelical Christianity. Other characteristic doctrines are listed in the second section. All references are to publications of the Numbers in parentheses "()" are footnote references. Reprints refers to the Watchtower Reprints of The Watchtower, 1879 through 1919, printed by the WTBTS in 1920. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

We have no argument with those who say that the Watchtower society has many things right. Some of their teachings are good, wholesome spiritual food. But, we can't help but compare their teachings to rat poison. Rat poison is 98 percent good, wholesome food, but it kills! We believe that following the Watchtower also kills, but with eternal consequences.

 

Doctrinal Denials:

1. Denial of the Trinity

• The Watchtower teaches that only the Father carries the name, "Jehovah,"(1) and that only the Father is the true God.(2) (Except that Jesus is another, lower type of god, and also a true god, see Issue 2., below.) They teach that the Doctrine of the Trinity was actually invented by Satan the Devil,(3) and came to us by way of the pagan religions.(4)

2. Denial of the Deity of Christ (Arian view)

• This is more confusing. They claim that Jesus is "a god,"(5) even a "mighty god,"(6) but that he is not "the God,"(7) he is a created god.(8) This goes against the Bible, which says in Isaiah 43:10, "Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me." They teach that we are not to worship Jesus,(9) but admit that the angels do worship him.(10) They say that any worship given to Jesus, such as in Hebrews 1:6, is only relative worship,(11) and that relative worship is idolatry.(12) They teach that Jesus was created as Michael the archangel,(13) whose life-force and "personality pattern" was transferred to earth to be born as the man Jesus.(14) While on earth, he was only a man, nothing more.(15) When he died he passed completely "out of existence,"(16) but was re-created three days later as a spirit person.(17) Upon his return to heaven "He resumed his heavenly name Michael."(18) and will never physically return to the earth.(19)

The Watchtower has gone to great lengths to hide the Deity of Christ in their version of the Bible, The New World Translation. For example, in John 8:58, which their own Greek Interlinear Bible, The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, the Greek words "ego eimi" are translated as "I am." Yet, in The New World Translation, they mistranslate these words as "I have been." They have used various reasonings for this, including the statements that the Greek words are in the "perfect indefinite tense."(20) When they discovered that there is no "perfect indefinite tense" in the Greek language, they changed it to be "a historical present."(21) By 1963, they had decided it was the "perfect tense indicative,"(22) and by 1969 it was the "perfect tense."(23) In 1971 it had returned to the "perfect tense indicative,"(24) and in 1974 it was again a "historical present."(25) In 1984 it became a "perfect indicative."(26) This "wishy-washy"(27) fluctuation can only be attributed to the lack of knowledge of the Greek language by the anonymous translators and writers of the Watchtower Society. Various other errors in The New World Translation can be shown. This is just one example.

3. Denial of the Personality of the Holy Spirit

• The Watchtower Society teaches that the Holy Spirit is "God's active force,"(28) and is similar to "radio waves."(29) "Holy Spirit" is not capitalized in their publications,(30) and He is not viewed as a person.(31) One interesting point is that the Watchtower uses identical logic to the Trinitarian view of the Holy Spirit to prove that Satan the Devil is a person: "Can an unintelligent 'force' carry on a conversation with a person?"(32) Compare this to the verses in the Bible that depict the Holy Spirit carrying on a conversation. (See, for example, Acts 8:29; Hebrews 3:7; 10:15)

4. Denial of man's immortal soul
 

(It should be noted here that Scripturally "immortality" applies to man's future body. Orthodox Christianity uses immortality as a term to explain that man's soul or spirit continues to exist after death.)

• The Watchtower's view is that when a person dies he passes completely out of existence(33) (except for the 144,000 anointed Witnesses who are immediately taken to heaven(34)). A copy of that person's memories are kept in God's memory and He will create a "suitable" body for the person when it is time for "resurrection." Then a copy of God's copy of the person's memories will be implanted in the new body to make a new person who thinks and acts and remembers the same as the person who once lived.(35) (Note: The Watchtower defines "resurrection" as "a coming back to life."(36) To "come back to life," that person must have once lived. The "copy" of a person that the Watchtower claims will be created will be a new body and a new mind that has never lived before, therefore it cannot "come back" to a life it never had, and "resurrection" is the wrong term to describe it.)

5. Denial of the Biblical view of the Atonement

• Christ's death is viewed by the Watchtower as that of only a perfect man as a "corresponding ransom."(37) They teach that when Jesus said "It is finished!," (John 19:30, NASB) or, "It has been accomplished!" (NWT) on the Cross, it was only a partial completion that covered the Adamic sin of mankind. They say, "he gave his life so that he could take away the harm that Adam did to us."(38) They teach that to cover one's own sin, each person must "add godly works"(39) to earn his own salvation. They say, "God has arranged for the "good news of the kingdom" to be proclaimed so that each individual will have opportunity to work out his own salvation."(40)

A little-known part of the Watchtower's teaching about the "ransom sacrifice" of Jesus is that it covers only those considered to be of the "144,000" or "anointed" class. The Watchtower Society said, "Jesus' blood was to validate, to bring about God's forgiveness of the sins of those taken into the new covenant."(41) They teach that only the "144,000" are in the new covenant: "Clearly, then, the new covenant is not a loose arrangement open to all mankind. It is a carefully arranged legal provision involving God and anointed Christians."(42) (See also Issue 7., below)

6. Denial of the bodily resurrection of Christ

• The Watchtower teaches that Jesus was raised as a spirit creature(43) and materialized bodies on various occasions in order to be seen by His disciples.(44) They also teach that His earthly body was either dissolved into "gases"(45) or "its constituent elements or atoms" by God(46) or has been preserved as "a grand memorial of God's love."(47) We have searched through all of the Watchtower indexes, databases, and the Watchtower publications we have on hand (several thousand items), and cannot find where the Watchtower Society has ever addressed John 2:21, which says: "But the temple he had spoken of was his body."

7. Denial of the doctrine that Christ is the mediator for all men

• The Watchtower teaches that Christ mediates only for the 144,000 "heavenly" class Witnesses.(48) All other people, known as the "Great Multitude," or "other sheep," among other names, have no mediator.(49) Their salvation depends, in part, on how they act toward the 144,000 "heavenly" class Witnesses. For example, The Watchtower has said: "Your attitude toward the wheatlike anointed "brothers" of Christ and the treatment you accord them will be the determining factor as to whether you go into "everlasting cutting-off" or receive "everlasting life.""(50) (See also Issue 5., above)

8. Denial of Salvation by faith

• According to the Watchtower, faith only gives one the opportunity to earn his salvation.(51) After having faith, it takes "real effort" to earn one's salvation.(52)

9. Denial of Salvation outside their organization

• The Watchtower teaches that "identifying themselves with Jehovah's organization [The Watchtower Society] is essential to their salvation."(53) The word "essential" leaves no room for anyone to be saved who is not a member of their group.

10. Denial of the "born again" experience for all believers

• The experience of being "born again," according to the Watchtower, is only for the 144,000 class.(54) Everyone else has only an earthly hope where they will be eternally separated from God, therefore they do not need to be "born again."(55)

11. Denial of the eternal punishment of the lost

• The Watchtower joins nearly all cults in discarding the Biblical place of eternal punishment and replacing it with simple annihilation. They claim that for God to be perfectly just, He cannot balance eternal reward with eternal punishment, but rather must use an unbalanced system of eternal reward or instant termination. The Watchtower teaches: "when a person is dead he is completely out of existence. He is not conscious of anything.",(56) and "we can conclude that those who are determined by God to be goats will not receive a resurrection.(57) Their claim is that: "Annihilation, destruction, extirpation, extinction are eternal punishment."(58)

12. Denial of the bodily, visible return of Christ

• The Watchtower teaches that Christ's "return," or "second coming," was only His "turning his attention" invisibly toward earth in 1914.(59) About this they have said: "The installation of the Messiah as King at Jehovah's right hand in that selfsame year marked the start of his invisible presence with respect to our earth. Why so? Because as the newly installed King over the earth it was proper for him to turn his attention to his earthly domain."(60) This is a change of doctrine which was initiated in 1943 when they said: "Jesus came to the Kingdom in A.D. 1914, but unseen to men."(61) Prior to that, the teaching of the Watchtower Society for 66 years had been that Christ came in 1874. See, for example, the book, The Harp of God, 1940 edition, page 240; Creation, 1939 edition, page 289; and Prophecy, 1929, page 65. In the early 1920's they were so sure of this that they wrote: "This proof shows that the Lord has been present since 1874,"(62) and "surely there is not the slightest room for doubt in the mind of a truly consecrated child of God that the Lord Jesus is present and has been since 1874."(63)

13. Denial of the Biblical resurrection of the faithful
 

(Note: "Resurrection," in Watchtower terms, means creation of a new body for a person, which will then be "programmed" with memories to simulate the original person. See also item 4., above.)

• According to the Watchtower organization, there are two types of resurrection. The first type of resurrection is only for the 144,000 "heavenly class" Witnesses, which is a resurrection to "eternal" life as a spirit person.(64) The Watchtower teaches that there has been an ongoing invisible "rapture" of the dead members of the 144,000 since 1914: "When would faithful anointed Christians experience that resurrection? It has already begun. The apostle Paul explains that they would be raised 'during Christ's presence,' which presence began in 1914 C.E. Now, when these finish their earthly course, they do not have to wait in death for the return of their Lord. As soon as they die they are raised up in the spirit.(65) Over the years they have taught several different dates for the "rapture" of the dead "anointed" Witnesses. They said it happened in 1878,(66) and would be completed sometime before 1914,(67) (later changed to after 1914,(68)) 1917,(69) 1918,(70) 1925,(71) shortly after 1925,(72) 1941,(73) 1942,(74) etc.

All other people (with some exceptions) will have the "opportunity" to be resurrected to "everlasting" life on earth,(75) where they will be eternally separated from God.
They also teach that there will be no resurrection to judgment for the wicked. (See Issue 11., above.)

14. Denial of the Communion experience for all Christians

• The Watchtower teaches that the communion experience, which they call the "memorial celebration," is only for the 144,000 "anointed" Witnesses.(76) They say, "Those of the "other sheep" class are not in the new covenant and so do not partake."(77) The Watchtower holds its "Memorial" observance once each year, on what they calculate to be the date of Jesus' death.(78) They have altered their New World Translation to remove the references to the early Christians' celebrating the Memorial weekly, and sometimes daily. In Acts 2:42, 2:46, and 20:7 they have translated "breaking bread" to say "taking meals." A quick look at The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures will show this error.(79) This may well have been done to remove the Witnesses from the practices of Christian denominations who celebrate communion daily, weekly, or monthly. It has, however, brought them in line with the pagan Buddhist practice of celebrating a memorial to the dead once each year on the anniversary of the person's death.(80)

There is one subject they do not seem to address on this issue. If as they say, Jesus "returned" in 1914, and the Bible says: "For as often as YOU eat this loaf and drink this cup, YOU keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives." (1 Cor. 11:26), why do they continue to hold the Memorial? By their own standards that should have stopped in 1914 when Jesus "returned."

15. Denial of the traditional shape of the Cross

• This is one of the points that many Witnesses love to debate. However, this is a purely superficial issue and has no bearing on our salvation. It doesn't matter how Jesus died, on a Cross, on a stake, or nailed to the side of a barn. What matters is why he died. He died to save me. And you. According to the Watchtower, Jesus was crucified on a simple upright stake, with His hands nailed above His head. We have done research on this issue, and offer the following:

The Romans had several ways of crucifying criminals. Some of the differences were based on the purpose of the crucifixion, some on material availability. They basically used four different shaped implements. One was shaped like a capital "X," one like a capital "T," one was the traditional cross, and one was a simple upright stake "|."
Depending on the severity of their "crime," people were nailed or tied to the "cross." Tying was normally done as a temporary punishment, and on the upright stake or the X shaped implement. The "criminal" was tied to the pole or poles and left for a day or more, then untied and let go. These poles were installed in the ground and the "criminal" was tied to them while they remained upright.
Nailing was normally done to the "T" or cross-shaped implement and the "criminal" was left there until he died. The upright portion of this implement was installed in the ground while the "criminal" was made to carry the crossbeam to the site of his execution. The traditional picture of Jesus dragging his cross is probably wrong. Most likely, He was carrying a six-to-eight foot long timber.
The Greek word used in the New Testament is "stauros." It means simply "timber," and offers few clues. The crosspiece that the "criminal" carried to his execution site would fit the definition of this word. The Bible offers two other bits of information, though. In John 20:28, Thomas uses the term "nails," as though there were more than one. The Watchtower usually depicts Jesus nailed to a stake using one nail.(81) The other bit of information we see in the Bible is that the sign was posted above Jesus' Head, not above His hands. (Matthew 27:37)
This evidence is inconclusive. If I had to make a choice based on the evidence in the Bible and in Roman history, I would have to choose either the cross or "T," but the answer is not sure. Thankfully, it is not a crucial issue, but I'm sure if it were, God would have left better evidence. At least we can know why Jesus died.

Other characteristic doctrines:

1a. The Bible cannot be understood without the Society's explanations

• The Watchtower claims that the Bible is a closed book, and that understanding of it can only be gained through study of their materials. Over the years they have many statements to this effect. Here are some of them:

"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 aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, although he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures."(82)
"It is not sufficient to possess a Bible and study it, or join in with some religious body that believes in open Bible study. No matter how hard and seriously and prayerfully we study, we cannot get the true understanding apart from the organization and the spirit."(83)
"Obviously, merely reading the Bible by itself is not enough; we need help to understand it."(84)
"He does not impart his holy spirit and an understanding and appreciation of his Word apart from his visible organization."(85)
"No question about it. We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the "faithful and discreet slave" organization."(86)
"Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do."(87)
"Let us face the fact that no matter how much Bible reading we have done, we would never have learned the truth on our own."(88)
Another quote from the Watchtower that does not fit in this group is: "'like Romanism, [higher criticism] practically removes the Word of God from the common people by assuming that only scholars can interpret it; while Rome puts a priest between a man and the Word, criticism puts an educated expositor between the believer and his Bible.'"(89) If we compare this to what they say in the above paragraphs, we see that they are condemning others for doing the very same thing they themselves do, that is, claiming that individuals (the "common people") cannot interpret the Bible, but only a special class, a "priest," "expositor," or "organization" can do that.

2a. Blood transfusion is rejected and if a Witness receives one willingly it results in his eternal death

• This is an issue that will require a book to cover. Suffice it to say that, up until 1944, blood transfusions were not condemned by the Watchtower Society.(90) In 1944 and 1945, articles were written in the Watchtower that totally forbade medical use of blood.(91) Since the 1960's, however, there has been a slow but steady "easing-up" of that restriction, so that now many components of blood are allowed, and, under certain circumstances Witnesses can even store and re transfuse their own blood.(92)

3a. To salute a national flag or sing a national anthem is an act of idolatry

• In the early years of the Watchtower Society, the flag was displayed prominently in the Bethel Home and other places.(93) As the degree of control the Watchtower Society had over its members increased, they pronounced the flag to be viewed as an object of worship, and in 1935 Witnesses were told not to salute the flag.(94) This was also during the time when the Watchtower taught that the "higher powers" or "superior authorities" of Romans 13:1 were Jehovah and Jesus. The act of saluting the flag was said to attribute this title to the "worldly governments."(95) This issue, like so many others, is now covered by a myriad of rules concerning when one may stand for the flag salute or singing of the anthem, when one should sit for them, etc.(96) In certain cases they can even sing the notes of the song, but not the words!(97)

4a. Holidays and celebrations, such as Christmas, Easter, and birthdays, are rejected as pagan in origin

• This is another Watchtower doctrine that has evolved over the years. In the early years of the Watchtower Society, Christmas,(98) New Years,(99) and birthdays(100) were openly celebrated. The Watchtower even produced and sold Christmas cards.(101) As late as 1938, the Watchtower was suggesting their books be sold as Christmas presents.(102) From 1927 on, The Society began systematically weeding out celebrations of all holidays and birthday celebrations.(103) They currently do not allow celebration of the anniversary of a person's birth, but they do allow celebration of wedding anniversaries.

5a. The present gathering of Jews to Palestine is not a fulfillment of prophecy

• The Watchtower has redefined this prophecy, as they have many Bible prophecies, to apply to the Watchtower Society rather than to the Jewish people.(104) They have proclaimed themselves to be "Spiritual Israel,"(105) and that prophecies directed to "Israel" in the Bible are really directed to the Watchtower organization.(106)

6a. Jesus is a created being, Michael the archangel, and was the first and only direct creation of God. All other things were created through Jesus

• Following their Adventist roots,(107) the Watchtower teaches that Jesus is also Michael the Archangel. (See Issue 2., above for references) In order to uphold this concept they have had to do extensive "Scripture twisting," especially in places like the parallels between Daniel chapter 10 and Revelation chapter 1. This is another of their doctrinal changes, in the early writings of the Watchtower society they denied that Michael could be Jesus.(108)

7a. The Watchtower organization occupies a position on a level equal to, or nearly equal to Jehovah God

• The Watchtower teaches witnesses that Jehovah God is their Father, and the Watchtower organization is their mother.(109) Therefore, when the Bible tells us to "honor your father and your mother," it also means "Jehovah God as 'our Father,'" and the organization, "as 'our mother.' These, above all else, they are to honor and obey."(110) At least a portion of Witnesses' salvation is accredited to the Watchtower organization when they say things like: "put faith in a victorious organization,"(111) "come to Jehovah's organization for salvation,"(112) and "identifying themselves with Jehovah's organization is essential to their salvation."(113)

One awkward facet to this Watchtower doctrine is that they condemn the practice of imputing salvation to an organization as idolatry. "We cannot take part in any modern version of idolatry - be it worshipful gestures toward an image or symbol or the imputing of salvation to a person or an organization."(114)

Footnotes: (1) Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985 and 1989 editions, page 198
(2) Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985 and 1989 editions, page 150
(3) Let God Be True, 1946 edition, page 82; 1952 edition, page 101
(4) The Watchtower, December 1, 1990, page 4
(5) The Watchtower, January 15, 1992, page 22
(6) United in Worship of the Only True God, 1983, page 18
(7) Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985 and 1989 editions, page 442
(8) The Watchtower, January 15, 1992, page 22
(9) The Watchtower, July 15, 1959, page 421
(10) See Hebrews 1:6, 1984 Reference Edition of The New World Translation, footnote, page 1438
(11) The Watchtower, January 15, 1992, page 23
(12) Make Sure of all Things, 1953 and 1957 editions, page 177
(13) The Watchtower, February 15, 1992, page 11
(14) The Watchtower, February 15, 1991, page 14
(15) The Watchtower, January 15, 1992, page 21
(16) Awake!, July 22, 1979, page 27
(17) Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry, 1983 and 1989 editions, page 18
(18) Your Will Be Done on Earth, 1958, page 316
(19) Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie, 1965, pages 336, 337
(20) The New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, 1950 and 1951 editions, page 312
(21) The Watchtower, February 15, 1957, page 126
(22) The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, 1963 edition, page 3108
(23) The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, 1969 edition, page 467
(24) The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, 1971 edition, page 1121
(25) The Watchtower, September 1, 1974, page 527
(26) 1984 Reference Edition of The New World Translation, page 1582
(27) The Watchtower, May 15, 1976, page 298
(28) The Watchtower, January 15, 1993, page 5
(29) The Watchtower, January 15, 1958, page 43
(30) See, for example, The Watchtower, October 15, 1993, page 20
(31) The Watchtower, September 15, 1992, page 16 (footnote)
(32) Awake! December 8, 1973, page 27
(33) The Watchtower, April 15, 1963, page 241
(34) United in Worship of the Only True God, 1983, page 74
(35) The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, 1968 and 1981 editions, pages 109, 110
(36) Awake!, July 8, 1982, page 22
(37) The Watchtower, February 15, 1991, page 13
(38) Listening to the Great Teacher, 1971, page 40
(39) The Watchtower, February 15, 1986, page 12
(40) The Watchtower, February 1, 1985, page 5
(41) God's "Eternal Purpose" Now Triumphing for Man's Good, 1974, page 160
(42) The Watchtower, August 15, 1989, page 30
(43) Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry, 1983 and 1989 editions, page 18
(44) The Watchtower, January 15, 1990, page 14
(45) The Time is at Hand, 1888 through 1927 editions, page 129
(46) The Watchtower, September 1, 1953, page 518
(47) The Time is at Hand, 1888 through 1927 editions, page 129
(48) The Watchtower, July 1, 1990, page 9
(49) The Watchtower, February 15, 1991, page 18
(50) The Watchtower, 08/01/1981 page 26
(51) The Watchtower, August 1, 1991, page 6
(52) The Watchtower, February 15, 1991, page 29
(53) Our Kingdom Ministry, November, 1990, page 1
(54) The Watchtower, April 15, 1992, page 14
(55) The Watchtower, February 15, 1986, page 14
(56) You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth, 1982 and 1989 editions, page 88
(57) The Watchtower, May 15, 1993, page 31
(58) The Watchtower, November 15, 1955, page 677
(59) Things in Which It Is Impossible for God to Lie, 1965, pages 336, 337
(60) The Watchtower, August 1, 1983, page 23
(61) The Truth Shall Make You Free, 1943, page 300
(62) The Watchtower, March 1, 1923 page 67
(63) The Watchtower, January 1, 1924 page 5
(64) The Watchtower, July 15, 1993 page 15
(65) United in Worship of the Only True God, 1983, page 74
(66) Thy Kingdom Come, 1891 through 1927 editions, page 305
(67) Thy Kingdom Come, 1891 through 1912 editions, page 228
(68) Thy Kingdom Come, 1913 through 1927 editions, page 228
(69) The Finished Mystery, 1917, page 64
(70) The Watchtower, October 1, 1917, Reprints, page 6149
(71) Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1920, page 110
(72) The Way to Paradise, 1925, page 224
(73) The Watchtower, September 1, 1941 page 265
(74) Consolation, May 27, 1942, page 13
(75) The Watchtower, January 1, 1991 page 24
(76) The Watchtower, March 15, 1991 pages 20, 21
(77) The Watchtower, February 15, 1986 page 15
(78) The Watchtower, March 15, 1993 page 4
(79) See The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, 1985 edition, pages 529, 623
(80) See The Watchtower, July 1, 1969 page 390; April 1, 1977, page 210
(81) See, for example, Should You Believe in the Trinity, 1989, page 18
(82) The Watchtower, September 15, 1910, Reprints, page 4685 (Quoted in The Watchtower, July 1, 1957 page 415)
(83) The Watchtower, August 15, 1952 page 501
(84) The Watchtower, July 1, 1957 page 414
(85) The Watchtower, July 1, 1965 page 391
(86) The Watchtower, February 15, 1981 page 19
(87) The Watchtower, December 1, 1981 page 27
(88) The Watchtower, December 1, 1990 page 19
(89) The Bible God's Word or Man's, 1989, page 70
(90) See, for example, Consolation, December 25, 1940, page 19
(91) The Watchtower, December 1, 1944 pages 355 to 364, especially page 362, and The Watchtower, July 1, 1945 pages 195 to 204, especially page 201
(92) The Watchtower, August 1, 1995 page 30
(93) The Watchtower, May 15, 1917, Reprints, page 6086
(94) See, for example, Choosing Riches or Ruin, 1936, page 11
(95) Jehovah's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, 1993, page 197
(96) School and Jehovah's Witnesses, 1983, pages 15, 16
(97) The Watchtower, June 15, 1964 page 380
(98) The Watchtower, December 15, 1926 page 371
(99) The Watchtower, January, 1886, Reprints, page 817
(100) See, for example, The Watchtower, May 1, 1912, pages 154, 155 Note: This article is not in the Reprints
(101) The Watchtower, December 1, 1916, Reprints, page 5998
(102) Informant, November, 1938, page 1
(103) Jehovah's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, 1993, pages 198, 199
(104) The Watchtower, May 15, 1955 page 296
(105) The Watchtower, April 15, 1992 page 11
(106) See, for example, The Watchtower, October 1, 1950 page 351; September 15, 1951 page 567; March 1, 1992 page 18; etc.
(107) The Watchtower, July 15, 1906, Reprints, page 3822
(108) The Watchtower, November, 1879, Reprints, page 48
(109) The Watchtower, May 1, 1957 page 274
(110) The Watchtower, May 1, 1961 page 282
(111) The Watchtower, March 1, 1979 page 1 (cover)
(112) The Watchtower, November 15, 1981 page 21
(113) Our Kingdom Ministry, November, 1990 page 1
(114) The Watchtower November 1, 1990 page 26